Paula Abdul returned to American Idol Monday, and the world was good again for two fleeting hours. And well, I mean wonderfully weird.
The living legend, who served as judge during the year IdolThe first nine seasons (2002–2010) are back to the panel to fill in for Luke Bryan, who announced that he tested positive for COVID-19. It reunited her with host Ryan Seacrest, who led her on a wonderfully awkward memory.
“It’s quite nostalgic,” she said when she returned. Idol. ‘I feel like I’m going to visit my brother on the program we started with our other brother Randy … and of course our grandfather Simon. [Cowell]. Seacrest added: “He’ll love it,” before explaining, “He’s not watching.” (Let’s hope he does not look, because Abdul later called him ‘the STD’.)
Seacrest and Abdul then looked back at a photo of themselves from the first season of the show, a moment that went downhill … immediately. “Why do I look like I’m not happy?” he asked. And when Abdul noticed that she also does not smile, he asks, “Why were we so miserable?” Yikes.
Then came the biggest surprise of the evening: After the launch of Abdul, Seacrest announced that Wyatt Pike would not be competing. He had to drop out, but we wish him the best. Uh, OK? I wish we had a little more information, but that at least explains why Idol brings back the season 18 contestants to compete for their spot.
To achieve the results, the following ten singers were sent to safety: Casey Bishop, Deshawn Gongalves, Cassandra Coleman, Caleb Kennedy, Ava August, Chayce Beckham, Alyssa Wray, Willie Spence, Grace Kinstler and Hunter Metts.
Unfortunately, the following finalists did not received enough votes, and was therefore sent to the Danger Zone: Colin Jamieson, Madison Watkins, Beane, Alanis Sophia and Graham DeFranco. The judges got the chance to save just two, and they finally decided to keep Watkins and Beane in the game.
Read on for an outline of Monday’s performances, and official videos will be added as they become available:
CASEY BISHOP, 16 | The first time I went through this week, Bishop gave me chills from the moment she started singing ‘House of the Rising Sun’. Not only was it another perfect choice for her timeless voice – which has more tricks up its sleeve than freaking out Mary Poppins, but it set the tone for the rest of the night. Look:
COLIN JAMIESON, 22 | First, I have to give Jamieson a thumbs up for performing Dean Lewis’ “Waves” just as well as he does, as he only was informed that he is the first contestant to go to the Danger Zone. Something about the delivery of the news feels … off. That being said, that was exactly what we expected from Jamieson – the energy and the notes were there. (What more do you want, America ?!) Click here to watch.
DESHAWN GONCALVES, 20 | This Ohio resident finds himself in a much better position and receives good news from Seacrest before launching a sympathetic rendition of Stevie Wonder’s ‘Higher Ground’. It was cute, and Goncalves was clearly up there, but I was hoping for something more impressive. This is in honor of Goncalves’ first up-tempo song in the competition. This is growth. Click here to watch.
CASSANDRA COLEMAN, 24 | I felt like we were seeing Coleman in her purest form during the performance of Maggie Rogers’ “Light On.” I fell for the ethereal quality of her voice, even though she often loses control over it amid the pressure of the competition, and I’m excited to see what she’s still ahead of us. Look:
CALEB KENNEDY, 16 | I’m still not the biggest fan of this objectively talented teenager, but that’s just because I can apparently not figure him out. And neither do the judges. How can the same man who absolutely gave us? nothing turn around during that interview before the performance and become a completely different person as soon as the music started playing? We’re past the point of debating whether Kennedy has the chops (he has!), But I really wish he even gave us a clue of a personality to hold on to. Click here to watch.
MADISON WATKINS, 26 | I can ‘t say I ever expected Drake’s “Hotline Bling” by a Idol contestant, but I certainly did not hate it. Watkins re-introduced the love song in the late evening as a stuffy lounge song, before amplifying things with a lot of emotion and a bit of vocal gymnastics. I was not surprised to see her end up in the Danger Zone, although I would not place her there myself. Click here to watch.
AVA AUGUSTUS, 15 | I love that the youngest finalist in the competition chose one of the oldest songs of the evening – Queen’s “Love of My Life” – and showed everyone what it’s like. done. Angelic, both in footage and singing, her actions were simply divine. Click here to watch.
BEANE, 23 | Guys, I think I’m maybe a baby-baby? I was not very surprised when Seacrest sent him to the Danger Zone, but I wash surprised at how much I enjoyed his performance of Ben Platt’s “Grow As We Go”. Beautiful, emotional, authentic. There was not a hint of wedding singer cheese tonight – just a legitimate artist giving me chills with his magical voice. (OK, yes, I’m definitely a baby babe.) Look:
CHAYCE BECKHAM, 24 | After being sent to safety, the unbelievable Beckham enlightens viewers with an enchantment of his audition song, Kolton Moore and the Clever Few,’s “What Brings Life Also Kills.” It was everything we expected from Beckham – from the growing voice to the all-black ensemble – and it was very good. That said, it was great that even the Grammys had some performances that doubled as the bathroom broke. He’s always been a Top 10 shoe, but if he really wants to separate himself from his more defined competitors, Beckham needs to take a page from Katy Perry’s book and give us fireworks. Click here to watch.
ALYSSA WRAY, 19 | A few weeks after crackling “I’m Your Baby Tonight,” Wray returns to the stage with a solid attack on a slightly more dramatic Whitney Houston ballad, “The Greatest Love of All.” I’m convinced she can sing the phone book and make it sound exciting. Click here to watch.
ALANIS SOPHIA, 19 | Real talk: I have to give Sophia even one applause try this challenging version of Demi Lovato’s “Heart Attack”, which is tough enough on its own. And she absolutely killed it … until she did not. I was under the impression of the jump, but at the end of her performance, the high notes just weren’t there. It became uncomfortable to look at, and even more unpleasant to listen to. Click here to watch.
WILLIE SPENCE, 21 | I’m so glad Spence chose to sing Rihanna’s “Diamonds” because that’s exactly what he’s doing as a performer – a freaking diamond. Not only was it another impressive performance, vocally speaking, but it was Spence’s most confident. He was live while he sang it, and the energy was contagious. Depending on what America’s in the mood for this time, he can really win this thing. Look:
GRACE KINSTLER, 20 | Not all queens wear crowns. Just look at Kinstler, who killed Ariana Grande’s “Dangerous Woman” this week. Her voice, her confidence – she’s the total package. Lionel Richie looked right when he called it an “oh my God” show, and something told me that Grande would say the same thing. Click here to watch.
HUNTER METTS, 22 | The last contestant sent to safety celebrated this Tennessee native with a beautiful rendition of Bonnie Raitt’s ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’. I did not find Metts the most dynamic rendition of this season, and I appreciated the emotion he managed to convey authentically in this performance. Click here to watch.
GRAHAM DEFRANCO, 28 | Maybe it was because DeFranco was the last singer sent to the Danger Zone, but there was something special about his performance of Jason Isbell’s “Cover Me Up”. And make no mistake, it was very good – the kind of performance that makes you wonder how he was not passed on. (Oh, America, you’re so fickle.) Click here to watch.
Your thoughts on Monday’s results? Abdul’s return? Whatever you think Idol, drop it in a comment below.