Ok, the top-12 performed for the first time last night to songs of Stevie Wonder. This is my assessment of the show and the contest in general. I think the winner will be between Taylor and Katharine - he is the best performer - really deserves to be a star - and she is the best singer. Her performance last night was absolutely flawless.
Running just behind those two are Paris - also an excellent singer and a superb performance; Lisa - her expertise on stage and command of the song are way beyond her years; and Mandisa - energy, command, control, and she knows how to deliver the song.
Bubbling under are two very good talents that won't win: Ace can and probably will be a star - very good singer, excellent performer; and Chris is fine - he is talented, but limited. If he didn't have the Chilpeppers re-make to go on, he wouldn't have known what to do.
As for the rest: Elliot can sing well, but is kind of dull; Melissa is way out of her league by now and didn't really know what to do with Stevie's song - same goes for the blonde girl (something Pickle); Bucky is pretty good, but very young and inexperienced - he just doesn't have IT; and finally, Kevin shouldn't have made it this far - his performance last night was embarrassing.

I dig Taylor Hicks...and that's pretty much it