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The top 12 American Idol finalists took on the Rolling Stones in the season's first theme night Tuesday, with North Texans Casey James and Tim Urban getting widely different reactions from the judges.
The Stones' blues- and R&B-influenced songs are a perfect fit for James, a Parker County native and Fort Worth resident who can be a sensitive singer-songwriter type but also likes to rock out on electric guitar. James picked one of the earliest, the Stones' cover of Bobby Womack's It's All Over Now. The song suited James' voice, and unlike with his earlier electric number this season, a version of Gavin DeGraw's I Don't Want to Be, James didn't overdo the guitar shtick.
"I think I said [two weeks ago] that you were trying to be a rock star," judge Kara DioGuardi said. "Tonight, you were a rock star."
Duncanville's Urban, who has performed in Tarrant County, went in a different direction, doing a reggae version of Under My Thumb. His performance was pleasant, and that was part of the problem -- one of the Stones' most mean-spirited songs wasn't made for pleasant performances.
"I felt like I was at a resort and drinking a pina colada," judge Ellen DeGeneres said. "There was nothing wrong with it, but it didn't wow me." DioGuardi and judge Simon Cowell, however, complimented Urban on trying something different. But Cowell said it just didn't work.
Urban took the criticisms good-naturedly. "I knew [the arrangement] was going to be a huge risk," Urban told host Ryan Seacrest. "But I figured if I'm going to play a Rolling Stones song, I'm not going to try to sound or look like the Rolling Stones, 'cause I can't."
Urban's biggest problem in receiving viewer votes, however, may be that he was followed by Siobhan Magnus, whose melodramatic version of Paint It Black, which included big high notes and a flamboyant light show, was reminiscent of Adam Lambert, last year's popular runner-up. The judges quickly labeled Magnus' performance the standout of the night.
James, Urban, Magnus and the other nine finalists will find out who's out and who's continuing during tonight's results show, when one contestant will be eliminated. Result-show guests include pop sensation Ke$ha and former Idol winner David Cook.
The show airs at 8 p.m. on KDFW/Channel 4.
ROBERT PHILPOT, 817-390-7872
