The popular opinion of American Idol's "final four" last night - was that it stunk. I was neck deep in video editing and barely paid attention to the visuals at all though I heard all eight performances, and I have to tell you I agree.
My favorite Syesha Mercado was the only standout to my ears, and those of the Lovely Bride - though Randy, Simon, and Cracky Crackhead didn't seem to agree.
David Cook was off his game in a bizarre sort of way. And American SpaceCadet's champion for 2008 - Jason Castro - appeared to not even try.
Indulge me this one aside on that topic for a minute: Considering that this class of Idol contestants was perhaps the most talented group since the Hicks/McPhee/Daughtry/Yamin year - who the heck kept voting Castro through? The boy laid two of the biggest eggs ever last night - and it wasn't pretty. Carly and Brooke both deserved to be in the contest beyond Castro and last night was perhaps the kind of injustice that causes people to give up on the franchise all together.
Ok, indulge me one more aside... Considering that my friend, and one of the hardest working musicians I've ever known (and having worked in music radio for many years - I've known some of the biggest names in multiple formats)
Brooke Barrettsmith -
a contestant from that same year as Hicks/McPhee/Daughtry/Yamin - who made the top 40 and was released without real explanation - was more deserving of being on that stage last night than that pathetic, clownlike, circus vocal midget Jason Castro.
Castro - unlike previous 4th place finishers - like Daughtry - deserves nothing even close to resembling a record contract.
What he really deserves - if anything at all - is to be forced to compete for the singing job on the
freecreditreport.com television ads. Though I question his ability to carry tunes of what for him must seem like tough melodies... because for now Jason Castro's musical credit to quote the singing pirate, "is whack!"
Jason Castro's musical future: