American Idol 2010: Top 4 Performances Recap, How Did the Contestants Do This Week?

Tonight Ryan Seacrest opened the American Idol show with, "All of these idols came to American Idol with a dream. In just 14 days, one of the American Idols will achieve their dream."Dial in Numbers for This Week's American Idol Show: 866-436- (see corresponding numbers below).

Ryan walked down the stairs and welcomed the crowd. Your job is to vote! Say hello to the judges, "Ryan Seacrest, Randy Jackson, Ellen DeGeneres, Kara DioGuardi and Simon Cowell"

This week the top 4 are taking on individual songs as well as being paired up for a duet.

The 2010 American Idol Season top four are: Crystal Bowersox, Michael Lynche, Lee Dewyze and Casey James.

This week the mentor on Idol is Jaime Foxx.

Jaime was on idol last year and made a great impact so they asked him back. He was a star in Dream Girls and is a multi platinum R&B artist. He is helping the artists celebrate the songs of the silver screen this week.

Jaime told the audience, "Music in movies is huge. Music for soundtracks is what we live with; we live with these songs and these movies in our lives. They are memorable"

Jamie challenged the idol contestants to be artists. Think through it, become bigger. He was going to give them either an artist or a contestant T-shirt depending upon their performances and his mentor sessions with them.

Lee Dewyze -#570 1 or #5705

Tonight on American Idol, Lee sang, 'Kiss from the Rose'. He said, "Jaime got in my face and had me sing it, and that was uncomfortable at first." Jamie said, "I did that to Danny Gokey last year .I told him if you can't do that, you can't perform in front of all those people." Of Lee, Jaime said, "He has to find a way to get into himself and perform."

Lee sang off key and still smiled at the camera, and I must say, he looked cuter than he has ever. His singing wasn't that great but he is coming into his own; he did well with the audience and camera connection. But um...his singing wasn't the best tonight. My vote: 4

Randy said, "I've got to agree with Jaime, in one way; I'm also looking to see what kind of artist you are going to become. For me, you did nothing with that song, it was pitchy. I thought you would have chosen Bon Jovie. It didn't do it for me." Ellen said, "There could have been more done with the song. You are so good. And you sang that song. I loved it." Kara said, "Lee you had a great week last week; this is one of the most difficult songs to sing. It's up and down and all over in your register. With the arrangement, you had some out of tune issues but we can't take away from the fact that you are still great." Simon said, "I'm with Randy. There are so many brilliant songs, and so many opportunities to make it original, but that was verging on Karaoke. You were trying too hard to sound like the original." That performance deserved a "contestant" T-shirt."

Lee said, "I looked at all of the songs, and all season I've done my best and did with them what I thought was best. I like this song and I wanted to sing it."

Michael Lynche - #5702 or #5706

Michael said you come into these final weeks with the pressure of your family and your city, really wanting you to get into the Top 3 and bring it home. Ryan said, "You said a year ago..." and Michael said, Yes, I made a goal to get in the Top 3, and when you set these high personal goals, and trying to bring it home to my city, well it's a lot of pressure".

Jaime said of Michael, "I think he is a little worried feeling that maybe he shouldn't be here, and he should be here". Michael said, "Jaime was trying to get me loosen up." Jaime wanted to give him the contestant t-shirt but Mike refused to take it. Jaime said, "Once he lets go, he's going to really shine. Michael sang Michael Jackson's, "Will You Be There". Michael's voice shined, and he beat out Lee tonight but he's no Michael Jackson. Not the right song choice for him. My vote: 3

Randy said, "I don't know what's going on. Cool song, made great by the late Michael Jackson. I didn't love this song for you. I wish you had chosen an R&B. It didn't take off." Ellen said, "You can't really go wrong with a choir behind you and it reminds me of Free Willy. It's a weird thing is to say you want to get in the Top Three; the goal should be "win the thing". You always sound good but it was predictable". Kara said," All I could think was I 'm ready for 'Love' and 'Women's Work'. Tonight I wanted Goosebumps and I didn't feel that from you. What you did tonight you could have done in your sleep." Simon said, "I have no idea what Free Willy is. I don't see the connection between a whale, Willy or the song." Kara and Ellen tried to explain it but it got worse and Simon replied, "I'm now more confused but at least you gave it 100%; - I kind of felt like you meant it." Meant what? Now I'm confused.

