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Motown Showdown Tonight on American Idol

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 06:52:28 PM EST
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Tonight's contestants on American Idol all will be singing Motown in honor of the record label's 50th Anniversary. Who would you like to hear them sing? My list: [More....]

Other Motown Stars: Jr. Walker and the All Stars and The Isley Brothers.

Who wasn't Motown? Among my favorites back then: The Shirelles, the Chantels, the Chiffons, the Crystals, the Angels and the Ronettes. (Which reminds me.... think good thoughts for Phil Spector, the jury will begin deliberating tomorrow in his murder trial.)

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    Motown Showdown Tonight on American Idol | 70 comments (70 topical)

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    "War -- good god (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by Cream City on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 07:09:51 PM EST
    what is it good for?  Absolutely nothin'. . . ."

    So many greats, but that one still resonates.

    Aretha!!! (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 07:40:15 PM EST
    Chain--chain chaiiiiiiin!!!
    Chain of -- banksters!

    my goddess fer shure.. (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by DFLer on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 08:21:14 PM EST
    on Atlantic Records

    Parent
    She did sign with Motown Records (none / 0) (#70)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 10:55:20 PM EST
    but I don't know which songs she sang while with the label.  

    However, my understanding of Motown stems from the "history of rock and roll" word find puzzle book I had when I was a kid.

    I've never studied Motown.

    Parent

    She never recorded for Motown (none / 0) (#71)
    by DFLer on Thu Mar 26, 2009 at 08:08:28 AM EST
    She lives in Detroit, however.

    Before her seminal work at Atlantic, she recorded for Columbia records and after, Arista.

    Parent

    Jeralyn, did you know (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by Steve M on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 08:00:57 PM EST
    that Martha Reeves (sans Vandellas) is actually a member of the Detroit City Council these days?  Now that's a commitment to Motown.  My favorite genre of music.

    If I could pick just one song out of all the great ones, it would be one Jeralyn linked above, I Want You Back.

    You've got me watching Idol (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by Cream City on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 08:21:01 PM EST
    for the first time -- and omg, they've got the women wearing makeup of the era, too.  I have not seen that much blue eyeshadow in decades.

    Even a luddite like me.... (none / 0) (#1)
    by kdog on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 07:05:09 PM EST
    has to appreciate the wonder of youtube...its like having your own jukebox.

    That Smokey could sing...Shop Around always gets my juices flowin'.

    The Gladys Knight version of Grapevine is my fave from Motown...but nothing beats the way Creedence jams it out.

    Thanks for the smooth sounds Jeralyn...

    kdog, check out the (none / 0) (#9)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 08:00:01 PM EST
    Temptations, "I wish it Would Rain."

    Wow, still describes my life.

    The Temptations, in the 60's in Alabama, were a 'negro' band, and most radio stations wouldn't play them. The one in Auburn, WAUD 1230 on your radio dial, AM, owned by the late Elmer Salter, would.

    Parent

    Ed Sullivan had (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 08:23:03 PM EST
    them on his program, if I remember right.

    Parent
    Yep. Sang Mary Wells' "My Girl" (none / 0) (#31)
    by Cream City on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:04:14 PM EST
    aka the guy version of "My Guy."  It used to be on Youtube but was taken down (like SO much lately).  It's on the Sullivan DVD, though, says Amazon.

    And I've still got it on an American Bandstand EP.  Anyone else remember EP's?  Anyone?

    Parent

    {blushing and raising hand} (none / 0) (#48)
    by nycstray on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:24:07 PM EST
    yuppers, that would be me, lol!~

    Parent
    Okay, now we know (none / 0) (#67)
    by Cream City on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 10:28:43 PM EST
    how old we are, nycstray.  And I've still got the original American Bandstand sleeves, too -- and for all of my 45's as well as my LP's, filling a long shelf and then some.  Next to the shelf full of tapes.  I finally caught up with CD's around the millennium, and now I'm told that those soon will be outre, too.  But I am convinced that my grandchildren will prize them, maybe frame them for their walls one day.  After all, that's what I did with a wonderful box I found of my grandmother's and great-grandmother's sheet music from a century and more ago.  Hey, it could happen. . . .

