American Idol Top 3 Studio performance full songs and reviews just for you! Phil Phillips turns in 3 great vocal performances this week. Who woulda thunk it. Joshua Ledet kills on “No More Drama” and “I’d Rather Go Blind”. Jessica Sanchez’s vocals are fine, but all 3 songs were wrong picks for her in competition.
What are your favorites? Leave your thoughts in comments.
Joshua Ledet – “I’d Rather Go Blind” – This was the wrong song at the wrong time for Joshua as far as the competition was concerned (too safe!), but there’s no doubt Joshua can KILL a blues song. Makes me wish even more he were in the final.
Jessica Sanchez – – “My All” – Jessica fares better in the recorded version of this very difficult song, but she still doesn’t quite connect or bring much flavor to her performance. The subject matter and the vibe are all wrong for Jessica. The judges really failed her on this one.
Phillip Phillips – “Beggin’” – Perfect song pick from the judges for Phillip and he pretty much slays it. This is one I am considering downloading. The song’s driving guitars compliment his gravelly vocals perfectly.
Joshua Ledet – “Imagine” – I’m super particular about how this song is covered. Like Jimmy, I think it’s a powerful song that sits perfectly in it’s simplicity. No riffs, runs, modulation (THE WORST) or gospel choir required. I’m not digging this at all.
Jessica Sanchez – “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” – Treacly, bland, overdone on Idol–I hate this song so much. I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that Jessica chose this song as her personal pick. She sings it well enough. Still, no matter how hard she tries, she can’t elevate the song beyond what it is–a trite power ballad. For the record, Aerosmith couldn’t either.
Phillip Phillips– “Disease” by Matchbox 20 – The judges hated it, but I still think Phillip did well choosing a song for himself. It suits his vocal range and style nicely. The result is s solid vocal and a definite glimpse into the type of music we might expect from Phil post Idol.
Joshua Ledet – “No More Drama” – I don’t understand why Jimmy backtracked on this song choice for Joshua. The arrangement gives the soul singer time to slowly build a story–a musical scenario that’s right in Josh’s wheelhouse. The studio performance swells to an explosion of passion, before a tender finish. Good stuff.
Jessica Sanchez – “I’ll Be There – I completely understand where Jimmy was going with this song pick for Jessica, although it didn’t have big enough moments for the competition. The performance is totally believable coming from a 16 year old. It also gives Jessica an opportunity to highlight her sweeter tone. One of my favorite vocals from Jessica, for reals.
Phillip Phillips– “We’ve Got Tonight” – Maybe not his best performance overall, but Phil singing has never been so nuanced and vulnerable as it is here. As Steven Tyler would say–Beautiful. The right song at absolutely the right time.
