American Idol Season 6 Episode 13 Week 7A: Top 12 Men Perform

Week 7A of American Idol season 6 brings the Top 12 Men Perform to the stage. The stakes are high as the contestants compete against each other to stay in the running for the coveted title of American Idol. The episode kicks off with Ryan Seacrest introducing the judges, Simon, Randy, and Paula and getting the audience pumped up for the night's performances.

The first contestant to take the stage is Blake Lewis who chooses to perform a rendition of the classic Stevie Wonder hit, "You Haven't Done Nothin'." Blake is known for his beatboxing abilities and he incorporates that into his performance. The judges are impressed with his energy and charisma, but Simon criticizes him as being too gimmicky.

Next up is Sanjaya Malakar who chooses to tackle the classic pop ballad, "Waiting on the World to Change" by John Mayer. Sanjaya starts off strong but his nerves get the better of him in the middle of the performance. Despite this, the judges acknowledge that he has improved and Randy thinks he's "a really cool guy."

Chris Sligh follows Sanjaya and chooses to perform "Wanted Dead or Alive" by Bon Jovi. The judges appreciate his song choice and admire his ability to connect with the audience. Simon comments that he has a natural likability that will take him far in the competition.

Jared Cotter takes the stage next with a unique version of "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye. His performance is filled with energy and he engages the audience throughout the song. Randy notes that it was a tough song to tackle, but Jared pulled it off well.

Brandon Rogers has chosen to sing "I Just Want to Celebrate" by Rare Earth. His soulful vocals and stage presence are well-received by the judges. Simon makes note of his potential and encourages him to keep working hard.

Phil Stacey performs "I Need You" by LeAnn Rimes and it is a heartfelt performance. His raw vocals and emotional delivery impress the judges and earn him a standing ovation from the audience.

Next, Sundance Head performs "Mustang Sally" by Wilson Pickett. Sundance's gritty vocals and rock star personality shine through in the performance. The judges acknowledge that he seemed more comfortable this week and Paula notes his "raw energy."

Chris Richardson follows Sundance with a performance of "Geek in the Pink" by Jason Mraz. He shows off his smooth vocals and garners a positive response from the judges. Simon comments that he has a good voice but needs to work on his stage presence.

AJ Tabaldo takes the stage next with a rendition of "Feelin' Good" made popular by Nina Simone. His strong vocals and playful personality connect with the audience. Randy notes that it was a great song choice and that AJ looked like he was having fun.

Next up, Phil Stacey takes the stage with "I Need You" by LeAnn Rimes. His emotional delivery and raw vocals impress the judges and earn him a standing ovation from the audience.

Blake Lewis follows Phil with "Virtual Insanity" by Jamiroquai. Blake's beatboxing skills are on full display in the performance. The judges acknowledge that it was different from anything else they've seen on the show and praise him for taking risks.

Finally, Chris Richardson performs a stripped-down version of the classic hit "I Don't Want to Be" by Gavin DeGraw. His smooth vocals and emotional delivery earn him positive comments from the judges, and Randy notes that he "nailed it."

The Top 12 Men have certainly brought their A-game this week and the judges have a difficult decision ahead of them. Only seven of the contestants will make it through to the next round, and the pressure is on to impress the judges and the voting public. Tune in next week to find out who moves forward in the competition and who goes home.