Summary "American Idol" - Top Ten Performance Show - March 30, 2010

Theme:R&B/Soul

Mentor: Usher. We get a video package on the five-time Grammy winner. He promises to be a tough and serious mentor. Live in the studio with Ryan he's says they're all incredible and hard workers and wanted to boost their confidence.

Contestant #1: Siobhan Magnus She's "wicked nervous" to be singing to Usher, who she's a big fan of. Usher thinks she's got the voice for the song and tries to tell her to not wear too busy an outfit so as not to distract from her singing. She admits that she can't wear just a dress and heels, she likes to do it up.

Song: "Through the Fire," Chaka Khan

Performance: It starts in a low register that she keeps control of. She gets a little pitchy and uncontrolled in the chorus. Her big notes are wobbly, her first real serious pitch problems, and she looks nervous.

Randy: Says it was a little all over the place for him, wasn't sure it was her best, but he likes her boots.

Ellen: Agrees that it was kind of rough.

Kara: Thinks she got a little nervous. Thought the screaming parts were there but the lower parts weren't. But overall she thinks she comes through every week so she's allowed a week off.

Simon: Says she sounded like she just ran a marathon and then tried to sing. He also thinks her look is all over the place. He says she's kidding yourself if she thought it was good. He says he's also getting bored of the screaming at the end.

Ryan asks her about it. She says she she knew it would be a challenge but she wanted to try and kill it. Simon calls it manslaughter. Ellen says she thought she was going to kill it and was surprised Siobhan thought it was a challenge. Kara says she thought Siobhan was scared. Randy tells her to trust herself.



Contestant #2:Casey James Usher thinks he's already a rock star and is impressed with how he plays off forgetting the lyrics which he hasn't fully learned yet. Casey is excited about the theme since it's in his rootsy wheelhouse. He says he's going to keep his eye on Casey.He gets a great response from the crowd.

Song:"Hold On, I'm Coming," Sam and Dave

Performance: The horns ring out and Casey peels off a sweet guitar riff. He's very smiley and confident and sounds good. It's energetic and rocking.

Randy: Calls it another hot night for him and thought he was a perfect choice that showed off his range.

Ellen: Says he's consistent and loved his vocals but felt it was a little generic. She calls it a safe zone for him.

Kara: Says he's only using part of his range and should show off more of it.

Simon: Calls it his strongest week so far. He likes that he didn't do a soundalike and that it sounded authentic.



Contestant #3: Michael Lynche Usher thinks chick dig a guy who can play guitar and sing. Usher wants to make sure that everyone feels his energy, even the person at the farthest corner of the room and on the other side of the camera. He stares at the camera to demonstrate.

Song: "Ready for Love," India.Arie

Performance: Seated on the platform behind the judges' table with his acoustic guitar he starts off tenderly, eyes closed. He does a nice job both vocally and performance-wise with what is essentially a hookless song.

Randy: Liked the very sensitive song and thinks he's in the zone. Says it wasn't exciting but it's good to pull it back now and again.

Ellen: Thinks it was beautiful and loved it.

Kara: She admits she'd never heard it before he chose it and she went to listen to the original and thought he did a tasteful, lovely, and emotional.

Simon: Says it's the first time since the live shows that he can take him seriously as an artist. He thought the song was a bit gloomy but he demonstrated between being original and a silly little karaoke singer and he believed it.



Contestant #4: Didi Benami He calls it an emotional song for an emotional young lady. She cries while singing for Usher. He says the audience applauds honesty but she needs to hear that emotion in the performance itself. If she does that, he thinks she'll soar.

Song: "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted," Jimmy Ruffin

Performance: In a pretty gown she stands at the microphone and delivers the song fine, all that emotion isn't really evident though so it ends up being kind of boring and full of little pitch problems. She hits a couple of nice big notes though.

Randy: Loves the song but he thought the whole performance flat-lined.

Ellen: Says it was way dramatic and not her best but she loves her voice.

Kara: Agrees that it was overdone and is confused since she came to them as a singer-songwriter type and she's changed.

Simon: Says it was like swimming in jelly, tough to get through, over the top, old-fashioned and off-melody. Says she's completely and utterly lost their way. Sounded like a singer on one of those dancing show murdering a song.

She picked the song because it means a lot to her and it was a challenge to get through it. He keeps asking her questions about why she sang it. She refuses to say. Ryan seems to hint that it has something to do with the friend that passed away that she talked about during her audition.



Contestant #5: Tim Urban In stool chat, Ryan tells Tim that he's being called "Teflon Tim" in the press. Tim says he wasn't going to change his reaction since he had fun. During his package Usher says he didn't believe Tim when he first started singing. He asks Tim to sing to him as if he was in love with him, he says that was hard for him. Usher tells him to sing to an imaginary woman in front of him. Usher tells him to hold on to the moment and to make a connection with the person he's singing about through the camera.

Song: "Sweet Love," Anita Baker

Performance: Sitting on the steps he sings right to the camera. There's nothing terribly soulful about it per se but he's hitting most of the notes, some of them nicely. He's doing it in more of a lounge-y/crooner style. In his suit he's like an earnest young professional at the karaoke bar.

