“American Idol” truly did have an all-American feel to it Sunday night as the Top 20 contestants belted out songs from various locales across the nation.
Adhering to shelter-in-place edicts brought on the coronavirus pandemic, the iconic singing competition took on a vastly look with its aspiring pop superstars performing from the comfort of their homes.
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It had to be a major logistical challenge. Earlier in the week, each of them was sent a package containing three iPhones for multiple angles, as well as a microphone and lighting equipment — which they used to convert their homes into makeshift studios. But somehow, it went off without a hitch.
Even host Ryan Seacrest and judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie beamed in from remote locations, with Perry lightening the mood by dressing as a giant bottle of hand sanitizer.
“I just want to make sure that ‘American Idol’ is staying as safe as possible,” said Perry, who is pregnant.
“When I look back at this time, it’ll be a time I never forget,” she added. “My first pregnancy in a pandemic, having cravings that I cannot necessarily fulfill if I want. But there are a lot of things I’m grateful for these days.”
Two Bay Area singers — Danville native Grace Leer and Daly City’s Francisco Martin — went into Sunday’s show with hopes of vaulting into the Top 10. Francisco, a College of San Mateo student, was up first with a gutsy cover of Perry’s “Teenage Dream.”
Singing in front of walls adorned by family photos, the Terra Nova High School grad brought a boyish charm to the tune and when it was over, he was “mobbed” by members of the Martin clan, including his parents and chihuahua, Rebel.
The only disappointment? Had he been singing in the usual “Idol” studio setting, plenty of teen girls in the audience would have added some energy with their screaming.
Perry acknowledged that it was a real roll of the dice to take on one of her hits, but said Martin “did it real justice.” Richie and Bryan agreed, with the latter telling Martin, “You have the magic.”
As for Leer, she now lives in Nashville, but for her Top 20 performance, she was back in the East Bay, singing from outside her mother Kristi’s home in San Ramon.
Her performance of Faith Hill’s “Cry” had some impressive production values and she was “backed” by an “Idol” band (performing remotely, of course). Her song choice gave Leer a chance to show off her passion and powerful vocals as she finished with a flourish, proving that the voters were justified to put her in the Top 20.
Richie absolutely loved it, raving that she had a “great delivery.”
“I felt every bit of it,” he said.
Perry also approved, saying she “loved how big it got at the end.”
Bryan enjoyed the end as well, but thought she could have been a little more dynamic earlier in the song. He didn’t think it was quite as overall thrilling as Leer’s cover of (“You Make Me Feel Like”) A Natural Woman” in Hawaii. But he acknowledged her “amazing notes that you spoil us with.”
Will it be enough to keep her in the competition? “American Idol” now gets ruthless, cutting its field in half to present its Top 10 next Sunday on ABC.
