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Well, is this a nail-biter or no? Based on performances and performance order, once can almost predict who will be leaving and who will be moving on to the Top 12. 

Overall, I am more excited about the male singers this season. The female singers have not created any memorable performances that inspire me to say, “She’s a star”.

Looking back on previous seasons, I can still envision the memorable Top 24 performances of Season 4 contestants Nadia Turner, Constantine, Bo Bice, Carrie Underwood. And who can forget Season 5 contestants - Taylor Hicks, Daughtry, Kellie Pickler and Katharine McPhee?  And let’s not forget the outstanding talent of Melinda Doolittle during Season 6.

The guys are shaping up quite well, but the gals need to do some serious work on their performance and vocal skills.

As the hours tick by and we move closer to announcing this year’s Top 12, please share your comments and come back after tonight’s show to voice your opinions.

Overall, I thought the Top 8 ladies were a little flat this week - literally and figuratively. The voices sounded really constricted and there was far too much chest voice applied to their upper register singing.

Syesha was far and away the best vocalist of the week and  her radiant star power is undeniable. 

Closely behind her was Ramiele, although she appeared very timid and stiff throughout her performance. Her vocals were splendid, however, and I applaud her for using her technical gifts so consistently well.

Amanda was wonderful this week and she is most certainly growing on me. She takes risks and I love to see that in a singer. I wonder, though, if her voice can withstand the rigors of this competition, given her intense style of singing.

Feel free to comment and express the pros and cons of this week’s Top 8 female performances.

Simon Cowell is never at a loss for words nor does he stumble over his sentence structure. But, I was really dismayed over this statement he made to Top 8 male contestant, Luke Menard, after Luke’s -well -”lukewarm” performance last evening.

First of all, I really like Luke, but I cannot for the life of me figure out why he selected this song.  Maybe he didn’t have  a choice in the matter?  We all know that former Idols have had problems with clearance issues in the past and are forced  to perform a “cleared” song at the very last minute, even if they do not have a genuine like or artistic feel for the number.

And Simon’s statement made me wonder what other suprises are ensuing behind the scenes of American Idol Season 7.  “You are not making it through, not even to the Top 12″ sounds a little strange to my ears and especially coming from Simon’s mouth.  

Maybe he envisions the Top 10 singers as the cream of the crop, as they are the team of singers involved in the Idol Tour in the summer.  If so, why bother with a Top 12?  Settle on a Top 10 - 5 girls and 5 gals - and be done with it.

Or, something else may be brewing in the Idol camp. Time will tell, but, until then, let’s hear from the readers. Opinions and conspiracies are warmly welcomed.