The Top 4 Perform

Caleb kicks off the show with Bon Jovi's You Give Love A Bad Name. I don't think I have seen such confidence in any previous Idol contestant. This guy really does seem to enjoy himself and fits in with whatever is going on in the band behind him too. Very natural and you have to say that he is always note perfect and genuinely entertaining. He deserves his place. I am not sure how long he would last as an individual artist out there on his own - he needs a band in my view - or whether he will ever be seen as truly original and different rather than just a kid doing old rock numbers. (Doing them very well for all that.)

Jessica looks the part. Her song is Kelly Clarkson's Since You've Been Gone. Beautifully dressed and presented this week by the make-over team but there was something missing from the performance. It started a bit strangely and then she seemed to be on full volume all the way through but didn't do that sort of stuff with the same quality and style that Caleb has. She's good and looked comfortable out there. The panel spent hours telling them how they wanted to see her emotions and they're right in that we seldom do feel what she's actually communicating.

Alex sings Too Close. Now I don't know this one but it didn't matter as Alex is excellent at getting lyrics across. Once again, he shows quite some talent in understanding music and full marks for this choice and the way he put it across. He is now 'pin-up' idol and the trousers are beginning to get a bit annoying but we have to put all of that out of our heads. He is very likeable as well as expert in his field and I suppose we could call him a music geek! Nothing wrong with that and there have been one or two winners in the past in similar vein. I am, for the first time, recognising that he could well win this.

Heartbreaker by Pat Benetar was not one of her best known songs but it does suit Jena. Full on from the very start, I am not so sure it was something I would want to hear many more times but it did show how good she is at this sort of thing. Not easy by any stretch of the imagination and so it did seem a bit desperate at times and way too fast and breathless. I much preferred Jessica's performance, though, to this despite the fact that Jena was moving around and rocking out a lot more.

First round to the boys.

Fabulous! Caleb does Creedence Clearwater Revival's Travellin' Band. I guess there isn't really much too that song but it was great to hear it again - I was a big CCR fan in 70 - and he just looks and sounds like a professional act with this sort of track.

Jessica does So What by Pink

It's missing from the video so I've added it here. She clearly liked that herself but I go with Harry - she needs to connect.


Jena has Lady Gaga's Bad Romance. Oh dear, that didn't work. She tried and did a reasonable job of the vocals herself but the staging and ridiculously annoying drumming and strange backing voices definitely did not work. Not her fault so I can't be too critical of the girl but that will not help her in this competition. It was a bit desperate too. Disappointing because she is better than that.

Alex has I'm Yours by Jason Mraz. This could be his chance to take the second round. Missing from the main video so added below.



Keith spots that the guy finally relaxes near the end and that's when we get to see the real Alex. That was excellent and once again, it's the boys who are in charge this week.

Maybe I'm Amazed by Paul McCartney is Caleb's very smart choice. He can, in fact, sing it far better than the Beatle too. So we have a well-written song performed as it really always should have been. That'll see Caleb though to the Top 3, no problem. Very good. Marvellous job, Caleb. If this were the Final he would be walking away the winner now.

Jessica has some work to do this week. She takes on Lady Gaga too but a better song than Jena chose.
You And I suited her well. I wanted it to go on longer as it was the sort of track that she needs. Again, the song is missing from the main video so separately here.


Jena chooses I Can't Help Falling In Love which, of course, many people have done including Elvis. Slowed down, Jena sits at a piano and plays through this. Very effective and a cool move by whoever advises her. That was the 'moment' of the week and, perhaps, of several weeks. A brilliant performance by this young star. That will see her through next week and even made Jennifer come out and on to the stage to congratulate her which I don't think I have ever seen before. That's a big moment in this whole competition.

Alex has Coldplay's classic Yellow. Many people do this. I remember Alex Park making a fabulous version on a BBC predecessor to Pop Idol. Alex, we know, can reproduce this nicely but can he add anything to this one? Not really but it is still a very good performance and I think his fans will have found it a little special. His performances have all been very light tonight. They've suited him.

Overall, I think Caleb has to be safe and Jena rescued herself extremely well and will stay. Of Alex and Jessica it looks like Alex will make the final and, though sad to see her go, I feel Jessica's position is rightly 4th. She could, with better choices, have made 3rd and possibly made a different overall outcome possible as the only girl in the final.