Jessica Sanchez gets nod of 2 ‘Idol’ judges, a lukewarm response from one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLuzLGSI8nU&list=PL7BDEAEDEB902FBC7&index=2&feature=plpp_video

MANILA, Philippines—Filipino-Mexican-American Jessica Sanchez drew praises for her performance from two “American Idol” judges Wednesday night (Thursday Manila time) despite having throat problems.

And while Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler continued to complement Sanchez, Randy Jackson was more lukewarm in his review, earning boos from the crowd.

Sanchez’s first song, Mariah Carey’s “My All,” was chosen by Lopez.

“I knew I wanted to hear her sing a song like this; it’s one of my favorite songs,” said Lopez, who on  Wednesday was named by Forbes magazine as the most powerful celebrity in the world.

“There’s a tenderness in this song that I feel that she will kill,” she said.

Her performance was likewise praised by Jackson, saying, “I think it’s one of the best times a Mariah song has ever been performed on TV.”

“Perfectly the right song for you,” he said.

Lopez said it was a hard song, “but you did it so beautifully, and you did it in your own way.”

Tyler said to Sanchez that “you will be the last one standing here, I believe.”

Sanchez’s second song was Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing.”

Tyler, lead vocalist of Aerosmith, praised her for making the song “greater.”

“Well, you just took a great song and made it greater. Thank you,” Tyler said after Jessica’s performance.

Lopez shared that Tyler has never complemented any contestant who chose to perform his songs.

“When people come up there and sing his songs, he’s never said one good thing,” Lopez said.

Lopez said she “sent everybody to the heavens” with that performance.

Jackson said Sanchez “delivered” on the “big moment” that he has been waiting for.

The third song Sanchez performed was “I’ll Be There” by The Jackson 5, which both got nods from Tyler and Lopez.

Tyler said “Perfect song, perfect voice. You nailed it, delicious.”

Lopez told Sanchez after her performance “You had perfect tone in your voice, you almost sounded like Michael,” referring to the late Michael Jackson who originally sang the song when he was young.

Randy Jackson said “I liked it okay, I didn’t love it,” which drew boos from the audience.

“Once again we’re at the end here and you’re on the stage with all these dynamic singers, there was never a moment moment,” Jackson said.

He said he was looking for some “more emotional moments” in her version of Mariah’s song.

“It was okay, it wasn’t like ‘Oh my god!’ and I’m looking for that now,” Jackson said.

Sanchez tweeted a day before the competition that her “throat was not at its best.”

Sanchez is competing against Joshua Ledet and Phillip Phillips for the finals of “American Idol”.

First posted May 17, 2012 | 12:34 pm