5 Potential Theme Nights That Would Suit Every Remaining American Idol Contestant

3. "Wild Card" Night

The best way to make the idols reach out of their comfort zone is to... ask them to reach out of their comfort zone. On "Wild Card" night, everyone would select a purposely ill-fitting genre of music and make it work with his/her personal style. The triumphs would titillate and the disasters would be even better.

Crystal: "Everything is Everything" by Lauryn Hill

Lee: "What's Love Got to Do With It" by Tina Turner

Siobhan: "Shoop" by Salt-N-Pepa

Aaron: "Tell It to My Heart" by Taylor Dayne

Michael: "Don't Speak" by No Doubt

Casey: "Hand on Your Heart" by Kylie Minogue

4. "Your High School Prom" Week

Whether you attended prom or not, the dance anthems and ballads that played at prom said something about your class, your pop culture landscape, and the generational zeitgeist. In a twist on the usual "Year You Were Born" theme, this would acquaint us with songs the contestants associate with coming of age.

Crystal: "I'm With You" by Avril Lavigne (2003)

Lee: "The Reason" by Hoobastank (2004)

Siobhan: "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis (2008)

Aaron: "Fearless"* by Taylor Swift (2010, the future)

Michael: "Gone" by *NSYNC (2001)

Casey: "Beautiful Day" by U2 (2001)

• There would be a slight alteration to the "wear my best dress" line -- or least I'd think so.

5. Kara DioGuardi Night

Nay-say though you will, the undervalued panelist has written an epic batch of pop hits. "A Kara Concert Special" (!) would give the contestants a renewed sense of relevance and Kara a renewed esteem in the eyes of the voting public.

Crystal: "Sober" by Pink

Lee: "Terrified" by Katharine McPhee (and Didi Benami)

Siobhan: "Ain't No Other Man" by Christina Aguilera

Aaron: "Taking Chances" by Celine Dion

Michael: "Pieces of Me" by Ashlee Simpson

Casey: "Good Girls Go Bad" by Cobra Starship

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