‘American Idol’ top 9 results recap: who is out next?
Heejun Han goes home tonight. CREDIT: Michael Becker/FOX
Loading ...Insecure, intermittently humorous, intermittently annoying Heejun Han is out.
He sealed his fate with a series of really boring performances, followed by a silly Billy Joel goof that Steven Tyler hated. He did up his game a few notches last night but it was clearly too late. His fate was sealed. He knew he had no way of winning this. His voice, as Jimmy Iovine noted, simply wasn’t good enough and his overall stage presence was lacking.
Comedy? Well, we know he’s got a future in Funny or Die videos. We’ll see if he can do anything beyond fading into the woodwork.
Jimmy Iovine’s thoughts:
- Elise: “She took charge of that stage. She led the band. Her hair, her clothes, her vocal ability, it all moved in unison… She has an opportunity with the 80s next week to have two great weeks in a row. If she can do that, she can be in the top of the class. She was a dark horse but now she’s coming on strong.”
- Phillip: “[Steve Nicks] believes in this guy. She thinks he can go all the way. If his original material is 80 percent as good as he is, he is the next American Idol.”
- Hollie: “What she lacks is experience. What she’s doing is technically right and emotionally behind the pack. Jessica takes it more soulfully. Hollie has more an intellectual approach. You don’t win on technique. You win it on soul.”
- Colton: “Colton was good but not good enough… I believe he lost that fight. He didn’t get knocked out but he’s behind on points.”
- Joshua: “This is a tough one for me. He has so much talent. He delivered 85% of the song but when he got emotional. he lost it. His voice closed. On the other hand, when he was in the Michael Jackson medley. He was relaxed. He killed that.”
- Heejun: “It’s great to see Heejun come back. I don’t think it was enough. My problem, I don’t think he sings as well as the other eight contestants on this show.”
- Skylar: “She picked a character song than a song with real melody. She’s going to have to go to songs with more song in them melodically… During the medley, she rose above the pack.”
- DeAndre: “I’m not going crazy for him. I’m not disliking him. For him to win, I think he’s missing something. He needs more experience. His falsetto is beautiful but it could be polarizing.”
- Jessica: “She’s like she’s been doing this for 10 years… She got lost in that song but kept her composure. I’m fully on board with this… What we need is a little girl power [to vote.]”
- The Ford music video: fun to see everyone in 1980s metal gear.
- Nicki Minaj “Starships” : Great, catchy song. Ridiculous outfit as always.
- Scotty McCreery “Water Tower Town” : A year on the road and he is much more self assured. The song is decent. You liked him last year, you’ll still like him now.
- The mansion: architecturally dull but spacious, of course.
Cover it live polls
- Grade Nicki: A-5%, B-26% C-26% F-42%
- Grade Scotty A-16% B-42% C-16% F-26%
Will they save Heejun: 93% No (and correct)
Hollie in bottom three: Expected 44% Travesty 56%
Join my Facebook fan page and Twitter.
By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
accessAtlanta Partner Sites
Sections
Advertise on accessAtlanta.com »
Reach the audience you want by advertising on accessAtlanta.com
Join the Access Atlanta Network »
Advertisers and Publishers, expand your reach by joining the Access Atlanta Network.
Tell us what you think about the site
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement | About our ads
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
406 comments Add your comment
Lil Red
March 30th, 2012
10:55 pm
Yeah, but I was last first.
JTesla
March 30th, 2012
11:13 pm
Or were you first last.
Nana
March 30th, 2012
11:55 pm
Hey Harm: I was just asking about you today and was going to call to chat, but got really busy and time slipped away from me. I will call you within a day or two.
Seth T
March 31st, 2012
12:15 am
Whatever songs they are encouraged to do by the Idol mentors, will be the most boring, overdone songs on the list.
I think they should have a short-list of something with some character and backbeat – like:
Dirty Deeds AC/DC ‘82
Centerfold J. Geils ‘81
Bad to the Bone George Thorogood ‘82
Refugee Tom Petty ‘80
Born in the USA Springsteen ‘84
Copperhead Road Steve Earle ‘88
Keep Your Hands to Yourself Georgia Satellites ‘87
Walk Like an Egyptian Bangles ‘87
It’s Raining Men Weather Girls ‘83
Wild Thing Tone Loc ‘88
Mony Mony Billy Idol ‘87
Love Shack B52’s ‘89
What I Like About You Romantics ‘80
While not all of these are original artists, they were top 200 in the 80’s
The 80’s could be good, or another night of torture through boredom, especially while Randy tries to over-sell the greatness of the 80’s — and how they just picked the wrong song if they went flat, while the incredible mountains of musical riches from “his era” were beyond anything since.
Deirdre
March 31st, 2012
8:33 am
Morning!
