'American Idol' 2014: Spencer Lloyd, Ben Briley, and Kenzie Hall in 10 of Best Auditions and Hollywood Contestants, Early Favourites [WATCH VIDEOS]
"American Idol" 2014, aka American Idol Season XIII, is now on Week 4. AI contestants have been trimmed down from a little over 200 to half the number. This early, Idol viewers already have some favourites. Idol judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, and Harry Connick, Jr had favourites from as early as state auditions. Spencer Lloyd, Majesty York, Kenzie Hall, Ben Briley, and Austin Wolfe are some of the strongest contestants as of the Jan. 5 air date of Hollywood Week Part 1.
Spencer Lloyd reminds many AI viewers of American Idol Season 11's Colton Dixon. They like the same music and they're likely to draw the teens' votes. Also, they're both worship leaders who are vocal about their Christian faith. Spencer covered Colton's "Never Gone" for his first audition in Austin. Jennifer Lopez loved his overall appeal, especially his eyes. He did well then, but not particularly remarkable, according to critics.
In Hollywood, Spencer Lloyd tackled "Say Something" by A Great Big World. It turns out he shines when the song is more subdued and intimate. It becomes clear in American Idol 2014 Hollywood Week that Spencer is one of the top male contestants to watch out for. He's biggest potential rival at this point is Sam Woolf.
Watch: Spencer Lloyd Cover "Say Something" by A Great Big World (Hollywood Week Part 1)
On the country genre, Ben Briley is one of the big contestants to watch in American Idol 13. Keith Urban said if he heard Briley's voice singing a cappella while driving, he could accidentally crash his car. The great quality of Briley's country tone is that distracting for the Australian artist.
Ben Briley got a decent screentime during American Idol 2014 Hollywood Week Part 1. His most likely rival is country rocker Dexter Roberts. Ben's slightly better in his first audition, though. Watch him below in this AI YouTube clip:
Kenzie Hall is perhaps one of the Top 5 most entertaining contestant during the Feb. 5 episode of American Idol 13. She sang and played Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' "Can't Hold Us" on guitar. Watch her on AmericanIdol's video clip on YouTube below:
Aside from Spencer Lloyd, Ben Briley, and Kenzie Hall, here are the seven others who make up 10 of the Best Auditions so far in American Idol Season XIII: Austin Wolfe, Majesty (Rose) York, Malaya Watson, Kristen O'Connor, Dexter Roberts, Sam Woolf, and Maurice Townsend.
This supposedly leaked American Idol 2014 Top 31 by TheIdolPad is making sense, although there are names that did not really shine in either state auditions or Hollywood Week Part 1.
American Idol 2014 judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, and Harry Connick, Jr have been drawing positive reviews since Day 1 of AI XIII. The next episode airs on Feb. 6 (Hollywood Group Performances) on FOX.
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