American Idol Top 4: What Hurts The Most

Tonight the Top 4 will be revealed on American Idol and that ridiculous #idolsave is no more. There are two themes for this evening's show - Round 1 will be "songs from the judges hometowns," which includes New Orleans for Harry, New York for JLo and....Nashville for Keith. Um, I think we all know Keith isn't from Nashville. Anyway, Round 2 will be "songs that best captures the contestants' soul," or as Harry calls it, "the gravy song." Ryan promises us two hours of solid entertainment and I'm gonna hold him to it. Let's get going!

ROUND 1

Contestant: Clark Beckham

Song: "Living For the City" by Stevie Wonder

Clark let some stylists dress him tonight and I'm not sure what's going on here. Sure, they were trying to get him away from the "just a normal guy" look...but skinny jeans and boots? No, no, and no. And to add insult to injury, this song is too high for my boyfriend. I appreciate him running to the piano for a hot second and the big finish, but these are the last 15 seconds of the song and I do not enjoy anything before that. 

Judges Say: Keith loved the piano as well and thinks Clark should have stayed there. JLo says Clark sounded really good but thinks he's more comfortable with an instrument. Harry notes that there's 5 contestants left (thank you) and tells Clark he needs to be more "in the pocket."

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Contestant: Jax

Song: "Empire State of Mind" by Alicia Keys

Jax starts behind the piano for this performance and pops up about half way through to interact with the audience. This is not a song I would have chosen for her but she does a good job. Her voice is a little strained at times, however, those moments bring out more rasp in Jax's voice and I like it. I think Jax has absolutely earned a spot in the Top 3 and most likely the finale, even if this isn't one of her best performances. 

Judges Say: JLo feels like Jax understands she can win the competition. She wasn't feeling the song so much but thinks Jax can take the whole thing. Harry dug the performance and asks if her voice is okay. Jax says she's a little hoarse and Harry compliments her for singing through it. Keith loved the song choice and thinks Jax has a very strong artistic foundation. 

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Contestant: Nick Fradiani

Song: "Bright Lights" by Matchbox Twenty

Oh heyyyy Nick. I had never noticed that Nick does sound a lot like Rob Thomas. I've been making the Chris Daughtry comparison all this time. Anyway, this is exactly the type of song I'd expect to hear on a Nick album and he's made a very smart choice tonight. He's become quite the showman as well and I think this is hands down his best performance all season. 

Judges Say: Harry thinks this was the most comfortable performance Nick has given. He also says Nick sang the hell out of the song. Keith says Nick has an incredible killah instinct and he goes up and up with every performance. JLo tells Nick that he's peaking at just the right time and she can't wait for Nick to watch the performance and see how far he's come. 

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Contestant: Tyanna Jones

Song: "Run the World" by Beyonce

WTF?!?!?! We're just going to go ahead and eliminate her now?!?! And then ask her to sing a freakin' Beyonce song? This is a terrible way to send someone home. Terrible. Hell, I'd rather bring the #idolsave back, have Rayvon win it AGAIN and eliminate Tyanna with way more class than this. The kid cries through the whole song (which had the potential to be a kick ass performance) and I'm just pissed. Oh...and she also doesn't get to sing the second song either. I mean, it's not like she made it to the Top 5 and earned that chance or anything. And it's not like we haven't let the eliminated contestants for the past two weeks perform twice. Sigh. 

Judges Say: Harry calls Tyanna a gift and wants her to keep working on her craft. JLo says Tyanna has a long, fun journey ahead of her. Keith tells her "if you're going to do one last performance, that's the way to do it."

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Contestant: Rayvon Owen

Song: "Need You Now," by Lady Antebellum

I'm trying to get over my bitterness when the song begins. It's not easy. Rayvon's voice sounds really great through the the first chorus, but then he goes all dramatic and his voice suffers. I think he's trying to "sell" the song but I'm not buying. There's a huge difference between bad acting and feeling and I don't know that we've seen Rayvon feel a song all season. 

Judges Say: Keith likes that Rayvon made the song his own but would have appreciated more heart and less dramatics. JLo agrees, saying there needed to be a connection. She gives him a brief acting lesson and tells him that the lyrics don't carry as much weight when he doesn't make the song personal. Harry felt that Rayvon's delivery of the lyric was strong and says he sang the pants off the song. Ugh. 

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ROUND 2

Contestant: Clark Beckham

Song: "Your Man" by Josh Turner

I had really thought I'd heard the last of Josh Turner when Scotty McCreery turned the lights down low all throughout the audition rounds in Season 10. During rehearsals Clark is given the same "connection" advice Rayvon just got and he essentially tells his mentors that he wants to do things his way. "If this loses me the competition, then I don't want to win it." Wow dude. This performance is definitely better than his first one and overall I dig it, but I definitely don't think this is a "bare your soul" performance. I probably would have been a lot more into it if I hadn't been thinking about the pre-performance video, but maybe that's the point. Maybe Clark has quickly become the front runner who suddenly no longer walks on water and the Idol producers want us to know it. 

Judges Say: JLo stumbles through a lot of words about what kind of music Clark wants to do and what music would help him win the competition. She says Clark sang the song well but didn't think this was his gravy song. Harry tells Clark he has to choose songs based on votes versus what he wants to do. Keith says Clark needs singles and not album tracks. Then there's a huge back and forth between the judges and Clark about his truth as a musician versus what he "owes" his audience. Where's Quentin when we need him? And WHERE is my fast forward button? 

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Contestant: Jax

Song: "Human" by Christina Perri

Love. This. Song. And here's a clear scenario where a performer feels the song and delivers it. Jax's voice is still a little shaky, but given the lyrics she's singing, the breaks in her voice almost make the performance better. The dropping to the knees in the fog part is a bit much for me, but this is a song that I could (and probably will) download tonight. 

Judges Say: Harry mentions that Jax's pitch was all over the place but says her emotions trump everything. Keith says the song choice was perfect and she killed it. JLo loves the way Jax looks into people's eyes and connects with her audience. 

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Contestant: Rayvon Owen 

Song: "Believe" by Justin Bieber

Rayvon is dedicating this song to his mother and finally emotes in a performance. His mom is crying and dancing in the audience throughout the song and these are very touching moments. I'm not sure why it took a theme like "pick a song that captures your soul" for Rayvon to dig deep, but thank God he finally did. I'm still not a fan, but I loved this particular performance and believe it's his best by far. 

Judges Say: JLo and Keith are both emotional and tell him the performance was beautiful. Harry thinks the "Believe" songwriters would be very happy with Rayvon's performance. Rayvon's mother then joins him onstage as Ryan relays the voting information. Interesting. 

