It’s another exciting night of AMERICAN IDOL on FOX with an all new Thursday March 17, season 15 episode 19 called “Top 5 Perform” and we have your weekly recap below. On tonight’s episode, the top 5 finalists are revealed; the singers perform.
On the last episode, the American Idol judges: Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, Harry Connick, Jr., had a tough decision to make. After careful consideration the judges announced that Sonika Vaid was safe – which meant that Avalon Young and Lee Jean were official eliminated form American Idol. 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, “week after week, the finalists have given it their all in hopes of continuing on in the competition to become America’s next superstar. Find out who will earn a coveted spot in the Top Five tonight on American Idol live.”
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 finale right here for you. Do you have a favorite to win? Hit up the comments and let us know who you really like and who is your favorite to win this amazing last season of America Idol on Fox.
Tonight’s episode begins now – Refresh Page often to get the most current updates!
Tonight’s episode off American Idol kicks off with a surprise performance from Idol alum Adam Lambert, including a clip of him singing the same song when he was competing on the FOX competition. Afterwards host Ryan Seacrest take the stage and introduces the Idol judges: Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick Jr, and Keith Urban. We are down to the final six singers – and they will each be singing two songs tonight before the judges get to use their last save of the season.
The first person that is safe tonight based on last week’s votes is Trent Harmon. For his first song of the night, Trent sings “Counting Stars” by One Republic. Afterwards, the Idol judges weigh in on his performance.
Keith: “Trent! How do you feel! It was interesting, I found myself watching butnot being pulled in, you weren’t quite sure what was going on. You got a great voice, but I don’t think that song and you personality wise came together enough for me.” Jennifer: “Yeah, that was a funny song. I know that America chose it and it wasn’t a song you would normally choose for yourself. I feel like you did everything you could with the song that you were given.” Harry: “I tell you what I did like, when you started clapping I felt like I was at a ho-down. It’s one of those songs that you cant even finish the phrase without starting a new phrase. You did the best you could with it, that was America’s choice for you, you got another song coming so…”
The next person that is safe tonight after America’s votes is Dalton Rapattoni. Tonight the song that America chose for Dalton is “Numb,” by Linkin Park.
Jennifer: “So, I think that we all know that youre a crowd favorite because you take the songs and make them your ow. But, with that particular song, I don’t know, I feel like you took the oomph out of it. You are capable of doing that and taking us there but it felt like you were skating through the song a little bit. The arrangement lacked the excitement.” Harry: “Now see for me I thought the headbanging part was in the position of the band and they were a current underneath you, and you poured your guts in to those lyrics. I actually kind of like it. The only thing I would say to you is stay in the pocket with your guitar, but that’s just nit-picking.” Keith: “Your team mentioned that you “Daltonize” everything, that’s a good term. I like it. What I found with that song is I agree with Harry a little bit, it was somewhere in between. I would have stripped it down even more and down something entirely different from the original version.”
Up next is La’Porsha Renee, according to America’s votes – she is safe from elimination tonight. For her first song, Lo’Porsha is singing “Ready For Love” by India Arie. Afterwards, the judges comment on her performance.
Harry: “To me that reading of that song was pleading and mournful and everything that those lyrics called for. You sat there and you sang a ballad and it was all about lyrics and feeling, it was phenomenal.” Keith: “About half way through that I found myself realizing that I wasn’t even judging, I was just a person in the audience captivated by the moment. Beautiful, it was absolutely beautiful.” Jennifer: “You know, that’s my favorite India Arie song probably ever. It’s funny, you have the same time soul and personality that she does. It was just a complete performance in every way.”
Based on America’s votes – the next singer that is safe tonight on Idol is Mackenzie Bourg. For his first song, MacKenzie is singing Cat Stephens’ popular song “Wild World.”
Keith: “I always remind people that we have these TV monitors in the desks because I want to see what everyone at home seems. You’re interesting, you’re like cake batter, even when it’s not fully cooked it is really good.” Jennifer: “You know these song choices tonight are difficult because they aren’t ones that you would normally choose. But, you have so much likability that I thoroughly enjoyed every second of that. Every second! But, it’s the same reasons that I loved your performances last week – I always feel like you are singing to me.” Harry: “I wrote a couple of things down, I thought it was good for you, I liked the tempo of it. I thought it was great. You could record that song on your own and do great. You need to figure out what you are not doing in between the phrases, and also you don’t have to change the melody on a song like that. But, I liked it, nice job.”
Tristan McIntosh and Sonika are in the final two tonight – that means that one of them will be eliminated. It’s up to the American Idol judges to decide which contestant will be going home after hearing them sing.
Tristan is up first, she decided to sing “Independence Day” by Martina McBride. Afterwards, she waits to hear what the judges have to say.
