Everybody's an old soul as classic songs yield winning performances

It's a weird group of finalists on "Idol" this season -- Just weeks ago, the singers butchered an assortment of contemporary hits, but on Tuesday (April 18), the standards found in the American songbook highlight some talented performers.

Singer: CHRIS DAUGHTRY
Song: "What a Wonderful World"
My Take: Chris' dead-eyed intensity makes this into the most threatening version of "What a Wonderful World" I've ever seen, as if he's just daring the universe to fall anywhere short of wonderful. When I'm looking away from the television, it's easy to appreciate the respect he's dedicating to the tune. His onstage contributions, though, amount to wandering over to the guest guitarist, swaying in time for a few measures and then making his way back to the middle of the stage. They should have hired a Korean animation workshop to insert little colorful woodland creatures to sit on Chris' shoulder and hum along. It's always valuable to hear the voice behind the mascara.
Bewitched, Simon and Bewildered Say: Randy proclaims that Chris' display of his sensitive side was da bomb. So Paula went on Jay Leno last week and did a parody of her current persona, which implies that her current persona wasn't already some form of parody. Tonight, she seems like she's doing a parody of her parody of her parody. Somewhere lost in that sea of post-modern brainlessness is a compliment for Chris. Simon takes credit for Chris' decision to mix it up and calls it a great performance.

Singer: PARIS BENNETT
Song: "Foolish Things"
My Take: Unless a "Jazz Vocals" night is coming soon, Paris couldn't have asked for a cushier theme, but it's only a solid showing. On a technical level, she's often outrageously good. There's a tone and variety to her voice that is without parallel in this competition. I'm struck by how obviously she looks like she's trying to enunciate, and yet the lyrics sometimes come across as mumbled and vague, not nearly as precise and articulated as the individual runs and melodic embellishments. Performance-wise, the fluttered eye-lashes, minor hand gestures and pleading eyes don't add much. Wouldn't this have been a great chance for her to do "I Love Paris (In the Springtime)"?
Bewitched, Simon and Bewildered Say: Randy thought it was her greatest night ever and drops his second "da bomb" of the evening. Paula's falling out of her top. Somebody should put a Coke bottle in front of her. Simon is bewildered, but in the best way possible.

Singer: TAYLOR HICKS
Song: "You Send Me"
My Take: The Soul Patrol may lynch me for raising this issue, but did Taylor peak over a month ago? He's coasting on being likeable and charming, but he hasn't shown improvement in either his vocals or his stagecraft. That being said, this was another perfectly amiable Taylor performance. It sent me to my iPod in the commercial break to listen to the Sam Cooke original, which actually made me feel even better about Taylor's rendition, because the guy seems to get the meaning of the song, the rapture and the playfulness. Plus, have I mentioned lately that Taylor once dressed up as the Easter Bunny?
Bewitched, Simon and Bewildered Say: Randy's pleased and somehow takes credit for Taylor. Paula's sure the Soul Patrol will be enthusiastic. "It started and I thought 'OK, lame cabaret' and then ... magic," is Simon's comment.

Singer: ELLIOTT YAMIN
Song: "It Had To Be You"
My Take: Really, this week should be about separating the "Idol" wheat (that's Chris, Taylor, Paris, Katharine and Elliott) apart from the remaining "Idol" chaff (that'd be Ace and Kellie). Elliott, coated with inches of pancake makeup (at least he looks well-rested), is perfectly in his element here. His voice is comfortable and smooth and warm, but it bears repeating that whenever the director moves in for a close-up of Elliott with a big smile, it's still creepy. There's too much Big Bad Wolf to his aesthetic to pull off the lounge lizard act completely. I can imagine sitting in a smoky bar drinking whiskey and listening to him, but what kind of 12-year-old girls will be able to imagine that? And even if they can, should they?
Bewitched, Simon and Bewildered Say: Randy likes the song choice and the relaxed performance. He doesn't call Elliott da bomb. Paula rambles and rambles and rambles. Simon calls it a good vocal, but wanted more personality.

Singer: KELLIE PICKLER
Song: "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered"
My Take: As often as we've seen Kellie bothered and bewildered this season, you'd think she'd get into the spirit of the song. Here's the problem: The song is about how even a smart and sensible person can lose their head when they're in love. With her chirpy drawl, Kellie just sings it like she's Forrest Gump. She's not bewitched, bothered or bewildered. She's just placid and vapid. She pushes the notes, slamming home the end of every line with a shriek, instead of accentuating the lyrics and in several places both the melody and the pacing are foreign to her. In short, she's brutal.
Bewitched, Simon and Bewildered Say: Randy, so enthusiastic previously, calls it pitchy and tough. Paula just says Kellie looks cute. She does. So what? Kellie knows how bad she was and says, "When all else fails, you'd better have great shoes, right?" Simon says she could have just done "bewildered."

Singer: ACE YOUNG
Song: "That's All"
My Take: Why does everything have to be so cutesy with Ace? The funny thing is that this is absolutely the best I think he's ever sounded. Even if, like Kellie, he pushes the last word of every verse, Ace doesn't embarrass himself with the vocals, beyond his general inability to make the notes come from anywhere but his nose. The regret is that he mugs to the crowd like he's playing to a party of spoiled teenage girls on MTV's "My Super Sweet 16" which may just be where he winds up next year. With every word he sings, he's waiting for a squeal of approval.
Bewitched, Simon and Bewildered Say: Randy liked Ace's vibe and again raves about his overrated falsetto. It's a magical night for Paula. "It wasn't bad," Simon admits.

Singer: KATHARINE MCPHEE
Song: "Someone to Watch Over Me"
My Take: Kudos to the cameraman who keeps Katharine in tight close-up for most of the number, because she certainly isn't doing much more than sitting and flirting with the viewers at home. That's her bread-and-butter and this genre is an easy one for her. Yes, she oversings in places and yes, she's not quite as good with the highest notes. The contrast between Katharine and Kellie, just minutes apart on this show, is so clear, exposing the idiocy of Paula's statement that the camera loves Kellie. No. Kellie looks good on camera, because she's a decent-looking girl, but it's accidental. The camera truly loves Katharine and she's got just about enough talent to back it up.
Bewitched, Simon and Bewildered Say: Randy loved it. Paula's in love with Katharine. Simon says Katharine made the others look like "good amateurs" and compares her to "a returning pro."

TONIGHT'S BEST: Katharine was, indeed, the best, but the five "Idol" favorites all did good work. Even Ace wasn't as bad as he's been in recent weeks.
IN DANGER: If anybody who isn't Ace or Kellie goes home tomorrow, it's a big miss. Purely on the basis of tonight's performance, it should be Kellie leaving, but Ace has been in trouble before.