'American Idol' live-blog rewind: Duets are a hit on movie-song night

We live-blogged Tuesday night's Top 4 performances on "American Idol." The mentor for "songs of the cinema" was Jamie Foxx.

Here's how the evening unfolded.

5:00 - "This ... is 'American Idol'!"

5:01 - so I'm told the format tonight will be a solo song from each of the Top 4, followed by a couple of duets. The partners for the duets tonight are Michael & Casey and Lee & Crystal.

5:03 - Host Ryan Seacrest is giving us the scoop on mentor Jamie Foxx, who really has transcended the fields of pop music and movies.

5:05 - Lee DeWyze is singing Seal's "Kiss From A Rose." Jamie did the up-in-your-face trick with Lee that he used on Danny Gokey last year. This song has some high notes that are a challenge for Lee -- he hasn't had high notes like this so far this season. But even though I think that one note was tough, the tone of his voice for the rest of the song was fantastic.
Randy: "For me you did nothing with that song - you did nothing with that song. It didn't work for me."
Ellen: "Your so good, and you sang that so well. I loved it."
Kara: "It's one of the most difficult songs to sing, and I think you got lost a little and out of tune at times. But you are still great."
Simon: "I'm going to have to agree with Randy."

5:15 - Michael Lynche is up second tonight. Jamie Foxx says he needs to loosen up. He's singing "Will You Be There," by Michael Jackson. Not digging this song choice, nor the way Michael's singing it. Just nothing that special at all.
Randy: "I didn't love this for you. It was just all right for me and didn't really take off."
Ellen: "I think it was a little bit predictable."
Kara: "Tonight I wanted goosebumps, but I didn't feel that from you."
Simon: "At least you gave it a hundred percent, and I kind of felt like you meant it."

5:25 - We're moving to the first duet of the night, featuring Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze. They're doing a song I *love," "Falling Slowly," from the movie "Once." Kris Allen did it last year and it was awesome. These two are giving it a bit more of a rock flavor, which I like. Lee's vocals are overpowering Crystal's though, which kind of sucks. Over all, really nice.
Randy: "I loved it - it was amazing. That could be a hit right now."
Ellen: "That was great."
Kara: "One of my favorite moments of the season."
Simon: "I would call that a *fantastic* song."

5:35 - It's a solo turn for Casey James next. He's doing the song I wanted him to do! "Mrs. Robinson," from The Graduate. Jamie tells him he needs to seduce his audience. Casey's doing a sleepy version of this though, which won't win him any points from me. He could have totally rocked this out. What a shame. This was passionless karaoke to me. Wow. I do like the mandolin though.
Randy: "Why did you choose that song? (points to Kara). It was just kind of laid back."
Ellen: "I liked it."
Kara: "For me this is you fighting to stay in the competition. For me, this was a good choice."
Simon: "Personally, I didn't think the song or the performance had the substance that this night required. I think it was a little bit lazy."

5:45 - Crystal's solo song is from the movie "Caddyshack." Yes, you read that right. Kenny Loggins' "I'm Alright." She's totally giving it the Crystal spin. I admire her attempt at having a little fun. And she's right: it's a funny movie. It was fun, and that's about it, but that's OK.
Randy: "Nice job."
Ellen: "I think that you actually took that song and made it better."
Kara: "Artist."
Simon: "After that performance, you, Crystal are back in the game."

5:53 - The final performance of the night is a duet from Michael and Casey. They're doing "Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman," by Bryan Adams. Hmmm. This is not my thing, I'm afraid. I don't get it. Either this pairing is just not right, or the song is just plain bad. All in all, not one of Casey's better nights.
Randy: "You guys sounded really good. Nice one."
Ellen: "As a matter of fact, yes I have loved a woman."
Kara: "The duets tonight were incredible."
Simon: "The duets were a million times better than the solo performances. Well done."

What did you think of tonight's performances? To me, this night really exposed the gap between the top two, Lee and Crystal, and the bottom two, Michael and Casey.

Here's my ranking, from best to worst:

Blockbuster
- Lee and Crystal duet

Wait for DVD
- Lee DeWyze
- Crystal Bowersox
- Casey and Michael duet
- Michael Lynche

Bomb
- Casey James