Last night the guys took the stage in a last-minute
switch and tonight the girls answer back.
It is on.
This is American Idol.
Hello ladies.
Good evening, guys.
Welcome to the show.
My name is Ryan Seacrest coming to you live from our studio in Hollywood.
We have a great lineup for you tonight.
The ladies are here, just 10 of them remain, and here they are.
Siobhan, come on out.
Paige Miles.
Katelyn Epperly.
Lilly Scott.
Michelle Delamor.
Didi Benami.
Katie Stevens.
Lacey Brown.
Haeley Vaughn.
And Crystal Bowersox
- Hi, Crystal. - How are you doing?
Well, that's my question for you.
- How are you doing? - I'm good.
We know you had a rough 24 hours.
You were in the hospital last night.
How are you feeling tonight?
I'm feeling good.
I'm a tough cookie.
- You are a tough cookie. Ready to compete? - I'm sure.
Ok, all right, let's get it on, take off over there. Get set.
We'll hear from Crystal in just a moment.
Now let's say hi to our esteemed panel of judges.
Randy Jackson. Hey Randy.
What up, what up, what up?
Ellen Degeneres.
And there's Kara Dioguardi.
Plus Simon Cowell.
Boo, boo, boo.
Randy, you started... just going back to last night for a second. You started the night off on your feet.
How would you rate the guys overall last night?
The guys were hot last night.
They had fire in their eyes.
A bunch of them were trying to win this thing.
I'm hoping the girls show up like that, too.
The pressure is on.
The boys are in the hunt.
Come on, girls, you have to show improvement tonight.
And Ms. Degeneres, how important is song choice?
Mr. Seacrest, well, I think it's everything.
It really is. I didn't realise how important it is.
But it's everything.
I once sang "Who Let The Dogs Out" at my grandmother's funeral.
And I thought that was the wrong choice.
And I'm sorry, nana.
Kara, I noticed this year you've been
cozing up closed to Simon's plunging neckline there.
I'm just wondering£¬you've been scooting your chair closer and closer to Mr. Cowell.
What's happening there? Anything you want to tell us?
- Is that a real question? - Yes!
- No. Do you think I've been? - A little bit.
- No. I think you've been cozying up at me. - Fifty fifty.
You're not rolling your eyes as much...
as much of me this season which I kind of enjoy.
You want me, don't you?
I don't know.
There's a lot of competition this year with the boys and everything.
This is uncomfortable.
Simon, how about some advice, seriously, for the ladies tonight.
What would you want to say to them?
Have to throw the nerves away tonight.
This to me is more important than last week.
You've really, really got to show this time
You can deal with the pressure.
Forget the words.
Forget the melodies.
That's not a great place to be.
Remember, you're voting this evening to keep
Your favorite girl around in this competition.
The guys are watching from the sidelines.
Say hi to the guys, ladies and gentlemen.
Tonight we're going to find out a little bit more about the ladies.
Let's get it going.
Take a look.
Some people know, but maybe America doesn't know,
I have a twin brother.
His name is Carl.
Very cute.
Crystal and Carl.
We are very different people.
I love my brother.
He's kind of a square.
Don't get mad at me, Carl.
You're a square.
He's got a good head on his shoulders. He's a smart guy.
I love him. He's my brother.
This is something I carry with me whenever I perform.
Little trinkets from different periods in my life
and from different people I really care about
And knowing it's in my pocket,
like all of those experiences and those people are with me
when I perform.
Last week I did Alanis Morrisette "Hand In My Pocket"
I love your originality as an artist,
I love that you come out, you're wearing the harp.
There are thousands of you doing this outside
subway stations every day at the moment.
If I heard that, I wouldn't stop in my tracks.
And say you are the most original artist I've ever heard.
It's funny he said that.
I used to perform on the subway in Chicago
when I lived there.
Some people stopped and listened.
This week I'm going to be singing Creedence Clearwater,
"As Long As I Can See The Light". "As Long As I Can See The Light"
I'm gonna be putting kind of gospelly church spin on it
My goal this week is to prove to Simon
that I would make him stop on a subway platform,
Not that he would ever take the subway, you know.
His trailer's two stories high.
But that's cool.
Big head, big trailer.
All right, right now, live with her guitar,
here is Crystal Bowersox, America.
# put a candle in the window #
# 'cause I feel I've got to move #
# though I'm going, oh #
# I'll be coming home soon #
# as long as I can see the light #
# pack my bag and let's get movin' #
# 'cause I'm bound to drift awhile #
# no, I won't, oh #
# you won't have to worry #
# lord, no #
# as long as I see the light #
# yeah #
# oh, yeah #
# as long as I can see the light #
# long as I can see the light #
# baby #
# long as I can see the light #
# long as I can see, you know, I'll be coming home #
# as long as I can see the light #
# mmmm #
Yo, Crystal, what's up, baby? What's going on, dear?
How are you doing, Randy?
I'll chillin', man.
You know what?
I've got to say this.
I know this is a reality show.
To me, in life truth is reality, right?
What I mean by that, you are the truth.
You do what you do.
I've said it before, I was watching that thing back.
I just love that you're not trying to be anybody else
and every week, I don't care, 50 weeks from now,
you're still going to be that girl.
I love that girl.
That girl is hot!
That is pure raw natural talent.
There's nothing forced.
There's nothing pushed.
It is just raw natural talent.
And I am so glad you're here today.
- Me, too. - I was so scared for you.
You please stay healthy.
We need you here.
You're amazing.
Amazing.
I'm working on it.
Thank you.
You completely recovered from last week.
"You Ought To Know" was more contemporary song.
And it just didn't fit you.
This is who you are. You are that Americana rock.
And when you come out here, it's effortless. You're just centered,
you're focused in the way that the greats are.
It's coming from your heart.
You can feel that.
I love that.
I think tonight you actually hit a new level.
You hit a new level.
And I have to congratulate you for that,
because that's hard to do in these early days.
Thanks.
So good job.
Crystal, I mean,
I know how sick you were actually over the last 24 hours.
It wasn't just like catching a cold or something.
You really were ill.
And I didn't know whether you were going to be back here this week.
What's great about you is that you didn't play the whole sympathy thing.
You chose a great song.
I have to tell you something, Crystal.
I completely misunderestimated you from last week.
