‘American Idol’ top 4 performance recap: who can you tell will go home?
Did perpetual underdog Hollie Cavanagh pick the wrong songs and cost herself a shot to get past the other three? CR: Michael Becker / FOX.
Loading ...Jessica Sanchez is like a gymnast always pursuing the most difficult possible routine. A few weeks back, she covered Whitney Houston’s version of “I Will Always Love You,” one of the toughest, showiest songs in history to pull off. The consensus: excellent!
Last week, she attempted Tina Turner’s “‘Proud Mary.” Consensus: more miss, than hit. Tonight, she not only covered an Etta James song with plaudits, but then tackled the ultimate in “Look at me! I’m a singer!” song: “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going.” This teen’s got gumption! From a technical standpoint, she was spot on.
But does she bring the angst and grit of either Holliday or Jennifer Hudson? Not quite. Maybe it’s youth. Or her personality. Still, plenty of fans think she just punched her ticket to the finals.
In fact, the debate has been going on for weeks: is Jessica authentic or a robot?
Loading ...Hollie Cavanagh is facing a similar critique. Is she connecting with what she’s singing? Is she mature enough to embody some of the mature topics within the lyrics of songs she picks? She seems rather young at times but warmer and more likable than Jessica.
She did a rather faithful version of Journey’s “Faithfully” but picked the wrong song for herself with Bonnie Raitt’s heart-breaking “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” She was able to properly channel heartache last week with “Bleeding Love” but couldn’t quite do it this time around.
Phillip Phillips is not even 5% of the singer Jessica is. But he can emote. And his Damien Rice “Volcano” cover may have saved him after his “why am I still here?” performances last week. Maybe his kidney didn’t act up so much this week.
Joshua Ledet, whose style is nothing if not divisive among the readers here, can grab a song and embody it in a way that neither lady in the competition can. While he almost held back too much on “You Raise Me Up,” he gave plenty of power to “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World.” (The judges gave him a standing ovation only for the second one.)
The judges were brutal (relatively speaking) on Hollie this week. Will her sympathy votes keep her around this time? I’m not so sure with only four left. She and Joshua will be in the bottom two and she will go home.
My quick recap of the 10 performances
Round one: “California Dreamin’ ” – songs by California artists or have some connection to the state
- Phillip (”Have You Ever Seen the Rain” Creedance Clearwater Revival) – This week, he was smart to choose a song that didn’t need a lot of range, especially on the high end, like “Time of the Season.” The lead singer John Fogerty has a gritty voice too, so this complemented Phillip. He did seem far more chipper about it than Fogerty, which didn’t work for me too well. Still, he felt more comfortable than he did last week with the Zombies. Bonus points though for sexy sax player Mindi Abair! Grade: B-plus.
- Hollie (”Faithfully” Journey) - She looks great, enhanced by wind machine. But she does a virtual note for note copy of the original. Lyrically, this song doesn’t seem to have much to do with her at all (a wizened rock star on the road with a family). Ultimately, it was not distinguishable performance good or bad. Grade: B
- Joshua (”You Raise Me Up” Josh Grobin) – I tend to enjoy Joshua when he’s understated but I’m not sure he brought enough energy to truly raise me up on this one. At least he didn’t go into total scream mode at any point. Interestingly, he didn’t get a standing ovation. Grade: B-plus
- Jessica (”Steal Away” Etta James) – It’s tough to sing the blues when you’re not a truly bluesy person. Again, she sings another technical marvel that is missing the soulful credence of the late great James. Grade: B-plus/A-minus
Duets/group sing
- Joshua/Phillip (”This Love” Maroon 5) – After last week’s uncomfortable “You’ve Lost This Lovin’ Feelin’,” the pair regrouped and put together a delightful version of this nearly decade-old Maroon 5 hit. Note the ebony/ivory pianos.Grade: A-minus
