The Final Four: Castro, out
Posted on May 7th, 2008 – 12:29 AMBy Jon Bream
Music critic Jon Bream on the Island tonight. What were these Final Four thinking? It’s time to get serious about this competition. This was the week with the biggest, broadest and deepest song catalog to choose from — the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. So why did we get so many misguided song choices and so many uninspired performances?
Why did heavy favorite David Cook pick Duran Duran’s “Hungry Like a Wolf” (Whose Hall of Fame?) and the Who’s untouchable “Baba O’Riley”? Imprudent choices and unmemorable performances.
Nervous to the point of being unfocused, Jason Castro went for the “two Bobs”: Marley’s “I Shot the Sheriff” and Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man.” The only thing he got right on the Marley was the dreadlocks. On “Tambo,” he forget one line and blew some others — and any chance he had to stay in the “Idol” race.
Syesha Mercado’s song choices were problematic and her interpretations unremarkable. Her “Proud Mary” was too Tina Turner-like, and Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” was soulful but screechy. At least, she scored points in the wardrobe category with both numbers (a spangly short skirt for “Mary” and an elegant gold gown for “Change”).
David (Crusher) Archuleta “crushed the competition,” to use Simon’s words, partly because they were that bad and partly because he wasn’t bad at all. In fact, he was pretty good. “Stand By Me” was heartfelt if unspecial, but “Love Me Tender” was a sweet choir boy-meets-boy band reading — something he made his own.
There’s no question that the voters will say “Castro out” and that this has become a two-horse race between the Davids.
What do you think? Please post your comments here:
16 Responses to "The Final Four: Castro, out"
Last night during the show, Ryan shook hands with members of Rascal Flatts. After Idol was over, my wife flipped over to “Dancing with the Stars” on ABC. Apparently, (I didn’t stay and watch) Rascal Flatts were the guest performers on the show. Both are “live” shows and are on different networks. What gives?
After reading what JB wrote about Castro telling EW that he was ready to go home, it was no surprise to me to see his obvious tank job. Not that he has the vocals as the others, but he certainly could have done a better job. He looked and performed like someone that didn’t want to move on. Was it me or did it look like he mouthed “don’t vote” after his first performance?
Jason, I thought the same thing after Castro’s first performance! I could have sworn I saw him mouth “don’t vote” as well.
Yea , Jason clearly tanked it on purpose - for that reason alone they should kick him off imo.
I do like Jason’s style, however if you are flubbing up the words at this point in AI, it is time to go home. Syesha should have disappeared long ago, she is average at best and even though she is attractive, just doesn’t have what it takes. As for the two Davids….I wish they both could win! I agree that the song choices were pretty poor. As for Syesha comparing her AI experience to the civil rights movement…get over it Syesha!
Day 1 long timer who dug AI, I mean dug it. Right now you have Cook - that’s it. David Cook. It as quite a pathetic laa-laa-laaa David A performance (nothing new here that you didn’t hear every week now. Kid can’t change what he weeps out)- and the other 2 really should have departed 4-5-6 weeks ago.
The very thought that the redial kiddies may put David A in the winners circle speaks volumes to what this show has become. Very sad.
I’ll try to stomach it again next year - maybe it’ll come around again with better talent over-all and better, more mature voters or a new system. If not I sure have better things I can, and probably should be doing.
NJ weighing in. Just wanted to address Patrick’s question. “Dancing with the Stars” and “Idol” tape in studios right next to each other. In fact, there has been talk that Ryan Seacrest and Tom Bergeron might switch places on some Tuesday for a segment or two (the two are up for it, the networks might not be). It would be easy for Rascal Flatts to go from one place to the next.
As for Castro, don’t be surprised if he somehow survives. He’s been tanking it for weeks - and still makes the cut. Remember: There are a lot of teenagers who think the “I’m too cool for this room” persona is sexy. Castro may actually be a genius, playing up the “I don’t want to be here” act like noone ever has before - and it’s working with some voters. If that strategy gets him in the final three, it’ll be Castro, not Sanjaya, who will be most dangerous “Idol” contestant ever.