Because for you to come back this week with that song,
That performance, the vocal was incredible, and I promise you,
This was like the moment we realized with Kelly Clarkson that
we've got a serious artist here
And I think we've got a really serious artist with you.
Congratulations.
Amen.
Thank you.
Crystal Bowersox. I think it was "Hand In My Pocket".
"Hand In My Pocket" which was the song last week, right?
Were you worried coming into this performance?
I was worried I wasn't going to be here. That's what I worry about.
When you found out you were going to be here,
were you nervous about performing?
No, I was ecstatic
- and grateful. - yeah.
If you want to vote for Crystal Bowersox,
lines open at the end of the show.
They'll stay open for at least two hours.
- Thank you very much, Crystal. - Thanks, Ryan. - Pray and see and then, darling.
On the other side we have Haeley coming to you live.
Hang on.
Back with you, ladies night here on American Idol.
Don't forget all of this evening's performances are
available for download on iTunes.
It's the American Idol page on iTunes.
That's where you can get started.
Say hi to Haeley Vaughn. Good to see you, Healey.
How are you feeling tonight?
I'm feeling pretty good.
I'm pretty nervous, but...
Last week you went with a Beatles song.
This week you're going with Miley Cyrus.
Is it easier to sing her music because she's a teenager like you?
It's fun singing young songs like myself.
So I can really connect to the song, too.
Because on a personal level, I'm not very confident sometimes,
So singing the song is like I'm getting to the point...
The lyrics mean a lot for me.
We're about to climb in one second.
Take a look at this first.
Something people may not know about me
is that I like to make things.
One thing in particular is headbands and hair accessories.
I actually made a lot of the ones I've worn on the show.
I made this headband.
It's so much fun and it's relaxing.
And they're cute and I wear them and
so I love doing it. I think it is good.
Last Tuesday's performance was a little rough.
I got good feedback from all three judges except for Simon.
You were like a wind-up doll
that never stopped smiling throughout the song.
I'm a bubbly, happy person,
so I don't know how to cut that out.
This is my mean face.
Hold on.
Mean face.
I don't know.
I try.
I don't know how to not smile.
Tonight I'm going to sing "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus.
Hopefully I'll go out there and show them my emotion
And I'll try not to smile so much, I guess.
I don't know.
Showing off her serious side tonight, here's Haeley Vaughn.
# I can almost see it #
# that dream I'm dreamin' #
# but there's a voice inside my head sayin' #
# you'll never reach it #
# every step I'm takin' #
# every move I'm make feels #
# lost with no direction #
# my faith is shakin' #
# but I #
# I gotta keep tryin' #
# I gotta keep my held high #
# oh, there's always gonna be another mountain #
# I'm always gonna wanna make it move #
# there's always gonna be an uphill battle #
# sometimes I'm gonna have to lose #
# ain't about how fast I get there #
# ain't about what's waitin' on the other side #
# it's the climb #
# and I #
# I gotta be strong #
# just keep pushin' on #
# yeah, yeah #
# there's always gonna be another mountain #
# I'm always gonna wanna make it move #
# there's always gonna be an uphill battle #
# sometimes I'm gonna have to lose #
# ain't about how fast i get there #
# ain't about what's waitin' on the other side #
# it's the climb #
Yo, all right, you always want me to keep it real with you,
Right, forever and always, always, right, right?
Okay, look.
It didn't work for me, man.
I really... it was... it was tough for me.
It was ex... excruciating. Listen.
Here is why it is excruciating.
You can sing. I'm telling you here.
Because you can sing. You've got talent.
But it was so pitchy and so just not right for you.
It was so... you had no connection to the song at all.
It was wrong.
Ellen, what do you think, man? What're you thinking?
I wish I... first of all, don't ever stop smiling
Because you have a great smile
and don't ever worry about that.
You have such a great smile, and you're adorable.
You're adorable.
I was going to say, unfortunately, the same thing.
I did not feel you connected to the song.
That song has such a great powerful message
And you just didn't... it was like
you memorized the song and you were singing it
and there was really no feeling there.
And I was excited to hear that song from you, too,
When I saw you were singing it.
I just didn't feel like it worked out.
But keep smiling.
Okay.
Haeley, you have kind of the Alex Lambert factor.
You have that people rooting for you at home.
I think there are a lot of people
out there who really like you,
And I think some contestants
can learn something from you.
When you're on that stage, you're open.
We get a sense of who you are.
You're real. You are smiling
and you are a really good performer.
Unfortunately, honey, you need about a year of
really strengthening your instrument,
because you do have talent, but it's very inconsistent.
It's like a muscle and it needs to be worked
and there are pitch issues and things that you really need to work out.
And that's what I can say to you.
But I do think people are going to root for you
because you are such a great spirit on that stage.
Look, I agree.
I don't want to make this any worse than it already is,
because, you know, it was a complete and utter mess to be...
Are we hearing the same thing?
In theory, it should have worked, you know.
You're a cute young girl.
It's a cute young song.
But there's a certain irony for you singing that song
about climbing when you actually fell off.
Oh, come on.
It's true.
That was a little mean.
You know the rules.
How does that not make it any worse?
What good did that do?
Wow.
To vote for Haeley, here are the numbers.
Calls are toll-free from landlines.
Standard text rates apply.
Haeley, thank you very much.
Good luck, all right?
We hope you stick around.
On the other side of the break, Texas native Lacey Brown after this.
Back with you live on American Idol.
Last night it was the guys performing.
Tonight we've got the girls fighting it out for your votes
and still to come we have some Coldplay, we've got a Kelly Clarkson song.
What else are we coming up, you guys?
- Aretha. - Aretha
So a lot of great music coming your way if you stay tunes.
All right Lacey, how was the shift in performance schedule
this week affected you, good or bad?
I think it was okay for me.
Because it gave the girls a little bit more time to kind of sink into which song
they were doing and get comfortable.
I felt bad for the boys, really,
because they didn't have a lot of time.
So my focus was really like I'm sorry, guys.
Why don't you get set to sing your song while we take a look at this.
Here's something more about Lacey.
Something that most people probably don't know about me
yet is that I really like to go antique shopping for old furniture
and kind of just refurbish it.
I really like doing it just, first of all, just for myself.
It's kind of relaxing for me.
Out of all the pieces that I've done,
I don't really keep any of them around in my house
because by the time I get it painted, somebody sees it and wants it,
so I usually sell it or give it away.
