Top 6 - Bon Jovi Mentors!

I love Bon Jovi, as much, if not more, for his acting and personality as for his musical talent.

Phil Stacey - Opened with power and performed quite well. The judges agree, except Simon, but I can see the truth in what he said about Phil acting the part. He does have something about him reminiscent of The Great Pretender, a chameleon who can target what people want and is exceptional, if nauseating at times, at being the consummate people-pleaser. He has at least as much talent in that area as in singing - and maybe much more.

Jordin Sparks - I think this song might have been a poor choice. The lower register she starts in puts her voice in a bad light, but she has to start that low in order to be where she needs to for the higher registers, the key change, and the very powerful ending. Randy agrees with my analysis. Simon just rips into her with no pity. Realistically though, it was one of her worst, but it wasn't actually terrible.

Lakisha Jones - 'This Ain't a Love Song' - Mmmmm...she slinks into this song like she wrote it herself. Chills from the start which stay to the end. Sing it, girl! Simply an excellent performance...one of the best this season...recordable as it stands. This is the performance to beat tonight. Even Simon loved it and proves it by kissing instead of dissing her. Simon wiping his lips while continuing to talk, after Ryan's remark about her lipstick on his lips, is priceless.

Blake Lewis - 'You Give Love A Bad Name' - a brilliant, ultra-creative interpretation of a song that might be better than the original. It certainly highlighted his considerable skillz in beat-boxing. A HUGE success, and, as Randy said, the most original, personalized interpretation ever done on AI. Simply marvelous.

Chris Richardson - 'Wanted - Dead Or Alive' - Chris gets the requisite grunge in his voice to sing this song, and does a decent job, but it isn't on a par other performances tonight, which puts him in the middle, or worse. He may be in trouble if America favors Phil's improved performances tonight and for the past 3 weeks, which is quite conceivable, and doesn't think Jordin deserves to go based on tonight's borderline performance, which is also quite likely.

Melinda Doolittle - 'Have A Nice Day' - Melinda brings it very nicely, and tops Phil and Chris, though the stilted lyrics don't give her much opportunity to showcase her voice. It was a stretch for her, but she handled it well enough. Randy compares her to a young Tina Turner, which is accurate, and even Simon agrees with this. I don't think she came up to Blake and Lakisha tonight, but was closer than anyone else.

Tops - Blake and Lakisha (you choose), followed by Melinda.

Bottoms - For the night, Jordin and Chris.

Going home - dead or alive - I have to bet on Chris. Though his performance tonight was very good, I think Jordin's history will carry her through, and Phil's last three performances will keep him alive. If not, Phil will be people-pleasing elsewhere.