Judges are moved by one contestant's tribute, while teens' original song makes them want to record it!

They may need to increase the Top 40 after Hollywood Week if this is to be the level of talent on "American Idol". There are already more than half a dozen serious contenders after just one episode.

It was a night full of powerful voices and heartbreaking tributes. One was for Willie Spence (Season 19 runner-up), who tragically passed away this Octobor. He was partnered in Hollywood with a young woman who could barely get through his audition.

A tribute song was given by another singer to his father. A young woman also paid tribute to her grandfather. It was an emotional moment for her, when the artist she was covering walked into the room and began singing with her. It was a "Idol" moment that created a memorable moment.

There was a broad range of musical styles at the event, including country, doo-wop, and piano crooning. Even a song written by a 16-year old that could have been heard on the radio today, as usual. Although she does have some influences from her youth in her lyrics, melodies and voice tone, she still managed to amaze everyone, even her tear-filled father.

We were once again impressed by this panel's approach to working with young people. Although they are called judges, they do as much coaching as any other judge on "The Voice." They do way more at the audition stage.

Unlike "The Voice" coaches telling contestants why they did not turn for them at the Blind Auditions. These three are taking the time coaching the singers in real-time to help them pull their best before passing judgement. We were able to see the magic of this kind of work twice tonight, and it was inspiring.

Fair warning: I will probably be harsher than my coworkers Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan because I am safe at home. However, I may be nicer. Maybe.

To make it more fun, I will rank the performances in order of worst to best to find my favorite performers each week. This way, I can easily see who is the best and you can vote with your approval.

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Luke Bryan, L-Rich & Katey Parry

Three contestants whose names were the same as our judges auditioned for the segment. Fortunately for the OG, the newcomers weren't as talented musically as them, so they won't have to change their names like Katey suggested. Although it was a fun diversion, we are glad that we didn't spend too long with any of them. Ryan Secrest was also present, but we did not see her perform.

Results Ultimately there is no

Jack Nicora

(In the Still of the Night, I'll Remember)," The Five Satins – 19, Pittsburgh, PA Mango, Jack's bird, didn't rise to the occasion and perform the way Jack expected. He didn't do the same thing or even dance the way he promised. We don't believe Jack did. Although he said he would like to bring back doo-wop, doo-wop is much more energetic and charismatic than Jack's singing.

Although his voice was not strong enough, he is a good enough pianist. Perhaps he and Mango could sing lead with someone else? That vocal was not beyond a high school talent show. Katy loved the sound of his voice and the "beautiful shaking," but he needs to improve his breathing in order to keep his notes out.

Results N. N. N

Lyric Medeiros

("Love Me like You Mean It") Kelsea Balerini - 21 Honolulu (HI) Lyric is Glenn Medeiros' daughter. He broke out in 1987 with "Nothing's Going to Change My Love For You". The song topped several charts around the world and reached number one in the US on "She Ain’t Worth It" featuring Bobby Brown.

Her twang on the song was not sincere and her performance seemed a bit too earnest. Although she has a lovely voice, she needed to slow down, relax, and breathe. "You flew ten hour to be cute and secure." Katy was harsh with her and said what we all thought. It wasn't enough. Yet, it was clear that she has more talent than the ones displayed here.

("Before He Cries," Carrie Underwood) We got another masterclass from the judges, Katy grappling with Lyric as she performed to try to get her angry. Luke encouraged her to be a bit more serious and show emotion. As if she didn’t realize she could dig deeper, or needed to to win a show such as this, she was still being "cutely and safe". Katy was willing to take a chance on her. But she must stop being so sweet!

Results Y. Y. N

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Lucy Love

("I Heard It Through The Grapevine," Marvin Gaye, 28, Holly Grove AR)LL certainly has pipes but something was missing from this audition. We were able to see her personality, but she stopped singing once she began to sing. We got a solid rendition a classic song, but nothing memorable. We forget what she did, even as we write about the experience.

As if she didn't believe she had to fight for it, it was almost as if she was too confident. Maybe she was just too anxious and trying too hard. Lionel told her that there was an artist beneath the "comedy" and she picked it up. We were there for him. You could see the talent but it wasn't coming through properly. He revealed the true soul beneath the swagger.

(A Song for You, Donny Hathaway). They slowly pulled out a new singer from her with each gesture. She performed the piece until they had the raw materials to be a very talented performer. Although she does have the right tools, she is not always able to use them correctly. Some runs felt self-indulgent at first, but it was much more enjoyable by the end. Although she's certainly rough, I can see her getting a chance to get better and prove herself.

Luke thanked Katy for helping him to respect his fellow judges more. He sat quietly as Katy and Lionel massaged the new version of himself out, and was as captivated by the transformation as we were. Their artistry and strength, as mentors, is evident in the fact that they only saw the diamond and are just beginning to polish it. He claimed he had written her off, but she proved him right in the end.

Results: Y.

