Ep 18. Week 10A: Top 5 Perform

During the eighteenth episode of the second season of American Idol, the top five contestants take the stage to perform for the judges and America's votes in hopes of securing a spot in the next round.

The episode begins with a brief recap of the previous week's performances and eliminations. The remaining five contestants, Clay Aiken, Kimberley Locke, Josh Gracin, Ruben Studdard, and Trenyce, are introduced and given a brief moment to share their thoughts on the competition and their aspirations.

The theme for this week's performances is "Billboard Number Ones," meaning each contestant must choose a song that has reached number one on the Billboard charts at some point in history. Each contestant is given the opportunity to work with a vocal coach and rehearse their song before taking the stage.

First up is Kimberley Locke, who chooses to sing "Band of Gold" by Freda Payne. Randy Jackson commends Kimberley for her song choice and delivery, noting that she's "one of the best singers in the competition." Paula Abdul agrees, praising Kimberley's "beautiful tone and range." Simon Cowell, as usual, offers a more critical assessment, claiming he was bored by the performance and it lacked the energy he had expected.

Next up is Josh Gracin, who chooses to perform "I'm Already There" by Lonestar. Randy praises Josh's authenticity and emotion, saying that he showed a new side of himself. Paula agrees, saying that Josh "left his heart on the stage." Simon is less impressed, stating that he found the performance "too safe and predictable."

Trenyce takes the stage third, singing "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green. Randy once again praises Trenyce's vocal ability, saying that she is "one of the most talented singers in the competition." Paula agrees, stating that Trenyce "commands the stage like a true star." Simon offers his critique, saying that he found the performance "forgettable" and that Trenyce didn't make the song her own.

Clay Aiken performs fourth, choosing to sing "At This Moment" by Billy Vera and the Beaters. Randy commends Clay for taking a risk with the song choice, and Paula calls it "brilliant." Simon offers high praise, stating that Clay's performance was "the best of the night so far" and that Clay "deserves to be in the finals."

Last up is Ruben Studdard, who sings "Superstar" by The Carpenters. Randy calls Ruben's performance "amazing" and praises his ability to connect with the audience. Paula agrees, stating that Ruben has a "unique quality that makes people fall in love with him." Simon once again offers his critical opinion, calling Ruben's performance "good, but not amazing."

After all five contestants have performed, the judges offer their critiques and opinions on each performance before the voting lines open for America to vote for their favorite. The episode ends with a cliffhanger, as the audience is left wondering who will make it through to the next round and who will be sent home.

Overall, the episode is a strong showcase of the remaining contestants' vocal abilities and showmanship. Each contestant brings a unique interpretation to their song choice, and the judges offer insightful feedback to help them improve. As the competition heats up, it's clear that every performance counts and any slip-up could result in elimination.