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  3. 'Idol': 20 Beatles Songs for...Who?

'Idol': 20 Beatles Songs for...Who?

Annie Barrett mines the Fab Four songbook to match remaining hopefuls with the tunes she thinks they'll ''Love'' in Las Vegas
By Annie Barrett Updated February 22, 2011 at 10:00 PM EST
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Brett Loewenstern: ''The Fool on the Hill''

American Idol | The self-proclaimed oddball with his head in a cloud of curls could undoubtedly pull off a song about a wise soul who knows better. He…

The self-proclaimed oddball with his head in a cloud of curls could undoubtedly pull off a song about a wise soul who knows better. He never listens to those high school bullies. He knows that they're the fools. They don't like him....

NOTE: Fox's promos for Wednesday's Las Vegas round indicate that the contestants will perform in pairs or groups — but here are some sacred Beatles tunes I would have picked for 20 of the remaining hopefuls to (hopefully not) massacre.

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Lauren Alaina: ''Ticket to Ride''

American Idol | She's got one, issued by Nigel Lythgoe himself. My baby don't care if you think he's playing favorites.

She's got one, issued by Nigel Lythgoe himself. My baby don't care if you think he's playing favorites.

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Scotty McCreery: ''Help''

American Idol | He needs it. And he can always just improvise the lyrics when he suddenly ''forgets'' them. When I was younger, not much younger than today…

He needs it. And he can always just improvise the lyrics when he suddenly ''forgets'' them. When I was younger, not much younger than today / I never needed to learn more than one song, no, no way....

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Casey Abrams: ''Blackbird''/''Piggies''

American Idol | I'm sure one of the 700 instruments he plays could make some pretty sweet animal sounds, and if there's one thing American Idol loves, it's…
Credit: Michael Becker/Fox

I'm sure one of the 700 instruments he plays could make some pretty sweet animal sounds, and if there's one thing American Idol loves, it's social satire!

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Jacob Lusk: ''I Am the Walrus''

American Idol | If any contestant can do justice to one of the Beatles' most bizarre tunes (and my No. 1 go-to karaoke choice), it's Lusk, who enjoys…

If any contestant can do justice to one of the Beatles' most bizarre tunes (and my No. 1 go-to karaoke choice), it's Lusk, who enjoys mangling words and switching voices entirely. Only a loon could pull this off. Ho ho ho, hee hee hee HA HA HA!

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Ashley Sullivan: ''Maxwell's Silver Hammer''

American Idol | I'm not saying ''emotional time bomb Ashley Sullivan'' is a serial killer; I'm just saying this would be fun. Doo-doo, doo-doo-doo....
Credit: Michael Becker/Fox

I'm not saying ''emotional time bomb Ashley Sullivan'' is a serial killer; I'm just saying this would be fun. Doo-doo, doo-doo-doo....

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Robbie Rosen: ''Because''

American Idol | The 16-year-old originally auditioned with ''Yesterday,'' so he shouldn't be afraid to take on the eerie, vocal-heavy ''Because'' with some backup singers and his trusty…
Credit: Michael Becker/Fox

The 16-year-old originally auditioned with ''Yesterday,'' so he shouldn't be afraid to take on the eerie, vocal-heavy ''Because'' with some backup singers and his trusty piano.

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Molly DeWolf Swenson: ''Taxman''

American Idol | I'd like to hear a nice 'n' throaty political ditty from the girl who's working for no one but Obama.
Credit: Michael Becker/Fox

I'd like to hear a nice 'n' throaty political ditty from the girl who's working for no one but Obama.

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John Wayne Schulz: ''I Want to Hold Your Hand''

American Idol | Putting a country spin on the Beatles' best-selling single would be easy enough; plus, all the women in the theater would pass out from a…
Credit: Michael Becker/Fox

Putting a country spin on the Beatles' best-selling single would be easy enough; plus, all the women in the theater would pass out from a wish fulfillment overdose. What could be better?

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James Durbin: ''Fixing a Hole''

American Idol | There's a hole in James' bucket, and if he patches it up, he can afford to provide water and diapers for his son. The Lambert-esque…
Credit: Michael Becker/Fox

There's a hole in James' bucket, and if he patches it up, he can afford to provide water and diapers for his son. The Lambert-esque wailer would have a ball improvising on the ''Hey, hey! Heyyyyy'' portion of the Sgt. Pepper's classic. Careful, though, James. In Idol, it really does matter — when you're wrong, you're sometimes just wrong.

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Ashton Jones: ''She Came In Through the Bathroom Window''

American Idol | Since we didn't see Ashton (who may or may not have worked at 15 clubs a day) in the audition episodes, it's like she just…
Credit: Michael Becker/Fox

Since we didn't see Ashton (who may or may not have worked at 15 clubs a day) in the audition episodes, it's like she just suddenly showed up (in our...bathrooms?). Wednesday's on the phone to Thursday, whispering ''She's in.'' Oh, yeah.

