Only three more weeks of American Idol Season 10.  If you read our Top 4 Power Rankings, you know we think Haley Reinhart is making a big move to the top.  Going into last week’s  Top 5 performances we thought James Durbin and Christian musician Scott McCreery were a lock for the final two.  We stated that Haley Reinhart and Christian musicians Lauren Alaina and Jacob Lusk were fighting to make the top 3.  We don’t believe that anymore.

Haley Reinhart has been so strong for the past four weeks that we believe she has a chance to overtake James Durbin for a spot in the American Idol Season 10 finale.  We will be shocked if Scott McCreery is not standing on the American Idol stage on May 25th, but the next two weeks look to be a fierce battle between James and Haley.

It will be interesting to watch how Lauren Alaina recovers from last week’s results show.  She looked completely crushed standing with Jacob Lusk, looking at what was probably the American Idol Season 10 top 3 across the stage.  Will she give in to what looks like her inevitable exit this week and stumble through these performances?  Will she resolve herself to go out with her best performances of the season?  Will she refuse to accept the picture from last week’s result show and fight for her place in the finals?  Will last week’s results finally push her to let loose with her big vocals and forget about failing?  We can forgive Lauren Alaina for crumbling under the pressure since her biggest struggles this year have been with confidence.  However, we believe we will see the drive and determination that landed this 16 year old in the American Idol Season 10 top 4.  I expect great things from Lauren Alaina tonight.

So the charge to the finale begins tonight as the Idols work with Lady Gaga to update songs from the Leiber & Stoller catalogue.  The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame composers shaped the sound of pre-Beatles rock with hits for Elvis, The Coasters, Ben E. King and many others.  These songs set-up much better for Haley Reinhart than for James Durbin.  I also expect wonderful country interpretations of these songs from Christian musicians Lauren Alaina and Scott McCreery.

But enough speculation, let’s see what happens as we live blog the performances of the American Idol Season 10 top 4.

A twist in the songs.  The first songs will be “songs that inspired them” and then the Leiber & Stroller songs.

James Durbin starts with Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.”  Wow, I was looking at my screen during James’s opening and I swear it was Steve Perry up there. Well James Durbin has accepted the challenge.  Except for the silly calls to the audience at the very beginning that was a great delivery of that song.  Very few singers can pull this song off.  It is rock song in a very high range. Really Randy? Journey is one of the greatest rock bands of all time?  I scoff at you.  I do agree with Randy that the song was the highest degree of difficulty and James pulled it off.  Game on.

Haley Reinhart will be singing Michael Jackson.  That sounds like a mistake to me.  She is singing “The Earth Song.”  Game is on.  I was wrong.  Haley slayed that song. She commanded a stage filled with a choir and completely owned the entire arena.  I agree with J-Lo that Haley really felt the message of the song.  Randy hated it.  I completely disagree with Randy and J-Lo.  I agree with Steven that she nailed the song and he felt strongly enough to cut-off Randy’s critique.  The judges are trying to  pigeon hole her into too tight a style.

Scott McCreery is singing “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning).”  This is an Alan Jackson song about 9/11.  For the first time this year Scott is playing his guitar.  This openly Christian country song quotes I Corithinians 13:13 and blatently states that the singer knows Jesus.  It was a great song for Scott and he sang the song beautifully.  Scott is fighting back tears because this song defines who he is.  All of the judges thought it was a perfect song choice and that it perfectly fits with who he will be as an artist.  This is just another example of Scott McCreery commanding American Idol Season 10.  He did exactly the type of song he has done all season, he did it perfectly and the judges ate it up. Good job Scott.

Lauren Alaina is singing “Anyway” by Martina McBride. Our Christian musicians are coming through tonight with strong proclamations of their faith.  Lauren just declared that God is great and that she prays through her set backs. Well, Lauren Alaina decided to fight for her place in the top 3.  She stood in the middle of the stage and belted that country ballad like it was written for her.  She went for the big notes and she just swallowed them up.  That was a great vocal performance.  Randy says that Lauren was back in it to win it.  Steven and J-Lo loved it. I did too.  My favorite part, Lauren ended the judging by calling Ryan by his nickname, “peaches.”

