American Idol Finale Part 2: A Moment Like This

Well my friends, American Idol is over. After 15 seasons of the singing competition show that was a launchpad for many other singing competition shows, Trent Harmon is the final winner. The second part to the finale featured sooooo many familiar faces and overall was a very fitting sendoff. Here are some highlights.

Fancy meeting you here. 

The show had me in tears within the first three minutes as the stage filled with American Idol contestants from throughout the 15 seasons singing "One Voice." Thank goodness the producers knew to immediately throw in the comic relief as Brian Dunkleman joined Ryan on stage! He even had a few lines! The rest of the show was amazing. We were saved from the normal and often awkward duets and trios with the Top 12 or Top 24 from the current season. Instead, the rest of these two hours was 100% a trip down memory lane with collaborations of many former contestants and some stellar judges moments as well. 

Medley 1

Kara DioGuardi took the stage to sing Pink's "Sober" with Jordin Sparks and Tamyra Gray, and Colton Dixon sang "Through All of It" while accompanying himself on the piano. But wait...Jordin wasn't done strutting her stuff. She returned with JUSTIN GUARINI to sing her hit "No Air" and that's pretty much what I was experiencing at that point. Kimberly Locke popped up on stage with Jordin next to sing "Eighth Wold Wonder" and they were joined by Allison Iraheta!!! Squee! It just kept getting better and better. Tamyra, Jordin, Justin and Allison busted out Little Big Town's "Girl Crush," and then the ladies of this segment rounded out the medley with Meghan Trainor's "No." It was amazeballs. Sudennly Pia Toscano came out of nowhere and killed "All By Myself" before the commercial break. I mean, where the hell has she been? I've missed that voice so!

YES

Kelly Clarkson, the original American Idol herself, was featured with a pre-taped performance since she might pop out a kid at any moment and could not travel to the live finale. You can tell she wanted to groove a little bit more to her tunes but the whole 8+ months pregnant thing slowed her down a bit. She belted a medley of her hits featuring "Miss Independent," "Breakaway," "Since U Been Gone," "Because of You," "Walk Away," "My Life Would Suck Without You," "Stronger," "Invincible," and....wait for it..."A Moment Like This." Yup. KC finished out her performance with her original coronation song and my goosies had goosies. There may have been some ugly crying on my end as well. Maybe. 

Medley 2

I did not recognize Bo Bice at all without his Jesus hair. Wow! He collaborated with Caleb Johnson, Constantine Maroulis and James Durbin for a double threat of "Vehicle" and "Hard To Handle." The group was joined soon after by Chris Daughtry to sing with his song "Torches," and they finished out their segment with "Tobacco Road" and more headbanging than JLo could handle. This performance didn't pack the same punch as the first medley did for me...but maybe that's just because I didn't need to see so much of James Durbin's tongue or his attempts at being a contortionist. 

YES AGAIN

Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood took the stage together to sing "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" and for real - is it hot in here? I hope Carrie has those legs insured. No one should have legs that perfect. Ever. Carrie came back again later with her song "Something In the Water" and she was fantastic. She sounds just as good now as she ever did and if you've never seen her live, you're missing out on something special. 

Medley 3

Diana DeGarmo, Skylar Laine, and Kree Harrison kicked off a country medley with T-Swift's "You Belong With Me," and they were joined by Bucky Covington, Ace Young, and round 2 of Constantine with "Storm Warning." Lauren Alaina and Kelly Pickler strutted on stage next with The Band Perry's "Done" and I was sitting there wondering where the hell Janelle Arthur was. She kicked this song's ass during her season. Scotty (turn the lights down low) McCreery popped up next with "Papa Loves Mama" and the group closed out their portion of the night with Little Big Town's "Pavement Ends." I will say that I greatly enjoyed the choreography here. 

Judges

Harry chose New Orleans youngster Marley Fletcher as his duet partner to sing "What a Wonderful World" as footage of "Idol Gives Back" played in the background. When was the last time that charity event was mentioned? Well, anyway, the performance was lovely. Later JLo shook what her mama gave her...a lot...singing "Ain't Your Mama" and "Let's Get Loud," which is my fave. Her Vegas show must be killer. So. Much. Booty. Randy, Paula, and SIMON also made an appearance after a montage of some of their best moments. As they received a standing ovation, Harry got his phone out and took pictures immediately. Me too! That's right. I take pictures of my TV with my phone and I'm not ashamed to admit it. 

Medley 4

Casey James and Katherine McPhee opened the next medley with "Need You Now," and Carly Smithson (love her) took the stage next with "Here You Come Again." And THEN Clay Aiken joined the group belting "Annie's Song" effortlessly. Not to be outdone, Amber Holcomb and a very sweaty Ruben Studdard crooned "Here, There, and Everywhere" which seriously had to describe the perspiration happening on stage at that moment. Get the man his towel already! Jessica Sanchez showed up at the end and had me "woo!"ing from my couch with her rendition of "The Prayer." Unbelievable. 

Medley 5

Jennifer Hudson, LaToya London, and Fantasia took us to church with their collaboration and I had the Steven Tyler stank face on throughout this performance. From the mesmerizing a capella opening of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" all the way through J-Hud's "Remember the Music," these ladies were absolutely flawless. Brandon Rogers, Danny Gokey, George Huff, Elliot Yamin, and my boyfriend Clark Beckham were featured next with "Ain't Too Proud To Beg," complete with choreography that Clark was totes not comfortable with, and the Fantasia came back to sing "Ugly" with sooo much passion. 

LaToya joined Taylor Hicks, sans soul patrol, for a rousing rendition of "I Knew You Were Waiting For Me" and then Joshua Ledet reminded me how much I didn't miss him with his ridiculously over the top performance of "It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World." Melinda Doolittle brought the smile right back to my face though as she and Candice Glover closed the medley (backed by this season's Idol eliminees) with "Joy to the World." Sure, the song choice was strange. Very strange. But I've been missing that infectious Doolittle smile for too long now and I don't care. 

Medley 6

The final medley of the night was a tribute to David Bowie. Phillip Phillips (P squared!), David Cook, Lee DeWyze, Nick Fradiani and Kris Allen joined forces and delivered a very entertaining combo of "Starman," "Rebel, Rebel" and "The Jean Genie." Lady Gaga has nothing to worry about - her Grammy's tribute was still epic. 

Results!

As La'Porsha and Trent stood nervously on stage I was doing a whispered "La-porsh-a, La-porsh-a" chant just as the audience had done during her final performances. Alas, Trent took home the title though I can't say the dude was not a fierce competitor. Here's hoping La'Porsha gets something out of finishing second because I would love to turn on my radio and hear her in the very near future. For these last moments though I silently watched Trent sing "Falling" as the confetti rained down, and I hit the pause button and took a breath before I allowed Ryan to sign off one last time. 

