American Idol Best of the Rest Full Recap

Jessica Furney, 20, a caregiver, Wamego, KS, auditioned last year singing Janis Joplin, but after a makeover, she decides to sing Footprints In the Sand, co-written by Simon Cowell, but claims she’s not doing it just becuase of that. She sounds really good, and much better than she did doing Joplin. Simon admits it’s a beautiful song, and Victoria wants to know why he’s never written any more songs, saying it’s beautiful. But he won’t answer, saying it’s embarrassing. Regardless, Jessica is in with four yeses.

Amanda Shectman, 19, a theater student, Roslyn, NY, grabs attention by dong a Britney Spears impression and says she does all kinds of voices and can talk with her mouth closed even. Part of her journey is finding the really special thing she can do. She has a great tone, and Posh wants her to work on her expression. Kara wants her to figure out who she is and connect. Simon says she didn’t connect with him, and she explains it’s hard to connect because she’s done so much theater. Simon plays with her a little bit, pretending he doesn’t know what to say, then says yes and puts her through.

Lee Dewyze, 23, a paint sales clerk, Mount Prospect, IL, has to sing a capella, without his guitar, and sings Ain’t No Sunshine. He’s got a great bluesy soul thing going on. Crystal Bowersox, 23, a musican/mom, Elliston, OH, also gives up her guitar, and sings Piece of My Heart. The Joplin fits her a lot better than it did Jessica. They’re both moving on.

Lacey Brown, 23, a churche event director, Amarillo, TX, had originally auditioned in season 8 and was top 50, but lost out next to Megan Joy. She was disappointed then, but knew it wasn’t the end of the road. She sings Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and does so quite uniquely, with her own tempo and slightly changed melody. She gets four yeses and a wlecome back to Hollywood.

Stephanie Fisher, 23, student/promotional model, Jamestown, NY, is preparing for her seventh time auditioning and feels 7 is her lucky number, as it appears all over in her life. She’s excited to meet her idol, Victoria Beckham, saying she’s the most beautiful creature she’s ever seen. She also has a crush on Simon. As she walks in all glittery, Randy says he almost wore the same thing.

Singing Fever, it seems like Stephanie isn’t going to make it again. Victoria even gulps when Stephanie goes for the big note. Simon tells her she can’t sing, and Stephanie replies Victoria is her idol so she was distracted. Victoira looks away, but it doesn’t help. The singing isn’t any better. Victoria tries to make her feel better, saying she has a very definite look, but not one she’d wear. Well, that wasn’t really helpful, was it.

Rachel Hubbard, 16, Boerne, TX, impresses Joe Jonas, Thaddeus Johnson, 16, Oklahoma City, OK, sings How Am I Supposed to Live Without You and has Kara screaming, and Genesis Moore, 16, McDonough, GA, sounds like she just popped out of a Disney movie. All three make it through.

Looking at athletes, we meet Adrian Chandichi, 17, Apopka, FL, who says he’s 6′8″. He says swimming is his thing, not basketball, and his coch calls him the Big Kahuna. He has a lot of nicknames, and they all have something to do with being big, include The Longzilla, which he loves. He wants to prove it doesn’t matter what you are when you sing. He sings Can’t Help Falling In Love With You. He doesn’t have a bad voice, but it’s extremely high for a 6′8″ man, as Randy’s laughter proves. Kara suggests he has a small schoolboy trapped inside him, but Simon thinks it’s more likely he’s eaten one. He is told he’s nice and sweet, but doesn’t make it. He leaves his number with them for recallbacks.

Michael Lynche, 26, Astoria, NY, is a personal trainer and is totally buff, saying he does circuit training. He’s the next American Idol he believes, because “I got these guns.” He brings his baby mama in, and they just found out their first child will be a baby girl, although everybody thinks it’s going to be a baby boy. He sings Unchained Melody, and everyone is enchanted. He sings beautifully. He’s compared to a singing teddy bear and gets in.

Didi Benami, 22, a waitress, Hollywood, CA, is auditioning in memory of her best friend, Rebecca. She passed away, and it was horrifying, as it felt like she lost a part of herself. Didi knew Rebecca always believed in her. She knows her audition will be emotional and sings Hey Jude, and it’s just as emotional as she promised. She has a certain Megan Joy appeal, too, but better. Kara notes she wants it bad, and Didi admits she does and starts to cry. Randy likes her range and thought she had her own sound. She gets in with 4 yeses, including a small yes from Simon.

Aaron Kelly, 16, Sonestown, PA, says things weren’t going well for his parents and they moved around a lot as his dad couldn’t hold down a job. His aunt and uncle adopted them before social services stepped in. He calls his aunt mom as she’s the one that’s raised him. He appreciates all she’s given up for him. He sings The Climb, and has a lot of emotion in his 16-year-old voice. Simon liked it, and Randy liked everything about it, includng that he’s a little shy. Hegets through with four yeses. He wants to be a role model to kids everywhere.

Kimberly Bishop, 20, a nursing student, Altamonte Springs, FL, thinks she should be the next Amerian Idol and pop singer because she has a big heart. She would be very into recycling and helping kids in Africa. Does she think this is a beauty pageant? She tells Randy he lost weight, then sings I Kissed a Girl, and this will not be her talent in that pageant. She lifts up her dress and exposes herself a little, as Kara calls her naughty. She gets noes, then asks if she can be excused. Simon suggests she’d be fun on a date, and Kara just thinks she was weird.

Shaddali Harris, 22, a college student, Arlington, TX, appreciates that her mom came with her, and as she gets kissed by her, says her mom has always been leaving lipstick on her like that. Her mom says she was always singing even when she was holding her on her hip. Shaddali sings flat and can’t carry a tune, but thinks she’s really good. Neil and Kara jam in the background, though, and Randy joins in. Simon says he can’t hear the song anymore as he’s actually allergic to it now, and Kara tells her it wasn’t even the melody. She wants to sing something else, but Randy tells her she can’t sing.Period.

Hope Johnson, 19, a waitress/bartender, Arlington, TX, has six sisters and a brother and says they had to overcome a lot of poverty, but she didn’t know they were poor. She would take food home from her lunch tray and give it to her brother. She knew there was always tomorrow and that it was always gong to be better. There are a lot of things that are worse than going without. Music was always her escape, and she hopes the judges see the positive in her. She has a very sweet innocent voice as she sings I Hope You Dance. Kara says there’s something itneresting about her and her tone, and Randy likes her and the song and just wants her to work on completing her phrases. Simon thinks she’s cute. She’s in.