Tonight it’s the guys turn to take over the mic. Like the ladies, they are singing songs from the Billboard chart. It will be interesting to see if they guys take the advice the judges gave the ladies last night. Simon helps inspire the guys by saying he watched some of the rehearsals earlier and if the guys let the nerves get to them, “your career is over.” Nice, Simon. In any case, LEE DEWYZE (pictured), had nothing to worry about since Simon crowned him the best performance of the night. A complete breakdown after the jump.
TODRICK HALL – “Since You Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson — Todrick is the dancer who worked with Fantasia on Broadway and decided to audition for Idol. He does indeed have a very good voice for never having studied before. However, he completely reworked the song from top to bottom. It sounds nothing like the original. I’m not sure that I like it. I think Simon will call his performance “indulgent.” That’s Simon’s favorite word. I will say it is kinda catchy though. The judges? Ellen says “I loved that you took the song and did something different with it” and added “The singing wasn’t the greatest.” Randy says he’s an amazing performer, but he didn’t need to “obliterate” the song. Kara agrees. “You are a strong enough singer that you don’t need to change the song that much.” Simon says “You came over as a dancer who tried to sing.” He added, “What you did was murder the original song. What you just did was stupid.” Eeek.
AARON KELLY – “Here Comes Goodbye” by Rascal Flatts — Aaron is 16, but with an amazing voice. During Hollywood Week he forgot the lyrics to “Angel,” but he made the cut. Now, I’m not a fan of country and Aaron sings a country song. He does well though. His voice is definitely made for country and he has a nice falsetto. You can tell he is nervous, but wouldn’t you be at 16-years-old? WOW, he just hit a high and long note and carried it off. Simon says, “It was quite a good performance.” He adds that he needs confidence, but “absolutely 100% you’ll be here next week.” Kara says, “You have no idea how great your raw talent it.” She adds, “I think we’ll see incredible things for you.” Randy says, “You’ve got a huge voice. You can definitely do this.” Ellen says, “I love how humble you are” and adds “You’re just going to get better and better and better.”
JERMAINE SELLERS – “Get Here” by Oleta Adams — Jermaine was know during Hollywood Week for throwing his band under the bus when they strayed from the arrangement Jermaine had planned. Despite his Diva moment, he made the top 24. He promises never to throw the band under the bus again. I have to say that I do not like his version of this Idol favorite. He sounds pitchy to me. I don’t like the arrangement either. I think the judges will slam him. Ellen says, “I felt like you were pushing a little too much. A couple of times you went out and off. I felt like you were trying too hard.” Randy thinks the song is old and Jermaine was trying to do too much vocally with it. “Just sing.” Kara says, “It felt a little old to me.” Simon says, “It was so over the top. It just didn’t work. I think you have totally blown your opportunity.” I agree with Simon.
TIM URBAN – “Apologize” by One Republic — Tim was a last minute replacement for mop top Chris Golightly who reportedly had a recording contract at one point and failed to disclose it to Idol producers. A lesson for us all…always tell the truth. Tim is young, cute and has a decent voice, but I only think its descent. His version of the song sounds very karaoke. I don’t think he’ll last long in the competition. Simon says, “We absolutely made the right decision the first time for not putting you through.” Simon added the vocals and the song were weak. Kara says, “The music swallowed you up.” Randy says, “It was such the wrong song for you. None of it worked. It was all wrong.” Ellen says “You couldn’t hit those high notes” but says he may get a lot of votes for being adorable.
JOE MUNOZ – “You and I Both” by Jason Mraz — Joe was known for playing the guitar badly during Hollywood Week. I don’t recall much about his voice though. I don’t know this song he is singing. His voice is good, but it seems just like an okay performance. It doesn’t wow me. Ellen says, “Joe you are so comfortable on stage. I thought you sounded really, really good.” Randy says “not quite the perfect song choice,” but added “You worked it out.” Kara says, “In terms of singing tonight, I think you have been the best.” Simon says, “I think it was okay, safe forgettable performance” and added “In ten seconds time, they are going to forget that performance.”
TYLER GRADY – “American Woman” by The Guess Who — Tyler is the guy who came in dressed like a 70’s ABBA back-up dancer during his audition. He did have a good voice though. I’m not a fan of The Guess Who or this song, so I am not being impartial when I say I hated it. It was just alright, if that, in my humble opinion. Simon says, “People are going to remember that performance…partly for the wrong reasons.” Simon calls him a cliché. Kara agrees with Simon and says he needs to do more than 70’s schtick. Randy says it was “style over substance.” Ellen says “You’re copying the poses but lacking the excitement.”