Right there when I'm on stage, the mike is in front of me,
the crowd's there, I tell myself you were made to do this.
It's something that my mom tells me, so I kind of just remind myself,
hey, you were made to do this.
So do it.
Last week I sang "Landslide."
I really think that nerves played a big role.
After about 15 seconds, I was working out how much longer
we had to listen to this for.
I'm very sorry if I bored you.
I think something like "Six Pence None The Richer", "Kiss Me", that's your vibe.
The funny thing the fact is that I already love that song and
wanted to do it live on the show for America to see,
so I just thought, well, all right, we'll just do that this week.
I'm going to have a lot of fun with it.
I hope America likes it, too.
Let's find out.
Here she is, Lacey Brown.
# kiss me, out by the bearded barley #
# nightly, beside the green, green grass #
# swing, swing, swing #
# swing the spinning step #
# you wear those shoes and I will wear that dress #
# oh, kiss me #
# beneath the milky twilight #
# led me #
# out on the moonlit floor #
# lift your open hand #
# strike up the band and let the fireflies dance #
# silver moon's sparkling #
# yeah #
# so kiss me #
# oh, yeah #
# kiss me #
# out by the broken treehouse #
# swing me #
# upon its hanging tire #
# bring, bring, bring #
# bring your flowered hat #
# we'll take the trail marked on your father's map #
# oh, kiss me #
# beneath the milky twilight #
# oh, led me #
# out on the moonlit floor #
# lift your open hand #
# strike up the band and let the fireflies dance #
# silver moon's sparkling #
# so kiss me #
# oh, so kiss me #
Yo, um, Kara, interesting choice.
Thanks, Randy.
No, listen, it's just funny how you picked that up off the screen.
Yeah, that's kind of cool.
Listen, you know, I actually think it was a good choice
and it actually would have worked,
but I felt like for most of the song except for
maybe one or two moments I was looking for the words to flash across
the screen like I'm just at a club or somewhere and we're doing karaoke.
There was nothing.
You didn't bring anything to it.
You didn't do anything special with it.
Well, no, you didn't change it up or anything,
but I thought it was adorable.
I thought you were great.
Thank you.
I thought you sounded like it was the right song.
At last week it was kind of a downer song and you're such an up
person so it was a good choice.
I think it was a good suggestion and I thought it was adorable.
I like your personality and I like you.
Thank you.
I like you, too.
Last week I felt like we were losing
what was special about you, which is your tone.
You have this very unique sound in your voice and vocal styling,
and this song, especially at the beginning,
brought that back to the audience.
Good.
Which I like.
But I have to say that you have to step it up from here.
Still.
Yeah.
You did do some things with the song,
but you didn't push it to where it could have gone,
but we're back in the playing field with you,
because now we're listening to Lacey again.
Awesome.
We can hear your tone and it's a happy song because you're a happy girl.
No "Landslide" depressing song.
This is not for you.
This is you, happy smiling people.
It's a step in the right direction for her.
I think it was marginally better than last week.
I get the feeling with you, though,
that you are taking part in a competition rather
than showcase who you are as an artist.
So whatever is suggested for you, you'll probably do and do quite well,
but you compare that to the first performance tonight from Crystal,
there is a massive, massive difference here.
One is showing America I'm an artist.
You come on, bounce around the stage,
sing a quite nice happy little song and we're not going to remember it.
And that's the problem.
All right, Lacey.
So picking up on his point there, Simon's point,
you think you could have done something differently to make it more memorable?
I mean, I don't know what he was saying about you just do whatever...
I just didn't understand the whole you do whatever we tell you to do.
I wanted to do the song before she suggested it.
It was a great suggestion.
You should never do something you don't want to do.
I love that song.
And so, I don't know, just that...
We're all happy.
Yeah, I'm happy.
We're all happy.
If you want to vote for Lacey...
Lines open at the end of the show.
- Thank you, Lacey. Good luck to you. - Thank you very much.
We're going to leave you for just a moment.
Katie Stevens live next.
Thank you for choosing American Idol this evening.
Say hi to Katie Stevens.
She's here almost ready to sing.
How have your friends back in high school reacted to you being on the show?
They think it's awesome.
They get together and have parties to watch you?
They were supposed to have a viewing party yesterday
but since it got switched, it went to today.
Ironically, every time I'm on TV, it snows in Connecticut.
So like sometimes the parties are canceled.
They can't get to wherever they're supposed to be to watch it.
If you stick around long enough, it will warm up.
- Yeah. - They could still watch it, hopefully
Listen. Last week you picked something the judges thought was a little old-fashioned.
Did you think it was?
but I completely understood like I should do a song
that's more current, more fun, youthful, my age.
That's what you're doing this week.
Yeah, and I hope they notice.
Good luck to you.
Go get set on the stage.
We're going to learn a little more about Katie.
Watch.
What people probably don't know about me is
I can say give me a kiss in six languages including English.
Polish.
German.
Portuguese.
French.
Spanish.
And give me a kiss is in English.
Ta-da!
I'm look embarrassed for myself that I can do that.
I've never actually been to these countries.
I just think it's cool to know.
It's not like I'm walking around asking people for kisses.
That's kind of weird.
Don't think badly of me, America, please, please.
Before I go on stage to perform, I actually do
what that girl from the last audition does.
I jump up and down.
I scream in the mirror.
You're awesome.
You're going to kill them.
Yep!
Last week I sang "Feeling Good"
It was great.
You have a great voice, a very powerful voice,
but you're 17 and I felt like it was a little old for you.
I just have to take what they say and try to do something with it.
This week I'm singing "Put Your Records On".
I feel it's a younger song.
That's what they asked me to do.
Hopefully, they'll like it.
I'm so ready for tonight.
Bring it!
It's gonna be sick!
She's pumped and ready to go.
Here's Katie Stevens.
# three little bird #
# sat on my window #
# and they told me you don't need to worry #
# summer came like cinnamon, so sweet #
# little girls double-double on the concrete #
# maybe sometimes #
# we've got it wrong, but it's all right #
# the more things seem to change #
# the more they stay the same #
# don't you hesitate #
# girl, put your records on #
# tell me your favorite song #
# just go ahead, let your hair down #
# sapphire and faded jeans #
# I hope you get your dreams #
# just go ahead #
# let your hair down #
# 'twas more than I can take #
# pity for pity's sake #
# some nights kept me awake #
# I thought that I was stronger #
# when you gonna realize #
# that you don't even have to try any longer #
# do what you want to #
# girl, put your records on #
# tell me your favorite song #
# let your hair down #
# you're gonna find yourself someday #
# somehow #
All right.
