‘Something Pitchy:’ Haley Reinhart Rolls Deep While Lauren Alaina Struggles to Stand Out
With just seven contestants left in the game and only two of them girls, tonight’s performances were crucial for Haley Reinhart and Lauren Alaina. And while Lauren continued to struggle with her self-confidence, Haley made good with an Adele song that few singers could handle. In fact, one member of the ‘Something Pitchy’ crew was brought to tears by the performance! Guess who.
‘American Idol’: Steven Tyler’s F-bomb and Jacob Lusk’s musical snafu, on the scene of Top 7 performance night
The mystery of Jacob’s botched cue: On TV, it looked like Jacob was perhaps overcome with emotion at the outset of “Dance with My Father”; but, for what it’s worth, it was clear to everyone in the studio that something had gone seriously wrong musically. As Jacob began singing, the strings section situated behind Jacob began plunking to a drum beat at odds with the song; mere seconds later, the strings and pretty much the whole band stopped playing at all, save for a piano emphatically delivering the song’s melody line. Finally, for a brief second, Jacob stopped singing and shot a quick glance at band director Ray Chew — as if to say “what the heck is going on?” — and the air kinda left the room. But Jacob soldiered on, and when he hit the chorus, the audience spontaneously began applauding him, pretty much willing him to make it through.
More Recaps after the JUMP…
Live at American Idol: How Did Producers Punish Steven Tyler for the F-bomb?
The second we saw Steven Tyler strut onstage in the same pants he wore at last Thursday’s elimination show, we knew we were in for a not-so-normal night in the Idol audience. We all saw Casey Abrams kiss Jennifer Lopez and heard the tougher than usual critiques, but from our seat behind the judges table, it was Steven’s F-bomb that stole the show.
So what happened after Idol cut to commercial? Plus, the real reactions from Scotty McCreery and Jacob Lusk after their not-so-stellar feedback…
Smooch! ‘Idol’ Casey plants a wet one on J.Lo
Seven singers performed on “American Idol” on Wednesday, and the audience got to see the finalists make fun of each other. But Casey Abrams stole the show by doing what pretty much every male dreams of — kissing the most beautiful woman in the world .
Abrams capped off his rendition of Maroon 5’s “Harder to Breathe” by kissing Jennifer Lopez on the cheek. For a singer who’s been in and out of danger over the past month and had some uneven vocals at times during the performance, it was a perfect way to ensure that everyone would be entertained enough to keep him around.
American Idol Recap: Against the Current
There are two key ways to determine the “winners” and “losers” of Wednesday night’s American Idol “Songs From the 21st Century” telecast: Focus entirely on the singing — an antiquated approach that would have Nigel Lythgoe snickering into his post-show tea and crumpets (because you know that’s exactly how he gets his snack on). Or, instead, obsess over the extraneous details of the 90-minute episode, like the hidden subtext of the judges’ critiques, the crafty editing of contestants’ pre-performance interview packages, and other miscellaneous details (i.e. Scotty McCreery’s unfortunate wardrobe choices; or the lack of restraining order commanding Casey Abrams to keep at least 50 yards away from Jennifer Lopez for the remainder of Season 10).
‘American Idol’ recap: In (And After) The Year 2000….
I’d like to kick off this recap with some amazing end-of-show insight from J. Lo that really sums up the Idol-viewing experience for you, for me. “Listening to those voices, back to back, I’m like, oh my God. It’s crazy! Who’s gonna win? I don’t know!” I feel her pain. That was just beautiful.
Before we could really dive into the abyss of Songs from the 21st Century on this week’s American Idol, all of the eliminated season 10 contestants shocked me shocked me shocked me with their deviant behavior in a surprise group performance of Pink’s “So What.” Brutal! This took me way out of my performance night concentration zone with its barely familiar faces, sparkly flowers, and general awfulness.
‘American Idol’ Recap: Haley Reinhart Delivers With Adele; Casey Abrams Goes For Broke
In a night of many surreal moments — Expletives! Fake beards! Drum lines! PIA! — I have to start with the most awesome one: when Steven Tyler stuck his tongue right through Ryan Seacrest’s mug on the cover of The Hollywood Reporter. You couldn’t ask for better publicity, so thank you, Steven! You rock.
And in celebration of rocking songs from the 21st Century, Idol threw those angry Pia Toscano fans a bone. And no, I’m not talking about Mark Ballas sitting in the audience.
‘American Idol’ Guest Blogger Kimberly Caldwell: James Durbin Made Muse’s Matt Bellamy Proud
I spent American Idol Wednesday with some of my former favorite Idols: Blake Lewis, Jordin Sparks, Michael Johns, Brandon Rogers and Didi Benami, among others. Put us all in a room together and the energy turns explosive, because we all know in a very personal way what it feels like to be in the Top 7’s shoes.
But I have to say, it’s like the season finalists are already on their own tour with a full band, the lights, in-ears. I wish our season had a Jimmy Iovine, too, because it’s like having a judge before the judges. You get all the critique of a pro before you ever step on the stage. It gives you time to make all the fixes that you would’ve made after you heard the critiques. I’m jealous to say the least, but proud to say that we still pulled it off all those years ago.
