From Asia'h to Syesha, the "Idol" girls gave it all they got!

It was the '70s all over again when the females of "American Idol"s Final 20 took to the stage Wednesday night for their second night of competition. Their selection of songs ranged from rock to R&B to power ballads.

Top performances by the women included CARLY SMITHSON, BROOKE WHITE and KRISTY LEE COOK.

Carly Smithson launched the night with her rendition of HEART's "Crazy on You." RANDY JACKSON critiqued her, saying: "You picked a rocker this week. It was good toward the middle and end. The beginning was rough. There was a pitch problem." PAULA ABDUL added, "It takes a fine singer to sing those big notes. You are an amazing singer and you did an amazing job." SIMON COWELL commended her, saying it was better than last week: "I still don't think yet that you have connected with the right song. I think you are an incredible singer. I don't think these girls can touch you vocally. I don't think you have chosen the song that has given you the moment. I think you are the girl to beat."

SYESHA MERCADO sang "Me and Mr. Jones" [originally sung by BILLY PAUL as "Me and Mrs. Jones"]. Randy told her, "I don't think this was a great song choice. You have that big, belting voice. Pick songs you can do that. When you do that, everything sparkles." Paula pointed out that "on the softer notes, you tend to go off. When you power, it is piercing through." Simon rated the performance indulgent. "It wasn't written for a girl. It was one of those songs I was put off as soon as you started. It isn't a song that was designed for your voice."

Brooke White played guitar and sang CARLY SIMON's "You're So Vain." Randy told her, "It was a great song choice for you, because I always felt you had this Carly Simon vibe." Paula agreed that it was the perfect song choice. And, Simon loved it. He commented, "It was the absolutely perfect song for you. For once, I felt that the artist had genuinely chosen the song. It connected. It didn't sound old-fashioned."

RAMIELE MALUBAY belted out THELMA HOUSTON's "Don't Leave Me This Way." Randy thought she was better last week. "The '70s are my favorite time in records, and you picked that," he said. "It was just okay." Paula told her that she is also one of the ones to beat in the competition. "Your vocals are amazing," she added. "But I feel the same way as Randy. You didn't get to perform your magic." Simon astonishingly agreed with Paula, saying, "You were much better last week. I think you are one of the top three best singers, but that wasn't your best."

LINDA RONSTADT's "You're No Good" was Kristy Lee Cook's song choice. Randy gave her happy news: "All I can tell you is that is a 100 percent improvement over last week." Paula agreed that Kristy was back, as did Simon, who said, "I couldn't even remember what you sang last week. I agree with the guys, it was an improvement. My only problem is I don't know how to label you. I think if you go down a country route, you will make more of a statement. You have real potential."

AMANDA OVERMYER rocked out to KANSAS' "Carry on Wayward Son." Randy felt she made the wrong song choice. "Here is the problem," he said. "It has too many instrumental breaks. I want to hear you sing. Keep it bluesy rock. That is your genre." Paula complimented Amanda's dancing: "You've got some moves. You can dance. Don't be all shy. I know you are worried about doing too much JANIS [JOPLIN]. You've got to do what feels right." Simon felt that Amanda came across natural in her film, but then "everything felt contrived from the song to this terrible hair. I really, really didn't get that."

ALAINA WHITAKER performed OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN's "Hopelessly Devoted to You." Randy liked the song, but felt it wasn't right for the 17-year-old. "You have a strong voice, but the song didn't let you go there," he said. Paula didn't think it was as bad as Randy pointed out: "I forget how young you are and how mature you are," she said. Simon said, "I like you. My problem is it is almost as if your grandmother prepared you for this audition, told you what to wear and how to do your hair. Everything is so old-fashioned. I think there is a way of being 16, 17 and being current. It was pageant-y for me. I think you are one of the dark horses in this competition. You have to sort yourself out and get the right direction."

ALEXANDRÉA LUSHINGTON took on CHICAGO's "If You Leave Me Now." Randy felt it was too safe. "You are one of my favorites," he commented. "You should always challenge yourself. It was a safe, boring choice." Paula said, "You did let go and do your own arrangements. I never heard a female take on that song. Simon told her, "I was a big, big fan of yours. I think you are struggling now. I don't think that song was covered, because it is absolutely stuck in its time period. You were inconsistent. You were in tune and out of tune. You looked terrific, but it was boring."

KADY MALLOY did her best on Heart's "Magic Man," but the judges weren't impressed. Randy told her, "You never found the pitch. You just never found the notes for me. It didn't work." Paula felt "when you powered, you sounded great. On the low notes, you lost it." And Simon said, "I am struggling as much as you are struggling, because everything you do on film is fantastic; then you come out here like someone trying to impersonate CHRISTINA [AGUILERA] with a song I never heard before with no melody."

Closing out the show, ASIA'H EPPERSON belted out "All By Myself." Randy rated the song the highest degree of difficulty, but said, "You did a good job with it. The ending brought it home." Paula agreed, but Simon was the odd man out, commenting, "It is one of the diva songs of all time. You have to be one heck of a singer to pull it off. You nearly pulled it off. You almost got away with it, but the song was too big for you."