Jason Castro
performed Forever in Blue Jeans and September Morn

First of all, I think we have to address this...did Paula Abdul just reveal that there really IS a fix?

I mean...he had only performed once. She KNEW what his second song would be. She probably heard it in rehearsal. But...how did she know he wouldn't kill with it on the live show? Hm...FIX! THEY WANT HIM GONE! And now...I offically want HER gone.

Have you ever been trying to hide a surprise party...and then your idiot aunt blurts something out at the dinner table two days before? Then she tries to cover it up by acting confused? That's what that was. She killed the show. If she's not back next year...oh, well. Tiffany! You're on-deck!

I was not a fan of the rapid fire judge commentary in the middle, that was just weird and rushed. Let's get to the performances, though. Jason’s first song was “Forever in Blue Jeans”, and def sounded like his style. He seemed a lot more comfortable and natural with this song. His second song was ok, but I’m still not impressed. I’m not sure if he’s a good enough contestant to continue to compete with the other top five. His vocals have been unimpressive, and the second song was a bit too mellow, he should have gone upbeat.

His first song was good! Pure Castro Magic (TM). Sounded good to me, I enjoyed it. Didn't hear anything wrong with it. The second...wasn't that great. Kinda' awkward and boring, much like many of his interviews. Oh, my GOD...Paula Abdul was RIGHT! Glad we got her prophetic vision on tape, thusly proving that she's a precog!

"Forever in Blue Jeans" was good. I liked his version. "September Morn" was a bit boring, don't know if it's the one I'd have closed with. Both decent vocals. People either get his laid-back style by the point...or they don't. I hope he's safe, I doubt he will be. Maybe enough little girls love his dreamy, blue eyes. I just wish, after Paula reviewed his second performance, he'd been brave enough to question whether anyone should even listen to her at this point, because she knew what she was going to say about it before he even sang. This is Castro, though. He's just going to stand there and let the show happen around him. We know that.

David Cook
performed I'm Alive and All I Really Need is You

First song was vintage David Cook. Second song...vintage David Cook. He NEVER DOES ANYTHING DIFFERENT. Overwrought, watered-down rock is his deal, and the judges love all over him for it. I don't care much for him, I think he's overrated. What else do you want from me at this point?

I'm tired of complaining about him, because he's going to be here forever.

"I'm Alive" was actually pretty cool. In the first part of the song, he fell into the Our Lady Peace song trap, where the it was too low for him, down where he couldn't do anything with it. But the rest was good! The rocky, Neil Diamond feel was pretty cool. Oh, and enough with the AC/DC stuff. We GET IT. You like them. Stop it. Anyway, second song...it was pretty good. Just kicked Jason Castro to the curb, I think...but it wasn't a bad vocal. It just wasn't the greatest. There were a couple moments in there I thought were really good. Puts him over most of the others at this point, because the sum of his two performances is greater than anyone else's.

Aww, even Neil loves David Cook! I really enjoyed David’s first performance, he picked a song I’d never heard before, so it sounded like it could have been his own. The second song was a good performance, but I didn’t like the song as much. It sounded a little sappy to be a rock ballad, at least he did make it his own though. Either way the judges liked it and so did the fans-you know he’ll sail through.

Brooke White
performed I'm a Believer and I Am, I Said

Okay. "I'm a Believer" was fun and goofy, but not going to win her any fans. The producers didn't do her any favors with the awful, gawdy backdrop and lighting, either. She sung it too low, and the only part I really liked was the end, when she started getting all raspy and shouty. Not enough of that. Could've been a good calculated risk, kind of just odd. Now, the SECOND SONG...much better. Was it enough to erase last week's false start and her weak first performance of the night? She needed a homerun, and I don't know if that was it. Still a fan...and SHOCKED the judges gave her ANY positive remarks at all.

I love “I’m a Believer” but with each passing day I’m believing less that Brooke can do this. She seemed awkward playing to this song, the music behind her seemed too loud I could hardly hear her, and the vocal wasn’t anything to write home about. I think the only benefit was that people know this song…but I’m not sure people will think she did it justice. For her second song it was interesting that she changed the words to “I am I said” so it was Arizona instead of New York…but then the lyric about the two shores didn’t really make sense. Her performance on this song was ten times better then the first song though. This style with her at the piano was so much more comfortable and natural for her. She had a better vocal with this, and she seemed less nervous.

Most people will remember "I'm a Believer" from the hit movie Shrek. Brooke's cover really wasn't very good. She tried to get into it and act all upbeat, but she came off as cheesy and awkward. Love the shiny pants, though! The second performance was better, but it was shaky at parts. I liked the second one a lot better because it felt a little more natural... then again, maybe it's the Artie Loves Piano Chicks Thing (TM). And the fact that she took Neil Diamond's suggestion to change the lyrics to "Arizona" was a good idea, despite the "two shores" deal Julie mentioned. Overall, with a weak, awkward first performance and a decent, more heartfelt second performance, I'd say she's about even with Jason Castro, but a tad better than him right now.

