Bridging the generation gap and the wide waters of the Atlantic, the "Top 9" stormed the stage Wednesday night belting out U.K hits during Canadian Idol's second themed show, "British Invasion."

Armed with tunes from pioneers of the British rock movement -- The Animals, Herman's Hermits -- and pop icons David Bowie, Elton John and the Eurythmics, the Idols battled it out on television to try to win enough votes to stay alive.

Regina's Manoah Hartmann probably wished she had stayed at home in the Idol mansion Wednesday night after her rendition of "Sweet Dreams" by the Eurythmics drew sour remarks from the judges.

Sass Jordan said she "didn't love the singing," although she appreciated Hartmann's theatrics clad in a pin-stripe suit and a burgundy fedora.

Zack Werner thought it was bad and Farley Flex, who maintains he's never been a fan of Hartmann's, remarked, "I'm hoping you'll convince me one day that you can sing."

But it was definitely Jacob Hoggard's night to hit the town as he blew away the crowd at the John Bassett Theatre with his show-stopping performance of David Bowie's classic song, "Space Oddity."

Decked out in a body-clinging metallic-blue jumpsuit, Hoggard revived Bowie's glam rock image, completing the look with matching blue eye shadow and nail polish.

"Nobody has ever used props and taken it the way you have to a performance level," Jake Gold said. "David Bowie would've been really proud that you sang his song."

On the other hand, Theresa Sokyrka's wholesome performance of Herman's Hermits' "There's A Kind of Hush" came off as bland and according to Jordan, "muted" and "uninspired", following Hoggard's flamboyant presentation.

"You've got what it takes. Don't choke. Don't choose the wrong song," Werner reprimanded Sokyrka who claimed she sang the tune for her mother.

But for Medicine Hat's Kalan Porter, choosing a tried and tested song clearly paid off. His rendition of The Animals' "House of the Rising Sun" got the crowd on its feet and impressed the judges for the second time. Porter got a gold ticket after singing the song at his auditions in Edmonton.

"The clarity of your tone and the passion of your delivery add up to one word: winner," Jordan concluded.

Becoming a part of last week's "bottom three" may have pushed Joshua Seller to add something extra to his performance. With his signature curly locks straightened out, Seller rocked to U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name," emulating Bono's running and hopping on stage.

"You definitely upped your game in the entertainment side. Good on you," Flex said.

Though Werner didn't think Seller was the best singer in the competition, he had kind words for the 23-year-old. "You really showed some heart there and I appreciate that."

Other singers who gave solid performances during the evening were Kaleb Simmonds, who beat-boxed the intro to Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven," garnering praises from the judges and Jason Greeley, who cranked up the energy with the Elton John song, "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting." Though Werner wasn't convinced that Greeley was "real", the other three judges quickly defended the singer's authenticity.

Elena Juatco, on the other hand, split the judges into two camps with her version of Cat Stevens' "The First Cut is the Deepest." Jordan and Werner weren't impressed but Gold and Flex were sold on her performance. "When it comes to finding the Star Search moments, and there weren't many there, you're an astrologer, baby," Flex said.

Shane Wiebe may have redeemed himself with his take on Elton John's "Something about the Way You Look Tonight." Unlike last week, Wiebe was spared the verbal assaults from the judges, even impressing the tough-as-nails Werner.

It's anybody's guess who Canadians will pick as their favourite Idols. To find out you'll have to tune in again to CTV Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.