{"id":1255536,"date":"2023-04-24T11:10:18","date_gmt":"2023-04-24T15:10:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bugaluu.com\/news\/im-just-so-shook-right-now-shocking-cuts-on-first-live-results-show-of-american-idol-season-21\/1255536\/"},"modified":"2023-04-24T11:10:18","modified_gmt":"2023-04-24T15:10:18","slug":"im-just-so-shook-right-now-shocking-cuts-on-first-live-results-show-of-american-idol-season-21","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bugaluu.com\/news\/im-just-so-shook-right-now-shocking-cuts-on-first-live-results-show-of-american-idol-season-21\/1255536\/","title":{"rendered":"‘I’m just so shook right now!’: Shocking cuts on first live results show of ‘American Idol’ Season 21"},"content":{"rendered":"
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‘American Idol’ judge Katy Perry is “shook” after the top 20 results are announced, (Photo: ABC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sunday, on the first live combination competitive\/results show of American Idol<\/em> Season 21, ABC threw what host-with-the-most Ryan Seacrest called a big \u201cthree-hour party\u201d on the show\u2019s big, shiny new set. But by the end of the third hour \u2014 once Ryan had summoned one semifinalist after another to perform, as the top 26 were whittled down to the top 20 \u2014 the party was over for six sidelined singers. Those eliminees included two of my personal favorites, plus two that I was certain would be among America\u2019s favorites.<\/p>\n

One of those two upsets was theater diva extraordinaire Emma Busse. Last week<\/a>, Emma delivered a master-class Sam Smith cover that had judge Katy Perry raving about her ability to sing \u201call those hidden colors between all those colors of rainbow, those notes we don\u2019t even know exist\u201d and had Lionel Richie gasping, \u201cI was trying to imagine, how<\/em> did you manage to pull that phrase off with human vocal cords<\/em>? How<\/em> did you put those two notes together and make a run out of this?\u201d Apparently America\u2019s non-expert voters did not fully comprehend or appreciate Emma\u2019s technical skills, because she definitely deserved to move forward.<\/p>\n

\"Emme
Emme Busse and PJAE are among the six talented singers cut on ‘American Idol’ Season 21’s top 20 night. (Photo: ABC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sunday\u2019s other shocking reject was Elijah McCormick, who was not only a Platinum Ticket holder, but the only<\/em> Platinum Ticket contestant that had actually been picked by America in the first place, via a fan vote conducted during the recent American Music Awards. Elijah\u2019s backstory of surviving a serious car crash<\/a> and his triumphant attitude after overcoming that adversity also seemed to resonate with viewers. I suspect his downfall was twofold. He performed first, in what old-school Idol<\/em> viewers have long called the \u201cdeath spot,\u201d during the top 26 round. And he also sang a light and frothy throwaway tune, Chris Janson\u2019s \u201cGood Vibes,\u201d that seemed chosen more to please last week\u2019s daiquiri-sipping live audience in Hawaii than to impress landlocked viewers with his actual vocal ability.<\/p>\n

Among the other four eliminated contestants who didn\u2019t get to sing Sunday was another under-appreciated vocal technician, Elise Kristine (who also performed in the disadvantaged first slot on her top 26 episode), and three of this season\u2019s biggest risk-taking mavericks \u2014 Malik Heard, Dawson Wayne, and PJAE \u2014 who all rolled the dice last week with their daring respective Paramore, Billie Eilish, and Jill Scott covers. I had feared, and grudgingly predicted, that Malik and Dawson would not advance, but had hoped I was wrong and that America would give them a shot. Without those two, as well as vivacious showman PJAE and the aforementioned stunner Emma, Season 21 won\u2019t be nearly as exciting as it could have been.<\/p>\n

