Lacey Brown was the first member of the top 12 to be eliminated in American Idol Season 9 Episode 23. Tonight the top 11 perform Billboard’s #1s. This week’s mentor is Miley Cyrus. Presumably, her advice to the contestants will be to land a highly rated TV show.
Lee DeWyze
Song: The Letter by The Box Tops
Randy: Knocked out of the box.
Ellen: My favorite pen is back.
Kara: Raised the bar. Never sounded better or looked more comfortable.
Simon: Not a recording performance. Quite corny. But sounded good.
Paige Miles
Song: Against All Odds by Phil Collins
Randy: Yo. Wow. Terrible.
Ellen: You look great.
Kara: Worst vocal ever from you and possibly of the season.
Simon: Like there were five of you singing that. Progressively worse with each one.
Tim Urban
Song: Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen
Randy: Vocals were so boring. Like bad karaoke.
Ellen: Like an audition for High School Musical.
Kara: Little girls will love that, but not cougars. Acted like you already made it.
Simon: Pointless and silly.
Aaron Kelly
Song: I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing by Aerosmith
Randy: Thank god you came on the stage and started singing.
Ellen: Perfect song choice. So good.
Kara: Best song choice of the night. Know how to pick a song that accentuates your voice. Want more stage presence.
Simon: Making yourself old fashioned, but there is zero chance you will go home.
Crystal Bowersox
Song: Me and Bobby McGee by Janis Joplin
Randy: Star and a dope singer.
Ellen: Nothing wrong with that performance. Feels like a little bit of something between you and the audience.
Kara: Felt more but want to see you let go more.
Simon: Wouldn’t change anything. As good as Pink’s version.
Michael Lynche
Song: When a Man Loves a Woman by Michael Bolton
Randy: Best thing you can do is sing the I don’t know what out of who you are.
Ellen: Safe choice but amazing tone and great voice.
Kara: Really good technically. A bit boring, loungey, overindulgent.
Simon: Almost too much. Could have taken place 30 years ago.
Andrew Garcia
Song: Heard It through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye
Randy: Not good. Wrong song choice.
Ellen: Not enough to get people onboard.
Kara: Don’t know what to do up there. Didn’t feel like you up there.
Simon: Arrangement was horrific. Sucked the soul out of that song.
Katie Stevens
Song: Big Girls Don’t Cry by Fergie
Randy: A little sharp all over the place, but you at least listened and are trying to be younger.
Ellen: Your best performance so far.
Kara: Pop with R&B leanings is the right lane for you. Not country like Simon says. Still got mad pitch issues.
Simon: Not sure you’re believable in this area. Could find a loyal market in country. But it was a good performance.
Casey James
Song: Power of Love by Huey Lewis & The News
Randy: Not a fan of the song choice, but you did it well.
Ellen: Best vocal of the night.
Kara: Ready to make an album.
Simon: Was old fashioned 25 years ago when it came out. Like watching an 80s cover band.
Didi Benami
Song: You’re No Good by Linda Ronstadt
Randy: Pitch never quite caught.
Ellen: Don’t get the song choices tonight.
Kara: Felt like playing a character.
Simon: Ironic. Like a musical (the bad part). Didn’t sound like you.
Siobhan Magnus
Song: Superstition by Stevie Wonder
Randy: Happy you sang that song.
Ellen: More please.
Kara: Express yourself every time you perform.
Simon: Some people will like it. A lot won’t. The screaming at the end needs to be changed up.
Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of American Idol 9 Episode 25, which airs Wednesday at 9/8c on Fox.