    Parent
    And from the incredible flick (none / 0) (#3)
    by Cream City on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 07:21:15 PM EST
    . . . "Standing in the Shadows of Motown," a version today with so many of the original backup band but with a vocalist who rivals the original -- and that can't be said about much from the Motown era.

    Enjoy:  Joan Osborne, "What Becomes of the Broken-Hearted?"

    Little Eva, (none / 0) (#5)
    by Radiowalla on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 07:42:46 PM EST
    The Crystals.
    The Cookies.

    For starters.

    Motown. Iplay motown for my students (none / 0) (#6)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 07:52:36 PM EST
    and I can't stop myself (I love you and nobody else) from dancing across the podium.

    Between Motown music and Parliament/Funkadelic clips, some of the students think I'm a frikkin' genious!

    Yeh, while setting up the techie stuff (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by Cream City on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 08:18:00 PM EST
    that is so much a part of our lives in classrooms these days, I get a Youtube clip going to wake up the class -- music tied to the class topic, such as Civil War songs and 19th-century immigrant songs and on into jazz and blues of the early 20th century, so it becomes a magical musical history tour.:-)

    And then, we get into the era when we just gotta dance.  My dad taught me a mean Charleston for when we get to the '20s, my mom taught me the jitterbug . . . and then, when we get to the stroll from the '50s (still such fun) through the funky chicken and frug and other forgettable dances of the '60s, the class is just amazed that we had such fun in, like y'know, ancient times of the '60s.  Sigh.

    There is amazing work on Youtube, citizen filmmakers.  I appreciate them so much -- and so do students, before they have to hunker down and look into books.

    Parent

    I started to (none / 0) (#17)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 08:26:31 PM EST
    'raise the roof' and my students went wild. Can't imagine doing an actual dance. Oh, I've done the twist (a fat old man doing the twist... I pulled muscles, lol), but I now prefer raise the roof. Gee. To the students, that's old school.

    Parent
    You ought to have been here (5.00 / 2) (#27)
    by Cream City on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 08:53:46 PM EST
    when my kids, college age then, heard from friends about the way their mom was acting in class. . . .

    Hey, it wakes up and cracks up the students, loosens them up to listen and engage.  And see this middle-aged (aka "old") woman as approachable -- tough to accomplish with some of my students, so turned off by too many years of being told to sit still.  Whatever works.:-)

    Parent

    That's funny (none / 0) (#47)
    by CST on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:22:19 PM EST
    My parents are always surprised when my siblings and I know "their" music.  I am like - people your age have been making movies and tv shows for people my age for a loooong time.  I love motown.  And I can probably sing more words to the songs than my parents.

    But yea, it's still funny to watch them dance.  We grew up with a very different style of music for that.  Although I have slowly gotten my parents to admit that not all hip-hop is bad, I doubt I'll see them dancing to it anytime soon.

    Parent

    Huh. you can dance to that (none / 0) (#64)
    by Cream City on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 10:14:19 PM EST
    hippy-hoppy stuff?!  Just channeling your parents for you. :-)

    You remind me of my daughter, who grew up learning all the Motown girl music and '60s folkie music and more, the stuff we'd play to clean the house by.  When she went on a trip with a friend's family, and the parents put on a tape in the car of their music -- my generation's music -- to the groans of their kids . . . they were stunned when my daughter knew all the words and sang along.  (Yeh, not just the tunes we inflicted on your generation in ads, with changed words; she knows all the original words.)

    Your parents raised you well.  Now turn down that noise!  Ooops, with Ipods, we don't have to say that anymore. . . .

    Parent

    Tunes in ads (5.00 / 1) (#68)
    by CoralGables on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 10:28:58 PM EST
    you just sent me running to youtube to listen to Mr Blue Sky by ELO, or to my daughter...the Jet Blue commercial.

    Parent
    I want someone (Danny?) to sing Tracks of my Tears (none / 0) (#7)
    by Angel on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 07:54:42 PM EST
    People say I'm the life of the party cause I've had a drink or two.  Although I might be laughing loud and hearty, deep inside I'm blue.  So take a good look at my face.  You'll see my smile looks out of place.  If you look closer it's easy to tract the tracks of my tears....