- Jessica/Hollie (”Eternal Flame” The Bangles) – As Randy Jackson said, this arrangement felt odd. Jessica kept hitting the lower register in the harmonies and was swallowed by Hollie, especially near the end. The swings may have meant these two are just teens. Maybe they’ll play jacks next time? Grade: B
- Group sing (”Waiting For a Girl Like You” Foreigner) – Harmonies were off. The singers didn’t really capture Lou Gramm’s longing. As is typical in group sings, the coherence was off. Grade: B-minus
Round 2: songs I wish I had written
- Phillip (”Volcano” Damien Rice) – What a revelation! Phillip is singularly compelling on a bracingly painful song. Grade: A
- Hollie (”I Can’t Make You Love You” Bonnie Raitt) – She tried, oh, she tried. It fails to click but the judges were much tougher on her than she deserved. Grade: B-plus
- Joshua (”It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World” James Brown) – The judges were a wee bit hyperbolic tonight again, eh? Best performance of any music show ever, Randy Jackson? Really? Sure, it’s vintage Joshua, with all the runs, the energy, the gospel touches. From that standpoint, it was excellent. Grade: A-minus
- Jessica (”And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going” Jennifer Holliday) – As I noted earlier, she hit every note with precision, her vocal and breath control incredible. It’s almost as good as the original. Almost. Grade: A-minus/A
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By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
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420 comments Add your comment
Jenny
May 10th, 2012
12:20 am
And if she had, it would’ve been a moment.
And speaking of moments…. I love Jessica too, but this is what I expected from her on “And I Am Telling You (I’m Not Going)” …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNliViA74to
Jenny
May 10th, 2012
12:25 am
And yes, I know Lakisha kind of folded after that, and Jess is absolutely uber-talented… but not on that song. Not tonight. Jessica did it well, but it was way too fast and frenetic. Here at my house we like her ballad voice way, way better.
If she’d done the above arrangement… it would’ve been another “I Will Always Love You” moment.
‘American Idol’ Leaves Hollie Cavanagh With ‘Nowhere To Go’ – MTV.com | Rss News Desk | Daily News Magazine
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‘American Idol’ Leaves Hollie Cavanagh With ‘Nowhere To Go’ – MTV.com | HostMyDream
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bknsty14
May 10th, 2012
12:30 am
Jenny – so glad you’re back. I liked Hollie too and thought the same thing about Jimmy getting in her head. Just let her sing. I re-watched it and that was my first thought. I voted a lot of times for her and really want to see her move on. I agree about Jessica’s ballad voice, though something in her tone bothers me a bit. No doubt she can sing, but this was just OK tonight.
Jenny
May 10th, 2012
12:39 am
So, all of that said… my rankings:
Shocker… I liked Phil again tonight! With him, it’s all about the song choice. I still think he’s overall the weakest voice and should go home… but I really liked Volcano and may even buy it on iTunes.
1. Hollie – Faithfully. (I think those last notes were EXACTLY what those of us speculating earlier envisioned. Right, Mercedes, bknsty14, Alex, et al?)
2. Joshua – Man’s World (Wow. The best song I’ve heard from him all season.)
3. Philip – Volcano (Never heard the song, but its vibe reminded me of my favorite Counting Crows song, “Anna Begins”. Really, really liked it.)
4. Hollie, Bonnie Raitt. (This was Carrie’s audition song. Hoping that’ll pick up some Skylar/country fans)
5. Jessica, And I Am Telling You (I’m Not Going). See my comments above.
6. Josh, You Raise Me Up. He was great… I just don’t like the song. But he sang it very well.
7. Philip, CCR. Love the song! And liked that he stayed fairly true to it. No need to change it here.
Last but not least. Jessica, Etta James. Too growly. Didn’t show her BEAUTIFUL voice.
But I really don’t think anyone did badly. Jess wasn’t great with Etta, but it was far from a disaster. So I don’t know… I fear for Hollie.
She shouldn’t go, but Phil seems to have an indestructible fan base. And the judges clearly, clearly, CLEARLY want a Jess/Josh final.
