The Top 3 start the show onstage with host Ben Mulroney. Craig Sharpe Eva Avila Tyler Lewis

Top 3 sing standards made famous by Tony Bennett

Updated Tue. Sep. 5 2006 1:38 AM ET

Eye on Idol

Canadian Idol stepped back a few decades Monday night as the Top 3 sang the standards made famous by legendary crooner Tony Bennett.

With the finale just one elimination away, the remaining competitors took a jaunt to New York City for two days of workshops before this week's show. According to judge Jake Gold, spending time with Bennett was the ideal way to get a true taste of how a professional performs the classics.

"They got... to take advantage of all the experience of the people he has worked with over the years," he said, citing Duke Ellington as one of many masters Bennett has performed beside in a career that has spanned more than 60 years.

"The songs the Idols are going to sing are going to be more universally popular than anything they've sung (so far on the show)," added judge Farley Flex.

Craig Sharpe kicked off the evening with "The Way You Look Tonight," a song popularized by both Bennett and Ol' Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra. While Bennett said Craig's nervousness was the sign of the "thoroughbred," the show's youngest performer heard differently from the judges.
 
"I think you were really nervous during that performance and it really showed to me," said Jake. "I just didn't feel like you got into the song."

"I want to come up there and give you a shake," said Zack Werner. "Kickstart this thing, man. Be a star, dude."

Eva Avila, the show's sole remaining female competitor, walked into Bennett's studio with confidence and grace that carried through to her live performance.

"It's very, very good," Bennett told her. "You sing very much in tune, you look beautiful and you sound wonderful. If I were going to be the judge, I would give you a ten."

Her version of "God Bless the Child" also impressed the judges, evoking a standing ovation from Farley.

"You just did something that people can only do when they're born with it," said Sass Jordan, in a tribute to Eva's natural stage presence.

"No disrespect to Kalan (Porter, the 2004 Canadian Idol), but he's no Eva Avila," added Zack.

The ever-bashful Tyler Lewis sported a slicked-back hairstyle for his interesting song choice: "Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody," originally by Louis Prima. Tyler's new 'do earned quite a reaction from host Ben Mulroney for its similarity to his own.

"I am so, so very happy I've found my identical hair twin," Ben said.

As if his new look wasn't enough to impress the female voting public, Tyler also threw in a hip shake or two.

"Tyler, I'll tell you one thing... You just got the most votes for one singular body movement," said Farley.

"It wasn't very much on the singing part but I think you may just have won Canada's next top model," added Zack.

After the panel's unforgiving comments in the first round, Craig Sharpe came back for his second song keen to impress. On Bennett's suggestion, he decided to tone down his big voice for a lounge-style take on "Danny Boy."

"When I saw that you were doing 'Danny Boy' it was like a natural to me," said Jake. "At the end you brought it right home."

"That was an... unbelievably lovely performance," said Sass before pointing out a friend in the audience who was moved to tears by Craig's rendition.

Having the chance to work with Bennett was a milestone Eva vowed never to forget before her second slot behind the microphone.

"The guy is the man," she gushed. "He's a legend. I was totally at ease. I just sang into his eyes."

Her version of "They Can't Take That Away From Me" earned praises from the judges - except Zack, who wasn't impressed with her attempt at scat singing (a jazz vocal style using nonsense words to create the effect of an instrumental solo).

"Dude, I don't rap, you shouldn't scat," he said. "It looked like you were playing Eva Avila in the movie."

Tyler closed the show with "It Had to Be You," once again playing up to the evening's smooth operator theme by thanking the orchestra during an instrumental part of the song. His showmanship and success at mastering a genre far from his rock and roll comfort zone left all four judges impressed.

"How great was that?" said Sass. "I'm speechless. The way you walked out -- Tyler, it has to be you, baby."

"You really took it by the horns," said Farley. "You stepped out here and you performed Vegas-style!"

On Tuesday (8 p.m. ET), the three contenders for the Canadian Idol crown will find out which two will make it to the show's finale -- and Tony Bennett performs live.