American Idol's Last Female Standing Ousted
In an Idol first, three males will sing it out during the Top 3
May 12, 2009
Not only did the final four contestants perform an individual song, they also performed in pairs for duets, which would also be critiqued by the judges.
Adam Lambert
Taking the stage at the top of the show for the first time all season was this season's most consistent contestant, Adam Lambert.
Lambert performed Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love". It was the first time a Zeppelin song had been cleared for a contestant to perform on Idol.
In past seasons, performing first has tripped up the best of contestants. But Lambert was on fire, prompting judge, Simon Cowell to tell him, "The problem is, nobody can top that now."
Allison Iraheta
The season's youngest contestant, Allison Iraheta showed what she was made of with her rendition of Janis Joplin's "Cry Baby".
During her performance, Iraheta was able to channel emotion most would think to be out of range for a 17-year-old, yet she pulled the song off like a professional. The Top 4's mentor, Slash of Guns 'N Roses told Iraheta that she sings better than most 30-year-olds he knows.
Rock week was truly Iraheta's shining moment only to be dulled by the judge's disparaging comments.
- Judge Kara DioGuardi commented that Iraheta should have sang Joplin's "Piece of My Heart".
- Cowell told her, "I actually wouldn't have chosen that song, I would have chosen the Queen song."
In the past, Iraheta has kept her personal comments to herself, and instead of continuing the trend, she spoke out to correct Cowell, as well as fire back at DioGuardi's song suggestion.
"It wasn't a Queen song," Iraheta told Cowell. "It was a Jefferson Airplane song. The only reason I didn't choose that one was because, I felt like I was just playing it safe."
Iraheta continued to say, "Also, the "Piece of My Heart", you know it's been done so many times on the show."
Cowell followed up Iraheta's outburst with, "Allison, at this point, just beg. Beg."
Iraheta blasted back with, "I'm not! And you know you always say I don't talk enough, so maybe I should just talk a lot!"
Danny Gokey and Kris Allen Pair Up
For the first ever duet on Idol as apart of the competition, Danny Gokey and Kris Allen paired up to perform Styxx's "Renegade".
The pair was at it's best when their voices were combined. Apart, it seemed to be a competition. And Cowell let them know who had come up on top.
"Who was better?" Cowell asked. "Danny, you were better Kris, how's that?"
Allen's face showed his disappointment in Cowell's critique.
Kris Allen
Allen already done with his duet with Gokey was able to move on to his individual performance of The Beatles' classic hit, "Come Together". Allen added his unique sound to the song, while still staying true to the original melody.
Judge Randy Jackson said after the performance, "I appreciate you picking something, where you can be yourself. You can still be Kris Allen."
DioGuardi added, "For me, this was not a great performance. I just thought it was trying too hard, it wasn't the best song, I just think there was more than what you delivered tonight, sorry."
- Judge Paula Abdul told Allen, "You are deserving on that stage."
- Cowell said, "It was rather like eating ice for lunch."
Danny Gokey
Performing the song that sent popular season seven contestant, Michael Johns home, Gokey took a chance on Aerosmith's "Dream On".
Gokey struggled throughout the performance and his last note had come to be known as "the scream heard around the world" before the end of the Idol broadcast on the west coast.
The judges seemed satisfied with Gokey's effort.
- Abdul said, "I don't know if this was the right song for you."
- "It wasn't my favorite choice of song, but I give you an A plus, plus for going for it, "Abdul added.
- Cowell told Gokey, "The last note, it was like watching a horror movie. It was just like this scream."
Gokey told Seacrest after the critique that he didn't think he had done as bad as Cowell said he had.
Adam and Allison Tackle Their Duet
Having both Lambert and Iraheta, season 8's resident rockers pair up their duet ended the performance night on a high note. The pair performed Foghat's "Slowride".
Their performance seemed to be the highlight of the night for the judges.
- "That was the bomb, baby!" Jackson told them.
- Cowell told them, "In the battle of the duets, you win the show tonight."
The Top 4 Becomes The Top 3
Host, Ryan Seacrest early on in the broadcast brought out the Top 4 for the results. After quickly recapping each of their performances, Seacrest let Kris Allen know that he had made the Top 3. About 20 minutes later, Adam Lambert was also in the Top 3.
It came down to Danny Gokey and Alison Iraheta for the week's elimination. In the end, Gokey was told that he would be advancing to the next round of the competition.
Though visibly upset, Iraheta gave an even more emotion-filled version of "Cry Baby" as her family sang-a-long from the audience.
The Top 3
Different from prior seasons, the Top 3 will only perform two songs, the judges' song choice as well as their personal song choice.
American Idol airs Tuesdays and Wednesdays on FOX.
 |
 |
 |
