Jason Relieved to Be Voted Off American Idol

I agree. I think that hearing Ryan say, "you're going home" was music to Jason's ears.

Jason Castro was voted off American Idol on May 7 after his terrible performance of "Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man" and "I Shot the Sheriff" on the May 6 show. Jason forgot the words to Mr. Tambourine Man almost immediately after starting the song, and resorted to humming instead.

He handled the awkward moment with a sheepish look on his face and a goofy grin, but quickly replaced them with his usual nonchalant attitude. It was really to his advantage that he made light of his blunder instead of panicking, getting upset or stopping the song as Brooke White had done a couple of weeks ago.

Jason's look of realization that he messed up yet again changed almost immediately to an expression of good natured acceptance. His bid to be the next American Idol was officially over, and his relief to finally be put out of his misery was obvious.

Jason's arrangement of his second song, "I Shot the Sheriff," was awful. Had he sung it as it had originally been recorded, I think he would have pulled it off just fine. After his performance Tuesday night, Simon bluntly told Jason to "pack his bags," with almost an angry expression on his face.

Jason's face during his performance Tuesday evening, and during Wednesday's elimination show said it all. Jason was well aware his time to go had come. It had been for a while, and he hadn't been able to rise above that thought. He hastened his end by sabotaging himself on Tuesday.

Recently during an interview, Jason spoke of how lonely he had been feeling, how he missed his family and friends and "going out on Friday nights." He seemed burnt out, and tired of trying to become the next American Idol. That it wasn't fun or worth it anymore, seemed to remain unspoken. Jason obviously didn't want it with all his heart, and I think he gave up weeks ago.

Before getting the final verdict, Jason joked that after he sang Tuesday night, someone told him that he had "shot the Tambourine Man." That, he said, was "really funny."

Jason has certainly been likable, with a laid back kind of charm, and I think he continued to be likable right up to the end tonight. An end we all knew was coming, and it was an end he deserved to have coming.

Jason's cute face, long dreadlocks, and cheerful, easygoing manner have made him a hit, especially with the young girls. I liked his style myself. Jason wasn't my favorite, but I got what he was about, at least in the beginning. Wednesday evening, the replayed comments made by Paula, Simon and Randy during these past few weeks indicated that they liked Jason's style, too. A style not unlike that of Jimmy Buffet, Jack Johnson or Donovan (he was popular back in the '70s, kids.)

But recently Jason seemed to lose his drive, his focus, and his confidence. Maybe Jason's talent took him as far as it could, and his successful first few weeks in the beginning of the contest was the best he could do, and all he could pull off. I don't really think that is entirely true, however.

It was pretty clear to me that Jason probably wasn't going to become the next American Idol, but he certainly didn't perform to the best of his abilities these last few weeks, either. Once he started to not do so well, each failure and negative comment by the judges seemed to precipitate another failure, and so his fate was sealed. But worst of all, it was sealed in his own eyes.

Once he started to believe that, it was over for him. Some people might have come back fighting harder after a poor performance, but fighting definitely isn't Jason's style. He probably partied Wednesday night like he hasn't been able to party since the quest to become the next American Idol began for him.
I just hope that Jason isn't going to be sorry that he didn't give this once in a lifetime opportunity a fighting chance.

I do wish Jason Castro well, though, and I know that his large fan base does too.