'American Idol': Hollywood Week - Final Solo Rounds

One of the best parts of Hollywood Week is seeing them perform solo once again on "American Idol", this time with musical accompaniment either from the house band, the contestants playing their own instruments or singing A cappella once again. During the one-hour broadcast we were treated to nearly 45 minutes of performances, some were in its entirety or simply brief highlights.

There were those truly entertaining ones as well as some performers letting nerves or lost lyrics get the best of them. Of course this happens every season. Season 10 was no different. A lot of contestants were showcased we had not seen before, which was refreshing. On the other hand there were others who are constantly on camera. These are some of the highlights I enjoyed or that grabbed my attention. In the final minutes on "American Idol" they ended up choosing 50 out of the 100 contestants. Now they will go on to Las Vegas for more auditions.

Final Solo Highlights Part I

A number of female contestants were bringing down the house with their song choices and performances. Ashton Jones, who was in the group with my favorite girl Ashley Sullivan, sang one of my favorite songs with absolute gusto "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" from the musical "Dreamgirls." Clint Jun Gamboa did an incredible version of "Georgia" as did Kendra Chantelle who performed the same song, but with more tenderness. It was interesting to see these contrasts.

Carson Higgins is one contestant we haven't seen before Hollywood Week, but I've enjoyed each time he has taken the stage. Higgins is filled with personality, crazy stage antics and interesting vocals. Keep it up surfer dude. However, the most unique performance of all during this raw talent show was seeing Casey Abrams play a stand-up bass. It was like he's channeling recent Grammy's Best New Artist, Esperanza Spalding on the double bass.

Final Solo Highlights Part II

Nerves and forgotten lyrics were getting the best of some contestants. The group with the former couple from Nashville and part of a couple seemed to implode slowly but surely during Hollywood Week. First it was Nick Fink who was cut in the first round, Rob Bolin gave a lackadaisical group performance with made up lyrics, now Jacqueline Dunford was too ill to perform and had to bow out. That left Chelsee Oaks as the only one left. Her performance of Kelly Clarkson's "Because of You" truly suffered with all she went through.

Needless to say, Ashley Sullivan opted to sing A cappella for her solo performance. She was singing Michael Buble's "Everything" as she dedicated the song to her boyfriend. At first she messed up and forgot the lyrics. Ashley was able to start over again, then simply drew a blank. Randy Jackson kept yelling to her to sing the chorus, which she did. That ended up being her performance. Naturally she was extremely upset and emotional afterwards.

50 are Chosen to go to Las Vegas

After all the performances were over with the 100 contestants were then grouped into four separate rooms. This is a standard procedure they do every season on "American Idol." Two of the rooms would have contestants going through and two would have them heading home. To my absolute shock and delightful surprise Ashley Sullivan made it to the Top 50.

Unfortunately Chelsee Oaks was one of the remaining 50 contestants going home. More than likely the judges were basing a lot of their solo performances on the group performances too. Ashley Sullivan was in one of the top groups. Next week they must audition again, this time in Las Vegas. Their mission is to learn one Beatles song in a 24-hour period. Never in "American Idol's" history has this type of audition occurred.

SOURCES:

American Idol - Official Site for Videos, Photos and Community, American Idol.com

Gil Kaufman, "'American Idol' Hollywood Week Ends With A Ticket to Vegas", MTV.com