American Idol Top 11 Recap - Billboard #1 Hits

American Idol Top 11 – Billboard #1's
Recap by Brian Holland
March 23, 2010

Introduction: Ryan announces that they “rocked the Rolling Stones” last week. I wouldn’t say that. Anyway, the show’s logo is followed by the judges and Ryan coming through the separating doors on stage. Ryan talks to the judges. Ellen rambles on how you can’t complain about who leaves if you don’t vote. Simon tells Ryan to stay like a puppy dog. And Ryan and Ellen kiss each other on the cheek. And the Top 11 come out the separating doors.

So the week’s theme is any song that’s been #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. OHHHHHHHHHHHH ok. And the mentor is…. MILEY CYRUS. I KID…. YOU…. NOT. She is mentoring them. I know a few of them with more entertaining voices than her. Anyway, Ryan describes her as a “worldwide sensation”. Oh and most of the Idols are older than her. And she is present at the Kodak Theater tonight and Ryan talks to her for a bit.

Up first: Lee. He is singing “The Letter” by the Box Tops. I love this song. Miley says he is great but is lacking stage presence. Anyway, he does a pretty solid job. He still looks a little shy up there. He doesn’t move much around the stage. He gets a LONG ovation. Let’s see what the judges say.

Randy: You knocked it out of the box, baby.
Ellen: She uses a pen metaphor with him but says he is back.
Kara: He raised the bar for himself. Best he has ever sounded. His progress is tremendous.
Simon: It was corny, sounded good, but it didn’t define you as a contemporary artist.
Me: Your best performance so far. Try using the stage more and having more fun.

Paige Miles up next singing some Phil Collins.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Paige is with Ryan on the stools. She shows off a ring a fan gave her before the show. She is singing “Against All Odds” by Phil Collins. This song, while I like it, has been covered too many times on Idol here. Miley actually said Paige was a bit pitchy. But they worked on it. Paige starts out sitting on the steps. Her voice is a little shaky. She finally starts belting the song, but she is still pitchy and off-key. She is not doing well. I mean this is really a performance that is NOT good… I usually don’t notice these performances but this I did. Let’s see what the judges say. She gets a very short ovation.

Randy: Honestly, that was terrible. Terrible. There was nothing great about it.
Ellen: She didn’t fall down with those heels! You look stunning.
Kara: It was the worst vocal that she’s heard from Paige and possibly the worst she’s heard all season.
Simon: It was like there were 5 of her singing the song and it got progressively worse. And I think you’ll be in serious trouble. It’s like you’ve stopped competing.
Me: Really bad song choice. You needed to pick a song you could own but that you really struggled with.

Looks like Paige is going home. She would almost need a miracle. She doesn’t have the largest fanbase. Maybe if Tim does worse.

Speaking of Tim, it’s Tim “Helmet Hair” Urban after the break. He is taking on Queen (Oh boy he might be worse than Paige). And he gives a VERY cheesy grin as the show cuts to a break.

COMMERICAL BREAK

Tim is doing “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”. Miley says he is boring. No REALLY? But then she apologizes and hugs him. Anyway, David Radford did this a few years ago and really struggled with it. It has been known as one of the worst Idol performances ever. Anyway, I can’t see how this is a ton better. He is having a lot of fun with it and reaching out to the audience. His vocals are really sub-par. Average at best. Let’s see what the judges say.

Randy: Vocals were so boring. It was like bad karaoke.
Ellen: Felt like an audition for High School Musical. It was corny and pushed too hard. Didn’t get it.
Kara: Didn’t do much with the song. You acted like you have already sold millions of records.
Simon: Completely and utterly pointless and silly. You’ve got zero chance of winning right now. Two weeks: Silly, silly song choices.
Me: That was bad all-around. You are in trouble tonight.

After the break, Aerosmith and Janis Joplin coming from Aaron Kelly and Crystal Bowersox. Good artists. They suit them well.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Aaron is on the stools with Ryan. Aaron has been having trouble with his voice. Aaron mentions he is contagious and Ryan scoots away from him. Aaron mentions how he has a small crush on Miley. She mentions she liked his audition where he sang her song. And she was impressed with how great his voice is. He is singing “I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing”. David Cook and Allison Iraheta have already covered this. Let’s see how he does.

He does a fairly good job. Or at least in comparison to Paige and Tim. He is singing hit perhaps too softly, probably because of his laryngitis. Allison’s and David’s performances were better. But his wasn’t bad. Let’s see what the judges say. He gets a fairly long ovation.

Randy: Wasn’t perfect, a little pitchy, but he liked it and he is really talented. “I’m a fan!”
Ellen: Perfect song choice. You’re so amazing.
Kara: Best song choice of the night. We want more stage presence, but great attempt.
Simon: It was good despite the voice problems, if I had criticism it was a little old-fashioned. There is zero chance you are going home.
Me: Great performance and you have made the tour.

Ryan refers to Aaron Kelly as David Archuleta, LOL! Anyway, onto Crystal.

I didn’t get the song… crap. I’ll get it after the show. It is…. Me and Bobby McGee. Crystal says she is collecting signatures on her guitar. Miley signs it.

She is singing a slow song with a spaghetti strap dress. Of course she has her guitar. She really gets into it halfway through. The song picks up quickly and she has great vocals. The judges will love this. We’ll see if I’m right. She gets a long ovation.

Randy: That was being a star and that’s the way you do it!
Ellen: Nothing wrong with that performance… the only thing is that we’re missing a bit of personality and we could see more connection and not be so stoic.
Kara: I felt more from you tonight. I want to see you let go completely.
Simon: I wouldn’t change anything. That was as good as Pink’s version (which is a very good version).
Me: You are really showing us the kind of performer you want to be. I have no critiques except to move around the stage a little bit. Connect with the audience a little bit more.