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Contestant: Nick Fradiani

Song: "What Hurts the Most" by Rascal Flatts

Nick chooses an excellent gravy song as well. I'm not sure if his moment of stepping away from the mic while the backup singers sing "still upsets me" is planned or not. I can't tell if he's lost his breath or taking a dramatic pause. Either way, Nick gives another great performance and is making this competition far more difficult than I thought he would when we got to the Top 12. My thoughts then were "he's a cute guy with a nice voice and I hope he sticks around for a little while." Dude has come a long way. 

Judges Say: JLo tells Nick that he has been the star of the night and Harry says Nick killed the performance. Keith thinks Nick will climb the iTunes chart with that song. 

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And with that, the night is over. For me Round 1 goes to Nick and Round 2 goes to Jax. Clark had a rough night and I worry for him going into next week. I also think the judges turned on him very quickly. They've spent the past 6 weeks practically planning his coronation but the support has shifted dramatically to Nick now...and then of course bringing Rayvon's mom on stage was a nice touch. Jax's status and consistency have never really wavered so I'm not concerned with her at all tonight. However, I think viewers could have decided for themselves that Clark's first performance fell short and his second performance completely missed the memo on the theme without all of the backlash. I also think viewers are smart enough to pick up on what a great night Nick had and the strides Rayvon made in his second performance. If Clark doesn't make it to the Top 3, I sure hope its based on his performances tonight and not a completely staged scolding on live TV. Just my opinion. We'll see how this plays out next week. Til then!

The Voice Top 10 Eliminations: I Won't Back Down

Tonight we will see two more contestants eliminated and once again wonder how exactly Xtina's shirts contain what she's got going there. Her wardrobe person is a genius. Anyway, her team and Team Blake are going into the night with three contestants each, while Adam and Pharrell are in danger of losing their teams completely tonight depending on the results. Let's get to it. 

Reba is in the house tonight giving a sassy performance of her new single "Going Out Like That." Love it. My favorite part though might be when the camera cuts to Blake and he's singing his heart out from his seat. I'll bet these two compete for the "life of the party" title. 

Results! The first two people through to the Top 8 are Koryn and Corey, and they are followed by Sawyer and India. After some performances, Meghan and Kimberly are sent to safety, giving Blake, Xtina and Adam two contestants each in the Top 8 and leaving Team Adam with 0 going into the next commercial break. Hannah is the final artist to make it through, and Joshua, Deanna and Rob are in the bottom 3 and singing for the stupid Twitter save. I'm not really surprised by this. The other ladies gave powerhouse performances last night and the two young guys have teenage female fans that probably tried to break iTunes. 

Rob chooses "(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay" as his "save me" song, and he gives it 100% energy. Vocally it's up and down and I don't think this was the song to win over America. Deanna goes with "Help Me Make It Through the Night" which is an appropriately named song for sure. She sounds freaking amazing but this is her second week in a row shooting for the stupid Twitter save. Not sure if she'll win it again (don't get me started on American Idol and Rayvon), but I've really enjoyed watching her. Joshua takes on "Stay With Me" "I Won't Back Down" and it seems like the song was made for him. I think he may have made a really smart move here. 

In the end, Joshua does win the stupid Twitter save and we say goodbye to Deanna and Rob. I'm not sad to see Rob go but I would have liked to see Deanna continue her journey a little while longer. I know she probably wouldn't have made it too much further with her confidence issues but I did enjoy hearing that voice each week. Next Monday the Top 8 face off again and Team Adam is down to one contestant. Xtina and Pharrell are still going strong with two each, and Team Blake remains unscathed. Can his entire group make it through to the Top 6? Can the remaining ladies be stopped at this point? Can Reba just be on The Voice every few episodes? We'll find out the answers to two of those questions next week. Til then! 

The Voice Top 10: I Want You To Know Who I Am

As the Top 10 prepare to take the stage tonight, coaches Blake and Xtina can sit in those awesome chairs and have the luxury of knowing that their teams currently remain intact. Adam had two contestants in the bottom 3 last week and he has to be pretty pissed off. He's not used to being at a disadvantage so early in the Top 12 stage of the competition. But each artist will perform again tonight, hoping to make the Top 8 and avoid being in the running for the stupid Twitter save. Will the standouts from last week come back just as strong tonight? Let's get this going and find out...

Artist: Kimberly Nichole

Team: Xtina

Song: "Something's Got a Hold On Me" by Etta James

We're going to go ahead and set the bar impossibly high from the first performance tonight, huh? Best of luck to the other nine contestants in their attempts to try to top this unbelievable song. Kimberly is a power house with flawless vocals and a presence that demands the audience's attention. The opening of her leaning back over a chair while singing a capella is just ridiculously awesome and her movements on the stage make me yell and clap well before the song is over. Get it girl.

Coaches Say: Standing ovation from all of the coaches! Pharrell says Kimberly "reinvented 10" with the 1-10 scale. Adam tells Kimberly she gave a lights out performance and thinks Kimberly could definitely win the whole thing. Xtina says Kimberly "brings it" every single time and gets more exciting with every performance. 

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Artist: Joshua Davis

Team: Adam

Song: "Hold Back the River" by James Bay

I don't know this song at all and what Joshua's doing doesn't make me want to know it. His voice is very low and breathy tonight and the best parts of the song are when the backup singers jump in. Not a fan. 

Coaches Say: Blake says Joshua had a different look and vibe tonight and picked a song that challenged him. That's a nice way of putting it, cowboy. Adam tells Joshua that he needed to take a risk tonight but it didn't exactly pay off. Ouch. It's not often that the artists get harsh feedback from their own coaches...or any coaches for that matter.  

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Artist: Hannah Kirby

Team: Blake

Song: "Shout" by Tears For Fears

Hannah wants to let all of her emotions out tonight (hence the song choice), and a song about shouting is pretty perfect for her given we don't hear a softness in her voice...like...ever. I'm not super into the drummers who are following her all over the stage, but she does shout sing the hell out of the song and gives an overall loud good performance. 

Coaches Say: Xtina thinks Hannah is growing into a superstar before her eyes and says Hannah makes her smile. Pharrell says Hannah makes every song her own and delivers every time. Blake tells Hannah she is a freak of nature when it comes to singing. 

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Artist: Meghan Lindsey

Team: Blake

Song: "Home" by Marc Broussard

Man does she have a voice. I looooved "Girl Crush" from last week and Meghan brings the same intensity to "Home" tonight. She has the backup singers come up to the front of the stage with tambourines, which is a nice touch, and she delivers a soulful, passionate performance. The girl can just sing. Period. 

Coaches Say: Everyone stands again! Xtina says this is the best performance Meghan has done on the show so far and thinks her vocals were insane. Adam tells Meghan she blew him away, saying the performance threw her way up to the top of the competition. Blake claps and says "wow" a lot. 

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Artist: Koryn Hawthorne

Team: Pharrell

Song: "Make It Rain" by Ed Sheeran

Great song. GREAT performance. The stage is completely dark with just a small touch of light coming up behind Koryn when the song starts. This has a haunting effect that is amplified by her emotional delivery of the lyrics. We barely see the backup singers illuminated behind her as they jump in half way through...but it doesn't matter....this is Koryn's moment, and it's unbelievable. Watch your backs, Kimberly and Meghan.  

