VIDEO: American Idol's Michael Lynche Raises The Bar For The Top Ten Men
March 3 2010, Published 4:17 a.m. ET
In a last minute switcheroo the top 10 men performed in place of the women Tuesday night, after it was announced that one of the American Idol favorites, Crystal Bowersox, was incapacitated with a medical problem..
RadarOnline.com learned that Bowersox was suffering complications from diabetes.
After a lackluster performance last week the pressure was on for the guys to deliver and a couple were up to the challenge, but most, unfortunately failed to bring it home for yet another week. Michael Lynche the first performer of the night, didn't just bring it, he hit a home run.
Before his performance Lynche shared a little background, confessing that he's very much into theater and went to performing arts school. Before singing, Lynche vowed, "It's my time, here I am," and he didn't disappoint, raising the bar and getting the night off on the right note by belting out his version of the James Brown classic This Is A Man's Man's World. Michael scored rave reviews from all the judges with Randy raving, "Dawg I got to give it to you. You're an R & B star." Ellen agreed, commenting, "That was the one to beat". Simon said, "What a difference, it was like going from a pussycat to a lion in one week."
Jon Park confessed that he thought he was "trying a little too hard with my voice last week". The Korean-speaking singer hit a few bum notes with John Mayer's Gravity and gave an overall pitchy performance. Randy commented that, "You didn't bring anything new or spicy to it. It was just kind of flat for me and there were some pitch problems." Ellen said, "There could of been a little bit more soul to it." Kara opined "I lack the connection with you. When you're singing it I don't always believe it." Simon scathingly said, "I think Purple Haze may get their lead singer back this week. " Finishing with, "I think in 20 minutes time we will forget that performance."
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Cougar favorite, heart throb rocker Casey James, said that people would be surprised to learn that he hasn't got a TV at home, sharing that he never replaced his TV after it got damaged when hit by lightning. James said he planned to, "Just get up there and rip it up." James failed to deliver though and got mixed reviews for his performance of the Gavin DeGraw hit I Don't Wanna Be. Randy said "I love you channeling Hendrix." Ellen agreed, saying, "I think you sounded great." But went on to say, "There's a stiffness about you. I want to see you perform." Kara, who has been his biggest fan to date, ripped James saying. "You took two steps backward tonight." Simon agreed, saying, "I'm kind of with Kara here. This week you turned into someone you would see performing in any bar across America."
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Alex Lambert, who was compared to an unripe banana last week by Ellen, confessed that he usually throws up before performances. Lambert said that he was "extremely nervous" before last week's performance and that he thought he had "blown my chances". Lambert fared much better this week with his version of Everybody Knows by John Legend. With his guitar in hand Lambert was visibly less nervous, and the judges were considerably more favorable in their reviews. Randy said, "This is such an improvement for me over last week. You kind of found your own niche with it." Ellen said, "It's like someone took the unripe banana and put it in a brown bag." Praising him for gaining some experience and confidence. Kara raved, "There isn't a person out there that isn't rooting for you. Great improvement." Even Simon was positive, saying, "Alex that was a million times better." Before going on to advise, "You have to have a killer instinct. You have to take part, take your opportunity and take the lead."
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Todrick Hall got heat last week for his version of a Kelly Clarkson song. Hall said he took the judge's advise from last week, and only changed his choice of song slightly this week. Hall said he believes, "Anything is possible if you set your mind to it." Hall vowed to show America, "I really do belong in this competition." But he didn’t deliver when he performed his take on the Tina Turner hit What's Love Got To Do With It? Hall garnered bum reviews from all four judges, Randy said, "I didn't love this at all. Pick a nice song and don't change it." Ellen said, "Don't just sing, dance too. It wasn't the right song to sing, it's a hard song. I hope people can give you another chance." Kara said, "I don't get it. What happened to Todrick? I don't know where he went." Simon shattered any hopes the singer may have had left, by saying, "It was one of those performances I've had the misfortune to see at a theme park."
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Carrying on the judge's negative vibe Jermaine Sellers was next up. Jermaine declared, "I am Jermaine Sellers and I rock my onesie!" Sellers sang What's Going On by Marvin Gaye, Randy said, "It just wasn't a great performance man." Ellen agreed, saying, "It just wasn't right for me." Kara started off positive but ended with, "You're always doing too much. Don't worry about showing your range. It just feels false." Simon summed it up with, "We are frustrated. You water down the song, you make it lose it's importance. Once again, you did a kind of cabaret performance."
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Andrew Garcia talked about his break dancing background, saying he draws on it for his performances. He vowed to, "Show the judges this is the kind of music I feel good singing. I'm just going to have fun with it." Unfortunately though Garcia scored mixed reviews with his take on James Morrison's You Give Me Something. Randy said, "Honestly that wasn't the vibe for you tonight. It was pitchy and all over the place." Ellen disagreed though, raving, "You set the bar so high with that Paula Abdul song. But I'm still such a huge fan I'm thinking about having your name tattooed on my neck." Kara said, "I do like you, I see that potential. You're a rhythmic singer, you got to stay on that." Simon moaned, "It's just frustrating. You're lacking something. The fact that you've chosen the wrong song again is becoming a problem."
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16-year-old Aaron Kelly shared that he "loves photography" and that "It allows me to be myself." He confessed that "I really didn't think I would make it this far" before saying "Tonight I'm going to go out there with my confidence, as I really do deserve to be there." Kelly scored mixed reviews with his rendition of The Temptations classic My Girl, Randy said, "The first half of that song was excellent. Dude you can really sing. That was 200% better for me." Ellen said "I wish there was a different song you chose, but you have a great voice." Kara raved, "I like you. I think you're going to get better and better." Simon advised, "I didn't like the song. It was all over the place. You've got to work out what kind of artist you want to be."
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Tim Urban also met mixed reviews with his version of Come On Get Higher by Matt Nathanson. Before performing Urban said Idol has "been a trip" sharing that "there's usually a lot of nerves before performing. I just say a little prayer before singing." After Simon's scathing comment last week that Urban shouldn't be on the stage, he vowed, "This week I'm going to be a performer that should be on the show." However most of the judges weren't feeling the vibe, Randy kicked off, commenting, "Listen man, I didn't really get it. It was kind of very karaoke for me." Ellen agreed, saying, "You should act. If you were on Glee and we heard you sing as well as act, the girls would go crazy. But I don't think the singing is the strong point." Kara said, "You didn't make it your own. It's frustrating with you, you look the part but it's not all there yet." Ever the contrary, Simon rounded it off by disagreeing, saying, "I think that was a marked improvement on last week. I think you were more relevant tonight that many of the other singers we've seen. Congratulations"
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Last but not least, former paint salesman Lee DeWyze brought it home with his performance of Lips Of An Angel by Hinder. Before taking to the stage DeWyze confessed that school was tough for him and that he "made a few bad choices." DeWyze said going into this week he's going "to stay true to myself but still deliver something a little bit different." All the judges were united in their praise, Randy raved, "I like that you're trying to take chances and come out of your comfort zone. I like you." Ellen said, "There was so much passion and intensity. It came out as a great performance. I thought that was great." Kara agreed, saying, "I think that was a great performance. I can hear you on the radio right now." Simon rounded off, "Vocally, you are head and shoulders above everyone else on your side of the competition. But you looked terrified. If you are a front runner you have to take the stage."
A mixed night for the guys, now it's over to the girls to show what they've got. Tune into American Idol Wednesday on Fox at 8pm ET/PT to judge their performances.