Jenny
May 10th, 2012
12:40 am
Bkn… I was voting while watching, and got probably a hundred or so calls in for Hollie. I voted until they closed the lines. I hope it’ll help.
ACE
May 10th, 2012
12:41 am
Phil should be the winner but the judges will try everything in their power to prevent it. JLO will probably wear a cape tomorrow with Joshua’s name on it.
Jenny
May 10th, 2012
12:44 am
Hey, we need Katy Perry with a Hollie Cavanagh cape!
ACE
May 10th, 2012
12:44 am
AI can’t afford another WHITE male winner. Can you see Simon’s promo for x factor, If you are white guy go to idol everyone else come to the x factor for a chance to win.
bknsty14
May 10th, 2012
12:44 am
I agree about the Etta James song. though I didn’t think it was bad, if she would have just came out, sang, not growled, not had runs on every other line, just sang the song, it would have been great. Loved volcano, but hold to the fact that I could see that in a coffee house. Liked Man’s world til the end (just like most of over the top josh’s songs). Liked both Hollie’s but wished for a different song in the second half. Though Jessica started in the right direction on her second song, but then just started yelling. Yelling does not = singing.
bknsty14
May 10th, 2012
12:45 am
I’ll take Katy Perry in a cape
ACE
May 10th, 2012
12:46 am
Not saying all these white guys should have won. Crystal was clearly the better singer to off key Lee.
bknsty14
May 10th, 2012
12:46 am
A Hollie cape. I guess I should specify.
JTesla
May 10th, 2012
12:47 am
So the judges might like Joshua a bit.
I acutally thought he did great, but take it down a notch you clowns.
Of course none of that matters.
ACE
May 10th, 2012
12:47 am
I second that about Katy and her cape.
ACE
May 10th, 2012
12:49 am
They must have a mandate, no pun intended, to push Joshua.
Jenny
May 10th, 2012
12:50 am
And just for fun, here’s a longer version of “And I Am Telling You”, with intro and judges’ comments.
(Skip to 4:00 to hear Simon tell the other 23 to pack their bags and go home.
)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ww4a50ItlA
Jeremy
May 10th, 2012
12:52 am
I lost interest when Elise went home. Don’t care who wins now.
Jenny
May 10th, 2012
12:54 am
Yes, even as good as Man’s World was… he did drift into his over-the-top zone at the end. But some people like that… i.e. my husband, who thinks it adds to the song by showing his emotion. (I say his pretty voice is better by itself without all that “emotion”.)
Courtney
May 10th, 2012
12:57 am
Who has 2 hours to watch all this crap? Thank God I have a DVR and watched the important parts in 25 minutes and went on with my life.
bknsty14
May 10th, 2012
12:58 am
Watched LaKisha. Not sure why I don’t remember her. that was good and the ending was outstanding. That’s what I mean by not yelling a song. Same thing I meant comparing Man’s world by Joshua to the one by Michael Lynch. He sang, controlled, and didn’t yell.
bknsty14
May 10th, 2012
1:02 am
Jenny – you say your Husband liked It’s a Man’s world tonight. Show him this and tell me what he thinks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C1R5clICfo
Jenny
May 10th, 2012
1:04 am
Lakisha was my pick straight from the auditions that year. But that was her best performance… top 24 was too early, I guess. She did “Midnight Train To Georgia” and a few other good songs, but then kind of started to fade away. I think she came in sixth? I remember the judges were pretty rough on her and she seemed to lose confidence, while Melinda Doolittle just got better and better.
skeeter
May 10th, 2012
1:04 am
1. Joshua
1A. Jessica
1B. Phillip
4. Hollie
Kat S.
May 10th, 2012
1:04 am
The only music I would buy would be Hollie’s. Jessica is a good singer, but she’s not likable. Phillip is good, but his vocals get boring after awhile. Joshua is great, but too much screaming. As for the judges, they are obviously scapegoating Hollie. As far as the while package (personality, vocals, effort), Hollie does not deserve to go home.
