'American Idol' Tracker: Share your first impressions

Rock 'n roll came to the Idoldome Tuesday night.  For the judges, it was a time for David Archuleta to shine, David Cook to hit and miss, Syesha to shock and bawl and Jason Castro to pack his bags.

Tonight I watched from stage left in the mosh pit, the first reporter in Idol history to venture into that hallowed sanctuary.   In a few hours, I'll post my full report but for now, please share your thoughts in the comments section.  Did the Top Four rock your world?  Let us hear!

-- Richard Rushfield

Comments

[Selina]

I wasn't impressed with any of the idols tonight. I was so excited for tonight's show thinking that all of the contestants would choose songs that they could excel at because they had such an extensive list to choose from, but I was truly disappointed with their choices and deliveries.

[Mitzi]

I was so proud of Little David tonight. He did exactly what Paula said he did. He took all this season's criticisms and learned from them. Although he still seemed too shy and awkward in his prior song interview, he absolutely commanded that stage tonight-especially with "Stand By Me"...I even liked the Elvis song because he was singing about love, not a basic boring message. And FINALLY he seemed to enjoy himself up there..I also love David C's 2nd choice, although he bar had been set higher than that for him. I can't wait to buy a copy of both their first CD's. ...Syesha...Her tears were so genuine that she got a vote from me...she is amazine, I've just had a hard time liking her, for some reason. But I do now....not as much as my boys, but I was proud of Syesha too. As for Jason.....sorry my little John Travolta love child...it's time for you to go...you don't want this as bad as you should

[Rose]

I think it was a rough night for all the contestants- they weren't very good tonight. I think Jason took a terrible and undeserved beating from the judges. He actually was the only one showing ANY originality. The judges have an agenda and unfortunately this very talented young man has borne the brunt of their tactless and misguided criticisms. Jason's music will most probably be the only I'll download and also buy when he has a release. Jason definitely has the potential to become a successful contemporary artist.

[colleen]

I was disappointed by the song selections tonight. I had high hopes the idols would entertain me with some of my favorite Rock and Roll songs.
Syesha was the bomb tonight. She didn't get the due props she deserved from the judges.
Dialidol.com is showing her fan love from the phone-in audience, however. Go Syesha!
David Archuleta was OK, but I have trouble watching him perform. I have to look away, cause I it loses something for me when I watch him sing. Simon is over-rating Arhie by a mile. Wake up judges, you aren't seeing what we see!
David Cook sounded great, but I wanted some of the deep soul connection you normally serve me. I'm still voting for you Cookie! You ROCK MY IPOD!!! Come back next week with a vengence!!

[Mimi]

I was disappointed tonight for many reasons. The two songs a night doesn't give David Cook the opportunity to turn his songs around completely like he has become famous for. He could have brought the house down with Baba O'Reilly but it got cut cut short just as it was building momentum. Jason bombed out. Syesha picked songs that were too big for her. David Archuletta did good on Stand By Me but the Elvis song didn't impress me. The band sounded a bit off tonight too. I know they are seasoned studio musicians but sometimes their version of what the performer is singing just don't seem to match up. This was one of those times.

[Ro]

David A. took the night and it was great to see the youthful energy and excitement back in him following his performance tonight. Why Cook picked Hungry like the wolf is beyond me. He was bland on a night that was made for him to shine. Syehsa was solid and should make the top threee. It was nice to see the judges finally give her her due. If Jason's fans really care about him they would have heard his cry for help and not vote for him. He has so obviously wanted to go home for weeks.

[Joe Brown]

Did anyone else get the feeling that Jason Castro sacrificed himself for Syesha? He all but winked at the camera after his intentionally tossed-off, flub-filled performances. And it seemed like David Cook was flipping the "Idol" audience the bird with a half-mast performance of "Hungry Like the Wolf" (from the whole Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he picks Duran Duran? Really?) and then repeats "it's only teenage wasteland," over and over again in his second song, The Who's "Baba O'Reilly." Randy seemed confused by the self-sabotages; I think Simon knew what was going on...

Thoughts?

[rbk]

What a mess. Castro sucks as usual (did he mouth the words "Don't Vote" after his first song when Ryan was giving out his digits?), Cook is still a third-rate Daughtry, and Paula is still as loopy as ever.

Of the karaoke contests, this season is by far the worst.

[Alex B.]

