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Matt Giraud was saved by the belles.

Oh come on, you know it was those brunette belles at the judges table who were probably Matt's most vocal supporters. Ultimately, though, when the judges decided to use their special save option this season it had to be a unanimous vote.

So, Matt makes "Idol" history as the first contestant to get the judges' save. How wild was that on Wednesday? I did not think they would do it, especially after Simon's comments about how Matt probably doesn't have a chance at winning. But those wily judges went ahead and saved him anyway. Of course, Mr. Cowell did have to rain on the parade of joy a little when he said that next week two people will be going home. Plus, it will be disco week, which sometimes proves to be a tough theme for finalists.

And, truth be told, Matt from Michigan may just find himself leaving that "Idol" stage next week when two have to go. Lil Rounds may join him, just like she did Wednesday as one of the lowest vote-getters. Anoop Desai rounded out the bottom three in the results show.

Let's get back to Matt, though. Was he save-worthy in your opinion? Overall, I am a Matt fan. Sometimes his song choices leave me puzzled, but I do think the piano man has pizazz. Unfortunately, I found his performance during Tuesday's "songs from the movies" show to be uneven. He chose "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman" and the beginning of the song was great but the last part was pitchy.

While I appreciate that the judges gave him another chance, I keep going back to how Simon said Matt doesn't really have a shot at winning. Simon is probably right. Still, with improvement, Matt could end up in the top five. Of course, that depends on how well he does with disco.

Lil is another person who needs to up her game next week because she could soon be saying adios. I think the disco theme could serve her well. That is, if she actually picks the right song for her vocals.

And speaking of disco, I am already pumped about that theme for next week. I am eager to see if the finalists will dazzle or disappoint me with their disco ditties.

OK, now I want to know your thoughts about Wednesday's show. Did you think Matt would be the one to earn the save or do you think the judges made a mistake? Also, do you think it's fair that the judges even have this option? So, please share your views on these "Idol" issues. An inquiring mind wants to know.

Matt Giraud. Photo by FOX

Movie night on "Idol" was more lackluster than a blockbuster.

Granted, it wasn't exactly the equivalent of a box-office bomb, but there certainly were not a lot of award-winning performances. It is a shame, really, because I do like the "music from the movies" theme, but some of the seven finalists seemed to struggle with finding a hit.

Before we delve into that, though, there are a few things that struck me about the overall show. I wasn't certain what kind of a mentor Quentin Tarantino would make, and I laughed a little when Ryan called the director a "legend." Successful with some films, yes. But a legend? Not quite. Of course, I should have disclosed first that I am not a Tarantino film fan. But I do appreciate that he is an "Idol" fan and I liked the excitement he brought during his mentoring sessions. Overall, he was fun.

Also, I found it interesting that each singer only got to hear comments from two judges in an effort to save time. Hmm, so there's not enough time during a show to hear comments from four judges? Makes you wonder why a fourth judge was added in the first place, huh? And speaking of judges, Paula was off her rocker Tuesday night. She was in some kind of fortune-cookie comment mode. Take these two gems that she spouted off to Adam Lambert: "You dare to dance in the path of greatness" and "Fortune rewards the brave." What the what? I am thinking Paula is concentrating more on how much bling she will wear instead of coming up with a critique that makes sense.

OK, now to the main attraction, the performances.

Allison Iraheta -- She chose the song "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" from the movie "Armageddon." She sounded too breathless in the beginning of the song but I thought her performance picked up and sounded better as it continued. The judges enjoyed it, and Simon told her that she is the only hope the girls' have left in the competition. Still, I can't say that I really loved her performance. I like rock ballads but this one was kind of boring for me.  

Anoop Desai -- Anoop took one of the most overplayed songs ever (but still one of my favorites) "Everything I Do I Do It for You" and turned in a great performance. He did make a few minor changes with the pacing of the song that was featured in "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" and, ultimately, did a solid job with it.

