FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
Desmond Urata, left, Uluwehi Laurita and others reacted last night in the Dave & Busters Showroom after Jasmine finished her song on "American Idol."
Manilow theme on ‘Idol’
works well for Jasmine
Entering the sixth elimination round on "American Idol," seven remaining finalists vied to stay alive with songs written, composed or arranged by singer-songwriter Barry Manilow.
The competitors met and collaborated with Manilow over the past week with musical arrangements tailored to each contestant's vocal strengths.
While her rivals belted out popular fare such as "Mandy," "All The Time" and "It's A Miracle," Mililani's Jasmine Trias, the fourth singer to take the stage, chose to sing "I'll Never Love This Way Again." The Richard Kerr/Will Jennings-penned ballad popularized by Dionne Warwick earned Manilow and co-arranger Artie Butler a Grammy nomination in 1979 for Best Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s).
Sporting a denim jacket, a billowy pink skirt and a new hairstyle, Trias appeared for the first time with her trademark flower pick on her jacket instead of her hair. Following an assertive performance, appraisals by the show's panel of judges suggested Trias' star was on the rise again.
FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
People gathered to watch Jasmine Trias compete during an "American Idol" party last night at Dave & Busters. Mahealani Jackson, left, and Crystal Jones watched from the bar. Jasmine chose to sing "I'll Never Love This Way Again."
"This is one of my favorite songs in life -- I love this song," gushed judge Randy Jackson. "Very good job. You're finally coming back, man."
"I produced and arranged it for Dionne Warwick, who had a hit on that one," announced Manilow, the evening's guest celebrity judge. "I think you give Dionne a little competition with that one."
"You did a great job, Jasmine," added Paula Abdul. "Beautiful job."
Simon Cowell, typically the most biting of all evaluators, quickly went after Trias' wardrobe. "I'm glad we've lost the silly flower at last," he quipped about the flower usually behind her right ear.
Trias immediately pointed to her jacket, exclaiming "No, it's right here!"
Cowell then turned to Manilow and asked "What have you done to the girls? You've made them all sing really well."
Results of last night's nationwide call-in vote will be announced tonight at 7 on KHON.