Thanks for the memories, American Idol. That first summer I was still in college and had a 3 hour statistics class in the evenings Idol aired. When the professor let us take a break mid-class, I would always rush home to see what Kelly Clarkson had in store for us that week and not return to the class (I got a B which isn't too shabby all things considered). Cut to a decade later when I met her twice, when her music had helped define certain moments in my adult life, and when I thought I might try my hand at this blog thing. I'm an avid concert goer and I've had the pleasure of seeing so many of these American Idol contestants live at this point. I cried when J-Hud won her Oscar, rejoiced when Constantine received his Tony nomination, and danced like there's no tomorrow when Paula told me to. Sure the show probably ended when it needed to, but I'm going to miss it for sure and will always remain grateful for all it has given me. 

American Idol Finale Part 1: I Choose To Be Happy

This is it! These are the final two episodes of American Idol. I'll say I'm definitely having a wide variety of emotions tonight but goodness knows I'll be a mess tomorrow. Part 1 of the finale is only an hour as the Top 2 contestants duke it out to be the Idol bookend to Kelly Clarkson. Like last week all of the remaining contestants will perform in Round 1 (the would be winner's single) before the elimination is announced. That's kinda cruel isn't it? "That was a great song! Would have been a great single! But you're already eliminated." Anyway, the Final 2 will then move on to the next two rounds, Simon Fuller's choice and the contestants' choice respectively. Who's going to win the night? Let's find out. 

ROUND 1

Contestant: Trent Harmon

Song:  "Falling"

Trent seems to be on an adrenaline rush tonight and he sells this song like his career depends on it (which it does of course). While this tune suits Trent very well....this is one of the strangest coronation songs I've heard on the show. And why does Keith already know the words? Did he sneak in to rehearsals? Do the judges get early access to the iTunes downloads? Either way, Trent did kick off the show with a bang and I'm hoping the rest of the hour is as high energy as these few minutes.

Judges Say: No judging this round. I'm guessing because sometimes the judges don't like the coronation songs and aren't shy about saying so. 

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Contestant: Dalton Rappatoni

Song:  "Strike a Match"

So the lyrics to this song sound way more like a confetti grabber, but it's not really doing Dalton any favors vocally. The first verse is wayyy too low and he's trying like hell to make up for that in the chorus...but it's also evident that he has to try like hell to save this performance. I can't completely blame the song, but I do wish he'd been given something a little more Dalton-y.

Judges Say: Nadda. 

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Contestant: La'Porsha Renae

Song:  "Battles"

Out of the three songs, this is probably the best in terms of an "I won!" vibe combined with being radio ready. Additionally, whoever wrote the song might as well have asked La'Porsha her life story and then immediately broke out the pen, which made it very easy for her to sell. Trent my girl have tied in Round 1, but will they both make it to Round 2?

Judges Say: These guys are dyyyyyying to say something.  

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When Round 1 ends, we say a tearful goodbye to Dalton. Congrats, kid, on making it this far. I know the judges kept telling you that it's not about competing with power vocals, but when the other two contestants are La'Porsha and Trent....it's all about competing with power vocals. 

ROUND 2

Contestant: Trent Harmon

Song:  "If You Don't Know Me By Now" by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes

Interesting song choice, Mr. Fuller. Depending on the person singing this song it has the potential to be rather boring. However, Trent's rendition is dynamic and fantastic. I was initially concerned that Simon Fuller was doing Mr. Missisippi a disservice with this song choice...but instead he gave Trent a chance to show off his falsetto, his passion, and his showmanship all at the same time. Well done. 

Judges Say: Keith loves the song and loves that Trent is going up against La'Porsha in the finale (don't we all?). He thinks it's going to be the closest race in American Idol history. JLo is all aglow tonight and agrees there is quite the battle tonight. Harry congratulates Simon on an incredible song choice. 

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Contestant: La'Porsha Renae

Song:  "A House Is Not a Home" by Dionne Warwick

Oh man. Remember when Tamyra Gray sang this in Season 1? Remember all the feels from those three and a half minutes? That performance was always a standout for me, but dayyyum La'Porsha owned this song tonight. She has a calmness about her for most of this performance, but we still get the payoff at the end with the big notes and the big heart to go with it. I think La'Porsha just belted out a Round 2 win. I don't care where the chair is or who's sitting in it. 

Judges Say: JLo says this is one of her top 5 songs and calls La'Porsha's rendition beautiful. Harry compliments La'Porsha on never overdoing it in her performances so the meaning of the lyrics does not get lost along the way. He was moved by her performance. Keith says he needs a cigarette because the performance was smoldering. Ha! 

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ROUND 3

Contestant: Trent Harmon

Song:  "Chandelier" by Sia

Yes. Yes. And yes. This was such a smart song choice for Trent because it was hands down his best performance and solidified the "you should be in the finale" chatter we were starting to hear. Was it possible for Trent to improve on his previous performance? It sure was - this rendition is even BETTER. Trent is in it to win it! Side note: is Randy showing up tomorrow? 

Judges Say: The audience is going crazy! Harry tells Trent he should be very proud of himself and says the performance was very strong. Keith compliments Trent's vocal transitions and JLo tells Trent he deserves to win. Okay Jenny. Chill out. There's still one performance left. 

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Contestant: La'Porsha Renae

Song:  "Diamonds" by Rihanna

I'm guessing La'Porsha couldn't go through another night of "No More Drama," which I would have looooved to see/hear again. Choosing "Diamonds" instead can't possibly hurt her chances to win tomorrow though...this performance is flawless. If Trent's falsetto hadn't been so crazy good a few minutes ago, I'd give Round 3 to La'Porsha without a second thought. I'm going to go with a tie instead (total cop out, I know). 

Judges Say: The audience continues to go nuts and we're hearing "La-Porsh-a, La-porsh-a" chants. It's awesome and La'Porsha is very moved by the moment. Keith says she did a beautiful job and JLo can't wait to go to a La'Porsha concert someday. Harry tells La'Porsha she's incredible and asks who she was singing to in that performance. She, of course, says her baby girl and tears continue to flow. 

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And with that, the final performances of the actual competition are over. It's in America's hands now. As a complete surprise to no one, I'm rooting for La'Porsha. The fact that Kelly Clarkson tweeted that she is also voting for La'Porsha and has never voted for any contestant ever has no weight in my decision. At all. I think La'Porsha is just freaking amazing and I want her to be the final victor and hopefully an Idol winner we hear a lot more from. I will say this though - Trent sure peaked at just the right time. He's been putting up quite a fight and it's entirely possible that tomorrow's confetti will fall on him, though I hope that's not the case. Who will win? Who will perform with who tomorrow? How many former Idol contestants will there really be? What will the surprises be? And really, what kind of fashion statement will JLo be making in her last Idol appearance? We only have a short time til we all say our goodbyes. Til then!