So, yo, ha, ha, ha, it's nice.
I love you.
Io yo, listen, there were some bright moments.
And one bright moment for me is when you, right after the bridge, when you went into your upper register, it was actually really good.£¨TBD£©
It reminded me of the girl we saw in the audition.
You're young, but you can tackle things more difficult melodically
and the first part was very pitchy and kind of all over the place and not that interesting.
But by the time you got to your sweet spot, it was kind of cool.
Go so more for that in songs you know what I'm saying?
OK.
And believe a little more
that you probably can tackle some bigger songs.
Thank you.
I think... I think you have a great voice.
You have a really great voice.
And I like it.
I still feel like I can't believe... you're 17, right?
Yes.
It still feels like I want to see you younger somehow.
And I know that that's a younger song and
I know you're listening to our notes and we appreciate that.
But I'm going to be specific.
I don't want to... I don't want to hear something that
I would hear in my dentist's office, okay?
I want it to be like a young, hip song, because you have a great voice,
but I still feel like you're not singing something that's right for your age.
Okay, guys.
Ellen, I have to agree with you.
I'm so frustrated with you, Katie.
I see so much in you.
And I know it's confusing.
One week we tell you to do this, one week that.
But at the end of the song you started opening up.
You were almost in the wrong key.
And the end you were kind of going off with the melody
and doing your own thing.
You've got to be doing that from the first time you open your mouth.
Get pulling us in like that.
And the other thing is there are certain songs
that are just great songs on the radio.
But when you go to perform them,
there's not enough that you can do with them to have
that impact that you need to have and I believe you can have.
So I'm still waiting for that moment for you.
- 16. You haven't had it yet, but I'm really pulling for you, girl. - 17
- 17 - Yeah, it's very frustrating, because as they said,
you actually did take our notes
and you made an attempt to make yourself younger.
My issue is if you came into my record label
and said what should I do, I would say two things.
A, get some experience and, B,
tell me what kind of artist you want to be.
And that's what you're failing to do at the moment.
You're not telling us this is
the kind of recording artist I'm going to be.
So you've got to research it a bit more.
I think actually you'll stay around for another week
because I think people like you,
but you're going to look back on this and you're going to feel frustrated
because it wasn't a winning performance.
Okay.
What do you think now that you're hearing two weeks' worth of feedback?
What do you think you can do to make it younger at this point?
I don't know.
I've got to research and look up stuff.
At times it is confusing trying to figure out what to do,
what song to pick,
because it is really important, so I don't know.
I'll have to...
You have specific advice?
How about next week something that
you're going through in your life,
that you're feeling, whatever you're feeling,
confused maybe right now.
And who's younger that you love?
Who's like under 20?
You're 17.
Who's...
Is there anybody you're a fan of that's a teenager?
It's a good direction. It's a good place to start.
If you want to vote for Katie, your number is...
You've got your homework assignment.
Yes, I do.
Up next, it's Bill Withers courtesy of Didi.
Hang on.
Back with you live on "American Idol,"
Our two-hour live event with the ladies.
If you want to keep their performances,
go to the "American Idol" page on Itunes.
You can download your favorite.
Next up is Didi.
I was watching you last night as you were watching the guys perform.
You were... I think that watching more the body language of the judges.
What was going through your head?
I was paying attention,
hoping the guys were going to nail it.
I was trying to keep faith in all the song choices
and my own song choice, too.
Did they make you doubt anything?
It didn't make me doubt anything.
I just... You know, it just makes you a little nervous
when you're hearing the comments that they're telling everybody
and you want to make sure that
you're doing the right thing and I could talk forever.
That's all right.
We'll listen.
We won't cut you off.
Are you ready for tonight?
Ready to nail this?
Take a look at Didi while she gets set.
Something most of America does not know is that
when I was in middle school, I was the mascot for two years.
I had to be at the basketball games.
I would be down with the cheerleaders.
I was wishing I was a cheerleader.
Eventually I made the cheerleading squad.
I think they felt bad for me.
Before I hit the stage, I pray and I also do meowing
because it's a really good vocal warm-up to open up your vocal cords.
I go meow, meow, meow, meow,
meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow
You do have a great voice.
You have a great look.
You're great.
Didi, I think you are a good singer.
But again, a bit indulgent.
Which I looked up.
I didn't understand how that went into context with what I was singing.
I was singing it two people, so I didn't understand that.
This week I'm going to do something totally different
with more of like a soul kind of thing going on.
I'm going to do "Lean On Oe" by Bill Withers.
Last week I showed who I am, singer-songwriter.
This week I'm hoping I can connect more with people
than I did in the last performance,
see if I can bring up my star meter a little bit.
Here she is live, Didi Benami.
# sometimes in our lives #
# we all have pain #
# we all have sorrow #
# but if we are wise #
# we know that there's #
# always tomorrow #
# lean on me #
# when you're not strong #
# and I'll be your friend #
# I'll help you carry on #
# for it won't be long #
# 'til I'm gonna need #
# somebody to lean on #
# oh, you just call on me brother #
# when you need a hand #
# we all need somebody #
# to lean on #
# I just might have a problem #
# that you'd understand #
# we all need somebody #
# to lean on #
# reach out for me #
# call me #
# you know I'll be right by your side #
# reach out for me #
# call me #
# oh, just call me #
Hi.
How are you?
What's going on?
Good.
Listen, man, I don't know, dude.
I don't know what's happening tonight.
I don't know what's going on.
I would just have not chosen a soul song like that.
That deep-rooted soul for you, I didn't think it really worked.
It shows more the imperfections with the stuff you can't do rather
than heightens what you do well, you know what I mean? Okay.
It wasn't a great choice for me.
Sorry.
Dude, dude, I'm saying.
I'm not singing.
I... First of all, I love your voice.
You have a great, great voice.
Thank you.
You do.
You have a great voice.
Thank you.
And you are here because you have a great voice
and I think you have a great presence and a great smile
and a great energy about you and I love Bill Withers.
I wish it would have been "Lovely Day" or "Use Me".
One of those two song.
