just think of tonight as the pages in your diary. or something.

[jlh]

SOMEONE IN THE AUDIENCE HAD A "SIMON + RYAN 4EVA" POSTER AND THEY SHOWED IT ON AIR. AND THEN SIMON GAVE RYAN HIS CHAIR AND THEY WERE COMPLETELY ADORABLE AND HELD HANDS. I'M NOT EVEN KIDDING.

So the larger problem is that Simon has this big cheesy streak, right? I mean, he's the man we can blame for Il Divo. Hence he has a very narrow view of what an inspirational song entails. Which is unfortunate, because it resulted in some really off-base critiques tonight.

1. Casey, "Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow." Eh. I mean, it was very good, but I feel like he just has so much trouble connecting with the audience. He just doesn't make me care.
   
2. Lee, "The Boxer." I'm with the judges. I really liked it a lot. He connected with the song, with the audience. He's definitely the grower of the season.
   
3. Tim, "Better Days." Wow, he was some sharp, wasn't he? It hurt my ears a bit, to be honest. It was a good song choice at least.
   
4. Aaron, "I Believe I Can Fly." The end being good did not, for me, make up for the really shaky start. I'm tired of them sucking on the verses and then hitting the big choruses.
   
5. Siobhan, "When You Believe." I thought she sounded really fantastic and I didn't really understand everyone's drama with the song. I think Simon's starting to get the "I don't know what box to put you in" grouchies with Siobhan, which is always dangerous.
   
6. Mike, "Hero." Really generic. He didn't change it up at all, and it didn't suit his voice one bit.
   
7. Crystal, "People Get Ready." oh. my. god. And then she broke down, and she was so gorgeous, and I can't even.

Poll seven virtu-ous singers

I voted for Crystal, Lee and Siobhan.