Fifty Years of Motown – What Should the Idols Sing?

By On 03/24/2009 · 125 Comments · In Uncategorized

Share on TumblrShare via email

Is there a musical genre more overdone on Idol than Motown? Since we’re subjected to non-stop Stevie Wonder and other Motown greats throughout the auditions, Hollywood and semi-finals, do we really need a Motown week? I say no, but what do I know?

It’s cool the kids got to go out to Detroit to meet with Motown founders, Berry Gordy, Jr and Smokey Robinson–Robinson has appeared as a guest judge and has performed on Idol, but he’s never mentored. Gordy seems intent on imparting life-lessons to his young charges. We’ll see if he’s got useful advice for the Idols.

This should be a good week for the soul boys.   Michigan guy, Matt Giraud could have a breakout week singing the music of his home state.   Ever since Matt’s Coldplay debacle, he’s kept a soulful vibe and been gaining momentum.   Anoop Desai has a strong fanbase ready to support him. All he needs to do is convince others to come along. If he keeps picking the right songs and singing them well, he could be a surprise upset in this contest.   To a lesser degree, Kris Allen could also break away from the pack, but he’s got to assert himself more–if his performances stay at the caliber of his country week “Make You Feel My Love,” he could go deep.

This week should be a cakewalk for the big voiced Lil Rounds, but stranger things have happened.   This week is Lil’s to lose.   I expect front-runner, Danny Gokey, to sail through this week.   He’s got something the people like, I don’t expect the crowd-pleasing Motown to be a challenge for him.   I have no idea what Adam Lambert will do this week, and that’s half the fun.

On the cusp:   Megan Corkrey will quirk her way through something. She could be in trouble this week.   Scott MacIntyre isn’t splitting votes with anyone at this point, he’ll pick a Motown song he can AC the crap out of, and probably advance to the Top 9.   Michael Sarver will go back to singing R&B, and will be splitting votes with Matt, Anoop, Kris and Danny.   If he’s not a standout, he’ll be in trouble. And young Allison Iraheta–I’m rooting for her.   Pick a great song, Allison, and go out there and tear up that Idol stage! I know you can do it…

As far as song choices are concerned, I’m not feeling very inspired, but I’ll give it a go.   Here’s my wish list.   It’ll never happen, but a girl could dream.

What do you think the Idols should sing?

Check out my list after the JUMP…

  • Adam Lambert – “Going to A Go Go” by the Miracles or “Dancing in the Streets” by Martha Reeves and the Vandella–Adam could bring out his inner club boy. Or, “My World is Empty Without You” by the Supremes, or “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” by Jimmy Ruffin. Dramatic!
  • Allison Iraheta – “Your Precious Love” by Marvin Gaye and Tami Terrell – Allison could tear this ballad up.
  • Anoop Desai - “My Girl”, “I Wish it Would Rain” or “All I Need” by The Temptations.   I think Anoop should stick to something ballady, but with a little oomph. David Ruffin is just the thing.
  • Danny Gokey – “I’m a Road Runner” by Jr. Walker and the Allstars.   Or if he wanted to get all messagey, “Living for the City” by Stevie Wonder
  • Kris Allen – “Can I Get a Witness” by Marvin Gaye or “I Was Made to Love her” by Stevie Wonder. He can bring his guitar and do it Mraz style.
  • Lil Rounds – “Shop Around” by the Miracles or “You’ve Been in Love Too Long” by Martha and the Vandellas (Cool feminist anthem covered by Bonnie Raitt in 1973)
  • Matt Giraud – “What Does it Take (To Win Your Love) by Jr. Walker and the All Stars or “What’s Going On” by Mavin Gaye or, if that’s a little too hot a topic, “Mercy Mercy Me.”
  • Megan Corkrey -”Walk Away Renee” by the Four Tops   – Check out Vonda Shepard’s version HERE. Or, how about “Don’t Mess with Bill” by the Marvellettes? Could be very sexy.
  • Michael Sarver – “The Tracks of My Tears” by Smokey Robinson.   Somebody’s got to do it, and I think it should be Sarver. He could handle the falsetto part beautifully.
  • Scott MacIntrye – “Overjoyed” by Stevie Wonder – This AC ballad would be perfect for Scott.   Plus there’s that whole blind thing.

