I thought I’d combine both of the last two nights of American Idol into one recap this week. And by that I mean I forgot to blog about the guys’ performances last night so I’m going to throw it in with a recap of the ladies’ performances tonight while it’s fresh in my mind aka before I forget again.

So anyway, Tuesday night the Top 10 Guys sang and it was all sorts of the opposite of Week One. My favorites kind of let me down and some of the guys I’d written off really wowed me. For instance…

Michael Lynche: “It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World” by James Brown

I love this man to pieces and while this wasn’t his best performance to date, it was still all Michael. I think he’s going to be a major contender in this competition. His stage presence and charm and amazing vocal skills are just incredible. A-

John Park: “Gravity” by John Mayer

He set the bar a bit too high for me, playing one of my all time favorite songs by my all time favorite singer. Crazy high. And while my husband claims he did just as well as John Mayer, I beg to differ while standing on the table and yelling BOO. Okay, that didn’t really happen but still. It was just not that great and I’ve lost interest in this guy despite the fact that he’s kind of a cutie and has good taste in music. C-

Casey James: “I Don’t Want to Be” by Gavin DeGraw

Oh how the mighty fell this week. Kara and I seemed pretty much in agreement that he went from being amazing and oh my god to oh my god just leave already. I mean, okay, he wasn’t that bad. But “not that bad” just isn’t good enough when he can be incredible. Was his prior success a fluke? Did he just luck out with a good song? Cause I’m over him already and that’s kind of disappointing. C+

Alex Lambert: “Everybody Knows” by John Legend

Holy [bleep], where did this kid come from? Remember last week when he was “the creepy guy who isn’t Adam Lambert”? I had entirely written this guy off but shut up, the boy can sing! I really, really, really, really, really liked this performance. A-

Todrick Hall: “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” by Tina Turner

I love Todrick and his crazy song manipulations and creativity but it wasn’t his best performance and the judges were pretty disappointed. Apparently he’s a little over the top. I’ll give him a B- and hope he’s back next week because I’m not done enjoying him even if he didn’t blow me away.

Jermaine Sellers: “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye

Just go away already. Seriously. My husband kind of hates him in a really major way and I have to say I’m starting to agree. Everything about him and his performance just bugged the heck out of us. D- brother.

Andrew Garcia: “You Give Me Something” by James Morrison

Before he started singing my husband said, “He’s going to win.” And then he finished singing and Dan said, “Never mind.” Yeah it wasn’t great Andrew. And that’s disappointing because like Casey, you already blew us out of the water in previous weeks. Even last week when the judges were kind of “meh” over you, Dan and I were basically your biggest fans but this week? Not so much. Still, I’m rooting for him and giving him a B- / C+

Aaron Kelly: “My Girl” by the Temptations

I hate this song and no offense but I’m not crazy about him either. The judges are eating him up like candy but I’m over him. Yes he can sing, but I wouldn’t buy his CDs. C

Tim Urban: “Come On Get Higher” by Matt Nathanson

I think he nailed the song choice and I enjoyed his performance, but I didn’t really get the “star” vibe from him. I think Ellen was spot on when she asked if he likes acting because he’s got the look and he has a nice voice but not so much the chops to win this competition.

Lee Dewyze: “Lips of an Angel” by Hinder

My husband was pretty much floored when I told him I loved this performance. He did, too, but he knows this raspy voice isn’t usually my scene. BUT this song really tugged at my heart strings. His emotions owned the performance and demanded that I feel something – a very important quality in my favorite music and one of the only performances to deliver it that night. A+

So my Top 3 of the night were:

Lee Dewyze, Alex Lambert and Michael Lynche

(If you want to see my thoughts on the guys’ performances from week one you can click here.)

Moving on to tonight’s performance – which was full of some amazing talent. If Week One was chock full of awful, we can call week two, Opposite Week because almost all of the performers were slammin’ which a few exceptions. Here’s how it broke down for me (for you for me for you):

Crystal Bowersox: “Long as I Can See the Light” by Creedence

I was really glad to see Crystal back on the stage and I continue to love the heck out of her. Personally I liked her performance last week better but the judges disagree and sang her praises all night, which can only be a good thing. She might not have been as strong for me but she was still flippin’ awesome. A-

Haeley Vaughn: “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus

Luckily for Haeley she makes really cute headbands. Seriously, I’m seeing another potential career for her – accessory designer for the stars who sings a little? It was pretty bad Haeley, but I think you might stick around a bit longer as you are rather likable. D+

Lacey Brown: “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer

I really enjoy her voice but this performance was just okay for me. Not terribly different from the original. C+

Katie Stevens: “Put Your Records On” by Corinne Bailey Rae

The judges are crazy harsh on this girl and I’m hoping it’s because they see her mad talent and not because they are fools. They continue asking her to sing something her age while my husband and I scream at the tv, “Don’t change a thing, Katie, you are incredible!” I thought her performance was awesome and I love that she continued to sing songs which suit her voice perfectly. A+

Didi Benami: Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me”

Didi has such an interesting voice but this performance was just okay for me and the judges were pretty unimpressed, although much harsher than I would have been. I’d give her a C+ She’s basically in the same boat as Lacey for me.

Michelle Delamor: “With Arms Wide Open” by Creed

I think this was an interesting song choice and technically sung well but it just didn’t make me feel what the song should have made me feel. What even the original makes me feel even though I’m not really a big Creed fan. It didn’t have that Lee Dewyze effect basically and left me feeling kind of unsatisfied. C

Lilly Scott: “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke

I love Lilly and love her voice and the judges were very much wowed by her tonight, but I was a little bit uninspired by it. I think she’s done better, and like Simon, I think Crystal did better tonight (and Katie did even better). Still, she’s one of my top contenders and I hope to see her again next week. B+

Katelyn Epperly: “The Scientists” by Coldplay

This was an incredible performance in my opinion. My husband was also very much wowed. It had that “made me feel something” vibe that I’m always looking for in a potential star and I liked seeing the versatility she has after last week’s performance which I personally also liked. A+

Paige Miles: “Walk Away” by Kelly Clarkson

She ran away with this song – she was punching those notes so fast you never got a chance to enjoy any of them. I think the judges basically said the same thing. I really didn’t enjoy it at all which is a shame because she seems to have a good voice and a strong one and plenty of energy and stage presence (and she colors! yay!) but yeah it wasn’t a great performance at all. C- / D+

Siobhan Magnus: “Think” by Aretha Franklin

I’m on the fence with her – my husband and the judges all loved it and I … wish I’d been able to see it live, because I’m guessing it was better there. I was impressed with how well she did with the song, but I kind of felt like it was very, very apparent that she was singing just to the edge of her abilities. Which, I mean, I couldn’t sing that well, but I don’t know. I’m not really sure what I’m complaining about to be honest. A for sure.

My Top 3 Ladies of the Night:

Katelyn Epperly, Katie Stevens and Siobhan Magnus

(And again here are my thoughts from last week.)

My bottom four guys and girls would be:

1. John Park
2. Jermaine Sellers
3. Haeley Vaughn
4. Paige Miles

How about you? Who did you love? Who did you hate?