Connick told her she had “needed a performance that was really, really fantastic” and said “that was the performance”, adding that Young “couldn’t have sung a better song at a better time”. After Seacrest revealed seven of the Top 8 finalists, the remaining three contestants had to perform and the judges picked which one would take the remaining spot as a finalist.
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The first singer to perform tonight, that is safe from elimination, is Dalton Rapattoni.
In what was perhaps his least exciting performance yet, Rapattoni performed the popular tune “Radioactive”, by Imagine Dragons, on a fog-covered stage. Now, it’s time to hear what the judges thought of Dalton’s performance.
Next up to make it to the Top 8 was Lee John. Instead, Lee chose “Use Somebody” by Kings of Leon. Lopez thought he succeeded, but told Lee, “There’s more voice in you than even you know”.
But, the real stunning moment of Lovato’s Idol cameo came when she went solo for “Stone Cold”. Harry Connick Jr. felt Dalton wasn’t as present as usual, citing “a certain electricity I didn’t feel tonight. I think it’s really good for you to put a character in your head, but then you got to let go more”. Last week, guest judge Kelly Clarkson predicted that La’Porsha was going to win the competition. But on one break, Jennifer Lopez literally took matters into her own hands, by whipping out a compact and checking the mirror to see how her hair and make-up were doing. The “I Luh Ya Papi” singer said she’s enjoyed watching La’Porsha turn into a star throughout her time on the show. Connick deemed the performance “really smart” and “strong”, but Urban, while he admired Jean’s attempt to try something new and different, didn’t think the song itself had suited the teen’s voice. MacKenzie surprises the audience and sings a Whitney Houston song, on his guitar, “I Want To Dance With Somebody”.
The final person to make the Top 8 without having to sing for the judges’ save was Tristan McIntosh. Calling back slightly to Kelly Clarkson’s fantastic “Piece by Piece” performance on last week’s show, Lovato was accompanied simply by a piano while she sang the heartbreaking ballad.
The next artist voted through was La’Porsha Renae, who followed up her excellent performance of Rihanna’s “Diamonds” with an excellent performance of Beyoncé’s “Halo”.
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That left Avalon Young, Olivia Rox and Gianna Isabella in the bottom three, with only one seat to vie for and everything riding on this week’s performance. Hicks also talked about one of his most memorable moments of the evening: “I always enjoy the critique from Harry”.
