Michael Becker/Fox
Jessica Sanchez performs on 'American Idol.'
Jessica Sanchez came out swinging after her brush with death on "American Idol" last week.
The most physically imposing singer of the year - who shocked the show by getting voted off on Thursday, only to be saved by the judges - used anger and frustr ation to her advantage on Wednesday.
During her run at Alicia Keys' "Fallin'," she bored deep into the melody, adding a freeing new funk. On Otis Redding's "Try A Little Tenderness," she sang from low in the gut, showing the full power of her pipes and the husky character of her tone.
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The other unexpectedly endangered singer from last week, Joshua Ledet, also used the experience to redouble his efforts. He even delivered a dull song like Fantasia's "I Believe" with guts. While he overshot his goal in "A Change Is Gonna Come," way over-singing it, at least that underscored his determination not to face the axe anytime soon.
This week's sing-off gave the contenders the chance to show more of themselves than before. For the first time, they sang two songs each, rather than one. The first set drew from hits of the last decade, the second mined old soul classi cs.
The star who has shown the most improvement of late, Skylar Laine, outdid herself this time. She offered a country take on Lady Gaga's "Born This Way, and added fiddles to "Heard It Through The Grapevine." The subsequent mix of rock-soul and Nashville- pop hit a sweet spot.
A less successful attempt to switch up genres came from Phillip Phillips. He offered a jock-rock take on Usher's "You Got It Bad." In that, and in a gruesome version of Wilson Picket's "In The Midnight Hour," Phillips sounded as he always does - like Dave Matthews in desperate need of some Ex-lax.
His competition for the coveted screaming girl contingent - Colton Dixon - also pulled a sonic shift by offering an emo version of Earth Wind and Fire's "September," as well as a corporate run at Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance." Both cynically milked the worst cliches of current rock radio.
Hollie Cavanagh repeated her usual problem of offering technically strong, but emotionally va pid, takes on Adele's "Rolling In The Deep" and Dusty Springfield's "Son of A Preacher Man."
Elise Testone, who swings up and down with voters, invited her own vexing dichotomy this time. While she added melody, and invention to Alicia Keys' "No One," she lacked the looseness and sensuality necessary to carry off Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On."
Sadly, that makes her the most likely singer to face the ax this week - just when the judges have no more "saves" to use.
farber@nydailynews.com
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