It's top nine week in our lookback at Kris Allen in 2009, and the top nine idols must sing a "top download." Kris goes with the 1971 Bill Withers song, Ain't No Sunshine, and he aims to "make a moment."
This was a great week for Kris and for the show in general. It's such a good week for him this time out that he ends up reprising the song during the top two week. Check out my recap and all the videos and extras after the break!
Performance show
The show starts with a nod to Michael Sarver. Ryan asks the judges about the top 9, artistry, props over the table and what Simon is looking forward to. Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin give a standing ovation to the top nine when they come out. The theme is "top iTunes downloads" and the contestants can pick any popular download on iTunes.To learn about having popular songs, the contestants get to watch Ryan in action hosting American Top 40, the popular long-lasting radio countdown. Ryan tells them that (as of this episode which aired in March 2009) 29 songs by Idol finalists have made the top 40.
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| By this point, Krallison are always standing together in these segments. |
Asked if they are glad about this week, Scott MacIntyre says yes, and Matt Giraud chimes in that it's a chance to do more current music. Ryan plays a few snippets from Idol and wishes them luck.
Time for performances! Anoop Desai does Caught Up by Usher. I liked this and thought Anoop did well, but I might not have much company on that. The judges thought it wasn't the best choice of song for him. Megan Joy does Turn The Lights Down Low by Bob Marley. Great song, but not for Megan and her vocals are a little rough. Randy sums it up, "you can love a song but it doesn't mean you'll sing it right." Danny Gokey does a good job on What Hurts the Most (Rascal Flatts), and the judges use the opportunity to criticize Anoop and Megan again. Allison Iraheta is up next with Don't Speak by No Doubt and has a guitar she doesn't really play. It's kind of plodding. Her weird outfit distracts the judges' focus. Scott follows, with his take on Billy Joel's Just the Way You Are. The judges are glad he's staying with what he does best.
Matt was traumatized by being in the bottom three the past week, and has chosen to go with the Fray's You Found Me this week because he needs something powerful. It's just off and the judges call him on it and give him good advice. Lil Rounds has been traumatized by the judges criticizing her song choices and decides to go with... I Surrender by Celine Dion. She gets criticized for her grandma song choice, but her vocals are praised. They get booed, but the judges aren't wrong here. Lil's kids are interviewed about the judges being "tough on mommy" and it's sweet. Continuing with the bad music choices, Adam Lambert has decided to take on Wild Cherry's Play That Funky Music. The audience and the judges love it. Me, not so much. Paula tells him he's a true genius up there with Mick Jagger and Steven Tyler.
FINALLY we get to Kris who is our last person tonight! I am so ready after some of these performances, how about you? Mandisa from season 5 is there! We get a nice highlight piece about how Kris likes to actually make older songs sound current. He's trying to make something "really memorable." "Will he make a moment tonight?," intones Ryan and I'll let you judge for yourself...
I mean, c'mon!!! It's fantastic. This was when I knew I had my Idol selected for the year. I firmly believe that this is when he started getting lots of votes (especially considering the song choices by some of the competition this week).
But did the judges agree? Yup! Randy is loving it. Kara has three words, "THAT IS ARTISTRY!" Paula thinks it was his best performance. Simon thought it was a very good arrangement and he showed confidence in his best performance so far.
Kris grins like a madman and Ryan reminds us to vote!
You can watch the entire performance episode here.
Before we move on to the results, let's take a behind the scenes look at life in the Idol mansion... We learn that Kris finds it weird and surreal because the mansion is big, but cool with a pool and bowling alley too.
Results show
A super dramatic opening and interestingly-edited recap begins our results show, and Ryan says that 36 million votes were received on the performances. Lady Gaga and David Cook are the guests. It's going to be a fun one! Ryan asks Randy about all the crappy song choices the contestants made. He thinks the genre was too wide. Kara appreciates the audience and the passion, but she's here to get booed and help the contestants. Asked what the other contestants need to do to keep up with Adam, Paula advises them to know who they are and deliver their performances with confidence and go for it. Asked who should leave, Simon says that Anoop, Matt and Megan should be worried.
