VIDEO: Jamie Foxx Coaches American Idol's Top Four; Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze Wow Judges With Duet
May 12 2010, Published 1:00 p.m. ET
It was Movie Week on Tuesday night’s American Idol, as the top four paid tribute to music in the movies with special returning guest, Oscar winner Jamie Foxx. It was a night of solo performances and duets featuring some truly magical collaborations from the top four Idol contestants.
For rehearsals, Foxx brought custom made “contestant” and “artist” t-shirts which he handed out to the top four during rehearsals to spark motivation on performance night.
Watch the clip here on RadarOnline.com
Lee DeWyze sang Seal’s Kiss From A Rose which failed to please the judges. “For me you did nothing with that song. It was ok. It was pitchy in spots. You’re the rocker, be who you are,” Randy Jackson told him.
“You could have done more with the song, but that being said…I loved it,” Ellen DeGeneres said. “It’s one of the most difficult songs to sing,” Kara Dioguardi said, adding, “but you can’t take away from the fact that you are still great.”
Simon said it sounded like bad karaoke. “You were trying too hard to sound like the original.”
Next up was Michael "Big Mike" Lynche, who talked about the pressure of making it into the top four. “A year ago I made a goal to get into the top 3. And when you set a high personal goal and you’re so close to it, you feel it. You feel the pressure and the weight of the night.”
Jamie got Lynche to dance with him during rehearsal to loosen him up but it didn’t seem to work—at least according to the judges.
“I wish you had chosen an R&B song,” Randy said. “It didn’t really take off for me.”
I think it was a little bit predictable,” Ellen told Lynche. Kara also agreed. “I think you played it safe,” she said. “At least you gave it 100 percent and I kind of felt like you meant it,” Simon, the surprising supporter, said.
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Next to hit the stage was the first duet of the evening. Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze paid tribute to the Oscar winning song Falling Slowly from the film Once.
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“You’re like the new Captain and Tenille!” Ellen shouted out!” Kara agreed, saying “One of my favorite moments of the season.” Randy also chimed in. “That could be a hit right there!” he shouted amid cheers from the crowd.
“I don’t know if I would call that a good song,” Simon said, adding, “I would call that a fantastic song!”
It must have been hard to follow those two, but Casey James seemed to handle it well, as he brought the pride of Texas to the classic song Mrs. Robinson, which he played acoustically on a Ukulele. The girls in the crowd loved it, but did the judges?
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“I thought you sounded cool, but I’m just curious about the subject matter and where you were going with that song!” Randy joked. “I wish they had given you a big boy guitar!” Ellen laughed, adding, “let me turn it over now to Mrs. Robinson.”
Mrs. Robinson (aka Kara Dioguardi) told Casey, “For me it was a good choice,” she said amid elbow jabs from Simon and Ellen. Simon was the critic, however, telling Casey, “I thought it was a little bit lazy and I think you could have made more of an impact. I think there have been some really strange song choices tonight and that was one of them.”
At long last, Crystal Bowersox took the stage to sing her song, I’m Alright from Caddyshack. Her soul-driven rock rendition of the song impressed the judges. “You actually took that song and made it better!” Ellen applauded. “I think it’s been Crystalized!” Kara called Bowersox a “true artist.”
The second duet of the night was performed by Casey and Mike, who performed Have you ever really loved a woman from the film Don Juan De Marco.
“Well, as a matter of a fact I really have loved a woman,” Ellen said following the performance. Even Simon had good things to say. “That was really good.”
Of course, one contestant must now be voted off the show. To find out which one, watch the results show on American Idol Wednesday night on Fox at 9/8c.