Tonight's show is traditionally one of the most exciting. It's the first time competitors get two chances to showcase themselves, and also the moment they get to embrace, and be embraced by, their hometown fans.

Who should win AI?

Adam Lambert

Kris Allen

Danny Gokey

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It was no different last night as the trappings of dual performances revealed both the minimal shortcomings and abundant talents of the remaining contestants. It's an instant revelation of a singer's range when they're forced to move between two distinct songs in a manner of a few minutes. Either you come out showing you can sing anything, or you simply reiterate than no matter what you sing, you make it sound like everything else.

The latter was not a problem for any of the performers tonight, and they each showed a wide breadth to their abilities, again demonstrating that this is the best final three yet.

The homecoming clips were cool as ever. It's easy to be snarky about "American Idol", but everyone who's watching knows they'd like to share the feeling going back to their hometown as its hero of the day. Never was that more present than tonight, as seas of fans welcomed each guy home.

While those clips may have been cool, that's not the real reason anybody was watching this show. We want to see the singers! So on with the evaluations:

Danny Gokey Sang "Dance Little Sister" by Terence Trent D'Arby

Randy Said: That was dope for me.
Kara Said: The dancing was a little gyrating to me. (Actually, it was kind of fun, Kara.)
Paula Said: It thought it was fantastic.
Simon Said: Vocally very very good. (Then he insulted the sax player)

The Verdict:

Before we evaluate Gokey, let's quickly point out the most absurd claim in the history music. Upon releasing this album, D'arby claimed his debut was, "Better than 'Sgt. Peppers'". Didn't quite work out.

People may think Paula's a yutz (and they're probably right) but this was a superb song choice for Danny. It forced him outside his wedding singer comfort zone, as he had to fully insert himself into the song's wild funk just to avoid embarrassment.

This performance was anything but. An effortless bit of energy during which Gokey finally seemed not only comfortable onstage the entire time, but ready to command the proscenium. And, as always, a sizzling vocal without a single stray note. Finally, we get the Danny Gokey we all expected from his tremendous auditions.

Grade: A-

Kris Allen Sang "Apologize" by One Republic

Randy Said: Randy kind of just patted himself on the back for the song choice.
Kara Said: It was a really competent performance, but at this stage you've got to swing it out of the park. I wanted you to make it more your own. (Oh my God, I completely agreed with Kara).
Paula Said: Paula criticized one bad note, and actually was pretty negative toward him despite ultimately expressing her pride.
Simon Said: It was a competent performance, but not quite as good as the original. (This comment was sandwiched between a tirade by Simon against Randy and Kara for not arranging the song for him, or offering him more guidance. Yeah, Simon really seems happy on this show.)

The Verdict:

It's hard to call something karaoke when the performer is actually a playing an instrument, but this is really nothing more than really great karaoke. Allen's got a good voice and lays down a solid vocal, but just a simple copy of the original version.

He didn't do anything bad with this performance; Kris just failed to add anything special. At this point in the competition, you have to do more than simply singing a song as it's recorded.

Grade: B

Adam Lambert Sang "One" by U2

Randy Said: You are a really really talented guy.
Kara Said: You made the song unbelievable.
Paula Said: One brilliant song. One superb performance. One American Idol that I'm staring at right now.
Simon Said: I thought that was a brilliant song choice (that makes it eight years-in-a-row that Simon's made that joke!). If you're not in the finals it will be outrageous.

The Verdict:

I'm not sure what do with myself tonight. Adam's outfit doesn't cry out for any mockery. What is going on?

So Adam goes balls-to-the-wall and turns a simple pop ballad into a rollicking torch song. This was an actual, honest-to-God, cover of a song with an astounding vocal and tremendous performance to match. A cover. That is almost of unheard of on this show.




Adam Lambert has a parade in his honor in his hometown of San Diego - FOX. CR: Michael Becker/ FOX.

