Simon Cowell Bashes Lil Rounds’ Performance On ‘Idol’: ‘There’s No Excuses Anymore!’

Adam Lambert may have put in another lauded performance on “American Idol” Tuesday night, but it was some of his fellow contenders who made the biggest splash on the Fox reality show.

Under the mentorship of film director Quentin Tarantino, the contestants chose songs from films. Lil Rounds, who performed the Bette Midler classic, “The Rose,” with an R&B flair, ended in hot water with judge Simon Cowell.

“I think that you’re getting this completely wrong,” Simon said after the one-time standout finished her number. “The song was too soft for you. It was completely middle of the road. You had some nice moments in there, but there’s no excuses any more. You are not the artist I believe we met seven or eight weeks ago. I’m getting frustrated.”

And she wasn’t the only one who disappointed the judging pack.

Matt Giraud, the singer fond of jumping between R&B and modern rock thus far on Season 8, performed “Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman,” and it was a rendition that left Kara DioGuardi perplexed.

“It’s the struggle, Matt… Does Matt do a rock song or a soul song? You are constantly going back and forth… Tonight it was a rock song… In doing so, you took away some of the core melodies that made that song great,” she said.

As for Adam, however, his rendition of “Born To Be Wild,” which had Quentin calling him “the real deal” in rehearsals, once again was a hit.

“The reason that you’re shaking up this whole competition is you dare to dance in the path of greatness,” Paula Abdul said. “Fortune rewards the brave and you’re one of the bravest contestants I’ve ever witnessed, ever.”

And Danny Gokey, who performed the Lionel Richie classic, “Endless Love,” also was a winner with Paula.

“You grab us in the beginning, you wow us in the middle and you slay us in the end,” Paula told Danny, who opted for the first time all season, not to wear his glasses while performing on the “Idol” stage.