Tonight's previouslies do what last week's live elimination episode couldn't: show all the shocked reactions to Lillie McCloud's summary elimination. They were manifold, as we now see. But let's move onto this week. The top six will each perform two times tonight: a round of songs by "divas," and an "unplugged" round. Seems like everyone will be able to pretty much coast through that, right?
After Mario presents the judges for the evening, he tells us that it's going to be another double elimination tomorrow night, leading to the semifinals week. Nobody's pumping the brakes here, are they? Simon starts off the evening's introductions with Restless Road, making sure to add a little dig about how he's still got two acts in the competition. We're reminded of the country trio's triumph last week in the intro reel, as well as the overwhelming support they're receiving from all three of their teeny-tiny hometowns. For the diva round, Simon's given them a Taylor Swift song, which is generous to both Restless Road and Taylor Swift. This time they're going all harmonies (almost) all the time, which sands off what little edge the song ever had. Kelly, however, thinks they worked it out and have tightened up their vocals, though she still wants more energy from them. Demi agrees that they've improved, but wants more solos. Paulina gets one of their names wrong, naturally, and says that Simon picked the song under the influence of alcohol because it was amazing. What's amazing to me is that Paulina ever claimed to not drink. Simon tells them they deserve to be in the finals, as though he'd say anything else. Mario puts them on the spot to explain why they should get votes and we get a little speech about how far they've come from not knowing each other at all, courtesy of Colton. Or Colin, as Paulina called him a minute ago.
Moving on, Demi introduces Rion Paige, who survived the trauma of being in the bottom two last week, and now has to relive it through most of the intro reel. She's also getting support from back home in Jacksonville, as well as from her parents. Demi tells us in the intro reel that she gave Rion a big song by a big vocalist, and it turns out to be "See You Again" by Carrie Underwood. I’m not sure they're actually allowed to mention the names of American Idols on this show, now that I think about it, because nobody did. Rion is perched on top of a circus pedestal and seems to be struggling with the song a bit. She's not having as much fun as she usually does, and there are some pitch issues. Kelly appreciates how genuine she is, which may be her nice way of saying it was genuinely not that great. Paulina loves the tone of her voice and advises her to always wear her hair down, helpfully. Simon doesn't think it was the best song to pick, though he appreciates her returning to her country roots. Demi steps on Rion's explanation of how she was singing to her dad, by talking about how nobody has the fire in their eyes like Rion does. Mario asks Simon what he would have picked instead, but Simon isn't playing along with being put on the spot like that. And he calls Mario "Marry-O" like he usually does, just to remind him who's boss.
Kelly gets to introduce her one remaining act, Jeff Gutt. We're reminded that he got a standing ovation from Simon last week, which is much less depressing than the hometown support segment because his hometown is Detroit. For diva week, Kelly is saddling him with a Mariah Carey song. Jeff points out that it's the opposite of who he is, but he's gotta do what he's gotta do. And this week, that's "Without You," which at least has the Harry Nilsson version predating Mariah's. Jeff's version is nothing like either of those, though, with slashing 80s power-ballad guitars and his own poor man's Jon Bon Jovi mode of vocal delivery. Also, the staging makes it look like two lighting grids are trying to abduct him. The crowd loves it, though, forcing Demi to wait for a while before getting to speak. Demi tells him that his niece is obsessed with him, which I'm sure he appreciates. Paulina acknowledges that he doesn't appreciate what she said last week -- as though anyone can remember how she strings words together -- and tells him tonight that she wants to see some blood time. Simon figures that means she wants Jeff to stab himself, and he may be right. Simon says, not rudely (he claims) that Jeff's pretty boring as a person, but transforms when he comes onstage. Thanks? "And Jeff, do not cut yourself week." Kelly agrees and tells Jeff to keep giving great performances like that. "Great comments, minus the violence," Mario observes helpfully.
