American Idol 10 Top 11 to Sing Motown – Jennifer Hudson & Sugarland On Results Show

By On 03/18/2011 · 150 Comments · In American Idol, American Idol 10

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Next week, the American Idol 10 Top 11 has a theme! It’s Motown.

Wait…Nigel…Didn’t you say there would be no themes? That the kids would never be forced to sing outside their genre? Now poor Scotty McCreery is going to have to ramp up some Temps or some Smokey? Gosh, Nigel, you certainly are a fickle fella!

Motown is own of those themes that have been done and done and done and done… Stefano gets to whip out some more Stevie! HOORAY (NOT) and I’m guessing the girls will be singing karaoke versions of Diana Ross and Gladys Knight. UGH. Except Naima. I’m expecting you to KILL next week, girl.

So what do YOU think the Idols should sing?

Guests on next week’s results show will be Jennifer Hudson (YAY) and Sugarland (maybe they’ll bring tourmate Casey James along with them….)

 
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  • NOLA

    Why are they copying themes from season 8?

    For the same reason that Season 8 copied themes from previous seasons.

  • PamReid

    I think it is probably classic Motown, meaning no current R&B. I have some ideas but need a couple of days to think this over before I post my choices – basketball is getting in the way – LOL. The first song that came to mind for me was Scotty doing Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get it On,” but then I thought about the lyrics and decided they might not be appropriate. I will probably post my list on Sunday.

    BTW, Motown has NOT been done to death on AI – the people that say it has are confusing classic Motown with R&B.

  • bridgette12

    luvadamlambert says:

    03/18/2011 at 5:27 pm

    Why are they copying themes from season 8?

    I don’t think they are copying themes, but they seem to be going back to their last successful season(8) and borrowing some ideas.

  • Willis

    I think the Motown theme is a great idea even if it’s been done before. Some people need to be forced out of their comfort zone in order to truly shine.

    Kind of unrelated, but I think it’s interesting to get a perspective on Idol outside of the ‘overly invested’ online world of AI. I work at a law firm and almost all of my coworkers ages 30-55 watch Idol religiously, but none of them vote. Everybody was shocked that Paul wasn’t even in the bottom three last night. Pia, Casey and Thia seem to be the favorites with some interest in Stefano and James. Scotty and Paul are pretty much mocked on a daily basis. The A/V crew loves to imitate Scotty singing and Paul dancing, and then wonder why they’re on the show. And why the girls keep leaving. Singing Ballads isn’t a turn-off to them. Kind of funny to see the other side.

    Oh, and I’d rather not hear Grapevine again. Done. To. Death.

  • Incipit

    Why are they copying themes from season 8?

    Say what? Seasons 1,2,3,5,8, had Motor City themed weeks. 8 copied from what went before. Why? Dearth of imagination, or lack of a big enough cleared song list for that many contestants in another genre, would be my conclusion.

    Since Iovine & Co is arranging whatever the Idols chose, “if” he approves what they chose – It doesn’t matter to me what over-produced MoTown Kareoke he serves up.

    Anyway – No more Theme Weeks, except for when there are theme weeks is just like ‘Never, Ever sing Mariah Carey’ – except for when we have a Mariah Carey week.

    In other words, TPTB are full of ‘stuff’ – always have been.

    IMO. Of Course

  • Q3

    I like theme weeks — and although I do not think Motown has been done to death, I think it is not a very imaginative or creative theme. I would really prefer a contemporary R&B theme or if they want a heritage week give them a blues songlist — that would give the contestants some more room to be creative with their arrangements (assuming that they will let them have their own ideas!)

    Tess, I corrected my post. All I can say is DUH! How could I miss that!

  • Lexus

    Personally, I loved the Michael Jackson themed week in Season 8. Imagine all the material to choose from. The man was the best entertainer of all time for a reason.

  • OldHag

    Kind of unrelated, but I think it’s interesting to get a perspective on Idol outside of the ‘overly invested’ online world of AI. I work at a law firm and almost all of my coworkers ages 30-55 watch Idol religiously, but none of them vote. Everybody was shocked that Paul wasn’t even in the bottom three last night.

    Same here.

    Pia, Casey and Thia seem to be the favorites with some interest in Stefano and James.

    Same on Pia, not so much Casey, and even less so Thia, although they all think she is talented.

    Scotty and Paul are pretty much mocked on a daily basis. The A/V crew loves to imitate Scotty singing and Paul dancing, and then wonder why they’re on the show.

    True on Paul and the exact opposite of true on Scotty. Some are saying they are looking forward to seeing what his album sounds like. But then again – I live in the South and there are lots of country fans around.

    And why the girls keep leaving. Singing Ballads isn’t a turn-off to them. Kind of funny to see the other side.

    Singing ballads is not an issue apparently, but so far they have zero objection to the girls that have gone home. It’s more like they wonder why no talented girls try out.

  • nadski

    well i think haley and naima will always be the bottom 2…the others have quite their fanbases so unless they bomb…can’t see too much surprises.
    naima would be the weakest link if we were basing this on voice and a singing contest (but we know it’s not just about singing on A1). i feel haley may bounce back with a very soulful bluesy number….naima will really need to bouce back with no pitch problems and i really can’t see that happening in one week when she has been consistently pitchy.

  • IndyMuse

    What about Signed, Sealed, Delivered by Stefano and What Becomes of the Brokenhearted (in lower register) for Scotty? Other than that, I got nothin’.

    Hope no one is silly enough to try Hello!

