The Final 10 each chose songs from their birth year.

When the Final 10 "American Idol" hopefuls took the stage on Tuesday night, they performed songs from the year they were born. Standout performances of the night included MICHAEL JOHNS and DAVID COOK.

RAMIELE MALUBAY kicked off the night's show with HEART's "Alone." RANDY JACKSON criticized, "It wasn't the right song choice for you. It was too big of a song for you. It was a little pitchy." PAULA ABDUL was kinder, telling Ramiele, "I am really glad that America has heard you sing and how big your voice is. I think that it is not about picking [the right song]. I give you credit and it was brave to do what you did, because you are really sick. I hope you stay and go through." SIMON COWELL commented, "I didn't think it was as bad as Randy said. The first part was okay, maybe because you are not feeling well, but it got shriek-y. After last week's performance and you still are here, you are going to get through this week again on that performance."

JASON CASTRO took to the stage, guitar in hand, to sing STING's "Fragile." Randy felt it was a good song choice, pointing out, "I liked the Spanish touch. It was all right. It didn't do anything for you vocally. I am still waiting to see that jump-out performance." Paula told him, "You are staying true to who you are. I don't think we saw anything different that makes us go, 'Wow!' You are playing it a little safe." Simon critiqued: "I think you have had two bad weeks. I think it is time that you start taking this a little bit more seriously. That was the equivalent of someone outside a subway station. Everything about it was too laid back; too much in your own world. You are potentially a winner, but not if you do that week after week."

SYESHA MERCADO belted out GLADYS KNIGHT's "If I Were Your Woman." Randy enthused, "This is great. This is a good moment for you. This is the best I have ever heard you sing, including when you auditioned. It is the best you have ever sounded to us. It was stellar. We have another competitor in the competition. You were blazing hot." Paula agreed, adding, "What is great about this moment is this is the moment where Syesha flipped it and became the dark horse who is going to sail on through. Ever thing was pitch perfect. It was your most brilliant." Simon agreed that it was her best so far, then he added: "But we are only three in. I think there is a limit on your vocal and I think that song stretched it."

CHIKEZIE chose the ballad "If Only For One Night." Randy compared him to Syesha: "She moved it around and made it younger feeling. This went back to an old school feel. I didn't love it for you. It wasn't hip and cool." Paula disagreed: "You are a throwback, but a good throwback. By you upping the tempo [to that] BRENDA RUSSEL song -- you did a great job. You did amazing with the touches of your vocals. You are a great singer." Simon said, "I think you sang it well. Having said that, I thought the performance was cheesy. You have to show originality. I didn't see any. I miss your personality."

After last week's disappointing performance, BROOKE WHITE moved back to the piano, playing and singing "Every Breath You Take." Randy felt it was a very interesting song choice: "When you got to the bridge, I did not love the arrangement. I would have loved it, if you had stayed without the band," he commented. Paula thought it was a much better performance than last week: "This season we wanted contestants who are unique and have their own niche. I think you are consistent." Simon totally agreed with Randy, saying: "If you had stayed just you on the piano that would have sounded much more cool. When the band joined in that made it old fashioned. It was definitely good enough to keep you in one more week, but you have to work it out."

Michael Johns tackled QUEEN's "We Will Rock You"/"We Are the Champions." Randy commended him: "Finally, you believe in yourself and you used that big old voice you got. That was the best performance for me since you have been on this show." Paula gave him a thumbs up, saying, "Any time we said you haven't found your right song, we can now shut our mouths. That was your shining moment." Simon agreed, claiming, "This is the first time with you, I saw star potential. Tonight, you just got it right. You look like a front person. You were confident. For me, it is the only memorable performance of the night so far."

"Total Eclipse of the Heart" was CARLY SMITHSON's song choice. Randy didn't love it; he liked it. "I think that wasn't the right song for you. It was just okay for me." Paula said, "What I so admire about you is you could take every song I am not crazy about and make me go buy it. I love what you did at the end. It shows you are willing to get out there and stretch yourself in areas you haven't shown us." Simon disagreed, pointing out, "Something didn't quite work. I think you were so tense and uptight during the performance. I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would."

DAVID ARCHULETA performed "You're the Voice." Randy told him, "It was a strange song choice for me, but if you can sing, you can sing whatever. It was very nice." Paula agreed, adding, "You can sing the phone book and we would fall in love with you." Simon said, "You sang it well in parts, but I am going to be honest with you -- and this isn't going to make me popular. I didn't like the performance at all. I thought it was reminiscent of a theme park performance. It is one of those songs that you sing when you have animated creatures with you, joining in. I would be surprised if you chose the song yourself."

KRISTY LEE COOK went patriotic with LEE GREENWOOD's "God Bless the U.S.A." Randy praised her for her song choice, saying, "Other than some pitchy spots in the middle, a very nice performance from you." Paula felt it wasn't her best performance, but "your voice is sounding much stronger. You are growing." And Simon agreed, adding, "Your best performance by a mile, I think. I have to say, that was the most clever song choice I have heard in years. That is going to keep you in the competition."

The final performance of the night was by David Cook, who did a unique rendition of MICHAEL JACKSON's "Billie Jean." Randy congratulated him: "David Cook, I got to say, you are probably the most original, the most bold contestant that we have ever had. You might be the one to win the whole lot. Blazing, molten hot." Paula said admiringly, "I can't tell you how smart you are, how willing you are to stretch the boundaries without going over. I think you are brilliant." Simon commended him: "That was brave. It could have either been insane or amazing. And I have to tell you, it was amazing."