American Idol 11 - Top 9 Perform - Live Blog Recap
Tonight, the Top 9 of American Idol 11 take on "Songs of Their Idols"--which will definitely yield some interesting song choices. The mentor is Stevie Nicks!
Nigel Lythgoe tweeted out some artists names last week: Led Zeppelin, Mariah, Beyonce, Miranda, Lifehouse, and Daughtry. He also tweeted earlier a few solo song spoilers and that there will be group performances tonight! Idol has also posted the official set list on their Facebook. OMG!
Finally, Nigel took notes from the million and one complaints about themes this season and decided to update it. We'll get some music from the past decade!
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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!!!
"Did you know your dream...came with a price?"
Tommy Hilfiger gives them some style inspiration. He makes sure to let us know about "Authentic Icon"--Idol's own fashion line, which about to be released next month. The contestants try on some of the different styles.
We then get some classic footage of Stevie and Jimmy in the studio from back in the day!
Up first is Colton Dixon! He's singing "Everything" by Lifehouse. It is his favorite worship song. Violins pepper the smooth and soft arrangement. He's pouring his passion into the song. This is exactly the kind of record he will make after the show. At first, the performance is slow going, but it kicks up a notch mid-way through, and his vocals are pretty good. I can see him winning this show or at least making the finale.
Steven tells him he has that star quality. J.Lo was moved and said it's not about vocal acrobatics. Check out his full performance HERE.
Next is Skylar Laine! She's singing "Gunpowder and Lead" by Miranda Lambert. Stevie advises that the chorus needs harmony. OMG. She begins up on the big stairs. She's a spit fire! I appreciate her picking Miranda as her Idol, but this is like a cheap imitation of the original recording. Also, the song choice was a little too predictable. However, she does have a lot of spunk and energy on stage. I'm just afraid her momentum is really slowing down after her first performance of "Stay with Me." She set the bar too high for herself early on. That was solid.
Steven thought it was beautiful. Randy loved it and said to remember that Country music is all about telling a story. Check out her full performance HERE.
TRIO PERFORMANCE
Colton, Elise, and Phillip - Fleetwood Mac Medley
Oh. Perfect grouping and perfect choice for this trio. Colton begins with "Landslide" and then is joined by Elise and Phillip. Oh, their voices blend really nicely. Mid-way through, the song kicks into high gear with "Edge of Seventeen." This section gives Elise a chance to really shine. Lastly, Phillip leads on "Don't Stop." That was pretty solid, nothing to write home about though. GO ELISE!
Heejun Han is up! He's singing "A Song for You" by Donny Hathaway. He's back to being serious! The arrangement is sparse with just a piano. After a ridiculous performance last week, he either needed to do this or go even crazier. He does have a nice voice when he's taking the competition more serious. After hitting the bottom last week, he's singing on borrowed time now. Oh, he nails the high notes, but comes off a tad bit boring. If someone else gets the boot over him...again...I will do something drastic.
Steven thought he turned it around from last week. Heejun let the song sing him. Huh? Check out his full performance HERE.
Hollie Cavanagh takes the stage! She's singing "Jesus Take the Wheel" by Carrie Underwood. Wow, huge shoes to fill. Can she pull it off? As a huge Carrie fan, I'm a little...sigh...Stevie wants to hear her heart come out of her. Stevie is getting emotional. OMG. She tells her that she's going to be a big, big star. Hollie is wearing a lovely white dress. She finally looks her age. I was hoping she would go uptempo this week. Hollie has oodles of talent, and I just don't want her to go hom earlier than she should. Her vocals are pretty pure on this track; she definitely redeems herself after not-so-good vocals last week. Kudos to her for really pouring her passion into this. I believe her. It looks like she's about to break down there at the end. With that said, she pales in comparison to Carrie. (Yup, I'm biased)
Randy thinks she did a really good job and doesn't think it was the perfect song choice. Check out her full performance HERE.
Deandre Brackensick is up! He's singing "Sometimes I Cry" by Eric Benet. Oh boy. Stay out of your falsetto, Deandre!!! He starts upstage and makes his way down through the fog. He lifts the mic stand from the floor. It was hidden. Eh. His vocals live in falsetto-land pretty much the entire performance. I just...can't with this. If he doesn't get the boot this week, I will officially lose all hope in America.
The judges give him a standing ovation?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Check out his full performance HERE.
Jessica Sanchez is next! She's singing "Sweet Dreams" by Beyonce. She's slowed the song down to make it a ballad. There's a harp! She comes through a doorway on stage. There are red doors in intervals across the stage. She really needed to go uptempo this week. This song slowed down doesn't quite work. There's a certain fierceness to this track that benefits from its original tempo. Her vocals, as always, are still stellar, like there ever was any doubt.
J.Lo begins by saying,"hi, baby," but fakes us out and says it was beautiful.
OMG she has an alter ego called Bebe Chez!!! Check out her full performance HERE.
TRIO PERFORMANCE
Deandre, Heejun, and Joshua - Michael Jackson Medley
Oh boy. I could have seen this coming. This has all the cheese in the factory. Joshua is the standout vocalist of this trio. MJ is right in his vocal/style wheelhouse. The best part of this? When they break out "PYT." Work it...out! They really get the crowd going. So charming!
It's Phillip Phillips' turn! He's singing "Still Raining" by Johnny Lang. Stevie absolutely adores him and says he would have been asked to join Fleetwood Mac years ago. Wow. He has an electric guitar! I applaud him that he does stand his ground on what kind of artist he is. This might be the first time that I really like him. Sure, his constipated grunting is still there, but it fits the song. This guy's gonna win...
Standing O from the judges! They are giving these out like candy tonight.
Why are they pimping the guys out so much? You'd think they would back the girls more. Check out his full performance HERE.
It's time for Joshua Ledet! He's singing "Without You" by Mariah Carey. Interesting choice. I would never have thought that...Mariah is his idol? He's wearing a snazy jacket. I love that he decided to sing a female song, no comparisons can be made. He has a rich lower register we rarely see. He needs to bring this to church! He adds some interesting vocals runs as the song builds. There are so many ballads tonight! Gah! He certainly brings out the heavy artillery towards the end and powers where he needs to. He definitely redeems himself after last week.
ANOTHER STANDING OVATION! Check out his full performance HERE.
TRIO PERFORMANCE
Holly, Jessica, and Skylar - Madonna Medley
Jessica begins the performance on the big stairs with "Like a Prayer." Skylar and Holly join her. Then they segue into "Borderline." This definitely favors Holly and Jessica, for sure. They close with "Express Yourself." This is just OK, at least Jessica and Holly are forced to do uptempo.
Elise Testone gets the pimp spot! She's singing "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin. OMG. Adam Lambert performed this on the show his season. OMG, Stevie and Elise are singing together! Wow. This is perfect for her. It's great to see her rockin' out. She even takes the mic stand and drags it across the floor. WOW. Her vocals are raw and powerful on this track. It definitely is not easy to sing Zeppelin. She even breaks out a few raspy screams for effect. I'm actually blown away right now...
The judges give her a standing O! If they hadn't given out so many already tonight, it would mean something. Check out her full performance HERE.
Top 3: Elise, Joshua, Phillip
Middle: Skylar, Colton, Jessica
Bottom 3: Deandre, Heejun, Holly
Well. Tonight was interesting. We had way too many snoozy ballads and only one AWESOME performance...from Elise. She did exactly what she needed to do tonight.
They handed out FIVE standing ovations.
Who was your favorite? Who will land in the bottom?