Song choices and order of contestant performance:

Mini-recap in progress!!

AU~ Forgive me.  The commies stole my internetz and my TV last night.  All set up to record, preparing to blog my marvelous thoughts and Verizon cuts through my Time Warner cable.  I'm not worried or angry though, because the technician said that not only was he sorry, he was "very sorry".  Who can stay upset with such sincerity?  I also know in my heart that if I ever switched to Verizon and accidentally bounced a check or was late in paying they would cheerfully accept my profound apologies...especially if I said I was very sorry.

So, I did get to see the last 5 minutes at a friend's house.  Therefore, I can't comment too much on the songs.  I certainly value this recap.  From what I saw, Syesha looked stunning, DA sounded like he always does and DC sounded like the next American Idol....

David Archuleta

    * Paula Abdul chose: “And So It Goes” by Billy Joel

CJ - Well, that was gaspy, lip lickin' good. Just not my cup o'tea. Randy gushed about it, Paula said it was pure and stunning, Simon said it was very good, no surprises, a bit predictable.

 

    * David chose: “With You” by Chris Brown

    * The producers chose: “Longer” by Dan Fogelberg



Syesha Mercado

    * Randy Jackson chose: “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys


    * Syesha Chose: “Fever” by Peggy Lee


    * The producers chose: “Hit Me Up” by Gia Farrell



David Cook

    * Simon Cowell chose: “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” by Roberta Flack


    * David chose: “Dare You to Move” by Switchfoot


    * The producers chose: “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith.

I'm just going to guess who's going home...I say Syesha. I hope it's David A., but it won't be.

Randy's fired. ~ CJ

AU~   I am so with you.  Syesha didn't bring it like she did last week (from what I heard).  I think the judges made up their minds before she sang, but that doesn't mean they weren't right I guess.  I'll miss her.

Wow, are we down to the top 4 already?

This weeks theme is "Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll."

The songs that they have to choose from are from this list.

Be back with the mini recap later!

---

David Cook - “Hungry Like the Wolf” by Duran Duran

CJ - Rockstah! But, too much like the original arrangement. Randy said it was okay and a solid performance. Paula said it left her with a big appetite (oh my!). Simon said it was good but copycat. Was it good enough to take him into next week? Yes.

AU~  The arrangement was similar maybe, but I thought he sang it better than the original.  I like his voice.  I suppose he could tricked it up some but not much.  This was rock solid.

Syesha Mercado - “Proud Mary” by Ike and Tina Turner

CJ - She's no Tina Turner. Screechy at the end. Randy said she was in the zone. Paula said she looked like a star. Simon said it was a bad, shrieky version, a bad impersonation of T.T. I agree with Simon.

AU~  I don't want to stereotype but what Rock & Roll song is there for a big, black voice?  Rock & Roll owes much of it's existence to the African American, of course.  But the white man took it over as a genre and has never really given it back.  I think she chose an excellent song to do and I think she did it well.  It weren't as good as Tina's but it was no disgrace.  I liked it better than the judges, but I still concede their points.  A little too "karaoke", but good.

Jason Castro - “I Shot the Sheriff” by Bob Marley

CJ - Looks like he's having fun. Very weak, though. Randy said it was really karaoke and just ok. Paula said she wasn't crazy about it, but he performed to the audience.

AU~ Meh.  You know he's my favorite and his voice does something for me, but this was a bad song choice.  The only thing reggae about Jason is his hair.  Lovin' Spoonful is where he's best.  Meh.  Simon was ridiculously harsh, continuing to belittle it in Creampuff's review the next song.  It wasn't that bad.  It was better than anything Kristy Lee ever did, but that ain't saying much I know... 

David Archuleta- “Stand by Me”

CJ - Solid. Boring. Randy said it was hot. Paula said he was seasoned and he delivered. Simon said it was a very good choice of song, but he thought he struggled at the end. Best performance so far according to Simon.

AU~  He sang it alright.  But that's all.  He picked the only "Rock & Roll" song he ever had a chance of sounding legitimate on and he sang it OK.  Randy is insane.  Insane.  Paula was wrong. Simon was wrong.  CJ is right. I am right. Yawn, yawn and yawn.

David Cook - “Baba O’Reily”

CJ - Double Rockstah!! Awesome. I think DC had trouble this week changing up the songs. Why? Debatable. Maybe I'll give my opinions on this later...no time right now. I liked both of his performances tonight, however. Randy said it was great. Paula said she wants more! Simon said Welcome back David Cook!!

AU~  I actually liked Cook's 1st performance better. He slowed this down just to be different which I didn't like.  But I say that to say this - excellently done.  Great choice.  Very well done.  He's a great performer as well.  He rocked.

Syesha Mercado - “Change is Gonna Come”

CJ - I love this Sam Cooke song. I was worried that Syesha was going to mess it up. I was surprised...I really liked it! Pretty dress, too. Randy said that it fell flat, and he went on and on about how it wasn't as good as Sam's original. Get the hook! Paula stood up and clapped for Syesha, and told her that it was a beautiful, superstar performance. Syesha started bawling. Aww! Simon said he agreed with....Paula!

AU~  I started crying when she said she was going to do this song.  Then she cried in the middle of the song too.  It was the best performance of the night I thought.  Certainly the best choice of song among all the contestants.  I was standing up crying and clapping.  Beautiful. beautiful.  Perfect.  Good dress, too.

Jason Castro - “Mr. Tambourine Man”

CJ - OMG! He forgot the lyrics! Goodbye, Jason. Randy said he wasn't in the zone. Paula said he didn't blow us away but he blew her away. Simon said pack your suitcase.

AU~  O. My.  Ghastly.  Horrible.  Simon was on the money.  Jason!  You had it in your grasp 3 or 4 weeks ago but you've been cratering.  Spiraling down.  This performance is where you augered in.  You, my favorite, are done.

David Archuleta - “Love Me Tender” by Elvis Presley

CJ - This just feels weird. He's only 17. I prefer the Elvis original. He even lost his voice on a note at the end (but no one commented about that)! Randy said it was another great performance, hot vocals. Paula said it was one of her favorite performances from him. Simon said he crushed the competition tonight. I am not understanding the love here.

AU~  I can't believe this song was ever on anyone's Top 500 anywhere.  Certainly not Rock and Roll.  This song was a nice Civil War melody that Elvis just flat out stole.  I hate this song.  The words are dumb.  Barry Manilow has more Rock & Roll cred than this stupid, stupid song.  So that makes it a perfect choice for Wonder Bread.  I have no clue why people like him.  He really does sing well.  He may even deserve to be in this group.  But this was horrible to me.  Horrible.  Blech.

Bottom Two
CJ - I have no idea who the bottom 2 will be.

AU~  There was justice last week and there shall be justice this week!!  The bottom two will be Jason and David A.  Please.

Going Home
CJ - Jason's ready. Let him go.

AU~  Amen.  He's my favorite, and I'm not being a fair weather friend but... Castro has throwed in the towel.  I think he quit last week or the week before.  He certainly brought nothing tonight.  Nothing.  This was sad to watch him crater like this.  His voice sounded good tonight like it always does, but his song choices have been dead, solid wrong for weeks.  I mourn.

AU~  Ranks the performances:

Syesha - Change Is Gonna Come
DC - Hungry Like The Wolf
DC - Baba O'Reily
Tied:  I Shot The Sheriff, Proud Mary, Stand By Me
DA - Love Me Tender
JC - Mr. Tambourine Man