David Cook
performed Hungry Like the Wolf and Baba O'Reilly

David Cook was up first singing “Hungry Like the Wolf”. It was a fun performance, entertaining, not major song changes, but good. His vocal didn’t really wow me, and it was kind of a safe song for him. I’m so glad he came back with The Who’s”Baba O’Reiley”, which I have to say is my favorite song from The Who. He really came alive with this, and at the end I was wishing they gave him more time to finish the song.

THAT'S your favorite Who song?! You need to listen to more of their music, dear...Artie?

What else is there to say at this point? Honestly? What do you want me to SAY?! It was a good performance...for him. Probably the least I've hated him in a while, I don't know. Maybe I've just become complacent to his style at this point, but he did his thing. And Duran Duran's thing. I thought the second song was called "Teenage Wasteland." I've learned something. Thank you, David Cook. You've enriched my life.

Um...care to comment on his performance, Funk?

NOPE!

Good man. Putting him in the first position, just DARING America not to vote for him...how cute. His first song was a pretty bland take on the innocuous 80s song by Duran Duran. Nothing new, nothing special, on par with just about any cover band in the world, nothing shocking about that. His second song, in which he took on The Who, Cook was back to form. I can't say I was a fan of his song choices, last night...his lower register notes are always AWFUL, and, after he started to "rawk" at the end of "Baba O'Reilly," it all completely fell apart. I thought to myself while watching, "These are horrible song choices, he's too shrewd for this kind of thing. What's he pulling?" I'll tell you what he's pulling - his only chance of winning is to go after Archie's fanbase! "Hungry Like the Wolf" will appeal to the college-age girls who hold such crap songs in the most special places of their hearts for GOD knows what reason, and the Who song goes right for old ladies who maybe USED to rock, but have since forgotten what it was like. That is to say...moms and grannies who would ever consider switching off the Adult Contemporary station, or who used to go for John Lennon over, say, Michael Buble. No harm, no foul. His performances weren't good enough to win any new fans...but he's going to stick around another week.

Syesha Mercado
performed Proud Mary and A Change is Gonna' Come

"Proud Mary" was fun! She looked HOT. You can tell that doing choreography and being able to play it up is pretty much what she likes being able to do, and I dig it. Totally having fun with it, like she said, and I was down with it. Second song...it was okay. Yo, Syesha - remember when I said I like when there's energy and it looks like you're havin' fun? LIke...two sentences ago? Yeah...that's better for you. Second song was kinda' just alright. Kinda' mediocre. Big, belty notes...I wasn't feelin' it. She didn't have enough heart in it.

I love that Syesha decided to sing “Proud Mary” because she does so much better with fun songs that she enjoys.

This may surprise you all, but I completely disagree with Julie and Artie, here. Syesha was foolish to take on this song. TOO BIG FOR HER.

NO. She really wowed me with it, she had her Idol Moment (TM). She’s proving she can be a fierce competitor with those boys, she’ll be here for the top three. With her second song, I feel like we got a real honest performance from Syesha. I don’t know if it was acting or real emotion, but either way I liked it.

Gyeeee-aaawwwwwd, I think we're watching different shows every week. Let's get REAL, here - the first song was a terrible mistake because she's incapable of rocking or hitting notes while dancing like that, and the second song was dreary and lifeless when she should've had us crying into our novelty Coca-Cola cups. How do you take all the impact out of "A Change is Gonna' Come?" HOW?! She had no "Moment," try as the judges might to convince us that she had. They clearly just want Jason gone, and I suspect that's why you wanted to like it so much, too, Julie. Anyway, here's Syesha's problem - she's got a good enough voice, she's stunning...but she HAS NO SOUL. She lacks the ability to make you feel ANYTHING. There's no truth or emotional impact behind her singing. She never makes you believe what she's saying, never draws you into the story of her song. She's only comfortable when she's playing a role, overdoing it Broadway-style. Early in the season, she seemed like she'd be The One - bright, sunny, interesting. Then we got to KNOW her. Bottom 3 several times. I've repeatedly complained about her emotionless singing style. She makes me miss people like Danny Norriega or the Lampkin siblings. At least they made you REACT. She's the one everyone wants to like, and the judges worked hard to try to send Jason home instead of her, last night. We'll see...but I still think she's got no shot of making it into the finale. Syesha was NOT incredible. She was decent, as usual. This is not a show about finding the mediocre. Then again...considering who's probably going to win, I can't be so sure about that anymore...

Jason Castro
performed I Shot the Sheriff and Mr. Tambourine Man

Jason singing Bob Marley seems fitting in theory, but it kinda reminded me of one of those teen movies where they point out the clique of white kids that think they’re Rastafarians. The performance was a little weird, and I’m thinking the rumor that Jason said he was tired of being on Idol…was probably true. This performance didn’t do him any favors. Bob Dylan was a much better fit for him…but he forgot the words…he’s the top four and he forgot the words?!? I’m sorry but what is THAT about? Is he seriously trying to get himself voted off?! I think so.

