High five, 'American Idol': finally more music to our ears and candy for the eyes

Wow, did my ears deceive me, or did we actually spend 70 percent of "American Idol" on people who can actually sing Tuesday night in the Mile High City?

Of the 30 second-or-more clips, we heard seven Hollywood-bound singers to just three hacks.

5,280-foot Highlights:

The very emotional Danelle Hayes from Seattle and her forthright audition. I'll admit, I am a sucker for a woman who can belt out a Melissa Etheridge song. The SeaTown rocker would make even Mel proud with this rendition of "I'm The Only One."

Perhaps in Hollywood she can rock to an Alanis Morissette tune like "You Oughta Know." Wait a minute, since I know I wasn't the only sap to be touched by her admission of a broken spirit in front of the judges, I think the perfect song for her to sing is Sheryl Crow's "If It Makes You Happy."

While they say the altitude can get to you in Denver, for me it was reliving the many talents of "Bikini girl" that nearly made me pass out. Extra producing points scored for yet again hitting the target for the male demographic audience between the age of 18-40 years and 9 months. (I stretched out the back end just a tad to squeeze myself in this younger demo)

Sea level Lowlights:

Casey James felt like a country version of Gavin DeGraw. The girls went gaga over Mr. James. The wheels officially came off the AI bus on this one. I know our female readers out there are not gonna like me for this one, but I think the estrogen levels are unsafe for viewing audiences.

Tori Kelly who sang John Mayer's "Gravity" is another example of what I'm talking about. Now I love it when a female sings a song originally sung by a male artist or vice versa. This is hugely effective in Idol competitions because it automatically freshens up a song just by the gender switch BUT with all that said I have to agree with Simon Cowell. I wanted to root for Tori when I heard her song choice but her voice was exposed by crossing over. And "best, best, best voice today" Posh? I am so done with "girl power" contaminating the show. These women have officially turned Randy "Dawg" Jackson into a Scandinavian clipped poodle. He's being wink-suaded to let mediocre talent move on. Don't make me put your Journey album on eBay.

Count with me:

"Awkward Mario laughs" counter = 18
"Dawg/Dude/Man" counter = 3
"Honey/Baby/Sweetheart" counter = 0 (Kara, honey you let me down)
"Million/billion percent" counter = 2

IC (In closing):

• Haeley Vaughn made it through while gasping for air singing "Last Name" by Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood. Boy, this performance shows just how good Underwood is. Bravo Carrie, you are one of a kind and hard to emulate.

• Noooooooo!!! At 8:48:18 a quartet of Walla Walla, Washington ladies didn't get the memo. Singers who show up to auditions with handmade signs claiming to be "the next American Idol" DO NOT have what it takes. Stop sniffing the Mr. Sketch scented markers and focus on your voices. Do you see Ken Griffey Junior showing up to Safeco Field with a "Hit it here" sign? Come on now.

• Why is it that every time I see the Ford commercial with Kris Allen, I want the CD he pushes in to be Danny Gokey? Bitter? Huh, not me!

• "I like your dress"; "You have beautiful skin"; "She won me over with the boots"; "I love your turquoise"; someone please show Posh the exit.

• My mom's female pick to click from Denver is Hayes because she loves her "raspy rocker voice." I didn't have the heart to spoil it like my boss at the Seattle Times Bob Payne did during his LIVE AI blog.

Representing mother's male pick of the night is Casey "Take off your clothes" James. She says it wasn't his chest because "she's a leg woman." I [heart] mom.

Poolside Poll:

I am still job hunting, and just in case things look bleak this summer, I need to know how much they paid Ty Hemmerling for his "brief" appearance. I see a possible cash-n-dash future when this blogging gig ends.

Since you just know it's gonna happen, why don't I get this ball rolling first with your help. Sound off AIA (American Idol Addicts).