Where’s Colton Dixon when you need him? We share song suggestions for the top six. By Gil Kaufman and James Montgomery “American Idol” top six Photo: FOX Every year, there’s one “American Idol” theme week that proves to be the equalizer. Sometimes it’s disco night, or performance episodes dedicated to Frank Sinatra, Gloria Estefan, big band or Bon Jovi. Wednesday night’s (April 25) Queen motif could be the one that trips up some of this year’s most promising contenders. What a time to be missing the show’s resident glamo (that’s glam and emo smushed together) rocker, Colton Dixon ! Though both of us are huge fans of the pioneering British stadium rockers, is there any band whose music feels less relevant at this cultural moment? In other words, six seasons after Simon and the gang first took us on a trip down “Fat Bottom Girls” lane, it’s the obvious choice for “Idol” as the show steams — or limps — toward next month’s finale. All snark aside, Wednesday night could belong to Elise Testone, since she’s the only one left who understands the intricate velvety folds of late singer Freddie Mercury’s bombastic voice. Also, if it was up to us, someone would have to do a song from the hugely underrated 1981 soundtrack to “Flash Gordon” (AAAH-AAAH!) but that’s for another time. Of course, as is seemingly required by law, there’s also going to be a second hour of “Idol,” in which the top six will sing a song of their choice (like, it could be anything), so in anticipation of some “Killer Queen” and whatever comes after, MTV News’ resident “Idol” know-it-alls, Gil Kaufman and James Montgomery, are back with their carefully considered song suggestions for the remaining “Idol” hopefuls: Hollie Cavanagh Let’s get it right out of the way: Bottom-three squatter Hollie continues to live on borrowed time. Queen’s music is all about emotion and showy delivery, and the British cowgirl has proven time and again that those qualities are a taller order than, well, her. That said, she could soar with one of the band’s many rich ballads, such as “You’re My Best Friend” or “Somebody to Love.” For her song choice: Mariah Carey ‘s “Hero,” just because. — Kaufman It would be fitting if she did “Another One Bites the Dust,” since she’s probably toast this week. Instead, she’ll do one of Queen’s excellent power ballads, like “Spread Your Wings” or “Save Me” (even though America won’t). As for her other song? I don’t even know where to begin. When she auditioned in season 10, she did a couple of Miley Cyrus tunes, so I’ll just say she does “The Climb” again. Hollie really inspires enthusiasm, if you couldn’t tell. — Montgomery Joshua Ledet Josh has pretty much been able to sing anything thrown his way so far, but Queen could be a serious roadblock. Though their songs have plenty of flavor, it’s not necessarily the gospel-y kind he favors. He should probably take the safe route and put some of his soul on a big ballad like “I Want to Break Free.” If the Queen thing falls flat, he can redeem himself with something young, sexy and firmly in his lane like Chris Brown’s “Beautiful People.” — Kaufman He’s got the pipes — and the burgeoning ego — to take on the entirety of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” but he’d be better served channeling all those vocal histrionics (and craziness) into three-and-a-half minutes of “Don’t Stop Me Now.” And then we could call him Mr. Fahrenheit instead of Mantasia. For his second song, dude, I don’t know. He should just do a Fantasia song again. Any of them. — Montgomery Jessica Sanchez It’s been an up-and-down ride for the once-infallible Sanchez, but she should cruise this week, and I’m going to suggest she go rogue and sing the 1981 David Bowie/Queen collabo “Under Pressure,” which has a dynamic range that could let her show off those pipes. And she has to do Beyonc
