Adam Lambert

UPDATE, April 7, 2009: Adam Lambert's "Mad World"
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The top ten American Idol contestants performed Motown on Wednesday night.

It was a weird show.

Milwaukee's Danny Gokey got mixed reviews for his rendition of "Get Ready." Simon Cowell called his performance "clumsy and amateurish." That was way, way too harsh. I'm sure he'll sail through to the next round. Danny has nothing to worry about.

After Lil Rounds performed "Heat Wave," also to mixed reviews, she gave a shout-out - "Obama!" That was strange, though not nearly as strange as Paula Abdul's mustache.

Paula gave the childish Simon coloring books and a box of crayons. By the end of the two-hour show, Paula was sporting a crayon mustache drawn on her face by Simon.

The biggest surprise of the night was Adam Lambert. He was physically unrecognizable. It was as if another contestant had joined the show.

Lambert ditched his usual leather and chains and black nail polish for a silver suit. His hair was smoothed back, for the first time revealing that he has a forehead and ears.

He looked like Kurt Russell.

Lambert was also difficult to recognize vocally. There were no indulgent screams, no over the top theatrics, no bizarre arrangements like last week's "Ring of Fire."

He was unplugged, singing "Tracks of my Tears," in a high, sweet voice. I loved it.

It was such a dramatic transformation. Unfortunately, I'm sure it was only temporary.