American Idol 11 - Top 7 Perform - Live Blog Recap
Tonight, the Top 7 of American Idol 11 take on “This Decade”– meaning 2010, 2011, and 2012. The mentor is AKON! It's a breath of fresh air to get some current songs up in this joint!
You can check out the song spoilers HERE. There will be duets and probably a trio performance tonight.
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Anyways, I will be live blogging the events of the night right here. Come back soon and often to check out my thoughts on the talent. Fingers crossed for Elise and Jessica!
This…is AMERICAN IDOL!!!
"Remember the people...you're singing for."
Tommy Hilfiger Video - Authentic Idol: He gives the idol's some fashion tips and advice. Glam up! It is time for them to define their distinct style! I want this wardrobe.
For each contestant package, we get to see their hometown!!!
Skylar Laine - "Didn't You Know How Much I Loved You" by Kellie Pickler
Jimmy calls her a pro. There is FIRE on stage!!! Boom-FIYAH. She breaks out the guitar!!!! The backing arrangement is drowning out her guitar skills, but that doesn't matter. As the song builds up, there is big FLAMES!!! This is a great song for her. It really fits in her wheelhouse. It makes me concerned, however, that she is going first. Vocally, I think this is one of her best performances. She is a little spit fire with a huge voice. Towards the end, she nails the big notes. Go Skylar!!!
Randy felt her for the first time in a long time. OK, what about her awesome performance last week? Check out her full performance HERE.
Colton Dixon - "Love the Way You Lie" by Skylar Grey
He's breaking out the piano!!! THIS is what he needed to do this week. Oh, he gets lots of eery fog AND a white piano. His vocals are the best they've been. It is soft, and he caresses the song when he needs to. There is also a string orchestra on stage with him. The song swells, and with the climax, he rocks the high notes, even if they are a tad off. He reigns it in for the softer finish. Very nice.
J.Lo says he always surprises her with how he approaches the notes. Randy thought this subtle performance was stellar. Check out his full performance HERE.
Elise Testone & Phillip Phillips - "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye
OMG. I'm so glad Elise is on this. There's a clip of them "hating" working together. Hehe. They should date!!!! This is such a great song. I'm getting dizzy by the black and white background... Phil starts it out, and he sounds pretty good. Elise comes in on the chorus, and she certainly peppers it with her unique flavor. Um, I'm not totally digging Phil on this, but he's good. I just love Elise's tone!!! She's harmonizing above Phil's melody!!!! Wow, fantastic.
Check out their full performance HERE.
Jessica Sanchez - "Stuttering" by Jazmine Sullivan
Interesting song choice. She's leaning up against a piano center stage. Sparse arrangement. I love her sparkly outfit! Her vocals are really on top of it tonight. Jazmine has more of a raspy, chest voice, so it's interesting to hear Jessica's clear vocals on this. Can she do no wrong? I'm not too crazy about the song choice. She should have picked something with more fire to get her to let loose.
Randy loves the arrangement and thought her performance was superb. J.lo's favorite part was the middle where she was digging a little bit deeper into the material.
Check out her full performance HERE.
Joshua Ledet - "Runaway Baby" by Bruno Mars
IT'S HIS BIRTHDAY!!! He's now 20, and Fantasia sent him a special video message!!!! This is a great song. He could rock out to this. There's a dance in pink fringe!!! He's really rocking this. Where did those moves come from?!?! Vocally, he's keeping up with the quick tempo and still adding his own twist to it. Midway through, he dances with the mic stand!!! He's smart to do this. I can only imagine seeing this live. Oh...that glory note was a little flat or sharp...one of those. Regardless, this was high-energy fun!!!
The judges give him a standing O!!!! Check out his full performance HERE.
Coton Dixon & Skylar Laine - "Don't You Wanna Stay" by Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson
American Idol Romanceeeeee! This is one of my favorite Country songs ever. THEY ARE NOT DATING! Hehe. They are standing on opposite sides of the stage. Colton starts the song out. Skylar is lovely in a red dress and she comes in on the chorus. This song definitely fits Skylar more than Colton. This is a sweet performance, even if a bit lackluster. Skylar strains a bit on the higher notes.
Steven said they just made love to each other singing that!!!! O.M.G. Awkward much?
Randy didn't quite dig it. It was OK for him. Check out their full performance HERE.
Hollie Cavanagh - "Perfect" by Pink
Great, great song. Let's hope she brings it! She's seated center stage on a stool and a guitar player is strumming next to her. She's slowed this up a bit and is focused on delivering her vocals. Midway through, she stands and heads downstage. Her vocals are rich and probably the best they've been for the most of her Idol run. However, that was lackluster. I think that was a bad choice. She's too nice to sing Pink.
J.Lo starts out by saying she looks great and said she should be proud of herself. Steven thought it "just laid there" for him. Check out her full performance HERE.
Phillip Phillips - "Give a Little More" by Maroon 5
He breaks out the guitar again! The arrangement starts with him and the guitar with some saxophone trickling in. OMG. Blonde girl with sax!!!!!!!!! The performance slowly picks up. There's lightening and RED rain in the background. This guy has been growing on me the past few weeks, but this is just OK. Vocally, he growls and strains on some of the bigger notes. Has he peaked already?!?!
J.lo said it was underwhelming and said she's seen this type of performance a couple times already!!!! WOW!!!
Check out his full performance HERE.
Hollie Cavanagh, Jessica Sanchez, & Joshua Ledet - "What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger)" by Kelly Clarkson
Josh and Hollie are BFFs!!!!!!! OMG, too cute!!! Josh starts out the performance. Oh, he sounds great on this. After the first few lines, Jessica joins in and then Hollie. OMG. Electric!!! They are all just standing across the front of the stage. Joshua is playing the forlorn lover torn between Jessica and Hollie!!! Ouch, there's a bum note from Hollie and Josh. Hmm. There's something off about this. There are some stellar moments, but some not so stellar ones.
J.Lo said she's proud to see them on stage and it was really amazing. Steven recognizes Josh and Jess...but not Hollie...
Check out their full performance HERE.
Elise Testone - "You and I" by Lady Gaga
Holy song, batman! I do realize Haley Reinhart rocked this song last year, but it's perfectly suited for Elise's soulful voice. Jason Segel is doing a LIVE VIDEO!!!!! He's a GIANT FAN of hers and thinks she's amazing!!! She starts at the piano!!!! OMG. Her tone is FIERCE tonight. She's making some great melodic changes to make it her own. Midway through, she gets up, ala "One and Only," but it's perfect. OK, yes I'm a fanboy. She moves across the stage. She's laying it all out there on the stage. VOTE VOTE VOTE!!!
Randy thought it was crazy vocals. YES. Check out her full performance HERE.
Top 4: Elise, Skylar, Jessica, Joshua
Bottom 3: Hollie, Colton, Phillip
Who was your favorite tonight? Who will land in the bottom 3?
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