by Jenn |
Tyler Gives Lusk Hug After Lusk's Performance
This week, the contestant chose song from Motown, the music that inspired Steven Tyler to make out with girls. This is a big week because the 10 contestants that survive elimination will get to go on the Season 10 Idol Summer Tour.
Here’s how the night unfolded.
Casey Abrams – Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.” Fabulous song for his growling vocals. He had his puffy hair slicked back and his beard is getting outta control, maybe its his ‘playoff beard’? It needs to go. It is way too distracting to watch his face with all that hair and not think about it instead of his vocals. Steven called his the perfect entertainer, a mix of perfect pitch and perfect outta control ego. Jennifer spoke of her uniqueness and Randy agreed. There is no other artist out there that has his unique pipes.
Thia Megia – Martha and the Vandellas’ ”(Love Is Like a) Heat Wave.” Thia looked very cute tonight, with lovely high heels and a straoless pink and black dress. She is learning how to be a performer and bring the crowd in. She sounded great tonight. Jennifer said it was great to see her let loose. Randy agreed, but he still feels she can dig deeper and needs to take chances and push. Steven said he was good with it.
Jacob Lusk - Marvin Gaye’s “You’re All I Need to Get By.” Jacob could definitely make it as a gospel singer but I don’t think that he is what America is looking for in the next Idol. He does has a great voice and, obviously, Steven agrees when he rushes the stage to give Jacob a giant hug after his performance. Randy said it was the best performance and his was like a professional. Steven said he held it back and milked it and that made it beautiful. Jennifer said he moves her, it was crazy. Not feeling or seeing what the judges did!
Lauren Alaina – The Supreme’s “You Keep Me Hangin’ On.” She definitely worked the crown and the judges tonight, moving all around the stage, and looked gorgeous doing it. She had Jennifer dancing in her seat. Steven said that she ripped that song another beauty mark, whatever that means. Jennifer said that she looks amazing, the most beautiful she had ever seen her. She also brought the song to life for Jennifer. Randy believes that she now has her swagger on.
Stefano Langone - Lionel Richie’s “Hello.” He did okay, sounded a little flat in spot, pitchy in others, but he’s such a cutey that you can’t help but love him. Jennifer called him fine and said that he can sing, but he needs to open his eyes and connect to the crowd. She wants his intensity to come from his heart. Randy agreed that the connection is missing, he sounded good but no real connection. Steven said the he has a beautiful voice but he needs to pull back just a little.
Haley Reinhart – The Miracles’ “You Really Got a Hold On Me.” She looked so cute with her long, straight hair tonight, a change from her normally flowing curls. Randy said that she started rough but by the middle of song, the girl they loved came rolling back. Steven called it beautiful and that she doesn’t look a day over fabulous. That was the girl that he was looking for when he met her. Jennifer said she has effortless control over her voice, she has the most bluesy voice of all the girls.
Scotty McCreery - Stevie Wonder’s “For Once In My Life.” Scotty added his own country twist to the song. He looked a little too dramatic with his body movements, it didn’t look genuine, just crazy. Steven called it beautiful and compared him to some great country singers. His low notes and his niche. Jennifer said it wasn’t his strongest but every time he hits that low note, he gets her every time. Randy thought the song needed to peek earlier then called his low note a ‘lady-killer.’
Pia Toscano – Stevie Wonder’s “All in Love is Fair.” Love her. She has such a powerful voice, her singing this song wanted to make me melt. Jennifer said that all she can tell her is that she needs to work the stage and be a performer and connect with the crowd and own the stage. It’s time for her to move away from the ballads. Randy said she hits her notes dead on. His one criticism is that she needs to do something besides ballads. Steven said she is the closest star in this American Idol universe.
Paul McDonald – The Miracles’ “Tracks of My Tears.” Could his teeth be any whiter?! I’m sure I’ve said that before, but wow! Come on! Anyway, his singing, it was very good. He continues to have his own style, this time accompanied by his own guitar playing. Randy called him unique and he took it to a cool, Rod Stewart, kind of place. He needs to bring more of his tender vocals out. Steven said he loves what he did with his guitar, it’s just great. Jennifer called him the complete package and all he needs is the right producer.
Naima Adedapo - Martha and the Vandellas’ “Dancing in the Street.” She through in the ‘Milwaukee’ name into her song, shout out to where she came from, then broke out into some crazy Africa dancing, equipped with wooden drums playing behind her. I guess that was her making it her own. I guess that works. Steven loved it and pointed out that it was all her idea, calling her beautiful and great. Jennifer said that it was her first goose-bumps of the night, she’s her mover, her shaker up there. She has that little extra something on the stage. Randy thought that he had been a little rough on her in the weeks past but tonight it was smart and everything worked out. Ryan called it American Idol morphing into So You Think You Can Dance.
James Durbin – Stevie Wonder’s “Living for the City” He had a great time performing this song! Wasn’t the flamish-sort-of-background the same that they used when Adam Lambert sang ‘Ring of Fire’ last season, how ironic. Jennifer just continually kept saying ‘oh, my God!’ The crowd was going crazy and loving him. Jennifer called him serious business. She was speechless. Randy felt the beginning was rough, and was booed for that. He then called him unbelievable and loved the note that he ended on. Steven said that it takes a little bit of crazy to make it in this world, and that’s was James is all about. His voice was incredible and the song was perfect for his voice.
Tomorrow night we find out who made the cut for the top 10 and continues on into the summer for their tour. Tonight was a fabulous night, all the contestant did a great job!