by Kylene Hamulak

Even though American Idol insists that this is the year of the girls, we've still got to stack the show - and, of course, the tour - with at least a handful of guys. The top ten guys perform tonight to try to win our votes, as only half will make it past the results show.

HITS:

Elijah Liu, "Stay" by Rihanna

Elijah's schtick is how much he loves the ladies...and also how much the ladies love him. All this and modest too! He's still got a Bruno Mars vibe for me, but the song is sort of mediocre. Keith thought the song was a great start for the show and showed how in control he is of his voice. Nicki calls him marketable, plastering his face on blankets and pillowcases. Randy isn't quite as impressed, but he likes it more than last week. Mariah babbles and makes up words to use out of context, but basically she thinks he could be very marketable.

Nick Boddington, "Iris" by Goo Goo Dolls

There's something about Nick and his hats that I don't love. I WANT to really like him, but there's just...something. He's back at the piano tonight, singing a song I heard enough of back in high school that I'm practically immune to listening to it at this point, but he's changed the arrangement to make it his own. Nick has a nice tone, even if it's not a particularly strong voice, and the performance goes well. Keith thinks it was the perfect song for him. Nicki wishes he had left the song as it was originally even though she did like it, and Randy thinks he's had better performances. Mariah feels he got confident at the end, but really doesn't say much else.

Burnell Taylor, "I'm Here" from The Color Purple

Burnell is bringing back the song he used in his audition, and he's dressed like Urkel to do it. I say that with love for Burnell because he IS one of my favorites, and this performance is strong. But he's still dressed like Urkel. Keith thinks he has an incredibly strong signature, and he absolutely loved it. Nicki loves him too, even if she's a little irked by him performing it for the second time. Randy says he's the kind of voice you stop to listen to, and Mariah was brought to tears. Again.

Lazaro Arbos, "Feeling Good" by Nina Simone (or Michael Buble, if you prefer)

Lazaro may be coasting a little bit on his backstory, and I'll admit I get suckered right into his personality. He gives a good performance and the audience absolutely loves it. Keith loves how he connects with everyone, and Nicki loves...well, everything. She likes that he put attitude into it. Randy gives us his first "IN IT TO WIN IT!" of the night. He's jumping the gun a little bit, but it was a nice performance. Mariah actually thinks he may have started a little too low, but she was still excited for and proud of him.

Curtis Finch, Jr., "I Believe I Can Fly" by R. Kelly

Ugh. This SONG. Can we retire it, Idol? Please? This one and that Gavin DeGraw song make me want to riot. Ok, Curtis. He can sing, ok? He has total control of his voice, and he commands the audience. I still find him off putting, but maybe I'm not the choir he's preaching to because the judges LOVE him and the crowd is on their feet.  "We just had us a sermon in Vegas," says Keith, "I believe you CAN fly." Nicki doesn't care how many votes he gets - this is bigger than Idol. Um, excuse me, Miss Minaj - NOTHING is bigger than Idol. She thinks God gave Curtis the power to make people feel good. I must've missed that chapter of the Bible. Nicki is going nuts talking about how people are hurting and NEED Curtis to make an album. What I need is for Curtis to open both his eyes and stop winking at me through the tv. Randy throws out a "PRAISE GOD!" and says the guys are giving the girls a run...but by guys? He really means just Curtis. Mariah thanks him for the performance and says that's exactly what she needed in her life at this moment. Because, you know, she's got it REALLY tough.

MISSES:

Cortez Shaw, "Locked Out of Heaven" by Bruno Mars

Did anyone else catch Cortez's demonstration of the futterwhacken during his performance? I could barely concentrate on his singing! The song sounds decent enough - it may not be a stand out for the night, but it's not a trainwreck either. Or so I thought...the judges sort of disagreed. Keith loved his spirit, but did not like the song choice. Nicki thinks he needs to be styled sexier and says pretty much nothing about his voice. Randy feels like he's straining a little...then he criticizes the outfit. Oh, right, cause Randy is the pinnacle of fashion. Mariah agrees that he was straining a little, and she prefers his ballads. Oh, and PS judges? Ryan tells us the contestants are styling themselves. So Cortez apparently should let his mom pick out his clothes from now on.

