American Idol Top 13 Perform
American Idol (Wednesdays & Thursdays at 8PM on FOX)
Okay, so the Top 13 performances aired last night (they were pre-taped on Tuesday, and hopefully will be the last pre-taped show... There's something much more interesting about LIVE shows)
This episode we got some behind-the-scenes clips of the contestants interacting with Jimmy Iovine and his music-producing super group for their songs this week. I must say I really like to see this stuff and I hope they continue with it all season.
Like always, I'll give you the contestant, their song choice (and artist), the Judges' Thoughts, My Thoughts (and score)
Lauren Alaina – Any Man of Mine (Shania Twain)
Photo Credit - FOX
Judges’ Thoughts – Randy didn't the song did anything for her voice, J.Lo said she always sounds amazing, but needs to kick it into high gear. S.Ty thought “it could have been more kickass”
My Thoughts – Well, isn’t she the stereotypical teenage girl? She got up there and did a fairly karaoke performance and barely made any effort to be interesting to watch up on that stage. Then when the judges tell her that, she pouts. Maybe J.Lo should stop telling her that she doesn’t need to try, because baby, you DO need to try. With performances like that, you’re not going to win this season. Simon would have ripped her apart for that. SCORE 7.25/10
Casey Abrams – With A Little Help From My Friends (Joe Cocker)
Photo Credit - FOX
Judges’ Thoughts – J.Lo was speechless saying she had to grab Randy in the middle and as “What am I watching right now? I’m watching somebody important!” and S.Ty called Casey “a rainbow of talent” and “a plethora of passion” and Randy said that Casey makes it fun to listen, loved it.
My Thoughts – For me, I liked the beginning and the end; not so much in the screaming/growling middle section where I thought he just looked crazy. I love the song and think he changed it to fit him, which was good, but it wasn’t my favorite from him. SCORE 8/10
Ashthon Jones – When You Tell Me That You Love Me (Diana Ross)
Photo Credit - FOX
Judges’ Thoughts – Randy said he saw her "grow a little more as a singer". J.Lo said that she looked "like a professional up there" (because when the song started to get away from her she was able to pull it back), but wants her to sing songs that people will recognize and be able to sing along with. S.Ty said there’s "more to her than she’s showing".
My Thoughts – The judges touched on this, but the girl was sharp and flat throughout the song, add that to her diva-attitude that may be over-compensating for the lack of control and range of her voice, and then pair that with the fact that I didn’t know the song and it sound too “old-school”, I just didn’t get it. It was forgettable. SCORE 7/10
Paul McDonald – Come Pick Me Up (Ryan Adams)
Photo Credit - FOX
Judge’s Thoughts – Randy focused on Paul’s “character” and said that he "loves him for this show". J.Lo said that his "so unique" and was "able to move the crowd". And S.Ty said he loves the character and rasp to his voice.
My Thoughts – I like that he shouts out the crowd before he starts each performance. BUT the music completely drowned out most of the beginning and the first chorus of his performance and I was left completely distracted by his stage-dancing. Where as last week was completely fun to watch, I found myself cringing this time around; the guy needs an instrument to keep him busy. I thought it was pretty awful actually, although I agree his raspy voice is quite intriguing. SCORE 7.5/10
Plus doesn’t he look like a cross between Coldplay’s Chris Martin and actor Bradley Cooper?!
Pia Toscano – All By Myself (Celine Dion)
Photo Credit - FOX
Judges’ Thoughts – Randy loved it saying she has “a natural gift” and that it was a “very hot, dope, cool performance”. J.Lo wondered what she was going to top last week, and said “there it is” while S.Ty said “she slammed it”
My Thoughts – The girl has got some pipes, no doubt about it. I think she hit all the notes pretty spot on. Was it as good a performance as last week? Not quite, I think it became a little redundant in the build-up chorus. This is the kind of song that a singer does to say “Look what I can do.” She did it, but I hope she breaks out of the ballads next week to see her have more fun. SCORE 8.5/10
James Durbin – Maybe I’m Amazed (Paul McCartney)
Photo Credit - FOX
Judges’ Thoughts – S.Ty said “you’ve taken everything you’ve ever felt and kicked it to the middle of next week”, J.Lo allowed the audience to keep clapping while Randy loved that he can go from Judas Priest to Paul McCartney and rock both.
My Thoughts – He sealed it for me this week… this kid is going to be a HUGE star whether he wins this season or not. For one thing, he can go from Judas Priest to Paul McCartney, it is just mind-blowing in my opinion. Then we all know that he loves those screeching high notes, yet he’s shown amazing restraint in the past two weeks, and I think his tone in the lower registers are actually one of the best in the competition. THEN he knows how to work a stage and an audience… I completely believe him as a rock star, he’s just so comfortable up there. Plus he has a compelling back-story. Seriously!? He’s my new favorite. SCORE 9/10
Haley Reinhart – Blue (LeAnn Rimes)
Photo Credit - FOX
Judges’ Thoughts – Randy says that she can do anything, but it was a bit “sleepy” for him and boring. J.Lo says that she has a unique voice and she "can do things with it that no one else can do". S.Ty said “roaring”, “good job” and “so, so fine”.
