American Idol Season 10's James Durbin Performs “Don’t Stop Believing” on the Top 4 Show

James Durbin – the Rocker to beat on American Idol Season 10 - performed the classic Rock anthem “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey on the Top 4 Show. Tonight's first theme was "Songs that Inspire", and James choose this well-known Journey song because "never for one moment have I stopped believing."

James begins "Don't Stop Believing" seated on the steps, and like always, immediately draws the audience to him. "C’mon Randy I know you know the words!" shouts James. (In a small bit of unnecessary pandering. Randy Jackson, a bassist, was a session musician for the Rock group Journey from 1986 to 1987. Jackson played on Journey's 1986 album Raised on Radio.) This was a very solid, if unemotional, performance by James. He never goes anywhere near the top of his range, which is odd, considering Journey's Steve Perry sings much of the song in his sweet, high register, showing such amazing longing in his voice.

 Steven Tyler raved, "A little indication of what’s to come. You did it right. You couldn’t have picked a more popular song right now. (Big long bleep) Nice going." Jennifer Lopez praised James, "It's so great to listen to you, and hear you go into your upper register. Randy and I always wait for the bravado at the end, if you're gonna pull it out, and you do. It’s amazing. Everybody can’t do that. It was a really, really great job. Great song, great job, great performance."

 Randy added, "You're payin' such homage to my friends. Other than Aerosmith, one of the greatest rock bands ever, Journey. Also one of the greatest singers ever, other than Mr. Steven Tyler, in the Rock world, Steve Perry. I'm glad that you're giving him props; you're wearing the tails that Perry made famous (and an old Journey concert t-shirt!). Like they say in the Olympics, that was the highest degree of difficulty, and you did it."

Host Ryan Seacrest said, "The fight for the finale is heating up here!"