    Love that song!

    Jeralyn, (none / 0) (#8)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 07:56:40 PM EST
    I now have a (nonsexual) crush on you. We like the same taste in music!

    erm--'have' (none / 0) (#11)
    by jeffinalabama on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 08:04:32 PM EST
    okay, a couple of barley pops.

    Parent
    That's okay and (none / 0) (#18)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 08:28:38 PM EST
    thanks!

    When I was in high school, we had the Four Tops, the Temptations and the Shirelles come play concerts at our school. I have no idea how they paid for it, but it was so cool. I remember jumping on stage to hug Levi Stubbs of the Four Tops. Seems like another lifetime ago, especially since so quickly after that I was totally into the Grateful Dead, the Jefferson Airplane, Qucksilver Messenger Service and of course the Stones and Beatles, Bob Dylan, etc.

    Parent

    I've never seen American Idol, (5.00 / 0) (#20)
    by caseyOR on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 08:39:00 PM EST
    but I'm thinking tonight I'll give it a try.

    J, I made that same quick transition to the Dead, Airplane, Dylan, etc.. There was always a place for Motown, though. What else were we going to dance to?

    And, although she was not from Motown, Aretha was and remains tops in my book.

    Parent

    I'm wondering how Adam will do (none / 0) (#16)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 08:24:05 PM EST
    I can't picture him doing Motown, but I love the way he does the Rolling Stones.

    Adam (none / 0) (#22)
    by CoralGables on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 08:43:37 PM EST
    threw you a curve ball changing character and actually did quite well,

    Parent
    You must be on the East Coast (none / 0) (#30)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:01:31 PM EST
    Adam's not on yet here, but I'm glad you think he did well.

    "Ooh, baby baby" is on now and Anoop is singing it.

    Parent

    Oops (none / 0) (#34)
    by CoralGables on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:05:36 PM EST
    sorry I forgot (yes you are right). You'll enjoy it tonight.

    Who were your favs from DWTS last night? Mine were Melissa, Shawn, and Lil Kim.

    Parent

    DWTS (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:16:08 PM EST
    last night: Melissa and Lil' Kim. Of course, Melissa can do wrong in my book -- I followed every step of her journey on the Bachelor.

    Lil' Kim had me when she dedicated her first dance to the women she was serving time with in the federal pokey for her perjury/tax charge -- and her lawyer's a friend of mine.

    Parent

    The French dude is working it well (none / 0) (#46)
    by nycstray on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:22:10 PM EST
    and I also like Shawn, Melissa and Lil' Kim.

    I'm hoping DAG pulls it together a bit more and becomes a more serious contender. I like seeing at least one go through big changes during the show and giving the others a good run.

    Parent

    quite well? (none / 0) (#54)
    by kenosharick on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:35:26 PM EST
    He is in a totally different league than the others. Hate to admit, AI is the one reality show I do watch.

    Parent
    I love that Adam changed his look - (none / 0) (#23)
    by Anne on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 08:43:56 PM EST
    the hair was hiding a really great-looking face - kind of reminds me of Dean Cain.  And he can sing!

    A couple of the performances tonight have been cringe-worthy.

    Parent

    Pefect falsetto for true Motown sound (none / 0) (#28)
    by Cream City on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 08:55:43 PM EST
    I was very impressed.  And a standing ovation for him from Smokey Robinson?  Unforgettable moment.

    But then along came this Allison.  Yikes, has she got it. . . .  It's going to be a tough call.

    Parent

    Scott's singing You Can't Hurry Love (none / 0) (#19)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 08:34:03 PM EST
    Totally soul-less. He sounds like a Vegas lounge singer. We'll see what the judges think. Here's the Supremes' version.

    I had to change the channel - (none / 0) (#24)
    by Anne on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 08:45:04 PM EST
    I just feel so sorry for them when it doesn't go well.  He has such an inspiring story, but he was pretty awful tonight.

