American Idol is still the rage even though it is in its seventh season. It has become a household word. Everyone knows what it is, both kids and adults. Everywhere you look there are American Idol labels. T-shirts, Cds, DVDs, board games, etc (check the ratings on these highly popular games.)

Apparently I, like 35 million other North Americans, have an opinion about the singers and judges of American Idol. Of course everyone has their favorites and each of us hears the performances with our own biases, likes and dislikes. The judges' job is to be judgmental of each performance and to give constructive criticism to the singers. The world audience's job is to watch, form an opinion, decide on their favorites for the night (or stick with their favorite no matter how they did), phone in if they can or if they wish to, then eagerly wait until the next night for the eliminations.

This is my seventh season watching and I am a self proclaimed American Idol Junkie. I do not watch to hear people get slammed by the judges, I do not watch so I can phone in for my favorites (they do not allow phone calls from Canada to be counted into their tally), I watch simply because I love to hear the talent that is out there. To watch each and every one as they grow through the season is quite something. The growth in confidence and voice as you watch your favorites or even as some of the 'underdogs' pull into the lead as they 'up their game' as the competition becomes more critical, is for me, very appealing. I love watching how these kids, many whom never had the means, money or opportunity have now been given the chance to fulfil a dream that they have always had. You begin to see some of these bright, hidden (before now) talents really start to shine. To watch them in their interviews and realize that some of these kids haven't even done some things that many of us take for granted and do all the time.

Sure, American Idol is searching for the best talent in America, that's what the show is all about. Sure they are making money hand over fist doing so and yes, only a small number of people actually make it onto the show. But just think of the audition process where there are tens of thousands of people in each city trying out. Many of the ones that are cut are actually pretty good and many couldn't carry a tune in a bucket. However, those that do make it for whatever reason, have to work hard to make it further down the line. Every year without exception, several of the contestants make it big and end up in the spotlight even after they have been eliminated from the show.

For those of you that watched season 2005, you may remember Kelly Pickler. She didn't win the season, as a matter of fact placed 6th, however she was a perfect example of this opportunity seize and just one of the things I love about this show. Here was a young lady that had a very tough start to her young life. Born to a teenage mother who abandoned her when she was two, her father was imprisoned for armed robbery and she was brought up by her grandparents. She was from a tiny town in South Carolina and had never even seen the ocean before being on the show. She became a hit with the crowd because of her innocence and naivity as well as her talent. Even though she only placed 6th, she has become a star on the country charts with several hits over the last two years. This is only one example of the now 84 young people that have graced the show by being in the final 12 of each season. Ther have been and will be, many more to hit that spotlight, finalists or not. All given the opportunity by this show.

The show has also taken on a new dimension by hosting, "American Idol Gives Back" to be aired Wednesday, April 9th. This is an incredible way for one of the most popular shows in the world to help others in need. Last year this one show raised over 70 million dollars for this cause. More prosperous shows should be taking notes and following suit. If you missed it last year, catch the telethon on the 9th. It is a great show.

American idol also has another new dimension. Potential song writers can submit their finalist songs to the show. If chosen the song is sung by each finalist during the last show and the new idol for 2008 records it on their first CD.

The judges tend to be a big part of the show, but in my opinion really shouldn't be. The show is about the singers, or at least should be. I know, I know, many tune into the show just to watch Simon blast a few singers and just as many don't watch at all because they can't stand him. The drama sometimes caused by the judges tends to deter from the real reason of watching it. This season the judges have not been as hostile to each other as they have sometimes been in the past.

The judges, Randy Jackson, a bass player and record producer, Paula Abdul, a pop singer and choreographer and Simon Cowell, a music executive, have been on the show for all seven seasons. I used to dislike listening to Simon's critique of the singers as I felt he was overly harsh and often not even basing his criticisms on the songs. Comments telling the contestants that he hated the dress they were wearing or in one case telling a contestant that his nose was too big and another that he didn't like the way he smiled, would make my blood boil. After all, the show wasn't about the judges...it was about the contestants. Having watched the show for 7 years, however, I have come to a new understanding and appreciation of the judges.

Randy is always the first judge to give criticism. I have come to know that after each performance he will basically begin his critique in one of three ways. If he starts off with asking the contestant how they are feeling or says, " Hey (name), what's up dude?", he has not liked the performance. If he says, "Yo, Check it out..." as the contestant walks over and stands ready to listen, Randy usually will tell the contestant that it was, "Just ok, for him.". If the contestant is met with a, "Wow!" or Randy calls their name out three times, they have scored big in his books.

