Singer: Aaron Kelly
Song: "Ain't No Sunshine"
Monkeys As Critics' Take: I get that Crystal can't just be given the pimp slot every week, but why can't Crystal just be given the pimp slot every week? Usher's a big Aaron Kelly fan, but how will Aaron pull off this icon track? Your answer? With a lot of vocal vibrato. It's been so long since "Idol" has had a good cover of "Ain't No Sunshine." What? You mean Kris Allen just did a good cover of "Ain't No Sunshine" last season? A cover that was far better and infinitely more distinctive than this one? Oh. Never mind. Heck, Lee's audition rendition of "Ain't No Sunshine" was better than this one. Does anybody else find it impossible to buy Aaron Kelly as a soulful brooder? Limitations and bleating aside, it's a decent vocal for Aaron. It's far below the standard set by the past two performers, but if he'd come earlier in the night, I'm certain I'd have been more charitable.
Randy, Ellen, Kara and Simon Say: Yo. Yo. Listen. It started rough for Randy, who wanted a little more soul flavor. Ellen's impressed an 11-year-old was able to do so well. Kara "liked" it. Simon calls it "a cupcake" compared to Lee, but that there's no chance he's leaving the competition.