Ryan is all dramatic about the girls. And this… is American Idol.

Ellen’s sitting on Simon’s lap, whispering sweet nothings or kissing him or something.

Simon says this is the worst night to go, because you’re so close to the top 12 and then you fail.

01 Katie Stevens is doing Kelly’s “Breakaway.” Wow, she’s pitchy early in the song. And less early. Ok, she’s pitchy for most of the song. No intro videos, by the way. The song’s really short, I expect they all will be, and her voice was shaky at times and pitchy at others. This is the worst she’s been, actually. RANDY: A’ight, yo. First one out the box tonight. Kelly Clarkson’s one of the greatest artists we’ve ever had, and that’s one of my favorite songs ever written. SARAHK: Mine too. RANDY: And it was karaoke. It just didn’t work for me. I didn’t get it. ELLEN: First of all, I like that you took a young song. That was a great song choice. I didn’t feel those words. I didn’t feel you breaking away. It’s a singing competition, but let’s see some personality. KARA: You have a great radio voice. SPIKE: And face. A great radio face. SARAHK: She’s pretty. And she’s 17, give her a freakin’ break. SPIKE: Hello… Evil? KARA: Blah blah blah. SIMON: I think this has been very confusing for you, because you’ve had an awful lot of advice. You’ve taken that advice. I think your issue is you haven’t decided what kind of artist you want to be. The problem was that the 2nd half of the song didn’t go as it should have done, and you kind of sucked… all the energy out of it. But I give you a 10 out of 10 for effort.

02 Siobhan Magnus is singing “House of the Rising Sun” as a special surprise for her dad, because she grew up listening to her dad sing it on the piano. That’s sweet. She’s starting it out a capella and very pretty. And when the musicians come in, it gets even better. Ok, that was fantastic, definitely voting for her. RANDY: You know I’m already a fan. Every week you surprise us. That was different, started out on a somber note. We give you a lot of advice, and you don’t listen. Keep doing that, because it’s working, it’s hot. ELLEN: I’m from New Orleans, I know that house. You are why I love music. Because it’s supposed to move you. I was captivated, I love what you did with the song, you made it current, and you’re spectacular. KARA: I loved the a capella vibe at the front. And the thing about you is you are so unique and different, week to week I’m surprised by you. SIMON: I wasn’t quite such a fan of that. I thought it was all a bit weird. If this was the first time I’d seen you, I would have real doubts. You didn’t do anything different. I was underimpressed. There was no moments in that. It was all a bit plodding, a bit boring, a bit dark. SARAHK: We’re on yet another break.

03 Lacey Brown is doing Brandy Carlile’s “The Story.” I’m not a fan of the animal print outfit. But I’m loving her voice, except when she does the weird twang thing. Her range is good, and I love the end. Well done. RANDY: To me, the song was definitely a little boring, a little sleepy. But it’s the best performance from you in a long time. It was very cool, man. ELLEN: It was your best performance to date. Perfect song choice, and you have such a distinctive voice. I thought it was really good. KAHRA: Performances like this are why you got here. Effortless singing, reaching different places in your register. It was a brilliant choice, and you’re back on your path. SIMON: I didn’t love love the song, but you sang it really, really well. That, to me, was like listening to something on the radio. And where you’re very good is that you know where the cameras are, how to look. It feels like you’ve been doing this a long time. I still, for me, haven’t heard the right song connection yet. Because this is in danger of being forgotten. But good.

04 Katelyn Epperly is singing “I Feel the Earth Move.” She’s at the keyboard. She’s totally boring and forgettable. She’s singing it well, no vocal issues, and her tone is great, but it’s a total snoozer. Last week was the first time I actually *got* why she’s in the top 24. Tonight, I am not feeling her at all. I kind of nothing this performance. RANDY: I like that you did the whole Carole King hair, you’re playing the Wurlitzer, that’s kinda cool. It’s a great song. I just didn’t feel the right connection, the vibe. There was nothing special about it. You sang it fine, it was all a little sleepy, a little boring. I don’t know. ELLEN: Is that a guitar? It’s like Simon said, we’re getting down to the top 12. I don’t know that that was the song to choose to wow people with. You have a great voice, great look, you’re adorable, and you have everything going for you. I don’t know that that’s the kind of thing that’s gonna make people call in and vote for you. It just wasn’t enough. KARA: I didn’t feel like you were competing tonight. I just felt like you were going through the motions. I don’t know what happened. Do *you* know what happened? KATELYN: I was just trying to be less corny. SARAHK: It’s Simon’s fault! SIMON: Let me start with the positive. I like your hair. On the downside, it was kind of like request night on a Friday night in a restaurant. Someone requests Carole King, you get up there, you sing it quite well, perform it quite well, but on what is arguably the most important night of your career, you chose quite a simple song, didn’t do anything special with it, and I think other people look as if they’re trying harder. So this may have been a mistake for you tonight.

