American Idol's Top 10 Get Movin' with Motown on March 25 Show

The Top 10 of American Idol Season 8 emerged last night with the great music of Motown, and FINALLY everyone picked songs that most people have actually heard of.

After last week, when a majority of the contestants picked unlikely country songs that didn't even sound "Country with a capital C," the great Smokey Robinson was on hand to coach and critique the wanna-be Idols. They must have been shaking in their shoes with Robinson and Motown founder Berry Gordy in the audience.

Several break-out performances occurred, other singers faltered. Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Kris Allen and Matt Giraud left the others behind in their dust. Danny Gokey was good as usual, but didn't take Smokey's advice after saying he would, and it's surprising the judges didn't say anything about that.

Adam Lambert, what a comeback you have made. Lambert totally made up for his nearly sacrilegious interpretation of the Johnny Cash/June Carter hit "Ring of Fire" with this week's version of Robinson's "Tracks of My Tears." Although some liked the fact that he didn't waver from his rocker self with the new twist on "Fire", others thought he might have ended up in the Bottom 3 because of it. Too many fans came through for that, though.

But this week he showed he could be versatile by donning the original Miracles' early 60's look of slicked back hair and shiny suit and putting an unbelievably different spin on "Tears" (see Smoky Robinson and the Miracles do the original version here). Lambert again hit notes high up in the male falsetto zone, blowing Season 5's Ace Young out of the water on that. His slowed-down version joins the Johnny Rivers league of fabulous do-overs. The fact that he looked kind of Elvis-like didn't hurt either.

Allison Iraheta proved she didn't deserve to be in the Bottom 3 last week by burning up the stage with "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" in another unique arrangement. This girl is either a forty-year-old in disguise, or it is a mystery where she gets her maturity, know-how and that gravy-rich voice. Judge Kara DioGuardi called it "From God". She may have proven last night to be the only real remaining female contender, 'cause other than Allison it looks like a guy's year again.

Kris Allen has turned out to be the surprise Top 10 entry. Not seen much during Hollywood Week, his handsome looks may have carried him through the first televised competition but the past few weeks have shown his range and versatility. With or without the guitar, this guy is growing on us. Last night he chose "How Sweet It Is" and it was sweet with excitement thrown in.

Matt Giraud kicked things off to a pleasing good start with "Let's Get it On" and is another singer proving to be more competition for early front runners Adam and Danny. He started at the piano but then grabbed the microphone and established a rousing rapport with the audience.

Although they sounded good, Anoop and Scott fell in the middle range of the pack, Michael was out of his league in the judges' opinion and Lil Rounds disappointed with her frantic-fast version of "Heat Wave" when she might have shown more range with something like "Midnight Train to Georgia." Poor Megan - looking gorgeous as ever - had a disastrous night. Too bad, because last week her "Walking After Midnight" was terrific.

American Idol may have been lackluster in Season 6 and the first part of Season 7, but is quite an exciting and entertaining competition this year.