American Idol XIII 2014 – Live Blog and Recap – Hollywood Round, Week #2 – Video
Welcome to the live blog and recap of American Idol XIII "Hollywood Round, Week #2"! It's the final performances before the Top 30 semifinalists are revealed! Which singers will prove they deserve to advance to America's vote? And which singers will just miss out on their dreams? It's going to be an intense night!
Credit: FOX
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Recap
-Well, the site is down so I'm writing this in OpenOffice, since Wordpress is apparently suffering a DDOS attack. Hackers are infuriating. Particularly when they're bored.
-We kick things off with Harry addressing the contestants, saying he's sick of hearing people complain about being sick. He tells them to just suck it up and sing, since it's not like they're actually going to notice anyway, unless the contestant stupidly tells them ahead of time, at which point that's all they're going to be able to notice. Harry says he's done plenty of gigs where he felt like crap, but no one ever says anything, because no one ever knows. So he basically just tells them to keep their “illness” to themselves.
-So we open with a brief montage of performances, with some of the contestants being sent home immediately. Ryan then explains that the contestants will wait in the holding room for their name to be called. Wait, so are they doing the Green Mile before the final solo performances? Or is this a flashforward?
EMILY PIRIZ is up first!
-Emily Piriz is up first, and we see her solo performance, so apparently this is either a flashforward, or we're going to mix in the solo performances with the contestant learning their fate. Emily sang “Stars” By Grace Potter and the Nocturnals on her piano, and it was pretty damn good. Keith even hoots and hollers for her during the performance. Harry whispers to the other judges and says Emily looked and sounded absolutely gorgeous.
-Emily takes the elevator ride to meet with the judges, and the first thing Harry asks is what her heritage is, since the judges have been wondering. Emily says she's Cuban, at which point J-Lo proclaims that Latinas are representing. They deliver the news...
EMILY PIRIZ advances to the top 30!
-So fifteen guys and fifteen girls will make it through, and one of the spots has already been claimed. Emily is stunned and excited beyond belief. But we waste no time heading to the next result...
SPENCER LLOYD is up next!
-We recap Spencer's journey, including the Group Round drama and the stir his good looks have caused.
-Spencer sang an original song on his guitar, and it's kind of a mess. Apparently, the judges weren't that happy about it either, as Harry compared its talky, inspiration lyrics to a “public service announcement.”
-J-Lo explains to Spencer that he hasn't been consistent, and that his original song ultimately worked against him, making this a tough decision, as much as they love him. However, they still want him to be in the top 15 guys...
SPENCER LLOYD advances to the Top 30!
-Spencer says this is a big challenge and that there are a lot of talented musicians here, but he's obviously thrilled. I'm loving this format of mixing the solo performances with the Final Judgment. This may be the show's best editing decision in AGES.
-And up next is someone I ABSOLUTELY ADORE...
JILLIAN JENSEN is up next!
-Jillian sang an original song on her guitar, but not before explaining to the judges that she believes the point of American Idol is to find an artist, not just someone who can win this year, but someone who can be a success going forward. Harry: “Well said.”
-Jillian rides the elevator and we get a brief recap of her journey, and she looks absolutely GORGEOUS. Seriously, the pin-up look totally works for her. With that said, I'm not sure if she'll get through. Her original song was good, but we didn't get to hear enough of it for me to make a confident prediction.
-Harry says they aren't sure about her, and Jillian is already bracing for rejection, reliving The X Factor all over again. But when Harry tells her she's in the Top 15 Girls, she completely breaks down and runs over to hug him. God, I wish we'd seen more of her before this. I just worry she's going to get eaten alive in the voting rounds simply for lack of screentime, since I doubt her XF visibility will help her.
JILLIAN JENSEN advances to the Top 30!
-I'm actually kind of surprised we haven't had more reality singing show crossovers, come to think of it. Not that we have much time to think it over, since we're on to our next contestant...
MADELYN PATTERSON is up next!
-Madelyn breaks down when recalling her journey up to this point, how hard she's worked and how badly she wants this.
-We see her solo performance, of Patty Griffin's “Up to the Mountain”, and I'm really not all that jaxxed about it. She has a great voice, but she overdid it with the runs.
-She takes her seat with the judges and admits to being nervous. Unfortunately for Madelyn, the judges waste no time ripping the bandage, as she doesn't make it through. She breaks the news to everyone else, but takes it in good spirits, comforting Savion Wright, who's more broken up about it than she is. She takes solace in knowing that the judges want her back next year.
MADELYN PATTERSON is sent home.
We get a montage of other cut contestants: MICHAEL SIMEON, LEBRYANT CREW, SABRINA LENTINI are sent home.
-This segment is scored to George Lovett's solo round performance of “I Won't Give Up,” which is fitting since he's the next to learn his fate...
GEORGE LOVETT is up next!
