Summary
"American Idol" - Top Seven Finalists Perform Again - April 21, 2009
Theme: Disco
In the Crowd: Vince Neil of Motley Crue;
Contestant #1: Lil Rounds
Song: "I'm Every Woman," Chaka Khan
Performance: Doing what the judges told her to do, Lil is coming off youthful, soulful, and energetic. The vocal isn't great but it's impassioned. And the crowd loves it.
Randy: Says she definitely got the party started but it sounded too wild to him and didn't show what kind of artist she could be.
Kara: She's been waiting for her to sing an artist like Chaka Khan but she's not sure it was worth the wait and still didn't show them who she could be as an artist.
Paula: Tells us that Lil was on vocal rest yesterday and thinks she made an amazing recovery.
Simon: Says she looks sad. She says she isn't and wants to say she had fun tonight. Simon says it's good she had fun but he thinks this will be her last performance since it was a copycat performance. Lil disagrees.
Contestant #2: Kris Allen
On the stools with Ryan he said he was worried about the theme.
Song: "She Works Hard for the Money," Donna Summer
Performance: He Jack Johnson-izes the song with his acoustic guitar and two percussion players. When the bass comes in it's actually pretty funky. It's actually very charming in a loose, beach bonfire performance kinda way.
Kara: Thinks he took a real risk with that arrangement and it paid off big time.
Paula: Thinks it had a classy Santana-vibe and was glad to see him shopping in the women's department.
Simon: Called it a polar opposite to Lil since it was original, thought out, and not karaoke. Calls it fantastic.
Randy: Loves that he knows who he is and he's ready for the big time, amazing.
Contestant #3: Danny Gokey
Song: "September," Earth, Wind, and Fire
Performance: Danny bounces around and sounds pretty good- although it sounds like his voice might be tiring a little and it feels a bit emotionally disconnected.
Randy: Was worried about this choice but he turned this into something that really worked for him.
Kara: Says he doesn't get credit for his excellent pitch and thought it was another solid performance.
Paula: Was impressed he went one step higher vocally and showed off his agility and brilliance and that he has a sexy voice.
Simon: Agrees with the rest of the panel except he didn't get any star power from the performance, that it was still a little clumsy. Paula says she'll still see him at the finals.
Contestant #4: Allison Iraheta
Song: "Hot Stuff," Donna Summer
Performance: She's doing a slow, rocked-up version that may be a touch too slow, she sounds great vocally but the arrangement was going for sultry but felt a little limp.
Randy: He didn't love the arrangement but says she's one of the best singers in the competition.
Kara: Agrees on the arrangement but thinks she was in the right lane and the vocals alone were a 9 or 10.
Paula: She didn't mind the arrangement because it didn't veer away from her authenticity.
Simon: He says taking everything into account it was a brilliant performance.
Contestant #5: Adam Lambert
Song: "If I Can't Have You," Yvonne Elliman
Performance: He starts slow and tender vocally with an acoustic arrangement but a bit emotionally overwrought. The chorus starts to feel a bit up tempo but understated for Adam. We get a shot of Paula on the verge of tears. He goes back to end in the sweet and tender place.
Randy: He says Adam is ready right now in the way he's showed off his range. He's a hot one tonight.
Kara: Says he's brilliant and every week he ups it and calls his emotional connection inspiring.
Paula: Has never questioned her visceral response to his performance and she felt his pain, it's like he tore his heart out and put it on the stage and thinks he'll be in the finals.
Simon: Would've bet that he would do Donna Summer but it was great it was unpredictable, compliments the arrangement and his immaculate vocals. Adam makes sure to credit the person who helped him with the arrangement.
Contestant #6: Matt Giraud
Song: "Stayin' Alive," the Bee Gees
Performance: He funks it up with some stutter-stepping rhythm. The Timberlake hat is back. He's rocking a few dance moves. He grooves with backing vocalists. He didn't show off great vocal prowess - unitl the nutty falsetto end- but he was entertaining and hard working and definitely deserves to survive this week over Lil.
Randy: Didn't love the arrangement or song but thinks he can really sing.
Kara: Thinks he brought disco back and liked to see him move and thought it was a good performance.
Paula: Says he picks songs like she bowls, sometimes he throws gutterballs sometimes strikes. She thought this was a strike. She thinks he saved his own life this week.
Simon: Didn't like it. In the real world he thinks it came over as a bit desperate and that the vocals weren't great and it wasn't original.
Contestant #7: Anoop Desai
Song: "Dim All the Lights," Donna Summer
Performance: Rocking a cute suit and starting with an acoustic run through the chorus before the beat kicks in and he breezes through it. It's sort of a Ne-Yo-esque arrangement. It's nice and shows off some nice sustain.
Randy: Didn't love the arrangement but thinks he can sing, compliments the vocals.
Kara: Thought it was a great song choice and liked the arrangement and thinks he's really hitting his stride.
Paula: Loves the look, thought he hit the magical zone early on.
Simon: Disagrees and thought it was mediocre at best and Anoop's worst performance by a mile.
