American Idol for REAL this time

It's Motown night. The kids (minus Michael) head to Detroit tonight. They visit where the Motown sound originated and meet Barry Gordy and Smokey Robinson.

So let's get down to the singing.

Oh (btw - Ryan has a suit on and he looks nice tonight)

Matt's up first - Singing "Let's Get It On" - a lot of websites are going on and on about the zit on Matt's forehead, which is CLEARLY a mole. SO people need to leave it alone. Matt's playing the piano and has a blue shirt, gray tie and blue cardigan (not having gotten the previous nights lavender memo).... and singing well... and then he gets up from behind the piano (good call - Paula should like that). Oh my... well... those pants don't leave much for the imagination! He's commanding the stage well and working it. And I gotta tell you, he's singing on key but his backup singers sound HORRIBLE. The judges... all like it. And no one says anything completely off the wall so we'll move on to....

Kris is singing "How Sweet It Is" - singing and playing guitar. Smokey likes his version. Kris hits the stage wearing.. some sort of military shirt with a whole lot of numbers on it and stuff... I don't get it but he's cute and turns in a solid performance. Very well done. Cara says it was artistic - it was Kris doing his own version. Simon wants him to believe in himself and swagger and stuff. SO... act like Simon I guess.

Scott is up next and I'm sorry, but some mean person has put this man in pink pants... really? Pink?? Oh... wow. So he's singing "You Can't Hurry Love"... and I'm worried this is going to be another Easy Listening Favorite. Ok... he starts out slow and then picks up the tempo. But I'm not wild about the arrangement. Very... piano bar. Paula thought he brought something different and then throws around some technical terms which make her sound pseudo intelligent. Simon REALLY didn't like it. Simon called it cheap and I kind of agree. Randy agrees with Simon and me. Cara liked the tempo but didn't like taking the liberties with the melody. Ahh - apparently they didn't tell Scott his pants were pink until 10 minutes before the show and he apologizes. Thank you Scott. You need to whap whoever dressed you with your cane.

Megan is singing "For Once In My Life". Can I just say... I love tattoos. I do think they're cool, but Megan's drives me NUTS., it makes her look off balance. She's got a little turquoise dress on and a flower in her hair, and a necklace that looks like a toddler day care classes was working on stringing things. And... she's shouting the song and it's both too low and too high for her. And she still seems SO awkward on stage. Ugh. It just wasn't that good. And Randy has made love for her and likes the outfit but not the song. Cara agrees. (Paula and Simon I think are playing footsie or some other inappropriate game). Paula thinks she's stunning but agrees about the song. Simon says Oh Dear and echo's everyone else's sentiments.

Anoop is performing "Oh Baby Baby"... He starts sitting on the stairs. He's got a tie and a shirt and a varsity jacket on... He's in his falsetto and it's a little on the weak side, but when he's in his regular range he's doing a great job. Very emotion-filled. Sweet and tender. Cara says it's hard to sing and agrees that his falsetto was a little weak but overall he did a good job. Paula wants more confidence but loved it. Simon says it was vocally great but he looked like he was falling asleep. Randy says he wants the party on but that worries me because that's when Anoop becomes Frat Boy Anoop and that's not good.

Michael ALMOST has a lavender shirt on.. but I think it's pink but it's CLOSE to lavender. Michael was sick and didn't go to Detroit and whatever, just sing whatever you're singing. Which is... "Ain't To Proud To Beg" (HA HA - The first time I typed "Aint' To Proud to Bed"... which makes it a totally different song)... Smokey tells him not to make it too sweet. Hmm... I really want to like Michael, and he's a cute teddy bear, but I'm just not feeling the singing. It's not that it's bad or good. It's just... there. Oh no.. it ends badly. Just... bad. Bad note. Paula wasn't wild about it,

(CAN WE JUST TAKE A MOMENT - you, in the studio audience - please STOP BOOING every time a judge says something "negative"... they're trying to be HELPFUL and it's ANNOYING when you boo)

Simon couldn't wait for it to end - it was all screaming and shouting. Randy didn't think he had the stuff to pull off an R&B thing.

Lil's singing "Heat Wave" - the trip to Motown REALLY struck something with her... which is totally cool... But now how will the singing go? ACK!!!! SHE'S MOVING AROUND THE STAGE!!! Thank you LIL!!!! And she's got fringe on - and that's FUN to draw!!! I'm enjoying this - her voice is nice (maybe a little shouty but...) and it just fits her. I'm not a big Lil fan but I liked it. Randy didn't like the front of the song and she was rushing (he might be right there). Cara gives the kiss of death (complimenting the looks first) and didn't think it was the right song choice. Paula disagrees and thought it was fresh. Simon thought it was an authentic tribute, but didn't think it was the right song choice. He wanted her to have a "moment."

Ok.. it's Adam. Singing "Tracks of My Tears"... Adam's going slow and tender. Did I just write that? Adam, Slow, and Tender... in once sentence?? Jesus? Are you coming now??? Holy... crud... he's got his hair slicked back and the nail polish is gone... and there's no eyeliner, and he's got a black shirt and light gray suit on - and just a guitar and bass (as in upright) as accompaniment. He's singing it mostly in falsetto... but it's amazing. I LIKE this Adam. I'm still convinced he's not Adam playing the role of "sensitive singer" but I don't care... I LIKED THIS A LOT. OOO - Smokey gives him a standing O. LOL- my phone just rang, Kat wants to know how I'm gonna draw that!!! Cara says it's one of the best of the night. Paula says she likes his clean look and no nail polish and says it's an element of surprise and she likes it. Simon says it is THE best performance of the night. Randy says it was tender and hot. Wow... I may need to pause it for a moment to collect my thoughts.

Danny - "Get Ready" He leaves off the ends of the verses to have the backup singers sing it. Smokey tells him not to. But he does. Nice... smack the Legend upside the back of the head and tell him off. Grrrr... Um... he sings it okay... growly and loud. Do people not know how to be loud but yet controlling?? YOu don't have to scream. Paula liked it, Simon called it clumsy and amateurish. Randy loved the energy but said it wasn't the best. Cara thought it was good, not great. I gotta say... I'm not wild about it. Oh - Danny had on a black shirt and black jeans... eh.

Allison is finishing the night with "Daddy Was a Rolling Stone" - Allison is wearing parts of several outfits - lace leggings, tight blue mini-dress with lots of chains and then a white bolero jacket. She sings the heck of the song and you would think. Actually she's one who can be loud but still musical. She really hit it. Randy says she's dope. Cara can't believe she was in the bottom 3 last week. (Olivia Newton John is in the audience). Simon has drawn a mustache on Paula's face. But Paula likes the performance. Simon says she a survivor and it was one of her best performances (all this while having a total giggle fit - that Simon... he's a nut).

Ok... so... going home tomorrow? Michael. I know... I said that last week but I gotta think he was the weak link tonight.