Getting down to the It factor

As long military campaigns drag on, there comes a point when, out of the frenzied mass, individuals emerge and change the contours of the battle. At some point (at least in the poetic version), war ceases to shape soldiers; soldiers begin to shape the war. Achilles puts aside his sulk, steps forward and Troy is doomed.

In the early weeks of “Idol,” we saw each contestant as through a glass darkly. With the huge number of songs to be sung every night, each contestant had only seconds of non-singing stage time. We were forced to find meaning in the smallest gestures, such as the odd smile to Ryan Seacrest.

But as we draw down to the final seven, there is leisure time to spend with each contestant. And that can be dangerous -- or at least add an element that changes what is anyone’s fight.

On Tuesday’s country music night, the contestants seemed at their most relaxed and comfortable yet, inspiring their fans to greater passions. In the Idoldome at CBS’ Television City studios, the crowds become more hysterical each week. On Tuesday night, the screaming that followed Blake Lewis’ performance grew so intense that Bill the warmup guy was seen on the sidelines desperately trying to wave the crowd down.

In past weeks, the studio crowd had shown glacial hostility to antihero Sanjaya Malakar. But a pro-Sanjaya faction seemed to be infiltrating the studio; during the judging period following Sanjaya’s performance, the booers and the judges’ supporters shrieked at one another from across the bleachers.

So as we enter these last battles, the level of passion each contestant can ignite will decide the competition.

Looming over this season, referred to in offhand comments by the judges, in interviews and private conversations with the crew, is the sense that an injustice occurred last year with the victory of Taylor Hicks -- that the best singer had not won, that the show had become a popularity contest. Hence the constant assertions that “this is a singing competition.” )

But with all due respect to the show, for better or worse, popularity will be the driving force from here. All (almost) who have made it this far have the pure vocal potential to get to the finals.

And so the question is: Which Idols have stories compelling enough to carry them from here?

A survey of what the remaining seven bring to the table in the personal-story department:

* Melinda Doolittle: Her winning story is of the shy little backup singer stepping to the foreground. But as Simon pointed out this week, she’s hit that note a few times too many. Where does she go from here?

* Jordin Sparks: Bubbly, gushing teenager. Her infectious spirit could carry her a long way, but with no other element, this has usually been a recipe for the No. 3 spot.

* Blake: Urban for kids -- with his own charity (the Blakergirls) to prove his good-guyness. But is his persona too contrived?

* LaKisha Jones: The struggled-up-from-adversity, single-mother story. A compelling drama but one that brings the danger of too hard an edge for “Idol” audiences.

* Sanjaya: The villain. How far will his anti-appeal carry him? The smart money says two, three more weeks.

* Phil Stacey: The good sailor -- Mr. Easygoing Nice Guy with the super-sweet wife to boot. A variation on the Hicks formula, which served him very well on country night, but he might be too one-note to last.

* Chris Richardson: Other than his Justin Timberlake looks, this low-key Hooters assistant manager has yet to show much in the way of personal story. Might be a good time to start playing up the fact that he lost a reported 40 pounds between Hollywood week and the top 24.

richard.rushfield@latimes.com

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