You'll Love His 'Idol' Performance Tonight

Alex Preston did indeed impress Season 13's judges during his American Idol audition. Not just because of the appealing lilting tone he's patented throughout his run so far, but also because his audition song, "Fairytales," seemed remarkably professional for someone labeled as an amateur. Even Jennifer Lopez herself appeared to not believe Preston had written the song himself, double-checking, "That's an original?" following his performance. Which is why it's exciting to any Idol fan to hear the Top 8 contender Preston will be reviving "Fairytales" on Wednesday night's episode.

It's a theme night that would be otherwise boring — "Back to the Start" means the revival of ho-hum audition songs from the likes of Jena Irene (Adele's "Rolling In the Deep") and Sam Woolf (Ed Sheeran's "Lego House"), but exciting originals from Jessica Meuse, Caleb Johnson, and, yes, Alex Preston. And it's unprecedented when it comes to the cover-friendly Idol — the chance to see what our Top 8 would produce if actually given a record deal? Perhaps a tad unfair for those who don't call themselves songwriters, but no doubt a great opportunity for Preston, whose love for songwriting is as strong as his love for cropped pants.

You only have to go to Preston's YouTube page to find a series of performances of original songs that seem ready to be assembled on an album set aside Jason Mraz's on the music charts. There's "Let's Waltz, Darling," which is finger-pickin' good:

And "Your Perfect Imperfections," a perfect stand-in for Mraz's "I'm Yours":

And "The Light Was Already Here," a track on which he played percussion, guitar... and violin.

And "My Best Friend," touchingly dedicated to the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown, Conn., a town just hours away from his Mont Vernon, N.H. hometown.

Even if originals are not your speed, Preston's YouTube page is still worth the visit, chock full of catchy covers of Bon Iver, One Direction, and Miley Cyrus.

Is there any doubt Preston could produce a steady stream of hits, should he win American Idol? Heck, how is "Fireflies" not yet a hit itself?!

Image: Michael Becker / FOX