Randy, Paula and Simon are always talking about song selection, and the right choice can make all the difference - just ask Syesha. With the help of some top songwriters (”Love Is A Battlefield,” “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”), we choose specific songs that will wow the judges. Some of the advice:

http://www.songfacts.com/writing/2008/04/american-idol-song-selection.html

Make It Your Own - you probably don’t know who sang “I Can Dream About You,” which makes it a perfect choice.

Futz With The Arrangement - It worked for David Cook with “Billie Jean,” and it can work for lots of other songs, including “Torn” and “Bizarre Love Triangle.”

Avoid The Overdone - “Unchained Melody” has run its course.

Does a great Karaoke song translate to Idol? Not according to the folks who do it for a living. Kimberly Starling of The Karaoke Informer explains: “The typical good karaoke songs tend to lack the uniqueness needed for an Idol contestant to stand out.” Her list of songs that work in Karaoke but would bomb on Idol include “Friends In Low Places,” “Santeria,” and a surprising choice by The Ramones that works every time.

http://www.songfacts.com