American Idol’s mentor this week for R&B style night was Usher, sporting sunglasses indoors for much of the time.

First up was one of my favorites, Siobhan Magnus, who sang ”’Through the Fire” and glad to say ditched the pompador hair for a braided style head wrap instead. Her outfit was tragic. ALL of the female Idols outfits were tragic. But that’s for later. This was the first time on Idol Siobhan didn’t hit it out of the park, I mean she sang great, but all of the judges had criticism for her that practically brought her to tears.

While one of this season’s front runners took 2 steps back, many of other Idol wannabe‘s took 2 giant steps forward – among them Andrew Garcia – who FINALLY captured the moment he had when he blew us all away at the Idol auditions singing Paula Abdul’s Straight Up. Andrew sang ”Forever”’ and it was hot dawg! Simon commended him but said he has to work on his personality. Simon straight up told Andrew he was a bit boring. Agreed. Then Ryan brought Andrew’s mother into the conversation and she got up and gave Simon a hug. It’s clear that Andrew’s mother may have gotten all the personality in that family.

Another Idol who took 2 giant leaps forward, perhaps, 10 giant leaps forward was Lee Dewyze! I just have to say Kudos, Lee, you made us proud. Lee sang “Treat Her Like a Lady”. Simon Cowell said it best when he told Lee to watch back this performance from the night and you’ll see that this is the moment that changed your life. Couldn’t have said it better myself. I think Usher got thru to Lee on some level and it’s safe to say “game on”, Lee is in da house! We knew you had it in you Lee. Ah, so proud. Standing ‘O’ for Lee.

Casey James sang “Hold On I’m Coming”. During Casey’s time with Usher he affirmed that he would always sing with his guitar, that’s just who he is. I’ll just say that I watched this show with anti-Idol fan who is not a cougar who upon seeing Casey practically fell off her chair and was even willing to text vote for him. That is just the power of Casey’s charm. Add in his talent and you have a case of Casey-mania in the making. Dude is hot!

Big Mike was totally in his element singing ”Ready for Love” seated on the stage behind the judges closer to the audience. It was intimate, powerful and spot on. Michael Lynche delivers and R&B is so his zone.

Katie Stevens sang ‘”Chain of Fools’. Randy loved it. Compared her to a young Christina – to which Simon said are you serious?!! All but Simon were impressed by Katie. Kara told her this was her “zone”. This is where she should be. Simon then chewed Katie up saying she’s old-fashioned, she needs to be current and younger and she was pitchy. Ellen liked her earrings (big rhinestone hoops).

Didi Benami may have sung her last song on Idol last night. Tackling the song ”What Becomes of the Broken Hearted’. Didi became very emotional in rehearsals with Usher telling us the song had alot of meaning for her. She wore a long gown when she performed and again was told she wasn’t young and current enough. Randy, Ellen, Kara and Simon all told her she lost the “it” factor she once had when she was first discovered and now they have no idea who she is as an artist.

Tim Urban sang “Sweet Love”. During the rehearsal with Usher, Usher asked him if he’d ever been in love. Tim replied yes. Usher told him to pretend that he (Usher) was the girl and Tim should sing to him as if. Well, that didn’t go over to well as imagined, so Usher walked to the back of the room and told Tim to imagine that girl instead. All the roll-playing in the world didn’t seem to help. When Tim performed, he forgot to blink and looked so intently at the cameras I thought he was having a seizure. Tim has the opposite problem that David Archuleta had – Archie never opened his eyes and Tim never closes his. No matter, Tim will not leave the competition, too many tween girls texting their idol votes for him. Even as the judges critique Tim, he smiles his way through. As Simon told Andrew, this is as much about personality as it is about singing – inferring that Tim’s personality was a factor keeping him in this competition despite his singing.

Crystal Bowersox changed it up big time. She sang ”Midnight Train to Georgia” and traded her guitar for a piano and her flats for a pair of stilettos (again another tragic outfit). While Crystal can do no wrong in my book and is pitch perfect every time, this wasn’t my favorite performance. Brave girl to play the piano on national tv when she claims she hasn’t played the piano in years. Crystal got positive feedback from Kara, Ellen and Randy, But Simon voice of reason, gave her some very good advice, says me. Simon told Crystal that she is one of the few artists on the show who knows EXACTLY who she is and that she shouldn’t try to be something else. Crystal replied that she wanted to push herself and do something outside her comfort zone.

Young high school student Aaron Kelly ended the Idol show singing “Ain’t No Sunshine”. Not his best. Simon told Aaron it was as if all the other contestants were the main entree and he was just a cupcake. Not sure this analogy was the best seeing as how, as Ryan whispered in Aaron’s ear, some people like cupcakes more. But every chance he’ll be back next week. None of the judges are worried about that. Ellen commented that she wishes she had this much confidence at 11. lol.

Lastly, can we please discuss the American Idol contestant’s fashion sense – or lack thereof. Given that they now have access to make-up stylists and wardrobe folk, it is one big pity that the top 10 Idol wannabe’s look like a tragic hot mess! Seriously. The image of the entire group on stage is like a poster promoting “what not to wear”. Can someone please call Clinton and Stacy to give these kids some proper guidance. I get that Siobhan is quirky and all. Her style can be likened to Kesha’s admittedly “trash can chic”. But even Kesha seems a bit more pulled together.

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