    Parent
    The guys seem to get away with "lounge" (none / 0) (#40)
    by nycstray on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:14:08 PM EST
    singer routines a bit more than the gals do. Most of the guys turned in what I would call hokey performances, and I won't even get into their clothes, OY! They critic the gals on what they wear, etc, but not so much with the guys. If one of the gals has not so smooth moves, mentioned. The guys can look like cheap imitations of lounge singers and it only gets mentioned on occasion. I think they called only one guy on it tonight, but several had horrid (imnsho) stage presence. Kris and Adam were the 2 that stood out as being "Idol" material for me, the rest have been driving me nuts. Alexis definitely had more chops than some of the guys they praise.

    16yo Allison is almost scary. Where the heck does she pull it from?! She really knows how to dig in and deliver.

    Parent

    Glad I'm not alone (none / 0) (#43)
    by CoralGables on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:16:45 PM EST
    in thinking Alexis had more to offer than half those still standing.

    Parent
    Allison will be in the top four (none / 0) (#44)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:17:35 PM EST
    I think. Yes, she's young, but so was Jordin Sparks. Allison can really sing.

    Parent
    Adam hit it OUT DA PARK! (none / 0) (#21)
    by ChiTownDenny on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 08:42:53 PM EST
    Can we have an hour of Adam?  How about Adam Idol?

    Wow. And an hour of Danny! (none / 0) (#25)
    by ChiTownDenny on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 08:45:07 PM EST


    Parent
    Danny's on now here and (none / 0) (#58)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:44:41 PM EST
    I think he's doing really well. Ok, it's between Adam and Danny now for me.

    Parent
    I can't wait to see him now (none / 0) (#32)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:04:17 PM EST
    I think he's my fave of the season, he had me when he did Satisfaction, which I thought no one but the Stones could do, plus it's so overplayed. I'd love to see his face when he wakes up in the morning, sans makeup, and with his natural color hair. I also like that his parents are so proud of him. They've been interviewed on earlier shows.

    Parent
    Adam definitely scored (none / 0) (#52)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:34:34 PM EST
    I almost didn't recognize him, and he was great. Ok, judges up now.

    Parent
    wow standing ovation (none / 0) (#53)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:35:19 PM EST
    by Smoky Robinson and the judges are blown away.

    Parent
    I got my wish!!! Tracks of my Tears.....favorite (none / 0) (#26)
    by Angel on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 08:50:16 PM EST
    of the night.

    My top three (none / 0) (#29)
    by CoralGables on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:00:10 PM EST
    tonight in no particular order...Allison, Adam and Lil.

    Of course, I liked Alexis too so what do I know.

    What About Danny? (none / 0) (#33)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:05:21 PM EST
    He didn't do well tonight? (Not on here yet.)

    Parent
    I don't (none / 0) (#38)
    by CoralGables on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:12:11 PM EST
    think Danny is improving. Kind of reminds me of Kimberly Caldwell years ago who I kept waiting to kick it in, and just stayed where she started.

    Parent
    I liked Li'l fbut (none / 0) (#35)
    by Cream City on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:06:05 PM EST
    she went flat too many times.  It's Adam, I think -- but Allison could take it.

    Nooooo, do not let me get hooked on Idol.  Such fun.

    Parent

    "Church it up"? (none / 0) (#36)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:08:33 PM EST
    That's a new phrase for me. Michael Sarver said it's what he's going to do to the Temptations' "Ain't to Proud to Beg".

    I like him, he works on an oil rig or something -- he's the blue collar contestant.

    He's singing now, and he's okay. I don't think Simon will agree though.

    Paula says (none / 0) (#37)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:11:20 PM EST
    Sarver was like a Vegas lounge singer, she stole my line from my comment about Scott (see above)... I was right, Simon didn't like it.

    I still really like Sarver's sincerity.

    Parent

    Ha, heard that instruction (none / 0) (#65)
    by Cream City on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 10:19:13 PM EST
    from a choir director years ago, in a multiracial choir.  The director was African American -- but all it took was a demo of a couple of seconds, and we all knew what he meant and knew what to do -- shakin' and shimmyin' in those choir muumuus.  

    I think some of the older Presbyterians in the pews needed resuscitation at the very sight of us.  Yep, churchin' it up, children -- that's what he said.

