We started with 12, but tonight only eight are left standing.
Michael, Casey, Todrick, Tim,
Andrew, Lee, Alex, and Aaron.
These are the guys, and they are ready to deliver,
because this is American Idol.
Good evening, everybody, I'm Ryan Seacrest.
It is wednesday, and that means it's time for the gentlemen to take the stage.
Please welcome your judges, Randy Jackson, ladies and gentlemen.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Ellen Degeneres.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Kara Dioguardi.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And Simon Cowell.
Boo, boo, boo.
Can I ask you guys a question seriously? because I was reading the E-mails.
- Why are you so close to each other this year? - Yeah.
- He keeps leaning on me. - Are you leaning on her this year?
He kind of been... I feel like it's separation anxiety
maybe because you're not with your fiancee.
Come on.
What do you think?
So I'm leaning into you?
- Definitely. - Yeah, right.
You are completely leaning into me.
I think kara is your binkie.
OK. Here we go.
- What's a binkie? - I'll explain in the next commercial.
Tonight it's the most important performance in the lives of these guys.
It is a big deal tonight.
They're going for a spot in that top 12.
Up first with the current single "Fireflies"
by Owl City, here's Lee Dewyze.
Take it away, Lee, let's go.
# you would not believe your eyes #
# if 10 million fireflies #
# lit up the world as I fell asleep #
# because they'd fill the open air #
# leave teardrops everywhere #
# you'd think me rude #
# but I would just stand and stare #
# I'd like to make myself believe #
# that planet earth turns slowly #
# it's hard to say I'd rather stay #
# awake when I'm asleep #
# cause everything is never as it seems #
# yeah #
# I'd like to make myself believe #
# that planet earth turns slowly #
# it's hard to say I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep #
# cause everything is never as it seems #
# when I fall asleep #
# it's hard to say I'd rather stay awake when I'm asleep #
# because my dreams are bursting at the seams #
Wow, wow. All right, so listen, dog,
listen, for me it was a strange song choice,
but here's what I love about what you did, right?
There were a couple of pitch problems here and near,
but you really kind of made it your own.
To me, Adam Young with the song "Fireflies", it's a cool song
but a softer thing for a big voice like yours. But you made it work, man.
I think it actually, I think you worked it out. You worked it out.
Yeah, I like that you made
it a little rock. I think it was great.
I think, you know, there were a couple of pitch problems.
I don't think that matters right now.
I think that a lot of people like you.
I know a lot of people are
talking to me about they have crushes on you.
So you're adorable and I thought it was great.
Thank you very much.
- Kara? - You looked confident tonight.
I had fun.
That's what I'm seeing from you.
That's what we're waiting for you, is for you to step up.
There's a star bubbling there.
I think you actually made the song a better song with your interpretation.
- Thank you. - Because... Let me say why.
The production value,
the production value is really what made that song really big.
And to strip it away and just do it with guitar and actually...
- Is this guy leans, you are leaning into me! - I'm leaning away, I'm leaning away.
- What's happening over there? - I'm leaning away, I'm leaning away.
Anyway, I thought it was a solid job.
Not your best moment, but very solid.
Thank you very much.
You know, yeah, there's nothing to rave about after that.
It... I don't think you had a moment with that song.
Having said that, I've seen the progress with you over three weeks.
I'm really glad that you're here.
I think you've got a great chance of making the top 12.
But I actually think that you
are better than the version of the song you just did.
I genuinely do.
Going into this week, you were a little worried about
what they might say. Why is that?
Because I... I've gotten some like good comments and bad comments.
I'm trying to focus not on the good at all.
I'm just trying to look at, you know, what I need to work on.
And I'm trying to take everything that you guys are saying. And just...
- It's a little confusing. - It is. But I'm trying to find which is why I picked that song.
'Cause I figured, you know, instead of coming out of here doing a rock song,
I figure I'd do something a little different and put my voice on it and hope it worked out. So...
He's working hard. If you want to vote for him...
lines open at the end of the show.
They'll stay open for at least two hours.
Thank you very much, Lee. Good luck to you, buddy.
Appreciate it.
