It's Motown night

Okay, who let the themes back in?

I thought we were done with the themes. We've done okay this year, but last week's songs were mostly 15-30 years old. Now we're going back to a era when most of the singers will be half as old as the songs they're singing.

Maybe 19E figures that since they've already paid a gazillion bucks for the rights to these songs, they may as well get their money's worth.

While we're wading through the filler, let me say that I've been a bad blogger this week because I forgot that the new season of DTWS started on Monday. Luckily, Mrs. High Lord caught it in the DVR and I watched it yesterday when I got home. It's surprising that the Karate Kid (and his combover) was the best of the night. I think he's getting hair advice from The Donald.

Drawing the Dead Man's Spot is fan-fave Casey singing the raisin song. He's been rather screechy in the past and vows in his intro piece to keep it under control. I'm just happy the Idol makeover people managed to attach him with a beard trimmer in his sleep. I give him a big aiiiiiight for this performance, but I think even going first won't endanger him. What's up with the string section on the judges's podium?

Mrs. High Lord likes Thia, even though I can't stand her. Mrs. High Lord likes that she's singing something up-tempo, which is always a plus. In parts the song is bigger than her voice, but she exceeds my expectations. She flubs the lyrics in a couple of places and that's always a bad sign. See rule #1A to the right. Vocally it was pretty good.

Jimmy says Jacob is the guy who the most natural fit for Motown. But it's not just because he's black. I think. Did they get new backup singers? Jacob does a good job in avoiding the oversing. He does a bad job in not coming off as really gay. But he has J-Lo dancing in her chair, which is a good sign. I like it a lot, even if he does all of the runs and stuff that I hate.

Lauren is up next and she's the person who is probably the least prepared for Motown week. She is one of the enigmas to me on the show this year. I don't know who her target audience is. I know she's this year's wide-eyed girl from a small country town, but beyond that, she's just another IBG. I associate this song with Kim Wilde. This is the first time I think she's done really well. In fact, it's almost as good as Jacob. I think she's benefiting from some early poor performances early, so now she appears to be improving, and voters like that.

Next up is Stefano and he's singing some Lionel Ritchie. I forsee a trainwreck. Plus, I hate this song. He puts me to sleep halfway through. He does oversing. Blech. Vocally, he's not awful, but compared to some of the others who have gone tonight, he clearly lost a step.

Of all the singers remaining, Mrs. High Lord and both want Haley to go. Given that she's made the bottom 3 every week, I think "America" believes that, too. At least it's straight-hair week on Idol. I think she's trading on her looks and short shorts, like another Haley of years past (Scarnato, for those of you keeping score). Her vocals also aren't awful, but they're not great either. At least it's not another ballad.

Scott claims to not be familiar with Motown, and I'm sure he'll come up with a way to countryfy it. Sure enough, the sounds like George Strait covering Stevie Wonder. I like Scotty, and I like that I already know how everything he's going to sing is going to sound. While that may get him eliminated in about the six or seven spot, it will definitely get him a contract in Nashville, and probably a more successful career than Josh Gracin and Phil Stacey.

So far, we've had two really good performances and five that were somewhere between meh and okay.

Pia is up next and Mrs. High Lord likes her, too. That's a good sign since I like watching the TV when she's on it. She goes the slow ballad route, which is a change-up from most of the rest of the field. Like Stefano, she leads me down the road to sleep. There's too much vibrato in her voice, which usually means the singer is nervous. It wasn't my favourite performance of hers.

A couple of years ago, Adam Lambert knocked "Tracks of My Tears" out of the park, and now Paul is trying his hand at it. I like the twins he's going singing backup for him. Paul takes his own take to the song, which is good since he's Adam and he's certainly not Smokey. I don't hate it, but I don't think it's great either. Plus, he flubs the lyrics.

One of my favourite singers of this year is Naima. I know she's not the greatest singer, but she's quirky and not as "corporate" as some of the others are. I like that you never know what she's going to do once she starts. Plus, she's got a couple of bigass drums on the stage with her. Like some of the others, she's not the greatest vocalist in the bunch, but at least she's a lot of fun, unlike say, Thia and Stefano. This was easily her best performance of the season.

All of this indicates that T/AG gets the Pimp Spot. He's also singing some Stevie Wonder. He's also okay, but not deserving of the prime placement. He give a high energy performance, but looks tight through the shoulders. Plus, he has to throw in an Adam Lambert wannabe shriek or three. Naima should have stabbed him so she was the final performance of the night.

The Good
Jacob, "You're All I Need to Get By"
Naima, "Dancing in the Street"
Lauren, "You Keep Me Hanging On"

The Bad
Casey, "Heard It Through the Grapevine"
James, "Living for the City"
Thia, "Heat Wave"
Pia, "All In Love is Fair"
Paul, "Tracks of My Tears"
Scotty, "For Once in My Life"

The Ugly
Haley, "You've really Got a Hold On Me"
Stefano, "Hello"

In case you haven't heard, there's a new Star Wars MMO coming out and I registered two guilds, one for the light side (Fisto of Fury) and one for the dark side (Ninja Assassin). Come join us.

As far as Motown nights go, this was the best we've had for a long, long time. I just wish that "America" will finally eliminate Haley tomorrow.

Usual faves Casey and Thia could find themselves in danger due to their early placement in the singing order.

Who should be in the bottom 3: Haley, Scotty, Stefano
Who will be in the bottom 3: Haley, Lauren, Stefano

Who should be eliminated: Haley
Who will be eliminated: Haley

I don't think Haley will survive a third trip to the bottom 3. I think she'll be going home. And if she's not, I'm going to throw something at Mrs. High Lord's new TV.

High Lord. Forge Breaker. Out.