'American Idol': who makes the top three?

I called this one and finally got it right since I have been predicting Rayvon going home week in, week out for awhile.

Rayvon had the sweetest, prettiest voice in the competition. But he struggled over time to connect emotion, vocal technique and performance. When he sang to his mom last week, he hit all three. But as he kept scraping near the bottom and fighting back, he never felt like an "American Idol" winner. I do give him credit for staying alive as long as he did. And the challenges made him a better artist.

With the remaining three, we have a taut battle. Any of them could win. (Just check the polls below and you'll see.) Clark was the favorite for many weeks but it seems like the producers, the mentor and at least some of the judges are favoring Jax or Nick. I would love Jax to win because she's is the most interesting artist of the trio. Nick is possibly the most likely to land the Daughtry Hot AC pop-rock award. Jax has a better shot at stardom, I'd fathom. Clark? I am not sure where he would fit in the grand scheme of things. We'll talk more later about commercial viability.

Let's move on to tonight. We heard them sing three songs each tonight: a judge's pick, Scott Borchetta's pick and their own hometown pick.

They also showed the videos of their hometown visits of the remaining contestants. (I provide quick summaries in the captions of each of the photos above and below).

Ryan Seacrest by the way said "Fo for Fo," catching HCJ's attention. "I'm really hip hop and R&B," said Mr. White Bread himself ironically.

So who had the strongest night? I'd go with Jax, especially her first two performances. Ravyon surprised me with his Jason DeRulo and liked his Stevie Wonder but found his Joe Cocker cover predictable. I enjoyed Nick's Andy Grammer the best. He was solid but didn't have any real magic moments. Clark's oddly old-fashioned take of a new song by Wkend was my favorite simply because it was so different.

My ranks: 1. Jax 2. Nick 3. Rayvon 4. Clark

Who will go home? I really am not sure. At this point, I'd hate to see Jax go so I'm going to say, in an upset, that Clark is going. That may be more my personal desire than any real rationale. We'll see. (The readers of this blog have generally been favoring Clark and continue to do so, based on the polls.)

Scott's picks:

Rayvon Owen ("Want You To Want Me") I think he had a breakthrough last week and it carried over with this performance. He really shone with an upbeat pop song, sounded and felt really comfortable and wasn't (gasp!) boring! Keith said it was a great song choice. JLo: "Perfect for your tone." HCJ: "I hear you primarily as a ballad singer. By far the best I've seen you on an uptempo song."

Grade: A-minus

Clark ("Beautiful Day" U2) - Wait. Wasn't that season 9 Lee DeWyze's winning song? That's a low bar to go over. He sounds really tentative in the first verse. But he hits some strong notes during the chorus. It really isn't his style of song. It's clearly Scott's effort to place him in a more rock arena and away from soul/soft jazz. Overall, it's a mixed bag. JLo said it suited his voice. HCJ thought it was "pretty good." Keith said there was a "reckless abandon" 3/4 of the way through. "You should have risen up more with the band."

Grade: B-plus

Nick ("Because the Night" Bruce Springsteen) - It's one of his favorite songs. He does a very clean, efficient version of this classic. It does fit his voice. HCJ: "I thought it was fantastic. There's an underlying seriousness to this competition. Everyone is fighting."Keith: "When I hear your tone, I'm excited. I look forward to hearing it every week." JLo: "I can't stress the importance of connecting with the lyrics." (I agree, JLo!)

Grade: A-minus/B-plus

Jax ("My Generation" Who) - She could be this decade's Gwen Stefani. She has the edge and the pop-rock sensibility. So why not modernize a Who classic? She works it with incredible comfort and aplomb. Keith said it was "freakin' awesome." JLo: "You had the whole audience with you. You killed that." HCJ: "You absolutely made the most of your opportunity here. You're listening, you're growing."

Grade: A

HOMETOWN SONGS

Nick ("Back Home" Andy Grammer) - He starts tentatively but once he hits his stride, he is off to the races and gets into it with the crowd. JLo: "That was another great song. Each week, we've seen you get better and better." HCJ: "I can remember you almost didn't audition that day. Nice job."

Grade: A-minus

Clark ("Sittin on the Dock of the Bay" Otis Redding) - He goes back to his comfort zone. This felt very much in his wheelhouse and he was in a warm, breezy pocket. I may not remember this in a week but he did the job. HCJ said it was nice to see the hometown video and got to know him a bit. Keith feels there's a "veneer" and needs more "angst."

Grade: A-minus/B-plus

Rayvon ("As" Stevie Wonder) - Stevie Wonder again? At least it's a song nobody has sung before. I do have to say Rayvon is definitely feeling more comfortable on stage than he was a few weeks back. He's connecting more. All those Twitter save battles have left him battle scarred but also battle tested. JLo: "Nobody can count you out." HCJ likes to see him move more.

Grade: A-minus

Jax ("My Immortal" Evanescence) - She is a much more delicate singer than Amy Lee, the original lead singer. So she doesn't weigh it down with Amy-like angsty wailing. Instead, she gives it more of a Jewel-esque treatment. Pretty. JLo loves her confidence and humility.

Grade: A/A-minus

JUDGE'S PICKS

Clark ("Earned It" The Wkend) - JLo said the judges chose this song because it's modern and Clark tends to lean toward oldies. He lacked intensity in the beginning, as HCJ said, but then moves up big time near the end. Very dramatic and very Clark-like. JLo said at the end, it got electric and she got the "goosies."

Grade: A-minus

Rayvon ("You Are So Beautiful" Joe Cocker) - Cocker brings such an edge to this song with his scratchy voice. Rayvon pretties it up and it's very much what you'd expect from him. JLo: "I feel like I wanted you to sing to your mom again. Something else happens. It needed to have that variation. The only way it can is with emotion." HCJ: "I did feel you were singing it emotionally but it's totally subjective."

Grade: B-plus

Jax ("Misery Business" Paramore) - An interesting stripped down version of this song and Jax rocks it. Keith found it an odd combo. HCJ: "That one wasn't as strong as the previous two. You need to drive what's going on on stage." He felt she was being upstaged by the guitarist. "You need to command the stage."  JLo: "It's about stealing the show."

Grade: A-minus/B-plus

Nick ("I'll Be" Edwin McCain) - He plays it pretty straight. Again, he does a clean, efficient version but it's nothing memorable. It leaves no fingerprints. I wasn't as impressed as the judges.

Grade: B-plus

How about the season finale in seven days? Here are the special guest performances:

Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho

Credit: Rodney Ho