TVSquad

(S07E11) The continuing efforts by the Idol folks to make me happy are really appreciated, I want you guys to know that. Not only did they acknowledge that certain of tonight's contestants have had very little to no screen time thus far, but they went so far as to show us some early audition footage for them.

It may not seem like much, but that little bit shows us the contestant singing a couple different songs, maybe in differing styles. This gives us a more well-rounded basis on which to assess their performance here. Everyone has an off-week from time to time and it would be horrible for someone to have a bad night on the only night we see him/her if his/her other auditions were amazing.

Hey, look Apple must have just signed a deal with Idol because before the singing could begin we got Ryan giving a plug for iTunes, where you can download the performances after the show. Awesome! I can't wait for him to tell me that four thousand more times this season.

Tonight's theme was songs from the '60s.

David Hernandez (24, Glendale, AZ) - "In the Midnight Hour," Wilson Pickett
One of the problems David H. may have early on is that he doesn't stand out visually. He's a handsome but non-descript guy with a non-descript story. Unfortunately, his performance was as bland and nondescript as his appearance. Maybe he needs a corncob pipe or a monocle. He certainly didn't play to the cameras, nor show much charisma at all. I think the most he moved was bouncing his leg up and down to the rhythm. Not a good first impression to your voting constituents, David.
Randy: "I like that you started with a whole kind of gospel vibe in the front ... it fell a little apart at the end ... but way to start it off, yo! The competition is on!"
Paula: "You've got brilliant vocals to rely on .. Perfect vibrato where you needed it ... Good job."
Simon: "It was better than I thought it would be ... beginning was terrific, middle part was all a little bit rabbit in the headlights, end I didn't like ... you've got to loosen up a bit. Very stiff, very nervous ... didn't hear anything distinct in your voice."
Jason: "Simon pretty much summed it up, David. You looked incredibly tense and uncomfortable. You definitely need to loosen up and have some fun up there. The vocals were nice enough but I was missing the star quality. Honestly, I doubt this performance will be remembered by the end of this show."

Chikezie (22, Englewood, CA) - "More Today Than Yesterday," Spiral Starecase
Chikezie Eze dropped his last name, and while usually I think it's a bit pretentious to go the one name route for the Idol, I can't blame Chikezie for this. It's going to be a lot easier to pronounce and remember now, though I will miss the rhyming potential it had. Chikezie made it to Hollywood last year, but got cut halfway through. He took that inspiration and worked hard to improve himself vocally and it's definitely paid off. Tonight, Chikezie rocked the orange suit, which is not an easy look to pull off, and in fact Simon didn't think he pulled it off at all and would have liked to pull it off completely. Oh, and Chikezie shouldn't be taking his dance tips from David H.
Randy: "It was pretty good ... *sigh* ... you're kind of an old-fashioned singer ... make it new fresh, young ... it was a'ight."
Paula: "You've come a long way and you're here ... you're a throwback to great R&B ... you did a very nice job."
Simon: "Here's my problem Chikoozie ... I absolutely hated the whole performance ... the suit is hideous ... corny, cheesy, this could have been something filmed forty years ago."
Jason: "Okay, that was a bit harsh, but it definitely lacked that spark of originality or "razzle-dazzle. You're a much better performer than what we just saw, Chikezie. Honestly, it reminded me a bit of a lounge singer act. When we saw you earlier on you had that same kind of sparkle in your eye that made Ruben and Taylor such infectious and joyous personalities, but it seems like something's sucked it out of you."

Ryan acknowledged that we didn't know Colton Berry very well yet so took a moment to talk to him.

David Cook (25, Blue Springs, MO) - "Happy Together," The Turtles
Simon called his initial audition "a bit worthy" and David needed to ask him what that meant. He also revealed that he was glad Simon said "No" to him at first in Hollywood as it kept him from getting "too comfortable." David C. was very much aware of the camera and played to it well. Unfortunately, he also mumbled through the start of his performance.
Randy: "You started and it was a little weird for me ... you worked it out and made a rock joint of "Happy Together" ... if he can pull this off, he can do anything, Paula."
Paula: "It was a bit worthy ... it's worthy of great praise. You rocked it, you made something original."
Simon: "I thought it was good ... you shouted the song a little bit in the middle. It's a weird song to choose because I never heard that song sung like that before ... you almost made it believable."
Jason: "When you started it sounded like you were mumbling the song, as if you were wondering why you had chosen the song as well. It picked up certainly when you started rocking it out a bit, and I did like the arrangement, but it took a bit too long to get to the good part. By the end I was already feeling disappointed because I know you're capable of much better than what you were giving, but I'll give you props in saving yourself a bit in the end."

