American Idol "Top 7 Redux" Review: Only the Good Sing Young

For Top 7 Week 2 - or Top 7 Redux, as the YouTube page calls it - Idol trotted out one of its newest themes, "Now and Then," which allows contestants to traffic in classics and new material. What's more, duets and group performances are gone, so we're lined up for nothing but solo goodness from the most talented final seven in recent memory. (Full disclosure: Obviously, this was written well after I learned Colton was eliminated the next night.)

The performances:

Hollie Cavanagh (Rolling in the Deep): After Haley's fantastic rendition last year and a slew of Adele performances in the semis, I thought Hollie had decided to mail in her Idol run this week. Little did I know she'd transform it into an event more impactful, soul-melting ballad and instantly earn her spot in the final 6. Her best performance yet, and one of my favorites of the season so far. 80

Colton Dixon (Bad Romance): A stunningly original arrangement, but a lot of it sadly fell below Colton's range, and he felt constantly handicapped by the responsibility to make this Gaga cover an alt-rock tune, and the Gaga-ooh-lala section at the end was distractingly bad. Not a good omen for Colton. 40

Elise Testone (No One): Elise ventured into Idol-classic wind-blown frilly dress territory, but the performance was anything but standard. Elise, as usual, applied her jazz/rock spin to a classic, threw in some growl and left me happy. Not overly satisfied, though. It is unfair to ask for more from my favorite performer in the competition than simply being enjoyable? 60

Phillip Phillips (U Got It Bad): The only misstep in the rebirth of Phillip-squared was an embarrassing saxophone presence that kept this performance out of the Idol Hall of Fame. Otherwise, the understated arrangement, a surprising amount of restraint and some actual notes made this easily Phillip's best. He degenerated into angrily spitting words into the mic toward the finish, but overall a fun, energizing performance for P2's inevitable finals run. 70

Jessica Sanchez (Fallin'): Jessica's biggest mistake this week, besides continuing to be too consistently great to get any recognition, was dressing like Aladdin. Seriously, though, this performance was, as all of hers are, technically proficient, but also like a lot of Jessica's catalog it felt empty and soulless. She may need to act a little more to make a well-deserved trip to the whatever-they're-calling-the-Kodak-now in late May. 70

Skylar Laine (Born This Way): At first I bristled, as I do at drek like "County Must Be Countywide" and "This Is Country Music," at Skylar's country-confirmation twist on this Gaga hit, but she won me over by just singing the daylights out of it. Skylar continues to have enunciation issues, but I share Slezak's concern that one of the most interesting finalists left might also be on the chopping block. 70

Joshua Ledet (I Believe): I wanted to dock Joshua points for choosing not only an Idol alum's first hit, not only a champion's coronation song but the song most associated with the contestant he draws the most comparisons to, but he saved me the trouble by failing to bring anything to it besides a hoard of screeching that dragged it lower even than Syesha Mercado's ill-fated cover four years ago. Blah, blah and blah. 35

Hollie Cavanagh (Son of a Preacher Man): Hollie's lower register problems showed up again in this performance, but an interesting brass arrangement and surprisingly solid showmanship saved it from utter mediocrity. A letdown from her first performance, but still one of Hollie's best efforts yet. 65

Colton Dixon (September): Another interesting take - is it a stretch to say Colton had Cook-like potential to reinvent? - but lacked any kind of momentum and felt consistently sharp. Eh. 55

Elise Testone (Let's Get It On): As much as I love Elise, and God knows the thought of her getting it on isn't unpleasant, this performance was a mess from the word go. Elise's bopping style and growl felt completely out of place, the saxophone sapped any raw sexual energy she tried to bring, and Joshua Ledet wants his screech back. Let's just move on. 35

Phillip Phillips (In the Midnight Hour): This performance crystallized what I've long suspected about Phillip and thought for a long time about David Cook: he's completely incapable of singing without gravel in his voice, even when he's smiling from ear to ear and putting on his best sexy face. Only Joshua's occasional forays into over-the-top-land keep this from being my least favorite performance of the season. 20

Jessica Sanchez (Try A Little Tenderness): The irony oozing from this song's title is too good to be true. No sentiment better expresses what ails this incredibly talented final 7 than this: STOP OVERSINGING. With the exception of Elise, this unbelievable septet is young, and they clearly haven't learned how to control their instruments. Jessica dipped into that trend herself: instead of what seemed to be a technically correct but ear-ringing rendition, she decided to bludgeon the melody with growls until both it and her voice were unrecognizable. Can we outlaw all songs over 20 years ago from this group? 30

Skylar Laine (I Heard It Through the Grapevine): I started regretting my excusing Skylar's first performance as soon as I heard the violin in this song. An interesting concept, but reminded me powerfully of Kristy Lee Cook's disastrous 'Eight Days a Week.' Skylar's far more talented, but this is the definition of making chicken salad out of chicken... well, you know. 45

Joshua Ledet (A Change Is Gonna Come): Speaking of Joshua murdering perfectly good songs, here he is doing an even worse job than the normally-spectacular Adam Lambert did with this Sam Cooke ditty. From the diction to the head-wagging and crying faces, I sincerely hope this is Joshua's lowest point of the season. Way to epically discard that winner prediction from last week, my friend. 10

Updated power poll:

6. Joshua Ledet: Welcome to the cellar, my former favorite. Joshua continues to be the most unpredictable performer in the final 13; he has the pipes of Marvin Gaye but the self-control of a four-year-old with severe ADHD. I'm this close to giving up. Please, please prove me wrong, Joshua, and leave the Lusky stank behind for your run to the top 3.

5. Phillip Phillips: I continue to believe Phillip is bound to make it to the finale, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. This week was simultaneously affirming and damning; P2 showed he can blow the doors off a certain variety of tune but lacks any ability to do another. At this point, being Scotty McCreery 2.0 and beating his style into the ground on the way to the title might be our best-case scenario for Phillip. Once again, let's move on.

4. Hollie Cavanagh: Hollie's storm back this week probably doesn't earn her a final four spot - honestly, for her to make the final four in a season this talented would be very odd - but I'm happy to root for the underdog again. Major Haley Reinhart potential if Hollie can find a couple iconic songs to make her own.

3. Skylar Laine: Skylar seems content to wrestle the Scotty 2 mantle from Phillip, but unlike him she's used it to great effect by choosing a variety of songs to transform and singing them with passion and control. In my younger, more Carrie-Underwood-loving days, Skylar would probably be my favorite, but times have changed.

2. Elise Testone: Elise is the biggest example of my tastes changing over my Idol years. Way back in season four, I didn't especially care for Bo Bice, the talented, experienced, song-arranging fiend whose crown was stolen by Carrie, but perspective has shown me his excellence and influence. I won't let Elise slip by; I'll be cheering for her even after lackluster weeks like this one all the way to the bitter end. Which, for what it's worth, is probably not far away. For a third time, moving on.

1. Jessica Sanchez: I felt after 'I Will Always Love You' that Jessica was the most talented vocalist in the competition; that belief hasn't changed, and as her competitors have shown new warts, her lack of showmanship has seemed less and less glaring. With the right coaching, Jessica is destined to be a pop star, and I believe Idol is the place for her to get it and transform into not just Idol's first female champ in years but the first to achieve mainstream pop success in even longer.

Results: Colton didn't really deserve to go, but after Hollie's bounceback and Phillip's gem, it was easy to see the rock hitting the hard place. We knew with a cast this good Thursdays would start to hurt: this is the first real blow, and I look forward to Colton's work on the tour and beyond.

Back for top 6, featuring Queen and contestant choices, on Thursday.