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American Idol Season 23 continues to spark intense debate among viewers as contestants battle for spots in the competition's final rounds. The Top 10 performers honoured legendary women in music on Sunday's show, with country music queen Miranda Lambert serving as mentor.
The judges applauded all of the competitors and awarded standing ovations, but the fans' responses were different, especially in regards to Josh King's bluesy cover of Adele's "Rolling in the Deep."
American Idol viewers' comments on social media were distinct, despite the judges' excitement for his upbeat performance, which combined harmonica and piano. His continuing participation in the competition surprised many, and some even demanded that he be eliminated ahead of the Top 8 reveal.
The sharp discrepancy between the audience's reaction and the judges' acclaim underlines how unpredictable the competition is and how stage presence and entertainment value may occasionally overshadow technical vocal skill.
American Idol fans react to Josh King’s performance
The online response to Josh's performance revealed frustration with his advancement in American Idol, questioning how he survived elimination while contestants they considered more vocally talented were sent home.
“Josh has to go home tonight. It’s time. Vocally , he is just not on par with the rest.” one fan commented on X.com
“Not great. Had much better performances. This was over the top pageantry. He was hanging on by a thread, I don't think he makes it,” a fan said.
“Josh King advancing further than Canaan is WILD. Mattie and Josh need to be out tomorrow.” another fan said.
“y’all keep voting for Josh….just why?? he waited until top 10 to show us he can do more than play piano & while tonight was his best performance, I don’t get the hype” another fan commented.
“Slater AND Josh making top 8 over Kolbi is ridiculous” a fan declared.
“Josh over Canaan and Kolbi??? Are you serious?? America what is wrong with you” another fan reacted online.
Critics pointed to what they perceived as technical vocal shortcomings and described his performance style as chaotic rather than impressive.
"i liked josh at his audition but i'm baffled by him still being here at this point in the lives. he's just a very chaotic performer and not the greatest of vocalists," a fan said.
“That damn harmonica was the best part of the performance. Yall can stop with the sympathy votes for Josh now. Adele should roll up on him for that," another fan wrote.
“Josh??? You gotta be kidding.” a fan wrote regarding his selection to the top 8.
“Josh .. really? Nice kid but he won’t win ..” a fan declared.
Josh's supporters appreciate his unique approach and stage presence. The judges themselves fall into this category, with Lionel Richie praising Josh's ability to engage the audience and Carrie Underwood acknowledging his fighting spirit. This disconnect between judge and viewer opinions has become a recurring theme in recent American Idol seasons.
The performance that sparked discourse
During the American Idol Ladies' Night episode, Josh tackled Adele's powerful hit "Rolling in the Deep" with a bluesy interpretation that began at the piano before incorporating harmonica and featuring him moving energetically around the stage. During rehearsals, mentor Miranda Lambert described him as "quirky" but noted he seemed "all over the place," suggesting he pull back his performance slightly.
Despite her concerns, Josh embraced his full performance arsenal, drawing comparisons from some viewers to American Idol Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks. The judges responded with enthusiasm; Luke Bryan praised his fighting spirit, while Lionel Richie specifically commented on Josh's ability to connect with the audience.
The controversy surrounding Josh's continued presence in the competition raises questions about what qualities ultimately determine success on American Idol. As the field narrows to the Top 8, the tension between technical vocal ability and entertainment value becomes increasingly apparent.
Whether Josh continues his Idol journey depends entirely on viewer votes rather than judge opinions. According to the heated internet discussion, he has emerged as one of the season's most divisive competitors, a reputation that has occasionally translated into success for previous American Idol candidates who weren't the best vocalists but managed to garner enough viewers to progress.
Josh King's journey serves as a metaphor for the erratic nature of reality competition shows, where audience engagement can occasionally be more important than technical excellence, as American Idol approaches the announcement of its Season 23 winner.
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American Idol Season 23 airs Sundays and Mondays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu.
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