This version of the song was by Isreal Kamakawiwo'ole. He was a really well liked/popular Hawiian singer. This is my all time fave version and so glad Jason picked it. Well done to him!

wow.. i loved this song!!! Congrats Jason!!

I love that version of the song. When I first heard that Jason was singing SOTR I was really worried because I had totally forgotten about this version but then when he started I knew it was perfect for him.

While I have a hard time admitting this, Jason's was actually my favorite performance... then Cookie, then Michael Johns.
I loved it. I actually have Iz's CD in my rotation a few times a month:)

He sang it beautifully! I really, really liked it! Can't wait to hear the studio version.. and actually buy one of his! lol.

Jason, David and Michael are the only contestants whose songs I ever buy. Jason's are always really good! I usually like them better than his live performances.

The only thing I didn't like about the sing is it jumped around, skipped verses and stuff like that. But the studio version will probably correct this and be amazing.

It was very true to who Jason is. He didn't try to be anything he wasn't.

Unlike Michael Johns who, I'm sorry, was a David Cook clone for the night, Simon said this too...he was trying to be something he's not...I did like the song a lot though, it was my favorite.

Sorry, I have to disagree. I did not think it was anywhere up to par. I'm not saying Jason's bad, just that he doesn't belong where he is. His range is limited, and he sings too quietly as if he hasn't gotten over the shyness of performing for a large audience. Or he just can't project or inflect or any of that.

OMG! Jason was amazing. Made it even better that all 3 judges like it.

I was SO happy to finally hear him get good critiques from all three judges! I thought they were unnecessarily harsh on him the last two weeks. When Simon said "FANTASTIC!" my mom and I started clapping and screaming so much my cat got scared and ran out of the room. Haha.

When I heard Simon say that; I did the same thing. I agree, they were being really harsh on him; I don't think he has what it takes to be "the next American Idol" but he isn't as bad as what some believe he is.

Yeah, I agree.
I think Jason is just the kind of performer you either love, or you hate. And I can understand both sides. But I personally love him. Not as much as Cookie, of course, but still. Jason's rad. Plus he's an Aggie. LOL. My family has bread Aggie Pride into me even though I'm not one (yet?)

My cousin said that Jason Castro looks good with short hair.
Pretty eyes:))

I saw a picture of him somewhere with short hair, and he was really cute! I normally hate dreadlocks because they're disgusting, but his are kind of growing on me.
And his eyes are freaking ridiculous. They're so freaking BLUE!

For some reason iTunes isn't letting me buy the studio version. Boo! It says, "this product is not available in the US store." Anybody else have that problem? It saddens me...

I had a problem too. I had pre-ordered David's, Jason's, & Michael's performances and I got my e-mail conformations that the songs were available. So when I clicked on the link and it said it was no longer available, I went straight to my account to manage my pre-orders and they said they weren't available yet. Well, I had to end up doing this about 5 times before it decided to work. Once i went directly to David's page and downloaded his, my other 2 pre-orders went through. You basically have to play with iTunes for a little bit to get it to work right. Jason definitely did an awesome job and I'm glad the judges finally recognized that.

I had problems getting my pre-orders too. More so with Jason's song than David's or Michael's.

I just listened to the Somewhere Over The Rainbow studio version for the first time and I LOVE it! Beautiful.

Ok I just tried for the first time since last night and it finally let me buy it!!

I absolutely loved it. It's like a lullaby, in a good way. It's the first song I've ever downloaded from an AI contestant besides David.

You know, when i heard he was doing it, i was like "No!!!" That version didn't even occur to me, and i'm so glad that he did it. Excellent job

Yeah, I didn't think about that version either. It was perfect for him!

Am I crazy, or was that song in a car commercial or something a couple of years ago? I remember hearing it on TV a lot and liking it, and I feel vaguely certain that it had something to do with Hondas or something.

I think Jason did a better job then Kat McPhee did.


No, I am not only saying that because I am a Jason fan.

You can't compare Kat's to Jason's... Totally different arrangements. Both are equally as fascinating but for different reasons.

Bith singers are also equally pretty to wathc too. Hehehe.

I don't know about car commercials but I know that song is played at the end of "50 First Dates" (I love that movie).