AI Top 13

I meant to vote last night but I didn't, argh!  Jared got home from a Young Men's activity at church right when AI was ending and we started watching something else and I completely forgot to vote.  I thought, for the most part, they all BROUGHT IT last night!  I didn't know what the heck they would do with Michael Jackson night but this was probably the best over-all Top 12/13 week one ever!  Here are my critiques (as a side note, I always pause the DVR before the judges speak to write my notes before I hear what they have to say--yes, I know I'm an AI nerd):

1. Lil Rounds {The Way You Make Me Feel}--Good song for her; I really liked her rendition of it to make it more R&B; she's great up on the stage.
2. Scott MacIntyre {Keep the Faith}--I didn't know what the heck he would pick from MJ's repertoire but I think he chose a great song for his style and voice; I just love him on the piano; he doesn't have the strongest voice of the group but it's really pleasant and I like him!
3. Danny Gokey {PYT}--When Ryan announced the song, I was like "Uh oh, what the heck is he gonna do with that???"  I LOVED how he changed the beginning of the song and then how the rest of it was so fun and energetic and soulful!  I love his stage presence and his vocal were amazing!!  I watched it two times in a row.  I can't say enough about how much I like him.  I disagreed with Simon about the dancing--I liked it! :)
4. Michael Sarver {You're Not Alone}--Good song choice for his voice and he sang it well; I liked how he started it seated;  I agreed with Simon's comment "not the best singer but [he] sings with passion, heart and gives it 110%".
5. Jasmine Murray {I'll Be There}--NASALLY!!!  Blech.  It was "beauty pageanty" to me.  Simon hit the nail on the head when he said it was "robotic".
6. Kris Allen {Remember the Time}--He has a great pop voice; I loved the guitar for this song and the personality he showed.  Not the best song for showing off vocals but I really like it.  I agreed with Paula about him being "engaging" with the guitar.
7. Allison Iraheta {Give In To Me}--Not my favorite song but I liked her rock rendition of it; she has such a powerful voice and AMAZING stage presence for a 16-y.o.!
8. Anoop Desai {Beat It}--Didn't show off his voice and I know he has one; the song is near impossible to do and not come off as karaoke.  He's been trying too hard to come off as fun and hip but I just want to hear more of his voice.  Like Paula said, that song is "untouchable" by anyone other than MJ.
9. Jorge Nunez {Never Can Say Goodbye}--Didn't like the song and the arrangement was horrible; it came off as really cheezy to me; he can sing, though; I agreed with Kara that he wasn't "emotionally connected" to the song.  I think he'll make it through off of Hispanic votes.
10. Megan Corkrey {Rockin' Robin}--Once again, I abhor her body/hand movements; I thought it was a good song to match her voice and fun style but it definitely wasn't the best vocals.  And WTH was up with the "caa caa!" at the end?!  Crazy!
11. Adam Lambert {Black and White}--He looks and sings like a star already; very energetic and I liked his spin on it; GREAT vocals and range!
12. Matt Giraud {Human Nature}--I LOVE LOVE LOVE him on the piano; I really dug his version of the song and I love his riffing and falsetto!  Great performance!
13. Alexis Grace {Dirty Diana}--Love her power voice but her low notes aren't as good; I liked her version but there was something about it that I didn't like and I couldn't put my finger on it until Simon said she "over sung" it.  Bingo!

My faves, who I really hope make it to next week: Danny, Matt, Adam, Lil, Kris.
Who I hope will go home:  Jasmine and Megan (but I think Anoop might get sent home, even though I'd like to see what he does next week, as I really want to hear him SING).

BTW, I stayed home from Young Women's last night because I got another steroid injection in my neck yesterday morning--it went well, except for the fact that my blood pressure dropped pretty low in the recovery room after the injection (normal when procedures involve nerve stuff), which is a horrible feeling--nausea, dizzy, hot & cold at the same time, woozy--but it passed fairly quickly. The worst part was having to wait for over two hours for them to get to me. Glad I have another one over with, though!  Please pray that this one works better than the first two in my neck!