Summary "American Idol" - Top 13 Finalists Perform - March 10, 2009

Ryan gives us the open and an announcer introduces the judges as they walk out onto the stage, which was apparently Simon's idea. We get an overhead shot of the big stage. Ryan asks the judges what the contestants need to do. Randy says they need to bring it hard. Kara says she's going to be tougher on the contestants now since they might get on the radio. Paula warns them not to be swallowed up by the stage. Simon reiterates this.

After Ryan introduces the top 13, Simon informs them that tomorrow night two people will be going home since there are 13 instead of 12.

Theme: Michael Jackson

Video Package: We get a recap of the MJ's career: the songs, the screaming, the record sales.

Contestant #1: Lil Rounds

Video: We see her at home with her hubby and three kids. They've had some hard times, including when a tornado destroyed their Memphis home last year. She says even though she has three kids she has clung to her dream of being a singer.

Song:"The Way You Make Me Feel"

Performance: Lil is uniformly good, bopping through the song with sass and hitting a sweet high note near the end. It's a little cruise ship-y in places but a solid start.

Randy: Loves it and thinks it's a great way to start the season and liked how she reimagined it with an old-school soul vibe.

Kara: Thinks the other contestants have been served notice that they need to bring it.

Paula: Compliments her make-up and says she's a force to be reckoned with and her high note was like angels singing.

Simon: Agrees that it was good but thought it was a lazy song choice and that the second part of the song was better than the first. And he hates what she's wearing.

Contestant #2: Scott McIntyre

Video: His parents were devastated by learning he was almost completely blind from birth but were pleased that he was attracted to music as a child. We see him singing with his family, including his sister who is also visually impaired. The parents say they tried to instill in them the idea that nothing can hold them back.

Song: "Keep the Faith"

Performance: Scott sings and accompanies himself on piano. It's a gentle self-empowerment ballad with a little bounce to it that's right in his AC wheelhouse. He hits a bum note or two but acquits himself nicely.

Kara: She asks if he just learned that on piano this week. He did. She is impressed that he's true to himself every week and liked the song's hopeful message even if it wasn't the most dynamic performance.

Paula: Thinks it was magical and lovely and thinks Siedah Garrett the songwriter is smiling. In fact, she's there and she's smiling.

Simon: Apologizes to Siedah because he hated the song. Scott says he wanted to be a little more artistic. Simon says being artistic is fine, just not on this show. He likes him, thinks he's a good singer, was glad he played the piano but didn't like the song thinks it didn't do Scott any favors.

Randy: Liked the song but tells Siedah that "Man in the Mirror" was better for him and thought the performance was too safe.

Contestant #3: Danny Gokey

Video: He loved growing up in Milwaukee. His dad says music was an everyday thing in their big family. They made up songs together. Danny is shocked he's made it this far.

Song:"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"

Performance: He starts it slow and rolls around luxuriously in his raspy falsetto and then gives it a soul shout and kicks off the uptempo part of the song. He boogies goofily but endearingly across the stage, a little unsure what to do with his free hand but not at all unsure what to do with his big voice. During the "na-na-na-na" parts he goes to Kara and Paula and the audience to have people sing into the microphone. Really well done if a tiny bit shouty, as Simon likes to say.

Paula: Says the true mark of an artist is when you can hear them with your eyes closed and know who they are and he has that gift. She goes out on a limb and says he's on his way to the finals.

Simon: Thought the vocals were brilliant and calls him one heckuva singer like Michael McDonald. But the dancing was hideous. Danny agrees and says he asked for an instructor. Simon offers Paula. He says it doesn't matter and that Danny was great.

Randy: Loved it all, dancing and singing, because it was all just passionate.

Kara: Agrees saying he has joy when he steps on stage and he should thank his parents for making him sing his homework.

Danny tells Ryan he's going to keep trying to dance.

Contestant #4: Michael Sarver

Video: He goes back to his oil rig to chat with his peeps. His mom is thrilled to see him live his dream. He's thrilled to see his family. He grew up without a dad and that makes him want to be a great dad. His roughneck buddies cheer him on.

Song:"You Are Not Alone"

Performance: He begins seated at the lip of the stage. He plays well to the camera and seems more relaxed than ever before, resulting in perhaps his best performance yet. He may not be the strongest singer with the most range but he's good, plus he's telegenic and likable.

Simon: Agrees with me that he's not the best singer but thinks he made up for it with passion, heart, and giving 110 percent.

Randy: He's happy that he returned to an r&b vibe and thinks he's one of the best so far.

Kara: This showed her that he can really sing and is impressed he brings his game every time he steps on stage.

Paula: She enumerates his good qualities from likability to his instinctual choice of song.

