America got a double-treat from the remaining four Idol hopefuls with two songs per contestant. The first was to be a song that inspired the singers and the second was a pick from the vast songbook of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.
Round one: James Durbin was playing to the crowd (and Randy Jackson who has played this song many times before) as he sang Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” encouraging all to stand up and sing along . The judges were full of praise for James. “Great song, great performance,” said Jennifer Lopez. Randy compared James’ effort to an Olympic rating, “that was the highest degree of difficulty and you did it.” Steven Tyler told James he was getting ready for what was to come.
Haley Reinhart didn’t get the same love. A very growly rendition of “Earth Song” by the late Michael Jackson was Haley’s pick for round one and it caused a major stir at the judges table. JLo said, “I really felt that it inspired you,” but she said she once again questioned the song choice Haley made, which is “part of the competition.” JLo told Haley it was a tough song to sing following Durbin’s bar-setting performance. JLo got some big boos and so did Randy. Randy said, “it didn’t really suit you.” He wasn’t happy with how she “screamed” it at the end and said she needed to hit the higher notes to meet the standard of MJ. He was not loving her showing and it prompted Haley to fight back and defend her singing. Steven also fought for her. He said, “they’re both wrong…that song showed me that you can.”
Inspiring the ever-twangy Scotty McCreery tonight, was “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning” by Alan Jackson. Randy said, “I think it’s the perfect song choice for you…You set your mark on this stage this evening. You set your mark for super-stardom and I hope you make it.” Steven said, “ditto” and JLo said, “I’m in love with you.”
Maybe she was holding back until it counted, but tonight during round one Lauren Alaina mopped up with “Do It Anyway” by Martina McBride. Last week she landed in the bottom two, but tonight Steven said, “your voice is so pure and perfect and perfect pitch and you deliver a song like a blue plate special.” He went on to tell her he was digging her strappy shoes and leg-exposing dress. JLo defending the judge toughness in previous weeks and tonight with Haley and said Lauren did what she had to do: “a great vocal performance.” Randy, “Lauren is back in it to win it. That was hot. That was everything…amazing.”
The Haley shellacking continued after round one ended when Ryan asked the judges: “Who won that round?” Well, JLo sat on the fence and didn’t answer, but Randy said it was a tie between everyone but Haley, which got Haley very upset.
So she channeled her tears and anger and Haley made her comeback in round two with “I Who Have Nothing.” Her work with mentor Gaga paid off because she sang it with some some serious drama. The judges and the audience gave her a standing ovation. JLo, “This is why we can’t take it easy on you. Look what you’re capable of…one of the best performances of they year.” Randy said, “baby, you just had a moment right here..this is what’s going down. One of your best vocals ever.” Steven said, “This was a classic moment, with a classic Haley, you just Reinharted yourself into next week.”
It was wacky to pair the country boy Scotty with Gaga, who told Scotty to pretend the microphone was his girlfriend asking Scotty to stick his tongue in her mouth. And so that’s how he sang “Young Blood” by The Coasters, by using the humor and drama Gaga encouraged. Randy asked Scotty if he was having a good time on stage. Randy conceded he himself had more fun watching Scotty with Gaga. “I think we saw both sides of a Scotty concert – him having fun, him being serious.” Steven said, “dude you made Gaga’s Lala go YaYa.” JLo said Scotty hit his stride, but seemed to prefer the round one showing and said she’s looking for something different for next week.
Lauren’s second song was “Trouble” by Elvis Presley. During mentoring, Lauren struggled with singing the word “evil,” but Gaga and record producer Jimmy Iovine helped her get past the issue. Gaga said she was too weird at 16 to go on Idol, but that Lauren could pull this off. And she went with it and the judges loved it. Steven said, “I just loved it.” JLo liked the “performance quality” she saw from Lauren on stage. “We saw some maturity we haven’t seen from you.” Randy said, “you’ve got this rocker thing with a little attitude.” He liked her showing and loved the help Gaga offered Lauren.
James book-ended the show – both opening and closing with songs that rocked the room. His second song was “Love Potion No. 9,” which wasn’t destined for greatness until Gaga got up during rehearsal, stood behind James and moved his hips for him. He brought energy to the stage, but maybe not as much hip action as Gaga might have liked when he did it for real. JLo said that the song showed her James could sing anything. Randy said, “you are now what I love about sports. You’re peaking at the right time.” Steven called the performance “incredible.”
So who is going home tomorrow night? Did the judges hand Haley or Scotty a ticket off of the show with their criticisms?
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