It’s another exciting night of American Idol on ABC tonight with an all-new Sunday, May 9, 2021, season 19 episode 17 called “Coldplay Songbook & Mother’s Day Dedication” and we have your weekly American Idol recap below. On tonight’s American Idol season 19 episode 17 as per the ABC synopsis, “In this show, the remaining finalists will perform one song dedicated to the special loved ones in their lives in honor of Mother’s Day and a second song from the Coldplay songbook, mentored by the band’s lead singer, Chris Martin.
Coldplay will also perform their recently announced new single, “Higher Power,” in a worldwide exclusive performance.”
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In tonight’s Americal Idol episode, the episode begins with Ryan Seacrest saying that tonight we are celebrating all the moms. We are making idol history tonight by opening up the Coldplay catalog for the first time. Our three favorite judges are back; Luke Bryant, Katy Perry, and Lionel Ritchie. Tonight, seven become five and the grand finale are only two weeks ago. This week the final seven; Grace Kinstler, Casey Bishop, Caleb Kennedy, Willie Spence, Chayce Beckham, Hunter Metts, and Arthur Gunn, winner of the Comeback Special, were mentored by Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. Each Idol contestant will sing a Coldplay song of their choosing.
Casey Bishop is singing, “Paradise.”
Judges’ Comments: Katy: “It was so good to see you let loose towards the middle of that song and then the hair goes everywhere and that Chris Martin craziness. It was so nice to see you harness that energy. I hope when I see you sing again and again that you are just moving around like a little tornado. I want more tornado, but that was perfect.” Luke: “I have never heard you hit a bad note in this competition, you keep hitting it night after night. That was another glimpse into your future and what you can be. You got us wanting to hear that hair flying and when you start putting at all that together it is just going to be unstoppable.” Lionel: “I mean, it’s just I want you to understand how special this is, you had Chris mentor you. Fantastic.”
Chayce Beckham is singing, “Magic.”
Judges’ Comments: Luke: “Great job buddy. Every time you perform it feels like there are so much artistic signature things that you have. You are giving us those big vocal moments that we used to have to push out of you in the early part of this competition. What I am really pumped up about is when you were with Chris you were having fun. From the guy that came into this competition to where you are now is remarkable.” Lionel: I want you to understand something that half of the game is that you have the confidence, the other hand is that you are having. The fact that you were with Chris and the process, you have a signature voice now. Enjoy the ride, my friend.” Katy: “I think you have that Chris Martin magic about you, you put your spin on that song, I just missed the strand in your hair.”
Willie Spence is singing, “Yellow.”
Judges’ Comments: Lionel: “I don’t know if you knew what Chris knew immediately when he said he was just going to go home and listen to you do this. He said you are owning this and turning this into Willie’s song.” Katy: “You were back in that connected place, between heaven and earth, and you touch it every once in a while. What is so cool about your time with Chris is that he was humble enough to say that song needs to be Willie’s song and he made you soar.” Luke: “I just really want the world; I will cherish forever the times that I have gotten to watch twenty feet away from me. Being in the room with you, great job, it’s a special thing week after week and I don’t want it to end.”
Caleb Kennedy is singing, “Violet Hill.”
Judges Comments: Katy: “I never had a Coldplay song scare me, that scared me in a good way because it was that good.” Luke: “Caleb your first twenty seconds of that, you like you were ready to over through the galaxy of music. You need to channel that every time. We hear you say you are not much of a singer, you are a songwriter, don’t ever say that because you are a singer and you are a songwriter. Don’t let those demons in.” Lionel: “I want to echo that, right in the middle I saw your confidence drop. Remember to bring you every time you come to this table, that is what we are looking for.”
Arthur Gunn is singing, “In My Place.”
Judges’ Comments: Luke: “Just to sit there and stick to your guns and change the melody of the song is so cool. What I like about you is that your wall to the beat of your own drum, and people, your fans they just got to come to you, you bring them to you, and it is a hard thing to do. I loved your vocals, they were great.” Lionel: “Arthur you are a cherished soul in my book. Anyone who can stand before the writer and say I will change the melody and I will change a few words to and make it mine, it’s called an artist and you are dead on your artistry. I loved it, man.” Katie: “Artists are very stubborn. Chris said the best part of that song is the melody, but you are Arthur Gunn and you do you, you take a song and you make it yours. I think you sounded good but sometimes you have to play along a little bit. I wanted to sing along to that melody, but I didn’t know it.”
Grace Kintsler is singing, “Fix You.”
