‘American Idol’ vs. ‘The Voice’: Who’s the best singer? Vote here.
Week of: April 23 - April 30, 2012
"American Idol" vs. "The Voice": Our judges (and you) sound off on the best performances of the week.
Dramatic performances? Check. Pitch problems? Check. Emotional exits? Check. Another week passes on "American Idol" and "The Voice."
Who has to have it as Randy Jackson likes to say?
Full coverage: "American Idol" | "The Voice"
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Chris Barton
Music Writer
Joshua Ledet
"idol"
This week's song:
'Ready for Love'
Above and beyond
Ledet had a blast swinging through Queen's "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," but it was his understated yet acrobatic turn with this India.Arie ballad that delivered another show stopper. Full of power and easy grace, his voice just doesn't seem to have a ceiling. — Chris Barton
Play performance
Jamar Rogers
"the voice"
This week's song:
'It's My Life'
Staying alive
Rogers' story is starting to resemble a made-for-TV movie at this point as an HIV-positive ex-junkie delivers a chest-thumping, fire-framed anthem that ends in tears as the crowd goes wild. We'll find out if he has a better ending to come, but for now this one will do. — Chris Barton
Play performance
Katrina Parker
"the voice"
This week's song:
'Jar of Hearts'
Going beyond Adele
Parker has coasted through the competition as a bargain-priced photocopy of Adele, but for the first time she started sounding a little more like herself in taking on Christina Perri's weepy ballad. The trick will be keeping her from "Chasing Pavements" any further. — Chris Barton
Play performance
Skylar Laine
"idol"
This week's song:
'The Show Must Go On'
Perfectly bombastic
Is there a pairing more complementary in skull-crushing bombast than Queen and "American Idol"? Already gifted with a voice made for blowing open arena doors, Laine captured Freddie Mercury's sense of the dramatic in a song well removed from her twang-hearted comfort zone. — Chris Barton
Play performance
Phillip Phillips
"idol"
This week's song:
'The Stone'
Self-actualization achieved
Judge not Phillips for being "too artsy," which may be the first time those words were applied to Dave Matthews -- maybe they can tour with Radiohead now? Phillips is but a vessel, a servant to advancing grunty almost-rock that pairs nicely with kegs and red plastic cups. Resistance is futile. — Chris Barton
Play performance
Todd Martens
Music Writer
Joshua Ledet
"idol"
This week's song:
'Crazy Little Thing Called Love'
Still crazy good
Ledet took this pop trifle from Queen and turned it into something that could have come from Sam Cooke in the late '50s. It was cool and swift, and Ledet walks the pop/soul tightrope like a more fiery Bruno Mars. — Todd Martens
Play performance
Tony Lucca
"the voice"
This week's song:
'... Baby One More Time'
A safe gamble
Tackling this Britney Spears hit wasn't as clever as "The Voice" judges thought it was, even if Lucca was on "The Mickey Mouse Club" with Spears. Yet Lucca showed viewers what the Fountains of Wayne have long known: This chart topper makes for a delightfully menacing rock song. — Todd Martens
Play performance
Jamar Rogers
"the voice"
This week's song:
'It's My Life'
One easy to cheer
It's hard not to root for Rogers and what the HIV-positive recovering addict has fought through, and Rogers made it easy to cheer him on here. He downright pulverized this Bon Jovi hit, bringing a level of singeing passion the original only hinted at. — Todd Martens
Play performance
Elise Testone
"idol"
This week's song:
'Bold as Love'
First Zeppelin, now Hendrix
"Idol's" resident rocker Steven Tyler said this was too obscure a song choice (really?), but Testone is able to flash her brashness when she tackles classic rock, and she handled this Jimi Hendrix staple like it was a serenade. — Todd Martens
Play performance
Juliet Simms
"the voice"
This week's song:
'Cryin'
Cellphones in the air, everyone
Simms looked ridiculous sporting angel wings, and there's no reason anyone ever needs to hear this pandering Aerosmith ballad ever again, but heck if Simms' personable rasp isn't devastatingly appealing. — Todd Martens
Play performance
Television Writer
Jamar Rogers
"the voice"
This week's song:
'It's My Life'
Singing for his life
The flickering flames and pulsating projections certainly raised the stakes, but Rogers' take on "It's My Life" would have felt plenty urgent even without them. A survivor, a fighter and a seriously compelling performer, Rogers sang as if his life depended on it. — Amy Reiter
Play performance
Katrina Parker
"the voice"
This week's song:
'Jar of Hearts'
Staking her claim and showing heart
With her raspily round-toned "Jar of Hearts," Parker stepped away from the Adele comparisons and into the heart-shaped spotlight, as if proclaiming a heartfelt "Me!" to the question "Who do you think you are?" Her "Perfect" was a perfect follow-up. — Amy Reiter
Play performance
Elise Testone
"idol"
This week's song:
'I Want It All'
And she wants it now!
I love it when Testone really rocks out, letting her voice leap, hop and bounce as if the notes are stones she's expertly skipping through still water, making hypnotic melodic ripples. Here's hoping she gets all she wants. — Amy Reiter
Play performance
Tony Lucca
"the voice"
This week's song:
'... Baby One More Time'
Hitting back at one cruel critic
When Christina Aguilera called out former "Mickey Mouse Club" castmate Lucca, accusing him of trying to sneak by on his Disney past, it seemed unfair, even cruel. It was gratifying to see him slyly hit back with this Britney Spears song, conquering it as if it were his own hit. — Amy Reiter
Play performance
Jessica Sanchez
"idol"
This week's song:
'Bohemian Rhapsody'
Long live the Queen!
Of the three "Idol" judges, only Randy Jackson loved Sanchez's take on the Queen classic, but I thought she captured the song's strangeness, sounded beautiful without sounding "pretty," and proved she really can sing pretty much anything. Yes, even rock. — Amy Reiter
Play performance
Your Favorites
Jessica Sanchez
"idol"
This week's song:
'Bohemian Rhapsody'
31.66% of your votes
"jessica sanchez can whatever you ask her to sing..she has an amazing voice..." Jamilla Crisel via latimes.com.
"she can sing any type of song ... i never heard a voice like that..." Villamea LRvillamea via latimes.com
Play performance
Joshua Ledet
"idol"
This week's song:
'Ready for Love'
12.19% of your votes
"Joshua Ledet to win!! Jessica Sanchez please stop yelling through the TV at me!" Nicole Wright via latimes.com
"Joshua Ledet gets my vote...Jessica and Skylar are great, but Joshua, I believe, is an honest,direct descendant of all those greats like Wilson Picket, Sam Cooke, etc..." Monica Pege via latimes.com
Play performance
Phillip Phillips
"idol"
This week's song:
'The Stone'
11.95% of your votes
"There's only one reason left to watch "Idol," and that's Phil Phillips. None of the other remaining contestants even belong in the competition. I may have to start watching "Idol," again, just to throw some votes his way." Lyn Jensen via latimes.com
Play performance
Elise Testone
"idol"
This week's song:
'I Want It All'
7.64% of your votes
"Elise is AMAZING!! I'll be a fan for as long as she puts her voice out there for everyone to enjoy! Losing her in this competition has just made a great show...one I'll try to make time for now," Lisa Thelen via latimes.com
Play performance
Skylar Laine
"idol"
This week's song:
'The Show Must Go On'
7.21% of your votes
"#skylarlaine is already a Country Star no matter what happens on #AmericanIdol" Bill Hart via twitter
"Thank god #skylarlaine is safe! #futureidol" Ary glasser 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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