American Idol Season 11 - The Winner Is...

The performances are finished, the voting complete. The only thing left to do is to announce the winner. Well, and to have an 105 minutes to put on an entertainment show that will sell plenty of advertising. Oh, there will be many performers on to fill in the time. Earlier today, producer Nigel Lythgoe announced there was more votes than ever last night, more than 132 million. This morning, the ratings were released, and it had the lowest ratings in the 11 years of the show. Well, that is quite the interesting fact, don't you think? Well, I will try to give the highlights of the evening, with the videos of the original performers, as always.



After the familiar opening to the show, Jeremy Rosado, Shannon Magrane, Erika Van Pelt, Heejun Han, DeAndre Brackensick, Colton Dixon, Elise Testone, Skylar Laine, Hollie Cavanagh, and Joshua Ledet came out singing in white to sing the first group song of the night, "Runaway Baby" by Bruno Mars.



Introduce the judges, Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopes, and Steven Tyler, followed quickly by Crusty. He brings out Phillip and Jessica, and we find out Jessica was so excited she didn't get much sleep. Phillip, on the other hand, got 9.5 hours of sleep, and was feeling pretty good. After a commercial break, we learn that in the first spotlight of the night, Phillip comes out to sing with John Fogerty. Together they perform "Who'll Stop The Rain." This was a huge hit song written by Fogerty for his band, Creedence Clearwater Revival. They follow that up with "Bad Moon Rising," the iconic song written by Fogerty at the height of his CCR days.



Soon, Crusty is introducing the next performance. Joshua Ledet is going to take on Elton John's classic song, "Take Me To The Pilot." He is joined on stage by his idol, Fantasia Barrino.



The performance is energetic and filled with the spirit. They are spewing to the left, and spewing to the right. I will admit, Fantasia's hair, uhm, okay, her extensions, are confusing me. This whole performance seems to confuse people at the end, with Joshua and Fantasia wandering around, the cameras unsure how to follow. This is live television, people! The ladies of the Top 12 are up next, singing a Chaka Khan medley, and are joined by the magnificent Chaka herself to sing "I'm Every Woman."



Crusty helps Phillip and Jessica spotlight their musical mentors, who are seated in the audience. As a surprise, they are given keys to a new For of their choosing by their appreciative pupils. Then Crusty surprises the kids with keys to cars of their own. Rihanna is up next, with "Where Have You Been."



She sounds pretty good, I have to say. Usually, those words don't occur to me when Rihanna is on stage. Time for more excitement, and Crusty introduces Skylar, who will be singing Reba McEntire's "Turn On The Radio." It quickly turns into a duet, as Reba joins Skylar on stage.



Reba is wonderful, and Skylar is up to the task of singing with her. Quite nice. I loved it, actually. After a ridiculous waste of time about Steven Tyler's dressing room filled with Playboy bunnies (on this "family" show), Crusty brings out Jessica to sing "I Will Always Love You," a highlight of the season. Once again, she does a beautiful job. Then it is time for the men of the Top 12, and they sing Neil Diamond's "America." After singing Diamond's "Crackling Rosie," we get "I'm A Believer." Soon, Colton introduces the man himself, Mr. Neil Diamond, who performs "Sweet Caroline," with a strong assist from the boys.



Neil is looking great for a 71-year-old man, and is about to head back out on the road. Way to go, Neil! I bet the next skit, mocking Randy by having the kids actually sing the phone book, was much funnier when they thought of it. That is followed by Jennifer Lopez singing two songs of her own, "Going In" and "Follow The Leader." Well, that dragged on a bit too long. It is followed by Ace Young asking Diana DeGarmo to marry him on the stage of the Idol finals. The first Idol couple makes the first Idol proposal. Ace looked nervous, and in need of a trim. Diana was looking good. Wonder if she got to say hi to Fantasia... That is followed by Holly coming out to sing "You'll Never Walk Alone," only to be joined by the gorgeous Season 6 winner, Jordin Sparks.



Jordin sang the song for Idol Gives Back in her season. Crusty brings out the guys of the Top 12 to sing songs from the BeeGees songbook, in a tribute to the late Robin Gibb. We quickly move by this, for it does not sound good. Crusty introduces the duet many have been waiting for, as Jessica takes the stage with Jennifer Holliday on "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going."



I don't care how old you have to be, I vote Jennifer Holliday to be my American Idol this year, and every year. She is the most glorious thing to happen on the show this season. Now it is finally time for what we've all been waiting for... Oh, wait, here comes Aerosmith. I guess if J-Lo had stage time, Steven needs it too. And Joe Perry does still look great. For the second song, they sing the iconic "Walk This Way."



I sit here and notice there are only minutes left for the show, and we've spent very little time with the two finalists. They both had two songs, jammed in between guests that populate the roster of record labels. But as I say that, they are back on for a duet, singing "Love Lifts Us Up," originally sung by Jennifer Warnes and Joe Cocker for the movie, An Officer And A Gentleman.



With that, it is finally time for the results. They confirm that there were 132 million votes cast, and Crusty ask them to dim the lights. The winner of American Idol Season 11 is Phillip Phillips. How shocking. Really, who didn't see this coming weeks ago? As he plays off the winning single, he is unable to sing through the tears. He walks off the stage to hug his family, blowing off the cameras and the other contestants. Once again, I have to question why any female with talent will audition for this show any longer.



So, until they begin the journey to crown the next white boy with a marginal voice and a guitar, stay safe, and support independent music!

American Idol Season 11 • Final 2

Tonight is the night thousands were hoping would be part of their lives, and not just sitting in the audience smiling and applauding while Phillip Phillips and Jessica Sanchez steal the focus, and sing to be named the next American Idol. But it is not to be, and the audience will listen intently before they decide who will take the crown. Will Phillip be another in a line of WGWG, i.e. White Guys With Guitars, who will charm the voters? Or will Jessica steal the hearts of the viewers, the little girl with the big voice? Only time and Crusty will be able to give us the answer. For tonight is about them both, taking the stage and looking to be the last one standing, ready to go into the studio and see if they can be the next Kelly Clarkson, the next Carrie Underwood, the next Scotty McCreery, the next winner to make a Platinum selling album. Who is your American Idol?



