Jessica Shaw and I come up with some utterly insane positively daring song suggestions, and also discuss her recent trip to Hollywood to witness the Idol song-selection process. Read Jessica’s full report by clicking here, check out the 500 eligible songs here, then post your suggestions for the final 4 in the comments section below.
What should the Idols sing for 'Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night'?
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Comments (1-30) of 131 Add your comment
500 greatest, yeah sure. Where is Melanies “Lay Down” (candles in the rain)
Well, it’s just missing from the list. Not surprising, it seems the rock hall is always leaving the best songs out in the cold. Let the idols sing what THEY like, they should have that right.
Jim Baldwin
Spokane WA
My site: (NOT SPAM) http://LetHerIn.org
Pretty amazing to me that Michael and Jessica agreed that David Archuleta could be compared to a young, white version of Michael Jackson – interesting because back in the 1970s young Michael Jackson already had a white counterpart: Donny Osmond. I’ve been saying for weeks on these boards that Archuleta reminds me of nothing more than an Osmond brother. The question is, who in their right mind believes that bland image personifies the model of a successful contemporary pop star in 2008? (Footnote: Unlike Archuleta, at least Donny could dance a little…and skate!)
We loved the Kermit singing the Talking Heads interspersed with pix of the AI Muppet…excellent archive footage of Kermie!
I’m a huge Jason fan and have a lot of hope that he’ll step up this week. I just think maybe Jessica caught up with him during a bad week… We all have always had that feeling one time in our lives when we feel we cant do any more and just want to give up.. It was just a moment. Obviously he wants to be there otherwise he wouldnt be.. This is a great theme for AI and he’ll rock the house!! hopefully he’ll choose a Johnny Cash song!
Okay, here goes:
David Cook: “Losing my Religion” (REM) or “Love will Tear Us Apart” (Joy Division). I should be shot down for suggesting anyone ever gets to cover Joy Division since I think I was first in line to buy this single back in the 70s, but I’m actually curious to see what DC would do with it. He’s probably the only contestant that would get the emotion right.
Jason Castro: “God Only Knows” (Beach Boys), a nice quiet, contemplative number. Although I think this would be interesting pick for Syesha too.
David Archuleta: The cynic in me says “This Land is Your Land”! If he wants to just be the teen he is, how about Dion’s “Teenager in Love”? You just know it ain’t gonna be “God Save the Queen” by the Sex Pistols.
And for Syesha: please don’t do Aretha’s Chain of Fools. As a complete out there suggestion, why not Mr Tambourine Man??
And thanks for the Kermit vid dressed as David Byrne in that big white suit. I have to go play some Talking Heads now…
Slezak – Jason WAS NOT thrown under the bus by ALW – by Jason’s own admission, he arrived at his meeting w/ ALW completely unprepared, and so it didn’t go well. Jason has brought this on by his own apathy. This has obviously been noted by TPTB, hence Paula’s prepared & botched speech. And your song choices, um – Like a Virgin for DC?! Are you on the same snuff as Paula?
I think David C. would do good with Tequila. Jason with Everybody Needs Somebody To Love. David A. with The Twist. And Syeshia with Da Doo Ron Ron
He was unprepared w/Neil Diamond, not his lordship. He was merely clueless about the whole Cats thing, but he knew his songs for the mentoring. Then the pompous one threw the “man in dreads, singing a woman’s song”-under the bus. Then the following week Paula told him his second song would suck no matter how well he decided to sing it. –People with a lot more experience than him have faded under a lot less.
Jason: After Midnight /Eric Clapton; Love Me Tender/Elvis or Sitting on the Dock of the Bay/Otis Redding.
Syesha: 60 Minute Man/The Dominoes; Moondance/Van Morrison or Shadows of the Night/Gloria.
David Cook: Hotel California/The Eagles; Nights in White Satin/ Moody Blues or You’ve lost that Lovin Feelin/Righteous Brothers.
David Archuleta: Bennie and the Jets/Elton John; Fly like and Eagle/Steve Miller Band or Maggie May/Rod Stewart.
What I find funny is that Jason clarified his comment but yet that didnt make it onto the printed story. I am so over reporters reporting on him in a negative light. Why does AI and EW want to place him in as bad a light as possible?