Contestant #5: Jasmine Murray

Video: We see Jasmine's high school and her family cheering her on in the family room. Her mother and older sisters are her biggest fans and call her the life of the family.

Song: "I'll Be There"

Performance: It's not a thriller but she sings it very well, except for one tiny rough spot. (She oddly omits the breakdown in her arrangement though).

Randy: Thought it was funny how she mixed the Mariah version - which he played on- and the Michael version but thought it was pretty good.

Kara: She thinks a half key down would've been more comfortable but thought she really sold it and was impressed by some of the notes.

Paula: Is impressed with her composure. She thought she had some bright moments and some bad ones, but overall way to go.

Simon: Thought she made a good attempt, the big notes are always going to trouble her a bit, and that it was a little robotic. He thinks she needs to lighten up a bit since it feels a bit like a little girl trying to be a grown-up.

Contestant #6: Kris Allen

Video: We see Chris's small Arkansas town. His dad and granddad have always played music. We meet his wife, to whom he's only been married for five months. They miss each other.

Song: "Remember the Time"

Performance: He plays his acoustic guitar and also seems more comfortable this week. The song doesn't have much range, it's more a groove number so there are few spots to show off. He sounds fine though and he looks like he's having fun.

Kara: She says the girls love him for sure. She's happy to see him with his guitar since it shows a whole other side and helps him performance-wise. She says a few notes were off but that overall it was good and points out that he helped other contestants out this week which shows he's a good guy.

Paula: She thinks he helped people out because no one knows MJ's catalog better than Kris. She hopes he won't take it the wrong way but she thinks he's adorable and sexy and that he did a great job.

Simon: Thought it was interesting and wasn't sure it was a song that really fit the guitar which made the performance a bit clumsy at times. But the vocals were okay and he's very likable. He is unsure he should've brought the wife out so early. He says he's kidding.

Randy: He thought it was good, Jason Mraz-y, "very well job done."

Contestant #7: Alison Iraheta

Video: Her parents are Salvadoran and have worked hard to help her make it. We see video of her as a little girl, singing through an earthquake. She sings on the stage of a big Latin shopping center where she's been singing since she was five. She loves her parents.

Song: "Give In to Me"

Performance: She finds a slow rocker in MJ's catalog. She kills it. It's a lesser known track but has a strong melody which she's selling. She's making it sound like a latter day Heart song, albeit in a lower register. Nice work.

Paula: Finds it mind-boggling she's only 16 and says she looks like a rock star up there. She tells her to keep doing what she's doing and that we'll be seeing a lot more of her.

Simon: Thought it was good and it's clear what kind of artist she is. Also tells her to lighten up. She points out it's a dark song but that she's not dark, or a cutter (?!) or anything.

Randy: Says when you've got it, you've got it, and she's got it. He knows this was a rocker but thinks she can singing anything.

Kara: Tells her to keep being a rocker and that her high vocals are ridiculous. (In a good way).

Contestant #8: Anoop Desai

He chats with Ryan. He got a haircut. Anoop's response to last week's twist, he was shocked, he was already walking off the stage.

Video: He was an only child who was the center of his parents' universe. They tried to teach him about Indian culture and music. His parents, who are immigrants, are pleased he's living the American dream since that was their goal.

Song: "Beat It"

Performance: He sounds good and impassioned, his moves - as he himself predicted- are a little rough in places. He uses up a lot of stage but keeps his breath control and takes some smart little liberties with notes. (Although it also sounds like he goofs up the lyrics a bit, but hey it's MJ).

Paula: Says when you pick a song it's a gift to show the world what you've got and she thinks this song is untouchable and anything else sounds karaoke to her.

Simon: He goes further and says he thought it was horrible and that there was no aggression and all very lightweight and that it actually looked a bit stupid, like a failed impersonation.

Randy: For him it was just the wrong choice. It was very karaoke and he's got more than that. Anoop says he hopes he's there next week so he can show them what he's got

Kara: Agrees and says the biggest problem is that since he can sing they didn't get to see him do any variation and for the first time she felt disconnected to him as a performer which is weird since his strength is his connection.

(Wow, it wasn't his best but I thought it was much better than they did.)

Ryan asks Simon if he thinks they made a mistake including him. On the back of that, yes, says Simon.

Contestant #9: Jorge Nunez

Video: We go to Cidra PR and meet his big family. He says they are loud and happy and like to dance. Since his grandfather died the family broke apart a bit but his being on "Idol" has helped bring them together.

Song: "Never Can Say Goodbye"

Performance: His shoulders seem a bit tight from nerves but his voice is both tender and soaring. He doesn't use much of the stage but he's very winning.

