'American Idol' Recap: Few Surprises as Top 10 Are Revealed

'American Idol' Recap: Few Surprises as Top 10 Are RevealedCurtis Finch Jr., Angie Miller are among the frontrunners $(document).ready(function() { $('.socialActionsTop .pageActions .email-content').hover( function() { $('.socialActionsTop .bubble.email').show(); }, function() { $('.socialActionsTop .bubble.email').hide(); } ); $('.socialActionsTop .pageActions .print-page').hover( function() { $('.socialActionsTop .bubble.print').show(); }, function() { $('.socialActionsTop .bubble.print').hide(); } ); }); By

Finally, after 39 million votes were cast, American Idol has a top 10. To get there, Idol took a page from The Voice and The X Factor and presented the super-sized results in a new and improved fast-paced format that let each of the top 10 contestants perform a victory song. Although it stretched the show to an hour and a half, it was far more entertaining than watching Ryan Seacrest read names while moving contestants from one side of the stage to the other. 

There were few surprises among the top 10. For the women, the four strongest performers moved forward, with Janelle Arthur edging out Audrey Cleland and Breanna Steers for the last spot. Also squeaking through was Kree Harrison who, after hearing her name announced, declared, "Let's have some fun y'all. I'm so relieved right now!" before closing the show with a powerful rendition of Susan Tedeschi's "Evidence." 

'American Idol': Rolling Stone's Complete Coverage

As for the men, after Paul Jolley was sent to the top 10, there were no other surprises, apart from his choice to sing Heart's "Alone" as his victory song. (Although it was perhaps surprising that Vincent Powell didn't make it through.) 

Here's what else happened on Idol last night: 

Angie Miller's rendition of Beyoncé's "I Was Here" brought Keith Urban to tears. The judge was crying at the poignancy of taking a virtual unknown like Miller and giving her a shot by putting her on television. "You just needed a chance, baby," he said while wiping tears away.  

"I don't want to sound too clichéd, but it means everything," Burnell Taylor told Ryan after securing a spot in top 10. The judges were pleased to see him go on in the competition, especially after his victory lap to India.Arie's "Ready for Love." 

Curtis Finch Jr. gasped in what seemed like genuine surprise when Ryan called his name. His humility was charming as the judges gave him a standing ovation, and if there is anything like a frontrunner among the men right now, it is clearly Curtis. He selected John Legend's "So High" as his victory song, which is apt considering his version of R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly" earned him the spot. Maybe next week he'll do Nicki Minaj's "Fly" for the triple crown. 

Devin Velez's mom was so excited that he made it to the top 10 that she bum-rushed the stage after his performance of Israel Houghton's "The Power of One."  

The final male contestant to make it into the top 10 was Lazaro Arbos, who stopped the live television action to instruct the bandleader on how to end his version of Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water." 

Third time was the charm for Janelle Arthur, who made it into the top 10 after auditioning for Idol two previous years. Nicki's ladybug/marshmallow "came alive" during her performance of Dierks Bentley's "Home" and Nicki is convinced she will become a huge country star. 

Candice Glover charged toward the stage the moment Ryan read her name out. The host had to stop her from bursting out the stage doors so she could talk to the cameras. Her smooth and sultry version of Mary J. Blige's "I'm Goin' Down" was all the justification America needed for putting her through. In the words of Randy Jackson, "This girl can really, really sing."

Special shout out to Amber Holcomb for opting to sing an up-tempo, actually celebratory victory song as she got the audience rocking out to Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman." 

Going Home: Cleland, Steer, Powell, Elijah Liu, Zoanette Johnson, Cortez Shaw, Adriana Latonio, Tenna Torres, Nick Boddington and Charlie Askew.

Most Mariah Moment: "Mariah, I know you love seeing this," Ryan said after Holcomb made it through. "What do you mean by that, darling?" Mariah asked. 

Best Reason to Come Back Next Week: The top 10 perform!  

Previously: Curtis Fincher Dips Into R. Kelly Songbook

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'American Idol' Recap: Few Surprises as Top 10 Are Revealed

'American Idol' Recap: Few Surprises as Top 10 Are RevealedCurtis Finch Jr., Angie Miller are among the frontrunners $(document).ready(function() { $('.socialActionsTop .pageActions .email-content').hover( function() { $('.socialActionsTop .bubble.email').show(); }, function() { $('.socialActionsTop .bubble.email').hide(); } ); $('.socialActionsTop .pageActions .print-page').hover( function() { $('.socialActionsTop .bubble.print').show(); }, function() { $('.socialActionsTop .bubble.print').hide(); } ); }); By

Finally, after 39 million votes were cast, American Idol has a top 10. To get there, Idol took a page from The Voice and The X Factor and presented the super-sized results in a new and improved fast-paced format that let each of the top 10 contestants perform a victory song. Although it stretched the show to an hour and a half, it was far more entertaining than watching Ryan Seacrest read names while moving contestants from one side of the stage to the other. 

There were few surprises among the top 10. For the women, the four strongest performers moved forward, with Janelle Arthur edging out Audrey Cleland and Breanna Steers for the last spot. Also squeaking through was Kree Harrison who, after hearing her name announced, declared, "Let's have some fun y'all. I'm so relieved right now!" before closing the show with a powerful rendition of Susan Tedeschi's "Evidence." 

'American Idol': Rolling Stone's Complete Coverage

As for the men, after Paul Jolley was sent to the top 10, there were no other surprises, apart from his choice to sing Heart's "Alone" as his victory song. (Although it was perhaps surprising that Vincent Powell didn't make it through.) 