Haven Madison

("Fifteen") Haven Madison - 16, Clarksville TN "Idol Across America” turned into a chance to sing for judges. She was then made the first contestant for the entire season. There is no pressure, you know! She has had some experience through her father's touring and performing career. This wasn't an audition that was perfect, but the years of experience and some genetics have made this something special.

An original song was brought by her to the audition. It is an excellent track that helped tremendously. You can't forget the many facets of her voice that were captivating and compelling. Although she needs to improve her pitch and perhaps use the falsetto less (and strengthen it), her voice, range and character in the lower register are outstanding. This one was even better. Kate was correct in her belief that each decision she made was deliberate and only enhanced the overall performance.

Results: Y.

Michael Williams

(Talking to the Moon, Bruno Mars - 21 Mason, OH) Katy wouldn't have a crush on at most one contestant during the new season of American Idol. Enter Michael. He sounded very much like Bruno when the piece began. It was almost an impression at first, but then he discovered his own uniqueness. It doesn't matter what, however, it is clear that his voice has a sweet, soft tone that truly caresses your ears in the most gentle way. He also performed the song with an innocence that is part of the reason Katy fell in love with him. It helped that he is a handsome man.

Results: Y.

Megan Danielle

("You Say") Lauren Daigle, 20, Douglasville GA We loved the surprise Ryan and Megan gave after the audition. In honor of her grandfather who had wished it for her, she switched to Christian music. She dedicated the performance to him a year before he died. Ryan then brought Lauren Daigle, Lauren's mother who was shocked to be outside. It's even more touching that Lauren has been in Seasons 9-11, so she is familiar with the journey.

They had Lauren sneak in to join Megan halfway through the chorus. This was even more amazing. We knew enough about her drive and passion to do this and that she has a great voice. She was able to handle the lower parts and pick up the chorus. Megan was able to convey the emotion and passion of this song, although she wasn't quite there with Lauren. We loved her reaction!

Results: Y.

Colin Stough

("Simple Man") Lynyrd Skynyrd, 18 Gattman (near Amory MS) Clear in his nerves, and only able a few glimpses at the judges while singing, Colin is everything this program's viewers love. He is a sweet, humble guy who has that gravelly voice that everyone loves. He made some tweaks to the song to add his own flair to it. He's likely to be extremely untested and raw, and has a lot of potential if he can make it this far.

Results: Y.

Zachariah Smith

("Hurts so Good," John Mellencamp, 19, Amory MS) This is not a typo. Zachariah comes from the same small community as Colin, and it must be in the water. Maybe it's in the burgers. Colin is a master burger maker and brought in even more showmanship and polish than Colin. But his voice still has that rich, deep tone. He has his own grit, gravel, and he also has a smooth side. He is clearly more familiar with his instrument and is further along in his singing journey. It was sometimes a bit corny at times, but he is a great entertainer with a fantastic voice.

Results: Y.

Tyson Venegas

("New York State of Mind," Billy Joel, 17 Vancouver, BC) Tyson let his rich voice guide him through this classic. He even accompanied himself on the piano, just as the Piano Man would. His voice is youthful, but his words are so rich and textured that you're drawn in to every word. His voice box is like a wrestling match between a young child and an older soul, and they both win.

It was a remarkable and confident performance. We felt like we were witnessing someone who has been performing for decades returning to the Grammys for their praises. And it was only a teenager! His selections were impeccable, and his pitch was perfect -- this kid is a star in his own right! The judges were there to support us and handed out the first Platinum Ticket for the season.

Results: Y.

Iam Tongi

("Monsters") James Blunt, 18, Kahuku (HI) Iam wrote this track about saying goodbye just months after he lost his father. It was so sincere and deeply felt. His voice was sweet, smooth and full of emotion. It's not clear if he can relate to any lyrics as well as this song. But if he can, we will be watching. This moment left no one indifferent. He'll be a force in this journey if he can make this kind of impact every time.

Results: Y.

Kya Monee

("I’m Here") from "The Color Purple" 21 Austin, TX Kya appeared on the show with Willie Spence and his duet partner during Hollywood Week two years ago. Although she didn't make it past week one, WIllie was the runner-up. She had planned to have him with her at this audition. However, he tragically died in October 2022 from injuries sustained in a car accident. Willie was the one who encouraged her to return to pursue her dreams. He had already invited her to be on his stage.

Willie helped her choose her audition song. This song was difficult for Kya, and she broke down several times. All of the pain she felt in her voice made it more powerful. This was one the most powerful and emotional moments we have ever seen on the show. Even if we didn’t feel the same pain for Willie's loss, it was still powerful. She accepted her pain and created beautiful art out of it. Wow, what a powerful instrument! It can be trained and controlled to do almost anything.

Results: Y.

"American Idol," continues Sundays at 8 pm. ET on ABC.

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Title: American Idol Premiere 5th Judge: Heartbreaking Willie Spence Tribute, Lauren Daigle Surprise
Sourced From: toofab.com/2023/02/19/american-idol-premiere-recap-tribute-willie-spence-lauren-daigle/
Published Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2023 06:54:14 +0000

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