That's why I say performing the same song on the same night shouldn't be allowed. It will always make one of the singers look really bad. Not fair.
Perfectly fair in my book, and should be required more often. Having the singers do the same song gives a very clear way to compare them head-to-head.
In this instance, I disagree, BECAUSE, Simon said he blamed the band for the horrid arrangement. Had Anthony not performed the same song we would not have had a comparison. His arrangement was better, and I think it allowed for him to have a better rendition.
For me, and hopefully others, this showed that Simon was right about the band. This may have saved some votes for Carrie because voters could make a comparison and decide for themselves that had Carrie performed the other version, she would have done much better. jmo
Also, for what its worth, there have been times when one them has done a song and I had wished a different person would do the same song for exactly that reason. For a comparison. I wish they would have a week where all of the contestants did have to perform the same song.