05 Didi Benami is doing “Rhiannon” by Fleetwood Mac. Loved everything about it. Acoustic guitar, lovely tone, I loved the part where she took it higher near the end. Brilliant. RANDY: It was definitely a whole lot better than last week. I’m not sure there was a wow moment in it. I don’t know if it’s the best you can do, but it was definitely a lot better. ELLEN: Didi, to that, I say yes indeedy, Didi. What I love is that you were torn apart last week, and then you get up here, and you’re smiling and you’re singing. And I thought that was a lovely performance, I like what you did with it. Even if you win this competition, you’re always gonna be torn apart by someone, and you still have to get up and sing again. KAHRA: One of my favorite moments of the show so far this season. [And then she ruins her nice, succinct comment by going on and on. I miss Pauler.] SIMON: Didi. I have to agree with Kahra. I thought that was head and shoulders above anything else we’ve heard tonight. I thought for the first time since these live shows, you’ve shown that you’re an artist. I disagree with Randy, I think she did have a wow moment, and the wow moment was the whole performance. Brilliant choice of song. And like Ellen said, to come back after getting mauled last week, well done.

06 Paige Miles is doing a lovely old standard called “Smile.” Didn’t know Charlie Chaplin wrote it. Well sung, very boring. She might go home. RANDY: That’s one of my favorite songs of all time. It just didn’t work. The song’s way too big. The melody’s so important. And then it turned into a bossanova with the band. It just didn’t work at all. ELLEN: That song is supposed to be inspiring, uplifting, and it was just sad and heavy. And you have such a great personality, and we didn’t get to see it. And this is the time to shine, and I don’t think that was the right song for you to choose. KAHRA: What can I say? They’ve said it. SARAHK: I’m sure you’ll manage. KAHRA: Blah blah blah. Do you know it was the wrong song? SIMON: I’m just gonna repeat what everybody else said. It was a horrible choice of song. The arrangement, to be fair, was just awful. It was what you’d hear in the Holiday Inn in 1974. It’s what I call a peanut song, where everyone is just at the bar eating peanuts while you’re singing, and no one is paying attention. And it’s a shame, because you had so much potential, because you really have got a great voice. But you’ve got no idea what kind of artist you’re going to be. I think this may be the end of the road for you.

07 Crystal Bowersox is onstage with her electric guitar doing “Gimme One Reason” by Tracy Chapman. Loved everything about it. She’s just bee-rilliant. Girl’s probably gonna win the whole thing. RANDY: Listen listen listen man. This is what the show is about! Love that, love you, love the song. Love the honesty. I’m a fan. That was hot. ELLEN: I need new adjectives for you, because I’m sick and tired of calling you amazing. Best performance of the night. KAHRA: This is what we talk about when people know who they are. That’s a great song choice. It’s kind of what you would be doing on your record. SIMON: You are one million billion percent gonna be in the top 12 next week. Definitely the most improved artist, because what you’ve got now is confidence. And right now, you are the one everyone has to beat, I’m telling you. It’s yours to lose. SARAHK: Yep.

08 Lilly Scott is doing “I Fall to Pieces.” It’s gotta be hard to follow Crystal. She’s playing the mandolin, looks like. Or maybe a really teeny electric guitar? Nope, I hear the mandolin now. Whoa. I just now noticed she’s not wearing birds on her ears. More like big cloth bulbs or something. Singing this very well. Love the voice. Not spectacular, but definitely well done. RANDY: Yo, listen, love the mandolin, love that song, love the original singer of that song. You in the zone. Good job. SARAHK: They must be short on time, probably Kahra’s fault. ELLEN: Love your voice, originality, loved it. Love you. KAHRA: I don’t know how you did it, but you kinda made Patsy Cline feel current. I gotta give it to you for that. SIMON: I think you’re very brave choosing that song on a night like this. What it didn’t have, being in the last spot, that didn’t have the wow factor. It was cute, it was quirky, it plays into what you’re all about. That could have been a risky thing to do, funny enough. SARAHK: She’ll be safe.

I think it was a great night. There are only 3 I didn’t vote/try to vote/want to vote for (I usually try calling in too late). Here’s my order (* indicates a vote/wannavote):

07 Crystal*****
05 Didi*****
02 Siobhan***
08 Lilly*
03 Lacey*
01 Katie
04 Katelyn
06 Paige

Tomorrow night, the guys perform. I think Katelyn and Paige go home Thursday night.