1 minute ago 2010-02-09T20:00:54-08:00
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The remaining contenders on Season 7 of "American Idol" faced one of their toughest evenings of competition on Tuesday night. From forgetting the words, to splitting the judges panel, to just being off their game, only one person managed to endure the hour plus broadcast without taking a knock - David Archuleta.
The theme this week - songs from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's Top 500 - gave the four contenders (David Cook, Syesha Mercado, Jason Castro and David Archuleta) plenty of material to choose from, but the multiplicity of options proved too much for the first singer up.
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David Cook took on the Duran Duran classic "Hungry Like The Wolf," a rocked up number that left the judges anything but satisfied.
"That was an OK choice and that was a solid performance, but I'm just looking to see who's trying to bring the mad hot vocals tonight," Randy Jackson said. "That was just OK for you."
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Syesha Mercado performed Tina Turner's version of "Proud Mary." And though she shook out her hair and her moves on stage, the rendition split the panel.
"She's in the zone," Randy enthused. "You're showing the heat late in the competition when you need it."
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"I'm sorry to put a slight damper of things," Simon said when it was his turn, "because for me I just thought it was just a bad shriek-y version - a bad impersonation of Tina Turner."
Jason Castro's rendition of Bob Marley's "I Shot The Sheriff" received even worse criticism from Simon.
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"Jason, stand back," Simon began. "That was utterly atrocious. That is a song you do not touch. The arrangement was atrocious, the performing and the singing was as bad as I ever heard. That was like a first round audition massacre. I don't know what you were thinking."
David Archuleta however, brought a smile to the judges' faces, performing "Stand By Me."
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"You're seasoned already," Paula Abdul said referring to Archuleta's command of the stage during the song.
Round two brought better reviews for David Cook, who sang The Who's "Baba O'Reilly."
"I just want more, I want more, I want more Dave Cook," Paula enthused. "I'm really humbled to sit here and watch your soul. Thanks for sharing it with everyone."
After Syesha sang her second song, however, "A Change Is Gonna Come," by Sam Cooke, the criticism from Randy, brought her to tears.
"So for me, the first song I loved. This one I did not love as much, here's why: so check it out, I didn't love the arrangement with the music⦠I felt you pushed out things and you were trying for things that weren't there."
The lone female left in the competition said she was particularly disheartened, as she had invested in the song and its message of civil rights. Simon's comments, however, changed things around for her.
"I thought you sang that really, really well," Simon said, disagreeing strongly with Randy.
For his final song choice, Jason Castro churned out Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man," completely forgetting the words in the first verse.
"I lost some lines in there, that's kind of bad," Jason admitted during the judging round.
"Jason, I'd pack your suitcase," Simon said.
Finally David Archuleta took to the stage as the show ran long, with an emotional version of Elvis Presley's "Love Me Tender."
"You didn't beat the competition tonight, you crushed the competition," Simon concluded.
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LeighDavids A is amazing. thats all there is to it. and the fact that David Archuleta is NOT gay. hes shy. so whoever said that just needs to stop being so judgmental.report abuseposted June 9, 2008 6:46 PM PDT
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SuhaylaDavid Archuleta is anything BUT gay!He is a fascinating singer. When i heard him sing "Love Me Tender" I cried soo much. When has an Elvis song made me so emotional? NEVER! For a seventeen year old, he is singing on top of the world. I love Cook too, but come on, the comparison is hard, but i have to hand it over to Archuleta. He's got pure, raw talent. He is archadorablereport abuseposted May 16, 2008 2:33 PM PDT
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Hillary ColemanI Love Davi d A, he is so talented and good looking but then again so is David C. I wish they both could win.report abuseposted May 10, 2008 2:32 AM PDT
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KaylaDavid Archuleta!report abuseposted May 9, 2008 6:02 PM PDT
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Christina Soh and my first comment was to Michael D...report abuseposted May 9, 2008 7:07 AM PDT
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Christina Sand he is so damn sexy i just want to pull him right out of the TV... and he is so talented, his voice is just the kind that make you want to melt...report abuseposted May 9, 2008 7:06 AM PDT
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Christina Swow if you think that david cook is last you are just a retard. he is by far the best one. david A. is pretty goodtoo, but since he is young, he is more like a fad... like the hanson band was, nsync was, backstreet boys.... he will hit the top of his career within a year and then after about two years, no one will hear about him anymore, sad, but that is how it is... David cook is so sexy.......report abuseposted May 9, 2008 7:04 AM PDT
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Christina Swow if you think that david cook is last you are just a retard. he is by far the best one. david A. is pretty goodtoo, but since he is young, he is more like a fad... like the hanson band was, nsync was, backstreet boys.... he will hit the top of his career within a year and then after about two years, no one will hear about him anymore, sad, but that is how it is... David cook is so sexy.......report abuseposted May 9, 2008 7:04 AM PDT
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Christina Swow if you think that david cook is last you are just a retard. he is by far the best one. david A. is pretty goodtoo, but since he is young, he is more like a fad... like the hanson band was, nsync was, backstreet boys.... he will hit the top of his career within a year and then after about two years, no one will hear about him anymore, sad, but that is how it is... David cook is so sexy.......report abuseposted May 9, 2008 7:04 AM PDT
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Jynelle SWhat does it matter who is gay? And, come on! He's 17! Yeah, some people might know at that age, and some might not. And I don't get why everyone is saying he is gay. It's not obvious--I mean, Christ he isn't making out with a boy on stage so how could it be obvious. Some people are hating because he is so talented, and humble and likable.report abuseposted May 9, 2008 6:01 AM PDT
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