Coaches Say: Standing O! Blake says Koryn couldn't have done any better than she just did and Xtina tells Koryn the performance was incredible. She thinks it was a perfect song choice and Koryn left her heart out on the stage. Pharrell says Koryn has earned the title "inspirational singer." 

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Artist: Deanna Johnson

Team: Adam

Song: "Somebody To Love" by Jefferson Airplane

Aside from the fact that we just heard this on American Idol and I haaaate it when these shows do the same song within weeks of one another, I really do enjoy this. I'm a big fan of the arrangement and Deanna looks more confident than we've ever seen her. The other females have given far superior performances tonight but this is definitely a step in the right direction. 

Coaches Say: Xtina says the song was challenging but thinks Deanna rose to the occasion. Adam says it looks like Deanna is having fun which is a big accomplishment. 

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Artist: Rob Taylor

Team: Xtina

Song: "A Song For You" by Donny Hathaway

Rob plays the piano for the first half of the performance and the camera work is really neat all throughout the song. I do wish he had just stayed at the piano though and not abandoned it half way through the performance. Last week he showed his range and really wowed everyone, but he's a little too all over the place for me with this tune, especially once he moves to the front of the stage. This is such a beautiful song and Rob's "everything but the kitchen sink" approach really takes away from the lyrics and the story. Points to him for being so talented, but I wish he'd gone more simpler with this performance. 

Coaches Say: Pharrell says Rob really expressed himself tonight and thinks he did an immaculate job. Xtina says the performance showed a different side of Rob and tells him he is "something special and rare."

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Artist: Corey Kent White

Team: Blake

Song: "Unwound" by George Strait

I love the raspiness in Corey's voice. Just love it. Corey goes sans guitar and makes dreams come true for the young women in the audience within reaching distance. Wait though...did he mess up the words? He did. Oh my...Simon Cowell would be losing his mind right now.

Coaches Say: Adam says Corey gets more comfortable with each performance and Blake immediately mentions the flubbed lyrics. Damn the coaches are harsh tonight (finally). He does say that Corey sang the song well otherwise. 

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Artist: Sawyer Fredericks

Team: Pharrell

Song: "Iris" by The Goo Goo Dolls

Sawyer has never been in love but tries to connect to the song in other ways. He's surrounded and accompanied by a strings section which definitely boosts the performance. Sawyer sings the song well and it's pretty and all...there have just been some serious showstoppers tonight and I don't think this performance ranks up there. 

Coaches Say: Blake says Sawyer's voice is very powerful and freakin good. Xtina liked seeing Sawyer do something a little different, and Pharrell congratulates Sawyer because the performance went exactly where he wanted it to go. 

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Artist: India Carney

Team: Xtina

Song: "Run To You" by Whitney Houston

Well, at least this is one of the lesser covered tunes from The Bodyguard soundtrack. I'm at a point where I don't know how many more "I Have Nothing"s I can take. India definitely has the voice to take on a song like this and she hits several unreal notes throughout the performance. She also hits some not so great notes as well, but when you take on Whitney, that risk is pretty much a given. What I like about India though is her commitment to the lyrics. I'm buying what she's selling for sure. 

Coaches Say: Pharrell says India gave a beautiful performance and Xtina thinks India made the song her own beautiful thing. 

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Tomorrow we say goodbye to two more contestants with the possibility of Team Adam or Team Pharrell being wiped out completely. Did Deanna do enough to earn votes? Will Corey's fans overlook the lyric issues and vote him through anyway? Will Joshua's risky, snoozy performance be remembered when the votes are tallied?  We'll find out during the elimination hour. Til then!

The Voice Top 12 Elimination: If I Ever Lose My Faith In You

Tonight two contestants will leave The Voice and the Top 10 will be revealed in what I assume will be some sort of excruciating "dramatic pause for 45 seconds" fashion. The coaches have no say in the results tonight, but that stupid Twitter save is in effect which allows one person from the bottom 3 to advance to next week. Who will make it through? Let's find out...

Nick Jonas is in the house tonight, finally singing something besides "Jealous." My he has grown up nicely. Team Blake also takes the stage and performs a very energetic version of "In the Midnight Hour," while Team Xtina takes on the very laid back "Hotel California." Not a bad way to spend the extra time in the elimination hour. 

Results! The first three artists to make it through to the Top 10 are Kimberly, Sawyer, and Meghan. Carson sends Joshua, India, and Hannah to safety next, followed by Koryn (yay!), Rob, and Corey after some filler and commercial breaks. This leaves Team Xtina amd Team Blake completely unscathed and Mia, Deanna, and Brian in the bottom 3. Time to sing for your lives kids. 

Mia kicks off the performances with "Stormy Monday," once again proving that she can take a well known song and still make you wonder what the lyrics are. She's still crazy talented though. I just wish she would freaking enunciate. Brian gives us a carbon copy of "Amazed," and Deanna's nerves fare much better than they did last night for her version of "It Will Rain." Out of the 3 of them, I'm rooting for Deanna with the understanding that Mia is the artist who probably *should* be saved. Brian, thanks for coming dude.

In the end, Deanna actually wins the stupid Twitter save in a very close race between the bottom 3....way closer than I thought it would be. This eliminates Brain and Mia and leaves Team Pharrell and Team Adam with two contestants each. Next week the Top 10 will vie for America's votes once again with a mentor who probably won't be as cool as Reba. Where was she tonight? I was hoping for some sassy country music! Will Team Xtina and Team Blake be able to hold onto their contestants through the Top 8? Will Deanna bounce back with a vengeance after winning that save? We'll find out when these hopefuls face off again. Til then!

The Voice Top 12: I Got A Girl Crush

Welcome to the Top 12! The Voice has reached the part of the season where America decides who stays and who goes, and each coach has three contestants remaining in the competition. Tonight these hopefuls take the stage with the help and support of guest mentor Reba! Love her. I mean, everything the woman says is gold and I'm greatly looking forward to these next couple of hours. Let's get started!

Artist: Hannah Kirby

Team: Blake

Song: "Edge of Seventeen" by Stevie Nicks

Reba compares Hannah to Dolly Parton because she always gives it her all. I'm not one to argue with Reba. Hannah sings her face off, and though I worry about her coming down those stairs (I think she's worried too), she pulls it off and works the stage and the crowd with complete confidence. Did I mention that she's singing her face off? What a great way to start the night. 

Coaches Say: Pharrell says everyone is now going to see and understand the artist Hannah is. Adam wants to point out that Hannah is an amazing singer in addition to her already comfortable performance skills. Blake says Hannah set the bar incredibly high and doesn't think Hannah could possibly be a better vocalist than she already is. 

