JAMES DURBIN & LAUREN ALAINA are two of the final 4 American Idol contestants - Fox photo

American Idol's in-house mentor Jimmy Iovine - Angela George photo

Video Beat EXTRA Part 2 - JAMES DURBIN & LAUREN ALAINA are in AMERICAN IDOL'S FINAL FOUR

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

Lauren Alaina, James Durbin, Scott McCreery and Haley Reinhart are the final 4 survivors vying for the Idol title. We take a look at who are the most talented verses who the apparent adolescent voting public will possibly select. Will talent or infatuation be the decider? How contestant's personalities have changed since the Top 13 performances began - Recommended TV Listings

Tuesday May 10, 2011

JAMES DURBIN & LAUREN ALAINA are IN IT TO WIN IT

After weeks of the judges conflicting advice to the contestants that in many cases contrasted with the opinion of American Idol's in-house mentor Jimmy Iovine's opinion it's decision making time for the contestants to make right choices in their performances and song selections. The Top 4 Lauren Alaina, James Durbin, Scot McCreery and Haley Reinhart are the remaining survivors vying for the Idol title.

At this stage of the competition the individual with the most stage experience has the edge. James Durbin 23, has been a working musician with bands. He was the lead singer with a band The Hollywood Scars prior to Idol. He's older which translates into more life experience and he should be able to handle the pressure best.

His weakness is last week he had an emotional breakdown when he sang Harry Nilsson's Without You. While performing the song he broke out in tears and went off key several times. The lead in to the song was a video with him and his wife and their child. The emotion stemmed from him thinking about leaving them to compete on Idol. Iovine criticized him on that weakness. The bottom line is if he seriously wants to be in the entertainment business big time he will be away from his family more so than with them. The work is on the road and entails traveling.

Durbin has been consistent throughout the competition and improving. At the beginning he wasn't one of our choices but mike previous Idol winner David Cook Durbin gained respect with his strong performances. His voice is good but not great. We felt he was screaming too much in an attempt to be the next Adam Lambert. Durbin's voice is good enough for him to be himself and not try to be another Lambert. His strength of style is as a rock performer. A true talent will be who they are and know who they are while gaining experience and maturing during their career. Durbin's personality has shown increased confidence and sometimes on the cocky side but not overbearing. He has NEVER BEEN in the Bottom 3.

16-year-old Lauren Alaina has the second best voice in the competition. She is more listenable than Carrie Underwood. Her voice is bigger and stronger than Underwood's. She has been consistent. Iovine seems to have communication problems with her as being manageable. Comments have been made that she's stubborn and has a tendency to do what she wants. Her other critique is that she lacks confidence.

Her lack of confidence could be a factor on her being eliminated if she cracks under pressure. She's young and relatively inexperienced. She does have the talent to win but her ability to handle pressure will be a major factor. Alaina's personality hasn't changed that much. She seems more confident than Iovine's criticisms infer. The difference is he sees off camera and interaction what we don't see. Last week she was at the Bottom (2) for the first time during the competition. She has the talent to be a country music singing star. In that respect her youth could be an advantage.

Part 3 - Scott McCreery and Haley Reinhart

ELIMINATED

# 5 - Jacob Lusk

# 6 - Casey Abrams

# 7 - Stefano Langone - Review canceled due to lack of interest

# 8 - Paul McDonald - Review canceled due to lack of interest

# 9 - PIA TOSCANO

# 11 & 10 - THAI MEGIA & NAIMA ADEDAPO

# 11 - CASEY ABRAMS SAVED

# 12 - KAREN RODRIGUEZ

# 13 - ASHTHON JONES

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