'American Idol' Makes Another Run For the '80s

With the Beatles a thing of the past, "American Idol's" top 10 dipped into an inferior collection of songs in which better the tunes of the night pushed a few contenders into the upper levels.
Singing songs from the year of their birth,  David Cook, Syesha Mercado and Brooke White delivered performances that established them in the top 5, while Kristy Lee Cook pulled out the jingoistic stop to secure her place for at least another week. (Oddly enough,  Mercado is either 37 years old or the one person who owns Stephanie Mills' version of "If I Were Your Woman." No matter: After being the one person who actually had a grasp on a  McCartney tune last week, she simply improved Tuesday).
Cook did a hard-rock power ballad take on Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" that wowed all three judges, displaying a vocal command that made the risk work wonderfully. After quibbles about where he has been finding his arrangements, Ryan Seacrest actually introduced the tune as Chris Cornell's version of "Billie Jean." It opens the door for the host to actually say the words "and now for a rendition of Dynamite Hack's "Boyz in the Hood"... (For a truly sublime version of "Billie Jean," check out one by Caetano Veloso).
White's reading of "Every Breath You Take," one of the most gorgeous love songs in the post-Beatles rock canon, possessed a soothing touch when she performed and sang solo at the piano. Once the band came in, as the judges noted, the tune lost its spark. She did enough, though, to stay.
Kristy Lee Cook, born in the year of Ronald Regan's re-election, the invention of crack and the first year of the MTV Music Awards, turned to Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA." While Randy, Paula and Simon refrained from displaying the "McCain-Gingrich '08" placards they must be sitting on, the trio gushed with an enthusiasm rarely seen - not just for the performance but for the song itself. I can see why Cowell called it "a brilliant song"; it is to Woody Guthrie's inclusive "This Land is Your Land" what Il Divo is to Placido Domingo.
And if some singers rise, others have to fall. Ramiele had another bad week, struggling with Heart's "Alone"; Jason Castro did a beachfront bar happy hour version of Sting's "Fragile"; and David Archuleta confused the words Australia and American to pull out the hideous John Farnham non-hit "You're the Voice." (It hit No. 82 in the States so if you're looking for it in a box of records in the garage, it will be right in front of your copy of the Stephanie Mills album with "(You're Puttin' ) A Rush on Me.") 
Cold and calculated Carly Smithson proved once again that she's a good backup/duets singer with "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and the obvious came to mind: Meatloaf. (She'd be great with him). Chikeze was a snoozefest and is the most likely to go; the other member of the bottom two may be hard for the judges to explain.
It's a toss up whether it  will be Michael Johns, who did a reasonably smart job with "We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions." But is he a one-trick Queen pony? The only other performance of his that stands out was "Bohemian Rhapsody" and that seems so  long ago. His history of unimpressive performances combined with the lack of the target demo appeal that other singers draw on for survival, could spell his demise. He would be the first this year to be trumped by personality over vocal skill.