Elise Testone Earns Mixed Reviews From ‘American Idol’ Judges With ‘I Want to Know What Love Is’

On tonight's (April 4) episode of 'American Idol,' Elise Testone chose to get her '80s on with Foreigner's ballad 'I Want to Know What Love Is.' On paper, it was the right vehicle for her smoky voice, since she could explode with the song's the big chorus, as episode mentor Gwen Stefani noted. Testone is a modern day Janis Joplin, and one of the strongest and most unique singers in the competition for Season 11. But she missed her mark tonight.

The judges had a mixed-to-negative reaction to Testone's rendition of the song. They felt she looked beautiful, but that she didn't hit the notes or handle the song's pitch smoothly. Randy Jackson was the most critical judge of all, saying she was out of tune from top to bottom.

Testone chose the song because she wanted to follow up last week's rock 'n' roll bluster with something a little more tender, without sacrificing her rocker gal edge.

It wasn't her best performance, that’s for sure.

Watch Elise Testone Perform 'I Want to Know What Love Is' on 'American Idol'