Two more weeks until the final at the Kodak Theatre. I’ll be glad when it’s over. All the hoopla and scandals and questions about judging. Ryan tries to make jokes about it, but the funny has worn off. It’s kind of a drag when no one talks much about the contestants and everyone is talking about one of the judges. Ryan should just announce what the theme is each week. This is not a group of theme detectives. They are worrying about what the hell they’re going to sing this week.

Half of the theme is Nashville. I live here and I do not want to hear it. Carrie goes for “Sin Wagon” by the Dixie Chicks. It’s blues on speed with a fiddle thrown in. Carrie does a good job, but what did you expect? This is her chosen field isn’t it? I miss the three-part harmony of the Dixie Chicks, but Carrie did fine, if you like that sort of music. I don’t. It all smells of set-up for Carrie. Randy and Paula mention Carrie’s record as though it were a given. Simon says it would be a surprise if she didn’t get that one right. Yep, she did, but so what. I’m not excited about Country Idol. It’s not what I’m looking for. Why wasn’t she on Nashville Star?

Bo Bice is singing Travis Tritt‘s “Great Day To Be Alive“, which is the closest thing to Southern Rock on the country charts. It’s an odd song choice with all the potential songs available from Nashville and even Travis. It’s much too much a Nashville formula song with all the right bridges and chord changes and fake happy messages that permeate country music now. Bo does a good job and sings on key and emotes better than any of the other contestants, but the song doesn’t reach beyond mediocre at any point. That’s pretty much what Nashville is about these days and who cares? What happened to Pop Idol? That’s the show I was watching.

I thought Vonzell might go for the obvious and select an old Pointer Sister’s song from their country album like “Fairytale“, but Vonzell is singing a Trisha Yearwood song, “How Do I Live Without You?“ It’s a good diva crossover song that suits Baby V’s style to a T. It’s a diva ballad complete with multiple key modulations. If Vonzell lacks anything, it’s complete control of her pitch and her high notes can go wacky at any time. Still, I’d pay to see her before I would two other present contestants. Vonzell admits she had a hard day and loses a tear or two. We don’t know why she had a bad day, just that she did. Simon says she sounded nervous for the first time in weeks and I’d have to agree. Round two will clear things up, maybe.

Anthony’s parents pledge eternal love. His song choice is as saccharin as his story. He picks “I'm Already There” and he’s off and running with it. He over emotes and sings the high notes flat or sharp depending. I hope it’s Anthony’s night to go home. He just bores me from start to finish. Randy gives him dawg props. Paula is back to stumbling over words again. Simon says it all feels like Miss Universe, gooey, syrupy. The judges could all use some vocal coaching on speaking plain English tonight. They are more bored than me at this point. And that’s round one.

Next we’re going to Philly for another duo’s songs from the sixties. Who is thinking up these odd multi-themes? I’m guessing it’s someone that used to work on a reality show that used lots of hidden clues, like maybe The Mole. There’s something we’re not quite getting. Why can’t they sing Pop or Rock Songs every week since that’s more likely what they’ll be selling if they are lucky? I am not buying an Oldies from the Idols record myself.

Gambill and Huff were writers of the Philly Soul Sound of the sixties. I am wondering how the turnabout of song styles will play with everyone. Carrie squeaks out a tearful thank you to her supportive friends before she sings, “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”. She sings all the right notes but she rushes the song and misses the cues. She can’t build up to the right place because she is playing catch up with the lyrics. I couldn’t call it soulful. She was either ahead or behind the entire song. Simon blames the band and calls it boring, lethargic, and an utter mess. Turnabout is fair play after all, I suppose. It's hard to be versatile.

Bo chooses one of my favorite songs, “Money, Money, Money, Money!” ("The Love of Money"). It’s right up his soulful alley. He knows how to sing a soul song. I like the suit, but don’t care for his flats. He needs no shoes at all or something really pimping. He plays the looks to its best and rocks the song up one side and down the other. Bo knows. Bo knows how to rock. All his experience and years of practice give him a chance to shine. It was a 10 in comparison to Carrie's 3. Go the Bo.

Vonzell, and everyone else, is playing the family tear jerk card tonight. Is it a vote getting ploy? She’s singing “Don’t Treat Me This Way”, a major disco hit from the 70’s. She announces she is going to sing the chorus by saying “Here We GO!” and I have to say she bit into it with all her teeth. She growls the chorus stronger than the original and actually comes up with a new take on the phrasing that is her own. I like Vonzell. She could be the next American Idol and I would not be disappointed. I don’t think she will be, but nothing I’ve thought about this series has been correct yet.

We have to listen to another sappy story from Anthony before he ALSO sings “If You Don’t Know Me By Now”. I saw the song list, and Gambill and Huff wrote a lot of songs. A lot more than three songs. What is going on here? He sings the soulful lyric with such clear diction is all I can say about it. It’s his best effort, but it doesn’t speak from experience as much as technical effort. It’s clear as a bell, but I like a little gravel in my coffee. I like my bread toasted on both sides. I even like well-done meat. This ham needs more baking is what I’m thinking.

Tonight was the night for Bo to shine. It looks like it could end up the Carrie/Bo final we’ve all been expecting. Of all the contestants, his style is the most unique in a 70’s southern rock retro kind of way. His performances and song choices are more adult oriented, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I wouldn’t mind a record from an Idol that I might actually buy. Carrie and Anthony need a little more life experience, and Vonzell just needs to sing with a band on a regular basis to keep her chops up. It’s either Anthony or Vonzell going home I’d guess, but I’ve been wrong so many times why bother? Scott could be returning for all I know.