There is a change of plans tonight. The guys will be performing instead of the ladies. It seems contestant Crystal Bowersox (pictured) was sent to the hospital for complications with diabetes. That would have put her out of the competition tonight and she is clearly one of the favorites of the judges. Instead, Idol producers decided to flip flop the guys and girls. Bowersox should be able to perform tomorrow night and next week the routine reverts back to normal with the ladies performing on Tuesday night and the guys Wednesday night. As for this week, it’s the same scenario as last week. The contestants will perform a top Billboard hit of their choosing and two guys and two girls will be sent home Thursday night. With that said, on with tonight’s show… after the jump, of course.
Michael Lynche — “This Is A Man’s World” by James Brown — A very soulful performance tonight from Mr. Lynche. I definitely think he stepped up his game from last week. It’s a very good performance, but I don’t love it. I don’t get goosebumps. Randy gives him a standing ovation and calls it “Crazy and unbelievable.” Ellen says its a great song. “That’s the way to start out the night.” Kara says tonight you went from being “a singer to someone being a potentially great artist.” Simon says it was like being a pussycat to a lion in one week. Simons adds, “This by far is the best performance you have given in the competition.”
John Park — “Gravity” by John Mayer — I find John’s performance boring. He seems nervous. He has a nice tone to his voice when he hits certain notes, but overall, I wouldn’t stop to listen to him if I was flipping the dial on the radio. Randy says he didn’t bring anything new to the song. “It was kinda flat to me.” Ellen says she thought the song choice was better, but there could have been “a little more soul to it.” Kara says way better than last week, but her concern is that she doesn’t see a connection. Kara wants him to take risks. Simon says he thinks John’s former singing group may get him back. He says he thinks John will be going home.
Casey James — “I Don’t Wanna Be” by Gavin DeGraw — Finally, a song that gives me chills. Casey opens playing the electric guitar. This is a good performance from him. Vocals aren’t great, but they are very good and the performance is great!! His guitar solo at the end rocks. Randy says “I don’t know if the vocal is the best… I didn’t know you played guitar like that. It was hot.” Ellen says “there is a stiffness about you.” She wants him to loosen up. Kara says she thinks Casey took two steps backwards in his performance tonight. She felt like the guitar was the bigger star. Simon says, “I’m kinda with Kara here.” He says Casey looked like “someone trying to be a rock star.” Simon says he doesn’t have grit, “more like sand.”
Alex Lambert — “Everybody Knows” by John Legend — What a great voice on this young man! This week he greatly improved over last week and he checked his nerves at the door. He still looks a little nervous, but he sounds awesome. Alex has such a unique sound to his voice. I think the judges will love this. Randy says its such an improvement this week. He really enjoyed the performance. Ellen says it was so much better than last week and he has “ripened” in a week. “Under that mullet is a little Sam Cook voice.” Kara says “There isn’t a person out there who isn’t rooting for you.” She adds, “You have an incredible recordable voice.” Simon says, “Alex, that was a million times better than last week.” He adds, “You have to have a killer, killer instinct…” to win.
Todrick Hall — “What’s Love Got To Do With It” by Tina Turner — It’s very soulful and a cool re-make, I think, but again he hugely changed the song. I don’t like Todrick’s hand movements. He doesn’t know what to do with his hands yet. Randy says “I didn’t love this.” Ellen says, “I would say sing and move. You’re a dancer.” She added, “I don’t think it was the right song.” Kara says his voice has been all over the same. She wants to find the old Todrick. Simon says he should “move, but not sing.” He adds he doesn’t think this is working out for him. He calls it a bad version of a Tina Turner song.
Jermaine Sellers — “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye — I think this song is a bit too old for Jermaine and he does a so so job of singing it. I don’t love his voice. I don’t think the judges will like this either. Randy says it was better than last week, but it was “so close, but so far.” He adds, “It wasn’t a great performance.” Ellen says “It just didn’t work for me.” Kara says “You are hitting some crazy notes and crazy runs…but you are always doing too much.” Simon says, “You water down the songs.” He adds, “You play around with it so much.” Jermaine asks what he should sing next week. Simon says, “I don’t think you will be here next week.”
Andrew Garcia — “You Give Me Something” by James Morrison — I don’t like this performance from Andrew at all. I didn’t recognize the song until he hit the chorus. He enunciates too much. I’m just not impressed by it. His voice is so much better than this. Randy says “Honestly, that wasn’t the vibe for you tonight. It was pitchy all over the place.” Ellen says, “I thought there were a couple of little pitch problems, but I thought it was great.” Kara says his Hollywood Week performance of “Straight Up” was so amazing and he has come down from there. Simon says, “You’re never going to look back at that performance and think it’s an incredible version. It was just okay and you are better than okay.”
Aaron Kelly — “My Girl” by The Temptations — Such an incredible voice for a 16-year-old. He is definitely a country artist. There is a twang in his voice, but not in a bad way. The judges will love this and Aaron has definitely shown an improvement over last week. Randy says, “The first half of that song was brilliant…200% better for me than last week.” Ellen says “You sing very well, but I think the song is a little forgettable.” Kara says, “I liked it. I really liked it. I like you.” Simon says, “I didn’t like the song…I think you may have gone backwards.” He adds, “You need to work out the kind of artist that you want to be.”
Tim Urban — “Come On Get Higher” by Matt Nathanson — I don’t like this song and I am not sure I like Tim’s voice, although he hits a great note at the end. I don’t think his voice strong enough. Young girls may vote for him. Randy says, “There was nothing special about it.” Ellen says, “There is no charisma, no stage presence. I don’t think the strong point is the singing.” Kara says, “You didn’t make it your own…it’s not all there yet. It could be there.” Simon says, “I think that was a marked improvement over last week.” He adds, “I think you were more relevant tonight than a lot of other singers we’ve seen tonight…I thought you did great.”
Lee DeWyze — “Lips Of An Angel” by Hinder — Lee is without a doubt one of the strongest performers in the competition. He has such a current and unique voice. He gives a strong and emotional performance tonight. The judges will give him high marks. Randy says, “The song had a couple of pitch problems, but I liked it.” Ellen says, “There was so much passion and intensity and it came out as a great performance.” Kara says, “I thought it was a big improvement from last week.” She adds, “I can hear you on the radio right now.” Simon says, “Vocally, you are head and shoulders above everyone else.” He adds, “You look like terrified right now…I am waiting for you to totally, totally connect. You may be the one to beat.”
And that’s it for this week. My prediction for who is going home: JOHN PARK and JERMAINE SELLERS. The ladies tomorrow night and until then…MENDHEIM OUT!!!!