Perhaps it was inevitable that last night’s “Top 11 Redux” week would pale in comparison to last week’s excellent performance show. The Elton John-themed episode was a mixed bag of sorts, containing some bum performances and a handful of good-but-not-great performances. Let’s break down the 11 contestants Twitter style:

Scotty McCreery – “Country Comfort”

Not his best vocal (his signature last low note was off), but wholly genuine. His comfort, both on stage and in his own skin, is hard to beat.

Naima Adedapo– “I’m Still Standing”

Went back to sacrificing vocals for energy and style. Not sure her reggae spin really clicked with the song. Accent totally threw me off.

Paul McDonald- “Rocket Man”

Haunting and quietly intense. Like the melody switch-up. First Paul performance I’ve loved in weeks, save the creepy whispered last words.

Pia Toscano- “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”


Gorgeous note choices - her specialty. Still want to see other sides of her, like Randy. She’s like “Idol Barbie,” (mostly) in a good way.

Stefano Langone- “Tiny Dancer”


Needed to pick a song that he could really sink his teeth into, vocally and emotionally. Didn't work. Chorus is too stylized for his voice.

Lauren Alaina- “Candle in the Wind”


Her country phrasing and styling sounded amazing - girl was born to sing country. Could've maybe used more oomph and emotional connection.

James Durbin- “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting”


High energy, confident performance. Not a stellar vocal, but not a bad one. Love that he always has a hell of a time on stage. Toe touch FTW!

Thia Megia- “Daniel”


Pretty fit for her tone, but boring performance with several flat notes. Emotional disconnect is still there, though I see that she's trying.

Casey Abrams- “Your Song”


Raw, stripped down Casey. Not his best, but good reminder of why he deserved to stick around. He's not just a performer; he's a singer's singer.

Jacob Lusk- “Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word”


Too dark & dramatic - it was distracting and masked the heart (and pitch) of the song. Needs to remember that a little restraint goes a long way.

Haley Reinhart- “Benny and the Jets”

Best vocal from her all season, mostly because her natural vocal swagger fit the rhythm of the song. Still, girl does not understand subtlety.

Bottom Three Prediction: Naima, Stefano & Thia

Quote of the Night

“You know how I know a good song? It makes me cry inside”

-Rare poignant words from Steven Tyler that hit home for me.

Get more of Tara Seetharam's pop culture musings on her website www.taraseetharam.com and follow her on Twitter @TaraAshley.