You tried to do stuff with it.
I applaud you for that.
I don't know that that was really the greatest song choice.
Okay.
But I really think you have a great voice
and hopefully people see through the song and vote for you.
Okay. Thank you.
Kara.
Didi, it wasn't good.
It really wasn't good.
You said you're a singer-songwriter.
You wanted to do something different this week.
I don't know what you mean by difference.
What I'm missing from you is consistency.
If you're a singer-songwriter and you play guitar, sit down,
give an honest interpretation of that song.
You were trying to do... It felt like a Karaoke Bar where you
were trying to hit the notes and do a lot of things
and we lost the uniqueness of your voice.
And your vocal stylings that got you to this point.
Okay.
And that's what I missed from this interpretation.
It was just all over the place,
competing with all the instruments and it wasn't good.
But I'm still a fan of yours even though this was not good.
Thank you.
Well, at least you continued the cat theme throughout the song,
because that's what it sounded like.
It was all over the place.
It was screeching.
Bad choice of song.
Boo.
Meow.
Somebody over there boos at everything.
Again, it's frustrating.
You get this fantastic opportunity to sing
in front of millions of people,
and you're kind of a cool artist and then you do something very generic.
So it's just a wasted opportunity. It's really bad.
Didi Benami.
Can you make anything out of that?
Make it a positive?
Okay.
Let's give it up for Didi.
Ladies and gentlemen.
If you want to vote for Didi, your number is 1866 43657 04.
Or you can text word "vote" to 5705.
Don't do anything until the end of the show.
- Thank you, Didi. - Thank you.
Good luck to you, Sweetheart.
Up next, Michelle takes on creed.
Welcome back to "American Idol" here with Michelle
who is about to sing for us.
Some of the comments judges make throughout the season,
be original, take the arrangement,
make it your own, sometimes you know it can be a little bit confusing.
Is it tough for you to pick and choose to apply.
Everything the judges say has been important.
I just feel like I need to find that balance
between taking in all their criticism
and working it properly and stay true to who I am.
And hopefully that works out.
How did you take that and apply it to this week?
They did ask me to take some risks.
I did Alicia Keys.
That was predictable.
I decided to do "With Arms Wide Open".
That's a surprise. A Creed song.
While you get set, let's look at life in Florida for Michelle.
Something that's very dear to my heart
that lot of people don't know is
I work with kids.
I'm a children's choir director at church.
I work with ages 5 up to 12 and we'll do like little scales
or just opening up the voice.
A lot of whoo.
They love that.
They get excited.
Those kids just mean the world to me.
I love them.
Whatever they're singing,
whatever they're feeling is just so true.
That's the beauty of when they sing.
It's real.
It's raw.
It is how they feel and it comes out and I can really connect
that with what's going on on the "Idol" stage.
Whatever I sing, it's just real.
Before every show I pray and I meditate visualizing exactly
what I want to happen on that stage.
I felt like last week's performance went well.
# I never felt this way #
Well, that was fantastic.
But Simon felt like it played it pretty safe.
There wasn't one moment in the performance where I thought wow.
I'm hoping to give him a wow moment this week.
Tonight I'll be singing "With Arms Wide Open" by Creed.
I hope the judges see I am taking a risk.
I hope they enjoy it and I hope all of America enjoys it as well.
Let's see if her risk pays off.
Here is Michelle.
# well, I just heard #
# the news today #
# it seems my life #
# is going to change #
# I closed my eyes #
# and I began to pray #
# then tears of joy #
# run down my face #
# with arms wide open #
# under the sunlight #
# welcome to this place #
# I'll show you everything #
# with arms wide open #
# if I had just one wish #
# only one demand #
# I hope she's not like me #
# I hope she'll understand #
# that you can take this life #
# and hold it by the hand #
# and you can greet this world #
# with arms wide open #
# yeah #
# arms wide open #
# under the sunlight #
# welcome to this place #
# I'll show you everything #
# with arms wide open #
# wide open #
Yo, yo, why do you make that face?
What do you think I'm going to say?
What did you feel?
I felt good.
Yeah.
A couple of pitch here problems the dog might say.
First of all, positive.
Most positive for me, the outfit is hot.
Thank you.
The outfit is hot.
God, I sound like a broken record tonight.
The song, you just didn't do enough with it.
God, it's so frustrating for me now.
It's like it was a great opportunity to make it something different,
but it just... It fell flat for me.
Okay.
Thank you, though.
Yeah, you do look fabulous.
You look fabulous.
I felt like...
I think you did do a lot with the song and for a few moments in there,
I forgot that it was a rock song
and I thought that was really good
that you changed it up that much, so I appreciated that.
There were a couple of little pitch problems,
but I like that you tried to do something completely different.
And you do have a great voice and you have a great look
And I thought it almost worked, but not quite.
But I love that you chose that song.
When I saw you were singing it,
I was really happy you were singing it, so good for you.
Thank you, thank you.
My favorite performance of yours' ever.
Really?
Yes.
And let me tell you why.
It may have not been technically perfect.
But it felt believable for once.
You took a risk.
You have a good attitude, which is so important in this game.
You listen and you're trying.
And I really appreciate that.
And what I thought tonight was somebody
who did something very different with the song,
could be a little unrecognizable, but you believed in it.
And I bought it.
I bought you on this one.
Thank you.
I did.
Yeah, I'm kind of with Kara on this actually.
I didn't like... I thought the first half was much,
much stronger than the second half.
I think you really struggled with some of the notes.
But to be fair, we give a lot of contradictory advice.
You gotta do this... If you do... If you want to...
You took the point
which was you didn't choose a safe song.
You attempted to make it your version.
You kind of got 80% of it right.
Regarding the outfit, we've got Vera Wang in the audience.
- Is it good? - Yeah
Yo, yo, yo, it's hot.
All right, Michelle,
What kind of tears do we have?
- Relief. - Tears of joy, relief, everything.
Thank you.
Randy, you seemed to be out on a little bit of an island here.
Some watching would say grumpy.
- No, No. - No, the Vera Wang is... I mean, look, she's hot. I mean, look, she can sing.
That's why she's here, right?
Does she deserve to stay in the competition for another credit?
100%, 100%.
If you want to vote for Michelle, the number...
Please do not vote until the end of the show
so everyone has had a chance to perform.
- Thank you very much, Michelle. - Thank you.
