AMERICAN IDOL's Top-4 Theme & Showtune Suggestions: RENT, DOGFIGHT, CABARET, AVENUE Q, and More

By: May. 02, 2014
AMERICAN IDOL
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As first reported by TVLine.com, AMERICAN IDOL's Top-4 Week is going to take a very IF/THEN look at love with the theme "Love: Break-Ups and Make-Ups." So, after last night's elimination of personality vacuum Sam Woolf, IDOL's Final Four; Jena Irene, Caleb Johnson, Jessica Meuse, and Alex Preston, will each take their turns with two songs each that "celebrate the agony and the ecstasy of music's greatest theme."

This could be an interesting opportunity for some of the contestants. Like many of the themes this season, this one allows a lot of leeway in terms of song selection. And since the IDOL Powers That Be haven't used a Broadway Theme since Season 7's Andrew Lloyd Webber Week, and since I am way under-educated on current popular songs, I am going to suggest the perfect showtunes for each IDOL finalist to sing next week.

So, I combed through the 4,969 show songs in my iTunes and I came up with these 12. There were many other options, but I primarily stuck with newer, pop and rock inspired shows to fit the individual vocalists. I didn't think anyone wanted to hear Jessica sing "I Loved You Once In Silence" or Caleb sing "You Are My Home" from THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL. Also, since Tony-winner Jason Robert Brown learned yesterday that his newest show THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY is closing after just two months on Broadway, I thought it might help ease his pain if I went a little heavy on the JRB.

I'm also going to provide links to all of the songs, primarily with their original performers, because I love and appreciate you all that much.

Jena Irene
Break-Up Song: "Still Hurting" (performed by original Cathy, Lauren Kennedy. YES she is, don't argue with me!) from THE LAST FIVE YEARS by Jason Robert Brown

Also Acceptable: "Pretty Funny" (performed by original Rose, Lindsay Mendez) from DOGFIGHT by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

Make-Up Song: "A Brand New You" (performed by the OBC, including Ariana Grande) from 13 by Jason Robert Brown

Caleb Johnson
Break-Up Song: "Casualty of Love" (performed by original Robbie, Stephen Lynch) from THE WEDDING SINGER by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin

Also Acceptable: "Maybe This Time" (since this was written for the movie, this is performed by Liza Minnelli) from CABARET by John Kander and Fred Ebb

Make-Up Song: "There Once Was a Man" (performed by revival Babe, Kelli O'Hara and Sid, some guy named Harry Connick Jr.) from THE PAJAMA GAME by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross

Jessica Meuse
Break-Up Song: "Take Me or Leave Me" (performed by original Maureen, Idina Menzel and original Joanne, Fredi Walker) from RENT by Jonathan Larson

Also Acceptable: "In Short" (performed by original cast member Whitney Bashor) from EDGES by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

Make-Up Song: "I Will Never Leave You" (performed by original Daisy, Emily Skinner and original Violet, Alice Ripley) from SIDE SHOW by Henry Krieger and Bill Russell

Alex Preston
Break-Up Song: "There's a Fine, Fine Line" (performed by original Kate Monster, Stephanie D'Abruzzo) from AVENUE Q by Robert Lopez, Jeff Marx, and Jeff Whitty

Also Acceptable: "Come to Your Senses" (performed by original Karessa, Amy Spanger) from TICK, TICK...BOOM! by Jonathan Larson

Make-Up Song: "Someone to Fall Back On" (performed by Jason Robert Brown) by Jason Robert Brown

So, what do you think? Do you have better showtune suggestions? Should I have given Alex "Your Eyes," or Jena "Another Suitcase in Another Hall?" Let me know what you think in the comments below, or on Twitter @BWWMatt.


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