Anoop shows his "True Colors"

As predicted, Chapel Hill "American Idol" finalist Anoop Desai stuck to the top of the charts with his Tuesday night performance. This week's theme had contestants singing songs from the year they were born, so Desai did Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" -- a No. 1 hit from 1986, and a nervy selection. But Desai pretty much knocked it out of the park, with a tasteful reinterpretation that mutated a pop song into restrained slow-burn soul.

The judges all praised Desai's performance, although Randy Jackson seemed almost surprised by how good it was. And of course, Simon Cowell had to get a jab in by comparing Desai to a yo-yo: "Last week was abysmal, this week was good."

So get voting, people: 866/436-5704. We'll find out if he can hang in there for another week on Wednesday night's results show.