Finally! We have an American Idol 2014 theme I can actually work with! It’s 1980s week on Idol, so that means the contestants will be taking on songs from the decade of neon and big hair.
*UPDATE* – Watch the American Idol Top 8 performances in our full recap of Wednesday night’s show!
So what should the Top 8 sing? Let’s take a look.
Sam Woolf. I’m feeling an acoustic version of “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper for him. I saw Matchbox Twenty do a version of “Time After Time” like 10 years ago and I think it would be a perfect arrangement for Sam.
Jessica Meuse. “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler. She has to sing this. There are no other options. If she doesn’t sing it, then Jena should. Someone should. I feel like she’ll be tempted to do “Alone” by Heart, but I pray to the reality TV gods that she (or anyone else) does not. It’s way too overdone.
C.J. Harris. I never know what C.J. should do because I still don’t know what kind of artist he is. I’m going to go with “Living Years” by Mike and the Mechanics. For no good reason.
Caleb Johnson. Um, hello. Bon Jovi. “You Give Love a Bad Name” perhaps? Yes, please. Although, I must confess I wouldn’t mind hearing him take on other hair bands like Whitesnake. That could be fun.
Malaya Watson. Tina Turner. I’m thinking “Better Be Good To Me” or “What’s Love Got to Do With It.” I think Tina would definitely be a good move for Malaya this week. I’d also love to hear her do “Purple Rain” by Prince.
Dexter Roberts. Well we know Dexter is never going to just take a pop song and put a country spin on it, so let me think of a 1980s country song for him. Ummm. “Always on My Mind” by Willie Nelson.
Jena Irene. Pat Benatar is the only thing I’ll accept from Jena. It has to be done. Seriously, please do Pat. Do “We Belong” or “Love is a Battlefield.” Please.
Alex Preston. “Jessie’s Girl” was the first thing that came to mind for Alex. But maybe that’s too obvious. So maybe some Foreigner like “I Want To Know What Love Is.”
What would you like to hear the Top 8 sing this week?
Dexter – Keep Your hands To Yourself/Georgia Satellites
Jessica – Just Like Jesse James/Cher
Alex – More Than I Can Say/Leo Sayer
Malaya – Let’s hear It For The Boy/Deniece Williams
Caleb – I Can’t Fight This Feeling/REO Speedwagon
Jena – It Must Have Been Love/Roxette
CJ – The Chair/George Strait
Sam – Crazy Little Thing Called Love/Queen
If they do duets again:
Malaya & Jena – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Alex & Sam – You Give Love A Bad name
CJ & Dexter – I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool
Caleb & Jessica – After All [Cher & Peter Cetera]
Sorry about the amp mistakes. It’s too early for my keyboard.
You have some really fabulous suggestions there – so well thought out!
bohemian rhapsody is not 80s my dear, its the 70s kathleen oppici
I would love Tina Turner for Malaya…my favorite “Better be good to Me”/
I would love Bruce Springstein for Sam…Dancing in the dark..!
I would love Kiss for Caleb…..Beth
I would love Cher for Jena.. any song !
I would love Simply red for Alex…Holding back the years
I would love Quincy Jones for CJ….Just once
I would love Bonnie Tyler for Jessica……Total eclipse of the heart.
I would love Willie Nelson for Dexter…..Always on my mind.
NO CINDI LAUPER….her song has been sung more times then anyone during the eighties week…
DIdn’t the song Beth come out in the 70’s?
I’m afraid you’re going to have to hear Lauper – https://americanidolnet.com/american-idol-2014-spoilers-song-list-top-8/
Alex – Elvis Costello
Caleb – Van Halen
Sam – The Proclaimers / I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)
Dexter – Lee Greenwood / God Bless the USA
CJ- Bob Seger / Against the Wind
Jena – Berlin or B-52’s
Jessica – Til Tuesday / Voices Carry
Malaya – Barbra Streisand / Somewhere
Those were some really nice song choices… better than some of the ones they did pick…