The show opens with the finalists talking about their hopes and fears. Soon, Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson are introduced, followed by Crusty. He welcomes the more than 7,000 fans who came to see the finals in the Nokia Theater. Phillip and Jessica will sing a song of their own, Producer Simon Fuller's choice, and the song that would be their winning single. Phillip won the coin toss, and opted to go second, so Jessica leads the show with the Producer's choice, Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing."



I thought the song choice was somewhat predictable, but it is better than some prior picks by the Producers. She does a lovely job with the song, making some subtle changes to the song, but the song is so identified with Houston, it is had to stray too far. I say that was a solid to good performance. After a commercial break, we hear Phillip is going to sing the Ben E. King classic, "Stand By Me."



This is another lackluster song choice, and Phillip delivers exactly what we thought he would do, bastardizing the melody, putting it through the processor. I love they are now calling him a singer/songwriter, as if he is performing original material on the show. For me, his vocals lack depth and expression, and when the song loses melody and depth, there is little remaining. In between rounds, Crusty goes to the judges to gossip, and Jennifer spends an extraordinary amount of time saying nothing. Randy gives the first round to Jessica. After another commercial, Jennifer finally had a chance to digest it all, and agrees with Randy. Steven remains quiet. They bring out Jason DeRulo to debut his new song for Coke, "Undefeated."



His lost the bedazzled neck brace, and is quite athletic in his dancing. On the next break, there is a commercial featuring the song, and it is already starting to annoy. Back on the show, Jessica brings out a favorite of her prior performances, choosing to sing "The Prayer."



I think she is wise to avoid singing yet another Whitney song, and changing it up. She does a lovely job with it, for it is a lovely song, well-performed. Another commercial passes, and it is time for Phillip. He reprises "Moving Out (Anthony's Song)," in much the same style as before.



I wasn't a fan the first time, not really liking it better the second time through. I hear anger, and not much else. Well, other than the spam-like melody of the song. Crusty goes to Steven first, who thinks Jessica took the second round, while Randy calls it a draw. Jennifer glances at the script, and announces that Phillip won the second round for her, making it dead even. She felt we'd heard Jessica sing that before, while that was "authentic Phillip." Uhm, Jennifer, we'd heard that performance before too. In fact, a couple of weeks after "The Prayer." If you're gonna say things, try adding a dash of logic, okay? After a break, Jessica sings "Change Nothing," which would be her release should she win. As ballads goes, the song is somewhat generic. The judges complain about the song, saying it is all wrong, lacking the R&B feel. Uhm, how much of a pick did she have? Jennifer goes on and on about it, and I can't help by roll my eyes. It is time for Phillip to sing, and he performs the song "Home." It is a quiet, sweet acoustic track, until the drum corps some out. And some rather unfortunate vocal embellishments. Truly reminds me of Coldplay. Once done, the judges leap to their feet, calling it moving and genius. Jennifer loves it, like no other artists she can think of, yet both Randy and Steven make ample comparisons to Mumford & sons, and Paul Simon. After giving them a chance to say nice things to one another, Crusty introduces reigning champion Scotty McCreery, who delivers a live version of this single, "Please Remember Me."



Crusty bids you all goodnight, and reminds all to vote for their favorites. Will it be Jessica, or will Phillip take the title back to Georgia? Tune in tomorrow night at 8PM on your local Fox station for the two-hour results show, which will be chock-full of stars, and about 12 minutes of results...

American Idol Season 11 Top 3 Results

Last night, they all had three performances, and it was left in the voter's hands to decide who will be moving on the finals of Season 11 on American Idol. Will it be Phillip, a guy with his guitar, a winning recipe for the show the last several years? Or will it be young Jessica, following in the footsteps of Jordin Sparks? Or Joshua, blazing his own trail, giving a nod to Season 3 winner Fantasia with his fiery and inspired performances? Within the next hour, we will have that answer.

Clockwise: The American Idol Top 3 - Phillip, Jessica, and Joshua; Lisa Marie Presley; and Adam Lambert.

Crusty comes out to introduce the judges, and tell us that we will be entertained by Adam Lambert and Lisa Marie Presley. We will also have a very special performance of the Top 3, who sing the Beatles great hit, "Got To Get You Into My Life."



You can purchase the original, off the album Revolver, on iTunes. I am somewhat surprised, for they sounded pretty good. To be honest, Jessica was pretty much taking over the sound, and I barely noticed Phil's voice at all. Quickly, it is time for the Ford Music Video, featuring "Cinema" by Benny Benassi. Crusty jumps quickly into the results, and drags Joshua to center stage to review the performances last night. Jimmy I thought Joshua was pretty good last night, but not his best night. Jimmy I thought his first song was just okay, and the second was overdone. He thought the choice (Jimmy's choice) was lacking, but he definitely belongs in the finals. Jimmy thinks Joshua is the most exciting showman they have right now. Ryan sends Joshua back to the couch with no answer, and tells us after the break, we will watch a performance by Lisa Marie Presley. But first, there is a bit about Ice Age - Continental Drift, starring the voice of Jennifer Lopez. Soon the top 4 are in the studio, recording some vocals on the soundtrack. But soon it is time to introduce the daughter of The King. Yes, Lisa Marie Presley is there to sing her new single, "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet."



The song is a moody, bluesy song, and seems to fit her to a "T". Lisa Marie Presley's new album, Storm and Grace, is available on iTunes and Amazon. After another break, Crusty gives the first dates for auditions for Season 12. Then he asks Jessica to join him on the stage, and we take a look at last night. Jimmy I thought it was a nice moment, but it never came together. On the second song, he felt she also fell short. For the final number, Jimmy felt he miscalculated with the song, which needed two voices instead of one. He loves her, and thinks she is certainly in the running for the finals. After a break, Jimmy Iovine, Carole Bayer Sager, and Rita Wilson gave a few words to mark the passing of Donna Summer. Then it was time to bring out Season 8 runner-up Adam Lambert to sing his new single, "Never Close Our Eyes".



