American Idol: Season 7 Top 4

It's rock n' roll hall of fame night on American Idol, and I can only imagine how frakkin' awesome it would be if our top 4 was David, David, Carly and Michael Johns. Instead we've got two numbers apiece tonight from the thoroughly subpar Jason and Syesha.

But, as my opinion means little as far as the show's outcome goes, let's see if one of those two manages to unseat a David with a rockin' performance!

David Cook chooses "Hungry Like the Wolf," which is...interesting. The changes could be cool, or it could be insane. Right away, the song has some more edge -- but kind of in a dumb way. I don't know. It's not bad, but it doesn't seem like he's trying all that hard. Challenge yourself, David! Unless, of course, you're just setting the bar low for a kickass second song. In which case...well played.

Randy thinks it was just ok. Agreed! Paula says "Hungry Like the Wolf" has left her with a big appetite. Simon thinks it was good but a bit copycat.

Against my wishes, Syesha is singing "Proud Mary". Oh Syesha, you are no Tina. You've got some attitude and you're dishing the popped leg, but again...FAKE! The dance moves are forced and do nothing but make us compare you to the original. If I may borrow a Simonism...it's kind of cruise ship. Or, as they've said: musical theatre!

Randy says she's in the zone and showing the heat late. Paula tells her she looks like a star. Simon puts a damper on the love parade by calling it a bad shrieky impersonation.

Wow. Jason Castro is singing Bob Marley's "I Shot the Sheriff." Well he's won the stoner vote! This is the first song he's done in awhile that he's super into. He's feeling it and really selling the performance. Too bad it's the most mellow and easy to sing song we've heard..and he blows a note in the last line.

Randy gives him an "aww...man....dude. Karaoke." Paula calls out the showmanship, but says the song wasn't good. Simon tells him to stand back. It was "utterly atrocious." It was a "first round audition massacre."

David Archuleta is singing "Stand By Me," which he usually does for himself or his dog. Great song choice for my favorite lil' cheeseball. He can soul it up and be sincere -- his bread and butter. He breaks it down at the end, throws in some Sean Kingston and the hits a killer falsetto note. Best performance of the first half, easy.

Randy's got a smile on his face -- he's got to wait for the screams to stop before he can praise the "hot mad vocals." Paula calls him wise beyond his years and wise for taking Andrew Lloyd Webber's advice to use his eyes. Simon agrees with me -- it's the best performance so far.

Song number two for David Cook, who says this week was kind of tough because he set the bar pretty high for himself with these theme. He agrees with the judges first critique.

OMFG. He's singing the Who's Baba O'Reilly. I love you David Cook. I just told my husband that I would sing the Who this week, were I a finalist. And Pat Benatar. He starts out kind of moody and slow, which, despite being a Who purist, works for me. He pushes into high gear with "It's only teenage wasteland." And then, that triumphant guitar riff and honestly, who the eff cares, right? It's rock! He nails a nice vocal slide at the end and boom. Victory is David's.

Randy says it's the Cook he's grown to love. Paula wants more, he humbles her. Simon says welcome back. So...was it a strategy, or did the first song just suck for reals?

BT Dubs...Roger Daltry is 60 something and can still sing the shit out of that song.

Syesha's second song is Sam Cooke's "A Change is Going to Come," and manages to compare the civil rights movement to her making the top 4. Niiiice. She comes out in in her red carpet gown and delivers it like the little diva wannabe she is. As per usual, she sounds fine. Even really good, at the very end. But whatevs. She should stay over Castro I guess, at the very least.

Randy was not into it as much as the first song, because she tried to change it and push it too much. Paula stands up, claps, and welcome's Syesha to her dream, prompting her to cry. Simon says he agrees with Paula. Hmm. Does he want Jason out?

Oh man. is Castro a glutton for punishment? Now he's doing Bob Dylan's "Mr Tambourine Man." He performs from a stool with a guitar. He sounds good and relaxed, until he "uh uh uh uhs" through the "jingle jangle morning" line. When he comes around to it the second time and manages to remember, even finishing with a nice high note. Too bad he ruined a nice performance with a memory gaffe.

Randy says he's not in the zone. Paula says she still likes him. Simon tells him to pack his suitcase.

David Archuleta closes the night with "Love Me Tender," so he can get romantic. Umm...has anyone been clamoring for that? He too uses the stool, and a minimal piano arrangement. He sounds great, but can David sing something up-tempo and have some fun every once in awhile?  That said, beautiful job, really nice and straightforward but him.

Randy says he caressed the words (that's good). Paula thinks it's one her faves of his ever. Simon says he didn't beat the competition tonight...he crushed them.

SO. Barring a Daughtry moment for David Cook, Syesha and Jason will be in the bottom two with...Syesha going home. I think the little girl contingent is just too strong for Jason. What about you?