American Idol top 12 perform in two-hour show

American Idol kicked off the countdown of the top 12 contestants tonight with a two-hour show on its flashy new set.

Syesha Mercado started off the John Lennon and Paul McCartney-themed night with “Gotta Get You Into My Life.” She wasn’t great vocally, but she at least looked confident and really shone on the new stage. Chikezie followed with a funky twist on “She’s a Woman,” and it really brought him into his own for the first time in the competition. His energy was contagious, and the judges couldn’t stop layering on the praises.

Carly Smithson and David Cook were back-to-back highlights with “Come Together” and “Eleanor Rigby,” respectively. Brooke White gave a heartfelt rendition of “Let it Be,” which left her in tears at the end.

David Hernandez gave an over-the-top performance of “I Saw Her Standing There.” It was nothing if not energetic, but the judges thought it was too much – Simon actually used the words “corny, verging on desperate.”

Kristy Lee Cook put a country spin on “Eight Days a Week,” which was an interesting idea, but it was all a bit rushed and forced. The judges weren’t feeling it, either: Simon told her it was a “brave but foolish” move and told her she sounded like Dolly Parton on helium.

David Archuleta, a clear standout through most of the season, stumbled a bit from a long streak of professional performances after admitting how flustered and nervous he felt. He even forgot the words a few times and had a hard time keeping his focus after the slip-ups. Randy and Paula allowed him a bit of leeway, but Simon didn’t cut him any slack and told him that it was his worst performance so far.

Predictions: David H. hasn’t showed enough of his personality to stick around – it makes him seem shallow, which doesn’t bode well in a tight competition like this. Amanda has also overstayed her welcome. It’s great when their voices and attitudes aren’t all sticky-sweet pop because it makes them stand out, but Amanda sounds the same every single week, so we don’t get to see her range, and she probably won’t be able to keep racking up the votes. She might last another week over Kristy Lee Cook, who made a gutsy move that could alienate a lot of viewers.