Since Idol has been on the air for a loooooong time, I would bet that their list of available 80’s tunes is extensive. And these contestants don’t seem to be shy about saying no to a mentor. Whatever songs they sing, I’m pretty sure will be the Idols’ choices.
Deirdre
March 31st, 2012
8:42 am
And if you haven’t read this already, Gwen Stefani is next week’s mentor.
I can kind of appreciate that they are not matching the mentor to the theme. This way, the mentor focuses on the performance rather than the material.
Mercedes S.
March 31st, 2012
9:50 am
Morning!
Well, I had five numbers right – spread over different tickets, of course. And no powerball. Booo.
I would have done so much good work with my $640 million. Bribed Idol to adopt a fair voting system, for one.
Deirdre, because of your clamoring, and because I’d run out of recording space, decided to start watching all my saved SMASH episodes…. now on the 5th one – LOVE the show! Thanks!
Highlander
March 31st, 2012
11:37 am
Everyone who gave the contestants a pass during Billy Joel week because his hits were all before they were born please take note; Idol themes have included Sinatra, Motown (biggest hits were ’60’s and ’70’s), etc.
And this week’s theme, the’80’s, also include songs published and recorded before half of the contestants were born.
Highlander
March 31st, 2012
11:50 am
After catching up on the posts:
@Richard (10:14am, 3/30) – Sayonara is Japanese. Since Heejun is Korean, ahn nyeung would be more appropriate.
@JT (1:05pm, 3/30) – I, too, noticed Nikki Minaj not using the mic very much. Of course, her whole “performance” looked like some over-produced number from X-Factor.
@Pitchy (1:02pm, 3/30) – Lady Gaga usually wears things you might expect to see on some extreme haut-couture Paris runway (you know, the stuff no normal person would actually wear), whereas Nikki wears stuff you would expect to see on certain street corners.
@Jenny (3:13pm, 3/30) – “…or what about the Babys “Every Time I Think Of You” for her?” I think you may have meant “Missing You.”
Highlander
March 31st, 2012
11:51 am
Also, I don’t recall is any John (please DON”T call him ‘Cougar’) Mellencamp songs have been released for Idol.
Does anyone remember? D.? JT? K&CFan? …Bueller? Anyone? Anyone?
Mercedes S.
March 31st, 2012
1:11 pm
Thanks to bloggers here I’ve checked out and now plan to watch the rest of the seasons for “Smash” and “The Voice”. My musical TV demands will be filled by “Smash”, “Voice”, “Glee” and “Idol”. There is simply no room for “X-Factor”.
Mercedes S.
March 31st, 2012
1:12 pm
“demands will be MET”
‘American Idol’ 2012: Down to eight Idolettes – Celebrity News – San Francisco Luxury News « Celebrities
March 31st, 2012
7:00 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
Harm
March 31st, 2012
9:25 pm
I’m last again for the time being.
Lil Red
March 31st, 2012
9:34 pm
Last at last and “first for next week.”
JTesla
March 31st, 2012
11:05 pm
Maybe.
Seth T
April 1st, 2012
12:47 am
Quote Highlander “”And this week’s theme, the’80’s, also include songs published and recorded before half of the contestants were born.”"
Exactly – when a young boy or girls starts seriously getting into music, lets just say around 12 to 14 — they start learning songs and get into the artists and their music that are popular at the time.
That’s the era and music where they went to their first party, thought they fell in love, went through changes and experiences from kid to where they are now. Their music is part of their identity. They are not listening to Mom’s or Grandpa’s music unless they have to, in the car.
These kids have very little identity with, or familiarity, or desire for, most of the 80’s stuff. I work with younger people in music, and I do teach them to do some specific fun classic rock – and the best songs that they end-up loving to do in live performances, are from 1955 to very early 70’s.
When we set-up for Jessie J., Adele, Kelly, Beyonce, Carrie, Alicia Keys, Colbie, Natasha etc. type of songs, the girls already know it — I don’t have to make them pour through dozens of songs that are out of their era to decide what to try.
Seth T
April 1st, 2012
12:58 am
And I just hope Gwen Stefani doesn’t give Hollie and Elise any fashion advice. Heejun was smart — he said he would take Jessica as a fashion advisor.
Celebrity Chefs Line Up for NRA Show 2012 – Rmgt magazine « Celebrities
April 1st, 2012
10:46 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
Highlander
April 2nd, 2012
7:08 am
I have a feeling Idol’s ’80’s song choice list will be much shorter than any of us would hope for, leaving many of our personal favorites out.
Kinda like when Star 94 or B98.5 advertise an ’80’s weekend, then proceed to play the same 15 or so songs in rotation throughout the weekend! If you can’t pick more than 15 or 20 good songs out of a decade’s worth of music, maybe being a radio program director isn’t really your calling!