Jennifer: “I think obviously you are one of America’s favorites, but I feel like if I were to give you any advice going forward – it would be to kind of try different things We’re just seeing the same performance over and over and that’s why you wound up in this position this week.” Harry: “I think that you are really good at singing song that were written from a pain, I think there is a sweet spot there for you. The only advice that I would give you is age, you have to grow older. Obviously people love you, but time is the only thing that is going to help you perfect your gift. You just got to grow and get a little bit older.” Keith: “One of the things is you got a god-given gift, your voice, and you are extremely photogenic. You sing beautifully. The next level of moving forward is you got to either strip a song down or do it full on with the band. That was a little bit in the middle for me. But, you are really, really extraordinary.
Now it is Sonika’s turn to wow the judges, she performs a rendition of the wildly popular song “Let It Go.”
Harry: “I think that was a really smart choice of song. I thought it was very strong. You are going to have to work on when you are working on more powerful underscoring. When we hear more rousing underscore, I think you get a little lost. You just need more practice with that kind of music.” Keith: “ Why does wind look so good on you? We need some wind over here! Sonika, that was a great song for you, your performances are really starting to come alive.” Jennifer: “You know Sonika you are very shy, but you are fierce and you are a fighter. We keep feeling that from you and we are watching you grow week by week and it is exciting to watch you come out of your shell.”
Now, it’s time for the Idol judges to decide who will be sent home. After careful deliberation the American Idol judges announce that they have decided to save Sonika, so Tristan McIntosh is officially eliminated.
Now, it is time for round two of the performances tonight. Dalton Rapattoni is up first this time and he will be singing “The Sound Of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel.
Keith: “Dalton! That is an amazing song, I find myself spellbound by the lyrics. But, what I liked was how you put so much emphasis on them. You really do that justice, you come forward and emphasize certain parts of them. From that standpoint I thought that it was really good.” Jennifer: “Yeah, you felt better about that. It felt really powerful, that is what I liked the most about it. We felt like we were getting a piece of your soul there, it was really powerful, good job.” Harry: “Every song you do is kind of like a blank wall and you are a graffiti artist and you make it what you want to make it. This was a beautiful piece of poetic lyrics and you need that, you thrive on that. That’s what you need to keep doing, don’t let anyone else tell you to do whatever.”
Mackenzie Bourg’s second time on the Idol stage tonight will be a performance of “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson – he brings along his guitar, and plays the acoustic version.
Jennifer: “Wow! Where do I begin? I just feel like you just showed everybody why you are still here. People have played with that song over the years, but that was the most special version that we have ever seen If felt so amazing to watch. Great job!” Harry: “It was really great. It’s an amazing thing when you can tell that people spend time throughout the day thinking about lyrics. That was really really strong. Ed Sheeran and people like that have proven that a guy can stand there and play a guitar and sing in front of stadiums full of people. Terrific job.” Keith: “There’s a kids’ movie called Bolt and in it there is a gerbil called Rhino and he is a big fan of Bolt. And I’m like Rhino, I’m a big fan of yours.”
It’s time for Trent Harmon to sing for the second time tonight, he performs the Lynyrd Skynyrd hit “Simple Man” for the Idol judges. Afterwards, they weigh in and let Trent know what they thought.
Harry: “You know what would be fun, a duet with Trent and Adam Lambert – there would be glasses breaking everywhere. There is an essence of you that is very Southern. I’ve been wanting to tell you that, it is very very appealing. But, there is that extra sort of thing that you have. I enjoyed it very much.” Keith: “That is absolutely my favorite Lynryd Skynyrd song. I love that you took the soul aspect and the southern aspect and the gospel aspect and twisted it in there. It was really good.” Jennifer: “you know it’s moments like this that’s why I love Idol and that is why I am going to miss it so much. Having this front seat to watching the perfect song and the perfect singer sing it at that time. You know what I mean? That’s what happened there and it made me feel like “damn ive been so lucky” for the five years that I have been on this show. And, you sang that so beautifully. So thank-you.”
Sonika Vaid gets to sing her second song of the night next, America chose the song “Clarity” by Zedd. Afterwards, she waits to hear for the judges opinions.
Keith: “I was drawn to the song, it was a really good song for you. Keep letting go, it’s in your nature to be in control. Don’t worry about the edges, just be raw, be real, be you.” Jennifer: “I didn’t love this song for you. I felt you trying to do things with that and I applaud that. But, you also need to find a balance to being grounded in the song and still being able to perform.” Harry: “I thought it was really good, but I just want to say quickly that my favorite part of tonight was when you were up there talking to Ryan and Tristan and we finally got to get to know you a little bit.”
The final performance of tonight is La’Porsha Renee, she sings “No More Drama” by Mary J Blije for the American Idol judges.
Jennifer: “It takes a lot of strength to overcome those things in your life, everyone knows, we have all been through stuff like that. You are an inspiration and you don’t overdo it, you put it right there in the pot where you are supposed to.”
The judges are truly speechless, Ryan Seacrest interrupts and says there really is no words after a performance like that.
THE END!
