Monday marked the first true live results show of American Idol Season 20 as 10 semifinalists advanced from the top 20 to the top 14 based on Sunday’s public voting, followed by the other 10 in real-time by four judge-selected Places fought board. Sunday’s competitive episode was so strong that Judge Luke Bryan said it felt like “final night,” so of course it was inevitable that some worthy contenders would be eliminated on Monday.
Still, it was surprising that the jury finally decided to send home Jacob Moran, whom Katy Perry had declared “one of the most incredibly talented people around here” (having sung her own song!) and even “the best singer.” of the season” and Sage, who Lionel Richie once referred to as “the whole package” and said she performed better on Monday than during Sunday’s top-20 round.
Jacob Moran was voted the best technical singer of the 20th season of ‘American Idol’. (Photo: Eric McCandless via Getty Images)
As for the 10 safe singers, they all performed victory-round songs, the best of which are Ava Maybe’s feisty “‘Cuz I Love You”, Christian Guardino’s clearly postmodern jukebox-inspired “Creep”, Leah Marlene’s scintillating original “Wisher to the Nun”, “She Used to Be Mine” by power belter Nicolina Bozzo, Emyrson Flora’s brooding “Love in the Dark” and Fritz Hager’s jubilant “Golden”. Rounding out this triumphant group was Lady K and, perhaps unsurprisingly, three country contestants: Huntergirl, Dan Marshall and Noah Thompson. But then it was time for the other 10 to sing for survival, in a brutal and occasionally awkward live TV format that reminded me of the Instant Save sing-offs on rival show The Voice. Most of the vulnerable participants handled the pressure well, but one really didn’t.
Former The Voice finalist Allegra Miles took her rejection like a pro — even when host Ryan Seacrest told her bluntly and awkwardly, “America didn’t fall in love with you” — and all her frustration and pain into her passionate one Breakup ballad channeled, “Tainted.” Noting that disappointment actually worked wonders for hyperactive “Crazy Canadian” Cameron Whitcomb’s Steeldrivers cover, Katy told him, “It dragged you down a bit, slowed you down, focused you. … You sounds better, a little disappointed!” (I suspect Cameron’s brother Sheldon, who was optimistic about getting a massive American Idol tattoo on his butt when Cameron made the Top 24, was perhaps even more disappointed than Cameron.) And Jay Copeland , who appears to be just called ‘Jay’,” turned Imagine Dragons’ “Believer” into a haunting fight song, and had Luke remark, “For that feat, w we gave you the platinum ticket.”
The story goes on
But Jacob and Sage seemed to be fighting the most. Sage was visibly saddened to learn she hadn’t been chosen, but then she immediately put on her game face to spectacularly belt out Allen Stone’s “Brown-Eyed Lover,” to which Lionel gushed, “That’s how you get out after bad news , OK? I mean, when I say you absolutely took responsibility, it’s like, ‘Who said no? who said no I do not get it.’ But the thing was, your attitude was so positive, so direct. You owned the stage, put your foot forward and blew us away.”
Jacob, who had previously performed on Idol, covered Katy’s Olympic anthem “Rise” with flawless vocal control, although he was fighting back tears, and Katy was so shocked and impressed that she told him, “I’ve now retired that song. There are a few notes I’ve never heard in this song! … Technically, I think you’re one of the most incredibly talented people around. I see you coming out with those boots and all the artistry and all. I think you’re taking shape. And you will get up.”
Elli Rowe, the sweet little girl with the soft little voice, was placed in the unenviable and frightening position of having to follow Jacob the powerhouse with her winning cover of Kodaline’s All I Want, and while she did a good job, she was It was also clear that the judges had already decided to send her home. In one of the evening’s many awkward moments, Lionel seemed to temporarily forget that Monday’s eliminations would be decided by the judges, not the spectators, telling Elli: ‘That’s the best performance I’ve ever seen, but You have to understand, this is strong time about now. And so you made the best of all time, but at the same time is it enough? America will tell us!” Oops.
It was also quite obvious that the judges would not prevail on Katyrah Love, although Luke told her, “To get that news and to put on such a performance was amazing.” Luke’s “criticism” of Katyrah’s confident cover of Chaka Khan’s Through the Fire was actually more of a kiss, as he vaguely added, “Thank you for making this a decision for us to get together and see who we’re going to send through.” … I keep forgetting how much that night hurts our hearts as judges.”
As for the one eliminator who didn’t rise to the challenge, that was Cadence Baker, who had been struggling with nerves and confidence all season. It didn’t help that Ryan – in Monday’s most embarrassing altercation – faked her first by saying: “Last night Katy called you a fighter. But does the fight continue? It will!” Cadence then broke into a huge grin of relief and excitement, before Ryan added, “Because it’s time to keep fighting… for a spot in the top 10, for a spot on the judging panel!” That Smile and color drained from Cadence’s face as she processed this roughly delivered new information, and she was visibly/audibly upset when she took the stage to cover an already difficult Whitney Houston song.(Not cool, Ryan !)
The remaining two contenders in the bottom 10 were country singer Mike Parker, who is believed to have been ousted by Huntergirl, Noah and Dan despite having been essentially declared the new Jimmie Allen for weeks. “I’m honestly very shocked you’re not in our top 10,” Luke told Mike, and the live studio audience seemed shocked too, booing and gasping as Ryan announced the news. But Mike kept his own cover of “Bed on Fire” by Teddy Swims and lived up to his hype. Finally, there was wild-eyed rocker Tristen Gressett, whose risqué Weeknd cover apparently backfired on Sunday, but who came right back into the game by wisely claiming Lenny Kravitz’s “Are You Gonna Go My Way” as his trademark survival song for Monday. “You’re a rock star. … You don’t belong in any other position. this is your way And I think you know that now,” Katy assured him.
Based on Monday’s performances and overall tally, my four favorites would have been Tristen, Mike, Allegra and Sage. Well, three out of four isn’t bad. The judges chose Allegra (not surprising considering Luke called her Sunday performance “Free Fallin’ “one of the most magical things I’ve ever seen sitting in that chair”), followed by Mike and Tristen. But they also saved Jay, presumably because they didn’t want to appear stupid for giving him the platinum ticket in the first place (in particular, one of this season’s other platinum contenders has already eliminated himself). Unfortunately, that meant saying goodbye to Sage, along with Cameron, Katyrah, Cadence, Elli… and Jacob. My guess is that Jacob’s decision wasn’t unanimous and that Katy was less than thrilled.
But the eliminations get harder from here as this is a very strong top 14. I don’t think they’re the strongest of all time, as the judges pointed out – they say that every season! — but really, any of these talented kids have the potential to win this thing. Tune in next Sunday because they’re being mentored by season 16 third-place contestant-turned-country superstar Gabby Barrett — who’ll show them that even if they don’t win, they still have a very bright one could have a future.
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