Adam Lambert -- I'll say this for him, he always comes up with something creative. I may loathe some of his song choices but he does do them up differently each time. He took on "Born to Be Wild" from the movie "Easy Rider" and made it into a heavy metal/dance music hybrid. Overall, it did not get this music fan's motor running. I have to agree with Simon when he said the vocals were incredible but some parts were like watching "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."

Matt Giraud -- I thought Matt's opening of "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman" was incredible but then the song hit a rough pitchy patch. The tune from "Don Juan DeMarco" is one I enjoy but I wish Matt would have kept that tender vibe he had at the beginning of the performance all the way through.

Danny Gokey -- Danny changed it up a little Tuesday night and took a distinctly simple and toned-down approach to "Endless Love" from the movie of the same name. It was beautiful but, like Simon said, a kind of boring and traditional version of the song.

Kris Allen -- For starters, I think the song "Falling Slowly" from the film "Once" is beautiful. I wouldn't use that same adjective, though, to describe his version of the song. Yes, it was nice and Kris hit some glory notes but he was also pitchy and it just didn't seem that the song truly suited his voice.

Lil Rounds -- OK, so I think Lil did much better in this show than she has previously. She chose "The Rose" from the movie of the same name, and I thought the beginning was spectacular. She should have continued that soft and sweet arrangement all the way through. I love gospel music but I don't think the gospel approach she used in the middle of the song really worked. It didn't sound all that seamless. That first part, though, was terrific.

OK, so which singer in the bunch will be packing his/her bags? My guess is that it will be Matt. I enjoy Matt but I am afraid his performance on Tuesday won't be enough to convince fans that he should stay.

Enough with my ramblings. What did you all think of the movie song themed show? Was it a big hit or a major miss?

Anoop Desai

Matt Giraud

Perhaps Paula Abdul said it best in describing Scott MacIntyre, the latest finalist to say adios on "Idol."

"You are one classy gentleman. God bless you. We love you," she said as he left the stage for good on Wednesday.

The Arizona native, who is legally blind, did prove to be a nice guy throughout the competition and certainly has some singing skills and is a wonderful pianist. The problem is that he just wasn't in the same league as the other finalists, especially after Tuesday night's less than memorable performance of the ballad "The Search Is Over" by Survivor.

Ultimately, Scott wasn't always the most entertaining of the contestants, but he was one of the most endearing.

Scott was joined in the bottom three by Anoop Desai and Lil Rounds. Anoop's appearance surprised me because I thought he did a fantastic job on "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper. As for Lil, though, she seems to be struggling. She tackled Tina Turner's "What's Love Got To Do With It" and brought nothing new or magical to the song. I'm hoping that Lil's bottom-three slot might be enough to encourage her to start picking better songs. Lil, please start showing that big talent.

OK, that's enough from me. What did you other fans think about Scott's departure? Did America make the right choice? Also, I know it's still early, but who do you think will make it to the final two? And will the judges ever use this special "save" that they keep talking about. All these questions and so little time. So, give me a shout-out and share what you are seeing through your "Idol" eyes.

Tuesday's birth-year theme certainly delivered.

Oh sure, it was fun to see photos of the eight finalists and the judges when they were wee ones but, more than that, "Idol" fans got the gift of some great performances.

Not all of the eight were worth celebrating, mind you. There are two finalists who should probably be worried going into the results show because their b-day year songs were a bust.

So, let's blow out the candles and get this "Idol" party started.

Danny Gokey -- Gokey the great got down to business with a version of "Stand By Me" that was covered by country singer Mickey Gilley. Interestingly enough, there was not a country-esque quality to the song. Instead, it was an arrangement packed with funk. I actually liked that Danny tried something different with the classic song. It was not my all-time favorite Danny ditty but it certainly was fun to hear.

Kris Allen -- I am crazy for Kris, but Tuesday was not my favorite performance from him. He chose "All She Wants To Do Is Dance" by Don Henley. The arrangement was a bit weird. It was a jazz/funk combo that did not fit with the song. Simon called the performance "boring" and "forgettable" and, as much as it pains me to say, I have to agree. Come on Kris, try harder next week.

