Archuleta Rocks, Others Roll On "Idol", Castro Forgets The Lyrics, Mercado & Cook Get Mixed Reviews

May 6, 2008

David Archuleta in a publicity shot from "American Idol." (Fox )

(CBS) Host Ryan Seacrest opened Tuesday's "American Idol" by saying "the competition is closer than ever." But by the end of the night, David Archuleta had left his fellow competitors in the dust.

"David, you didn't beat the competition tonight, you crushed the competition," judge Simon Cowell said after Archuleta performed his second song of the evening.

This week's theme was the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame with the finalists choosing songs recorded by the inductees.

Photos: "American Idol" Season 7

Archuleta was able to pick well-known songs and make them his own, sidestepping comparisons to the original. He won raves for what judge Randy Jackson called his "hot, mad vocals" on Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" and Elvis Presley's "Love Me Tender."

Song choice was the stumbling block for Jason Castro, who made the mistake of picking songs from iconic singers and delivering them with weak arrangements. The dreadlocked singer's first choice was "I Shot The Sheriff" by his idol, Bob Marley.

"That was utterly atrocious," said Cowell. "That is a song you do not touch. I don't know what you were thinking."

To make matters worse, Castro forgot the lyrics of his second song, Bob Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man." Cowell advised Castro to pack his suitcase, implying that he'd be voted off the show Wednesday. Even tactful judge Paula Abdul couldn't find anything to praise, telling Castro "it is what it is."

Jackson and Cowell were split on their critique of Syesha Mercado. Jackson liked her first song, "Proud Mary," but Cowell dubbed it a poor imitation of Tina Turner. Her version of the Sam Cooke classic "A Change Is Gonna Come" was praised by Abdul and Cowell. Jackson said he didn't like it as much as her first song and criticized the arrangement for losing the powerful simplicity of the original.

David Cook served up Duran Duran's "Hungry Like The Wolf." Abdul said the performance left her with a healthy appetite, but Jackson and Cowell said they expected the kind of creative arrangement they've heard from Cook in the past.

Cook was back to his old self on his second song, "Baba O'Riley" by The Who. All three judges were pleased, with Cowell saying, simply, "Welcome back, David Cook."

By Judy Rosen
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