Lionel Richie compares 16-year-old rocker girl to Janis Joplin following incredible performance
Eight singers went home on American Idol Sunday night as the top 16 were revealed, and one of those lucky contestants was 16-year-old high school student Casey Bishop, who judge Luke Bryan previously stated was "the damn winner of American Idol," after her first audition.
On Sunday, Bishop delivered a rocking performance of Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun," which not only blew the judges away, but also viewers at home.
Bryan stated, "You can sing anything you want to. I mean, there's so many amazing notes in what you just did, and it was Soundgarden and it was crazy. It's just really impressive. And why you chose rock, I'll never know, but it's your thing and you can sing, no matter what you sing," while Lionel Richie gave the best compliment, as he shared, “It's fascinating to watch you because you start out as this fairy princess, and then you end up being close to Joplin. I don't know where we're going with this, but I want to know where the extra pair of lungs are on you, because you're holding these notes out to the point of just plain phenomenal."
Finally, Katy Perry stated, “You're dangerous, and I like it."The other contestants probably think Bishop is “dangerous” too, because she’s a real threat in this competition.
Video Transcript
[SCRATCHING]
[MUSIC - SOUNDGARDEN, "BLACK HOLE SUN"]
- (SINGING) Hang my head. Drown my fear 'til you all just disappear. Black hole sun, won't you come?
- Eight singers went home on "American Idol" Sunday night as the top 16 were revealed, and one of those lucky contestants was Casey Bishop, who judge Luke Bryan previously stated was, quote, "the damn winner of 'American Idol,'" after her first audition.
- Won't you come? Won't you come? Won't you come? Black hole sun.
- Casey's rocking performance of Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun" was incredible, but it's the fact that she is only 16 years old, with a unique rocker style, that really blew the judges away.
- You start out as this fairy princess, and then you end up being close to Joplin. I don't know where we're going with this, but I want to know where the extra pair of lungs are on you because you are holding these notes out to the point of just plain phenomenal.
- Viewers at home agreed, as they, too, were totally impressed with Casey's performance, like this person who tweeted, "this group of "American Idol" are really so good, but Casey Bishop? Man, she's one of the best vocalists on this show since Jennifer Hudson, in my opinion." In fact, many people thought Casey was the best of the night, so it didn't even matter that the teen only just recently discovered the iconic rock band.
- Casey, when did you start listening to Soundgarden?
- Uh, recently, actually. [LAUGHS]
- I think all your life, after that performance.
- That's exactly right.
[WHOOSH]
