David Archuleta
performed When You Believe by the immeasurably-talented and influential John Farnham!

Didn't take long for someone to bust out their imitation of Mariah's falsetto! She even mentioned it in her coaching session. It actually didn't sound bad! It was a really solid vocal, and he did a good job. Don't know the song...didn't make me want to run out and buy it. Decent.

I actually thought he did a pretty good job, he showed off his range and did some runs, but how can you not in a Mariah song. Little theatrical as always, but I doubt he’ll break that habit anytime soon. Overall good performance.

Another solid vocal from Archie, the Awkward Teen Wonder. He is who he is and does what he does. It's a guy night, obviously...

Carly Smithson
performed Without You, perhaps the most telling song title of the night

First off, Carly, girl...you looked FOOOYYYYYYNE, last night! Shoobie-da-dip-dop. I don't think she performed very well. The vocal was shaky, and I did not enjoy the performance, personally. Julie?

Carly really sounded like Carly last night, which is a good thing. She has a great voice especially when she’s not trying to be someone else. She still doesn’t have enough confidence in herself, but I don’t think she’ll be compared with Mariah or Celine as much this week. Simon’s comment could really hurt her with the votes though, don’t underestimate what a judge like Cowell can do to people’s opinions.

Big notes okay, little notes boring and uninspired. A bit boring, she could go home. Yet again.

Syesha Mercado
performed Vanishing, something of which she's in danger of doing

Not a terrible vocal, kind of like Carly...just not terribly memorable. I don't know, good idea choosing a song no one would recognize...but, really, she didn't make me care about it. A few muddy low notes, a bit off on some of the big stuff...with a great last note. She's also in trouble, tonight. Sadly, because Syesha should NOT go home on Mariah Carey week. Come on. Let's be a little racist, for a moment. It's a travesty if she goes home.

Syesha def looked like a diva last night. This was a really difficult song, and I actually agree with both Paula and Simon on the song choice…it was a good decision to choose a song that not many people know because she can’t be compared as much, but at this stage in the game she needs to be remembered, and people remember you based on songs.

Woah. Syesha lookin' HOT, too. I don't really know how to feel about this performance. It was okay, I think. No Colton Berry, if I'm being honest. She brought the big voice, but I wasn't sure if it was really, really solid...good enough to be okay-ish. I was glad she went big, but didn't pull it off as well as she could have. But, again...looked amazingly hot.

Brooke White
performed Hero at the piano, all sappy

Hm. The only Mariah song I actually like...wouldn't you know, Brooke did it! I was sure, coming in, that someone else would take this one. A capable, cute performance...a little rushed at times, didn't connect with this song as well as she seemed to with others. I don't know, she's my favorite, but this was a bit weak. I liked when she picked it up a bit in the bridge...don't know if it'll help. Could be in the Bottom 3, and if she goes home, I officially move my support over to KLC. Because I'll be depressed about everyone I'm stuck with. Well, Castro's okay. KLC and Castro. Is that what you want, America? Me backing them up? Keep Brooke alive!

I KNOW THIS SONG! Brooke was shaking like a LEAF! It kinda' indicates to me that she didn't really like her own performance that much. It was a little off, but I liked her mellow, not over-the-top, non-Mariah take on it. She made a Mariah song not sound like Mariah, which I LIKED, but I don't think she performed it well. Wasn't awesome, not the worst thing I've ever heard.

Brooke tackled the BIG ONE, "Hero." I like when Brooke sings at the piano, but when they go in for those close up shots you can really see how nervous she still is. I think she could have showed a little more range in the beginning but I liked when she started pulling it out mid way through. A few parts felt a little rushed, not her best performance, but not her worst either.

Kristy Lee Cook
performed Forever, which is about how long she'll probably stick along

I wish to go last, if you don't mind.

Kristy Lee I really hope our time is through….unfortunately I have to admit you had a good vocal and I fear we may see you another week. She really is a smart competitor for being a blonde chick...picking a song of Mariah’s that she could handle. And yeah, I guess giving it that Country twang connects to her fanbase…but I still hate her.

That was...pretty good. She cashed-in on Mariah Carey week, against all odds! Gotta' give her some credit. Aside from Archuleta, probably the most solid vocal so far. Even though the whole lower register was soft and weird, she cranked out those big notes and...sounded good! Hate, hate, HATE her. But she sounded good.

