Canadian Idol Update: Top Nine Boys Battle It Out

Fireworks lit up the sky in honour of Canada's 140th birthday on Sunday night. An evening later, nine potential Canadian Idols mostly failed to light up the stage on what was a particularly hit-or-miss program.

For the first time in the show's history, the contestants had the option of accompanying themselves on instruments. Disappointingly, less than half of the contestants grabbed the opportunity and the ones who did chose to play the guitar. Hopefully the girls will show the boys up on Tuesday night, perhaps choosing to tickle the ivories or wail away on a tambourine.

Liam Styles Chang got things started with Tal Bachman's "She's So High." (Trivia tidbit: This was actually the song that World Idol Kurt Nilsen sang to secure his crown in 2003.) While Chang's charisma is infectious, his voice was nowhere near as strong this week as it was previously.

"I don't know that you're an artist that I would buy the record of, but the fact is I'm wrong all the time and you're a rock star and you belong here," said judge Zack Werner.

Babyfaced Andrew Austin made Canadian Idol history by being the first hopeful to ever play an instrument while competing onstage. He looked comfortable behind his guitar and his rosy cheeks and endearing rockabilly dance moves helped me forget that he chose to sing a Maroon 5 song.

"You're competing with Brian Mulroney for the Eddie Munster look-alike contest," razzed Werner. "But all in all, it was pretty good."

Dwight D'Eon's version of I Mother Earth's "Used To Be Alright" wouldn't have been so irritating if he hadn't completely hijacked Axl Rose's accessory wardrobe circa 1994. A red bandana? Careful you don't get spotted by a Crip, dude.

"What you lack in technique, you make up for in performance," said judge Sass Jordan, winning the backhanded compliment of the year award.

"You are the first balls-to-the-wall pure Canadian rocker we've had on the show," said Werner.

What about Suzi Rawn? Wasn't she in the top four just last season? How soon we forget.

Clifton Murray sang James Morrison's "You Give Me Something." His performance gave me nothing."Me no likey," said Werner. Next!

Greg Neufeld was the second performer to play guitar, but it was difficult to distinguish his playing from the rest of the band. Neufeld's rendition of Jason Mraz's "Geek In The Pink" was entertaining and polished, and he scored extra thematic points for wearing pink. The feather in Neufeld's cap was receiving unanimous judge love.

"That was explosive," said Jake Gold."You stay in the pocket like lint," proclaimed Farley Flex.

"You're incredibly good," stated Jordan.

Even mean old Werner had something nice to say about Neufeld. "You're a little mainstream for my taste, but you're every bit as good as anyone who has won this show."

Swish! Neufeld has officially proven himself to be a contender to beat.

If only the same could be said for Brian Melo, who sang Robbie Williams' "Angels." Williams and Murray should team up and create a boy band, since they've both got the goo goo eyes and smooth moves down pat. Otherwise, this performance bored me to tears.

"I thought you were pitchy in your lower register and thin in your upper register," said Werner. "I didn't think that was all that."

"That was spectacular," disagreed Gold.

For the record, I'm in absolute awe of Jaydee Bixby. I saw him on the streetcar the other day and semi-lost my shit. The kid was born about 50 years too late. If he'd been in the right place at the right time, Sun Records would have put out his entire catalogue. Bixby made an ingenious song choice with Ray Charles' "I Got A Woman," a song popular among teens and grannies alike. This guy knows how to get votes. But more importantly, he can sing.

"It's like watching a young Elvis without the hip business," said Jordan.

"Where do you come from?" Werner wondered aloud.

"That man sitting right there," Bixby quipped, pointing to his father.

If Canadian Idol doesn't work out in Matt Rapley's favour, he should consider going into politics because he's so darned likeable. Rapley started off weak on Josh Groban's "You Raise Me Up," but gathered momentum in the chorus, where he proceeded to blow the roof off.

"I think that there's an overall maturity that's going to come to you... I have tremendous faith in your future," said Werner. "You made me shiver."

"You blew me away," added Jordan. "I had chills, too."

I expected Tyler Mullendore to rock a guitar during his performance, but he inexplicably opted to go it alone. John Hiatt's "Have A Little Faith In Me" was well-suited to his voice, but things didn't come together for me. I adore Mullendore, but he seemed a little nasal, forced and even cocky. That being said, I want the guy to stick around for a while, as do the judges.

"You're the real deal," said Gold.

Maybe the girls will show a little more consistency on Tuesday evening's show. I'm also hoping that Tara Oram will wear another crustacean-inspired ensemble.