American Idol Recap: Meet Your Season 2 Top 20

It was tough to watch some of our favorites go home...

Written by Tammy Ragusa
American Idol Recap: Meet Your Season 2 Top 20
AMERICAN IDOL – “208 (Showcase/Final Judgment)” – For the first time ever, “American Idol”‘s iconic showcase round hits the road, heading to Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii, where the show’s Top 40 contestants take to the beach for incredible solo performances in front of a live audience and the superstar judge panel. Following the performances, it’s an emotional roller coaster in paradise as the judges sit down with each contestant to reveal their fate, culminating with the show’s Top 20 finalists. The search for America’s next superstar continues on The ABC Television Network, SUNDAY, MARCH 31 (8:00 – 11:00 p.m. EDT), streaming and on demand. (ABC/Karen Neal) LIONEL RICHIE, KATY PERRY, LUKE BRYAN

Boy, did American Idol throw this season’s contestants for a loop! Instead of returning to Los Angeles after the Hollywood rounds, they flew all 40 contestants to Disney’s Aulani Resort in Ko Olina, Hawaii for those oh-so-important showcases where half of the Top 40 would be cut. So, even though they were eliminating half of the field, they at least got a trip to Paradise out of it…which wasn’t necessarily a consolation to those sent home.

For the showcase round, the remaining contestants were able to perform a song of their own choosing with a full band and background vocalists in front of a live audience that included family. This gave them all an opportunity to not just demonstrate their vocal prowess, but also their showmanship and entertainment ability.

It was brutal. Judge Katy Perry even said, “It was not easy to get to that 20.”And it was exciting. “But that 20 is a smokin’ 20,” Lionel Richie added. In fact, it was an emotional rollercoaster. There were tears, disbelief, and boundless joy.

Some of the eliminations came as quite a shock. Early frontrunners and favorites of the judges, like Myra Tran, Shayy, Nate Walker, Drake McCain, and Kai the Singer were sent home with the judges as broken-hearted as the contestants. All were given encouragement to continue their musical careers, hone their crafts, and even return to the competition as soon as possible.

But for now, that “smokin’” Top 20, as Lionel called them, is getting ready for the next round of solo performances when Idol continues on April 1.

Here are your Top 20 American Idol finalists and the songs they sang:

Alyssa Raghu (16) – Orlando, Florida
“Dear Future Husband” – Meghan Trainor

Madison VanDenberg (17) – Cohoes, New York
“Who’s Lovin’ You” – The Jackson 5

Logan Johnson (20) – Boise, Idaho
“Sorry” – Justin Bieber

Dimitrius Graham (27) – Baltimore, Maryland
“Disclosure” – Latch featuring Sam Smith

Ashley Hess (27) – Fremont, California
“Gone Away” – H.E.R.

Laci Kaye Booth (23) – Livingston, Texas
“Georgia On My Mind” – Ray Charles

Walker Burroughs (20) – Birmingham, Alabama
“Youngblood” – 5 Seconds of Summer

Ryan Hammond (25) – Modesto, California
“A Song for You” – Donnie Hathaway

Evelyn Cormier (19) – Claremont, New Hampshire
“No Roots” – Alice Merton

Kate Barnette (23) Kennesaw, Georgia
“Royals” – Lorde

Uché (24) – Sugar Land, Texas
“Play That Funky Music” – Wild Cherry

Alejandro Aranda (24) – Pomona, California
“Yellow” – Coldplay

Jeremiah Lloyd Harmon (26) – Catonsville, Maryland
“Landslide” – Fleetwood Mac

Riley Thompson (16) – Mabank, Texas
“Mama’s Broken Heart” – Miranda Lambert

Raquel Trinidad (21) – Tampa, Florida
“Rich Girl” – Hall & Oates

Shawn Robinson (22) – Atlanta, Georgia
“Rock With You” – Michael Jackson

Bumbly (27) – New York, New York
“Baby” – Clean Bandit featuring Marina & Luis Fonsi

Wade Cota (27) – Phoenix, Arizona
“Work Song” – Hozier

Eddie Island (25) – Nashville, Tennessee
“Don’t You Worry Child” – Swedish House Mafia featuring John Martin

Laine Hardy (18) – Livingston, Louisiana
“Come Together” – The Beatles

Following the Top 20 Solos round, the contestants will be paired up for two nights of All-Star Duets. After that, the Top 14 will be announced on April 14 and then the Top 10 on April 15.

ABC’s Season 2 is going by faster than we could have ever expected. Check back in after each show for a follow-up to the excitement.