Jason Yeager (28, Grand Prairie, TX) - "Moon River," Audrey Hepburn (Breakfast at Tiffany's)
Jason Y. is a big fan of the show who's wanted to be on it for years. He wants to show his son that you can achieve your dreams. His performance started off on a stool. Props are always risky business because they immediately starts blipping on the "corn-dar."And then, predictably from the set-up, he channeled Bing and Dean and earned himself some new Idol split-screen action. He had very nice vocal control, but was it enough to be remembered? So far, I'd say it was as he's showed off his vocal power, control and range. But the "corn-dar" is screaming by the end. He dedicated it to his grandmother who used to sing it to him and then my "corn-dar" exploded.
Randy: "You definitely did a pretty good job with that song ... You had a couple of problems ... pitch-wise ... stay in it, stay in it."
Paula: "I did my first ballet recital to that song." This was literally her contribution and critique.
Simon: "You came over much older on that song ... It was very cruise ship ... It was neither here nor there; you didn't go the Frank Sinatra route ... It was very middle of the road."
Jason: "I thought you really showed off your vocal range and control and that was nice. The song, however, was a bit of a risk. I know the theme is the '60s but that almost came across as '40s/'50s. I worry that you won't grab the attention of the audience enough. "Coba Cabana" didn't work for Bobby Bennett, so you have to be careful this early in the competition with song selection. Taking chances is great, but aging yourself too soon can only make you seem old-fashioned rather than retro-cool."

Need more American Idol? Get an inside look at Season 7's contestants and think back to these scathing (and hilarious) Simon Cowell quotes. Also: Who do you love? Rank the contestants!

Robbie Carrico (26, Melbourne, FL) - "One," Harry Nilsson
In his opening segment he talks about touring in a boy-girl group with Britney Spears when he was 16 in 2000. After that, he then turned to rock and tonight, he wanted to leave his soul and everything on the stage. Robbie looks incredibly comfortable on stage, working his bandanna look and the crowd equally.
Randy: "Nice one, Robbie, very nice one ... You had me rocking ... You moved me, baby. Thank you."
Paula: "You picked the perfect song ... You're authentic ... The vocals weren't over the top, but they were right in the pocket the way they should be."
Simon: "The only performance we've seen tonight that has any semblance of making sense. It's the only 'current' performance ... I thought it was a good performance ... Not quite sure yet whether you're very comfortable in this rock thing ... I'm not convinced yet."
Jason: "That right there is what all the other guys need to be trying to do. Robbie, you showed us who you were as an artist on that stage. There's no question after that performance that you are authentic and real. I loved the passion and power of your voice and the rawness in the chorus when you really kicked it up a notch. The performance of the night so far. No question."
DOUBLEPLAY - It doesn't happen at all some weeks and sometimes it happens multiple times, but for the most part it is rare that a performance is so good that I want to go back immediately (the joys of DVR) and watch it again. This was the first DOUBLEPLAY of the season.

David Archuleta (17, Murray, UT) - "Shop Around," Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
David sounds like his voice hasn't even dropped yet when he's talking but man does he have a powerful singing voice. It almost sounded like that song was a bit too big for him. He does know how to work a crowd and has a great voice; there's no question of that. He's a seasoned performer. He also ended with our first Idol power note of the season. He brought it together by the end. After the song, David was a little shy goober in a sweetly goofy way. This is a kid that grandmothers and little girls alike will fall in love with. The same older appeal that Clay Aiken had with the cutes to lure in the chiclets, too.
Randy: "I'm a big fan ... I thought that was really brilliant. You were just born with this gift ... I loved it."
Paula: "Brave and bold choice. We've never seen that side of you. I just look at this unbelievably confident older soul that just knows what's best for you. You really did a great job, David."
Simon: "When you got it, you got it. That was, by a comfortable mile, the best performance of the night so far."
Jason: "Maybe I'm missing the Archuleta boat. Don't get me wrong, I thought the ending was great and do not begin to doubt that you have a great instrument in your voice, but I didn't think you were owning the song at the beginning. It's almost like I got this sense that you were up there thinking to yourself, 'Man I'm no Smokey Robinson.' You came out of it strong so I just think you need to go into it knowing you've got it more."

