The always reliable stylings of Motown (Top 10)
March 25th, 2009
Its Motown week, and I am feeling a bit under the weather. Which means I am cranky. I’m hoping Idol cheers me up, but if not, I don’t think I’ll be merciful. Smokey Robinson is the mentor, and I heart him. I hope someone sings Tears of a Clown.
| 01. Matt Giraud
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“Lets Get it On” by Marvin Gaye – His “false” is amazing, I like that he broke away from the piano. The song was perfect for him, his pitch was nearly perfect. I have no complaints. |
| 02. Kris Allen
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Rating: +1/2 |
“How Sweet It Is” by Marvin Gaye – I liked it. Also, I’m a bit freaked out that the numbers listed on his sleeve are my birthdate (just off by one year). Kris, are you speaking to me in code? If so, Hi Kris, I promise I am a fan. I liked your performance, too. The only thing I worry about is he seems like “Matt lite”. I don’t think his vocals are quite as good, and his entertainment value is slightly less. Following him in singing order doesn’t help, either. However, I still like the guy. |
| 03. Scott MacIntyre
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“You Can’t Hurry Love” by Dianna Ross – Ok, this week I am officially bored with Scott. The whole backup singers thing didn’t do it for me. Especially following Matt and Kris, he just doesn’t measure up to them. |
| 04. Megan Joy Corkrey
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“For Once In My Life” by Stevie Wonder – Gah – her voice was straining throughout. I like all the judges’ suggestions, especially Kara who said she should have sang “My Guy.” The difference between her and someone like Allison (who can sing the phone book) is that her voice just is not as strong, so she has a limited selection of songs that will work for her–and she has a lower margin of error, for, well, errors. So, in summary, not good. |
| 05. Anoop Desai
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“”Ooo Baby, Baby” by Smokey Robinson – I like the whole sensual side of Anoop. His falsetto does leave a bit to be desired, especially in comparison to Matt, and it was a little slow and sleepy. But this performance should be adequate enough to stick around. |
| 06. Michael Sarver
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Rating: |
“Aint Too Proud To Beg” by The Temptations – Here is the problem: it was adequate, but not very good. And this song has been performed on the show a few times…Ruuuben, George Huff, and even Scott Savol, all of whom make Sarver look like a wuss in comparison (we’ll do this one for CompShop tomorrow). His vocal chops just can’t cut this, and if he doesn’t want to embrace the country, and still play like he is a soul singer, he’s going home real soon. |
| 07. Lil Rounds
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“”Heatwave” by Martha and the Vandellas – Full disclosure, I don’t like this song. It is boring, and I associate it with Sister Act, and therefore a Vegas Lounge act. She sang the song really well, but you can only do so much with it. K Lo sang this during Motown week in season 2, and was in the bottom 3. Will Lil have the same fate? |
08. Adam Lambert |
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“Tracks of My Tears” by Smokey Robinson – Finally, he is living up to all the potential of his vocal chops! I loved everything about this performance. I loved the guys playing instruments, it was a fantastic vocal, and an excellent song. This is a 180 from Lambert for me. Wow. Team Lambert! (At least this week.) |
| 09. Danny Gokey
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“Get Ready by the Temptations – I liked the entertainment value, and I thought his vocals made a return to what we saw during Hollywood week, with that raspy sounding voice. The dancing scared me a little, but was ok. Pretty good, but not quite blown away. |
| 10. Allison Iraheta
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“Papa Was A Rolling Stone” by the Temptations – This girl is amazing! And deserving of the pimp spot. I have no idea why she hasn’t picked up more fans yet. Vote ALLISON, people! |
The top performance was Adam, followed in a close second by Allison, and Matt, and a close third by Kris.
Worst performances were Scott and Megan, followed closely by Michael, who all proved that at this point in the competition, they no longer have the vocal chops to be here. I would be happy with any of the three of them exiting stage left tomorrow.
Have I mentioned how much I miss Alexis? She could have sang circles around those three tonight.
Thoughts?
Entry Filed under: performance show reviews
14 Comments Add your own
1. Bunny | March 25th, 2009 at 8:56 PM
Great summation of the night! I agree totally with your bottom 3, and even though I like Megan, she blew it again. I liked Adam for the first time and I think Kris is really coming on strong. It’s hard to say what will happen tomorrow night!
2. Gretchen | March 25th, 2009 at 10:13 PM
I agree with everything you said. Go Adam and Allison. Outstanding performances.
3. Ian | March 26th, 2009 at 1:35 AM
We seem to agree on a lot. I think Michael just avoids the Bottom 3. His fans will come to his rescue after he was there last week. The ones I see in the Bottom 3 are Scott, Megan and Kris. I thought Kris was good, but he went early and was overshadowed by several others. Scott’s my pick to go home.
4. Miljan | March 26th, 2009 at 5:00 AM
I liked Adam (as every week, though, as I said, I don’t like such types of people), and I LOVED his styling.
Allison is like a female and rock-version of Archuleta – she can sing and NAIL anything…
And I agree on your btm 3, though I’d like Sarver to stay – Megan and Scott are getting very, very boring with their styles.
5. Gretchen Daul | March 26th, 2009 at 6:05 AM
Can I also say that these antics between Paula and Simon have got to STOP. Seriously, writing on each other with crayon? Come on. These contestants’ careers are on the line and they are so disrespectful. It’s annoying to the viewers.
