It’s another exciting night of American Idol on FOX with an all new Wednesday April 22, season 14 Episode 26 called “Top 5 Perform” and we have your weekly recap below. On tonight’s episode, the Top 5 vocalists perform.
On the last episode, the top 6 performed and for the first time in the competition, each finalist sang two songs. Did you watch the last episode? If you missed it, we have a full and detailed recap right here for you.
On tonight’s episode as per the FOX synopsis “The votes are in! The Top Five will perform live and one finalist will go home. The exchange last week between judge Harry Connick Jr. and contestant Quentin Alexander will be recapped at the beginning of the show as part of the recap of the previous week.”
Tonight’s show is going to be an exciting one, which I’m not going to miss and neither should you. Tune in tonight at 8 PM EST! Celeb Dirty Laundry is your go to place for all the up-to-date American Idol News and we’ll be recapping the show right here for you. Do you have a favorite to win? Hit up the comments and let us know who you really like!
Tonight’s episode begins now – Refresh Page often to get the most current updates!
Tonight’s episode of American Idol kicks off with host Ryan Seacrest taking the stage, he introduces the Idol judges: Harry Connick Jr, Keith Urban, and Jennifer Lopez. Ryan reveals that the winner of this season’s American Idol will receive a special honor and they will be recording the national anthem for the 2015 FIFA Women’s Cup. Now, it’s time for the results from last week’s votes.
The first contestant that is safe tonight and will be moving forward in the competition is Jax. Jax takes the Idol stage and performs “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet. Keith Urban kicks off the critiques, “Wow! That’s how you open a show right there, that’s crazy. It felt like it took you a little while to get open and get loose, you have every right to feel good about your talent and be liberated.” Jennifer agrees, “I feel like you are ready for tour, you have the perfect combination of like being aware that you are performing for an audience but also having a good time and having total abandon. Great way to open the show!” Harry adds, “Jenny mentioned touring and for the last few weeks I have gotten a sense of seeing you in concert. If I bought a ticket to your show, which I would hope you would comp me, if it is anything like that I would have a hell of a time at the show. That was strong!”
The next American Idol singer to take the stage is Nick Fradiani, he performs “Harder TO Breathe” by Maroon 5. Jennifer Lopez begins the critiques with, “Nick! It seems to me that you are getting more and more comfortable every single time, which is great to watch. That song lends itself perfectly to get audience participation, and they were ready to go with you. So always be aware of that stuff at the end of the day. You sounded great, perfect song for you, getting better and better every week.” Harry comments, “I think that was really scary for the other people in the competition because you are one of those guys that it getting better every week. That was terrific and that was a great song for you. Im telling you, it’s big, rock and roll.” Keith agrees, “That was a very good song for you and you are finding yourself now. If you watch it back you will see that your eyes are darting all over the place. You should work on that next, find a spot and zone in on it – it will get you centered.”
Clark Beckham is up next, he sings a rendition of “Yesterday” by The Beatles. Harry begins the critiques with, “One of my favorite things about what you just did is you didn’t use high notes gratuitously. They matched up perfectly with the lyrics and I am sure you are obviously aware of that. You gave yourself an amazing melody to sing. I thought it was terrific, really nice job man.” Keith Urban agrees, “It was beautiful. I thought it was a really interesting choice. There was just something about your voice and the way you did it. Don’t feel like you have to be so contained, but if you release even more it will become astounding.” Jennifer adds, “I agree with Keith and Harry, it was risky a little ebit what you did. But at the end of the day you sang it beautiful. Keith is right, your strength is when you move the audience emotionally. Beautiful job.” [VIDEO HERE]
Tyanna Jones is the next contestant that is safe tonight according to America’s votes, Tyanna takes the stage and performs “Party In The USA” by Miley Cyrus. Keith begins the critiques with, “It was fun, it was a side of Tyanna we have never seen before. It was an interesting choice. It was good to see the fun side of you as well.” Jennifer adds, “I have to say that I thought you were the most comfortable we have seen in a long time, and it makes sense because you are 16. I liked this song for you, and you had fun, I thought you did a great job.” Harry adds, “Listen, there is a lot that goes in to winning American Idol, and song choice is one of those things. That was so smart to choose that song, you were so relaxed like Jenny said. I was thinking if you sang that in the studio, you would only have to do one take and then everyone could leave and go to lunch.”
Based on America’s votes, Quentin Alexander and Rayvon are in the bottom two tonight – and at the end of the show viewers will vote on Twitter to decide which singer they would like to save and which singer they would like to send home.
Quentin is up first, he performs “Light My Fire” by The Doors. Jennifer kicks off the critiques with, “Listen when we watch you perform, you are always sentimental you seem really comfortable up there, but for me I always want a little more – like some vocal pow. When you go there and sing the chorus it doesn’t hit me like I want it to hit me. You look great, you feel great up there, everything is okay but this has to match everything.” Harry adds, “I think the reason that happened is because it was a really rangey song. What I really dug though, what was interesting is the arrangement. I thought you kind of coasted and sang it conservatively while the band did what I thought was great – it just sounded cool. I dug it.” Keith adds, “What is cool about you is you are your own guy. You know how plankton swim with the current? That’s so not you. You are like anti-plankton.” [VIDEO HERE]
Now it’s Rayvon’s turn to take the stage, he performs Sam Smith’s hit “Not The Only One.” Harry begins the critiques with, “My favorite part other than your fantastic vocal performance was at the end when you had to breathe and you were at the top of your register, that’s really hard to do and it was flawless. I really dig when you sing ballads and you just knocked that one out of the park.” Keith adds, “If ever a song was the perfect song choice – I truly believe if that song had never been sung and you cut it that it would be a hit.” Jennifer laughs, “Wouldn’t it be ironic if at the end of the day Rayvon fought from being in the bottom two every single time and made it to the top. With vocals like that and picking perfect song like that – it just might happen.”