- That is a jean/dress combination? - Yes.
Okay. Got it.
When we come back, Sam Cooke takes on Lilly Scott.
Back with you with the ladies here .
Trying to get your vote on American Idol
you'll vote at the end of the show.
Okay.
So, Lilly, what about last week?
The stage presence seemed to be an issue.
Simon brought that up.
Did you work with the vocal coaches on that?
I did. I did.
We worked a lot on trying to connect with the camera
and open up my eyes and just really try to become a TV star.
What tips did they give you?
Just trying to really open my eyes and look at the camera mainly.
Why do you close your eyes?
I don't know.
- I'm in it. - You're in it? All right.
I'm just like zoning.
- Be in it and see it this week. - I know, alright.
That's the key.
The key.
Okay, good.
Have fun.
Take a look at this while she gets set.
One thing people don't know about me,
is that I play a lot of different instruments.
Besides 6-string guitar, I play the 12-string, Moog,
a little bit piano.
I'm definitely trying to be unpredictable in terms of arrangements with songs
and playing them with instruments that people wouldn't really expect.
Moogs of best ever!
Before I go out on stage, I usually use a throat spray.
It works really good and kind of smooths out the tone
and wets up the vocal cords for the show.
Last week was pretty good actually.
I got a lot of good comments.
You have such a unique voice.
You sounded great. I loved that.
I think probably my favorite comment was from Randy.
I love that you're kind of more like a real indie artist.
You don't care what anyone else was thinking.
I thought that was great.
I felt like that's where I was going to struggle in this competition,
is not being understood by the audience at home or even the judges.
It feels awesome.
I feel like they totally got me.
I think it's cool that Randy kind of called
that out on the first night of being in the top 24.
This week I'm going to do "A Change Is Gonna Come".
I'm excited to play the 12-string guitar.
It's going to be kind of different.
I'm just trying to really kind of bring the change.
It is the Sam Cooke classic from 1964.
Here is Lilly Scott.
# I was born by the river #
# in a little tent #
# oh, just like that river I've been runnin' #
# ever since #
# it's been a long #
# a long time comin' #
# but I know #
# change gonna come #
# oh, yes, it will #
# then I go to my brother #
# and I say brother, help me, please #
# but then he winds up #
# knocking me #
# back down on my knees #
# oh #
# there have been times #
# that I thought I #
# I couldn't last for long #
# but now I think I'm able to carry on #
# it's been a long #
# a long time comin' #
# but I know #
# a change gonna come #
# oh, yes, it will #
Yo, you know what?
Listen, you know what I really love about this season, man?
It's kind of the the season of the most unique contestants we've ever had.
By that what I mean, Bjork, Dylan, Lucinda William, all these people are so unique and so their own,
That's what I love about you.
Even they have taken what I have said there,
it's again the thing we never say about you
is you're definitely unique and you do your thing.
That song is one of the toughest songs in the world to sing to me.
This is one of the greatest I ever seen. This is the greatest ever.
But, dude, you worked it out.
You did your thing.
My favorite performance so far tonight.
I loved it.
You know, you hear people say they've got it
and I don't know what it is, but you have got it.
You have it.
You are... I forgot we were in a singing competition.
I was just a fan in a seat watching an amazing performance.
By far the best performance of the night.
By far.
Thanks.
You just had your first moment in this competition.
Moment meaning where I just... I was riveted.
I just couldn't wait to see what you were going to do next.
And you are a mismatch for this competition and thank God you tried out.
That's all I can say,
because you are gonna change the game.
People that really want to do their own thing
in their own way are gonna start to go,
"yeah, I like that American Idol thing."
"I might try out."
You know what?
Come and get us.
Good job, girl.
Unbelievable.
Thank you.
Yeah, this really makes the point
when we're talking to some of the other contestants about
how you become relevant, how you use the show as a showcase.
I thought it was good.
I wasn't crazy about it like the others compared to last week.
I thought you oversang the song in the middle a little bit.
And I will compare you to Crystal because you're similar artists.
And I thought Crystal was stronger than you,
Personally.
But it was still great.
All right.
Lilly Scott.
Did you see it?
I was looking at it.
How did it look?
It looked very prompter-y.
Were your words in there?
No, they weren't in there.
If you want to vote for Lilly...
Do not vote until the end of the show.
- Lilly, thank you very much. - Thank you.
We're going to step away for just a moment.
On the other side, Katelyn takes on Coldplay.
Hang for that
Welcome back to American Idol.
Tomorrow night we're back with your live results.
Right now we're rolling with the ladies.
It has been a little tough tonight for the girls.
And I would imagine pretty emotional up here in the red room,
after they get down, some of them singing.
You've been watching for the last hour and perhaps a half and so.
What's it been like up here, Katelyn?
It's been intense.
We've been hearing comments about originality.
So I think we are all gonna sit up here like, am I original enough?
Like, anxiously awaiting.
But I'm super ready to go. I'm prepared and I'm excited.
How do you think they'll respond to your choice this week?
I hope they'll like it.
I took it back a lot this week.
Nothing super big or anything.
It's a very intimate song. So I just hoped, you know, bring sort of the emotion.
Good luck to you.
Take the stage while we check out more about Katelyn.
Something people may not know about me is before I came out to Idol,
I was actually studying to be a recording engineer.
I learned a lot of the basics,
You know, recording a band, how to, you know, mix things a little bit.
I would like to open my own studio someday.
Before I perform, I usually like to just goof off.
I don't really think that much about the performance.
I mean, if you're ready, you're ready.
There's not much more you can do right before.
# oh oh oh darling #
Last week Kara wasn't a fan of my makeover.
I liked you a little more natural.
When Kara was talking about your makeover,
what was the word bubble in your head?
I think I know what her word bubble was.
I wasn't thinking that at all.
But if I wasn't expecting me to wear no makeup every week,
she's got another think coming.
This week I'm taking it down a notch and I'm gonna be singing "The Scientist" by Coldplay.
I'm going to sit down at the piano and just play it and I hope I can really show
how much the song means to me and I hope I can move people.
I don't want to leave at all.
It's the first time playing an instrument on the Idol stage on piano,
Here's Katelyn Epperly.
