More Reviews From Joshua's Performances Last Night

Source: NOLA.com

Joshua Ledet brings “American Idol” judges to their feet (again).



It was 1980s week on “American Idol,” so flashbacks for the judges, especially Randy Jackson and Steven Tyler, were required.

In that setting, Louisiana’s Joshua Ledet again thrilled the judges, studio audience and viewers at home with his rendition of “If You Don’t Know Me By Now,” known to too many involved as a Simply Red song.

Written by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, it was first and definitively recorded in 1972 by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes with the great Teddy Pendergrass on lead vocal.

“The mentors are enthusiastic during rehearsal,” writes recapper supreme Lisa de Moraes @ WashingtonPost.com. “In fact, Jimmy says he’s going to stand outside the hall and ‘sell Holy Ghost tee-shirts’ because Joshua’s performance is sure to inspire people to buy the T-shirts. It’s a music-industry inside joke, we guess?

“Joshua starts at a leisurely pace, and there’s a large drown-the-singer choir, but he manages to sidestep them and keeps on building. Joshua’s the real deal. The judges are buying the T-shirts. ‘Spectacular!’ raves JLo. ‘I think we found someone tonight who’s got to have it,’ screams Randy. Seacrest screams ‘You gots to have it!’

“Joshua, on the other hand, is disarmingly modest, telling Seacrest, who asks how he can sing a tune like that, ‘I don’t know anything about the songs. I’m only 19 years old – I can’t say I’ve had any love problems.’”
Further reading about “American Idol:”




Jim Farber @ NYDailyNews.com

That left the two burliest singers, once again, at the top of the heap. Sixteen year old Jessica Sanchez channelled her alter-ego of Bibi Chez to power her way through Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know.” Meanwhile, the gospel-inflected Joshua Ledet offered an electrifying scream, and complex runs, during his take on “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” (a ‘70s song, even if Simply Red did re-cut it in the ‘80s).

In case the lead pair’s advantage wasn’t clear enough from those performances, their added duet in “I Knew You Were Waiting” took them even higher. The performance caused J. Lo to finger them as the possible final two. Don’t be surprised if that call turns prophetic.

Annie Barrett @ EW.com

Anyway, Joshua delivered the same heaping helping of vocal gymnastics we've come to expect from him, and he didn't have to wipe his nose from crying too hard this time. "It wasn't too much over-the-top and it was way over-the-top," said Steven, who would understand such an accomplishment.

Melissa Locker @ RollingStone.com

Despite the fact that the judges have specifically told Joshua Ledet to try and step out of his gospel comfort zone, they love-love-love his gospel choir rendition of Simply Red's "If You Don't Know Me." They are on their feet and clapping wildly at the end of the song.