In 2002, a new show – á la Star Search – called American Idol: The Search for a Superstar premiered on FOX. Its winner, Kelly Clarkson, went on to have one of the most successful music careers of the 21st century. Even today, ten years later, the singer is producing hits, including “What Doesn’t Kill You (Makes You Stronger)” and “Mr. Know-It-All.”
Since then, the show itself has received multiple accolades by critics and produced several successful recording artists, including Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Jennifer Hudson, and last year’s winner, Scotty McCreery. Judges Jennifer Lopez, Randy Jackson, Steven Tyler, and host Ryan Seacrest have returned this spring for another cutthroat season.
Stakes this year were raised by competition from NBC’s The Voice, which is running its second season concurrently with American Idol’s eleventh. Contestants were put to the test in a guys-versus-girls round of Stevie Wonder and Whitney Houston on March 8th, including a rendition of “I Will Always Love You” by 16-year-old San Diegan, Jessica Sanchez.
While it was the young teen’s powerhouse vocals and Heejun Han’s hilarious antics that stole the show, no one showed more artistic potential than rockers Colton Dixon and Phillip Phillips. Buzz around Idol has been relatively low this season, despite news about Phillip’s short trip to the hospital. But it was the boys’ versions of “Lately” and “Superstition” that will no doubt be two of the standout performances of the season.
Colton Dixon originally auditioned for Season 10 of American Idol, nearly reaching the Hollywood round, but was eliminated by the judges just before he could reach America’s voters. This time, however, he was asked to audition by the judges and has made it to the Top 11. He will no doubt make it to the Top 5. How could he not?
Singing tunes from Daughtry and Paramore, he has a clear rock-influenced style and distinct singing voice. Selling albums would be an easy task for such an identifiable artist (really, who could forget him sitting at a large piano with his signature mohawk and white-striped bangs?). Colton’s calm, respectful personality and God-centered lifestyle may also appeal to the large conservative, family-focused audience of Idol.
Of course, no one brings the Southern charm quite like boy-next-door Phillip Phillips. Hailing from Georgia, his audition may have reminded many of Scotty McCreery when he walked in with a sweet smile, likeable accent, and the plaid-shirt-with-flip-flops look. However, his firecracker energy onstage (which led J.Lo to compare him to James Brown) and growling vocals brought a never-before-seen artistry to the show that is unrivaled.
In fact, the judges have dubbed him one of the competition’s frontrunners, saying his name was the one on their lips at the end of auditions. And – after his “Superstition” – there is no doubt that he deserves his place in the contest. Rocking out with guitarists, trombonists, and saxophone players, he closed up Tuesday night’s show with the knockout performance. After hearing it, Steven Tyler sat in reverential awe: “There are no words… You just are.”
Colton’s performance delivered similar results. While the judges advised him to work on his pitch in the lower range, they were amazed that he was able to take a song (Stevie Wonder’s “Lately”) by a highly respected soul singer and turn it into an emotional rock ballad that the audience fell in love with.
Jennifer Lopez’s personal favorite, crooner Jeremy Rosado, was eliminated on Thursday night’s result show. Even so, he and the rest were able to enjoy performances by Mary J. Blige and country singer Lauren Alaina. This week, the contestants will select songs from their birth years, will be mentored by the Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am Thursday night, and treated to performances by Daughtry and Idol alum, Haley Reinhart.
So be sure to tune in Wednesday the 14th and Thursday the 15th to watch Phillip and Colton as they make it to the very top! Have anotherIdol favorite? Post in the comments below! Don’t forget to cast your votes. For more on Idol, from behind-the-scenes videos to photo galleries, you can visit the official American Idol site.
The Top 11 Contestants:
Phillip Phillips
Colton Dixon
DeAndre Brackensick
Heejun Han
Joshua Ledet
Skylar Laine
Jessica Sanchez
Hollie Cavanagh
Shannon Magrane
Erika Van Pelt
Elise Testone