\"Elijah
Elijah McCormick, Dawson Wayne, and Malik Heard are among the six talented singers cut on ‘American Idol’ Season 21’s top 20 night. (Photo: ABC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It should be noted that PJAE and Malik were the two contestants who inspired the judges to make the semifinals a super-sized top 26 this year instead of the usual top 24, after their Final Judgment sing-off resulted in a tie<\/a>. Another interesting observation: With Elijah exiting the competition, Tyson Venegas is now the only surviving Platinum Ticket contestant in the just-announced top 20 (Kaylin Hedges plateaued during Hollywood Week, and seeming frontrunner Cam Amen was shockingly sent home<\/a> during the Showstoppers week). And judging by Tyson\u2019s Season 21 inconsistent track record so far \u2014 and<\/em> this week\u2019s pitchy performance \u2014 it\u2019s unlikely that he\u2019ll make it all the way to the finale like last year\u2019s Platinum darling, Huntergirl.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, some of the top 20 surviving performers did live up to their early promise Sunday. But on what will surely be an even more brutal episode, on Monday, eight<\/em> more of these contestants will go home after Sunday\u2019s overnight vote. So, let\u2019s assess the top 20 performances, and then make some (grudging) predictions for the top 12.<\/p>\n

\"Katy
Katy Perry reacts to the top 20 results. (Photo: ABC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Zachariah Smith, \u201cI Want to Know What Love Is\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Considering that theatrical performers like Emma, Dawson, PJAE, and Malik all went home in one fell swoop this week, I was worried that Zach, the showiest of Season 21\u2019s showboaters, would be polarizing. The judges called him \u201ccrazy\u201d last week, after all. But it turned out that America is just crazy for this big kid. I did miss his kooky, ritzy-glitzy persona this week \u2014 as did Katy \u2014 but I understood why Zachariah wanted to dedicate a more serious song to his small town of Amory, Miss., which is rallying around him and in need of a morale boost after recently being hit by a devastating tornado. Plus, Foreigner’s nostalgic power ballad showcased Zachariah\u2019s often-overlooked big pipes, and it\u2019s the sort of schmaltzy song that mainstream viewers of a certain age tend to love. I do hope we get another big Zach attack next week, though, because we all know this guy ain\u2019t going nowhere: The judges even predicted he\u2019ll make the top 10.<\/p>\n

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Matt Wilson, \u201cSay You Won\u2019t Let Go\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Romantic wedding\/prom songs are Matt\u2019s stock-in-trade, so this James Arthur weeper was a smart choice. But this week, Matt seemed more like a full-fledged pop star, not just a nice wedding singer. Katy loved the rapidly blossoming heartthrob\u2019s \u201ceffervescent and contagious joy\u201d and how he \u201cflowingly\u201d utilized the set\u2019s potentially intimidating big new stage. And Lionel told Matt, \u201cWhat you gave us this time was some attitude<\/em>! \u2026 Enjoy this ride, my friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Nailyah Serenity, \u201cBaby Love\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

I was worried that this dynamite diva would be an underdog due to her relative lack of screentime this season, so I was pleased that she made enough of an impression, burning up the screen every time she had the chance, to scrape through to the top 20. She certainly burned up the stage tonight, bringing that Tina Turner\/Nikka Costa rock \u2018n\u2019 soul energy and what Katy called \u201cfull stankface\u201d on this 1977 Mother\u2019s Finest barnstormer. Katy told her, \u201cYou are an artist through and through, and that\u2019s what\u2019s going to separate you.\u201d Luke joked to Nailyah, a horoscope expert, \u201cI\u2019m no astrologer, but I can spot a star when I see one!\u201d And Lionel warned that the next contestant (spoiler alert: Warren Peay) should be \u201cafraid\u201d to follow Nailyah\u2019s tour de force. That poor dude.<\/p>\n

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Warren Peay, \u201cUp There Down Here\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Warren is not a performer at Nailyah\u2019s level \u2014 yet<\/em> \u2014 but on what Luke called a \u201cworld-class song choice\u201d by Zach Williams, while rocking a relatively glamorous fluffy beard blowout, he did seem transformed. He roused the crowd during that clap-along coda, and brought all the Skynyrd\/Band\/Allmans vibes. He also further connected with America by sharing his past struggles with alcoholism. \u201cI love that you\u2019re authentic, and it\u2019s so great to hear more of your story. \u2026 Thanks for being vulnerable,\u201d Katy said warmly. Lionel praised Warren for realizing, \u201cIf you just let go and let God, everything else fall into place; it\u2019s so beautiful that God led you here to us.\u201d And Luke seemed certain that Warren was on the right path, merely advising him, \u201cJust stay you, and America will speak.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Kaeyra, \u201cBruises\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

