American Idol 12 – Semifinalist Round, Part 4 – Live Blog and Recap – 2/28/2013

Welcome to the live blog and recap for the "Semifinalist Round, Part 4" of American Idol Season 12!

The interminable business of whittling down 40-to-20 ends tonight! Which dudes will come out on the winning end of sudden death in Las Vegas?

Credit: FOX

8:02 PM

After the usual introductions of the studio, the judges, and a reiteration of what's at stake (along with the tidbit that the contestants get to pick their own songs tonight, which is a weird thing to admit, since it implies that they haven't been until now), we meet the ten guys performing tonight:

Bryant Tadeo
Burnell Taylor
Cortez Shaw
David Oliver Willis
Gurpreet Singh Sarin
Josh Holiday
Lazaro Arbos
Mathenee Treco
Nick Boddington
Vincent Powell

MATHENEE TRECO is up first!

-Mathenee's video package is the usual deal, talking about how badly he wants it. He certainly has the look, I'd say.

-He sings "A Little Less Conversation" by Elvis Presley, and I kind of hate this. His excitement, his need to show off what he can do, and the power of his voice blended together to make for a really sharp, annoying vocal.

-Keith loves the power in his voice, but tells Mathenee to be leery of letting his desire to entertain overwhelm his vocal. He does love that Mathenee sang an Elvis song in Vegas though.

-Nicki likes Mathenee, but felt he was trying too hard to please the judges, and that his performance didn't feel current.

-Randy likes Mathenee, but didn't like the song choice. Mathenee says he's influenced by hip hop and classic rock, and adds that he was simply trying to entertain, and hopes he was able to do so.

-Mariah also really likes Mathenee, and felt that he was authentic, although she felt there was a little bit of a disconnect between who he is and what he gave her.

-Ryan asks Mathenee about song choice, and he tells Ryan that sometimes you have to stick to your decisions. It's an interview so brief and perfunctory that I'm wondering what, exactly, the point of it all was. But I do like that we're getting to actually hear from these contestants more than we did in Hollywood Week, even if only briefly.

Mathenee Treco - Sudden Death - American Idol 12 by IdolxMuzic

8:12 PM

-Back from break with our next contestant, "The Turbanator"!

GURPREET SINGH SARIN is up next!

-He talks about the significance of his turban as a religious artifact. He also talks about his parents being born in India, and how close they all are, sharing a passion for music.

-Gurpreet sings "Nothing Ever Hurt Like You" by James Morrison, and I really love his voice. It's very smooth and soulful, even on an uptempo song like this.

-Keith says he prefers Gurpreet when he plays an acoustic guitar, and that he didn't care for the song choice, but he likes Gurpreet.

-Nicki said today was not the day to take "that" kind of chance. "Honey child, HELL no." Gurpreet pleads to be put through, saying he'll bring his guitar next time, if he gets through.

-Randy says it was terrible. He reiterates that he has to keep it real, and insists the performance was just terrible.

-Mariah was disappointed, asking what instruments Gurpreet plays. He mentions that he plays the sitar and thought about incorporating traditional Indian music into his performance, and says if he gets through, he'll show what he can really do.

-Ryan asks Gurpreet why he decided to take a risk this week, and Gurpreet says he wanted to show that he wasn't glued to his guitar. Ryan suggests that the judges want to see him bring back the glue, and Gurpreet reiterates that he definitely will if given a second chance.

Gurpreet Singh - Sudden Death - American Idol 12 by IdolxMuzic

-Ryan keeps the show moving along...

VINCENT POWELL is up next!

-Vincent talks about singing backup for Whitney Houston, and doing studio work for Scarface. He hopes that American Idol will be his next level.

-He sings "Cause I Love You" by Lenny Williams. This is exceptional. He's old-fashioned yet current, and his vocals are out-of-this world, particularly his closing power note that dovetails into an absolutely gorgeous run. The judges give him a standing ovation (all except Nicki, I believe).

-Keith thought it was a great vocal.

