Last night’s “American Idol” featured the Top 10 finalists, and with it only being 90 minutes, it’s like Fox handed me change back from a $20 bill. Good stuff. Anyway, the contestants had to sing a song from the year they were born, and most of them really stepped up their game. But it’s also worth mentioning this…..that it had to make most of us feel REALLY OLD seeing years like 1987 and 1990 come up.

Anyway, here is the recap…

THE REALLY GOOD

That sound you just heard was David Cook stamping his ticket to superstardom. He closed out the show last night with a grungy version of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.” What, you say? Just how far can Mr. Cook push the envelope with his song choices? Well, he saw the ball coming and hit it clear around the world. It was that good, and dare I say one of the best performances I’ve ever seen on the show. I’m getting goose bumps thinking about it. I turned to Mrs. Mike and said, “There is your winner,” and then the judges agreed with me. Randy said “You might be the winner” and used the term “molten hot.” Paula said it was brave and brilliant. And Simon, who rarely uses such words, uttered this one: “Amazing.” This is clearly David’s competition to lose.

THE GOOD

Syesha Mercado was born in 1987, and sang Stephanie Mills’ “If I Were Your Woman,” and it was, for me, her best performance yet. It’s like right from the start you knew Syesha picked the right song and was going to just nail it, and she did. Okay, maybe she doesn’t have the upper register to win it all, but she’s in the conversation. Randy said it was her best yet, and then used the word “stellar.” Paula said this would be a moment everyone remembers, and that Syesha is a dark horse. Simon didn’t like it as much, saying it was the best of the night after three singers but that there is a limit to Syesha’s vocal ability.

Michael Johns, the eldest competitor with a birth year of 1978, was able to reach into the classic rock vault and take on Queen’s “We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions.” As he was singing it, I was thinking that it was ballsy to be singing lyrics about winning, but he really was in his element and did a great job, hitting most of the high notes and everything. Randy said it was Michael’s best yet, and that he seems to finally believe in himself. Paula said it was the right song and was Michael’s “moment.” Simon said that for the first time, Michael showed his star potential. Yep, we pretty much knew he had it in him, but he finally busted out.

THE IN-BETWEEN

Jason Castro strapped on a guitar and sang Sting’s “How Fragile,” released in 1987. If Jason is booted off, he could be a young star in the smooth jazz genre right freaking now. But I’m not sure that’s what he’s really going for, so he loses a lot of points in mass appeal, and probably a lot of votes. Still, his performance was nice. Randy said he liked it but didn’t love it, Paula said it was a safe choice but that Jason is true to who he is, and Simon said that Jason has now had two bad weeks in a row and needs to start taking this competition more seriously. I can’t disagree with any of that.

Chikezie was born in 1985, and sang Luther Vandross’ “If Only For One Night.” His voice was really strong, but it wasn’t quite like the showing he gave us two weeks ago. Randy said it was “old school” and that he didn’t love it. Paula disagreed, calling Chikezie a “throwback.” And Simon thought he sang well but added that it was a “cheesy” performance. Then Chikezie proceeded to argue with Simon, saying he was playing up to his fans because he performs “for them.” Whatever dude…you need to keep your mouth shut while the judges speak.

Brooke White, born in 1983, did The Police’ “Every Breath You Take.” I’m a Brooke fan, and was really pulling for her. She started out by messing up the first line and then starting over, and then put feeling into it with a nice piano arrangement. But when the band kicked in, it was a bit like karaoke and not like “Let It Be” from two weeks ago. Randy agreed with me, saying he didn’t love the arrangement and that Brooke should have left the band out completely. Paula thought it was unique and better than last week, and Simon agreed with Randy and I, saying that when the band came in it became “old-fashioned,” and that Brooke needs to work a few things out in order to stick around in the competition.

Carly Smithson was in the Bottom 3 last week so she really needed a home run here. She sang “Total Eclipse of the Heart” from 1983, and as she was performing I wrote down: “Good but something lacking.” Then the judges agreed with me (hey producers of the show, if you need to change up the judging lineup next season, I’ll make myself available). Yeah, I can’t quite put my finger on it, but something about Carly really annoys me. She has a powerful voice but is too technique-y and too much like Celine Dion for my taste. Randy said it was “just okay,” Paula said she doesn’t love the song but that Carly does a great job with any song, and Simon said “something didn’t quite work.” Exactly!

David Archuleta, the youngest remaining competitor who was born in (yikes) 1990, took on a song that not everyone knew, John Farnham’s “You’re the Voice.” Risky business indeed, but more than that, this kid once again showed his vulnerability. Dude, pick a song we know or you may get booted off prematurely! And it just wasn’t that good. Randy said it was a strange song choice but nice, Paula said David could make any song sound good, and Simon, who was maybe the only person in the room who recognized the track, said it worked well in parts but was mostly like a “theme park performance.”

Kristy Lee Cook sang Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” (1984), and not only was it maybe her best performance since the opening audition when she sang “Amazing Grace,” but it was a song choice bordering on brilliant. Let’s face it, Kristy has been in the Bottom 3 for like the last month, and she needed to do something drastic. So what did she do? She picked a song that’s going to give her every single right-wing, red-state, country-music loving vote in America. And she gets a ton of extra credit for actually performing it well. Randy said it was a great choice but had just a few pitch problems, Paula said it wasn’t her best but a good choice, and Simon said it was Kristy’s best performance by a mile, and that it was one of the most clever song choices ever in the competition. In other words, Simon meant what I wrote a few sentences ago. Kristy is guaranteed safe, and maybe even safe from the Bottom 3 this time.

THE BAD

Ramiel Mallubay kicked off the show last night, which is never a good thing. She sang Heart’s “Alone” from 1987, and proved that Ramiel singing Heart is also never a good thing. I mean, she has a powerful voice but can’t belt it out and stay in tune the whole time. And the thing is, with as good as everyone else was last night, when you looked back at Ramiel, you only saw someone who is clearly going to be waving goodbye to the other 9 tonight. Randy said the song was too big for her and pitchy, Paula said it was clear that Ramiel hasn’t been feeling well, and Simon said he didn’t think it was all that bad. Randy then told Simon he needs to look back at the video, and I completely agree.

So there it is. Ramiel should be going home but as always, you just never know. I’m going with her, Jason Castro and Chikezie as the Bottom 3, with Brooke White and Carly also possibilities. And David Cook put so much separation between himself and David Archuleta, it’s not even funny. But then, there are still two months to go. See you all tomorrow with the results!