Our Top 4 performs songs from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Top 500 Songs. Exciting theme - lots of great songs to pick from. Hope they choose well!

**SPOILERS** for the Top 4 tonight, from TMZ.com:

Syesha Mercado :: Proud Mary & A Change is Gonna Come
David Cook :: Baba ORiley & Hungry Like The Wolf
Jason Castro :: I Shot The Sheriff & Mr. Tambourine Man
David Archuleta :: Stand By Me & Love Me Tender

And we all know that David Archuleta could crap and theyd love it! LMFAO

You are right about that!

Sad but true!

Safe choices again tonight...Jason and Syesha have balls..Jason wasnt THAT bad..but he wasnt like SotR either! Syesha blew me AWAY..not Archie..

Kate, that picture of Ryan is hilarious!!!!!

Frightening though isnt it?? LOL

It's been a busy week so I am terribly late with this. Figured I'd go ahead and post so we don't have a skipped week. Obviously, we all know the outcome so some of that will be incorporated into the review.

TOP 4 - Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

I have to say this was a week I was looking forward to due to the theme, but I was disappointed to say the least. This wasn't a Top 4 calibre show. I can't believe how many weeks were mostly a big snore this year. AI viewership is down considerably in season 7, and I can see why. They are losing the younger viewers because the show refuses to break out of the contemporary mold. The season started off wrong with themes in the semifinals, which I think is a travesty. The semis were always interesting because the idols could choose pretty much anything and we got to see them in their true style. I felt the show started off on the wrong foot by doing the themes. But - that's a whole other column. On to this week.

Before the show starts, I know what is coming. The Davids = pimpage; Syesha = measured pimpage so as not to be too obvious; Jason = never going to like it no matter what.

ROUND 1

David Cook - "Hungry Like a Wolf" - DC surprised me this week and not in a good way. He has been solid most of the season, but this was a misstep IMO. A very tepid rock song from our resident rocker, and surprisingly unoriginal (for him). He didn't sell this to me at all. Not as good vocally as usual. I felt kind of "eh" about the whole thing, and the choice of song contributed to that a lot. Not bad, just not "winner worthy".

Syesha Mercado - "Proud Mary" ("Proud Mary"? Really? Again? No way this won't be k-a-r-a-o-k-e) - Heh! I was right. And the Tina moves were tepid; really didn't suit her. I actually flashed on Season 6's Haley Scarnato using her legs to get votes. At least she wore shoes this week. It was fun, but this song was fluff. I saw some songs on the list that she could have sounded killer on if arranged right. Oh well. Another unoriginal and uninspired choice tonight. Usual AI pap. Someone wake me up. (She did look cute though.)

Jason Castro - "I Shot The Sheriff" - OK - this is more like it. Definitely never heard anything like this on Idol. I had lots of fun with that, and Jason has never looked more relaxed and happy performing. He chose a song that suited him, not American Idol. And I knew the Three Stooges were going to pan his performance, but Damn! That was HARSH! Randy loved Tina karaoke but not Marley Karaoke (or Duran Duran karaoke for that matter). And what's with Simon's 'you don't touch Marley?' Why not? They are allowed to mangle Elvis whenever they want and what is more iconic than that? We did the BEATLES this year for cripe's sake. I am seriously getting bored with this middle-of-the-road attitude. Of course, it took until Season 4 before they would accept rock seriously, so maybe Jason just opened the door for something new. I hope. I want to see the artists for what they ARE, not how they fit into a mold. Getting cranky again.

David Archuleta - "Stand By Me" I was afraid I'd be in too bad a mood to like this, but it was really good! He changed it up a bit, but not too much - pretty much the Baby Bear version. I liked the Sean Kingston line he threw in. Nice touch. The only fault I can find is that one of the notes at the end was a bit off. I hate the show's pimpage of him but it isn't this kid's fault. I doubt he has a selfish bone in his body. He def was the best of the round as Simon said. AND - the sweet child stood up for Jason when Simon took the opportunity to take another jab at him (Archie: "I liked Jason's song.").

