Last night the American Idol contestants sang songs from the Rock and Roll 
Hall of Fame. For some reason this translated to many people, including myself that we were going to hear the contestants singing rock music. This would prove to not be the case at all. If anything, it was soft rock night, due to five out of the nine contestants singing mid-tempo songs to down right ballads. For the word, "rock" being involved in this week's theme, I was surprised at the lack of risk-taking and not performing an actual rock number that's in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Going in performance order, let’s start with Jacob Lusk, who sang Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror.” I wasn’t loving his performance. He’s dialed the vocals back some, but he was still having a lot of pitch issues. And his outfit last night was distractingly awful. They really need to get him in better fitted clothes. What I really didn’t appreciate were his comments during his pre-performance package.
“If I end up in the bottom three, it won’t be because I sang the song bad, it won’t be because I sang the song wrong, it will be because everybody in America wasn’t ready to look at themselves in the mirror.”
Um Jacob, how should I put this? If you’re in the bottom three tonight, it’s going to be because you made a really unneccessary comment in your pre-performance video, AND because you didn’t have a great vocal performance. Sorry, bro. 
Following Jacob up was everyone’s Idol sweetheart, Haley Reinhart, who performed Janis Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart.” If anyone fulfilled this week's theme week's requirements, it was Haley. She sang a rock song on rock night.
Performance-wise, I thought Haley brought a lot of energy to the stage, although I don’t feel like she really connected with the words in the song. I feel like the only reason she chose to sing a Janis Joplin song is because of all the vocal comparisons. I think if Haley can restrain all the unnecessary growling and just let her voice shine, then she could be a contender. That said, she also needs to watch her vocals, because when she wasn’t growling, she was kind of yelling the lyrics. I don’t like being yelled at through my TV. I think it’s possible that Haley could make a return trip to the bottom three.
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Article comments
1 - Sherry
The Rock n Roll Hall of Fame includes all kinds of music, it just had to have an impact on "The Rock Era," so I wasn't expecting exclusively rock songs. I'm not sure what you mean about the songs not being in the Hall of Fame? There are no songs in the Hall of Fame. All of the artists that the contestants covered are in the Hall of Fame, so I thought it worked.
I don't think Rock n Roll means hard rock or fast music, so CCR, Beatles, and Elvis all fit the term.
I agree completely on James Durbin. I thought the final note actually ruined the intensity of the song. I also agree that Casey needs to work on developing his own sound and personality to work together.
I did not like Jacob Lusk's pre-song comments at all, I also didn't think his performance was all that great. I won't be surprised if he ends up in the bottom three.
I really don't know who will be in the bottom or going home this week. It should make for an interesting results show.
2 - handyguy
Some individual performances have been disappointing, but overall the high vocal quality has been remarkably consistent week to week. Not too many moments when you think, what is that person doing on this show.
Someone like Stefano would have seemed way above average in past seasons, a sort of muscled-up version of David Archuleta; this year he's barely good enough to hang on, because the others are so good.
Good but too rarely exciting. I certainly enjoyed Scotty, Paul and James last night, but there's no since of discovery and surprise, as there was with say, David Cook or Adam Lambert or even Kris Allen.
3 - Butch
I think Stefano is, hands down, THE best singer out of this year's finalists. His voice is the most technically impressive. I think he has also improved by leaps and bounds with his performing abilities.
The shame is that the show's PR campaign has tricked so many people into thinking that the whole group is extremely talented. Some of it boils down to a matter of opinion, of course, but I really think AI has done a great of selling a bunch of mediocre show-boaters this year.
Jacob Lusk is truly terrible. I used to feel that way about Paul McDonald - but he has grown on me over the weeks, with last night being great. But Lusk is just God awful. And his sanctimonious CRAP before his performance last night might just get him booted from the show tonight. If not, it certainly hurt.
4 - docdave
Scotty and James are the two best overall. I thought Pia would be in the top three. Jacob has become annoying and is clearly a self centered racist diva who is not that good a singer. Paul has improved the last two weeks, but is frequently off-pitch. Casey has clearly peaked and has not impressed me. Stefano is okay buy nothing special. Lauren and Haley pale in comparison to Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. I expect a Scotty versus James finale.