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Artist: Brian Johnson

Team: Adam

Song: "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You" by Sting

Adam has saved Brian twice now and he's looking to work hard this week to stay in the competition. He has such a smooth and soothing tone to his voice and he's also kind of adorable. Hannah was a tough act to follow though and I think this performance might be forgotten by the time we get to the end of the episode. 

Coaches Say: Blake thinks every time Brian gets on the stage, he knows Brian will deliver something powerful. Xtina says Brian is making great strides every time she sees him. Adam tells Brian that singing Sting is hard and he did a great job. 

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Artist: India Carney

Team: Xtina

Song: "Take Me To Church" by Hozier

I feel like we just heard Matt McAndrew sing this tune. Oh we did. Last season...which seems like mere months ago....because it was. Sigh. India adds some soul to the song as well as some badass female anger. Hozier and Matt's renditions were both very haunting and India's version makes me think she might break through my TV and hurt me. I like the performance overall, but it's not something I would run out and download. 

Coaches Say: Pharrell said the performance was like being at one of India's concerts (which is probably what she was going for) and he congratulates her. Adam says India already has a large fan base which is very important in order to break through. Yup. Blake was ready to take her to church and Xtina saw a different person on stage tonight with more presence and conviction. 

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Artist: Mia Z

Team: Pharrell

Song: "Miss You" by The Rolling Stones

During rehearsals Reba couldn't understand anything Mia was singing, and unfortunately this translates right into the live performance as well. She's a really talented kid with a ton of stage presence for someone so young. I'd like to see her stick around but this was not my favorite performance of hers.

Coaches Say: Adam thinks the song choice was cool and interesting and Blake loves how inventive Mia is with her melodies. Xtina agrees that Mia is an inventive singer and thinks the song was a perfect fit. Pharrell loves that Mia set some goals for the performance and exceeded all of them. 

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Artist: Deanna Johnson

Team: Adam

Song: "Oceans (Where My Feet May Fail) by Hillsong United

Deanna is just too cute. I love the way she brags about her tiny hometown finally getting a Dollar General store. I'm not familiar with this tune and apparently it's a Christian contemporary song. Deanna has reservations about singing too many gospel/churchy songs and Adam tells her that people don't really pay attention to the content of a song as much as they pay attention to the way the song makes them feel. Really dude? Nonsense aside, the song starts of a little low and shaky...and Deanna looks really nervous. When she hits the chorus and the crowd starts going crazy, she picks up some momentum and has a decent finish. I wish Adam had given her a different song though. She was unsure about it from the beginning and never quite recovered.

Coaches Say: Blake says he couldn't hear the first few lines of the song (Carson indicates there was a mic issue) but thinks the performance was good once Deanna started projecting. Xtina says the song fit her well and tells Deanna she looks lovely. Pharrell talks about Deanna's nerves...but not nerves...but maybe nerves...and then Adam jumps in and says Deanna did great once everyone could hear her. Bummer.

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Artist: Sawyer Fredericks

Team: Pharrell

Song: "Imagine" by John Lennon

Sawyer has such an innocent face and a beautifully pure voice that I always find myself nodding in agreement with whatever he's singing. His vocals do falter a little bit tonight, but his fan base is so strong that I don't think it will matter (especially if all we're worried about is how the song makes us feel). I liked the performance and I really, really like Sawyer.

Coaches Say: Adam says Sawyer's ability to fill the room with his voice transcends coaching. Blake calls Sawyer a champ for bouncing back with his vocals, and Xtina thinks Sawyer made that moment feel natural, which makes him a really good performer. Pharrell is so proud of his artist and loved seeing him sing his way out of a tough situation. 

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Artist: Rob Taylor

Team: Xtina

Song: "I Put a Spell On You" by Screamin' Jay Hawkins

See, this is another "how many times are we going to hear this on competition shows" type of song and I'm not thrilled when Xtina announces the song choice. Anybody watch the Hozier/Annie Lennox combo at The Grammys? Unbelievable. Rob does give it his all here though, leaping from gritty attitude to that crazy falsetto in a way I didn't think he could pull off. This was actually a great song choice and allowed him to show some serious range.

Coaches Say: Pharrell says Rob gave a masterful performance and Adam thinks Rob pulled ahead in the race just now. Xtina calls the performance exciting, saying Rob embraced the words to the song and totally slayed it. 

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Artist: Corey Kent White

Team: Blake

Song: "Why" by Jason Aldean

Corey is such a sweet guy and Blake is trying to get him to show a "bad boy side" with this song. He starts off very smooth and confident....and then it just goes south. He's out of tune for the majority of the song, but he tries to compensate by making sure he still tells the story and deliver the lyrics. With a face like that, and based on his previous performances, he should rest easy tonight.

Coaches Say: Xtina says Corey gave another strong performance (huh?) and Adam feels like Corey is "almost there" in terms of having an impact on the competition. That's nice of him. Blake is honest though and says Corey did not sing perfectly tonight, but Blake does think Corey was totally invested in what he was singing and people will vote for him. 

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Artist: Koryn Hawthorne 

Team: Pharrell

Song: "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) by Kelly Clarkson

Heh. Reba is Kelly's mother-in-law and that always makes me smile. Koryn didn't know that bit of information when she went into rehearsals, but I forgive her immediately when she starts the song. I love her rendition of "Stronger." She begins the song solo, singing the chorus (badass) and then the band jumps into the rest of the song while she performs with 100% conviction. There's SO much emotion and fight in this girl. Pleeeease let her stay.

Coaches Say: Standing ovation from everyone! Blake says Koryn has made the most of getting this second chance (Pharrell saved her last week), and Xtina thinks this was the perfect song choice. She loved how Koryn rearranged the song. Pharrell is in awe of how Koryn performed and inspired by how she handled herself this week. 

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Artist: Joshua Davis

Team: Adam

Song: "America" by Simon & Garfunkel

Adam wants Joshua to put the guitar down and push himself out of his comfort zone. Joshua agrees and becomes an even better storyteller. The performance is pleasant for sure and Joshua makes the whole thing seem effortless.  This isn't a showstopper, but definitely a solid effort from a dude who can feel free to sing on my TV any day.

Coaches Say: Blake doesn't know this song. Wait. What? He's never heard it? That's just crazy to me. He does say though that Joshua covers songs in a way that makes the audience believe he wrote the song himself.  Xtina liked that Joshua tried something new and Pharrell thinks this was Joshua's best performance to date. Adam pats himself on the back for a bit and then calls the performance perfect. 

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Artist: Meghan Lindsay

Team: Blake

Song: "Girl Crush" by Little Big Town

Hot damn! I looooove this song and Meghan completely owns it. She's been one of my favorites this season and I'm "woo"ing from my couch the minute she starts singing. Every note from start to finish is perfection and Meghan sells the heartbreak and the desperation of this song with no problem. I've actually had to go back and watch it several times now because it's just so damn good.