After the ads, Mario calls Simon a diva before letting Demi introduce Ellona Santiago. She's still feeling good about last week's performance and the support from her hometown and her baby niece, Adele, who spent some time rehearsing with her. Demi apparently thinks that having her do an Adele song would be a little too on the nose, so she has her doing a Lady Gaga song instead. Ellona's version of "Applause" has her starting out slow, at the top of a set of theater steps, and includes more stripping and some backup dancers impersonating paparazzi (wrong Lady Gaga song, Demi). Eventually it works its way up to its full-on dance number incarnation as Ellona works her way down the stairs and all the way to Simon at the judges' table, flinging her ponytail at him. He looks mildly amused. Kelly is aware that she keeps saying every performance is one of Ellona's best, but warns her to take control of the big diva-notes at the end. Paulina tells Ellona to listen to her and "listen to me, mama," and how Ellona is… Ellona. Do you think the contestants ever wish they could fast-forward her? Simon tells her she's gone from a mouse to a tiger over the past few weeks and prefers her version of the song to the original. High praise, indeed. Demi tells Simon that was actually cool of him for once and tells Ellona that America should vote for her because she deserves it. Mario lets Ellona grub for votes on her own behalf, which she willingly does.
Mario invites us to vote for what songs the semifinalists will sing week, as though the results of any such vote will be any more interesting than what usually happens. Simon tells us that he's dedicating the song to "the gorgeous Kelly Rowland," because Alex & Sierra are doing a Destiny's Child song. And, you know, Kelly was in Destiny's Child… in case you hadn't heard. In the intro reel, Sierra is feeling good about last week and after Alex's hometown viewing party footage, we see them having date night at a restaurant called "Pho Shizzle," which is my favorite part of this entire episode. Sierra's hometown story is a little more complicated, her mom being a Vietnamese refugee and all. Simon assures us that this is going to be a different version from the original. From Alex & Sierra? The hell you say! Sure enough, they do "Say My Name" all slow and sultry like they do almost everything. Lucky for them, Kelly seems into it. She has to wait through quite an ovation before getting to say she wasn't ready for it, but they really pulled it off. Demi promises to be "completely honest, just for a second," before telling Sierra that she's come out of her shell. I don't know if we need to bother with what she says after that, because her second of honesty is up. Paulina's a fan, still, and continues to compare them to Sonny and Cher. Simon seems relieved when she finally stops talking, and says he has the feeling that they're winners and there isn't anyone like them in the market. Not that he has any bias at all.
Paulina gets to introduce Carlito Olivero again and this time, unlike last Thursday, Carlito is actually the one singing. His hometown is Chicago, which isn't exactly the small town some of the others are from. Paulina had him over to her house to work on a Celia Cruz song for the diva round. But then she decides that it's the wrong song for him, and doesn't tell him until the day what she's decided on instead. She's going to give that kid an ulcer, I swear to God. He comes out dressed like a late-night lounge singer in an over-belted vest to do "Let's Get Loud" by Jennifer Lopez. Was there a sub-clause in the theme stating that half the acts had to do more obscure songs by big singers? Kelly thinks this one fell flat, compared to last week and still thinks he's trying too hard. Carlito points out that he learned the song in less than 24 hours. He says he's not making excuses, which doesn't change the fact that he's making excuses. Demi tells him he needs to connect with the girls like he did last week, because that's his thing. Simon comes to Carlito's defense, saying he'd hate to see him leave the competition and telling him to nail the second song. Paulina just has nothing but positive things to say, including something that sounds like "oily nose." Simon asks for clarification on that, but Mario's got to throw it to ads before we get to find out what the fuck she was babbling about. And we never will, either.
Time to take a sharp left turn for the second round, from "divas" to "unplugged." Simon's pretty excited about Restless Road's acoustic turn, which has them perched on stools to sing Avicii's "Wake Me Up," which, unlike their song, features a nice mix between harmonies and solos. This one gets them a standing O from all four judges, and Kelly says they've all grown so much and congratulates them on a great performance. They're getting weepy enough to make Demi weepy, as she says they've gotten their spot in the finals. Paulina gets all three of their names right this time and tells them to go ahead and cry. Oh, they're on it already. Simon's proud of them too, obviously, and says that if it doesn't get them into the final there's something seriously wrong. Well, now we know what to look for.
Demi re-introduces Rion, who is doing a Thompson Square song called "Glass," which she says is all about her and how she's been underestimated all her life. For her performance, she's listened to Paulina and let her hair down. Vocally, it's a big leap up from her performance, to be sure. Plus her mom is watching even more intensely from the audience than before. Kelly's moved to tears now, talking about how unplugged lets people be so vulnerable. Then Paulina says she's strong and empowering, apparently unaware that she's saying the opposite. Simon agrees that this was better than the first song all around and that she might have saved herself. Demi's even more emotional than she was before, over how the song's all about Rion. "And America better vote for you," she adds, or else Demi is ruining her makeup for nothing.