Deirdre
April 2nd, 2012
8:13 am
Morning!
Highlander, at least we can hope for a wide variety of choices if not a huge number. I much prefer the general themes, such as a decade or the year they were born to the more specific(everyone has to sing something by the Supremes). It allows the singers to find something that suits their style rather than someone’s else’s style.
Deirdre
April 2nd, 2012
8:14 am
Watched Game of Thrones last night and will watch The Killing later in the week. Game was a fast moving review of where we left all the game pieces and what their next move may be. It also introduced some new characters.
Alex
April 2nd, 2012
9:00 am
Seth T
April 1st, 2012
12:58 am
Wasn’t Stefani the one who dressed Pia in that eggplant shaped outfit when she got the boot last year?
Sam-A
April 2nd, 2012
9:03 am
Seth: back to your suggested list of songs on Saturday: Kelly totally killed “It’s Raining Men” on Idol – if you missed it, go to youtube.
I just hope they do songs I’ve ever heard of. Hard to tell how good (or bad) some of them are doing if I’m not familar with the song.
Sam-A
April 2nd, 2012
9:40 am
Mercedes: Saw “Salmon Fishing…..” yesterday. Beautiful scenery, but possibly the most boring movie I’ve ever seen! The last 30 or so mins better, but I kept dozing off, my sister said I slept for about 20 mins total. S l o w as a 90 year old on a walker!
Sadly there will be no yacht in my near future. I too matched 2 on several tix, and over the course of the 64 tix the office bought, we did match all the numbers, just not on one ticket. Did match the Mega Ball on one office ticket and one of my own – o boy, 2 or 3 $$!
Mercedes S.
April 2nd, 2012
9:57 am
Sorry Sam, thought you, like me, were into “quirk”. “Yemen” is my favorite movie so far this year!
G
April 2nd, 2012
10:10 am
In light of all the support and valuable commentary from Deirdre and other Idol bloggers, and viewing rewinds of Phil over the weekend, I’ve decided to give him a fair chance this week. I’ve come to a new revelation that Phil actually CAN sing [exceptionally well], and my views of WGWG have been limited. I’ve learned to be more appreciative of his entertainment value with the “husky growls”, the intense expressions, and the interpretation of his music is incomparable. My view of entertainment value was skewed. He’s got the IT factor and it appears I will be throwing all of my support behind Phil.
Jessica and others didn’t have a chance anyway. I was wasting my time. What could I have been thinking going with the “boring” vocalist with all of those unnecessary vocal gymnastics. Uugghh….what was I thinking about that being real singing. Just throw Joshua, Deandre, and Elise in that same bucket.
Phil will win it all. Possibly one of the Idol greats if he keeps it up. You heard it from me first.
Deirdre
April 2nd, 2012
10:27 am
Funny G!
Here’s a 10 minute discussion from Michael Slezak and Melinda Doolittle on last week’s performance. As usual, these two belong on this blog! Interesting opinions, great suggestions and very funny sarcasm:
http://tvline.com/2012/04/02/idology-elise-testone-led-zeppelin-skylar-laine-deandre-brackensick-top-9-week/
Sam-A
April 2nd, 2012
10:30 am
G: A day late – yesterday was April Fools Day!
No, Mercedes – I’m not generally into “quirky” stuff. I love good old fashioned Hollywood productions. Not much into Indies, though I do like the occasional one, like that “50 Days of Summer” (the # may be wrong), but mostly like movies that I can relate to and enjoy looking at. Which can cover a whole range of stuff, ie my fave film of all time is “Rocky” – the sweetest, most uplifting movie I’ve ever seen, and I didn’t come from that blue collar kind of place. Love the “Girl….” films, but I don’t consider them quirky, just gritty and honest. Loved (back in the day) “Georgie Girl” and the original “Alfie” as well as “To Sir With Love”, all of whom might be considered slightly quirky.
I also like quite a few documentaries, but wont mention any of them here, as someone might pop a cork! Don’t want THAT conversation today.
I just require that a film be interesting enough not to put me to sleep! The first one I remember falling asleep in (and I was YOUNG then), was “Close Encounters…..” – what a drip of a movie. After “ET” I guess I expected better.
Deirdre
April 2nd, 2012
10:34 am
LOL! Close Encounters kept me on the edge of my seat! Except for the loooong over-wrought ending.
Woodpappy
April 2nd, 2012
10:36 am
Well…I didn’t win anything either. Guess it’s not to be. Pooh !! I feel like Eeyore. Anyway, I’ve enjoyed some of the lists you guys have put out for the 80’s hits. Brought back some nice tunes for the sounds in my head. LOL
G
April 2nd, 2012
10:44 am
Is it really that hard to believe that I’ve had a change of heart; a come to my senses moment? Is Phil not good enough to envoke a change of heart in his doubters? Yea of little faith………..
