During yesterday’s appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show, when asked who he thought the front-runners in the competition currently were, Simon Cowell said that while he believes David Archuleta is the front-runner, don’t rule out Brooke White, David Cook and Jason Castro. He thinks any one of these contestants could win.
Astute peeps in comments pointed to the fact that those very contestants occupy the top spots on iTunes. There is no official ranking. TPTB and iTunes are withholding sales information during the competition. However, if you do a search on American Idol Performance and then sort them by Popularity, you can see how the Idols roughly stack up against each other. Do a search on American Idol, and pick out the relevant items. Carly Smithson and Michael Johns, early favorites, appear to have fallen closer to the middle of the pack. So much for plants.
ETA: Thanks for setting me straight, comments peeps! Tricksey, TPTB!!! Here is a crudely put together look at the Top 10:

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Just a heads up: for recordings from the Top 12 onwards, they changed the titles from “American Idol Performance” to “American Idol Studio Recording.” So, if you want to see how the contestants faired during the Top 12, you have to do a search of the latter phrase. Also, if you want the cumulative results (semifinals AND finals), you have to search “American Idol,” sort by popularity, and then leave out irrelevant results when counting.
And yes, Simon didn’t suddenly have astute foresight; anyone of us could have made the same prediction.
Sorry, I meant “Studio VERSION” not “Studio RECORDING.”
Interesting, Primeminister. Sneaky bastards. I wondered why the list had changed so much since last night. I don’t have access to iTunes right now.
Just in an hour ago. Should I post here or in the headlines thread? MJ, feel free to move it as you see fit.
SIMON REVEALS HIS TOP 5 AI PICKS!
OK! Magazine
**I think the writer made a typo- the Irish girl should be Carly.
Speaking of things Simon said, did anybody catch that “false modesty routine” when Oprah informed him that when he talks people listen, and he did the Melinda Doolittle impression, “Really?!” Pu-lease. Don’t tell me he doesn’t know.
My, my, my. What a difference that makes.
Can we post news here?
Danny Noriega has been invited on a Rosie O’Donnell cruise.
She used a blog video to invite him.
Please post news in the Headlines thread. Keep this thread on topic.
FYI: I posted that news yesterday.
Am I special, or is Jason Castro’s “Hallelujah” highlighted on everybody’s home page?
Both! :).
Very tricksey indeed! I was wondering where Chikezie’s “She’s a Woman” was. Where are the spoilers?
Soon, my peeps soon. :).
I just want to find out who Austin Clark is accompanying tonight. I hope it is not Kellie Pickler! :)
Yeah! Thanks so much for all the great info!
Spoilers I have seen at IDF (while we wait for TMZ):
Syesha - Yesterday
DCook - I’ve Just Seen a Face (person claims to have gotten PM from someone who knows him, so huge grain of salt and all that. David is just trying to get back on MJ’s good side by singing the song she picked for him. :)) Would sound good with a dobro, no?
CURSES! I have my son’s 5th grade concert tonight! Don’t they know it’s TUESDAY?!! Thank God for MJ!! I’m saved! I’ll be voting and watching the recaps….good times, good times…
If Syesha is indeed singing Yesterday, it’ll be interesting to see if she can put any genuine heart into it….at all…
I think David H was going to sing that. She must have switched when he got the boot, if true.
MJ, do you know something? LOL!
If Cook sings MJ’s choice, he is gonna soar to the top of itunes sales.. That song is perfect for him. I hope little D brings it tonite.. I love a fearce competition..Go Davids!
There’s a fast-paced version of “I’ve Just Seen a Face” on the new Across the Universe sound track Itunes. Has kind of a country twang in the background — dobro maybe??
Maybe Kristy Lee is performing it! GULP
Heh!
FWIW, Simon mentioned his top 5 favorites to OK Magazine. They are bit different from what he said on Oprah.
He mentioned:
Brooke, David C, Michael,Carly and Jason C. No David A. What?
So there you go.
Here is the link to the article.
http://www.okmagazine.com/news/view/5314
Simon just likes to play it up, I guess.
* ahem * hellooooooooo !! I joined this exercise class “zumba”, okay?? But here’s the problemo………. it freakin starts at 7:00 and ends at 8:oo so…i’m like zooming home like Jimmy Johnson every night…I just am sooooooooooo into Michael Johns and David Cook !!!! I really am enjoying this season… (maybe I just needed 1 yr to …um….get over things…I dunno….) love and miss youhot people!!!
If Austin plays with Kristy Lee, I might have to vote for her (at least I know the music will be great!) ;)
Go Austin! Dang. I knew I should have bitten the bullet and paid the big bucks for the plane ticket. It would have been worth it to see Austin play live. Actually, if it is Jason and Austin, I’ll just die now.
LOL Cheese. Yeah, I’m definitely taking this with a boulder sized grain of salt, but I can still hope, no?? :)
I’m so curious who Austin’s playing with. Gawd, I hope it’s not Kristy Lee.
Gah!! Why am I so frickin nervous?!
Just like to add, I Tunes really means nothing as far as stats. We get the songs from other places for free.