I was also worried that America would not quite get this power-belting pop-rock princess, so I was again pleased to see another diva make the grade. I guess I underestimated America\u2019s appreciation for women with big voices and big personalities \u2014 and I wasn\u2019t totally wrong, as evidenced by Emma\u2019s shocking elimination. But I suspect Nailyah, Kaeyra, and (here\u2019s another spoiler) Mariah Faith siphoned off Emma\u2019s votes. Anyway, the judges loved Kaeyra\u2019s surprise factor tonight on this fierce and fiery piano version of Lewis Capaldi\u2019s breakup ballad. Katy said Kaeyra\u2019s \u201cA+\u201d performance \u201cjust smacked me across the face,\u201d and Luke called it \u201creally, really powerful,\u201d \u201creally, really professional,\u201d and \u201ca breakout moment in the making.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Mariah Faith, \u201cCry to Me\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

More girl power! This season\u2019s bellbottomed \u201csoulful country singer\u201d transcended the old-fashioned Solomon Burke blues number to deliver a bold, fresh powerhouse performance that Katy called \u201ca little honky-tonk, kind of a country party,\u201d but also \u201ca little bit Bonnie Raitt.\u201d Lionel raved, \u201cOld song, new-school presentation \u2014 I\u2019m loving it!\u201d I do agree with Katy that Mariah should mix it up and \u201cstrike a balance going forward\u201d with some more \u201cheartstring-tugging\u201d serious performances, but this was a fun way for Mariah to come bursting out of the gate.<\/p>\n

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Iam Tongi, \u201cThe Winner Takes It All\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

I did not<\/em> expect a radical remake of a strident ABBA song from this gentle, soft-spoken island troubadour \u2014 but man<\/em>, this totally worked. He made it his own, and it was magical<\/em>, perfectly poignant. Iam really could be the winner that takes it all this season. \u201cThis is called The Iam Tongi Show<\/em> now. \u2026 Watching you become a star feels like watching a Disney movie,\u201d gushed Katy. \u201cGod gave you the magic, buddy,\u201d said Luke. The usually loquacious and vivacious Lionel was just stunned into silence \u2014 but that silence spoke volumes.<\/p>\n

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Haven Madison, \u201cMean Girls\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

This was definitely a more mature and polished performance than last week\u2019s actress-y, cutesy effort<\/a>. \u201cYou already had stardust, but now it\u2019s more refined sparkle,\u201d Katy told Haven. Haven should obviously stick to ballads. But on an evening when several other contestants performed strong, memorable originals, I really wish Haven would have done that too \u2014 because that\u2019s when she really excels. Katy said this Leanna Crawford cover sounded<\/em> like something Haven could have written herself, but the song was still too big for this young girl. It got away from her at the end, and Haven was practically shouting the entire last chorus. The effect was unpleasant. But the judges didn\u2019t seem to notice \u2014 or maybe this performance just sounded different in that big, cavernous new theater.<\/p>\n

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Oliver Steele, \u201cToo Soon\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oliver performed his first original of the season, and it was strong<\/em>. This guy\u2019s got the goods. \u201cI don\u2019t know why you didn\u2019t show that earlier, but I think you\u2019re growing. It showed off the artist that you are,\u201d said an impressed Katy. \u201cWay to stand up there\u2026 and create the mood with an original song. Ten out of 10,\u201d said Luke. \u201cYour talent is on fire!\u201d declared Lionel. Olivier was feeling guilty competing on the show while his father (who was recently hospitalized) is ill at home, but all three judges assured Oliver that he did his dad proud and all the sacrifice would be worth it.<\/p>\n

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Lucy Love, \u201cBoulders\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

I also didn\u2019t know Lucy was a songwriter \u2014 and a really good one! Her heartbreaking original, about \u201caddiction and poverty and all of the heavy things, the trials and tribulations,\u201d seemed readymade to be her coronation single. Performed at the studio where I Love Lucy<\/em> was once filmed, Lucy Love made all of America fall in love with her. \u201cYou captured my heart tonight. You can feel your story in that song. Way to show up tonight. That was tremendous,\u201d proclaimed Luke. \u201cYou\u2019re the survivor of your story, and you\u2019re not going to just survive<\/em> your story; you\u2019re gonna thrive,<\/em>\u201d said Katy.<\/p>\n

