Performer: David Cook

Song: I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing

Aerosmith had their biggest hit of their three decade career with “I Don’t Want To Miss a Thing.” The song was the love theme from the asteroid blockbuster “Armageddon” and will always be remembered for the awkward moment of witnessing Ben Affleck running his fingers along Liv Tyler’s navel while her father serenades them on the soundtrack.

Those images of Affleck and Tyler are unfortunate because as Simon pointed out on “American Idol” it is one of the most well written songs of all time.

Watch David Cook’s Top 3 performance of Don’t Want to Miss a Thing on American Idol 7.

Aerosmith…

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Performer: Syehsa Mercado

Song: Hit Me Up

As witnessed by the song’s performance on “Idol,” not exactly a track to be performed by a single singer without images of dancing penguins overtaking the mind.

The “Happy Feet” soundtrack featured this catchy ditty and helped propel the film to become an enormous hit. Ask any parent and they know this song well!

Serving as the debut single from singer Gia Farrell wasn’t meant for the penguin film. It was the song meant to put Farrell on the map. It certainly did do that peaking at number 40 on the Top 40. It was only when the track appeared on the big screen did Farrell truly have a hit on her hands.

Watch Syesha Mercado’s Top 3 performance of Hit Me Up on American Idol 7.

A Happy Feet clip…

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Performer: David Archuleta

Song: Longer

“Longer” is the seminal Dan Fogelberg song. The folk icon recently passed away and as many tributes filled the airwaves, the song played alongside “Leader of the Band” was “Longer.”

As Simon said, the song is pure syrup, but it is also purely Fogelberg. The song bridged the crunchy ’70s folk with the early ’80s easy listening driven soft rock. Released in 1980 “Longer” went all the way to number two on the charts and served as the singer’s highest tracking hit.

Watch David Archuleta’s Top 3 performance of Longer on American Idol 7.

Here’s the classic Dan Fogelberg recording.

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Performer: David Cook

Song: Dare You to Move

Switchfoot had a hit with “Dare You To Move” in 2005. The San Diego band landed in the modern rock top 10 with their instant classic that helped propel their debut album to double platinum status.

The Southern California band has used the song on many occasions. It serve as a song on their largely San Diego-only release, 2000’s “Learning to Breathe” and also appeared on Mandy Moore’s “A Walk to Remember” movie soundtrack.

Watch David Cook’s Top 3 performance of Dare You to Move on American Idol 7.

Here’s Switchfoot performing Dare You to Move live.

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Performer: Syesha Mercado

Song: Fever

“Fever” has been recorded and performed live by a varied list of artists it is truly a transcendent song. One part Broadway with a dash of blues and no matter the singer, you’ve got a hit. Ivy League sang the version that Syesha performed on “American Idol” and the versions that truly have made the mark include The Pointer Sisters and Bruce Springsteen.

The most widely known version, the one that rings in everyone’s heads, has to be Peggy Lee’s whose stripped down haunting vocals hover over a lone bass leading her through the heat that is “Fever.”

Watch Syesha Mercado’s Top 3 performance of Fever on American Idol 7.

Here’s Peggy Lee performing her hit in the late 60s…

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Performer: David Archuleta

Song: “With You”

Pop sensation Chris Brown’s version of this song is still fresh on audience’s mind as the singer had a hit with the track just this year. The ballad with a danceable beat pulls a Rihanna “Umbrella” type of melodic turn with its repeated singing of the title.

If it sounds familiar because of that, it is because “With You” is produced by Stargate who routinely works with the Caribbean singer.

“With You” had the unfortunate distinction of following up Brown’s “Kiss, Kiss” on his latest record’s singles list and never caught fire like his smoochy classic.

Watch David Archuleta’s Top 3 performance of With You on American Idol 7.

Here’s the Chris Brown music video…

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Performer: David Cook

Judges Choice: Simon

Beyond its phenomenal success for singer Roberta Flack, “First Time I Ever Saw Your Face” is probably most known currently for its heartbreaking presence in the Oscar winning “Brokeback Mountain.”

Flack is the original soul legend that sang “Killing Me Softly” before The Fugees made it a hit once again a decade ago. But it is this ever building “First Time I Ever Saw Your Face” that truly showed the vocal range of this pop music icon.

Leona Lewis, who is tearing up the charts, has a version of Flack’s classic on her record and performs it in her live show.

Watch David Cook’s Top 3 performance of First Time Ever I Saw Your Face on American Idol 7.

Here’s a live performance of Roberta Flack performing this song in 1972.

And here’s a popular update of the hit by Leona Lewis.

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Performer: Syesha Mercado

Judges Choice: Randy

From Alicia Keys debut 2003 CD, “The Diary of Alicia Keys,” the song served as Keys second single. In the process it proved Keys was more than a one-hit wonder and set the tone for her current pace to out number one Mariah Carey for Elvis Presley’s old record.

“If I Ain’t Got You” coupled with the debut single “Fallen” showed a new kind of rhythm and blues singer. Keys elegantly performing behind her piano spotlighted a songstress who wrote her own songs and performed from the heart well beyond her years.

Watch Syesha Mercado’s Top 3 performance of If I Ain’t Got You on American Idol 7.

Here’s a live performance with piano accompaniment by Alicia Keyes.

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