American Idol – Top 11 Perform
Ryan tells us the theme for the week is Motown. We get a nice little overview of what the Motown sound encompasses. Each judge gets a little chance to talk about Motown and as usual Steven steals the show. Now its time for the performances…
Casey Abrams – Heard It Through The Grapevine – Marvin Gaye – I didn’t hate it but I sort of miss some of the freeness and exuberance of a more natural, less rehearsed Casey. I’m glad the judges liked it and I think he’s good enough to survive performing first, I just hope they don’t reign him in too much. 1-866-idols-01
Thia Megia – Heatwave – Martha and the Vandellas – I think this is the first performance of Thia’s I’ve actually enjoyed. I like her in an up tempo song because even if she lacks a real connection if she looks like she’s having fun it’s miles better than her just standing there putting us all to sleep. 1-866-idols-02
Jacob Lusk – You’re All I Need To Get By – Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrel – This was a great Jacob performance, he had enough control to make the performance cohesive and enough emotion to be moving. Steven runs up on stage to hug him, then he hugs his Grandma, and then he hugs a bunch of random girls from the audience. 1-866-idols-03
Lauren Alaina – You Keep Me Hanging On – The Supremes – Lauren is back to full health and she is learning not to take people’s opinions personally. She delivers a fun, upbeat performance that has just enough attitude and a little touch of country. 1-866-idols-04
Stefano Langone – Hello – Lionel Richie – Ryan sets him up for failure by reminding us all of David Cook’s epic semi-final performance. Stefano goes a much more traditional route but there is something about it that just feels off. He’s got the notes, but he totally missed the part about easing into the song and he lacks connection big time. 1-866-idols-05
Haley Reinhart – You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – It had strong parts and weak parts; but what really struck me was the short shorts and ridiculously high heals. Just once I’d like a performance from Haley that wasn’t selling sex, she’s better than that. 1-866-idols-06
Scotty McCreery – For Once In My Life – Stevie Wonder/Jackson 5 – I just love Scotty and I’m looking forward to hearing the studio version of this. Like Randy I wish it had peaked a little earlier, these dang minute thirty songs don’t leave much time for long and drawn out. Scotty could seriously go all the way. 1-866-idols-07
Pia Toscano – All In Love Is Fair – Stevie Wonder – Pia’s voice is perfect but she doesn’t do anything but ballads. I want to see her do something besides a ballad and give us a little movement. 1-866-idols-08
Paul McDonald – Track Of My Tears – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – The guitar holds him in place and makes him more watchable. The very end was the best part and I wished that had been more apparent in the rest of the song. 1-866-idols-09
Naima Adedapo – Dancing In The Streets – Martha and the Vandellas – Vocally this one did it for me and I’m glad to see Naima coming into her own. The dancing just before the end came out of nowhere and gave me a WTF moment; but overall it should keep her out of the bottom 3. 1-866-idols-10
James Durbin – Living For The City – Stevie Wonder – Wow, what a way to close. To me James and Scotty are the ones to beat this season. James just lives and breathes this and it shows in everything he does on stage. 1-866-idols-11
My Top 3: James, Scotty, Jacob
My Bottom 3: Pia, Stefano, Haley
My top and bottom picks are just where they fell on my scale of enjoyment and not necessarily who I think will go home; although Haley is really skating a thin line. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out tomorrow night. Whatever the results we’re sure to get a few more studio versions worthy of a Lecteurs MP3 player or ipod.
