American Idol and the Motown Sound

It’s Motown week and I couldn’t be less enthused. But Paula’s dress—wow! Is she dressed as a ballerina? What IS that?!

Ryan rubs it in that Alexis got kicked off, mentions Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy, and then questions Randy who is wearing a stripy weird cardigan that sort of makes me crazy. Then there’s Paula using words she doesn’t really understand and Simon speaking truth in his British accent—even if we don’t always agree, he generally tells it like it is.

Lil has apparently gone all Motown-y with some extensions and a retro hairstyle that’s pretty flattering. We’re treated to a video about the history of Motown and Smokey and Berry are there encouraging the contestants. Mindy refers to Smokey as a “plastic surgery wonder.” Sadly, it’s oh-so-true!

Smokey’s the mentor and apparently everyone had to sing along to “Ain’t No Mountain” with him. It’s nice, but really sort of dumb at the same time. I just want to hear the people sing their Motown songs. Where is the actual competition?! They. keep. dragging. it. out! Ryan, shut it!

First up, Matt. He’s singing “Let’s Get It On.” Oh, geeze, I don’t think I can take it. Smokey says does more than justice to the song, but really, I am already getting embarrassed for him. Please don’t dedicate this song to anyone! Whew! He doesn’t. He has great control of his voice and jumping up to the falsetto. Some of the runs and digs he does show that he is nervous. And when he gets up from the piano, his pants are WAY too tight . The performance is good, maybe his best so far. (Mindy says: He did good, I just don’t like his pants.) Randy says he set the tone for the night; Kara says something embarrassing and a softball comment that way too easy because of the name of the song but says it was solid; Paula comments on his sexy, cool vibe and was respectful of the melody; Simon says there was a corny bit, but overall a cool performance. The judges agree that Matt is a front runner—he’s good, I agree. But he’s just OK with me. He’s not the star.

Kris Allen is next and apparently the guitar is back for “How Sweet It Is.” Smokey says the melody is great and claps when Kris is done. He says Kris blew him away. Smokey’s really a nice guy! Kris is wearing a weird army inspired shirt that I don’t think is quite that cool. He starts acapella  and it wasn’t quite as controlled as he wanted, I think. The rest of the song is fun and enjoyable with some growly digs, but I worry he may have picked a song thats too. . . . done. It’s nice. He’s on with the vocals, but I’m not sure it’s memorable, except for the last note. Kara says Kris was true to himself in the song and did everything right; Paula says he has been coming into his own, which is true; Simon says it was good, but he needs to believe in himself more (he doesn’t really have swagger, that’s true); Randy says it was all good.

So far: Marvin Gaye: 2, Rest of Motown: 0

We come back to a discussion between Scott and Ryan. And Scott is wearing some dusty rose pants. Mindy says she had a Bible that color growing up. Fun times! Scott’s doing “You Can’t Hurry Love.” In rehearsal time with Smokey, he slows it down and it makes me a bit crazy. Smokey says it’s a contemporary take, but I’m still unsure. Here we go! First off, Scott rocks the piano. He can really, really play very, very well. The beginning is way too slow and boring, then Scott ups the tempo. He does, well, fine. It’s a white guy singing Motown. It’s not the best; it’s not the worst. He just doesn’t have the voice control or star quality of other performers. Paula liked the slow beginning and compliments Scott on connecting with the audience; Simon says it wasn’t a great version and his piano playing was terrible (I don’t agree on that, but do agree the backup singers didn’t help him at some parts); Randy agrees with Simon and calls it a hotel performance; Kara says he brought tempo (does she mean fast, b/c tempo can be fast or slow) but that he didn’t fully deliver on a classic song.

At this point, Paula gives Simon crayons and a coloring book, Ryan explains it to Scott, and awkwardness ensues.

Megan is doing “For Once In My Life.” I hate it in the rehearsal with Smokey. It grates on my nerves and my ears—AND SMOKEY SAYS HE LIKES IT! And finds it refreshing! What? Smokey says Megan is original, and I think he means it in a nice way. The performance is as bad as I thought it could be. She’s shouty and not on the correct notes. And wearing something weird that’s way too short. Simon and Paula flirt during the performance; Megan does her dumb dance move and pretty much sucks. Mindy comments that if she didn’t look the way she did, they would tell her she sucked. Randy says it was a train wreck; Kara says it was a bad song choice and full of bad notes—you’re just now noticing this?; Paula compliments her beauty but agrees it was bad; Simon simply says it’s horrible, atrocious, and really is way too cruel than necessary—even if he is right.

