Top Four Take on the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame

American Idol-Top Four
Ryan opens the show telling us that no one is safe and nothing is guaranteed. We find out that the theme is the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame and that it is time to pick the right song and stand out from the crowd. It looks like Simon is in the same shirt as last week. Paula looks lovely, but blank. I have really high expectations with a song list this large. There is no excuse to not be able to find two songs that showcase what these contestants are about.
David Cook opens the show with "Hungry like the Wolf" by Duran Duran.
I am instantly thinking about that crazy woman who shot her kids while listening to this song over and over in her car. This is an unfortunate association and I can’t get into his performance at all. Plus, he promised in his little interview beforehand that this was going to be switched up a bit. It is exactly like the original. It is a good vocal, but nothing unique, and it is not even that compelling to watch.
Randy thought it was an okay choice, and a solid performance but he was looking for the contestants to really go for it with their vocals. Paula said Hungry like the Wolf left her with a big appetite, and that this is why she tolerates being the only girl in the boys club. What is she talking about? Simon said it was good, but he didn’t make it his own.
Syesha Mercado is next with Tina Turner’s "Proud Mary".
She looks gorgeous and has the sexy hip thing going on, but I have heard this song 2000 times at dance competitions and talent shows and I start with mild boredom that escalates into embarrassment when the music goes up tempo and she starts her heinous dance moves. I almost have to leave the room. It isn’t that she has a vocal that is off-key, but this song is just too overplayed for me to even care. Randy thought it was the third week in a row that she showed up in the zone. Paula said she looked like a star and that she has a magnetic personality. Simon says he is going to put a slight damper on the event by keeping it real. It was a shrieky version of the original and a bad impersonation of Tina Turner. Thank God. I thought maybe it was just me.
Jason Castro decides to attempt Bob Marley’s "I Shot the Sheriff"
This is would seem to be a wise choice, as Bob Marley is exactly who I think of when I hear Jason. He delivers a pretty decent performance, but I don’t get the guitar, since he barely plays it. His approach is, "cool, I get to sing Bob Marley", and from the standpoint of showing who you are as an artist, we get the picture. Jason is probably going to have a successful career, but not as the American Idol. Randy says "dude, this was not special, it was karaoke, and not good". Paula liked that he performed, but then said she really wasn’t crazy about how he performed, but that he was genuine. Paula, why don’t you go ahead and rate his second song now? Simon gives it to him straight. It was atrocious and likened it to a first round audition massacre. I guess Bob Marley is right up there with Mariah and Celine and can’t be touched. Who knew?
David Archuleta chooses Ben E. King’s "Stand by me" because he has always sung it in his room and he wanted to sing it in front of people. You can really tell David’s age when he interviews, and he has trouble really saying anything that lets you in. When he starts singing all is forgiven. The vocal is surprising and extremely impressive, and by far the best tonight. David’s connection is fantastic, and I love what he does with the arrangement. Randy says he is in it to win it and he brought the mad hot vocals. Paula says David is way beyond his years and that he really communicated with his eyes. This is actually the only coherent thing she has said so far. Simon said David had the luck of being placed after a really bad performance, but thought he was the best of the night. He did think he struggled at the end. Replay that Simon, because you are wrong on that one.
David Cook’s second song is a Who classic, "Baba O'riley".
David starts on the stool and admits he could have done way more with his first performance. Is that a touch of nerves? I guess even the extremely talented can get caught up in the pressure at this point in the competition.
Whatever was on David’s mind the first time around, he is able to get focused on this song and he delivers a really great performance. He is able to showcase his range with this piece, and I love it. Randy says this is more like the David Cook he has come to know and for him to shake it off and have fun. Paula says she wants more David Cook. Simon says "welcome back David Cook". For God’s sake, are we just going to repeat his name back to him twelve times?
Syesha Mercado finishes up with Sam Cooke’s "A Change is Gonna Come"
Gene should be pleased with this absolutely beautiful dress that gives him plenty of cleavage. There are a couple of times during the vocal that Syesha is a little drowned out by the band. That being said, for the first time since she has been on this show I completely felt her emotional connection to the song, and when she let go in the chorus, she was breathtaking. I was thrilled to get to watch such a transformation from a great technical singer to a star quality singer. Randy didn’t like the arrangement and thought that she didn’t need to do so much with the melody. Paula gives her a standing ovation and says "Welcome to your dream Syesha" to which Syesha dissolves into tears. Simon says that he has to be fair and agree with (wait for it) Paula. Good for Syesha, I hope to see you next week!
Jason Castro decides for his final performance (and I do believe it was his final as a competitor) to go back to what he does best, folk rock, and he tackles Bob Dylan’s "Mr. Tambourine Man". This is actually the perfect fit for him, as it really matches his personality and style. Tragically, he drops several lines of lyrics and na –na –na’s his way through, pretty much sealing his fate. At this point I would like to share a quick word with the tweens. Please don’t worry about Jason. I don’t really think he even cares that much. He will put out a CD that appeals to his people and he will do just fine. The kid is so relaxed that even when Randy asks him "how do you think you did" he just smiles and says "well, I forgot some lines, so that’s not too good". Randy said simply, you’re not in the game tonight. Paula says the song didn’t blow me away, but you blow me away. Simon says "pack your suitcase" which hopefully won’t backfire on him. I love Jason, but the others have outgrown him, and let’s face it, he has ridden this as far as he can. He isn’t the type to do that corny "written for Idol" ballad, and he isn’t in the same league as the other three technically. It is a vocal competition.
David Archuleta finishes out the night with Elvis’ "Love me Tender". David’s vocal is beautiful, and he manages to make the song completely his own, but I miss that raw, unpolished passion that only the King could deliver. Sorry David, as good as it was, I would take the original over that any day. Randy says it is another great performance. Paula felt his emotional connection and this was her favorite performance of his. Simon said he crushed the competition tonight. I would agree that by technical standards, David’s voice stood out head and shoulders above the other three. He is an incredible Idol find, and with maturity and training could probably go on to the kind of success that Kelly and Carrie has achieved. I wouldn’t write off the talent and courage of the other David in this competition though.
Top songs of the night were David A.’s Stand by Me and David C.’s Baba O'riley and Syesha’s A Change is Gonna Come.
Worst songs of the night were both of Jason’s songs and Seysha’s Proud Mary.
All the great performances aside, I was a little disappointed in tonight’s show. I was looking for blow me away performances. While I really enjoyed several, I was waiting for the Kelly Clarkson "I can’t Live", Bo Bice "Vehicle", Carrie Underwood’s "Broken Road" or Katherine McPhee’s "Over the Rainbow" moment for one of these guys. I think Syesha got the closest to that moment in her second performance, but not necessarily with the actual song choice. Hopefully next week when the judges pick on of the top 3’s songs, we will get that crazy performance that may even cause me to pick up a phone.
As far as all of you Jason haters, you can send me 200 more emails railing on him, but you will never get me to forget his Hallelujah or his Over the Rainbow. I have only downloaded two I-tunes this season and those were it. Tune in tonight….