Shooting for the moon didn’t turn out so well for “American Idol” finalist Aaron Kelly, who was eliminated from the singing competition on Wednesday (May 5), leaving Lee DeWyze, Crystal Bowersox, Casey James, and Michael Lynche as the four finalists standing.
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Kelly performed “Fly Me to the Moon” on Tuesday’s Frank Sinatra-themed peformance night, which was mentored by Harry Connick, Jr. Though Kelly was mostly praised by the judges, Simon Cowell said the 17-year-old’s onstage charisma paled in comparison to Sinatra’s. “Frank was the king of cool and he had a swagger, he had a believability,” Cowell told Kelly. “And if he was a lion, you were just a mouse.”
‘American Idol’ Recap: Clouds Gather for Casey James
“Did you ever imagine standing up here, like this, surviving this many weeks of the show, with this much pressure?” Seacrest asked Kelly after his elimination. “Not at all,” answered the young singer. “I’ve had a great time; I’ve had a blast.”
Joining Kelly in the bottom two was Michael Lynche, whose appeal for “Idol” voters seems to be wearing thin despite another week of glowing reviews from the judges, this time for his performance of “The Way You Look Tonight.” Meanwhile, Casey James — who was widely predicted to be this week’s eliminated contestant — was deemed safe.
Video: Lady Gaga performs “Alejandro” on “Idol”
Tonight’s featured performer was Lady Gaga, who gave a predictably show-stopping performance of her new single, “Alejandro.” Shrouded in a black veil and wearing what amounted to a fishnet stocking with strategically placed appliques, Gaga began with the introduction to “Bad Romance” on piano, then shifted gears to the Caribbean-flavored track while flanked by shirtless male dancers.
Connick, Jr. performed a moving rendition of the Beatles’ “And I Love Her,” from his 2009 album of classic covers, “Your Song.” The top five also performed a medley of Connick, Jr. and Sinatra hits before Kelly’s elimination.
The final four “Idol” contestants will face off again next Tuesday (May 11).