Coaches Say: Pharrell says Meghan is right where she needs to be (on my iPod?) and Adam tells Meghan she's amazing. Blake thinks she just had a breakout moment and I'm inclined to agree. 

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Artist: Kimberly Nichole

Team: Xtina

Song: "House of the Rising Sun" by The Animals

Reba says she wants to record this song someday...and I'm thinking why not immediately? I mean, she's in a studio with the contestants already. Get it Reba! "House of the Rising Sun" has been performed a lot on these shows (Siohban Magnus' version plays frequently on my iPod), but Kimberly just kills it and puts other covers to shame. She has this almost awesomely evil voice, an attitude that never quits, and she gives us an amazing performance. Fantastic way to close the show. I'll need to watch this one a couple more times as well.

Coaches Say: Everyone stands and it takes a while for the cheering to die down. Pharrell says there are no words to describe what Kimberly just did. Blake thinks this might be Xtina's season to win The Voice and Xtina says that song has never been sung that way, and she's completely right. 

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And now the fate of these folks is in America's hands with two people going home tomorrow. I think these last two performances by Meghan and Kimberly were in a league of their own (with honorable mention to Koryn) and I'm looking for those ladies to sail through for a while. The tough thing about having 12 people filling two hours though is several of them will just be forgotten. I had to scroll back up to even remember Brian, India and Mia, and I'm thinking that Deanna's insecure performance is going to put her in the danger zone as well. We'll see which of these hopefuls makes it to the Top 10 during the elimination hour. Til then!

American Idol Top 5: There's A Shadow Hanging Over Me

As we are getting closer and closer to the finale, one question remains constant on my mind...how many more episodes will we have to suffer through the #idolsave? I mean, it's run its course by now, hasn't it? Anyway, the remaining contestants are taking on "arena anthems" tonight and will each perform twice, because arena anthems are much better when we cut them in half to shove 12 of them together in a 2 hour span...or so the Idol producers think. Let's get this going and see who's up for the challenge!

Contestant: Jax

Song: "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" by Jet

I'm going to overlook the fact that Jax changed the lyrics to "are you gonna be my guy," because this is a great performance. The song isn't a vocal showcase, but the energy and stage presence she has is fantastic. You want an arena anthem? You got it!

Judges Say: Keith yells "Jaaax! Wow!" He thinks it took her a little while to get into it and says she should have been energetic right out of the gate. I thought she had pretty good energy right from the beginning but maybe it felt different in the venue. JLo thinks -- whoa! Holy plunging neckline Batman! Geesh. JLo thinks Jax is ready to tour. Harry says the performance was strong. 

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Contestant: Nick Fradiani

Song: "Harder To Breathe" by Maroon 5

This starts off very rough. I think Nick came in a little late and he struggles to catch up until he gets to the first chorus. He's rocking out, which is great and all, but the band is drowning him out and I don't understand much of what he's singing...and I know the lyrics to the song. Not my fave.

Judges Say: JLo and her boobs had been dancing throughout the song and she says the performance was awesome. Harry thinks the performance was scary for everyone in the competition because it was terrific. What? What the hell is going on? Keith thinks Nick is finding his lane vocally and but didn't think he was into the performance. Nick actually admits that he lost his place in the beginning....which I appreciate since the judges make no mention of it....because I assume Nick is "meant" to make it further than others in the competition.  

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Contestant: Clark Beckham

Song: "Yesterday" by The Beatles

I was not aware that "Yesterday" is ranked as an arena anthem. You learn something new every day I guess. Or maybe because Clark is a front-runner, Idol just lets him do what he wants. Regardless, Clark gets kind of theatrical in this performance and tweaks the song a bit here and there for those dramatic pauses. I think for the first time I might be hearing some not so great notes come out of his mouth, but the amazing ones far outweigh the bum ones. It's a really good performance - I was just hoping that Clark would go all out with tonight's theme. 

Judges Say: Harry likes that Clark did not use high notes gratuitously and thinks he did a great job. Keith says Clark made the song current but tells him he doesn't have to be so contained. JLo says the song choice was risky but thinks he did a beautiful job. 

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Contestant: Tyanna Jones

Song: "Party in the U.S.A." by Miley Cyrus

Who. Picked. This. Song. Was it really Tyanna? Don't get me wrong - I jam to this when it comes on the radio. I throw my hands up and nod my head and am not ashamed to sing along with the windows down in my car. I get that we are trying to drive home just how young Tyanna is (she's just being Tyanna?), but this song does nothing for her. Zero. It's a damn shame too because I love Tyanna. I'm now saying prayers that her second performance is awesome.

Judges Say: Keith says the performance was fun and JLo thinks Tyanna seemed very comfortable on stage tonight. Harry says the song choice was smart and she killed it. I'm now in the twilight zone. We must be saving all of the for real criticism for Quentin. He and Rayvon are in the bottom 2. 

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Contestant: Quentin Alexander 

Song: "Light My Fire" by The Doors

First and foremost, I have to wonder how much time and effort was put into Quentin getting those pants on. Did he have help? Was it an all day process? Are they just going to cut him out of the pants when the performance is over? But I digress... This song definitely should have been a home run for Quentin, but it's actually more of double. The arrangement is really cool and he finally starts getting into the song and the lyrics about half way through (really unlike him to wait that long). So while I think the finish was strong....I'm not sure how many people were still paying close attention at that point.

Judges Say: JLo thinks Quentin looks great but wants more "vocal pow" from him. Harry dug the arrangement and the laid back vibe. Keith likes that Quentin "swims in his own lane" but doesn't say much else.

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Contestant: Rayvon Owen

Song: "I'm Not the Only One" by Sam Smith

I clearly just don't understand the definition of an arena anthem. How is this song applicable to tonight's theme? And does it even matter? This whole performanczzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....

Judges Say: Harry says Rayvon gave a fantastic vocal performance and calls it flawless. Keith thinks this was the perfect song choice and would be a hit for him as a single. JLo says Rayvon could make it to the finale...and I throw a pillow across the room.  

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Contestant: Nick Fradiani

Song: "Maggie May" by Rod Stewart

This is much, much better than the first performance. Nick is having fun with the song, he's in command of the stage, and he sounds great. Is he ready for arenas? No. But is he ready to launch a career? I'll keep my fingers crossed for him.

Judges Say: Keith thinks Nick made some good adjustments with the guitar this week and JLo says Nick is picking songs that suit him really well. She mentions that he hasn't created a "moment" yet though. Harry asks Nick if he can sustain a 2 or 3 hour show on the road. Nick says "I know I can" and Harry agrees. 

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Contestant: Tyanna Jones

Song: "Heaven" by Bryan Adams

How did we go from "Party in the U.S.A" to a song that begins "Oh, thinking about our younger years?" What younger years are we thinking about? Taking the training wheels off? WHO MENTORED THE KID THIS WEEK? Tyanna has said plenty of times this season that she has not had a boyfriend and has trouble relating to some of the love songs she's performed, and she clearly doesn't connect with this one. Tyanna does the best that she can with it, but in my mind she has not had a strong evening.

