American Idol Top 10 Recap - Soul/R&B

American Idol Recap
Top 10 – Soul and R&B Night
March 30, 2010
By Brian Holland

Introduction: Ryan starts out backstage with the contestants and the judges. We have the logo/intro/theme song/whatever and then the judges and Ryan are introduced. The contestants then are introduced.

Usher gets an intro. He talks to the contestants and jokes about being really critical. And of course, Usher is at the Kodak Theater.

Siobhan is up first. She is singing “Through the Fire”. She says she has been a fan of Usher’s since she was 6. She has the backup singers on stage with her. She is doing a decent job but this vocal really isn’t much compared to her others. Very ok. She could do better.

Randy: Not your best performance, kinda rough
Ellen: I loved it, not your best performance though
Kara: You got nervous and your lower register wasn’t strong enough. Every performer is entitled to an off night. You’re still a great singer.
Simon: All over the place and it was like you were running a marathon while you were singing. By far your weakest performance and I’m getting bored of the screaming at the end.
Me: It was really not a great performance for your standards. This wasn’t your week.

As Ryan questions the judges and they continue to give criticism, Siobhan looks sad and about to cry. I’m sure not many people noticed but I know she was waiting for the show to go to commercial to let out her emotions.

Up next. Casey James. Mr. Boring.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

The show opens back up showing Siobhan backstage, not crying, but looking sad. Big Mike gives her a hug. Wow.

Casey is up and is singing “Hold On, I’m Coming”. Seems like it suits his voice. And I do know this song. He is wearing black and has a red guitar. He’s doing all right. His vocals aren’t spectacular, as usual. Good choice of song, ok performance. However, he gets a very long ovation. Randy has to wait a bit to speak, haha.

Randy: Another hot night for you. Perfect song choice, nice job baby.
Ellen: You’re always good. It felt a little generic, though. It’s a safe song choice.
Kara: You have more vocal range and I want to see you expand your range.
Simon: Your strongest performance so far. It showed a completely different side of you. Really impressed with you, Casey.
Me: It suited your voice perfectly, but like Ellen and Kara said, you need to pick risky songs and try expanding your range.

Mike Lynche up next.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

We return and see Casey telling someone off-screen that he felt awesome about his performance.

Mike is up next singing “Ready for Love”. Never heard of it. Usher stresses on reaching out to the entire audience with his performance. He is on the platform behind the judge’s table playing guitar. It starts out VERY slowly. This is a very interesting performance. He hasn’t moved from behind the judges and none of the judges have turned to look at him. Some of the audience is waving their hands, like what many crowds do at concerts to slow songs. He gets a nice ovation.

Randy: You are in the zone and I am loving every performance. It wasn’t that exciting, but you’ve got that whole sensitive side.
Ellen: That was beautiful. Loved it.
Kara: I hate to admit it but I’ve never heard that song until you chose it, but you mastered it and it was lovely and one of my favorites from you.
Simon: This is the first time I can actually take you seriously as an artist. Terrific job and I actually believed that performance.
Me: You might lose a few points on the song not being well-known and being slow, but how could you ask for a better performance of that song? Great job.

Up next: Dididididididididididididididi. Benamimmimimimimimimimimimi.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

We come back and see Michael saying he felt like he really connected and he really enjoyed performing.

Didi’s up next. She is singing “What Becomes of the Broken Hearted”. I love this song. After Didi sings to Usher she starts crying because the song is so emotional. Let’s see what she does. She is wearing a very stunning dress. Strapless. She is really showing her vocals. She does a very nice job, IMO. Her best so far.

Randy: Whole performance was kind of flat. Wasn’t great. Didn’t get it.
Ellen: It was dramatic, but it was too dramatic. Not your best performance.
Kara: It was overdone. I thought I knew who you were. This was very confusing.
Simon: It was like swimming in jelly. So over the top, old-fashioned, off melody. You’ve completely lost your way and it was way old-fashioned.
Me: I’ll be the black sheep. I liked it. I enjoyed it. I know that song means a lot to you and I thought you put your heart and soul into it.

Well, I guess I was wrong. Not her best. Oh well. Didn’t see who is up next. Oh well.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Didi was being greeted after her emotional performance. Wow. The girls have done badly tonight and the guys have done well. And it turns out Tim was next. He is on the stool with Ryan and they talk for a sec. Tim is performing “Sweet Love”. Never heard of it. Usher asked Tim to picture himself (Usher) as someone he loves. Tim admits he has been in love before.

He starts out on the steps wearing a suit. I know why he picked this song. Any young girl will melt during this performance. Not a great performance, but by Tim’s standards, it’s not bad. Definitely his best performance, though. Let’s see what the judges say.

Randy: It was so pedestrian. However, you sang in tune. No vibe or swag on it, yo. Flat for me again.
Ellen: You are adorable and mostly were in-key. You kept walking like you were sneaking into a bedroom.
Kara: You took the soul out of the song.
Simon: It doesn’t make any difference what we say. He says he’ll probably be here next week because he smiles so much.
Me: Let’s get real. You don’t have the best voice. In fact, your voice might be the worst out of anyone left in the show. But people like you and that’s all that really matters here.

