American Idol 2016 Recap Hollywood Week #3
Tonight, we say goodbye to the American Idol Hollywood rounds. Sniff. Judges Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick Jr. reveal the Top 51 after the singers perform ONE LAST TIME. We’re live blogging everything right here.
ETA: Hollywood week took an obvious toll on many of the contestants. It was time for one last push, but most of them seemed to exhausted and operating on fumes. There were previous standouts that delivered sub-par performances and a few that were good but not at their very best. Mackenzie Bourg and Olivia Rox impressed with original songs. Shelbie Z’s voice was still strong and impressive. She might turn out to be the country singer to watch. Jessica Cabral’s soulful rasp on “Up to the Mountain” was my favorite of the night. And I’m still digging Sonika Vaid’s delicate restraint.
I am REALLY looking forward to the Showcase performances tomorrow. FINGERS CROSSED that Idul uploads FULL performances to VEVO as they did last season. What a treat that was.
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The remaining contestants choose a song and work out an arrangement with the American Idol band. They have one night to prepare. There will be no immediate feedback. After all the performances, the judges will huddle to decide who will advance to the next round. At the end of the day, the singers will be split into THREE rooms.
American Idol Top 24 Spoilers
American Idol 15 Top 51 Full List (Full List of Room Contestants who advanced)
Stephany Negrete – Set Fire to the Rain by Adele – She has no family with her. Sadly, her dad recently had a heart procedure and is recuperating at home. Sads. Stephany has a strong voice. She’s got talent! But she’s once removed from the lyrics she’s singing. Jennifer sings along. She seems to be digging it. The thing is, Stephany could be packaged into a Jlo type performer and probably do really well. But her vocals are not going to carry the day. She needs a production. The X Factor would be a better competition for her. Harry wonders about walking in high heels. “There are heel classes!” says Jlo. Really.
Thomas Stringfellow – A Thousand Years by Christina Perri -Wow. Thomas is a squeaker than usual. Not his best performance. “I crumbled out there,” he confesses ruefully about his own performance.
Avalon Young – One Last Time by Ariana Grande – She thought she could have done better, although the little snip seemed fine!
Olivia Rox – She sings an original song. It’s a big risk! Harry and Keith are impressed with her songwriting skills. I like what I’m hearing so far. Olivia is another favorite.
John Wayne Schulz -John 3:16 by Keith Urban – He’s not wearing his signature cowboy hat. OH NOES HE LOST IT. John manages to roll with it and not allow the loss to hurt his confidence. Keith is impressed. John has a classic country sound. Compared to the others, this performance feels mature. That’s NOT a bad thing.
Click to WATCH Stephany, Thomas, Avalon, Olivia and John Wayne perform VIDEO
The judges are taking a MANGO BREAK.
Only THREE contestants can choose the same song! Also, the singers had only an evening to prepare their performances. Tristan McIntosh misses out on the song she wants and is very upset, crying as if it’s the only song in the world she could sing. Mackenzie Bourg chooses to sing an ORIGINAL SONG and is very nervous.
Mackenzie Bourg – Roses by Mackenzie Bourg – Jlo looks gobsmacked. It’s the first time I’ve been impressed with Mackenzie. It’s a good song! Very Ed Sheeranish. The judges can’t believe he wrote it. I might be climbing on the Mackenzie train.
Shelbie Z – Alone by Heart – She brings Carrie Underwood realness to her performance! This gal has an amzing range.
Kory Wheeler – Fix You by Coldplay – Kory is hoping that soon he’ll no longer be serving people coffee from behind a counter.
James VIII – Wicked Game by Chris Isaak- He’s spent a career being the background guy, he says. Idol has given him a confidence boost. This short nsip of a performance is an improvement over that shouty audition. The song choice is not very imaginative, however.
Tristan McIntosh – What Hurts the Most by Rascall Flatts – Another contestant (Malie Delgado) gave the song Tristan wanted to her. If I were mom, I would have advised Tristan to pull up her big girl pants and accept she didn’t get the song. Show business is going to be FULL of nos and sharp left turns. Being able to roll with the punches is essential in that world. Also, the performance felt emotionally flat. Maybe she’s tired, or overwhelmed by a stressful week. It all has me wondering if 15 year old Tristan is ready for the pressure.