Well, he still has a remarkable instrument, that much is true. You can purchase Adam's latest album, Trespassing, on iTunes and Amazon. That leads to another break, and now it is time for Phillip to get the treatment. For the first song, Jimmy I thought it was good, but not great. He thinks he is defining his sound. For the second song, he thought it was boring, a snooze-fest. Jimmy thought the third song was the best of the night, and the best of the competition this year. Jimmy thought he won the competition. Obviously, he thinks it should be an all-male final. After much babbling from the judges, it is time to go to a commercial break, and when we return, the final two will be in place. After nearly 90 million votes, the first person through is Jessica Sanchez. The person meeting Jessica in the finals is Phillip, meaning Joshua is going home.



There is a video package for Joshua, and soon he is singing his way out, thrilling with James Brown's "It's A Man's Man's Man's World." I have to say I am surprised, I thought Jessica was gone for sure. Joshua hugs the judges, and soon pulls his mother up on stage for the song. Before he finishes, the plug is pulled, and it is time for the next Fox show. We are left to figure out what it means to have a Jessica vs Phillip final. Does this pave the way for Phillip, or mean more support for Jessica? We will have to tune in Next TUESDAY night to find the answer.

American Idol Season 11 • Top 3 Perform

What do Haley Reinhart, Casey James, Danny Gokey, Syesha Mercado, Melinda Doolittle, Elliott Yamin, Vonzell Solomon, Jasmine Trias, Kimberly Locke, and Nikki McKibbin all have in common? They all left American Idol just shy of the goal, making it to the final night of competition, and getting the chance to be the person called the American Idol. At some point in their respective years, most were considered frontrunners, and a couple were thought to have a chance to bring the title home. Some were seen as underdogs, but yet stayed in to fight with their talent, wanting to win. This season, who will want it more, and put down the performance that assures them a spot in the final? Guess we will have to watch and see.

The American Idol Top 3; Clockwise: Madcon; Mariah Carey; Bob Seger; Mary J. Blige; Matchbox 20; John Lennon; Etta James; Aerosmith; and the Jackson 5.

On Top 3 night at American Idol, the formula has stayed somewhat consistent over the years. The contestants get to choose a song themselves, the judges pick one for them, and the record executive, these days Jimmy Iovine, picks a song for each contestant. One was never sure how this would play out, for there were song choices by judges and executives that were at best confusing, and at worse seemed like sabotage. What will it be tonight? Can Randy, Jennifer, and Steven be trusted to choose the song that will work best for each singer? After weeks of complaining about song choices, can Jimmy I put his money where his mouth is? Will each contestant pick a new song, or will they just rerun a favorite they've already offered? After all the introductions, it is time to find out. We are reminded the remaining three went on trips to their hometowns, but no time to dawdle, for Randy, Jennifer and Steven are finding their way to the desk, and Crusty finds the spotlight..."This is American Idol." We are reminded the final performance show will be next Tuesday, and the results on Wednesday night, but first, we must find out who will be competing. After the first break, Joshua will be the first to take the stage. Randy was there to chose for the preacher's son, and had him sing "I'd Rather Go Blind," with music by Ellington Jordan, who gave it to Etta James when she visited Jordan in prison. She later wrote the lyrics, but gave credit to Billy Foster for tax purposes - wink wink. This is better than many of his performances for me, with a nice dramatic arc to the song. But the use of the old-fashioned microphone and the 44-year-old song just emphasized the anachronism that is Joshua. Will he be able to sing something more current? I don't know. Not surprising, the judges loved him, and gave him a standing ovation. They thought he sings this style so well. After Jennifer and Steven tell him he is wonderful, Randy mentions his hope that Joshua can bring his old-school stylings to modern R&B, which he feels is ailing. Ah, he is the savior for R&B. Stand back, Mariah Carey and Alicia Keys, Randy is sending Joshua to save the day! Soon Jennifer is telling us that she thought of the perfect choice for Jessica, who will sing "My All," written by Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff, performed by Mariah.



This is a lovely performance, but not much more for me. It is an odd song choice for a 16-year-old girl, and showed the amazing breath control of Carey, which Jessica wished she had about three quarters through. She gave it a lovely, sweet and ethereal treatment to a song that is about very real emotions. Randy starts it off by telling us that was the best a Mariah Carey song has ever been sung on television. Jennifer panicked when she heard Jessica struggle a bit, just realizing the song was hard - think you might have figured that out before assigning it to the 16-year-old? And Steven, well, he predicts Jessica will win. Wow. Speaking of Steven, he tells us he wants to hear Phillip sing the melody of a song again, so he picked "Beggin'" originally a hit in 1967 for The Four Seasons, featuring Frankie Valli. But Steven mentioned the cover by Madcon.



Pretty much right away, Phillip blows off the melody Steven wanted him to sing, and puts the song through the P2 processor. The song becomes a growl and a grind, with little to do with the original, like much of what he has delivered this season. The man with the gray on gray t-shirt and shirt blew them off completely, and the judges loved him for it. The audience loved him, too. When asked by Crusty who took the first round, Randy thought Joshua a hair ahead, while Jennifer thought it was Phillip, but Steven loved melody-challenged P2, but thought Jessica has the voice of an angel. To mark the beginning of the next round, we get some footage of Joshua returning home to Louisiana. People want to hug him, get his autograph, and have him kiss their babies. It is funny, for he seems to have a tough time processing the attention. But he still goes to church in a stretch limo.... But it is time for the contestant's choice, and he sings "Imagine," written and performed by John Lennon.