Randy: Says there were pluses and minuses saying it started out as a singing waiter vibe. The plus part was he sang mostly in tune but there was no vibe or swag on it. Tells him to put a little grease on it.

Ellen: Says she knows there's an "adorable" drinking game with him and her. She wondered why he chose that song since it was tough. She agrees it was mostly in tune but he walked like he was sneaking into a bedroom.

Kara: Says it was Broadway at times and Vegas at times and took the soul out of it and made it uncommercial. She wonders why he's laughing.

Simon: He says he's laughing because he knows it makes no difference what they say. He says it was like a mouse picking a fight with an elephant. He says it doesn't matter because the audience will send him through so good for him.



Contestant #6: Andrew Garcia Usher could tell he was nervous at first and tells him to take the song seriously and connect. He says he made him love the song even more.

Song: "Forever," Chris Brown

Performance: With his acoustic guitar Andrew is light and fluffy. He seems to relax as the song goes on. It's not exciting but it's pleasant.

Randy: Says Andrew is back, he likes the outfit, he liked how he made the song work for him, his best performance in a long time.

Ellen: Says he's finally back in a zone and she loves when he smiles.

Kara: Calls it one giant leap in the right direction.

Simon: Agrees that it was miles better than the last couple of weeks. He says as a person he comes over as very boring. He needs to start showing some personality.

Andrew's mom comes over and hugs Simon.



Contestant #7: Katie Stevens She actually met Usher at Epcot previously. He likes her energy and her voice but he wants to make sure she has a little pizazz and attitude and tells her to tell her story to one person in the audience. He thinks she'll score high if she can personalize her performance.

Song: "Chain of Fools," Aretha Franklin

Performance: She starts off with a little head nod. The vocal is mostly good but her movements are oddly mannered.

Randy: Says it was a little disconnected vocally but thought it was one of the best of the night. He tells her to own that she has a good set of pipes.

Ellen: Thought the vocals were great also but she wished the song had been a little more current.

Kara: Says she found where she belongs and calls it one of her best performances but agrees with Ellen on the young, commercial critique.

Simon: He says Randy comparing her to Christina Aguilera is crazy. Randy says she has potential. Simon says he thought it was pretty good but robotic and cold. Kara says her vocals are getting better. Simon disagrees with Kara that she's a soul/pop singer. Kara disagrees. Simon says she should take his advice.



Contestant #8: Lee DeWyze In stool chat Ryan asks how he's going to "create a moment." Lee says he will have that by showing what kind of artist he's going to be. In his Usher package he calls Lee's performance a special treat. He tells him he has an incredible voice but to own it. Lee admits that his own self-critique is holding him back.

Song: "Treat Her Like a Lady," The Cornelius Brothers

Performance: Rocking his acoustic guitar and a slight smile, he makes the song work, really giving it his all and staying in key. The crowd digs him.

Randy: Says it's unbelievable, the best he's heard him in weeks.

Ellen: Calls it his best performance so far.

Kara: Agrees saying it could be on his record and calls it amazing.

Simon: Has always believed in him and says this is the night his life may have changed forever.



Contestant #9: Crystal Bowersox Usher asks where her guitar is, she says she's changing it up. She won't share her secret. He tells her to play the piano and sing and that was her plan. She hasn't played in years. Usher thinks it's a perfect song for her but she needs to make the playing second nature.

Song: "Midnight to Train to Georgia," Gladys Knight and the Pips

Performance: At the piano she starts off softly with her own trio of Pip-ettes. She starts off slow but hits a hot note right before the chorus. She gets up and grabs the microphone and stands center stage. She sounds great and slides up to a sweet note. She smiles nicely and says "I love you" to someone just offstage as the lights go down.

Randy: Loves the outfit and thinks Gladys would say she did the song proud. He's working with Gladys now.

Ellen: Thinks she's never not good and calls it wonderful.

Kara: Is glad she took a risk and can't wait to see what she does next.

Simon: Thought the choice was sensational and thought the vocals at moments were incredible. He does critique the backing trio being onstage and her overthinking the piano. He tells her she needs to stay doing what's comfortable. She promises she wouldn't do anything she wasn't comfortable with.



Contestant #10: Aaron Kelly Usher thinks it was incredible but he wants him to make the "I know, I know" segment more personal and theatrical. Usher gives him a line reading.

Song: "Ain't No Sunshine," Bill Withers

Performance: It's a bit wavery on the sustained notes on the low end at the beginning but he looks very assured. It has some real nice moments of unexpected notes.

Randy: Says it started rough but it worked itself but thinks he has more soul flavor so it was just alright.

Ellen: Thought it was a good song choice and a good job.

Kara: Liked it, wasn't in love with it and thinks he could've displayed a higher register and more energy.

Simon: Thought it was just okay and not as good as last week but there's no fear he's leaving the competition.

Bottom three prediction: Tim, Didi, Katie

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