“Full body chills” — American Idol fans react to Thunderstorm’s performance on “Judges' Song” night

With his soulful performances and captivating stage presence, Thunderstorm Artis keeps securing his spot in the Top 7 and his status as a fan favorite on American Idol Season 23. During Episode 16, the singer, who had previously enthralled viewers during tryouts, demonstrated a new level of intensity and control that left the audience in awe, and the judges clearly impressed.

Judge Carrie Underwood secretly selected Thunderstorm to deliver a stunning rendition of Journey's "Faithfully" on the night of the Judges' Song Contest. Among the performers that evening, his soulful tone, delicate phrasing, and capacity to emotionally connect with the words made him stand out. Even if his previous performances were already excellent, this one was a watershed because it demonstrated how profoundly he can interpret and personalize a classic.

After his performance, fans flooded social media with mixed reactions to his rendition of "Faithfully." While many praised his vocals, others thought he could have done better.

An admirer of American Idol posted on X:

"Full body chills. Thunderstorm kills it week after week 🔥. The perfect song for him too #AmericanIdol"

Another X user shared:

"Thunderstorm !!! This is the first performance of his that truly got me. Chills!! #AmericanIdol"

A viewer expressed,

"I just love thunderstorm. Sometimes it’s not about who has the most range, it’s about the voice that touches your soul the most. #AmericanIdol"

"You can never go wrong when Thunderstorm picks something he connects to. That was such a great rendition and you could tell he believed all of it. #AmericanIdol," a comment on X read.

While many American Idol fans praised his performance, some thought he shouldn't have made it to the Top 7.

A netizen wrote on social media:

"Thunderstorm is great but he missed most of the lyrics and no one called it out. Again why have judges #AmericanIdol"

"This is Thunderstorm's worst performance #AmericanIdol when will these singers learn you can't always sing Journey/Steve Perry?" another post read.

An X user shared:

"Thunderstorm doesn’t need to be on here #AmericanIdol"

"An honor to sit here" — American Idol judge Luke Bryan praises Thunderstorm Artis' Top 8 performance

Thunderstorm Artis' moving rendition of "Faithfully" during the Top 8 round of American Idol Season 23 made a lasting impression. The judges and the crowd were captivated by his emotional delivery and smooth vocals.

"Sitting here is an honor. You're really brilliant."

After the performance, Luke Bryan, who was clearly impressed, applauded Thunderstorm. The incident demonstrated the level of respect Thunderstorm has gained from the panel due to his consistent, soul-stirring performances.

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You can follow Thunderstorm Artis' journey on American Idol Season 23 on ABC.

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