How do the Idol singers pick their songs anyway?

#1. Forget fan voting
#2 Who knows for sure if they even count the calls
#3 The phone companies are the winners
#4 Put the pressure on the panel of judges, that's what they get "paid" for.
#5. Hire "REAL JUDGES WITH MUSICAL TALENT'

I just think it is humorous that the judges will comment on "bad song choices", when the song categories are chosen for the performers. Idol needs to stop "pigeon holing" them. Let them pick songs that make them comfortable..With Kelly's vocal range, put her in something like Celine Dion. With Chris's ability, put him in something like Blood, Sweat and Tears. As far as Taylor is concerned, put him in anything Elton John, Ray Charles, Michael McDonald, or Keith Urban's "Better Life" Taylor needs to be vibrant...He needs to command the stage...Chris is a powerhouse..My pick is for these three right to the end...Don't make comparisons between Kelly Pickler and Carrie Underwood...even though both are country based, their sounds are different..although both beautiful and talanted. We need to make votes that make sense. This season has proven to provide the most talanted kids so far...

Let's just face it between everyone singing dancing, skating and losing weight on television. I think there is too much time on our hands.

I think the AI show has gotten too mean. There is no respect between the judges and they are sometimes too harsh on the contestants. I agree with Ryan Seacrest when he asks the judges for CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. That helps them more than tearing them down. Also, why isn't there something set up to vote online. NASHVILLE STAR has an online voting which is so much easier to do. Also, country people are more polite and it is a more entertaining show.

Regarding the comment on the outrage that Kat was in the bottom 3. I'm sure she wasn't. I have a feeling that the producers... etc, knew who DID have the least amount of votes and decided to make the show intense by taking 2 of the most popular singers and putting them into the "bottom 3". To me, Ace is eyecandy with a mediocre voice. Actually, I'm shocked that Paris and Bucky are still around. I think those 2 need to go next.

Of course the voting isn't fair people. If it were based on singing talent ALONG with performance, there wouldn't be any of that tv drama. Look at "chicken little." If anything, he had a choir boy voice, but because of his boyish looks and his "cute" play on bieng a sex symbol, we seen WAY more of him than necessary. I do find it ridiculous that so much has to be done just to sing a song on tv. They're not claiming the song and how many have been discovered NOT doing thier own material? That's why I liked Rockstar INXS..Awesome originality AND performance..Not so much red tape.

Why won't Simon/American Idol let new songwriters provide some songs? Instead of just creating new performers, they'd be giving new songwriters a shot at a career!

I have been able to get through to vote for my favorites but only once a show I dont have the time to sit on the phone and continuley press redial so those of you who do are the ones not allowing others to vote which is not fair and i do agree that there should be only one vote per person per phone line

I believe that AI's judges should show more professionalism when talking to these AI hopefuls. Randy annoys the crap out of me calling a woman a man.... As for Paula she is probably smitten with every man that makes it to the top 24 etc. I admire Simon for his honesty as the other 2 have no balls to tell the truth. Mandisa and Katherine will do well. Kelly will only go so far.
Chris won't make it as he is not flexible at all... more of it is for appearance... that is why Bo didn't win #1 last year. Ace has to go, so does Bucky.

I agree with you Stacey. I don't understand the point of critisizing it all. If it bothers u that much, watch another show. Simple as that. If the show were rigged like some said then y didn't the better person win in some of the seasons where the underdog got more publicity and made more money than the idol winner. McPhee in my opinion is not the better singer there. Mandisa and Chris sing better than her but again thats my opinion. The suggestion of having everyone sing the same music is absurd. How boring will the show be if all u hear is the same dam song sung in different renditions. ZZZZZZZZZZZ Lets be real now. All u people worry about McPhee in the bottom 3, Simon being harsh blah blah blah blah blah but who the heck cares. Like Stacey said, theres 10,000 other shows u can watch. Simon can get critisized all he wants, and I would have the same attitude he has about people critisizing me (don't give a care in the world wut they think) cuz i'm makin dough no matter wut anyone else says. Apparently he must be doing something right if its now season 5 and he is still on the show. Everyone battles and critisizes everyone else for their choice but the reality is, everyone is DIFFERENT. Has different taste, likes different music blah blah blah. So u gonna trash them because they don't see eye 2 eye with u. hahaha its pointless and ridiculous.