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Hannah Nicolaisen, \u201cSomebody to Love\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t expect Queen from this pop-rock queen, but Hannah\u2019s such a natural, she even made doing Freddie Mercury look and sound easy. Lionel was impressed by this former competitive volleyball player\u2019s get-in-the-zone athlete\u2019s mentality, and Katy praised this \u201ctomboy who turned into a full-fledged Jennifer Lawrence\u201d for \u201creminding me that this is your path.\u201d Luke said, \u201cGood for you for branching out there and taking a swing. \u2026 Way to really show us another dynamic that you have.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Olivia Sol\u00ed, \u201cI Surrender\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Olivia was another old-fashioned balladeer that I thought might slip through the voting cracks, like Emma and Elise, and apparently Katy was concerned about that too, because after Olivia performed Sunday, she signed with relief, \u201cI\u2019m so glad America got this<\/em> right!\u201d This week, Olivia fought hard to stay in the game. \u201cTo have that much power behind you and your voice is sitting on top<\/em> of that is incredible. You should pat yourself on the back,\u201d said Lionel. \u201cThat\u2019s twice<\/em> you\u2019ve done Celine and brought the house down. You\u2019re just challenging yourself to soar beyond the clouds,\u201d laughed Luke. And Katy added, \u201cYou should just sing Celine Dion songs all the time \u2014 keep playing the power card!\u201d Perhaps that\u2019s not bad advice.<\/p>\n

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Marybeth Byrd, \u201cPeople Pleaser\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

I haven\u2019t been the biggest Byrd fan this season, but Marybeth unexpectedly impressed me with her own original this week; I didn\u2019t realize she had that talent, either. This was the first time that I saw Marybeth as a true artist, not just some perky pageant queen. \u201cI don\u2019t know what you said to yourself in the mirror between Hawaii and now, but it worked. \u2026 That was so well-written. You finally showed me who Marybeth Byrd is,\u201d said Katy. Lionel called this performance \u201csuperstar material,\u201d and Luke gasped, \u201cI did not see that coming down the track. It was a big, big moment for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Michael Williams, \u201cLose You to Love Me\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

This guy\u2019s excessive breathiness is just so distracting to me. Katy just seemed distracted by Michael\u2019s new unflattering hairdo, so much so that she barely said a word about his actual Selena Gomez cover \u2014 which was telling. Katy talked so much about this supposed heartthrob\u2019s hair, in fact, that the panel ran out of time to critique his performance, although Luke did claim that Michael \u201ccrushed it.\u201d I personally think there are singers that should have taken Michael\u2019s spot in the top 20. We\u2019ll see if his controversial makeover has a Samson-like effect on his top 12 chances.<\/p>\n

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Paige Anne, \u201cSay Something\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Paige was invited back to the top 26 as a last-minute alternate after Malcolm McDowell\u2019s son, Beckett Rex, mysteriously dropped out<\/a>. Since then, she\u2019s been working hard to prove she deserves this second chance, and this week, she effectively silenced all doubters with her torchy tour de force. \u201cCongratulations \u2014 you earned it. You persevered, and you\u2019re here. Enjoy it,\u201d said Luke. \u201cThis is not a consolation prize; this is God\u2019s plan for you,\u201d assured Lionel. \u201cWe got it wrong, but guess what? Jesus took the wheel,\u201d Katy admitted of the judges\u2019 initial decision to send Paige home \u2014 even going so far as to declare Paige nne, the youngest remaining contestant, the best vocalist of her age group.<\/p>\n

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Nutsa, \u201cUn-Break My Heart\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

I predicted that Nutsa, despite having so much talent, would go home because America would think she\u2019s, well, too<\/em> much. But she survived, and this week she heeded Katy\u2019s advice to tone down her trademark Vegas-style razzle-dazzle. I think she over-course-corrected and was a tad snoozy doing this \u201890s Toni Braxton ballad in a column gown (we have a lot of old-fashioned circa-Season 2-style balladeers this year), but the judges all loved Nutsa\u2019s less nutty side. \u201cWhen I said \u2018no glitter,\u2019 what I meant was exactly what you gave tonight \u2014 it was sophisticated<\/em>. You don\u2019t have to do it all. \u2026 You can hold the room by just being your powerful Nutsa self,\u201d Katy insisted. \u201cYou are the hardest-working person I have ever met on this show. \u2026 You are a force to be reckoned with,\u201d said Lionel.<\/p>\n

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Tyson Venegas, \u201c180\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

