The Top 10 Season 12 finalists are set to perform in Hollywood Wednesday, March 13, and begin that week-to-week paring that we've all become so familiar with over the past decade of watching "American Idol." Which also makes it the perfect time for some power rankings. So which of remaining ten contestants look poised to win it all? Is there a dark horse in the bunch? And does Angie Miller look strong enough to keep her frontrunner status?
According to most power rankings lists of the "American Idol" Top 10 for Season 12, it certainly looks as if Angie Miller has the inside track to the title so far. Marnie Broderson at Wetpaint, Andrew Payne at Starpulse, and CarterMatt.com all seem to think so. And two of them, Broderson and CarterMatt.com think Kree Harrison is showing as Angie's competition in the season finale. Payne picked Devin Velez, which might be a good choice if this were simply a vocal contest but Devin will have to step it up a notch or two in the coming weeks to stay in the competition or get knocked out by all those girls with the powerful voices.
But why Angie? Wetpaint says voice and a powerful social media following sets her ahead. CarterMatt.com says she's a lock as long as she doesn't get stuck in the ballad-with-a-message rut. And Starpulse notes she has the momentum from her original song performance during Hollywood Week, she cute, the judges love her, and the producers also seem to want her to win -- so...
Who seems most likely to go home first? At No. 10 on the three power rankings lists are Amber Holcomb (Starpulse and Wetpaint) and Curtis Finch Jr (CarterMatt). Why Amber? Wetpaint says it's because she lacks confidence, while Starpulse says she's weaker than the other soul singer, Candice. Even CarterMatt has Amber at No. 9, noting that her singing style is "amorphous," which could be all America needs to send her home. CarterMatt thinks Finch ranks lowest because, even though he is a dynamic singer, has gotten through via the judges and is overshadowed by likableness the other finalists.
Whereas Starpulse put Devin Velez in the No. 2 spot, Wetpaint puts in position to be the first guy sent home. Why? Lack of broad appeal. Starpulse also places Janelle Arthur at No. 9, observing that she's the "worst singer in the top ten."
On a comparison basis with the professional oddsmakers, Wetpaint wins the similarity prize for notching the same top four finalists: Angie, Kree, Janelle, and Candice. For the wildest disparity, Starpulse takes the prize, not only placing Devin at No. 2 but Curtis Finch Jr at No. 4 (because he's a "pure singer" and like other pure singers on "Idol" historically, he won't win).
Here's Wetpaint's Top 10 power rankings list:
1. Angie Miller
2. Kree Harrison
3. Janelle Arthur
5. Paul Jolley
6. Burnell Taylor
7. Lazaro Arbos
8. Curtis Finch Jr
9. Devin Velez
10. Amber Holcomb
The list looks like a good forecast, save that perhaps Lazaro should be in the top five somewhere. The guy's got charisma, a great backstory (even if it is one the pulls for sympathy), is good looking, and is also one of the more prominent in social media circles. Curtis' facial antics and obvious arrogance will see him ousted in the first couple of weeks as well. (Professional oddsmakers rank him as leas likely to win it all, with 20/1 odds to win.) Paul Jolley, though a good looking guy with a passable voice, is just too bland and will also be lucky to survive the first five cuts.
Here's the way the Top 10 should look:
10. Devin Velez - You can't win by singing Perry Como.
9. Curtis Finch Jr - If he survives the first cut, he'll never survive the second.
8. Amber Holcomb - Clearly overshadowed by all the other girls in the competition, and some of the guys.
7. Paul Jolley - Who is this guy and why is he there?
6. Burnell Taylor - Nowhere near the singer Curtis is but humble, likable, and, well... that's it.
5. Janelle Arthur - Attractive, good old-style country singer, but she's outshone by Kree.
4. Lazaro Arbos - Nice looking, sings with passion, connects.
3. Candice Glover - Besides Curtis and Kree, perhaps the best all-round singer in the competition.
2. Kree Harrison - raw talent and vocalized power, most likely locking down the country vote.
1. Angie Miller -- by far the frontrunner for Season 12 thus far, with momentum and the judges' approval. She also has the biggest social media following of the "Idol" Season 12 hopefuls: Twitter (over 41,200 to date); Facebook (over 36,100 to date).
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Still, it's all conjecture at this point. The Top 10 will perform "Music of the American Idols," their theme for the week. They will get to choose from "Idol" alumni originals or songs that they performed while making a run for the title on the show.
The "American Idol" performance show will air on March 13 at 8 p.m. (EST) on Fox Television. Who makes the Top 9 will be revealed on the results show on Thursday, March 14, beginning at 8 p.m. as well.
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