Didi Benami was sent packing last time. Tonight the top 9 perform songs from two of the four Beatles, John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Simon says certain songs shouldn’t be changed. Others they can. So basically they’re damned if they do and damned if they don’t.
Aaron Kelly
Song: The Long and Winding Road
Randy: Great voice, beautiful tone. Sleepy song with a bad arrangement.
Ellen: Felt like a long and winding song.
Kara: Good. Not great. Feeling like the same performance every week.
Simon: Very old fashioned. Very boring. Got to become young and relevant.
Katie Stevens
Song: Let It Be
Randy: Your best performance ever.
Ellen: Perfect example of changing it just enough to make it your own without disrespecting the song.
Kara: Never looked better and never sounded better.
Simon: Leaning in the direction which I’ve hinted at very strongly. That’s why you got it right.
Andrew Garcia
Song: Can’t Buy Me Love
Randy: Really solid performance. Sounded good, interesting arrangement, a little corny at times.
Ellen: Perfect song choice. A lot of fun.
Kara: Nothing new from you this week.
Simon: Band overpowered the whole arrangement. Corny, old fashioned, irrelevant.
Michael Lynche
Song: Eleanor Rigby
Randy: The parts that did work were great. Could be on the radio.
Ellen: Can do anything.
Kara: Fire. Amazing vocals.
Simon: The sort of thing you see and hear in musicals. Not contemporary at all. Too over the top.
Crystal Bowersox
Song: Come Together
Randy: Solid performance. Don’t know if it was your best.
Ellen: Loved the way you changed the song.
Kara: Favorite performance.
Simon: Could hear that on the radio.
Tim Urban
Song: All My Lovin
Randy: A much better performance than in the last couple weeks. A good Tim performance.
Ellen: Perfect song choice for you. Your second best performance.
Kara: Took some of the criticisms.
Simon: Did really well.
Casey James
Song: Jealous Guy
Randy: Really impressed you took this kind of leap.
Ellen: Your best performance. So soulful.
Kara: Showed vulnerability, which has been lacking in other performances.
Simon: Best performance of the night. Ginormous week on week difference.
Siobhan Magnus
Song: Across the Universe
Randy: A little sleepy but liked the whole tender side.
Ellen: Should always honor who you are. Cooled it on the high notes as suggested.
Kara: Hit the notes, showed control. Very restrained, very polite.
Simon: Much, much stronger than last week. Unpredictable.
Lee DeWyze
Song: Hey Jude
Randy: You got this. Another hot one for you.
Ellen: Loved it.
Kara: Some off moments, but it’s hot.
Simon: Wouldn’t have done that with the bagpipe player.
Stay tuned to dingoRUE for another live recap of American Idol 9 Episode 29, which airs Wednesday at 9/8c on Fox.