It was a wide open night. The choice of songs was 500 strong (list here).  There was bound to be two that would fit each contestants' styles.

David Cook sang the song I had hoped he would sing--Duran Duran's "Hungry Like A Wolf".  It was just OK for me.  No variation at all from the original, as is expected from him.  His second song was more like it--The Who's ''Baba O'Riley.''  It was simple and quiet, but ended very strong.

Syesha Mercado really came to win a place in the Top 3.  Her first song was by CCR, but of course she did Tina Turner's version.  She was in a shimmering Beyonce type minidress.  Her choreography and showmanship was very good. However, the vocals were shrill and choppy.  Her second song was Sam Cooke (again, I guessed this right) "Proud Mary""A Change is Gonna Come."  This is a very serious arrangement which I felt was overwrought.  The version by Taylor Hicks was way ahead in style.

David Archuleta.  I had predicted him to pick cheesy ballads and he did.  He sang well enough, but I beleive his young breathy voice did not really suit the two songs he sang.  His "Stand By Me" sounded very awkward.  His "Love Me Tender" was arranged too ornately for comfort.

Jason Castro seemed to have thrown in the towel today.  You do not see the drive to win in him for tonight.  His "I Shot the Sheriff" was lackadaisal and lazy.  The second song "Mr. Tambourine Man" started very strong, but he lost the lyrics in the chorus! 

Bet for Elimination:  Clearly... Jason Castro.

For tomorrow's show, the Top 4 of American Idol 7 will be picking their choices from among this list of 500 songs that supposedly shaped Rock and Roll as we know it.

This is a very long and varied list. Surely a song can fit each Idol perfectly should he be familiar with it. A lot of the songs have already been done before. Which songs do you think will each contestant sing?

I suspect David Archuleta will stay in his comfort zone, tackling the likes of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "In the Still of the Night". Or maybe cheesier songs like "Your Song" or "Just The Way You Are". Karaoke fare...

I'm hoping Jason Castro will sing "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" and something by Jimmy Cliff.

Syesha should do songs by Ray Charles and Sam Cooke (and not Aretha Franklin anymore). Or maybe the Etta James song.

I know its a long shot, but I would like to see David Cook perform the lone Duran Duran song on the list "Hungry Like a Wolf." But I'm sure he would rip perfectly through songs like "Jeremy" or "Smells Like Teen Spirit."