by Ruth Anne Boulet
Have I mentioned that I hate the new intro to the show? I’m sick of the ‘judges walk’ with the booming voice over. Randy & Kara talked about how tough it was to see Alexis go. Apparently not so tough that they used their ‘magic judges save.’
We get an introduction to Motown, which is interesting enough. The Idols get to go to Detroit & meet Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson. But then Smokey flies back to coach the kids in the Idol mansion.
Matt Giraud — Let’s Get It On by Marvin Gaye
Matt is naturally freaked out to be singing & playing piano for Smokey Robinson. That wouldn’t be intimidating at all. Matt begins a bit boring, but then he gets out from behind the piano. He didn’t always sound the best, but at least he took Scott’s note & tried to get out from behind the piano. Kathy notes that it’s not as smooth as Marvin. It’s more like ‘let’s get it on so I can go watch the game.’ Randy thinks Matt’s a challenger for the top spot. Kara thinks there are lots of *cough* girls thinking ‘let’s get it on.’ Paula is glad that Matt is comfortable behind & in front of the piano. She thinks he’s like wearing a great pair of worn-in jeans. Okey dokey. Simon thinks it was a smart song choice & concurs that Matt is a front-runner.
Kris Allen — How Sweet It Is by Marvin Gaye
Smokey is all over Kris Allen. Kris Allen is all over numbers, based on his shirt. Not sure what it means, but I’m sure it will tell us when the end-times are coming. We just have to figure out the code, man. It’ll have something to do with swords, as evidenced by the shield on his shoulder. Oh, yeah, and he sings real pretty too. In a boring way. Kris just doesn’t do it for me. He seems like an ok guy. Kathy likes this performance better than Matt. Kara declares that he didn’t do Marvin Gaye or James Taylor and he made it his own. I don’t know, it kinda sounded James Taylor-y to me. Paula comments on the notes he’s able to hit. Um, sorry, if we’re talking hitting notes, we better be talking about Adam.
Scott MacIntyre — You Can’t Hurry Love by The Supremes
Scott declares that the piano is a part of him so, screw you Paula. Scott decides to turn the song into a mellow Adult Contemporary song, like he does with every song. Snoooze. Sorry. Ooh, I stand corrected. He busts it out after a mellow intro. By busting it out, I mean, going a bit more Elton John adult contemporary, rather than Phil Collins adult contemporary. Still boring, still not sung as well as others. Piano playing is good, singing is not. Paula is way excited that the backup singers were closer. Yipee! Simon finally brings some reality to this & says that it was the completely wrong song. Randy agrees with Simon & calls it a hotel performance. He does not specify if it’s a James Brolin Hotel performance. Kara thinks Scott brought tempo. Yipee! She doesn’t think his execution was all that great. Simon & Paula get in a pissing match & Paula pulls out crayons & a couple of coloring books for him.
Megan Joy — For Once In My Life by Stevie Wonder
Megan gives us a crazy swim to take us to commercial. Paula mentions that the crayons & coloring books are under her skirt. It’s one of those borderline Idol moments that make live TV fun. Megan is taking a page from the Haley Scarnato book by wearing a mega-short skirt. She’s actually not doing too bad, even though there are some weird moments. It wouldn’t be Megan if there weren’t weird moments. Randy thinks it was a train wreck. He did not feel that one. Kara also did not feel it. She wishes Megan had sung My Guy. Megan didn’t dominate the song. She let the song dominate her. Paula starts off by saying that Megan is beautiful. Simon reminds her that it’s not Top Model. Simon says ‘oh, dear’ and thinks she looked great, but sounded awful. He thinks Megan is in trouble. Not if Vote For the Worst has anything to say about it.
Anoop Desai — Ooh Baby Baby by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles
How intimidating would it be to sing a song to the guy who wrote it. Smokey loves it, though. Smokey loved Megan too, so we’ll see how Anoop does. Anoop is rocking the 50s preppy look, rather than his usual Silicon Valley preppy look. We finally get to hear his falsetto, which is pretty darn pretty. That’s Smooth Anoop Dawg in the house. Kara kisses up to Smokey Robinson by saying that it’s one of the most beautiful songs ever written. She gives him props for doing pretty good on a difficult song. Paula wants to see even more confidence. Simon thought it was a great vocal, but not a dynamic performance. For some reason, he thinks it sounded like a musical. Not sure where he gets that from. Randy wants the energy Anoop Dawg, rather than the serious Anoop Dawg next week. Randy wants Anoop to get the party on!
