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'Idol' Cast Sputters With Motor City Hits

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 26, 2009

On a night that celebrated 50 years of Motown, some of the "American Idol" finalists struggled with the music made famous by the likes of Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder and other greats from the Detroit sound machine.

But 27-year-old Adam Lambert, who did a strange version of "Ring of Fire" last week, knocked it out of the park Wednesday night with his tender, clean-cut, retro version of Smokey Robinson's "Tracks of My Tears." He had the judges gushing. Picky Simon Cowell called it "the best performance of the night."

Also impressing the judges was 16-year-old Allison Iraheta who rocked on "Pappa Was a Rolling Stone." Judge Kara DioGuardi called Iraheta's vocals "a gift from god."

Most of the finalists had visited the Motor City last week where Motown great Robinson coached and gave advice. He seemed pleased by their various interpretations during rehearsals. Megan Joy Cockrey and Michael Sharver missed the trip because of illness and it showed.

The judges turned thumbs down on Cockrey, who butchered Wonder's "For Once in My Life." Simon said the performance might have cost her and she could be in trouble. And they were disappointed by Michael's screaming "Vegas lounge" version of "Ain't to Proud to Beg."

Lil Rounds version of "Heat Wave" felt rushed and loud. The judges agreed she looked smashing and would have blown people away with her vocals if she had picked a song better suited to her talents. And Simon trashed Danny Gokey's "Get Ready."

They liked Anoop Desai's crooning on "Ooh, Baby, Baby" but want him to kick up his energy a notch. He appears to be a contender after a shaky start three weeks ago.

Scott MacIntyre's version of "Can't Hurry Love" got mixed reactions. Paula Abdul liked it. Simon was not impressed.

Richardson's Organs To Be Donated

People.com is reporting that Natasha Richardson's family has donated the actress's organs to save other patients' lives.

Citing a "family friend" it did not name, the celebrity Web site said Richardson's family had requested her organs be donated after she was taken off life support last week. The report did not say whether any patient had received them.

Alan Nierob, publicist for Richardson's husband Liam Neeson, said he had no information on the matter.

Richardson died March 18 of a head injury that caused bleeding on the brain after a fall during a beginners' ski lesson in Montreal two days before. She was buried at a private ceremony in upstate New York over the weekend.

Today's Birthdays

Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor is 79. Actor-director Leonard Nimoy is 78. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is 69. Actor James Caan is 69. Singer Diana Ross is 65. Rock singer Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) is 61. Singer Teddy Pendergrass is 59. Comedian Martin Short is 59. Actor Michael Imperioli is 43. Country singer Kenny Chesney is 41. Actor T.R. Knight is 36. Rapper Juvenile is 34. Actress Keira Knightley is 24.

Source: The Associated Press

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