# come up to meet you #
# tell you I'm sorry #
# you don't know how lovely you are #
# I came to find you #
# tell you I need you #
# tell you I've set you apart #
# but tell me your secrets #
# and ask me your questions #
# oh, let's go back to the start #
# running in circles #
# and coming in tails #
# heads are a science apart, oh #
# nobody said it was easy #
# it's such a shame for us to part #
# nobody said it was easy #
# but nobody said that it would be this hard #
# I'm going back to the start #
# oh, oh #
Yo, listen, you know what, I really liked it.
Here's the thing.
It was really way slow, but I really liked it and it's a slow song anyway.
It's an amazing song and actually it was nice to hear you play the piano.
It was great until the very last couple of notes and, you know,
Just kind of fell off pitch a little bit at the end.
You know what?
I actually really liked it.
I mean, I wasn't over the top about it,
but I liked it.
Thanks.
I liked that you were playing guitar... You weren't playing guitar.
You were playing piano.
Remember when you played guitar that one time?
You know what?
It's an indication of... I fell kind of asleep.
It was so slow.
I love that song.
I was so happy to hear you were going to sing that song.
And I was so slow, and it was way too slow.
If I'm at home babysitting,
you're helping me out, the baby's asleep.
Exactly.
Lullaby.
People can't vote if they're asleep.
At the end the big big note really kind of woke me up.
I thought it was too slow. Sorry.
I understand what Randy and Ellen are saying.
I definitely do.
But I kind of love you.
I kind of love you.
- I do. - Makeup? With the makeup?
I kind of love her. I'm going to tell her a few reasons why I love her,
and a few things I want her to work on. But...
Take your time.
Yeah, I might take two on top.
You have an incredible instrument.
And you could do a lot of things with it.
And that's your biggest problem.
Because from week to week you're switching around.
One minute you're doing a rock song, then you doing "oh, darling"
You're all over the place, but you're really good.
You're seriously good.
And when you get to that sweet spot, it's like wow, that is hot.
Figure out who you are, though.
Real quick.
But I really like you.
I have no idea what you just said.
Did you hear the Natasha Beddingfield version of the song?
No.
- Really? - No, I don't really.
That's almost identical.
I thought it was a smart choice of song.
I think it's made you contemporary.
I think what you've got to work on is that
you become quite corny when you perform.
And that's a very cool song.
I think it was a million times better than last week.
And I think you may have put yourself back in the race here.
Thank you.
Katelyn Epperly.
I noticed you grimace when he said corny.
What are you thinking?
It's been a long time since I've done this solo stuff.
I've been playing with bands for the last couple of years.
So working with cameras and everything, I'm getting used to that.
Maybe I come off corny because I'm trying too hard.
It's a lot to take in.
That's why hopefully if you're here each week,
you can get better and continue to ace it.
If you want to vote for Katelyn...
Good luck to you, Katelyn.
- Thank you. - Appreciated it.
When we come back, it is the big moment for Paige right here live. Hang on.
Get her water, Debbie, get her water.
Back with you on American Idol.
We got two more coming to you live from the ladies.
Here's Paige. How're you feeling?
I'm feeling awesome.
You said you're thirsty.
- But I kinda need some water. - We're gonna handle that.
Why'd your mouth always get dry, Just before you're out there?
- I don't know. - Take a sip.
Quench your thirst while we take a look at this.
Okay? Good luck to you out there.
Thanks. I can have it?
You're gonna...?
Some America doesn't know about Paige is that....
I like to color.
I just use regular crayons and markers. I outline with the markers,
So I won't color outside the lines. Doing activities like that,
they kinda art pre-show rituals for me.
Because I relax that way and like everybody likes to do it,
but... I like it.
I think actually it's something contestants are taking a liking to it,
cause now they're like, where's your color, Paige?
My performance Tuesday night was best time I've ever had in my life.
Out of all the girls, you have the best voice.
I said thank you.
I think the song was actually brilliant, cause it's rock song,
and you got to really put your soul into it.
I loved she said it because that's exactly what I'm comfortable doing.
I think I'm definitely continuing with the same energy this week.
I will be singing Walk Away by Kelly Clarkson.
That seems to be like a place where I'm comfortable,
delivering that style, and pace of song.
I'm really here to just speak myself on that stage.
Show America what I've got.
Sing a song by the orginal American Idol, here's Piage Miles.
Yo, yo, yo, Paige, Paige.
Um, do you know who wrote that song?
Um, Kara Dioguardi?
Um, since you love being a rocker.
You wanna be this kind of rocker girl, right?
I like soul, yeah. I like to move around a lot, I guess.
You know I liked it.
I wasn't like over the top and loved it. Cause it was...
For me, it's so many words,
I didn't get a chance to really hear you singing,
- You got this really big voice... - So many words.
You got this big voice. So for Kelly, it kinda worked for her,
I'm not sure it's the best choice.
Because I just want to hear you singing, Simon was right.
You got this best voice in this whole thing.
I wanna hear that, I wanna hear the big notes and long melody and like,
Likes a group song, you know what I mean?
- You don't like my song. - I know, I love the song for Kelly.
That's why I was hit for her.
No, I just totally disagree with Randy. I loved it.
I thought that was fantastic.
- I really liked it. - Thank you.
I like everything you did with it.
Cause I love that song and it's kinda risky to change it up.
But you changed just enough to make it yours and you had great energy.
And you had fun which is really important.
I think that's what everybody has to remember.
You're on stage, have fun.
This is your moment to have fun. And you did.
And I, I thought you did great.
- Simon's right. You're one of the best voices. You really really do. - Thank you.
I can see you haven't hit with that song.
I do think you are in that soul, pop, rock thing.
But here's the thing, I know that, you know,
when you want to smile, have fun,
but if you knew the guy that I wrote that song about,
and my relationship and how upset I was.
Are you saying that he walked away?
No, but you wouldn't have been smiling when you're singing it.
It's kinda of bit angry and I, that's what I miss from you.
It's kinda of connecting with the fact that I was like, you know,
Kelly and all this writing, kind of not feeling the guy so much.
So it wouldn't have been smiling
when we're telling the girl, take a hike.
You know what I mean? So that was my window.
But I appreciated what you did.
You did have some moments there when all...
- But you know, I liked it. I did. - Thank you.
Ok, um, Paige, I'm gonna agree with Randy.
Um, I'm afraid two week in a row you have failed
to choose the right song for you.
And I think you're getting lost in these songs.
It's like the songs are overtaking you.