Michael Sarver — Ain’t Too Proud To Beg by The Temptations
Michael was sick last week so he didn’t get to go to Detroit. We don’t know if he got the flu, or what, but Idol ‘staff’ thought he should stay home. I’m sure he was glad for the break, even though it was probably only a day. Michael needs to bring it, or else he won’t sound like he’s begging. Michael doesn’t really take Smokey’s advice. He sounds lke most other guys singing this song in a bar. He looks like he’s having fun. He just doesn’t sound that great, especially at the end when he seems to run out of steam. Paula thinks Michael sounded a bit too ol Las Vegas loungy. She’s almost crying because she might say something *gasp* honest. Simon couldn’t wait for it to end. He thinks Michael was screaming. Hm, I don’t know if I agree with that, but I do agree with Simon that he has no chance of winning. Michael knew that it wasn’t up to par, but he gave 110%, even though that’s impossible. Kathy thinks he said he gave 150%, which is even more impossible than giving 110%. Randy didn’t like it. Kara again brings up the artistry. Blah, blah, artistry blah.
Lil Rounds — Heatwave by Martha and the Vandellas
Lil had an emotional week. Smokey says she could sing the phone book. Can we use a different analogy, please? Apparently Lil’s emotion comes from the Hitsville visit & just being overwhelmed by the history. Well, I’m glad it’s that and not some family tragedy or something. She’s got a great flapper dress and some ok extensions. It makes her look more 1960s, but it’s not really necessary. Lil gives another good, consistent performance, but she may get dinged for shouting. I don’t know if she was shouting, or if it was the song. Randy didn’t like the front of the song because it was the wrong choice for her. Kara thinks she looks great, but was disappointed because technically she should’ve killed this week’s genre & she didn’t kill it. Kara mentions the screaming. Paula completely disagrees, except that she looks great. Paula thinks Lil owns the song. Simon gets that she was trying to do a tribute to Motown, but again thinks it was the wrong song choice.
Adam Lambert — Tracks Of My Tears by Smokey and The Miracles
Adam was also intimidated by singing a Smokey song for Smokey Robinson. Smokey has never heard anyone take the same kind of interpretation, but in a good way. Adam has gone all slicked & Elvis in his styling this week. Kathy comments that he looks like Kurt Russell. Sure enough, he does. His take is really soft & completely different from the manic performance last week. He gets the entire audience up on their feet — including Smokey Robinson and Kara DioGuardi. Paula likes that he looks like a nice cleaned-up boy without the nail polish tonight. Simon disagrees with Kara & calls it THE best performance of the night. Randy thinks Adam can pull it down & ‘straighten it up.’ Um, yeah, Randy. He also calls Adam ‘the bomb.’
Danny Gokey — Get Ready by Temptations
Danny is going without the glasses with Smokey Robinson. Smokey tells him that he needs to sing the backup vocals as well in order to complete his vocals. In the beginning, Danny does not take Smokey’s advice. The look on Danny’s face is like ‘get ready ’cause I’m going to come and kick your butt.’ Not exactly endearing to a potential date. Ooh! Abuser! Kathy notices Danny rocking the Daughtry wallet chain. Looks even dumber on Danny, especially when he dances with the backup singers. Paula rhymes her feedback with ‘undeniable, identifiable and reliable.’ Simon thought it was clumsy & amateurish. Randy calls him Levi Stubbs. Kara thought it was good, but not great.
Alison Iraheta — Papa Was A Rolling Stone by The Temptations
Alison needed the lyrics when singing for Smokey. Not the worst thing in the world, I suppose. The band is loving doing the porn ‘wocka-chicka, wocka-chicka’. Alison looks like she’s celebrating the Kajagoogoo & Spandau Ballet reunions with her best black lace footless tights. She might have goofed the lyrics. Either that, or she really didn’t enunciate in parts. She can belt, though, that little 16-year-old. Randy thinks she’s one of the dopest singers & she’s blazing hot. Kara thinks she was amazing & declares that her voice is from God. Simon drew a mustache on Paula, so her comments come through her hands over her mouth. Simon can’t stop giggling & says it was one of her best performances. Paula almost gets the mustache off by the end of the show. Kara decides to be a friend and help her out.