Top Four Rock 'N Roll (Sort Of)
The remaining four American Idol contestants sang two songs apiece from the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame this week. With odd song selections and lackluster performances, this week's episode certainly won't be entered into the Idol hall of fame. To make things worse, the judges and Seacrest (and obviously the producers) did their darnedest to sway the outcome of this competition. With last week's Paula fiasco revealing the less-than-honorable behind the scenes goings on at AI, this week only served to confirm that the producers of this show are not comfortable letting the audience make their own decisions. Overall, this was another mess of a week on American Idol.

Following is the It's Destiny! panel's take on the AI7 Top 4: Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame.

David Cook "Hungry Like The Wolf"
Liza: I love the idea of the performance more so than the actual performance. I'm probably being a little unfair in comparing this to the original, especially seeing as how I JUST saw Duran Duran in concert this weekend, but I thought David took it a little too seriously, and the song didn't have the fun that it's so associated with, and David seemed to phone this one in a little bit. I also think he butchered the second to last line. Bah. But I love the guy for choosing it, and I hope he doesn't get Matt Hoffered for it. (And if you don't what that means ... EXACTLY.)
Score: 7.75
Destiny: I agree that I like the idea of this song better than what it actually turned out to be. My biggest problem with the performance wasn't with David, however, it was with the American Idol sound mixer. The sound mix has always been terrible on this show, but the problem usually is that the lead vocals are not loud enough and the backup vocals and band are too loud. This was just the opposite. They had Cook's vocals so far up front you could barely hear the back-up singers or band. Considering that the arrangement wasn't of the unplugged variety, the bad mix made it sound like David was really lacking. This show needs to get its act together. The contestants were better served when all they had was a mic and a recorded track.
Score: 8.0

Syesha Mercado "Proud Mary"
Liza: The last time someone sang this on Idol, Simon told the singer (Trenyce) she looked like a drag queen. Syesha won't get that comment because she looks stunning, but the performance was a little bit cabaret. I actually thought Trenyce did a better job with this. And I'm also reminded of Melinda Doolittle's Tina Turner number that she rocked out. Syesha looked gorgeous, and she moves well, but she was flat at times, shrieky at other times. Syesha doesn't have the grit that this song requires, and I had a feeling Simon would call it cabaret or karaoke.
Score: 7.5
Destiny: I'm with Liza on this one. This was Syesha's best stage performance, and she looked great. Her vocals, however, were mediocre and not up to what this song requires. I still am scratching my head as to how she made it to this stage in the competition, past so many great talents. I ask yet again: WHO IS VOTING FOR THIS GIRL?!
Score: 7.0

Jason Castro "I Shot The Sheriff"
Liza: This seems so definitively Jason, and he looks more alive tonight on this song than he has the entire season. The song itself bores me, but Jason's doing what HE wants to do and is setting himself up for future opportunities with this, so I say good for him. The judges were WAY brutal to him. But I have to admit that I laughed so hard when he said, "It's BOB MARLEY! YEAH!!"
Score: 7.25
Destiny: This certainly wasn't Jason's best, but the judges were way out of line with their slamming of Jason tonight. And just to drive the producers' wishes home even further, Seacrest got into the action with his prodding. We get it. Jason isn't wanted on the show. But I, and almost every single person I come across, really enjoy Jason and what he brings to the show. This was not a good song choice for the Idol format, and it wasn't Jason's best vocals, but he still remains an interesting and viable artist and still deserves a slot in the Top 3. This performance also fell victim to the same terrible sound mix we heard earlier in David Cook's first performance.
Score: 7.9

David Archuleta "Stand By Me"
Liza: This is the kind of puppy-dog song that suits David. I actually liked this one (when he wasn't dragging out all those notes unnecessarily and gasping for air), and I disagreed with Simon about him struggling at the end. I liked how he ended it. I'm so ticked off at Randy Jackson for saying that Archie's the only one out there trying to win because hell if David Cook and Syesha aren't trying to do the same!
Score: 8.5
Destiny: The judges are so off-base and irritating, I do not give any value to what any of them say. I agree with Liza in that this song certainly suits Archuleta. He sounded lovely on it. The way he is trying to loosen up is endearing too. His little shout out to the girls in the audience towards the end of the song was so out of character! He's cute.
Score: 8.8

David Cook "Baba O'Riley"
Liza: Another one I liked in theory more so than in reality. I didn't like the slowed-down arrangement, and I kept expecting him to kick it into high gear and speed it up and totally rock out, and he never did. He needed way more time for this song to do it justice. His voice sounded great, but the arrangement and especially tempo was whack.
Score: 8.25
Destiny: I agree that this song needed more time. I thought he did a good job with it, but there was something off. It seemed like he messed up at the end, and he was wise to keep his mouth shut when the judges didn't notice and just complimented him. He was good on this and the previous song, but this wasn't Cook's best week by a long shot. With Syesha who inexplicably just won't go away, I worry for his standing in this competition.
Score: 8.7

Syesha Mercado "A Change Is Gonna Come"
Liza: I would have killed to hear Michael Johns do this one, but what can you do? Oh no. And did she really indirectly compare the civil rights movement to her time on Idol?! Oh hell no. I just can't take her seriously singing this song in that evening gown. Standing O, Paula? Seriously?! That last note went SOUTH at the end. Yikes. Oh heavens, she's crying. Welcome to the Top 3, Syesha!
Score: 7.75
Destiny: I agree totally with Liza. This was just all sorts of annoying. I can say no more about Syesha. I will just use this opportunity to remind us all of Gedeon McKinney's phenomenal performance of this song in Season Five.
Score: 5.0

Jason Castro "Mr. Tambourine Man"
Liza: Wow. I have NEVER heard so many forgotten vocals in one season. And that lost note was horrid. I'm thinking Jason may be trying to throw this one ... And I'm hoping that his fans will comply and stop the madness because neither David nor Syesha should be going home instead of him after these performances.
Score: 5.5
Destiny: I didn't think there was anything vocally horrid about this performance. The missed lyrics were bad, but given how many people were given a pass this season, I'll give Jason a pass on this one. Besides that, I thought he sounded great on this song. I wish it could have gone on longer. Even with his mistakes, he is up there with David Cook as the most interesting artists of the season. I'll take that any day over Syesha's mediocre vocals.
Score: 7.9

David Archuleta "Love Me Tender"
Liza: I can't take this little kid seriously singing a romantic song, especially with his very unromantic squinty/constipated gaze into the camera. This was a nice radio performance. His falsetto at the end started out beautiful, but he couldn't hold it. He probably was the best tonight, but I wouldn't go as far as to say he CRUSHED the competition.
Score: 8.25
Destiny: I agree. He was probably the best tonight, but in no way did he crush the competition. He sounded good in parts of this song, but there was something missing. It wasn't his best vocal or emotional performance.
Score: 8.3

Who Should Be Eliminated:
Liza: Jason
Destiny: Syesha

Who Will Be Eliminated:
Liza: Jason
Destiny: Jason or David Cook

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