For her first song on the May 11th American Idol, Haley Reinhart screamed her way through Michael Jackson‘s Earth Song and split the judges 2-1.

After I took out my earplugs, here is what I heard the judges say:

Jennifer Lopez: “I felt that song inspired you…Here’s where we are at the competition right now. James comes out and sets the bar. He does it with a great song and everyone is up on their feet. You have to think about that when you choose a song. That song has a beautiful message. No doubt. But I want you to be thinking about that when choosing a song: What everybody else is doing.”

Randy Jackson then pulled out his “Yo, listen!” phrase which he has barely used this season, so I knew it was gonna be bad news for Haley….”Yo, listen, just keeping it really real. Where we are at the competition is who wants to win this. Who is gonna take it home. The song does not suit you. I feel like you were screaming at the top of your range the same note at the end over and over again. My opinion is I didn’t like it. I felt like you were screaming.”

Steven Tyler interrupted: “Haley, don’t listen to them…They’re both wrong. That’s what you get from that. That song showed me that you can. You nailed it. You nailed the upper register. You pushed it to the top. The audience heard it. And America heard it. Don’t listen to them.”

Ya, Steven, I heard it. And I didn’t like it one bit. And I usually like Haley. How about you all? Did your ears hurt as much as mine or did I miss something? If you missed her performance, here is the video clip:

Instead of lying down and giving up, especially after Randy said Lauren, Scotty, and James had a three-way tie for first place tie after the first song, Haley came out angry and kicking but not screaming on her second song. And as she proved last week, when she sings angry she kicks ass.

Haley’s rendition of I Who Have Nothing by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller left me (and Casey Abrams in the studio audience) breathless. It was one of my favorite performances all season. THIS performance probably saved her from elimination this week. She should send a huge thank you basket of goodies for Lady Gaga for helping her bring out the theatrics in her performance.

Jennifer Lopez: “Look what you’re capable of. It was amazing. One of the best performances of the year.”
Randy Jackson: “Everybody needs a moment tonight. Baby you just had a moment right here that put you in it to win it. That was amazing. One of your best vocals ever.”
Steven Tyler: “I always knew it. It was a classic moment with classic Haley. You just Reinharted your way to middle of next week. That was beautiful.”

Photo Credit: Fox