American Idol Recap: Top Three Perform

Do you really need a recap?

Don’t we all already know that Adam Lambert is winning?

That’s been a foregone conclusion since jump.

But here’s what happened last night.

Each judge and each Idol got to pick a song to perform.

Danny Gokey sang Paula’s choice for him “Dance Little Sister” first. We can’t stand the sound of Danny’s voice. His gravelly, flat, rasp is so old and all we think when he’s onstage is “dead wife.”

Randy and Kara choose “Apologize” for Kris Allen to sing. Sitting in front of the piano, he took the song and turned in a carbon copy rendition. Are these guys even trying to win? Or have they already resigned to their fate of losing the title to Adam? Kris was unoriginal and uninspired. It was a lame version of a song that everyone already knows by rote.

Boring. 

Simon gave Adam Lambert “One” to sing, a song he had to clear with U2. As has become his signature, Adam started in a glowing blue light and pulled out one of his weaker performances of the show. Bono might want to rethink letting Idols mess with his tunes. But, we have to admit, it was still the best of the three performances so far.

The second song was the Idol’s choice.

Danny chose to sing “You Are So Beautiful.” It was the most relaxed performances he’s had in a while. To quote Li’l Mama on ABDC, it was smooth.

Kris Allen picked his guitar back up to sing his usual Jack Johnson-y version of “Heartless.” Dude is all about taking tunes that shouldn’t be given the instrumental street musician treatment and making them surprising and exciting. It was a little college jam band but it redeemed him slightly for effing up “Apologize” so badly.

Finally, Adam sang “Cryin’” with the loudest invisible backup singer ever. You know Adam so badly wishes he was Alicia Silverstone.

The only question now is: Who will he go up against in the final?

Until tomorrow, the Sauce: Out.

—Sasha Perl-Raver