  • HR

    Idol has a long history of using these types of songs in theme weeks that predates season 8. Most of these themes have been recycled for years. Clothes are recycled. Choreograhy is used again. Hair extensions have even been used again. Lighting, background, comments used to pimp certain contestants or tear down others have been used over and over. This is why casting is so important to the show’s success. It’s the one mandatory element that must be changed every year and never recycled. You might have people that remind you of prior contestants but they are still different people and the show rises and falls on how talented the audience believes they are and how entertained the audience is by their act.

    I’ve liked this theme in the past but with a group of people I think are talented but terrible with song selection I think this theme could be problematic. I feel they need to be forced into a theme where this weakness won’t undermine them.

  • PamReid

    IndyMuse says:
    03/18/2011 at 7:47 pm
    What about Signed, Sealed, Delivered by Stefano and What Becomes of the Brokenhearted (in lower register) for Scotty? Other than that, I got nothin’.Hope no one is silly enough to try Hello!

    I actually think Jacob might try “Hello.” Just a hunch.

  • iluvai

    Just wondering. How do you guys know people have fanbases or how big they are? Everyone said Andrew Garcia had a fanbase and he didn’t win???Honestly, I do not get who would be a fan of Paul or Casey or Naima, especially after their last performances. And why are people saying these guys better bring it next week!!! They need to kill it!!! Why do they get a pass on their suckiness. I just don’t get that. I don’t see Haley as the weak link in this. I hope she makes top 10.

  • Owlgirl

    Just wondering. How do you guys know people have fanbases or how big they are? Everyone said Andrew Garcia had a fanbase and he didn’t win???Honestly, I do not get who would be a fan of Paul or Casey or Naima, especially after their last performances. And why are people saying these guys better bring it next week!!! They need to kill it!!! Why do they get a pass on their suckiness. I just don’t get that. I don’t see Haley as the weak link in this. I hope she makes top 10.

    Andrew Garcia had a big enough fanbase to make it to 8th/9th place despite not having a strong performance since Stand Up in Hollywood week. A big fanbase can only take you to a point, as contestants who do well will pick up more and more votes each week.

    My assumptions about fanbases come from all sorts of places. Facebook and Twitter followers, the amount of ratings for their music on iTunes, online polls, comments on blogs, things like that. In the case of Paul, I also assume his fanbase is very large since his band’s album is currently charting.

    I want to see everyone bring it next week. This is a talented bunch, and I think they’re all capable of delivering strong performances. It’s a much better competition if everyone is kicking ass.

  • iluvai

    I want to see everyone bring it next week. This is a talented bunch, and I think they’re all capable of delivering strong performances. It’s a much better competition if everyone is kicking ass.

    Thanks. My point is that they all should have brought something by now…This group is not kicking ass by half. I just don’t get why some of them are still here.

  • platoken

    they seem to be going back to their last successful season(8)

    I wouldn’t call season 8 successful. It was successful compared to season 9, but not compared to the seasons before it. It had the lowest ratings, the lowest selling winner, and the worst gender inbalance since season 3. Even the runner-up couldn’t achieve platinum.

  • Willis

    Season 8 was fairly successful. At least I was entertained. True it became a sausage fest pretty early on, but it did not have the lowest selling winner, yet. That honor belongs to Mr. Beige himself. TBH, if Lambert wasn’t in S8, it would have been as forgettable as S9, for me for you.

  • Falfor

    Great upbeat songs from this era.
    Thia – Dancing in the Street – Martha and the Vandella’s
    Pia – Ain’t no mountain high enough – Marvin Gaye
    Haley- Love Hangover – Diana Ross
    Naima – Stop in the name of love – Supreme’s
    Lauren – No where to run – Martha and the Vandella’s
    Scott – Baby I need your lovin – 4 tops
    or
    I cant get next to you- Temptations
    James – Shotgun – Jr Walker and All Stars
    Stephano – 2nd that emotion – Smokey Robinson and Miracles
    Casey – Ball of Confusion
    Paul – Money – Barrett Strong
    Jacob – Ain’t too proud to beg – Temptations
    or
    This old heart of mine – Isley Brothers

  • PamReid

    ptslittlecomment says:
    03/18/2011 at 4:20 pm
    Scotty could so easily cover Three Times a Lady – Kenny Rogers had a country hit with it so he might even know it.

    I like this idea. I had the song on work in progress list for someone else, but I am going to think about it for Scotty – too bad they aren’t listening as there have been some good points made here. For the most part, go upbeat and forget the slow ballads.

  • Mynamea

    Scotty should sing “Bring it on home to me” by Sam Cooke and make it a country ballad. Or he will do the country version of “Stand by Me” that Mickey Gilley did.

  • Mynamea

    Scotty could also do “Who’s Lovin You?” by the Jackson 5.

  • PamReid

    I notice in this thread that several people have mentioned Otis Redding and Sam Cooke songs as suggestions for Motown week. I have to point out the neither artist was Motown – they were both southern soul. If this theme really is Motown, Redding and Cooke cuts would not qualify.

  • PamReid

    I don’t know if anyone is still reading this thread, since it has moved so far down – and I don’t guess it matters since we all have opinions as to what would be best for the kids to sing. I have listened to every single top Motown hit from the classic era, I have listened to covers of a lot of those recordings. I had a blast listening and remembering those great songs. My conclusion is this – it the right singer picks the right song, there could be a true moment – or this week could be a train wreck. I cannot predict and even suggest – just too many variables.

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