So now we’re here for the American Idol semifinals recap for the farewell season! American Idol Season 15 Episode 11 and American Idol Season 15 Episode 12 both showed us some tough competition as we focus in on the Top 24. This may be the farewell season for Idol, but these contestants are not fading away. We are in for a show with lots of talent, and we even get a chance to see some fo the rookies sing with past Idol alumni. At the very end of this American Idol semifinals recap, we will let you know who has been eliminated for everyone who is dying to know!
American Idol Semifinals Recap: The Farewell Season
Here’s how things will work for the next three weeks. The top 24 will perform a solo song one night and then the next night, return to sing with a past American Idol fan favorite. Right now we are focusing on 12 contestants. In American Idol Seasons 15 Episode 11 the contestants will compete in a solo round. Then on American Idol Season 15 Episode 12 we will get to see the contestants sing with a past Idol. I am super excited to see how this group sounds when singing with some of the previous Idols. This should be some amazing music! Read on for the full American Idol semifinals recap!
American Idol Semifinals Recap Season 15 Episode 11: Solos
Stefany Negrete– Mama Knows Best by Jessie J- Stefany is one of those contestants that has her good days and bad days, and tonight was a good day. I thought she nailed this song, and it was one of her best to date.
MacKenzie Bourg– Say Something by A Great Big World- I like MacKenzie. I think he is my new pick to win this. This was a great song choice for him. This song gave me some serious chills.
https://youtu.be/L9d15Plghbs?list=PL8x9Zx_hMDsZTaPMKYOwKdGfukmWkqrpf
Jeneve Rose Mitchell– Angel by Sarah McLachlan- Jeneve is playing the harp tonight. Is there any instrument she doesn’t play? She did really well with this song. It is an emotional song, and you really could feel the emotion when she sang it.
Jenna Renae– My Church by Maren Morris- WOW! Jenna could not have picked a more perfect song. Her vocals were awesome, and she worked the stage like a performer is supposed to do. She looks so comfortable up on that stage.
https://youtu.be/vfSFXeKhQ8k?list=PL8x9Zx_hMDsZTaPMKYOwKdGfukmWkqrpf
James Dawson– Love Lockdown by Kayne West- I loved this. He may just have a future as a hip-hop star or even a rapper. This was the perfect song choice for him.
Sonika Vaid– Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift- Sonika has such an amazing voice. It is strong and clear and pretty close to perfect as you can get. I definitely don’t see her being eliminated any time soon.
Gianna Isabella– I Put a Spell on You by Annie Lennox- I like Gianna, but it seems like she can’t hit those high notes when she is supposed to hit them. Also, she is very inconsistent, especially with this performance.
Emily Brooke– I am Invincible by Cassadee Pope- I love Emily! She not only has a beautiful voice but she also has a bubbly personality. With that said, this was the totally wrong song choice for her. Cassadee has a strong and powerful voice that Emily just doesn’t have.
Avalon Young– Love Yourself by Justin Bieber- What I like about Avalon is her sense of style. She dresses the way she wants according to what is comfortable to her, but more importantly she rocks her confidence. She wore a pair of leggings and a hoodie, and she looked great. She is also nailing this song/performance.
https://youtu.be/7_1dARmTRKM?list=PL8x9Zx_hMDsZTaPMKYOwKdGfukmWkqrpf
Jordan Sasser– All by Myself by Celine Dion- I don’t think was a right song choice for Jordan at all. Celine Dion has a very powerful voice that Jordan doesn’t even come close to. He just isn’t giving this song or this performance what it needs.
Thomas Stringfellow– Creep by Radiohead- This song has been so overplayed this season, though I love alternative music. However, even still, Thomas does really well with this song. He hits the notes right spot on, and he has so much emotion when he sings.
La’Porsha Renee– Proud Mary by Ike and Tina Turner- I love this girl, and she has a cute baby to boot. LOL. Proud Mary is a song that La’Porsha could have written, as she totally nailed (and I mean NAILED) this song.
https://youtu.be/ppt45dQidNU?list=PL8x9Zx_hMDsZTaPMKYOwKdGfukmWkqrpf
American Idol Semifinals Recap Season 15 Episode 12: Duets With Idol Champions
Now we are on to the second episode, Season 15 Episode 12! The 12 singers from last night are paired up with past American Idol contestants to sing duets. At the end of the night, seven will move on while five will be eliminated. So, let’s get the show started! Oh, before we do, let me introduce the fan favorite idols for tonight. Lauren Alaina was the runner-up for season 10, Nick Fradiani was last season’s winner, Ruben Studdard was the winner of season 2, Caleb Johnson was the winner of season 13, Scotty McCreery was the winner of season 10 and Fantasia was the winner of season 3.
