One of my friends had her birthday dinner tonight, so this is late. As much as I love AI, I love my friends more. So there.

Jordin Sparks
song:
original artist: Pat Benatar

I didn’t like it at first, but I think it was the song…but it turned out really good. Great way to open the show. And also, Ryan should never wear black turtlenecks. And also, I don’t know if everyone else got the Diet Coke ad with Judy Garland singing “What Would I Do,” but it makes me really nostalgic for those days when I had time to have Judy Garland marathons.

Sabrina Sloan
song: Don’t Let Go (Love)
original artist: En Vogue

I actually thought that was sorta bad. She faltered on some high notes, shouted a lot of it…didn’t do it for me at all. Paula: her “voice pierces through”–yes, like an ice-pick pierces through my temple. Sorry, was that mean? My bad.

Antonella Barba
song: Put Your Records On
original artist: Corinne Bailey Rae

Eh. It wasn’t horrible, fit her voice better than some of the other songs she’s chosen. But she’s still weaker than most of the other girls.

Haley Scarnato
song: If My Heart Had Wings
original artist: Faith Hill

I like her. Not a wow performance, but she sang it quite well. And I really like her tone quality. I really hope she sticks around, because it’d be nice to have someone with a different style in the top 12.

Stephanie Edwards
song: Sweet Thing
original artist: Chaka Khan

She’s really good. I’ve been kind of discounting her compared to Melinda and LaKisha, but I may need to reconsider her. Definitely moving her up in my estimation.

LaKisha Jones
song: I Have Nothing
original artist: Whitney Houston

Very good, but not great for me. It’s the first week she hasn’t seemed totally comfortable. But she’s still definitely in the top few. (Noting possible bias and defensiveness for Kat’s unjustly maligned performance of this song last year–LaKisha probably did a better job, but…KAT. I have no objectivity.)

Gina Glocksen
song: Call Me When You’re Sober
original artist: Evanescence

I like Gina’s personality a lot. I don’t think she’s got the best voice here, but again, she brings something that none of the other girls have. Like Evanescence! Yay Evanescence! Paula is actually being helpful. Nice.

Melinda Doolittle
song: I’m a Woman
original artist: Peggy Lee

Okay, if she keeps up singing all these standards so gorram well, I’m going to have no choice but to fall completely and totally in love with her! Brilliant.

Best Tonight: Melinda! And Gina and Jordin.
Going Home: Antonella and…I’m predicting Haley will go, though I’d rather have her stay than Sabrina. But that’s a personal bias.