The Top 3 had to sing 2 songs last night. Danny Gokey sang The Rolling Stones - Dance Little Sister and Joe Cocker - You Are So Beautiful. Danny was as solid as ever.

Check out: (both songs in the same video)

When Danny sang “You are So Beautiful”, I couldn’t help but imagine that he was singing that song for his wife. It was so powerful and yet so genuine and heartfelt. He’s got a powerful voice but he didn’t let himself overpower the song. I could listen to him sing all night.

So Danny needs your vote to get to the final. Start dialing now and don’t stop until the end. I’ve been voting since the lines opened up. Let’s make sure that the winner of the American Idol singing contest is truly a singer and not just a pretty face.

With that said, I hope you were all as impressed as I was by Danny’s sense of humor and the way he poked fun at himself last night when they asked him about that “last note” in Dream On. He proved once again that he is really a class act. Everything about him, is the type of person that I would like to see succeed here.

Come on fans… make your vote count, and let’s be sure that Danny goes all the way.

Now that I’ve said that… well you’ve got to admire Danny and his guts. Singing Aerosmith’s “Dream On” took a lot of courage and that’s something we know Danny has. Simon was rough on Danny but the other 3 judges recognized that he wasn’t playing it safe… Danny was absolutely going for it and I though he did great with the song.

Check it out

I hope you all voted big time to make sure that Danny gets through to the next rounds because he really is the type of person that you want to see succeed. Go Danny!

News to watch?? Adam Lambert in the bottom two. Adam is obviously a good singer, but I think America will get tired of his “theatrical” stuff. He’s probably got a career ahead of him in musical theater or even on Broadway, but I just can’t see him beating Danny at the end.

The Top 5 performed last night and Danny sang ‘Come Rain or Come Shine’ which has been recorded by so many superstar artists over the years that it is hard to keep track. Artists such as Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, Ray Charles, Jack Jones, Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, Don Henley and Eric Clapton are just some of the people who have re-recorded this song.

Check out Danny Gokey’s Version

Simon called it the best that Danny had done in weeks, and Danny has been consistently great. Paula said it all…. Danny can “see the finish line” from here. Get it right America… VOTE for Danny Gokey

Well, my worries were completely unfounded. Danny got through “September” with flying colors and it should be clear sailing from here to the finals against Adam Lambert. (Yes… I know there are still other competitors, but realistically that’s how I see the final… two different singers, with two different styles… What do you think?)

The Top 7 performed for a second time because Matt Giraud was saved by the judges last week. That means that 2 people will be sent home this week.

Check it out - (No Video - Copyright Issues)

Tomorrow night David Archuleta will be on the American Idol results show.

Here is what the other contestants sang:

Lil Rounds
Chaka Khan - I’m Every Woman

Kris Allen
Donna Summer - She Works Hard For The Money

Allison Iraheta
Donna Summer - Hot Stuff

Adam Lambert
The Bee Gees - If I Can’t Have You

Matt Giraud
The Bee Gees - Staying Alive

Anoop Desai
Donna Summer - Dim All The Lights

The special guest on American Idol last night was the world famous director Quentin Tarantino. I expect that the remaining contestants know a bit more about music than Tarantino does, so I don’t know what kind of guidance he would be able to give them. However, having the famous director from Pulp Fiction, Resevoir Dogs and the Kill Bill movies is certainly a big deal.

Danny Gokey’s rendition of Endless Love must have been difficult for him to perform considering I am sure he could help but think of his late wife, but Danny didn’t faulter. Simon didn’t give great comments, but I think even he was impressed with how well Gokey held his emotions together during the performance.

Check it out: (No Video - Copyright Issues)

There was a slight change this week. Only two judges gave comments because of the disaster which took place last week where they ran 8 minutes too long.

Judges Comments:

“From the opening of the performance I wasn’t sure of it that that key should have been lowered, but I will tell you midway through your magic is in your voice. It’s in that magical place that defines you as unique and unforgettable. He pulled it together from midway to the end, and you know you grab us in the beginning, you Wow us in the middle and you slay us in the end, and that was a beautiful, beautiful rendition.”

Here is what the other contestants sang:

Allison Iraheta
Aerosmith - I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing

Anoop Desai
Bryan Adams - Everything I Do

Adam Lambert
Steppenwolf - Born to be Wild

Matt Giraud
Bryan Adams - To Really Love A Woman

Kris Allen
The Frames - Falling Slowly

Lil Rounds
Amanda McBroom - Bette Midler - The Rose

Danny Gokey was the first performer of the night, and he decided to sing ‘Stand By Me’ by The Temptations and he was superb again. He opened the show with a bang and set a very high standard for the other contestants to live up to. American Idol Fans have yet to see Danny do a bad performance. It wasn’t his best performance, but he was solid as always. Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuadi commented that they didn’t really like the arrangement. However, that his strong vocals still made it an enjoyable performance.

Check it out: (no video - copyright issues)

Here is what the judges had to say about it:

Randy Jackson said, “Alright, Dude. You know what when you first came out and you’re doing your thing. You had link the gospel, jazz, r&b chords. Like I did not love the arrangement, but here is what I love about you. You’re an amazing singer. You made me love it, even though I didn’t like the arrangement. That’s what it is about. This is a vocal talent show, and you got some talent!!”

Kara DioGuardi said, “Yup. I too was like, what kind of arrangement is this? But at the same time, at the end you just killed it. You took it one level, two levels, three levels. You kept going and going and you turned it on its head, and you made it your own, and it’s really unique. You did your own thing and you did it well.”

Paul Abdul said, “All I can say is Wow Danny you have opened the show setting the bar so high that everyone else who follows you is going to have to run as fast as they can to catch up. Honestly, everything from the creative liberties that you took with the arrangement, which I happen to like very much, to the chord substitutions. They equally match how brilliant your voice was tonight. Very amazing.”

“Look, I thought the beginning was good. I thought the middle was lazy, and the end was terrific. So overall great!”

It goes without saying that Danny Gokey will be safe this week. Another rock solid has guarenteed that.

Here is what the other contestants sang:

Kris Allen - Born on June 21, 1985
Don Henley - All She Wants To Do Is Dance

Lil Rounds - Born on October 20, 1984
Tina Turner - What’s Love Got To Do With It

Anoop Desai - Born on December 20, 1986
Cyndi Lauper - True Colors

Scott Macintyre - Born on June 22, 1985
Survivor - The Search Is Over

Allison Iraheta - Born on April 27, 1992
Bonnie Raitt - I Can’t Make You Love Me

Matt Giraud - Born on May 11, 1985
Stevie Wonder - Part Time Lover

Adam Lambert - Born on January 29, 1982
Tears for Fears - Mad World

Check it out (no video - copyright issues)