Motown Week

As I settle in to watch Idol from my spot overlooking the ocean in St. George Island, pinot noir in hand, I am struck by two things. One, Paula is in a dress that is frighteningly like one of Christine's recital costumes from about 10 or more years ago. Her friend Alexa got lipstick on the front of it somehow and Marcia had to pin a white towel over it right before they performed.Sorry, the memory is pretty vivid and I haved gotten off track. Maybe because she is a dancer, Paula was missing her ballet gear? I can tell you my daughter is 20 and she still wouldn’t put that costume back on. Now she is asking Ryan what he is doing after the show. I am not sure what is going on here, but I better reign myself back to the task at hand. Smokey Robinson is the mentor, and the theme is Motown. The idol’s start their week with a trip to Motown’s original recording studio. I am impressed with Smokey, as he has every one of these contestants hugging him like he is an old friend instead of a major superstar. I can’t go forward without dispensing the judge’s final words of wisdom. Paula tells them to challenge their artistic integrity. Really? You think she meant something else? Simon tells them to make the song original. Here we go:
Matt Giraud - "Let's Get it On"
Matt is able to impress Smokey during rehearsal, and he thinks Marvin would have loved it. Matt starts at the piano, and I am immediately struck by how much his confidence has grown. I think the positive comments from last week and from Smokey this week allowed him to relax and perform. It is really a great vocal. Randy was happy to see him challenging the other guys. Kara said he was coming out of his shell. Paula said he was respectful of the melody and Simon said it was a brilliant choice of song, and that it suited his voice. It was a great start to the evening.

Kris Allen - "How Sweet It Is"
Once again, Smokey loves it and tells him not to change a thing. I am not sure how Kris accomplishes taking a song that is so well known and making it his own, but he does. I am beginning to like this guy more every week. Kara loved that he didn’t do James Taylor’s version. Paula thought it was brilliant and she was proud. Simon told him he was having himself a great competition, but that now it is time to develop a swagger. Randy told him to keep hitting his stride.

Scott MacIntyre - "You Can't Hurry Love"
Scott decides to bring some back up singers to the piano in the hopes that Paula will think this is risk enough. He starts the song off very slow and sweet, but then it becomes very corny and old fashioned, although I can’t really criticize the vocal. I just hated the arrangement. Paula thought he brought something different and loved it. Simon couldn’t take it and thought it was too honky tonk. Randy thought it was hotel performance material and Kara said that she was thrilled he finally did a song up tempo, but she didn’t care for the liberties he took with the melody. This was a bottom three performance for sure.

Megan Joy Corkrey - "For Once in My Life"
For the second week in a row, they show the clip of the rehearsal and Megan sounds great, but then she starts performing and it just doesn’t sound the same. I am not sure what happens to her when she gets in front of an audience, if it is the adrenaline or nerves, but she starts hitting bum notes and she actually looks like the song gets away from her a couple of times. I am so disappointed because I keep waiting for her to have this great night, but I am starting to think it isn’t going to happen in time. Randy thought it was a train wreck. Kara said it was all over the place. Paula thought her beauty took her breath away, but it was the wrong song. Simon said “dear, dear dear, it was horrible”. Simon thought she was in terrible trouble after that performance. I think her second chances have run out.

Anoop Desai - "Ooh, Baby Baby"
I have to say that I am impressed with Anoop’s sincerity, and he handles the difficulties with the melody pretty well. The performance could use a little something, but I like what he did with the vocal. Kara said it is a hard song, and he did pretty good. Paula thought it was tender. Simon thought it was a great vocal, but he looked half asleep. Randy said next week bring back the energy and get the party going. He also commented on how strong the boys were singing.

Michael Sarver - "Ain't Too Proud To Beg"
Smokey gives his first constructive criticism of the evening with Michael and tries to explain to him how to sell the song, that he shouldn’t sweet talk it. Michael isn’t a trained musician, so he interprets this as singing louder. I can’t criticize his vocal, he is on key, but there is nothing believable about this performance. He has this bizarre grin on his face which makes me wonder if he is even aware of the lyrics to this song. Paula felt it was Las Vegas, and she actually looks like she is getting teary eyed giving him the bad critique. Simon couldn’t wait for it to be over and tells him at this point he is participating in this competition but will never win it. Randy says it has been sung too many times, and that he did too much with the runs. Kara cleared things up for Michael, at this point it is about artistry. Michael is in the bottom three for sure after that performance.

Lil Rounds - "Heatwave"
Lil tells Smokey that she was really moved to be able to participate this week. She decides to do the song dressed all 70’s and really keeps the vocal intact.
she hits some bum notes while she is rushing through it. This song really doesn’t do it for me. I miss the whole Mary J. Blige vibe she had going, and this is the second week where I see Lil losing ground because she doesn’t do anything original with the songs. Kara thought she was beautiful, but it was the wrong song for her. Paula thought it was classic Motown. Simon said she gave an authentic tribute, but as one of the best singers in the competition, she isn’t blowing them away.

Adam Lambert - "Tracks of My Tears"
Adam impresses Smokey with his version of this song, and is seated on stage with the band, all cleaned up and looking like a young Elvis Presley (or maybe K.D. Lang?). All of that aside, the vocal is stripped down and beautiful, and the emotion he expresses with his eyes is amazing. Smokey gives him a standing ovation, and so does Kara. She says she has six words, one of the best performances of the night, which Christine points out is really 8 words. Paula is excited. Simon disagrees with Kara, it is the best performance of the night and tells Adam he has emerged as a star. Randy can’t believe the guy's range and said it was unbelievably hot.

Danny Gokey - "Get Ready"
I am curious about what is going on with Danny’s footage, because it almost appears that the show is trying to mess with Danny’s popularity a little. They spend a long time on Smokey trying to get Danny to sing some lyrics that have been left to the background singers, and then hearing Danny say he will listen to Smokey, but then he comes out and doesn’t follow Smokey’s advice. It doesn’t matter, it is an energetic performance and he sings it extremely well.I am pretty sure that Danny has had little to do with the arrangement anyway. We will never know how the judges felt about it because as usual they have run over their time, and are now rushing through their comments in order to end the show on time. Paula says it is a first class performance. Simon says it is clumsy and amateurish. Randy thought it was great and Kara loved his personality.

At this point I will bring up the fact that halfway through the show Paula pulled some sticker books and crayons out of her tutu for Simon. Apparently there was a sharpie in that pack of fun as well. You will understand soon.

Allison Iraheta - "Papa Was a Rolling Stone"
Allison impresses Smokey with her passion, and she really closes the show on a powerful note. I lose the lyrics once or twice, but she gives an authentic vocal that is way too mature for her 16 years. Randy said it was blazing hot. Kara instructs America to vote for her, it was amazing. Paula was distracted by the sharpie mustache that Simon has apparently drawn on her face, but I think she liked it as well. Simon said it was one of Allison’s best performances.
This is a talented group, but as always happens on Idol, you can start to see who is in for the long haul and who is ready to head out away from the stress of the competition. Michael, Scott and Megan weren’t in the same league tonight, and I think it will be Megan who goes home, although it should be Michael. Tune in tonight……