Idols sing Beatles: 'Help!'

Here's a little help for our friends in the final 12 as they fret over which Fab Four song to perform.

By Sean Daly, Times Pop Music Critic
Published March 10, 2008

You say you want a Revolution? What if it's performed by a skeezy dude on American Idol? After securing rights to perform classics from the Lennon-McCartney songbook, our national televised obsession will have its top 12 singers honor the Beatles on Tuesday. Kristy Lee Cook covering Sir Paul? Sounds like a long and winding nightmare.

However, because we care far too much about American Idol, we've decided to offer a few Fab suggestions to help the final 12 choose the right Beatles song:

Back in the U.S.S.R. - Amanda Overmyer You don't know how lucky you are, girl. Rock it hard.

Across the Universe - David Archuleta (If Bambi sings this, Paula will be a puddle.)

With a Little Help From My Friends - Kristy Lee Cook (And a lot of help from her background singers.)

Got to Get You Into My Life - Chikezie (The Earth, Wind & Fire version!)

Help! - David Cook (Plug in the axe and blues it up, dude.)

And I Love Her - Jason Castro (As if he hasn't seduced enough coeds.)

Mother Nature's Son - Brooke White ('Cause hippie-dippie is just dying to perform barefoot.)

I'm Looking Through You - Michael Johns (Unleash the fury, pretty boy. "You're not the same!")

Get Back - Ramiele Malubay (The singing lawn gnome needs to get back her passion.)

Oh! Darling - Carly Smithson (If she nails this pop plea, she'll go from safe to sensational.)

Drive My Car - Syesha Mercado (The more "beep beeps" the better.)

Come Together - David Hernandez (Make it grindy enough, and even Simon will throw singles.)

Sean Daly can be reached at sdaly@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8467. His Pop Life blog is at blogs.tampabay.com/popmusic.

On TV:

American Idol

The competition show is 8 to 10 p.m. Tuesday , with results at 9 p.m. Wednesday, on WTVT-Ch. 13.

[Last modified March 10, 2008, 09:30:33]