Tonight's theme, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame classics inexplicably allows for David Cook to perform Duran Duran's Hungry Like the Wolf. Unless this is another Hall of Fame, DD is not in the RRHoF. Cook's also tackling The Who's Baba O'Reilly. David A promises a sap fest with Stand By Me and Love Me Tender. Syesha's doing Proud Mary and A Change Is Gonna Come and Jason, who told EW he's ready to go home, as if we didn't all know that, takes on Mr. Tambourine Man and I Shot the Sheriff.
Hope the people involved with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are watching Idol's introductory tribute, given that they are playing Kiss' Rock and Roll All Nite as backing music and Kiss, shockingly, is not a member of the Hall and should be.
Meantime, tomorrow night Maroon 5 and Bo Bice perform on the bloated results show. Go Bo!
David Cook: Hungry Like the Wolf. Typically charmless, vocally monotonous performance. Boring. Paula's comment about watching David grow is as moronic as everything else she says. A problem with this season is that few of these contestants have grown. They all lack spontaneity. This was the kind of growling, unpleasant David performance we get every week. The only one of the remaining four to show some growth lately has been Syesha.
Speaking of which... 
Syesha: Proud Mary, "covered over 100 times," Syesha notes. Well, yeah. I like the way she phrased the word "turning" on the ballad part, swallowing it down and giving it back warm and full. The rock part was not particularly memorable, tho. Shrieky. Didn't give ol' Tina Turner any reason to worry over competition when she launches her tour later this year. That said, Syesha's the only one I still care to watch. Likable. Has grace, class.
Jason: "There are a few songs on the list I knew," Jason says, once again revealing his total lack of preparation and lack of respect for this show and its viewers. Bob Marley died so he wouldn't have to hear what this little dweeb's done to his song, I Shot the Sheriff. Randy: "For me that was a really karaoke Bob Marley. Dude, nothing special about it and at this point you have to show you deserve to be in the finals." Paula: "I never saw you perform more to the audience, but I wasn't crazy about the performance or the song." Simon: "Stand back. That was utterly atrocious. That is a song you do not touch, the performing and singing as bad as I ever heard, a first-round audition massacre, I don't know what you're thinking."
David A: "A fun song for me to sing," Robo-Singer said about Stand by Me. Technically, the only skillfull vocal of the evening thus far (and I liked the simple percussive arrangement) but I'm over little David. Tired of seeing his stage dad from hell in the audience, tired of David's same facial expressions every week, and his syrupy sound is not for me. But to be fair, he did a much better job than his competitors tonight.
David C: At least he was honest when he said he "could have done so much more" with his last song, the Duran fiasco. Thing is, he probably couldn't. He just hasn't the personality or range. As for his sleepwalk through the Who, it was as fake as the guitar he hangs around his neck as a prop. Even Madonna puts more effort and gets more out of her guitar when she plays it in concert -- and we all know Madonna is no guitarist. As a rocker, Daughtry would eat this Cook alive. Totally unconvincing.
How lame has Idol become this season? Rascal Flatts is in the house tonight, that's how lame.
Syesha: "Top 4, amazing experience, went home after results show and cried my eyes out," Syesha said, leading into Sam Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come. She's best in her low notes where she's sultry and seductive. Unfortunately, she had to give Idol one of its money shots with the last high note held forever for effect. Overall, tho, nice enough. "Trying to be something it wasn't," Randy opined. Paula made Syesha cry with her "welcome to your dream" comment. Simon, in a shocker, agreed with Paula. Thing is, he's probably doing reverse pyschology on the viewing public. Sobbing, Syesha said the song meant a lot to her and how its origins in the Civil Rights movement meant so much to her and reflected how she changed a lot. The positive aspect of this is that unlike the Davids and Jason, Syesha has honest emotions, personality and flair. It'll be shame if she's cut this week. We need her.
Jason: Forgets the words to Mr. Tamborine Man, after saying you can't go wrong with the Bobs, and, unlike Brooke in week's past, this comes across as pure arrogance and contempt. Jason doesn't want to be here anymore, hasn't tried in weeks, and when you think of the better talents who have left so that he may remain, it's just offensive. "I'd pack your suitcase," Simon said. Sad thing is he might not have to. Viewers have blown it so spectacularly this season, this little idiot probably will remain.
David A: "Haven't sung a big romantic song on stage before," David A. said before doing his Robo-Singer version of Love Me Tender. Once again, the notes in the right place but totally lacking in spontaneity, believability or soul.
Tops of the night: Syesha, by far. Cook and Castro abysmal. Archie bland.
Going home: I'm going to go on a limb and predict Jason will go. I have to believe, or at least pray, America gets it right and doesn't go the predictable route and eliminate Syesha.
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