Fishes Out Of Water On Idol

Updated Top eight brings us latin sounds with guest coach JLo trying to save her new (bombing) album.

When I can say Sanjaya performing "Bésame Mucho" was probably top 3--he got the show-closing "pimp spot"--you know the show had a bad night. Most of the performers sounded horribly uncomfortable in the genre.

Melinda's rendition of "Sway" reminded me of Ella Fitzgerald performing "Girl from Ipanema." Apparently Simon didn't like it. I haven't watched the show yet, only heard the performances. I have watched now and Simon thought she didn't look like she was having fun and seemed too old. I can agree but liked it.

The other "divas" seemed to have no idea what they were doing.

Lakisha butchered "Conga." It sounded to me like she wasn't "listen[ing] to the rhythm" as the lyric advises but fighting it, trying to make it R&B. Even Paula was unhappy so I'm curious how it'll play.

Jordin who I had good things to say about last week tried another Gloria Estefan hit "Rhythm is Gonna Get Ya" and she sounded amateurish at best. It was like she was trying to immitate Kelly Clarkson's first-season takes on Aretha songs. Unfortunately for Jordin this was Latin night. JLo praised the injection of soul/R&B stylings. Jordin looked better performing than it sounded which would puts her in a better position.

Batting 7th for the night, Blake actually seemed to get the theme in his performance of "I Need To Know" and although his vocal didn't sound perfect, overall it may have been the strongest performance of the night since he's usually very good on stage. We'll see how that goes. Simon said he was best of the night. I wasn't thrilled with the camera work. JLo actually called Blake in to help Haley by beat-boxing during her coaching session. I was flabbergasted.

There was a piano which and a piano like a drum is a percussion instrument. I wonder why that wouldn't be sufficient to provide the beat for Haley to practice singing with.

Speaking of her, Haley appears to be all about her legs again but she seemed to be trying to embrace the genre but didn't have the vocal prowess to do it. Unfortunately she took a swing at Gloria's hit "Turn the Beat Around." I see a pattern in tonight's failures for the girls: Gloria Estefan is a better singer than you might expect ladies. They didn't learn this lesson from past seasons. Tisk, tisk.

I don't know what to say about Chris and Phil. Chris was nasal, with too much R&B styling attempted on "Smooth"--JLo complimented it during the coaching. The judges were carrying Chris' water. They clearly want to keep him around awhile. Phil sucked a bit of life out of "Maria, Maria" but at least he was fairly in tune. I didn't like the R&B vocal flavoring. If Phil looked like Chris he'd be safe.

Who goes home? With so many clunkers, I don't know. I suspect Melinda, Blake and Sanjaya are safe for another week. Phil probably should be back based on his vocal performance but he isn't very popular.

I'll guess Chris, Phil, Haley are the bottom 3 and Phil goes home. I don't agree with JLo or the judges who liked the R&B bits tossed into the Latin songs. It sounded ridiculously out of place. From Simon's comments I'm a fuddy-duddy for liking Melinda but not Chris or Lakisha tonight. I disagree. Blake once again showed you could modernize without breaking the song. I still wish his voice was stronger than it is.