Here's what else happened on Idol last night: 

Angie Miller's rendition of Beyoncé's "I Was Here" brought Keith Urban to tears. The judge was crying at the poignancy of taking a virtual unknown like Miller and giving her a shot by putting her on television. "You just needed a chance, baby," he said while wiping tears away.  

"I don't want to sound too clichéd, but it means everything," Burnell Taylor told Ryan after securing a spot in top 10. The judges were pleased to see him go on in the competition, especially after his victory lap to India.Arie's "Ready for Love." 

Curtis Finch Jr. gasped in what seemed like genuine surprise when Ryan called his name. His humility was charming as the judges gave him a standing ovation, and if there is anything like a frontrunner among the men right now, it is clearly Curtis. He selected John Legend's "So High" as his victory song, which is apt considering his version of R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly" earned him the spot. Maybe next week he'll do Nicki Minaj's "Fly" for the triple crown. 

Devin Velez's mom was so excited that he made it to the top 10 that she bum-rushed the stage after his performance of Israel Houghton's "The Power of One."  

The final male contestant to make it into the top 10 was Lazaro Arbos, who stopped the live television action to instruct the bandleader on how to end his version of Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water." 

Third time was the charm for Janelle Arthur, who made it into the top 10 after auditioning for Idol two previous years. Nicki's ladybug/marshmallow "came alive" during her performance of Dierks Bentley's "Home" and Nicki is convinced she will become a huge country star. 

Candice Glover charged toward the stage the moment Ryan read her name out. The host had to stop her from bursting out the stage doors so she could talk to the cameras. Her smooth and sultry version of Mary J. Blige's "I'm Goin' Down" was all the justification America needed for putting her through. In the words of Randy Jackson, "This girl can really, really sing."

Special shout out to Amber Holcomb for opting to sing an up-tempo, actually celebratory victory song as she got the audience rocking out to Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman." 

Going Home: Cleland, Steer, Powell, Elijah Liu, Zoanette Johnson, Cortez Shaw, Adriana Latonio, Tenna Torres, Nick Boddington and Charlie Askew.

Most Mariah Moment: "Mariah, I know you love seeing this," Ryan said after Holcomb made it through. "What do you mean by that, darling?" Mariah asked. 

Best Reason to Come Back Next Week: The top 10 perform!  

Previously: Curtis Fincher Dips Into R. Kelly Songbook

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Flashback: Bruce Springsteen Surprises U2 Fans in 1987

U2 was nearly done with their set at Philadelphia's JFK Stadium on September 25th, 1987 when a roadie brought out another microphone stand. "Anybody else want to play my guitar?" Bono asked the crowd. "Would Bruce Springsteen like to play my guitar?" As Bono literally bowed down before Springsteen, the crowd went insane. "I guess you guys know him," Bono said. "Is he a local boy or something?" They proceeded to play "Stand By Me" (though it would have been far cooler if he'd come out for the previous song: U2's groupie ode "Trash, Trampoline and the Party Girl"). 

Bono had dislocated his shoulder during a Washington, D.C. show five days earlier, and he brought fans onstage over the next few days to play the guitar. It's unclear exactly why Springsteen was at the show that day, but Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul were opening up. It's quite possible he was catching up with his once and future bandmate and got coaxed into coming onstage.

This collaboration was filmed by filmmaker Phil Joanou for his U2 documentary Rattle and Hum, but it wound up on the cutting room floor. Somehow or another, many hours of raw footage from the film fell into the hands of fans, circulating in collector circles for years. (Maybe some day an industrious fan will edit it into a better movie.) 

In 2002, Bono returned the favor by joining Springsteen and the E Street Band for "Because the Night" at a Miami show. Three years later, Springsteen inducted U2 into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, duetting with them on "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." Springsteen went to MetLife Stadium in 2011 to check out U2's 360 tour, but he never made it onto the stage – though Bono did wrap up the show by reciting the lyrics to "Jungleland" as a tribute to the late Clarence Clemons. 

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Flashback: Bruce Springsteen Surprises U2 Fans in 1987

U2 was nearly done with their set at Philadelphia's JFK Stadium on September 25th, 1987 when a roadie brought out another microphone stand. "Anybody else want to play my guitar?" Bono asked the crowd. "Would Bruce Springsteen like to play my guitar?" As Bono literally bowed down before Springsteen, the crowd went insane. "I guess you guys know him," Bono said. "Is he a local boy or something?" They proceeded to play "Stand By Me" (though it would have been far cooler if he'd come out for the previous song: U2's groupie ode "Trash, Trampoline and the Party Girl"). 

Bono had dislocated his shoulder during a Washington, D.C. show five days earlier, and he brought fans onstage over the next few days to play the guitar. It's unclear exactly why Springsteen was at the show that day, but Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul were opening up. It's quite possible he was catching up with his once and future bandmate and got coaxed into coming onstage.

This collaboration was filmed by filmmaker Phil Joanou for his U2 documentary Rattle and Hum, but it wound up on the cutting room floor. Somehow or another, many hours of raw footage from the film fell into the hands of fans, circulating in collector circles for years. (Maybe some day an industrious fan will edit it into a better movie.) 

In 2002, Bono returned the favor by joining Springsteen and the E Street Band for "Because the Night" at a Miami show. Three years later, Springsteen inducted U2 into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, duetting with them on "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For." Springsteen went to MetLife Stadium in 2011 to check out U2's 360 tour, but he never made it onto the stage – though Bono did wrap up the show by reciting the lyrics to "Jungleland" as a tribute to the late Clarence Clemons. 

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Read more »