American Idol: Top 4

Wow. It’s a no brainer who should go this week. I’ve never seen someone flame out as badly as Jason Castro on this show. His incoherent version of “I Shot the Sherrif” (which was about growing pot and having the cops on your case--I wonder why he picked that one. ) was so freaking bad I couldn’t wait to hear Randy and Simon tear into him. And his version of Mr Tambourine man was equally a mess. If he wasn’t high, he should have been. That was a disaster.

David Cook started off with Duran Duran’s “Hungry Like the Wolf” and I knew the what the judges were going to say when he finished because I felt it too. It was kind of phoned in. But his version of the Who’s Baba O’Riley was decent and won him praise,.

Syesha Mercado did a great “Proud Mary” cover, but I knew Simon would compare her to Tina Turner. I think Tina would have approved, even if Simon didn’t. She was good. Her belted out version of “A Change is Gonna Come” appealed to the Audience and Paula (Simon, too), but I agree with Randy. That song was not made for shouting. It’s a smooth, soulful tune.

Finally David A, the teacher’s pet, won the day. Though I have to confess he is boring me now. I almost know how he’s going to interpret each song and while he sings well, it’s too aimed at what the judges want rather than being a unique personal performance. He reminds me of those kids in school who always did it the way the teacher wanted. As if to get their approval. With his dad in the audience each show, it seems he has been groomed for this contest and it does not feel organic at all. He wil probably win, but I don’t really care.

At this point I would rather see David Cook win. Syesha isn’t quite there, but she has shown the determination to win. Jason is a lot cause. If he stays it will only be because he has more fans than Syesha.

UPDATE: Jason got the axe. No surprise. TMZ claims he is saying “Don’t Vote” in this clip. It sure did seem like he didn’t want to kep going. Maybe the process and media attention intimidated him.

I turned off my TV when he started to play his exit song. Once was enough. 

1. What a terrible show for the top four…
   I don’t think I liked any performance except for little troll boy’s Love Me Tender. I had to give him a golf-clap for that.
   I really hated Sayesha’s Tina impersonation and felt she should be sent home immediately afterward...until Jason came out. WTF?! I know he’s a stoner but it almost seems that he intentionally set himself up to fail.
   David Cook...hmmmm...I just didn’t like Hungry Like the Wolf...and thought he softened the phrasing up too much in Baba...came off sounding more like a Broadway musical version of the song. Very disappointing night overall.
   I think even Jason’s fans have to let him go this week...he is begging to be eliminated.

   Posted by  on  05/07  at  05:17 AM

2. By far overall the worst “top four” performance I can remember. David A is totally annoying and boring, Sayesha reverted to her imitation performances, and Jason...wow. David C should definitely win based on skill, but not sure he will. Oh well. This season has gotten boring quick.

   Posted by  on  05/07  at  05:50 AM

3. I remember when Taylor sang “A Change is Gonna Come” at his audition.  THAT was soulful.  I knew right then I wanted him to win.

   Before the season started, I kept hearing how the judges were saying how much more talent there was this year.  What happened to those people?

   I agree, Jason is going home tonight.  He should have gone home a couple of weeks ago.

   Posted by  on  05/07  at  06:57 AM

4. I thought David Hernandez was more talented than some of these others. They let him go too early. Michael Johns, probably should have stayed longer than Jason. Ditto Carly.

   I liked the Syesha Tina act, but I agree it was just an imitation and nothing new. The ratings dip they are having this year is probbaly due to the fact that there is nothing exciting about the contestants this year (or last, come to think of it).

   Posted by  on  05/07  at  07:27 AM

5. Er, Marley’s connection to Rastafari may imply that on the surface the lyrics to “I Shot the Sheriff” are simply about growing pot.  But his connection to social activism should also imply that the “seed” reference in the lyrics is about social change.  He wasn’t that one dimensional of an artist.

   Also, it’s easy to cast Castro as a pot smoker, due to his spacey nature and dreadlocks.  But the guy is a total holy roller and more of a poser amongst the stoner set.  If he was half what he pretends to be through his appearance and song choices he wouldn’t be on AI in the first place.

   Posted by  on  05/07  at  10:53 AM

6. I don’t think they would sanction Castro going on air high. But he sure seems like he’s stoned half the time. I got the feeling he was trying to get voted off, as if he wanted someone else to have a chance to stay.

   His people in the audience sure look disappointed in him.

   Posted by  on  05/07  at  11:12 AM

7. Living in the North Texas area I can report that there was a fairly large local push to keep him on the show.  I wouldn’t say that the entire area was behind him, but there was a pretty strong faction from his church and general hometown that were really trying to ratchet up the votes. 

   I always felt a little bad for them.  I’m sure he’s a good & entertaining coffee house singer, but on that show he was totally out of his element.  Their efforts weren’t going to win the show for him.  But they generally seemed to believe they could.  Oh well, here’s to the dreamers!

   I really can’t believe that I just typed that much about the guy.

   Posted by  on  05/08  at  08:54 AM

8. Well, they can see him on the finale in two weeks from now. Or on tour. But I agree, he’s not suited for the show at all. I think he knew that.

   Posted by  on  05/08  at  09:01 AM
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