Chris Daughtry picks "I Dare You," which seems like a good choice for a guy who sometimes looks as if he's trying to scare America into voting for him.

(Without even mentioning Al-Qaeda.)

Sounds as if he's pushing his voice, and Randy and Simon pick up on that, but Paula, of course, still loves him.

Ryan feeds the front-runner the fatigue question -- ending the gentle inquisition just in time to note that Katharine is starting her second song from the floor of the stage, a la Taylor.

She's changed into jeans to sing "Black Horse & the Cherry Tree," and while Simon declares it "a strange show" -- choreography, not song choice -- he allows that he does like her second performance better than her first.

(But then that's been true of nearly everyone tonight, suggesting that arbitrary themes like Year You Were Born may not bring the best out of contestants.)