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American Idol: Top 8 Dudes do up the 80s

March 4, 2008 - 9:01pm — Mollee Francisco

Filed under:

That just happened - 80s night on American Idol.

Did that totally blow your mind?

I was so pleasantly surprised by some of the song choices that I would be happy to see 80s night return again in the future.

Wow. I never thought I'd say that.

What did you think?

Here are my thoughts:

Singer: Luke Menard

Song: Wake Me Up Before You Go Go

Rants & raves: Luke Menard is not George Michael. He didn't have nearly the energy necessary to make this song credible. It was an interesting choice of tune because it seemed to accentuate his falsetto which I'm not sure was the best idea. He may be at the end of his rope.

David Archuleta

Another Day in Paradise

Not at all the Phil Collins song I was expecting - a pleasant surprise actually. He captured me from the get go for the second week in a row. This kid can pick songs and deliver them. It's fun to watch. But I have to agree with Simon that I enjoyed him more at the piano. (Not sure he needs to start bringing awareness to homeless people so early in the competition - wait until Idol Gives Back, Davey boy - don't push it)

Danny Noriega

Tainted Love

Of course 80s night is a great fit for Danny. Loved the outfit, loved the song - it all worked for him. Danny would have been a perfect one-hit wonder in the 80s. How that will fare for the rest of the competition, I'm not so sure.

David Hernandez

It's All Coming Back to Me Now

David H. how could you do this to me? I HATE Meatloaf. How could you pick this song? Ugh. It's a decent vocal but I can't get over the song choice. It will be interesting to watch how the judges deal with him (scandal erupted over news that he was formerly a stripper) and if it will affect how America "votes."

Michael Johns

Don't You Forget About Me

Michael Johns seems like another good fit for 80s night. This song reminds me of "The Breakfast Club." He did a good job with it but he still hasn't found a smash hit like when he sang Bohemian Rhapsody during Hollywood week.

David Cook

Hello

He had me at "hello." Oh Lionel Ritchie gone rock. I love it. Great treatment of the song. Fantastic ending. I would buy this. Gold!

Jason Castro

Hallelujah

"Oh my god." That was my reaction to hearing the opening to Jason's song. One of my all-time favorites by a man taken WAY too soon (Jeff Buckley).Bless him for bringing a new audience to the song. What a great fit for Jason's scaled back style. And he just sang it. Exactly what it calls for. The song, its lyrics and melody are all that are necessary for a stand out performance. I might actually pick up the phone for this one.

Chikezie

All The Woman I Need

Bringing a Luther Vandross vibe to the competition tonight, Chikezie may suffer in the face of some of the other good song choices. He didn't stand out as much as the other guys at a time when he definitely needed to.

Top performances: David Cook, Jason Castro

Most likely to go home: Luke Menard, Danny Noriega, Chikezie

TELL US: Do you have a favorite performance from last night? Who's going home?

JOIN UP: Chat about American Idol in our Idol Watch group.

I honestly haven't been this...

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I honestly haven't been this excited about an Idol song choice (Halleluha) since Taylor Hicks sang Ray LaMontagne's "Trouble" two years ago.
I didn't have my MP3 player handy to listen to Jeff Buckley's version of the song this evening so I went onto YouTube to hear it. By the click count and recent comments for any video of the song, it seems as though there may be a few new Jeff Buckley fans out there tonight. Way to go, Jason!

(Mollee Francisco is a staff writer for the Chaska Herald. She can be reached at mfrancisco@swpub.com.)

Submitted by Mollee Francisco on March 4, 2008 - 9:34pm.

I also LOVE Jeff Buckley's...

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I also LOVE Jeff Buckley's version of "Hallelujah". Leonard Cohen's songwritting skills paired with one of the best voices ever to grace this planet - how can you go wrong? I do, however, think that Castro was way out of his league picking this song. No one can sing it like Buckley and he didn't even come close. I just hope all the people that liked the song on "Idle" seek out the (far far superior) Jeff Buckley version of "Hallelujah", because it will blow them away.

Submitted by jennyjean4 on March 5, 2008 - 2:55pm.

Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah"...

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Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah" has been the number one download on iTunes since Jason Castro sang it last week. Nice to see so many people getting tuned into this amazing song.

