Casey Abrams fans – this one is for you!

Casey performed Carole King’s Hi De Ho on Wednesday night’s (April 28) American Idol.

Randy Jackson: “It feels like this song was written for you. It took me back to New Orleans.”

Steven Tyler: “You made my scalp itch it was so good.”

J-Lo: “I’d love to see you loosen up physically.”

Casey Abrams finished his performance Wednesday night on American Idol by kissing Jennifer Lopez on the cheek. Steven Tyler squirmed: “Casey! You did what I have been trying to do for four months!” Casey looked proud of himself and Jennifer said, “Casey is not playing fair…Casey got soft lips!”

Casey sang Maroon 5’s Harder to Breathe! And both him and Jennifer had a hard time breathing after that surprise kiss!

J.Lo said, “I Loved it! The performance! The performance! The performance was great. You brought all your Casey’isms to it. You took a pop song and took it all the way rock. It was really great.”

Randy Jackson wasn’t kissed but gushed over Casey anyway: “What I love about Casey is that it’s always surprise, surprise, surprise. I enjoyed it….I loved that you came here and kissed[ J.Lo.]. Amazing job. Keep taking chances, I love it. I can’t wait to see what you do every time.”

Steven Tyler forgot Idol is a family show and called Casey a “cult hero” and said there are “millions of people in America that are really angry because you piss them off you’re so fucking good. You’ve changed so many fucking people’s minds. You’re that kind of artist. I gotta tell you, I love you man.” Of course the F bombs were muted by Fox, but you could read Steven’s lips clear as day. Funny thing, Steven did not even realize what he had done, until Randy told him. “Darn good!” corrected Randy.  Me: I LOVE YOU STEVEN!

Watch Casey perform and kiss the most beautiful woman in the world:

I’ve said it once, and I will say it again. American Idol contestants sound much different when you hear them sing live on the Fox studio set than they do when we watch them on TV at home. They usually sound much better in person.

Case in point or shall I say Casey in point: I am a HUGE Casey Abrams fan. HUGE! However, his rendition of Nat King Cole’s Nature Boy just fell flat with me during Idol‘s Wednesday performance night.

Then again, I was watching it at home this week like most of America. Were you surprised to see the studio audience go absolutely wild for Casey’s rendition? If you were, it’s the live vs. TV factor differential.

The judges went nuts over Casey as well with all three joining the standing crowd to give Casey a unanimous standing ovation. Jennifer Lopez, the just-named world’s most beautiful woman, said Abrams brought “a special thing to music.” Randy Jackson said Casey gave a “Grammy-type performance…I thought it was brilliant. I thought it was absolutely genius.” Steven Tyler said Casey is an “artist in the truest sense of the word.” He compared him to Sting and told Casey “You took a song that my momma sang to me when I was a little boy and you took it and you did what’s in your heart regardless of what Jimmy told you.”

Casey picked the Nat King Cole classic despite Jimmy Iovine’s advice in rehearsals to choose something that could make him win like Phil Collins’ In the Air Tonight. Did he make the right choice or will this song selection cost him a shot at the Idol crown? Did you enjoy it at home and call in a vote in for him or were you shocked by the adulation you witnessed on TV?

What did you think of Casey’s performance?  Watch it for yourself and let me know! In this video, you can also hear Casey speak about his favorite Gnocchi and meatballs dish at Cafe Aroma!