Lil Rounds sang Martina McBride - Independence Day. Last night was Country theme on American Idol. The judges didn’t give her great comments, because she didn’t personalize it too much. Prior to her performance she said that she wasn’t going to spin it too much towards R&B, that she wanted to honour the country music theme. She certainly didn’t sound bad. In fact she sound really good. She has such a stong clean voice that she really can attack most types of songs and they will sound great. I do think it could have been even better if she put an R&B twist on it. I think that is really what the judges were trying to say. I don’t think you could ever put down her singing.

Randy Travis was the special guest. He helped the contestants prepare for the show. He commented that Lil Rounds has a very powerful voice.

Listen to it (No video - copyright issues)

Here is what the judges had to say:

Randy Jackson said, “So Lil Rounds, it was a very interesting ambitious song choice. In front part I found myself struggling a little bit. When you hit your power zone, you hit the chorus you opened up because you’re big power singer. You got that big ol’ range, a go a bit better but I don’t know, it didn’t feel comfortable. I’m just keeping it real. I’m just keeping it real. She was all right. It just wasn’t great.”

 

Kara DioGuardi said, “Here’s the thing. We all know your great singer, you’d have to be deaf to not know you’re a great singer. It’s about, the second half we start to get the Lil rounds we fell in love with. The girl who’s hit those notes way up and the sky and we I missed that at the beginning. And there were other songs you can chosen, but you know what you did what you felt and that’s part of being an artist. You’re standing your ground. So I’d give props for that. Is it you’re best performance? It’s not your best, but good.”

 

Paul Abdul said, “Lil I think everything’s going right for you tonight. I think your vocals were spot on. I think the hair, the makeup, the clothing are beautiful. The only thing in reference to what these two are saying it would have went better if you didn’t sing two verses, and you only sang 1 verse and went right to the chorus. So that your vocals could go piercing through. You know that when your voice Pierce’s through its obvious why you are one of the favorites.”

 

Simon Cowell said, “Look Little. Lil. For me it kinda came over as if you were one of those girls who have to sing at a wedding and are forced to sing a song that somebody’s requested and felt and looked uncomfortable. Because we were comparing you when we first met you to somebody like Mary J who had a kind of rawness. There are a million, a billion songs you could have picked.”

 

Here is what the other contestants sang:

 

Anoop Desai
Willie Nelson - You were always on my mind

Alexis Grace
Dolly Parton - Jolene

Allison Iraheta
Patti Lovely - Blame it on your heart

Kris Allen
Garth Brooks - You make you feel my love

Scott Macintyre
Martina Mcbride - Wild Angels

Danny Gokey
Carrie Underwood - Jesus Take The Wheel

Megan Corkrey
Patsy Cline - Walkin’ after midnight

Adam Lambert
Johnny Cash - Ring Of Fire

Matt Giraud
Carrie Underwood - So small

Michael Sarver
Garth Brooks - Ain’t Goin Down Til The Sun Comes Up

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