‘American Idol’ vs. ‘The Voice’: Who’s the best singer? Vote here.
Week of: April 3 - April 10, 2012
"American Idol" vs. "The Voice": Our judges (and you) sound off on the best performances of the week.
Will stars emerge out of this season's "American Idol" and "The Voice"?
Roll over the photos below to watch the performances and read what our judges had to say. Tell us whom you
Full coverage: "American Idol" | "The Voice"
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Chris Barton
Music Writer
Joshua Ledet
"idol"
This week's song:
'If You Don't Know Me by Now''
Finding the '70s in the '80s
Part of Ledet's appeal has been the vulnerability at the edge of his voice, but this turn was all assured swagger, nailing a performance more in line with the song's Philly soul roots than Simply Red. Plus Ledet's rafter-raising flash of falsetto could mercifully inspire DeAndre into a little moderation. — Chris Barton
Play performance
Jermaine Paul
"the voice"
This week's song:
'Livin' on a Prayer'
Leaving hair metal behind
Hearing Bon Jovi served with a touch of soul ordinarily creates the sort of mental disconnect that can cause aneurysms, but Paul embraced the song's arena rock pomp and came through with another assured performance. No onstage props — or '80s Aquanet, thankfully — required. — Chris Barton
Play performance
Jesse Campbell
"the voice"
This week's song:
'What a Wonderful World'
Tip your waitresses
Campbell's take on "What a Wonderful World" teetered perilously close to resembling last call at the Flamingo Hilton lounge, but he performed with such poise and seemingly effortless power that it was almost surreal. Just imagine that voice with a touch of restraint and a bit more emotion at the edges. — Chris Barton
Play performance
Erin Willett
"the voice"
This week's song:
'Living for the City'
Overcoming the background
Setting aside her performance's baffling "Smooth Criminal" set design, Willett meshed her broad, brassy voice perfectly with this Stevie Wonder classic. Taking on a music legend isn't easy, but Willett did it with an undeniable joy that deserved better than the Broadway production flying around behind her. — Chris Barton
Play performance
Elise Testone
"idol"
This week's song:
'I Want to Know What Love Is'
Can't fight the '80s
Testone's been a force of nature thus far in the competition, but Foreigner's swoony wedding band staple added an unfortunate layer of saccharine atop such a raw, blues-ready voice. Luckily her turn on "Stop Dragging My Heart Around" helped right the ship, despite Phillip Phillips' ongoing Dave Matthews fixation. — Chris Barton
Play performance
Todd Martens
Music Writer
Joshua Ledet
"idol"
This week's song:
'If You Don't Know Me by Now'
A vocal instrument
This came dangerously close to showboat territory toward the end, but when Ledet lets loose, his voice emits tones that would normally spring from a saxophone. He brought more drama than Simply Red did to the Gamble & Huff classic, but watching Ledet in a tug of war with his own composure hasn't gotten old yet. — Todd Martens
Play performance
Lindsey Pavao
"the voice"
This week's song:
'Somebody That I Used to Know'
Gotye gets femme-fataled
Strike the creepy clowns, and this devious, synth-heavy take on the Gotye sleeper would have seemed more at home in a Coachella tent than at an NBC singing completion. Instead of rising to the chorus, Pavao opted for coldness, bringing a sense of mystery to the song. — Todd Martens
Play performance
Moses Stone
"the voice"
This week's song:
'Stronger / Power'
What Kanye West hath wrought
Perhaps the most electric performer of this season's reality show crop, Stone was sent home because he emphasized attitude and crowd command over vocal poise. Untrained, yes, but also with an astute understanding that hip-hop today increasingly requires a little crooning. — Todd Martens
Play performance
Erin Willett
"the voice"
This week's song:
'Living for the City'
Bad times? Let's dance!