Randy: Didn't like the song choice since it's a little old-fashioned but thinks he's got vocal chops and thought there were a few bum notes.

Kara: Her problem is that since he's one of the most emotionally connected people on the show she was sad she didn't feel the connection. She would've preferred something more emotional like "She's Out of My Life." (Really good call.)

Paula: Says she has mad love for him but didn't love the song either and wonders why he picked it. He says he didn't really have a choice and that MJ didn't really fit his style -although he quickly says he's not making excuses- but he says he wasn't going to sing "Bad." Simon says he sort of did. Jorge doesn't like that. Paula says she hopes America remembers what a great vocalist he is since he deserves to be on that stage.

Simon: Says it was corny and he was out of his depth. (This is nutty, normally I think people are worse than the judges do but tonight, at least these last two I thought were better than they're getting credit for.) And the arrangement was awful and old-fashioned.

Contestant #10:Megan Joy Corkrey

Ryan asks how Megan ended up here. Her friends and family pushed her into it, she hadn't been a performer before.

Video: She always imagined being a singer and superstar but never got the solos in choir or the parts in the musical. Mom says she always liked being the center of attention. Her divorce was hard but her son Ryder is her whole world. She misses him very much.

Song: "Rockin' Robin"

Performance: She shimmies through it and looks supercute. Again sounding good and looking endearingly goofy if a little busy with her arms and hips. She actually caws at song's end, yikes.

Kara: Thinks she has a way of putting her signature on things even if it wasn't the most spectacular vocal.

Paula: Loves the quirky and unique tone to her voice. She thought it was the right song but she felt a little disconnected until the end.

Simon: Calls it a stupid song choice, says the vocals weren't very good, the dancing were verging on ridiculous, and the whole performance was kind of clumsy. He says if this was the first time they were seeing her they wouldn't think much of it. Kara counters people would remember her. He thinks in a bad way.

Randy: He didn't think the song choice was good and didn't allow her to really be Megan. They ask an unmiked Gordon Ramsay what he thinks, it seems like he liked it because Simon says he doesn't know what he's talking about.

Contestant #11: Adam Lambert

Video:He moved to Hollywood from San Diego out of high school and it was a struggle. His parents say they've been there for him but he hasn't really needed them. He's glad he made it now because five years ago he would've crumbled under the pressure. His mom says it's not about success but being happy with what you're doing. Dad adds success would be good too. Adam calls this his big dream.

Song:"Black and White"

Performance: The song isn't the best choice, again because of lack of range. Of course, Adam adds range and ratchets it up. It ends well, impassioned.

Paula: Is wowed. She says never in the history of the show has she seen someone so comfortable and seasoned. She praises his innate ability to know who he is as an artist and his ability to marry fashion with music. And again predicts he'll be in the finals.

Simon: To him it was in a totally different league from everything else they've seen. He chalks it up to his stage experience. He says to make MJ work you have to be over the top and be comfortable and he was and had great vocals. Most importantly he thinks Adam will be someone people will talk about.

Randy: Thinks he could make a record right now and hit the top of the charts. He loves him. He thinks he's got it.

Kara: Thinks he hit notes that she didn't know existed and hopes Michael Jackson is watching tonight.

Ryan says he makes it seem seamless. Paula is mind-boggled he hasn't already been snatched up.

Contestant #12: Matt Giraud

Video: He has a strong family. He was an energetic child. We see video of him dancing on the beach and playing ping-pong with his teary-eyed and sweet dad. His parents are hopeful for his wonderful future.

Song: "Human Nature"

Performance: Sitting at the piano he sings comfortably and well and hitting some sweet falsetto spots. It's a good song choice. It ends sort of oddly but sounds good.

Randy: Thought it was a little pitchy but thought it was a good performance in a Justin Timberlake/Robin Thicke way.

Kara: Calls him a talented guy and hopes to see him for weeks to come.

Paula: Goes further saying he's talented, sexy, and amazing and she's blown away.

Simon: Thought it was very good but hard to follow Adam. But thought it was a good, solid meat and potatoes performance.

Contestant #13:Alexis Grace

Video: The blues in Memphis helped develop her style. Her dad has been a musician for 35 years. She loves being a mom. She taught her daughter to say "Seacrest, out."

Song:"Dirty Diana"

Performance: It's sort of a smoky, bluesy Pat Benatar approach. She shows a good sense of dynamics, articulation, and power. A bit overwrought, but passionate and composed.

Kara: Is so happy to have her back. Thinks she's a naughty girl and she liked it.

Paula: Thought it was naughty in a good way too but tells her to watch oversinging.

Simon: Calls it very over the top and probably not as good as she thought it was.

Randy: Thought it was good, not great, but liked the attitude.

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