That's it for a sec.
Alex and Tim live in Hollywood next.
Back with you live on "American Idol."
All attention tonight is focused on the guys.
With "Trouble," ladies and gentlemen, here's Alex Lambert.
# trouble #
# trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble #
# trouble been doggin' my soul #
# since the day I was born #
# worry #
# worry, worry, worry, worry #
# worry just will not seem to leave my mind alone #
# I've been saved #
# by a woman #
# I've been saved #
# by a woman #
# she won't let me go #
# no #
# she won't let me go #
# trouble #
# oh, trouble, trouble, trouble, trouble #
# trouble been doggin' my soul #
# since the day I was born #
Yo, yo, listen, I think it was a good song choice for you, right?
I mean, the whole Ray Lamontagne thing.
He's dope. He's got all the loads ready, and dropping off.
But, I'm not sure, like, you wowed me with it.
But I liked it. I just wasn't jumping up and down. But...
- I gotcha. - I feel like you could have done a little bit more.
Maybe even made it slower. Felt like it was a little too fast for me.
- Yo, yo, yo, yo. Yeah. - Yo. Boo, boo, boo, boo.
I... you're becoming a mushy banana is what's happening to you.
You are ripening so fast.
Here's the thing. Some people are good.
Then they kind of one week they're not so good, then
they're good again.
You are consistently every single week, you get better and
better and better. And...
What I love about you, too, is I love your innocence, that you
can see how sweet and vulnerable and real and honest you are and
don't ever lose that.
You need more confidence, but don't get cocky.
Thank you.
Don't become a cocky banana.
Nobody likes that. But... I just really really...
The only thing standing in the way of you winning is you
right now, because you have so much, and when I close my eyes,
I know exactly who's singing when I hear you.
But you are still stiff and you're not in it and you're not
letting go up there.
I wanted an acoustic guitar and you just singing and in the moment.
That would have been better.
That's what we need from you, vulnerability.
Be you. Let go.
Thank you.
Yeah, I agree.
I think you kind of got to get yourself mentally somewhere else
because you are so still concentrating on try to deliver the performance.
We've never, ever seen you relax or having a good time.
You've kind of got to imagine Randy in a Bikini or something.
What? What?
Dog, you don't think about that.
I wouldn't, I wouldn't, but you gotta get...
I do, I do. Of course.
- Randy in a Bikini? - Yes, right, Kara. Right.
You know what I'm saying.
In other words, you've got to
stop staring down that lens and concentrating on the cameras.
Let yourself go. 'Cause the guys said you've got a really good distinct voice and
people like you as a person, but you've got to get that out of your head.
I will get Randy in a Bikini next week if you're here.
If that takes you to the place that takes Simon,
Nevertheless, if you want to vote for Alex...
You're blushing over there, Simon.
You didn't mean it the way it came out.
He's going to wear a bikini and he's going to wear a binkie.
What is a binkie?
- Ryan tell him. - Thank you very much, Alex. I'll let them settle about it.
We're going to keep things going. Right now,
on acoustic guitar with Jeff Buckley's version of "Hallelujah," Tim Urban.
# I've heard there was a secret chord #
# David played and it pleased the lord #
# but you don't really care for music, do ya #
# but it does like this #
# the fourth, the fifth #
# the minor fall, the major lift #
# the baffled king composing hallelujah #
# Hallelujah #
# Hallelu #
# I know there's a god above #
# but all I've ever learned from love #
# is how to shoot at somebody who out drew ya #
# well, it's not a cry that you hear at night #
# and it's not somebody who's seen the light #
# it's a cold # # it's a broken Hallelujah #
# Hallelujah #
One of the greatest songs ever.
I love that song, Leonard Cohne.
Love the whole Jeff Buckley version.
We've had some good times on the show with that song.
I got to tell you something, you walked in some pretty big shoes
and I think you did a pretty good job, Tim.
Thank you.
Tim, every week I feel like I've been so hard on you.
I feel like I've been criticizing and I saw you were
singing this song.
I was like, oh, what's he doing.
I have to do this right now.
That was fantastic! That was fantastic.
Thank you so much.