Lil Rounds -- What is up with Lil? I really thought the woman was going to do wonderful things on the show. There is no question she has a powerful voice, but her song choices do nothing to flatter her talents. She took on Tina Turner's "What's Love Got To Do With It," which was just wrong, wrong, wrong. That is a signature Tina song, and Lil just came across as an OK impersonator. Lil seems to have become a shell of what she once was earlier in the season when she was sassing it up Mary J. Blige style. I miss that Lil, really I do. I think there is a good chance that Lil will end up in the bottom three on Wednesday. Maybe that would be a good thing because it could light a fire in her to really find her signature songs.

Anoop Desai -- Anoop definitely improved from last week's Usher debacle. He chose one of my favorite tunes, "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper. It had an R&B ring to it, which I liked, and some great vocals. 

Scott MacIntyre -- If lite FM ever needed a poster boy, they have found one in Scott. He took on the power ballad "The Search Is Over" that I am sure is being played on some lite FM radio station as I type this. I have never been a fan of the Survivor song and Scott's version of the tune didn't do anything to change that. I appreciated that he tried to change things up by trading the piano for a guitar but, even then, it was just bland overall. I think Scott should be the next finalist to leave. He is a great guy but doesn't stand out enough from the rest of the crew.

Allison Iraheta -- One of the things I enjoy about Allison is how she has such a distinctive voice. I like the raspy quality to it, which really comes out when she rocks the stage. Tuesday night, though, she showed a tender side with "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt. It was a nice ballad and gave her a chance to show off some skills with slow songs. I prefer the rocker chick but this was fine for now.

Matt Giraud -- Matt turned to a Stevie Wonder tune to try to wow audiences again. For the most part, I think he did with his take on "Part Time Lover." It was jazzy and fun and should be enough to keep him out of the bottom three again. Hopefully.

Adam Lambert -- I am going to make this prediction now: Adam will be one of the top two on the show. I feel it, I sense it, I might even go to Vegas and place a bet on it. OK, not so much with the last part only because I am tight with my money and a lousy gambler. But, if I were a betting woman, I would definitely put Adam in until the bitter end. Granted, I am still not setting up residence in the Adam camp, but I do think he was the best performer in Tuesday's show. Adam's falsetto performances are fascinating, like he proved during Motown week and again this week with "Mad World" from Tears For Fears. It was a very moving song and even Simon gave it a standing ovation. For me, Adam is at his best when he takes on a slow song instead of the '80s hair band screeching he does in other songs.

OK, time to wrap up this "Idol" entry. What did you all think about Tuesday's show? Were the birth-year songs a reason to celebrate or bad trips down memory lane?

Adam Lambert

Megan and her awkward dance moves have gone away.

Actually, that doesn't mean awkward dance moves are no more for this season. Danny Gokey may just bust out more silly moves in future shows.

I am the first to admit that I am no dancing queen. That's why I prefer to dance in groups and not alone on a stage. I guess Megan is braver than I am.

But enough about the dancing, Megan's departure was not a big surprise. I was baffled about why she seemed to be all kinds of excited about being in the bottom three. What was that goofy frightened face all about, huh? But it felt like when Simon told her that there was no shot that the judges would save her, the reality of leaving finally sunk in and the tears started to flow.

So, goodbye Megan. You did make for an interesting contestant on "Idol" with your different vibe.

Megan was joined in the bottom three by Anoop Desai and Allison Iraheta. Anoop's appearance there did not shock me. He got a lackluster response from the judges in Tuesday's show. But now I am starting to get worried about little Allison. True, I wasn't wowed by her performance Tuesday but, overall, I am a big fan. I hope she gets her groove back next week.

As for the rest of the results show, I was mighty impressed by last season's champ David Cook. I was not all about David last season but I am slowly becoming more of a fan. His new single "Come Back to Me" sounds like it will be another hit for him.