Nick Fradiani is up again, next he performs “Maggie May” by Rod Stewart. Keith Urban raves, “Nick that’s a good song for you! A really good song. It’s like you are really taking everything we say to heart, like even the guitar strap – it’s more like down here and looking way better.” Jennifer adds, “You drop it a little more, you don’t want to be like Keith Urban. Again, you are picking songs that suit you very well. It’s all about picking moments as we get to the finish line, in the first song you could have created a moment. Think about that, what is going to make this different and make everyone excited about me.” Harry closes with, “Keith is so cool, you could actually drop the guitar out of reach and not play at all. I think you could sustain a two or three hours show on the road, after what I seen the last few weeks. Good job!” [VIDEO HERE]
Tyanna heads up on the Idol stage next and performs her second song of the night, “Heaven” by Bryan Adams. Jennifer comments “I like this for you, it was different for you, you sounded good. I didn’t think that it was perfect, but at the end fo the day I do think people needed to see a different side of you. I think it was a good job, I don’t know if it was my favorite from you but I liked seeing you in this light.” Harry asks, “What type of music would you record on your first album?” Tyanna explains, “I am most confident singing song like this, but I like dancing and moving in the crowd, so I think I am a mix of everything.” Keith adds, “For me that is such a great answer, it’s a bit of this and a bit of that – that is a sign of a great artist, it’s the fusion. You have a beautiful voice baby.” [VIDEO HERE]
Clark Bekcham is up next, his second song tonight is “Girlfriend” by Justin Bieber – which he plays an acoustic version of on his guitar. After Clark’s rendition, Harry kicks off the critiques with “What makes that song work for Justin Bieber is the space and the sexiness. You did yourself a disservice by doing that song because you set your bar so high. If you sing that song you need to stretch it out and make it sexy.” Keith agrees, “you got to feel it from a different place I think, otherwise it is all technical and its not roar or dangerous, like Bieber is.” Jennifer agrees, “Everyone is picking song they think they can create a moment with. This week is supposed to be stadium anthems, but for this or you I don’t think it was the best thing to show that performance. You’re a great singer, but it is about creating a moment up there, these are supposed to be stadium moments.”
Now it is time for Jax’s second song of the night, she heads back on to the Idol stage and performs “White Flag” by Dido. Keith Urban raves, “Beautiful Jax! Really great to see you on the piano. Did you hold my attention for the whole song? Absolutely you did, I was completely riveted.” Jennifer agrees, “After your last song, you know it was so fun, you really needed to have a moment. That was exactly what you needed to do tonight. That just tells me that your artistry and instincts are so ready to be in this business. That was so beautiful.” Harry adds, “Listen Jax, the reason I am making all these jokes is because it was phenomenal. There is nothing I can say. Well done.” [VIDEO HERE]
Quentin Alexander returns to the stage to sing his second song of the night, “Shake It Out” by Florence + The Machine. Jennifer begins the critiques, “Hey Quentin, I am such a fan of yours. Your’re riveting, I just stay glued to you the entire time. It was a much better vocal presentation than the last song to me, congratulations, really good way to finish. Harry asks Quentin, “We sing out of tune sometimes, so what happens when you go in to the studio? If you were in the studio and you sang out of tune – would you let them auto tune you?” Quentin responds, “I feel like the type of music that I want to do is all me in my raw element – if I make a mistake I want people to hear that mistake.” Keith closes with, I think you would be really clear in the type of record you want to make, if you get to do that just stay the course because you have really good artistic instincts.”
Now, Rayvon Owen gets to sing his last song of the night and try to convince America to save him again. Rayvon performs his own rendition of “Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac. Harry waits for the audience to stop cheerin and comments, “So Rayvon, you just had to get it in there, that big old high note. Huh? I have a question for you too, will you be guided if you get a deal, or will you go your own way with a clear vision?” Rayvon responds, “it’s a balance it will be a collaborative effort of what I have passion for, and I am also willing to be guided by someone with more experience.” Jennifer closes with, “That was a great way to finish the show. You are such a fighter, you are not going down and you show us that with your vocal performances every single time. It was a really good performance for you.”
According to America’s votes last week Rayvon Owen and Quentin Alexander are in the bottom two. Now, fans will take to Twitter and vote live on whether they would like to save Quentin or Rayvon.
The live votes are in from Twitter, and American has decided to use their last fan save on Rayvon Owen. Quentin Alexander is officially eliminated from American Idol. Do you think Quentin Alexander’s being voted off and sent home relates to his fight with Harry Connick Jr.?
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