‘American Idol’ Recap: Songs From Now and Then

Only five 'American Idol' contestants were left on Wednesday night's episode -- with each contestant singing two songs. They were allowed to perform one modern song and one from their parents' era. It was a test of how adaptable the singers are. Most of them gave good performances, but those who gave iffy performances during the first song (Jacob Lusk, Haley Reinhart) quickly redeemed themselves the second time out. Voting must have been tough, America! Hope you made the right choices.

James Durbin: Durbin went modern with Thirty Seconds to Mars' pitch shifting 'Closer to the Edge.' It made us ask, 'Jared Leto who?' With his rocker vest and faux hawk, Durbin kicked the song's ass, too. His classic song was 'Without You' and it was an emotional powerhouse. He cried. So did we.
- Watch His 'Closer to the Edge' Performance
- Watch His 'Without You' Performance

Scotty McCreery: McCreery's larger-than-life take on Montgomery Gentry's 'Gone' was like being at "Concert Scotty." He slowed down for his reprise, giving us 'Always on My Mind' by Elvis Presley, once against showing us what a dynamic and dominating artist this country boy is.
- Watch His 'Gone' Performance
- Watch His 'Always on the Mind' Performance

Jacob Lusk: Lusk stumbled through both male and female leads on the duet 'No Air,' originally sung by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown, but he came back with a passionate vengeance with 'Love Hurts.' He was the male Mariah Carey, hitting one of the highest notes ever on the 'Idol' stage.
-Watch His 'No Air' Performance
- Watch His 'Love Hurts' Performance

Lauren Alaina: Alaina demonstrated mood movement by going twangy -- and somewhat obscure -- with Carrie Underwood's 'Flat on the Floor' and then delivered the second of her one-two punch with a moving version of The Righteous Brother's 'Unchained Melody.'
- Watch her 'Flat on the Floor' Performance
- Watch her 'Unchained Melody' Performance

Haley Reinhart: Reinhart received permission from Lady Gaga to perform her unreleased, Vegas-y ballad 'You & I', which did not play to her Joss Stone strengths. You could call it a comeback with her knock 'em dead handling of 'House of the Rising Sun,' a big song that she would have sung herself is she was born several decades ago.
- Watch Her 'You and I' Performance
- Watch Her 'House of the Rising Sun' Performance