American Idol's James Durbin Burns Down the House with "Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting" on Top 11 Revived

James Durbin, American Idol Season 10's Rock-God-in-Training, literally burned up the Idol stage with his rendition of "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting". Idol contestants took on the classic songs by the legendary Sir Elton John in this week's 'Top 11 Revived' Show.

James choose the up-tempo, Rock-n-Roll classic "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting", saying, "This is the one I wanna come through the crowd, and I wanna get everyone on their feet, and I want this to be that big arena Rock moment." This song is one of Elton John's harder-rocking songs (similar to "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" and "The Bitch Is Back"), with a sound echoing bands such as The Who and The Rolling Stones (The Who later covered it in 1991). The song is a complete departure from his past renown as a mellow singer/songwriter. "Saturday Night's Alright" was one of the few Elton John-Bernie Taupin songs that Elton said wasn't a "typical piano number." When the song was released in 1973, it was banned on many radio stations fearing that the title would incite violence.

James struts through the audience and down the stairs like a seasoned Rock-n-Roll showman. He exhibits rock steady vocals, and that boy can hold a note! Two PERFECT, extended wails at the end of the song proved to the world what a power-house James is. The piano goes up in flames as James worships it, although I thought the KISS-like pyrotechnics should have started the moment he leapt off the piano. The audience and judges loved James' very professional performance. This was a concert ~ James Durbin LIVE ~ not another Wednesday night American Idol show! Steven Tyler raved, "James, you brought the heat, didn’t you? You got a really good rock voice. And you go were no man can go. Just don’t wear out your welcome. Don’t be up there too long, or you'll wind up like me. That was beautiful, that was a good thing."

Jennifer Lopez added, "When you're up there, I forget that it's a competition show. I feel like you really encompass the whole audience. It was really a full performance of a great song by a great artist. Randy Jackson asked, "You know what's amazing, Man? What I also loved about it...You enjoy yourself. I really felt like you were having a good time. Dude, that was a great, great, great performance."