After strengthening the “Top 9” of this season American Idol welcomes 10 finalists from last season for a chance to be happy. 10. And some of them will need all the happiness they can get.
Real Conversation: Season 19 is an extremely talented group, and only a few of these returning singers have been active anywhere near that level. Maybe it’s because they were not used to singing on the main stage, but the whole night was pretty overwhelming.
Read on for a breakdown of each performance, and official videos will be added as they become available:
CYNIAH ELISE, 19 | It was a fun way to get the show going, but there was nothing exciting about Elise’s speech on Miley Cyrus and Stevie Nicks’ “Edge of Midnight (Midnight Sky Remix).” Even the big note, which could was a moment, was unimpressive. I appreciated how much attitude she brought into the performance, but I actually think it went at the expense of the singing. There’s a reason why the judges spent so much time talking about her nails. Honestly, there was not much else to discuss. Click here to watch.
NICK MERICO, 25 | While most of the finalists took a second chance tonight, Merico enjoyed it third. He knew it was dangerous to perform ‘City Lights’, an original song about a ‘special someone’, but he did it anyway. And it was … not great. Luke Bryan seemed completely right when he said that this is a good version of who Merico wants to be as an artist, but he was also right when he said that Merico simply does not increase votes compared to the top 9 of the season. Click here to watch.
ALIANA JESTER, 20 | Honestly, I barely recognized Jester on stage tonight, which is proof of how much she’s grown since we first met her last season. This also applies to her singing, which sounded outstanding on Lady Gaga’s “I’ll Never Love Again.” (More like A star is born again, amirite?) She was the first artist of the evening who did not feel she was competing to come back – she it belongs on that stage. Look:
FRANKLIN BOONE, 29 | First, I forgot how much I loved Boone, and I got it strange excited when he tells Bobby Bones that he and his wife are expecting another baby. That said, I would never have chosen Switchfoot’s “Meant to Live” for him. It was not bad, but something feels a bit off. I’m with Katy Perry – I miss the atmosphere of the coffee shop / singer songwriter that Boone gave us last season. I respect the gut it takes to take such a risk, but I’m just not sure it paid off. Click here to watch.
BELIEF BECNEL, 21 | The forgotten words of ‘Cry Baby’ last season have probably haunted Becnel every day since it happened, which is why I’m glad she got the chance to save herself. Not only did she nail down every lyric this time around, but she also showed tremendous growth. I do not think she will win the coveted spot, but she must be very pleased with what she did on stage tonight. Click here to watch.
ARTHUR GUNN, 23 | Last season’s runner-up made a name for himself by remixing CCR’s “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” a million times, so I was not surprised that he also quite changed tonight’s song, Goo Goo Dolls, “Iris. In fact, so much so that I almost did not recognize the song. Lionel Richie was right when he said that Gunn’s voice is immediately recognizable, but I’m not sure if it’s a voice that fits the rest of season 19 as it does not make sense.See:
DEWAYNE CROCKER JR., 24 | Crocker’s co-comeback kings and queens raised their hands during this performance as if they had a religious experience, and even Perry said it gives her ‘church shivers’, but I just do not feel. He’s not someone I remember very well, and I’m not sure I’ll remember him after this week. I would not say that it was ‘bad’, but it did not resonate with me. Click here to watch.
MAKAYLA PHILLIPS, 18 | I loved – no, delivered – Phillips last season, so I had high hopes that she would accept Demi Lovato’s “Anybody”, and she not dissapoint. I was a little worried at first, but as soon as the big notes kicked in, I was blown away. From the rising voice to the real emotion, it was a tremendous performance. Of all the singers tonight, her voice sounds perhaps the latest. Look:
OLIVIA XIMINES, 17 | OK, now I feel like I’m in church. Ximines took on Michelle Williams’ ‘Say Yes’ and woke me up. I forgot what an achiever she was. And you can bet no other returning singer would have dared to subtract that little dance break. Click here to watch.
LOUIS KNIGHT, 20 | Like Merico before him, Knight chose to perform an original track this time. Fortunately, he is a much better songwriter. Everything about his performance, from construction to execution, was polished and professional. He also feels like the singer who judges the judges want us to vote for – and I do not completely agree. Click here to watch.
Which returning finalist do you want to see in the Top 10? Then vote below leave a comment with your mind about the first turn of its kind.