LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

“American Idol’s” remaining eight men gave it their all on Tuesday night, in hopes of winning a slot in the competition’s coveted Top 12.

The evening was kicked off by a cover of Wham’s “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go,” by Luke Menard, who carried the tune with a smile and a high pitch.

“It started out a little rough for me,” judge Randy Jackson commented, “but you kind of got it together in the end.”

Simon Cowell however, told the29 year-old from Crawfordsville, Indiana, that his performance wouldn’t carry him through to next week.

“I thought it was weak, a bit girly,” Simon said. “There’s no chance you’re gonna make it through even to the final 12.”

Last week, 17-year-old David Archuleta, from Murray, Utah, stunned the judges with his cover of John Lennon’s “Imagine,” and on Tuesday he took on Phil Collins’ “Another Day In Paradise,” to slightly less fanfare.

”It was nice,” Randy said.

“I love that there were a couple notes that were off, because it proved to me you’re not this make believe person, this hologram that can do everything perfect,” Paula Abdul said.

Simon however, said that despite a few shaky notes, David was heading for the top.

“You’re probably going to be in the final two,” he said.

Another contender who received high praise — from Randy and Paula at least, was 18-year-old Danny Noriega, who did an updated version of Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love.”

“You’re like this bright light in this competition. You’ve got a sensitive side to you, you’ve got a spicy side to you,” Paula said as Simon interrupted and suggested that her comment meant Danny was a chicken wing.

David Hernandez then took to the stage performing “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now.”

“David, it wasn’t as good as last week. I prefer it when you’re doing the soul songs, but you’ve 100 percent secured yourself a place in the finals with that,” Simon said.

Australian Michael Johns’ “Don’t You Forget About Me,” received praise as did rocker David Cook’s version of Lionel Richie’s “Hello” and Jason Castro’s “Hallelujah.”

Chikezie however, found himself on the receiving end of bad news from Simon as he closed the show with “All The Woman I Need.”

“That was a Whitney [Houston] song, right?” Simon asked as Chikezie confirmed she had covered it. “Then no I don’t think that worked at all … you were OK in bits. I felt it was much more cabaret in bits.”

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