Going through these Motown songs, I now want TPTB to devote an entire week to Marvin Gaye.   So. Much Awesomeness…

 
← Older Comments
  • weareallinnocent

    Re: Danny

    I soo disagree. His technique is not flawless, he was very pitchy last week. You could hear some strain in his voice, I certainly thought he sounded like he was running out of breath. And it sounded like screaming.

    I agree. For me, his vocals are neither strong nor technically sound, or at least they haven’t been when I’ve seen him. (Missed audition, Hollywood, and his semi-, so I’ve seen PYT and JTTW.) Also lacking in performance skills, imo.

    I don’t know exactly how to explain it, but he’s bland sounding to me. His voice lacks texture or a tone that I find inviting. (I’m no expert but I’m not tonedeaf either :-) just what I’m hearing or not hearing.) In contrast, Allison oozes vocal texture, Megan’s tone draws me in (but not her quirk), and Adam’s range, vocal technique, and performance skills are top notch.

  • abbysee

    Heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s a Jesus Freaky guy, the kind you might bring home to mutha, and he never lets the Holy Spirit down, so donate money to his charityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦

    :clap_tb: :clap_tb:

    If Adam sings All In Love is Fair, I would absolutely dial for the entire voting period. I’d forgotten about it, that would be incredible. There is also another song, lesser known by Smokey Robinson, The Agony and Ecstasy. Lovely ballad that Adam could sink his teeth into. I also wouldn’t mind Lil trying one of these.

  • SpenserJ

    Heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s a Jesus Freaky guy, the kind you might bring home to mutha, and he never lets the Holy Spirit down, so donate money to his charityà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦.

    that’s good stuff right there.

    Now he just has to decide on which eyeglasses to wear!

    Oh, I’m thinking we’ll get a whole new pair this week that we haven’t seen yet. I would guess that the fangirls have sufficiently funded the fake charity this week to at least get a new set of frames.

  • glamadamfan

    Okay, so I want Adam to sing something by Sam Cooke. I’d like to hear “Bring It On Home To Me” actually. I’d also take “Dancin’ In The Streets” thought if he did the Bowie/Jagger version and added to it. That could be cool. But I’d also love if he did a ballad and showed how really talented he is.

  • glamadamfan

    In regards to range, Adam beats everyone out by a long shot, in my opinion. On Ring of Fire, he was hitting unbelievable notes that most female opera singers can’t get to, never mind male singers. I think he hit a C#5 somewhere in there. He’s got a 5 octave range at least! That’s really incredible and pretty darn rare.

    Gokey’s range is pretty standard. Just about anyone can sing in that range — if they can sing.

  • onherthize

    Adam will sing a Smokey Robinson song. Count on it. He is the only one that could pull it off. Especially with Smokey there to mentor.

  • spacebarshift

    my pick are at idolatoz.blogspot.com

  • bean99

    Adam can hit high notes but it doesn’t mean it’s pleasing to the ears.

    I’m looking forward to Matt’s song. I think this is a perfect theme for him. I’m really curious what Allison will do this week. I wonder if she’ll take Paula’s hint and change it up?

  • SpenserJ

    Okay, so I want Adam to sing something by Sam Cooke. Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢d like to hear à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Bring It On Home To Meà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  actually.

    You have my Otis Redding disease :)

    Cooke never recorded for Motown, so he’s not an option either :(

  • weareallinnocent

    Adam can hit high notes but it doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t mean ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s pleasing to the ears.

    Very true, but to some ears, it is not only pleasing, it’s damn impressive!
    :-)

    We all come with different ears musical preferences, some broad, some niche, some steady, some ever-changing. FWIW, Queen’s Greatest Hits was the very first album I loaded onto my iPod when I bought it several years ago to run with. LOL (Great inspiration, I tell ya – We Are the Champions, Fat Bottom Girls, Bicycle, Don’t Stop Me Now – good for runs!) I think that probably says alot more about where I’m coming from with Adam than anything else. Too bad there’ll be no Queen theme week for me! Not that anyone other than Adam could do it justice, mind you. ;-P

  • bean99

    Very true, but to some ears, it is not only pleasing, ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s damn impressive!
    :-)

    Of course. :smile1_tb: I also liked Queen and Freddy Mercury but think Adam belongs more on a theater stage than concert. YMMV

  • http://myspace.com/saltwatercures pj

    I doubt she could pull it off, but I would like to see Megan attempt She and Him’s version of You Really Got a Hold on Me.