You sounded so good.
I'm going back.
- Want... want to give out the numbers? - No.
I thought you were going to be going home a few weeks ago.
And now I actually think you're kind of in it and you may just about
be in the top of the boys right now.
That was an honest interpretation.
You were feeling it.
And I could feel that from you.
And that's all anyone can ask when they sing that song,
because it's all about the emotion, the beauty, the sorrow in it.
And you showed it. Yes, you showed it.
Thank you.
So?
I kind of feel responsible for you doing well
tonight after what I said...
- Oh, right, right. - I genuinely do,
because I gave you a confidence boost and you needed it,
and because you know, you're in that tricky position because you
didn't think you should have been here.
Your first week was horrendous. Last week I thought was good.
And this week very, very smart with that song because it's a song that reacts.
You know I've had a big, big hit with a version of the song.
It really is rated song.
Although it's not the best version I've ever heard, but for you it was
terrific and by far the strongest performance you've
given in the competition so far. So well done.
And now I think that was the first time we've had a
judge leap over to the stage for a hug.
I've been so hard on him.
And I feel like actually I think I'm responsible for that performance, Simon.
I think I actually am responsible.
No. No.
I think it's me and Kara.
I think it's the judging panel as a whole.
All of the constructive criticism.
But if you had to say one...
We would not exist without Simon Cowell.
We shall bow to him. That's what we start geting us to do.
- Thank you all so much, equally. - To vote for Tim...
Just unbutton your shirt and be quiet for a second.
Lines open at the end of the show.
Tim, good one, buddy. Good performance.
After this, Andrew Garcia goes with Christina Aguilera.
That's after the break.
Good to be back with you on "American Idol" live in Hollywood tonight.
You're voting for your favorite guy to make sure they're part of the top 12.
Andrew Garcia is here.
Now they have not stopped talking about "Straight Up"
since you did that in Hollywood week.
With that in mind, what are you going to try to do to get in the top 12?
I am just going back to the route where I... it felt.. Paula felt good,
this one felt good the same way.
Just put it together. Just how I felt about it.
No stress. No overthinking it. Just doing it.
- Did you just learn Christina this week? - Yeah.
- "Genie in a bottle" right? - yeah.
- OK, you'll go and get set. You look nervous? - No, I'm not nervous.
Get out of here, head to the stage.
So far in the competition he's covered as he sang Paula Abdul, Alicia Keys and Adele.
Tonight he takes on Christina Aguilera.
Here is "Genie in a bottle" by Christina Aguilera, Andrew Garcia.
# I feel like I've been trapped all night for a century #
# of lonely nights waiting for someone to release me #
# you're licking your lips and blowing kisses my way but that
# don't mean I'm gonna give it away #
# baby, baby, baby, release me #
# oh, whoa, oh #
# if you wanna be with me #
# baby there's a price to pay #
# I'm a genie in a bottle #
# you gotta rub me the right way #
# if you wanna be with me #
# I can make your wish come true #
# you gotta make a good impression #
# I gotta like what you do #
# I'm a genie in a bottle, baby #
# gotta rub me the right way, honey #
# I'm a genie in a bottle, baby #
# come, come, come and let me out #
# if you wanna be with me #
# baby, there's a price to pay #
# I'm a genie in a bottle #
# you gotta rub me the right way #
# yeah, yeah, yeah #
Yo, let me start off by saying, dude, I like the cardigan.
Thanks.
The dog's look, I like that.
Listen, very interesting song choice.
When I heard you were doing it,
I was like I wonder if that's going to work or not. What's going to happen with that?
Was it a good idea? It didn't quite work for me, dude.
It was a little pitchy all over the place tonight.
Here's the problem with it. Here's the real problem.
You made it feel like the whole song was three notes.
You know what I mean? Had no range to it.
It didn't real quite go anywhere.
I don't know. I didn't quite get it.
- Fine, man. You'll still buy it though. - I like it, though.
It looks good on you. You look like a model like me. I like that.
I thought it was a great song choice and I thought
that that's what you needed to do because what you did with
Paula's song was so great.
I thought at the end is when you really surprised us and I think
the genie came out of the bottle too late.
