American Idol Top 8 Guys: Cook, Castro, & Chikezie??
American Idol’s most talented season lived up to the hype tonight. Just when everyone was about to declare David Archuleta the winner (myself included), David Cook, Jason Castro, and unexpectedly, Chikezie, begged to differ with strong performances that should take them through to the coveted Top 12. However, with Alaina Whitaker’s early departure last week, anything is possible.
David Cook’s performance of Lionel Richie’s “Hello” did what seemed impossible. He made Idol front runner David Archuleta look beatable. If I take it even further, tonight, Cook almost made Archuleta look average.
While David A. turned in a solid performance of a Phil Collins song and sat down at the piano for the full time all season, David C. really showed his potential to be a commercially successful rock artist. Beyond putting together one of the best arrangements of the season, something the contestants actually have a ton of control over, Cook did what Archuleta did last week – bring an older song into 2008. However, Cook took this in another direction, by completely switching the song’s genre and making it modern at the same time.
Another thing I like about David Cook is that he doesn’t always sound exactly the same (sorry, Nickelback).
Was it in the same league as David Archuleta’s “Imagine” ? Not quite, but it’s a performance like this that makes people buy tickets to the American Idols Live! tour. This will undoubtedly be one of the top performances of the season and a performance that will define David Cook throughout the competition. I’m saying it now and I guarantee this statement will stand.
This was a breakout performance for someone who has already been one of this season’s strongest Idols. After tonight, I can’t wait to see more from him. As much as I raved about David Archuleta last week, David Cook has been just as consistent and could very well be my favorite guy (and I rarely, rarely vote for the guys once we get into the Top 12).
Best of all, so far, David Cook has no major scandals. No gay stripping, no Santa rape, no weapons charges, or crystal meth brew houses, and really, that’s refreshing.
Right after, Jason Castro performed “Hallelujah,” made famous by Jeff Buckley and well, the FOX television series: The OC. I was happy to see Castro let go of the guitar, but still have a firm grasp on his identity as the folk rock guy in this season’s competition. While Jason missed one of the final notes in the song and missed it BADLY (really, really badly), the rest of the performance was brilliant.
How good was it? It was so good that when I asked my mom about tonight’s show since she’s three hours ahead of me (if you’re reading this, hi!), she specifically remembered that it was Jason Castro’s performance that Simon loved this week.
I think that this was the bravest song choice of the night, but a perfect, perfect song choice for the dreadlocked bucket of smiles that is Jason Castro.
Similar to what David Cook did this week, Jason Castro sounded like someone that could potentially have an album out of this year’s Top 24. He has a sound and an identity unlike anyone who has previously won American Idol that could find some commercial success with a completely different audience.Who else was good this week?
David Hernandez really did turn in a strong performance, despite all this gay stripper nonsense that surrounded him this week. Unfortunately, he went before David Cook, Jason Castro, and Chikezie. Will people remember that his performance hit some of the biggest notes on the night?
Unfortunately, Danny Noriega didn’t have a strong week, which might not fair to well for him, though he has a strong fanbase, it’s tough to say whether he’ll be able to overcome the profanity-laden Christmas hating video that has surfaced online with what was a very ok performance.
Surprise of the night? Chikezie Eze.
Did anyone expect that?? Chikezie came back to life after Alaina Whitaker mopped the floor with him after singing the same song as him in week one. For week two, I can’t even remember what song Chikezie sang and that’s a bummer. But this week, Chikezie went back to his audition song, which is why it might have sounded so familiar to anyone who was watching. Simon wasn’t crazy about it, but I thought it really was a fantastic vocal. For once, Chikezie didn’t show any attitude and that was a welcome surprise that might take him into the Top 12 (maybe).
Here’s my vote count tonight:
David Cook: 3
Jason Castro: 2
Chikezie: 1
So, in a PG-13 environment, I cannot discuss my thoughts on and reaction to David Cook’s performance tonight.
He got a haircut and a shave and played electric guitar left-handed again. And he was giving me sex eyes the entire time.
*calms self* I cannot discuss this anymore…my pitter-patting little heart can’t take it.
Haha Amanda, first David H giving you sex eyes and now David C! But at least you know now where David H got all his practice ’cause last week you almost sounded surprised when he pulled them out.
David A. is average! I seriously think all the hype around him is just that he’s so young and cute in the want-to-pinch-his-cheeks sort of way and survived a weird vocal disease or whatever.
Anyway, I never liked Danny. I always thought he had this air around him of “I’m too good to be here; I don’t really want to be here; I’m phoning it in.” Last night he just stood all attitudey while his judges critiqued his performance, and though I got a laugh at what he said to Ryan about his highlights, I kind of hope this Christmas thing is his downfall. He’s not a great singer or performer– not enough to save his @$$ from the crappy personality he has anyway.
I’ve liked David C.from the get-go at his audition. I think this one is definitely a strong front runner this season. That, and he’s all kinda hawt.
Just To Get High Lyrics dark horse…
Nickelback – Dark Horse is the sixth studio disc by Canadian rock music band Nickelback, released on November 18, 2008. The studio album was co-produced by the band and Grammy Award-winning producer Robert John……