After Wednesday’s American Idol episode where the Top 12 performed songs from their birth year, the contestants lost a member in last night’s elimination round. And if you checked out our Idol Power List last Friday, you’ll know that the unlucky hopeful who said goodbye was not too much of a surprise for us (hint: she placed last). Head below to see Karen Rodriguez’s final moments, plus performances by last year’s AI champ Lee DeWyze and the Black Eyed Peas.
Rodriguez found herself in the Bottom Three for a second week in a row—this time with Naima Adedapo and another low-vote vet, Haley Reinhart. And someone really should have have reminded Karen that singing Taylor Dayne’s 1990 ballad “Love Will Lead You Back” proved to be the swan song for Carmen Rasmusen waaaaay back in Season 3, because the only thing it led this Season 10 contestant to was the door.
For her final song, where she tried to convince the judges to use their one save of the season on her (note: they didn’t), Rodriguez gave a pitchy, just-alright rendition of Mariah Carey’s “Hero.”
And so it’s another week of safety for Naima and Heley. But warning, girls—you’re both in the lower half of our Power List. Best step it up or you’ll be stepping out real quick.
On to the night’s performances: first up were the Black Eyed Peas with their new single “Just Can’t Get Enough.” As he played the opening piano chords, Will.i.am said, “This song is about love and strength, and is dedicated to our friends in Japan.”
Next Lee DeWyze took the stage to sing “Beautiful Like You.” And at least the performance breathed new life into his seemingly dead debut LP Live It Up—last night the album flew up into the Top 10 on iTunes (currently it’s #8).
I thought Lee did an awesome job with Beautiful Like You. He had to cut it down by over a minute, but I think he did a good job with that. Glad to see some more interest in his album. As someone who bought it when it came out in November, I can honestly say, it is my favorite album – there’s not 1 song that I skip over. Great job Lee & really good to hear Ryan say he’s one of the nicest people who has been on Idol :)
Lee leaves as much of an impression as a grain of salt, blink and you’ll miss it and forget it.
Karen did such a solid job last night performing Hero, she was great with vocals (towards the end anyways) I was disappointed that she was cast off, considering how awful some of the performances from a certain other chick have been consistently terrible. But Karen did come across a bit too ordinary much like a certain 15 year old who lacks personality and whom I suspect will be exiting in the next 2 weeks
There’s that sexy gravely voice he was missing on the others he had released. LOVE IT!