American Idol hits the halfway mark

With Ace "The Face" Young bowing out singing his uncannily foreboding song That’s All, the American Idol Final 12 has been whittled down to half and the journey of the remaining six pack starts this week, doing the greatest love songs coached by Andrea Bocelli.

Last week’s performance night to everyone’s estimation was a magical one. The seven Idol contestants, coached by British icon Rod Stewart, sang old standards from Stewart’s four-volume Great American Songbook. And it didn’t seem like they were born about 30 years removed from these songs as they were all in their element and generally gave soul-felt astounding performances. They all (well, with the exception of Kellie the Pickle Picker) sounded like they were looking back and singing the soundtrack of their lives. This amazed judge Simon Cowell who was uncharacteristically generous with praise. So, here’s how the remaining six performed on that magical night:

Chris Daughtry, considered one of the competition’s strongest singers, set the bar with What a Wonderful World, a welcome departure from the rock format. Simon claimed some of the credit, having consistently encouraged Chris to break out from the narrow rock genre. (But perhaps, America wants Chris to remain a rocker – he landed in the bottom three.)

Paris Bennett, the wind-up doll sang These Foolish Things Remind Me of You like she was no seventeener but a lovelorn veteran. The audience didn’t buy it and she joined Chris in the bottom three. Rod Stewart said earlier, "You either got emotions or you haven’t got them." But it was Ace who got the boot so it’s not the last time we will see Paris.

Taylor Hicks, who has been parodied in Saturday Night Live, started with his Sam Cooke rendition of You Send Me like a lame cabaret (said Simon) but towards the end, he warmed up, did the now famous goofy dancing and magic. Rod had defended his jumping bean routine saying, "You can toss yourself around, do what you possibly can within reason, grab the audience. It’s okay." That’s a benediction from Stewart who himself does goofy moves.

Elliot Yamin did what to Randy Jackson was an excellent and relaxed version of It Had To Be You. Paula liked that he contemporized it like Michael Bublé. But Simon burst his bubble saying it was good vocals but Elliot lacked personality which in this stage of the game will play a key role.

Kellie herself said she "butchered" the three B’s Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered, one of the best standards ever. Simon who was cringing and cowering in his seat as Kelly sang said forget about bewitched, she was simply bewildered. Kellie thanked Simon but it didn’t prevent her from playing cute. But all that put-on country girl charm is getting on nerves.

The goosebumps on that magical night was courtesy of the lovely Katharine McPhee whose face the cameras caressed as she did Someone to Watch Over Me. Rod Stewart said Kat was born to sing standards. American Idol will long remember the McPhee moment, Kat’s hauntingly beautiful performance.

On results night, Rod Stewart’s The Way You Look Tonight was such a bonus treat. His suit, an old Dolce & Gabanna, matched the silver streaks of his hair. There was drama, as good friends Chris Daughtry and Ace Young, who Ryan Seacrest dubbed the Matt Damon and Ben Affleck of American Idol, embraced before the scores were called.

So who will be "it"? Chris Daughtry, 26, of North Carolina who discovered his singing ability in his algebra class; Taylor Hicks, 29, of Alabama who has played every honky tonk imaginable; Elliot Yamin, 27, from Richmond, Virginia whose inspiration is his mom; Paris Bennett, 17, Georgia; Kellie Pickler, 19, North Carolina; or Kat McPhee, 21, born and raised in Los Angeles, California. That’s an even three girls and three boys. What’s the fearless forecast? Top three: The rocker who can depart from the genre when he wants to, the soulful beauty who gave the competition the fever, and the jumping jack as the dark horse.

(American Idol airs every Wednesday (competition) and Thursday (results show) on ABC 5 at 10 p.m. after The Big News. Now on its fifth season, the wildly successful Idol has evolved as a global superbrand. It is produced locally in 34 countries, and counting, under license with FremantleMedia, the Idol production arm. Early this year, ABC 5 acquired the Idol format and the network is now gearing for the production of Philippine Idol. Auditions will start on May 17, when ABC launches the search for the national singer, the Philippine Idol.)