Contestant: Brandon Silveira
Song Choice: A Country Boy Can Survive


Critique: Well, first let me say I'm surprised that Brandon was kept after all. And how nice--because this is a song that Brandon can do! I hope Bocephus enjoys the remake as much as I did.

What The Judges Said

Tracy Gershon

Charlie Robison

Robert Oermann

The biggest disservice I could do to you and you could do to yourself is make a record too early before you're ready. I'll watch you... you're not ready to make a record yet.

I thought you sang a lot better this week. If you played in a bar close to my house three times a week, I'd go see you all three times a week. But I'm not sure how that translates into a record deal.

I'll tell you one thing, out of all the six remaining contestants, you have one of the best senses of what songs are right for you. You have a real clear sense of who you are, and that came across really loud tonight.

Contestant: Miranda Lambert
Song Choice: The Fighting Side Of Me


Critique: Somehow, I just don't feel threatened by this little girl no matter how forcefully she sings this Merle Haggard classic, which isn't very forcefully at all tonight. She does a passable job, but this performance doesn't measure up to her others; maybe this was just a bad song choice for Miranda. Is the little lady from Texas starting to run out of steam?

What The Judges Said

Tracy Gershon

Charlie Robison

Robert Oermann

Before I forget, I need to say something. I need to say hi to my friend Ryan Seacrest and thank him for watching the show and for all his great press. Miranda, I want to bring country back into country music, and the fact that you even know a Merle Haggard song--I love that, and you just did a great job.

You're smile is just so pretty, how can you not smile? I didn't think this might have been the best choice for you, but like you've done every night, you won me over.

Miranda, one this is, you don't smile when you sing The Fighting Side Of Me. It's not that kind of a song. Great performance, but you don't smile. It's a mad song.

Contestant: Buddy Jewell
Song Choice: 40 Hour Week


Critique: Another good song choice for Buddy's voice. And when Buddy rewrites a verse to include the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, the crowd simply goes nuts--great song, great showmanship.

What The Judges Said

Tracy Gershon

Charlie Robison

Robert Oermann

I've got to tell you, when you become a recording artist, you're going to be in a lot of nerve-wracking situations, moreso than this, consistently. And you will be able to do it, because you sing consistently, you sing better than anybody I've heard, and I would put you up on any award show, in front of any radio station programmer, because I know you'd come through for me.

You pick your songs for yourself--you've gone up-tempo, you've gone slow-tempo--and you know how to play to the crowd. You can tell you've been out there doing it for a while.

You rule, Buddy! It says a great deal about a person, about the songs they choose to sing on this show, and that was one of the greatest working man's anthems ever written. And you're the best singer we've got up there, bar none.

Contestant: Brandi Gibson
Song Choice: Home


Critique: A weak opening, a strong middle, and weak again at the end. When Brandi can sing loud, she can hit the notes--but when the song requires a soft tapering, she wavers. Other than that, there's just nothing special to comment on, and perhaps Brandi will get her song's wish--and get to go "Home."

What The Judges Said

Tracy Gershon

Charlie Robison

Robert Oermann

There's a little bit of a cockiness that's coming through--I loved the kind of innocent bit that you had at the beginning.

Over the last few weeks, I've seen you change a little bit. Right at first, I could see a lot more of you, and lately it seems a little bit more "show-bizzy" to me. I know the crowd is all here for you, but you've got to realize when you get out there you're going to be playing for people all over the place, and they're not necessarily going to be in your corner. You've got to find a way to get them in your corner.

I thought you did great. I don't know how any of you get up there and do this every week, frankly. It must be so nerve-wracking. But what I keep hearing in your performances is that sense of fear inside of you, and I don't want to hear that. I want you to push past that fear and get to that zone where you're really taking charge.

Contestant: John Arthur Martinez
Song Choice: City Of New Orleans


Critique: Of all the excellent confluences of song choice and vocal stylings we've heard tonight, this one tops the list. John Arthur has a honey-thick mellifluousness that could easily translate him into the Julio Iglesias of country music. John Arthur does this song better than anyone I've ever heard do it before.

What The Judges Said

Tracy Gershon

Charlie Robison

Robert Oermann

Don't let that mean Mr. Oermann say anything about smiling, because that's what I love about you. I would love to see a little bit more dynamics in your vocal performance.

Not to take anything away from anything else, but every week: You love what you do. And sometimes that's just all it takes, and it's infectious.

John Arthur, I loved that song when Steve Goodman sang it, I loved it when Arlo Guthrie sang it, I loved it when Willie Nelson sang it, I'm gonna love that song until the day I die--and you did it great!