I liked Tyson’s spunky, spritely piano original \u2014 it was very Billy Joel, with a dash of Charlie Puth \u2014 and Lionel, a man who knows a thing or two about songcraft, called it \u201ca damn good song.\u201d Katy was also impressed, excitedly telling Tyson, \u201cOh my God, I know who you are now! \u2026 I know what you stand for, I know what your values are, I know where your heart is, and therefore I can fall deeper in love with you. \u2026 You\u2019re on your way to being an artist.\u201d I don\u2019t<\/em>, however, think Tyson is on his way to being a great singer<\/em>, because he hit a few painfully sharp, wonky notes during this performance. \u201c180\u201d is a solid song, but in the future, Tyson should try to write tunes that fit more comfortably with his range.<\/p>\n

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Megan Danielle, \u201cHoly Water\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Megan has struggled with confidence all season, somehow not realizing how talented she is, no matter how many times the panel heaps her with praise. This week, she finally seemed to believe it, giving her most self-assured and eyes-wide-open performance yet. The judges \u2014 especially her biggest supporter, Luke \u2014 were thrilled. \u201cThat was the best performance I\u2019ve seen you do this season. What is so special about you is nobody sounds anything like you. You are in your own lane,\u201d said Luke. \u201cThere\u2019s a confidence that\u2019s just settled in you. \u2026 You are good enough. You\u2019ve always been good enough,\u201d declared Katy.<\/p>\n

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Colin Stough, \u201cPretty Heart\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Colin is far behind not just many of the top 20, but all six singers who were eliminated Sunday. I think even he would admit this, readily and humbly. But he will probably go far based on his likability alone, and if he goes far enough, he might have the time to, as Lionel put it, \u201cjust keep growing\u201d and catch up. Katy urged him to \u201cpush yourself vocally and give us a few more notes, because I know you have them into you. \u2026 It\u2019s time to shine, because we are on the American Idol<\/em> top 20 stage.\u201d Luke saw glimmers of growth from Colin this week, but felt frustrated, telling the young and green singer, \u201cFor one second you turned on a little more grit and charm, but then you climbed back inside of yourself. You have to give it to us all<\/em> of the time.\u201d In older, classic Idol <\/em>seasons when only one contestant was eliminated each week \u2014 as opposed to six or eight at a time \u2014 Colin would gradually improve and eventually become, as they say in the biz, \u201ctop 10 material.\u201d Hopefully he\u2019ll be able take the judges\u2019 comments to heart and be a very fast learner.<\/p>\n

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W\u00e9 Ani, \u201cSkyfall\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

The night ended with W\u00e9 awaiting her fate alongside her above-mentioned fellow group two contestants, Elijah, Dawson, and Malik. And while Katy looked shocked and said, \u201cI’m just so shook right now!\u201d when Ryan called W\u00e9\u2019s name, I would have been shocked and shook if this petite dynamo hadn\u2019t <\/em>made the top 20. W\u00e9 certainly closed the show in save-the-best-for-last style, delivering an Oscar-worthy rendition of Adele\u2019s bombastic Bond theme. Katy didn\u2019t seem too upset by this result, once W\u00e9 was done thoroughly chewing up the new Idol <\/em>set\u2019s scenery. \u201cThere\u2019s so much drama going through my body right now, I need a nap,\u201d Katy quipped. \u201cYou\u2019re deserving. \u2026 You crush it every night,\u201d Luke told W\u00e9. \u201cI love you. You completely destroyed me when you showed up onstage with a voice that big. The amount of talent you have is undeniable. I\u2019m so happy to have you on this show,\u201d Lionel gushed.<\/p>\n

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So now, it is time for those dreaded predictions. On Monday, eight contestants \u2014 yes, eight, already<\/em>! \u2014 will go home. Ten singers will automatically advance via the public vote, while the remaining 10 will compete for two wild-card spots in the top 12, determined by the judges. With almost half of this batch getting cut, almost anything could happen, Monday. But for various reasons \u2014 ranging from running order to song selection to a previous lack of screentime, to of course, imperfect performances \u2014 I think Nailyah, Kaeyra, Haven, Olivia, Michael, Tyson, and Colin should definitely have their \u201csave me\u201d songs ready to go. See you then.<\/p>\n

Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:<\/strong><\/p>\n