I'm an 80's music guy so I was hopeful that it would be a good show but wasn't expecting much in the way of song choices given that 90 percent of the "good" music in the 80's wasn't on the radio unless it was college radio. For the most part that was accurate but there were a couple of good surprises.
First the good:
David Cook's arrangement of Hello Jason Castro taking on a mountain of a song in Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah as covered by Jeff Buckley. I thought he did a decent job on it and it is a beautiful song. The issue for me was knowing the Buckley version so well that it was hard not to compare. Buckley was one of those guys with a four octave range that could sing anything beautifully. If you have not heard his version, do yourself a favor and get the whole album. One of the best records of the last 20 years.
Michael Hutchens Johns doing Simple Mind's Don't You (Forget About Me): my favorite part of this song was Randy screwing up thinking it was Australia's INXS instead of England's Simple Minds. Whoops! I finally pegged Johns's voice as a blend between Hutchens and Eddie Vedder coupled that with the Morrison look. Not exactly a singers song but he did the original proud.
The mediocre:
David Archuletta: Simon was dead on in his comment about him doing the dark songs. He proved his point when Archuletta made the comment about home less people. It will get very old, very fast. People want to be entertained not preached to every week. Great vocal but he needs to sing something else. And yes, David, Imagine is a horrifically depressing song. Life without God and Heaven and the fruits of your labor being confiscated and given to others against you will is the epitome of depressing. But your a 17 year-old know it all so...
Chikeze: Don;t know what he sang but he didn't suck so...Meh...
The awful:
Everyone else. Good lord the rest sucked.
Luke Menard should be shot for doing a Wham! song. At least pick a decent George Michael song (he had some good one's post Wham!)
Big Gay Dan was just horrible as usual. The attitude is just so over the top ridiculous. Simon was vicious but actually too kind. He's simply horrible. Oh, and he murdered an iconic 80's new wave song. Draw and quarter him.
Stripper Dan was alright but I hate Meatloaf so he gets automatically thrown in the "awful" category.
I think Stripper Dan and Luke go home. It should be Luke and Big Gay Dan but stupid kids will keep him in for a while...
LOL!
I think the stripper's name is David. But, who cares as long as he goes home.