My Thoughts – Now, I’ve been really hard on Haley and her awkward stage presence and her irritating growl, but there really wasn’t any of that in this performance. The yodeling was a bit odd (but I also know that was actually how the original sounded – NOT the LeAnn Rimes version, the Patsy Cline version). But standing behind a mic stand she didn’t move all that much and she left out her growl… so for me it was an okay performance, although maybe not so memorable. SCORE 8.25/10
Jacob Lusk – I Believe I Can Fly (R. Kelly)
Photo Credit - FOX
Judges’ Thoughts – Both S.Ty and J.Lo deemed him too good to judge, but Randy let him know that he “kind of lost it” in the middle, but that his voice is easily recognizable for the radio.
My Thoughts – My biggest concern for Jacob was on full-display tonight: lack of restraint. Whereas last week, he toned it down to be a very enjoyable performance, this one was about a 17 on a scale of 1-10, it’s just too much. He didn’t harmonize with the gospel singers, he was crazily all over the place in the high notes and it just didn’t do it for me. Do I think he’s got an amazing voice? Yes, BUT I don’t want to buy that song on iTunes.
SCORE 7.5/10
Thia Megia – Smile (Michael Jackson)
Photo Credit - FOX
Judges’ Thoughts – They all focused on how they loved the soft opening, but were confused by the jazzier, up-tempo. Randy called the beginning “golden”, J.Lo called her voice “beautiful” and “transcendent” and S.Ty said she has “such a strong future”
My Thoughts – I have conflicting thoughts about Thia. One (The Good): How has the Disney Channel NOT swooped her up? She’s beautiful, young and talented… and when I see her on stage I immediately think “Disney princess”, I’m not sure why. Two (The Bad): She has no idea who she is. She’s young and so badly wants to please those around her that she can’t be herself. I’m not sure if she’s strong enough yet for the critiques and this competition and I worry for her sanity. SCORE 7.25/10
Stefano Langone – Lately (Stevie Wonder)
Photo Credit - FOX
Judges’ Thoughts – They weren’t sure where he was going with it in the beginning, but really dug that he made it up-tempo. Randy said that Stevie Wonder “would be proud of this because you slayed it”, J.Lo said “you had me dancing there” and S.Ty said that by the “time it ended it was soaring like a volcano”
My Thoughts – I think Stefano has an amazing voice… but I was utterly confused with the up-tempo. Not because the music was up-tempo, but because his singing and the lyrics didn’t seem to match the speed in my opinion. It was weird for me. SCORE 8/10
Karen Rodriguez – I Could Fall In Love (Selena)
Photo Credit - FOX
Judges’ Thoughts – J.Lo said “she looks like a star up there” but felt she was “uncomfortable with the lower notes, and some of the higher notes”, Randy said it seemed like she was “fighting the song” and S.Ty told her the “energy was lagging” and that she “can sing so much better”
My Thoughts – I’m scared for her. She was completely lost in this song; it was too low for her in the low parts, to high in the high parts and she physically looked in pain trying to get there. SCORE 6/10
Scotty McCreery – The River (Garth Brooks)
Photo Credit - FOX
Judges’ Thoughts – Randy said “don’t fix what’s not broken” and that he “could put this out as a record now”. J.Lo saw him “open up as a performer” and let the audience in and S.Ty said something about “shooting a hole in the moon”.
My Thoughts – I’m not a big fan of the song… I mean the phrase “my vessel” seems oddly sexual and his side-ways facial expressions make me a tad uncomfortable. But the boy IS country music. I hope he sticks true to his gut, because America already loves him and I don't see him going out any time soon. SCORE 8.25/10
Naima Adedapo – Umbrella (Rihanna)
Photo Credit - FOX
Judges Thoughts – They all loved her energy, but also made sure to tell her she needs more control in her breath/voice to be able to dance/perform like that. Randy loved the reggae part and wished she did the whole song like that. J.Lo said “you got fire girl!”, and S.Ty said it was “a little pitchy, but you brought flavor tonight and I adore you for that”
My Thoughts – Want to see an artist? I think we just did. While all the others barely mixed up the songs they sang tonight and walked around stage (some awkwardly dancing), Naima showed that she can entertain. Sure it was it breathy and uncontrolled, but it was also very fun, interesting and unique. SCORE 8.5/10
So who do you think is in trouble of tonight elimination?! I think Karen and Ashthon have the most to worry about...