And what to say about Lady Gaga? I guess she is weirdly entertaining. I am not gaga about her but did find it neat that she can play the piano.

One thing I am gaga about is next week's theme, which allows the finalists to pick songs from the year they were born. I can't wait to see and hear what they present.

Megan Joy

Kris Allen is more than all right. The guy is outta sight.

The Arkansas cutie took a classic song -- "Ain't No Sunshine" -- and made it creative and contemporary.  He started off softly and then rocked it up. It was the definite hit on an otherwise ho-hum night of performances. Oh sure, the premise of Tuesday's show sounded promising. The nine finalists got to choose songs from the most popular downloads on iTunes. Ultimately, though, only a few really stepped up. And, sadly, some of my favorites appear to be struggling.

So, let's get down to "Idol" business and run through the performances.

Anoop Desai -- Anoop went back to his R&B groove and sang "Caught Up" by Usher. It didn't score points for originality but, overall, I thought it was OK. However, Randy thought Anoop picked the wrong song, and Simon called it a mess. It was not Anoop's best moment, but I don't know that it will be enough to send him off the show. He may land in the bottom three in the results, though.

Megan Joy -- Speaking of someone who should be in the bottom three -- actually, I will take that further -- speaking of someone who should be off the show, that would be one Megan Joy. Seriously. I have been willing to give the hippie chick a chance, but not after tonight. It seems as if she has tried all sorts of musical genres and has come up short with that baffling voice of hers. I am struggling to think of a song of hers I have enjoyed. It sure wasn't tonight's Bob Marley/Lauryn Hill song "Turn Your Lights Down Low." The judges didn't like the song choice, and Kara told Megan she may be in trouble on the show. I agree. Here's the thing; Megan is beautiful and appears to glow under those showbiz lights of the "Idol" stage. But the problem is that her voice doesn't shine on the show.

Danny Gokey -- I was amused when Danny said he wanted to tone down his performance this week and chose "What Hurts The Most" by Rascal Flatts. Did it seem that toned down to you? Because it sure didn't for me. I guess by "toned down" Danny meant that the song was soft enough in places where you could hear the violin. Anyhow, it still sounded as loud as Danny's usual performances, although it would have been nicer to see a softer side from him. Don't get me wrong, I liked the performance overall but just once I would like to see Danny bring it down a notch and pull out a soft soulful sound.

Allison Iraheta -- Hey Allison, Cyndi Lauper called. She wants her outfit back. Sorry, I couldn't help myself. It seemed like our rocker teen was channeling some 1980s Cyndi with that getup. I guess it was a distraction from her so-so performance of "Don't Speak" by No Doubt. The song seemed too low for Allison's voice, and I was not as impressed this week with her as I have been previously.

Scott MacIntyre -- At first, when Scott said he chose "Just The Way You Are" by Billy Joel, I was thinking the song would sound too dated. But, Scott surprised me. It was pleasant and better than his past performances. Also, I love the hair cut and/or use of product. Whatever it is, it works for him.

Matt Giraud -- It appears that last week's almost elimination for Matt has scared him silly on the show. He seems nervous and confused about what to do next. That is understandable, but I wish he would stick to the pop side of the musical fence he is straddling. I don't see him as a full-fledged rocker and I felt like he was trying to give "You Found Me" by The Fray more of a rock edge than the song needed. It just didn't suit him. I do hope America gives him another shot because I think he's got the goods.

Lil Rounds -- Lil is another finalist who seems to be nervous and confused about song choices. The judges haven't been too impressed with her as of late, so Lil pulled out all the diva stops on Tuesday with "I Surrender" by Celine Dion. For the life of me, I can't recall this Celine song, and I like Celine's work. It wasn't a great song, but Lil did kick it up a notch and the song got better as it went along. Like Simon said, it was too old-fashioned for her and managed to suck out her personality. On a positive note, Lil looked amazing in that gown.