And now that the lights have come up to reveal his denim shirt, I can say that Adam looks like a farmhand in Willy Wonka's factory. Phew!

Grade: A+

Danny Gokey Sang "You Are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker

Randy Said: You showed you were here because you can really really really sing.
Kara Said: That was stunning.
Paula Said: You left all of us breathless.
Simon Said: A vocal master class.

(So the judges totally disagreed with what I've written below. Was there too much wax in my ears during this performance? Let me know in the comments.)

The Verdict:

This performance just feels awkward and odd. I don't know why Danny thought it was a good idea to restrain his otherworldly powerful voice for such a substantial portion of the song as he's always had trouble with the more delicate notes.

That was true here, as he sat on the stool looking like a top heavy egg trying to balance itself and sounding like somebody sing-whispering their kids to sleep.

It got better towards the end, and the arrangement was very cool with just the few spare instruments onstage and the lilting background singers. But the beginning was just so feeble and peculiar that it's hard to give this a positive review.

Grade: C-

Kris Allen Sang "Heartless" by Kanye West

Randy Said: That for me was better than the original. (Somewhere, Kanye is really angry)
Kara Said: It was bold, brave and fearless. (Was it also courageous, intrepid, daring, gallant and valiant.)
Paula Said: I commend you. Bravo.
Simon Said: I had written you out after the first performance. That has all changed after that performance.

The Verdict:

This performance sounds like a strange mash up of The Violent Femmes, Plain White T's and Hootie and the Blowfish. And somehow, all those clashing styles work. Everything that he didn't do in his first performance with regards to reinventing a song, he's done here.




Kris Allen sings for his fans as part of a day long celebration in Little Rock, Arkansas - on FOX. CR: Michael Becker/ FOX.

The vocals were just as good as his first performance, but now he's actually made a go at covering the song rather than just singing it. An excellent job with both singing and artistry, as Kara calls it. He looked dead in the water for a second, but this made him a contender again.

Grade: A

Adam Lambert Sang "Cryin'" by Aerosmith

Randy Said: I loved this even more than 'One' for you.
Kara Said: We'll see you at the finals.
Paula Said: I hope you're collecting frequent flyer miles because you'll be flying for free soon. (How does that make any sense whatsoever?)
Simon Said: Don't assume Adam will be there - vote for him based on talent.

The Verdict:

Just a very nice solid performance from Adam. He rocked the stage, he rocked the song, and he rocked out with vocals that probably nobody on earth is capable of matching. For Adam, this was nothing special, but for anyone else this was their wildest singing dream come true.

Plus, I've seen less leather at cattle drives than I saw on his person during that song.

Grade: B+

Final Thoughts:

Despite what I consider borderline sabotage by Simon throughout (Why did he have to continually bash Randy and Kara for doing really nothing wrong at all at the expense of Kris?) this turned out to be one of the best performance nights in the show's history. That's what happens with that assembly of talent gracing the stage.

But who to choose? More importantly, whom will America choose?

Adam would be the simple answer, but don't be so certain. He may fall victim to the "seems so safe that nobody votes for him" curse despite Simon's pleadings. Going last should nullify that; however, and it's a pretty good shot that he'll sail through to the finals.

So the real question is - Danny or Kris? Danny's never been in the bottom three and got probably his best reviews from the judges yet. Kris gets more screams than anybody from the crowd and received overwhelming accolades for his Kanye West cover. Plus, he went after Danny.

Still, it's hard to ignore Gokey's substantial voting bloc, one that seems untouched by the other two contestants. In fact, he may actually be the most likely to advance to the finals of this tremendously talented trio.

So it will come down to Adam vs. Danny. Blue States vs. Red States. The Coasts vs. Middle America. Never before has an "American Idol" result had more potential to play out as a microcosm of our society.

Of course, Kris could always make the finals and render that moot.

Story by Andrew Payne

Starpulse contributing writer