'American Idol' Tracker: Idol journey ends for Jason Castro

The surprising and unlikely “American Idol” journey of Jason Castro ended Wednesday night in a week that saw nearly 51 million votes cast on television’s most popular show.

Falling just short of the final three, the soulful dreadlocked crooner at first seemed far outside the typical Idol mold,  but he quickly won over a large and hardcore following with an endearingly  sweet, laidback personality and a talent for offbeat comments. When asked what his biggest challenge was Wednesday, the Texan with the piercing eyes replied, “just the brain being dead.”

David Cook, David Archuleta and Syesha Mercado remain and will compete for the crown in the Fox network’s signature annual contest that has already launched lucrative singing careers for former unknowns Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.

Earlier in his Idol stint, Castro scored big with his renditions of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and “Over the Rainbow” among others. But in recent weeks he seemed to struggle as the contest entered more challenging heights, leading him to admit Wednesday that he felt his musical inexperience was showing.

Ultimately, felled by his poorly received version of Bob Marley’s “I Shot the Sheriff,” Castro proudly stood by his choice Wednesday. When the Idol band began starting up his other Tuesday number, Castro interrupted them and insisted on saying farewell to the show with the Marley tune.

Check back later tonight for a full report from the scene at the Idoldome.

-- Richard Rushfield
(photo courtesy of Fox)

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Comments

[KFMac]

I have One question and ONLY one!
WHAT on gods green earth took Americian voters
to kick his ass to the curb! so long?

for so long all this seemed was JUST a popular contest.
FINALY American Ears have heard...

My top 3 would have been
Cook
Carly
DA
Brooke a very so very close DA

IM am bewildered as to how Dredlocks made it this far
a mere campfire singer/songstress

just an opinion

[Karen]

I love Jason and will definetly be buying his album. I loved his honest answers unlike the politically correct Syesha. His voice was so unique and it was just nice having a more laidback contestant unlike the usual cut throat ones. Life doesnt end after Idol and I think Jason realizes that. Its never good to take yourself too seriously.

[sils]

That was the nicest "bite me Idol" I've ever seen. Thank you Jason for opening our eyes to the manipulative joke of a show that is AI. Thank you for giving me my Tuesdays and Wednesdays back. Thank you for realizing that the judges already had an agenda, and making that final stand with such a great anti-establishment song. They may have edited out the part where you point at the judges during the live performance in the official video, but many of us understand EXACTLY what you were talking about. Thank you for not allowing Simon and Co to break you, and thank you for making it so obvious that their angry words are meaningless. Most of all, thank you for laughing in the face of the AI machine that treats contestants like trained monkeys. I will buy all your music, and will never watch that "competition" again.

[miller]

I will miss him but on to the talk shows! I was smiling so much during his celebrate me home video that y cheeks were sore. Rock on Jason!

[Joe Shea]

Down here on Florida's Gulf Coast in Bradenton, where Syesha went to school, we were overwhelmed by her success and are waiting to cheer her home whn the American Ido crew tours her hometown this weekend. She's one of the greatest things to happen around here since Maria Sharapova won Wimbledon!

[cruise]

Jason is just simply fascinating, with raw talent, candid thoughts that makes us grind our teeth. It's pure entertainment to watch the other contestants to 'really want it' while our dude Jason is just there to strum his guitar, sing a few songs and laugh at himself about his imperfections. But even without effort, he managed to sail through top 4. We all know he threw the competition....the mellow folk singer is done wearing ridiculous 'bolero' costumes for the Ford commercials. Syesha's crying on queue and mentioning the civil rights and first woman president blah blah is just a sound of desperation for votes...YET!, I want her to be on the top 2, to shake that David and David finale'. Not that I am gonna watch that show again.