Jenny
May 10th, 2012
1:09 am
Bk, I can already tell you he thinks it’s great. He loved Michael Lynch. (My favorite from him was “In The Ghetto”… though I think it may have gotten him voted off.)
Funny, I was just thinking tonight that as much as they praise Joshua, I actually would prefer to listen to Big Mike.
Jenny
May 10th, 2012
1:10 am
But, I must not know anything… because as Randy has explained, Josh is the best singer in the past fifty years.
bknsty14
May 10th, 2012
1:13 am
As I said earlier, I find it odd that Joshua is the best singer in the last 50 years, but he wasn’t even good enough to make it to Hollywood last year. That is one of the biggest improvements ever in the history of mankind.
Jenny
May 10th, 2012
1:14 am
susan
May 10th, 2012
1:19 am
I am sick of the judges standing for jessica and joshua
Phillip is unique and has real talent.
Jenny
May 10th, 2012
1:21 am
Those who liked Volcano – here’s an old album cut you may like.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrqrFWSO4QU
Can’t be such a night owl tonight so signing off…. looking forward to all the comments tomorrow!
bknsty14
May 10th, 2012
1:25 am
My comment is that Counting Crows is my favorite band of all time and Anna Begins is one of the best songs ever. Love that band, love, love, love that band. Just saw them in concert last month for the 12? time. They are great.
Sonja
May 10th, 2012
2:06 am
What a great show , Idol was tonight. All four are wonderful and very talented. Joshua and Jessica are especially SPECIAL and I think they both should share the title. Hollie and Phillip are adorable and very talented but J and J have “that special something “that can’t be denied as absolutely great.
Sonja
Rebshadow
May 10th, 2012
2:18 am
Ok first of all AI way better than the Voice. I think Mann did better than Joshua. Man’s World blew it up way better than Juliette. Of course Josh has more advantage because he is more soul James Brown than she is. I thought Phil’s Volcano was awesome. Jessica rather still see Colton than her shrieking voice or even Skylar I think she should go. Hollie’s first song fabulous the second kind of boring but I think she is better than Phil or Jessica. For me Jessica can go home grow up a little maybe I’ll like her in a few years.
Porter Waggoneer
May 10th, 2012
4:09 am
The girls go bye bye. Joshua is too good to be there already and Philip will win.
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May 10th, 2012
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A believer
May 10th, 2012
6:12 am
JESSICA CAN SING WHAT PHILLIP, JOSHUA AND HOLLIE CANT. REMEMBER I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU? JESSICA CAN SING VOLCANO, I CANT MAKE YOU LOVE ME, IT’S A MAN’S WORLD AND PULL IT OFF BUT IMAGINE PHILLIP, JOSHUA AND HOLLIE SINGING I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU. NOPE , I DONT THINK THEY CAN..
Alex
May 10th, 2012
6:43 am
Here’s my take on the contestants last night – the girls best performances were in Round 1 while the guys best performances were in Round 2.
Reeekkkeee
May 10th, 2012
6:45 am
Joshua sounds like all the best soul singers who ever lived rolled into one. Hollie has an excellent voice but lacks the drive and personality to sing more powerful songs. I’d love to hear her sing “I Dreamed a Dream” from Le Miz, but it wouldn’t matter in the voting. She’s circling the drain. Jessica is amazing with an incredibly powerful and beautiful voice. Phillip is the Peter Principle in action. He seems less interested with every show. At times it’s painful listening to his mangled lyrics and singing off key. Regardless, teeny-boppers love him, and the least talented contestant could win it all.
IMO Phillip should get the boot tonight followed by Hollie next week. Joshua is my favorite but I’d be OK with him or Jessica coming out on top. Both of them will become stars. Hollie is a maybe. You can catch Phillip’s act in small clubs across the country.
At least we don’t have to watch Dolly Joplin again.