Well, this was interesting for me. There were some nice parts to the rendition, showing a sweet spot in his voice. There were a couple of times when he just exploded on the song, making for awkward transitions, a few "wet" catches in his voice. Of course, the judges loved it, with Steven suggested it was brought by a touch of God, and Jennifer thought it almost preaching. Randy thought it was very special. After a break, we visit Chula Vista, California, the home of Jessica. Her journey begins with a helicopter, and landing in the stadium she auditioned for the show. Soon she is on the radio, and there is a a huge crowd cheering for her. But she heads home, to see the family, and is quickly surrounded by fans at the local high school, and to the cheering members of the US Navy. Back on the stage, she is about to sing "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing," written by Diane Warren and performed by Aerosmith.



This must be odd, with Steven Tyler as a judge. It is interesting, for it certainly isn't as muscular as the Aerosmith version, but it does have touching moments. She is greeted by a standing ovation from Steven, and he tells her he loved it. Jennifer also loved it, and thought the final note was heavenly. Randy loved it too, and I am shocked we have yet to be put though any random verbal hand grenades. After we suffer through yet another Steven Tyler Burger King commercial, we visit Leesburg, Georgia, home of Phillip and the pawn shop he worked in. First thing I noticed is that Phillip is wearing a muted brown shirt, not gray! He seems surprisingly cool with the attention of the masses, and is seen wearing a purple t-shirt, and then a blue one. There is a beautiful moment with his Dad, and security pushing girls away... Back on the stage, we find out he will be singing "Disease," written by Rob Thomas and Mick Jagger (of Rolling Stones fame), and performed by Matchbox 20.



This is a nice acoustic arrangement, but even the laid-back version is swallowing his vocals. It totally lacked the sexy charge of the original. For the record, he once again muddles the distinctive melody of the original song, putting it through that processor that is P2. I thought this ended up being a bit on the anemic side, just a pale performance. Jennifer thought it was was okay, and Steven agreed with her. To make a totally strange moment, Randy agreed, although making a production of it. Well, with that over with, it is time for the picks made by Jimmy Iovine, the man in charge of Interscope Records, the home of the Idol winner. For the final performance by Joshua tonight, he picked "No More Drama," using samples from a soap opera theme song, and performed by Mary J Blige.



While I am not minding the opening of the song, the sudden and constant bouncing is distracting. Soon, he is peeling off the jacket, and tossing it aside. Not long after, I lost the song in the performance, a problem I have repeatedly had with Joshua. Mary J sang a song about the distractions of detours of life, and Joshua took it to the same place he goes with every song. I didn't feel the build, it seemed to be a leap over the moon from a stand still. Of course, the judges loved it, and thought it was going to church, laying it all out there. You know, the same thing they say every week. Jimmy I gives a thumbs up, and we can move forward again. Back in Chula Vista, we see Jessica get a text message, and find out Jimmy I picked "I'll Be There," was written by Motown's Berry Gordy, Bob West, Willie Hutch, and Hal Davis, and performed by the Jackson 5.



Jimmy thinks this can help her relate to the cougars in the audience, and still keep a youthful feel. I think this could be the best choice of the night, and Jimmy I should be commended. Jessica does a great job with it, and it was fantastic to not feel uncomfortable about her youth. She sounded beautiful, showing her beautiful tone. Steven loved it, as did Jennifer. However, Randy thought it was just okay, and would rather she took on the Mariah version, rather than one more true to Jessica. I have to wonder if Randy has any daughters... For the final song of the evening, Jimmy I selects "We've Got Tonight," written and performed by Bob Seger. This should be a good choice for Phillip, as it doesn't have a huge range, and allows for a lot of character in the voice. Jimmy I also hopes that Phillip will stick to the melody of the song, something he is hesitant to do. Well, what do you know, he is keeping with the original melody, and with just he and the piano, it is lovely. Soon he is joined by the orchestra, and it starts to spin wheels for me. The reedy and paper-thin quality of his voice is evident, and I was saddened. However, at the end of the song, he is greeted by at standing ovation by the judges, and all the stupid sayings that he has tortured us with for years. Jennifer let her hormones show, and Steven cursed as he said it didn't matter if the notes were hit or not, he sang the melody. Off key. Oh well. During the recap, I am reminded that this show has been about the boys in the last few years, so I suspect it will be Phillip and Joshua in the finals, no matter what the performances were tonight, for Jessica is missing the vital equipment. Even the judges seem to cheer off-key performances over the in-tune ones. As I had feared, the judges should not be trusted to pick songs ever again. I think Jimmy was good with 2 out of 3, better than the 0 for 3 of the judges. Tune in Thursday night at 8PM to your local Fox station for the results, or check back in to this blog to see who will be singing in the finals next week.

American Idol Season 11 • Top 4 Results

Last night the Top Four put their performances forward for all to enjoy, hoping to get your vote and make it to the next level. The Top 3 will get to go home, to parades and cheers, not the sad walk home in fourth place. In fact, the show starts with some of the home town visits of the past, with Carrie, Lee, Kris, Adam, Elliott Yamin, Haley, Scotty and Lauren often overwhelmed by the outpouring of affection of the folks who stayed at home, voting for their hometown hero. With their efforts, those people truly helped them make the Idols dreams come true. But for tonight, will there be a surprise elimination, or will the expected become history? Only time will tell.



Clockwise from top: The Top Four; David Cook; and Jennifer Lopez.

Crusty is out front, following the video of the hometown visits. The studio audience is cheering loudly. He introduces the Top Four, who come out to sing the Mamas & the Papas huge hit, "California Dreamin'."



After the Ford music video, we move to the results. Phillip is up first, and we are reminded of his performances. Jimmy Iovine loved it, only to be topped by his second performance. We learn that there were nearly 70 million votes were cast, and we won't learn the results quite yet. Hollie is up next, and how the judges loved the first song, but not the second. Jimmy I liked it, but was not fond of the second. He felt she did not have what it takes to sing the song, and, in fact, crashed and burned. Hollie is sent back to the couch, for results that will be revealed later. Season 7 winner David Cook is on hand to sing his latest single, "The Last Song I'll Write For You."



