Hands down, "American Idol" Wednesday belonged to Adam Lambert (seen here) and Allison Iraheta. Those two soared above the other eight contenders on a night that showed why Motown songs are timeless and infectious.
The loser, surprisingly, was Lil Rounds. Everyone anticipated Motown to be her big week to shine. Didn't happen. Maybe she caved into the pressure of huge expectations. Maybe she just, again, chose the wrong song. Allison, at 16, showed what a Motown song is all about, exactly what Lil should have done. Instead, Lil just seems lost right now.
One side note: I don't know what's going on with Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul this season, but they've ratcheted up their love-hate-flirty thing. It's getting tiresome and distracting. Last night, after Allison delivered the big finale, the two judges made it all about themselves and snatched away what should have been Allison's moment for high praise. It was tacky and classless.
Here's my rundown on the Final 10. What did you think?
Matt Giraud: He performed "Let's Get It On" and continues to show why he's one to watch this season. He was rock solid, with a soulful and cool rendition of the Marvin Gaye classic. Matt set the bar high for the rest of the show.
Kris Allen: He sang "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" while playing guitar. I get that he's a fan favorite among girls, and his performance was soul in smooth mode. But he keeps reminding me of John Mayer. And I have John Mayer music on my iPod, so what's the point?
Scott MacIntyre: I'm sorry. He says he was trying to change it up on "You Can't Hurry Love." Really? Because it sounded just like his songs from the previous two weeks. He's a nice guy and has a warm voice, but he needs to really grab a song and live it. He's playing it safe, which will only get him so far. If only he had stuck to his first choice, "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)." That could have evoked the emotion he needs to bring to his music.
Megan Joy: Maybe the trouble started when she dropped her last name. What a mess on "For Once in My Life." I thought I'd been transported to a lousy 1960s variety show. It was: Loud. Rushed. Strident. Bad.
Anoop Desai: It was like a sequel to last week. He sang another heartfelt ballad, this time with "Ooo Baby Baby." It was nice, but Anoup doesn't do much for me. He's middle of the pack, at best.
Michael Sarver: He sang "Ain't Too Proud To Beg." He was earnest, tried to juice it up. But it came out like Megan: Loud. Rushed. Strident. Bad.
Lil Rounds: Oh, dear. Where to start? She sang "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave." She went full throttle from the first note, with no room for artistry or originality. It was shrill, rushed and unpleasant. She has one of the best voices in this contest, a beautiful instrument. But she needs to pick better songs. She's losing ground. Fast.
Adam Lambert: No matter what you think about Adam, he is NEVER boring. This stripped down version (including dressing down his own look) was beautiful and tender in its acoustic interpretation of "Tracks of My Tears." Like Allison, he showed what it means to understand a song, get inside its skin and deliver a riveting performance. Bravo!
Danny Gokey: I've been a Gokey fan from almost the start. He's likeable and can sing. His version of "Get Ready" was energetic and fun. But, unless he can show a different side of himself, he's starting to remind me of Taylor Hicks. And that's not good.
Allison Iraheta: I agree with Judge Kara DioGuardi -- How was this girl (pictured above) in the Bottom 3 last week? Why isn't her fan base larger? She is a breath of fresh air, so young and yet so inherently spot on with her song selections and delivery. She sang "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone." Her big voice oozed with soul and the pain of what the song is about: someone who never knew his or her dad. Best of the night. Double bravo!
So who's out of luck: The Bottom 2 have to be Megan and Michael (though I think Lil should make it a Bottom 3). I say Megan is the one who ships out.
I actually agree with all of your reviews for each singer. Adam, Allison, and Matt were the clear winners of the night for me. I'm predicting also that Megan and Michael are in the bottom two, I would say Scott is in the bottom 3 too.
I hate to say I told you so about Danny and Lil Rounds, but I think I was the lone voice of reason and moderation on those two all along. They are fine singers, but are not natural entertainers. The Taylor Hicks comparison hit me last time too. Now if only I could get you all to come around on Allison.
