1) Scotty McCreery
Song: Garth Brooks, "The River"
Steven said: "Scotty, you did the Garth justice. You know, someone [Elton John] wrote a song and the lyrics go, 'Carpet's all paid for and God bless the TV/Let's go shoot a hole in the moon/Roy Rogers is riding tonight' -- well, you're ridin' high."
Jennifer said: "I saw you open up as a performer. I really felt you feel the audience and really embrace them."
Randy said: "Dude, this is exactly where you belong. You could put that out as a record now. I love it. Don't change it!"
We say: Week to week, I know what I'm going to get from Scotty McCreery, and while predictability can be dangerous on "Idol" I think it serves his country music fanbase well. Plus, Scotty's getting better at interacting with the crowd, but his moves are just awkward enough that he still comes off like a kid with a dream and outsized talent. Even though he has the most easily pigeonholed style in this Top 13 pool, Scotty genuinely has a chance at winning the whole competition, and that's saying something.
2) Jacob Lusk
Song: R. Kelly, "I Believe I Can Fly"
Steven said: "Pure passion. Pure music. I can't even judge you, that's how good you are. Your wings and your voice will soar way beyond your wildest dreams."
Jennifer said: "You're at the top of the list. Amazing."
Randy said: "When you start, you have such a signature sound, and to me that's what singing is about."
We say: There was no topping Jacob Lusk vocally this week -- and honestly, that's been the story for a while now -- but I have to give him a few demerits for the massive assist that the "Idol" producers granted him in the form of a gospel choir. Not only was this gospel choir much better than the one that helped out Lee Dewyze with "Hallelujah" last season, but it arrived almost a dozen weeks earlier in the competition then Dewyze's did. Jacob was also given a moving backdrop of epic stormy clouds, which was way more captivating than Scotty's nature-scape. I'll let it slide tonight, but next time I want to see Jacob without all the bells and whistles -- after all, he doesn't need them!
3) Casey Abrams
Song: Joe Cocker, "With a Little Help from My Friends"
Steven said: "You are a rainbow of talent, man…and you are a plethora of passion."
Jennifer said: "Honestly, there was just one point where I just grabbed Randy and I was like, 'What am I watching right now? I'm watching somebody important.' It's like, wow! Wow. Blew me away."
Randy said: "Dude, you were so unbelievable and so exciting. You hit all the notes, always. You make listening to you sing fun, and I loved it."
We say: I was worried that Casey Abrams would unnecessarily ham up this performance the way he did last week, but he put just the right amount of growling and beardyman-flair onto Joe Cocker's classic -- which, you may recall, the man himself performed with Crystal Bowersox on last year's season finale. ("Idol" history lesson!) If Casey made it all the way to the finale and had the chance to do his own duet with Cocker, I'd be just fine with that.
4) Naima Adedapo
Song: Rihanna, "Umbrella"
Steven said: "A little pitchy, I know you had problems with that…but I'll tell you what, you brought flavor tonight that no one else has done."
Jennifer said: "I don't care about all the pitchy -- you got fire, girl!"
Randy said: "I do care about the pitchiness. You learned something very important tonight…when you're dancing that much and doing that, you've gotta have the breath so you can keep the control and keep the notes in tune."
We say: If you tried closing your eyes and just listening to Naima Adedapo sing this number, you'd be sorely disappointed -- but you'd also be missing the point. Naima flipped a current pop hit with the help of its original co-producer, Tricky Stewart, adding a reggae breakdown and dance moves that would make Ke$ha jealous. The producers clearly loved this, because they gave her ginormous raindrop and lightning- bolt graphics, and so many camera angles you'd think you were watching a music video. Skepticism aside, it represented exactly what "Idol" is trying to do this season -- entertain -- and I have to admit, it worked.
5) James Durbin
Song: Paul McCartney, "Maybe I'm Amazed"
Steven said: "If there was a ever a review to be said about you, you just sang it. You did such a good job, man. Thank you."
Jennifer said: "Let 'em clap, baby, when they wanna clap. Get used to it, because you have such a quality."
Randy said: "James Durbin is dangerous, America! This man can sing!"
We say: Judging by the chatter among my fellow "Idol" geeks on Twitter, I'm getting the impression that James Durbin has as many haters as he does fans. That's understandable -- he sings like Adam Lambert, but not quite as impressively, and he seems to be a rocker at heart, but he also seems pretty awkward and dorky. And yet, I've enjoyed him so far, and I thought this was easily his best performance yet. "Maybe I'm Amazed" is a straight-up love song and James showed a real understanding of this, reining in his crazy-huge range just when it counts.
6) Pia Toscano
Song: Celine Dion, "All By Myself"
Steven said: "That was the sum total of all the work you've done up till now. You just polished that apple. You just slammed it. That was beautiful."
Jennifer said: "We love you, Pia. …I think a lot of people were thinking, 'What you were gonna do to top last week?' There it is!"
Randy said: "I'm always excited when you come up to sing. I'm like, 'Yo, what's she gonna do now?' Very hot, dope, cool performance."
We say: Pia Toscano is at the halfway point on my list because even though she can hit Celine Dion-level notes and look stunning while doing it, it all feels a little plastic. By this, I mean her hand gestures, which are so choreographed you'd think she was an "Idol" sway-bot in another life. It's like she's summoning the swaying with every 45-degree lift of her forearm, and it's just unsettling. Pia also reminds me of Katharine McPhee when she was on "Idol" -- incredible voice, but lacking something in the way of real individuality -- and as "Idol" history shows, that will only get you so close to the ultimate prize.
7) Lauren Alaina
Song: Shania Twain, "Any Man of Mine"
Steven said: "I love that song, but I wish it'd just been a little more kick-ass."
Jennifer said: "I think what we wanna feel from you now is you to just like kick it into high gear...The competition starts today."
Randy said: "What we're hoping for is that girl that we first saw…I guess that's what we really want, just something that lets you shine beyond belief. This song wasn't quite that."
We say: Lauren Alaina sounded a little shouty, but I also don't think she got a fair shake from the judges, who heaped praise on much more mediocre performers tonight. It's clear that the standards for Lauren are higher, though, and that's the inherent risk of being a front-runner -- when you stumble, everyone takes notice. Better luck next time, Lauren.
Source: by Monica Herrera, N.Y. | March 10, 2011 12:12 EST
http://www.billboard.com/news/american-idol-naima-adedapo-busts-out-umbrella-1005066742.story#/news/american-idol-naima-adedapo-busts-out-umbrella-1005066742.story