-Nicki loved it, saying she thought it was old-fashioned but sexy.

-Randy compares him to D'Angelo and Frank Ocean, and says that the night has really started with Vincent's performance. "He's in it to win it!"

-Mariah gives effusive praise: "All I can say is, 'Finally'."

-Ryan asks Zoanette, in the audience, what she thought of the performance: "GET IT, PAPA SMURF! THAT'S MY BOO!" Oh Zoanette. I can't with you, right now. Shine on, you crazy diamond.

8:29 PM

Back from break with the next contestant...

NICK BODDINGTON is up next!

-He talks about starting piano lessons at age five, and the role music has had in his life.

-Nick sings "Say Something Now" by James Morrison, and I'm wondering if it's James Morrison Night and no one told me. Not that I'd have a problem with that. It would still be a far more germane theme than Andrew Lloyd Weber Night or (ugh) Leiber and Stoller Night.

-Nick's performance is lovely, if unspectacular. I do like Nick though, and not just because we share names (if that were the case, I'd have been a fan of Nick Mitchell/Norman Gentle). I hope he advances.

-Keith likes his voice and his performance, but feels that there's something keeping him from connecting. Nick says it's his hope to connect with the song, and convey his emotion onstage.

-Nicki felt that while it wasn't a ten, it was still a good performance. She agrees with Keith, however, that there's something missing.

-Randy thought it was the wrong song choice, and that he kept expecting a moment from Nick, as he expects from everyone tonight.

-Mariah felt she heard a "moment" in there, and sticks up for Nick's performance.

-Ryan asks why he picked the song, and Nick says it's because he feels that is the kind of artist he wants to be, and he wanted to show that to everyone.

Nick Boddington - Sudden Death - American Idol 12 by IdolxMuzic

8:39 PM

-Back from break with Ryan complimenting Mariah on her jewelry, for some reason.

JOSH HOLIDAY is up next!

-Josh talks about how you should only do music if you can't imagine yourself doing anything else, and that he can only see himself doing music.

-He sings an original song called "Better With You" from his piano, and it's my favorite performance of the night so far. It's not only a good song, he also performs it well, except for when he gets up from the piano. His voice goes weirdly sharp towards the end. But it's still a damn good performance.

-Keith says he wishes Josh would have let loose more, but that he does like Josh and feels he's really talented.

-Nicki felt Josh should have stayed at the piano, since it came off like he was trying to impress them once he got up from the piano.

-Randy is somewhat ambivalent about the performance: he liked it, but he's not entirely sure how he feels about it. He throws to Mariah to get her opinion.

-Mariah likes Josh and loves that he's a singer/songwriter, and says that she hopes he keeps writing songs because songwriters are some of the most successful people in the business.

-Ryan asks Josh about the song, which he wrote after Hollywood Week. Josh talks about the grueling process of writing the song, and it's one of the more interesting contestant interviews of the competition so far, actually.

Josh Holiday - Sudden Death - American Idol 12 by IdolxMuzic

8:50

-Back from break with our next contestant...

DAVID OLIVER WILLIS is up next!

-He talks about being raised in a foster home, and also about how he and his wife (along with their friends) are musicians who perform together.

-David breaks out the guitar. (BGWG?! He's like a more likable Michael Lynch!) He sings a really snappy version of "Fever", the standard covered by everyone from Nina Simone to Michael Buble. I'm really enjoying this. He also has a very unique look to match his voice. Love his phrasing too.

-Keith felt it wasn't the right song for David, but he really likes David's soulful voice, comparing it to Dobie Gray, among others.

-Nicki seems disappointed Oliver is married (super cute wife, by the way). She felt like the performance was similar to when someone gets up in front of family and friends to jam on Christmas.

-Randy agrees more with Keith. He's intrigued by David and sees his potential.

-Mariah was more intrigued by David's backstory, likening his group performance in Hollywood to a "Motown moment." She felt she's heard him sing better, but says that the crowd seemed to love it.

