Hi gang, I sort of thought we would be getting to our top 24 but it is not to be as the next step of the competition involves our remaining 100 which is all that is left of the original 327 doing solos before they are put into one of the four rooms towards the end of this quick hour of American Idol.
Ryan Seacrest talks of the grueling task our contestants have gone through up to this point. Again with the clips we have seen so many times. Some dreams have come to an end but for those who have survived the cuts, each hurtle has brought them closer to the hope living inside them. Only the promising have survived with each having one more chance to test their skills, one more chance to shine in the most important audition of their life. This is American Idol.
Our contestants are seen in a holding room. The judges are shown next making the decisions on who will stay and who will go. Some comments are said but about who is anyone's guess. But let's start from the beginning of this stressful day.
The morning began like any other with the contestants appearing more rested after the group rounds. Some are showing their nerves as they finished their preparations for today's round which has each singing solo. They do have some help with a band, background singers or if they chose they can perform acapella. Also for this important round the contestants can now play an instrument if they want.
After Ryan shows us the stage we get to our first contestant of the day. Her name is Haley Reinhart and we have seen little of this 20 year old girl so far. However, we get a repeat scene of her not doing so well in the group rounds and almost being sent home. Making it past that she evidently has gained confidence as she gives a great performance of the song "God Bless The Child". I loved the bluesy rasp of her voice and so did the judges who obviously are glad they did not send this Milwaukee lass home. Each judge gives a favorable comment before she re-joins the audience.
Next is Ashthon Jones who did awesome in the group rounds. She is singing "And I'm Telling You" which was good but this time around I was not as blown away as I was when she sang with the group. Side note here: In all honesty I do not think any contestant has performed this song as well as Lakisha Jones did in season 6.
Here comes 15 year old This Megia who performs "What A Wonderful World". She sings sweetly and impresses the judges. So it appears the girls are knocking it out of the park so far.
Adrien Michael, Caleb Johnson and Frances Coontz however are not having an easy time of it as we see each flubbed up and have to re-start their songs.
Okay, I will admit it that as a person I am not fond of the next guy. Clint Jun Gamboa was not so nice to adorable Jacee Badeaux in the group round segment so did this hurt his chances? We hear maybe so but he is in it to win it. He may be a jerk but he proves he has the pipes as he performs greatly to the song "Georgia On My Mind". The judges really dig it and frankly I did also.
Keeping this tide going are Kendra Chantelle and Sophia Shorai who also sing the same song. Each sounds quite good to my ears.
Next up are Chris Medina and Carson Higgins who are both singing "My Prerogative" originally by Bobby Brown. Chris opts to go acoustic with a guitar. Carson is using the band to the full extent. My take on both, well........Chris performed in a boring manner I thought and really did not sound that good. Carson on the other hand was full of energy and gives an entertaining performance but frankly his singing is just blah to me. I think Carson still has a chance only because he does have charisma.
Now come a list of early favorites who will be playing an instrument. Julie Zorrilla is up first with a Sara Bareilles number. It goes well with the judges moving along with the performance. Caleb Hawley dons a guitar but I was not that thrilled with his rendition of "Sir Duke". Colton Dixon was just so-so to my ears with Daughtry's song "What About Now" (he played the piano). Brett Loewenstern was kind of disappointing doing "The Story" by Brandi Carlisle while playing the guitar. Robbie Rosen proved a delight on the piano as he sang "Gravity" also by Sara Barielles.
Our next guy proved he could sound good on a melodica but this time around Casey Abrams is playing a stand-up bass. With a bluesy, raspy and jazzy version of the song "Georgia On My Mind" he not only impresses the judges but also the audience as well as getting my vote for being original. Awesome dude!
:( After Casey performs he is shown giving a distraught Chelsee Oaks some comfort. Chelsee lost Rob Bolin yesterday but today it turns out that her roomie Jacqueline Dunford is quite ill. Jacqueline is having to go to the hospital and is shown bowing out of the competition. Chelsee appears quite shaken as she and Jacqueline have become good friends. Her performance of "Because of You" by Kelly Clarkson shows the stress of this situation. She knows she has blown it.
