American Idol's Season 8, Motown Week - Top 10

Motown's own Smokey Robinson (wrote over 4,000 songs) and Berry Gordy (Founder of Motown) represented Motown Week on American Idol tonight. I LOVE Smokey. He's just a beautiful person. I'm glad to have been a part of Motown my whole life.

So the show begins with a weird exchange between Paula and Ryan, making a date for after the show. I wonder if they went anywhere! haha

The producers showed a nice short film honoring 50 years of Motown, featuring the top 10 (or top 9, as we later learned) visiting Detroit's Hitsville USA. Awwww man! Had I only known they would be there!

Smokey was the mentor this week for the Idols. He tells us that Berry Gordy said back at it's inception, "We are not going to make black music. We're going to make music for everybody." And they have.


Starting off the night was Matt Giraud, who I have to say is quickly becoming my favorite. Matt sang "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye.

Smokey said that he thought Marvin would love it. When I heard the clip of Smokey and Matt working together, I thought "Wow! This is gonna be great!". And it was.

Matt left the piano shortly after he started singing, giving us the best of both worlds. This song is so him.

Kara commented that Matt came out of his shell but could have pushed it more. A solid performance.

Paula said he seemed comfortable coming out from behind the piano and that he didn't "over-riff".

Simon said it was a brilliant song choice "other than the corny bit where you came up" (to the judges). "You are one of the front runners".


Kris Allen was next with "How Sweet It Is" by Marvin Gaye.

Smokey says that, "Kris blew me away. It was wonderful."

Kris was on guitar. I liked it okay. He had a unique take on the song and it was enjoyable, but sometimes I think, Would I want to buy an album of his based on this song? and the answer at this point is No.

Randy's take? "It's all good right now baby".

Kara said, "You didn't do James Taylor, you didn't do Marvin Gaye, you did Kris. You did everything right."

Paula, as always was encouraging with, "Really nice seeing you come into your own" and "It was brilliant. I'm proud of you."

Simon was also encouraging (for once) by telling Kris that he's having a good competition right now. He tells Kris that he doesn't have the confidence he needs to succeed though. Simon claims you need to be conceited to be a star (whaaat?), which just leads into a weird conversation between the judges and Ryan about the comment Simon made on a previous show about the Idols needing to watch video of him (Simon) to see how they should be. Talk about conceited. Hmmf.


Scott MacIntyre was next with "You Can't Hurry Love" by Diana Ross and The Supremes.

Smokey said that Scott brought the song right up to date and that it was very contemporary. I don't agree. I'm by no means anything near a song expert, but as someone who enjoys music immensely, I don't see that as being contemporary. Anyway, Scott decided to stay at the piano, despite the comments from Paula from last week. The song started slowly and then it was jazzed up nicely. I like what he did with it, (and I love him), but unfortunately I wasn't blown away by his style or anything. I did think he was creative with the song, but I guess I just wasn't crazy about the song choice.

Paula thought that Scott did something to please both Simon and her, by taking the criticisms from last week and working it into this week.

Simon didn't like the version and thought it sounded like "honky tonk piano playing". Thinks it sounded cheap and that he's a better artist than that.

Randy said he doesn't agree with Simon often, but thinks Simon was right that Scott is a better performer and the song was just wrong.

Kara disagrees on the song -- she thought he "brought tempo". He "took liberties with the melody and when you do that, you have to nail it!" I think she was saying that he didn't nail it.

Paula was mad at Simon for being childish, so she reached down below the table and came up with a pad of paper and a box of Crayola Crayons and gave it to him. They goofed around a bit, Simon was laughing and poor Scott was up there with no clue what was going on until Ryan told him what they were up to. We did find out, however, that Scott didn't know he was wearing pale pink pants until 10 minutes before the show. Wow, what a bummer.


Megan Joy chose to sing "For Once In My Life" - a Stevie Wonder song.

Smokey said that she is half jazz, half cabaret and that it's refreshing. He told her, "You are so different, I like it".

I liked it more when we saw the clip of her singing for Smokey. It was livelier, jazzier and more "Megan". While she sings tonight though, the camera gets a shot of Simon and you can tell that he doesn't like it almost from the beginning.

Randy said he likes the outfit. "Dude, song was a trainwreck for me. Needs more vibrato. Too rushed, hectic. Something."

Kara told her that "My Guy" would have been better. She told her the song was dominating her and that she needs to dominate it.

Paula told her that she was a stunning beauty and that it takes her breath away. The whole time she's speaking, Simon is saying, "tell the truth, tell the truth, tell the truth" and she's hitting him, telling him to stop and attempting to ignore him. It doesn't work. She then tells Megan that the camera loves her.

Simon tells Megan that the good news is that she does look good. The bad news is that it was horrible. He told her that whoever it was that was advising her, he would fire. (Noice one Siiiimon)


Anoop Desai is up next with "Oooh Baby Baby" by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles.

Smokey told Anoop that it is a sensual song and that he felt so much when Anoop sang it. He told him that he wouldn't change a thing.

I thought it was too slow of a song to be something contemporary, even though the vocals were great. You just can't fake that kind of voice, you know?! I really struggle with Anoop. I want him to do well, but he doesn't do anything for me as far as a current artist goes. I guess with him it's a wait-and-see.

