American Idol 12 Top 8 - Motor City - Results, Recap Videos

UPDATE: Devin Velez is eliminated and sings for his life! The judges decide NOT to save him. Devin Velez is eliminated.

Welp. Tonight’s results were no surprise! Burnell Taylor and Devin Velez wound up in the bottom 3 with Devin getting the boot–as most of you predicted. But, for the first time, Lazaro Arbos hit the B3.

I’m not trying to be mean, but it really is time for Lazaro to go home. And to be honest, I think his time is finally near. It’s not only that he’s outclassed vocally by every remaining contest (he TOTALLY is) but that he’s not equipped to handle the competition.

It’s obvious, at this point, that Lazaro can only pull off songs that he’s already learned at some point earlier in his life. He’s wholly incapable of learning new songs. From now on, it only gets worse, as the competitors take on even more music to learn.

If he can’t take the heat, it’s time for Lazaro to get out of the kitchen. And America can help him! But I’m not going to tell ya’ll how to vote. I’m only making a gentle suggestion. Keep in mind–the longer he lasts, the more he’ll be vilified. Especially if he knocks out one of the precious girls.

However, Devin getting the boot this week is really no big tragedy. Well, other than how much emotion he put into his “save me” song. Dude, if you had been that passionate earlier in the competition, you might have gone farther! But as it is–Devin is a young man with a beautiful instrument and a severe lack of emotional connection to the songs he sings. He hit the bottom 3 every week of the finals. It was no wonder that his time was up.

Now, if Burnell had been sent packing, that would have been a different story. He’s the most talented of the male finalists. This week, he sang better than Angie Miller, for sure. To be honest, I wouldn’t be unhappy if he lasted further than the Beverly, MA native. I know! I have no loyalty to my home town girl. But the thing is–her best performance was back in Hollywood when she sang her original song. She hasn’t lived up to that moment since. Although, her Colton Dixon cover of, “Never Gone” in the semi-finals came close. I’m not going to lie, I’d like to see a guy make at least the Top 5 at least for diversity’s sake.

I imagine the trio of guys who remained this week felt completely demoralized after Wednesday’s trainwreck group performance. How awful must it feel to constantly hear that you have zero chance to advance in the competition, and that your mere existence is only to prop up the girls in the race? Also, to know that you’ll never be saved, no matter how hard you sing your heart out. I would love it if one of the guys actually had the guts to be frank about their Idol experience in their post-show interviews. I wonder if they feel bused? How could they not.

How weird was it that all of the results were saved for the last 10 minutes of the show? I can’t figure out the rational behind that one.

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American Idol 12 Top 8 results! One contestant will be eliminated and then sing for their lives. Also, Colton Dixon, Katharine McPhee and One Republic, and Keith Urban perform. Plus, the return of the Ford videos.

We’re liveblogging right here.

It’s the 450th episode of American Idol! WHEEEE!

The Top 8 sing Bob Seeger’s “Old Time Rock n Roll” – The guys sing and their voices blend horribly. The girls kick their asses in every way. Keith at the judges’ table is happily singing along. Poor Angie has to sing with Lazaro, with predictable results.

Top 8 Perform – Old Time Rock & Roll – American… by IdolxMuzic

The Idols will go on a different Ford Fiesta mission each week. Tonight, it’s “The Gift of Song”. The Top 8 are off to mentor kids at a local school. They teach the kids the Phillip Phillips hit “Home.” The promo wraps up with the students putting on a little concert for the finalists. After, Janelle talks about paying it forward.

IT’S JIMMY TIME. Every contestant will benefit by watching Candice’s performance from last night. She’s headed to the finals. Jimmy agrees with Nicki. Kree was a pro on their duet, Janelle was a amateur and doesn’t know how to sing harmonies. It affected his overall attitude about her. (BUSING). Jimmy felt Lazaro’s performance improved this week. Janelle redeemed herself with her solo. (Now he’s praising her?) It was so transcending, says Jimmy. He’d put the cover on her album. Jimmy thinks Devin did a very good job. But compared to the rest of the group, he came up short. Jimmy loved the girl trio. Really really really good. They had a unique sound and look. Amber in particular, was really good. He’d make a record with those girls tomorrow. Jimmy was impressed with Burnell. He understood the lyrics. He did great. Jimmy thinks Angie picked the wrong song. She’s off track and needs help. Amber did exactly what Smokey and he asked her to do. He doesn’t think she’ll be in the bottom 3 this week. Jimmy dubs the boy trio “Wrong Direction” he calls it terrible and points out the difference between the women and the boys. One or two of them were NOT prepared. It will affect them in the voting. Kree has a unique gift in her top register. She sounds like she’s pleading. That top end will take her into the finals. The boys will be in the bottom 3. Lazaro is going home.

Next, it’s An audio message from Aretha Franklin. She watched Kree’s performance as Smokey suggested. She said, “…Saw you last evening, Smokey was right. You put that one away, and you aren’t going anywhere…” Kree set their shocked, with her hand over her mouth.

Colton Dixon performs next. We get a little video package on his journey so far. He takes the stage to sing “Love Has Come for Me.” The Christian contemporary genre is the only place where an artist can sound like a total 90s throwback and be considered absolutely contemporary. It’s one of the last bastions of pop rock. He talks a little about Angie’s cover of his song in the competition a few weeks ago. They hug it out!

After the break, One Republic take the stage to sing their latest single, “If I Lose Myself,” featuring American Idol alum, Katharine McPhee. Katharine comes in on the 2nd verse. Weirdly, she’s sitting with the contestants holding a hand mic. She stands up as she sings and heads for the stage. It will be interesting to see if Columbia will be able to market Kat as a contemporary singer. Her vocal style is more cabaret than pop to my ears.

Thirty five minutes into the show, and still no results!

Keith Urban takes the stage to sing his latest single, “Long Hot Summer.” Speaking of long and hot. Har. Finally, some eye candy on the Idol stage. Hooray. Awesome guitar solo from Keith. A total summer jam. Mariah holds up a little handmade sign that says, “#1 Keith Fan.” Ryan pimps the upcoming summer tour.

Forty five minutes into the episode, and STILL NO RESULTS.

Ten minutes to go…

FINALLY. Kieran DIM THE LIGHTS. Quickly, Ryan names the contestants who are safe tonight. All 5 are female, leaving an all-boy bottom 3.

Mariah is nervous on behalf of the boys. She’s attached to all of them. She’s got “I might want to save a couple of them” look in her eyes. Burnell is the first contestant called safe. It’s down to Lazaro and Devin. And Lazaro, is of course, safe.

The Spanglish version of “It’s Impossible” is Devin’s “save me” song. Mariah cries and wipes away tears as he performs. Devin sings his little heart out. The crowd chants SAVE SAVE SAVE as Mariah eggs them on. Nevertheless, Randy, always the bearer of bad news, announces that IT WAS NOT UNANIMOUS. Devin is eliminated. As if the judges even gave it a second thought. They are keeping the save to use on a girl.

Final Results & Sing For Your Life – American… by IdolxMuzic

Safe