Ryan Seacrest: (Introduction, on the stools with Taylor) ...Taylor set for his second song of the night... And how was Graceland for yer?
Taylor: Oh Graceland was great. We um... we went on a magical golf cart ride with Lisa Marie Presley and ah, went through the pastures and then all of a sudden we decided, all the idols and Lisa Marie, we got down to the gate and I said "Floor it" and she floored it and we took off down the road. We had press chasin' after us and everything. It's... it's a memory I'll never forget.
Ryan Seacrest: Did you ask her out on a date?
Taylor: Ah, no, no, no.
Ryan Seacrest: Is that true or is that just a rumor.
Taylor: ...no, no. No, no...no. (Laughter)
Ryan Seacrest: All right. I was just checking. You know I read the magazines sometimes Taylor.
Taylor: No you can't...
Ryan Seacrest: How are you feelin' about the second song?
Taylor: Um, ecstatic about it.
Ryan Seacrest: Yeah?
Taylor: I've always wanted to sing this number and, um, it's one of the more soulful numbers that Elvis did I think, so...
Ryan Seacrest: (Pats Taylor's shoulder) Okay, you get set! Watch this...
Intro clip... Taylor: (To camera) Meeting Tommy Mottola is one of the highlights of the show so far.
Taylor: (Greets Tommy Mottola at the start of his rehearsal)
Tommy Mottola: (Smiling, shaking Taylor's hand) Pleasure.
Taylor: Thank you very much.
Tommy: finally we meet.
Taylor: Honored to meet you.
Taylor: (To camera) He's just a mastermind.
Taylor: (Rehearsing) ¯ A child need a helping hand ¯ ...
Tommy: Yeah!
Tommy: (To camera) When he sang "In The Ghetto", that was very impressive.
Tommy: (To Taylor in rehearsal) Unlike most of your performances, you should try to lock that one off and block it and let it be about this... (He frames his head with his hands)
Taylor: (To camera) Tommy Mottola gave me some advice and told me to let people feel the song from your heart and leave the dancin' out of it, and that's pretty much what I'm gonna do.
Tommy: Taylor actually gave this a very personal rendition. Very, very impressive. I think this is gonna be one of his best performances.
Taylor sings...
¯ As the snow flies ¯ On a cold and gray Chicago morn' ¯ Another little baby child is born ¯ In the ghetto ¯ (In the ghetto) ¯ And his mamma cries ¯ 'Cause if there's one thing that she don't need ¯ It's another hungry mouth to feed ¯ In the ghetto ¯ (In the ghetto) ¯ People, don't you understand ¯ The child needs a helping hand ¯ Or he'll grow to be an angry young man some day ¯ Take a look at you and me ¯ Are we too blind to see ¯ Simply do we turn our heads ¯ And look the other way ¯ Woo-hoo-ooo-oo ¯ As the world turns ¯ And a cold little boy with a runny nose ¯ Plays in the street as the cold wind blows ¯ In the ghetto ¯ Whoa, in the ghetto ¯ Oooh-oooo ¯
(Cheers and applause)
Randy Jackson: A'ight, so check it out! Real... real, real, real constructive criticism, right? You ready? The right key for you, finally. The right song for you, finally. When and if you make a record it is the kind of record you should make. That was hot America! Right there! (Cheers)
Taylor: (Smiles and pumps his fist in the air)
Paula Abdul: And what was great about it Taylor is that it shows a whole different side, you know. You have the playful unique side, and this brings it to show how well rounded of an artist you are. (Cheers)
Taylor: Thank you. I appreciate that.
Simon Cowell: (Breaks into a smile) You know what I'm gonna say. I mean there is a world apart for me, for that first performance which was just silly to...
Paula Abdul: No it wasn't.
Randy Jackson: No!
Simon Cowell: ...to what Randy just said, which was absolutely the perfect song for you... (Big cheers) ...Taylor what you have just done... you have just sung your way into the semi-finals young man.
Taylor: (Pumping his fist) Whoo!
Ryan Seacrest: (Joining Taylor on stage and shaking his hand) He redeems himself for Simon Cowell with the second song tonight friends. Remember you've got to vote to keep him in... (Ryan gives out the voting numbers) ...
Taylor: (Whilst Ryan does the voting numbers bit) Soul patrol! Soul patrol... Soul patrol! (Laughs)
Ryan Seacrest: Well done my friend.
Taylor: Thank you very much...
Ryan Seacrest: Than you very much.
Taylor: ...'ppreciate that.