How Disney Night Proved American Idol Should Do More Group Performances
Disney Night on American Idol season 20 began with a group performance of the smash hit "We Don't Talk About Bruno" from Encanto, which proved that the show should do more of these production numbers with the whole cast. Longtime fans of the show remember that when American Idol appeared on Fox, it was a two-night event, with performances airing on the first night and the results show occurring on the night after that. During the results shows, the finalists would sing together in group performances that showcased their personalities and friendships. Viewers had the opportunity to see different sides of their favorite contestants, as they sang and danced to choreographed numbers without the pressure of being critiqued by the judges. When the show moved to ABC and the show began airing on only one night and revealing the results at the end of the episode, time constraints made group performances mostly a thing of the past.
The American Idol season 20 Top 10 finalists' performance of "We Don't Talk About Bruno" was a throwback to the early days of the show. The song was the perfect choice for a large group of contestants as it incorporates almost the whole cast of the movie and has many different singing parts. The performance began with Nicolina, Leah Marlene, Lady K, HunterGirl, and Emyrson Flora singing the first verse in front of a screen filled with the colorful scenery from the movie. They then moved to the side and Adassa and Rhenzy Feliz, the voice actors who played Dolores and Camilo in the film, took center stage. They sang their parts with the help of the harmonies of the finalists. Then Christian Guardino and Mike Parker joined the performance, dancing through the audience of screaming fans with Leah, while Jay Copeland, Fritz Hager, and Noah Thompson sang with the other finalists on the stage. As they all sang the rousing chorus, a backdrop of fireworks appeared on the screen behind them, creating a celebratory mood.
This performance of "We Don't Talk About Bruno" was reminiscent of the early days of the show when the group performances brought a new level of showmanship to the stage, and American Idol should have the finalists perform more of them. This song allowed the contestants to showcase their incredible vocal abilities as they sang impressive harmonies together and navigated through the intricate interwoven melodies at the end of the song. "We Don't Talk About Bruno" is one of the most recognizable songs in the Disney catalogue, and it was thrilling to hear how the finalists made the familiar melodies their own. Jay showed off his range as he sang a lyric that is traditionally sung by a female character, while HunterGirl, Christian, and Fritz made new and interesting choices with the notes in their parts of the song that demonstrated their artistry and creativity.
Another fun element of the American Idol group performances is the excitement that they bring to the audience. The anticipation that the live audience and viewers feel as they wait for their favorites to sing their solos and then cheer for them as they take the lead on the song is reminiscent of being at a concert. It is also very entertaining to see the American Idol contestants, many of whom have become close friends, interacting with each other on the stage. Although they are competing against each other, the contestants come together during group numbers in an inspiring spirit of camaraderie that is heartwarming. Also, the finalists genuinely have fun on the stage, which is infectious for the viewers. The American Idol group performances are a joyous celebration of the power that music has to bring people together.
American Idol should make group performances a priority in the future. They are an important part of the fabric of the show. They feature the vocal artistry of the finalists as they work together to sing in harmony, and bring out their personalities as they collaborate together. Without the pressure of judging, the contestants can sing and dance freely and enjoy themselves. This allows the audience to get to know them even better, and helps to decide who will be the next American Idol.
American Idol airs Sundays & Mondays at 8 p.m. EST on ABC.
Source: American Idol/YouTube
Source: Screenrant
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