‘American Idol’ Top 7 Night: Redundant Reunions & Stolen Smooches
“American Idol’s” top 7 night began with a performance not by any of the actual top 7, but by a reunion of the other contestants already cut from the top 13. You know, because Ashthon Jones, Karen Rodriguez, Naima Adedapo, Thia Megia, Pia Toscano, and Paul McDonald have been gone for sooooo long. Seriously, kids, how can we miss you if you don’t go away? And Paul, you could have at least worn a different suit than the one you wore just last week.
“7 Finalists Compete”
The episode must have been an odd length because the show didn’t actually open with the contestants, but the show’s rejects singing Pink’s “So What.” I don’t think that Steven was correct when, afterwards, he shouted, ” You just made everyone rethink their decision!” The performance was messy: Pia seemed like she was trying to outsing everyone else and Paul appeared embarrassed to be a part of it (when he wasn’t speak-singing). At least Naima, doing high-kicks, seemed to be having a good time.
Read more at AV Club
‘American Idol’ Takes On Music of the 21st Century
The remaining seven “American Idol” contestants took the stage to the theme of music of the 21st Century. And this week, the judges didn’t hold back. For the first time in a long while, they were actually critical of a few singers.
But before the vote-worthy performances began, the show surprised us with “So What” by Pink performed by five girls America already sent packing – Karen Rodriguez, Pia Toscano, Ashthon Jones, and Naima Adepapo. Paul McDonald popped out to join the girls halfway through.
‘American Idol’ 2011: Idolettes blossom singing songs they know
It’s Songs from this Century night on “American Idol.” Or, as we like to call this episode: The Judges’ Awaken.
Judge JLo has gotten re-chromed for the occasion. Randy Jackson just finished 18 holes of golf and Steven Tyler’s in a relatively subdued outfit — a sort of rocker-applies-for-loan outfit.
Before the surviving 7 Idolettes sing, the producers introduce “Idol’s” own version of The Grateful Dead – all those Idolettes who were members of the Top-13 but have been voted off. We’re reminded that only chicks have been whacked until Paul McDonald got the hook last week.
American Idol’ Recap: James Durbin Finds Muse, Jacob Lusk Nods To Luther
The theme on Wednesday’s (April 20) “American Idol” top-seven performance night was music from the 21st century, and while James Durbin blew it out with a Muse extravaganza, Jacob Lusk took it down for a touching Luther Vandross tribute and teens Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina played it close to the vest with traditional country tunes.
‘American Idol’ is newly nice, but what would Simon Cowell say?
Hayleyreinhart Clearly, someone has kidnapped the judges on “American Idol” this season.
We’re not sure what Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler are doing on the show, but it’s not judging. How could it be when nearly every performance, no matter how mediocre or downright lame, is greeted with “I loved that!” or “You gave me goosebumps!” or “Dude, you slayed it!”
American Idol Tries to Modernize
Last night the American Idol contestants were actually given the chance to prove their mettle as present-day pop hopefuls by singing songs from the current decade. After all the preseason scuttlebutt about the show being wrenched away from Simon Cowell’s slightly dusty aesthetic and thrust into the hands of Jimmy Iovine and his Universal Music Group cronies, you’d think this transformation would have happened somewhere around, oh, Top 24 week or so, but instead we had to be trotted through Important Music Historyland first. It’s too bad, really; the performance of P!nk’s “So What” by the booted members of the Top 13 at the show’s outset made it plain that some of the singers (Naima Adedapo!!) would have thrived a little bit more were they not placed in boxes that had been sitting on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s shelves for years and years. (Although poor Paul McDonald, who was given the most to sing and who let loose a big old croak; something tells me that he was resting his voice to give the nodules on his vocal cords a break up until the very last possible minute.)
Present Tense: American Idol Top 7 sing Songs from the 21st Century
For some reason, Idol decided to bring back all those rejected finalists to sing Pink’s Rock Star. I forgot about nearly all of them, but my oh my, Naima Adeapo, you’re a sight for sore eyes. And you my little secret bitch Thia Megia! Even Karen Rodriguez! Do I miss you guys? While your harmonizing needs a little work and well, frankly Idol should just probably go down to an hour instead of adding this filler but then what other way would they shove Pia Toscano down our throats? At least Paul McDonald is there in his rosey suit singing all drunk-like.
Top 7 Recap- Now That’s a Good (BLEEP) Performance
American Idol’s top 7 night gave me one of my favorite performances of the season. And it wasn’t from any of the top 7. Instead, the Idol rejects who were all voted out (Paul and his harem) came back to sing Pink’s “So What.” So that means Dancin’ Paul McDonald, awesome Naima Adedapo, and the others all pranced around the stage as Pia stood there wooden and hit some glory notes. Terrific! The best part was that Paul, as the only guy, got a lengthy solo that he basically forgot 90% of the words to. He’s still too awesome for words. Naima was also jumping around the stage like an acrobat. Oh, what could’ve been. Boy, do I miss her too. Even Ashthon, Karen, and the others didn’t really annoy me at all because they all seemed to be having so much fun. Can I vote for that performance? I know no one else lived up to that tonight, but still, we did get 3 good VFTW worthy performances out of the evening.
