It's HERE! Our long awaited TuesDave.....

And between what the child and HawtMan will sing, and all the other boring surprises Nigel will try to throw at the show between tonight and tomorrow... he must sense the sharks are circling. They ALL must. Ever since the last several years of AI, the credibility the show has been striving for in the music industry has been elusive, in spite of the success of Carrie Underwood - but that is because of her genre, and that's just bad luck for the show. The early outing then subsequent successes of Jennifer Hudson (excuse me: OSCAR), and Daughtry (largest selling artist of 2007), has shown that somehow either the voting is off, people who spend money actually buying music don't vote or watch the show, or the manipulation the producers toss into the mix proves they've been backing the wrong horses.

AI has produced the mediocrity of Taylor Hicks (Teen Angel in Grease), and Jordan Sparkszzzzzzzzz. Even Clay Aiken is now in the fifth string of Spamalot because recording his music and touring isn't exactly taking up all of his time These aren't exactly the superstars I think Simon Fuller initially envisioned.

This week AI stands at a crossroads - let's have a peek at what's at the intersection shall we?

Let's start with TheFetus(tm), Nigel's billion dollar male version of a Hannah Montana wet dream. (pssst Nigel: There was a FICTIONAL Disney show which started it. If you think for one minute this is the same, I think you might be mistaken.) Plus, Hannah is a FICTIONAL CHARACTER, who, while young, is a SEXY, SASSY, Gal, which is why she's so successful for both BOYS AND GIRLS. Lil'D? uhmmm. no.

Word on the web is that Lil'D will be singing Sir Elton's Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me. okay. First, I don't see how he will be able to surprise us unless he sings it note for note (which I believe his damaged chords are in no shape to do yet) but I don't see that happening. There are a LOT OF WORDS in that song, and there are only 44 minutes (even though due to commercials, I'd bet even less) of actual show time, in which our two guys have to sing Three WHOLE(?) songs.... DLTSGDOM is 5:37 when Sir EJ sings it. If Squinty adds those vocal runs of his, it might run 18:22.

It's also a song that has a LOT of PASSION in it (I know. I saw EJ sing it at Dodger Stadium in 1975 (frak I'm old.) Something Fetus has yet to really experience. It's also a bit of an iconic song. One of those songs that for some people, especially the over 35 crowd, like Bohemian Rhapsody, you had better NEVER attempt, unless you can 1): Understand what you're singing, and 2): HIT IT OUT OF THE PARK. You cannot do 2 with out first doing 1. Other wise it's just decent karaoke at best, and an abomination at worst. It will be interesting.

I hear he's also singing Imagine again. I know there's a lot of people out there that thought this was Lil'D's defining Idol moment. For me it was when his train jumped the tracks, hit the wall, and burst into flames. I've said it before: That CHILD can not ever "Imagine there's no Heaven..." NOT EVER. And for him to sing it means he doesn't care that he doesn't understand or FEEL the song, all he cares about is if it sounds good. That's not good enough, and should never be.

The other song - some original something..??? no idea.

I KNOW: NEW DRINKING GAME: You must drink every time:
Fetus licks his lips, says "gosh", or "I don't know."

Then there's TalentedSexManCougarBait: Rumor is he's going to be singing U2's Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For. Hmmmm. I LOVE U2. Seen them TWICE. Last time in 2005 in VEGAS BABY. LOVE ME the Bono. He's someone I'd consider breeding with, and believe me, it's a very short list. LOVE LOVE LOVE SHFWILF. However.... It's another one of those great ICONIC songs.... (which I have no doubt DC will not only be able to pour his soul into, but smack it like the last scene in The Natural) but it's MORE THAN THAT. Without The Edge's guitar (specified sound - you U2 fans know of what I speak) that song won't sound the same... so let's hope that DC is allowed to really change it up - but that brings in another problem - that song is PERFECT the way it is - so how to you rearrange perfection, and if you don't how do you not sound like REALLY BAD karaoke. As much as I think this is a good fit for Dreamy McFrakMeRunning, I am afraid of this song. It's TOO iconic.

What other song? I'd prefer Billie Jean, or one of his originals... but I don't really care which one, just that he nails them. (then me.)

So, back to The Idol Crossroads: If it's gone like every other season, and predictable Fetus McSame wins, the sharks will have officially jumped. If SexBomb O'Talent wins, AI will finally have achieved the Music Cred it's so desperately starved for, and there's hope that in seasons to come, it will get even bigger, and seem far more legit. Because David Cook already has credibility - tons of it. So much so that a win tomorrow would negate any stigma that has clung to the past winners, and AI could sure use some of it.