This week on American Idol Season 11, the Top 5 finalists took the stage to sing two solo songs each: one from the 1960s, and the other from British origins.
The contestants remaining in the competition are: Phillip Phillips; Skylar Laine, Joshua Ledet; Hollie Cavanagh; and Jessica Sanchez.
Phillip Phillips
Phillip chose “a sexy kind of song” in “Time of the Season” and covered “The Letter” by The Box Tops for the 60s.
Jennifer said: “You’re so compelling to watch… You’re really a dynamic performer.”
Steven comment on Phillips’ Time of the Season performance: “You sang it well, you sang it really well. So good for you.”
Randy Jackson called him more “laid back” and seemed surprised that Phillip was actually able to sing melody.
Video: Watch Phillip Phillips sing “Time of the Season”
Skylar Laine
Skylar Laine performed Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son”; while “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me” served as Skylar’s pick for the Brit pop round of the competition.
Randy Jackson called the performance “flawless” and “amazing” and said he was “transfixed” by everything she does on stage. Jennifer Lopez asked “you want to win, don’t you?” and asserted “you’re winning over the hearts of America as you speak”.
Video: Watch Skylar Laine sing “You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me”
Joshua Ledet
Joshua Ledet performed The Temptations’s, “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg. and BeeGee’s “To Love Somebody”
Judge Randy Jackson said, “You’re one of the best singers on this show. Ever. Ever. No matter what goes down, you’re one of the best singers ever on this show… That was incredible. Nobody can do that better.
“I think you’re one of the best singers I’ve seen in 50 years, I mean, it’s crazy, baby. Honestly. People since James Brown and all those people, the greatest soul singers and performers ever, honestly with the right records? Jimmy, [Iovine], you better not mess this up,” Jennifer Lopez said.”
Video: Watch Joshua Ledet sing To Love Somebody
Hollie Cavanagh
Hollie Cavanagh performed the Ike & Tina Turner classic “River Deep Mountain High” and for her British pop song, Hollie chose Leona Lewis’s hit, “Bleeding Love.”
Van Zandt advised Cavanagh to stop singing to please people, and just sing for the sheer joy of it.
Steven Tyler says, “Hollie, that’s the first time I’ve really hard you step out and use your blues… that’s it, you just did it and you showed me you got it in you.”
“It was nice to see you surrounded by kind of a bigger production… I could feel you, I loved the energy,” Jennifer Lopez says.
“I was like yo, she’s diggin’ in, she’s going in… very nice,” Randy Jackson says.
Video: Watch Hollie Cavanagh sing “Bleeding Love”
Jessica Sanchez
Jessica Sanchez tackled the Ike and Tina Turner version of “Proud Mary”.
“You’re so grown up there… you were a little bit of Tina, a little bit of Beyonce,” Jen says.
Steven said: “The only thing that gives experience a run for its money is a 16 year old. You know what? You did it again!”
But Randy said: “This performance was barely okay for me… it didn’t really quite sit with me.”
For the Brit pop round, Jessica sang Joe Cocker’s “You Are So Beautiful”
“You once again showed America how beautiful your voice is and what a great singer you are,” Steven says. “That reminded me of when you sang ‘I Will Always Love You’ and how you just captivated the audience… great job, mama,” Jen says. “Round two, this girl’s in the top of the leader board right now, dude… you are off to the races, unbelievable, so good,” Randy says.
Video: Watch Jessica Sanchez sing “You Are So Beautiful”
Who do you think will be eliminated in American Idol?
Watch the May 3 (May 4 Manila Time) American Idol 2012 results show to find out which contestants will make up our Top 4. The American Idol 2012 top 5 results shows airs tonight!