I can just imagine some 15-year-old girl getting all introspective as she listens to it on her iPod over and over again. It's just one of those songs that demands your attention when it's playing.

I'm actually envious of those finding it for the first time because it's such a lovely little present to get and nothing beats hearing it on first play through.

(Mollee Francisco is a staff writer for the Chaska Herald. She can be reached at mfrancisco@swpub.com.)

Submitted by Mollee Francisco on March 12, 2008 - 2:52pm.

Which 80s song would you...

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Which 80s song would you have chosen to sing? What should we expect to hear from the ladies tonight? Madonna? Cyndi Lauper? Blondie?
(Mollee Francisco is a staff writer for the Chaska Herald. She can be reached at mfrancisco@swpub.com.)

Submitted by Mollee Francisco on March 5, 2008 - 3:16pm.

It's hard to believe, but...

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It's hard to believe, but tonight I'm actually looking most forward to what Amanda Overmyer might perform tonight. I think the 80s is a treasure trove of songs that fit her voice and personality. Maybe Pat Benetar's "Love is a Battlefield" or Kim Carnes' "Bette Davis Eyes"? What about the Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams" or even Twisted Sisters' "We're Not Gonna Take It"?

It could be a good night for Carly Smithson as well. I'd love to hear her sing Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" or Blondie's "Call Me" or maybe the Bangles' "Manic Monday."

Ramiele Malubay could keep her unique vibe going with a host of fun 80s tunes like the Go Gos' "We Got the Beat" or what about Irene Cara's "Fame"? Possibly Tiffany's "I Think We're Alone Now" or Madonna's "Borderline"?

I'm betting someone is going to trot out Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and that someone could be Kady Malloy. Other options I could see her going with include Debbie Gibson's "Lost in Your Eyes" and Air Supply's "Making Love Out Of Nothing At All."

Kristy Lee Cook has Berlin's "Take My Breath Away" (from Top Gun) written all over her. If not that, maybe a little of Dolly Parton's "Islands in the Stream" or Jennifer Warnes' "Up Where We Belong."

I'm hoping Asia'h Epperson's feeling better this week and I'm also hoping she takes a crack at Tina Turner's "What's Love Got To Do With It" or the Pointer Sisters' "Slow Hand." "All Cried Out" by Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam could be a fine choice or maybe a nod to Minnesota musical artist The Jets "Make It Real."

Syesha Mercado is a natural for Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" or maybe Simply Reds' "If You Don't Know Me By Now" or even Diana Ross' "Upside Down."

I'm most puzzled by what Brooke White might choose. I could see her doing well with something like Elton John's "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" or Fleetwood Mac's "Everywhere." If she was feeling bold, I'd suggest belting out Heart's "These Dreams."

Here's hoping the girls put on as good a show as the guys did last night. I'm looking forward to it.

(Mollee Francisco is a staff writer for the Chaska Herald. She can be reached at mfrancisco@swpub.com.)

Submitted by Mollee Francisco on March 5, 2008 - 4:08pm.

Paula Abdul's "Straight Up"...

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Paula Abdul's "Straight Up" could have been an option for the girls tonight but the rumor mill is saying no one bit on that. Sounds like Pat Benetar and Whitney Houston tunes will rule the night.
My first cassette tape ever was Whitney Houston's "Whitney" and it's full of good songs but WH is dangerous territory to enter into without a fresh spin on the material or a big booming voice.
(Mollee Francisco is a staff writer for the Chaska Herald. She can be reached at mfrancisco@swpub.com.)

Submitted by Mollee Francisco on March 5, 2008 - 4:20pm.

Wake up before he go-gos:...

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Wake up before he go-gos: Luke Menard is done. As is Danny Noriega.
(Mollee Francisco is a staff writer for the Chaska Herald. She can be reached at mfrancisco@swpub.com.)

Submitted by Mollee Francisco on March 6, 2008 - 8:36pm.

Bye bye bye Danny. With all...

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Bye bye bye Danny. With all that cuticle picking he was doing before the axe fell, he's definitely going to need a manicure. At least he didn't cry (for himself, anyway).

Luke also deserved to go. Too bad, I thought he was better than that before it actually counted.

Submitted by Ruth Anne Maddox on March 7, 2008 - 4:23pm.