    Parent

    Does anyone else think (none / 0) (#39)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:12:24 PM EST
    Randy is the only honest judge...who doesn't play to the cameras or audience but says what he really thinks from a musical perspective?

    But (none / 0) (#41)
    by CoralGables on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:14:37 PM EST
    Dawg, he can get pitchy at times :)

    Parent
    Yup. (none / 0) (#45)
    by nycstray on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:18:30 PM EST
    I think Simon comes in a close second though when he's not screwing around with Paula. Actually, he still manages to give pretty concise criticism even then, lol!~ I think Simon's perspective holds a higher marketing level than the other judges.

    Parent
    I actually think that Simon (none / 0) (#55)
    by kenosharick on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:37:43 PM EST
    is the only one that is always (brutally) honest.

    Parent
    I thought Lil Round was great (none / 0) (#49)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:27:08 PM EST
    I don't know why the judges (except for Paula) didn't like it. Lil's a keeper.

    I agreed with the rushed part (none / 0) (#51)
    by nycstray on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:33:35 PM EST
    as I kinda felt it when I watched her. Also, it doesn't highlight her voice as much. But it was more authentic, which is interesting as they sometimes criticize the contestants for not being authentic with certain songs.

    I think some of the guys from the beginning of the show will be in the bottom tomorrow night. I honestly didn't remember them by the end of the show. Lil' didn't knock it out of the park, but she can still hang with Adam and Allison's performances.

    Parent

    Paula and Lil mention Obama (none / 0) (#50)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:28:29 PM EST
    I bet he's watching...you know his daughters are. He made a Simon joke on Leno last week and Leno forgot to ask him if he watches.

    Ok, for those of you following the show (none / 0) (#57)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:42:34 PM EST
    should I keep doing my nighttime tv threads here on TL or should I start a new blog...and do you have any suggestions for the graphic (I'm pretty graphically challenged.)

    Not Following the Show (none / 0) (#62)
    by squeaky on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 10:02:48 PM EST
    But POP LEFT seems pretty cool. Great idea!

    Parent
    Not an Idol Fan (none / 0) (#59)
    by dissenter on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:46:13 PM EST
    Or a Dancing fan but I thought those of you that are might be interested in this strange story out of LA about some lunatic who thinks Shawn Johnson speaks to him through TV and ESP. He apparently showed up at their studios this week with two loaded guns, love letters, duct tape, a map to the victim, etc. Mom has filed for a restraining order and asked for protection.

    Apparently the suspect is in police custody... hopefully the psych ward.

    That's scary (none / 0) (#60)
    by nycstray on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:53:45 PM EST
    and I hope he is getting psych help.

    Thankfully nothing serious happened (this time!).

    Parent

    top three for me (none / 0) (#61)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 09:58:52 PM EST
    Adam, Lil and Danny.

    talent round up (none / 0) (#63)
    by S on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 10:03:51 PM EST
    American Idol...love Danny, Adam and Allison

    Danny has got heart, it is coming from inside out, he is a natural entertainer...if i am forced to choose between Danny and Adam, my emotion goes with Danny...

    Adam is a star that will go far...he has a fantastic voice and is unique...and handsome...

    Allison is amazing for 16 years old...she is an old soul...she has a great career ahead of her...
    **********

    DWTS - Melissa shines...one door closed and another one, a much better one, opened big for her; she is a great dancer and has so much charm and the likeability factor...

    also like the SITC cute guy and Shauna is doing great for a teenager...very poised...

    *********

    Octumom is an accident waiting to happen...sooner or later...

    I like Allison too (none / 0) (#66)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 10:22:14 PM EST
    But I didn't think her "Papa was a Rolling Stone" was that great tonight. If I had to do final three for the season, it would probably be Adam, Danny and Allison too.

    Glad to know you watch DWTS too -- and I totally agree about Melissa. Jason was a dud.

    Parent

    Sam and Dave (none / 0) (#69)
    by BarnBabe on Wed Mar 25, 2009 at 10:35:08 PM EST
    Great Dance music

    Motown Showdown Tonight on American Idol | 70 comments (70 topical)

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