Adam Lambert earns a standing ovation from Simon with his soccer-free "Mad World"

Seriously, is there anything that this kid can't pull off? In another brilliant move, last night Lambert picked a song originally recorded in his birth year of 1982 by Tears for Fears but made infinitely more famous in the last decade by a cover used in the teen angst epic Donnie Darko: the haunting, melody-driven "Mad World".

Time was tight, and since Lambert was saved until the end ... again! ... only one judge was given the chance to speak. And instead of speaking, noted grinch Simon Cowell simply stood up and applauded him on his performance.

I also loved how in the interview about Adam's childhood, his father laughed that Adam was interested in everything except sports, and Adam echoed that he was excited about just about everything except soccer, and even that he got his parents to buy him a 3-piece suit and fake mustache when he was just a toddler.

Mom and dad, that fake mustache is paying off WITH INTEREST.

As for which Adam took the stage this week (he's seriously becoming the Sybil of American Idol contestants, not that I'm complaining), it was a slightly less draggy but decidedly modern Adam, which is entirely appropriate for his song and its arrangement. With taste and theatrical smarts like this, is there any question that this kid is going to win?