Season 22 of “American Idol” heats up, and so do the judges’ criticism as the competition comes down to the Top 10.
As the 12 remaining contestants fought to stay in the competition Monday night, Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie evened out “Idol” hopes, including one of this season’s favorites, with returns that were less glowing than d ‘habit. Perhaps this was all part of an effort to encourage young singers to “not let off the gas yet,” as Bryan put it.
Pressure creates diamonds, right?
Mentor Meghan Trainor helped a dozen finalists perfect their Billboard #1 hit performances that will hopefully convince viewers they deserve to be in the Top 10. Two contestants opted for Taylor Swift’s tracks , and what do you know, ABC also aired commercials for his latest album. , “The Department of Tortured Poets”. Coincidence? Maybe.
Here’s what happened in Episode 13 during the Top 12 performances – and who got sent home.
What happened last night?Nya and Jordan Anthony are eliminated during the Top 12 reveal
Abi Carter receives first negative feedback for ‘All Too Well’
For Abi Carter, it seemed like she had set the bar too high for herself this season.
The platinum ticket recipient – who Bryan said “could be the winner of American Idol” after hearing her cover of “What Was I Made For?” » by Billie Eilish? during the auditions – took to the piano (again) with a daring cover of Taylor Swift: “All Too Well” (Abi’s Version).
The 21-year-old singer, fittingly dressed in a red dress in honor of Swift’s “Red” album, didn’t need the full 10-minute version of the song to impress. She brought her “angelic” voice (Katy Perry’s word), and her vocals soared above the melody as she emotionally sang Swift’s lyrics about a past relationship gone bad.
But that wasn’t enough for the judges.
Bryan looked around and noticed that it felt like they never left yesterday’s recording. He had a sense of déjà vu seeing Abi in a floor-length dress at the piano again after Sunday’s performance of Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.”
“Last night was one of your brightest moments,” he said, adding that he felt like it wasn’t as strong as the night before. “Don’t get too comfortable at the piano,” he warned, telling Abi to “start working in the room.”
Richie’s comments were also less complimentary than usual, and he said he was ready to get “double-crossed” after Bryan’s criticism. On the other hand, Perry encouraged Abi to “keep playing that ace” and “give us angelic every time.”
Roman Collins gets a hug from Katy Perry for his cover of ‘Roar’
Roman Collins was the last brave soul this season who dared to sing a Perry song in front of the pop star. However, it seemed to pay off.
The 24-year-old worship leader, who came through the season with his onstage charisma and vocal range that could blow the roof off a venue, showed a different side of himself by starting on the piano. He gave the 2013 pop single a unique jazz club-style remix and kept it calm until he dropped the mic on the podium and gave the song its church choir treatment.
As he finished the performance behind the judges’ desk, Perry offered Roman a handshake for doing him justice. Instead, he wrapped her up for a hug.
“You never failed to succeed,” Richie said. “Your roar was incredible.”
Perry revealed that the fellow Southern Californian is one of her parents’ favorites. “They’re texting me about you,” she told Roman. “They’re praying for you too.”
“I look for them on Instagram”:Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan reveal secrets
Kayko comes out of her shell and earns a group hug from the judges
Sam “Kayko” Kelly-Cohen, the king of singer-songwriter performances behind a piano or guitar, stunned the judges with a massive rock rendition of Gotye’s 2011 earworm “Somebody That I Used to Know.”
He brought the drama, from his eyeliner to his twists and turns on stage like he was Jared Leto.
Kayko had the judges on their feet from the start of his performance, and the trio didn’t hesitate to rush over and wrap him in a bear hug as he sang his final notes.
“Wow Wow Wow!” Was all Richie could say. Impressive for a guy who was an “accident”, an accompanist who had no intention of showing up to audition himself.
Who was eliminated from ‘American Idol’?
Despite their dazzling performances, Roman Collins and Jayna Elise (who weaved magic with her rendition of Rihanna’s “Diamonds”) were sent home Monday night.
Who is in the Top 10 “American Idol” 2024?
- Abi Carter
- McKenna Breinholt
- Will Mosley
- Sam “Kayko” Kelly-Cohen
- Kaibrienne “KB” Richins
- Mia Matthew
- Jack Blocker
- Emmy Russell
- Triston Harper
- Julia Gagnon