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The top eight finalists of American Idol went back to the future, so to speak, with a flashback to their ’80s night selections, but one contestant’s song choice tainted the love of the audience and ended her journey.
Thursday night’s half-hour episode kicked off with a brief segment where the top eight complimented each other’s performances and looked up Ricky Nelson videos for Sam Woolf, while Ryan Seacrest got down to business.
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Mentor Randy Jackson chimed in with his thoughts on each contestant’s performance, predicting Dexter Roberts (Georgia Satellites, “Keep Your Hands to Yourself”), Jess Meuse (Blondie, “Call Me”) and Caleb Johnson (Journey, “Faithfully”) would be safe. He praised C.J. Harris for going into a higher octave on “Free Fallin’ ” by Tom Petty, but stopped short of making a prediction. Not a good sign.
He added that Woolf (Cyndi Lauper, “Time After Time”) proved himself this week, but his chances of staying in the competition were “50-50.” He also felt Malaya Watson didn’t hit all the notes on Chaka Khan‘s “Through the Fire,” and may be “in trouble.” Similarly, he wasn’t a fan of Alex Preston‘s arrangement of The Police’s “Every Breath You Take,” but didn’t seem to believe Jena Irene‘s similar reimagining of Joan Jett‘s “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” would do her any damage.
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Jackson was correct, as Roberts, Meuse, Johnson, Woolf, Preston and Irene were all sent to safety. Harris and Watson were both left in one of the two remaining stools of doom.
With no save left, Seacrest announced that the contestant going home would be Watson, who finished her season with a teary “I Am Changing” from Dreamgirls.
What do you think Idol Worshippers? Did America get it right? And are there any ’80s songs you wish had been tackled this week?
Twitter: @Idol_Worship, @MicheleAmabile
there are a couple I’m really excited about,” the season-seven victor tells THR.”]
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