American Idol Top 4 (Then 3): Bitter Sweet Thing

Tonight the Top 3 will be revealed on American Idol as we have just one week left before the series finale! There will be three rounds this evening and remaining four contestants each have a chance to sing during Round 1 before the big elimination reveal. Who will make it through? Who will excel tonight? Who will bestow goosies on the viewers? Let's find out.

ROUND 1 - Contestant's Choice

Contestant: MacKenzie Bourg

Song: "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen

MacKenzie chooses this song as his hometown dedication and his visit home was very touching. Seeing him step into the ICU hospital room that held him for quite some time was an emotional way to start the night for sure. And now my thoughts on his performance...

For the love of God, please stop with this song. Stop. No more covers of "Hallelujah." What MacKenzie does here is very lovely. It is. But we have to cram in almost a dozen performances tonight so he barely gets to sing two (not connected) verses of a song that is truly a story. He sounds better and looks more confident than he has in a while, but I'm just over the song choice. 

Judges Say: Keith calls the performance superb and JLo believes MacKenzie picked a song that played to his strengths. Harry says MacKenzie has come "full circle" with that performance. 

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Contestant: Dalton Rappatoni

Song: "Calling You" by Blue October

I love that Dalton's first stop on his hometown visit is his grandma's hair salon...so she can do his hair. That combined with his family reunion and his tearful "this was the best day of my life" moment in the limo almost did me in. But on the flip side, Dalton smiles SO much during his performance of "Calling You" and I'm relieved that we're getting "Happy Dalton" at least for a little while tonight. I don't know if I could have handled another sitting down, droopy, sulky performance right out of the gate this evening. Overall he has great energy and I like the arrangement. I can't always hear Dalton though and I'm not sure if that's due to his mic or the band just being super awesome. 

Judges Say: JLo feels like Dalton is finally embracing that he belongs on the American Idol stage and Harry likes the way Dalton thinks about the words to the songs he chooses. Keith thinks Dalton was completely in the zone for that performance. 

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Contestant: Trent Harmon

Song: "Tennessee Whiskey" by George Jones/David Allen Coe/Chris Stapleton

Trent's arrival at his high school was priceless as he saw the crowds of people and said "I don't have that many Facebook friends." He really had a ton of fans hanging on his every move during his visit. Trent's "Tennessee Whiskey" song choice was perfect. He delivers a smooth and subtle version of the song while still showing off his vocals. And that a capella portion in the middle? Goosies. 

Judges Say: Keith gives Trent a standing ovation. Harry compliments Trent on his song choice as well as how unique he made a song that has been around for so long. Keith agrees and calls the performance a bullseye. JLo tells Trent he is hitting his stride at just the right time. 

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Contestant: La'Porsha Renae

Song: "Glory" by John Legend and Common

The tears started for La'Porsha pretty quickly during her trip home and by the time she visits the women's shelter she had lived in, I'm done for. And the song choice? Good God. If you missed the John Legend/Common performance of "Glory" on the Oscars last year, please go watch it because it is unforgettable. La'Porsha absolutely does this song justice though and she too goes for a more subtle delivery. Like MacKenzie, I think this would have been even better if she'd had another 30 seconds or another minute to tell more of the story, but still....goosies, chills, and anything else related. Round 1 goes to La'Porsha. 

Judges Say: Keith stands for La'Porsha as well and says he doesn't even feel like he should critique her anymore. JLo loves that La'Porsha chose a song that inspires people and Harry says the performance was critique-proof. 

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At the end of Round 1 we say goodbye to MacKenzie and we watch his Idol journey as "Roses" plays in the background. Good luck buddy. There have been a number of 4th place finishers that have gone on to do pretty well for themselves.  You certainly have the potential to do the same. 

ROUND 2 - Scott Borchetta's Choice

Contestant: Dalton Rappatoni

Song: "Dancing In the Dark" by Bruce Springsteen

When the performance starts, I'm worried that Dalton's sloooooowed down approach to this classic is going to come back to bite him....and then the song becomes "Dancing In the Dark" on crack. I love it. I'm worried JLo might actually injure herself with all of the chair bouncing and head banging. I haven't enjoyed Dalton this much in a while. 

Judges Say: JLo is apparently okay. She tells Dalton he did a great job and thinks he made the song fresh and new. Harry says the arrangement was smart and Keith thinks Dalton made himself stand out with that performance.  

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Contestant: La'Porsha Renae

Song: "Stay With Me" by Lorraine Ellison

This is an interesting choice but I guess Scott knows what he's doing? La'Porsha sings the hell out of this song, but she admits it wasn't a song that she totally connected with. I was kind of sensing that during the performance and wish she had 'sold it' a bit more. We're at a point in the competition where you're sometimes at the mercy of the judges, producers, mentors, etc. in terms of song choice and I feel like sometimes you just have to throw yourself into it. 

Judges Say: Harry calls La'Porsha out not believing in what she was singing but Keith and JLo say she killed it anyway. 

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Contestant: Trent Harmon

Song: "Drink You Away" by Justin Timberlake

This is the first time JT has allowed an Idol contestant to cover a song and this one is a doozy. I'm not always sure what Trent is up to with his guitar, but otherwise I'm totally on board with everything he is doing in this performance. He slays this song and easily takes Round 2. 

Judges Say: JLo gives a standing ovation. Keith asks what the guitar was for and JLo says Trent was "singing to win." I would have been even better if she had gone with the throwback "in it to win it!" Harry gives a shout out to the background singers and the band and then tells Trent he did a fantastic job. 

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ROUND 3 - Judges Choice

Contestant: Dalton Rappatoni

Song: "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears 

Really? This is the song that's supposed to help Dalton become the next American Idol? Rayvon put us through a cover of this tune last year and it was only slightly more boring than this one. I think the judges did Dalton a disservice here. 

Judges Say: JLo asks if Dalton lowered the key because she felt like he should have been singing in the higher key. Harry liked how Dalton "re-harmonized" the chords but he says this was not his strongest performance. Keith thinks Dalton could have nailed the song if he had kept it in the original key. 

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Contestant: La'Porsha Renae

Song: "Hello" by Adele

Normally I make some sort of over-dramatic groan when I hear a song choice that ends with "by Adele." The woman can't be touched. However, when I heard that the judges chose "Hello" for La'Porsha, my reaction was a "hellll yeah!" I mean, Adele still can't be touched...ever...but this performance is still pretty fantastic. She had me at hello?

Judges Say: Harry had been holding La'Porsha's daughter during the performance and is all smiles when hands her back to her mama. Keith says the performance was beautiful and JLo loved that La'Porsha had to stretch her vocals for this song. 