Adam Lambert -- Adam wowed me last week during the Motown songs. This week, it was so-so. He chose "Play That Funky Music" by Wild Cherry. It was an unusual song choice, but I do think he made it contemporary and clever. I just don't think I would buy any of Adam's music if he does win "Idol." Check that, I would download his single of "The Tracks of My Tears." But that's it for now.

Kris Allen -- Talk about saving the best for last. Kris was stunning during his take on the Bill Withers tune. He showed us that he can take an oldie but a goody and make it a smash for today's audiences. Paula told him that if he makes an album, "Ain't No Sunshine" could be the first cut. I would so buy that album.

OK "Idol" fans, what did you think about the iTunes-themed show? Impressed? Interested in buying some of the finalists' tunes? Or would you diss that download?

Kris steals the show.

Michael Sarver had to “Beg” for his stay to continue on “Idol.”

But it didn’t help, and the family man with the oil rig gig was gone .

Michael sang “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” by The Temptations for Wednesday’s Motown-themed “Idol,” turning in a performance that was high energy but not highly memorable. Come Thursday’s results show, Michael found himself in the bottom three for the second consecutive week. His final performance  wasn’t enough to earn a save from the judges.

Michael’s ouster did not surprise me. His songs lacked the punch shown by the rest of the guys in the finalists’ pack. What I appreciate about Michael, though, is how grateful he seemed about being on “Idol” and how he came across as a genuinely nice guy. So, happy trails to the roughneck from Jasper, Texas.

While I didn’t think Michael would survive too much longer, I thought after this week’s show it would be Megan Joy getting the boot. Her version of “For Once In My Life” by Stevie Wonder was full of bad notes and weird phrasing. The girl’s got a distinctive voice but she has not picked a song yet that has suited those pipes.

But, interestingly enough, Megan was not in the bottom three. It was Scott MacIntyre, who picked “You Can’t Hurry Love” by Diana Ross and The Supremes and —  the big shocker —  Matt Giraud, who got great comments from the judges for his charming take on Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.” I think Matt improves with each show and it would be a shame to see him go anytime soon.

But the real star of this week was Adam Lambert. Last week, his disastrous version of “Ring Of Fire” made him my least-favorite contestant. Then, he comes out Wednesday and just dazzles me with his sweet and soulful performance of “The Tracks of My Tears” by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. It is too early to say that I am on Team Adam but I was impressed this week.

The Motown-themed week was also a hit in my book. It was capped off by an amazing performance on Thursday’s results show by Stevie Wonder who sampled a few of his classics, including “My Cherie Amour” and “Superstition.”

Way to go “Idol” for honoring Wonder and the hits and history of Motown.

www.americanidol.com

Smokey Robinson is still working with some miracles.

Wednesday's Motown-themed "Idol" was my favorite night of the show so far. And when I talk about miracles, I am talking about the remarkable performances turned in by some of the top 10. Also, it was a treat to have Smokey as a mentor for the singers. He offered great tips and a nice bit of history on the songs. 

One of the things I enjoy about "Idol" is the respect and spotlight it gives to different musical genres. And, as I mentioned last week, I love me some Motown, so I was all about hearing hits from that label. Like Simon said, Motown songs are "some of the best in the world."

That said, not all of the performances were popping. With some, I wanted to plead with the contestant to stop in the name of love for the song. Here's what I thought about Wednesday's show.

Hitsville

Adam Lambert -- I have not been kind to Adam for awhile. Many times this season I have been baffled about why the judges love him so, but on Wednesday night the dude dazzled me. His tender and beautiful take on "The Tracks of My Tears" -- my favorite Smokey and The Miracles song, by the way -- was the best of the night. I enjoy this Adam Unplugged. I even loved his slicked-back crooner hairdo and clean-cut appearance. It was classy and captivating. Bravo, Adam.

Matt Giraud -- Matt keeps getting better and better with each episode. He was the soul man Wednesday with his version of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On." Matt got his groove on, that's for sure and gave a solid performance that Paula described as a "sexy cool vibe."

