"American Idol" - Top 10 Finalists Perform - March 25, 2009

Ryan and the judges banter about last week and their hopes for tonight.

Theme: Motown

Video Package: We get a recap of Motown's venerable 50 year history. We get a look at the contestants' trip to Detroit where they meet with Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson and go to the Motown museum. Smokey returned as their mentor.

Contestant #1: Matt Giraud

Video: Matt was intimidated by Smokey. Smokey was impressed and thinks Marvin would've been too.

Song: "Let's Get it On," Marvin Gaye

Performance: He sits at the piano and takes it a slightly slower pace and stripped back. The band kicks in and he stands and sidles up to the front of the stage. He sounds good, hitting some good falsetto spots. He's very personable and it's a strong performance but not quite a mind-blower.

Randy: Knows there are some other frontrunners but he thinks he worked his way up to the front with his falsetto.

Kara: Thinks a lot of girls are out there saying "yeah." She liked that he came out of his shell a bit.

Paula: Is glad he's comfortable behind and in front of the piano, she thought it was sexy and cool, and didn't think he overdid the riffing.

Simon: Thought it was a brilliant song choice and cool performance and his voice suits the song. Agrees Matt's a frontrunner now.

Contestant #2: Kris Allen

Video: Kris was intimidated by Smokey. Smokey liked it, a lot.

Song: "How Sweet it Is," Marvin Gaye

Performance: He starts it off slow with one line and then kicks in with the band. It sounds more like James Taylor's version, very buoyant and breezy. It's charming and easy. He's rocking some weird, drab grey faux-military shirt that works against the sunny vibe of the song.

Kara: She says he didn't do James Taylor or Marvin Gaye but himself. She praises his phrasing, rhythms, riffs, and dynamics. She says he did everything right.

Paula: Thinks he picked a great song and that his personality is coming through and that technically it was perfect.

Simon: Thought it was smart that he did his version of his song and that he's having a good competition he tells him he needs to have more swagger and arrogance though.

Randy: Thinks he's hit the zone and it's all good.

Contestant #3: Scott MacIntyre

Ryan banters with Scott on the stools about the debate last week between Paula and Simon about Scott staying at the piano or risking going without it. He agrees with Simon and says he will take risks in other ways.

Video: Scott wanted to do something new with the song. Smokey liked how he made it contemporary. Smokey is a fan of his on the show.

Song:"You Can't Hurry Love," The Supremes

Performance: He inexplicably slows down the beginning with a bit of chorus, apparently this is the new trick. The band kicks in and the tempo speeds up and it has a slight New Orleans vibe to the piano. It seems like it might be a little too fast for him. It's fine but kind of cruise ship lounge-y and boring.

Paula: She thought he brought life to the performance by having the backing singers surround the piano. She liked the beginning. She thinks when he feels it the audience feels it.

Simon: Was not impressed, parroting back the song's line about "how much more can I take." He didn't like the honky-tonk piano and the backing singers. He thought it was the wrong song. He thinks he's better than the performance was. He thinks he's picking the wrong songs.

Randy: Agrees with Simon and thinks it was a hotel kind of performance and when others are coming into their own he's not. He thinks he's a better singer than the song, he thought it was very average.

Kara: Disagrees and liked the song and was glad that he brought the uptempo but didn't like that he took liberties with the melody and didn't nail the riffs. Good ideas, poor execution.

Scott says he was originally going to sing "Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand" and Simon and Randy think that would've been a better choice. Paula and Kara disagree pointing out that would've been yet another slow Scott song. Ryan asks Paula a question and Simon keeps interrupting, Paula goes under the table and hands Simon crayons and coloring book.

Contestant #4: Megan Joy

Video: Smokey thinks her half-jazz/half-cabaret voice is refreshing and is one of the most original the show has had. Megan is excited that Smokey likes it.

Song: "For Once in My Life," Stevie Wonder

Performance: The brass section is killing it. For some odd reason she's dressed like a Polynesian dancing girl. She moves, shimmies and walks awkwardly. She seems to be pushing the vocals really hard and although the notes are mostly okay - although there are some clunkers- they're very flinty and belty and obscuring the more quirky things about her voice. It's an odd performance.

Randy: Says he's got mad love and likes the outfit but the song was a train wreck. He thinks the song was too fast to fit her vibrato-style, he thought it was rushed, hectic, and mad-crazy.

Kara: Agrees and thinks that she should've done something like "My Guy" and that it was all over the place and it was weird. The song dominated her, not the other way around.

Paula: Compliments her stunning beauty. But she agrees that it was the wrong song and she never found the pocket.

Simon: The good news is she looks good the bad news it was horrible. And he says whoever is advising her should be fired: bad arrangement, vocals, bad song choice. He's worried she's in trouble now.

She says she had fun and that her fans are still there and they should vote.

Contestant #5: Anoop Desai

Video: Smokey explains how he wrote the song. As he told everyone before him, he says Anoop to do it just the way he did it.