Judges’ Comments: Lionel: “We are always worried about messing up, in your case your flaws are your magic. You have to understand, your vulnerability comes from that moment when you are in indecision and it’s the part that makes entertainment the entertaining part.” Katie: “To add to that, that was breaking through the facade of showbusiness, it was really connected, I think you finally arrived with that song. When you are vulnerable, it is your strength, and people resonate with that. It was awesome.” Luke: “I mean when you finished, I almost said a terrible word on live TV because I was so pumped up. I looked at Katy and went, that was great. I didn’t even realize I was on American Idol watching you do that, it was amazing.”
Hunter Metts is singing, “Everglow.”
Judges Comments: Katie: “I get so many texts about you. You have to vote if you want Hunter to win. I like to see your confidence, you are beloved by the world. It is beautiful to see you sing and soar.” Luke: “When I am out and about people ask me about you too. It is so good to see you here and build your fan base. The thing that you can always hang your hat on is the uniqueness of your voice and that song showcased that.” Lionel: “I have to laugh, truthfully you are a storyteller as well as having a unique voice. The problem that you are going to have is nothing because put those two combinations together and the sky is the limit for you.”
Coldplay performs their new single, “Higher Power.”
Casey Bishop performs “Ironic” by Alanis Morrissette for her mother.
Judges’ Comments: Luke: “We put you through the gauntlet of this stuff and you finally do a rock song and it was so fun see you do something that is your jam, your way.” Lionel: “Stage presence and song selection right on the money, we love you.” Katy: “There is my little whirlwind, way to be possessed by personality. Keep bringing that kind of stage presence and energy and I promise it is going to work.”
Chayce Beckham singes an original song in ode to his mother.
Judges’ Comments: Lionel: “You have me crying, as a songwriter I am telling you, but that song out now, that is a smash record. That was performed perfectly, congratulations.” Katie: “Sensitive, vulnerable, making his mother cry, A+.” Luke: “What a way to pull out the right sone to mama on mother’s day.”
Willie Spence is singing, “You are so beautiful,” for his mom.
Judges’ Comments: Katie: “I have never heard that song sung like that, I think only a mother’s unconditional love will get that kind of song opened up to the heavens. Again Willie, it was so beautiful and came right from the heart.” Luke: “Your ability to make Willie Spence runs on these classic songs is so identifiable, Lionel says it, we say it. You have amazing qualities in your voice, great to watch.” Lionel: “The way you navigate the notes is unbelievable. I was there when it was written and sang by Joe Cocker, great man.”
Caleb Kennedy is singing an original song to his mother called, “Momma Said.”
Judges’ Comments: Luke: “Caleb, you my friend are a true anomaly. To be fifteen years old and write songs, it sounds like a fifty-year-old wrote it, amazing.” Lionel: “This is me talking, put that record out. Your parallels, your story telling, it is so gifted, put that song out, it is a smash record.” Katie: “As a new mom, you are wearing your heart on your sleeve looks really good on you. Seeing your eyes sparkle about your mother, it makes you look brighter and better.”
Arthur Gunn is singing “Simple Man,” for his mother.
Judges’ Comments: Lionel: “You are a stylist, your voice is signature, you could sing a phone book and it would be Arthur Gunn. That was a great performance.” Katy: “When I heard you were singing this song for your mom, whew. I thought that song was really great for your voice.” Luke: “Be sure to be up there and fighting every chance you can and be sure to really dig in every more, this thing is getting tough, put yourself in a good place.”
Grace Kintstler is singing, “When We Were Young,” for her mother.
Judges’ Comments: Katy: “Tonight, I am so proud of you. You’ve really stepped up your game, I think it is going to happen.” Luke: “Whatever you ate this morning, you changed, what ever prayers. It was like a magical look, like a movie.” Lionel: “It was just a like a movie, it was perfectly done, right on point.”
Hunter Metts is singing his original song, “The River,” for his mother.
Judges Comments: Luke: “Ten out of ten, incredible. All the original songs tonight have been amazing. That was beautiful and a musical experience done by a pro.” Lionel: “You drifted over to pro status, amateurs are out. You should be very proud.” Katy: “I applaud you and your original song. You are in the driver seat of your song and your message.”
Time for some results, two Idol hopefuls are going home tonight.
After the nationwide vote in no particular order, the first person making it into the top five Casey Bishop, Grace Kinstler, Chayce Beckham, Willie Spence and Caleb Kennedy.
The two going home are Arthur Gunn and Hunter Metts.
THE END!
