Canadian Idol mania is here, and in my case, started on the way home from work.

Highway traffic being the treat it is had Brian Melo’s parents off to Toronto around 4pm. And how do I know that this one mini van out of hundreds on the highway was theirs? The sign in their back window “Vote for our son, Brian Melo” was a dead give away.

Kicking off the fifth season was the first of the 3 major elimination rounds, and the boys where first to the plate. Karaoke lived for the most part, lack luster performances and so so re-marks from the judges reassured me that my speakers where not malfunctioning, and that what I was hearing truly was the same as they where hearing. Only a few performances actually stood out amongst the rest as being truly deserving and as long as they hold it together for the next two rounds, sure contenders in the top 10.

Ben Mulroney started off the night with the usual judge introductions as a stepping off point to introducing Scarlet Burke, from the commentary it’s clearly stated that Ritchea Hodge stepped down due to the responsibilities and time requirements of the show.

Jaydee Bixby, the sweet young boy with a voice bigger than life was the first up and kicked it off with Johnny Be Good, while a good song for him it leaves us wondering if this is all he can do, but that booming deep voice doesn’t’ disappoint, he is going to break hearts when he grows up. Other non memorable but not horrible performances where given by Justin Wesley (SOme Kind of Wonderful), Dwight D’eon (Baby it Hurts to Love You), Tyler Mullendore (Brown Sugar), Andrew Austin (Freedom 90),and Matt Rapley (Isn’t she Lovely)

Truly bringing up the pack was a particularly painful performance by Derek Hoffman singing Move Along, the judges seemed to have a hard time telling him how bad it was and instead focused on how he has something special that wasn’t shown tonight. Ironically enough I think “his hope is gone”. (lyrics from his performance)

Clifton Murray may want to dust off his acting résumé (She’s the Man staring Amanda Bynes) after a particularly shaky performance of I’ll Be, his one shining moment of holding the longest note ever was criticized by the judges as being in Zacks words “cheese-o-rama”.

At the top of their game and receiving rave reviews from all four judges are my personal favorite Liam Style Chang singing a rock pop version of This Magic Moment, Greg Neufeld, who didn’t make it into the top 10 last year singing This Love, and Hamilton’s own Brian Melo singing One of Million.

If I had any words of advice to his parents? Get a more durable sign, I think they will be on the highway a lot.

This post was Authored by Girlydoll, Our Resident Authority on all things Canadian Idol