It’s another exciting night of American Idol on FOX tonight with an all new Thursday March 31, season 15 episode 21 called “Top 3 Perform” and we have your weekly recap below. On tonight’s episode, the Top 3 finalists are chosen; the singers perform.
On the last episode, after America’s votes, Sonika Vaid and Dalton Rapattoni were in danger of being eliminated. Ryan Seacrest announced that the people chose Dalton, that meant that Sonika Vaid was officially eliminated. After Sonika said her goodbyes, the remaining contestants MacKenzie Bourg, Trent Harmon, La’Porsha Renae and Dalton Rapattoni sang songs by Sia. Did you watch the last episode? If you missed it, we have a full and detailed recap right here for you.
On tonight’s episode as per the FOX synopsis, “week after week, each finalist has done their best to win the hearts of America. Find out who must say goodbye and who has earned a spot in the coveted Top Three.”
Tonight’s show is going to be an exciting one, which I’m not going to miss and neither should you. Tune in tonight at 8 PM EST! Celeb Dirty Laundry is your go to place for all the up-to-date American Idol News and we’ll be recapping the finale right here for you. Do you have a favorite to win? Hit up the comments and let us know who you really like!
Tonight’s episode begins now – Refresh Page often to get the most current updates!
Tonight’s episode of American Idol kicks off with host Ryan Seacrest – the judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, and Harry Connick Jr. take their seats. Then the final four take the stage: La’Porsha Renae, Trent Harmon, MacKenzie Bourg, and Dalton Rapattoni.
Tonight the final four will be singing songs that remind them of their hometown. MacKenzie Bourg is up first, the Lafayette, Louisiana native chose the song “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen to pay tribute to his hometown.
Keith: “That was such a great song for you. I love it the most when you play and sing. That was just superb man, beautiful!” Jennifer: “We are at the point where we can see the finish line and it is about delivering performances that really reflect your strengths and show who you are. We have three things we are going to see tonight, so we will see how it progresses and how exciting we can make it. But, that was classic MacKenzie right there.” Harry: “I agree MacKenzie. The thing that is really cool is it almost seems like you have come full circle, that performance was really similar to what we saw months ago. Even though you have grown a lot, you were able to condense all of that in to a powerful performance – which shows that you have really grown. Nice job!”
Dalton Rapattoni is up next – for his hometown song he chose to sing “Calling You” by Blue October, as a tribute to his hometown Sunnyvale, Texas. Ironically Kelly Clarkson was also from North Texas. How cool would it be if the very first Idol winner and the very last Idol winner were both from Texas?
Jennifer: “It’s funny watching your hometown visit, I felt like it all sank in. You were like “oh I’m here and I’m doing this, I have a chance to make it to the end.” There was a little bit of a freedom here and I really liked that. You really know who you are, I feel like it was a different thing. It felt great.” Harry: “You do really well with great lyrics, in that line you said about “I try too hard to make you smile” you sang that line and other lines really really well. You’re a smart guy and I like the way that you think about the words and the performance. Nice job.” Keith: “You know what I like about tonight’s show? Already between MacKenzie and you we are seeing a concentration and a focus of what you all do that makes you unique as artists. You did the best Daltonization of that song. It was really really good.”
Amory, Mississippi native Trent Harmon will be the next to perform tonight. For his hometown song, Trent has decided to sing ‘Tennessee Whiskey’ by Chris Stapleton. Afterwards, the Idol judges weigh in.
Harry: “One of the things that I think you are best at is arcing these performances in to something that really works on American Idol. That’s really really smart. That song has been around a really long time and I was wondering how many times you can take a song like that and make it sound unique. But, your voice is so special, I though it was a fantastic performance man.” Keith: “I think at this point in the competition the best thing to do is find a song that brings out the finest qualities that you have got as an artist and a singer. That was a bullseye!” Jennifer: “It felt so easy-peasy-breezy for you. You are kind of getting your stride right now at the right time to make it to the end. That is what is on my mind tonight is who will be the final two, and if you keep pushing and getting in your zone, it could really happen.”
The final hometown song tonight is from La’Porsha Renee, from McComb, Mississippi. She selected the song “Glory” by Common and John Legend.
