something about a funky renegade horse on broadway...

We can count them now on one hand, the five who are still standing. And the five who are still standing were doubling up on performances, with two chances to wow us by reaching back into the year they were born and then glancing back over the current charts.

And they did it in under an hour.

Whew.

I would grade this episode an A, like Standards night, but it wasn't totally icky, like the last time they put their grubby little fingers on the current charts. But with paisley shirts, writhing on the floor, and running to and then from Ryan inexplicably it could be called one of those wild nights. There were only a few clunkers, a couple of great ones, but mostly just what we would expect from this crop of kids.

But anyway, here they are, subject to review and revision and, as always, from worst to first.

Paris Bennett (Kiss). She says she wants to show off how young she is with a song that "most people can't turn into a song." That should have been Paris' first clue. She does display more energy and youthful enthusiasm than we've seen from her in awhile. Randy gives faint praise, Paula pouts that it's not a 50s love song, and Simon calls it screechy and annoying. Simon is generous.

Katharine McPhee (Against All Odds). Wearing a self-described "trash bag" to guard against wardrobe malfunctions, she decides this week to tell everybody to "take a good look at her now." [Okay, stop it. Couldn't help myself.] Simon tells her the song was a mess and promises not to apologize after the fact. I didn't think that after the 839 times this song has been performed on the Idol stage that anyone could destroy it. I was wrong.

Chris Daughtry (I Dare You). Okay, so I am not a fan of the staring, surly, screaming Chris, and this song does nothing to change my mind. Randy and Simon tell him his voice is on its last tonsil. Chris says he's pushed himself too hard. Well stop doing that Chris, because that was really bad.

Elliott Yamin (On Broadway). Randy and Paula tell him that the front of this performance was a little rough. It was more than a little rough, actually, but his confidence and stage delivery of one of the more upbeat tunes he's performed this season is what caught my attention. Simon tells him he's lucky he's got two songs. I think his ending saved the performance, so while Simon is right, it wasn't his best, but it was not the worst tonight.

Paris Bennett (Be Without You). Now I'm no fan of Mary J. Blige, and I admit I've never heard this song, and while I wouldn't purchase a copy, after Paris' opening performance, anything had to be better. Randy gives it a meh. Paula gives it a meh. Simon tells Princess P that she did quite well. And it finally dawned on me: Paris sounds like she has a terminal cold when she speaks.

Elliott Yamin (Home). I had never heard this until today. And he performs it perfectly for him, simply, uncomplicated and unadorned, sitting on a stool. Randy and Paula both give thumbs up, after they chase down Elliott who has run from the scene (going home, perhaps?) Simon questions the wisdom of singing a song about wanting to go home, (that's why somebody should've chosen Bad Day), and lights a fire under the fingers of every E fan out there by expressing concern about Elliott and going home.

Taylor Hicks (Play that Funky Music). I say Taylor wins, just on the shirt alone. He is the Taylor we know, thrashing about and leaving it all on the stage. And the audience. And the stage again, ending up dying, just like it says in the song. I speculated that this song, played for the fun it's supposed to be played with, would bring thousands of people to their feet. I don't know about thousands, but it did me. Simon hated it. That makes it all the better.

Katharine McPhee (Black Horse and a Cherry Tree). Again, I hadn't heard this song until I found out that she had chosen it, and it was an acquired taste for me, but I really liked it, and I really liked Katharine's take on it, possibly better than most anything she's done this season. But I still don't get the floor imagery. Judges liked it too. I like when we agree.

Chris Daughtry (Renegade). Okay pelt me, but I like Styx. And I really liked Chris doing Styx. And how nice it was that the judges actually agreed with me. I'd say that was his best performance in weeks.

Taylor Hicks (Something). Okay, in the spirit of full disclosure, I love this song beyond all reason, and how nice it was to enjoy Taylor singing a tender ballad that he has chosen rather than one of those he was forced to deal with. Even Simon had to concede that he really does have a terrific voice. With or without a paisley shirt.

So. There you have it. Those are mine. What are yours.

Now get on those phones!

Oh...and I almost forgot. I'm going to base my bottom two on only tonight's performances, ignoring the huge voting blocs out there and how they might react.

Bottom two: Paris and Elliott.
Going home: So long, Princess P.