Falling Slowly, Falling quickly in love with the duet by Crystal and Lee

The first duet of the American Idol show was performed by Lee and Crystal who harmonized wonderfully with 'Falling Slowly', from the film" Once." They did an unbelievable job with both of them singing and jamming on their guitars. Randy thought it was unbelievable - he was much more satisfied with Lee's duet performance rather than his solo. Ellen said, "The new captain and Tennille". Kara said, "One of my favorite moments of the entire season. You both felt like artists, I loved the way you interacted, the chemistry, you brought the best of each other out." Simon said," I wouldn't call that a good song - I would call that a fantastic song"

Lee said, "It's awkward to stare at somebody that close but after a few times we became comfortable. Crystal said, "Lee is my musical crush, I told him that when we tried out together in Chicago."

Casey James - #5703 or 5707

When Casey performed, "Mrs. Robinson" for Jaime Foxx, Jaime told us, "While he was singing, I said, 'seduce me - act like I am a woman and you are seducing me." Jaime wanted him to see the bigger picture and get past the intimidation of Jaime being in his face. Tonight, Casey played the mandolin, sitting on a circular cut out of the stage, surrounded by a bunch of pretty girls. Did we see a glimpse of a story teller James Taylor tonight in Casey? He did well with the country boy story teller angle, down-playing his guitar playing ability and focused more on his vocals. Not a bad version at all. My vote: 2

Randy said, "Dude why did you pick that song. What was the meaning?" There was a joke there. Kara and Casey just grinned. Randy aid, "I thought that you sounded cool, but there was nothing you really changed, but it was kind of a laid back version." Ellen said," I wish they had given you a big-boy guitar, I liked that you did something different, but I thought you might have gone a little further but I liked it." Kara said, "For me this is you fighting to stay in the competition, upfront, attached to the song, and you like to jam band and do that electric thing." Simon asked what the song was about and Kara explained, 'for an older woman you fell in love with a younger guy." They were trying to embarrass her but she fought back. Simon said, "Back to you, Casey. I don't think the song or the performance had the substance required for you on this night. I thought it was a little bit lazy. I think you could have had more of an impact. Strange song choices tonight and that was one of them."

Crystal Bowersox - #5704 or #5708

"The judges have been tough on song choices tonight", said Ryan Seacrest.

Crystal said she thought she chose a good one this week. "It is very dramatic - is a funny film and it is a good song. Ryan asked Crystal, "Have the judges been tougher on you, and she replied, "That's ok, I'm alright", and that is exactly what she did, and is.

Crystal performed 'I'm Alright' by Kenny Logins tonight and she got the crowd on her feet dancing to this #1 future artist. Crystal said, "I was a little star struck realizing that I was playing in front of Jaime Foxx. Jaime told her, "When you are like that - now- that is a testimony, share that! He gave her an artist shirt and she said she was honored. Crystal's performance outshined the others - it had a good beat, she was true to herself and she brought a lot to the song in her own way. It was the best performance of the night and I could imagine going to a Bowersox concert someday and having a blast.

Crystal's boy friend had parachute pants that sported the red white and blue. Ryan noticed he was dancing and his pants were moving strangely, but Crystal thanked him for wearing them anyway. My vote: 1

Randy said," You are definitely an artist. You tried to switch it up and it fit you, nice job." Ellen said, "That performance just got crystallized and I think you took that song and made it better." Kara said, "You took the song and made it better; Artist!" Simon said, "I'm not going to ask what that movie is about and I might get in a lot of trouble with the whale song so we're not going to go there, but Crystal, you are back in the game."

Duet by Casey and Mike - Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman

Casey and Mike sang, 'Have you ever really loved a woman' while they played acoustic guitars. They started with a timing issue I think on Casey's part, singing but then Mike came in singing and they seemed to get back on time, ending harmoniously, with powerful and unusually high rifts for men, but they pulled it off beautifully.

Randy said, "Sexy and sultry, and the harmonies were right on." Ellen said," As a matter of fact, Yes I have loved a woman!!!!" (The crowd roared and so did I) Kara said," The duets songs tonight were incredible - they were better than all the solo performances" Simon said, "I think we should give Jaime's artists T-shirts to the duets performances tonight."

Don't forget, you can download the performances on I-Tunes, and vote, vote, vote! Daughtry, Fantasia and Bon Jovi tomorrow night.

Source:

Fox Television, American Idol, 5/22/2010