Round one, inspirational songs, four way tie at a very high level.  Game is on and Lauren Alaina is back in it.

Haley Reinhart is doing “I (Who Have Nothing).”  Another Haley risk because this song won season 6 for Jordin Sparks. Wow, she certainly got the drama of that song.  She sang the notes off the page!  That was a big soaring performance.  Deep, connected and dramatic and it showed-off the truely great voice Haley brings to American Idol Season 10.  The judges gave her a standing ovation. J-Lo says it was one of the best performances of the season.  Randy said it was perfect.  Steven just said Haley just “reinharted herself into next week.”  Haley continues her run of awesome performances.

Scott McCreery enters the Gaga zone. He is singing The Coasters’ “Youngblood.” Of course the mentoring was coarse and rude. Not my favorite Scott McCreery performance.  It was playful and showed Scott’s fun side. However, I did not like the frantic running around the audience and the song had virtually no singing. I don’t understand these judges.  They just love everything he does, no matter what.  I think the judges have become a little too fawning with Scott.  Not his best.

What I did like was that the queen of the world right now, Lady Gaga, went right into conservative Scott’s face with vulgarity, he politely stood his ground and she realized she had gone too far.  She apologized to Scott.

Lauren Alaina, Elvis and Lady Gaga.  What a trio.  Lauren is singing “Trouble” with a gold sparkly dress and lots of big jewelry.  So many songs, why this one?  Lauren struggles with singing that she is evil then sings it about 10 times.  She would have been better off if she had kept it slow and smokey.  The song picked up tempo in the middle of the song and she lost the impact of her performance.  That was a good try for Lauren, she sang it well, but this was the wrong song for Lauren.  The judges enjoyed it but were not raving. I did not like this Lauren Alaina performance, even though I look forward to the “Lauren Alaina Christmas Special” in a few years.

James Durbin is singing “Love Potion No 9.” A metal version of Love Potion No. 9 with squeals and shredding and big dramatic finishes.  A great performance from James Durbin,  It was big, loud and exciting.  And, by the way, he sang it perfectly note for note.  J-Lo says this tells us he can sing anything. Randy says he is peaking at the right time. Steven says something.  That was great.

Scott McCreery played the front runner perfectly tonight and will maintain that position.  James Durbin and Haley Reinhart delivered four killer performances.  Lauren Alaina did herself proud with “Always” then, I think she stumbled with “Trouble.”

Vote, vote, vote and then join us tomorrow night for the results as we select the American Idol Season 10 Top 3.

If you read our American Idol Season 10 Top 5 perfomance live blog you will know that I believe last night was the most important night of the season.  It seems that James Durbin and Christian musician Scott McCreery are destined for the finale.  Jacob Lusk, Lauren Alaina and Haley Reinhart all had big questions to answer.  Lauren Alaina answered her questions of confidence but Jacob Lusk did not find his swagger.

However, Haley Reinhart made her biggest push of the season.  First she took the biggest, boldest risk I have ever seen when she performed an unreleased song by maybe the biggest artist on the planet right now, Lady Gaga.  And she pulled it off.  Then she sang “House of the Rising Sun”.  It was her best performance of the season, by far the best performance of the night and arguably the best performance of American Idol Season 10. On James Durbin’s worst singing night of the season, Haley Reinhart soared.  She took the last night’s performance competition by a mile. I think she is a shoe-in for the top 3 and a real contender now to win American Idol Season 10.

Overall I thought last night’s performances were surprisingly shaky.  The top 3 performances were “House of The Rising Sun” by Haley Reinhart, “Gone” by Scott McCreery and “Flat On The Floor” by Lauren Alaina.  James Durbin and Jacob Lusk danced around the proper key all night and I thought Lauren and Scott faded into the background on their second songs.  I am happy to report that you should go straight to iTunes and buy the American Idol Top 5 Season 10 – Studio Performances (you can just jump there from this link).  James’s songs were incredible in the studio and everyone sounded better.

