AMERICAN IDOL 2012: TOP 8 STUDIO RECORDINGS REVIEW

American Idol Top 8 - Season 11
Compilation Album

Since I'm not posting that much in this blog, I decided that I'll also start reviewing the studio recordings of each contestant every week, and I'm gonna start with the top 8. As you all know, the studio versions of their songs are different from their live performances and so, you are gonna see a different ranking in this post. Here we go...

1. Skylar Laine - Wind Beneath My Wings - Nobody can beat her this week, that's my opinion. She did a really great job delivering her performance, and with this recording, she had me again, and I think it's not only me that she got. I hope we're gonna hear more of her studio recordings.
2. Colton Dixon - Time After Time - It sounded like his performance, same arrangement, same range, and I still loved it. However, I still see him doing soft rock, or rock songs, and with that, I hope he picks a better song next week.
3. Hollie Cavanagh - Flashdance... What a Feelin' - Despite of that performance, she had a great studio recording. I think her performance last Wednesday night was good, but this version is way, way much better. One thing I have to tell Hollie, she should start taking on bigger songs that shows us why she is deserving to stay in the competition.
4. Elise Testone - I Want To Know What Love Is - I loved it. It's a song which was gonna sound karaoke when you sing it, but for her, it seemed so natural, it didn't sound karaoke at all. I hope people are gonna start voting for the voice, and not for the face so that she can stay longer in the competition.
5. Jessica Sanchez - How Will I Know - Her recording was just a so-so for me, I loved her performance more, because I saw her have fun.
6. DeAndre Brackensick - I Like It - Just like all his previous songs, I always like the studio versions better. I don't know, but this performance was great, and he wasn't on the top because I still think that the others are better than him.
7. Joshua Ledet - If You Don't Know Me By Now - I don't want to say anything against this song, but his performance was better. The studio recording was just so-so, but I still like his voice.
8. Phillip Phillips - That's All - I don't know what I didn't like about it, but it sounded like his first performance from way back. That's All.

Have you listened to their studio recordings for this week? If not, DOWNLOAD THEM HERE.

AMERICAN IDOL 2012: TOP 8 REVIEW

Skylar Laine, best performance of the night; Credits: FOX

The top 8 have taken on the stage, and the show didn't turn out to be boring. It's now time to review each of their performances, starting from the best, to the person who I think didn't do a really great job. Before that, I just noticed people who perform last are really nailing it, Phillip, Colton, Elise, and now Skylar. Now, let's start the review...

SOLOS:

1. Skylar Laine - Wind Beneath My Wings - She was really connected to the song, and I love how she performed it. Okay, a lot of people are saying that she's not gonna win, I have to agree with them, but we all have to admit that she's a great artist. The judges did a great job picking the contestants this year. Skylar really did a good job closing the show, and that's quite a redemption from last week. I love her.
2. Colton Dixon - Time After Time - Great arrangement, it sounded like it's his own, and I saw him connect with the song. I want to see him do a performance like "Pianoi Man" again, though, so I hope he'll pick a slower and soft-rock-ish song next week. One more thing, I'd be surprised if I see him leave for the upcoming weeks.
3. Jessica Sanchez - How Will I Know - I'm glad she did a happy song this week, because I really want to see her have more fun on stage. It was a better version of Jessica than the previous versions of her, because I saw her confidence, and she really did a great, awesome job. I like this Jessica, and I hope I'll see more of her doing performances like this.
4. Elise Testone - I Want To Know What Love Is - I'm starting to love her ever since she started really singing. Her performance was average, but it s enough to put her through the next round. I said average because I know she can do better than that, and with that average performance, she still did a great job performing better than some of the other contestants.
5. Joshua Ledet - If You Don't Know Me By Now - Cool! I had hints that he'll be the one doing the song when I saw the spoiler song list. I wasn't expecting that much from him, because I know he can nail it, he's a great guy, and I know he's gonna make it far in the competition. This is bad, but I still don't think that he can win the competition.
6. DeAndre Brackensick - I Like It - I think he did a great job this week, and he's really being tru to what he can do. I just think that he should start taking risks this time, because five people have been voted off, and you don't want to be the sixth. It's time to step out of you comfort zone and start to show people what other things you are capable of.
7. Hollie Cavanagh - Flashdance... What a Feelin' - Great song, but she didn't deliver it well. She also didn't connect that much to the song, but she still has a great voice, just more connection next time. If she will ever be eliminated this week, I hope the judges save her, and I hope America will give her another chance after that.
8. Phillip Phillips - That's All - I don't think Phillip did a great job this week, and just like what I said the previous weeks, he has to step it up because he just has to. Each performances are just similar, and I want him to do something new.

