American Idol finalists sang tunes from the John Lennon/Paul McCartney song book last night - and the results were nothing short of shocking!

The man known simply as Chikezie stepped up with a performance of "She's a Woman" that was among the most entertaining of the season. He bounded around on stage with the energy of a toddler, causing Randy Jackson to say he "smashed it."

Simon Cowell added: "It was certainly a unique version of the song ... I thought you were terrific."

As for heavy favorite David Archuleta? He stumbled for a change, forgetting the lyrics to "We Can Work It Out" and having his performance called a "mess" by Simon.

The ragged audition has left the door open for the following finalists, all of whom earned rave reviews by the judges last night:

• Carly Smithson: Finally selecting the right song, this Irish crooner belted out "Come Together" to the delight of the crowd. Paula Abdul said: "I felt like I was already watching a star ... I couldn't wait until you got into the Top 12 so you could start showing who you are as a performer. You're amazing!"

• David Cook: Turned "Eleanor Rigby" into a rock anthem, eliciting the highest of praise from Simon: "If this show remains a talent competition rather than a popularity competition, you actually could win this entire show."

• Brooke White: Subtle continues to work well for White. She sat at a piano, sang the classic "Let It Be" and heard from Randy: "You gave a very heartfelt performance. I love that. I'm a fan!"

Who was your favorite performer of the night?