Unfortunately, I think Christian musician Jacob Lusk goes home tonight. He needed a big night and he missed on both of his performances last night.  I think Christian musician Lauren Alaina joins him in the bottom two tonight.  I cannot imagine the outrage and indignation that will erupt if Haley Reinhart is even in the bottom two.

But enough speculation.  It is time for the show so let’s see who goess home performances from J-Lo and Lady Antebellum.

Wow, 60 million votes last night. I guess American Idol is still pretty popular.

25 minutes in and nothing to write about.  I am feeling marginalized.

Now maybe some results-who is safe and who is in the bottom 2.  Ryan says we may be in for a surprise.  James Durbin is the first one in the gauntlet. Jimmy Iovine also thought this was James worst week as well.  He called it an 8 out of a string of 9′s and 10′s.  Lauren Alaina up now.  Jimmy thought she did great with “Flat On The Floor” but thought her fear kept her from delivering “Unchained Melody.”  He thinks she will be in the bottom 2.

Ryan has started two groups, one with James and one with Lauren, but it is time for a J-Lo performance and commercials.

40 minutes in and time for more commercials.

Okay, more results.  Jacob Lusk is under the microscope. Jimmy Iovine says Jacob had a rough night and thinks he has lost confidence.  Jacob is asked to join Lauren.  That looks like a bottom 2.

Now for Haley Reinhart. Jimmy Iovine thinks she showed no fear and won the night.  He thinks she is a lock for the finale.  She joins James on the far side of the stage.

At least Ryan did not call Scott McCreery “Scotty the Body.”  Jimmy thought “Gone” was stellar but came up a bit short with “Always On My Mind.” Scott has never been in the bottom 2 and he is safe tonight. Now Ryan is making Scott picking who is safe and he refuses.

Christian musicians Jacob Lusk and Lauren Alaina are in the bottom 2 and Lauren is already crying.

It is time, Lauren seems to have composed herself.  Well maybe not.  Jacob Lusk is going home.  I am sad, Jacob has been one of my favorites all season, but this is the right decision.  He was was the 5th best on American Idol Season 10.  It looks like Lauren faced her exit from the show and she looks devastated.

It is time! We have a top 5 and three weeks to resolve the burning questions: “Who is the next American Idol?”

Tonight should be a barn burner as each Idol performs a modern song and a classic song.  Ten performances on the pivotal night of American Idol Season 10.  As I discussed in my Top 5 power rankings , James Durbin and Christian musician Scott McCreery are strong frontrunners to make it to the finale.  Can Haley Reinhart build enough momentum to usurp one of these guys?  Will Christian musician Lauren Alaina find that nugget of self confidence that will enable her unleash her big voice in these solo performances?  Will Christian musician Jacob Lusk find himself again after floundering for the past few weeks?  Jacob Lusk, Lauren Alaina and Haley Reinhart must deliver the performances of their lives tonight.  If not they all will go home before the American Idol Season 10 finale.

Time to find out.  Check back regularly to see what I think is happening as One21music live blogs the American Idol Season 10 Top 5 performances.

Wow, no intros or walk-outs.  American Idol is not wasting any time to night.  Well maybe they are because now we are asking Randy why tonight is so important.  As Randy says, “Now is the time to do it!” Let’s go.

First song within 5 minutes. James Durbin is singing “Closer To The Edge” by 30 Seconds To Mars. He started flat and I did not enjoy the high five parade.  He screamed a lot and I do not think he showed any connection to the song.  Not his best performance of the year.  The judges fawned all over James but I think he did not live up to his season long high standard.

In seasons past American Idol judges have demanded a high level song interpretation and an expression of the song’s meaning.  At this point in the season I expect the top 5 to deliver the emotion of the song.  These judges don’t seem to care about that.

Jacob Lusk is up next singing “No Air” by Jordan Sparks and Chris Brown.  Jacob is singing both parts. That was not really great.  A little screechy and he fell off key several times.  I agree that this is the type of songs he will do as a performer, but he did deliver on this performance.  J-Lo said nothing about his performance.  Randy does not think this should the be direction he should go. This is not the performance that will keep Jacob in American Idol Season 10.  Randy did just say that Jacob’s is much bigger than Jordan Sparks.