Keith: “Porsha! Your gift is so strong and pure, it is such a beautiful thing watching you perform. I don’t even feel like we are critiquing, we are just sitting here watching this performance, I feel like I just had a Baptism – it’s crazy.” Jennifer: “You know you are picking great songs for yourself. It’s not just hear me sing, people always say it is amazing for me watching the hometown visits. It just shows us how important artists are. Music heals the spirit, it really takes people to a batter place. That is what you guys are doing here. That was a great performance.” Harry: “Many of your performances we can put in the critique-proof performance, there is not much I can say about it. One of the things that I admire about you every time you walk on stage is an incredible elegance and grace – your parents should be very proud of you for that.”
Now that hometown songs are over – it is time to learn who will be going home this week. Ryan Seacrest takes the stage, he announces that Trent Harmon, Dalton Rapattoni, and La’Porsha Renae are safe. That means that MacKenzie Bourg is officially eliminated from American Idol.
After MacKenzie’s sad goodbye, we are moving on to the next rounds of songs from our final three. Scott Borchetta, Idol mentour, chose the next round of songs for the remaining contestants. Dalton Rapattoni is up first, Scott chose the song “Dancing In The Dark” by Bruce Springsteen.
Jennifer: “We are laughing up here because when we heard “Dancing In The Dark” – we really didn’t know what to expect. But, it was awesome. It’s what Harry says, you take the lyrics and really make us feel them I love that song, but there was something about it that felt fresh and new to me. Great job.” Harry: “The early 80’s felt like some English new wave thing in the beginning. I thought it was great, but your ability to take a lyrics and twist it around and make it your own trumps any lack of vocal ability that you have. You are a good singer and there are some great singers – but the reason you are still here is because of the way you bring every one on this path with you. Great job.” Keith: “In the process, I always tell musicians at home, what you are doing is reminding them that it is about what you do that makes them an individual. Do what is true to yourself and stand out. You did great tonight.”
Now it is La’Porsha Renae’s turn to take the Idol stage again, for her second song Scott chose “Stay With Me.” And, as always Porsha hits it out of the park. The judges weigh in after her performance.
Harry: “You slowed down your Bravado again. I love it when you do that. I’m curious, what didn’t you like about that song?” Porsha explains that she didn’t want to sing that song because she would never condone any woman begging a man to stay with her. Jennifer: “I felt the same exact thing – I could tell, she does not like this song. I understand why they picked that song out for you, because you sang the mess out of it. You did.”
Trent Harmon heads back on stage for song number two, this time around he sings “Drink You Away” by Justin Timberlake.
Keith: “I really am only gonna comment, what is the guitar for? You sang, you shredded, it was great.” Jennifer: “Listen that is singing to win. That is what I saw in that performance. You know, you know where this is all headed. You have to have a vision and see yourself on stage with the confetti falling.” Harry: “You know it is a good performance when the background singers stand up and start clapping. A lot of times you see singers on stage and they kind of wander around and don’t have anything to do – if you can sing like that you will be fine.”
It’s Dalton’s turn to sing again, this time around the the Idol judges chose what song the singers will be performing. For Dalton they chose, “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” by Tears For Fears.
Jennifer: “So did you lower the key? I felt like it could have been a little bit higher It felt a little bit low, I thought that the brightness we usually get in your voice was lost a little bit in that rendition.” Harry: “I’m not saying this for your benefit, but for some of the people in the room, to reharmonize means to change the chords. I am not sure if that was your idea, but I really liked how you reharmonized. This was not your strongest performance, but I am glad you had those other two.” Keith: “I felt the same, it is what Jen says, I would have taken the key up a little more. People that don’t know anything about music sense that something is different. But, you had two killer performances tonight.”
La’Porsha Renae is up next, tonight the Idol judges chose the song “Hello” by Adele. She takes the stage while Harry holds her daughter.
Harry: “It’s like impossible to do anything when I am holding that baby. I have to apologize to you for picking a song about getting back in to a mans life. I didn’t know you felt so strongly.” Jennifer: “Actually what I liked about it was that you played in your range a little bit. You kind of stay within a certain thing, which is beautiful, and so you – but it is nice to hear you have to reach a little bit.”
Trent Harmon will be the final singer tonight, he is performing the Parson James hit “Waiting Games.”
Keith: “Trent, that’s a good song. I was out and I heard that song and I had to find out who it was – it was Parson who I love. It was beautiful. It was tailor made for you.” Jennifer: “I got the gooseys. It was so amazingly beautiful. Keith came up with that song for you and we were all like “that’s it” and you killed it.” Harry: “I’m not sure if this is the last critiques for American Idol. But if it is, it is an honor to critique a guy like you. That was a beautiful performance, and I have to remind every one at home, if you like one of those singers you have to vote.”
THE END!