Big Mike gets in touch with his romantic side after the break, or so Ryan says. All right…

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Mike gives Miley a big hug and lifts her up. LOL. Mike is singing “When a Man Loves a Woman” by Percy Sledge. Gideon McKinney covered this song and did a pretty good job. I think the same season as David Radford, too. (See Tim Urban’s performance).

He sings tenderly as usual. A string quartet and a pianist are on stage with him. He really is pretty flawless with this performance. Not a perfect performance but I can’t find any flaws, either. Let’s see what Seniors Randy and Simon and Senoras Kara and Ellen say.

Randy: Not your best vocal, but you know who you are. I loved it.
Ellen: Sort of a safe choice. But I did love it.
Kara: I felt it was a bit boring and loungy at time. Too many riffs and over-indulgent.
Simon: I agree with Kara. This performance could have taken place 30 years ago and it was old-fashioned and loungy like Kara said. You however have a good voice and people like you.

Andrew is doing Motown after the break. That means I’ll probably know the song.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Andrew is singing “Heard it Through the Grape Vine” by Marvin Gaye. Andrew stumbles on the lyrics when he is performing in front of Miley. Miley advised him to put the guitar down. So guitar-less tonight, Andrew Garcia.

His vocals are unimpressive. He moves around the stage a bit (does a bit of a moon-walk, I kid you not). Anyway, his vocals like I said…. I’ve heard way better. I like Andrew so I hope the judges aren’t too harsh with him. But I’m losing faith in him.

Randy: It wasn’t good. Wrong song choice, because that’s not the kind of vocalist you are.
Ellen: I love you, and I hope your fans vote for you. Not fantastic and not a good song choice.
Kara: I think you’re confused and you don’t know what to do. You are way better than that.
Simon: Maybe we overrated you. The arrangement was horrific. You sucked the soul out of that song. You ruined one of the great pop songs of all time and made yourself really really corny.
Me: You picked a bad song and I agree with Kara… you look lost. Pick a song next week and don’t overthink it. Just do it.

Katie is up next, and she plays with suspenders she is wearing (yes, she is wearing suspenders).

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Katie is singing “Big Girls Don’t Cry” by Fergie. Katie says Miley boosted her confidence. It starts out slowly. But it picks up and she sings it pretty well! One of Katie’s best performances IMO. Let’s see.

Randy: Little pitchy but you listened to us and picked a younger song. I liked how you are listening.
Ellen: I thought it WAS your best performance so far and you look great.
Kara: This is where you belong. But you have mad pitch issues, but you did well.
Simon: Meeting Miley was one of the best things that could have happened to you, but you still are struggling to find your niche.
Me: One of your best performances in this competition. Great job!

Casey takes on an 80’s Anthem next. We will Rock You? We’ll see….

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Casey and Ryan are on the stools and they talk about Casey pushing himself. He is singing “The Power of Love”. Never heard it. He mention how is a big fan of Miley…..’s dad. LOL, awkward. Miley suggests he look at the front row of the audience.

Anyway, Casey is playing electric guitar again. But actually most of the time he is standing up there with the guitar just wrapped around him not being played. He finishes with a riff on the electric guitar.

Randy: Not a fan of the song choice, but you did well.
Ellen: Not a great song choice but best vocal of the night.
Kara: You’re just on another level. You’re ready to make an album and you’re in the zone.
Simon: Old-fashioned, no effort, no originality, nothing different. Maybe it’s just me. Maybe it’s become I’m English (Yes, that’s what he said).
Me: I’m kind of with Simon. There was nothing too impressive about that. You didn’t stand out to me.

Didi “Pickles” Benami is up next.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Didi is singing “You’re No Good”. Good song choice for her. Didi talks about her nerves and feels better when Miley admits she gets them too. Ryan calls her Didi Benimi as he introduces her. Woops.

She starts out coming down the steps and really has a strut about her. Swagger I think is what it’s called. There is Ricky Minor playing an 8 foot tall cello on stage. Wow. LOL. And there is that black guy who looks like the dad from Family Matters playing the guitar. Overall she does pretty well.

Randy: I love the idea, but it was very pitchy all over the place.
Ellen: Not the right song choice and didn’t get it.
Kara: I felt like you were playing a character. You were trying to be something you aren’t.
Simon: It was like a musical. It didn’t sound like you. It seems like you took Lacey’s role of acting a performance.
Me: Wrong song choice and it was like you were talking to yourself the whole song. (You’re no good, you’re no good, etc.)

Siobhan gets the pimp spot (NO SURPRISE) with some Stevie Wonder. Hmm…. Wonder what she’s singing. Anyway, it really looks like the show is trying to pimp Crystal and Siobhan, by putting them in the last spots the first two weeks. And she has a really big poofy hairdo. It’s like a giant Mohawk.

COMMERCIAL BREAK

Siobhan is singing “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder. Love this song. This has been covered by Bucky Covington. Miley says Siobhan’s voice has swagger.

Her voice is really powerful. Wow. Easily the most powerful voice in the competition. And she is having fun with this one. She ends on a VERY powerful note. She knocked it out of the park IMO.

Randy: It was great, I loved it. So much conviction.
Ellen: More please! You’re just so good. I love you.
Kara: Not your best performance, and with that end note, how do you not say that is amazing?
Simon: There will be a split with you on this one. Some will love it and some will hate it. You didn’t do as well as you have.
Me: You knocked it out of the park. You have the most powerful voice easily in the competition.

Well that’s it for tonight. The best were probably Crystal and Siobhan again (maybe with Aaron in there as well). The worst were Paige and Tim, with Andrew not far behind. I predict the bottom 3 to be Tim, Paige, and Didi, with Paige going home.