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Contestant: Trent Harmon

Song: "Waiting Game" by Parson James

I'll be the first to raise my hand and say I don't know this song. However, Trent's gorgeous falsetto makes this a song I want to hear many, many times. I'd say he and La'Porsha tied for Round 3, though it's entirely possible that he may have had the best night of the Top 3. 

Judges Say: Keith says the song was tailor made for Trent and JLo has goosies. Harry says it's an honor to critique someone with such extraordinary talent. 

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Keith also took the stage tonight to treat us to "Wasted Time" and I never ever get tired of watching those muscles him play that guitar. Here's hoping we hear more from him and the other judges next week along with the many returning former Idol contestants who are set to take part in the series finale. It's going to be quite a reunion! Will the final 2 include a Trent/La'Porsha show down? Will Dalton pull an upset and take one of those spots? Could he win it all? Will there be more tears than goosies? More goosies than tears? We only have a short time til the final episode airs and all will be revealed. Til then!

American Idol Top 4: I'll Make You So Sure About It

We have reached Top 4 week on American Idol and the end is near. Tonight the elimination is entirely in the voters hands and the judges' save is kaput. Finally. Like last week we will lose a contestant mid-show, but the remaining hopefuls will have the chance to perform twice tonight with themes that...do not go together at all but I'm kind of excited about them. Round 1 will be classic rock songs, mentored by Stevie Van Zandt, and Round 2 will be a Sia round that was mentored by Sia and her wig. Who will make it through the first round unscathed? Let's find out. 

ROUND 1
Contestant: La'Porsha Renae
Song: "Wanted Dead or Alive" by Bon Jovi

As I watch the pre-performance video, I'm wondering how La'Porsha is going to sell herself as a cowboy riding a steel horse. The answer? New hair, don't care. She works the stage and sells herself as a badass who's rocked a million faces instead. Am I more excited to hear her sing Sia than I was to hear her cover classic rock? Yup. But as The Dawg would say: "Girl, you did your thing up there tonight."

Judges Say: Keith loves that La'Porsha picked a song that normally would not be a La'Porsha song and he notes that she brought out some blues and swagger with her performance. JLo busts out the long awaited "you could sing the phone book" compliment, and Harry says La'Porsha reminded him of Tina Turner. He's also very pleased with how she slowed down her vibrato for the song. 

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Contestant: Mackenzie Bourg

Song: "I Want You To Want Me" by Cheap Trick

MacKenzie knows not to really attempt the "rock" part of this song so he completely redoes the arrangement. It starts off a little rough, and then it's okay at times, but overall I'm not digging it. I'm normally a big fan of the singer/songwriter vibe MacKenzie puts out but this was really snoozy for me. 

Judges Say: JLo says she did not love the arrangement and then she forgets Stevie's name and I can no longer listen to her. Harry thinks the performance was just alright and Keith haaaaaaaaated the arrangement.  

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Trent, Sonika and Dalton take center stage as we get the "who's going home, dim the lights" portion of the night squared away. The Bottom 2 are Sonika (natch) and Dalton, who looks like he could cry at any moment. We eventually say goodbye to Sonika just before Round 2 starts and the poor kid doesn't get to sing either of the songs she's spent the last week rehearsing. We do, however, hear her Sia song play during her journey video. She tearfully thanks her mom before leaving the stage and I just want to give her a hug. 

Contestant: Trent Harmon

Song: "Sharp Dressed Man" by ZZ Top

Trent goes with a slooooow and sexy opening to the song and I initially worry that this will be the pace of the performance. You can't do that with a ZZ Top song in a classic rock round dude. But my worries are taken right away as the band kicks in and Trent turns on the sass. His falsetto is totally on point and he may have just run away with Round 1. 

Judges Say: Harry thinks the performance was brilliant and Keith says the performance was a 10 out of 10. JLo tells Trent this was the performance everyone has been waiting for. 

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Contestant: Dalton Rappatoni

Song: "God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys

Dalton had originally wanted to sing "Seven Nation Army" this week, but Stevie and Scott Borchetta completely wore him down and convinced him to go with a backup song instead. Dalton chooses this somber tune by The Beach Boys, and while this is one of my favorite Beach Boys songs, I feel like the blue-eyed beauty sucks the life out of the room with this over anguished performance. I get that he is trying to communicate a profound message to America and all, but for me the slow, slouched, sad walk around the judges table was too much. And yes, I realize that I will receive many boos for that opinion....

Judges Say: Keith was impressed by the performance and JLo thinks Dalton had a really good moment with that song. Harry says the arrangement showed Dalton's vulnerability and tells Dalton he did a great job getting into the lyrics. 

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ROUND 2

Contestant: La'Porsha Renae

Song: "Elastic Heart"

Yessssss. I love this song. I love La'Porsha singing this song. Sia loves La'Porsha singing this song. So. Much. Love. From the opening with the harsh drum beats all the way through to the soft finish with the purple lights, this performance is just wonderful. She gave two strong performances tonight and I'm thrilled for her. 

Judges Say: JLo calls La'Porsha "a fully realized artist" and Harry feels like he's in the passenger seat of a NASCAR driver. Keith compares the performance to something awesome he'd watch on an awards show. 

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Contestant: Mackenzie Bourg

Song: "Titanium"

MacKenzie is worried about the high notes in this song but Sia wants him to challenge himself, and really he has to at this point. MacKenize is accompanied by a strings section and the performance starts off really well. He gets to the first "ti-taaaan-iiii-ummm" part though and his voice is shaky and he knows it. By the time he hits the second one, MacKenzie looks like he has lost all confidence. Bummer. 

Judges Say: Harry thinks the performance was "nice," but then gives MacKenzie a whole bunch of crap about making the performance all about one note. Keith liked the arrangement and he's glad MacKenzie was able to ride through "that moment." That moment? Awww. Keith is trying so hard to balance out Harry's unnecessary scolding.  JLo thinks MacKenzie needed to go out of his comfort zone tonight and mentions that everyone was rooting for him....also trying to be very nice. 

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Contestant: Trent Harmon

Song: "Chandelier" 

This is a gutsy song choice, but if anyone can handle "Chandelier" it's definitely the guy with the killer falsetto. I mean, wow. Trent might have just run away with Round 2 as well with this performance. He hits notes I never, ever thought we'd hear from and I've got goosies. I would have looooooooooved for Kristen Wiig to storm the stage at one point, but this is probably the best performance of the night even without a mesmerizing dance in the background. La'Porsha's "Elastic Heart" is a very close second though. I still love you, boo. 

Judges Say: Keith says "Chandelier" played to everything that is special about Trent and calls the performance exquisite. JLo tells Trent he can sing anything, and Harry thinks the performance was phenomenal from the first note to the last note. He gives it 100 out of 100. 