Up next is… Andrew Garcia. Trying to redeem himself.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Tim says the judges were nicer than they usually are. He was happy.

Andrew is singing “Forever”. Usher advises him to be more acoustic. After that Usher likes it. He is playing his guitar again. He needs to lose it and just rely on his voice. I just realized I recognize this song. He does a pretty good job I think. Kara was moving and grooving with the song. Andrew gets a long ovation.

Randy: Andrew is back! I like the outfit. Your best performance for me in a LONG time.
Ellen: That was a really amazing strong performance.
Kara: That was one giant leap in the right direction.
Simon: Miles better than the last few weeks. As a person, you come over as very boring, though. You need to show your personality more.
Me: I loved it Andrew. Do what Simon says and you’re golden.

Andrew’s mom interacts with Simon and Ryan… I didn’t catch it too well because I was on the phone.

Up next: Cute Katie. Yes, she’s cute.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Andrew says how is mom is amazing and how she’s always supported him.

Katie is up next, singing “Chain of Fools” by Aretha Franklin. The most well-known song choice so far. Usher wants her to have more pizzazz and direct her performance to one person in the audience. I don’t think this was the best song choice. I don’t think it suits a 17 year old too well. She is singing it all right. Nothing spectacular. The girls have really not done well tonight.

Randy: A little disconnected vocally, but one of the best vocal performances tonight.
Ellen: Vocals were great again. I wish the song had been more current.
Kara: One of your best vocal performances, and you found your zone: R and B/Pop. But gotta make it more commercial.
Simon: It was pretty good, but robotic and cold. I don’t think you are what Kara says.
Me: It was a decent vocal, but I don’t see how the lyrics suit your life.

Lee is up next.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Backstage Mike, Tim, and Andrew give Katie hugs and praise her. Apparently the girls get hugs and the guys get interviewed. All right.

Lee and Ryan are on the stools and they discuss Lee “having a moment”. Lee is singing “Treat Her Like a Lady”. Never heard of it. He is on guitar again, like many of the contestants (Crystal, Andrew, Casey, Michael, just to name a few.) In this song Lee is really letting himself go. He is doing well. Seems like this song suits his voice very well. I think it’s one of his best performances yet. Will the judges agree?

Randy: UNBELIEVABLE. Best I’ve heard you in weeks! The bomb!
Ellen: Best performance of the night and probably that you’ve done so far.
Kara: It was amazing.
Simon: I want you to understand and realize this is the night your life may have changed forever.
Me: BEST OF THE NIGHT! I told you to let it rip and you did. Keep it up.

Crystal is up next. Apparently her surprise is that she is wearing heels. O_o Oh and she is one of the last two singers for the 2^nd week in 3 weeks. She is getting pimped and I know it.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Lee says he does hope it’s the night that’s going to change his life forever.

Crystal is up next. She is singing “Midnight Train to Georgia”. I recognize this. And her actual surprise is that…. She is playing….. the PIANO. Usher says he think Crystal will be great. It starts out very slowly. But her vocals are flawless. She steps out from the piano and for the first time we see her without an instrument. And she hits a falsetto. Let’s see what the judges say.

Randy: I love the outfit. Another great performance by you.
Ellen: You’re never not good. You really are competing and you are in it to win it.
Kara: I’m so glad you took that risk. I can’t wait to see what you do next.
Simon: The choice of song was good and the vocals were incredible. But it was old-fashioned. Don’t let this process suck the identity out of you.
Me: I like how you took a risk and were totally different tonight. But Simon is right—stick to what you know.

Ok, I gotta admit. I am liking Crystal a little more.

Aaron finishes the show in the pimp spot with some Bill Withers. It better be “Lean on Me” or I’m going to cry.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Ok so my theory was wrong. Crystal was being interviewed, not hugged. Aaron is singing “Ain’t No Sunshine”. I don’t know the song too well, but I do know Kris Allen covered this last year. I am afraid Aaron will be compared to him. Usher wanted him to focus on the “I know I know I know I know” part. Now that I think about it, Aaron kind of looks like a younger Kris Allen. Except for the eyes.

His vocals start out pretty slowly and in the lower register. His vocals are really not that impressive. I didn’t like it too much.

Randy: Started rough, but it kinda was all right.
Ellen: Good song choice and really good job.
Kara: I liked it but didn’t love it. Could have gone higher up in your register.
Simon: Wasn’t that good but there’s no chance you’re leaving the competition.
Me: Very weird song choice. I don’t know why you’d want to pick something that Kris Allen, the winner last year, picked and did really well with.

So that’s it. Best of the night: Lee, Crystal, Andrew. Worst: Didi, Tim. My predicted bottom three are Didi, Tim, and Katie, since she was there last week.