Judges Say: JLo liked this song for Tyanna and thinks we saw a side of Tyanna we needed to see. Harry asks what kind of music Tyanna wants to sing on her first album and Tyanna responds with "a mix of everything." I don't think that's what Harry was going for. Keith tells Tyanna she has a beautiful voice and then we move on. 

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Contestant: Clark Beckham 

Song: "Boyfriend" by Justin Bieber

Please Clark.
Please be my boyfriend.

Whaaaaa? Clark is taking on the Biebs? Well, points to him for doing something completely different. I actually really enjoy this performance. First, it makes me actually like the song. Second, it let Clark show more personality than we're used to. And third, it wasn't a safe song choice at all and he finally took a route that seemed to really push him more out of his comfort zone. 

Judges Say: Harry thinks Clark has done himself a disservice by setting the bar so high. He then tells Clark that "Boyfriend" was not the right song to do tonight. Keith says it needed to be more sexy and less technical. JLo doesn't think the song would be a great stadium moment. Yup - along with half of the other songs we've heard tonight, Jenny. 

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Contestant: Jax

Song: "White Flag" by Dido

This song is perrrrrfect for Jax and she kind of creates a Jena Irene moment at the piano tonight. The performance is engaging, she sings the song beautifully, and I'm buying every word of it. Best of the night for me. 

Judges Say: Keith says Jax held his attention for the entire song and JLo tells Jax this performance was exactly what she needed to do tonight. Harry calls the performance phenomenal. 

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Contestant: Quentin Alexander

Song: "Shake It Out" by Florence + The Machine

Quentin leaves it all on the stage for his rendition of "Shake It Out." He goes for the big notes, the big staging, and the big emotional climax that he's gotten so good at. This is one of my favorite Quentin performances ever and I hope it's enough to keep him here.

Judges Say: JLo says Quentin is someone she wants to watch on tour and compliments his vocals. Harry...just shut up Harry. Keith thinks Quentin is clear on the type of record he wants to make and encourages him to take the reigns and use his artistic instincts. These guys are kind of saying "goodbye" to Quentin without actually saying "goodbye." Grrr. 

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Contestant: Rayvon Owen

Song: "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac

Well, here's a true arena anthem. No doubt about that. Rayvon has the right amount of energy to perform this song and does a  really great job on the choruses. He's at his absolute best there. However, Rayvon is almost inaudible during the verses and I'm very much over the falsetto. Very much. But what I think doesn't matter....it's what the Twitterverse thinks that could ruin the night. Will they really save Rayvon again?

Judges Say: Harry asks Rayvon what kind of guidance he would take from a producer in a recording studio, and Rayvon says he hopes making an album would be a collaborative effort. This exchange is a complete waste of time. Keith mentions Rayvon's crazy high note and JLo calls Rayvon a fighter. 

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Now we wait for the results of the Twitter save that should have been disbanded by now. Really? We're going to give the same guy a chance to be saved 4 weeks in a row by social media?  Yup, not only is Idol going to allow this Twitter BS to continue....Rayvon is saved AGAIN. This is just outrageous. The judges get one save for one person for the season, but one person has the chance to be saved for 4 weeks and ending up in the Top 5 that way? I've been reading that Idol viewership has hit an all time low - this stupidity can't possibly be helping. Poor Quentin. He's not someone I thought would win, but he's 100% more entertaining than Rayvon.

Next week the remaining contestants will square off again and without (gasp) the #idolsave to fix the Final 4 take up unnecessary minutes in the show. Can Rayvon survive another week without Twitter? Will the judges' harsh response to Clark's Bieber cover put him in danger? Can I go to sleep tonight without humming "Party in the U.S.A?" Doubtful, my friends. We'll see how it all shakes out when the Final 4 are revealed. Til then!

The Voice 2015: Part 1

So, I'm playing catch up on The Voice at the moment and am obviously behind on my posts for season God knows what. However, I've really enjoyed the season so far, and I'm very excited to welcome back Xtina because I always miss her during her off seasons. Don't get me wrong - I loved having Shakira and Gwen around. They were perfect female coach fill ins. There's just something so sassy about Xtina and it takes attention away from the Adam/Blake bromance I've grown so tired of. I'm also "happy" (sorry, had to) to see Pharrell and his wardrobe return. He was a pleasant surprise last season and I think the show is stronger with him as a coach. I do have to wonder what kind of paycheck he demands though and whether his hats receive their own separate stipend. If they do...Xtina's bustiers should go on strike. 

Regardless, these four coaches have been providing some serious entertainment this season and they've built very talented teams with some really unique individuals. It's been interesting to see it all come together. We are well into the live shows now and I will be posting recaps starting with the Top 12 performance show shortly. Looking forward to an exciting rest of the season! 

American Idol Top 6: Don't You Want Somebody To Love?

Tonight the Top 6 will be revealed and we will lose another contestant because, you know, the judges used their save a long time ago and left us with Twitter users to keep the suspense going. This week's theme is "American Classics," whatever that means, and each contestant will take on 2 songs each. We're at that point in the American Idol season where the 2 hour shows remain and instead of letting the contestants give complete performances, they essentially do snippets of songs so we can cram as much in as possible. Let's see how this goes... 

Contestant: Tyanna Jones

Song: "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" by Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers

Tyanna had such a great week last week that it's going to be tough to be as impressive tonight. Sure, the song is fun and she gets to be a teenager and have a good time...but at this point in the competition she needs to be 'bringing it' with every performance. I say all of these things lovingly because I am a big Tyanna fan. 

Judges Say: Keith says the song choice was interesting and did not show off Tyanna's vocal skills. JLo feels like they need just a bit more from her. Harry compliments Tyanna's rhythmic ease but wishes she had moved around more. 

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Contestant: Clark Beckham

Song: "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder

Clark needs to push himself outside of his comfort zone a little more this week and he accomplishes that for sure with this song. Dude looks like he's actually letting loose! Clark's vocals are (of course) on point, but he's doing some fun things with the song as well that takes his showmanship to a new level. 

Judges Say: JLo says Clark is looking good and calls the performance funky and amazing. Harry doesn't think Clark could have done the song any better. Keith demonstrates some moves Clark could do with the guitar and I have to rewind and watch those a few times. 

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Contestant: Jax

Song: "Piece of My Heart" by Janis Joplin

I. Love. This. My only complaint is the performance is over too soon. Jax borrows one of JLo's wind machines and delivers a vigorous and gritty performance that makes me forget how many freaking times this song has been done on the show already. I just thank God that Qaasim never got a hold of this one.

Judges Say: Harry only knows 2 versions of this song...which means he didn't watch the first 10 years of this show. He says the performance was strong. Keith loves how Jax sings with the band behind her and JLo says Jax is in her element tonight. 