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Contestant: Dalton Rappatoni

Song: "Bird Set Free"

Dalton closes the show tonight with a lesser known Sia song. He's really feeling it though. The performance is less about pouty faces, watery eyes and being dramatic (see performance #1) and more about Dalton throwing himself into something and totally letting go. He cries when the song ends and I'm clapping and cheering for him as if he can hear me. I'm not sure what the next two weeks hold for Dalton, but this would be a very worthy swan song if this ends up being the end of the road for him. 

Judges Say: JLo says the room is cheering for Dalton's bravery and she also says he touches everyone's hearts each time he gets on stage. Harry tells Dalton this song was a great match for him and Keith compliments Dalton on always trying to push through his limits. 

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While Stevie Van Zandt possibly stormed out of the building when JLo couldn't remember his name, Sia stuck around and performed "Cheap Thrills" and gave me those funky dancers I've been waiting for. American Idol also welcomed back David Cook and Katherine McPhee which brought back some fun memories. David sang his new song "Heartbeat" while a montage of Idol finale confetti moments played on the screen behind him. Sniff. If Katherine McPhee was watching the performance, I'm sure she grimaced remembering how she lost to Taylor Hicks. Maybe it actually got her all fired up though....because when Katherine took the stage to reprise her version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," she slayed it. 

Next week we will find out who makes it to the final finale ever! Really, Trent and La'Porsha were in a league of their own this evening with Trent winning the night. In my mind MacKenzie and Dalton should both be worried going into next week, but they're both so darn cute their fans might just come through for them. Will there be drama? An upset? Will Jenny from the block realize she slighted a member of the freaking E Street Band who grew up in New Jersey? Man I hope so. We'll see if there's any commotion when the contestants face off in the semi-finals. Til then!

American Idol Top 6 (Then 5): The Lessons I Learned

Tonight on American Idol, the Top 6 will take the stage and one contestant will be eliminated mid-episode. Thaaaank you. I'm all for having Round 1 and Round 2, but getting through twelve performances can sometimes be rough on this show. Oh and tonight's theme? America chooses for the contestants. Yup. This has the potential to be an awesome night or two hour hot mess. 

On the bright side, Idol welcomes home Season 8 runner up, Adam Lambert, this evening and he opens the show with his "Mad World" cover, which is just as haunting and amazing now as it was back when he was a contestant. The bar has been set, kids. Good luck. 

ROUND 1

Contestant: Trent Harmon

Song: "Counting Stars" by OneRepulic

As nice as it is to see Trent try to cut loose with this up tempo song, the "song" part is where he struggles. The first verse is almost inaudible and there are a series of questionable notes from the first chorus through the end of the performance. Not a good start, but at least he still has another performance ahead of him tonight. 

Judges Say: Keith found himself watching Trent but not being pulled in by the performance. He doesn't think it came together. JLo acknowledges that America chose this song for Trent and it's not a tune he would have chosen for himself. She says he did the best he could with it. I don't know about that. Harry agrees, saying Trent is a lot better than that. 

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Contestant: Dalton Rappatoni

Song: "Numb" by Linkin Park

Much like Trent before him, this song choice does Dalton no favors. I can't tell if the look on his face is the normal "young angsty musician" look he tends to have, or if he's pleading for the performance to just be over. Here's hoping song number 2 is a home run. 

Judges Say: JLo thinks Dalton took the "umph" out of the song and did not like the arrangement. Harry thinks Dalton poured his guts into the lyrics but says Dalton was ahead of the beat with his guitar. Keith wishes Dalton had stripped the song down more and "Dalton-ized" it.  

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Contestant: La'Porsha Renae

Song: "Ready For Love" by India.Aire

Whew. Thankfully America got it right in choosing this song for La'Porsha. She is very subdued in this performance but her approach fits the song perfectly. The fog, the violins, and the neat video candles in the background create this small venue setting where La'Porsha can be a seated story teller. Loved it. 

Judges Say: Harry says the performance was pleading and mournful and "everything the lyrics called for." He calls the performance phenomenal. Keith did not feel like a judge during the performance - he felt like he was more of an audience member captivated. JLo looooooves India.Aire and says La'Porsha has the same type of spirit she has. JLo thinks La'Porsha gave a "complete" performance.  

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Contestant: MacKenzie Bourg

Song: "Wild World" by Cat Stevens

GREAT song. I'm sure there are many young viewers out there who never heard this song before tonight. MacKenzie picks up the tempo and sings with a huge smile on his face....even though "Wild World" is a sad tune about a break up. I'm going to let that slide for now. There's no vocal showcase for MacKenzie here but at least he did not get saddled with a song that makes us (and him) long for Round 2. 

Judges Say: Keith compares MacKenzie to cake batter: "even when it's not cooked it's still really good." JLo says MacKenzie has so much likability and she always feels like he's singing directly to her. Harry thinks MacKenzie could record the song and release it as a hit (iTunes will keep us posted on that). 

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Contestant: Tristan McIntosh

Song: "Independence Day" by Martina McBride

So Tristan and Sonika are in the bottom 2 tonight and the judges will still have the chance to "save" one of them even though that's a little ludicrous at this point in the competition. Can't the person with the lowest votes just be eliminated? Anyway, Tristan's rendition of "Independence Day" is heartfelt and lovely, and she has never sounded better than she has in these last few minutes. Did she do anything to stand out tonight though? No. not really. She's still just a sweet kid who can sure sing some good country music. 

Judges Say: JLo feels that Tristan needs to try different things because we are seeing the same performance over and over again. Harry thinks these types of songs are Tristan's sweet spot but he says time is going to be her best friend going forward. Keith agrees, saying the 15 year old is going to grow a lot in her career. All of these critiques sound like a send off. 

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Contestant: Sonika Vaid

Song: "Let It Go" by Adele Dazeem Idina Menzel but Demi Lovato's version

Knowing that Tristan gave a fairly solid performance just now, Sonika lays all of her cards on the table in this song. I mean, given the song's title and content, she kinda has to. She has some pitch issues here and there ("Let It Go" is a beast for any singer), but unlike Tristan, Sonika is showing the judges she still has a lot of fight in her. 

Judges Say: Harry thinks the performance was strong but warns Sonika not to get lost when there's a strong underscore accompanying her. Keith says Sonika is coming out of her shell and JLo compliments Sonika on her growth throughout the season. In the end, the judges save Sonkia and we say goodbye to young Tristan.  

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ROUND 2

Contestant: Dalton Rappatoni

Song: "Sound of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel

This is much, much better than his first performance. Dalton makes this song more of an angry rock tune rather than the campfire ballad we're used to, and he seems far more comfortable selling the lyrics than he was earlier. I realllllly wish he hadn't plopped down on the stage with criss-cross applesauce legs and a sad face at the end though. He had built the performance up to something very cool right until that point. 