Vincent Powell, "End of the Road" by Boyz II Men

Vincent starts singing, and I'm immediately transported to one of my middle school dances. It's not only the song, though - it's also that general feeling of trying too hard. Instead of the smooth effortless soul he brought last week, he's forcing notes and runs that aren't as natural. Keith thinks nerves got the better of him, and Nicki doesn't think his voice came alive in the song. Randy agrees that, while still good, it wasn't his best performance. Mariah thinks there were moments of brilliance and hopes America will vote for him. As a sidenote, Mariah hopes America will vote for everyone.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Girls 1, Guys ZERO: Regardless of how the competition pans out, the ladies have DEFINITELY won the week in styling. Have these guys never dressed themselves? Why are half of them dressed like nerds? Are they hipsters? DO NOT WANT!

A Very Special Episode: Remember all the things we liked about Charlie Askew a few weeks ago? How he was awkward and endearing? Yeah, that's gone. Tonight he's in a tank top and has his hair pulled back and like...a feather earring or something. Honestly, he comes off like a character from a Criminal Minds episode that makes me want to hide all the puppies in the neighborhood. His voice goes from its usual pleasant tone into a scream in "Mama" by Genesis, and it's like seeing Zoanette in boy form. Keith struggles to find a way to critique Charlie without breaking him - he suggests maybe Charlie would be better in a band, as his performance seems disconnected. Nicki asks, "Where's my little baby at?" Charlie mutters something about being angry. Randy calls the beginning terrible and the end a scream, soooo...yeah. Mariah sees that Charlie is on the verge of a breakdown, so she tries to be encouraging to him instead. As Ryan talks to him, Charlie says, "All I can say is, I needed to vent a little bit" and then says the only reason he smiles so much is because he feels like he has to. Um...I'm not even comfortable watching this unfold tonight, never mind voting to see it happen again next week.

Just What the World Needs: Paul Jolley's voice (and, yes, his look) is exactly what this boyband loving girl typically gravitates towards, but I'm not sure he's doing enough to convince America, particularly in this performance of "Just A Fool" by Christina Aguilera with Blake Shelton. He's got potential, but potential isn't enough to carry him through, especially when you finish a song in the same scream I use when I'm giving concerts on the highway during rush hour traffic. Keith asks him what kind of artist he wants to be, and Paul says he's really leaning towards country pop - he wants to be the guy Taylor Swift. Keith still thinks he's trying too hard. Nicki thought it was a solid performance but recommends that Paul listen to Keith about what makes a country star. Sidenote: does anyone else have a tough time determining if Nicki is making fun of people to their faces? Randy thinks he needs to find his sweet spot - he thought the end sort of fell apart. Mariah agrees that he has a strong instrument but says basically nothing that can be of any help whatsoever.

If It Works Once, Try It Again: Do not adjust your tv sets - Devin Velez IS singing in Spanish. Again. And this time it's to the old fashioned "Somos Novios" by Andrea Bocelli. Is this going to be a thing every week? Could he maybe pick a song that doesn't make me think I'm having a stroke, where everything slows down and happens without me really registering what is going on? He's got a good voice, but I'm not buying into the whole package just yet. Keith says he's gifted and really liked it. Nicki throws out as many Spanish words as she can and gives him kudos. Randy really likes his tone and calls him effortless. "That performance was incredible," says Mariah, and she thinks he could have international appeal.

Final Thoughts: Though not quite as clear cut as the ladies were last night, there are some definite choices to sail through to next week. Burnell and Curtis had the strongest performances of the night, while we should also expect to see Lazaro and likely Devin filling spots in the Top 5. The last slot, however, is a tough call. Nick and Elijah are both contenders, but I don't entirely trust America not to power vote to see more of Charlie. I think we've seen the last of Paul, but even so - Idol seems determined to continue giving him chances.

Who were your Top 5 guys tonight? Did you agree with what the judges had to say? Sound off in the comments below!

Catch American Idol every Wednesday and Thursday at 8/7C on Fox!

(Images courtesy of Fox)

Follow Kylene on Twitter @keepingupwithky!