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Contestant: Nick Fradiani

Song: "American Girl" by Top Petty

Nick wants to rock n' roll for these last 5 weeks and surprise everyone. I would sure as hell be surprised. Nick is all denim-ed out tonight with some curliness in his hair, and I think he's actually at a point now where he thinks he can win. He sounds great, he looks confident, and this is probably his best performance of the season.  

Judges Say: Keith "wooooo"s a lot and says the song was perfect for Nick. JLo thinks Nick has a "radio ready" voice and Harry says the performance was dead on.

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Contestant: Quentin Alexander

Song: "Are You Gonna Go My Way" by Lenny Kravitz

Well, I can say that Quentin absolutely looks the part. He's got some attitude and is very into the song and the performance aspect. Unfortunately this tune does nothing for his voice and his pitch is kind of everywhere. Did I mention his badass outfit though?

Judges Say: JLo says the whole thing worked. She then oddly follows that up by saying the pitch was all over the place but Quentin gave a good performance. Harry thinks the band was more captivating than Quentin. Keith likes that Quentin was laid back even though the band was going crazy. 

And now the show completely goes off the rails. Ryan takes the stage and tries to get Quentin talking. Quentin points at our bottom 2 - Rayvon and JOEY and says "this is whack" because they are two of the best vocalists. Well, I half agree with you buddy. Ryan reminds Quentin that there's still the #idolsave on Twitter and Quentin looks like he wants to punch him. I wish he had. Quentin leaves the stage and Harry yells that Quentin is being highly disrespectful by biting the hand that feeds him. He essentially says if Quentin doesn't like the process, he can just go home. Quentin comes back on stage (get him!) and says his personal feelings of "this is whack" are seeing two people he loves in danger of going home. Harry says that wasn't clear and Quentin quickly responds "Well, I'm glad that I got to clarify that for you." Ha! Shut up Harry. 

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Contestant: Joey Cook

Song: "My Funny Valentine" by Frank Sinatra

Joey is very glam tonight and I'm digging it. Much like last week's "Wrecking Ball," she doesn't change the song and relies on her vocals for the performance. She hits some bum notes as she tries to push her voice, but she's completely engaged in the lyrics and refraining from all of the animated moves that are typically distracting. I really want to see her stay over Rayvon and I hope she knocks it out of the park in her second performance. Regardless though, Melinda Doolittle's version of this song still reigns as my absolute favorite. 

Judges Say: Harry says Joey looks lovely and thinks she did a damn good job. Yes! Keith doesn't think the song was perfectly executed and JLo "didn't feel anything" from Joey's performance. Boooo.

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Contestant: Rayvon Owen

Song: "Long Train Runnin" by The Doobie Brothers

Rayvon's attempt to get the audience involved by shouting "Come on and help me sing this song" had to have been met with blank stares from the teenagers in the stage pit. Rayvon is finally trying to put on a performance this evening, but the hokey choreography is just killing me. Was he less boring tonight? Absolutely...but I'm tired of seeing him saved every week. 

Judges Say: Keith says the performance was good but wants Rayvon to get a little more edgy. JLo thinks Rayvon stepped it up and Harry admires Rayvon's fight every week. 

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Contestant: Clark Beckham

Song: "Moon River" 

Oh how I love this song. Clark gets all tuxedo-ed out and plays the piano for this performance, surrounded by fog and looking dreamy. The rendition is pretty and I sway back and forth on my couch. This isn't a standout moment, but the performance is a fitting tribute to a true American classic. 

Judges Say: JLo loved the performance, saying she felt like she was in a movie. Harry uses the words "cocktail piano thing" and encourages him to learn different chords. He then calls Clark the only "musician" left in the competition. Really?!?! I'm sitting here hoping that Quentin will rush the stage but he doesn't. I mean, Clark is a front runner and I want him to be my boyfriend...but in no way is he the only musician left. Keith calls the performance "warm and fuzzy."

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Contestant: Tyanna Jones

Song: "Proud Mary" by Creedence Clearwater Revival

This is a tall order for someone so young. Tyanna does a hell of job though. She's got the right attitude, the right vocals, and the right moves to make this performance work. I'd love to see what she would have done if time allowed her to do the whole song.

Judges Say: Harry says the performance was as close to perfect as it could be. Keith reminds us that Tyanna is only 16 and if she's this good now, imagine how great she'll be when she's older. JLo thinks she wowed the audience and that's where Tyanna should be every time. 

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Contestant: Nick Fradiani

Song: "Only the Good Die Young" by Billy Joel

This is another song that loses context and awesomeness when it's chopped up the way it is in Nick's performance. There's no way to tell the story with the sections chosen and this "let's have 14 performances of song snippets" thing is getting on my nerves. That being said, I really like the arrangement here and the way Nick slows the song down to show off his vocals. Rather than rocking out with his guitar, which I would have expected, Nick chooses the sit on a stool and sing the hell out of something route. Smart move dude...even though you're apparently not a musician.  

Judges Say: Keith says the arrangement played to every part of Nick's strengths. JLo agrees but Harry says the arrangement threw him off. He mentions the context of the song as well (it's seriously about a guy trying to get a girl to lose her virginity), and how that story didn't come across. 

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Contestant: Quentin Alexander

Song: "The Sound of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel

I love this. "The Sounds of Silence" is a great song to begin with and Quentin takes moments here and there to really emphasize the lyrics of the song. He always has such a neat interpretation of the songs he performs on the show and I'm a fan of this one for sure.

Judges Say: JLo brings up the BS from earlier and sounds like she's scolding him. She then says it was a "nice" performance. Harry loves the tone of Quentin's voice when he holds notes...but he goes back to the pitch issue and I groan...because, you know, that doesn't seem to apply to everyone. Keith loves what Quentin goes for in all of his perofrmances but doesn't really give him any real feedback. My assumption is Quentin is the new Hailey Reinhart, Holly Cavanagh, Janelle Arthur or Jessica Meuse and won't be able to do anything right from now on. 

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Contestant: Jax

Song: "Beat It" by Michael Jackson

Oh. No. Just...no. Jax, honey, why? She is all over the stage, shouting the song as if her mic is turned off, and I think this performance is a mess. Paging Qaasim!

Judges Say: Harry compliments the static electricity in Jax's hair and her ability to run around stage. Keith thinks the performance was great and JLo says Jax looks cool. Where's the part when the judges offer critiques and for real criticism? Quentin needs to work on pitch but Jax can shatter my eardrums and it's okay? 

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Contestant: Rayvon Owen

Song: "Always On My Mind" by Willie Nelson

I definitely prefer Elvis Presley's version to any other rendition I've heard. Rayvon does a really nice job here though. He's still more concerned with the technical aspects of the song (and don't forget about the falsetto - did you know he has a falsetto?) than the lyrics but I really can't complain too much. This is one of his best performances of the season.