Judges Say: Keith feels like Dalton really brought the audience in during the performance and JLo says the performance was powerful. Harry compares Dalton to a graffiti artist the way he "paints" the stage when he delivers lyrics.  

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Contestant: MacKenzie Bourg

Song: "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson

Oh my. I'm taken back to David Cook's version of this song when MacKenzie begins his performance, but he does do something different (and kind of awesome) here. His whole singer/songwriter vibe really helped him "flip" this song, and this performance is a standout for him for sure. MacKenzie sounds great, he's freaking adorable, and he tells us the story. I totally believe the kid is not his. Totally. 

Judges Say: JLo says this performance reminds us why MacKenzie is in the Top 5. She was riveted the whole time. Harry can tell that MacKenzie spends a lot of time thinking about arrangements and lyrics and really puts a lot into his performances. Keith talks a little bit about the Disney film Bolt, and then makes sure MacKenzie knows what a big fan he is.  

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Contestant: Trent Harmon

Song: "Simple Man" by Lynard Skynyrd

Trent brings us back to his questionable hat days (that I actually much preferred) as he takes on this classic Skynyrd song, and seriously, this might be his best performance ever. Trent's southern roots and killer vocals gives him a boost in this song and he sure takes advantage of it. This should be enough to wipe that OneRepublic performance clean off his slate for tonight. Well done. 

Judges Say: Harry wants to hear a duet between Trent and Adam Lambert and he really enjoyed the performance. Keith loved the song to begin with and loved how Trent interpreted it. JLo is emotional and says one of her favorite things about Idol is her front seat to witnessing the perfect song meeting the perfect singer. Trent starts to cry as well and he says "Thank you, Ms. Jennifer." Awwww. 

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Contestant: Sonika Vaid

Song: "Clarity" by Zedd

So...no. It's a good thing she went with "Let It Go" when she was looking for the judges' save because this performance would have given Tristan an edge. I get it - Sonika is trying to be versatile. She's trying to open up and show her personality. But she's jumping up and down on the stage and losing her breath for a song that isn't a great choice for her to begin with.

Judges Say: Keith wants Sonika to keep letting go and JLo agrees to an extent. She did not love the song choice and says Sonika needs to find a way to be grounded to the song while still having fun...or something. Harry really seems to like Sonika as a person, so she's got that going for her. 

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Contestant: La'Porsha Renae

Song: "No More Drama" by Mary J. Blige

La'Porsha's pre-performance video package includes her story of escaping an abusive relationship. She cries while talking into the camera about not feeling like a woman during that time and also feeling dead. And she's going to sing "No More Drama?" Lord let me pause the TiVo and grab the tissue box. This performance is amazing. I'm just going to post the video and go collect myself. 

Judges Say: Keith and JLo and standing and fist pumping and yelling things. La'Porsha is sobbing. JLo is still standing and now crying as she starts her "critique." She says La'Porsha is an inspiration and thanks her for that moment. We're out of time and don't get to hear from Harry and Keith but I'm sure their sentiments would have been similar. 

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Adam Lambert did join us one more time this episode to perform his single "Welcome to the Show," which I had not heard before tonight. Very catchy indeed. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Mr. Entertainment take the American Idol stage again one last time. I would have also loved an Adam/Allison Iraheta duet tonight (remember "Slow Ride?") but I'll take what I can get. 

My eyes adore you. 

Next week the judges' save is out the window (finally) and the eliminations are now solely up to America. Did Sonika win some voters with "Let If Go" only to lose them again with "Clarity?" Did MacKenzie and Trent just slingshot themselves into the outskirts of La'Porsha's atmosphere with their second performances? Can La'Porsha really be stopped at this point? And my biggest question/I want this to happen: can JLo and Dalton swap eye makeup next week? Please? Okay...probably not, but I would certainly be even more drawn into his performances if they did. Regardless, we'll see what happens with these last five contestants when they face off again in a week. Til then!

American Idol Top 8: Tell Me Why

The American Idol Top 8 are anxious tonight as we face another double elimination that is kinda decided by the voters but is really left up to the judges. Tonight's theme is "The American Idol Songbook," which translates to "songs contestants have already performed on the show over the years." Okay wait. Did I hear that right? Let me...let me just rewind real quick. Ugh. I complain enough when we hear the same songs over and over again each season, but tonight we're doing it ON PURPOSE? My brain hurts already. The contestants are also participating in duets this evening, and we are starting off the show with those...probably to give me a chance to simmer down. 

DUET: La'Porsha and Trent
Song: "See You Again" by Wiz Khalifa & Charlie Puth

So right out of the gate we've got a song that is typically a tear-jerker. I'm not trying to be a hot mess in the first five minutes of the show Idol! Turns out I don't have to be. While La'Porsha and Trent sound fantastic together, the emotional connection to the lyrics is not really featured here. Still a good start to the night though. 

Judges Say: Keith thinks the song was perfect for Trent and La'Porsha and he loved the performance. JLo says the whole thing was magical. Harry tells the duo that their voices blend perfectly together. 

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DUET: Sonika and Avalon

Song: "Rise Up" by Andra Day

I'm actually not familiar with this song. Sonika and Avalon sing beautifully together though and I'm just happy the show has started off well with two strong performances. We've been having some "meh" beginnings lately. 

Judges Say: JLo says the two voices are so angelic and thinks the girls were really pushing each other during the performance. Harry classifies Avalon as the more rhythmic singer and Sonika as the more melodic singer and he feels the advantage went to Avalon. Keith calls the collaboration interesting but compliments both singers on their talent. 

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DUET: Dalton and MacKenzie

Song: "I Want It That Way" by The Backstreet Boys

Okay, why? Why this song? Just because the two guys have the whole teen heartthrob thing happening right now doesn't mean you need to saddle them with a cheesy boy band tune. Or at least pick a better one! Dalton and MacKenzie do the best they can with it, but the show just took a step backward. 

Judges Say: Harry is not a fan of the song choice and he gets "boo"ed immediately. Keith agrees, saying the song didn't benefit either voice. JLo was disappointed that their version was so much like the original. 

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DUET: Tristan and Lee

Song: "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith

Awww. These two youngsters are singing a 90s love song (from a movie they've probably never seen) to one another...and Lee is just soooo much shorter than Tristan. It's kind of adorable until the kids get to the first chorus. It pretty much goes downhill at that moment as the song really begins to build. "I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" is way too big for Lee and he's pitchy with a side of pitchy throughout the whole thing. Tristan holds her own but I don't think this pairing did her any favors. 

