Dean's World

I'll be live-blogging again tonight, updating this article.

I'm really looking forward to tonight's show. The final four contestants are the right final four in my view. All are very good. My sense is that this will be Anthony Federov's last night, but anything can happen.

It's a rather inspiring show. Here we have young nobodies who, out of hundreds of thousands of contestants, made it this far, and are being given an opportunity they would otherwise never have had. If you haven't been watching the show up until now, tonight would be a good night to tune in for the first time...

1) Carrie's first song--Dixie Chicks "Sin Wagon"--very nice. I can't believe this girl won't have a big country recording career after this. She's exceptional.

2) Bo shows taste in picking an understated Travis Tritt song. Interesting that they're asking everyone to do a country song tonight. This one by Bo is sadly boring me a little. I'm a fan but this song does nothing for me.

I see Simon said the same thing. Well of course: he's usually right.

3) My girl Vonzell Solomon--she's taken a country song (not her element) and she's turning it into something else. Man, this is really good. Damn this girl has really come a long way. She deserves to be here.

I don't agree with Randy's comments. I thought it was great all the way through. Not sure I understand the comment that she looks nervous. Also not sure what the personal stuff they're talking about is.

4) I just admit it up front, I'm no big fan of Anthony's. That said, he excels at ballads, and obviously knows it. He's doing a really good job on this. I'm starting to worry, that was really nice.

This time Randy's right and Simon's wrong.

5) Philadelphia soul.... this isn't Carrie's element, but she's doing it competently. She's picked a fairly challenging song too--props for trying to stretch herself. Ah, the big note thing, it doesn't usually grab me but she's got style.

Fascinating. I disagree with all the judges. They all hated it, but I thought it was quite good. Interesting.

One bit of relief: Paula Abdul's turned into something less of a rah-rah and is actually being critical. Kind of nice to see, even if I'm not sure where she or the others are coming from on this particular performance.

6) "Money" is one of my favorite songs from this genre. I like what Bo's doing with it. He's making it his own. Nice to see him not showboating, but just being himself.

Standing-o from the audience. He drove them nuts!

7) Vonzell: ballsy song choice. Started boring for me, but she pulled it out in the middle and cranked it up. Pretty smokin'. Girl can sang.

8) Man, this may be Anthony's best performance ever. I would neve have thought he could pull off "If You Don't Know Me By Now."

I predict some close voting this week. Bo's my boy but I think his first song was a downer. Overall I think Anthony should be heading home but based on tonight, I just don't know anymore. Damn these final four competitors are good.

What do you think?