Joshua and JEssica, best duet of the night; Credits: FOX

GROUPS:

1. Joshua & Jessica - I Knew You Were Waiting For Me - Best duet of the night, I'm glad they decided to pair these two. They did a really awesome performance, and there's nothing more I can say about it.
2. Colton & Skylar - Islands in the Stream - First of all, they were trending on twitter worldwide, and that's because their performance left an impact. They did a great job, and it was almost perfect.
3. Phillip & Elise - Stop Draggin' My Heart Around - They did a great, great job, but they weren't the best. I love their duo, and I love their song, great job!
4. DeAndre & Hollie - I'm So Excited - I like their performance, but I think DeAndre was a little exaggerated when he sang the song, with Hollie, she did a good job, and I saw them have fun, so that's it.

MY THOUGHTS FOR TONIGHT'S SHOW:

Bottom 3: Hollie Cavanagh, DeAndre Brackensick, Joshua Ledet

Eliminated: DeAndre Brackensick

Save? No

What do you think about their performances? Who do you think will be eliminated?

AMERICAN IDOL 2012: TOP 8 PERFORMANCES

American Idol 2012 Top 8; Credits: FOX

The top 8 will be singing songs from the 80's, and here is the list of their performances and numbers. I saw some spoilers about their songs, and most of them are kind of boring. There will also be four duets tonight.

Here is the list...

SOLOS:

• DeAndre Brackensick - "I Like It" by DeBarge - 1-866-436-5701
• Elise Testone - "I Want to Know What Love Is" by Foreigner - 1-866-436-5702
• Phillip Phillips - "That's All" by Genesis - 1-866-436-5703
• Joshua Ledet - "If You Don't Know Me By Now" by Simply Red- 1-866-436-5704
• Jessica Sanchez - "How Will I Know" by Whitney Houston - 1-866-436-5705
• Hollie Cavanagh - "Flashdance... What a Feeling" by Irene Cara - 1-866-436-5706
• Colton Dixon - "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper - 1-866-436-5707
• Skylar Laine - "Wind Beneath My Wings" by Bette Midler - 1-866-436-5708

DUETS:

• Colton Dixon & Skylar Laine - "Islands in the Stream" by Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton
• DeAndre Brackensick & Hollie Cavanagh - "I'm So Excited" by The Pointer Sisters
• Phillip Phillips & Elise Testone - "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" by Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty
• Joshua Ledet & Jessica Sanchez- "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" by George Michael & Aretha Franklim

What do you think about their performances and who do you think will be eliminated? I'll be doing a review later.

AMERICAN IDOL 2012: WHAT THE TOP 12 SHOULD SING FOR "SONGS FROM THE YEAR THEY WERE BORN" WEEK

This week, the American Idol 2012 top 12 will be taking on songs from the year they were born, before I suggest, here are their birthdays:

• Colton Dixon – October 19, 1991
• Deandre Brackensick – October 21, 1994
• Elise Testone – July 29, 1983
• Erika Van Pelt – December 12, 1985
• Heejun Han – April 20, 1989
• Hollie Cavanagh – July 5, 1993
• Jermaine Jones – November 3, 1986
• Jessica Sanchez – August 4, 1995
• Joshua Ledet – April 9, 1992
• Phillip Phillips – September 20, 1990
• Shannon Magrane – October 21, 1995
• Skylar Laine – February 1, 1994

Now, I'll suggest songs from the oldest to the youngest contestant. Here we go...

1983

Elise Testone - "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler

I'm not really sure what to suggest to her, I found only a few good songs which really fits her voice from this year, and "Total Eclipse of the Heart" is the best among those songs. I think she will really put a good twist into the song with her voie, and I definitely think that she has bigger chances of making it to the Top 11 if she will do a song like this.

1985

Erika Van Pelt - "Freeway of Love" by Aretha Franklin

I was thinking "We Built This City" at first, but if EVP would sing that song, it would only sound karaoke, so I suggest that she takes on this song. The song would definitely showcase the rockstar in her, and hopefully, with this song, she will not end up in the bottom three because I think that it would be memorable.

1986

Jermaine Jones - "My Hometown" by Bruce Springsteen

If he wants to stay in the competition, I think he should put a twist to a song just like this one. It's a rock song, and it's gonna be hard for him, but if he sings it like it's his own, I'm sure that it would definitely sound good.

