Down to the final 6, the American Idol contestants turned country on April 27, 2010 as they sang songs from this show’s mentor, Shania Twain. Let’s face it, country week isn’t always the most exciting and it’s probably one of the most challenging weeks for Idol contestants because unless you’re a country singer, pulling it off isn’t exactly easy. However, last night proved all this wrong. Every single contestant did an incredible job last night, some stronger than others, but overall it was a night of great vocals and solid performances. Here’s how it all went down:
Lee DeWyze: Lee pulled off yet another flawless performance this week. He proves himself time and time again, getting even better each week. Singing Shania’s “You’re Still the One”, Lee managed to put his own spin on the song as always, which is a bonus on top of his perfect vocals. Whether you’re rooting for Lee or not, no one can deny that this guy can sing. He has a distinct, sexy-raspy, rock and roll voice and vibe to him that makes him fresh and contemporary. It’s no surprise that the judges were unanimous in saying that it was a perfect performance. Lee took a country song and completely un-countrified it. Even if you’re not a fan of country music, anyone listening to Lee’s rendition of that song last night became a fan it.
Michael Lynche: Big Mike proved the kind of singer he is last night. Singing Shania’s “It Only Hurts When I’m Breathing”, Mike took a country song and sang it like a contemporary R&B slow jam. His vocals were smooth and powerful as always. Ellen comparing him to Luther Vandross hit it right on the spot and the judges all agreed that Mike was in his element last night. He even made mentor Shania Twain shed some tears over his performance. Hearing Mike perform each week, its obvious why the judges decided to use this season’s one and only save on him and chances are he’ll continue proving that for weeks to come.
Casey James: Casey did a complete 180 from last week’s performance. He went from just singing a song last week to completely owning the song this week. Singing Shania’s “Don’t”, Casey was definitely in his comfort zone even if it wasn’t his typical rock star type of performance. He showed a different side of himself last night and it worked. His vocals were strong and it was obvious that he was emotionally connected to the song. A definite improvement from last week and no surprise that the judges all thought it was one of his best performances to date.
Crystal Bowersox: If you’ve been watching American Idol from the beginning of the season, you’re probably still shocked that the always perfect Crystal wasn’t all that perfect last night. It was the first time the judges told Crystal that her performance wasn’t her strongest or best despite still liking it. Everyone has to have their bad week, right? Despite not being her best week, her performance was still strong vocally and as always, she puts on a great overall performance. Including several band members and back-up vocals as she sang Shania’s “No One Needs To Know”, it was obvious that Crystal had good time last night. Was it the most exciting performance of the evening or one of the best she’s done so far? No, but it was still good enough to keep her far away from being in the bottom three.
Aaron Kelly: If there’s one contestant out of the remaining six that’s meant to become a country star, it’s Aaron. Whether you agree with them or not, the judges know what they’re talking about (most of the time) and saying Aaron represented the type of artist he should be based on last night’s performance, you can’t help but agree. Singing Shania’s “You’ve Got A Way”, Aaron delivered a smooth performance filled with strong vocals. For a 17 year old, the guy is impressive. What made Aaron better last night compared to the past couple of weeks is that it was evident that he was connected to the song. Although typically interpreted as a love song, Aaron said he was singing it for his mom, and even changed a line in the song, to make it a little more age appropriate. A good move on his part as it showed originality. Whether he makes it to the end or not, it’s probably safe to say that Aaron could likely be the next big thing in country music.
Siobhan Magnus: It’s been awhile since we heard Siobhan hit those high notes she’s become famous for, but she definitely showed that again last night and then some. Singing Shania’s “Any Man Of Mine”, was a perfect song choice for Siobhan’s feisty personality. Her vocals were strong, she looked like she was having fun, and she engaged with the crowd like a true professional. She owned the stage and her performance last night which is a definite improvement from her last couple of weeks.
Bottom 3 Predictions: Who’s going to be in the bottom three tonight? And who’s going home? It’s not easy to predict, after all there have been shocking elimination night results before, so anything can happen when America votes. Despite this week’s great performances from all the contestants, someone’s still going home. Predictions for tonights bottom three: Aaron Kelly, Siobhan Magnus, Casey James.
Rosanna Bonura - Rosanna Bonura is a member of the Professional Writers Association of Canada. She is a freelance writer for various publications ...
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