American Idol

Season 7 American Idol finalists perform Sunday during a taping for this week’s Idol Gives Back.

It’s the beginning of another three-episode week, and American Idol will let another singer go. And maybe raise a few million dollars in between. This is Idol Gives Back week, and each of the finalists will sing an inspirational song.

7:02 p.m.

First up is Michael Johns, who had a great week last week. His song choice is Dream On, which seems like a somewhat obvious choice for him. I have to say I’m back to the point of saying, “What’s up with this guy?” That whiny, screaming stuff? I don’t get it.

“I really believe that this is one of the important weeks for us,” Randy said. “… It had some pitch problems for me.”

“I couldn’t disagree more,” Paula said, giving praise (no shocker there) to Johns.

“You know what, Michael, I thought it was a very good performance,” Simon said. “… I don’t like it when you do an impersonation of a rockstar.”

7:11 p.m.

Syesha Mercado is committing one of the biggest sins in the Idol game — and it’s not performing a Whitney song. No, she’s performing a song from a former Idol winner, Fantasia’s I Believe. Of course, it’s not a sin when you give a great performance, and I think Syesha did just that … I’m not quite sure about that crazy high note at the end. But it was a surprise. Judges?

“It was OK, just OK,” Randy said.

“Not many people can take on songs like that,” Paula said. “You flipped it a little bit and made it all your own.”

“Syesha, to be fair, of course there’s going to be a comparison,” Simon said. “Technically, I thought you sang it very well. However, what it lacked for me, was that big, big wave of emotion.”

Now it’s Jason Castro’s turn. He has chosen Somewhere Over the Rainbow, but not the version Kimberley Locke brought to the Idol stage. This is a completely different, more Hawaiian approach. I like Jason, I really do. But I have to say, this seems a little too far off from what is expected on this show. Jason’s performance seems a little more fit for a subway station or even a not-so-crowded coffeehouse. I’m just not sure this is the type of showing that can keep him out of the bottom three.

“Yo, I tell you what,” Randy said. “Dude, Jason Castro is back … that was crazy, molten hot.”

“You have the most definitive sound,” Paula said.

Simon thought it was “fantastic.” I wouldn’t go that far. But, of course, I think we know who’s sitting in the judging chair.

7:24 p.m.

Kristy Lee Cook is this year’s chance at a true country artist, but she’s struggled to find a song that really works for her. This week she chose Martina McBride’s Anyway. It’s a perfect song for Cook’s voice. While she’s no Martina McBride, this is the type of song that allows her to showcase her vocal talents in the biggest way possible. There are plenty of notes to hold out and big notes to nail. And she did it … the best she could.

“There were a couple of little pitch moments, but I loved that,” Randy said.

“I think you outdid yourself tonight,” Paula said. “This was your best by far.”

“I thought you were very, very good indeed,” Simon said. “I also think tonight, tonight you look like a star, Kristy.”

7:32 p.m.

Our Lady Peace is one of the best bands to come from Canada. And Innocent is one of their best songs. So, it’s fitting that David Cook, one of the best finalists on Idol’s Season 7 would choose to cover the song. Of course, he did it well. It was a nice, smooth change of pace for David. That said, it wasn’t as great as his previous two weeks … but how do you top those performances?

“I’m a huge fan of yours,” Randy said. “… I’m not sure this was one of your strongest weeks right here.”

“Tonight was no exception of you being so good,” Paula said. “You are so well defined as being the whole package. You are it.”

“David, I didn’t like this performance very much at all,” Simon said. “I thought it was a teensy, weensy pompous.”

The Show Must Go On by Queen is Carly Smithson’s choice. The song certainly fits her style — unlike that wacky outfit she’s wearing tonight. But I digress. No, wait. I can’t stop with the crazy, shiny gold belt. This performance is passable, but I’m not sure it’s all that phenomenal. I do think it will be enough to get Carly through to the next round, but she may end up in the bottom three …

“It ended up OK,” Randy said. “It was just OK for me.”

“There’s something I’m actually going to agree with a little bit,” Paula said. “Your voice, as always, is pretty much pretty perfect. I just didn’t feel engaged with you.”

“Carly, you look good,” Simon said. What? Really? Um, the gold belt. Is anyone else seeing this?

“I thought it was an unusual choice of song tonight. … You did lose control of the song there at the end,” Simon said.

7:46 p.m.

It’s David Archuleta’s turn to take center stage. His inspirational song choice is Angels. I actually think this was a wise song choice for David, who takes to the piano, adding a little extra drama. It also is aging him a little bit. It seems sometimes, no, almost all the time, David is trying to perform as if he’s a much older performer. As far as the quality of tonight’s performance, it was vocally where it needed to be. While subtle, the overall performance was pretty incredible.

“You know what I loved about this performance … when you did that little refrain at the end, that’s the David Archuleta I love,” Randy said.

“Best song choice of the night,” Simon said. “I’m not going to say it was your best vocal, however. … David, I’m nitpicking here, because you are going to sail through to the next round.”

7:54 p.m.

Closing out the night is Brooke White. She’s going to perform Carole King’s You’ve Got a Friend. Tonight, Brooke is mixing it up and letting someone else handle the piano playing. This is an interesting, slightly slow, version of this song. It seems Brooke maybe slowed the tempo a little too much. Maybe that’s not it, but something just doesn’t seem quite right. The song almost seems unrecognizable, and not in a good way.  I’m a little bored with this one.

“For me, I don’t think it was your best performance,” Randy said.

“That song, I grew up to,” Paula said. “… I think it’s the perfect way to close the evening. Once again, you’re very definitive.”

“It was sort of like a pleasant walk in the park,” Simon said. “It was nice. Was it original? No. Was it pleasant? Yes.”

WHO GETS MY VOTE: It’s a tough one, but I think I may have to send this week’s honor over to David Archuleta, maybe? I actually thought Syesha Mercado provided another bright spot … but the Fantasia comparisons are going to be just a little too much for her.

WHO SHOULD GO: It maybe should be Jason Castro, based on tonight only. I definitely think Kristy Lee Cook earned her spot for one more week. But previous performances may not be forgotten.

American Idol, Brooke White, David Cook, Kristy Lee Cook, David Archuleta, Syesha Mercado, Carly Smithson, Michael Johns, Jason Castro