The American Idol Top 5 contestants are getting ready to perform original music on the show, and they're teaming up with very successful music producers to record the songs. During the most recent live episode of Idol, the field of singers narrowed from seven down to five; comeback winner Arthur Gunn and Hunter Metts were eliminated from American Idol. That leaves just five left to compete for America's votes, with only two weeks remaining in season 19.
Multiple singers this season have performed original music throughout the season. In fact, almost half of the Top 7 sang original songs for the Mother's Day dedications this week. In season 17, Alejandro Aranda constantly performed his own tunes, and all three songs he performed in the finale were written by him. Ever since then, American Idol judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie have gotten excited whenever a contestant performs their own material. Outside of those moments, original music is usually not introduced until the finale when the Top 2 or Top 3 debut their winner's single. That's about to change.
Billboard is reporting that the Top 5 have partnered with big-time music producers to help them with their winner's singles, which they will debut a week ahead of the finale this time around. Grammy winners Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and Ian Fitchuk, and BMI songwriter of the year Ross Copperman, are among the group of producers and songwriters involved with this round of the competition. Over the years, they have worked with superstar singers like Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Britney Spears, Katy Perry and more. Copperman is used to working with country music singers like Florida Georgia Line and Luke Bryan, which could help someone like contestant Caleb Kennedy.
Like the winner's singles in past seasons, the original songs this year will be recorded and released by the American Idol finalists. Also, despite being eliminated, American Idol's Gunn and Metts will also release original songs, since the contestants worked with the music producers before their recent eliminations. It's assumed that the eventual winner of season 20 will reprise their single after being coronated at the end of the finale, which is a tradition on American Idol. Last year was an exception, though, when Idol decided to showcase an updated "We Are The World" music video with Richie along with past and present contestants instead of Just Sam reprising her single, a cover of Andra Day's "Rise Up."
Over the years, the singles by the American Idol winners and runners-up have received a mixed reception. Some, like Kelly Clarkson's "A Moment Like This" and Phillip Phillips' "Home" received praise. Others, like Taylor Hicks' "Do I Make You Proud?" and Scotty McCreery's "I Love You This Big" were criticized by fans. Usually, the contestants are given these songs to perform, even if they personally don't like them.
It's a big deal that Idol has decided to bring in music producers to help this year's finalists with their songs. Hopefully, that means the songs will be fitting for each singer's particular style and talent. American Idol's Chayce Beckham, Kennedy and Metts actually wrote their own songs for this round, so it's more likely that their singles will match what we've come to expect from them this season on American Idol, especially since fans have heard some of their originals before. Songwriter and producer Finneas, who is Billie Eilish's brother, will be mentoring the Top 5, so they and the fans have even more to look forward to in the next episode.
American Idol airs Sundays at 8pm ET/5pm PT on ABC.
Source: Billboard