American Idol Power Rankings, Top 24

Every few weeks, we’ll rank our five favorites on this (so far untalented, yet fun) season of Idol. After an exhausting marathon of audition episodes, we finally got our first live shows this week…and they were mostly terrible. But there are some shining exceptions!

1. Crystal Bowersox — As out of place on Idol as Adam Lambert was, but in a completely opposite way. Completely authentic, incredible voice, and great backstory. Her baby is the cutest! Seeing her try to sing “American Boy” in the group number was the funniest moment of the season—she’s everything great about Idol, with none of the nauseating Katie Stevens aspects. Love her.

2. Didi Benami — Didi and Crystal (and Lilly Scott) are going to run into trouble because, as Simon kept noting, they definitely are the same niche of Idol—the “alternative girls.” Didi’s is like last season’s Brooke White…except good. She has the look, she has the style, and has an AMAZING voice. At times vulnerable, at times confident, she runs the gamut. Her “Terrified” in the audition rounds is still the musical high point of the season.

3. Alex Lambert — Alex would never be this high, but the guys are so weak this season, and I think he’s the best of the bunch, so we’ll push him a little higher than he deserves. He definitely needs to grow into the show, but that’s what Idol is about. He was nervous as anything and has a horrible haircut, but there’s a really great quality to his voice—if he can gain confidence, there’s nothing more satisfying than watching a nice-seeming person transform throughout the spring, a la Kris Allen.

4. Lilly Scott — A bit more formulaic than Didi and Crystal, Lilly is a more literal carbon copy of Lilly Allen / Duffy. Yet, she’s got some real talent and spunk. Really cool voice, really interesting style. She’s still kind of awkward on stage, but she can grow into it.

5. Katie Stevens — The producers have clearly anointed her as the frontrunner, and it’s very frustrating. I don’t need to hear about her grandmother. I don’t need you to give her the best placements and most screentime. It makes me like her less. She’s extremely polished and clearly has been aiming for Idol for years. Her voice is great, her look is great (she looks just like JoJo!), but there’s just a disconnect for me. She’s kind of bland/more of the same. Extremely commercial, for sure. Also, isn’t it weird she wore the EXACT SAME outfit as Rachel Berry in sectionals?

Other thoughts:

- Ellen is great!

- Kara is wacky, but I’m growing to love her. Not that into her obsession with Casey James, though. It feels sexist and awkward. Plus unwarranted—Casey isn’t that great, I don’t think.

- Andrew Garcia was super disappointing. We’ll give him another chance.

- I hate Hailey Vaughn.