Judges Say: Keith thinks the duo did they best they could but says the song did not play to "both" of their strengths. JLo adds "Tristan, your voice really shined in that song...and Lee, you were hanging in there." Ha! Thank you. Finally some for real criticism for this kid. Harry is all pissed off about the arrangement of the song, but I seriously doubt a different arrangement would have made this a legendary performance. 

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Contestant: La'Porsha Renae

Song: "Come Together" by The Beatles

As yes, The Beatles songbook. Soooo many hours of the American Idol live performances have been devoted to The Beatles songbook. This song suits La'Porsha very well, and she struts out on the stage in some kind of leather ensemble and just owns it. She even pauses near Harry and makes him blush a little. Love it.

Judges Say: JLo says she "feels cool" when she watches La'Porsha perform. Harry still has a big smile on his face and he tells La'Porsha she is absolutely incredible. Keith thinks the song choice was terrific, but he also says she can probably choose any song she wants to at this point. Well Keith, since we are regurgitating the done to death Idol songs tonight, why not just say she could sing the phone book? 

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Contestant: MacKenzie Bourg

Song: "You Are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker

MacKenzie ditches the guitar and stands on a foggy stage surrounded by a strings section for this tune and I'm digging it. Or maybe I'm just digging the violinists. They're pretty cool. Anyway, it's nice to see something a little different from MacKenzie and he gives us a subtle, tender performance here. Anything was going to be better than "I Want It That Way," but he should definitely be proud of what he accomplished in Round 2 tonight. 

Judges Say: Harry says MacKenzie could not have picked a better song and Keith loves that MacKenzie picked a song from the 60s and made it sound brand new. JLo thinks MacKenzie has a beautiful blend of old and new and it's due to the fact he always puts his heart in his performances. 

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Contestant: Trent Harmon

Song: "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King

I love it when the backup singers get to visually be a part of the performances, especially when one of those singers is Allison Iraheta. Her band, Halo Circus, just put out a new video/single, "Desire." It's awesome, she's awesome, and I will be seeing them on our this summer. Okay, back to Trent. Holy falsetto, Batman! He does an amazing job with this song. I think some of his choreographed moves are unintentionally goofy, but this might be my favorite Trent performance this season. 

Judges Say: Keith talks about how much Trent has grown in the competition and JLo calls him a badass. Harry suggests that Trent sink into the rhythm more but thinks he did a fantastic job. 

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Contestant: Tristan McIntosh
Song: "A Broken Wing" by Martina McBride

Tristan's relationship with her grandpa tugs at my heartstrings for sure. Last week's performance gave her some standout moments so she is looking to keep the momentum going tonight in choosing a song that reminds her of him. Tristan hits some kick ass notes, and she hits some 'uh-oh' notes, but overall I'd say she did pretty well and made her grandpa proud. 

Judges Say: JLo thinks the song choice was perfect and tells Tristan she did a good job. Harry agrees with JLo and Keith says Tristan's voice was tailor made for the song. He then plugs Martina's new album. Nice. 

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Contestant: Dalton Rapattoni
Song: "Eleanor Rigby" by (yup) The Beatles

The band is awesome here but I have a really hard time hearing Dalton through most of the performance. When I do hear him, he's out of breath and singing very low. Finally in the last 15 seconds of the song he unleashes and reminds us while he's in the Top 6. Took a little too long to get there tonight, dude. 

Judges Say: Harry says Dalton pushed the song as high as it could go key-wise and I'm wondering if things just sounded really different in the venue. Or maybe I don't know anything keys. Keith thinks Dalton brought out the dark undercurrent in the song and JLo loved the big ending. 

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BOTTOM 3

Contestant: Avalon Young

Song: "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" by Michael Jackson

So the bottom 3 consists of Avalon (again), Lee (thank you), and Sonika (bummer). I really enjoy what Avalon does with "P.Y.T." She keeps it fun and she's totally herself in this performance. Her interaction with the audience doesn't seem forced and I just find her very refreshing. Was this a hit it out of the park performance that should earn her a spot in the Top 6? I'm not so sure... 

Judges Say: Keith tells Avalon she does a great job connecting with everyone and doesn't understand why she's not being voted through. JLo says this performance was a lot like her other ones and should she stick around for another week, JLo encourages Avalon to do something a little different. Harry calls Avalon's voice incredible but says she needs more urgency in her performances. 

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Contestant: Lee Jean

Song: "Let It Be" by The Beatles

So out of the eight "let's do songs again that we probably should not do" performances, three of them have been by The Beatles. Not only is this my favorite song by the Fab Four, this is one of my favorite songs ever. It's a great song. It's not, however, a great song for Lee to sing. His voice is shaky and he's consistent with his pitch problems. This has to be his swan song, right?

Judges Say: JLo pretty much tells Lee he's going home and Harry kindly comments on the pitch problems. Keith drives the final nail in the coffin by saying Lee is young and has plenty of time to work on his craft. See ya. 

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Contestant: Sonika Vaid

Song: "I Have Nothing" by Whitney Houston

I was wondering when someone would do Whitney. There was no way to get through this night without Whitney, Michael, and The Beatles. Sonika does the song justice for sure, but she is noooo J-Hud. Pretty sure she just earned that spot in the Top 6 though. 

Judges Say: Harry says the song has been done six times on American Idol but I'm pretty sure it's been done more than that. He loved the performance and Keith and JLo agree quickly because we're running out of time.

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Ultimately the judges save Sonika and we say goodbye to Lee Jean and Avalon Young. I'm going to miss Avalon. She probably never had a hope in hell of winning this thing but she sure was fun to have around. Her Steven Tyler-esque reaction during Sonika's performance alone makes me love her. But next week the remaining six hopefuls have another shot at "choosing the right song" and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we are done with the duplicates. Really kids. I know you were inexplicably forced this week, but do us viewers a solid and pick something new on Top 6 night. Did Sonika's take on Whitney earn her some new voting fans for next week? Will La'Porsha's reign of awesomeness continue? Will Adam Lambert's return give the show a boost going into the final episodes? We'll find out next week when the Top 6 take the stage once more. Til then!

American Idol Top 10 (Again): Gonna Make You Notice

Tonight the Top 8 contestants will be revealed as two more youngsters will be sent packing. All ten will take the stage again tonight and the judges will then save one person from the bottom 3. Got it? After last week's emotional roller coaster (which Ryan is making us relive as he opens the show), I'm hoping to keep my tears in check this evening but I'm also hoping some of these kids step up their game tonight. With the theme being "The Grammys," the song choices are really going to make or break the contestants' chances going forward. Let's see how they do!

Contestant: Dalton Rapattoni

Song: "Radioactive" by Imagine Dragons

Part of Dalton's rehearsal package critique was "it needs to rock harder." It certainly does. I love Dalton...and his hair products...and his beautiful eyes, but he waits until the last 15 seconds of the song to bring some serious energy to it. Maybe he's nervous?

