Season 12’s top four ladies took on one-hit wonders, as well as a song of their own choice, to try to win America’s votes. Some obvious front-runners rose to the top, while others are in danger of going home.
After mentor Jimmy Iovine criticized the judges in his backstage performance analyses for sugarcoating their critiques, Nicki said that he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. This of course prompted Ryan to bring Jimmy out onstage, and when he criticized the judges again, to their faces, Nicki disagreed to the point of going up on stage and pretending to wring his neck. The love/hate relationship still remains, maybe with a little more hate than love.
This week, the remaining contestants visited with patients at Children’s Hospital LA, and it proved to be a life-changing experience for them. They made some new friends, gained some new fans, and dedicated their performances to the patients, wishing them all the best.
Contestant’s Choice
Amber Holcomb
Amber looked and sounded very much like a young Whitney Houston as she rocked a sexy jumpsuit and huge curly hair for her performance of Celine Dion’s “The Power of Love.” Not only did her look draw comparisons to a glass of milk and a black and white cookie from the judges, but they all raved asbout her song choice: how effortlessly she was able to handle a Celine song, and how well it showed off her incredible range.
Candice Glover
In yet another interesting song cover for Candice (check out her version of Lovesong), this week she took on Drake’s “Find Your Love.” As a huge Drake fan, she was thrilled to sing one of his songs, but Nicki and Randy criticized her decision to jazz up the song, and wished she had kept to the original melody, for fear that she will become known as that “old-fashioned” girl. Mariah and Keith disagreed and advised her to keep taking chances.
Kree Harrison
Kree chose Susan Tedeschi’s “It Hurt So Bad,” and while she sold the emotion of the song with her vocals, the judges criticized her for not selling it with the rest of her performance. They questioned her song choice, and felt she was missing that something that captivated in her previous performances. Nicki told her flat out that this was not a top-four-worthy performance.
Angie Miller
Angie returned to her home at the piano to sing Jessie J’s “Who You Are.” The judges loved her, loved the song choice, and how passionate she is at the piano. The only criticism they had was that they wanted to hear her original songs, and they hope she chooses to sing one of them the next time she gets the chance.
One-Hit Wonders
Amber Holcomb
Amber chose a one-hit wonder by our old friend Richard Harris (Dumbledore #1!), and better-known by Donna Summer, “MacArthur Park.” In head-to toe tangerine, including lipgloss, she belted out some crystal clear, very impressive high notes. The judges praised her for not only her vast improvement as the competition has progressed, but also her likeability.
Candice Glover
Candice chose “Emotion,” originally by 70’s artist Samantha Sang, but more commonly known by The Bee Gees and Destiny’s Child. Even though she was sidetracked by an awful cold, you never would have known it from the way she performed. While Keith still wasn’t wowed by her song choice, the other judges felt that she redeemed herself after her lackluster first performance.
Kree Harrison
Kree really had to step it up for this performance after receiving harsh reviews for her previous performances. She chose the Procol Harum classic, “Whiter Shade of Pale.” It’s a beautiful song, and she has a beautiful voice, but while most of the judges felt that she had managed to redeem herself, Nicki still felt this was not a strong enough performance to keep her from going home this week.
Angie Miller
Angie chose Julie London’s “Cry Me A River” for her one-hit wonder, and the judges felt that she really went above and beyond with this performance, to the point of them blaming Angie for holding out on them in previous rounds. While Keith summed it up in 3 words: “mystical, celestially, powerful,” Nicki said that Angie “came out tonight to snatch some wigs off some heads.” Randy, to no surprise, said that she is “in it to win it,” and named her as the best of the night.
Duets
Amber and Kree
It turned into a tough night for Kree, as the judges’ review of Kree and Amber’s duet of Adele’s “Rumor Has It” turned into a giant Kree bash. Once again, the judges criticized her for showing a lack of emotions, and made it clear that she lost this diva battle. Amber is a tough act to match, though.
Candice and Angie
Candice and Angie sang Rihanna’s current hit “Stay,” and after the previous duo was critiqued for not “conversing” enough in their performance, Candice and Angie were sure to turn this performance into a real battle. The judges were wild about the performance, and felt it once again proved both contestants’ versatility.
Tune in tonight at 8/7c on Fox to see the top three revealed, as well a performance by season seven winner Lee DeWyze, debuting his new single “Silver Lining.”