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"American Idol" - Top 8 Male Semifinalists - March 10, 2010
Ryan calls Kara Simon's binky. He doesn't understand what that means.
Contestant #1:Lee Dewyze
Song: "Fireflies,"
Performance:
Randy: Thinks it was a strange song choice and there were some pitch problems, but he thinks he made it work.
Ellen: She liked that made it rock a bit. She says friends of hers have crushes on him. And he's adorable.
Kara: She says he looked confident and that there's a star bubbling there. She thought he made it better by stripping away the production gloss. A solid job, not his best, but solid.
Simon: He says there's nothing to rave about, no moment, but he likes his progress. He thinks he's better than the version of the song that he just did.
He says he's absorbing the criticism and tried to do something a bit different with the song.
Contestant #2: Alex Lambert
Song: "Trouble," Ray LaMontagne
Performance:
Randy: Liked the song but wasn't wowed and thought it was too fast.
Ellen: She continues with the banana metaphor and says he's getting better and better. She loves his sweet, vulnerable, honesty.
Kara: Says the only thing standing in the way of his winning is himself. He sounds great but he's still stiff and not totally letting go, she would've liked to see it with just an acoustic.
Simon: He says he's got to get himself mentally somewhere else. He says he needs to imagine Randy in a bikini. In other words stop concentrating on the cameras but let go.
Contestant #3: Tim Urban
Song: "Hallelujah,"
Performance:
Randy: He mentions the history of the song on the show and says he made it work.
Ellen: Loved it so much she runs up to hug him.
Kara: She thought he might be going home and he thinks he might be in the top now because of his emotional connection.
Simon: Says he feels responsible for him doing well. Thought it was a very smart choice, not the best version he's heard but his strongest performance so far.
Ellen and Simon argue over whose responsible for the performance. Tim says it's all of their criticism that helped.
Contestant #4:Andrew Garcia In Ryan red room choice he asks him about "Straight Up." He says he's going back to his roots with this song.
Song: "Genie in a Bottle," Christina Aguilera
Performance:
Randy: Likes his Randy-style cardigan. Thinks it was a good idea but it didn't work for him it was pitchy and lacked range.
Ellen: Loved the song choice and thought it was smart. She liked the end but thought it was too late. She thinks people will love it.
Kara: She says he's in a tough position since he peaked early and he's been chasing it since but it just wasn't great.
Simon: He's with Kara, thought it was a little desperate like he overthought it. He thinks he may be going backwards a bit.
Ryan asks him about peaking, Andrew says it's fine and he shouts out to his fans.
Contestant #5: Casey James
Song: "You'll Think of Me," Keith Urban
Performance:
Randy: Thinks it was a little bit of a safe choice and wants him to go for more of a harder rocking thing.
Ellen: Thought it was great and wonders if he's more comfortable sitting down and that feels like his vibe.
Kara: She's kind of back on the Casey train. She thought it was him doing what he does best, singing from his heart.
Simon: Says it was his second best performance and that it was sincere but they won't be raving about it in 24 hours time but he sounded great.
Contestant #6: Aaron Kelly
Song: "I'm Already There," Lonestar
Performance:
Randy: Says he's coming on but the beginning was good but the chorus was better. He says job well done.
Ellen: She loves him and feels like his stage presence is real. She felt like it was too much song for him and it wasn't terrific.
Kara: She loves that he's in it but the lyrics didn't work for him given the subject matter of the song.
Simon: He thinks what Kara said is rubbish: it's a beautiful song, a great choice, and that he was clearly trying very hard. He says it wasn't a great vocal but a good choice. He tells Kara they're going to confuse people too much if they keep giving contradictory advice and telling them what not to do.
Contestant #7: Todrick Hall
Song: "Somebody to Love," Queen
Performance:
Randy: Says "Todrick is back!" He says he just proved he could really sing. Says it's one of the best vocals he's heard for the whole thing.
Ellen: Thought it was a brave choice, he made it gospel-y and he did a good job.
Kara: Says you can't listen to that and say that it wasn't great singing, but she thought it was a little overdramatic.
Simon: Says it was good in parts not the whole way through. He says it was "American Idol: The Broadway Musical." Glad he wasn't boring. He says it may have saved him.
Contestant #8: Michael Lynche
Song: "This Woman's Work," Kate Bush (Maxwell version)
Performance:
Randy: Says "really? really, really?" He wants to call Maxwell and tell him Big Mike is knocking on the door. Hot.
Ellen: Says the show just began. She says he's the one to beat now.
Kara: Is in tears and says it's relevant to his life right now, she says it was amazing.
Simon: He agrees with Ellen and says this is what the show needed. He says he 100 percent nailed it. Calls it the best of the live performances so far. Kara gives him a standing O.
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