Canadian Idol Update: Judges And Fans Choose The Songs

Canadian Idol judge Sass Jordan did double-duty this week, as she assisted the three finalists in their preparation for Monday night's performances. Perhaps Lisa Dalbello was busy.

Each Idol wannabe sang two numbers, one chosen by a judge and another picked by fans through an online poll.

Judge Farley Flex chose Burton Cummings' "Break It To Them Gently" for Jaydee Bixby, and the little cowboy impressed fellow adjudicator Jake Gold with his delivery.

"I don't know what Sass did, but without a doubt that's the best thing that I ever heard you did," he said. "The fact that you made it into a country song turned it into your song."

Gold chose Procol Harum's "Whiter Shade Of Pale" for Brian Melo, and his performance impressed all four judges.

Young Carly Rae Jepsen was asked to sing Janis Ian's "At Seventeen" by judge Zack Werner, who chose the poignant ballad because of the contestant's "ability to interpret a story."

"It's the perfect song for you and you delivered it the way it should be delivered," said Gold. "You showed your vulnerability, and that's what I've been saying is what you do best.

"You let people get inside you. It's a very hard thing to do, to be able to relate that."

Fans were given input on what they wanted to hear the final three sing, and Johnny Cash's "Ring Of Fire" beat out two Elvis Presley songs when it came time for Bixby to take his second turn on the stage.

"I'd say tonight you didn't sound like you were imitating anything," said Gold. "I think in both performances you showed you are much more than people are writing you off to be."

Jordan was so excited that she improvised a vocal version of the country classic's memorable trumpet part.

Fans chose Live's "Lightning Crashes" for Melo, and Gold called it "maybe one of the most explosive songs ever on this show."

Werner wasn't as impressed.

"As much as I'd love to keep the party going... you sounded super tired to me," he offered. "The crown on your head just shifted sideways and the game is wide open."

Jepsen's second number was Dido's "White Flag," which left Flex stumbling for words.

"The journey you've travelled... so much confidence, so much cool, a real understanding of the song," he said. "I really, really enjoyed it."

Gold wasn't quite as sold.

"I think it came off the rails a bit when you started to dance around... but, overall, really good vocal performance," he opined.

One of the top three will be eliminated on Tuesday night's show, which will feature performances from three Idol alumni: Kalan Porter, Ryan Malcolm fronting Low Level Flight and Jacob Hoggard mugging it up with Hedley.