Watching Sitcoms

I’m not a big fan of Motown music, but for some reason, this week on American Idol is usually pretty good. Maybe because Motown music is easy to sing, or easy to hear. I don’t know that for certain, I’m just guessing. But whatever the reason, I’m almost looking forward to hearing the Top 10 sing tonight. Part of it might be that I keep thinking the week is going to come when everything clicks and I start to really like this group. That never actually happened last year, but I live in hope.

So let’s get this show started. Oh, wait, first they have to intro the judges and Ryan. My husband just asked me, why do they do this now? I don’t know, because they hate me??

I have to say that the part showing Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson in Motown’s Studio A was pretty interesting.

First up is Matt Giraud singing, Let’s Get It On, Marvin Gaye. Somehow I pictured Adam Lambert singing this song. While Matt’s version is solid, I don’t think he brings anything to the song at all. It was, as Randy says, just ai’ight for me. But sometimes, I’m not sure what the judges are looking for during this competition. They really seem to like him way better than I think he deserves. Also, does Kara ever speak and not talk about sex? Ever?

Kris Allen is up next with How Sweet it Is, Marvin Gaye. After last week, he really should have done something a little more upbeat. Not that this song isn’t more upbeat than last week, but it just comes across as a bit, um, well, lame. Ish. I like Kris, but this song and his boy scout get up just isn’t doing it for me. The judges will like it, though, just cause of the glory note at the end. See, what did I tell you?? I recommend that they stop showing this kid’s wife, though, if they want him to stick around, cause all the little tweenies are gonna stop voting for him.

Scott MacIntyre is singing You Can’t Hurry Love, Diana Ross and The Supremes. Smokey is a nice guy who says he has no negative comments for Scott. I’m not so nice. This guy is clearly aiming to put out an album of elevator music. Bad elevator music. What am I missing here? I don’t see why everyone thinks he’s so talented, all I see is boring. Lots and lots of boring. My husband has actually fallen asleep here on the couch beside me. I’m not even kidding.

Megan Joy Corkrey (Is she Megan Joy or Megan Corkrey or Megan Joy Corkrey or what? What is this chick’s name? Why does her name keep changing? Why do I care?) sings For Once in My Life, Stevie Wonder. My husband has woken up in time to ask me if her feet are tatooed. OK, I know what this performance reminds me of, one of those sad late night performances during a telethon. Her voice just completely grates on my ears and she sounds completely flat and shouty at the same time. I don’t get it. My husband’s view, “This is sooo bad. The background singers are better than she is.” Well, at least Vote for the Worst is voting for the right person. I’d love to see Megan go home this week, but I’m torn cause I’d like Scott to go, too.

Anoop Desai sings Ooh, Baby, Baby, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. This is a nice song, but I’m already afraid that Anoop is going to be dull. It feels like Anoop is just not getting that he needs to bring it each week. Well, admittedly, he’s a million times better than the last two singers, and his jacket is giving us a whole 50’s dance-off vibe (part leather jacket, part letterman jacket), so maybe it will work for him. I think his fans will like it. My husband likes it, but then he’s also comparing this to Megan, who sucked.

Michael Sarver is singing Ain’t Too Proud to Beg, The Temptations, and I worry for him, cause this won’t be a great song to have to sing tomorrow night while begging the judges to let him stay another week. Who knows, maybe he’ll be safe. Now just let me say that I like Michael, he’s such a nice, pleasant kinda guy, but somehow he falls flat every week. He’s just too pleasant. Maybe its the fact that he smiles even if he’s singing a sad or serious song. Maybe we should try to trade him back for Matt Breitzke. *sigh*

Lil Rounds is next with Heatwave, Martha and the Vandellas, and this should be good. I hope. Well, I like her dress, but her wig is kinda distracting cause it looks so fake. As for the song, Lil is doing a passable job, but parts of it sound like they are too low for voice and she almost seems to be running to catch up with the music in spots. Whoa, Randy just said the same thing as me. See, I can write the script for these people.

Up next is my hope for some salvation of on this sad, sad show, Adam Lambert withTracks of my Tears, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. While this isn’t the type of loud and crazy song we’ve seen from him before, I still think that whatever Adam chooses to do here, it will be interesting. I could use some interesting about now. I love the look, like Kurt Russell playing Elvis (which he actually did, now that I think about it). See, now here’s a guy who knows how to bring it. When you get a standing O from Smokey, you know you’re good. Slow and sweet and lovely and not, even a little bit, boring. I have to say I love this kid more and more every week. I didn’t plan on it, but I’ve been downloading every song from iTunes, and here’s one more for me to buy.

Danny Gokey should be able to hit it out of the park with Get Ready, The Temptations. So far, nearly everyone tonight has been failing me, so I hope he comes through. Right off the bat, I’m not happy that he didn’t take Smokey’s advice about what to sing on the verse, especially after he just said he was going to. I got so distracted listening for that part, that I wasn’t paying such good attention to what he did sing. I’m left with the impression of high energy and happy upbeatness, which is all good. I am a little unhappy that the judges are running out of time and can’t call him on the verse thing. But the bottom line here is that Danny is good and he’s totally safe.

In the pimp spot tonight we have Allison Iraheta singing Papa was a Rolling Stone, The Temptations. This ought to be amazing for her. Please, Allison, don’t let us down. Really, really good! She was amazing, like a star, high energy, edgy and memorable. She’s very safe tonight.

If I’m choosing, the bottom three tonight, they are Scott, Megan and Michael. I don’t really think anyone could argue with that while still being honest with themselves and others.