Duets shine on movie-themed 'American Idol'

[May 12, 2010]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Maybe the remaining "American Idol" finalists should start a band?

The final four singers earned more praise for their moody matchups than their solos during Tuesday's edition of movie-themed performances on the Fox singing competition.

Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze ascended with "Falling Slowly" from the film "Once," while Michael Lynche and Casey James dazzled with "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" from "Don Juan DeMarco."

"They were better than all of the solo performances," gushed Kara DioGuardi.

The picky judge declared that both duets, which featured the finalists accompanying themselves on guitars, were incredible, but she asserted the union between Bowersox and DeWyze on the Oscar-winning song was one of her favorite moments from the ninth season. She informed them the teamwork "brought out the best in both of you."

Simon Cowell agreed.

"I don't know if I would call that a good song," teased Cowell. "I would call it a fantastic song."

Bowersox, a 24-year-old musician from Toledo, Ohio, was the biggest standout with her solo effort, riffing on Kenny Loggins' "I'm Alright" from "Caddyshack."

DeWyze wasn't as lucky. The 24-year-old paint sales clerk from Mount Prospect, Ill., wilted with Seal's "Kiss From A Rose" from "Batman Forever." Cowell said it verged on karaoke.

"I felt good about it," replied DeWyze.

The judges also denounced the solo song choices from James, a 27-year-old musician of Fort Worth, Texas, and Lynche, a 26-year-old personal trainer of Queens, N.Y.

James wasn't at the head of the class with Simon and Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson" from "The Graduate." Lynche failed to make a splash with Michael Jackson's "Will You Be There" from "Free Willy."

"What you did tonight," DioGuardi told Lynche, "you could do in your sleep."

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On the Net:

http://www.americanidol.com/

[Associated Press; By DERRIK J. LANG]

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