-Ryan asks Nicki why her eyes were widening during the other judges' critiques, and she says it's because while she likes David, she honestly didn't feel it was a current performance.

David Oliver Willis - Sudden Death - American... by IdolxMuzic

-And like that, we're on to our next performer...

BRYANT TADEO is up next!

-Bryant talks about his Hawaiian heritage, as we see flashbacks of his journey so far.

-He sings "New York State of Mind" by Billy Joel, and I'm immediately reminded of Erika Van Pelt. That's not to say this isn't lovely. In fact, I'd argue it's the best of the night so far, particularly in his closing, as he reaches into a breathy falsetto that's sublime.

-Keith feels Bryant made a connection with the song, and that he's been waiting for that.

-Nicki loved the last note of the song...and nothing else. (Lots of boos there)

-Randy liked the beginning, but he kept waiting for it to go somewhere, and it just never did.

-Mariah thinks that what people responded to in his performance was the professional sound of his voice. She felt he got lost in places, and Bryant explains that the excitement got to him a little. Mariah appreciates his raw talent, and feels that he's a talented person, even if she doesn't think it was his best performance.

-Ryan asks Bryant if he's ready, should he advance. Bryant says he hopes so.

Bryant Tadeo - Sudden Death - American Idol 12 by IdolxMuzic

9:06 PM

-Ryan is in the holding room with Burnell, talking about how the show has changed his life. He says that he's lost forty pounds since being on the show, adding that "when you feel better, you do better."

BURNELL TAYLOR is up next!

-Burnell talks about putting his life back together after Katrina, and how they're still not back to normal, but they're getting there. He alos talks about music and how performing has always been easy for him.

-He sings "This Time" by John Legend. This is such a bad song choice for him. He has a good voice, but this song is making him sound like he's got all kinds of mucous in his throat, although he makes some really good choices in his actual vocal. Ultimately, I'm somewhat conflicted about this performance, and Burnell himself. Nicki, however, is over-the-moon for him, giving him a standing ovation.

-Keith talks about Burnell's cadence and his vocal prowess, saying he really liked that performance, as it felt very original.

-Nicki said she'd pay money right now to hear him sing. She tells him, from watching his pre-performance video, that he deserves this, and he's the best tonight -- no one is even in his league right now. Dude can sing, but I have absolutely no idea what Nicki is smoking, saying that.

-Randy shouts out Louisiana, and says that although he didn't know if it was Burnell's best performance, he loves his originality and the way he feels whatever he's singing.

-Mariah agrees with Randy, talking about Burnell's rawness and authenticity. She says she's been rooting for Burnell and wanting him to stay in this competition.

-Ryan asks Burnell about his signature greeting, two fingers to his lips. He says it's "just a kiss." Please don't remind me about that Janelle Arthur mess last night.

Burnell Taylor - Sudden Death - American Idol 12 by IdolxMuzic

9:17 PM

-Back from break with one of this season's most buzzed-about contestants.

LAZARO ARBOS is up next!

-Lazaro talks about working at an ice cream shop because he couldn't get any other kind of job. He says that he's always loved to sing, but people always used to put him down. However, he tells the viewers that they should never give up.

-He sings "Tonight I Wanna Cry" by Keith Urban. Honestly, this is really underwhelming. He drops a lot of the lyrics, and while I imagine this is a complication of his speech impediment, there's also the larger issue of his sounding as though he's both rushing and also falling behind the band. It's a really strange performance. His voice is still lovely, but (please don't kill me) I'm not sure I'd put him through.

-Keith says it's always been apparent that Lazaro has been a good singer, but he says that although this is really weird for the writer of the song to say, he didn't feel it was the right song choice for Lazaro. That said, Keith says he can still feel the spirit in Lazaro's voice.

-Nicki says Lazaro played it safe in a good way, telling him that he always gives them what they love about him. She loves that he never tries to change himself for them. Lazaro said he knows it wasn't his best song, but Nicki still compliments Lazaro on his vocal.