The song was released just today, and it is a special performance. The song has David's signature all over it, sounding like him. He does a great job performing it. You can purchase the single on iTunes and Amazon.

After a commercial break, it is time to look back at Joshua's performances. Jimmy I wasn't fond of the first performance, but he loved the second, thought it was Joshua's best of the season, especially when he was singing/speaking in tongues.He is sent back to the couch, and it is time to review Jessica's night. While Jimmy I didn't love the first song, finding it more impersonation than artistic expression, he thought she murdered the second, nailing every aspect she could. He loved it, and dropped a great review from Tommy Mattola, who thinks she is the real deal. Jessica is sent back to the couch with the others, the results to be learned later in the program. But first we get to hear/watch Jennifer Lopez perform the hit song by her and Pitbull, "Dance Again."



Now, watching the shirtless hunks dance with her might be fun, but the 'enhanced' vocals were rather amusing to me, coming from the judge of this live singing competition. But we got to see her post-Marc Anthony boytoy, Casper Smart. Well, if you enjoyed that recording, you purchase the studio recording on iTunes and Amazon.

After a break, we hear that Steven is very impressed with Phillip, and how far as he has come on his Idol journey. Jennifer is brought to tears by her memory of Hollie's audition, and the tough and lovely journey she has taken. Randy is so glad they turned Joshua away on his first trip, and he came back an even better performer. And when asked about the trick Jessica uses, according to Jimmy, Jennifer asks if he meant the trick of really great singing... Well, Crusty takes control again, and jumps to the results. We learn that Jessica is through to the Top Three, as is Joshua. But who will join them? We will learn that, after the break. That is when we learn that the it is Hollie is ending her Idol journey, and Phillip is in the Top Three.



It is no surprise, she sings "The Climb" as her exit song. There is a messy beginning of the song, when she pops in at the wrong time, but the band regroups, and soon she is hugging the remaining three. We see Joshua in tears, and soon she is shaking the hands of the judges. That just might have been one of the best sing-offs ever. Perfect song for not winning, and she was quite composed hugging everyone. Way to go out, Hollie.

American Idol Season 11 • Top 4 Perform

Tamyra Gray. Josh Gracin. LaToya London. Anthony Fedorov. Chris Daughtry. Lakisha Jones. Jason Castro. Allison Iraheta. Michael Lynche. James Durbin. That is a list of people who were sent home in fourth place on American Idol, first season to last year. Some of them were considered favorites to take home the title their year, only to be sent packing by the vote of the public. Now, we want to know, who will be joining that list? Will Jessica continue to be safe, following the judges save that prevented her from being sent home? Will Hollie continue to back the odds, and be in the bottom, but survive as few have done before. Joshua has flirted with the bottom a few times, could this be his time? Or could the ultimate surprise happen, and frontrunner Phillip be shown the gate? Tonight, they will each be singing three songs - one from a Californian artist, one song they wish they had written, and a duet. Will the performances make a difference? We will have to wait and see about that.

Top: Phillip; Hollie; Joshua; and Jessica. Middle: Creedence Clearwater Revival; Etta James; Josh Groban; Journey; and Maroon 5. Bottom: Jennifer Holliday; Bonnie Raitt; Damien Rice; James Brown; and The Bangles.

The judges and Crusty are brought out, to much (too much) screaming from the audience. The first theme is California Dreamin', music by artists from California, about California, or with a hint of West Coast about it. Yes, it is as vague as is seems. First up we have Phillip singing the great Creedence Clearwater Revival hit, "Have You Ever Seen The Rain."



I am immediately stunned, for the first few bars aren't bad. Kinda good, actually. John Fogerty's songs are a good match for him, although he does seem to run out of gas by the chorus of the song, and get a bit sloppy. Now, they barely let Steven talk before Jennifer takes over to tell of the grandeur of the performance. Randy has his say, and is pretty much the opposite of what I heard, for he thinks the beginning was rough, but got better as it went on. After a commercial break, we get the little train that could, Hollie. She will be singing "Faithfully," the great song by Journey. This original recording was really all about Steve Perry's amazing vocals. The first few notes seem off to me, but she gets it together, and is back on key. The song seems to stay down in her lower register, which is surprising. She finishes out the song on a huge note, and really seemed to be feeling it. I thought it was nice, but not killer. Well, Randy starts by dropping the Journey names, and tells how great he felt it was. Jennifer agrees, as does Steven. Crusty gives Randy another chance to mention playing in the band, cause it was over 40 seconds since he last mentioned he played bass for Journey. Next we have a song written by Secret Garden, the Irish-Norwegian duo, with music by Rolf Løvland and the lyrics by Brendan Graham. It was made famous by Josh Groban in the States. "You Raise Me Up" went to #1 in the Adult Contemporary charts. Westlife took it to #1 on the UK charts, and others throughout the world. Joshua will take the song on, but I think he starts off a bit weak, but soon catches up. By halfway through, we are back to getting five notes when one will do. The song seems to be taking him to the top and bottom end of his voice, and one or twice I feel he drifts out of his range. It is a simple old tune, centuries old, and Joshua try to bring it somewhere it never belonged. But the judges, who didn't stand up for the ovation, tone down the adoration, but make no mistake, they think he should be in the finals. That leaves only one other singer to complete the first round, and we learn that Jessica will be singing "Steal Away" by Etta James. It is off the 1968 album Tell Mama.



Now, I love this song, but there is the oddness of Crusty introducing 16-year-old Jessica, and her flirting on the piano. But she obviously loved the song, and sang the stuffing out of it. But it was a bit of a performance, a girl playing a woman's role. Jennifer loved it, and calls her one of the greats of all the ladies singing today. Really, Jennifer? She's giving Mary J a run for her money? Beyoncé? Lady GaGa? Steven loves her, and talks about recoding an Etta song himself. Randy loves her, and uses the phone book thing, like singing the phone book would be entertaining. They compare her to Joshua, a signal to the voters who the two finalists should be. The first duet it up, and it is Joshua and Phillip, singing "This Love," the great song by Maroon 5.



