It’s hard to believe we’re one elimination away from the Final 3. Our season 9 journey started just about four months ago, when Crystal Bowersox was but a funny name among a veritable ocean of “American Idol” hopefuls. As for Casey James? He was little more than a studly Texan who may as well have carried a sign that read: “Will strip for a shot at Hollywood week.” Lee DeWyze was, as he said during last week’s news conference, but a dot in an arena full of thousands of them. As for Michael Lynche, well, we knew he was going places, what with all the brouhaha over an interview his dad gave to a Florida paper pre-Top 24 and the fuss to keep him in the competition.
And here they are, 12 weeks later, a movie song and a duet away from the much- coveted hometown visit, singing to an empty “Idol” studio with one thing on their minds: the finish line. It’s time to bring it, and that’s exactly what this top 4 is aiming to do on Tuesday night.
The guest mentor this week is Jamie Foxx, who wasn’t present for the rehearsal but whose influence was clearly felt in performances by Lee and Mike. Approaching the stage from two different vantage points — Lee front and center, Mike drawn to the stairs once again, or as Rickey Minor likes to call it, “closer to God” — the volume is going way up this week, as Mike shows off his vocal prowess. Now, more than ever, is the time to do it.
For his part, Casey is showcasing another side to his guitar playing this week – one we haven’t seen yet. And whether he makes it or not, now or in the future, this guy can rest easy knowing there’s a lifetime of session work and guest spots to be had, he’s that good of a guitar player – or any acoustic instrument with six strings, for that matter. Like Bo Bice told us back in April, Casey’s “not a poser.” As for the vocals, coming off Kara DioGuardi’s harsh diss last week that he sounded like a lamb, Casey’s not shying away from the sustain, so stand back, Kara!
Meanwhile, long before Lee takes the stage for his run-through, he’s singing at the top of his lungs while pacing outside the studio doors, within earshot of the “Idol” producers and the cast of “Dancing With the Stars” using the shared hallway. Just another day in Hollywood, and Lee, wearing his trademark just-rolled-out-of-bed look (ratty red T-shirt, baggy jeans and a floppy beanie) is even starting to look the part. Vocally, he’s playing to his strengths — hefty choruses and verses with grit As for Crystal, who was last to rehearse, coming around the final bend means she’s ready to wail. And after three months of playing with this band, Crystal knows what she wants: a percussionist here, a solo strum there, an extra measure or two. “Is it OK if we go at it alone until the first chorus?” she asks Rickey Minor standing beside her duet partner, who shall remain nameless. “You’ll have to get a room,” Rickey jokes. Ken Warwick, who had been tap-dancing his way all around the room, was also in a jovial mood, so Crystal will probably get her wish – or so we’ll find out Tuesday night.
