It’s another exciting night of American Idol on FOX with an all new Thursday March 3, season 15 episode 17 called “Top 8 Perform” and we have your weekly recap below. On tonight’s episode, the Top 8 finalists are revealed; the singers perform.
On the last episode, the first live show of the season was finally here! Host Ryan Seacrest revealed America’s Vote and announced the final two semi-finalists joining the Top 10. Then, the Top 10 finalists performed for America’s vote. 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, “America has spoken! Find out which finalists have won the hearts of the nation and who will have to say goodbye. Tune in to find out who will continue on in the battle to become the next AMERICAN IDOL.”
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!
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 introducing the judges: Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, and Harry Connick Jr. Ryan reveals that tonight will be a double elimination night. The first 7 singers to perform tonight are safe – according to America’s votes last week. The bottom three contestants to perform are up for elimination. The Idol judges will listen to the bottom three – and send two of them home at the end of the show.
The first singer to perform tonight, that is safe from elimination, is Dalton Rapattoni. Dalton hits the Idol stage and sings, “Radioactive” by the Imagine Dragons. Now, it’s time to hear what the judges thought of Dalton’s performance.
Keith: “I love that America is voting you through, you’re talented and ready. I just want to say quickly, I don’t think that was a great song for you. But, I think we are going to get to see you next week if everyone votes.” Jennifer: “You know, Dalton, you really understand the art of the show. Don’t get in your head, this is a competition…and it is not. It’s about you being better every week. Every week you got to get better and give a better performance. But, it’s you. You don’t have to do what every one else is doing. What you do is what we want to see. You understand what I am saying? Harry: “One thing that always comes to mind when I see you is this incredible sincerity. You kind of remind me of Billy Joel Armstrong a little bit. This was the first time where I thought what was this guy thinking about? I felt like you weren’t as present as you have been every other week. There was a certain electricity that was missing. Interesting, huh?
The next singer that is safe tonight and moving on to the next round of American Idol is Lee Jean. Lee heads up on the stage and performs Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody.”
Jennifer: “Lee! I like that choice for you too. I think that there is more voice in you than you even know. I think you should let go of yourself, stretch yourself, and practice outside of your comfort zone when you think no one is listening. I feel like you could have really brought some power to some of those moments. But, it was a great song for you. Harry: “I thought it was a great song for you too! I thought it was really smart. I think that was strong, is that song about kind of being away from home? When I am looking at you, here is this young guy full of talent and away from home. I thought it was strong man, nice job.” Keith: “Personally, I didn’t think that it was a great song for you. But, I do want to say that I loved the fact that you are trying something different. You are stretching out and finding yourself, good job!”
Sonika Vaid is up next – and safe from elimination this week. Tonight Sonika is singing “Since You Been Gone by American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson. After her performance, she waits to hear what the judges thought.
Harry: “We don’t need to keep reiterating your talent and the sound of your voice. One thing I want to say is the break right before the hook, you should have suggested to the band to give you like a “boom” before you went in to it. I was waiting to hear that contradiction, it sounded like you were digging your own voice, more than you were trying to hear your own words.” Keith: “yeah, I wanted more attitude because your voice is so good you’re a really good singer. But, I wanted more fire, more angry girlfriend. I was waiting for angry girlfriend.” Jennifer: “Yeah, I felt like you were a little bit more controlled than last week. Do you remember what it felt like last week? It didn’t feel quite the same this week. There were moments though where you smiled, and that’s when it came alive. I think it’s really good for you to put a character in your head, but then you got to let go more.”
Mackenzie Bourg is called up on the American Idol stage next, according to America’s votes – he is safe from elimination tonight and will be moving on to the next round. MacKenzie surprises the audience and sings a Whitney Houston song, on his guitar, “I Want To Dance With Somebody.” Afterwards, he wait to hear what the judges thought.
Keith: “The great thing about your voice is sort of releases, I have never heard a guy sing that song before and it was really cool of you to do that. I love the whole rivers and comas thing that you got going on there.” Jennifer: “You know, some switchups don’t work – but that one really worked. It just had this airiness and you really pulled it off very nicely. You can kind of let go with your voice a little bit, there is more there, stretch it and play with it, and create those moments in the song. You only need one or two really nice moments in a song.” Harry: “That’s a great song and I think it was an amazing song choice. I thought it was fine but you and your message has always been ‘watch how I take this song and do something completely different to it.’ I would have gone all the way to another side and came out here with an acoustic. If you want the people’s votes then you need to come out here and do something special.”
LaPorsha Renae takes the American Idol stage next, and of course she is safe after her phenomenal performance last week. This week LaPorsha is singing “Halo,” by Beyonce, for the American Idol judges. Afterwards, the judges let her know what they thought and offer up their critiques.