-George is nervous since a lot of great talent is being sent home. But much like with Madelyn, the judges waste no time delivering their decision...except, unlike with Madelyn, it's good news.
-George falls to pieces when he hears the news, and honestly, I like him, but I thought his version of “I Won't Give Up” was way too over-the-top. But I'm happy for him, on a personal level.
GEORGE LOVETT advances to the Top 30!
-And we're back with SHELBY ANNE MILLER and CONNOR ZWETSCH (who does a coffeehouse take on “Sweet Home Alabama”)
-We then move on to our next contestant...
SAM WOOLF is up next!
-Sam admits he's taking a risk by performing an original song, and I wish contestants would stop saying that. I don't think it's any more of a risk than singing a cover, since the judges are just as likely to give you grief for your interpretation of a cover as they are to get on your ass about your songwriting capabilities, or having to sit through a song they haven't heard before.
-Sam sings his original, which he wrote after his mother moved away, and it's laced with an innocent sort of pain. I really like Sam's voice. A lot.
-Sam arrives to meet the judges, and J-Lo admits that this has been a difficult process, trying to narrow it down to which singers have the total package. And they believe Sam could be one of those people...
SAM WOOLF advances to the Top 30!
-So Sam Woolf takes one of the 15 spots for the guys, and Harry is happy for him.
-We then get a montage of contestants who've been cut, but they don't provide names for any of these people, nor do they give us a peek at the performances that led to their elimination. So annoying.
KERI LYNN ROCHE is up next!
-Keri sings a wonderful rendition of "I'd Rather Go Blind" by Etta James, and...they cut her?!?!
-Keith rationalizes that they have a lot of really good talent, but man, this just feels like a huge mistake to me.
KERI LYNN ROCHE is sent home.
-So everyone is terrified to see that such talented people are going home. Emmanuel Zidor is already in tears.
MALAYA WATSON is up next!
-We recap Malaya's journey so far, and finally see her solo performance. She sings "I Believe" by Fantasia, and Harry mentions to the other judges that he doesn't know this song! Terrific. Of course, his concerns are valid, since he can tell something is off. Malaya isn't playing an instrument and is instead relying on the band, and Harry can tell they're in the wrong key. So he has the entire performance start over again.
-It's kind of a disappointing vocal from Malaya. I felt like she was a sure-thing going into this, but she seriously overcooks the vocal. However, J-Lo still gives her a standing O.
-Malaya corrects Harry on the pronunciation of her name, and he thanks her for doing that, since he thinks her name (which means "Freedom") has great star potential.
MALAYA WATSON advances to the Top 30!
-Malaya is ecstatic, proclaiming she's the first tuba player in American Idol history. Didn't Casey Abrams play tuba? I'm probably getting confused. But seriously, that guy played so many instruments.
MAURICE TOWNSEND is up next!
-Maurice sang "Wrecking Ball" and it's...different. I love his voice, and I actually really dig his take on this song. It's more of an adult contemporary power ballad in his hands. Harry liked it, saying his vocal had a great arc to it.
-Keith says it's not just about runs and skill, but it's about that undefinable quality (The X Factor, mayhaps?), which is why this has been so hard. However, Keith speaks on behalf of the judges and informs Maurice that they want to see him in the Top 30. So Maurice Townsend claims one of the spots for the Top 15 guys!
MAURICE TOWNSEND advances to the Top 30!
-And now, here's Randy Jackson for a visit, and ugh...I'm in no real mood.
-Of course, Harry immediately lightens the mood by going on stage with Keith and performing a song that's better than anything we've actually seen this week so far. It's silly but also really tuneful. Seriously, I love me some Harry Connick, Jr.
-We're back with a contestant who's pulled a Majesty Rose York and added a last name...
BRIA ANAI JOHNSON is up next!
-Bria sang "It's A Man's Man's Man's World", and this is INSANE! Seriously, I was not a Bria-believer before, but this performance alone sold me on her almost entirely. I was just immensely impressed with this.
-Bria nervously awaits her fate, and it's good news.
BRIA ANAI JOHNSON advances to the Top 30!
-Bria tricks her mom into thinking she was rejected. I don't see the point in fakeouts. But hey, she's 16.
JESSICA MEUSE and JESSE ROACH are up next!
-Jessica recounts her Group Round drama, and as we see her nervously riding the elevator up to meet her fate.
-She sang "Done", an original song "about an idiot." (Her delivery on that line absolutely slayed me. I have no idea why) The vocal is pretty good, but not up to the standard of her past vocals, in my opinion. Still, I think she deserves to go through. More so than some.
