‘American Idol’ recap: Hollywood Solo Round spotlights talent

It was the Hollywood Solo Round on “American Idol” on Wednesday, a sweet, tidy package of a show in which we saw a handful of hopefuls individually step forward and sing a song they’d chosen from a producer-provided list, learned in a single night and worked to arrange with the show’s resident band.

It was, Ryan Seacrest reminded us, the first time the judges — and the audience — would see the singers perform backed by a full band and an opportunity for each to show him- or herself to be an “all-around performer.”

The singers didn’t get to hear the judges’ feedback after they performed, although, on occasion, we did. And after all 71 contestants had sung and the judges had decided which would stick around and which would be sent packing, the singers would be dispersed into three rooms. Eventually, after they’d been made to sweat for a bit, the judges would visit them to solemnly reveal their fate.

Ultimately, two rooms — a total of 51 singers — were put through to the next round, in which they will be given one final shot at making it to the top 24.

The hourlong episode showcased the performances of several talented singers and allowed a handful of others to be seen in brief.

Stephany Negrete impressed the judges with her performance of Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain,” as well as with her ability to walk in heels. (“They have heel classes,” Jennifer Lopez informed Harry Connick Jr., leaving mysterious who “they” are.)

Thomas Stringfellow thought he’d “messed up.” Avalon Young believed she “could have done better.” Olivia Rox performed an original song and showed what Keith Urban concluded was a “decent enough of songwriting skill” for someone who was just 16. “Big handsome cowboy” John Wayne Schulz, performing apparently for the first time without his “lucky hat,” also impressed Urban, though ultimately not enough, with his version of the country judge’s “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16.”

MacKenzie Bourg may have had the round’s biggest triumph, performing an original song called “Roses” that blew the judges away. “It’s like the lost Ed Sheeran track,” Urban marveled.

Shelbie Z, who, like Bourg, previously has had some success on “Idol” rival “The Voice,” Kory Wheeler and James VIII all expressed hope that the show would help them stake a claim to the spotlight and realize their dreams.

Tristan McIntosh dedicated her performance to her military mom. Sonika Vaid showed off her lovely tone. Lee Jean and Sara Sturm expressed admiration for each other and then each earned the judges’ regard with their individual performances.

Jenn Blosil wept that she hadn’t done justice to Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors.”

Emily Brooke, a return contender from last season, also ended up in tears, saying she hadn’t done the song as she’d envisioned, but the judges apparently believed that she had done it just right. Or at least Lopez and Connick seemed to think so. Urban felt she’d listened to herself a bit too much.

Miss Alaska Malie Delgado (who had done something totally Miss Congeniality-worthy by graciously ceding her song choice to McIntosh), Mionne Destiny and Jessica Cabral, battled through laryngitis. Before she’d gone on, Cabral had said her voice was at about 50%, but her lush, throaty tone was 100% lovely.

Joshua Wicker, CJ Johnson and Jeneve Rose Mitchell elicited differing responses from the coaches.

But Dalton Rapattoni continued to show himself to be a canny contender and an old pro, turning in a memorable performance of “Hopelessly Devoted to You” from “Grease” and then turning to the camera to play right into America’s heart. Clever dude.

Ultimately, as best as I can tell, all singers except Schulz and Wicker made it through.

“If we had a nickel for how many time someone told us ‘no,’ we’d have a lot of nickels,” Connick unpoetically told the disappointed contestants in Room 2, who’d been told they would not continue in the competition.

Wicker, the father of a newborn, was left to face the fact that his time away from his baby had been for naught. Still, with tears streaming down his face, the church worship and creative director looked at the bright side: “I’m just blessed to have so many great things at home to look forward to going back to,” he said.

Amen.

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