[flowerkitty]

Jason Castro is the best example of "American Idol" ever in the history of this show. This is a 21yr kid who never even sang in front of his own family until 2 years ago. At the time of his 1st audition he says he only sang in public about 5 times. The producers a AI strived to make him cannon fodder before the Live shows and only showed snippets of him. Most of the other 12 has had vast experience, recording contacts, already released CD's. Won other popular "star Search" talent contests. And Jason Castro comes out of nowhere and blows all of us away. He is the reasons millions like myself LIVED for every Tuesday night for the last 3 months. In the beginning of AI they talk about finding America's undiscovered talent. I Thank God that they found Jason because he has touch so many lives and from now on, will always be a part of these lives.

[Wendy]

For years I've watched the first few episodes and then grown bored. This year I kept watching because of this kid.

Raw talent, the raw emotion that came through when he sang, the joy of doing something he obviously loves -- the goofiness was a (big) bonus.

Though other contestants are talented, none have ever interested me enough to drop a dime on CD. His, I'll buy.

The kid has a future and I wish him well on his journey. I hope he doesn't lose who he is - that's what makes him so special.

[Jane]

Well I truly believe that the last few weeks the judges have been very rough on Jason; I think he had enough of the bashing. They did not give him constructive comments just bashed his performances. If you notice they always took time with the Davids weather they had something good or something bad to say. I think as the viewers of AI who keep this thing going every year should be insulted by what happened this year. They had a tremendous pool of talent and look what we are stuck with now. David C (will never be a Chris Daughtry, that boat sailed a long time ago and AI will never have his his talent in their wheelhouse, he was voted off (after Simon callling him "self indulgent" at times) and then became a STAR IN HIS OWN RIGHT). David A is WAY OVER RATED AND SOUNDS THE SAME EVERY WEEK and he his either a great actor or scared shitless his father is going to beat him if he does not win this thing and no Simon HE DID NOT CRASH THE COMPETITION AND YOU SHOULD BE ASHASMED THAT AFTER WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE YEAR OF ALL IDOL YEARS THIS IS WHAT YOU HAVE LEFT TO CRUSH WITH!. Sayesha, I give you props for hanging in but I am sorry you sound just like every other BIG SCREAMING VOICED SINGER THEY HAVE HAD EVERY YEAR. ie WHERE IS MELINDA DOOLITTLE? SIMON'S PRODIGY FROM LAST YEAR You are boring and will end up on Broadway and that is all for you. I know I sound bitter; I am, I am not a teeny bopper panting over Jason's dreamy eyes; I just truly enjoyed his performance, they where a breath of frest air on a show that has lost it's lackluster. They want original; no one was more original that Jason Castro and I believe in the next couple of years Simon, NIgel and everyone else who makes a ton of money on these poor souls are gonna kick themselves in the asses once again; do I need to point it our more time! CHRIS DAUGHTRY!!!!!

[Bonnie]

I am not saying this just because Jason Castro is so endearing and I really love to hear him sing and play. I really feel David Cook should win and I really loved Carly (more so than Sayesha) whose voice is everyday and performance the same. But I really believe out of the final four Jason has the better voice. Listen to him in the commercials and the group vocals. Just because he can't belt it out and scream and choosed wrong songs and to play without all the fanfare of the band behind him, his voice is smooth and on key and a pleasure to hear. Keep it up Jason and don't give up. You have more raw talent than you realize.

[Roman]

Here's to the anti-establishment candidate! He never bent to TPTB. I wish him success post idol. I'll be waiting for the CD.

[Frankie]

It's good to see Jason go. Now he can do his own thing without the Idol machine dictating his every move. Can't wait for his first album.

[carolyn]

I love Jason Castro. I was young during the hippy movement and he reminds me of the great anti-establishment singers of that period. It is so nice to see a young man that is not a clone to every oher singer. Keep it up Jason I love people that makes statments not follows tyhe latest trends. YOU ARE WONDERFUL AND REFRESHING!!!!

[carolyn]

I was a young person during the hippy movement . The whole movement was about being true to who you were. I love Jason he reminds me of the great anti-establishment singers of that period. He is refreshing and its is nice to see a young person who can't be rattled and that is different from every other clone singer that is on AI. Stay true to who you are Jason! You will be missed