Randy tells him that next week he should give us energy with the vocals and not be just a balladier.

Kara tells him how it's one of the hardest songs to sing. She says, "Overall, that was very hard to do and you did a good job. Just now, seeing what you can do - push it more. Be more creative."

Paula wants to see more confidence. "Your phrasing, delivery and falsetto is not only spot-on, it's sweet, tender."

Simon said it was a great vocal but that he looked half asleep. He commented on how Anoop has had two good weeks in a row and that he has to find that balance.


Michael Sarver sang "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" by The Temptations.

We find out that Michael had been so sick the previous week that his doctors told him that it was better for him to stay back from the trip to Detroit, so he didn't get the chance to go. He's glad he listened to them, as he ended up really sick.

Smokey said Michael has a big voice and needs to use it more for this song. "Pound it more". "Tonight needs to not be sweet talk."

I don't think he listened to Smokey enough. He smiled too much for the theme of this song. He also has quirks in his face and head movements that just bug me. He's not one of my favorite contestants, even though I personally like him alot.

Randy said that it's "an unbelievable song that has been sung..." "It's just too big for you". "You're not an R&B dude". "You made it a little bit corny because you tried to do too much with it."

Kara said that "at this point in the competition, it's not about the singing. It's about artistry. Who are you as an artist?"

Paula said that for her it was a tough performance. "It was a little Las Vegas, loungy for me." "You need to dominate the song, not let the song dominate you." (didn't we just hear that from you, Paula?)

Simon: "I couldn't wait for it to end. You have no chance of winning it based on that vocal. That was below par."

Wow, could you be any more direct?


Lil Rounds sang "Heat Wave" by Martha and the Vendella's.

Smokey said she could sing the phone book and really seemed to enjoy his meeting with Lil.

Lil did a great job looking the part. From her hair to her earrings and dress. All of it. Her vocals were awesome. Her performance, however, doesn't show what she is going to be when she leaves AI. I'm still not sure after all this time. Perhaps I missed it.

Randy said her vocals were unbelievable. "But the wrong song for me, for you. Rushed." I hate when he says the, "for me, for you" thing.

Kara said she looked great and that she was the diva tonight but that she didn't think Lil picked the right song. She said, "You stayed true to the song and we need more."

Paula said she doesn't agree. "You look great. I think you own that song."

Simon's take on it was, "I think you did an authentic tribute to the sound of Motown. You are one of the best singers we have in this comptetition. I'm dying for you to do what you did a few weeks ago, blow everyone away."


Adam Lambert. Whoa!! What a surprise there! He sang "Tracks of My Tears" by Smokey Robinson. He didn't just perform that song, he became the song. What a transformation! If you have been following Adam thus far, and have not seen this performance, you must! Go here and be blown away by what you see. (click the little picture)

Smokey said he kept it tender, sweet and soft and it impressed him how he kept it so soft.

Adam blew me away and really knows how to fit the part! He had excellent vocals (as usual) and great emotion. He came on stage with no black nail polish, but a clean look with a pompadour hair style! I loved it! What a chameleon he is. The only thing I think there is to criticize is his lack of "being him", as the judges like to point out.

Randy said it was "unbelievably hot" and that he "used everything in your arsenal".

Kara said he was "one of the best performances of the night."

Paula said he was "handsome and classy. An element of surprise. You are exciting. You are it!"

Simon said that he disagrees with Kara. "It was THE best performance. You have emerged as a star tonight."

As I said before the judges rendered their verdicts on the performance, I am surprised that they didn't say anything about not being true to himself like they have to others. Perhaps because he has already established who he is as an artist and we have absolutely no doubts about that.


Danny Gokey sang "Get Ready" by The Temptations.

Smokey thinks that people are gonna love it.

I didn't like this song choice at all. I think I was hoping for something soulful, bluesy or jazzy like Matt did. Of all the Motown songs to choose from, I'm surprised he didn't find anything else he could have done that was more true to his talents. It was an okay performance, but I expected more from him.

Randy said it "wasn't the best performance but I loved the energy and feel of it." (the judges were rushed due to a continuing lack of time as the night went on)

Kara told him that it wasn't great but that she's a huge Danny fan.

Paula told him how he has a first class performance every week.

Simon told him that he is a good singer but that this performance was clumsy and amateurish.


Finally, we have Allison Iraheta singing "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" by The Temptations.
Smokey thought she would "do it really, really great."

I think she nailed it, personally. I think it was a great song for her to do. As always her vocals were great. It's amazing to me how mature she is for her age.

Randy told her that she was "blazin' hot!".

Kara said "Oh my God! America, you gotta vote for her. You sing like you've been singing for years."

Paula told her "you're amazing."

Simon said that she was a "survivor" and "that was really one of your best past performances".


Tomorrow we find out who will leave the top 10 performers. I wouldn't be too terribly sad to see Michael or Anoop go. Even Kris Allen. I like them all personally, but they do very little for me as far as being excited to see them each week. The ones that interest me from the top 10 and who I look forward to seeing each week is Adam, Scott, Matt, Megan, Danny and Allison. Lil I'm on the fence about. I think she could be good, but if she went now, I don't know that I'd be too torn up about it. The boys are definitely much better than the girls this year. I keep holding out for Scott to do something profound. Gonna have to go and pray about that one!

Till tomorrow!