Elvis Rolls Over in His Grave While American Idol Singers Butcher His Songs

With the exception of strong and memorable performances by Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeDwyze, Elvis was surely rolling over in his grave as the majority of American Idol's final nine singers completely butchered songs from "The King's" catalogue tonight.

Bowersox opened the show with a spot-on rocking version of Elvis' gospel "Saved," while DeWyze stepped into a growly and soulful version of "A Little Less Conversation."

With those exceptions, the show dragged and sagged as Tim Urban mumbled his way through "Can't Help Falling in Love," Aaron Kelly stumbled through "Blue Suede Shoes," Siobhan Magnus completely destroyed the melody and flow of "Suspicious Minds," and Casey James delivered a throw-away and hardly recognizable reading of "Lawdy Miss Claudy."

The only other performances that rang with any resonance and honesty were Katie Stevens powerful, if predictable delivery of "Baby, What Do Ya Want Me To Do?" and big Mike Lynche, who came through with a soulful if abbreviated reading of "In the Ghetto."

Tonight's show further demonstated the banality and futility of Idol's having young singers trying to interpret songs from catalogues that they're removed from by four to five generations.  While I appreciate Simon's lack of tact in criticizing most of tonight's performances, a great deal of blame has to go to the show's producers who insist on these pointless "theme nights" in which young singers are asked to perform songs in genres and from time periods that they cannot relate to, and which have no relevance to today's music scene.

And that's our view from The A&R Room.