Who is Liliana Dalton? Fans call out the 'American Idol' Season 22 contestant for having no 'song structure'
SAN ANTONIA, TEXAS: Liliana Dalton is a contestant on 'American Idol' Season 22. This season, which premiered in mid-February 2024, features a diverse range of talented singers vying for the approval of judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan.
Several contestants stood out by performing original songs, providing a glimpse into the type of artists they aspire to be, both during their time on the show and in their future careers. 'American Idol's official YouTube channel has shared a sneak peek of an upcoming episode from season 22.
The preview spotlights Liliana Tovar Dalton, who is poised to audition with her original song, "5%." Liliana shares that the song draws inspiration from her previous relationship with a boy, symbolizing the minimal effort he invested in their connection. The preview clip of Liliana Tovar Dalton's audition on 'American Idol' has sparked mixed reactions among viewers on YouTube.
One viewer commented under the video, "Better songwriter than a vocalist, so the judgment is still on hold. Will put her on the watch list and see if she can survive Hollywood week! Everyone here keeps mentioning that she is like this singer or that. I want her to be herself, not "like" someone else. A good example would be KB from Utah."
Another wrote, "So lovely, but where is the song structure? There have been so many original song fragments this season." A third viewer wrote, "It doesnt feel authentic. i feel like she watched olivia tooooo much and completely took her over. even the facial expressions. but lovely voice"
Another wrote,"We already have Taylor, Olivia, and hundreds of others that sound like them. Trying really hard to be Olivia in singing and Taylor in songwriting. I want to hear Liliana the tone is there but delivery is not yet."
Some viewers questioned the authenticity of Liliana's performance, writing comments such as,"Why do many of these young women try to all sound alike? It's hard to differentiate" and "If her voice doesnt stand out, I dont see how she will get far in this show. You can't have two Olivia Rodrigos."
Liliana Dalton grew up in Texas writing her music
Liliana, a 17-year-old high school student hailing from San Antonio, Texas, not only performs but also writes her music.
During the 'American Idol' auditions, the 17-year-old introduced herself as a "teenage girl with strong emotions", especially about boys, which she channels into her songwriting. Her mother, Christa, accompanied her to the auditions, and they joyfully hugged after Liliana received her Hollywood ticket.
In 2023, Liliana released her song titled "Wish u cheated." Liliana expressed her gratitude on Instagram, thanking her followers for listening to her song and for all their support.
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'American Idol' Season 22 judge Katy Perry calls Liliana Dalton's original song "5%" as 'raw and honest'
Liliana Tovar Dalton made her mark on 'American Idol' Season 22 with her original song titled "5%," revealing that it was inspired by a past relationship where the percentage symbolizes the effort invested by her partner.
After Liliana Tovar Dalton performed her original song "5%" on American Idol season 22 while playing the piano, Katy Perry remarked that the lyrics felt like "one long text message," a sentiment that Liliana wholeheartedly agreed with.
Katy noted that the song lacked "fundamental structure" but praised its raw, honest, and vulnerable nature. She acknowledged that Liliana was expressing her inner thoughts but raised a question about the range in Liliana's voice.
The judges, including Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, challenged Dalton by asking her to perform Adele’s “Someone Like You” to demonstrate her ability to belt notes "from the gut." The teenager embraced the challenge and flawlessly delivered the 2011 hit song.
Lionel Richie recognizes significant potential in Liliana Tovar Dalton, a contestant on American Idol Season 22. However, he also suggests that Liliana needs to toughen up. After both Lionel and Katy Perry send Liliana to Hollywood, there's a humorous moment where Luke Bryan pretends to cry because he feels overlooked during the voting process. Ultimately, all three judges unanimously vote yes and present Liliana with a golden ticket, propelling her to advance to Hollywood Week.
Liliana Dalton says she is in her 'Taylor Swift era' and wants to write music 'about boys'
Before her audition on 'American Idol' Liliana Tovar Dalton shared with host Ryan Seacrest that she writes her music, frequently centering on themes related to boys and their perceived foolishness, as stated by the singer herself. She expresses that being "young" now, she might as well write a "bunch of songs about boys."
Lionel Richie also chimes in, noting that teenage boys can be "vicious," a sentiment that Liliana and Katy Perry agree with. In a confessional moment, Liliana humorously mentions that she's in her "Taylor Swift era," specifically referencing Swift's Reputation album, which is known for its themes of revenge and rage.
You can catch new episodes of 'American Idol' Season 22 every Sunday at 8 pm ET on ABC. The latest episodes will be available to stream the next day on Hulu.