Kris Allen -- Kris is another singer who keeps improving each week. He chose another Marvin Gaye song, "How Sweet It Is" and brought out the guitar for the performance. I loved how he changed the tune up a bit with his phrasing and rhythms and gave it a Jason Mraz feel.

Allison Iraheta -- Allison was "blazin' hot," as Randy put it, and I agree with the head Dawg. She had edge and energy during her performance of "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" by The Temptations. Like the judges, I am amazed by this teen's talent.

Danny Gokey -- One thing I like about Danny is how he comes out on stage and just gives it his all. I liked the enthusiasm he brought to "Get Ready" by The Temptations. His quick dance with the backup singers also made me smile. On a side note, is it just me or does it seem like Danny wears a different pair of glasses  each time he performs? As a gal who loves her glasses, I am a little jealous of someone with such a variety of spectacles. OK, now back to our regularly scheduled "Idol" topic.

Middle of the Road

Lil Rounds -- I liked that Lil wanted to give "Heat Wave" by Martha & The Vandellas an authentic tribute and it was fun to see her channel that girl group groove, but I don't know if this song really gave Lil her big moment. Her powerful voice would have rocked a slower-paced song.

Anoop Desai -- Anoop can be counted on to deliver the soul in a song and he did that Wednesday but while his take on Smokey's "Ooo Baby Baby" was pretty, he was pitchy in a lot of places. 

Missville

Scott MacIntyre -- Scott's songs are all starting to sound the same to me. They're good but not super great. He picked "You Can't Hurry Love" -- a song I adore -- by Diana Ross and The Supremes and really did not do anything spectacular or original with it.

Michael Sarver -- Michael offered up some energy on the stage but not an engaging performance. He chose "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" by The Temptations. It was another good but not great performance from him. The judges weren't crazy about it either and said that he shouted in the song and did not give the tune his own unique spin.

Megan Joy (she's apparently dropped the Corkrey) --  Megan's version of "For Once In My Life" by Stevie Wonder was a mess. There were nasty notes and, overall, it sounded awkward. I think Megan's time on "Idol" is coming to a Joy-less end. She is a sweet girl but I don't think she has picked many songs that have flattered her unique voice.

OK, so come Thursday we'll find out which contestant signs off. Plus, we've got more Motown melodies in store for the results show. And that is definitely music to my ears.

Goodbye Miss Grace, I'm sad to see you go.

Was the results show Wednesday a shocker or what? It surprised me at least. I had thought Michael Sarver might be in danger of getting the boot after Tuesday's Grand Ole Opry-themed night. And he was in the bottom three, along with Alexis Grace and Allison Iraheta. True, Alexis didn't dazzle the judges with her "Jolene," but I didn't think voters would send her home so quick. And why was Allison in that bunch? The teen was terrific with her take on "Blame It On Your Heart."

When it came down to Alexis and Michael I was just sure that Michael would go. I enjoy Michael, the strong sensitive family guy that he is, but he has been and will continue to be overshadowed by the other guys in the contest. He's a likable fellow, but I think he'll be gone before the top five. Then again, I am fast learning that you can't count the roughneck out in this competition.

As for Alexis, she has been a favorite of the judges, but Tuesday's show proved that one mediocre song choice can ruin a contestant's chances. The judges indicated they might use their special save rule to keep her, but after a lackluster performance of "Jolene," Simon told her it wasn't good enough.

I would have liked to see Alexis stay, especially since music from Motown is coming up next week. I think she would have soared with those songs.

And speaking of Motown, I am so excited about hearing some of those awesome songs. I can't wait to find out what tunes the 10 finalists select. Ain't no mountain high enough to keep me from "Idol" next week.

The Grand Ole Opry got the grand treatment on Tuesday.

The 11 finalists chose songs made popular by Opry members, and the performances ranged from boot-scootin' brilliant to a blazing burnout. Plus, country legend Randy Travis stopped by to give the singers a few tips and kind words. Maybe they'll always love him for that, forever and ever amen. (Sorry, I couldn't resist. Love ya, Randy).

