Wow. Amazing show last night. This is the first time since perhaps the very first-ever Beatles night (David Cook’s season) that I was impressed with each and every singer. Tonight will be a tough night to see someone go because based on last night’s performances – they all deserve to stay one more week. Do I think the save should be used tonight? Maybe!
Casey Abrams (â€I Heard It Through the Grapevine†– Marvin Gaye) – Thankfully he learned his lesson from last week. Much less screeching, more singing. So in that regard I liked it. I just don’t believe he’s good enough to be considered “the best singer” (although isn’t AI just a popularity contest now?).
Thia Megia (â€Heat Wave†Martha and the Vandellas) – Yay for a fast song! Unfortunately, there was no emotion behind it. Jennifer Lopez was right when she said Thia needs to learn to “act” out the songs when she doesn’t relate to the lyrics themselves. But it was will a solid performance – not a single missed note in the bunch.
Jacob Lusk (â€You’re All I Need to Get By†Marvin Gaye & Tammie Terrell) – This is the first time I’ve liked Jacob, and I REALLY REALLY liked this song. Had I been there, I’d have been the first to stand up. Simply amazing.
Lauren Alaina (â€You Keep Me Hangin’ On†– Supremes) – This song will always remind me of high school. *sigh* I’m old. Not because I was in high school during The Supremes’ reign, but because the cover version (Taylor Dane, I think?) came out when I was in high school. Lauren did a nice job and she looked fantastic.
Stefano Langone (â€Hello†– Lionel Richie) – Stefano needs to stop closing his eyes. The easiest way to gain a connection is to LOOK AT PEOPLE WHEN YOU SING. The song was a bit melodramatic for my taste, but he was in perfect pitch, so I’ve got no complaints.
Haley Reinhart (â€You Really Got a Hold On Me†– Smokey Robinson) – The first 15 seconds of the song were rough as she worried more about falling down the stairs then singing, but once she got off the stairs she ripped into this song, and I really enjoyed it. She’s learning how to move around the stage without the sense of having planned moves (such as the awful spin she did during the Top 13 performance).
Scotty McCreery (â€For Once In My Life†– Stevie Wonder) – Oh Scotty. You almost looked like Paul as you jerked your way around the stage, but your vocals were easygoing and fun. His fans were in heaven, and I’m sure it’ll show in the voting. I’ve mentioned before that he’s going to win, right?
Pia Toscano (â€All in Love is Fair†Stevie Wonder) – Pia, Pia, Pia. Yes your vocals were perfect, but it was yet another ballad, another chance for you to move your left arm like a metronome. *sigh*
Paul MacDonald (â€Tracks of My Tears†– Smokey Robinson and the Miracles) – Every week I worry about Paul and what he’ll do. When he announced his song choice I recalled that Adam Lambert did it a couple seasons ago and ROCKED.IT. However, Paul was smart to go folk with it and it sounded nice.
Naima Adedapo (â€Dancing in the Streets†– Martha & the Vandellas) – Naima has founded her perfect key. Whatever key this song was in last night, she needs to stick with it. She powered through that song and did an amazing job. Not only that, but she thinks of each song as a true PERFORMANCE. The dancing she did last night was perfectly timed and didn’t mess her up three quick phrases to sing at the end. Nice job.
James Durbin (â€Living in the City†– Stevie Wonder) – One of the few Stevie songs that hasn’t been massacred by American Idol, and James helped with that. He did a fabulous job. I love how comfortable he is on the stage, and how he has no fear in going into the camera or dancing a jig. Nearly perfect.
So who goes? Who stays? I honestly don’t know. I’d say that Stefano and Thia may be in the bottom three, if only because their performances were a bit forgettable when held up against the likes of James, Jacob and Casey. And probably Haley because the audience does seem to like her much.
And for that reason, I guess Haley will finally be going home, because I don’t see Stefano or Thia leaving quite yet.
Casey Abrams is my favorite. She is a talented artist.