Danny Noriega (18, Azusa, CA) - "Jailhouse Rock," Elvis Presley
Watching the initial audition again, I have to say that I liked Danny a lot better when he looked like a young man instead of a young woman in her twenties like now. The longer hair and the whole look is just way too female for me. This is the lowest I've ever heard Danny sing but it was still so odd for me to see the rock and roll attitude coming out of his pretty little face. He had a good stage presence, though. However, I think he started just talking through the song toward the end. It was almost as if the band was playing the song faster than he expected and he was racing to keep up.
Randy: "You know how to have a good time ... It was pretty good ... The vocals, I thought they were okay ... Interesting song choice ... didn't allow you to do your thing ... Loved the performance ... It was kinda hot."
Paula: "It was very warm ... you have one of the most amazing vocals ... this was a safer song which allows you to just be the performer."
Simon: "I thought the performance was verging on grotesque ... If you're gonna take on Elvis, at least do it well ... The whole performance was hideous ... It was awful."
They then started arguing. Randy liked that he didn't' come out trying to sound like Elvis.
Jason: "Danny, that was a horrible song choice for you. It's a singing competition and you can sing well but this didn't even begin to showcase your abilities. In fact, I'd say it hindered you and hurt you here tonight. This was the first real chance to see what you could do on a real stage and you just didn't bring it like you needed to. Luckily, America's seen you already and knows you're capable of more because if that was all they knew of you, I think you'd be in real trouble."

Luke Menard (29, Crawfordsville, IN) - "Everybody's Talkin'," Harry Nilsson
Last year, Luke was cut in his first audition. He brought a breathiness to his performance tonight. Luke's a good looking guy and played a very subtle underlit performance that earned him the Idol split-screen, too. He thinks people will remember his performance tomorrow. He's wrong.
Randy: "For me ... it was very pitchy all the way through ... Consistently sharp ... Wasn't great for me."
Paula: "I agree in the sense that I don't feel this was the best song choice for you ... [I'm] grateful to have heard amazing auditions from you ... You can tell your range is unbelievable." What she's saying is you're amazing but you weren't tonight.
Simon: Your problem was it was forgettable. No one is going to remember that as being either a great performance or a great vocal. You fell into the absolute worst trap you could fall into, which is no one's going to remember you ... You have to stand out ... You didn't."
Jason: "Paula was trying to say that this was a terrible performance. Especially for your first real shot at singing for the voting public. It was a safe and repetitive vocal that came across like a lullaby putting me to sleep, which may not be what you want at this point in the competition. America doesn't know you Luke and after this performance they might not even remember that you're in the competition, much less pick up their phones and vote."

Colton Berry (18, Staunton, VA) - "Suspicious Minds," Elvis Presley
Earlier in the show, Ryan asked Colton what he wanted America to know about him since he hadn't had much screen time yet. His response: "From certain angles I look like Ellen DeGeneres." And when asked which angles that was he said, "left, right and front." He auditioned originally because it was a dream of his. He has a very seasoned vocal but his performance was a bit amateurish. He showed a lot of range and style with the arrangement, though. He also felt the need to end on the Idol power note. How about a montage of all the Idol power notes over the year?
Randy: "You did a pretty good job on it .. [It] started a little rough for me but by the end you started ... finding your way with it so I thought it was actually all-in-all pretty good."
Paula: "It's nice to see a different side of you .. [I] don't feel it's your best performance, but you gave it an eager and fun attempt." Uh-oh. "Fun attempt" is code for you failed.
Simon: "It was okay. It wasn't quite as bad as the other Elvis song. The whole idea of this show is to find a recording artist. What did I get from that performance? ... A young kid who might have a career in musical theater .. You have no relevance in today's chart or in the music industry ... [You're a] young kid singing an Elvis song quite well ... You didn't represent yourself tonight."
Jason: "I'm actually going to disagree with the rest of the judges as I think you really owned the song in a strong way. I thought you had great control of your voice and showed off a lot more range of style and ability than a lot of the other guys tonight. Elvis is one of those artists that's so hard to remove in our minds from the original recording, but I think you still managed to make something special and memorable for yourself with it. Nice job."

