Guide Note

American Idol Season 7 contestant Jason Castro sang the Andrew Lloyd Webber song "Memory" from the Broadway classic Cats on the April 22, 2008 episode of the show. The program was dedicated to both Lloyd Webber's catalog and Earth Day.

Castro had never seen any of Andrew Lloyd Webber's works and did not know about the popular musical Cats. For the first time, Castro wore a suit on the show. He sat on a stool and performed the song accompanied by a piano.

Judges' Comments

Thought it was a train wreck.

Believed that people were used to women singing the song and that is why the audience did not embrace it. Abdul did believe that it was a brave choice and compared it to Joe Cocker's "You Are So Beautiful".

Felt like it was the longest two minutes of his life. It was a struggle.

Fast Facts

1. Air date: April 22, 2008
2. Performer: Jason Castro
3. Mentor: Andrew Lloyd Webber
4. Host: Ryan Seacrest
5. Performers: Idol Top 6

"Jason gets face time to say he recognizes all of Lloyd Webber's songs and is apprehensive. He grabs Cats showcase Memory, much to the flabbergastation of the composer, who thinks Jason might have understood it, a notion that Jason contradicts by saying he didn't know a cat sang it. Jason wisely doesn't try to play guitar on this one, and delivers a breathy version that founders on the bridge, whose melody he doesn't seem confident about. The reflective verse rather fits his style, though. Probably about a C, C-. He seems relieved just to get through it. Randy doesn't look happy and calls it a trainwreck and not Jason's thing, too big of a song. Paula thinks it was a wise choice even though people are used to hearing it from female power balladeers and then starts babbling about Joe Cocker and You Are So Beautiful. Simon asks if it was the longest two minutes of Jason's life, and says it came off like a forced performance at a wedding. Uh-oh. Ryan tries to save Jason by trying to get to Simon to say don't vote for him, which he kind of does. Don't know if that will help, though."