Tonight the remaining four contestants on American Idol perform songs from the movies, with guest mentor Jamie Foxx. On the results show, we’ll get performances from Bon Jovi and Daughtry.
We’re getting down to the wire, folks! Who’s going to make it to the finale? We get one step closer tonight.
Wow, 14 days until the finale? Sweet. Then I can have my Tuesday and Wednesday nights back! For what, I don’t know. But I feel tied to the TV twice a week right now.
Tonight the contestants will sing an individual song as well as a duet. Casey and Mike will do one duet, Lee and Crystal the other. I think Mike’s got the short end of that deal, because Casey isn’t great without his guitar.
Jamie Foxx told the contestants that they’re either going to get a “contestant” t-shirt or an “artist” t-shirt, and at this point they should be artists.

Lee Dewyze is up first, singing Seal’s “Kiss From A Rose”; he gets an artist shirt from Jamie in their session, with the warning, “Don’t make me take it away from you.” Lee’s doing a good job with the song, had a pitchy moment where he kind of got lost. This is one of those songs you can’t really mess with too much, but he sounds good. Randy says he agrees with Jamie, in that he’s looking for the artists. He didn’t like Lee’s performance, calling it pitchy and just OK. Ellen says there could have been more done with it, but that being said he’s so good it’s OK. Kara says he had a great week last week – shouts from the audience, “We love you Lee!” – and this week he had some problems but he’s so great. Simon says it verged on karaoke and he should have picked a different song and done something different with it. I can see where Simon and Randy are coming from, but I have to confess that this is one of those songs that just bores me.
Michael Lynche is up next with Michael Jackson’s “Will You Be There?” Big Mike says the pressure is big this week to get into the Top 3, so he’s preparing a little differently. And a year ago his goal was to get into the Top 3. Jamie says Mike’s a little worried that maybe he shouldn’t be here, but he should be. So Jamie gets Mike to loosen up, but he still gets thte contestant shirt because he doesn’t know the words. Mike says he’s not taking it and he’ll come back for the artist shirt. Big Mike’s joined on stage by five backup singers in a v-formation. Mike always sings so well, but there’s always something lacking for me – I don’t know if it’s too polished or what. I can’t explain it. Randy says it was a cool song but he didn’t love it. Ellen says you can’t go wrong with a choir behind you and a classic movie, “Free Willy.” Haha. Ellen says it’s weird that his goal is to get into the Top 3; it should be to win. And she says it was predictable. Kara says she wanted goosebumps and she didn’t feel it. Simon says he doesn’t know what “Free Willy” is and he can’t connect a whale named Willy with the song. Kara says it’s not about a whale, Simon says, “What’s it about? A willie?” Simon says at least he gave it 100% and he kind of felt that he meant it.

Good grief. This night’s shaping up to be a real bore. I mean, the song list is pretty much lacking in anything decent, other than cheesy, overplayed pop songs. Hey, maybe someone will surprise us and do “Purple Rain”! That would be great! If someone does either Bryan Adams song, though, I’m going to barf.
Lee and Crystal will perform their duet, “Falling Slowly.” Both are playing guitars, facing each other. OK, now we’re talking! Lee sounds 1000 times better, Crystal is great. Great match up, great arrangement, great harmonies. Randy says, “What a difference a few moments makes.” He says it could be a hit now. Ellen says they’re “like the new Captain and Tennielle”. Kara says it’s one of her favorite moments of the season. Simon says he doesn’t know if he would call it a good song, he’d call it a fantastic song. Lee and Crystal say it was a little weird at first to sing staring into each others eyes, but it got easier. Crystal calls Lee her “musical crush.”
Casey James is up next with “Mrs. Robinson.” Jamie says he noticed that Casey wasn’t focused and connecting. He sat close and looked into Casey’s eyes and told him to sing through him. Casey’s playing a mandolin; I love when we get to see him stripped down like this. He really does have a great voice, and this arrangment lets us see Casey and not the song, if that makes sense. Great job, tonight, especially since Vote For The Worst has him as this week’s pick. Loved it. Randy asks why he picked that song, and Casey says “A lot of things,” to lots of laughs and a mention of Kara. Oh, haha. Randy says he sounded cool but he wasn’t jumping up and down and he didn’t change anything. Randy’s wrong. Ellen says she wishes they’d given him a “big boy guitar.” She likes that he got beat up last week and came back with something different. Kara says he was vulnerable and attached to the song, and he’s not comfortable like this normally and it was a good song choice for him. Simon says he didn’t think the performance had the substance required for such an important night and he could have made more of an impact. I have to totally disagree. I think he did a great job, I think it was unique and different, and I think that’ll keep him here another week.
Crystal Bowersox is up next singing .. Kenny Loggins’ “I’m Alright.” Seriously? She really better do something unique with this, because otherwise it’ll just be a joke. Because when we hear the “Caddyshack” theme song we all think gophers and Bill Murray. Not the image you want voters to have when they pick up the phone tonight to vote.
Ryan says the judges ha ve been critical about song choices and she says it’s a funny movie and a great song. Crystal says she was star struck. Jamie tells her to vamp and give some attitude. Crystal’s there with her favorite mic stand, and a percussionist on stage with her. Yes, she’s giving it a great raw, edgy sound. No gophers in this song. Love it! Randy says she’s an artist; he says it wasn’t his favorite performance but she switched it up. Ellen says was “Crystalized” and she made the song better. Kara agrees with them both. Simon says she’s back in the game. I can’t believe what she did with that song. Ryan points out Crystal’s boyfriend Tony in the audience, with his American flag pants. He’s so cute.
OK, barf. Casey and Big Mike are singing a Bryan Adams’ song. I knew they were going to pick “Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman.” I hate this song. Casey and Mike are both playing guitars, but they’re not looking into each other’s eyes. In fact, Casey has his eyes closed. They sound great, and Casey is such a great guitar player. They did a great job, even though I really dislike the song in general. Randy says he loved the guitar playing, started rough vocally, but was good. Ellen saysj, “As a matter of fact, yes I have loved a women.” Hahaha. Kara says the duets were incredible and better than the solos. Simon says Jamie’s artist t-shirts got to the duets, because they were a million times better than the solo performances.
Recap: the duets were definitely better, with Lee and Crystal the better of the two. That was easily the best performance of the night. Crystal’s solo was best, Casey next best, then Lee and Mike.
But what do you think? Who rocked? Who stunk? Who do you think is going home?:
Tomorrow we’ll find out who makes the final three, with guests from Fantasia, Bon Jovi, and Daughtry. Fun!
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