-Yet Jessica isn't making this journey alone, as JESSE ROACH rides up with her so they can learn their fate together. Jesse talks about how this is "legendary" to her, and how this is the biggest moment of her life since the birth of her son. Jesse's performance is incredibly "meh", in my opinion. Nowhere near as good as her past performances. But as the judges confer at the table, they go back and forth, arguing that she's more interesting than Jessica (I can see the immediate impulse to compare the two, since their smoky, bluesy styles are so similar. But if we can have multiple gospel and country singers in a season like last year, and multiple WGWGs this year, why not these two?)
-Jessica talks about how "The Final Judgment" sounds so apocalyptic, and they're both incredibly tense about their fate. And with good reason: Harry explains that they still haven't made up their minds yet, and will need to hear them both sing one more time...
-Jessica sings "Simple Man" by Lynyrd Skynyrd, and her nerves make the first half of the vocal really messy. But she finishes pretty strong. Jesse, meanwhile, reprises her audition song, singing KT Oslin's "Do Ya". I liked it better in the audition, but to be fair, she had her guitar then. This was just straight a cappella.
-Jessica and Jesse wait in a shadowy corner while the judges discuss their fate. Harry talks about being more interested in Jessica, but J-Lo disagrees. Keith says Jesse is compelling, but he likes Jessica. "I wish we could let them both through," he says. If it were up to me, I'd go with Jessica.
-The judges call them back and make their decision...
JESSICA MEUSE advances to the Top 30!
-Jessica covers her mouth in disbelief while Jesse embraces the judges and says goodbye. Keith thanks both girls for singing for them. And now they have to take the most awkward elevator ride of all-time. Jesse confesses afterwards that she feels defeated, while J-Lo says there was no other way they could have decided. "We needed a fighter," J-Lo says, by way of rationalizing their decision.
DEXTER ROBERTS is up next!
-Dexter rides the elevator as we get a brief recap of his solo performance, which is probably his best vocal so far.
-We get a brief bit of the judges telling him his fate, before cutting to Dexter riding the elevator back down in tears. When he bursts through the waiting room door, it's with a thrilled expression on his face.
DEXTER ROBERTS advances to the Top 30!
-We keep things rolling...
EMMANUEL ZIDOR is up next!
-Am I the only one who doesn't really get Emmanuel Zidor? His solo performance is decent, but it borders on histrionic in places. He's just too much, all the time.
-As he gets off the elevator, he breaks down in tears. J-Lo tearfully pleads with him not to cry, and Emmanuel explains that there has been a lot of talented people, and he just really wants this. However, he adds that he's thrilled to have made it this far, and to have earned J-Lo's promise of a new pair of shoes.
-J-Lo tells him she'll give him the shoes the next time she sees him, since he's one of the Top 15 guys...
EMMANUEL ZIDOR advances to the Top 30!
-On the one hand, I'm thrilled for Emmanuel as a person, because he seems like such a great guy. But on vocals, I wouldn't have put him through. But then, it's not up to me, so congratulations, Emmanuel.
-And we return from break with M.K. Nobilette learning her fate...
M.K. NOBILETTE is up next!
-M.K. sings "The A Team" by Ed Sheeran, one of my favorite songs. And she does an okay job with it. It starts out strong but loses energy as it goes on. Still, I like M.K. During the performance, J-Lo compares M.K. to a quiet storm, and says the way she sings gives her goosebumps.
-J-Lo tells M.K. she's not the typical American Idol, and Harry says this is one of their concerns. M.K. speaks up and says, yes, she's very obviously gay, but she feels attitudes are changing, and so is the world. It's a lovely speech, and it's echoed by J-Lo and the judges, who feel the world IS changing, and she COULD be the next American Idol. Such a great moment.
M.K. NOBILETTE advances to the Top 30!
-M.K. really didn't think this was going to happen, as reflected through her joyful tears. And the rest of the holding room seems equally stoked for her. It's a truly feel-good moment.
KRISTEN O'CONNOR is up next!
-She sang a pretty decent version of "Unconditionally" by Katy Perry, although I'm not sure it's Top 30 material, and we need to start seeing some rejections if they're going to stretch this thing to tomorrow night.
-J-Lo gives the ol' boilerplate about how hard the decisions have been, and how there are only so many spots, and we live her fate hanging in the balance as we head to commercial, with Ryan asking us to hit up Twitter to vote on whether we think Kristen should go through to the Top 30, or if this is where her journey should end. I'm guessing the latter.
-We return and...they put her through?! How does Kristen O'Connor get through but not Keri Lynn Roche? I like the majority of these decisions, but some of these are seriously confusing. I'm guessing she's a cannon fodder pick.
KRISTEN O'CONNOR advances to the Top 30!
-So eight spots remain for the girls, and nine spots remain for the guys.
JORDAN BRISBANE is up next!
-Jordan is still here?! I don't know what the judges see in him, in his current form. He clearly has a good voice that only needs a few more years of honing before its truly great, but right now, he's just not ready. His solo performance of "Halo" reflects this, as it's hoarse and all over the place.