Judges Say: Keith says this was the right song and Rayvon sang it beautifully. JLo has goosies and Harry thinks ballads are Rayvon's strong suit. 

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Contestant: Joey Cook

Song: "Somebody to Love" by Jefferson Airplane

Joey goes all bluegrass-y with "Somebody to Love" and I'm loving every bit of it. She knows she's in a "sing for your life" scenario and she's giving it everything. This performance is 100% Joey - what you see is what you get, quirks and all, and I truly hope it's enough to keep her in the competition. 

Judges Say: JLo loved the performance and says this rendition gave all of the colors that Joey Cook is...I think I know what she means by that. Harry is very impressed by the inventiveness of the performance and Keith feels like he knows what a Joey Cook concert would be like.  

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After the ridiculous Twitter hashtags have been counted, Rayvon is saved once again, This guy has been saved THREE times now via #idolsave and I've had it. This could have been corrected if the judges still had their save, but nope...they used that a long time ago on the man who brought us karaoke "Hey Ya" last week. So, we say goodbye to Joey tonight and I need to go be bitter for a little while. We'll revisit this nonsense again next week. Til then!

American Idol Top 7: I Want You To Stay

After and amazing and wonderful Kelly Clarkson week, American Idol returns tonight with a "Billboard Hits" theme. Not sure that Idol could be any more vague with this choice, but now that we're at the Top 7 stage of the competition, these hopefuls have to "bring it" regardless. This week's mentors are the boys from Florida Georgia Line as well as Jason Derulo...go ahead and wrap your brain around that combo for a minute. The contestants are split into 2 groups - Team Jason includes Tyanna, Clark, Joey and Quentin, while Team FGL includes Jax, Qaasim, Nick, and Rayvon. Will one group dominate the other? Let's find out. 

Contestant: Jax

Song: "Poker Face," by Lady Gaga

Jax completely jazzes up this tune, kind of like Joey's "Ms. Independent" performance last week. I mean, a lot like it. Wait....did Joey come up with this arrangement? Jax sounds fine and she certainly "makes the song her own." The song is just unrecognizable and everything Lady Gaga does has such a stamp on it. Not my fave. 

Judges Say: Keith says the arrangement of the song was interesting but complements her artistry. JLo thinks Jax crossed the line in terms of "making the song your own" and tells her not to go so far off the chart that the audience doesn't get it. Harry says Jax has magic in her voice but doesn't think she connected with the song tonight. 

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Contestant: Nick Fradiani

Song: "Teenage Dream" by Katy Perry

I'm a little shocked when Nick chooses this song over what I assume is a mountain of Billboard hits at his fingertips. Nick's not messing around tonight though. He plays the guitar, starting at a mic stand on a platform, then confidently struts his way to another stand front and center just before he starts the last chorus. The only problem with his confident strut is....his vocals start to go all over the place once he starts that last chorus. He definitely "embraced the sexy" tonight though, or whatever sex-driven advice JLo gave him. Nick is continuing his progression, slowly but surely. 

Judges Say: JLo says Nick was amazing and thinks she could hear his version of the song on the radio today. Harry liked the energy but thought there were some pitch issues. Keith says this was a killah song choice and thinks Nick looked really comfortable. 

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Contestant: Quentin Alexander

Song: "Latch" by Disclosure and Sam Smith

During rehearsals, Jason wanted Quentin to step out of his comfort zone and show off his vocals more. He stays with the uptempo version of the song and to my great surprise, he owns every bit of it. I think Jason would be very proud of Quentin's falsetto tonight and I'm relieved to know Quentin still has some tricks up his sleeve. 

Judges Say: Harry thinks Quentin looks great tonight and says the song choice suited him. Keith agrees and tells Quentin that the phrasing of the song was really cool in a very laid back way. JLo loved it too but thinks Quentin may have been overpowered by the drums in the beginning. 

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Contestant: Joey Cook

Song: "Wrecking Ball" by Miley Cyrus

When the rehearsal package begins, Joey says she decided not to change the arrangement for "Wrecking Ball," which is unexpected for sure. She really has to rely on her vocals to get the job done tonight and overall she does a pretty good job. Miley's version is absolutely more passionate, and Joey misses that aspect tonight, but she has a subtle quality in this performance that allows the emotions to still peek their way through. This doesn't rank as one of my favorite Joey performances, but I think it's still pretty solid. 

Judges Say: Keith thinks Joey held back a little bit on the choruses but liked it overall. JLo agrees and compliments the quality of her voice. Harry says the vocals were just okay and he felt a little bored toward the end. 

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Contestant: Clark Beckham

Song: "Make It Rain" by Ed Sheeran

Clark goes with an electric guitar tonight, really taking this song to a bluesy place, and I love it. I actually am unable to type my thoughts until he's done because Clark's voice always requires 100% of my attention. I think he still needs to step out of his comfort zone a bit more, but I'm just mesmerized by him and he gave another fantastic performance tonight. 

Judges Say: JLo says the way Clark sings is effortless and uses the word "finale." She also encourages him to build more swag. I can see that. Harry tells Clark he is a highly gifted young man but could have done without the guitar. Keith says Clark "killed it" at the end of the song. 

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Contestant: Tyanna

Song: "Stay" by Rihanna

Yesssssss. In choosing this song, Tyanna thinks about her grandmother who passed away. I'm teary before she even starts. Her vocals are just about flawless and her overall performance is heartbreaking...in a good way. Tyanna feels every word and her pleas to "stay" are completely believable. There's nothing quite like a special, supportive grandparent and I desperately wanted to give her a hug all throughout the performance. Best of the night for me. 

Judges Say: Tyanna is crying, Tyanna's mom is crying, and I'm a mess. Harry thinks Tyanna did an amazing job and gave a fantastic emotional performance. Keith says she sang it beautifully and JLo tells Tyanna her voice is heavenly. 

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This leaves Rayvon and Qaasim in the bottom 2 and fighting for the stupid Idol Twitter fan save thing. Rayvon's song choice is "Set Fire To the Rain," and there are some interesting drum things happening in the background of his performance. This is probably the most dynamic he's been in weeks and I hope he gets to stick around. Qaasim goes with "Hey Ya" by Outkast, and as you can imagine, dude is borderline psychotic on stage. I mean...he's freaking crazy. Shout out to the band and back up singers who get to jam out on stage with him though. I really enjoyed that part. 

In the end, we say goodbye to Qaasim...the guy the judges wasted their save on...the guy who entertained often but whose vocals were consistently faulty every week. America got it right this week and we're at a point now where the remaining contestants are all fierce competitors. Will Rayvon continue his stay in the bottom 2? Will the stupid Idol Twitter fan save thing continue? Will Joey go back to her quirky ways next week? I sure hope so. We'll find out when the Top 6 take the stage to duke it out again. Til then!