American Idol 2012 - Week 10 - 1960s/Britpop

1. Hollie Cavanagh - River Deep, Mountain High (Tina Turner)
Hollie is definitely choosing the right time to blossom. Her vocals were pretty flawless and she's starting to own the stage. She's by no means an electrifying performer, but is improving.

2. Phillip Phillips - The Letter (The Box Tops)
It's becoming increasingly irrelevant which song Phillip chooses each week as he pretty much turns them all into the same song. This one becomes unrecognisable as The Letter at 33rpm, but certainly recognisable as Phillip.

3. Skylar Laine - Fortunate Son (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
Very much in her natural comfort zone, especially given it wasn't her first choice, Skylar performed her way through that like a complete pro. Definitely the best so far.

Phillip & Joshua - You've Lost That Feelin' (Righteous Brothers)
Not a natural pairing, but it worked surprisingly well. Phillip clearly had no say in the arrangement, so it sounded mostly like it should have. Obviously, Joshua took the breakdown as his opportunity to screech. An odd moment at the end when Phillip tried to put a celebratory arm around Joshua and he flinched away. I can't say it disproved the argument that the biggest homophobes are closet cases. What a fucking arsehole.

4. Jessica Sanchez - Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner)
Glad to see Jessica throwing in some of the rocker hairography she omitted last week, even if it lacked a little commitment. The vocals were great, and she achieved that rough edge the song requires. Randy's right that she didn't quite channel Tina enough, in which case it's best to just avoid this song, rather than pale by comparison.

5. Joshua Ledet - Ain't Too Proud to Beg (The Temptations)
Whereas Jessica added just an edge of rough to her vocals, Joshua went all out and give me a sore throat just listening to the growly screeching on just about every high note. Ugh. Again.

Hang on, did Randy Jackson just say that RnB is what's missing from the US charts? Seriously? As opposed to what, exactly?

1. Hollie Cavanagh - Bleeding Love (Leona Lewis)
Ok, so Britpop clearly means something different to Americans from what it means to us Brits. Ironic, given Hollie's British heritage but hey, she took a big ballad and delivered it in spades, without sounding like a Leona Lewis copycat in the process. Some impressive notes were hit there.

2. Phillip Phillips - Time of the Season (The Zombies)
It turns out when he keeps a song at its original melody and tempo, he's just as tedious.

Hollie, Jessica & Skylar performed together on Higher and Higher, showcasing all three girls as great vocalists. Not much else to report there.

3. Skylar Laine - You Don't Have to Say You Love Me (Dusty Springfield)
Pushing her vocals to their very limits, she just about made it through this one. Some of her melody changes sounded great without being indulgent. Overall, a good job.

4. Jessica Sanchez - So Beautiful (Joe Cocker)
It's amazing how someone can do so much whilst doing so little. She kept it simple, hit every note and didn't feel the need to go for big runs, opting to hold her notes which always sounds better and far more impressive.

5. Joshua Ledet - To Love Somebody (Bee Gees)
The first half was surprisingly good. Nicely controlled, an appealing vocal tone, on the melody. Then the second half kicked in and it was pure Joshua and all that implies. The judges are out of their fucking minds if they think this guy will be a star.

RESULTS
The bottom two are revealed to be Hollie and Skylar.
Skylar Laine goes home, but not before one last reprise of Gunpowder and Lead to demonstrate that the show has lost its last remaining performer.
Oh well, onward to the inevitable, wrist-slashing prospect of a Phillip/Joshua final.