I'll agree with Julie on the stupid song choices. He's daring people to send him home, at this point. I like the guy...and I think he could've easily become the Dark Horse and made it into the finale with some smart choices. I don't like Bob Marley music, but even I know Castro's semi-funky take on it was sub-par. One positive is that people are going to remember it and talk about it. But the worst thing is...it was just confusing. The second song should've been his FIRST of the night, his "I'm doing this because I like it and I CAN" song, followed later in the show by the REAL one he wanted people to consider when voting. He failed to do that. He forgot his lyrics, but who cares? I don't. Whatever. Will he be safe? I don't know. We're led to believe he won't be, but this show hasn't been kind to ladies, lately. Specifically, Syesha's been kicked around all along. I hope he gets the chance to go again, next week. And I really LIKE that he isn't taking this dopey contest very seriously. Should've done an acoustic version of "Smells Like Teen Spirit," like I requested. Missed opportunity, Castro! Best of luck, you're the last bastion of genuineness this season. Don't know if you made a strong enough case, but your eyes are still dreamy. So...you got that going for you. Which is nice. And may make little girls text in votes.

The thing that's kind of refreshing about Castro is you can really tell that, unlike everybody else who's been through this competition, he's not taking it as seriously as maybe he SHOULD be. But...it just doesn't seem like he's into high-pressure situations. He doesn't let anything bug him. It's kinda' cool! Castro doing "I Shot the Sheriff?" Shot his chance at becoming American Idol is more like it. That was kinda' weird. On one hand, I like that he kinda' embraced the whole "I'm a stoner" vibe...on the OTHER hand, spots were rough, vocally. It wasn't all that strong a performance. He was definitely feelin' it, almost PASSIONATE about it at times...and that came through in his vocal. Those spots were strong, but there were still those pesky OTHER spots. I don't think that'll carry him through to next week. And the second song? My guess as to what happened here was...after he got chopped down by the judges after the first song, he went to the back and smoked a couple bowls...and forgot some of the lyrics to a Bob Dylan song. Lyrics you don't have to sing very clearly, anyway...so what harm could it do? I think he was paying TRIBUTE to Dylan by not singing the lyrics right. Look, it wasn't as bad as some people will SAY it was...but...Vote for the Worst got it right backing him. He's in the most trouble out of the 4 of them, if I can state the obvious.

David Archuleta
performed Stand By Me and Love Me Tender

First song was more of the same! "Stand By Me" is overdone, and all Archie did was slap his usual coat of Vanilla White paint on it and enjoy the glowing praise. This one's for the Claymates and the little girls...and he nailed it for those audiences. He's The One to Beat (TM), and we all know it. The second song, "Love Me Tender," wasn't too bad. I'm an Elvis fan, and...I actually thought this was an okay take on it. As soon as he started, I BEGGED the TV not to bring in any other instruments but the piano. Simple and different for such a familiar song. The end was kind of sloppy, and I wanted to slap the little puke for saying he'd never heard the song, before. Next season, we need to have some kind of music history entrance exam. Too many of these idiots have no CLUE what music is all about or who came before them to make this dopey show possible. Archie has a LOT of growing up to do, and I have the feeling that we'll be forced to follow every awkward, gawky moment when he's crowned the next American Idol! He's it, folks. His song choices were PERFECT, and his vocals were solid enough, as usual. No major mistakes, no reason to think his fans will lose fervor at this point in the game. David Archuleta and his one vocal chord will win this season, mark my words. Or I'll wear Julie Heart's best dress to the Idol Chatter Season-in-Review column!

Ya know you’re gonna get the crowd swooning with Archie singing “Stand By Me”. I admit he had a good vocal, but I think it’s funny he still can’t get through a critique without someone mentioning his age. The last bit wasn’t perfect as Simon mentioned, but nobody is going to remember that. Then he goes and sing Elvis and ensures that his older audience will love him too. Every week I hope this kid has a big flub up and forgets his words or just really kills something…but he wont, he’s gonna win this whole thing and everybody knows it.

"Stand By Me?" More like "Walk By Me." If you see him, anywhere, EVER...because he's BORING!!!!!! I was chatting with Clyde for most of the performance, and I STILL know exactly what happened. I'm SO tired of this! WHEN IS THE FINALE?! It wasn't BAD. It was a David. He's SAFE. And let's touch on the fact that he claims he's never done a sappy love ballad before. What? Is he seriously...serious?

"Love Me Tender" was sappy, syrup-y...perfect for David Archuleta. You are through to the next round. SHOCKING!

David Archuleta and Syesha had great nights last night, they both did very well. David Cook wasn’t bad, but he wasn’t the best. At this point if anyone other than Jason goes home…it will be a travesty.

You are WRONG, Julie. Syesha could very well go home, because she's boring. It's probably Jason after the whole lyrics thing, but I wouldn't be shocked or outraged if it's Syesha. Come on, she's been on her way out for over a month, now. Bottom 2 will be David Cook and Syesha, with her going home. Everyone's shocked, Jason's COMPLETELY safe another week, and I just LAUUUUUUUUUUUUGH myself to sleep. There's my big, probably wrong, anarchistic call for the week. Because it DOESN'T MATTER ANYMORE. ARCHIE WINS. END. OF. SEASON.

On that note...I hope that there's an outpouring of unprecedented support for Castro, and that this Tsunami of Voting Power (TM) has only ONE casualty -- the ROCKER. Because, as we were reminded by Seacrest, the rocker was voted off "this week" in a previous season. Because everyone thought he was WICKED safe. (Realistically, I know this probably will not happen. But I am one hopeful Funk. I made a prediction that Syesha would make it to the Top 3, and I'm hoping her "Proud Mary" performance was strong enough to push her through to next week; thusly making it possible to file her in the "Artie Gets One Right" column. That said, my real prediction is that Castro's out, with Syesha in the Bottom 2...while the Unstoppable Davids plow through to next week.)

***** DISCLAIMER *****
The opinions expressed by the three "FOX43 Idol Experts" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of FOX43, Tribune Broadcasting or FOX.
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