Judges Say: Keith did not love the song choice at all and says this performance did not set Dalton apart from the other contestants. JLo and her fancy hair agree and she tells Dalton that he needs to get out of his own head. Harry says this is the first time Dalton was missing "electricity."

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Contestant: Lee Jean

Song: "Use Somebody" by Kings of Leon

Lee's pre-performance video package includes him talking about how much he loves Ed Sheeran. I swear if he chooses another Ed Sheeran song... whew... he doesn't. Instead he picks a song that is way too big for him. I absolutely appreciate the energy he tries to put into the performance, but this song doesn't do him any favors either. 

Judges Say: JLo liked the song choice but thinks Lee could stretch himself a little bit more. Harry thought it was a great song choice too (huh?) and he tells Lee he gave a strong performance. Keith disagrees about the song choice but he loves that Lee tried to do something different. Sigh. Is he going to be one of those contestants we praise just cuz?

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Contestant: Sonika Vaid

Song: "Since U Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson

I think it's rather ballsy to do a Kelly Clarkson song tonight when the internet is still abuzz from her appearance on the show last week. That being said, she does a pretty good job for a kid whose never had a boyfriend. Her badassery was much better last week though with "Bring Me Back To Life," so she doesn't really raise her game with this performance. And of course...the best live version of this song ever is here. 

Judges Say: Harry tells Sonika she is very talented but he didn't get angst from her during the song. Keith agrees, saying Sonika's voice is so good but there needed to be more fire. JLo thinks Sonika "came alive" at times but really needs to let go. 

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Contestant: MacKenzie Bourg

Song: "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" by Whitney Houston

Wow! Definitely not a song I ever would have chosen for MacKenzie but this is amazeballs. He mentioned in his pre-performance video package that he's looking to break out and have some "moments." I'd say he is setting himself apart from some of his competitors tonight. It's not a version that's going to be at the top of any club playlists, but MacKenzie's Jason Mraz-y rendition is a fun take on a classic Grammy winning song and I'm loving it. Dude is really enjoying himself too and his smile is kind of infectious. Okay, his smile is totally infectious. The judges also have big grins on their faces throughout the song and I may have even caught Harry slightly dancing in his seat. At the 45 minute mark, I think the show finally started. 

Judges Say: Keith says he's never heard a guy sing that song before and he loved it. JLo says the switch up of the song really worked, but Harry tells MacKenzie the performance was "fine." He additionally says the arrangement could have been more inventive. Humph. But Lee's performance was strong?!?

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Contestant: La'Porsha Renae

Song; "Halo" by Beyonce

La'Porsha let the Idol stylists do some maintenance on that very large head of hair she's been carrying around and she looks great. She also sounds great. La'Porsha hits and holds notes so effortlessly throughout the performance and she chooses to close the song a capella. La'Porsha does not drop the mic like I want her to, but her performance is fantastic just the same. Love. Her. 

Judges Say: JLo says La'Porsha is the one to beat and Harry thinks she is a master of "arcing" a song. Keith tells La'Porsha her performance was incredible.

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Contestant: Trent Harmon 

Song: "When A Man Loves A Woman" by Percy Sledge

Trent says he has been working on his facial expressions...but who cares about that when he sounds SO good? Well, except for that last note anyway. That one hurt a little. But overall I'd say tonight's performance was far superior to last week's. 

Judges Say: Harry loves Trent's voice and compliments him on a great performance. Keith cautions Trent not to get too caught up in the facial expression issue because it affects his ability to emote. JLo tells Trent he's amazing and she sees a vision of Trent and La'Porsha at the end of the competition. Damn, JLo - we're only at the Top 8!

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Contestant: Tristan McIntosh

Song: "Go Rest High On That Mountain" by Vince Gill

Tristan had a tough time preparing this week and went through a couple of different song choices trying to find something that was right for her. Um, this is it. She accompanies herself on the piano and just singgggs this song. Tristan is connected to the lyrics, her voice sounds very mature and controlled, and I think people will really take notice of her after this performance. Well done. 

Judges Say: Keith and JLo are both on their feet when the song ends and Tristan is a bit emotional. Keith gives Tristan that million dollar smile and says she did a great job. JLo thinks Tristan sang the song beautifully and Harry says she is a true country music singer. 

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BOTTOM 3

Contestant: Avalon Young

Song; "Earned It" by The Weekend

Oh snap! This is also a tune I wouldn't have picked for Avalon but she's all over it. I'm shouting "woo!" throughout the song and Gianna and Olivia have their work cut out for them now. Get it girl. 

Judges Say: JLo says this is what Avalon needed to come out and do tonight. Harry calls the performance fantastic and Keith thinks her take on the song was very clever. 

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Contestant: Olivia Rox

Song: "Trouble" by P!nk

Olivia has been pretty sick since last week and I feel for her. I generally like her and I wish she had been among the safe contestants tonight. For someone battling the flu though, I'd say she's doing a damn good job with this song. Perhaps Avalon should start worrying... 

Judges Say: Harry loves that Olivia gave 100% but pretty much tells her Avalon was better. Keith, however, says Olivia's performance is going to make the decision very tough on the judges. JLo agrees with Harry though. Olivia is tearing up by the end of JLo's rambling critique and I just want to give her a hug. 

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Contestant: Gianna Isabella 

Song: "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys

Kind of like "Listen" last week, Gianna picks a big song with a lot of emotion behind it...and doesn't quite deliver on the vocals or the message. Happy trails, kid. 

Judges Say: Keith says Gianna's voice is gorgeous but he wanted a little more heart from her tonight. JLo says Gianna should be proud of herself ("see ya") and Harry tells Gianna she has an incredible vocal gift. 

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There were some additional performances tonight as Harry and....Demi Lovato each took the stage. I love Demi. She's really grown on me over the years. But why Demi and not one of the many American Idol alum who we have yet to see this season? Hell, Taylor Hicks was in the audience. I can't stand him but with the finale of the last freaking season only 5 weeks away, I'm not sure how you follow "Kelly Clarkson is amazing" week with no Idol guests at all. Just sayin'. 

Anyway, when it came down to Avalon, Olivia, and Gianna, the judges chose to save Avalon which was absolutely the right call. I will miss Olivia but I can't say I'm too broken up about Gianna's exit. Next week the remaining contestants will duke it out again and we'll see what kind of unnecessary praise is heaped on Lee while Sonika gets a silent cheer from the judges. Will Dalton get back his electricity? Will Trent be able to stay away from facial movements straight out of The Mask? Will we see a previous Idol contestant (beyond a wave from the audience) for crying out loud?  We'll find out during the Top 8 performance show. Til then!