You’ve gotta love the 16-year-olds on ‘American Idol,’ the youngsters stepping up to the plate of one of the most intimidating stages in the country and singing their hearts out. With nerves running painfully high among the ‘Idol’ Top 13 tonight, some stars-to-be are ramping up the energetic vibe, while others are losing their cool in the spotlight. Unfortunately, super young Shannon Magrane, who sang Whitney Houston‘s ‘I Have Nothing,’ missed her opportunity to shine.
Dressed in sequined black leggings and a leather jacket covering a neon blue and pink shirt (a stylish nod to the Houston-dominated ’80s), Magrane took a stab at the pop queen’s ‘I Have Nothing.’ Though she hit some spot-on moments, the beloved blond kept falling back into a string of flat notes. Every time she reached for something especially big, she just couldn’t quite get there — most noticeably, perhaps, during the biggest point in the song in what was supposed to be an epic Houston key change.
Still, the songstress looked like she was remaining calm, smiling and continuing in her performance right until the end. When it was all over, Jennifer Lopez empathetically voiced what everyone in the audience was dying to say.
“Sweet baby,” she offered with an all-knowing tone. “I think the thinking got the best of you a little bit on that one. You can sing that song … We didn’t get to hear that here tonight.” Encouraging the young singer in her abilities, J. Lo advised her not to rush the big notes and to “just tell the story,” adding, “That’s what you have to do when you get up there.”
“I think your nerves got the best of you baby,” Steven Tyler chimed in like a dad talking to his disappointed teen. “It’s a huge song, and you kind of crashed and burned on the turnaround.” With a good-natured smile, Magrane urged, “I didn’t get to show you guys tonight, but I can sing my butt off on that song,” seeming to grasp that she didn’t sing anything off tonight. It remains to be seen if America takes pity on the talented young teen or gives her the boot for missing the mark.
Paying tribute to the late great Whitney Houston, Shannon Magrane performed ‘I Have Nothing’ on American Idol Top 13.
The 16-year-old contestant from Tampa, FL sang her version of ‘I Have Nothing’ on American Idol Top 13 live performances on Wednesday night. Here’s what the judges have to say about Shannon’s performance.
Randy Jackson: Your nerves got the best of you tonight, I could feel, and everything you go for, you didn’t hit it, wasn’t great tonight.
Jennifer Lopez: You can sing that song, but we didn’t .First off I am glad the judges decided to judge for once. I actually agreed almost all the time. As I suspected, and was proved right, the girls are better than the guys this year. So if a guy wins this year it will for sure be another tragic tale in Idol lore. Yeah I know it’s just the first real show but we also got a real look at the talent. And I will bet the odds change radically next week. And a minor word of caution to all the Idols but one, try to perform as far away from Jessica Sanchez as possible. Just a random thought.
You’ve gotta love the 16-year-olds on ‘American Idol,’ the youngsters stepping up to the plate of one of the most intimidating stages in the country and singing their hearts out. With nerves running painfully high among the ‘Idol’ Top 13 tonight, some stars-to-be are ramping up the energetic vibe, while others are losing their cool in the spotlight. Unfortunately, super young Shannon Magrane, who sang Whitney Houston‘s ‘I Have Nothing,’ missed her opportunity to shine.
Dressed in sequined black leggings and a leather jacket covering a neon blue and pink shirt (a stylish nod to the Houston-dominated ’80s), Magrane took a stab at the pop queen’s ‘I Have Nothing.’ Though she hit some spot-on moments, the beloved blond kept falling back into a string of flat notes. Every time she reached for something especially big, she just couldn’t quite get there — most noticeably, perhaps, during the biggest point in the song in what was supposed to be an epic Houston key change.
Still, the songstress looked like she was remaining calm, smiling and continuing in her performance right until the end. When it was all over, Jennifer Lopez empathetically voiced what everyone in the audience was dying to say.
“Sweet baby,” she offered with an all-knowing tone. “I think the thinking got the best of you a little bit on that one. You can sing that song … We didn’t get to hear that here tonight.” Encouraging the young singer in her abilities, J. Lo advised her not to rush the big notes and to “just tell the story,” adding, “That’s what you have to do when you get up there.”
“I think your nerves got the best of you baby,” Steven Tyler chimed in like a dad talking to his disappointed teen. “It’s a huge song, and you kind of crashed and burned on the turnaround.” With a good-natured smile, Magrane urged, “I didn’t get to show you guys tonight, but I can sing my butt off on that song,” seeming to grasp that she didn’t sing anything off tonight. It remains to be seen if America takes pity on the talented young teen or gives her the boot for missing the mark.
