Judge says 'Idol' contestant's 'Burden' not his moment
Last week Lee DeWyze welcomed criticism from the American Idol judges.
On Tuesday, he heard plenty more after his version of "Beast of Burden" by the Rolling Stones.
"I really like you as a person, your whole story about working in a pant shop, dreaming of becoming a star," said Simon Cowell. "But what's holding you back is your personality. You didn't shine at the moment. What I want to see, and I pray you're back next week, is for you to come on this stage, choose your song and have what I call 'a moment.' Stamp your mark. Stop thinking other people are better than you, because that's what I see at the moment. "
The Top 12 remaining "Idol" contestants took on the Rolling Stones Tuesday and for the second week in a row, DeWyze didn't come off as a top performer, but he certainly wasn't one of the bottom few. One contestant will be voted off the show tonight, which airs at 8 p.m. on Fox.
Before he took the stage, Idol producers showed a video of DeWyze back home in Mount Prospect with his parents, Lee Sr. and Kathleen, who talked about how shy Lee was as a boy.
In fact, the first time DeWyze sang for his parents was in the back seat of his family's car and he told his parents to tilt the rearview mirror so they couldn't watch him.
"I was so scared and nervous then," said DeWyze on the video. "Now I'm in front of millions of people on national TV but that's were I was and this is where I'm now and it's a big deal."
Before joining Idol, DeWyze lost his apartment lease and left his job at a Mount Prospect paint store and was living paycheck to paycheck.
Cowell wasn't the only judge to critique DeWyze's performance. Ellen De Gegeneres compared it to a hospital gown.
If DeWyze makes it past tonight's vote, he promises to be ready for next week. Ryan Seacrest told DeWyze he should "let go and embrace the stage."
"I definitely need to and I will," DeWyze said.
The panel was most impressed with Siobhan Magnus' theatrical interpretation of "Paint It Black," which concluded with the 20-year-old glass blower wailing into the microphone.
• The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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