'American Idol' Season 18 Episode 9: Francisco Martin tames his nerves to unleash a Top 20-worthy performance
Sunday night's telecast of 'American Idol' showed a welcome new side to Francisco Martin. Francisco has come a long way during his surreal 'American Idol' journey, culminating in his latest showstopping Top 40 performance at the Disney resort in Aulani, Hawaii. Initially touted as the possible winner of the entire singing competition, "Francisco from San Francisco" as he was being referred to, was doing well in the singing department, but still had to deal with his biggest enemy - himself.
In almost every performance that we've seen him in, especially during Hollywood Week, Francisco was having to deal with humungous bouts of self-doubt and anxiety. Despite his crippling nerves, his incredible vocal talent was plainly visible and he was ushered into the Top 40 having made a distinct impression on the judging panel. The 'American Idol' judge Katy Perry herself is a self-confessed fan and everyone was rooting for Francisco to seize his moment in Hawaii and shine like the star he was destined to be.
The 19-year-old Francisco admitted that his poignant choice of song, 'Falling' by Harry Styles was a result of some painful and emotional experiences last year. He'd gone through a period of darkness, loneliness and isolation and had stopped caring about himself due to sustained bouts of negativity. He'd lost some close friends along the way due to this and was hoping to redeem himself with this heartfelt song. And he certainly didn't disappoint this time around. The Francisco that stepped out on stage in Aulani, Hawaii, made the prior timid versions of Francisco seem like weak shadows of his former self. This Francisco was bold, charismatic and focused. He sang from his heart and belted out the lyrics with a crystal-clear voice, coupled with huge ambition and purpose.
The watching judges were astounded, and said that they didn't recognize Francisco anymore and that it was certainly a good thing. "Is that Bruno Mars?" said a dumbfounded Perry, who was pleasantly surprised by his new-found charisma. They noted that the young man ticked every box when it came to the winning attributes that every 'Idol' contestant should possess and encouraged him to stay exactly who he was. And Francisco's fans were thrilled to see the change in their boy wonder too.
"Francisco Martin is going to be a big-time star. He’s a beast," said one diehard supporter. Another admirer said, "I’m sorry, if Francisco Martin doesn’t win American Idol I'm gonna lose my mind," while another fan gushed, "I’m in love with Francisco Martin's voice."
We do hope he continues to stay true to himself in the weeks ahead. To watch more 'American Idol', tune in on Sunday and Monday, nights at 8 pm ET on the ABC network.