Jennifer: “LaPorsha, I love watching you more and more every week – you come in your own. You are a hard act to follow. You really are the one to beat, I don’t know what else to say. You are just so talented and so blessed and it’s good to see you become a star right before our eyes.” Harry: “Everytime that you sing, I am urged to consider the song from a different perspective. You are also kind of a master at arcing a song – you know exactly how to give a song a beginning, a middle, and an end. And it was incredible, as always.” Keith: “You know what is fascinating about this part of Idol is you are a phenomenal singer, but one of the things you have to do now is know how to perform. It’s hard right, it is really hard, because you can’t let go. But, half way through you were like okay I am just going to sing there. Abra Cadabra, here I am!”
There are only two more singers that will be safe tonight, according to America’s Votes – one of those singers is Trent Harmon. Tonight Trent sings the classic Michael Bolton song, “When A Man Loves A Woman.” After Trent’s performance – it’s time to hear what the judges thought
Harry: “You look great so I love your voice and I particularly love it high. I have been meaning to tell you this, I was so worried about your exaggerated bravado – have you been talking to someone about it? I just saw you do that, it seems like you have been working on it. I can see it and it is a really good improvement.” Keith: “Trent, I loved it. It was a really good song for you. Don’t let the facial expression thing get in the way of your emoting. I felt like at times you were thinking about it instead of releasing. You got a great voice.” Jennifer: “The faces are you, the bravado is you, all of it is amazing. I literally had a vision of you and LaPorsha standing here as the final two. You guys have such special voices. I don’t want you to change a damn change. That performance right there gave me that vision.”
The final person who is safe tonight based on last week’s votes is Tristan McIntosh, the young singer takes the Idol stage and performs “Go Rest High On That Mountain” by Vince Gill. Here’s what the judges though of her performance.
Keith “I have to talk fast because we are running out of time. I don’t know what song Scott told you not to do so that you did that one, but that was a great choice. That’s a terrific song. Vince Gill is an amazing song writer, he has a brand new album out right now.” Jennifer: “I believe that is the Tristan that America fall in love and got you to this point. That is your sweet spot, your comfort zone, and you did a beautiful job on it – so you should be proud.” Harry: “You really are a country singer. Did you have someone in mind when you were singing that? It’s amazing when you have someone in mind, especially on a song like that.”
Avalon, Gianna, and Olivia Rox are the bottom three this week and received the least amount of votes. Each girl will get up on the American Idol stage and perform for the judges. After all three of them have sang – the American Idol judges can save one of them, and the other two will be sent home.
Up first is Avalon Young, tonight she is singing “Earned It” by The Weeknd. After her performance, the judges rush through their brief critiques.
Jennifer: “As you can tell by the audience’s reaction – that was what you needed to come out and do. When you are in your comfort zone, there is no one else like you. We have to see the other two, but that was exactly what we needed.” Harry: “That was the performance – you couldn’t have sung a better song at a better time. As far as the make-up thing, I like you without make-up. I think you look so beautiful, just completely natural.” Keith: “That was really really good, I also loved the fact that you did you own take on it. You make it your own, that is very clever, that was good.”
Olivia Rox takes the Idol stage next – and she performs Pink’s popular song “Trouble.”
Harry: “You certainly gave it 100% and that is what I like. Here is the problem, you are competing against someone who picked a song that gave her much more to chew on. Nothing against this song, this is just a different type of song. This is where it is going to be very tough. This is why song choice is everything, because your talent is undeniable.” Keith: “Yeah, I mean you are making this tough. Your vocal range is insane. There were parts of your voice that we have never heard before. This is not going to be easy.” Jennifer: “Everything about that performance says I want to be here. Everything about it was the right thing, but something didn’t come together. If you are going to sign “I Am Trouble” – then we need to feel like you are trouble. You have to be able to bring us something from in here, no matter how beautiful everything sounded.
The final performance on American Idol tonight is Gianna Isabelle, she sings “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys for the judges.
Keith: “This is insane the three of you here. Your voice is gorgeous, my heart wanted a little more, a little more feelings. Your pitch was beautiful.” Jennifer: “You have a truly blessed voice, I have been a fan of yours for the beginning. We’ll see how it all goes down tonight, because everyone really gave it their all.” Harry: “You should be very proud, everyone stepped up. I think you are so adorable, I didn’t recognize you. I think you look terrific and you have an incredible vocal gift. It’s rare to do what you do, so great work!”
Now, it is time to find out who is going home and who has been eliminated. The American Idol judges decide that tonight they are going to save Avalon Young – that means that Olivia Rox and Gianna Isabella are officially eliminated from American Idol.
THE END!