Ryan Seacrest: (Introduction) Elliott is up next. Watch this...
Intro clip... Elliott: (To camera) It was a total honor to sing in Graceland.
Elliott: (In Graceland rehearsals with Tommy Mottola) ¯ There must be lights burning brighter ¯ ...
Elliott: (To camera) I'm singing "If I Could Dream". It's just another way to ah, to show America again my 'Love Me Tender' side. (Smiles)
Elliott: (In rehearsals) ¯ Has the strength to dream ¯ 'n can 'deem his soul #
Elliott: (To camera) I'm still learning the lyrics, ahm, and Mr Mottola definitely recognized that.
Tommy Mottola: (With Elliott) That needs a lot of practice.
Elliott: Yeah.
Tommy: A lot of practice.
Elliott: Yeah.
Tommy: You don't want it to sound like a bar mitzvah song.
Elliott: (Laughs out loud)
Tommy: (Grins) So... you know, you should really, really work on this.
Tommy: (To camera) He's really gonna have to learn that song, "If I Could Dream" and he's really gonna have to pull that off...
Elliott sings...
¯ There must be lights burning brighter somewhere ¯ Got to be birds flying higher in a sky so blue ¯ If I can dream of a better land ¯ Where all my brothers walk hand in hand ¯ Tell me why ¯ (Why) ¯ Oh why ¯ (Why) ¯ Oh why can't my dream come true ¯ We're lost in a cloud ¯ With too much rain ¯ We're trapped in a world ¯ With too much with pain ¯ But as long as a man ¯ Has the strength to dream ¯ He can redeem his soul and fly ¯ Deep inside ¯ And while I can think ¯ While I can talk ¯ While I can stand ¯ While I can walk ¯ While I can dream ¯ Please let my dream ¯ Come true ¯ Right now ¯
(Cheers and applause)
Paula Abdul: (In Randy's ear) I think 'ts his best.
Simon Cowell: Randy jump in.
Randy Jackson: Yo-yo. Elliott! Elliott.
Elliott: (To Audience) Thank you. Thank you very much.
Randy Jackson: So yo man, when you... when you were gonna do this thing I was like "Aw dude, I don't know... Elvis?" But I'm tellin' you, know what dude? You laid it out. That was hot baby! (Cheers) It was hot. You made it your own man, you made it your own. I love that.
Elliott: Thank you very much.
Paula Abdul: Yeah, Simon was telling me that this was a big closer for Elvis in his performances and I gotta tell you... this, you... I think this is the best vocal performance you've done this entire season. (Cheers)
Elliott: (Pulls a shocked face and nods) I'll take that!... Thank you.
Simon Cowell: Elliott, you came into the show tonight, I think, as the underdog. You chose a song which not many people at home are gonna know and yet, so far, that was the best performance so far. (Nods approvingly. Audience cheers)
Ryan Seacrest: Yamin! (Shakes Elliott's hand and clinches him) ...You have really evolved in this competition man.
Elliott: I have. I've come a long way man.
Ryan Seacrest: Where is that guy we met earlier, a few months ago?
Elliott: (Swipes the air in a jokey fashion) He's history man! He's history.
Ryan Seacrest: (Laughs) He's done huh? (Elliott laughs, Ryan gives out the voting details) ...Elliott Yamin!
Elliott: Thank you man. Appreciate it.
Ryan Seacrest: Good work!