11 Finalists Perform. . .

Tuesday's show featured "chart-topping hits"; the contestants got to choose any song from the Hot 100 Billboard. This week's mentor was Miley Cyrus. Somehow I thought a mentor should be someone who's been around a while, had some real life experience, oh, I don't know, older than 17. I was wrong. Mentor = made a lot of money to this show.

Lee started out the show singing "The Letter" by the Box Tops. I thought it was a solid performance. He changed it up just enough to make it interesting. He really looked and sounded like a younger, slicker, cuter Joe Cocker.

Paige was up next with "Against All Odds" by Phil Collins. This is one of my all-time favorite songs, and she killed it, but not in a good way. Miley had warned her about being pitchy, and Paige took it to heart, but didn't do anything BUT sing offkey for the entire performance. It was just awful.

Tim's choice was "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen. This song always reminds me of the audition in the beginning of "Back to the Future". I wish someone had cut Tim off short like they did Michael J. Fox's character in the movie. Tim has a really good voice, but you can't learn charisma and Tim doesn't have it.

Aaron sang "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith. Considering he's suffering from tonsilitis and laryngitis, it was fabulous.

Crystal was next, singing "Me and Bobby McGee" by Janis Joplin. I've already said that Crystal is a kinger, gentler, hipper Janis and she proved it tonight. It was an excellent song choice for her. This girl is crazy talented, but also wary, and it shows in her stage presence. It's almost as if she's been really, really hurt and doesn't trust opening up to people anymore. She could be scared of what the future will bring if she makes it big. Who knows?

Mike sang "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge. I was really looking forward to hearing him, based on the clip with Miley, and he was technically great, but I was expecting way more feeling and to be much more engaged than I was watching him.

Andrew's choice was "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye. I've loved Andrew since his first performance, but this was absolutely NOT the song for him.

Katy chose to listen to the judges and try something "young", Fergie's "Big Girls Don't Cry". Katy is usually technically perfect, though emotionally bland, but she was pitchy almost all the way through her song. Katy has a beautiful voice, but she always reminds me of Josh Groban singing pop.

Casey picked "The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News. His vocals were the best I've heard from him and he's really a talented guitarist.

Didi's song was "You're No Good" by Linda Ronstadt. Although it was reminiscent of something out of a musical production, I thought it was her strongest performance this season. I still wish she'd chosen a different song.

Siobhan closed out the show with Stevie Wonder's "Superstition". I didn't get her outfit at all, but she gave a good solid performance.

My prediction for the bottom three is: Paige, Andrew and Didi, and I predict Paige will go home.