‘American Idol’ top 4 results recap: who is out on ‘Idol’ and who made the top 3
Phil Phillips will be flying to his hometown Leesburg this weekend, paving the way to a possible win. CREDIT: Michael Becker/FOX
Loading ...Hollie Cavanagh had a great run but picking a Bonnie Raitt song did her in.
There were 70 million votes, 10 million more than last year. Jessica Sanchez was the first announced to be safe, followed by Joshua Ledet. Hollie joined Phillip Phillips for the final minutes, but Ryan Seacrest never said he was necessarily in the bottom two so he probably wasn’t.
Jessica, Phillip and Joshua are now guaranteed hometown visits. For the second time in two years, Georgia gets a hometown visit. Last year, it was Lauren Alaina.
Hollie, when she made it to the semifinals, was one of those half-dozen blond women, virtually indistinguishable. For a time, her performances were just so so. She had a good voice but her interpretation skills were a bit stiff. Then a few weeks in, her competitive juices kicked in, she took advice and began singing better, with more confidence. Her top 7 “Rolling in the Deep” received plaudits, as did her “The Climb” top 6 and “Bleeding Love” top five.
Even though she may have picked the wrong song Monday night, she definitely wins the “Idol’ award this year for most improved. And how could you not love her Texas/British hybrid accent?
Next week’s results show will feature Adam Lambert and Lisa Marie Presley. Lisa Marie Presley?
Jimmy Iovine’s comments:
Phillip: “[On first song, "Have You Ever Seen the Rain," where he had Miss Saxy] He’s hearing his voice in his head. That’s a magical thing to watch. [Song two: "Volcano"]. He finally delivered on the promise that we’ve been looking for all year. He sang the song like he wrote it, understood it.”
Hollie: “[On "Faithfully] All the thing that concern me about Hollie – over singing, over dramatizing, actually aided her in this song. This is a very dramatic song. This kind of worked for her.” [On "I Can't Make You Love Me"] I thought she understood the core of the song. She did not. She didn’t have the personal experience or professional experience.”
Joshua: ["You Raise Me Up"] It might have worked if he had kept it simple. But instead, he went for the full glorious gospel rendition. That didn’t work. I’d try to talk him out to put songs like this on the album… he can’t use that trick on every song. ["It's a Man's Man's Man's World"] He created a piece of magic you rarely see on the ‘American Idol’ stage… it was so so captivating. I want to see it again again and again. That’s the first time I’ve felt that way. Now how can we find an original song that good on his album? Heck, let’s just do that song.”
Jessica: ["Steal Away"] Was impersonating a great older jazz blues singer a good idea? No. She ended up going back to that trick of hers when she was five years old. Everyone knows the rabbit’s going to come out of the hat. ["And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going"] This she brought her artillery in the right proportion.. she brought her power, the dynamics. It was flawless. She murdered it. As a matter of fact, Tommy Mottola emailed me and said, ‘I’m going to her first concert.’ It was shock and awe.’ ”
Last year, he noted, he knew Scotty was going to win. This year, he’s not so sure. Indeed, I have no idea who’s going to win. It could be any of the final three. And that’s a good thing for “Idol.”
In other “Idol” news:
Phillip Philips told E! he plans some major surgery to help his kidney stone problems before the tour starts. Aerosmith will perform on the “Idol” finale. “Idol” ratings slipped last night to around 16.5 million viewers and a 4.5 18-49 rating.
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By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk
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462 comments Add your comment
Quail
May 11th, 2012
1:12 pm
I understand that J&J is actually screaming for some of you guys but I think that is part of being a great singer, they can sing high & low notes.
JTesla
May 11th, 2012
1:17 pm
My interest always wanes as the season wears on, this season is a little different I can pinpoint the exact cause: 2 hour show, week after week. I know that is FOX and not Idol, but still it is too much. The judges pimping, or irrelevance, or self indulgency has always been problem for me, but now I have to put up with it for two hours a week.
No thanks. I’m not going to rage quit Idol, but they will need to make some changes for me to be back 100% next season. I can see myself skipping everything until they hit the live shows without a shakeup of the judges panel.
Neg's Lost Interest
May 11th, 2012
1:17 pm
@Alex –
I agree with you about “Whole Lotta Love” topping the season. It was truly an awesome performance. Unfortunately, Elise was kind of a one-hit-wonder for me. I liked a few of her other performances, and dug her retro vibe, but something was missing. I never was able to get invested enough to care when she got eliminated.