Like it was at the end when I was like, oh, that's great.
I wish you would have done something a little bit something different.
But I still think that people will love that. I do.
You know, you're in a hard position because you peaked so early.
You had that moment that just blew us away and you've been
chasing it ever since.
And I can appreciate what you did tonight, but you were
fighting with the rhythm of the guitar.
I couldn't hear the melody. I couldn't hear you until the very end.
And that... You know, I'm disappointed because I like you
- and I see a lot there, but it just wasn't great. - Okay.
And I wanted it to be.
Yeah, I have to say I'm kind of with Kara here
a little bit because for me, it really came over that you've
been trying to work out what you should be doing.
Came up with the idea of the Christina song, which is okay.
It was a little bit desperate, I thought, Andrew.
It didn't feel that you were comfortable.
Like I said, you've overthought it.
And this is a tricky one for you
because you've got a good voice.
You're a cool guy.
But you kind of still are going
backwards at the moment, I'm afraid, Andrew.
Sorry.
Andrew Garcia, going back to that Paula Abdul song,
do you think if you could have done it differently, you would
have done the same thing?
because they're talking about peaking too early.
Yeah.
- You still would have come out of the gate with that song? - Yes.
'cause you've been compared every single word, every single week to that performance.
That's fine.
That's me.
Everything you hear on the stage is me.
My fans are voting.
I love them so much. 'Cause I saw them here, so.
Thank you, guys.
If they want to put you in...
Andrew, good luck to you.
OK. Thank you.
After this, our oldest and youngest contestants take the stage.
Casey and Aaron live next.
So last week Randy said this guy was channelling
Hendrix, but tonight he's
going unplugged with "You'll Think of Me" by Keith Urban.
Please welcome Casey James, America.
# woke up early this morning around 4:00 AM #
# with the moon shining bright #
# as headlights on the interstate #
# I pulled the covers over my #
# head and tried to catch some sleep #
# thoughts of us kept keeping me awake #
# ever since you found yourself #
# In someone else's arms #
# I've been doin' my best to get along #
# but that's okay, there's nothing left to say #
# take your records, take your freedom #
# take your memories, I don't need them #
# take your space and all your reasons #
# but you'll think of me #
# take your cap and leave my sweater #
# cause we've got nothing left to weather #
# in fact, I'll feel a whole lot better #
# but you'll think of me #
# take your records, take your Freedom #
# take your memories, I don't need them #
# take your space and take your reasons #
# but you'll think of me #
# take your cap and leave my sweater #
# cause we've got nothing left to weather #
# in fact I'll feel a whole lot better #
# but you'll think of me #
# you'll think of me #
# oh, you'll think of me #
Yo, I'm a fan of that song, fan of Keith.
I think it was a safe choice for me, you picking that song.
I mean look, don't pull away from the vocals or anything that you do.
I mean, I feel like you've got
more of an edge, a Stevie Ray kind of thing.
You know, just go for more of that.
I see you more that way, you know what I mean?
It was a very safe choice.
I don't know if it was amazing.
It was so safe. I'm sorry.
I don't know.
No, I thought it was great.
I thought it was... you're so
much more comfortable sitting down, aren't you?
You're more comfortable sitting on a stool and playing guitar
and that kind of... that feels like your vibe to me.
I don't know if it is for you.
And I thought you sounded great. I really liked it.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
I'm kind of back on the Casey train.
Kind of I'm getting there.
This was better than last week.
I mean, you're not trying to be a rock star.
It was honest.
You're sitting down.
You're doing what you do best, playing guitar,
singing from your heart.
I'm missing that spark.
I want to see a little bit more from you,
but it's definitely a move in the right direction.
Definitely.
Good, good.
I would say it was your second best.
It wasn't as good as week one.
It was definitely better than last week.
I think it made you sincere.
Again, I said this before.
I don't think it's going to be something we're going to be
remembering or raving about in 24 hours' time as a performance.
And I think there are so many songs you could choose from, but
- you sounded great, I have to say. - Thank you.
If you want to vote for him for the top 12...
Don't do anything until the end of the show.