-Jordan talks about how he's just turned 16 (it's his birthday!), and Keith says Jordan hasn't heard a lot of Nos in his life. He's just gotten one "yes" after another. And today is no different. Wait, WHAT?!
JORDAN BRISBANE advances to the Top 30!
-I do not get this at ALL.
-And it's bad news for some other contestants: CASEY MCQUILLEN and NICA NASHAE are sent home.
-Up next is another double result...
ANDRINA BROGDEN and LEAH GUERRERO are up next!
-The girls ride the elevator together, and while they're both obviously nervous, they seem in better spirits than Jessica and Jesse did. Fun fact: Guerrero means "Warrior" in Spanish, which is fitting since Leah showed a lot of fighting spirit in her solo performance, but I think she was outperformed by Andrina Brogden's take on "Lights" by Ellie Goulding.
-In a telling comment during the performance, Harry whispers that Andrina (with her swagger and stage presence) is what Leah is actually trying to be. And so the decision is pretty much settled...
ANDRINA BROGDEN advances to the Top 30!
LEAH GUERRERO is sent home.
-Leah breaks down, but embraces the judges and thanks them for the opportunity, saying it was a pleasure to meet them. Harry tells her how talented she is, and implores her to come back. However, once back in the holding room, Leah lets it all out, leaving Andrina feeling more than a little awkward, as her happiness is tempered by Leah's misery.
-We return from break to a beautiful rendition of "Ready For Love" by India.Arie...
MALCOLM ALLEN is up next!
-Seriously, his Hollywood rendition of "Ready For Love" is terrific, and that wasn't even his solo round performance! He sang "I'm Going Down", which isn't as good, but is still damn solid. J-Lo silences Harry's concerns about marketability by saying she remembers Malcolm every time. He really should go through, although I don't really have the best track record tonight.
-Malcolm awaits his fate, and Harry drags it out to a painful extent. But the news is ultimately worth the wait.
MALCOLM ALLEN advances to the Top 30!
-Malcolm, in his confessional, says he's "absolutely" the next American Idol, and tells America to get ready, because he's coming.
ALEX PRESTON is up next!
-One of my absolute favorites. Seriously, if they cut him, I'm going to be FURIOUS. He comes up the elevator with his guitar still strapped to him. The Prodigal WGWG has arrived!
-We get a clip of his solo round performance, and while I think he overdid it a bit on the runs and occasional dips into falsetto, I think he absolutely deserves to go through. We get a brief clip of him playing something like seven different instruments in his house as he talks about hoping that people will be inspired to learn music and pursue their dreams by watching him.
-Alex admits to Keith that he wasn't sure he'd make it this far. We get a brief clip of the judges' discussions after Alex's solo vocal, and Keith leans towards a yes, although we don't get Harry's opinion.
-Keith talks about how they couldn't take everybody...but they'd like to see him again.
ALEX PRESTON advances to the Top 30!
-Awesome decision. Love this guy.
-And now, the last two people to find out their fate...
C.J. HARRIS and CASEY THRASHER are up next!
-We recall their story, as they live forty miles from each other, and both auditioned for the Idol bus tour before receiving their respective Golden Tickets at the city auditions.
-Casey sang "Amazed" by Lonestar for his solo performance, and it's just okay. I just don't see how he's made it this far. Meanwhile, C.J.'s elegantly simple rendition of "Bring It On Home to Me" is one of the most beautiful things I've heard this episode.
-The judges say they can't decide, and so they're going to have to "fight for it" by singing for them right now.
-C.J. goes first and sings an absolutely KILLER version of "Whipping Post", full of all this grit, rage, and soul. I actually think C.J. is the best case we've gotten so far for the win.
-Casey sings "Don't Ya" by Brett Eldridge, and I'm really impressed. With one song, I can immediately see how he made it this far. A really, really good performance, I thought.
-The judges confer while Casey and C.J. wait in the shadows, and I'm really nervous, since I think we're due for a shock cut.
-Harry calls the judges back, and...it's a cliffhanger! SERIOUSLY?! Blech.
-So who goes through, and who goes home? Guess we'll find out tomorrow night, along with the rest of the Top 30. Should be an interesting show.
The Top 30 (So Far)
Guys: Spencer Lloyd, George Lovett, Sam Woolf, Maurice Townsend, Dexter Roberts, Emmanuel Zidor, Jordan Brisbane, Malcolm Allen, and Alex Preston
Girls: Emily Piriz, Jillian Jensen, Malaya Watson, Bria Anai, Jessica Meuse, M.K. Nobilette, Kristen O'Connor, and Andrina Brogden
-So that's seven spots left for the girls, and six spots left for the guys. Who will round out our Top 30? Join us tomorrow night for the live blog! Until then, keep refreshing, as I'm still adding videos as soon as they become available! Thanks for hanging out!