Willett played the role of narrator on this Stevie Wonder soul classic, emphasizing a buoyant groove rather than channeling the original's searing, hard-times passion. But times are tough enough, and Willett went from balladeer to funk cheerleader with grace. — Todd Martens
Play performance
Skylar Laine
"idol"
This week's song:
'Wind Beneath My Wings'
Fighting to stay alive
Laine hollered the audience into submission, so much so that she pulverized any and all traces of twang in her voice and won a standing ovation (it was not deserved). For those who hate subtlety, this was a delight. — Todd Martens
Play performance
Television Writer
Phillip Phillips
"idol"
This week's song:
'That's All''
A rock star is born
Phillips earned my love all over again during '80s week on "Idol," taking "That's All" by Genesis and phillip-phillipsing it into something totally his own. Then that crazy chicken-necked stroll across the stage during his duet with Elise Testone put him right over the top. — Amy Reiter
Play performance
Jesse Campbell
"the voice"
This week's song:
'What a Wonderful World'
Sweet, stretchy vocals
Campbell has been my "Voice" favorite from the start. Singing "What a Wonderful World" during the first live-show performance this week, he made his sweet voice stretch and bend and melt and expand in ways I don't recall hearing anyone quite do before. Wonderful. — Amy Reiter
Play performance
Jessica Sanchez
"idol"
This week's song:
'How Will I Know'
How is she only 16?
Sanchez is the total diva package: She can sing, she can move, she can emote and she can wear pretty much anything onstage and make it look fab. She showed she was up to an up-tempo with "How Will I Know" this week, tackling it with the complete command with which she tackles everything. — Amy Reiter
Play performance
Lindsey Pavao
"the voice"
This week's song:
'Somebody That I Used to Know'
An appealingly offbeat vibe
There's something about Pavao's offbeat vibe, weird tone, asymmetrical hair and frank glare I can't get enough of. It's friendly and familiar, yet fresh and a little bit fierce. Her "Somebody That I Used to Know" had a strange, haunting quality and it wasn't just the freaky guys in the masks. — Amy Reiter
Play performance
Erin Willett
"the voice"
This week's song:
'Living for the City'
Not just a sympathy vote
During the battle rounds, when Willett dedicated her performance to her dying father, it would have been easy to dismiss her as a sympathy-vote contender. But this week, with her soulful, full-throttle "Living for the City," she proved herself worthy of our admiration as well as our sympathy. — Amy Reiter
Play performance
Your Favorites
Poll Closed 12:00 P.M. April 9
Jessica Sanchez
"idol"
This week's song:
'How Will I Know'
'Such a natural talent'
"Jessica Sanchez is so young and she has such a powerful voice. She is such a natural talent," Maria Ramirez via latimes.com
"I wish Whitney Houston was alive to hear this beautiful voice of Jessica Sanchez! She kills Whitney's songs!" Chloe Hall via Twitter
Play performance
Phillip Phillips
"idol"
This week's song:
'That's All''
'Jim Morrison of his generation'
"Phillip Phillips is the Jim Morrison of his generation; I predict he'll win this and go on to become as legendary as the judges before him:)" Jennifer Ruth Johnson via latimes.com
"Phil Phillips is just amazing all the way around he is unique. And does it for the love of the music," Crystal Horn Meyers via latimes.com.
Play performance
Joshua Ledet
"idol"
This week's song:
'If You Don't Know Me by Now''
'Wow'
"I've watched Idol for the past five or six seasons. The rehash of I Knew You were Waiting by Ledet and Sanchez was basically the best performance I've ever seen on that show. It's too bad that not more people will have seen that performance. Wow," Paul Hawkins via latimes.com
Play performance
Skylar Laine
"idol"
This week's song:
'Wind Beneath My Wings'
'idol belongs to Skylar Laine'
"Last night's idol belongs to Skylar Laine.... wow," Samantha Ronson via Twitter
"I bet Skylar Laine has a record deal waiting for her at Sony Nashville. She doesn't need to win AI. That's mini-Reba McEntire right there," Ayorinde via Twitter
Play performance
Colton Dixon
"idol"
This week's song:
'Time After Time'
Never disappoints
"Colton Dixon great job tonight. Awesome tone bro," Kevin Jonas via Twitter
"I am backing Colton Dixon to win this years American Idol, he has never failed to disappoint," Cameron via Twitter
Play performance
Photos: "American Idol" contestants / Michael Becker/Fox | Photos: "The Voice" contestants / Mitchell Haaseth/NBC.
Design and interactivity: Lily Mihalik. Interactivity: Armand Emamdjomeh/@emamd
Use the poll below to vote. Make your case in the comments. Poll remains open until Monday. Check back daily for new results.
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