Former Chicagoan Luke Menard

Jason Castro came across as shy and genuine in the pre-performance interview. I liked his acoustic-tinged version of The Bee Gees’ “I Just Want to Be Your Everything” better than the judges did. “[The vocals were] just ok without the guitar,” Jackson said. Cowell found it too schmaltzy.

Luke Menard mystifies me. Second week of the competition and he picked “Killer Queen” by Queen as his choice. It’s a difficult song to sing and not one that will exactly endear him to the typical “American Idol” voter. Cowell thinks it was a mistake. Abdul and Jackson both liked it.

Faux rocker Robbie Carrico lost the bandanna this week and makes a good song choice in Foreigner’s “Hot Blooded.” Randy didn’t think it had enough “umph” and Abdul thought he played it too safe.