
Mississippi
Jamal told me, "I love Mississippi. People try to get me to move, but it’s just so peaceful and just so down to earth. I wanted to paint a picture of what I miss and what I’ve come from and that what I do currently in Mississippi that gives me that ease and that peace of mind. And in the song, if you listen closely, you’ll hear how I feel."

A Change Is Gonna Come
Syesha Mercado
I was interviewing Syesha during season 7 and she said she didn't know what song to pick next. I suggested two -- Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come" and Brenda Holloway's "Every Little Bit Hurts." She went with the former and I think it was her greatest performance of the season.