The theme for the week was indeed Top Downloads from iTunes, but they clearly used a different list than what I linked to this weekend, as there were several songs performed that weren't there. I suspect they included some of the top downloads over a longer period of time in their actual list.
The wider selection of songs meant it wasn't the non-stop train wreck I feared it would be. There were a couple of those, however.
Tonight was an Obama-presser delayed Thursday night results show. They started with the usual crappy group sing that I skipped.
Next was the Ford Music Video, which hardly showed the Idols at all. It showed the vehicles a lot though, which suggests that maybe Ford is figuring out what advertising is supposed to accomplish.
It was Motown Week for American Idol, with mentors Smokey Robinson and Barry Gordy. It didn't seem that Gordy did much except show them around Motown Records, however.
One big change this week is that the backup singers were down on the stage next to the performer. The backup singers have been a weak point all season long, and this seemed to help a lot.
On to the performances.
Our Top Ten American Idol wannabees travel from Memphis to Detroit next week, with songs from Motown. The wife and I thought we'd change things up a bit, and make suggestions of what we think each contestant should choose.
Its unclear whether they are going to allow any song from the soul genre, or just limit it to actual releases from Motown Records.
There was a great deal at stake tonight, as everyone who is safe tonight is going on the summer tour, and thus knows that he or she at least gets some money from all the abuse they receive from Simon Cowell (and for having to try and figure out what the hell Paula Abdul is talking about every week).
And to open the show, Ryan Seacrest tells us that there were thirty-one million votes, and that the results may shock us.
Overall, a night of solid performances, with only one or two that were rather poor.
The theme of the night was the "Music of Michael Jackson". I was going to ask how much MJ paid for this promotion, but I doubt he could afford the price.
The contestants entered from alternating staircases, which led to a nauseating back and forth with the camera. Try something else, Fox.
And I have to ask, did Paula strangle a bird with the strap of her dress?
Tonight was the Group 3 Results show. The slots in the Top Twelve went to Lil Rounds, Scott McIntyre, and Jorge Nuñez. Scott making it was a little bit of a surprise, but the other two were obvious locks.
With that reveal done, they quickly turned to naming the wild card contestants.
Heading into this week, my expectations were rather low. None of the performers tonight had particularly impressed me during Hollywood Week. While it was a bit of a roller coaster with some horrendous performances, there were a number that were quite good, and predicting who makes it through is going to be tough.
At the beginning of the show, they talked about having a week where Simon Cowell picks the songs for everyone. I really hope they do this. He always critiques people on their song choice, and I'm curious to see if he could do better.
I expect that he would do well.
