American Idol Top 8 Perform
American Idol 10 (Wednesdays & Thursdays at 8PM on FOX)
Last night the contestants sang songs from the movies, but before all that Ryan and the producers wanted to "embarrass" J.Lo by showing off her People Magazine cover that named her the Most Beautiful Woman in the World and the put the spotlight on her as a voice-over sang "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World".
Photo Credit - People Magazine
I was hoping the judges learned their lesson from the shocking elimination of Pia Toscano last week and really be harder on the contestants, but that. did. NOT. happen.
Any who. Let's get to the performances. As always I'll tell you the contestants in order of performance, what happened in their intro clip, the song they sang, the judges thoughts and my thoughts and score.
Paul McDonald - "Old Time Rock & Roll" (Risky Business)
Intro Clip - There was talk about sliding on stage in his underwear and performing each song as if it was his encore. And Will.I.Am is around for another week and protested the addition of a beat boxing drum beat.
Judges Thoughts - S.Ty liked it. J.Lo thought it was fun to watch. And Randy said "we just witnessed the first number of the Paul McDonald concert"
My Thoughts - Instead of sliding out in his undies, he jaunted down the stairs in a black rose suit. This was a wedding performance for me and I didn't dig it. Would you really pay to watch that in concert? Or by that song on iTunes? I wouldn't.SCORE 7/10
Lauren Alaina - "The Climb" (Hannah Montana - The Movie)
Intro Clip - It was all about Jimmy telling Lauren how much stronger of a singer she was than Miley Cyrus and then telling her she needs to steal all of Pia's voters. Will.I.Am put it a little nicer telling her she needs to invite them instead. Poor Lauren looked rightfully awkward during the whole segment.
Photo Credit - FOX
Judges Thoughts - J.Lo almost went down the road she took Pia down last week and I wanted to slap that Beautiful Woman. She said that she loved hearing her sing that song but wants her to push further, go further. Randy thought she did an amazing job and S.Ty said it was beautiful and moved him beyond tears and that they truly believed that the first time the saw her audition they thought she was the next Idol.
My Thoughts - There were really good moments there where I believed her and she did something different to the song to make it her own which I appreciated. But every once in awhile she loses focus for me, but I guess that's being a teenager right? SCORE 8.5/10
Stefano Langone - "End of the Road" Boomerang)
Intro Clip - Stefano was down in the dumps after the elimination of Pia last week and maybe feeling a tad guilty that it should have been him. But Will.I.Am and Jimmy were there to be tough on him and tell him to push on.
Judges Thoughts - Randy said it was "his best vocal on this stage" and that "he's in it to win it". S.Ty said he "knows how to milk a song" and that it's "not the end of the road for him; it's only the beginning". And J.Lo said it was the first time he seemed as if he was singing to win, not singing just to stay and she called it the "shit".
My Thoughts - I actually agree with the judges on this one. It was his best performance to date. I thought the vocals were great, he was emotionally invested and was up there not posing but being a viable contestant. Or maybe it's because I friggin' love Boyz II Men. If Stefano goes out with this performance I'll be slightly surprised, but at least he went out being the best he could be.SCORE 9/10
Scotty McCreery - "Cross My Heart" (Pure Country)
Intro Clip - He did "Everybody's Talkin'" for Jimmy and Will.I.Am, but decided to switch it to a George Strait song he felt was more him. Jimmy didn't like the switch.
Judges Thoughts - S.Ty thought that "America's falling in love with his voice", J.Lo referenced America too saying "Everyone wants us to be tough on you guys, but you're all so damn good!" but she also said it wasn't her favorite song from him, although he sang it well. Randy thought the song was great for him, said he's a "big, ginormous fan" and that if "it's not broke, don't even consider fixing it." because we're watching a "star be born" on this stage.
My Thoughts - This was the first time on the big stage that I think Scotty phoned it in. He was weak in the choruses behind the back-up vocals. His last high note you could tell he was struggling holding it. It was the time for the judges to be hard on him, but they tossed it aside giving him nothing to work on which is the biggest downfall this season. SCORE 8/10
Casey Abrams - "Nature Boy"
Intro Clip - Jimmy wasn't a fan of Casey's take on "Nature Boy" and so Casey had a back-up of Phil Collin's "In the Air Tonight" which he liked much better. But in the end, Casey felt that "Nature Boy" was the right choice and Jimmy was pissed.