The country night can be a tricky one for finalists, especially those who have voices more suited to other genres. But part of the fun was watching a few finalists take some songs and really give them a unique spin. Others, though, were just too mixed up, like Adam Lambert's horrific rendition of Johnny Cash's "Ring Of Fire." Someone needed to quench that fire and quick.

So, let's get right to the recap, shall we?

Michael Sarver -- I actually thought Michael would have the voice that would suit a country song and he did, to an extent. He chose "Ain't Going Down 'Til The Sun Comes Up" by Garth Brooks, and it wasn't a hit for me. Michael brought energy and fun to the stage, but sometimes it was hard to understand the lyrics. It just wasn't that memorable. And, after watching the rest of the finalists, my thinking is that Michael may be the one sent home this week.

Allison Iraheta -- Last week, I was tough on the little one, but she came blasting out onto the stage this week like a barrel racer in a rodeo -- full of spunk and stamina. She chose "Blame It On Your Heart" by Patty Loveless and gave it a rock edge.

Kris Allen -- He gave one of my three favorite performances of the night. What pipes on that one. He picked "To Make You Feel My Love" by Garth Brooks and it was beautiful. I loved the arrangement and sweetness to the song. Kris keeps improving each week, and I hope voters keep advancing him in the competition.

Lil Rounds -- I appreciate that Lil was willing to go country but "Independence Day" by Martina McBride wasn't exactly the best song choice for her. It seemed like she struggled a little during the song. I love the song and I love Lil but the performance lacked her usual spark.

Adam Lambert -- Adam's "Ring Of Fire" was hot all right. A hot mess! It was painful to watch. No wonder Randy Travis was stumped by it during rehearsal. The Middle Eastern musical arrangement just didn't fit with the Cash classic. Simon said it best when he told Adam that the song was "absolute indulgent rubbish."

Scott MacIntyre -- Scott was back on the piano and performed "Wild Angels" by Martina McBride. I liked that Scott kicked it up a notch with the tempo later in the song. Overall, it was a good performance but not on the same level as Kris or Anoop, who I will discuss later.

Alexis Grace -- Alexis had some pitch problems during "Jolene," but what I liked about her version of the Dolly Parton tune is that she seemed to connect with the emotional elements of the song. The resident "dirty girl" -- Kara DioGuardi's words, not mine -- also showed a softer side.

Danny Gokey -- I've said before that Danny is starting to grow on me, but I wasn't wowed by his take on "Jesus, Take the Wheel" by Carrie Underwood. It had some powerful moments but I don't think it was one of Danny's best performances.

Anoop Desai -- Anoop was another one that I bashed last week, but he came back strong Tuesday and gave such a tender and terrific performance with "Always On My Mind." His version of the Willie Nelson classic blew my mind and was my favorite performance of the night. It was a stellar arrangement, and I loved that Anoop showed us his sensitive side. Welcome back to the competition, Anoop Dawg!

Megan Joy Corkrey -- Megan gave us a rock/blues/country hybrid with her version of Patsy Cline's "Walkin' After Midnight." It was good, and I have to give Megan extra points for singing with the flu.

Matt Giraud -- Play us a song, piano man. And he absolutely did. Matt's song was my second favorite performance of the night. His take on "So Small" by Carrie Underwood was a big and beautiful arrangement. Simon said Matt outperformed Danny, and I definitely agree.

Before I end this entry, I'd like to bring up something I wrote last week. I took a playful jab at Carrie Underwood for her good-girl-gone-bad transformation with some of her songs. Here's the deal, though, I love Carrie. And I'm always about supporting a fellow Oklahoman. I was just having a little fun talking about her wild side, that's all.

I also learned something neat from a reader who commented on last week's blog. Carrie recorded "Home Sweet Home," a remake of Motley Crue's power ballad that is this season's farewell theme. It will also be available for purchase on online music sites.

A portion of the proceeds will go to the Humane Society of the United States. Looks like Carrie is turning a power ballad into a powerful tool to help animals everywhere.