American Idol Season 10 Episode 24 : Tonight, the remaining 9 American Idol hopefuls will be competing to win your votes once again and they will be performing songs coming from any bands being inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Maybe Metallica, AC/DC, whatever! Oh, too bad but no one sings a real rock song! Not even an Aerosmith song. Maybe these contestants already heard (read?) somewhere that Steven Tyler will not tolerate anyone that will butcher their classics, so maybe it’s better to play safe with all these ‘Rock Songs’. I’m sorry but if anyone is able to remove those waxes in their ears will simply have the impression that there’s nothing ‘rockin’ going on tonight, but that’s just me…
AMERICAN IDOL TOP 9 PERFORMANCES
* JACOB LUSK – Man in the Mirror – 1-866-436-5701
* HALEY REINHART – Piece of My Heart – 1-866-436-5702
* CASEY ABRAMS – Have You Ever Seen the Rain – 1-866-436-5703
* LAUREN ALAINA – Natural Woman – 1-866-436-5704
* JAMES DURBIN – While My Guitar Gently Weeps – 1-866-436-5705
* SCOTTY McCREERY – That’s Alright Mama – 1-866-436-5706
* PIA TOSCANO – River Deep, Mountain High – 1-866-436-5707
* STEFANO LANGONE – When a Man Loves a Woman – 1-866-436-5708
* PAUL McDONALD – Folsom Prison Blues – 1-866-436-5709
JACOB LUSK started the show, and hey I am actually putting on my Jacob Lusk Lotion and it’s very Jacob Lusk deterrent, lol! Better than putting waxes on, covering your ears, or turning the freaking volume down, I suppose, but to no avail. I always look forward that this guy will sing another classic with vibrating vocals and a wailing glory notes in the end. Jacob might be in control for tonight, but not long! It’s the same Jacob Lusk and wait, there’s someone singing along with him…
Steven Tyler: “Every time you sing you bring another little piece of yourself to the party. I love that about you. That was beautiful.”
Jennifer Lopez: “That’s it! You make everybody know that if you believe in yourself and that if you stick to what feels right, and what is right for you, you can do anything in this world. That’s what you do when you sing. Congratulations. That was a beautiful performance. Perfect in every way on every emotional level.”
Randy Jackson: “I’m so proud of you! There were Jacob moments all over that. That was hot!”
–o0o–
Up next is the growling girl, HALEY REINHART. She’s singing a song that’s been tailor made for her. Remember contestants like Amanda Overmyer? Maybe Crystal Bowersox will serve your memory right! That’s it, Haley is singing Janis Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart” and proved that she’s indeed a contender. I like the ‘come on, come one’ thing in there! Jennifer Lopez liked it, Randy said he likes it too, but his actions doesn’t show that ‘likeness’…
Steven Tyler: “I couldn’t find nothing wrong with that… You did it again tonight. You nailed it. I loved it.”
Jennifer Lopez: “You’re showing everybody that you’re a contender. They need to be careful with Haley… You keep up like that, you’re going to be around for a minute.”
Randy Jackson: “Haley, welcome back back back.”
–o0o–
Taking the stage next is the over pimped, CASEY ABRAMS. Once again, Casey is taking his acoustic bass with him up on stage. And just like the green light effect being used while Casey destroys a Nirvana classic a couple of weeks ago, “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” starts with a rain drop lighting effect! Yeah, all these effects were cheesy and it only happens during a Casey Abrams’ performance! Anyways, he’s in control tonight and needless to say that the performance is actually good. No more complains from me!
Steven Tyler: “I think you ought to put some wheels on that and ride that thing around town — you’re a true musician and every time you sing you bring something different and that’s what this show is about…”
Jennifer Lopez: “That’s exactly where you belong with your bass… I’m paying top dollar to be in the front row.”
Randy Jackson: “You definitely did well justice to that song… Casey is making upright bass cool… Casey is revolutionary. I love it!”
–o0o–
LAUREN ALAINA is singing ‘Natural Woman’. The kind of song that puts Kelly Clarkson and Crystal Bowersox on the American Idol map. Unfortunately, no one is remembering Crystal Bowersox doing a good rendition about this song on last year’s Hollywood Week. All eyes on Kelly Clarkson as the closest comparison to this night’s performance. That is maybe because Lauren and Kelly were almost identical physically, duh! The singing is not even close to Kelly, but the rendition is still good!