Elimination Prediction: Lil and Anoop
Directed : Unknown
Written : Unknown
Stars : Simon Cowell Mark Thompson Ryan Seacrest Randy Jackson
Genres : Music Documentary Game-Show Reality-TV
Release date : Apr 20, 2009
Countries of origin : United States
Official sites : ABC American Idol
Language : English
Filming locations : Dolby Theatre, Hollywood, California, USA
Production companies : Fremantle FremantleMedia 19 Television
Summary
"American Idol" - Top Seven Finalists Perform Again - April 21, 2009
Theme: Disco
In the Crowd: Vince Neil of Motley Crue;
Contestant #1: Lil Rounds
Song: "I'm Every Woman," Chaka Khan
Performance: Doing what the judges told her to do, Lil is coming off youthful, soulful, and energetic. The vocal isn't great but it's impassioned. And the crowd loves it.
Randy: Says she definitely got the party started but it sounded too wild to him and didn't show what kind of artist she could be.
Kara: She's been waiting for her to sing an artist like Chaka Khan but she's not sure it was worth the wait and still didn't show them who she could be as an artist.
Paula: Tells us that Lil was on vocal rest yesterday and thinks she made an amazing recovery.
Simon: Says she looks sad. She says she isn't and wants to say she had fun tonight. Simon says it's good she had fun but he thinks this will be her last performance since it was a copycat performance. Lil disagrees.
Contestant #2: Kris Allen
On the stools with Ryan he said he was worried about the theme.
Song: "She Works Hard for the Money," Donna Summer
Performance: He Jack Johnson-izes the song with his acoustic guitar and two percussion players. When the bass comes in it's actually pretty funky. It's actually very charming in a loose, beach bonfire performance kinda way.
Kara: Thinks he took a real risk with that arrangement and it paid off big time.
Paula: Thinks it had a classy Santana-vibe and was glad to see him shopping in the women's department.
Simon: Called it a polar opposite to Lil since it was original, thought out, and not karaoke. Calls it fantastic.
Randy: Loves that he knows who he is and he's ready for the big time, amazing.
Contestant #3: Danny Gokey
Song: "September," Earth, Wind, and Fire
Performance: Danny bounces around and sounds pretty good- although it sounds like his voice might be tiring a little and it feels a bit emotionally disconnected.
Randy: Was worried about this choice but he turned this into something that really worked for him.
Kara: Says he doesn't get credit for his excellent pitch and thought it was another solid performance.
Paula: Was impressed he went one step higher vocally and showed off his agility and brilliance and that he has a sexy voice.
Simon: Agrees with the rest of the panel except he didn't get any star power from the performance, that it was still a little clumsy. Paula says she'll still see him at the finals.
Contestant #4: Allison Iraheta
Song: "Hot Stuff," Donna Summer
Performance: She's doing a slow, rocked-up version that may be a touch too slow, she sounds great vocally but the arrangement was going for sultry but felt a little limp.
Randy: He didn't love the arrangement but says she's one of the best singers in the competition.
Kara: Agrees on the arrangement but thinks she was in the right lane and the vocals alone were a 9 or 10.
Paula: She didn't mind the arrangement because it didn't veer away from her authenticity.
Simon: He says taking everything into account it was a brilliant performance.
Contestant #5: Adam Lambert
Song: "If I Can't Have You," Yvonne Elliman
Performance: He starts slow and tender vocally with an acoustic arrangement but a bit emotionally overwrought. The chorus starts to feel a bit up tempo but understated for Adam. We get a shot of Paula on the verge of tears. He goes back to end in the sweet and tender place.
Randy: He says Adam is ready right now in the way he's showed off his range. He's a hot one tonight.
Kara: Says he's brilliant and every week he ups it and calls his emotional connection inspiring.
Paula: Has never questioned her visceral response to his performance and she felt his pain, it's like he tore his heart out and put it on the stage and thinks he'll be in the finals.
Simon: Would've bet that he would do Donna Summer but it was great it was unpredictable, compliments the arrangement and his immaculate vocals. Adam makes sure to credit the person who helped him with the arrangement.
Contestant #6: Matt Giraud
Song: "Stayin' Alive," the Bee Gees
Performance: He funks it up with some stutter-stepping rhythm. The Timberlake hat is back. He's rocking a few dance moves. He grooves with backing vocalists. He didn't show off great vocal prowess - unitl the nutty falsetto end- but he was entertaining and hard working and definitely deserves to survive this week over Lil.
Randy: Didn't love the arrangement or song but thinks he can really sing.
Kara: Thinks he brought disco back and liked to see him move and thought it was a good performance.
Paula: Says he picks songs like she bowls, sometimes he throws gutterballs sometimes strikes. She thought this was a strike. She thinks he saved his own life this week.
Simon: Didn't like it. In the real world he thinks it came over as a bit desperate and that the vocals weren't great and it wasn't original.
Contestant #7: Anoop Desai
Song: "Dim All the Lights," Donna Summer
Performance: Rocking a cute suit and starting with an acoustic run through the chorus before the beat kicks in and he breezes through it. It's sort of a Ne-Yo-esque arrangement. It's nice and shows off some nice sustain.
Randy: Didn't love the arrangement but thinks he can sing, compliments the vocals.
Kara: Thought it was a great song choice and liked the arrangement and thinks he's really hitting his stride.
Paula: Loves the look, thought he hit the magical zone early on.
Simon: Disagrees and thought it was mediocre at best and Anoop's worst performance by a mile.
Elimination Prediction: Lil and Anoop
Genres : Music Documentary Game-Show Reality-TV
Release date : Apr 20, 2009
Countries of origin : United States
Official sites : ABC American Idol
Language : English
Filming locations : Dolby Theatre, Hollywood, California, USA
Production companies : Fremantle FremantleMedia 19 Television
