It’s finally time for America to vote on American Idol. The judges have done their job reducing the huge group of talent down to the Top 14. Now the fans can start voting for their favorites, but the judges’ jobs aren’t over yet.
In only four weeks the American Idol winner will be crowned. The way it works is this: The top 6 from America’s votes will be revealed tomorrow night, while the judges will decide the final four. This week the contestants can sing whatever song they want.
First up is Caleb Lee Hutchinson who talks about his weight loss — which has been an amazing 80 lb. weight loss so far — singing “Midnight Train to Georgia.” It’s hard to start the show in the open spot, but yet you get it over with at the same time. This kid is a natural on stage and I like him a lot. His voice sounds a touch shaky, but otherwise he’s doing a great job.
Here’s how to vote for @calebleemusic 👇👇👇Limit 10 votes per contestant per method. #AmericanIdol pic.twitter.com/is6vYIxgVO
— American Idol (@AmericanIdol) April 23, 2018
It’s a great start to the show even though the judges agreed with me that he sounded a little shaky, but hey live on national television? The fact that he continued and did a great job says a lot about this kid.
Up next is Michelle Sussett, who talks about being an immigrant who wants a better life. She sends her family money back in Venezuela. She’s singing “Friends” She definitely has a Halsey sound to her in this song, but her voice is very pure. She has a great performance on stage, but I think moving around makes her voice shake. Luke says she became a ‘pop star’ and she really did do a great job. Katy tells her to make sure she’s playing to the people at home who are voting for her, not just the people in the audience and that she didn’t think the song was the best choice for her voice.
Marcio Donaldson is singing next on American Idol and he’s raising his sister’s baby and calling it his own. He lives in Compton, California and wants a better life for his son. Of course to get that he’s singing Barry Manilow’s, Miracle. I like Marcio’s voice, but I think he’s nervous and a little overwhelmed. I also don’t like this arrangement either, but I hope Marcio stays in the competition. Lionel says it was good and Katie says he’s inspiring so many people back home. She advises them to stop thinking about results and just sing. Luke talks about the tender moments he’s had and wasn’t sold on the song, but it was good to show the audience another element.
The youngest contestant on American Idol is Mara Justine who talks about feeling like she was an outcast at school and feels like she belongs now. Singing “This is Me,” from the Greatest Showman, I can see her killing this. She’s a little raspy too, but she seems to be holding her own. She hits the high notes and really emotes on this song. I have chills and her mother is crying.
My Idol kids… @MaraJustine1 you're so comfortable up on that stage now…@garrett_jacobs_ don’t forget to stay in character… you both are growing so much! #AmericanIdol
— Lionel Richie (@LionelRichie) April 23, 2018
Katy says she’s grown a lot and she wasn’t 100 percent thrilled with the song, but she did a great job. Luke agrees with Katy and Lionel can’t believe she’s that good at 16. Good job Mara.
Following Mara is Garrett Jacobs who, I believe, is the underdog compared to the talent of the other contestants. Of course, he’s a good-looking kid, so he’ll have a huge fan base, especially from the girls. He’s singing “Raging Fire,” by Philip Phillips. I’m not crazy about the way he’s singing this and when he hits the chorus he sounds very pitchy, but maybe voters will be distracted by the flames and the graphics behind him, who knows. Luke said he’s the first contestants who looked confidence. Lionel did hear the pitchiness and reminds him to stay on focus. Katy says he’s comfortable up there and tells him to make the contestants in the back relax a bit by making them do jumping jacks or something to help them calm down.
Ada Vox is the next contestant to perform and talks about her brain surgery when she was eight-years-old. Singing “The Show Must Go On,” the crowd is screaming for her. I think this is a great song choice for her and takes me back to the Adam Lambert sounds (I think Adam is better though). When she hits the big notes, she seems a little drowned out by the music, but she sounds like she’s hitting them. When she ends, the audience goes absolutely NUTS. Katy said it’s about time someone showed up to this competition. Luke said the biggest voice that he ever heard.