Anoop is doing “Ooo, Baby, Baby.” Smokey tells this story about how the song came about that’s cute and fun. Smokey loves Anoop’s version. The performance begins with crooning while sitting on the stairs, then standing for the falsetto. Anoop is good. Anoop has a beautiful, pure, technically wonderful voice. But I’m just not sure I’d buy an Anoop album. Mindy points out that he loses intensity when he goes soft, which is true, which comes out big time on the “Baby, Baby” parts. Kara says he picked a beautiful song and had some problems, but he did a pretty good job; Paula wants more confidence and says he did a good job; Simon says it was a great vocal but Anoop looked asleep throughout the song; Randy says we need an energetic song next week but that this was a good performance. I really think what Kara said is important.

Michael Sarver is up next and talks about how he was sick last week and didn’t get to go to Detroit to see all the Motown stuff. He’s doing “Ain’t To Proud to Beg” which he says he’s going to “church” up. Smokey says Michael has a big voice and needs to use it in a big way on this song. Smokey tells him not to sweet-talk the song, but really lay it all out there. The performance is a little scary to me as far as vocals at the beginning of the song. Michael is a nice guy and a fine singer. But he’s not good at interacting with the crowd and does something strange with his free arm during the entire performance. This song isn’t terrible, but it’s not good. I think Simon might even call it karaoke-ish, plus there’s screaming and bad wailing at the end that is not impressive at all. Paula says it was a tough performance (Mindy suggest using a mic stand and pleading more); Simon says it was something he couldn’t wait to see end and that Michael doesn’t have a chance of winning the competition (he doesn’t); Randy says the song was too big for him; Kara says he doesn’t come off as having the artist package.

Lil Rounds is next. She should be AWESOME! She’s doing “Heatwave” and Smokey uses the cliche about singing the phonebook when he hears her. They say sweet things about legacy and it makes me teary for some unknown reason. Lil has a flapper dress and extensions. I feel like she’s trying to channel the Vandellas. This should be amazing, but she’s oversinging. Stop yelling, just sing the song. Calm down, let the song flow out of you. The entire performance is at one dynamic and that’s loud and screamy. I believe she is having a great time, but it’s not her best. Mindy says: Thank you for being over! Randy says the front was a little bit of “torture” and that she was rushing through the song (word, Randy!); Kara says she looks great and that we all expected her to nail it and she didn’t; Paula disagrees and who’s suprised and this says Lil changed nothing but made it fresh (huh?); Simon says it was the wrong song and was too farced, especially from one of the best singers in the competition.

And it’s Adam Lambert! Oh, please not anything like last week. That was terrible. He’s doing “Tracks of My Tears” and in rehearsal with Smokey, the falsetto is on display. Smokey says he’s never heard the song performed quite that way. I think it’s a compliment; but I’m not sure about it. Adam has his hair all combed like the young Elvis for the performance and I’m really disturbed. I think this might be the first time I’ve heard Adam sing and LIKED the performance. He’s not wearing guy liner (there is mascara) and the performance is straightforward and stripped down. He’s not trying to make love to the mic or otherwise make the song vulgar and trashy. I don’t know what to think. Kara says it was one of the best performances of the night; Paula says she likes his makeup-less face and that he was good; Simon calls it the best performance of the night; Randy says it was tender and unbelievably hot. No one mentions the Elvis look. Mindy and I are flummoxed. Has the world ended? Because we just liked Adam Lambert’s performance. I. can’t. handle. this.

Danny Gokey is next. He’s doing “Get Ready” because he thinks it’s fun and gets people moving. Smokey fights with Danny about his arrangement and Danny takes his advice, which I always think is a good move. The performance, you ask? Vocally, it’s great. Much better than last week and there’s even some fun moments when he sort of dances with the backup singers. But Danny really can’t dance. He’s adorkable. Not quite cute, not quite a dork. It’s good, not quite as memorable as Adam’s performance, but good. Danny is fun because he seems to be having fun and enjoying every moment of this opportunity. And, come on, people, AI is a big opportunity that deserves to be enjoyed! Paula says alot of complimentary words that end in -able; Simon says it was clumsy and amateurish; Randy loved the energy; Kara says it was good but not great.

The last contestant of the night is Allison. She’s doing “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” and I’m scared. Smokey advises her to study the lyrics and thinks that she sang the song her way and will do well. Here we go! She’s got the mic stuck way up in her face and her outfit is atrocious! I’ve been very complimentary of Allison in the past, but this was just OK for me. Very middle of the road. Maybe it’s because she’s the last singer, but I thought it was boring. Randy says it was “dope” and “blazing hot”; Kara says it was amazing; Paula says she was fantastic (which is hilarious since Simon has drawn a mustache on Paula’s face); Simon giggles all through his critique but says it was a good performance.

Going home? Scott or Michael. I wish Megan because of all the performances, her’s was the worst and she deserves to go home.  But I fear she as too much of a fan base. Also, Kris Allen, while cute as can be and a good singer/performer, is forgettable and I fear that will work to his disadvantage.

The best—and I hate myself for saying this—Adam Lambert.