Peachtree John
May 11th, 2012
1:22 pm
Since Phillip has by far the worst voice on the show, I guess he will win the competition. Sad.
Pitchy
May 11th, 2012
1:25 pm
I get back to my desk and realize I posted at 12:33 saying good morning.
Hope I didn’t confuse any vampires out there!
Quail
May 11th, 2012
1:27 pm
Peachtree John
May 11th, 2012
1:22 pm
PP has a nice voice but he’s not like J&J, we need some awesome/great voice who can sing high & low notes. IMO.
Rodney Ho
May 11th, 2012
1:46 pm
New blog entry up y’all, with Hollie Cavanagh press conference interview
G
May 11th, 2012
1:54 pm
Jumpin the shark. The true jump came when Idol allowed contestants to sing AND play instruments. Without that “monumental” change, I’m almost confident you get NO WGWG winners. The most talented singers would most surely be in the finals.
If PP wins, that would solidify the fact that you could place any old WGWG on Idol and he will win on style and looks alone. If you do not fit that mold, and you want to win……it’s strongly encouraged that you DO NOT apply.
Also, if Jess or Josh win, that would be the fist time since who…..Carrie Underwood that Idol will have a strong vocalist to win?
Sam-A
May 11th, 2012
2:14 pm
Alex: All that talk about your “tank” – sounds like you’ve been watchine the “real housewives of OC”!
Seth T
May 11th, 2012
2:25 pm
RE: Partiality – Judges – Jimmy Iovine:
While I have been to many seminars and taken courses in marketing, a few years back, I went to a 2 week school on sales psychology. One of the best, most effective methods of “steering” a normal, intelligent person toward purchasing a paticular product — is to have a creditable and seemingly impartial 3rd party involved in the sales process.
The 3rd party has to do a job where their advice and analysis appears to point-out little things he doesn’t like about the product the salesman (his actual partner) is presenting — but then, when compared to the competition — it’s by far the best —– and, there’s this one feature, that just blows the 3rd party away, they are so excited and happy about it.
The AI program right now, is right out of the book. When you go back through and review Iovine’s comments, especially when he makes them after the votes are done and there’s at least an indication of where things are going – he can use his slot to use suttle little suggestions and selected observations to “steer” viewers toward certain contestants in the future – even though this week is done.
Last night he really bashed Hollie and they made sure to re-televise a couple flat notes on her review, in order to help justify her release, or discredit her for the future – just in case she got through. Iovine will work with any and all of the remaining 3, Hollie was a threat to more exposure for the 3 that they prefer to work with at this time.
Interscope Records and Jimmy Iovine make or lose money as the business partners of E19 and the AI program. The Judges serve 2 purposes, to appear to entertain, compliment, advise and critique — and to help channel the best (most marketable) toward the top, and keep the big machine (E19, Fox Producers, Interscope Records) happy. They get a lot of embellishment for their individual careers from it – so to keep the machine happy, the not-so-suttle partiality comes out.
It is impossible to ignore the preference to Joshua, led by Randy and supported by Iovine, but Iovine is careful to throw-in a few little things to make it appear that it’s just another evaluation. But they also know that Jessica is a solid bet for the investment, and they are going to hold/sign Phillip one way or another anyway.
Elise, Hollie and Skylar all scared them a little bit, in terms of getting into the top 3. Another way to help winnow the field in these situations, is to – if you see them making some bad song choices on their own, don’t give them any helpful advice on the side.
Also, if you look at Vegas betting odds – you will see the top 3 were strong early favorites before the first top 13 show was on live. They missed the boat on Colton going a little early, otherwise – they knew a lot about how this game was going to get played from the inside.
AI is not about “finding” an undiscovered talent who played their first time in a coffee shop the week before their AI audition, but working with good material they have found that they can “build, expose, advertise and promote” in order to create an American Idol.
A good opportunity for the contestants, an intersting event to watch as the contestants develop through the show and “products to sell” for the Big Machine.
Ashley
May 11th, 2012
2:49 pm
I heard JLo will be coming to Leesburg with Phillip Phillips… is this correct??
Cheyne
May 14th, 2012
10:56 pm
I love, love Phillip Phillip’s beautiful performance of Volcano. This was his moment. This is who he is as an artist. Hauntingly beautiful and heart breaking.