Idol turns to another Brit

Ryan says it's their toughest test yet--singing Andrew Lloyd Weber?! Can't be tougher than doing the Beatles for two weeks. Four weeks to the finale, and they're going out of their comfort zones, complete with an orchestra up on stage.

The six strut out, dressed like they rummaged in their parents' closets. It's a pretty motley crew; Weber's in the audience to witness his video homage. I like his music; but he's nowhere near Stephen Sondheim.

He's all about the story, he says; words, words, words. Randy says he thinks this'll be the toughest night of the season, Paula says something, Simon says they'll have to be memorable yet contemporary. For some reason they've expanded to two lines.

Syesha Mercado up first, looking forward to being theatrical. He pushes her toward that too, says she could bring down the house, funny and witty. She could, is definitely a ham; One Rock & Roll Too Many. Red gown; it's fun, definitely a bit cabaret but she's in control, like a version of Chicago. And definitely a big, Broadway voice. Her problem, though, is the song's not very good, so even though she's good and shows lots of fun personality, the whole thing's not great for me. Audience loves it, though. Randy says you could be a huge Broadway star, best performance to date; Paula says this is your happy place, you're very good; Simon says that was very sexy, one of your strongest performances.

Jason Castro next, singing Memory. Oh oh... an odd choice, if you ask me. The crowd is super-hyped tonight; wearing a white suitish thing. Wow, he's very good singing it a cappella to Weber; who says he never thought he'd see a man with dreadlocks singing the song, he kindof understood it, I think. Calls it a brave choice, not sure I'd have done it. Weber is good on TV, very interesting to listen to. Whoah, this is pretty good; his tone is a surpisingly good fit. It's soulful, a bit campy maybe; hate the lighting, half of him is in shadow. It's such a good song, and even if it's a bit over the top and over sung, he's pretty listenable. I do wish he'd kept it simpler. Randy's got a huge grin on his face, just says wow, it was all kindof a train wreck, not your kind of song, too much melody/too big of a song. Paula is stumbling, you're not a female power balladeer, but your take on it was good too, sounds like a pop ballad. Simon says it was probably the longest two minutes of your life; felt like a kid getting forced to sing at a wedding, miserable throughout, not your thing.

Brooke White next, You Must Love Me. It's one of my favorite songs; very curious to hear her take; Weber says she didn't have a clue what she was singing about. Her second take is totally different after he explains it to her; it could be another inspired pick by her, he says she's a wonderful natural actress. In white dress with butterflies. Woah, she screws up the start, asks the orchestra to start over. And the magic is gone, it's less believable the second run through, there's not vulnerability; she's just plowing through. This could've been one of those magical Idol moments I think; as it is, she even messes up the you must love me part, it's like she's instructing rather than begging. It's too bad White's such a control freak she's unable to sing the song truly. Randy says not great, kindof got the vulnerablilty, but vocally not great; Paula just says nothing for a while, tells her never to start and stop--you didn't overact, just were you; it's one of the most painful critiques I've ever heard on the show. Simon says the screw up totally threw you, you were so tense, it all became quite uncomfortable. She tells Ryan she just lost the lyric; Simon says I'd have done exactly what she did, it was a very brave thing to do.

David Archulea next, a bunch of girls get to come up on stage to hug him, he handles it well. White shirt, black tie, jacket, very Beatleish. Weber is amazed at his choice, Think of Me, written for a diva, for a girl, couldn't imagine how a boy could sing the song. Weber says it's great he has his own idea about where to take a song; tells him to open his eyes! Little David has a real musical soul to him, says Weber. They should get him to be a permanent judge, he's very sharp. Archuleta is okay; am never drawn into it, the song's not great for one thing. He turns it too much into a pop thing, none of the emotion of the stage; it's pretty flat actually. Horrible song choice; it's downright boring for me. Randy says you can sing anything, it was the bomb, you're the one to beat. Gosh, I couldn't disagree more. Paula calls it absolutely perfect, you took a risk and turned it into a pop thing. Simon says it was pleasant, one of your weakest performances, nothing memorable.

Carly Smithson, it should be a huge night for her. She picked All I Ask of You, he says it's not a good choice for someone with a huge chest voice like you, goes to her alternate choice, Jesus Christ Superstar. You've got to sing who you are, he says. Whoah, it's a totally over-the-top production before she starts singing; strides out in her crazy black/paisley top, and just rips it off. Yo, she's found her voice, finally--doesn't seem angry, just totally into it. Her voice isn't great for the chorus, but the performance is totally energizing and fun. Man, I'm telling you, Carly could win it all based on this, it's definitely her turning point. She's a bit late on some of her cues it seems like, but this is totally going to stick in everyone's mind. The audience is going crazy, Randy says not your best performance but definitely good, and the outfit's fly. Paula says it was great and unexpected. Simon says a bit shouty in the middle but one of my favorites of the night. She's got a t-shirt made up that says Simon Loves Me (this week). She's growing on me--I like that she wants it so badly.

David Cook closes it out, Music of the Night. A good pick; he says he grew up doing musical theater; the most sensual, sexy song Weber says. He pretends to be a gorgeous 17-year-old, he says well I'm 25, so.... All in black, starts very slow, controlled; you can't stop listening, it's very good. His tone is good, too; oh no, he's speeding up the bridge to make it different; man, his chorus is so good, though--and wow, he just soars on the big notes. Yeah, we definitely have a new favorite on Idol. Second half is a bit boring, actually, I don't think he really connected with the song overall. But the good parts are very good. A hard song to sing, given that we've all heard great versions of it. Randy says that was an amazing vocal performance; Paula says you can sing anything; Simon says I like the grittier side of you, too rounded but you made the most of it.

Castro's performance seems comical as they play snippets at the end; Archuleta is in danger of becoming a bad lounge act.

David Cook
Carly Smithson
Syesha Mercado
Jason Castro
Brooke White
David Archuleta