Tonight we’re picking back up with our Top 4 performers for American Idol 2007. Last week we saw two contestants heading home: Phil Stacey and Chris Richardson. On tonight’s show each of our Top 4 American Idol 2007 contestants will be performing 2 songs from the Bee Gees catalog with the musical guidance of Barry Gibb. I’m going to break the recap into 2 rounds instead of putting their recaps back to back. I definitely think these are going to be tough songs for the ladies and Blake, if he’s smart, will be able to take advantage of that and get ahead like he’ll need to do to win this whole season.

Round 1:

Melinda Doolittle: “Love You Inside and Out”
Barry Gibb wasn’t too sure on her selection at first, but she proved to him it was a good choice during rehearsals.
Randy: “Another solid performance… wasn’t jumping up and down, but it was good.”
Paula: “Your vocals are always spot on… Consistent.”
Simon: “I expect incredible tonight, that was not incredible. That was more of the backing vocalist… Wasn’t a stars performance… You are better than that.”
Vote#: 1-866-IDOLS-01 <- Primary Number
Vote#: 1-866-IDOLS-05 <- Secondary Number
Text: “VOTE” to 5701

Blake Lewis: “You Should be Dancing”
More beatboxing coming your way. Barry seems okay with it. It just doesn’t add anything for me, more of a detractor. My wife pointed out that he sounded like someone doing a dolphin impersonation. I think she’s right. Blake is not going to win performing like this.
Randy: “Sometimes when you do the beatboxing it works, tonight for me dawg it really didn’t work for me… It made it very corny.”
Paula: “Started a little shaky… Your pitch was off… You didn’t have the best night.”
Simon: “I’ll give you unique… I thought it was absolutely terrible that performance.”
Vote#: 1-866-IDOLS-02 <- Primary Number
Vote#: 1-866-IDOLS-06 <- Secondary Number
Text: “VOTE” to 5702

LaKisha Jones: “Staying Alive”
It was nice to see LaKisha showing a few more signs of life this week over the past few weeks. She has just been so near comatose for too long now. She’s running out of time here to fix her performances.
Randy: “Good thing you all have 2 songs… It wasn’t working… Too much going on.”
Paula: “Taking the tempo down… brought the mood down.”
Simon: “No kiss tonight… Back to the shouting again… Performance verging on scary at parts… Not great tonight so far.”
Vote#: 1-866-IDOLS-03 <- Primary Number
Vote#: 1-866-IDOLS-07 <- Secondary Number
Text: “VOTE” to 5703

Jordin Sparks: “To Love Somebody”
Barry says that although he’s seen hundreds of people cover this song he hasn’t heard a better versions than Jordin’s. Wow, that is quite the compliment. Now that she’s performing I’d have to say he was right to be impressed. I think she’s got the best performance going on tonight so far.
Randy: “Best vocals so far… Mariah kinda… You’re winning so far tonight.”
Paula: “It is the best vocal so far tonight.”
Simon: “Best song choice, best performance. We’re back in the competition.”
Vote#: 1-866-IDOLS-04 <- Primary Number
Vote#: 1-866-IDOLS-08 <- Secondary Number
Text: “VOTE” to 5704

Round 2:

Melinda Doolittle: “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart”
Melinda wisely points out that she’s going to leave out the part of the song about being a loser and she doesn’t want to jinx herself. Such a smart girl. I hoping for a little more exciting performance this round out of her. Okay, it’s not terribly exciting though she does pick up in the second half and but she’s doing a great job.
Randy: “Much better. Great song… Great ending… Our resident pro.”
Paula: “No doubt a beautiful vocal… Vocal isn’t all of it… Surprise us… I’m waiting for it.”
Simon: “The second half has put you in the semi-finals.”
Vote#: 1-866-IDOLS-01 <- Primary Number
Vote#: 1-866-IDOLS-05 <- Secondary Number
Text: “VOTE” to 5701

Blake Lewis: “This Is Where I Came In”
Sigh, more live mixing during his rehearsal. I’d enjoy hearing him just sing a song and stop playing DJ. I’m very curious to see if he scales back the beatboxing after the judges’ feedback during Round 1. Let’s see if he holds back or not. Nope, at the very last line he hit the scratching part again. Slightly more reserved, but can Blake win this season singing this way?
Randy: “Better than the last one… You don’t gotta beatbox on every joint dude. We know you can do it… I, uh, don’t know… Ain’t gotta do it everytime. It gets old.”
Paula: “You’re the contemporary rebel… I enjoyed you singing it… Spot on key.”
Simon: “I’m going to be honest… I found it completely tuneless… I don’t think you’ve had a good tonight… These have not been good performances… Really weird, bizzare choice of song.”
Vote#: 1-866-IDOLS-02 <- Primary Number
Vote#: 1-866-IDOLS-06 <- Secondary Number
Text: “VOTE” to 5702

Judge Judy is here in the audience tonight. She claims that she and Simon were Separated At Birth. Ryan jokes that Simon and her have been dating for 3 months now. It was funnier live, I promise.

LaKisha Jones: “Run to Me”
This performance is a little more low key than her last one.
Randy: “Much better than your first choice tonight.”
Paula: “You’re still a champ.”
Simon: “Much better than the first. I think you and Blake are vulnerable tonight.”
Vote#: 1-866-IDOLS-03 <- Primary Number
Vote#: 1-866-IDOLS-07 <- Secondary Number
Text: “VOTE” to 5703

Jordin Sparks: “Woman In Love”
Here she’s got another great song selection. Jordin has demonstrated the most smarts to me tonight. She is doing really well tonight. It’s performances like these two tonight that make me want to change from the Melinda camp to the Jordin camp.
Randy: “I don’t think it was your best performance… Pitchy.”
Paula: “Was not… You know… I love you anyway.”
Simon: “Old fashioned… Very pageanty… ”
Vote#: 1-866-IDOLS-04 <- Primary Number
Vote#: 1-866-IDOLS-08 <- Secondary Number
Text: “VOTE” to 5704

Check back Wednesday when I’ll share my vote-off predictions where I’ll rate the best, the worst, and who I think will be going home and then follow that with a Results Show recap.

Update (5/9): I’ve posted my predictions on tonight’s Top 4 Results Show and am ready for the arguments to begin!

Check out the rest of our American Idol coverage.

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