The American Idol contestants shouldn’t be told they have to sing a country song and then have the judges complain about their song choice. Mandisa is not a country singer. Elliott Yamin isn’t a country singer. I can think of a dozen country songs that would have been better for Taylor Hicks to sing, however, than “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” Ray Charles made a few country albums, and any of those tracks would have been good for Taylor to cover. How about “Busted,” or “I Can’t Stop Loving You”? I’m still voting for him, though, because I don’t want to lose him from the competition.

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One year ago: Improvement
"Something was up. Yeah, I catch on fast."

Two years ago: Dawning
"Oh yeah, it gets that bad, but not today."

Three years ago: Fool Me Once
"I'm smart enough to realize how dumb I am. That makes me a whole lot smarter than some really dumb people, and probably a lot happier than some smart folks."

Four years ago: Games
"It helps to have something to focus on other than oppression, destruction, car bombs and tanks. If we ever needed a distraction, it's now."

Five years ago: Watch for Flying Bats
"My cause was righteous, and I'd been vindicated."

Six years ago: Devil in the Details
"Later on, I couldn't have kept my eyes open if the Beatles got back together and started rehearsing in my garage."