American Idol Top 8

Since this week is all about Idol Gives Back, it was time for the inspirational performances of the season. Some were actually a revelation unto themselves, and it one of the favorites may find himself standing in the Bottom 3 this week. As always, this is from worst to first. Prior week’s results do not factor into the decision, just what the performer did this week on stage.

8. Brooke White - The song was pleasant and the vocal alright, but White has just stopped doing what made her a good performer. Her song choice has deteriorated to the point of being ridiculous, and since she can’t move comfortably on stage, she’s forced to stand idly behind a microphone. To be honest, she didn’t look like an American Idol last night.

7. Carly Smithson - Carly could also be in danger of going home this week. Her and Brooke definitely had the weakest performances. If you’re going to sing, “The Show Must Go On” why not sing the Moulin Rouge version instead of the Queen original. I think that might have helped her control the song, which obviously instead controlled her. The song was awfully dark and dreary too, I wasn’t too pleased to see it on the inspirational night. Also, Simon thought she looked good? I couldn’t disagree more, she looked like an Amazon on stage in those first few awkward moments. (Unless he’s into that kind of thing.)

6. David Cook - What was that? Cook did the super-desperate move of walking into the crowd. There’s a reason performers don’t do that on American Idol, it reeks of not being able to perform the song well enough on stage. The performance which started off with the gritty bottom notes and the jump all over like a ping-pong ball definitely showed off his vocal range, but maybe not in the most positive light. In another weird wardrobe comment, why was there a fight over the white jacket?

5. Kristy Lee Cook - Cook turned in her best performance of the season when everyone was expecting her to pack her bags and go home. Vote for the Worst is still supporting her, which is weird, because I think it is pretty obvious that Smithson and White have been much worse over the past three weeks or so. The vocal was not great at the beginning, but as Cook hit the bridge and headed for home, the part the listeners will remember, she was spectacular. It certainly doesn’t hurt that she’s the best looking contestant still remaining in the competition.

4. Michael Johns - His version of “Dream On” was actually pretty darn impressive. When I saw that was his song choice I worried about him taking on a Aerosmith tune, but Johns delivered. He certainly benefited from some excellent guitar playing by the band in the middle of the song, thankfully he didn’t have to try and do it. The ending vocal though was once again excellent.

3. David Archuleta - He picks really strange songs. Sometimes I wonder if helps or hurts himself with his song choices. While some of the other performers are tackling industry standards, he’s doing things the common fan might never have heard before his performance. Still, at the refrain he opened up the vocal and it washed over you like a tidal wave. Archuleta’s performance was the first one on this list that gave me the chills you should get from an inspirational song.

2. Syesha Mercado - This girl just keeps taking on huge songs and keeps getting better and better. She’s really tuned into what the American Idol fan wants to hear I think. Those big songs by Whitney and Fantasia are the way to score votes, especially if you have the voice to sing them convincingly. She’s into her groove now and she’s starting to surprise us with things like that impossibly high note at the end. The judges might not always agree with her decisions, but I think it’s the right move for her. If there’s going to be a woman in the Top 3, it’s Mercado.

1. Jason Castro - Before last night started, I probably would have guessed that Castro would be in the bottom three this week. He had failed to deliver a single solid performance since singing, “Hallelujah” back before the competition really started. And then, he took out his ukulele and sang, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. Oh my goodness, it was beautiful. His jump to the falsetto in the middle was perfect. He just found the exact right song to sing. For one night at least, it was possible to believe that Castro’s dreams of becoming American Idol just might come true.