I officially announce my support for KLC. She's won me over. She looks good, she sounds better every week, and her song choices are BRILLIANT. If only the judges would get over hating her so much and stop giving her backhanded compliments, she might actually become a favorite, again. Kristy Lee Cook could easily end up as the last lady standing, and you know what? Good for her. She's playing the game so well, and if David Cook is going to get credit for uncommon bravery...she gets credit for her shocking survival skills and making gold clothing look better than it's ever looked before. Safe this week, and, for once, I support it! GREAT finish, go download that single, America. She's not as bad as we thought, let's put down the Hater-ade!

David Cook
performed Always Be My Baby by HIS FAVORITE BAND, Our Lady Peace (I mean, Mariah)

There were parts of it that I thought were good...but I think there were MORE parts that were off, vocally. I'd put him on par with Brooke for the night...because they both took Mariah's songs and made them sound different...or their ARRANGERS did, whoever did it...but the vocal was off at parts, and I don't think it was that great. I wanted to like it, but his performance didn't GET me there, if you know what I'm sayin', dogg. Yo.

The judges loved all over him. This show is FIXED. Look, at what point can we finally admit that what they're calling "original and brave" is predictable? After he wins? I must be watching a different show. I hated it. The beginning was mumbled and boring...it sounded like he NAPPED through it. And he resorted to the same rock scream he does every week. Same key, same shout, same. The last note was a trainwreck. Everything about this was THE SAME. People keep talking about him being original, but he's NOT. He's doing what he does. Nothing different.

After seeing David singing with his guitar to Mariah, I really wanted him to come on stage with it, but no. ::tear:: I still enjoyed his rocked out version of her pop hit “Always be my Baby.” This song was actually a guilty pleasure of mine in my preteen years, so it was hard to hear his voice to it, but he created a pretty original take on it that I liked. You boys may be surprised to hear this, but it wasn’t my favorite performance from him, but the judges loved it and the crowd went wild, so you know he’ll sail through this week.

I'm not surprised, Julie. It was HORRIBLE. And Randy's standing ovation? Paula saying it could be in a movie sountrack NOW? I mean...they've already crowned him, and it was lousy!

And he cried! Don't get all mushy on us, Cook. That performance did NOT deserve the kind of crazy praise it got.

Jason Castro
performed I Don't Want to Cry like that kid you know who plays a little guitar and is kinda' good

You know what? I like that they gave this a bit of a Latin or R&B vibe, whatever it was. Don't change his singing style...change the backup instrumentation and the arrangement. I liked this performance, and I really needed it after hearing David Cook spit up into the mic to a standing ovation. Randy Jackson, that "beach luau" thing is what I LIKE about him.

That was good! I liked it. I might buy that! I think, as Clyde might say, he hit a clam. ONE clam. Wasn't enough to take away from the Jason Castro-ness of it all. It was light and airy and natural. Yeah, TOP SHELF STUFF!

It had a cool coffee house vibe to it and it was good vocal. Not my favorite from Castro but it wasn’t the worst of the night either.

Let's start with the easiest part, Worst of the Night. Brooke White wasn't the worst because of the theme or the song choice...the song got away from her. Best was probably Archie, with KLC getting an honorable mention. Castro was no slouch either. As for Artie's official Bottom 3, I'm gonna' put Brooke, Syesha and Carly in there...even though I DON'T think David Cook sang as well as the judges gave him credit for. He didn't do poorly enough to rank down in the dregs, this week.

I don't know what he has to DO to be in the Bottom 3, after this week. He was a nightmare. So, who do you think goes home?

I'm gonna' have to go with Carly. This will be her third time in the Bottom 3, and I think third time's a charm. Her performance wasn't good enough to stop the downslide she's been on.

Okay...Bottom 3 - Carly Smithson, Syesha Mercado and...Brooke White. I SHOULD just go ahead and pick Brooke to go home, but I can't do it. If Brooke leaves, I'll be depressed. Syesha and Carly are both doomed...have been for a while. I'll pick Syesha to go home, because it should never, EVER happen, this week...and probably will. Very close call, though. Props to KLC for her big comeback, and I'm a fan of her continued success. If I have to sit through David Cook, I want Kristy Lee Cook to stick around and annoy the male Cook's fans. Best of the Night were Archie and KLC...honorable mention to Jason Castro. Worst of the Night, whether you want to hear it or not, were David Cook and Brooke White.

Ooh, I get to go last this week? Cool. My bottom three this week will include: Carly-because those jabs Simon takes have hurt her before, Syesha-for not picking a very memorable song, and Kristy Lee-because I just want her to leave and I don’t care who knows it. I really hope KLC will be going home, but I think it could be Carly's week to leave. Jason and Brooke had weaker performances this week, but I feel like they have enough fans to carry them through. I hate to admit it, but David Archuleta had the best performance of the night; I still love David Cook more though.

***** 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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