Sad thing is Neal , Jason isnt a teenager.
I lost interest in the show, this is not the best talent they have had. It’s getting old……..
Such a ho-hum performance by all of the contestants. Why did David Cook select a Duran Duran song when he had the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame roster at his disposal? Not sure about that one. As for Jason, I pretty much agree that he just wants out (or he’s extremely clever). My bone to pick last night was with David A. I practically threw my shoe at the TV when he ad-libbed the words “all you beautiful girls … stand by me” on his first song. Ish. So incredibly cheesy. I read in EW that his father is often on the sidelines, “coaching” him in his song selection, so perhaps this was a Daddy-Knows-Best moment? And c’mon, you had never heard “Love me tender” before? Double-ish. However, if Jason doesn’t go home, I think it’s a toss up between Syesha and (gulp) David C. — he didn’t exactly bring the house down last night, so looks kinda dicey for him. The talent this year is just so-so/fair. To much pretty boy/girl stuff going on. Someone just needs to *sing*.
Such a ho-hum performance by all of the contestants. Why did David Cook select a Duran Duran song when he had the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame roster at his disposal? Not sure about that one. As for Jason, I pretty much agree that he just wants out (or he’s extremely clever). My bone to pick last night was with David A. I practically threw my shoe at the TV when he ad-libbed the words “all you beautiful girls … stand by me” on his first song. Ish. So incredibly cheesy. I read in EW that his father is often on the sidelines, “coaching” him in his song selection, so perhaps this was a Daddy-Knows-Best moment? And c’mon, you had never heard “Love me tender” before? Double-ish. However, if Jason doesn’t go home, I think it’s a toss up between Syesha and (gulp) David C. — he didn’t exactly bring the house down last night, so looks kinda dicey for him. The talent this year is just so-so/fair. Too much pretty boy/girl stuff going on. Someone just needs to *sing*.
I was extremely disappointed with the song choices last night….wow. 500 songs to choose from, and these four come up with that?
David C: Honestly, he didn’t look very “happy” last night. He looked sad. That may have something to do with his brother, and I completely and totally understand that. But in the face of adversity, he needs to learn to be in the moment. I was waiting for him to just be a little enthusiastic.
Syesha: I was looking for a cameo by Ike on the first song! She tried, and failed, to channel Tina. There is no way that was going to happen. Maybe if she would have come out in normal Syesha clothing (instead of trying to dress like Tina) and didn’t try to imitate Tina’s dancing, I would have liked this better. I love Sam Cook and that second song tanked for me. Her version was kind of choppy and disjointed in places. I feel like she tries to scream parts of the songs (I think Simon mentioned this last night, too, and I actually thanked him when he said that).
Jason: He really screwed up with choosing his songs. Bob Marley? NO He should have researched Folksy artists and chosen some Peter, Paul and Mary, or even some Joni Mitchell. The second song was okay. But the only place he tried to Jason Castro-nise the song was at the end of it.
David A: He picked okay songs and didn’t do anything remotely bad. He was the best of the mediocre last night.
I agree with a couple of the posters here. I think there will be an upset tonight. I think Syesha will be eliminated and Jason will stay. Might be fun to have an All Boy Final.
I’m personally tired of David A. It seems that all he sings is ballads. Maybe it would hurt him to do a faster paced song, as we saw when he messed up the words to “We can work it out.” But do we really need two Josh Grobans in this world? One is more than enough for me.
I don’t get the enthusiasm for David A. Granted, he has a “great voice” and I like his song choices, but every time he sings I feel like the song is from “the Lion King” movie soundtrack.
Thanks for the answer, Neal.
I’ve never watched AI until this season. I pretty much lost interest after Michael Johns got booted; not because I was fan. or thought he was going to win, but because talentless posers like Jason Castro and Kristy Lee Cook were still in it. All the twits who redial vote for living MonChiChi doll, David A., have ruined it for me.
Anyhow, no matter who wins, I’ll never buy their music. Ever.