David Archuleta
performed Sweet Caroline and America

"Sweet Caroline" was stupid, his weakest in a while. We've seen every trick in his book, and he's BORING. No one cares, though. And as for his second song, good to see the spirit of Kristy Lee Cook is alive and well. Two shrewd, predictable choices. I. Am. Over. This. Kid.

"Sweet Caroline" was such a smart song choice for David Archuleta. Not only is it one of the most popular bar songs that people love to sing along to, but he was able to showcase his vocal as well. He’s not one of the contestants that needs to make sure people remember him, but people will remember that he sang this song. Again for the second song smart going with the “yay America” vote…Kristy Lee would be so proud. There was a little flub up in the middle, but no one will ever notice because they’re so in love with this kid.

I don't think the first song was his best. The beginning was funky...and not in a funktastic, brassy, "Artie Funk" sort of way. More in a stinky, just got out of gym class and my tee shirt smells bad kind of way. Taking the karaoke favorite and putting the Archie Smarm (TM) on it was pretty much the only play he has anymore, and I don't know if it really was that great. Meh, dogg. Second performance was more of the same. It was really good...FOR David Archuleta. Plus, he's gonna add in the flag-waver vote this week. But I don't think he did this on purpose. I don't see him being as calculating and conniving about his song choices as KLC was, like you two imply he is. I think he's literally too young and naive to think like that. Anyways, if you figure that Cook grabs most of the teen rocker vote, then Archie has the tweens, grandmoms and NOW anyone who's a flag-waver...he's probably on top this week. Not that he's my FAVORITE, but...

I think he could end up in the Bottom 3 or 2, this week. It's time for a shocker. Won't happen, of course. But his performances weren't really THAT good. Will the fans even NOTICE? Doubt it. Just give the little freak the title, already. It's over. I'm done trying to predict this season accurately...the deck is stacked.

Syesha Mercado
performed Hello Again and Thank the Lord for the Nighttime

The Future Mrs. Artie Funk delivered a good, solid vocal on "Hello Again." It sounded nice! Of course, everyone will remember this song from my favorite movie, Saving Silverman. Um...decent song choice for her, because it let her belt. I mean, she did really well, but she didn't floor anybody with that performance, I don't think. It lacked...shine? Is that the right word? I don't know. The second song was a little better, mostly because it had more energy and that's what I like to see Syesha doing. Upbeat, happy songs are better than slow, Whitney, belty songs. For me.

Did you just make "Whitney" an adjective, Artie? I like that.

I'm doin' my thing, yo! Overall, I'd say she's got two decent performances, and it's tough to say who's going to be in trouble. But...given her history...she might have needed that "shine" on the first song to get her through to next week. And P.S.-- singing barefoot is still completely AWESOME.

Syesha looked really good last night, and I don’t mean that in a Paula Abdul "you sounded horrible" kind of way. Her vocal was really nice and strong, not the most memorable performance, but it wasn’t bad. For the second song - I love when Syesha has fun with a song, it makes her so much more entertaining to watch. Simon was a little hard on her saying she would be the one to leave. I do agree she’ll be leaving soon, just maybe not tonight.

Syesha is more at home with this Broadway, theatrical stuff. We all know that, now. I don't know if it'll help her win American Idol, but maybe it'll be enough to win her a few fans and keep her around another week or two. MAYBE. She was better last week and was in the Bottom 2, so...maybe America just doesn't WANT to like her? Both songs were solid, but her second was a bit too over-the-top for me.

The Davids were my top performers of the night. Archuleta had smart song choices, I liked Cook’s performances better. Brooke, Jason, and Syesha would be in the bottom three if we were to have one, but they’ll probably make it a bottom two again this week. It’s a tough call but I think Jason and Brooke will be the bottom two with Jason heading home.

Anyone not named David is in danger of elimination...moreso this week than any other previous week. Especially Jason Castro. He's in REAL trouble. He's my go-home guy. As for the other slot for the Bottom 2...it's a toss-up for me between Brooke and Syesha. If we're basing it solely on the performances tonight (which we NEVER are), I'd say it's a tough one. I'm gonna' go with Brooke, because of the lack of quality on her first song might be insurmountable. For some reason, I find myself listening to PAULA'S critiques on Syesha. I kind of agreed that she showed BOTH of her strengths in both of her songs, so I'm inclined to agree with that. Weird, huh?

Here is my call. David Archuleta goes home...TONIGHT. Bottom 3 is Archie, Syesha and Brooke. Bottom 2 are Archie and Brooke. Archie goes home. There it is. That's my call. The end. Jason deserves to be safe after Paula Abdul's sniper job on him halfway through the show. If he goes home, there's a controversy, so he WON'T.

***** 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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