Phillip is trying to keep up with Joshua, but neither is doing well on the song. Again, they seem to compete rather than blend at all. If anything, I would say their styles are engaged in warfare, for their use of rhythm and beat are so very different. The judges giggled and loved it. Soon, the ladies, Jessica and Hollie, are swinging in silken swings on the stage, and belting their brains out. They sing "Eternal Flame," the huge song by The Bangles.



They did what they could with the song, which was never meant to be a dueling duet. They stayed on key and tempo, something the boys did not do. The judges, however, turned on the girls, whining incessantly about not liking it, but never saying much beyond the swings, now being ridden by Phillip and Joshua. We take a moment to talk about the upcoming film, Rock Of Ages, with director Adam Shankman, and Crusty's "girl," Julianne Hough. Adam tours the mansion, and they get a sneak peak at a few scenes of the movie. Shankman tells big stories of how great Tom Cruise is, even though he didn't bother showing up. And there are plenty of (uncomfortable) allusions to Crusty's personal life, but it finally (and thankfully) comes to an end. The kids form a quartet, and make a sloppy mess out of Foreigner's 1981 hit, "Waiting For A Girl Like You." We surely could have done without that. Now it is time to move to the next theme, Songs I Wish I Wrote. Phillip is up first, and he wishes he would have written "Volcano," an amazing song by Damien Rice, that also featured Lisa Hannigan.



Now, this is a really cool and beautiful song, and I just don't think he did it justice. His voice grinds a bit, and he falls into the habit of sliding behind the tempo. There was no nuance in his vocal, which saddens me. The original is just a beautiful celebration of give and take, soft and tender. The judges, however, all flip out, with Steven calling it beautiful, and Jennifer calling it the most poignant moment on American Idol ever. Randy thought it was the performance of the season - like the 14th performance he has said that about. For them, it was brilliant artistry. If it was, it didn't translate to my television. Hollie wishes she wrote the great love song so perfectly wrought by Bonnie Raitt, "I Can't Make You Love Me." She did a nice job, but is just too young to really deliver the way Bonnie did. She had lovely tone, but not the full story behind it. The judges are not happy, and complain she has no nuance, no emotional depth to her performance. You know, kinda what I thought about Phillip, only they called that the best performance. Randy went so far as to say the song couldn't deliver the "Idol moment" Hollie needed. I thought when Bonnie sang it, she made the world stop and listen, way more than the bass player in Journey ever did. Oh, I digress, so I shall move on. Since Joshua tackled the king of Adult Contemporary music in the first round, in the second round he will be taking on the Godfather of Soul, James Brown. He will sing "It's A Man's Man's Man's World." With a big orchestra behind him, Joshua dives right in, and I don't know if it is the time restraint, or the arrangement, but the build to the song is lacking for me. I felt forced, a contrived moment. I must be wrong, for the judges were on their feet. Both Steven and Randy call it the best, most passionate performance ever on American Idol. I guess that means Phillip's performance is knocked out of the top spot for this season. Jennifer says it makes her speak Spanish, and makes her see God. Okay then. We learn that Jessica will be closing the show with a song from Dreamgirls, and it is obvious which one it will be. For me, no one has ever topped the gut-wrenching performance delivered by Jennifer Holliday when her Effie sings "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going."



Now, this is a mighty tower to climb, so I can't wait for this commercial to end, and to hear what she has to offer. She sings it really well, way better than I ever thought she could deliver. There was weight and grit to her voice, and a lovely build to the song performance. She lead the audience on the journey nicely. Was it as good and Jennifer Holliday? No, of course not. I have never seen anyone to equal that, not even Jennifer Hudson, who won an Oscar for singing it. But I was impressed. Crusty warns us that tomorrow night, David Cook and Jennifer Lopez will sing on that stage - not together. As the recap rolls, I realize I feel the same way about the performances, which is very different than the judges. We are told by Randy that Jessica, Joshua, and maybe Phillip won the night, signalling it was time to Hollie to leave. Will the voters agree? I still feel Phillip's vocal quality is inferior to the rest, but will he ever experience the taste of fear of being placed in jeopardy? Will Hollie finally not escape the bottom, like the judges suggest? Will the darlings of the panel, Joshua and Jessica, stay on a path the the finals? Tune in tomorrow night and find out who will no longer have a chance to be your American Idol.

American Idol Season 11 • Top 5 Results

Tonight, we will see what the voters thought of the performances last night, with 1960s hits and British Pop hits were pulled from the archives. The reviews of the night were mixed, so no one is sure who will be leaving tonight. If the last few years are any indication, one of the three girls should be packing their bags. But there are many who think it might be time for frontrunner Phillip, the only remaining contestant to have not been in the bottom three, to go home. Or might it be a surprising exit for Skylar, who has come on strong? Or maybe Jessica, who was spared the bottom last week after being saved from elimination by the judges in the Top 7? Or Joshua, told by Jennifer Lopez last night he was the best singer of the last 50 years, eclipsing the late Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, and, well, everyone who has raised their voice in song since 1960? How about Hollie, who is definitely saving her best for last, as she continues to get stronger as the competition goes on? Only Crusty and the producers know so far.



Top: Phillip; Hollie; Joshua; Skylar; and Jessica. Bottom: Carrie Underwood; and Coldplay.

The show starts with a quick look back at last night, including Jennifer's idiotic comment about the best singer in 50 years. The judges are brought out to the stage, and are joined by Crusty, looking all kinds of perky. He tells us Coldplay will be on the show, as is Carrie Underwood, the most successful Idol to date. Crusty mentions the tour, and then jumps into the results. He calls Joshua, and Steven calls him one of the top two Idols ever, while Randy thought he is the best Idol ever. Jimmy I thinks his To Love Somebody is the best performance on Idol, and thinks he is safe. According to the voters, he is safe. After the break, the contestants are featured in the latest Ford Music Video, features Cobbie Caillat's latest single, Dream Life. Quickly, Crusty introduces Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, and Will Champion. They are better known as mega-band Coldplay, there to perform Paradise, off the album Mylo Xyloto. Here is their music video for Paradise.



