American Idol 2012: Billy Joel Week Recap
The 10 remaining "American Idol" contestants have tackled the songbook of Billy Joel on last night's episode.
Additionally, designer Tommy Hilfiger helped contestants fine tune their appearance as Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson offered opinions from the judge's table.
The night also saw coaching by music moguls Jimmy Lovine and P. Diddy.
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While the 62-year-old "Piano Man" singer did not appear on the show, ten Joel's most popular songs were belted out by the "Idol" competitors.
"If you can't sing Billy Joel, you can't sing at all," said Tyler ahead of Wednesday night's show.
DeAndre Brackensick was the first to take the stage with "Only The Good Die Young." The performance earned an "Okay" rating from the judges' table.
Erika Van Pelt sang "New York State of Mind" with a new look advised by Hilfiger. The designer had the young singer cut her hair and dye it black. Her performance earned positive feedback from the judges' table, with Tyler telling Van Pelt her performance was "outstanding."
Next, Joshua Ledet took to the stage with "She's Got a Way." The singer was told he needed to become more confident in his talent following the performance.
Singing "Shameless," the Joel song which Garth Brooks covered and made into a country music hit, "Idol" contestant Skylar Lane earned mixed reviews. Lopez said she was fearless, while Jackson thought she had pitch problems with the song. Tyler said Lane brought life to the tune.
Elise Testone chose the song "Vienna," although the song is not as well-known as other hits by Joel. The judges unanimously applauded the performance, with Jackson calling Testone "unbelievably talented."
Then Phillip Phillips sang "Movin' Out," and earned praise from the judges for staying true to his personal style.
Hollie Cavanagh's performance of "Honesty" saw some critiques from the judges for being pitchy and unfamiliar with the song, although Jackson said her voice was better than last week's.
"Idol" contestant Jessica Sanchez belted out the tune "Everybody Has a Dream." Lopez referred to the performance as a defining moment for the singer, and Tyler said, "When God was giving out vocal cords you were so at the front of the line." Jackson called Sanchez's performance "flawless."
Finally, Colton Dixon sat at the piano to sing Joel's "Piano Man." The "Idol" saw very enthusiastic reviews from the judges, including Tyler calling the performance "stunning."
Tonight will see another contestant head home, leaving just nine singers on "American Idol." The show airs on Fox at 8 p.m. EST and will see season 10's finalist Haley Reinhart perform her new single, "Free."
