‘American Idol’: Meet The First 14 Of The Top 24
The American Idol Top 42 get to enjoy Las Vegas for a short while before going back to the grind, perfecting their last-chance performances with the hopes of edging each other out and making it into the Top 24. This turning point isn’t just stressful for the contestants, but the judges as well. Last year, Jennifer Lopez broke down on stage after telling a contestant they didn’t make it into the next round. Still, as tensions rise, so do the stakes because next week America gets a chance to start voting, making it even more important for them to shine.
STANDOUTS
Holy moley, little Jessica Sanchez! She may have emerged as the dark horse this week, but her final performance of “The Prayer” is powerful and nuanced, showcasing the teenager’s range and control. If Jessica continues to execute her songs like this, she’ll be the female vocalist to beat.
We’ve been consistent fans of Reed Grimm, despite his rubbery sing faces that makes us feel, well, awkward. Reed decides to stick with the drums for his scatting-more-than-singing performance of “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).” Though we and the judges have come to expect great things from this eccentric musician, that wasn’t really the case with this outing, but he makes it through more on faith of what he could be doing rather than what he did last night.
Phil Phillips seems worried that his performance of “Treat You Right” wouldn’t measure up to the judges expectations after his lyrical stumble during Hollywood week. He tells Randy that if he’s sent home he’d feel good about his time on Idol, but before he can explain how bad he’d feel Jennifer Lopez cuts him off to congratulate him on making the cut. We venture to guess with his talent and good looks, Philip is a shoe-in for the Top 12.
Heejun Han performs a soulful “New York State of Mind” (where he’s from!), and Jennifer Lopez remarks on his buttery tone. He tells the judges that when he sings someone enters his body and does the singing for him. Which we can kind of see. Steven calls him ugly, but in a jokey nice way. And then we find out Heejun works with developmentally disabled children, so duh, of course he’s making it through. He was anyway because you can just tell the producers were like, “This kid is such a CHARACTER!”
HOPEFULS
Colton Dixon, who we’re reminded didn’t even want to audition this season after being cut on this very stage last year, and who melted down after judges gave his sister the axe dedicates his emotional version of “Fix You” to his sis. It puts him through. We just hope producers do something about his obnoxious haircut.
Elise Testone and Haley Johnson may no longer be grouped together but they both make it through. Haley knows she needs to work on her confidence, but since her song isn’t aired, we suspect she won’t have long to do so in the coming weeks.
Rounding out the Top 24 are Joshua Ledet, Jen Hirsh, Creighton Fraker, Erika Van Pelt, Chelsea Sorrell, Bayley Brown and Brielle Von Hugel.
SENT PACKING
Caleb Johnson, who struggled to remember his words, stopped his performance and begged for water, gets cut. Neco Starr and River St. James are out despite having the best stage names since Madonna. Blair Sieber and Naomi Gillies, who you’ve never heard of, are gone too, along with Clayton Farhat.
TONIGHT: We were left with a bit of a cliffhanger, with family man Adam Brock getting lots of negative feedback about not knowing who he is as a performer. (But the more emotional abuse the judges lay on, the more likely a contestant made it through, right?) There are 10 spots left and we’ll see if Adam manages to land one, along with the rest of the Top 24.
Are your favorites still in the running, or did the judges make a mistake? Sound off in the comments, or on Twitter and Facebook.
