Harry Connick Jr. Gives Lessons On Sinatra For American Idol

The top 5 contestants from the ninth season of American Idol got a treat Tuesday when singer Harry Connick Jr.
Harry Connick Jr. Gives Lessons On Sinatra For American Idol
Harry Connick Jr performs as U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama gives local music students a special preview of the talent performing at the White House's annual Governors' Ball on February 21. (Jewel Samad/Getty Images)
5/5/2010
Updated:
10/1/2015
<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/HC_jr96931100.jpg" alt="Harry Connick Jr performs as U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama gives local music students a special preview of the talent performing at the White House's annual Governors' Ball on February 21. (Jewel Samad/Getty Images)" title="Harry Connick Jr performs as U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama gives local music students a special preview of the talent performing at the White House's annual Governors' Ball on February 21. (Jewel Samad/Getty Images)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-1820289"/></a>
Harry Connick Jr performs as U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama gives local music students a special preview of the talent performing at the White House's annual Governors' Ball on February 21. (Jewel Samad/Getty Images)
The top five contestants from the ninth season of American Idol got a treat Tuesday when professional singer Harry Connick Jr. took some time to school the crew on the singing styles of legendary performer Frank Sinatra.

American Idol judges were looking closely to see who is on the top of their game as Frank Sinatra week came to a close, featuring performances by contestants on the show. It seemed the throw back style and big band arrangements may have set the bar a little high for contestants, who were used to the water-downed pop standards of popular music. Some of the renditions were less than accurate but Harry Connick Jr. had words of encouragement for those on the show.

“I had a chance to really spend some time with them and as you all know these contestants are just great,great people and they’re great singers and they’re learning a lot. The great thing about it for me is how humble they were through the process,” said Connick on American Idol.

Sinatra Week on American idol was advertised on www.sinatra.com, naming the contestants who were to perform on American Idol. Frank Sinatra was not only a singer but also an actor who did some work as a producer. Rights to make a movie about the life of Sinatra have been given to Martin Scorsese with rumors circulating that Leonardo DiCaprio will be the star.

The song assignments for contestants featured Lee DeWyze singing “That’s Life”, Crystal Bowersox singing “Summer Wind”, Casey James singing “Blue Skies”, Aaron Kelly singing “Fly Me to the Moon”, and Michael Lynch singing “The Way You Look Tonight.”

Some critics like those from polliticallyillustrated.com were using terms like “butchering” to describe the Sinatra renditions.

Tickets for Harry Connick Jr.’s series of 11 shows titled “In Concert On Broadway” went on sale Tuesday as well. To purchase tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.harryconnickjr.com.