ROUND 2

David Cookies - "Baba O'Reilly" - This was like an Oreo cookie without the creme center. IDK. I didn't love this arrangement only because the slow part went on too long. It was a nice touch, but I want to hear this song rockin'. It was another strange choice of song for him; so many others on the list would have been better for him. He was a bit pitchy too. This was far from his best week. I mean, this was fine, but I guess he has spoiled us into expecting more. And the Stooges were way over effusive in their praise. (Big shock).

Syesha Bernhadrt - "Change Is Gonna Come" "YAWN" No question this girl has pipes. It was mostly good vocally with some pitch problems and I wasn't crazy about the arrangement. This is a powerful song and in her efforts to showcase her voice, I think she hurt the song. And for the OTHER STUFF: The first song she used her legs; this one she showcased her boobs. Add to the mix the tears, and to quote Danny Noriega, she was "workin' it". Remember, this girl is an ACTRESS, and I believe that is what we saw tonight. She is standing up there sobbing; then she starts talking like she wasn't the slightest emotional - she was quite calm. Some of us aren't likin' it (Danny again). BUT - it is very effective. So well done I guess.

Jason Marley - "Mr. Tambourine Man" Another original choice for the Idol stage, one that absolutely suits him. I mean WOW - Dylan on Idol. A little folk-rock. I'm impressed. OOPS he missed some words, but he made a great recovery and delivered the rest of the song beautifully. Of course, I'm not stupid; I know this is the kiss of death for him. I knew he would not be patted on the back for losing lyrics yet keeping it going anyway like every other contestant in the history of the show has been, including this year more than once (except for Season 2's Clay Aiken who had one slight mishap in lyric - and it was almost undetectable - and he was nailed to the wall for it). Hmm - never thought Jason and Clay would have anything in common. And of course, he got the skewering I was expecting. But I will say this for Jason - he took it like a man and didn't sass. So yeah - good on you Jason.

King David - "Love Me Tender" This was surprisingly good. Surprising because I expected to be bored, and I wasn't. It was gorgeous, and sung with emotion. The only miss was a slight loss on one falsetto note. Simon was right - he crushed the competition tonight.

So - another week in the bag and it was only partly good, partly average, and some of the worst behavior from the judges I have ever seen. Of course we know by now that Jason was eliminated and I'm glad --------- for him. If he had survived and gotten to the Top 3, Idol would have been merciless. Glad he's out of there. And he is so relieved and happy - who can be sad about it? He knows he did all he was capable of. To continue would have been a bit much for him and his shy, laid back personality.

Jason is exactly the kind of singer I always thought this show was about - inexperienced, looking for a chance to gain that experience and exposure. It makes the show attractive because you feel like you are participating in the growth of the singer and helping them to get a start in their career. But the show is mostly very experienced, polished professionals now. So Jason was a breath of fresh air. From an MTV interview:

MTV: Since you had less experience than most of the other contestants, what do you think the judges saw in you to put you through to the top 24?

Jason: I think it was the potential, you know? Just because I was so new at it and what I had done so far, I think it showed enough potential that I could be something. ... I'm very much what the show was originally about. I am kind of as raw as it gets. I haven't done much of anything, singing-wise.

His exit Q&A explains his position on the judging:

'American Idol' Exit Q&A: Jason Castro

Let's talk about Tuesday night. When Simon said no one should ever cover ''I Shot the Sheriff,'' did you think of reminding him that Eric Clapton did a great cover of the song?

You know, sometimes he says things that are obviously wrong. But no, I wouldn't have said that to him. My mom taught me never to make a person look wrong. I am just respectful. It's my place to sing a song and his place to judge.

And The Village Voice says:

And even if the lyric-flub in his take on "Mr. Tambourine Man" was pretty glaring (how hard is it to remember "jingle jangle morning"?), his pared-down version was, I thought, one of the night's stronger moments. The judges and producers might be breathing easier now that he's gone (their anti-Castro campaign over the past couple of weeks was some serious Bay of Pigs shit, Paula gaffe and all), the show is going to be a whole lot less interesting now.

Amen to that.

Simon: I don't know what you were thinking!
Jason: I was thinking Bob Marley! Yeah!

LOL Yeah, he looks like a demon!

Thanks for the review each week. I look forward to reading them. I agree pretty much with you this past week. I usually agree with Simon but thought he was a little harsh and "mean spirited" this week with his comments.