Jurnee – American Idol’s Top 14 – From Littleton, CO
I always knew Jurnee, a top 14 powerhouse on American Idol, was talented. However, I didn’t know she could channel Jessie J, Ariana Grande, and — most impressively, Nicki Minaj — during a single performance. But Jurnee did just that on the first live, public-voted episode of this season … and in the process, she made Idol history.
While we’ve seen elements of hip-hop on Idol before — like beatboxer Blake Lewis, who dueted with Doug E. Fresh on the Season 6 finale, or scatty Season 15 hopeful Avalon Young — we’ve never really seen a contestant rap on the live competitive shows. Back in Season 12, in fact, then-judge Nick actually advised aspiring rappers to stay away from the show! But this year, according to an inside source, Nicki gave Jurnee express permission to change the “Bang Bang” line “It’s Nicki full throttle” to “It’s Jurnee full throttle” — and Jurnee fulfilled that line’s promise.
Jurnee gave me The Writing’s on the Wall-era Destiny’s Child realness with her high-ponytailed box braids, pink Pretty Woman boots, and graffiti-stenciled cutoffs. She looked like a pop star — and she sounded and acted like one, dropping it low as she hit every high note. And she killed that Nicki verse! I assumed Jurnee was just a pretty ballad-belter, but I was wrong. Apparently so was judge Katy Perry. “I think you’re an artist now,” Katy said, “not some wedding singer.”
Not all of the top 14 made as banging an impact as Jurnee, but overall, this was a strong night. Check out the rest of the performances below.
By Lyndsey Parker | Yahoo Music
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/yo-idol-raps-jurnee-makes-history-top-14-show-031910151.html