Another fan here !
First off, I just wanted to comment on the record deal with regard to Carley. Yes, she had a record deal and it didn't sell. There have been others though that also were signed to labels, and didn't amount to anything. Kristy Lee Cook had a country record deal. On the radio they mentioned many more, from past and present Idols - and even mentioned that Kelly Clarkson had been signed to a deal that fell through before her Idol appearance (which I had never heard before, and don't know for sure that it's true, but that's what this radio station was reporting).
So at what point do they draw the line? It's a pretty gray area, so I guess that's why they make it to be - no current record contract.
I like David Cook and Michael Johns. I do love Carly's voice and think her range and purity are notches above the rest, but for whatever reason, Simon doesn't seem to like her and she just hasn't "clicked" with the audience or the judges. I like Brooke's and Jason's "coffee shop" kind of voices, kind of like a Carly Simon and a James Taylor type. I think Syesha is adorable, but keeps going for some pretty tough songs and hasn't quite hit those big notes, though she tries. I'm not a huge Kristy fan either, but think in her genre, she does well.
I think it will come down to David Cook and David A for the finals.
I'm probably the only person in America that doesn't want David A to win. Okay, don't throw things at me. lol.
I chuckled when Simon said he sounded nasally last week. From day one, I've been saying that his talking voice and lower notes are very gravelly/raspy - almost like he has a cold or sore throat and needs to clear his throat. When he hits the upper notes, he sounds good to me, but not the rest of the time. Just MHO.
That being said, I think this year has a really talented wide variety of singers. They each bring something different to the competition, which I really like. I actually like each of them that are left, and they are each very different.
As far as past Idols, I've only been to one of their concerts, and it was when Kelly Clarkson and Clay Aiken were touring together. It was a great concert. I bought the tickets as a birthday gift for my mom. lol. She's a HUGE Clay Aiken fan. (He has a new cd coming out soon, I think I heard. He's also been performing in Spamalot)
I love Carrie Underwood, even though I'm not a huge country fan, and also love Daughtry.
Deb