Emily Brooke & Lauren Alaina– Flat on the Floor by Carrie Underwood- I love Lauren Alaina. I like Emily too, but it seemed that this pairing was not the best idea in the world. Lauren has a powerful voice and a ton of confidence whereas Emily has a rather soft voice and zilch when it comes to confidence. Not to mention it was the wrong song choice for Emily. Carrie has that powerful voice like Lauren.
https://youtu.be/BQHjtZkVmDE
Thomas Stringfellow & Nick Fradiani– Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson- This was an excellent pairing surprisingly since they have opposite singing styles. However, I don’t think Thomas does well in a duet. Maybe he just doesn’t’ do well with 80’s style music, but I think he could have done better.
Ruben Studdard & Stefany Negrete– Superstar by Leon Russell- Another great pairing. Stefany puts a lot of emotion in her performance just as Ruben does. Good performance.
https://youtu.be/z0ByatNzymw
Sonika Vaid & Caleb Johnson– Skyfall by Adele- Here is another odd pairing and I have to say, a terrible song choice. In my opinion, I don’t think contestants should be allowed to do songs from Adele, or even Carrie Underwood for that matter. Adele has a unique voice that is so powerful and so strong. Sonika has an amazing voice, but there is no emotion in this performance.
Scotty McCreery & Jenna Renae– See You Tonight by Scotty McCreery- Oh how I love Scotty! In season 10, I picked him as the winner from his audition. I could listen to him sing all day long. I think it’s strange they are singing one of his songs but boy, they made it work.
La’Porsha Renae & Fantasia– Summertime by Ella Fitzgerald- Can you get a better pairing than La’Porsha and Fantasia? I certainly don’t think so. The pair totally nailed their performance and owned that stage.
MacKenzie Bourg & Lauren Alaina– I Hope You Dance by Leanna Womack- So, there was some flirting going on between these two. I think they would actually make a cute couple. But, yet again, Lauren has that huge, powerful voice and MacKenzie doesn’t.
https://youtu.be/dktUHPvSsjE
Nick Fradiani & Gianna Isabella– Beautiful Life by Nick Fradiani- While I like Gianna, she was kind of disadvantaged here. She was singing his song, and she struggled a lot with the song during rehearsal. The performance was just not her, with pitch issues all over the place.
Avalon Young & Ruben Studdard– Flying Without Wings by Ruben Studdard- Another duet where the new Idol contestant has to sing a song from the past Idol contestant. Poor Avalon! This was such a wrong song choice for her.
Caleb Johnson & James Dawson– Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones- James is a cool rocker dude with the most amazing vocals around. However, I don’t like this pairing at all. Caleb has a fierce voice while James has a more laid back voice.
https://youtu.be/G3NvC3vLtYg
Jeneve Mitchell & Scotty McCreery– Gone by Montgomery Gentry- Oh and here is my Scotty again. As much as I love Scotty (and I certainly do) and as much as I like Jeneve, she needs to stay away from country songs. Country music is not her genre of music at all. She did awful, in my opinion in what could have been a great performance.
Jordan Sasser & Fantasia– I Believe by Fantasia- Fantasia is someone who is hard to compete with, she’s amazing. Jordan was just not in this performance at all. She totally out-sang him, I mean totally. Not to mention the fact that this song (her song) was too big of a song for him.
https://youtu.be/JLlUTxJQxQo
American Idol Semifinals Recap: Elimination And Top 14
Okay, so it is the time that the contestants are probably dreading, elimination time! Let’s start with the good news first. Here are the seven contestants from this week who are advancing to the Top 14.
- La’Porsha Renae
- Sonika Vaid
- Avalon Young
- Gianna Isabella
- Thomas Stringfellow
- MacKenzie Bourg
- Jeneve Rose Mitchell
And here are the five contestants who are heading home.
- Emily Brooke
- Jenna Renae
- James Dawson
- Jordan Sasser
- Stefany Negrete
That was a pretty intense competition this week! While during American Idol Season 15 Episode 11 we saw some great performances, that was not my favorite round to watch. I think during American Idol Season 15 Episode 12 when the contestants paired up with the alumni, it really showed who can stand up in this competition on their own two feet.
I love My Church by Maren Morris and I think that Jenna Renae really nailed it!! What a voice that girl has and I really like her stage presence 🙂
Sounds like an awesome episode! I can’t believe it’s the final season. American Idol used to be one of my favorite shows to watch!
I never watched this season because I am too busy. I can’t believe that is the final season
La’Porsha blew me away with her version of the classic Proud Mary. I think she even made Tina Turner happy with it. I think she will go to the end. Looking forward to this part of the season
I haven’t watched any single episode of this season.. it’s not too late to start watching right?
So much talent has graced that stage. Its amazing! I haven’t watched any of this season though.