Kelly introduces Jeff Gutt by begging everyone to vote for him. Kelly has assigned him "Daniel" by Elton John, which is a total coincidence given that his brother Daniel is here from the Navy. Which means Jeff gets to wave the flag for some votes as well. He's accompanying himself on an acoustic guitar for the song, crooning sensitively, but not too sensitively, because he's still wearing leather pants. Nice to see him dialing down the cheese factor… or at least serving up a different variety of cheese. Demi gets honest again, saying it was good, but a bit stale -- coming off anticlimactic after his first song. Jeff tells everyone it was for his brother, so if you hated it you hate America. Paulina knows better than to not love it and Simon thought it was cool to dedicate it to his brother, though he agrees with Demi that it wasn't as good a vocal. While Demi's busy backpedaling, Kelly tells him how proud she is of him given how hard it is to open up. Jeff gets all that, and says he feels like the song was written by him to his brother, even though he didn't write it. He didn't?
Demi introduces Ellona, saying she "can't reiterate" that Ellona is a star who deserves our votes. She's doing a Beyoncé song that could fit in both rounds, but she tells us that she's worried about pulling this off without her usual choreographer and backup dancers. The song is "If I Were a Boy," and for once she's actually holding still for most of the song, sitting on the top of some miniature bleachers and not getting thrown by the audience clapping off-tempo. And it seems like her concerns about relying on her voice were not entirely unjustified, because while she does have a powerful voice, her pitch wavers on some of the bigger, higher notes. The audience loves it, though, and at least some of the judges are on their feet. Kelly appreciates her "big, beautiful voice," but liked the softer parts better. Me too. Paulina thinks she's watching a superstar and all that. Simon thought the first song had too much going on, but he's been waiting for her to do something like this for a while now, and calls it one of his favorites so far. Demi appreciates Simon's advice and says that Ellona could win, provided America pulls through. Can't argue with that logic.
Simon introduces Alex & Sierra again. In their intro reel, Sierra says that they strip down their songs every week (yes, we've noticed), so tonight they're going to change it up and she's playing the piano. For the first time in front of audience ever, in her life. "I'd be pooping my pants," Alex says supportively. They're going with "Say Something" by A Great Big World featuring Christina Aguilera, and it is indeed different, because this comes off sincere and earnest and faithful to the original for once, rather than putting their usual twist on something familiar. They also win a four-way standing ovation, though Simon has to encourage Kelly a little bit. She says it was like a performance on an awards show, which she means as a compliment. Demi loves how they were both playing instruments, and how they never took their eyes off each other. Probably to keep from screwing up the timing that Simon was worried about. Paulina was excited and impressed and says something about love and babies and just get to the end please, Paulina. Simon calls it not just the best performance of the night, but of the entire season. Everyone acts like that's as exciting as if it came from a judge who isn't consistently and blatantly biased.
Still, should be fun for Carlito Olivero to follow that. Paulina introduces her remaining Boy, hollering like a wounded animal. In rehearsal, Paulina advised him to go to the gym and practice his boxing so he can manage his energy during the song. Carlito agreed, probably wondering when he gets to ask for a new mentor. He's wrapping up the show with a Spanglish version of "Stand By Me" that proves that the unplugged round isn't necessarily a win for everyone. He keeps switching languages in mid-sentence and even mid-line, which is pretty damn distracting. I know Paulina is trying to show how he's part of two cultures, but it comes off more like he's having a stroke. Kelly says it was his best vocal yet, Demi says there was too much backing music and the singing to the girls like she said was what he was supposed to do. Simon says he had a tough gig following Alex & Sierra, but would hate to lose him. Paulina gets distracted from her own comments by Simon's flared nostrils, which she tries to close for him even as she comments that he does it every time she talks. But she manages to pull it together (by her standards) enough to tell him she loves him and this was his best performance ever. Carlito gives an impassioned underdog speech asking for votes, and it's finally time for Mario to open the voting and quickly asks for Simon's final thoughts. Simon claims to be reading from Paulina's notes, "My puppies love balloons," which I don't doubt, before announcing that it was Alex & Sierra's and Restless Road's night. In the final few seconds of the show, Mario asks the other judges if they agree, putting them in the position of having to talk over each other so that Mario can dismiss them all as so many chattering idiots. Instead of just the one.
M. Giant is a Minneapolis-based writer with a wife, a son, and a number of cats that seems to have settled at around two. Learn waaaay too much about him at Velcrometer, follow him on Twitter, or just e-mail him at m.giant[at]gmail.com.
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