The Child Weeps: Top 11 Performance Recap

It's the Top 11 -- can you feel the excitement?

(Click on any contestant's name to read a more detailed commentary on their performance.)

As Seacrest introduces the contestants at the top of the show, it becomes abundantly clear that the stylists have gotten ahold of them. For some, this seems like a good thing (Haley's short-shorts are adorable and Gina's new rocker bob is great), while for others it's a less positive transition (not lovin' Lakisha's do).

As always, the show begins with awkwardly unfunny banter between Seacrest and the judges. This week's theme is British Invasion, and we learn in a clip that the Beatles were really popular. Really? I had no idea. So will we be hearing any Beatles songs tonight? Oh yeah, they couldn't get the rights. Darn. So Lulu and Peter Noone are not Paul McCartney...at least we've got Sir Paul's ex-wife dancing up a storm over on Dancing with the Stars. It's practically the same thing.

Actually, as it turns out, Lulu and Peter turn out to be very entertaining coaches and offer constructively helpul tips to the contestants. So, props to Lulu and Peter.

And they must have brought some musical fairy dust with them from England, because almost all of the contestants (with a few notable exceptions) really stepped up their games this week. Haley Scarnato, clad in very short-shorts that showed off her almost impossibly shapely legs, got the party started with "Tell Him", and though she wasn't particularly memorable, she was leaps and bounds better than her Top 12 performance. Chris Richardson, looking adorable as always, also showed off an improved vocal by singing an acoustic version of "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying." I enjoyed the performance, but I wish he had attacked the song a bit more aggressively, as I found him, once again, a bit tentative. If he doesn't step it up a notch I'm afraid he's going to have to settle for a 5th or 6th place finish.

Stephanie Edwards ("You Don't Have to Say You Love Me") and Gina Glocksen ("Paint it Black") took a step back for me this week, though. Stephanie did nothing to endear herself to the audience, Gina seemed totally transparent in her attempt to rock out, and neither sounded particularly good. Not a stellar night for either girl.

Chris Sligh did better than last week, but he walked through the audience, which I hate, I hate, I hate! He sounded good enough on "She's Not There," but I didn't find myself enraptured by the performance. (And I actually see what Paula was saying about engaging the audience -- it seemed like he wasn't even aware that they were there). Still, though, I'd say he was the 5th best of the night.

LaKisha Jones, clad in a million dollars worth of diamonds to sing "Diamonds are Forever," sounded great per usual, but felt a bit vacant to me in a way she didn't last week during her breathtaking "God Bless the Child." Phil Stacey chose a better song than he has in week's past in "Tobacco Road," but he fumbled around the stage awkwardly and didn't really hit his vocal stride until toward the end. Both were a bit disappointing.

My top three of the week are definitely Melinda, Jordin, and Blake. Melinda Doolittle was sensational singing "As Long as He Needs Me," bringing emotional heft and her considerable vocal talents to the could-be-boring song, while Jordin Sparks amped up the drama for a magnificent "I Who Have Nothing." Jordin was a real revelation tonight...I didn't know she had that in her.Blake Lewis, meanwhile, won my heart by finding the perfect way of merging his beat-box and vocal skills on a sexy and well-sung version of "Time of the Season." And he's the best dancer that's ever been on the show, hands down.

Which brings us to Sanjaya and the real star of tonight's show, the weeping child in the audience. What is there really to say about Sanjaya's performance of "You Really Got Me" tonight? It was so unexpected, it was so strangely competent, it was so bizarrely rocking (and I use that word loosely...or do I?) -- I still don't know what to make of it. Wow. Wow. Wow.

But that girl! That girl! In what has to be the best visual image on American Idol since Clay doppleganger Michael Sandecki joined his Idol on stage in last year's finale, the sight of this girl wailing in the audience as Sanjaya sang right in her face was almost too much to handle. First the hunger strike, now this. It almost makes you hope he sticks around another week just to see what will happen next.

I said "almost."

So who's going home? Check back around 1PM for my final predictions, but right now I'm guessing some combination of Haley, Stephanie, Gina, and Sanjaya will be packing their bags tomorrow.

My rankings:
(Click on a contestant's name for more detailed commentary on their performance)
1. Melinda Doolittle
2. Jordin Sparks
3. Blake Lewis
4. LaKisha Jones
5. Chris Sligh
6. Chris Richardson
7. Haley Scarnato
8. Phil Stacey
9. Gina Glocksen
10. Stephanie Edwards
11. Sanjaya Malakar