Nights in White Satin – Syesha
Norwegian Wood – Jason Castro
Sweet Dreams – David Cook (great suggestion – would not change it)
God Only Knows – David A
David Cook – Money or I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For (Sweet Dreams would be good as long as he didn’t try to do a rip off version of Marilyn Manson)
David A – Honestly, I don’t care. I’ll probably just fast forward through it anyway. But, maybe Superstition would work.
Jason – Layla, as long as he didn’t try to sing it in that easy-listening kind of way he sings every song.
Syesha – It’s going to sound weird, but Beat It. I heard a version by Fergie, so if it’s done right, it would be great.
There are so many great songs to choose from! I can’t wait for Tuesday night. Here are me dream selections for the final four…
Sy – Mercy Mercy or Heart of Glass by Blondie
Archie – Young Blood or I Fall to Pieces
Jason – Hey Jude or No Woman No Cry
and
David Cook – Light My Fire or House of the Rising Sun
Good luck to all of them!
I would love to see little David go off the deep end and do Fight for your Right or Ziggy Stardust- it’ll never happen and he’ll pick some bombastic song and butcher it but a girl can dream can’t she?
I’d like to hear Little David sing Biko by Peter Gabriel. I think he does best toning down the cheese factor with “message” songs
Jason – Leaving on a Jet Plane (literally of course).
BTH : Love your ideas !
David C. : Nirvana’s Smell Like Teen Spirit or U2’s I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
Jason : David Bowie’s Space Oddity or Sam Cooke’s You Send Me
David A. : Pearl Jam’s Jeremy or The Miracles’ You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me
Syesha : Al Green’s Let’s Stay Together or The Doors’ The End (since she’s probably going home anyway, it would be very fitting…)
Totally agree that Castro should do No Woman No Cry. As for Archuleta, how about The Surfaris “Wipe Out”?
Totally agree that Castro should do No Woman No Cry. As for Archuleta, how about The Surfaris “Wipe Out”?
DC: American Girl or Authority Song
Jason: Suspicious Minds
Syesha: Something to Talk About
Archie: La Bamba
Can’t wait for Tuesday – the list really contains a lot of songs I’d like to hear.
Would be a lot of fun if Jason did Talking Heads. Who suggested Tequila for DC? The song is a lot of fun, but has no lyrics, so definitely out. I’d love to hear David C do Smoke on the water, but I guess it also has too much guitar for a 1,5 minute extract.
So, why not some U2? Pride I think would be great.
There are so many wonderfully inappropriate songs on that list. I would die happy if somebody performed Randy Newman’s “Sail Away” on Idol. Or maybe David A. singing “Heroin”
Syesha- Piece of My Heart (Big Brother and Holding Company) and Whats Goin’ On (Marvin Gaye)
Jason- Hotel California (The Eagles)and Your Song (Elton John)
David A.- Just the Way You Are (Billy Joel) and Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon and Garfunkel)
David C.- I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For (U2) and Love Me Tender (Elvis)
Great Idolatry. Great, great ending with Kermit. With eight song choices, someone will do something lame. I am so, so hoping that doesn’t happen. Can’t wait.
I am hoping Syesha does an acapella “In the Still of the Night”
I’m only going to venture a guess for Jason. He’s had his greatest success with Jeff Buckley’s “Hallelujah” and Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” which were both featured prominently on episodes of “Scrubs”. I’m guessing Jason is a fan of the show and will choose Tom Petty’s “American Girl” – another important “Scrubs” tune. For his second song, I’d like to see him sing The Impressions’ “People Get Ready” to tap into his spiritual side.
David Cook to sing “Small Town” or/and “Hurts So Good”- John Mellencamp!!
Too lazy to read the list (500 songs???), but if “Into the Mystic” was on it, I would die happy if David Cook sang it. My favorite song by my favorite guy!
Jason: Beach Boys “God Only Knows” and Bob Marley and the Wailers “No Woman, No Cry”
Syesha: Aretha Franklin “Respect” and Donna Summer “Love to Love You Baby”
David C.: SRV “Pride and Joy” and The Moody Blues “Nights in White Satin”
David A.: Marvin Gaye “What’s Going On” and John Lennon “Instant Karma”
So, I felt guilty for not reading the list. I only have eyes for David Cook so I would love Suspicous Minds, Stand By Me, Brown Eyed Girl or Every Breath you Take. OMG, I just got chills thinking about it…
And sorry Archie fans, but I have to do it- How about Rapper’s delight for David A.???