There's been a heat wave in Hollywood this week, but that's nothing compared with the temperatures that have risen among the Rockers. Feelings have been hurt and deals have been brokered for the all-important song selection. Let's find out how it all plays out.

Jordis has pole position tonight, which means her decision to go with a lighter song this week is already paying dividends. You don't want to start the night with a downer -- not that her original choice would have been so bad. "We Are the Champions" is not what anyone would consider a "dark" song -- you never hear it in a losing team's ballpark. (It's not "They Are the Champions," which would be a pretty depressing tune and not nearly as big a hit.) Seasoned performer that she is, Jordis also realizes that being first out of the box means she gets an audience that's fresh and responsive. So if INXS wants them to interact with the crowd, she's going to interact with the crowd. And The Spencer Davis Group's "Gimme Some Lovin'" is the perfect song for it. It's got that great call-and-response chorus, with the sharp "hey" that makes everyone throw up their hands.

She also sings the hell out of it. She's not going to turn your head like the teenage Stevie Winwood (who hit the charts singing the original), but she has this infectious, springy glee, and her powerful pipes keep the tune from turning too chirpy. Dave notices she dropped a line at the start, but "who cares," and compliments her on the ways she worked the room. Tim thought she was "outstanding."

Suzie has gumption. Whatever else you think of her, give her that, for gumption is the only word that describes her decision to play harmonica on Stevie Wonder's "Superstition." It's scary enough to be compared with Wonder's singing, but in picking up the harmonica, she also goes up against one of the greatest harmonicists in music. Her performance on both hits the mark -- she gives the tune a Joss Stone vibe that straddles rock and soul. Dave likes that she kicked her style up a notch, while Andrew compliments her on putting the band's advice into practice.

It's hard not to feel almost sorry for Jessica tonight. In a show guaranteed to have its share of skyrockets and train wrecks, she comes out with a performance that's just boring. It's not a terrible rendition of Patti Smith's "Because The Night" (written with fellow New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen) but not an especially good one, either. It's like watching a little girl try to walk in her big sister's shoes -- she'll get across the room, but it's not going to be graceful. It does bring up a question: do you need to be a technically proficient singer to be a great rock singer? In terms of range, intonation and breath control, Jessica has it all over Patti Smith. But whose vocal would you rather hear? Patti adds something ineffable -- it's the same thing that keeps Eminem selling out arenas while the only time Fred Durst gets mentioned is when his Sidekick gets hacked. It's that grit, that grain that gets under your skin, that vocal hiccup, that catch in the voice that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Call it personality, call it the X-factor; whatever that is, Jessica lacks it. Dave likes that she stopped writhing around the stage, however, saying that it makes her more serious, while Kirk finds her performance too pitchy.

In rehearsals, MiG wanted to get all "Miggy" with The Kinks' "Lola." What that means is still up for discussion, because his performance doesn't vary all that widely from the 1970 original. Yes, the intro has a chunky guitar line that Bloc Party would be proud of, but it's not that long a trip from Brixton to Muswell Hill. And MiG's theatrical background can give his stage moves a dismaying literalness . . . remember his wave on "Smells Like Teen Spirit"? Tonight, it happens when he gets to his knees as he sings "I got down to my knees." It's a good vocal performance, and the girls in the crowd certainly appreciate him, but Dave wants to see him sing with more "abandon." Andrew wants to see him after a half-bottle of vodka, and the crowd gets to see him topless.

Brandon gets points for bravery tonight. Responding to INXS's request that he stretch out and get melodic, he chooses Squeeze's 1981 single, "Tempted." It's a tough song, one that requires a light touch. An homage to The Temptations (hence the title), even Squeeze knew it demanded a singer of singular gifts and drafted Paul Carrack (who sang Ace's 1975 hit, "How Long," and later joined Mike & The Mechanics) to supply the vocal. Considering his Michigan roots, Brandon sounds terribly uncomfortable assaying the Motown-styled song. It's not that he has trouble with the song's range. As Dave comments, his voice is all over the place, sharp and flat from one note to the next. Jon adds that he's just really struggling with the song.

Ty, whose theatricality has been criticized by INXS, takes on R.E.M's "Everybody Hurts." Dressed down in denim, and starting out seated among the acoustic guitarists, he masterfully builds the song's drama, finally leaping off his stool at the bridge and reaching out to the audience's up-stretched hands. It's arguably the best performance of the evening and impresses Dave enough that he calls Ty someone who "really wants to be a member of INXS."

Heather looks a little peaked when she takes the stage, and her vocal on Sheryl Crow's "If It Makes You Happy" sounds anemic. She tells the band she's been sick, which explains why she sleepwalks though the verses, turning her version of the song into a bad Wallflowers' tune. She perks up a bit on the choruses but consistently misses the same note. Dave "didn't feel it," and Kirk pronounces it "shaky."

Thankfully, J.D. realized that turning "We Are the Champions" into a Tool song was a bad idea and plays the song straight. That still doesn't keep it from being his weakest vocal of the contest. Closer to Bowie than Freddie Mercury, it's moodier than the song demands -- something he later blames on seeing his sister in the crowd. But he can't hit the notes in the chorus, so he holds the mic over the audience, encouraging them to sing and cover his limitations. It's a nice piece of stagecraft but impresses no one. And as happens so often on "Rock Star:INXS," it's the song selection that could lead to a downfall. Dave wonders why, if he's been asked to be less cocky, J.D. chose "Champions." J.D. has no answer, except to call everyone "champions," a bald-faced attempt at making things right that fools no one.

Given first choice of songs this week (because she ceded "Paranoid" to Tara last week), Deanna chose Supertramp's "Give A Little Bit." And given that this was a tune she wanted to sing, she gives a surprisingly reined-in performance. Still, the quality of her voice continues to impress INXS, with Andrew complimenting her "unique sounding voice," seconded by Jon, who tells her to "trust her voice."

It's the quality of Daphna's voice that gets her into trouble performing The Clash's biggest hit, "Rock the Casbah." She's the second Rocker to get stuck in the good singer/great singer quicksand. No one cared if the late Joe Strummer could hit a note -- what demanded your attention when he sang was his passion. And the song was designed for his limitations. Daphna is at sea trying to get through the half-sung/half-rapped verses and is about a half-tone sharp on the chorus. Dave, who had asked her to show off her range, complains she did just the opposite. Jon is more blunt, telling her she "murdered" the song.

Tara didn't murder Bowie's "Suffragette City," but she really didn't breathe much life into it either. The racy, apocalyptic climax to "Ziggy Stardust" is not a song you should sing with a smile on your face. It looks like she's selling time-shares in a new real estate development. Dave complains her performance was too cute for the song, while Garry compliments her love of singing and performing.

Marty is usually a performer who throws himself all over the stage. But this time, he keeps things simple, letting the intense, roller-coaster dynamics of Nirvana's "Lithium" work their own spell. Garry points out that Marty has discovered the "power and the energy you get by standing still." And Jon likes that Marty looks like he belongs on stage with the band.

Which of our Rockers belongs on stage with INXS? That's for you to decide. So get out and rock the vote!

Tomorrow we find out who goes home. Stay tuned.