'American Idol': You don't know what it's like

'American Idol': You don't know what it's like

Perhaps Joshua Ledet won't win American Idol, but he should have sealed his record deal Wednesday night. Taking a song he'd never heard before last week -- the Bee Gees' To Love Somebody -- he turned in a masterful performance as good as any contestant on the show has sung this season.

He'd done a decent job of channeling the Temptations' David Ruffin earlier in the show, singing Ain't Too Proud to Beg, but his To Love Somebody had the judges tripping over their tongues. "No matter what goes down, you're one of the best singers ever on this show," Randy Jackson told him after his performance.

Joshua's staggeringly good finish threatened to overshadow Hollie Cavanagh, who final ly came into her own, first wailing the Ike Tina Turner hit River Deep, Mountain High, then taking a subdued, intimate turn on Leona Lewis' Bleeding Love.

Overall, it was a strong performance night, as the Idols sang '60s hits in the first hour of the show and British pop in the second, with Bruce Springsteen guitarist Steven Van Zant serving as mentor. So Phillip funked up the Box Tops' The Letter, then sang the Zombies' Time of the Season as straight as he's sung any song. Jessica Sanchez borrowed liberally from Tina Turner and Beyonce when she sang Proud Mary, then delivered a lovely version of the Joe Cocker hit You Are So Beautiful. And Skylar Laine covered Creedence Clearwater Revival (Fortunate Son) and Dusty Springfield (You Don't Have to Say You Love Me).

Here's how I rank the first round:

1. Hollie Cavanagh, River Deep, Mountain High
2. Joshua Ledet, Ain't Too Proud to Beg
3. Phillip Phillips, The Letter
4. Skylar Laine, Fortunate Son
5. Jessica Sanchez, Proud Mary

And Round Two:

1. Joshua Ledet, To Love Somebody
2. Hollie Cavanagh, Bleeding Love
3. Jessica Sanchez, You Are So Beautiful
   
4. Skylar Laine, You Don't Have to Say You Love Me
5. Phillip Phillips, Time of the Season

What about you?