AMERICAN IDOL Preview: Re-Visit Contestant Auditions Before Tonight's 'Audition Rewind'
By: Matt Tamanini Apr. 02, 2014
The new producers of AMERICAN IDOL are again turning the idea of a theme week on its head. While in the past they have had contestants repeat previous performances, for the first time in the show's history, all of the Top-8 will be revisiting the songs that earned them their Golden Ticket to Hollywood, in the first ever Audition Song Week.
From where I sit, this experiment has the potential to reshape the Season XIII playing field. In the last few weeks, Caleb Johnson and Jena Irene have begun to separate themselves from the pack, with Alex Preston and Malaya Watson still within shouting distance. But Jessica Meuse, Dexter Roberts, CJ Harris, and Sam Woolf have been stuck in a creative and voter wasteland, each vulnerable for elimination at any moment.
However, having rewatched all of the auditions, it is clear to me that Jessica's eyes aren't always dead, and that Dexter doesn't always sound like the lead-singer of a slightly above average cover band, and that CJ does know how to sing on pitch, and that Sam actually has a personality.
And since this season the voters seem to be basing their decisions solely on each individual week's performances, rather than those of the season as a whole, if one of the thus-far also-ran finalists rediscovers what got them to Hollywood in the first place, this week could be a game-changer.
Don't think it is possible? Check out the videos below, along with my "Three Word Review" of each, and form your own conclusions.
CJ Harris
"Soul Shine" by Allman Brothers
Three Word Review: Actually On Pitch!
Jena Irene
"Rolling in the Deep" by Adele
Three Word Review: Made "Alota" Progress
Caleb Johnson
"Into the Void"- Original Song
Three Word Review: Boy's Got Blues
Jessica Meuse
"Blue Eyed Lie"- Original song
Three Word Review: Not Better Since
Alex Preston
Original Song
Three Word Review: Cooly Cool Cool!
Dexter Roberts
"I Like to Drive" by Casey James
Three Word Review: More Than Karaoke
Malaya Watson
"Ain't No Way" by Aretha Franklin
Three Word Review: What A Transformation
Sam Woolf
"Lego House" by Ed Sheeran
Three Word Review: Where's That Been?
So, what do you think? Do any of these songs have the potential to flip the script on the season? Let me know what you think in the comments below, or tell me on Twitter @BWWMatt. And remember, I will have a full recap of AMERICAN IDOL Audition Song Week after tonight's show is over, so check back with BroadwayWorld for all of your AMERICAN IDOL informational needs.
Comments
Videos