American Idol Top 5

The top 5 contestants of the eighth season of American Idol were taken from the top 7 on April 23, 2009. Two contestants were eliminated this episode because last week the judges used their special power of veto on Matt Giraud.

The American Idol Top 5 of 2008 were announced on the April 23, 2008 episode of the program. The week highlighted songs from the songbook of Andrew Lloyd Webber. While some contestants showed that they could belt out his Broadway tunes, other did not understand or remember the lyrics. The bottom two contestants were Carly Smithson and Syesha Mercado. Before the Top 5 were announced each woman performed her song one more time for the audience. Ultimately, Smithson was sent home. Andrew Lloyd Webber was the contestants' mentor for the week. He coached the Idols through his classics such as "Music of the Night," "Memory," and "You Must Love Me."

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• (Supposed to be top 6, but due to the veto being used on Matt Giraud, it's still the top 7 contestants performing.)

• The judges were introduced normally, not from up on stage the way they have done in previous episodes.

• Lil Rounds sang "I'm Every Woman" by Chaka Khan. There was no video introduction.

• YouTube Video: Lil Rounds "I'm Every Woman" (Time: 1:31)

• Randy thought she got the party started, but that it sounded wild to him. It didn't show us who Lil was as an artist. Kara thought everyone was waiting for her to sing an Chaka Khan song, but that it wasn't worth the wait. Paula defended Lil saying that yesterday she was on complete vocal rest and had no voice. She called it a remarkable recovery, even though Lil didn't hit the "boiling point." Simon noticed that Lil looked sad, she admitted to being a little sad about their comments, but had fun tonight. Simon believes this will be the last week we'll see Lil, the arrangement and vocals were a mess.

• Lil disagreed with the panel and says she wasn't "karaoke," she did change it up.

• Kris Allen sang "She Works Hard For The Money" by Donna Summer. Allen played the guitar as an accompaniment, surrounded by a group of percussionists on stage.

• Photobucket Video: Kris Allen "She Works Hard for the Money" (Time: 6:07)

• Kara began the judging by saying that he took a real risk with the arrangement, but it paid off big time. "You showed us something about you and it should go on your record." Paula added that it had a classy Santana feel. "A lot of women are known to shop in the men's department, there's not many men that are willing to shop in the women's. You shopped and found a perfect fit." Simon needs a translator to get Paula's comments. He felt it Kris' performance was the complete opposite of Lil's. It wasn't karaoke, it was well thought about and original. Simon couldn't care less if Kris buys ladies underwear. Randy doesn't care what Kris buys, he thinks tonight's performance proves Kris is ready for the big time.

• Danny Gokey sang "September" by Earth, Wind & Fire.

• YouTube Video: "September" (Time: 1:59)

• Randy was initially worried about Gokey's song choice, but felt he turned it into something that worked. Kara was also worried about the song choice, but that he has incredible vocals and is always on pitch. Paula loves that Gokey can always go up higher in his register and thinks he has one of the sexiest voices ever. Simon agrees with the other judges on the vocals, but didn't feel any star power out of the performance. "It was awkward and clumsy."

• Allison Iraheta sang "Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer.

• Mjs Big Blog Video: Allison Iraheta "Hot Stuff" (Time: 4:22)

• Randy didn't love the arrangement, but that she was one of the best singers in the competition. "You can really sing. I didn't love the arrangement, but I love you!" Kara agreed with Randy about the arrangement and that she can sing. Paula didn't mind the arrangement because it didn't veer away from Allison's authenticity. "That last note, you hit it off the charts." Simon thought Allison would come in this week as an underdog, then added it was a brilliant performance.

• Adam Lambert sang "If I Can't Have You" from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, originally be the Bee Gees. (Paula was crying during the performance then gave him a standing ovation at the end.)

• Photobucket Video: Adam Lambert "If I Can't Have You" (Time: 5:23)

• Randy said "dawg, you show us your range, you are ready right now! He is a hot one tonight America!" Kara said that Adam was brilliant and his most inspiring performance. Paula was choked up saying that she felt Adam's song as he tore his heart out and left it on stage. "You will be in the finals." Simon laughed and said he didn't feel the pain and would have bet Adam would have sung Donna Summer. The vocals were immaculate and we will remember it. Adam stopped to thank Michael Orleans(sp?) for his help with the arrangement.

• Matt Giraud sang "Stayin Alive" by the Bee Gees.

• Mj's Big Blog: Matt Giraud "Stayin Alive" (Time: 4:24)

• Randy didn't love the song choice or the arrangement, but feels that Giraud can really sing. He thinks this is the most talented top 7 ever. Kara said he brought the mood back to disco and thought the vocals were pretty good. Paula said "you pick songs like I bowl, sometimes you pick gutterballs and sometimes you pick strikes. This was a strike." Simon didn't like the performance and said that Giraud needs to get out of "Idol-land" "It sounded desperate and I didn't hear any originality."

• Anoop Desai closed the show with "Dim All The Lights" by Donna Summer.

• YouTube Video: Anoop Desai "Dim All The Lights" (Time: 1:44)

• Randy thought it was a rough last note, but was again impress with his vocals. "Nice baby, nice." Kara thought it was a great song choice and liked the beat, she could imagine it on the radio. Paula liked his look tonight and that real men know how to wear pink. She's glad to see him enjoy himself on stage. Simon completely disagreed and said it was mediocre at best and felt it was a horrible version of the song. He said it was Anoop's worst performance ever.

• Over 45 million people voted for their favorite contestants. Two will be eliminated tonight.

• Paula Abdul choreographed the group number to her song "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow." In practice, she really works the group harder than ever before. They all laughed at Matt Giraud because he downloaded his own version of "Let's Get It On" as a ringtone.

• On stage, Paula is the center of attention as the number starts then during the routine made her way to the judges desk. The contestants are dressed up cheesy 70's outfits. And thank goodness Paula's song was only used in practice to get the moves, as the "real" group song is "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" by Michael Jackson. Ryan made Paula go back on-stage after the number was over, where the contestants gave her a huge bouquet of flowers.

• The Ford music video featured the song "I'm Good, I'm Gone" by Lykke Li.

• Lil Rounds has been eliminated! Paula said she sang better tonight than she did last night, Randy added that bigger things are yet to come for Lil. Simon is still a fan, but will miss hearing her family hollering their support in the audience.

• Freda Payne sang "Band of Gold," followed by Thelma Houston singing "Don't Leave Me This Way." Harry "KC" Wayne Casey from KC and the Sunshine Band kept the disco theme going with "Get Down Tonight."

• Kris Allen is safe. Adam Lambert is safe. Danny Gokey is safe. Anoop Desai is in the bottom three, yet again. Allison Iraheta is in the bottom three! Matt Giraud is safe!

• David Archuleta sang his new single "Touch My Hand." He's headed to the United Kingdom with McFly for a tour starting tomorrow. He gave Matt and Allison encouragement by saying that it won't be over for either of them if they are eliminated tonight, "you don't have to go all the way to win your dream."

• The final results of the evening: Anoop is the second person voted off. Allison is safe.