Adam Lambert Delivers Satisfaction on American Idol

Tonight the second group of 12 American Idol contestants took the stage. Let's start backward, since you were lucky if you missed the beginning of the show. Producers have kept Adam Lambert and his outrageous vocals off TV until tonight. Adam unleashed a version of The Rolling Stones "Satisfaction" that was truly amazing. It had a bit of a Rocky Horror Picture Show/David Bowie feel from the start.

Randy summed Adam Lambert's performance up best, "Dawg, that was like Steven Tyler meets Fallout Boy meets Robert Pattinson..." It was the ease with which Adam delivered the blazing vocals that amazed me.

Adam Lambert is taking heat for being an American Idol 'plant'. His biggest credit so far is opposite Val Kilmer in the 2006 musical The Ten Commandments filmed at the Kodak theater. OK, so Adam has been on the American Idol stage before. Did you see the reviews though? Val Kilmer is not bragging. Long story short, I think Adam Lambert is far to wild to be in a group or ensemble. He's perfectly over-the-top. Freddie Mercury would be proud.

Alright enough of the world of weird and wonderful... enter Nick Mitchell, AKA Norman Gentle. Other than the pseudonym sounding slightly perverted, I have to admit I like Nick. I think the American Idol producers (namely Simon Cowell) may be horrified to see Nick Mitchell/Norman Gentle move into the next round. Norman came strutting down the stairs to the AI stage clad in cargo shorts, shiny shirt and sweat bands (ala Richard Simmons). I laughed hardest when he whipped off his glasses saying, "Hold these for me.." and I have know idea why. I want to not like Norman Gentle, but I can't help liking Nick Mitchell. He seemed truly disappointed with his vocals, but it was sadly the best of the night so far.

Rounding out my favorite performances of the night is Allison Iraheta. She seemed so odd backstage with Ryan Seacrest, not able to connect or collect her thoughts. You forget how young she is. As soon as Simon said she was 16, the interview made more sense. This girl can sing. Giving a raspy twist to Heart's "Alone". I was worried, but Allison Iraheta earned a spot in the Top 12 of Season 8.

Kara DioGuardi said, "You don't know how good you are!"

Simon Cowell heartily agreed (after being tortured by Norman Gentle), he said, "You are the best tonight by a clear mile. You just need to work on your confidence and personality."

The night was filled with disappointing performances from Jasmine Murray, Matt Giraud, and Jeanine Vailles. I expected a lot more from these AI contestants. Kris Allen, Jesse Langseth, Matt Breitzke, Kia Kalama, and Mishovanna Henson were all completely forgettable.

The dark horse tonight was Megan Joy Corkrey. I love her voice, but I haven't quite figured her out yet. She did the strangest version of Connie Bailey Rae's "Put Your Records On". Megan Corkrey definitely has a Nelly Furtado vibe going. There was just something odd in the innocent look on her face in a white sundress with a gigantic dark tattoo covering her right arm. Where it completely did not work for Carly Smithson of AI: Season 7, it does work for Megan Corkrey. The little dance was just... strange.

Simon Cowell enjoyed Megan saying, "You're a funny little thing aren't you?"

We should see the votes come in for Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta. I hope the battle for the third spot comes down to Megan Joy Corkrey and Nick Mitchell/Norman Gentle (a sentence I thought I would never type). We'll find out how America voted tomorrow night and get a look at next weeks American Idol contestants.