Song: "Ooh Baby Baby," Smokey Robinson

Performance: Starts seated and is sort of working a varsity letterman serenade vibe. He gives good plead and sigh and is mostly nailing the falsetto.

Kara: Thinks he did a pretty good job with the wide range and is impressed with how he's showing off his skill set.

Paula: Is impressed he sang it in front of Smokey and Berry. She'd like to see more confidence and likes his tenderness.

Simon: Thought it was a great vocal but that he looked half-asleep so to work on his showmanship.

Randy: Tells him next week to turn it back up but it was good to hear him croon and swoon but to get his party on next.

Contestant #6:Michael Sarver

Ryan banters with Michael at the stools about him feeling unwell and having to miss the Detroit trip because of it. He feels he didn't miss any prep since Smokey came to the house.

Video: Says he's going to take it to church. Smokey thinks Michael should use even more of his big voice and tells him to pound it a little more.

Song: "Ain't To Proud to Beg," the Temptations

Performance: He sounds okay but he's a little smile-y for a song where he's supposed to be pleading for his lady not to leave.It has nice moments - and one late in the song rough patch- but again, not a mind-blower. And he looks a little disappointed in himself at the end.

Paula: Thinks it was a tough performance and a little Las Vegas lounge-y. She gives him the song dominated you, not the other way around.

Simon: He couldn't wait for it to end because he was screaming and shouting. He says he is taking part in the competition and has no chance of winning it with that kind of vocal. He says he's just got to be better.

Michael admits that it was below par but that he gave 110 percent and that he's not playing games. Simon says he knows he's being sincere he just has to take the criticism for what it is.

Randy: Thinks the song is unbelievable but a little too big for him since he's not a true r&b singer.

Kara: Says at this point it's not about singing but artistry and if he stays he has to bring that, a real interpretation.

Michael thinks he can take the criticism and make it work for him.

Contestant #7: Lil Rounds

Video: Smokey thinks she could sing the phone book. Lil explains about how she got emotional in Detroit and how she hopes to honor the legacy of those who came before her.

Song: "Heat Wave," Martha Reeves and the Vandellas

Performance: It's okay, a little shouty and old-fashioned and rushed. She looks supercute though in her fringe-y flapper dress and permanent wave wig.

Randy: The song was just okay for him until the end and he felt like she was rushing.

Kara: Says she looks great but that it was a bad song choice for her kind of voice and that it was screamy in parts, there wasn't enough room for her to breathe interpretive life into it.

Paula: Disagrees completely and thinks, although she didn't change it musically, her vocals were what made it special and thinks she owned it.

Simon: Says he understands why she was emotional about the Detroit visit and thought it was an authentic tribute to Motown but agrees that it was a poor song choice: too fast and without a moment for her to truly shine. He's dying for her to blow them away again but you can't with a song like that.

Contestant #8: Adam Lambert

Video: Adam is intimidated. Smokey likes how he kept it tender and he's never heard it done like that.

Song: "Tracks of My Tears," Smokey Robinson

Performance: He sits at the edge of the stage on a stool with an "unplugged" band and rocking slicked back hair. This is my favorite performance of his by far because it is emotional but stays tender and understated and he kills the falsetto notes and plays with the melody just enough to keep it interesting but not be obnoxious. Smokey gives him a standing ovation. As do Berry and Paula and Kara.

Kara: "One of the best performances of the night." Awesome.

Paula: Loves his element of surprise and his artistry and loves the "clean" look.

Simon: Calls it the best performance of the night. Thinks he sums up everything they were trying to tell others: song choice, originality, contemporary quality. Thinks he's emerged as a star.

Randy: Thinks he showed that he's not just a cool rocker and that he showed everything in his arsenal.

Contestant #9: Danny Gokey

Video:Smokey thinks he's a great interpreter and that people will love it but he notices that he's leaving space for the back-up singers to fill in the ends of the lines. ("You're allright," "It's outta sight" etc.). He thinks he should sing them. Danny is skeptical but says Smokey certainly knows what he's talking about so he'll try it.

Song: "Get Ready," The Temptations

Performance: He chickens out of taking Smokey's advice but sounds good, is energetic, and likable. Still a little endearingly goofy dancing-wise- especially the synched choreography with the backing vocalists- but a good time overall

Paula: Calls him reliably first class.

Simon: Calls him a good singer but the performance clumsy and amateurish.

Randy: Reminded him of the great singers like Levi Stubbs. Didn't think it was his best performance but that it had great energy.

Kara: Loved his personality but thought it was good, not great.

Contestant #10: Allison Iraheta

Video: Smokey thinks she's going to do well because she put herself into the song. She goofed up the lyrics during rehearsal but says she's still learning it.

Song:"Papa Was a Rolling Stone," The Temptations

Performance: Amazing, stone cold, tremendous performance.

Randy: "Blazing hot."

Kara: "America you've got to vote for this." Thinks she sounds like she's been singing for 400 years and that it's a gift from God.

Paula: For some reason has a mustache on her face. Thinks she's awesome.

Simon: Calls her a survivor and says that was one of the best performances she's ever done.