Idol Contestants Sing Their Way to Las Vegas

About half of the 100 contestants left in the American Idol competition were kicked to the curb on February 17th as we get nearer to the Top 24. Here are the performances by song, with an asterisk by the contestants I'm sure were cut. (I was going to put the asterisk by the ones who stayed, but practically all of the ones who performed stayed).

"God Bless the Child" - Haley Reinhart who Jennifer Lopez told she "got in by the skin of her teeth" did an alternatively wild and sultry version that the judges loved. Later, Jacob Lutz blew it out of the park with his scat style.

"And I Am Telling You" - A fine rendition from Ashthon Jones.

"Wonderful World" - Thia Megia and Adrian Mitchell both did very well.

"Georgia on My Mind" - Clint Jun Gamboa: the judges loved it. If you ask me, I can already see him at a ballgame murdering the National Anthem. Kendra Chantelle: adequate. Sophia Shorai looked and sounded good. Casey Abrams and a stand-up bass Georgia really impressed the judges, and got him a standing ovation.

Sidenote: Beyonce Knowles father, Matthew, appeared on the news after American Idol the previous evening and said if you don't get a standing ovation, you're not ready. Looks like Casey Abrams is ready, huh?

"My Prerogative" - Chris Medina was a little taken aback to find out he wasn't the only one who chose this song and he also seemed to feel a tad intimidated or inadequate, I'm not sure, by finding out Carson Higgins was singing it too. Carson Higgins is just all over the place and reminds me of a younger and more out there version of Taylor Hicks.

"Love Song" performed by Julie Zorilla was excellent, accompanying herself on the piano. I can definitely see her in the Top 10.

"Gravity" sung by Robbie Rosen made the judges smile.

* Chelsee Oaks offered up "Because of You." I thought she did an okay job of it, and at least knew her words, but evidently, the judges didn't agree. She was sent home.

"You Can Feel It All Over" - Caleb Hawley gave a pretty shabby performance but it worked for the judges. Stefano Langone rocked it.

"Don't Want to Miss a Thing" - Lauren Alaina is another one that, barring an unforeseen calamity, will make it to the Top 10.

"Landslide" performed by cowboy, John Wayne Schultz, was well-received.

A disastrous performance of "Everything" by Ashley Sullivan, that everyone thought would turn out to be her swan song, didn't. That 'you only get one chance' stuff was not really in play tonight, despite Ryan Seacrest's claims, because they were giving her every chance imaginable to overcome her bad case of nerves.

Some performances sort of ran into each other, montage-style, so you didn't really see the whole thing.

Jovany Barreto performed Marc Anthony's "You Sang to Me."

"Time of my Life" kept youngster, Jacee Badeaux in the game. "It's my pleasure to listen to you as many times as we have," J-Lo sincerely complimented and thanked him.

"I Hope You Dance" - Scotty McCreery muffed the lyrics, but the "favorite pattern" has already emerged and he's one of them. Tatynisa Wilson got off to a rough start and also had a problems with the lyrics, but she finished well enough to hang in.

The contestants were split into 4 rooms. Oh, the suspense! Well, it was short-lived, as soon as we saw Lauren Alaina and Jacee Badeaux in the first room. Randy Jackson told them they were the most talented group that American Idol has "ever ever had," a phrase which is very much an annual part of American Idol. You'd think it would be hard to say with a straight face by now.

In the second room, we see Corey Levoy, Shane Jordan and Brielle Von Hugel get some mention before the whole room gets sent home; and in the third room, we see Chelsee Oaks and Mark Gutierrez reach the end of the road. Everyone in the last room got to stay.

I don't know what Colton Dixon, James Durbin and Brett Loewenstern were singing, but they all will compete next week. I don't know what Adrian Mitchell, Caleb Johnson or Frances Coontz were trying to sing either. Frances was cut, but don't know what happened to Adrian or Caleb.

Next week American Idol will be brought to you from Las Vegas. They will get down to the Top 24 with Beatles week. Last year, they didn't exactly have a Beatles week, they had Lennon/McCartney songbook.

Source: American Idol on FOX (2/17/2011)