I probably should not zing this girl but frankly I am getting sick of how Lauren Alaina keeps kissing up to Steven Tyler. I know he is one of her favorites but she is going overboard with her adoration of our rocker. Tonight she sweetly says she is once again singing the song "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing". She can sing for sure but I have lost my interest in her. Sorry Alaina fans.
One who has not had alot of face time is next. Jacob Lusk gives what I call the stand-out performance of the night as he performs "God Bless The Child". The emotion was so strong and his vocals were fantastic. The judges are also blown away and give him a well-deserved standing ovation once he has sang his last note. Jacob is overcome with the emotion and we see him in the hall crying with some of his family members as well as Ryan Seacrest. Personally I LOVED IT!!!!
John Wayne Schulz is next playing a guitar and singing nicely to the song "Landslide". Jennifer is loving it and even sings a verse under her breath with John at one point. I was glad to see this cowboy was still with us.
:going mad Our emotional wreck of a girl is once again out of control. Ashley Sullivan seems to fall apart on every scene we have saw her in and tonight is no exception. Her choice of song is Michael Buble's "Everything" which she dedicates to her boyfriend before she sings. She starts out well but then realizes she messed up a word. She tries again but now the nerves are setting in and she apologizes several times to the judges as she just can not get it together. The judges give her some encouragement but she never does finish the song and once again the ever crying Ashley is shown outside in the hall being comforted by her boyfriend. When on earth are they going to send her home I wonder?
:sing: Now it is 6:30 p.m. and we see some good performances by Stefano Langone who does "Sir Duke", Jovany Barreto who does a Marc Anthony number and our sweet little guy Jacee Badeaux with "The Time of My Life". Each gets favorable comments from a judge.
Goof up time as we see Scotty McCreery and Tatynisa Wilson both forget the lyrics to the song "I Hope You Can Dance" by Lee Ann Womack. Scotty tries to cover his mistakes by humming and we later see he is really mad at himself for flubbing up. Tatynisa who not only forgot the lyrics but sounded pitchy is equally not happy as we see her crying on the phone with what I assume was a family member.
Tensions are now mounting with the contestants who know there are no second chances and with the solos being over they can only reflect on this past week as we see the judges deciding who will go into what room.
It is 11:00 p.m. and we see the contestants are now being escorted to their room.
In room one familiar faces are shown which consist of Ashley Sullivan (
), Brett Loewenstern, Jacee Badeaux, Jacob Lusk, Clint Jun Gumboa, Lauren Alaina, Casey Abrams, Chris Medina, Robbie Rosen and James Durbin.
In room two are Brielle Von Hugel and Corey Levoy among others.
In room three the focus is on Chelsee Oaks and Mark Gutierrez (remember his brother Aaron was cut in the group rounds).
Room four holds Thia Megia, Jordan Dorsey, Carson Higgins, Julie Zorrilla, Jovany Barreto, Rachel Zevita and Scott McCreery.
Room one gets the news first and that of course is they have made it. I was shocked to see that Ashley Sullivan was going to get another chance.
Next up is room two who hear the whoops from room one and are worried. Sadly it is the end of the road for them. Corey is crying with Jennifer trying to console him.
Room three gets the news that they too are now leaving. Jennifer and Steven give them a pep talk about how special they all have been and do not stop singing.
Room four is faked out by Steven and of course our contestants are expecting the worst but it is good news for them as they also are moving on. This was another surprise that Scotty McCreery was being given another chance.
I was happy to see some of my favorites still in the competition. However since we have so many good singers a new challenge is coming their way. Next week they will be flown to Las Vegas and will have to perform a solo number once again to the music of The Beatles. While in my day I was a beatlemaniac I am not thrilled to hear this as so many pick the songs that were not my favorites of this group. Hopefully this time around our group will truly shine.
It is now time to say good-night and I hope the week ahead is a good one for all of you!
Toodles!
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Subject: Solos Plus Room Doom - 2/17/11 
Fri Feb 18, 2011 12:25 am
