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Who says Jessica Sanchez cannot do rock?


Who says 16-year-old Jessica Sanchez cannot do rock?
 
The Filipino-Mexican Sanchez, known for her beautiful renditions of soul music, rocked the “American Idol” stage, wowing the judges during the show’s Top 5 performance night on Wednesday (Thursday morning in Manila) as she sang Ike and Tina Turner's "Proud Mary."
 
Each performing two songs, the “Idol” hopefuls were tasked to pick a song by a British artist and another from the 1960s, in this week’s episode dubbed as “British invasion.”
 
In the first part of the show, Sanchez sang her version of “Proud Mary”, hitting the high notes as she showed off her “rocker” side. She walked around the stage, just what judge Jennifer Lopez wished to see last week.
 
Lopez was impressed saying, “You’re so grown up there! It’s crazy, I almost forgot that you’re 16 years old. I love seeing you move. I missed that last week in your performance.”
 
As Sanchez performed, Lopez added she saw “a little bit of Tina and a little bit of Beyonce.”
 
Meanwhile, judge Steven Tyler was glad hearing Sanchez “stretch out.”
 
"The only thing that gives experience a run for its money is a 16-year-old,” he quipped, “I’m hearing the blues come out of you. You took it an octave higher, you screamed it. How many times can you say it, and it still sounded great,” Tyler said.
 
However, producer Randy Jackson was not very satisfied with her rendition.
 
“This performance was okay for me, barely okay,” he pointed out. “You took on probably the biggest dragon of the night. The thing that pulled it out for you was your force.”
 
Defending Sanchez, Lopez restated the purpose of the show, which is watching the contestants grow and seeing their journey.
 
“You can’t compare a 16-year-old to Tina Turner,” she told Jackson.
 
The “Idols” took advices from singer-actor Steven Van Zandt who stood as the episode’s mentor.
 
Unbelievable
 
In the show’s second part, Sanchez sang “You Are So Beautiful,” a British hit by Joe Cocker, ending “beautifully,” Lopez said.
 
“You once again showed America just how beautiful your voice is,” Tyler said.
Lopez meanwhile felt nostalgic.
 
“That reminded me of when you sang ‘I Will Always Love You’ and how you just captivated the whole audience,” she said.
 
Jackson had a change of heart saying, “(In) round 2, this girl is on the top of the leader board right now.”
 
“It’s so pro,” the judge pointed out. “There are people singing for 50 years who can’t do this. Your talent level is just unbelievable.”
 
The three remaining girls — Sanchez with Hollie Cavanagh and Skylar Laine — also sang Jackie Wilson’s “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher” which Jackson said was “a very nice job.”
 
Joshua Ledet and Philip Phillips did a duet of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling” by The Righteous Brothers.
 
Second to Jasmine Trias
 
Sharing their views, fans over the Internet were also blown away by Sanchez’s performance.
 
@domynoe said: “Jessica Sanchez reminds me of a young Christina (Aguilera). One hell of a voice and range in that tiny 16 year old body.”
 
 
 So far, among the contestants with Filipino blood, Sanchez has the second best achievement.
 
Filipino-American Jasmine Trias ranked third in "American Idol’"s third season. Before Sanchez, Thia Megia finished in the Top 11 of last year's competition. Before Megia came Ramiele Malubay who placed 9th in the seventh season. 
 
 
The results show will be aired tomorrow. Will Sanchez ace it again? - VVP, GMA News Related story: Fans say Jessica Sanchez will win 'American Idol'