Um, and you, again it's frustrating cause you have such a strong voice.
Um, and you made bad decisions.
You gotta come on that stage if you are here next week,
nail the song and put your marker down,
which is that you could be the one to be.
You didn't do without a song that's forgettable. Sorry.
Paige Miles.
Okay, what'd you think all of that?
Um, actually I agree with pretty much what they said.
Um, I did have tons of fun with it. I think it showed a little.
- But I... - Were you happy or angry doing the song?
Well, you know, I had a pretty bad relationship
and I guess cause I smiled so much about it.
Now cause it's over.
Yeah, maybe I should've been a little bit more angry.
- But, no, I loved the song. - Is it bitter or angrier?
It's not that I want you to be angry.
It's just, you know, you're singing I'm walking away...
- And you sing, you know... - Maybe the song should've been Run Away.
I think we are learning the news.
Kara sounds you should be worried. What song's next?
If you wanna vote for Paige, here are the numbers...
- Thank you, Paige. - Thank you.
- Good luck, darling. - Thank you.
When we come back, it's the girl that Simon call funny little thing.
Sionhan closes the show, next.
Back with you live on American Idol.
We've got one more tonight, it is Sionhan.
So Sionhan, what do you have to focus on tonight to make this work?
What's important?
I think I need to focus on just singing my heart out,
and not over thinking all the technicallties.
Just go up there and do a good job.
Sounds like a good plan. Good luck to you. Watch this first.
Something people might not know about me is
that about a year and half ago, I had a mohog.
I'd always said that I've gotta have a mohog before I'm thirty.
I've just got to. I don't know if you ever try taking two mirrors,
you got one behind your head and you're looking in the other mirror,
and you got a beer trimer, you know, try to get through that angle,
And I just hear, oops, what just happened?
I looked at them, there's like big ball spot in the wrong place.
I can cover that up. I think it's fine.
Before the show, I do lip drools, which are, when you go...
Sometimes you have to just hold your finger right here,
so the vibration won't tickle your nose when you do it.
And someone walked by and they're like...
They're like, alright...
I loved it, I thougt for a minute I forgot
we are in a singing competition.
I was just being entertained.
You really are funny little thing, aren't you?
Guess we just don't know what you're gonna do each time.
I guess I have to agree with him, I'm not predictable.
I've always been myself and I've been okay with that.
Last week, the judges said that they missed me performing bigger songs.
That's why this week I chose to do "Think" by Aretha Franklin.
That's the really, meaty kinda of singing that I love to do the most.
Here she is, singing Aretha, Siobhan Magnus.
Yo, Siobhan, check it out, check it out.
You know, what is funny?
You know, what is funny to me?
You pick the dopest, coolest, greatest singer of all time of Aretha.
You come out, dude.
You are so bold and so fearless.
And let me tell you something.
It was dope, you slayed it.
Dude, I loved it.
I loved it.
I was sitting here like,
"Yo, man. She is just going crazy with this."
She goin' for hers... , her mouth open, "Ahh... "
Oh, my... yo!
I loved it, dude.
- I loved it. - Thank you.
Ah, yeah, oh, I loved it, too.
You know, most people would say,
"Don't take on such a big song!"
I know.
But you know, I mean, they also say,
"Don't mix sleeves with a blanket."
And look at the Snuggie, it's huge.
So, I think, oh man, that was good.
Yes.
Thank you.
I can't get over that note.
Yeah.
Who knew!
I can't get over that note.
I don't know if there's a correlation between the glass blowing
and being able to hit those note.
I don't... I just... how you do that?
I don't know how you hit that note.
Can I just say that I figure out how to do that,
how to belt that high, in the shower singing Kelly Clarkson.
Wow.
And I have to thank her for it.
Wow. Wow.
How many years ago?
Maybe two and a half, three years ago?
Ok.
Look, once a gain, you are... you are such a strange person.
I mean, that, as a compliment...
- I get that a lot. - I mean, as a compliment.
By the way, I love that film.
I think your film actually made you rather "coloring hippos",
which we've seen before.
It made you interesting.
I thought there were parts of the song which were terrible,
and then that note was incredible.
So, it was... for me, it was two halves.
But, you're interesting, and very very talented.
- Unique, unique. - Thank you.
Siobhan, ladies and gentlemen.
Were you at all worried about that last note?
Um, that note was probably part of what I was least worried about,
cause it was my favourite part and...
- You were just want it to get there sooner. - So much fun.
Yeah.
Alright, if you want to vote for Siobhan...
- Thank you Siobhan.
Good luck.
Thank you.
We're gonna show you the numbers one more time, watch this.
There are your ladies.
Before we start the voting,
just looking back at the performances tonight.
We started when you loved the first performance,
then it seems to get a little bit emotional and tougher.
As the night went on, Randy,
how would you rate the night for the girls?
I tell you what, listen,
some of the girls really showed and improved tonight, man.
I think, some of them have got to find as, Ryan,
it turned to really knock it out of the park.
So, I mean, I was really impressive.
To me some very bright spots here tonight.
That note is so ridicuously crazy.
I mean, I'm just still... I'm still looming with the note.
Did you see good progress, ladies? Kara and Ellen.
- Yeah. - Definitely.
I found really good performances.
I definitely saw a lot of great moments, tonight.
And Mr. Cowell, the report card for the girls tonight?
Uh, I would say, we have had some marked improvements.
And we've had some horrific performances tonight.
But that's the way it goes on these live shows.
For me, the person that stood out was Crystal.
Crystal Bowersox.
- Yeah. That was the best performance. - Do you think you saw someone
who could potentially be the winner, Ellen, tonight?
Uh, yes, yes.
I thought we had... I thought Crystal was great,
and I am so glad that you're back.
So glad that you're back.
Um, really, I didn't see any horrific performances.
I would not call... but, he did, but I didn't.
Watch the show back.
I will.
I can't tell any reacts with the pro talks anymore.
It's tough.
Wow.
That's it guys, we're gonna wrap it up for tonight.
Thank you to our judges.
Thank you very much, guys.
Have fun tonight.
Thank you Rickey Minor and the band!
Tommorrow night, we are back at 8:00/7:00 Central with your results.
Two guys and two girls would be eliminated,
all based on your votes.
The lines are open,
and they'will stay open for at least two hours.
Stay tuned for your local news. It's next.
Goog night, America, thank you so much for watching.