JDawg
May 10th, 2012
6:46 am
I think that the judges bias is sickning. If you like fresh new talent then vote for Phil. Hollie is such a sweetheart with a great voice. Joshua is great but tends to scream his lyrics. Jessica is a very talented singer but is BUTT UGLY.
Blackshepherd
May 10th, 2012
6:54 am
Deirdre
It appears you and I, are from the same era( for those of you who were born after the 1970s). I would love to go through your collection of records as I am sure you would have enjoy going through my 1950s to1970s catalog of Voices…I fully agree with you on your continued support of Joshua. Again for me as long as Joshua controls when to scream I have no problem with his interpertation of a song.
True I can’t say I enjoyed every performance but I cant denie how he has Grown and the raw talent to get down right raw heart felt soul..complete with howling like a wolf..yet still maintaining passion. something I witnessed ..from janis joplin( piece of my heart in which she poured her heart and soul in) and many others came to mind…his rendition of its a Man’s Man World..yes was second only to the God Father of Soul himself, the judges were Right to Stand and yes..it was the best I ever heard anyone sing..I have to admit I was wondering at first if he could pull it off because it started rather slow and a little uncertain..but towards the end it Grew in passion and fire..when he did that Howl…because he was rather restraining himself but that particular song Requires Extreme vocal power to make it believable..he delivered..the GodFather of Soul would have been proud.
To the haters, this Man does Not have to win..he already shows he has too Much talent for this show. He already HAS WON, you know why? Many people with influence, not to mention Money, watched his performance last night. It really does not matter at this point whats said on this blog concerning the love or hate of Joshua. He definately is not your average singer..he will be fine. some one will see to that..mark my words..
Damien Rice | NewsTrendr
May 10th, 2012
7:10 am
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Deirdre
May 10th, 2012
7:28 am
Morning!
B-shep, yes, we are cut from the same cloth sometimes.
purefat
May 10th, 2012
7:30 am
Hollie deserves to leave but I think there will be a big upset and Joshua will go. There’s always one person getting less votes than she gets.
Donna
May 10th, 2012
7:31 am
Nana, I agree with you – JLo has no call to say that Hollie doesn’t connect with her lyrics. I absolutely loved Hollie’s performances, and I know that her “I Can’t Make You Love Me” was coming from her heart. No matter if the judges give her good critiques (not heartfelt or gushing, but good) she’s always in the bottom 3. I felt her pain.
I think the judges have an agenda, and what they say does affect the voting. They have persuaded so many of these bloggers that Hollie does not emote.
Or, depending on the judges’ moods, they might say she’s “over-emoting.” But Jessica and Joshua don’t over-emote? Huhhh??
I love Jessica, and I hope she or Hollie wins. But last night’s Jennifer Hudson song sounded like a teenage hissy-fit in the middle. Nowhere near as moving as Jennifer H’s version. But the judges gushed, didn’t they?
Hollie’s got the cards stacked against her. Maybe it’s the blonde thing.
Deirdre
May 10th, 2012
7:33 am
If Rodney’s poll is any indication, Jessica is the one to beat.
And I agree that the judges’ over-the-top exaggeration of Joshua’s second performance will do him more harm than good. Not sure what is going on in their heads. Lower ratings? More competition? Maybe they are trying to draw the voters away from the WGWG.
Whatever they are doing, I’m ignoring their comments. I like Joshua, thought he did a very good job last night and I voted for him. I see absolutely no reason why a singer should be punished for the clownish behavior of the judges.
dancer
May 10th, 2012
7:47 am
WOW, BKshepard, you post was spot on!!!!! This is the first time we agree, I love your post BTW.
Like him or not, Josh is the best singer….
J and J final…. Anything less will be a disappointment. He will be a big star. I know Dierdre, you dont like that saying, sorry…. lol
Deirdre
May 10th, 2012
7:50 am
Say whatever you want, dancer. I’m going to try to not argue with people today. Wish me luck!
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