The Idol contestants perform ‘American Classics’ and discuss the performance life    

Quentin Alexander, Tyanna Jones, and Rayvon Owens hold up their LA Sentinel article from last week. (CREDIT: Mesiyah McGinnis) 

If you’re a music enthusiast or a reality show buff you probably dabble in this season’s edge-of-your-seat performances on American Idol. Season 14’s competition now has six contestants left and half of them are African American. Rayvon Owens, 23, from Richmond, VA, Tyanna Jones, 16, from Jacksonville, FL, and Quentin Alexander, 21, New Orleans, LA, are all competing to keep their musical dreams alive.

Last week, the top six performed hits deemed as “American classics” by viewers and fans. Each contestant sang two songs for the show giving viewers the ability to see the versatility and range they have to excel them to the top five.   

Jones rocked the night with a personalized version of hit songs “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” and “Proud Mary.” She is the youngest contestant and has one of the strongest voices on the show.

Tyanna Jones is vocal powerhouse. The 16 year-old is one of the frontrunners to become the next American Idol. (CREDIT: Mesiyah McGinnis) 

“I was thinking I can’t screw this up,” Jones said about her thoughts before her Tina Turner performance last week. “This is not a song that you can mess up… This is Tina Turner. When I actually perform in front of a crowd I do what I feel. I don’t want it to look like I rehearsed it. I want it to look like I did what I do.”

Contestants Clark Beckham sang Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition,” Jax Cole performed Michael Jackson’s “Beat It,” and Nick Fradiani sang Tom Petty’s “American Girl.”

Quentin Alexander decided to open up and perform strong hit songs “Are You Gonna Go My Way,” by Lenny Kravitz and “The Sound of Silence.”

After his first performance, Alexander told Ryan Seacrest about his feelings for his Idol contestants Rayvon Owens and Joey Cook.  Judge Harry Connick Jr. misinterpreted Alexander’s words and said it was disrespectful for him to call Idol “wack.” However, Alexander clarified and said he was sad to see his best friends in the bottom two.

“I wasn’t disrespecting the competition, the brand, judges [or] the contestants. I was having a general emotion. You know my friends are being put up to be stripped away and it was wack. What Harry said gave me a chance to clarify. That’s not what I meant and I understand how it was misunderstood, but this is a reality show and reality is, we are humans,” Alexander told the Sentinel of the exchange. “We feel emotions, we love each other. And we hurt when we are stripped away from each other, but we’re kind of expected to smile and be happy.”

Connick’s words were harsh to hear, but hopefully his opinions will not sway voters against Alexander this week.

The bottom two, Owens and Cook, fought for the fan save. Cook performed “My Funny Valentine” and “Somebody to Love.” Owens, who has been in the bottom two for three weeks, performed a soulful rendition of “Always On My Mind,” and “Long Train Running.” The fan votes came in pretty close with Owens receiving 52% of the votes and Cook receiving 48%. Like before Owen was saved and Cook was sent home.

Quentin Alexander and Rayvon Owens agree that their Idol experience has made them better musicians. (CREDIT: Mesiyah McGinnis)

“Every week, I’m grateful that the fans are voting to save me through Twitter,” said Owens. “ I try to turn my nerves into excitement and get out of competition mode. I don’t want to focus on the competition while performing. I just want to focus on the importance of the song.”

Week after week, fans continue to vote via social media and save their Idol favorites. Voting is particularly important to keep the diverse contestants on the show. Viewers can vote for their favorites via text, social media or at vote on American Idol’s website. 

American Idol XIV airs every Wednesday 8 PM ET/PT on FOX.