Tonight was Idol’s 400th episode. Wow!
Something a little different for the results show tomorrow: The lowest scoring boy and the lowest scoring girl will be announced and then the three judges will decide which of them goes home.
Also interesting: It is guys versus girls tonight. The guys will sing Stevie Wonder songs, while the girls will sing Whitney Houston songs.
Joshua Ledet, I Wish: I really liked this performance. It was fun and in key and he used the stage and made it fun to watch. Not a total blow out, but pretty close. Maybe a 4.5 out of 5.
Elise Testone, I’m Your Baby Tonight: Hmm. It’s not terrible, but she doesn’t seem to feel the song. I do like the husky element to her voice. It isn’t like she is trying to “do” Whitney. Judges all said it wasn’t her best. She might be on shaky ground, but there is plenty yet to come. 3.5
Jermaine Jones, Knocks Me Off My Feet: I love this guy’s baritone, and yet there is something that just keeps me from connecting with him. Not sure what it is. J-Lo said he needs to sing to someone. Maybe that’s it. Maybe he’s performing too much and not feeling the song or singing it to someone. 4.0
Erika Van Pelt, I Believe in You and Me: Gorgeous. Beautiful. I loved this performance. She made it hers, definitely. 4.85
Colton Dixon, Lately: Okay. Not terrible. He had the smolder down pat. I don’t think he is in danger, but this wasn’t something I would write home about. 4.0
Shannon Magrane, I Have Nothing: Tough song. She’s not Whitney and the comparison is unavoidable. I suppose because she didn’t make enough hers. She does not have the range required either. She got really soft on some power notes. Not a disaster, but not great. I’d give her a 3.0 out of 5.
DeAndre Brackensick, Master Blaster: Loved. It. Not so much falsetto as he so often does, and I felt like he really showed off his voice tonight. Loved how he moved. J-Lo’s right. He’s got rhythm. I’ve giving him a 4.5.
Skylar Laine, Where Do Broken Hearts Go: I missed some of this because I got a phone call. But my hubby tells me it was very solid, if not perfect. So based on him and the judges, I’ll give it a 4.7.
Heejun Han, All in Love Is Fair: People with dry senses of humor just slay me (and usually trip me up because I think they are serious). This guy makes me laugh. But his joking around may have been the better part of his segment. The performance was okay but it had its shaky moments. I’ll give him a 4.0 out of 5.
Hollie Cavanagh, All The Man That I Need: Well, I think that was the performance of the night. The look. The song. The glory note. Only thing I didn’t like was the way her fingers release and clasp of the mic. (Carrie Underwood does it too, and I find it so distracting.) Anyway, she’s getting 4.9.
Jeremy Rosado, Ribbon in the Sky: Ouch! He blew it toward the end, and now that’s all I can think about. But most of the performance was solid, though not the least bit exciting or even memorable. Maybe a 3.2.
Jessica Sanchez, I Will Always Love You: The Whitney Houston version of this song (I always liked Dolly Parton’s version too) was a huge hit on the radio when I was dating my DH back in the 80’s. It played in my head a lot when I was thinking of him (long distance courtship). So I really didn’t want Jessica to mess it up. Believe me, she did not mess it up. It was impeccable. It was PERFECT. Oh, my. And she is only 16. This gets a 5.0!
Phillip Phillips, Superstition: Well, I guess the crowd liked it, but I thought it was mostly noise. So the best I can give him is a 4.2.
As far as I’m concerned, this night belonged totally to the girls. The closest guys weren’t all that close, but I’ll throw in my top two.
Erika | Skyler
DeAndre | Joshua
Whose most at risk of going home? I would say Shannon and Jeremy. See you tomorrow.
~robin
I may be the only one in America, but I didn’t really like Jessica’s version of the song. I kept hearing Whitney singing in my head and I don’t think she was close (not that anyone could be). There is something about her that I don’t like and I’m not sure what it is…
I agree about Hollie – my favorite tonight – I love that song and she was so good!
And you and my hubby have the same impression of Phillip – mostly noise!
Oh and maybe it’s just me but doesn’t Skylar remind you of Jenny B. Jones? The smile, both petite, both southern. I don’t know if Jenny can sing or if Skylar can write but they may have more similarities there too. 🙂
Chris, I thought all the girls did a respectable job with the Whitney songs. That is something tough to live up to, IMHO. It could have been a disastrous night, and it wasn't.
I think Elise will be the one going home. I think the judges will want to give Jeremy another chance. Stevie’s songs were just not for him. I think Shannon will hold on. Whitney wasn’t her thing either. Don’t know about the gguys, but I would send Philip home. Nice guy, but all his songs sound the same. Don’t think he is Idol material. We shall see tonight.