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Clint Jun Gamboa: ''Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds''

American Idol | The boy with kaleidoscope eyes would power through this trippy dreamscape with way too much gusto. It'd be a total disaster, but great TV. What…

The boy with kaleidoscope eyes would power through this trippy dreamscape with way too much gusto. It'd be a total disaster, but great TV. What do we care? He's the season 10 bully!

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Jacee Badeaux: ''Mean Mr. Mustard''

American Idol | The 15-year-old cherub could nudge the key up a few notches — and sing directly to Clint Jun Gamboa, of course.

The 15-year-old cherub could nudge the key up a few notches — and sing directly to Clint Jun Gamboa, of course.

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Carson Higgins: ''Revolution No. 9''

American Idol | Can you imagine ? This guy is so wacky !!!

Can you imagine? This guy is so wacky!!!

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Haley Reinhart: ''I Want You (She's So Heavy)''

American Idol | Watching her attempt to hit the low notes might be so bad, it'd drive us mad — but she asked for it with her exceedingly…
Credit: Michael Becker/Fox

Watching her attempt to hit the low notes might be so bad, it'd drive us mad — but she asked for it with her exceedingly guttural performance of ''God Bless the Child'' during Hollywood Week's solo day.

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Hollie Cavanaugh: ''Penny Lane''

American Idol | The British-born teen probably misses fish and finger pies, men in macs, and the Queen, so this would be a good chance for her to…
Credit: Michael Becker/Fox

The British-born teen probably misses fish and finger pies, men in macs, and the Queen, so this would be a good chance for her to reclaim her heritage. Yep, I'm reaching here!

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Thia Megia: ''Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band''

American Idol | She already dresses like their long-lost, possibly homeless member.

She already dresses like their long-lost, possibly homeless member.

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Naima Adedapo: ''A Hard Day's Night''

American Idol | According to Fox's promo, Casey Abrams and Chris Medina sing this Wednesday night, but the hard-labor theme would not be lost on the modelesque Nigerian…

According to Fox's promo, Casey Abrams and Chris Medina sing this Wednesday night, but the hard-labor theme would not be lost on the modelesque Nigerian who works long hours doing grounds cleanup.

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Chris Medina: ''Here, There and Everywhere''

American Idol | ''While My Guitar Gently Weeps'' and ''Julia'' are too obvious, while ''Cry Baby Cry'' is too directive to viewers. Best to go with ''Here, There…

''While My Guitar Gently Weeps'' and ''Julia'' are too obvious, while ''Cry Baby Cry'' is too directive to viewers. Best to go with ''Here, There and Everywhere,'' a sweet love song with the potential to seriously wreck all of us forever, should we happen to pay attention to how the lyrics take on new meaning for a man who acts as caregiver to his brain-damaged fiancée, Juliana. Read 'em and weep. (I know, I know, I'm as bad as the producers.)

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Paul McDonald: ''Nowhere Man''

American Idol | Self-explanatory. More screen time for this dreamboat dreamy yellow submarine, please.

Self-explanatory. More screen time for this dreamboat dreamy yellow submarine, please.

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    1 of 20 Brett Loewenstern: ''The Fool on the Hill''
    2 of 20 Lauren Alaina: ''Ticket to Ride''
    3 of 20 Scotty McCreery: ''Help''
    4 of 20 Casey Abrams: ''Blackbird''/''Piggies''
    5 of 20 Jacob Lusk: ''I Am the Walrus''
    6 of 20 Ashley Sullivan: ''Maxwell's Silver Hammer''
    7 of 20 Robbie Rosen: ''Because''
    8 of 20 Molly DeWolf Swenson: ''Taxman''
    9 of 20 John Wayne Schulz: ''I Want to Hold Your Hand''
    10 of 20 James Durbin: ''Fixing a Hole''
    11 of 20 Ashton Jones: ''She Came In Through the Bathroom Window''
    12 of 20 Clint Jun Gamboa: ''Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds''
    13 of 20 Jacee Badeaux: ''Mean Mr. Mustard''
    14 of 20 Carson Higgins: ''Revolution No. 9''
    15 of 20 Haley Reinhart: ''I Want You (She's So Heavy)''
    16 of 20 Hollie Cavanaugh: ''Penny Lane''
    17 of 20 Thia Megia: ''Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band''
    18 of 20 Naima Adedapo: ''A Hard Day's Night''
    19 of 20 Chris Medina: ''Here, There and Everywhere''
    20 of 20 Paul McDonald: ''Nowhere Man''

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