I don't see why anyone would sabotage themselves in front of millions of people and walk away from the kind of recognition that comes with actually winning the contest, not to mention how great to one's ego it would be to win, just because they're homesick and certainly not for another contestant. I think David Cook has just done so well that he picked a song he simply liked and maybe thought it would be easy and safe. I totally agreed with Simon and Randy's assessment. That 1st song left me disappointed, even tho he's my favorite. Thought he was much more like himself on 2nd song. I think Jason Castro may have inwardly just given up - no guy would get much satisfaction out of knowing a lot of young teenage girls are basically keeping him alive based on their crushes, when even he knows how mediocre he's been. He's truly been awful for this contest. Such a cute and charming guy but absolutely should have been gone a long time ago. I probably enjoyed David A.'s performance the most but that wasn't saying a whole heck of a lot. I definitely liked Love Me Tender more. Was nice to see him try romantic lyrics for a change and he sort of owes it to his fans at this point. I really have always liked Syesha. I'd say she's been underrated but here she is in the top 4 so guess people have appreciated her afterall. I loved her 2nd song and totally disagreed with Randy when he said she was tring to sing it like Tina Turner. (Nobody's that stupid.) I think she'll survive tomorrow night but I do think it will come down to the two David's and think that's been obvious for a reaaaaalllll long time now. As for the judges, I totally agreed with all of them for a change- on every song. It was really nice to see Paula sober for a change. I think after that last flub-up, she'll be pretty straight for the rest of the season- it's just a few more weeks.

[Xena]

Simon is right. David Archuleta "crushed" the competition tonight. He had the best vocals of the evening, and is finally getting back to the performance level he showed early on while gaining momentum for the next two weeks. Syesha was great on her first song. I have to agree with Randy however that her second song was not as good. She was very "pitchy," but she did sing it with conviction. David Cook was bland on the first song, much better on the second. However, he should have owned the evening given the theme. I think he is trying too hard to get votes. He should just do his own thing. Win or lose he'll be better off in the end. Jason's first song was a disaster. Despite the missed lyrics, I rather enjoyed his second song. I have a feeling that it is Jason's time to leave. I feel bad because I know he is much better than this. What I love about Jason are some of the same qualities I find with David Archuleta. Both are sweet, humble, sometimes goofy, but always genuine. I have connected the most with these two contestants this season.

[Lee]

I am not a judge, but if I were:

David Archuleta:
The little guy took it tonight, proving that a great singing voice is only as good as the material selected to show it off. While he doesn't have the polish of a seasoned performer yet, the songs he chose were well within his range, and the second song enhanced his "cute kid" factor. This is marketable stuff, and in the industry, that's the bottom line. David has a future regardless of the final outcome on Idol, provided his management (dad?) finds material that suits and grows with him, AND he learns to use a little "grit" in his otherwise clean voice. I'm predicting he'll win this season against David Cook.

David Cook:
sacrificed his shot by choosing bad material, period. To succeed in the commercial market, you're not out there "to just have fun", you are out there to please the crowd, and emblazen on their minds indelible moments of emotion, make them squeal, and in turn, you have fun as a performer. Great voice, but sounds too much like a hundred other rock singers and needed the right tune. HE COULD WIN, if he just looked a little less like a scared little boy on stage, the thing that will work for the little David.

Syesha
As an avid Sam Cooke fan, I shuddered when she said she was going to do "A Change is Gonna Come" She had no business touching this piece. This gospel tune from 59' was done by the ONE PERSON who could do it right, and she destroyed it. She's all about show and showing off, and she screwed up with both selections. Syesha will someday make a good show singer, but this is not her forum. Tears don't mke money in the music business.

Jason Castro
Oh man. What the hell was this kid thinking?

To all four and future idols:
This is your shot. Don't play the shy card here, you'll win if you look like you were born to be up there, even if you screw up a bit.

[Avery Kit Lopez]

Go Little David Archuleta!
I love David A's performance when he sung the songs Stand by me and Love me Tender..whew awesome!!!. He has been performing very well, has a clean and cool vioce, could connect to people's hearts and souls...I agree with what Simon says that David reallty crushed the song tonight. With this, I am pretty much sure he will win the prestigious competition.
For David Cook, he has a nice performance too but on my own opinion, perhaps not as great as David A. I bet he'll be next to David A while Syesha will be the third.
Jason Casto didnt perform well. I dont really like him since the AI competition started.

Anyways, God bless guys...Do your best!!!

[Giselle Stone]

David Cook is an amazing singer, has a tremendous voice, with an almost addictive quality. He is surprising, tender, and full of passion. I believe that's exactly why we like him: he's not trying to become a crazy rock singer. He's intelligent, articulate, sane and sober, just like the rest of us. Only unbelievably talented. He's the best singer I've seen in all the American Idols.