I've always thought it was a particularly bold move to sing one of the judges' songs to them on American Idol, but it can sometimes really pay off, as Carrie Underwood discovered this week.
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Carrie Underwood has had a rollercoaster of a ride with her judging debut on American Idol so far. She has had to learn to be firm but fair and deal with the emotional ups and downs that come with it. However, under the guidance of the other seasoned judges, she is learning.
Recently, Carrie Underwood was faced with a contestant who had chosen to sing one of Underwood's songs. This is always a risk. Covers are hard enough to do in the first place, and singing them to the original artist is quite a challenge.
But, when JMarie sang "Before He Cheats," her cover was so good Carrie Underwood forgot it was her own song. "I was a little worried coming into [auditions], sitting here, that people would sing my songs to me, but you made it your own," Underwood said. "I forgot about myself having ever sung that song, and it was like I had heard it for the first time. It was effortless, amazing."
JMarie Goes Through To Hollywood
The risk paid off, and JMarie went straight to the next round, using a Carrie Underwood original song to get her there. The decision from the judges was unanimous, and everyone was impressed with her rendition of the well-known song.
If an artist decides to do a cover, there are a few important things to bear in mind. Sure, they can try to emulate the original note for note, but that's not usually the best approach. JMarie chose to take the original and make it her own.
By singing the Carrie Underwood song with her own style, she gave it a fresh edge. She was able to showcase not only her vocal control but also her creativity. As Richie pointed out, "You made it yours, and you came with attitude." This should bode well for her going into the next rounds in American Idol.
We will hopefully see her bring that original sound into the coming weeks of the show.
