SkimIt
We have finally arrived at the penultimate week of the show. It's down to Joshua, Jessica and Phillip Phillips. The final three each sings three songs this episode, one chosen by the judges, one chosen by Jimmy and another by themselves.
Keep in mind that the finale, however, will be pulled ahead a day. So the performance next week will be Tuesday, and the very last episode of the season will be on the following Wednesday. In other words, the next "American Idol" will be revealed one week from this episode.
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Judge's Choice
There is no worse song on the planet than the seven looped seconds of the idiotic intro song of this show.
The judges choose an Etta James song for Joshua, "I'd Rather Go Blind." I don't know whose idea the oversized novelty microphone was, but Joshua ended up hiding the lower half of his face behind it the entire song. The song is right up his alley, and he performs it with the solid professionalism and emotion we've come to expect from him.
For Jessica, they pick "My All," a Mariah Carey song, a diva tune for the resident diva. She sings it beautifully, with a pleasant reediness that is a wise departure from her typical delivery, which, while obviously good, was getting a bit repetitive. She needed to show she had that sort of control, which could go a long way to seeing her to the finale.
Phillip Phillips has to sing "Beggin'", by Madcon, and I can tell you with confidence that this is the only time the song was performed where it wasn't horrible. Phillip Phillips Phillipsized it into a fast-tempo rock anthem, obliterating the songs' pop roots almost entirely. If the technical aspects of singing had nothing to do with who the "best" is, then it would be Phillip Phillips, hands down. He's the most unique singer left, and is the only one making intriguing choices in his delivery, in terms of departing from the original.