You can purchase Mylo Xyloto on iTunes and Amazon. I am just grateful I don't have to review that performance. Woof. It is time for more results, and Hollie and Phillip are called to join Crusty. Jimmy loved Hollie's first performance, and okay the second. For Phillip, Jimmy feels he should be in the bottom for two weak performances, no matter how bad Phillip feels. For the results, we learn Hollie is in the bottom two, and Phillip will win this competition. Well, I would surmise that if he can sound that bad and not even be in danger, well, that says a lot. After a break, Crusty proudly introduces Season 3 winner Carrie Underwood, whose new album, Blown Away, is taking over the charts this week. She performs the title track.



I have to say, this is a great song, and she sings it so damn well. And she looks great with the fake hurricane behind her. You can purchase Carrie's brand new album, Blown Away, on iTunes and Amazon. She will be heading out on tour this September, and you can check out when she is playing near you on her official website. After another break, it is time for Skylar and Jessica to discover what the night holds for them. The judges loved Skylar, but Jimmy wasn't as sold. He is complaining about the production behind her, which I find ridiculous. Jessica is up next, and Jimmy loved You Are So Beautiful, but he hated Proud Mary, and felt she was too sexy. Crusty tells us Jessica is safe, and Skylar is in the bottom 2. I am sorry, but there is no way Skylar should be in the bottom, and Phillip safe. And the judges are of no help at all, with a complete lack of critical appraisal performance after performance. Coldplay comes back out for a rare second song, as they dive into a performance of Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall.



It is another song off Mylo Xyloto, which can be purchased on iTunes and Amazon. After a commercial break, and perhaps the top two performers of last night are waiting to see who goes home. While we wait, Jennifer tells us the Top 3 belong in safety, which makes me shake my head. After nearly 60 million votes, we learn that Skylar is going home tonight. And the judges let it happen. And Phillip is still in the singing competition. I hope someone smarter than Jimmy I signs this girl.

American Idol Season 11 • Top 5 Perform

Tonight, the Top 5 of American Idol Season 11 will take on five solos from the 1960s, around the time most of their parents were born, and five solos of British music. Of the spoiled list of songs, three of the British songs are from the 1960s, one from the 1970s, and one from 2007. There will also be a duo and a trio, both singing songs from the 1960s. There is a wealth of Pop music coming from the UK right now, from Paolo Nutini to Jessie J, from Amy Winehouse to Natasha Bedingfield, and from Westlife to Girls Aloud, yet this is what we are given? So we will just have to settle in for nostalgia...

Top: Season 11's Top 5: Phillip; Hollie; Joshua; Skylar; Jessica. Clockwise: Dusty Springfield; The Temptations; Creedence Clearwater Revival; The BeeGees; The Box Tops; Leona Lewis; The Zombies; Ike & Tina Turner; Joe Cocker; and Jackie Wilson.

The usual recap starts off the night, and we learn the themes for the night, Brit Pop and the 1960s. We find out to be the guest mentor for the evening will be Little Steven Van Zandt, which is an unusual choice, but let's move on. One can only think this will be the first of many odd choices that will be made. They jump right in, and tonight Hollie is up first. She will be singing River Deep Mountain High, first sung by the Ike & Tina Tuner Review in 1965.



Little Steven and Jimmy I think it is the most exciting song ever, and I can't argue with them. Hollie came out pipes blaring, with the volume turned up to 12. She moved over the stage, and looked fairly natural doing it. With the last note still hanging in the air, we see Randy and Stevne greet her with the first standing ovation of the night, although Jennifer seems to be holding out. They loved her, giving her nothing but praise. After a break, we discover it is time for Phillip, and he will be doing The Letter, made famous by The Box Tops in 1967. Not surprising, he ignores the melody and tempo of the song, and puts the Dave Matthews spin on it. The crowd goes insane, and he is driving me insane. The judges love him, and Randy thinks he is so very original. Oh really, Randy? Are you freakin' kidding me? I will roll my eyes and move on. So, it is time for Skylar, and she comes to rehearsal with Jimmy I and Little Steven, and leaves with another. She will be singing Fortunate Son, the great rock song of defiance and protest. It was written and performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1969. She pretty much kills the song. She does a great job, so far, the best of the night. Not even close. She was bold and brash, giving just what the song needs. Following another commercial, we find out that Phillip and Joshua will be doing a duet, and be singing an iconic song in the process. They will perform You've Lost That Loving Feeling, made famous by The Righteous Brothers in 1964.



I'm not sure what to expect, and this seems like a pairing doomed for failure. Phillip looks horrified while singing, and Joshua is tense. Wow, this is a train wreck, steeped in friction. Phillip refuses to stick with a melody, and Joshua lives off the melody, using it as a jumping point for his vocals. Joshua explodes with the notes, while Phillip contracts with them. Scary. And yet the judges claim to love it. So it is time for Jessica to perform, and we find out she will be singing Proud Mary by Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1969, to qualify it for the theme.