Steven Tyler: “Lauren, you know I love you. Four months ago you came in here and you were an immature little girl and tonight you are a natural born woman.”
Jennifer Lopez: “That was very nice — She’s amazing, yes.”
Randy Jackson: “Where I wasn’t jumping up and down… You took a very difficult song and you did a good job. So, big props to you on that.”
–o0o–
Kicking next is JAMES DURBIN and I expect a lot from him tonight since this is called as the ‘Rock and Roll’ week. Unfortunately, he’s slowing things up and sing “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”. The only thing I can say is that his performance tonight is nothing but a big letdown! I am all for this ‘tweaking’ the song and make it your own, but that’s it! The Adam Lambert comparison will be obvious and the singing is not even good for tonight. However, for some unknown reason, the judges still loved it. Maybe they’re digging anything as long as it’s James Durbin – or Casey Abrams, in that matter, blah!
Steven Tyler: “That’s really a proud moment for you. Thanks!”
Jennifer Lopez: “It’s nice to see that other side of you… I loved it. I thought it was a great choice for you.”
Randy Jackson: “I loved seeing the real true emotional side of James Durbin…Taking chances like that are extremely important… and you won. You did a good job. Very nice.”
–o0o–
One thing I started noticing during a SCOTTY McCREERY performance: making cute glances on the camera! Holding the microphone in an awkward position and raising your eyebrows like The Rock while facing the camera is a sure winning method to win votes coming from teenage girls watching at home. Of course, to each his own but the only bad thing about this is that Scotty is not Tim Urban.
Steven Tyler: “I agree with Randy. I thought you were all hat with no cattle, but you brought Elvis into the house… You did it well.”
Randy Jackson: “Scotty is in it to win it, y’all… This was amazing… This was like a new Scotty. We’ve never seen this side. Scotty’s in it to win it. Who is going to beat him?”
Jennifer Lopez: “I agree with them. You’re having fun with it. I feel a little bit of flavor in there. I love it!”
–o0o–
PIA TOSCANO is up next and to my surprise, she’s rocking the stage with an uptempo from Tina Turner’s “River Deep, Mountain High”. This is what the people’s been waiting for and Pia is effortlessly dominating the competition tonight. The only complain here is that awful dress, thick red lipstick, ring loops around her neck and a bad hairdo! If you think Haley Reinhart is the only female contestant that can growl around here, then you’re in trouble now! The song ends up with a thick and raspy glory notes that puts Pia on a league of her own!
Steven Tyler: “Murderer! Murderer! You killed it! There’s a million guys in a million bars having a million drinks about you. That was great.”
Jennifer Lopez: “It’s amazing. You are really really really special up there… You are spectacular.”
Randy Jackson: “What you showed me is what I already knew. You could definitely deliver on an uptempo and you did that tonight…Pia’s in it to win it!”
–o0o–
The last two guys performing, STEFANO LANGONE and PAUL McDONALD. Too bad but both of these guys were really forgettable for tonight’s episode. They didn’t do anything wrong. Stefano is singing “When a Man Loves a Woman” and he’s doing it great but there’s nothing special in that performance that people might be able to recall and vote. Same goes to Paul. He’s very energetic on stage (this guy is in a band and already an experienced musician, so?), but in the end the performance is just flat and forgettable. The judges keep on giving praises in the end for both guys, but we’ll see about that tomorrow night…
Judges comments on Stefano Langone’s performance:
Steven Tyler: “I liked that. I liked the timing. You’ve got a great range to your voice. Tonight you nailed it. I thought it was great. A lot of passion. Beautiful.”
Jennifer Lopez: “Baby. I knew you had it in you. That was beautiful. I loved it!”
Randy Jackson: “The first part felt a little jerky to me. I liked it, but I wasn’t jumping up and down…”
Judges comments on Paul McDonald’s performance:
Steven Tyler: “I loved it, man! You rocked the house. Nice!”
Jennifer Lopez: “It was a perfect way to end the show. You’re amazing! Good job!”
Randy Jackson: “I have three words for you. I loved it!”