LEE DEWYZE – “Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol — I have to say that I remember very little of Lee from Hollywood Week. He just didn’t pop for me. He is, however, singing a very popular song and changing it up quite a bit, and not in a good way. I really don’t recognize the melody. I think this is another case of Todrick Hall where the song is changed too much. Again, I think his voice is mediocre, very karaoke for me. Ellen says “I thought it was a good song choice for you except when you started screaming it.” Randy disagrees with Ellen. “It was too rangie for me…It didn’t work for me.” Kara says “You almost made the song unrecognizable in some parts.” Simon says, “I am going to completely disagree with Randy and Kara. I thought this was the best performance of the night.”
JOHN PARK — “God Bless The Child” — John was told by Shania Twain that he has a beautiful bottom. She was talking about his vocal range, I think. In any case, he did well in the auditions, but we saw little of him. Now, why in the world he chose to sing this song is beyond me. It’s so old, as in older. These young people need to be singing young. He does remind me of an Asian Michael Buble’ though. Simon says, “You have got to have an incredible voice to take on that song and you haven’t.” He also said, “It was kind of a pointless performance.” Kara says she agrees with Simon and adds that it was sleepy and almost indulgent. She says she doesn’t know where he fits in. Randy says “It made you feel old.” Ellen says that song is not going to get a lot of young girls to pick up the phone to vote for you. “We want to know who are you?”
MICHAEL LYNCHE – “This Love” by Maroon 5 — Everyone knows by now that Michael became a dad during Hollywood Week when his wife gave birth to a baby girl. He is so likeable. He does an R&B version of this Maroon 5 hit and I like it. it’s not great, but it’s catchy and like I said, Michael is likeable. You want to root for him. Ellen says “You have so much personality, it’s bursting out of ya.” She adds, “Great song choice.” Randy says “I like you. You brought the energy.” Kara says “It wasn’t outrageously great. You are comfortable for you.” Simon says “You delivered so little on that performance.” He adds, “There was nothing unique about it and you are going to regret that when you watch it back.”
ALEX LAMBERT — “Wonderful World” by James Morrison — Alex is remembered from being in the group with wild rocker mom Mary Powers. He made it. She didn’t. His performance tonight seems a little nasally. He also needs to learn how to move on stage. His voice has a nice tone though. Simon says, “I don’t know who was happier for that to end, you or me.” Simon says he has a good voice, but he has to get his nerves together or “it isn’t going to work.” Kara says “Your tone is crazy. It’s all there, but not completely together.” Randy says he loves his tone and hopes he sticks around. Ellen says “I love bananas and sometimes you want to eat that banana and it’s just not ripe enough… You just need to ripen.”
CASEY JAMES – “Heaven” by Bryan Adams – Casey is the guy who went shirtless in his audition and with whom Kara heavily flirted. He does have a very good voice though as he proved during Hollywood Week. He again proves he has a solid voice. He’s no Bryan Adams, but Kara is grinning from ear to ear. He will sail through. Kara can hardly put two words together. Randy says “From one model to another, that was good song choice.” Kara says seriously, “You may be eye candy, but you are also ear candy.” Simon says, “We were both cursed with good looks. “ He adds, “You absolutely chose the right song. Obviously the cougar here likes you.” Simon calls it Casey’s best performance since he began singing in the competition.
ALEX GARCIA – “Sugar, We’re Going Down” by Fallout Boy — Alex is the young dad who wants to make a better life for his family. He is also the daddy with the mad voice. I can’t wait to see what he’s doing tonight b/c he always brings something special to his performance like his Hollywood Week version of Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up!” It Rocked. Tonight, he almost rocks again. Alex has IT! But his version of this song is a little strange, but his voice is definitely smooth. Simon says he was looking forward to hearing him more than anyone else and “was seriously disappointed.” Kara says “you took the risk, but it was a strange rendition.” She adds that she really likes him and she hopes to see him for many, many weeks. Randy agrees and so does Ellen. They are still talking about his “Straight Up!” performance.
PREDICTIONS: The guys going home…JERMAINE SELLERS and JOHN PARK.
Tomorrow night…the results show. Two guys and two girls are going home. Until then, MENDHEIM OUT.