Lauren Alaina is doing Carri Underwood’s “Flat On The Floor.”  Sheryl Crow is advising Lauren to just stand still and bring the audience to her. I think we just saw the full flowering of Lauren Alaina.  She stood in the middle of the stage and just belted this country rocker.  Lauren found some confidence.  J-Lo says she ate that up.  I agree.  The best performance of the night so far.

Scott McCreery is singing “Gone” by Montgomery Gentry.  This a big country blues song.  Let’s see what Scotty’s got. Wow.  That was the most playful Scott McCreery we have seen so far.  He danced, he mugged, he growled and he wailed.  That was not an Idol competing to win.  That was a country performer guesting on American Idol.  Perfectly sung and big, big stage presence.  That may have just won American Idol Season 10 for Scott.  Judges loved it big time and so did I.

Haley Reinhart is performing an unreleased Lady GaGa song?  Wow, that is pretty cool.  The song is called “You And I.”  That was strange. I got really excited, then kind of bored then really excited again.  She belted the song and it showed her voice off but she did not wow me.  She seemed to get a little lost in the song.  J-Lo did not like the song selection.  Randy did not like the song. Randy thinks it was a risky choice but she kicked it. I didn’t mind the song choice I just don’t think she did much with it.

Round one goes to Scott McCreery by a long shot.

Back to James Durbin.  He is doing “Without You” by Nillson.  This could be a big moment. James broke down during rehearsals. He misses his family.  I really, really wanted this to be great.  He just really struggled with the low end.  This young man is struggling to hold his emotions together.  It was emotional and it was very good, but it was not great.  Randy says Season 10 is his to lose.  I disagree.  It was cool to see James stand in front of a string section and sing an emotional ballad.  It was really good but not as good as I had hoped.  I will say that in the past few minutes we experienced the emotional toll this competition takes on the young people.  That was one of the most poignant moments I have ever experienced on American Idol.

After that Jacob Lusk must take back the audience with Nazareth’s “Love Hurts.”  I didn’t know that was a gospel song.  Jacob Lusk is back!  He just wrenched all the emotion out of that song.  That was a spectacular vocal performance.  Evidently he screwed something up in the middle.  I didn’t hear it and I loved the gut wrenching performance.  Randy said Jacob may have hit the highest note he has ever heard on American Idol.  The judges were blown away.  So was I.

Lauren Alaina sings “Unchained Melody” by the Righteous Brothers.  That is a big risk by a confident performer.  That was not as good as I had hoped.  She seemed a little overwhelmed by that classic.  She sang it beautifully but she did not bring anything special to the song.  The judges tried to like it.  J-Lo says nothing to judge and Steven agrees.  It was just okay for me.

Scott McCreery is doing Elvis’s “Always On My Mind.”  This is a perfect song for him to finish the night with.  It is interesting that everyone has decided to go quiet with their second songs.  I wish he would have been a little bigger.  It was a little quiet and breathy.  I thought he was a little flat in places.  J-Lo says that there is nothing uncomfortable about him.  I agree.  Randy is happy he did a tender song.  Steven says it was beautiful rendition of the song.   The audience may have heard the song differently in the studio but I thought it was a tad too quiet.

Haley Reinhart finishes the Animals’ “House of The Rising Sun.” Okay, so I am speechless.  Haley’s momentum is skyrocketing.  That was a tremendous, tour de force performance of that bluesy rock number.  Growls, wails and very big notes.  I don’t think I have ever seem Haley interpret a song with as much emotion as she did with this song.  J-Lo says no one has ever sung that song that way.  I agree.  Randy says it was the best performance of the night.  I agree.  Haley Reinhart just had her American Idol Season 10 moment at the right time.

Vote, vote, vote and then join us tomorrow night as we live blog the American Idol Season 10 top 5 results.