1989

Heejun Han - "If You Don't Know Me By Now" by Simply Red

Heejun has a really soulful, soft, buttery voice, and that voice deserves a song just like this one which was covered by Simply Red on his birth year. This is the song that best fits him, or maybe if he wants to do omething upbeat, he can definitely put a twist to Paula Abdul's song "Straight Up" the way Andrew Garcia did two years ago. We'll just see.

1990

Phillip Phillips - "Praying for Time" by George Michael

This is more of a challenge than a suggestion. I have to say that when I heard his studio version of "Superstition" last week, it didn't gave me the excitement which he given me when he performed on the Idol stage, so this week, I just want him to do this song, and we'll see if he could really connect with any song. I'd say he is a great singer, but there's just no connection.

1991

Colton Dixon - "Black or White" by Michael Jackson

It's the best song for one of the best singers in the competition. This guy can definitely do another twist to this song the way he did with his song last week. "Black or White" was rocked out by Adam Lambert on season 8, let's see if he can do better, if ever he's gonna take on this song.

1992

Joshua Ledet

"Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Me" by Elton John or "End of the Road" by Boyz II Men

He will definitely take America with him if he does one of those two songs. There were many great music in 1992, but these songs would really showcase Joshua's voice and save him from being in the bottom 3. Well, it was actually bottom 6 last time, but who knows?

1993

Hollie Cavanagh - "Hero" or "Dreamlover" by Mariah Carey

"Hero" has been covered many times on Idol, and if this girl sings it, she has to do her best to make her version the best among all the Idol contestants who covered the song. Maybe, if she wants to do something that would really show people that she an do anything, she should just do "Dreamlover" and own it.

1994

Skylar Laine - "Independence Day" by Martina MacBride or "Piece of My Heart" by Faith Hill

The girl was forced to come out of her roots last week, so this week, let's give her a chance to sing something country. For a slow song, she could take on "Independence Day" because it is one of the best songs ever written, and I definitely think it's for her voice, or if she wants to bring that rockstar with her on stage, she could do "Piece of my Heart." She can do anything, and I think she's one of the best singers this year.

DeAndre Brackensick - "On Bended Knee" by Boyz II Men

DeAndre has a great voice, and that voice deserves a song like this one. That's all.

1995

Jessica Sanchez - "Earth Song" by Michael Jackson

This girl has a big voice, and everyone is saying that she should win. Well, I said that she can sing anything, and she proved that to us for the past weeks. This week, I want her to sing this song because I want her to be inspired and be more confident. Well, she is confident performing, but after that, she will act like she didn't know that she did good. Just confidence.

Shannon Magrane - "One of Us" by Joan Osborne

This girl can sing, and I think she can rock it out this week with "One of Us." It talks about God, and I just see her singing something inspirational, she should also take on softer songs because it really shows us what kind of artist she is.

WHAT'S UP THIS WEEK?

Daughtry will be performing, the top 12 will become top 11, and the Judges' Save may be used from this week until the top 5.

WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD THEY SING? Comment.

AMERICAN IDOL 2012: TOP 13 GUYS PERFORMANCES

Numbers and performances for the top 13 guys.

1. Reed Grimm - "Moves Like Jagger" (Maroon 5 ft. Christina Aguilera) - 1-866-436-5701
2. Adam Brock - "Think" (Aretha Franklin) - 1-866-436-5702
3. DeAndre Brackensick - "Reasons" (Earth, Wind & Fire) - 1-866-436-5703
4. Colton Dixon - "Decode" (Paramore) - 1-866-436-5704
5. Jeremy Rosado - "Gravity" (Sara Bareilles) - 1-866-436-5705
6. Aaron Marcellus - "Never Can Say Goodbye" (The Jackson 5) - 1-866-436-5706
7. Chase Likens - "Storm Warning" (Hunter Hayes) - 1-866-436-5707
8. Creighton Fraker - "True Colors" (Cyndi Lauper) - 1-866-436-5708
9. Phillip Phillips - "In the Air Tonight" (Phil Collins) - 1-866-436-5709
10. Eben Franckewitz - "Set Fire to the Rain" (Adele) - 1-866-436-5710
11. Heejun Han - "Angels" (Robbie Williams) - 1-866-436-5711
12. Joshua Ledet - "You Pulled Me Through" (Jennifer Hudson) - 1-866-436-5712
13. Jermaine Jones - "Dance With My Father" (Luther Vandross) - 1-866-436-5736

Once the list is complete, you may start voting through text or phone calls, or log on to americanidol.com to vote. What can you say about the new stage? Stay posted for my review. :)