AI: R&B

Last nights show was by far the best of the three so far. This week we saw some favorites tank and some underdogs step it up. I hope that voters take into consideration past performances, as I do, into consideration when dialing those numbers!

Below is my review in no particular order:

1. Michael Lynche: song - Ready for Love
This was by far my favorite performance by him in all of the weeks that I have watched him. Really solid and I love him with the guitar.

2. Didi Benami: song - What Becomes of the Broken Hearted
It's so hard when your favorite contestant lets you down, but that was one of her worst performances. I LOVE her and her voice but that was a very, very bad song choice, which did nothing to showcase her true talent. For a change I actually agreed with Kara, she seems to be stepping away from what makes her great and a stand out from all the other contestants. Hopefully she'll listen to the judges and go back to her guitar and just sing. She's been good enough all along that I don't think this will hurt her, but it might if she continues to be something she is not.

3. Casey James: song - Hold On, I'm Comin'
On a performance level, I thought it was really cool to watch. It was fun and energetic and probably his best vocal so far. Having said that, I am still not on the Casey bandwagon. I was nodding my head with Ellen, when she said it was generic doing the same thing week to week.

4. Andrew Garcia: song - Forever
I LOVED this performance! It was my second favorite of the night! I am so happy he was given a couple more weeks to get there, because he did last night and a very big way!! I hope that people continue to give him chances and he doesn't blow it if he's around next week! I think he will be!

5. Katie Stevens: song - Chain of Fools
This was definitely her best vocal, but I found the whole performance awkward for her. With the exception of last week she and her outfits she's very old fashioned. She wasn't the worst of the night but it wasn't one of my favorites.

6. Tim Urban: song - Sweet Love
This poor kid. I am starting to feel really bad for him. Ellen is right to call him adorable because he's got that "super nice guy" smile, but his voice doesn't hold water when you compare him to the other contestants. On a positive note, it was WAY better than last week.

7. Sibohan Magnus: song - Through the Fire
It hurts me to type this but, this was probably the worst performance of the night. I agree with the judges that even great contestants have bad nights. I was shocked because she is usually quite in tune and the verses were all over the place. It was a terrible song choice and while I don't think she has to worry, she is going to want rethink things and try and get back to what she did when she sang Paint it Black in week one.

8. Lee DeWyze: song - Treat Her Like A Lady
BEST PERFORMANCE OF THE NIGHT! Can I get a HELL YA?! Finally he proved to himself and the judges that he too can have a moment. He has, in my opinion, the best vocals in the competition. What he lacked was the confidence of some of the other front runners! I was so pumped for him after that performance and I hope he remembers exactly what he did right and continue to doing it!!

9. Aaron Kelly: song - Ain't No Sunshine
This poor kid has what I now refer to as the Kris Allen Effect (last years winner). I couldn't ever watch him preform because he made funny faces and just rubbed me the wrong way. I get the same feeling with this kid (minus the porn stache of course!). This was probably his best vocal but I still don't get it. When compared to Lee, Mike and Casey who are all musicians this kid is just a nice boy who can sing nice songs.

10. Crystal Bowersox: song - Midnight Train to Georgia
I rank this my third favorite of the night. I liked that she mixed it up with the Piano. I agree with Simon that she doesn't really need to change because frankly she really is the only one who KNOWS who she is. However, I also don't want to see her week after week doing the same thing, so I was glad to see her change it up. I didn't even mind the back up vocalists.

My predictions for tonights bottom three:
1. Tim
2. Katie
3. Siobhan (strictly based on last night and I wouldn't count out Didi)

Contestant most likely to sing their Swan Song and be sent packing:
Tim...this poor kid is by far the weakest link left now.