Of course, many know it from the 1971 version by Ike and Tina Turner, but that isn't a 60s song... Little Steven mentions he wanted to talk her out of the song, since every band had to play the song in bars, and he was tired of it. But then she sings it, and he just loved it, so he didn't think it should change. Jessica comes out to perform it, and is surprisingly comfortable on the stage, and having fun with it. She has the voice to make it work, and it does. I'm surprised. Steven and Jennifer love it, but Randy, who loved what Phillip has done to songs, thinks it was barely passable. And he misquotes Little Steven as saying the reason she shouldn't sing it was because of Tina Turner. No, Dawg, that wasn't what he said. After a break, it is time for Joshua to sing his 1960s song, The Temptations great song, Ain't Too Proud To Beg. It was a huge hit in 1966. I love this song, but not this performance. It reminds me he is really no very current at all. He also doesn't have a sweet or sensitive moment in the song, instead being all being loud, aggressive and throaty, like The Temptations on a crystal meth binge. Of course, the judges loved it, with Steven calling him one of the top two singing Idols ever, which should come as a shock to a couple of winners. Randy and Jennifer also loved him. When asked who they thought were the standouts in round one, they all said Skylar, Joshua and Hollie, leaving Jessica and Phillip in the dust. And it is time to flip to the next theme, British Hits. Once again, Hollie leads it off with the great 2007 song from Leona Lewis, Bleeding Love.



It is a lovely song, and she does a sweet job with it. She kept is smaller, more acoustic, not as bombastic as the original. Quite nice. The judges are loving her, and giving her much praise. Not sure what to make of that. After the break, it is time for Crusty to tell us that Carrie Underwood and Coldplay will perform on the results show tomorrow night. We hear that Phillip will not ignore the melody of Time Of The Season, a huge hit in 1968 for The Zombies. Well, to be truthful, he beats and batters the melody, unable to hit most of the notes in the chorus. That was just awful. The judges are falling all over themselves because he actually attempted to sing the melody, like that is an accomplishment. Steven actually said he sang it well. I am reminded there is no truth in advertising. It is just infuriating that this trio can let that go without a drop of honesty. Shame on them. Now it is time for the trio of ladies, Skylar, Jessica and Hollie to sing the great song Higher And Higher, made iconic in 1967 by Jackie Wilson. They were good, but not spectacular. After a break, Skylar is back out there, and going to sing Dusty Springfield huge hit in 1966, You Don't Have To Say You Love Me.



I love this song. She is doing a great job with it. She feels the emotion, and is giving it Dusty realness. I feared a moment toward the end, but she brought it home perfectly. Go Skylar! The judges love her, and the crowd seemed to go wild. Who knows what that means. I think she was the best of the night tonight. Now it is time for Jessica, who will be singing You Are So Beautiful, Joe Cocker's mega-hit. She completely mixed it up with a sweet R&B feel, with some amazing notes. That was so very beautiful. I am shocked, for the judges love it too, and in fact, Randy says that sent her to the top of the leader board for round two. So fickle, that man. After a long break, we are finally at the last performance of the evening, and we hear that Joshua wanted to sing a Tom Jones song, but Jimmy I and Little Steven tell him to do To Love Somebody, a huge hit for The Bee Gees in 1967.



I am so torn, for at the beginning he starts simply, and gets bogged down in the song. I wanted that to work better. Then, of course, he explodes all over the song, like a fireworks on July 4th. Although I am disappointed by the performance, he is greeted by a standing ovation from the judges. Randy says he is the best singer ever on American Idol, and Jennifer says the best singer in the last 50 years. I wonder if they have been playing in an old stash left by Paula... Well, it is time for the recap, and I still feel the same way. If there is any fairness in the world, Phillip will be in the bottom three tomorrow night, and even going home. But I have no faith in that happening. I would say Skylar was my favorite of the night, with Jessica and Hollie battling it our for second. Then hits Joshua, and Phillip lags far behind. But we will have to wait until tomorrow night to see what the voters thought.

American Idol Season 11 Top 6 Results

Well, as I prepare for the results show, I just live in fear as to what might happen, and who I might still have to endure. Queen wasn't too kind to the contestants, but that didn't stop the hapless judges from jumping to their feet for three performances. And, if I remember correctly, they didn't bother answering those performances when asked for the highlight of the sessions. Go figure.

Soon the judges are coming through the audience, and find their seats. Crusty comes out to announce 58 million votes were cast, almost 10 million more that a year ago, when there were more viewers... How does that work? Well, I'll shake that off and move forward. He then introduces what has kinda become the tribute band for Queen, despite having Brian May and Roger Taylor playing. I have to admit, the faux-Freddie was pretty good. Well, for an imitation. But it somehow seems oh-so-right to have them on American Idol, doesn't it? Oh, I heave a sigh and move on. They played the Ford Music Video, and it was just so wan, I have to ignore it. They went to TMZ to give some blatant publicity to them, and for little other reason. Jessica and Elise are called to the stage. Jessica hears from Jimmy, that she was not good with Bohemian Rhapsody, but struck gold with Dance With My Father. Jimmy didn't like Elise, thinking she sounded like a night club act. Jessica is safe, and Elise is in the bottom three. After a break, Crusty pushes tickets to the tour, and is joined by Casey Abrams, furrier than ever. They joke about the tour, and soon introduce one of Casey's compatriots from last season, Stefano Langone. He's there to sing I'm On A Roll.



Really? That was a song? Well, it's not like I expected better from Stefano. I'll try to cleanse that from my memory as we move forward. We all must agree to never mention it again. Thank you. So, after a break, Crusty has Hollie and Joshua on stage with him. Well, the judges loved them both, but Jimmy thought was she not bad doing Queen, and was great singing The Climb. He said Joshua was amazing, and should be making it to the final. So, we learn that Hollie is in the bottom three, and Joshua is safe. After a break, Crusty rushes to introduce Katy Perry, who will perform Part Of Me.



Well, she did that with some sort of military feeling, and it at least helped to distract me from her singing live. Well, taped live, at least. After another break, it is time for Skylar and Phillip to hear the reviews from last night. Jimmy loved Skylar doing Queen, but didn't like the country song. In the slightest. Jimmy wasn't happy with Phillip, either. Thought he lacked energy and focus. But after the vote, Phillip is safe, and Skylar is in the bottom three. Crusty brings Elise and Hollie out with Skylar, and then sends Skylar back to safety. After a break, it is time for Crusty to send Elise home. This is so very sad, but not unexpected. And it is now the judges decide to get to their feet for her. Elise is excited, she gets to sing Whole Lotta Love on her way out.