American Idol Season 10 Top 13 featured five Christian musicians (Ashton Jones, Stefano Langone, Jacob Lusk, Lauren Alaina and Scott McCreery). Now that we are down to the Top 5, three Christian musicians remain and Scott McCreery looks like a shoo-in to make it to the finale.

The theme for this week is “Songs From Then and Now” featuring a modern song and a song from the 60′s.  That means the Idols should have no problem selecting songs that suit them well and they get two chances to show their best.  This is a strong Top 5, anyone could win but some need to turn up the heat to make it to the finals.

American Idol Season 10 Top 5 Power Rankings

Three big questions coming in American Idol Season 10‘s Top 5 performances. Can Haley Reinhart ride her momentum into the finale or did she begin to find herself too late? Can Jacob Lusk regain his swagger after several weeks of tentative performances? Can Lauren Alaina let loose with her talent or has American Idol grown too big for her tender age of 16? If these three cannot answer these questions it looks like James Durbin and Christian musician Scott McCreery are destined for the finals.

1) James Durbin- Jennifer Lopez said on Wednesday night that James Durbin has been good every week and has had no stumbles in American Idol Season 10. I agree. He loves hard rock music and it undermines his vocal talent.  That is why we all were amazed a few weeks ago when he sang “When My Guitar Gently Weeps.”  This week was another of those moments when you stop and marvel at James Durbin‘s vocal talent and arranging skills.  He is starting to feel like a combination of Adam Lambert and Kris Allen. His performance of “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” has moved James to the top of our American Idol Season 10 Top 5 power rankings.

2) Scott McCreery- On all of measures of fandom I can find, Scott McCreery is far ahead of the other Top 5.   He is a nice looking young man who exhibits humility and a sense of humor.  Scott has a unique voice, a deeply expressive interpretive style and is very clear as to the type of performer he will be.  Get ready Grand Ole’ Opry because a new Randy Travis is on the way.  This week he changed pace and showed a different flavor to his voice with his country flavored version of “You’ve Got A Friend.”  I will be shocked if he does not make it to the finale.

3) Jacob Lusk- He is a magical performers with an other worldly voice, but I think American Idol Season 10 is starting to get the best of Jacob Lusk.  The voice is still there.  This week’s “On No Not My Baby” was strong, with a cool skat run in the middle, but there does not appear to be much joy or confidence in Jacob’s performances over the past few weeks.  It seems if he is performing to not be eliminated.  This week’s theme is perfect for him.  Andre Crouch wrote some iconic gospel songs in the 60′s and I would like to see him perform “Believe” from Jennifer Hudson’s new cd.  Jacob Lusk may go this week, so I hope to see some full gusto performances from him this week.

4) Haley Reinhart- This was an odd week for Haley. She has been the coolest cat on American Idol Season 10.  None of the criticism form the judges or the mentors has seemed to bother her all season.  She took a few trips to the bottom 2 with big smiles.  She seems to be the one person who is just happy to be on American Idol.  Over the past few weeks she seems to have flipped a switch and is delivering consistently strong vocals and heartfelt performances.  She has momentum.  Then, when Jimmy Iovine said she must find herself as a performer she drops a bleeped profanity on live television that even upset the unflappable Ryan Seacrest.  The thing is Jimmy is right and Haley confirmed his opinion when she tried to rebut him by saying her style was soulrockbluescountryjazz.  Haley, all styles are no styles.  I don’t know if that out of character display will hurt her with the voters, but she does not have much margin for error.

5)Lauren Alaina- I think Lauren Alaina will have the biggest career of all the remaining Idols.  She is attractive with a great sense of humor and stage presence. We have seen her wow us with her singing, mostly in duets with Scott McCreery.  It is beginning to feel like she has not developed the confidence, at the age of 16, allow her talent to shine each week on American Idol Season 10.  Each week the judges, the mentors, the vocal coaches push her to let her voice fly and each week she is afraid.  Lauren Alaina may have a television special before she is old enough to drink but I think she has reached the limit of her maturity on American Idol Season 10.

Join us on Wednesday night as we live blog the American Idol Season 10 top 5 performances.  Each Idol will be performing two songs so it should be a fun filled evening.