'American Idol' recap: Girls Rule, Boys Drool

Gurpreet Singh Sarin -- Okay, this one was legitimately bad. I found nothing redeeming in his cover of James Morrison's "Nothing Ever Hurt Like You" other than that once again, the Turbinator seems like a super nice, smart, guy. A little desperate, but who isn't? The judges ripped on him for neglecting his trusty guitar. Apparently no one noticed that without an instrument and some physical activity to distract the beholder, the guy can't really sing. Later, marigolden boy. Or as Nicki put it: "Honey child: HELL NO."

Josh Holiday -- He took a huge risk by singing and then over-performing an original tune called "Better With You." The judges decided it'd be better if he'd stayed at the piano, so we're back to that. Keith Urban said he wished vocal teacher Josh would have cut loose more -- "I don't give a rat's about skillful; I want to see your rawwwwwrness and passion at the end." Such an artful omission of ass, Keith!

Basically, Josh wasn't that great but he was better than one or two of the guys who advanced, and it's likely the producers feared his WGWG power.

Profound parting words from Nicki: "You ripped your pants off and we'll never forget that."

Mathenee Treco -- His bombastic rendition of "A Little Less Conversation" might have made more sense as the headlining post-buffet event at the Bahamas resort where he works as a choreographer and entertainment specialist. His energy and one of the less-startling high notes amused me, but it was definitely more of a karaoke performance than what I prefer.

Nicki, Keith, and Randy demanded that age-old Idol question of Mathenee: "What kind of artist do you want to be? WHO ARE YOU?" Rumor has it the Elvis tune (which apparently Mariah Carey has never heard) was not Mathenee's first, second, or third choice. I wish he'd done classic rock or hip-hop.

NEXT: The five guys to advance are....

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