'American Idol' recap: The Top 9 tackle the Fab Four

By Amy Reiter

March 21, 2013 12 AM PT

The nine remaining “American Idol” contestants tackled the music of the Beatles Wednesday night, despite the fact that -- honestly, what is the world coming to? -- some of them had never heard the songs they’d sung before.

That’s right. Burnell Taylor had never heard “Let It Be” -- or any tune by the Fab Four. (He’d heard of them, he said.) Amber Holcomb didn’t know “She’s Leaving Home,” which would have been startling enough even if Mariah Carey -- Mariah freaking Carey -- hadn’t also admitted that she’d never heard the song before either.

So much for “more popular than Jesus.”

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Despite the occasional lack of familiarity with the material, however, we still got some good performances. We also got word that, thanks to the “Idol” voters, Aubrey Cleland had beaten out Charlie Askew for the 11th slot on the “American Idol” tour. Sorry, Charlie. And sorry, awkward turtles. Ryan Seacrest gave him a sweet send-off: “We will never forget you, Charlie,” he said.

Back to the performances:

Kree Harrison: After reminding us that, heartrendingly, she’d lost her father when she was 12 and her mother when she was 19, Harrison said that, though she’d never performed a Beatles song, the band had been one of her dad’s favorites. She sang “A Little Help From My Friends,” and was every bit as good as Jimmy Iovine had promised us she’d be, showing off her lush, open tone. Keith Urban said she sounded like herself -- like all the cool things about country -- no matter what she sang. Nicki Minaj liked the way Harrison put her “own Kreedom” on the music. Randy Jackson declared Harrison to be “ready.” And Carey faked everyone out by saying she “didn’t think it was good,” before declaring it to be “fan-freaking-tastic.” Oh, Mariah.

Burnell Taylor: Miraculously, even though he’d never heard “Let It Be” or the band behind it before, Taylor did the song justice, showing off his captivating vocal tone to boot. “You didn’t even sing the song, you caressed it … like it was a newborn baby,” Minaj said, admiring Taylor’s delicacy and raspiness. Jackson said the performance left him wanting for nothing. Carey called it “genuine” and “heartfelt.” Urban complimented Taylor on his “instantly recognizable” vocal tone. Taylor heard from Seacrest too: He advised him to keep the snazzy leather jacket he’d performed in.

Amber Holcomb: She apparently grew up running around barefoot on a farm -- with lots of family members -- and her dad cutely suggested that all he wants her to do on “Idol” is “win it.” Iovine predicted that Holcomb wouldn’t be leaving the show anytime soon because she’d kill “She’s Leaving Home,” which it turned out she’d never heard before. The performance was a bit theatrical but also engaging to watch and vocally spot-on. The judges seemed so-so on it. Jackson thought it started slow but that Holcomb ultimately found her power notes. Carey, who also hadn’t heard the song before, found her to be “fearless.” Urban claimed the tune as his “absolute favorite Beatles song of all time” and thought Holcomb had made it sound as fresh as the day it was written. Minaj, after getting sidetracked about lipstick color, accused Holcomb of looking “defeated” even though her vocal was “amazing.”

Lazaro Arbos: This was Arbos’ inevitable crash-and-burn moment. Clad in a bright yellow jacket, hair again retro-styled, Arbos sweated (literally) his way through “In My Life.” He was off-key in parts. His enunciation was muddy throughout. And it looked a little as if he might just keel over right in the middle of it. But it wasn’t until the judges expressed their disappointment -- relatively gently, I thought -- that he really lost it. Carey had commended him on his “bravery,” “courage” and “perseverance.” Urban suggested he might have sung the song in a different key. Minaj bemoaned his lack of confidence and begged for its return. And then Jackson let him have it. “I think that was your worst performance ever,” he said, adding Arbos was out of tune and “just not hitting it” vocally. Face dripping with sweat and tears, Arbos explained -- with difficulty -- the song had been swapped in late in the game. “Hang in there, buddy,” Seacrest reassured. “Wipe those tears off.”

Candice Glover: We didn’t need Iovine to tell us Glover was going to wow us all with “Come Together” -- because she always wows us -- but it was gratifying to hear him tell her “This show is very lucky to have you.” Glover looked super-comfortable and confident striding around the stage. Urban thought she came across like a “rock chick.” Minaj wanted to see more “attitude” in her face. Jackson was thrilled she tackled an up-tempo number. And Carey compared Glover to a “prizefighter” and said she could do things vocally that no other contestant could do. Then everyone made silly faces. No, really.

Paul Jolley: The curious thing about Jolley’s performance of “Eleanor Rigby” (aside from the fact that when Minaj asked him afterward how he was feeling, he actually said “jolly”) is that even though, thanks to Iovine’s mentoring, he was less crazy-eyed, more vocally nuanced, and overall much improved, the judges were less receptive to him than ever. Minaj was blunt: “I didn’t like your performance,” she said, calling it “very safe, very bland and forgettable.” Jackson piled on, saying it felt “disconnected.” Carey advised him to emote more and ditch the whole country thing and do an “up-tempo dance record.” And Urban, claiming the song as his “second favorite” Beatles tune, said he should go the “pop-rock” route. They seemed ready to see Jolley, who reiterated his desire to be the male Taylor Swift or Carrie Underwood, go. But he looked good in his outfit, so who knows?

Angie Miller: Before graduating from her Boston-area high school last year, Miller was voted “next ‘American Idol.’ ” And after hearing her sing “Yesterday,” the judges seemed to think the yearbook prediction could come true. Jackson told her she was “one of his favorites.” Carey thought her performance was “respectful,” but also showed off her voice. Urban liked her hair and felt Miller managed not to lose herself completely, even as she was hearing Iovine’s voice in her head. Minaj said something bleepworthy and also called Miller’s performance “unbelievably amazing.” Miller can do anything she wants with her voice -- Disney soundtracks, Broadway, anything -- she said. Seacrest just wanted to talk about Miller’s “new friend,” the flat iron.

Devin Velez: Bouncing back from the bottom two, Velez -- who attended a military high school, we’ve just learned -- stepped out and showed off his clear pipes and impressive vocal control on “The Long and Winding Road.” Carey said it would be a “travesty” if he didn’t make it through to next week. Urban said that, while Velez was always vocally on target, he should work on “connecting” more emotionally with the song and the audience. Minaj uttered another bleepworthy phrase -- “Ha-ha-ha-ha, Fox,” she added -- and then called the performance “very truthful.” And Jackson dug Velez’s “swagger” and admired his “fly” shoes.

Janelle Arthur: In the evening’s final slot, Arthur showed off her breath control on “I Will,” and got high marks from the judges. Urban said she’d done more than make her hometown proud, calling her performance “pure” and “true.” Minaj said Arthur had made her want to renew her vows with her and had pulled her in with her subtlety and “sweetness.” Randy called it “one of the best performances of the night.” And Carey said it was “sweet” and “elegant” and commended Arthur on remaining true to herself throughout the competition.