On American Idol's Motown Week, Matt Giraud Now a Front Runner

After a trip to Detroit to visit Hitstown USA the top 10 American Idol hopefuls got down to work preparing for a Motown showdown. With 50 years of the Motown sound, the singers had plenty of songs to choose that perfect song. But did they? Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member and Motown legend Smokey Robinson met with the Idols to help them along as they prepared for the show.

Matt Giraud opened up the show with the Marvin Gaye song "Let's Get it On". Giraud's performance earned him high praise from the judges with Randy Jackson saying Matt set the tone for the night and Simon Cowell said that Giraud had become one of the front runners in the competition.

Last week Scott MacIntyre's performance spawned an argument between Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell. When asked about the events MacIntyre said that playing the piano is a part of who he is and it's what he wanted to do after Idol as a singer songwriter. By playing the piano as he sang MacIntyre said that he was staying true to himself. Smokey called MacIntyre a multi talented young man but again this week MacIntyre's performance spawned more controversy between Paula and Simon that is quickly turning into a weekly event that this time ended up in Paula giving Simon colouring books and crayons. MacIntyre performed the Diana Ross and the Supremes hit "You Can't Hurry Love" that despite bringing a jazzy up-tempo beat and modulations to the song, the judges felt that MacIntyre chose the wrong song. Simon said that Scott has consistently chosen the wrong song.

Megan's performance of "For Once in My Life" by Stevie Wonder was not well received and Simon said that the performance could put Megan in jeopardy on elimination night. Megan is one of only three female singer left in the competition.

Despite some good performances the judges continued to criticize song choices by the singers. But the biggest surprise of the night came from this season's rock and roll performer Adam Lambert who came out clean up and in a suit singing a falsetto ballad of the Smokey Robinson song "Tracks of My Tears" that brought down the house. During the mentoring session Adam even asked Smokey about writing the song. Lambert's performance prompted Simon to say that it was THE best performance of the night.

Along with the elimination of another singer on the results show mentor Smokey Robinson will perform a duet with British song bird Joss Stone, Grammy ;Award winner and Motown legend Stevie Wonder will sing a medley of Motown hits, and season two "American Idol" winner Ruben Stoddard return to the Idol stage to perform his new single.

Matt Giraud - "Let's Get it On"
Kris Allen - "How Sweet it Is"
Scott MacIntyre - "You Can't Hurry Love"
Megan Joy Corkley - "For Once in My Life"
Anoop Desai - "Ooooo Baby, Baby"
Michael Sarver - "Ain't too Proud to Beg"
Lil Rounds - "Heatwave"
Adam Lambert - "Tracks of My Tears"
Danny Gorkey - "Get Ready"
Allison Iraheta - "Papa was a Rolling Stone"