Top 8 Performances: Blake Lewis

I was sure Blake was going to beatbox his way through Latin week, but he left those skills behind to show off some other skills -- a strong, confident, and soulful voice. This was indisputedly Blake's strongest vocal performance of the season, as well as the strongest vocal of the night, and he did it without having to rely on a gimmick. Nice work, Blake!

Blake's sexiness is so effortless, from the lilting tone of his voice to his subtle hip-shaking and come-hither looks, that he makes former Idol sex symbols like Ace Young and Constantine Maroulis look like total poseurs. If he wasn't a frontrunner in this competition before, he certainly is now.

That hat, though -- not so cute. Let us see your spikes!

GRADE: A


1. Blake Lewis
2. Chris Richardson
3. Jordin Sparks
4. Phil
5. LaKisha Jones
6. Melinda Doolittle
7. Sanjaya Malakar
8. Haley