By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Wednesday, February 3, 2016
The group rounds are over. Now it's the crucial solo rounds.
About 75 were left entering tonight's episode. Only 51 survived by the end. Two thirds were women, amplifying the theme that the ladies are predominant.
We heard at least snippets of 21 of them in the lone hour tonight. Of those, 19 made it through. So we heard 37 percent of the final 51 and a majority of the top 24. (You can find out who they are here if you want to be spoiled.)
They did the annual "split into three rooms" routine with only one room with the eliminated contestants.
The producers had to cart out a couple of folks (John Wayne Shultz and Joshua Wicker) so we would recognize at least those two in the "loser" room.
Overall, I thought we heard some great singers tonight. It's still too soon to say who the winners or even the top 10 might be. My early picks of those I heard tonight include Stephanie Negrete, Sonika Vaid, MacKenzie Bourg, Dalton Rappatoni and Lee Jean.
At least two Atlantans made the cut: Mionne Destiny and Jordan Sasser.
Stephanie Negrete ("Set Fire to the Rain" Adele) - We haven't seen much of her but I really do like her. She brings some fire to her performance.
Thomas Stringfellow ("A Thousand Years" Christina Perri) - We only heard a snippet and I thought he sounded fine although he doubted himself afterwards.
Avalon Young ("One Last Time" Ariana Grande) - Again, what little we got was fine. She will certainly go through.
Olivia Rox (original song) - See Avalon. The judges liked her song.
John Wayne Schulz ("John 3:16" Keith Urban) - He seems to have lost his black cowboy hat. Keith sings along. He seems just okay, maybe not good enough to go through. "What is it that's missing?" Keith ponders, though he was probably talking about the hat.
After the break:
MacKenzie Bourg ("Roses" original song) - Singer songwriter written all over him. I really like this guy. He has some star power. Keith was duly impressed. "It's like a lost Ed Sheeran track," he said.
Shelbie Zee ("Never" Heart) - She has a powerful voice and doing Heart is a smart move, even if it evokes Carrie Underwood of yore.
Kory Wheeler ("Fix You" Coldplay) - A different take on a classic Coldplay song. We haven't seen much of him.
James VIII ("Wicked Game" Chris Isaak) - Another person we hadn't seen since the auditions. His "Wicked Game" is impressive in its conviction.
Tristan McIntosh ("What Hurts Me Most" Rascal Flatts) - I haven't been impressed her. But clearly the "Idol" producers and judges do. We hear her entire song. A very clean version. This is the most I've liked her to date.
Sonika Vaid ("One Last Time" Ariane Grande) - She isn't quite there with her stage presence but that voice is impressive. So clean, so pretty, perfect for pop radio.
Lee Jean and Sara Strum seem to have hit it off. Lee's version of Shawn Mendes' "Stitches" is arguably better than the original. On point.
And Sara version of Keane's "Somewhere Only We Know" is almost as good. I truly love this song:
Jenn Blosil, the annoying quirky one, picks the right song for herself in "True Colors' but is disappointed in her performance.
Emily Brooke ("What Hurts the Most" Rascal Flatts) - She sounds very airy. But she brings some emotional punch that brings more oomph than Tristan.
Malie Delgado ("Stitches" Shawn Mendes) - She has bronchitis but she punches through better than you'd expect.
Mionne Destiny ("Chains" Nick Jonas) - She is suffering from laryngitis but guts it through herself. I don't think we've seen her before, which doesn't bode well for her. (She is from Atlanta, too, and I was never offered an interview with her.)
This is Jessica Cabral, who has been singing under sickness, pulls of a very soulful "Up to the Mountain":
The final four before the hour is up: new dad Joshua Wicker ("A Thousand Years") - He sounds offkey and breathy. He's a goner.
CJ Johnson, the Beale Street musician ("Go Your Own Way" Fleetwood Mac) - He really shows determination and verve.
Jeneve Rose Mitchell ("Danny's Song" Kenny Loggins) - She looks like a goof but sings with real emotion. It's hard not to smile when you watch her. She is the type of person "Idol" will certainly bring to the live shows. HCJ and Keith look at each other knowingly.
Ryan Seacrest talks to Dalton Rapattoni, the Green Day guy who has gotten a kind edit so far. I love the fact he sang a song from "Grease." He did a great job but doesn't even remember what had just happened.
The judges argue over which singers will be in the "end of the road" room and which 51 make it to the showcase round airing tomorrow.
The room with Atlanta's Sasser is through. La'Porsha is there, along with Dalton, Lee Jean and Shelbie Zee.
Room 2 is the loser room because it's a lot of people we haven't seen much of besides Joshua Wicker and John Wayne Schultz.
The third room, with Jenn Blosil, Malie Delgado, Manny Torres, Thomas Stringfellow and Michelle Marie, are through. They unite with room one.
Tomorrow: showcase round!
Here is the top 51, according to MJ. Some of these folks have never been featured on the show so you probably know what will happen to them.
1. Ameet Kanon
2. Amelia Eisenhauer
3. Anatalia Villaranda
4. Ariel Sprague (American Idol 11 Top 42 & American Idol 12 Top 52)
5. Avalon Young
6. Chynna Sherrod
7. Colette Lush
8. Emily Brooke (American Idol 14 Top 48)
9. Gianna Isabella
10. Jeneve Mitchell
11. Jenn Blosil
12. Jenna Renae (America’s Got Talent Season 10)
13. Jessica Cabral
14. Jessica Clark
15. Jordyn Simone
16. Kassy Levels
17. Kayla Mickelsen
18. Kelsie Watts
19. LaPorsha Renae
20. Laurel Wright (American Idol Seasons 13 and 14)
21. Lindita Hamili
22. Malie Delgado (The X Factor USA Season 3)
23. Mary Williams
24. Michelle Marie
25. Mionne Destiny
26. Olivia Rox (America's Got Talent Season 8)
27. Sara Sturm
28. Shelbie Zora (The Voice Season 5)
29. Shevonne Philidor
30. Sonika Vaid
31. Stephany Negrete (American Idol 11 Hollywood)
32. Terrian Bass
33. Tiffanne LeMay
34. Tristan McIntosh
Males
1. Adam Lasher (American Idol Season 14)
2. Andrew Nazarbekian
3. C.J. Johnson
4. Christian Eason
5. Dalton Rapattoni
6. Isaac Cole
7. Jame Dawson VIII
8. Jon Klaasen (The X Factor USA Season 3)
9. Jordan Sasser
10. Kacye Haynes
11. Kory Wheeler (American Idol Season 14)
12. Lee Jean
13. MacKenzie Bourg
14. Manny Torres
15. Thomas Stringfellow
16. Trent Harmon
17. Zach Person
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