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JASON CASTRO
Considering that Jason Castro sings for 25 million people every week, you'd think the guy would feel okay about...well, singing. ''It's a fact that I have a weaker voice than the rest,'' says the 20-year-old musician-turned-vocalist. Byrd has even given Castro a Stuart Smalley-like mantra to repeat before showtime (''People love to hear me sing. People love to hear me sing''), and maybe it's working. During the Friday morning rehearsal, the dreadhead looks confident with his song choices, ''Forever in Blue Jeans'' and ''September Morn.''
Byrd asks him to sing the ''Blue Jeans'' lyrics without playing guitar so he can nail the tune. ''You don't want another 'Memory' to sneak up on you,'' she says, referring to his maligned version of the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic. ''September Morn'' sounds better. ''I like this one,'' Castro says. But a few days later, he's not feeling as certain. ''It's more of a romantic song, which kind of makes me nervous,'' he says. Saturday's meeting with Neil Diamond certainly didn't help Castro's confidence. ''It was really bad,'' he admits. ''I didn't really know my songs so he didn't have too much to say.'' Rehearsal time was further blown off over the weekend when Castro's brother and a friend came to visit. ''I'll get around to practicing,'' he promises Monday afternoon, but he still sounds unsure, about both the songs and the entire competition. ''What happens happens. I'll sing and if people like it, they like it. And if they don't, they don't. I'm kind of ready to go home.'' What's that? Ready to go home? And walk off America's biggest stage? ''It's been overwhelming. I got 150 balloons yesterday delivered to the studio because people heard I was sick last week. That's cool, but that's just weird.'' Not as weird as Paula critiquing Castro's second song before he had even sung it. Also not as weird as Castro blaming his faulty ''September Morn'' vocals on choking before the song began on ''a little something in my throat.'' If only he had taken Byrd's rehearsal advice on Friday when he was also experiencing some phlegm-related issues. ''Use the mucus!'' Byrd told him them. ''Singers call it the Buzz. Listen to Neil Diamond — he's got so much crud in his voice and he uses it.''
Unfortunately, there's no buzz after Castro's performance, which the judges label ''safe'' and ''forgettable.'' He may be heading home soon after all.
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