Paula is there as a balance. She is the positive one. The one that makes sure the singer goes away feeling good about at least something. She is the nurturer. She will always find something good to say about the performer or the performance even if they have totally blown it. She will frequently see things closer to Randy's perspective than to Simon's and she is not afraid to put him in his place. You tend to get the feeling that she rarely dislikes any performance because she is always so positive about everything. If she really likes the performance she will stand and dance or wave her arms to the song.

The contestants usually take Randy's and Paula's comments a little easier than they take Simon's. Often as they have finished listening to the first two and turn to Simon, you can see a very definite grimmace or worried look on the singers face. They wait apprehensively and listen as Simon often cuts their performances to the quick, criticizing everything from their song choice, to their clothing and movements and of course their abilities (or lack of). Many are quite ready to defend thenselves or their choices (more often with Simon than with the other two.) When it comes to the praise, most of the singers smile politely at Randy and Paula and give their thanks. However, when Simon gives praise they beam, bounce, jump in the air and are generally beside themselves. They understand that Simon does not give praise lightly and when they get it, it truly is a sign that it was well deserved and something to be remembered. Simon is not the most popular judge by any means, but I believe he is the one they wish most to please and when the singers realize they have, they seem to feel it is more meaningful. Is this respect or just relief? Who knows but it is obvious they are more excited about praise from Simon than from Paula or Randy even though all is welcomed.

So, what about this years contestants? We started with the top twelve, and I definitely had a few favorites and a few that I was not crazy about , right from the start. After each performance I always have my opinion about it and try to guess how the judges feel. I am not a professional singer, record producer or music executive but I do know what is on or off key, if the song sounds comfortable or strained, whether they have 'played to' the audience or the band, etc. I make my opinions based on these and other factors.

I figure I can't be far off....right? Wrong!

I am always surprised as I listen to the judges who have criticized someone the week before for being bland or boring and are now praising someone whom I thought have done the same thing. I would have voted off one contestant several times by now if I had been the judge (so I guess thats why I am here and not there) The first couple weeks are always easy to choose people that I would eliminate given the chance. At the end of all of the performances I try to decide logically who will be eliminated the next night. Lucky for me I am just your typical North American (even if I AM from Canada...eh?) and I am usually bang on when it comes to the bottom three.

So here is everything you probably didn't really care if you knew or not, about the contestants. How do we match up??

Ramiele Malubay...Big voice in a little package. Can be very good but for me is inconsistent. Pitchy

Jason Castro..... Nice voice. Safe singer so far. Sounds good on the sentimental, soft songs. Lacks experience on stage and becomes a bit corny sometimes with his movements to compensate for his discomfort in certain songs

Syesha Mercado... Nice voice but pitchy and inconsistent. Certain songs she does awesome, others are all over the place.

Chikezie.....Very nice voice...didn't deserve to go home last week. He was courageous in his choice of songs and stretched himself to be different. Poor song choice last week got him booted.

Brooke White.....Nice, clear voice. Lovely sound...sometimes pitchy but oh so safe and boring for me.

Michael Johns...In my opinion the weakest singer of all the contestants. However, he can sing Queen. Bohemian Rhapsody and We are the Champions were awesome. Everything else pretty much has been pitchy, inconsistent, off key, generally all over the place. Good song choice last week kept him on.

Carly Smithson...awesome voice, clear, strong. Her pitch is usually dead on. Her emotion and intonation of her songs are sincere and evident. One of the best singers here.

Kristy Lee Cook...fairly consistent but not a strong singer. Nice voice but plays it too safe. The only time she was original she got slammed for it (I thought it was awesome) and she went back to safe. If she doesn't up her game she will be gone soon.

David Archuleta....Awesome voice for a 17 year old. As one article put it , 'cute as a basket full of kittens'. He started full of confidence and strong but the last couple weeks he seemed a little unsure of himself. He has shown he has what it takes to go far but unless he can show some of that confidence again his performances suffer. Would like to see him in the top three at the end.

David Cook.....Rock singer...strong, awesome voice. Consistent and makes good song choices. He could go all the way.

Ok so here is where I go out on the limb a bit :)

The top three will be David Archuleta, David Cook and Carly Smithson The final two will be David Cook and Carly Smithson The winner will be David Cook

Now, let see if the rest of America gets it right :)