Why did the American Idols cross the river?

Because of the Republican National Convention.

After six consecutive years at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, the "American Idols Live" tour landed Sunday at Target Center in Minneapolis. It's a nonpartisan but American-loving tour, featuring Kristy Lee Cook's rendition of "God Bless the U.S.A."

This year's approach -- a countdown from finalist 10 to the champ -- meant limited ensemble numbers and a long wait for a lot of young kids in the crowd of 11,000 to see David and David after 9:10 p.m.

Here are three conclusions about this year's 10 finalists:

• They pretty much can't dance or move with a sense of purpose onstage except for David Archuleta.

• They are mostly generic as singers and performers, which was underscored by Michael Johns' comment: "It's nice to be here. Thanks for having us in this wonderful venue in your wonderful town."

• The judges and the voters pretty much got it right.

Here's how the finalists fared live on Sunday:

Chikezie. The good: He's got a soulful voice. The bad: He's no more memorable now than he was then. The grade: C-plus.

Ramiele Malubay. The good: That vest and pants outfit decorated with rhinestones. The bad: Her colorless voice is not assertive enough. The grade: D.

Michael Johns. The good: He will rock you, and his falsetto scream on "Dream On." The bad: He lacks vocal nuance. The grade: B-minus.

Kristy Lee Cook. The good: She looks like a Nashville country star. The bad: Her voice is too small. The grade: C-minus.

Carly Smithson. The good: She picks songs that fit her big voice, with its piercing wail. The bad: The kneeling to begin and the crouching to end "Crazy on You." The grade: B-plus.

Brooke White. The good: Her cascading blonde hair. The bad: Her approach makes songs blander. The grade: C.

Jason Castro. The good: His ukulele version of "Over the Rainbow" made him seem like Tiny Tim for the jam-band nation. The bad: His stoner patter. The grade: B-minus.

Syesha Mercado. The good: That smashing sequined halter top and cocktail skirt that showed off her fab legs. The bad: She was pitchy on "Umbrella" and strident on "Listen." The grade: B-minus.

David Archuleta. The good: His dreamy eyes, soulful body language and ability to sell a song. The bad: His giggly patter and propensity to say "whew" when talking. The grade: A-minus.

David Cook. The good: The riveting reworking of "Billie Jean" and his spontaneity and quick wit (he actually responded to people in the crowd, loving the sign "David Archuleta is hotter than an enchilada" and then saying, "you gave him a new nickname. Enchilada." The bad: Too much rock-star preening and, frankly, vocally, he's no Chris Daughtry. The grade: A-minus.

For a set list and fan comments, go to www.startribune.com/poplife Jon Bream • 612-673-1719