American Idol 7 - The Final Four

With access to songs from the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame inductees, there was plenty to choose from, however most fell into the category of predictable to downright catastrophic. The opening montage about the Hall of Fame and the suggestion that one of the Top 4 might one day wind up there was pushing it jusssst a little bit. On with the show...

David Cook: Out of all the songs, he picks Duran Duran's Hungry Like the Wolf? Say which? Don't get me wrong, I love the song, but this was one of the most bizarre choices ever. And, sorry all you Cookloonies, it was just ok. The thing that makes Hungry Like the Wolf one of the best 80s songs is that driving synth line, which David substituted for bombastic rock. The vocal was growly and one note. Sorry, ladies. Luckily, his cover of The Who's Baba O'Riley was a good recovery. He's sailing to the Top 2 with Tickle Me Archuleta.

Syesha Mercado: Proud Mary? Bitch, please. I've seen drag queens do better performances. Creedence Clearwater Revival might have written it, but Tina Turner owns the song, and Syesha's copycat version -- right down to the choreography -- was pathetic. Randy said she was "in the zone," but he's totally out to lunch. Only TT should be allowed to do this song...EVER. Her second song, Sam Cook's classic A Change Is Gonna Come, was turned into a big, belty Whitney-esque number. Randy didn't like it, but Paula was crying and Simon thought it was great. Her comparing the Civil Rights-era touchstone to her journey on American Idol and then sobbing uncontrollably about it made me vomit in my mouth a little. Luckily, Jason Castro was so bad, she should be safe another week.

Jason Castro: Even worse than the Cookloonies are the Jasonloonies, and I think even they are going to have hard time justifying his nightmarish decision to cover I Shot The Sheriff by Bob Marley. I'm picturing him rolling a doobie and going, "Duuuude, Bob had dreads, I've got dreads, this is perfect...durrrrrr..." The judges savaged him -- even Paula, and you know you're in trouble when Miss Pills struggles to find compliments. Simon said it was like a "first round audition massacre." But even worse was destroying Bob Dylan's Mr. Tambourine Man, forgetting the lyrics and trying to be funny -- I guess -- by mumbling some fake ones. To paraphrase Simon, pack your bags, your bong and get out.

David Archuleta: The Tickle Me Elmo Terminator's march to glory was cemented tonight with a nearly perfect cover of Stand By Me and a less stellar Love Me Tender (his voice disappeared trying to hit that final note), but it doesn't even matter at this point. Simon said he crushed the competition, Randy and Paula were slobbering like idiots. Stick a fork in it, kids, the final two are David and David. It all depends on how many horny housewives vote for David Cook and how many tweens dial for Elmo.