'American Idol' Season 18 Episode 7: Jimmy Levy and Nick Merico work in sync to nail the duet round
In what seemed like an unlikely match-up at first, both Jimmy Levy and Nick Merico comfortably sailed through their sternest test yet on 'American Idol'. The latest episode of the show, which aired tonight, March 22, threw up a huge surprise for viewers right from the get-go.
The judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie, surprised everyone in an unprecedented first for the singing competition - they decided to make the contestants each pick a partner and then judge those pairs based on a collaborative duet of their own choosing. This effectively forced the 'Idol' hopefuls to make some tough decisions - while keeping one cautious eye on their partner.
The road to success was clear - the contestant obviously had to shine in their own performance, but at the same time, they also could not risk being overpowered by their partner, nor could they leave them floundering by themselves on stage if they were struggling to bring it home. Not working in sync with each other was a recipe for disaster, as one false step by either teammate could scupper both their dreams for the next round in Hollywood. With that in mind, both Jimmy and Nick decided to team up with each other, hoping that they could help each other shine on the big stage. Both are certainly talented singers, but they aren't without their doubters in this year's competition, so everyone was waiting to see what they could bring to the table.
Dubbing themselves the "Miami Boyz" after their Florida hometown, the pair proceeded to wow the judge with their tasteful rendition of 'Someone You Loved' by Lewis Capaldi. They both sang their individual parts really well and more importantly, Jimmy and Nick listened to each other. They let the song breathe by giving themselves some time and space with their gorgeous arrangement and as it turned out, they really hit it out of the park this time. Richie said that their duet really showcased a wonderful matching blend of voices, and gave the happy singers their due - they were through to the next round.
Fans of the duo were also really pleased for the pair. "Nick is just perfection but Jimmy has such an interesting tone" said an excited fan, while another viewer enthused, "Maybe the Best Duet of the Night!" Another admirer remarked, "Just lovely! I can't wait to hear more from these two. Good luck y'all!!"
We can't wait to see what the next Hollywood round brings for these talented contestants either. Make sure you catch more of 'American Idol', which airs on Sunday and Monday nights on the ABC network at 8 pm ET.