-Randy agrees with both Nicki and Keith, telling Lazaro he's a great singer.

-Mariah theorizes that Lazaro was moments away from tearing up as he started the song. She says that there's a purity to him, and his voice. She commends him for getting up on the stage because this is not easy.

-Lazaro apologizes to Ryan for missing his spot, then Ryan asks him if the performance went how he'd hoped. When the stuttering makes it too difficult for him to give a fully-involved answer, Lazaro just says "Sure".

Lazaro Arbos - Sudden Death - American Idol 12 by IdolxMuzic

9:29 PM

-Back from break with Ryan shouting out the contestants who've already advanced to America's vote, here in the audience. We then move on to our next contestant...

CORTEZ SHAW is up next!

-Cortez talks about growing about growing up in a single parent home, and the struggles of his youth.

-He sings "Titanium" by David Guetta and Sia, and he reminds me a lot of Todrick Hall: technically proficient, but unspectacular. He wavers between whispering during the verses, and shouting the choruses. That said, he does have the crazy range necessary to actually hit those big notes. But I'm not entirely sure the performance really works.

-Keith loves "Titanium", but says it was a "bold, brave move" to tackle that song as a ballad, and he doesn't mean that as a compliment. He felt it was an inconsistent vocal. However, he says the big notes helped to redeem the performance.

-Nicki likes Cortez a lot, telling him "good song choice. Sexy," in the weird accent of a New York entertainment lawyer.

-Randy also likes Cortez and thinks he can be a very interesting artist for today's scene, saying he's a good-looking guy with a unique sound, and great range.

-Mariah loved the arrangement, and loves what Cortez did. She really thinks he made some very good choices, and says she looks forward to what's next from him.

-Ryan tells Cortez that he probably didn't want that critique to end. He then asks the judges if they need a long commercial break to deliberate, or a short one. Nicki and Randy insist they only need a short one (with Randy saying, "Come on, Ryan," as if it should be obvious who they're picking. I'm not entirely sure if it's obvious, but I do think they'll be able to make their picks without needing Jimmy Iovine tonight).

Cortez Shaw - Sudden Death - American Idol 12 by IdolxMuzic

9:40 PM

-Back from break with Ryan asking if there was any debate over these results. Mariah says of course, as there's a lot of talent here.

Results

David Oliver Willis: ELIMINATED

Bryant Tadeo: ELIMINATED (Minor shock there, at least to the crowd)

Vincent Powell: ADVANCES

Mathenee Treco: ELIMINATED

Lazaro Arbos: ADVANCES

Cortez Shaw: ADVANCES

Josh Holiday: ELIMINATED

Burnell Taylor: ADVANCES

9:56 PM

-Ryan is in the holding room with Gurpreet and Nick, who talk about auditioning on the same day together in New York, and becoming really close throughout the competition.

Gurpreet Singh Sarin: ELIMINATED

Nick Boddington: ADVANCES

And that's a wrap! Your top 20 for season 12 of American Idol is...

Janelle Arthur
Aubrey Cleland
Candice Glover
Kree Harrison
Amber Holcomb
Zoanette Johnson
Adriana Latonio
Angela Miller
Breanna Steer
Tenna Torres

Charlie Askew
Curtis Finch, Jr.
Paul Jolley
Elijah Liu
Devin Velez
Vincent Powell
Lazaro Arbos
Cortez Shaw
Burnell Taylor
Nick Boddington

Guys Results 1st Group - Sudden Death (Part 2... by IdolxMuzic

Guys Results 2nd Group - Sudden Death (Part 2... by IdolxMuzic

I absolutely HATE saying this, but I genuinely feel like this is the worst top 20 they've ever had. I also can't help feeling that the transparency of Nigel's attempts to manufacture a female victory by stacking the deck in their favor is going to backfire. Then again, who knows? A new contender could emerge from out of nowhere.

Next week, the girls perform on Tuesday. The guys perform on Wednesday. Results are on Thursday.

See you then!