And then there were eight...

Melinda was up first, I hope that's not a bad sign, I'd hate to see her hit with the "First Up" curse that has plagued others in the past. Melinda picked Sway and Jennifer wanted her to bring out her sexy side in the song. But Melinda, I think, knows her limitations and chose to tweak the request, putting in a classy, but sultry look that was just the right recipe for her song's delivery. Randy thought it another solid performance. I don't recall what Paula thought...her opinions seemed rather muted this evening. Oh-no! Simon finally called one of Melinda's performances "cabaret" and unmemorable....I didn't think so, but I'm a fan. Melinda zinged Simon nicely-and showed how nice she truly is, saying she was happy for Simon that he finally got a chance to say something bad--even though it was at her expense. We'll see if he got that nasty negativity out of his system.

Well, this week was front-loaded with the big talent; Kiki was next with Conga. J.Lo told her to feel the rhythm and, well, let's be nice here (nicer than Simon who said she couldn't dance!) I think she did a serviceable job,--especially for a large boned woman in heels. More to the point, musically (and it's about the music, as Simon loves to point out), she handled a song that demands crisp, clear enunciation pretty well. But, tonight, we saw a clear demonstration of why Melinda will win and LaKisha won't. Not that she wasn't "hot", Dog. I agreed with Paula that it was a safe performance-she never really let go. But should she leave because of it....are you kidding?!?

Chris chose Smooth-a song I really love. Jen pushed him into a higher range....which had clearly been his forte up until now, but I've wanted to bring this kid down an octave all along to see if he's got the chops....well, I didn't have to worry, he didn't go high enough. It was still, frankly, too low for him-he struggled to keep the tune because he struggled to hit the low notes. An Idol can't be limited to one range and that's why Chris just won't be there in the end. Rob Thomas shouldn't worry about loosing his day job. Randy found it very cool, while Paula said very hot (and yet, I think they agreed). Simon preferred it to Melinda and Kiki, which he felt were both cabaret-I disagreed, across the table-is the sound different in the front row??

Haley tried to Turn the Beat Around. Mentor du jour Lopez instructed her to give each word a "bite"-which I'm thinking is Jen's way of saying staccato. She even called in Blake to beef up the rhythm, though I imagine the piano player (secretly) found that unnecessary. Haley, and her legs, strutted onto stage, accompanied by a little attitude. She even tackled the steps and that cute little catastrophe-waiting-to-happen stage behind the judges with stilettos. I can't help holding my breath every time a contestant in heels hits the stairs. (Let's hope that's not Sanjaya's next big idea!) Okay, about the song. Lots of energy, yes, but I'm trying to put my finger on it...what's the word I'm looking for...cabaret? No, silly, it was karaoke, at least according to Randy. I don't remember what Paula said. Was she there? I forget. Anyway, Simon pointed out the obvious-less clothes equals better scores (at least in the early rounds) so she's pulling in the votes with her legs, just like Sanjaya does with his hair.

Phil, Phil. After a couple disappointing weeks he chose wisely with Maria, Maria-you've got to love a night that draws heavily on Carlos Santana and Gloria Estafan. My hopes ran high during Phil's practice session. He gave Jennifer goose-bumps...was his wife watching?? (Just kidding, Phil) It's a hat week-yeah! I liked the song choice, it had a vibe that worked well for Phil, though I think there's something to Randy's observation that he was a bit short on the emotional connection, still, I gotta disagree with Simon, who thought it was flat and lifeless. I liked the song choice, and Phil worked a vibe that's his kind of groovin'. (Sorry, channeled the '70's there for a minute...that's another night.) I found his performance subtle, understated and low key, like a fine wine set out to breathe on a balmy Spanish night (well, you know), which takes me back to the Phil I liked in the early rounds.

Jordin, in her youthful enthusiasm, picked Rhythm is Going To Get You. I was worried. What could she do that wouldn't be copying Gloria? How could she make it her own? This kid, what can I say; I need to stop thinking of her as teenager and remember she can sing. Jordin put her own personality into it; I could envision her playing with her audience and having fun with a song like this in a concert. Jordin has been rising weekly in ability and I think tonight, at seventeen, she took over the number 2 spot. Paula (oh, she is here) found her "adorable". Watch out Melinda, you may have a fight on your hands--not challenging vocally, of course, but performance wins votes, too.

Blake, kind of surprisingly, picked I Need to Know, a song made, probably platinum, by J.Lo's hubby! That takes...guts. Jen was sweet and told him to get into the passion (without sharing any personal experience, naturally) and, I gotta say I was thinking it would be fun to see him tackle this. Obviously, there were lots of opportunity for his unique Blake-isms. Okay...so, listen, Dog, I thought it was serviceable. I know, I'm not going to get much agreement here, but what can I say? It worked well enough, and he did that voodoo that he do so well...or at least that we expect of him now on a weekly basis, but was it a ten? "Zzzzzz," oh, sorry, what?? Randy thought it was a hot choice, Paula saw Blake's essence (what's in her cup?!) and Simon called it the best of the night. Really now, I'm not anti-Blake, I'm on the record as having a growing affection for the kid, but honestly??

A little pre-commercial peek confirmed that Sanjaya still had his hair--it's a week by week thing! Though I'm thinking it might have been an inch shorter....upholding my prediction that if he actually won, he'd be bald by the time he took the title--what irony would there be in that?!

Sanjaya picked the wedding singer staple, Besame Mucho (Oh, God...) J. Lo thought Simon would be impressed.... Wait--is that facial hair?!? Is it drawn on?? OH MY GOD. And he's singing in Spanish. Little tweens are melting globally! Randy said he's one of the smartest contestants and called it REALLY good; Paula opted for a simple, low impact "very good". Simon...drum roll...couldn't understand a word of it, (it's a foreign language, Simon) and said he sang like a 14 year-old and it WASN'T BAD. Okay, first, I know he's had some 5 o'clock shadow on the upper lip before, but did no one notice the little goatee? Yet, I must confess, it wasn't half bad. Someone pass me Paula's cup!

I can not stop myself from asking this: is next week's guest mentor Lisa Minnelli? The theme could be Cabaret! (Sorry, I simply could not resist.) I'm afraid Phil will be sent home tomorrow night, but I'm hoping it's Haley's turn. I, like Simon, can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually don't want Sanjaya to go yet-did I say that? Am I nuts?? But really, it's getting to be a kick to see what he'll do next. And that's entertainment! (But is it American Idol?)