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After getting into the Top 7 of “American Idol,” Francisco Martin yet again touched hearts with his versions of “You’ll Be In My Heart” and “River.” Note that in the latest round held early this week, the finalists were required to sing a Disney song and another one dedicated to their mothers.
Judges Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan, and Katy Perry praised Francisco lavishly for his song from the movie “Tarzan.”
“We’re witnessing right here the transformation of Francisco,” Lionel declared.
“In other words, when you’re doing that now, that was just giving us confidence and enjoyment. And by the way, we as an audience, we love to see that kind of emotion. “
Lionel congratulated Francisco for making it into the Top 7, saying he’s “proud” of what the 19-year-old artist has achieved.
Katy found Francisco’s performance “really amazing,” echoing Lionel’s opinion that Francisco looked “relaxed” on stage.
“All that self-doubt has been really stripped away. What you gave us at the end is kind of what I wanted from Louis Knight. This is a competition. Let’s get real. There’s only one Idol and you were spot-on with your performance and then at the end, you let us have it with the talent of your voice. So good for you. You are a good bet,” she said.
Luke was thrilled with “his boy’s” performance.
“Great job! Just in that performance, you were like the king of the jungle and you felt like the king of ‘American Idol,’” he said.
After Francisco sang the Leon Bridges song, the jurors said he just might land the top spot at the end of the competition.
“I mean from singing the song from the ‘Tarzan,’ to singing ‘River,’ I don’t know what happened, but you have grown even more,” was how Katy put is.
“And this set of Mother’s Day songs is really separating the pack. It’s showing who deserves that top position and you are making it difficult for all these other contestants because that performance was so, so full and beautiful and real. It was so heartfelt what you just did.”
Luke thought Francisco even “beat” the original recording.
“It was better than the actual. We have heard the song so many times, but, man, from the first note, I would buy that right now!” he pointed out. “I would go spend my money right now!”
Lionel repeated that what he loves most is Francisco’s confidence which was just “front and center.”
“You’re no longer in your head. It’s all about your delivery now,” he related.
“We were checking your pulse (during auditions), remember that? Congratulations because you have a career and that is what’s most important and we saw it happen here on ‘American Idol.’”
It was in February when Francisco started his journey on the American singing talent competition. Even then, he charmed the judges as shown in the pilot episode of the show’s 18th season.
Francisco came in with his guitar and rendered Maggie Rogers’ “Alaska.” Judges were won over instantly, with Katy raising her right hand with a thumbs up within the first few seconds of the performance.
Francisco is now vying for a spot in the Top 5 along with Arthur Gunn, Dillon James, Jonny West, Julia Gargano, Louis Knight, and Just Sam.