This has been, by far, the worst season during the run of American Idol for forgetting or stumbling with lyrics.
Whether these competitors are cracking under the pressure or just aren’t concentrating hard enough, it isn’t acceptable. And when you make it down to the final four, it’s ridiculous to goof up that bad.
This season’s fumbling began with David Archuleta, then the bug moved its way to Brooke White, and last night it was Jason Castro’s turn to sabotage himself.
With songs from the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame as their theme, the competitors were given two songs to convince viewers to vote for them.
After Castro’s fun but lame attempt at Bob Marley’s I Shot The Sheriff, one would have thought he would have upped the ante with his second song. Unfortunately, as he started Bob Dylan’s Mr. Tambourine Man, he forgot the lyrics and just la-la-la’d until he remembered what to sing.
“I lost some lines in there, that’s kind of bad,” said Castro in his defence.
“It is what it is,” said judge Paula Abdul.
“Pack your suitcase,” added judge Simon Cowell.
If Castro doesn’t go home after this mess up, it will be obvious he’s picked up the sympathy vote from all the ladies at home watching the show.
But the evening wasn’t all bad. David Cook, who got off to an OK, yet lacklustre, start with Duran Duran’s Hungry Like The Wolf, bounced right back with his unique take on Baba O’Riley by The Who. When Cook rocks, he does it with style.
Syesha Mercado is a soulful star and demonstrated that with two phenomenal performances of Proud Mary by Tina Turner and Sam Cooke’s A Change Is Gonna Come.
David Archuleta was also on the ball with effortless performances of Stand By Me by Ben E. King and Elvis Presley’s Love Me Tender. Though the ballad thing is getting old, it’s his niche. So why mess with a good thing?
