Summary
"American Idol" - Top Three Performance - May 18, 2010
The final three get two songs tonight, one of their own choosing and one chosen by a judge.
Everybody also goes home for a visit.
In the audience: Colin Hanks and Bradley Whitford of new Fox series "The Good Guys"; And what really looks like Candice Bergen
Contestant #1: Casey James Says he picked his song because it's similar to the type of things he writes so it will be representative of who might be as an artist.
Song #1: "Okay It's Alright With Me," Eric Hutchinson
Performance: It's jaunty, he's smiling, rocking his acoustic guitar. He sounds fine but the song feels a little lightweight.
Randy He says that the song was just alright with him and says it was too safe and easy.
Ellen Felt the same way and that he didn't bring it and blow them away.
Kara Says it was a poor choice since most people probably didn't know it.
Simon He compares it to salad at dinner, that it will leave people hoping that something more substantial is to come. He calls it a dud song choice but agrees with the others that he sounded good.
Contestant #2: Crystal Bowersox She chose her song because she loves it and it's about love and passion.
Song #1: "Come to My Window," Melissa Etheridge.
Performance: She's rocking a harmonica as well as her acoustic. She starts off with a bit of harp and then eases into the song. She sounds okay, again not a spectacular performance and it seems like the harmonica is impeding her access to the microphone. It actually feels a little shaky on a couple of the high notes. She ends with a little fillip on the harp.
Randy He didn't love the arrangement which he said was fighting her a bit but he did like the vocal.
Ellen Agrees it was a good choice and thinks Melissa would be very proud of her.
Kara Agrees it was a good choice but that the arrangement did confuse her a bit and thought she got lost a bit and tone-wise it wasn't ideal.
Simon Agrees with everything everyone else says but says he respects that she hasn't compromised who she is as an artist.
She tells Ryan she felt delighted and is glad to sing one of her favorite songs and that she has friends and family in the house and that everyone is healthy.
Contestant #3: Lee Dewyze In stool chat he talks about how amazing it was being home and trying to bring the energy of that back to the stage. He chose his song because the lyrics speak to him personally.
Song #1: "Simple Man," Lynyrd Skynyrd
Performance: He's also rocking an acoustic and starts out with just guitar and voice. The band kicks in. He sounds pretty good but it's another low-key number. There are a few rough notes but it's competent enough. Just not exciting.
Randy Loves the song choice and thinks he sounded amazing and felt like he seemed like he could win.
Ellen Says that's what they're talking about it and that he clearly is taking things seriously now. She compares him to a lamb transforming to a gazelle.
Kara She says he showed them everything that he's got and what the others should be doing. She calls round one for him.
Simon Says that was absolutely on the money. He says he not only won the first round he crushed the other two in round one.
Video Package: Casey's hometown visit to Texas. He learns his song will be "Daughters" by John Mayer during his rally outside the phone store. Kara and Randy thinks it's a viable song for him and he needs to be vulnerable.
Casey
Song #2: "Daughters," John Mayer
Performance: He's going for vulnerable but the song doesn't have much edge or dynamism or melodic arc. It's super boring, no matter who's singing it. He sounds nice though and he peels off an elegant little electric guitar solo.
Randy He likes this choice much better and hopes he continues in this direction.
Ellen Thought it was beautiful and will garner a lot of votes.
Kara Thinks it showed the more artistic side of him and was a good choice and he did a good job.
Simon Thinks it was much, much better but that it was a lazy arrangement which ends on a limp guitar solo and he blames Randy and Kara for not infusing it with more vocal fire. Kara gets snippy. Simon says it had no wow factor. Kara says it wasn't written that way.
Video Package: We see Crystal at her homecoming in Ohio and she gets the text for her song choice, "Maybe I'm Amazed," Paul McCartney. Ellen picked it because she loves the song and she loves Crystal and she hopes she will show some range and tear the song apart.
Crystal
Song #2: "Maybe I'm Amazed," Paul McCartney
Performance: She starts sitting on the stairs. She does a very faithful version but rasps it up in the bridge. It sounds solid but it's not setting fires.
Randy Says it's a great song, she sang great, and she's now in it to win it.
Ellen Says she couldn't have asked for more.
Kara Says she didn't change it up much but showed new parts to her voice and loved that she eschewed a guitar.
Simon Was initially surprised by the song choice but says now he gets it and she proved that she's got soul and next week she'll be thanking Ellen for putting her in the finals.
Video Package: We watch Lee head home to Illinois and get his song choice from Simon as he's landing in Chicago: "Hallelujah," by Leonard Cohen. Simon says he picked it because he thinks this will give Lee a big moment to show his potential.
Lee
Song #2: "Hallelujah," Leonard Cohen
Performance: Superior song, superior performance. More dynamic from gentle to growling, better pitch, more conviction. Plus he gets a choir of back-up singers and that never hurts. This will put him in the finals. Say goodnight Casey. Simon looks very pleased. He gets a big ovation.
Randy Says he's been waiting all season to see who's going to throw down the gauntlet and Lee did and he gives some credit to Simon.
Lee takes a moment to thank Simon.
Ellen Says it was just stunning.
Kara Says he is what this show is about, someone who takes a journey and he calls him the heart of the show and says he owned the entire night.
Simon Says he's very, very proud of him and that he proved that he's a fantastic singer, a great person, and he really hopes he makes it to next week.
