LAKISHA JONES

STRATEGIC INITIATIVE Running neck-and-neck with Melinda as this season's most pitch-perfect vocalist, but her song choices have been easier to predict than the ending of a Drew Barrymore romantic comedy. (Whitney Houston's ''I Have Nothing''? Seriously?) Does she want to follow the Idol playbook, or rewrite it?

FROCK U Old Navy miniskirts begone! We far prefer the flattering red-and-gold frock that accompanied ''And I Am Telling You...''

REQUEST LIST Barry White's ''Never, Never Gonna Give You Up,'' Britney Spears' ''Toxic''