Katey Turner talks about her fan mail and how some people are saying nice things while others believe her personality is an act. She jokes saying that her mother wishes it was an act because she spent 18 years of her life dealing with her personality. “Beyonce has haters!” says Katey. She’s singing “Take Me to Church,” by Hozier. It’s amazing how comfortable she is on stage and I love her song choice. I was concerned about it, but she sounds great. She goes a little off on the chorus, but I still like it. I like her lower range. Katy Perry wants to sing with Katey. Luke tells her she can win this thing and Lionel tells her she’s authentic.
Rocker Cade Foehner talks about his super small hometown and how he grows some great kale. Singing “Black Magic Woman,” the 21-year-old looks like a veteran on stage. I’m not a fan of his sound, but the crowd likes him. Luke said that the performance wasn’t a crazy vocal experience, but the fact that he stepped out and ripped the guitar and got a big audience response was a feather on his ‘guitar.’ Okay Katy Perry needs to tone down the creepy stalker judge.
Dennis Lorenzo talks about another daughter, Tayton, who was born when he was 19-years-old. He talks about not being there for his daughter, but he’s working for their future. He’s singing “In My Blood.” Honestly I think this was his best performance of the competition.
Maddie Poppe talks about her song choices setting her apart on the competition. She slows it down with “Homeward Bound,” and from her first note, she sounds fantastic. I think I’ve said it before that I feel like I’m watching the Country Music Awards or something when she’s performing. Katy tells her that she closed her eyes and it sounded like she’s listening to Joni Mitchell and she has great musical taste. Maddie is so cute “I just try to act like I’m asleep,” because she’s so nervous.
Following Maddie is Jurnee, who talks about dreaming about this since she was little. She auditioned for Idol during another season and when she was cut after group rounds it put her down a bad path, but she now has a seconde shot and wants to go all the way and win. Singing “Bang Bang,” I think Michelle Sussett has a competitor for pop artist, but she sounds a little shaky. She’s having a lot of fun and it’s a new side of her, but she’s nervous. her rapping is on point and it pulls her back in. She’s a little pitchy on the high note, but I like Jurnee much better than Michelle. Luke says that Jurnee “brought it,” and Lionel said “oh yeah.” Katy is happy to see her move and become more of an ‘artist.’
We’re gonna need to wait a minute after that performance from @Jurnee! #AmericanIdol pic.twitter.com/aWX5BE8a0c
— American Idol (@AmericanIdol) April 23, 2018
Johnny Brenns follows Jurnee and hopefully we don’t have dance comparisons — LOL. The montage shows him listening to Katy’s advice and taking dance classes. Katy’s reactions were priceless. He’s singing “This is Gospel,” by Panic at the Disco,’ and it’s a perfect song choice for his voice. he’s also nervous though and his voice is quivering a little. Uh oh, he’s quite pitchy on the chorus, but the judges give him decent feedback.
Rounding out the night’s performances on American Idol is Michael J. Woodward who talks about ringtones he downloaded. He’s signing “Titanium,” and calls it a scary song to sing. He has such an interesting sound to his voice. He’s not oversinging it which is good. I don’t like his jumpsuit fashion choice though. He gets a standing ovation from the judges. Katy said that she’s going to tell Cia how well he sang that song and Luke tells him he has a knack for pulling the audience in. Lionel calls him a “martian,” and that he’s so pure and he tunes in to see what he will do next.
The last performance is Gabby Barrett who talks about starting out singing in a choir. Now she’s singing “The Climb,” which she’s singing really well, but I’m not pulled in for some reason and I love this song. Luke said that it was his favorite vocal of the night. Katy said she sounds like a star. Lionel said we’re watching the beginning of “A Star is Born.”
For real, did @GabbyBarrett_ go through a 🌟 wash? #AmericanIdol pic.twitter.com/iVq1OyDkUE
— American Idol (@AmericanIdol) April 23, 2018
After tonight, my faves in order:
Caleb Lee Hutchinson
Katey Turner
Maddie Poppe
Mara Justine
Ada Vox
Jurnee
Marcio Donaldson
Cade Foehner
Michael J. Woodward
Michelle Sussett
Dennis Lorenzo
Johnny Brenns
Garrett Jacobs
So now go and …
VOTE! VOTE! 🗳 #americanidol pic.twitter.com/pqHJpjzTt0
— Lionel Richie (@LionelRichie) April 23, 2018
