'American Idol' 2014 (Season 13) Results, Top 3 To Final 2 Updated: Jena, Alex, Caleb Impress Judges; Fans Fear Sympathy Votes in Crucial Eliminations [Review, Videos]
"American Idol" 2014 (Season 13) is set to announce its Final 2 on FOX. The Top 3 performed on May 14, and now votes are in. Jena Irene Asciutto and Alex Preston gave at least one stellar performance each. However, everyone knew Caleb Johnson was sick. Fans fear sympathy votes could affect this week's crucial eliminations.
This week on American Idol 2014 Top 3 performance night: AI judges Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban seemed to absolutely adore Caleb Johnson. Harry Connick, Jr would rather ask questions than critique. (But Harry would not give a standing ovation because that is not his version of judging.) Jena reprised her "Creep" cover and made it sound even better. Alex hit the drums while singing.
Jena Irene's "Creep" (Radiohead) encore was the best performance of the American Idol Season 13 Top 3 night. Alex Preston's interpretation of "Stay" (Rihanna featuring Mikky Ekko) was haunting, ranking second-of-the-best. Caleb Johnson's AI Top 9 performance of Led Zeppelin's "Dazed and Confused" (a Jake Holmes original) was certainly better than the encore. Then again, as Ryan Seacrest, Keith Urban and JLo emphasized, Caleb was sick.
Based only on the May 14 episode of American Idol Season 13, Jena Irene and Alex Preston should be the AI Final 2. If Caleb moves forward to the AI finale (airing May 20 and 21), there will be doubters, who would say sympathy votes played out in the end.
The worst number of the night was Caleb Johnson's take on Imagine Dragons' "Demons." The judges picked the song for him, but he couldn't deliver. Fans of Caleb, however, would insist that he would have certainly rocked the song if he were not suffering from a bronchitis-sinusitis combo. The judges share the same sentiments, anyway.
Jena Irene was not particularly a superstar when she sang Demi Lovato's "Heart Attack" and David Guetta (featuring Sia)'s "Titanium." The 17-year-old becomes something else when she performs behind the piano, though.
Alex Preston was brilliant with "Stay," and his take on Bastille's "Pompeii" was also quite good. WGWG (a term popularized by the now defunct VoteForTheWorst) tends to get the top spot on American Idol, but when the WGWG hits the drums as well, then more votes are expected.
Having only one (out of three) excellent number could put Jena Irene in trouble. However, this teenager has a solid fan base by now. Her slot should be safe in the grand finale of American Idol 2014.
While it seems true that he would have hit every note of Imagine Dragons' "Demons" if he were not sick, Caleb Johnson should be the one to go home this week. Vocal endurance should be part of the criteria, after all. It should be Jena Irene versus Alex Preston in the AI 2014 finale.
UPDATE: This article will be updated once Ryan Seacrest has announced the Final 2 in American Idol 2014. And the third placer is... ALEX PRESTON! (Longer than usual Results Show Thursday night on FOX.)
@RealAlexPreston will be going home tonight. #IdolResults #IdolLIVE
— American Idol (@AmericanIdol) May 16, 2014
That's it! Jena Irene Asciutto vs Caleb Johnson on Tuesday night on FOX! Caleb's fans are hoping he would be all-better by May 20, as American Idol Season 13 takes up an ealier schedule next week.
WATCH: American Idol Season 13 | Jena Irene Sings 'Creep' by Radiohead
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WATCH: Alex Preston Sings 'Pompeii' on American Idol Top 3 Night | FOX on YouTube
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American Idol 2014 (Season 13) comes back on Tuesday, May 20, for the grand finale at the Nokia Theatre. The final results will be announced on May 21.
Don't forget to tweet with the judges right NOW using #IdolLIVE! — American Idol (@AmericanIdol) May 16, 2014
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