  • cheese

    I doubt she could pull it off, but I would like to see Megan attempt She and Himà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s version of You Really Got a Hold on Me.

    Yeah, I’m predicting that she does this. I think she’ll do a crappy imitation of it and get praised for her “originality” If she sucks, she can always cough or pout.

    This theme is going to be really tough as far as trying to re-arrange the songs to sound more contemporary. As great as the songs are, most of the Motown covers done over the years have stayed pretty close to the originals – I think expecting this group to come up with something innovative and “current’ in one week is probably a tall order.

  • Tess

    expecting this group to come up with something innovative and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“currentà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ in one week is probably a tall order.

    I’ve never understood the “judges…or should I say self-absorbed, OTT, cocky, word spewing, hypocritical, non-realistic, puppets” when they use these terms. And in so many instances if you take an “old” song and make it innovative they tell you that you can’t mess with the original!

    These motown hits have stood the test of time, the covers are so close to the originals because there isn’t a lot you can do to change these songs up…they are usually so well-written with fantastic and identifiable melodies that they become excrutiatingly difficult to change. Besides, most Motown hits are identifiable within the first few notes.

    I just hope that tonight’s performances embrace the history of Motown and that the kids infuse the songs with passion. I don’t want anyone just to sing the notes, or to use the songs to show-off their vocal gymnastics. I just want to be taken back to a wonderful place that was Motown in the 60′s and 70′s.

  • justshootme

    I think Megan could do a good job on Gwyneth Paltrow’s version of “Just My Imagination” (with Babyface).
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaMYSvy3ths

    I always get my hopes up on these theme nights, that the contestants will come up with more obscure choices, and then I’m disappointed to hear the same old shit. I’m trying to lower my expectations. Although I’ll never give up hope that Gokey will fall off the stage.

  • just sayin

    BTW, it seems to me that there aren’t as many spoilers as there were last season. Is this right or is it just my foggy memory?

  • Layla

    Wow! Out of curiosity I listened to Gwyneth Paltrow with Babyface…and really liked it. She’s a far better singer than actress.

    …and NO! Megan shouldn’t touch this classic with a 10 foot pole.

  • Heart

    A poster from Joe’s Place is going to rehearsal and should provide spoilers this afternoon. He said to check between 3:30 – 4:30pm.

    The rehearsal should be longer today because of the Jennifer Hudson taping, right?

    I’m dying to know what Adam is singing!

  • http://myspace.com/girlgeek mj

    I’ll have spoilers today too…

  • Heart

    Oh goodie, mj! I would rather check your site instead for spoilers, anyway! I can’t wait!

  • SREEP22

    Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m dying to know what Adam is singing!

    MEE TOO….

  • Grammie Kari

    MOTOWN is so important to the cultural and social framework of American music, it will always be relevant. One hundred years from now, the Beatles and the Motown sound will still be discussed in music circles. Every course taught on the Civil Rights movement covers its’ importance.

    I did a major thesis on the topic which also included seeing most of the artists perform in person. There is no other word better than AWESOME!

  • Qcloud9

    I’m hoping for MOTOWN week 2 next week, I LOVE it!

  • http://myspace.com/susanatfox sumidol

    “Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll have spoilers today tooà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦”

    Yes!!!!! I love them!! I am soooo bad at waiting

  • Grammie Kari

    Tess, your entire post was so right on, I could quote it all. Terrific.

    Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve never understood the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“judgesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦or should I say self-absorbed, OTT, cocky, word spewing, hypocritical, non-realistic, puppetsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  when they use these terms.

    At first I laughed, but then realized that is probably the most accurate description of the judges I have ever read. Certainly worth posting at least once a week. You have a way with words.

    I am anxious to find out what Anoop and Adam are singing.

← Older Comments