Kris is forgettable, but he's got a voice that is definitely commercial. Your John Mayer comparison is perfect. Yeah, you've got John Mayer on the iPod, but the John Mayer that Kris sounds like disappeared about 5 years ago (with the exception of that soundtrack single from Bucket List) and hasn't dropped an album at all in 3 years.
My girl Megan had a bad week after showing up big last week fighting the flu.
I'm thinking that unless it's Michael Sarver on the chopping block we'll see the judges break out the save tonight for either Megan or Scott.
Matt Giraud: I think this guy is overrated, period. If he looked like Michael Sarver, he'd be gone.
Kris Allen: I hate when they do close-ups of his face. The crooked mouth action is weird and distracting. He's good though.
Scott MacIntyre: Blaaaaaaaaaah. He needs to go. Besides, he lost his leader (the chick who was voted off last week, the one who always held his arm)
Megan Joy: No stage presense at all ... and she's a horrible singer.
Anoop Desai: He's interesting to watch every week.
Michael Sarver: Boring.
Lil Rounds: Disappointing.
Adam Lambert: The best of the night and the season. In the David Cook mold.
Danny Gokey: Annoying, and tiresome. I agree with you, he DOES remind me of Taylor Hicks.
Allison Iraheta: She and Lambert are great to watch each week.
I just want Bikini girl back. :P
The rest of these guys just seem like cookie cutter versions of someone else. Not terrible, but nothing seriously notable, save the 16 year old. She's got some wicked pipes, and is young enough to ruin it like Britney, so she will probably win...
What the hell happened to Danny? When this started, I was saying 'he and Allison are the only two I'd even dream of buying their CD.'
Danny has to get back into his heart...I don't know where it went, but he should have torn up country week with some heart-breaking rendition of some such. I didn't expect much from him with Motown, and yeah, maybe he's playing it safe, but it's annoying me.
Simon and Paula need to be separated now. It is entirely distracting and rude.
I want Megan Joy to make out with me. But she's gone from this competition soon. Hopefully she'll hang in one or two more weeks, just cuz I love her face and smile.
Scott gets sympathy votes, but I think they run out in a week or so...his nasally voice just isn't cutting it.
Michael is gone.
Kris and Matt bore me, torrentially. Anoop is just riding the wave until the two people worse than he hit the road.
Li'l still gets the black vote, Scott gets the sympathy vote, Anoop gets the 'Sanjaya' vote, Danny gets the church vote.
That leaves Michael and Megan bottom three, with Matt joining them in a surprise.
The judges don't save anyone unless the unthinkable happens with Allison or Danny.
:::sigh::: No more Felicia....
Scott in the bottom three instead of Megan?
Who knew there were other horny voters out there who think she's hot?
Cuz her singing is a hot MESS.
WTF with the judges claiming they 'hadn't decided yet' on whether to save Michael. He stunk, and had NO chance whatsoever to win. The judges have to pretend they're discussing things, I get that, but to actually claim they hadn't decided?? Weird.
PLEASE someone explain to me what the hype is on ADAM. HE SUCKS. This is by far the worst season of AI...the only one who has any talent is Allison. Close your eyes and listen and you can hear when they go flat, off pitch,etc. Adam has pretty teeth and weird hair and why they like him is way beyond my comprehension. My family and I always try to like him and hear what they seem to hear but each week we cringe and gag.
Ruben sucked, Smokey sucked - and Paula judging singing is ludicrous...She and Simon are distracting and getting worse by the moment. Why don't they just send her to the "home" put her on meds and save the rest of us from her syrupy diatribes. Too many commercials for such little talent. I won't be watching them blow smoke up Adams untalent3ed ego anymore. I can read on line who gets booted and who wins without being tortured. The blind guy should have gone the first week and then that other piano geek...then the Jonas Bros wannabe...Megan Joy (cute girl-not too bad on the Country show but otherwise just cute) but it worked for Britney and lots of other POP starts. Why don't they let them sing what they would sing on their album and not give them songs they have likely never heard of...or whould never sing in a million years...Time to discontinue AI. This is all you could come up with in the millions you listend to...ADAM and Scott....give me a break.
i wish the other judges (all the ones besides Simon) would think up some new generic observations before the next show