Click to Watch Mackenzie, Shelbie Z, Kory, James VIII, and Tristan perform VIDEO
Sonika Vaid – One Last TIme by Ariana Grande – I am STILL LOVING Sonika’s lovely, restrained vocals. She needs to be more dynamic. I feel like she hides her light under a bushel somewhat. The judges are right. She’s got to kick up those performance skills. But man, THAT VOICE. I love her phrasing.
Lee Jean and Sarah Sturm have become total BBFs. It’s so cute! He’s 3 years younger than her. As the two sing in front of the judges, they comment on each other’s talent, and their new found friendship.
Lee Jean – Stitches by Shawn Mendes – Young Lee has a beautiful tone, but his voice is obviously still changing. He’s a year or two short of being fully baked, I think. But I’m still not totally sure.
Sara Sturm – Somewhere Only We Know – The judges really like her! But her voice is obviously tired. She had a hard time hitting the high notes. She just seemed exhausted overall. It’s the last day of Hollywood, and that last little push can be really difficult.
Click to Watch Sonika Vaid, Lee Jean and Sarah Sturm Perform VIDEO
Jenn Blosil – True Colors by Cyndi Lauper – Perfect song for Jenn! Afterward, however, she’s in tears. She feels like she failed to do her best.
Emily Brooke – What Hurts the Most by Rascal Flatts – Afterward, Emily is in tears. The song was in the wrong key. Yeah, there was some struggle, but I thought she brought more personality to the performance than Tristan did.
A few of the contestants are suffering from laryngitis and various throat ailments.
Malie Delgado – Stitches by Shawn Mendes – She sounds TERRIBLE. Her voice is shot, poor thing. The judges, all singers, are very understanding.
Mionne Dynasty – Chains by Nick Jonas – She’s sick too, but she’s managing to get through the song.
Jessica Cabral – Up to the Mountain by Patty Griffin – She’s sick too? Really. You’d never know it. Her voice is raspy anyway, the extra coating is really really working for her. Jessica is one of my favorites.
Click to Watch Jenn, Emily, Maile, Mionne and Jessica perform VIDEO
Joshua Wicker – 1000 years by Christina Perri – This guy is still in the competition? I was not impressed with his audition at all, and indeed, this performance is not good. Harry sees something in him, however. I don’t get it.
CJ Johnson – Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac- Hm. CJ is one of my favorites, but this is a little shouty. Maybe not the right song for him. Keith really likes it.
Jeneve Rose Mitchell – Danny’s Song – This snippet is odd. Her vocal suffers from a severe lack of control. Jlo isn’t sure about her. Harry loves her.
Dalton Rapattoni – “Hopelessly Devoted to You” – Group night was tough for him. He calls Hollywood week “a big slap in the face.” But, he thinks it’s good to be uncomfortable. His guitar isn’t miced initially. An interesting song to flip. But he’s performing it like he’s half loaded. It’s like the boyband version of Drunk Uncle. He’s going for big emotion, but the performance is too unrestrained, over-emoted. Afterward, Dalton says he remembers nothing from the performance.
Click to Watch Joshua, CJ, Jeneve Rose and Dalton Perform VIDEOS
The judges deliberate! Results after the break.
75 contestants are divided into 3 rooms. Jlo delivers the big fake out speech. “BUT THAT’S NOT YOU GUYS.” The first group is THROUGH. Shelbie Z, La’Porsha, MacKenzie Bourg and more. Keith delivers the bad news to the second group. They urge the eliminated contestants to keep at it. Room 3 of course, is also through. Manny Torres, Jenn Blosil, Michelle Marie, Avalon Young and more.
No longer spoilers. Check out the Top 51 List for every contestant who advanced to the showcase.
On Thursday, the remaining contestants sing solos at the Dolby Theater, before the Top 24 are revealed. Here’s the FULL list of songs the the Top 51 contestants are set to perform.