Thank you, Casey.
Good luck getting in there, all right?
We're going to continue with the country genre right now with
Lonestar's 2001 hit "I'm Already There" brought to you by Aaron Kelly.
Here he is.
# he called her on the road #
# from a lonely cold hotel #
# just to hear her say I love you one more time #
# a little voice came on the phone #
# said daddy when you comin' home #
# he said the first thing that came to his mind #
# I'm already there #
# take a look around #
# I'm the sunshine in your hair #
# I'm the shadow on the ground #
# I'm the whisper in the wind #
# I'm your imaginary friend #
# and I know #
# that I'm in your prayers #
# I'm already there #
# we may be a thousand miles apart #
# but I'll be with you wherever you are #
# cause I'm already there #
# I'm already #
# there #
Yo, dude, you know what, listen something, you've
got the makings of a great man.
I'm telling you, you're really young and it's coming on.
The thing you have to work on...
I think this was really good, right?
The thing you should work on is the lower notes.
When you first started, I thought where are we going.
When you hit your power zone in the middle, It was like, I was like,
yo, this dude can sing, what?
So listen. A job well done.
Still some work to do, but job well done.
Thank you.
Oh, I love you, and
what's weird is that you're like 16, right?
16 and you stand up and the way you
carry yourself, I don't feel like it's posing.
I feel like it's real, the way you stand, but you stand like
you're like 30 years old.
You have the confidence of someone so much older.
And I think you've sounded better.
I really thought that was a tough song for you.
I love that song and I felt like
it was a little too much song
for you because I know you have a great voice.
I've heard it before.
But I just didn't think that was terrific. Sorry.
I know.
I'm sorry.
I love you.
You come out on the stage every week and you give it your all.
You really do.
You're in it, and I can feel that.
But, honey, that song, first of all, it's in the third person
and it's about a man calling
home to talk to his kids on the phone.
And you're 16 years old.
It's not relevant to your life
and that was my problem with it.
How can you feel a connection to it?
I was telling the story more than...
Look, if it does any help, Kara, I think
what you just said is complete and utter rubbish.
Whoa, whoa.
We can't keep getting literal because he's 16, he
should be doing that.
It's a beautiful song.
Great song.
It was the right type
of song for you to do compared to last week.
It wasn't a great vocal, but what it did have was it had
emotion and I could tell you were trying hard.
But if we still... If we keep
going down this road, you can't do this, you can't do that,
We're going to confuse these people so much.
It's just a nice song.
Get over it.
What... What did you try to say?
What were you saying?
I was saying I was trying to tell the story of the song, not...
From his perspective, just as a story, kind of like the narrator.
When you have kids later, do the call tell Kara about it and
everything will work out.
Do not vote until the end of the show.
Thank you, Aaron.
Good luck to you, all right?
Next up, we're going to go back to the 70s with some Queen from
Todrick after this.
Hang on.
Back with you live on American Idol.
Very important night for the guys.
If they survive the cut tomorrow, they are in to that top 12.
Right now with Queen's "Somebody To Love," here is Todrick Hall.
# can anybody #
# find me #
# somebody to #
# love #
# whoo #
# I work hard every day of my life #
# I work till I ache my bones #
# at the end #
# at the end of the day #
# I take home my hard earned pay all on my own #
# I get down on my knees and I start to pray #
# 'Til the tears run down my eyes #
# somebody #
# can anybody find me #
# somebody to love #
# he works hard #
# every day #
# I try and I try and I try #
# but everybody wants to bring me down #
# they say I'm going crazy #
# they say I got a lot of water in my brain #
# he's got no common sense #
# he's got nobody left to believe in #
# yeah, yeah #
# find somebody #
# can you find me #
# can anybody find me #
# somebody #
# to love #
Let me just say just this.
Todrick is back!
Dude, what you did there is you proved you could really sing.
That's why you're here.
All this stuff about you being a dancer and all this kind of stuff.
That was one of the best vocals
I heard all night, all the last couple of weeks by a man.
So, yo, I loved it. I loved it.
Thank you so much.
Todrick, you are a brave, brave young man.
