American Idol: What Should The Top 6 Sing For Bacharach-David/'Free' Choice Week?

By Michael Slezak
American-Idol-Season-12-Top-6-Song-Spoilers AMERICAN IDOL: TOP 6: L-R: Kree Harrison, Angie Miller, Candice Glover, Janelle Arthur, Amber Holcomb and Lazaro Arbos. CR: Michael Becker / FOX.

American-Idol-Season-12-Top-6We asked for fresh, modern music on Season 12 of American Idol, and executive producer Nigel Lythgoe has responded with...the Burt Bacharach/ Hal David Songbook!

[Insert Sound of Crickets Here]

Ah well, at least the second theme for Top 6 Week — during which the contestants will each cover two songs apiece — is "The Song I Wish I'd Written." That should yield some recent, not-done-to-death, edgy and/or unexpected material, as long as there's not some heinous fine print that turns it into "The Song I Wish I'd Written (From the List of 11 Songs That Uncle Nigel Bothered to Clear)."

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Below, my picks for the week's dual themes — though it's worth noting that a revised press release from Fox that hit my inbox overnight deleted mention of the previously announced Bacharach/David theme. No official word from the network on the reason for this retraction, but it's cause for a sliver of hope, no? Anyhoo...

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The Song You Wish You Wrote

Janelle Arthur: Hayden Panettiere's "Telescope" (from Nashville)

Candice Glover: Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Under the Bridge"

Kree Harrison: Jack White's "Love Interruption"

Amber Holcomb: Amerie's "Gotta Work"

Angie Miller: Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights"

Lazaro Arbo: Glen Medeiros' "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love for You"

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Burt Bacharach/ Hal David Songbook

Janelle Arthur: Bobbie Gentry's version of "I'll Never Fall in Love Again"

Candice Glover: A Sybil-esque take on "Don't Make Me Over"

Kree Harrison: Shelby Lynne's version of "Anyone Who Had a Heart"

Amber Holcomb: Naked Eyes' version of "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me"

Angie Miller: Dionne Warwick's "Wishin' and Hopin'"

Lazaro Arbos: Tom Jones' "What's New Pussycat?"

Your turn. If you ran the world, or at least Fox, what would the Top 6 sing next week? Sound off in the comments, and for all my Idol recaps, interviews, videos and commentary, follow me on Twitter @MichaelSlezakTV!

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