Photo Credit - FOX
Judges Thoughts - (He gets a standing O.) J.Lo thinks he brings "something special" and thinks that he could sell tons of jazz records. Randy heaps on the praise saying he could see him doing like a Michael Buble album and S.Ty loved it too calling him a true musician.
My Thoughts - This is exactly why I liked Casey in the very beginning. Him, playing his stand-up bass, pulling you into a song as he plays with the notes. But I do think it's a big risk for him. It's getting down to just a few people now, and jazz music isn't as popular as R&B, pop, rock, etc. But do I respect him much more for doing a song that actually represents the kind of album he'd make post-Idol instead of singing a karaoke version of Phil Collins?! Hell to the Yes. If he goes home, he should be proud to know that he did the kind of stuff he'd want to do on an album and not some cheesy song that Jimmy thinks will garner votes. SCORE 8.25/10
Haley Reinhart - "Call Me"
Intro Clip - Very little with Will.I.Am and Jimmy, them just telling her to really bring it with the "Call Me", then she tells us how much she's grown as an artist/performer this season.
Judges Thoughts - Randy didn't love the beginning, but thought she brought it more at the end. S.Ty loved the tiny dress and thigh-high boots she was sporting. J.Lo sided with Randy, but then said she didn't want to say anything negative because she doesn't want any more girls to go home.
My Thoughts - As you all know, I'm not a big fan of Haley and her screeching, growling voice, but disagreed with the judges this round. I think she's picking songs that really fit her voice well. I mean she screamed and screeched and growled through this song like only she could. Plus she's looking much less awkward on stage than she's ever has. Am I converting into a Haley-supporter? Gosh, I hope not. SCORE 8.5/10
Jacob Lusk - "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (Pursuit of Happyness)
Intro Clip - Jimmy scolded him for "preaching to America" last week. Jacob had a couple of songs but Jimmy told him it wasn't the time to be corny. Then he suggested "Bridge Over Troubled Water", because you know, there's no way Jacob could bring that song to corny-ville. Sha-right.
Judges Thoughts - S.Ty loved all his "crescendos and innuendos" , and said "God bless you man, and your voice." J.Lo loved the last 3 notes saying he pulled out her goosebumps. Randy liked how he let the song "marinate" and agreed the last 3 notes and the harmony at the end was amazing.
My Thoughts - I'm really surprised Jacob's lasted this long. Gospel singers tend not to do so well on this program, and I think his time's running out to be honest. I was bored with this performance, and for me the last 3 notes didn't win me back.SCORE 8/10
James Durbin - "Heavy Metal" (Heavy Metal)
Intro Clip - James was dead set on this song even though Jimmy just didn't get it, citing there's "no hook". James wouldn't budge and Jimmy was PISSED. (They both ended up looking a tad egotistical in my opinion)
Judges Thoughts - J.Lo said it "felt really, really real" and questioned/challenged America by asking "are we ready for a heavy metal Idol?" Randy hopes metal will come back and said that "Durbin rocks!" S.Ty loved it, saying he could see him at the next OzzFest (Guitarist was Ozzy's guitarist!)
My Thoughts - Am I a heavy metal fan? No. Do I think this song was the best for James' voice? No. Do I think the performance was rocking? Hell to the Yes. And I kind of love the fact that there's people on this show that aren't going to bend to the will of a music executive. This is their one shot to really show who they are or want to become as an artist. So why waste that singing a song that someone else picks out for you? That's dumb. Maybe smart in the fact that you'd might get a record deal... but is that record deal worth it if you're singing songs on it you don't want to sing? (NO!) and then the record bombs and they cut you loose and blame it on you because the fans hate the songs? I wouldn't want that and I'm glad that there are some contestants that are saying I'm going to do the stuff I want to do, and if America likes it and vote that's amazing. But if I don't win this thing, at least I can say I did what I wanted to do and the stuff I'd want to put on my album on television in front of millions of viewers. SCORE 8.75/10
I have no idea who's going home tonight. America's a fickle b!tch. I think Jacob and Paul have outlasted their time, but I honestly couldn't tell you who America will send packing. I guess we'll find out tonight.
