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American Idol: Goes To Motown
March 20, 2009 10:00 AM by Paulene Hinds
Next week the American Idol season 8 contestants are heading to Motown. Contestants will sing their own versions of classic Motownhits nextWednesday. They visited the Motown Historical Museum tofilm segments that will air on the show nextweek and to be mentored by none other than label founderBerry Gordy Jr. and singerSmokey Robinson, who led Motown to success at in the 1960′s. The contestants are not only in for some coaching techniques this week, but if Berry Gordy has his way, they will be learning life lessons.
“I’m not going to talk about singing. I’m going to talk about them as people,” said Gordy Berry. “Success is the easy part, it’s about what kind of person you are, and integrity. Longevity is the name of the game.”
Gordy Berry compared the American Idol contestants to singers like Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinsonwho had passed through the Motown doors many years before. He also said that American Idol shares a philosophy much like Motown’s.
“Our theory was, Competition breeds champions,” said Berry Gordy.
Berry Gordy, started Motown in 1959 and moved it to Los Angeles in 1972. He commented that theAmerican Idolcontestantsseem to be handling the fame so far, but he and Smokey Robinson reminded them to keep their humility and sense of who they are as the competition intensifies.
American Idol has not been to Detroit since season 2 and this year they return topay tribute to the label as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. Smokey Robinson said it was “wonderful, absolutely wonderful” to hear theAmerican Idol contestants in the studio where he said his “real life began.”
Due to alternate programming, American Idol contestants will perform on Wednesday night and SmokeyRobinson will perform on the American Idol results show on Thursday night.
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Photo Credit: FOX
Topics: American Idol, FOX Reality TV Shows |
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