Singing Mariah Carey songs is a thankless task, especially trying to duplicate all the trills and chills of her virtuosic vocal performances. Yet the seven remaining Idol contestants rose to the challenge.

David Cook superbly transformed "Always Be My Baby" into a grunge ballad, while Jason Castro converted "I Don't Wanna Cry" into a lulling "luau" (as judge Randy Jackson put it) ballad. Brooke White was a little less successful in turning "Hero" into a singer/songwriter plaint, good idea though it was.

The other singers were more conventional in their approaches, but wisely avoided oversinging or, for the most part, attempting Mariah-like vocal feats beyond their abilities.

Kristy Lee Cook's skillfully restrained "Forever "may have been her best of the season. Routine belting from David Archuleta ("When You Believe"), Carly Smithson ("Without You") and Syesha Mercado, whose "Fantasy" was regrettably mannered, paled by comparison.

But it was a surprising victory for the Idols, and you have to call the win ... Mariah.