I could not believe I saw you
were singing that song, but you made it... It was almost...
It sounded like a gospel song.
I thought it actually worked like that. It kind of went in and out of it.
I wish it would have been more committed to that.
Cause it felt like that some parts... But... Man, you're brave.
I commend you for singing that song.
And you did a good job.
- You did a good job. - Thank you.
You can't listen to that
and say that wasn't good singing.
It was really good singing.
There were moments, though, when
I didn't know whether to laugh
at it or love it, because it was so dramatic.
It was almost like "Godspell" a little bit.
- Like "Glee". - And I don't know it's bad or good.
I'm just a little bit like where are we with Todrick,
But the singing was good, I gotta say.
Thank you.
I would say it was
good in parts, not the whole way through.
Look, I think what you've done tonight is tell us who you are,
which is you're a Broadway singer, you know.
That is American Idol, the musical, doing Queen
you know, silly gloves and the performing... That's who you are.
I see you more as that than a recording artist.
Having said that, because we find so many boring performances
where people just sitting on the stool and playing guitar.
At least you made an attempt to perform.
It was a good song choice.
And it may have saved you, that song.
Todrick getting to the top 12, you got to vote for him...
If you're with AT&T,text the word "VOTE" to 5707.
Don't vote until the end of the show.
- Good luck. - Thank you.
All right, gambling time, right?
Thank you all so much, thank you.
Okay, step away for just a sec, when we come back, my twin, big Mike, with Maxwell.
Ready?
We're back.
Okay.
Should we go?
Welcome back to American Idol, one more for you tonight.
This guy recently turned from a pussycat into a lion.
Simon's words, not mine.
Here is "This Woman's Work" from Michael Lynche.
Let's go, Mike.
# ah-ha #
# pray god you can cope #
# I'll stand outside #
# this woman's work #
# this woman's worth #
# ooh, it's hard on a man #
# now his part is over #
# now starts the craft #
# of the father #
# I know you've got a little life in you yet # # give me #
# I know you've got a lot of strength left # # this moment #
# I know you've got a little life in you yet # # give me your hand #
# I should be crying but I just can't let it go, baby #
# I should be hoping but I can't stop #
# thinking and thinking and thinking #
# of all the things we should have given but we didn't #
# oh, darling, make it go #
# just make it go away #
Really?
Yo, yo.
Wait a minute, wait a minute,
wait a minute.
Hang on, hang on, hang on.
Really?
Really, really?
Yo, man, I got to give it to you again.
That was crazy.
Listen, listen, listen, for everybody that doesn't know,
it was dope, it was unbelievable.
I want to call Maxwell's phone and said, yo big Mike is knocking on the door. We're ready.
But listen, the last note, for you to hear that chord, oh that was like, what? Yo, Mike, that was hot.
- Thank you very much. - What?
One of my favorite songs, and, oh, my god, that was
so beautiful.
It feels like the show just began.
You are the one to beat now.
The show just began.
I've never cried after hearing something like that.
It's amazing.
You were amazing.
And it's so relevant for you and I can feel it.
You know, it's your life right now, your respect for your wife, what
you've gone through, and that's... as a woman who doesn't
have a child, I can relate to it
so much and it brought me to tears.
It was amazing.
And Simon Cowell?
It really is nice.
I don't know what to say now.
Look, it was, as Ellen said, this was so neat.
This was so needed tonight,
because, you know, if you think back to the beginning of the
show, it was all a little bit boring.
It was a bit worthy.
You come out with an incredibly
difficult song to sing and you 100% nailed it.
Not just the best performance of the night.
It's the best performance we've had of all these live shows so far.
Playing to win, hmm,
playing to win and moving all over the stage, I hear, you're working it here.
Are you working it over here?
If you're with AT&T, you can text the word "VOTE" to 5708.
Mike, good job, man.
That was great.
Very good.
Come here, come here.
We're gonna show you the numbers one more time.
Pay attention.
Roll it.
The lines are now open, they're stay open for at least 2 hours,
tomorrow tonight your top 12 will be live on this stage,
that's it, 8/7 central, get on the phone, vote who do you like. Goodbye.