Directed : Unknown
Written : Unknown
Stars : Simon Cowell Mark Thompson Ryan Seacrest Randy Jackson
Genres : Music Documentary Game-Show Reality-TV
Release date : May 17, 2010
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 Three Performance - May 18, 2010
The final three get two songs tonight, one of their own choosing and one chosen by a judge.
Everybody also goes home for a visit.
In the audience: Colin Hanks and Bradley Whitford of new Fox series "The Good Guys"; And what really looks like Candice Bergen
Contestant #1: Casey James Says he picked his song because it's similar to the type of things he writes so it will be representative of who might be as an artist.
Song #1: "Okay It's Alright With Me," Eric Hutchinson
Performance: It's jaunty, he's smiling, rocking his acoustic guitar. He sounds fine but the song feels a little lightweight.
Randy He says that the song was just alright with him and says it was too safe and easy.
Ellen Felt the same way and that he didn't bring it and blow them away.
Kara Says it was a poor choice since most people probably didn't know it.
Simon He compares it to salad at dinner, that it will leave people hoping that something more substantial is to come. He calls it a dud song choice but agrees with the others that he sounded good.
Contestant #2: Crystal Bowersox She chose her song because she loves it and it's about love and passion.
Song #1: "Come to My Window," Melissa Etheridge.
Performance: She's rocking a harmonica as well as her acoustic. She starts off with a bit of harp and then eases into the song. She sounds okay, again not a spectacular performance and it seems like the harmonica is impeding her access to the microphone. It actually feels a little shaky on a couple of the high notes. She ends with a little fillip on the harp.
Randy He didn't love the arrangement which he said was fighting her a bit but he did like the vocal.
Ellen Agrees it was a good choice and thinks Melissa would be very proud of her.
Kara Agrees it was a good choice but that the arrangement did confuse her a bit and thought she got lost a bit and tone-wise it wasn't ideal.
Simon Agrees with everything everyone else says but says he respects that she hasn't compromised who she is as an artist.
She tells Ryan she felt delighted and is glad to sing one of her favorite songs and that she has friends and family in the house and that everyone is healthy.
Contestant #3: Lee Dewyze In stool chat he talks about how amazing it was being home and trying to bring the energy of that back to the stage. He chose his song because the lyrics speak to him personally.
Song #1: "Simple Man," Lynyrd Skynyrd
Performance: He's also rocking an acoustic and starts out with just guitar and voice. The band kicks in. He sounds pretty good but it's another low-key number. There are a few rough notes but it's competent enough. Just not exciting.
Randy Loves the song choice and thinks he sounded amazing and felt like he seemed like he could win.
Ellen Says that's what they're talking about it and that he clearly is taking things seriously now. She compares him to a lamb transforming to a gazelle.
Kara She says he showed them everything that he's got and what the others should be doing. She calls round one for him.
Simon Says that was absolutely on the money. He says he not only won the first round he crushed the other two in round one.
Video Package: Casey's hometown visit to Texas. He learns his song will be "Daughters" by John Mayer during his rally outside the phone store. Kara and Randy thinks it's a viable song for him and he needs to be vulnerable.
Casey
Song #2: "Daughters," John Mayer
Performance: He's going for vulnerable but the song doesn't have much edge or dynamism or melodic arc. It's super boring, no matter who's singing it. He sounds nice though and he peels off an elegant little electric guitar solo.
Randy He likes this choice much better and hopes he continues in this direction.
Ellen Thought it was beautiful and will garner a lot of votes.
Kara Thinks it showed the more artistic side of him and was a good choice and he did a good job.
Simon Thinks it was much, much better but that it was a lazy arrangement which ends on a limp guitar solo and he blames Randy and Kara for not infusing it with more vocal fire. Kara gets snippy. Simon says it had no wow factor. Kara says it wasn't written that way.
Video Package: We see Crystal at her homecoming in Ohio and she gets the text for her song choice, "Maybe I'm Amazed," Paul McCartney. Ellen picked it because she loves the song and she loves Crystal and she hopes she will show some range and tear the song apart.
Crystal
Song #2: "Maybe I'm Amazed," Paul McCartney
Performance: She starts sitting on the stairs. She does a very faithful version but rasps it up in the bridge. It sounds solid but it's not setting fires.
Randy Says it's a great song, she sang great, and she's now in it to win it.
Ellen Says she couldn't have asked for more.
Kara Says she didn't change it up much but showed new parts to her voice and loved that she eschewed a guitar.
Simon Was initially surprised by the song choice but says now he gets it and she proved that she's got soul and next week she'll be thanking Ellen for putting her in the finals.
Video Package: We watch Lee head home to Illinois and get his song choice from Simon as he's landing in Chicago: "Hallelujah," by Leonard Cohen. Simon says he picked it because he thinks this will give Lee a big moment to show his potential.
Lee
Song #2: "Hallelujah," Leonard Cohen
Performance: Superior song, superior performance. More dynamic from gentle to growling, better pitch, more conviction. Plus he gets a choir of back-up singers and that never hurts. This will put him in the finals. Say goodnight Casey. Simon looks very pleased. He gets a big ovation.
Randy Says he's been waiting all season to see who's going to throw down the gauntlet and Lee did and he gives some credit to Simon.
Lee takes a moment to thank Simon.
Ellen Says it was just stunning.
Kara Says he is what this show is about, someone who takes a journey and he calls him the heart of the show and says he owned the entire night.
Simon Says he's very, very proud of him and that he proved that he's a fantastic singer, a great person, and he really hopes he makes it to next week.
Genres : Music Documentary Game-Show Reality-TV
Release date : May 17, 2010
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