Garrett Haley (17. Elida, OH) - "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do," Neil Sedaka
Ryan told us that Garrett also didn't get a lot of camera time so far. He then excused that by tell Garrett that Kelly Clarkson didn't get much camera time in the first season either. Way to cover your asses Idol! At least they're again showing us his early auditions for the first time. He revealed that he's never sang in front of large crowds, so confidence is an issue. He has a softer, higher-pitched speaking and singing voice, and he really slowed things down. He almost lost me until about halfway in he pushed himself vocally a little bit. He then made sure to end strong without feeling the need to hit the Idol power note, which I respect tremendously.
Randy: "Love the song but ... you didn't do anything with it. Don't be afraid to make these things your own ... Bring something new and interesting to it ... [There were a] couple little pitch problems and ... it was just kinda boring."
Paula: "It's okay to get into [the band director] Ricky Minor's ear ... and change it up. If you stay at that slow tempo it brings the performance down."
Simon: "They've said it all. It was boring. Your voice sounded a bit whiny. You looked terrified ... verging on haunted."
Jason: "It did border on boring. There were some nice moments in there but it was just so mellow you lost me here and there. You grabbed me and brought me back with some good notes but they were too few and far between. But good on you that you ended strong and had me there. You have a disadvantage though, Garrett, in that no one knows you or what you're all about yet. I don't think you want them to think that performance was who you are as an artist."

Jason Castro (20, Rockwall, TX) - "What a Day for a Daydream," Lovin' Spoonful
The first performer tonight to play an instrument? That's how Ryan hyped it before the break but I thought instruments were only for the Hollywood rounds? I need producer Nigel Lythgoe to explain this one to me. In the flashback sequences to his earlier performances there was a distinct lack of singing save a quick snippet which makes me think this is definitely the Jason Nigel was referring to with the "Crazy" licensing problem prohibiting the Idol to show those performances. It's a shame that something so out of his control would keep him out of the spotlight. Luckily his dreadlocks make him memorable visually so he won't be forgotten. He strummed his own accompaniment on guitar and gave a really laid back rendition. I think pot-smoking college kids across the nation have a new young icon (I'm not saying that Jason C. does anything of the sort, but her portrays the image).
Randy: "You tried to make some interesting things vocally ... [The] high note there at the end got away from you. But it was alright ... [It] didn't blow me away."
Paula: "You did blow me away and you got me right back hooked into what I saw in you the first time. You picked the song that was absolutely perfect for you ... Less is more. I really feel that you nailed that."
Simon: "In the Top 2 performances of the night ... You, like David, have just got it ... [It] would have worked better just you and the guitar. You made it sound current .. effortless. You have charisma. I think it was terrific."
Jason: "You performed that like you were a guest coming back to perform on the show rather than a contestant. Guitar or no that was a professional performance. You looked and sounded great and made the song interesting and fun no matter how many times we may have already heard it. You now have the performance of the night."
DOUBLEPLAY - It doesn't happen at all some weeks and sometimes it happens multiple times, but for the most part it is rare that a performance is so good that I want to go back immediately (the joys of DVR) and watch it again.

Michael Johns (29, Buckhead, GA) - "Light My Fire," The Doors
An Aussie who's been in America for 10 years, Michael blew me away in his original audition. Then in Hollywood he blew me away again with Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody." When this started I got worried because there's not much range in the song, but he didn't need it.
Randy: "What a way to end a great night ... you just throw all caution to the wind, you're always you, you sing great. I feel like I'm seeing a true legend rock performer ... you were the bomb tonight, baby! That was hot!"
Paula: "You did set everyone on fire. You are a great part of the show."
Simon: "You are the most consistent contestant we've had. Every one of your auditions I've loved. I didn't like it as much as "Bohemian Rhapsody." You have the natural charisma of a lead singer. You have just got it. No problem."
Jason: It was a very confident and well-controlled vocal throughout. You brought passion and authenticity to the stage, without missing a beat or a note. You make this look so easy, Michael. Honestly, it's not even fair. But don't get too cocky because there are some other guys here with amazing, amazing talent and potential. But you're right up there. Great job!"

THE BEST OF THE NIGHT
Robbie Carrico, David Archuleta, Jason Castro, Michael Johns

SHOULD BE WORRIED
David Hernandez, Chikezie, Danny Noriega, Luke Menard