6. Amanda | March 26th, 2009 at 7:14 AM
Completely agree —
Scott is so sweet and kind — but, he’s boring. He is beginning to sound the same from week to week.
Can we just have a double elim tomorrow night and get it over with? I know this sounds mean, but I wish Michael would just go home already, and can you take that Kara girl with you? Who decided we needed four judges???
Matt was right on key, and Allison completely rocked the end of the show (esp after 4 mins of commercials!).
Liked Lil’ but I thought she could have worked her whole performance better, especially the dress! You can’t wear a dress like that and not shake-and-bake-it! I was kind of disappointed and felt like she was yelling the whole time.
Complete surprise with Adam tonight. I’m happily married and don’t usually swoon, but (sigh!) wow…! Love the cleaned-up rockabilly, retro look with the hair greased back and the sharp suit! He reminded me of Ray Liotta from “Goodfellas.”
Okay, bye!
7. Kammy | March 26th, 2009 at 9:09 AM
ADAM FOR THE WIN!!!!!!
8. warden | March 26th, 2009 at 9:24 AM
First, I totally agree that Adam has the best vocal ability and the best stage presence in the competition. Let’s be perfectly clear about that. However, when you step back and look at these contestants, you have to consider a few things.
(1) Adam is an actor. He knows how to act the part that he is playing. It seems to me that his entire life is an act. I wonder what is really going on inside his head. He seems, actually, like he is very empty and sad inside and put on different costumes and plays different roles to gain approval from different groups of people. I have seen the pics online of his tongue in other boys’ mouths, and of him in lycra glitter suits and of him at gay pride man camps, and honestly, none of that even makes me believe he is gay. He is an actor. A poser. A faker. But, he can really, really sing. On country week he offended a solid third of the country with his butchering of Johnny Cash and his snide comments about not going to Nashville “any time soon”. Looks like his handlers decided he better win back some of middle America, so they told him “look man, put on your best All American Elvis does James Dean look and make some hetero women swoon so they will vote for you”. It worked. But it was still a fake. He is an actor.
Kris is a performing musician. He is what he is. He is not going to “act” conceited as Simon suggested. He is not going to snub his nose at a particular style of music. He is the same now as he was before this competition. Check out his myspace, or iTunes and you will see that the music he has been producing for the last five years is exactly the same as the music you have seen on AI. It’s honest. It’s genuine. It’s real. It’s NOT an act. That is the biggest difference I see in Adam and Kris.
Allison is right on the edge of being classified as a prodigy. To be her age and have the kind of command is nothing short of amazing. No doubt she has a long career ahead of her in the performance industry. I think I can tell that she is a rocker at heart, but maybe that’s just what the AI people have formed her to be. Regardless, I like her and wish her the best. I hope she can stay grounded in the process and find her “real” self before the machine takes over and forms her image. Kris was fortunate enough to establish himself as an artist before AI. I just hope AI doesn’t ruin Allison in the long run.
Bottom three from Motown night: Scott, Michael, and Megan, with Scott at the bottom.
Finally, how we all process the AI performances depends on how we view life in general. Our worldview is reflected in the houses and cars we buy, the spouse we choose, the food we eat, the presidents we elect, and the AI contestants we rally behind.
Do you cast your vote for glitz and glamour in spite of a hollow core? Or do you cast your vote for integrity and honesty, and for people with a solid core of being that permeates everything that they are about?
9. Michelle | March 26th, 2009 at 1:04 PM
Wow, Warden said it best about Adam, I was thinking the EXACT same thing… he is an actor so he knows how to act. BUT he succeeds and that counts for something.
If you are talking about an IDOL that has integrity AND talent, look no further than Danny.
His commitment to mentoring those less fortunate is admirable. (see url link for more – if it works)
But Danny puts his faith in God and will ride this out wherever it takes him and be happy with that.
10. Kammy | March 26th, 2009 at 1:07 PM
^^^oh boy **sighs**
11. Michelle | March 26th, 2009 at 1:11 PM
One more note… votefortheworst just might be able to have an impact on the results tonight. I believe that site is the one reason Alexis went home before Megan did.
How sad…
12. ryanflip | March 27th, 2009 at 1:58 AM
I wonder if Warden and Michelle’s religion might have something to do with their opinion of Adam? He’s one of the most obviously gay contestants this show has ever had, besides Nathaniel (this season as well) If you haven’t seen that, well, then you’re blind. I don’t think he has ever once said how much he loves his “girlfriend” or “wife”, he is what he is. He doesn’t hide it, but he also doesn’t flaunt it, what’s wrong with that? He is what he is.
13. warden | March 27th, 2009 at 6:13 AM
Hey Ryanflip,
My comments about the contestants have nothing to do with my religion. What type of “religion” to you think I have? What I mean about Adam is that he is an actor, and that his gay lifestyle is also an act. Of course I see that he believes he is gay. I just look at him and see an emptiness. He seems very lonely. I would love to see him discover who he really is as a man first, then his true star quality would seem more genuine.
The most “obviously” Christian contestant is Danny. And, honestly, I see him as a bit of an actor as well. That’s why you don’t see me on the “We have to vote for Danny the Christian who lost his wife” bandwagon.
I personally really like the contestants who are well defined artists and who are comfortable in the skin at musicians. I like the ones whose music is an extension of who they have become as a person. That is why I like Matt and Kris and Allison.
14. DEE | April 3rd, 2009 at 7:25 AM
Danny should sing , Don’t Stop Believing by (Journey). He has the voice for it.
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