American Idol Hopefuls Perform Billy Joel Hits

American Idol featured two songs by Hamptons resident Billy Joel on Wednesday’s “Rock Night” episode. The show’s remaining top seven contestants gave individual and group performances during the two-hour episode.

Country singer Janelle Arthur did a solo performance of Joel‘s “You May Be Right,” slowing down the original and adding a country feel to the vocals and arrangement. The judges seemed more interested in her bedazzled pink rhinestone cowboy boots and fringed vest than her vocals, but eccentric and usually on-target judge Nicki Minaj said she was “exceptional.”

Next, Arthur joined fellow contestants Amber Holcomb and Kree Harrison for a mediocre rendition of “It’s Still Rock and Roll To Me.” This time Hamptons visitor Mariah Carey and Idol veteran Randy Jackson seemed to be wild over the song, while Keith Urban appeared nonplussed and Minaj, returning to her senses, noted that the trio’s performance was “cheesy.”

In other East End-related news, Idol fan fave Burnell Taylor started the evening with Hamptons resident Jon Bon Jovi‘s “You Give Love a Bad Name.” Unfortunately, this too was somewhat lackluster compared to Taylor‘s usually well received songs.

Let’s hope the AI hopefuls do our Hamptons musicians justice in the coming weeks.