Deirdre
April 2nd, 2012
10:44 am
BTW, we would be negligent if we didn’t mention that Scotty McCreery won New Artist of the Year at last night’s Academy of Country Music Awards
Rodney Ho
April 2nd, 2012
10:45 am
I’ll post something Idol related later today and will include this hilarious tidbit: http://www.tmz.com/2012/04/02/american-idol-mansion-porn/
Deirdre
April 2nd, 2012
10:45 am
Yes, G, especially since you spend at least half of your posts trying to convince people how bad Phil is.
Deirdre
April 2nd, 2012
10:47 am
That is one UGLY “mansion”, Rodney!
G
April 2nd, 2012
10:51 am
Congratulations to Scotty! I’m so happy for him. That’s another great Idol talent that missed the opportunity to vote for. I think Idol is missing that pure country element this year. Skylar is exceptional, but she’s no Scotty. Some folks call him a one trick pony. I call him………a specialist.
JTesla
April 2nd, 2012
10:56 am
I noticed in the Idol spots regarding it that it looked like an office building.
G
April 2nd, 2012
10:57 am
Okay……ya got me. So I’m a day late on April Fools! It’s still April and I still think folks are foolish for supporting PP. The bum can’t sing! LOL!!! Whew…..almost regurgitated over the keyboard typing all that stuff about PP. It doesn’t matter what the bum is going to sing for 80s night, because it’s all going to sound the same. Whew…..feels good to be back. LOL!
Oh yeah….I may have embellished a tad about Scotty too.
JTesla
April 2nd, 2012
10:58 am
“a specialist” I like that. I’m starting to think that all the contestants this year are nothing but specialists.
Deirdre
April 2nd, 2012
11:07 am
Say whatever you want about Phil, I still like him. However, I am all about Elise at the moment!
That mansion looks like an old seedy motel. And apparently, considering its former use…”seedy” is a compliment.
G
April 2nd, 2012
11:24 am
I like Elise too. I believe she’s more versatile than people give her credit for. You can see her experience displayed on stage and you can hear it in her voice. I just simply don’t have the votes at this time to give to her consistently. I DID vote for Jessica and Elise last week, but this week could be different.
Mercedes S.
April 2nd, 2012
11:49 am
Thanks for link to Slezak and Melinda, D. Interesting fact they brought up: Jimmy Iovine intentionally sabotaging Holly. Booo.
RxDawg
April 2nd, 2012
12:08 pm
“I still think that PP can pull off any heavy metal song in the 80s by Metallica, Megadeth, Iron Maiden etc. Seriously. Hey, all the songs are in his singing range. He can hit all the growl octaves. LOL!!!”
I was bored and going back and reading some comments. G I’m not so sure that even Jessica is in Iron Maiden’s range. That dude could holla. Say what you want about 80’s metal, their singers could double as opera performers.
RxDawg
April 2nd, 2012
12:11 pm
And for 80s week, I know how Deandre can make himself a “front runner”. He needs to sing Kiss by Prince.
RxDawg
April 2nd, 2012
12:11 pm
… so let’s hope he doesn’t!
Alex
April 2nd, 2012
12:13 pm
Deirdre
April 2nd, 2012
11:07 am
G
April 2nd, 2012
11:24 am
I’m a big-time Elise fan right now as well. I thought “Whole Lotta Love” was incredible, but there was something more subtle that I think many overlooked. When it showed her being coached by Stevie Nicks there was a brief clip of the two of them singing “Dreams”, I believe. Elise was effortlessly singing harmony. That was revealing as to how good she truly is. The biggest downside for her is whether or not she can connect to the big voting blocks.
Alex
April 2nd, 2012
12:14 pm
RxDawg
April 2nd, 2012
12:08 pm
“I’m not so sure that even Jessica is in Iron Maiden’s range.”
If you’re looking for shrill vocals then let Deandre Makesmesick sing it.
Alex
April 2nd, 2012
12:19 pm
Here’s the thing about 80s week – while most of us were around and enjoying the music these contestants weren’t. As a result, most of them – with the exception of Phil and Elise, perhaps – will probably decide to sing something familiar. As a result, I expect to hear the usual Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna, Whitney songs. Yeeesch. But to personalize this, I tried to imagine waaaaaay back to the 70s when I was 16. If they had asked me to sing a song from the 1940s (30 years earlier) would I have been real familiar with the songs of that time? Does “In the Mood” have words? Or would I have chosen “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”?
Alex
April 2nd, 2012
12:24 pm
Oh yeah, if Elise wants to blow things out again she should to something by Pat Benatar. I believe she has the chops to pull it off.