Ford music video time while they get the contestants to the couches. This video was such a crazy one. Kris rapping in it is awesome. I remember the arena showing this video constantly during the intermission of the Idol tour show I went to.
And here's how they made it...Their outfits for the video were really cool. You don't actually see them much but in the behind the scenes video you do. Kris thought it was different and cool and you see him rapping which is different.
Back to the results! Weird; they all had to get off the couch they just sat down on, and do their group number. The group number this week is a great rendition of Don't Stop Believing by Journey. You'll notice that it's not arranged the same way it was for the closing number of the 2009 Idol tour.
Ford music video time while they get the contestants to the couches. This video was such a crazy one. Kris rapping in it is awesome. I remember the arena showing this video constantly during the intermission of the Idol tour show I went to.
And here's how they made it...Their outfits for the video were really cool. You don't actually see them much but in the behind the scenes video you do. Kris thought it was different and cool and you see him rapping which is different.
Back to the results! Weird; they all had to get off the couch they just sat down on, and do their group number. The group number this week is a great rendition of Don't Stop Believing by Journey. You'll notice that it's not arranged the same way it was for the closing number of the 2009 Idol tour.
Now for the results! But first let's look at a typical Idol week. They are BUSY. More important, this is the segment that gave the world SEXY FACE.
Then we get definitely not sexy impersonations by Gokey and Anoop. Time to build the bottom three! Ryan asks Matt, Megan and Kris to go stand on the stage. Megan says, "this is changing my plan!" Then Ryan has the trio of Allison, Adam and Lil head to stand together. Finally, Anoop, Scott and Matt are grouped on stage. "Which group could be the bottom three? Did America get this right?" worries Ryan.
Before we find out, we get a pre-taped guest performance from reigning Season 7 Idol winner David Cook singing Come Back to Me:
In the interview afterwards, Cook receives his platinum certification for his debut album. He's understandably thrilled.
Bring down the lights and let's get to the results, starting with Kris!
Of course he's safe. Poor Matt is told to take a seat and doesn't realize it's on the couch, next to Kris. Someone tells him "April Fools Sucka!" Megan says she loves Simon but she doesn't really care about his comments. Paula cracks up. Megan is sent to the bottom three. On to Lil, who is safe. Allison, however, is sent to the stools with Megan and says "Hey familiar chair!" Adam and Gokey are safe; no suspense there. It comes down to Scott and Anoop for the last stool. Asked who it could be, Randy says it has to be Anoop. Anoop is gracious about it and indeed, off he goes to the bottom three.
Before we find out who's going home, we get a live performance of Poker Face by Lady Gaga. This was a huge hit at the time. The contestants are on stage to watch her play her bubble- and starfish-filled piano, and they get up and dance when Gaga ditches the piano to dance and sing her song.
Back to the results and the bottom three are Anoop, Megan and Allison. Allison is sent to safety! Megan tells her not to "forget to caw." It's clear that Megan is going home and it's clear that she's pretty darn happy about it. Her fellow contestants clearly really loved her and start cawing. Asked if they are going to use the save, Simon tells her they don't care and aren't going to contemplate saving her. So Megan sings her swan song.
Post-Idol, Kris included Ain't No Sunshine in the Idol tour both in 2009 and 2018. He has not shied away from performing Ain't No Sunshine in solo shows and several times he's rearranged it. (See below for a link to the 2016 version.) It's definitely one of his best covers. As of late, he includes it in the "Idol medley" he performs along with Heartless and Falling Slowly.
mp3s!
- Ain't No Sunshine (performance top 9 show)
- Ain't No Sunshine (Idol single - definitely way too overmixed in my opinion)
- Ain't No Sunshine (Solo- the cool arrangement he did in the Letting You In tour of 2016)
Past Kris Allen on Idol recaps:
Audition in Louisville
Hollywood Week, rounds one and two
Making the top 36
Group 2, aka the Best Idol Group ever and the one where we get to see him sing Everything
Top 13 week (Michael Jackson songs)
Top 11 week (Opry songs)
Top 10 week (Motown songs)
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