American Idol 2007

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I don't think it should even get that far. They shouldn't approve the song choices to begin with. I didn't see last week, so I can't comment on how Blake/Chris S. were treated compared to Melinda/Lakisha this week.

Heck, just go to allmusic.com and use their genre definition and list of bands, and if someone wants to deviate, deal with it on a song-by-song basis. But if you want a British Invasion theme, stick to it. British Invasion has a specific meaning beyond "song written by a British person during the 60s."

Last week they told Brandon, "You need to make it your own." 30 mins (or so) later they tell Blake and Chris Sligh that they ruined the songs when they tried to make it their own (because they were forced to do Diana Ross songs).

That would be the ideal situation. However, if it doesn't happen, the judges should be calling it out.

[Ksyrup]

I know they have rejected songs that haven't cleared, but it seems pretty obvious they allow contestants to stretch for genre. Some are pretty easy to check, like a Bon Jovi song or something. But others are open to interpretation and they seem to let pretty much anything slide. Which is where Blake and Chris S. were probably more harmed than anything versus Melinda and Lakisha, because the judges called the guys out for what they did to the Diana Ross songs, while Melinda and Lakisha got free passes for not really stepping outside their comfort zone.

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by Solecismic

Research psychologists say you can't fake a smile. It's too complex a mechanism. Melinda seems genuine in her reactions, and that's an important part of her on-stage personna.

I don't think she's particularly shy, that's just an interpretation of her behavior that's convenient for the mass audience (much like an idiot sportswriter calling his favorite star player "clutch"). She is, however, a polished professional singer in an amateur competition. She stands out for that reason, and her pleasant personality helps fuel the votes. I think she'll win in the end.

I agree with that. I think she is probably genuinely nice, but I do think she is much more polished with presentation than she lets on as well. The whole bit a few weeks ago where she talked a bit on camera with her choreographer and fashion consultant showed that as well.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Originally Posted by MattJones4Heisman

Here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smWQRXG7sHg

Edited to give a better quality version.

Schwing!


I am thinking she looks more now like a younger brunette version of Nancy O'Dell from Access Hollywood. Also, one of my faves.

hxxp://www.exposay.com/celebrity-photos/nancy-odell-cinderella-man-los-angeles-premiere---red-carpet-1SOaHV.jpg

[Ksyrup]

Apparently, the songwriting contest is being shelved indefinitely.

So now we can look forward to, as Butch Walker says, yet another rewrite of I Believe I Can Fly for the finale.

[Crim]

Originally Posted by lordscarlet

I think you are one of only a small number of people. That, as I believe Wade said, is my biggest problem with her. Is she the best singer? Yes. Do I care anything about what she sings? No. I'd probably be more likely to buy a Sanjaya album than a Melinda album. IF she wins she might have the worst selling Idol album yet.

Look, I'm not a huge fan of Melinda's songs either, but let's not be hasty...

[RedKingGold]

Stephanie = Gone. Not really a shocker, four divas this season was just one too many. I'm kinda surprised bald rocker dude wasn't in the bottom two.

[adubroff]

Originally Posted by RedKingGold

Stephanie = Gone. Not really a shocker, four divas this season was just one too many. I'm kinda surprised bald rocker dude wasn't in the bottom two.

I was a little suprised too, but if you follow the DialIdol stuff, they had him as safe.

Stephanie is not a big loss, she was a noncontender in my mind and sufferred from being the worst of the 4 people in her genre.

[Lathum]

No surprise at all and we get the Sanjaya train wreck for another week

[RedKingGold]

Originally Posted by Lathum

No surprise at all and we get the Sanjaya train wreck for another week

I predict Sanjaya will be the fourth or fifth one eliminated, meaning that we'll likely have another two to three weeks of Sanjayamania.

[Lathum]

I agree. I think alot of the girls are stealing each others votes.

[TexasT]

Originally Posted by MattJones4Heisman

Here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smWQRXG7sHg

Edited to give a better quality version.

Thanks, Matt. She's so hot!

[Ksyrup]

Not only did we get rid of one warbler, the other one was also in the bottom two. Score! And that was supposedly his best performance. I hope he goes next.

[Schmidty]

Originally Posted by Crim

Look, I'm not a huge fan of Melinda's songs either, but let's not be hasty...

You have no taste, and you have no concept of music, and that's obvious.

Thanks for crap like Nickleback.

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Not only did we get rid of one warbler, the other one was also in the bottom two. Score! And that was supposedly his best performance. I hope he goes next.

I hate you and your anti-Richardson!

Who was the other in the bottom three? I didn't get to see the show.

[Ksyrup]

They only gave the bottom 2. They're looking for more and more inventive ways to throw us off, so tonight they had them stand up as groups of 3 to tell them they were or were not the bottom 3, and when they went through the first 3 sets of 3 (the last being Gina, Sanjaya, and Haley, which was a pretty good bet to be the right answer) with no one being in the bottom 3, Ryan told Stephanie and Chris R. to stand and that they were the bottom 2. Tricksters!

[Ksyrup]

BTW, was anyone else as taken by how out of touch Peter Noone seemed while singing his song as I was? With his huge head, the way he kept swaying back and forth, and the general child-like quality of his performance, I couldn't help think that he was channeling Herman Munster during that performance. It also seemed like about 100 years, not 40, have passed since that kind of "no worries" type music was popular. To most people, Herman's Hermits is the soundtrack to that montage from Naked Gun where Nielson and Priscilla Presley fall in love.

Peter Noone is what John Lennon would have been had Bob Dylan not introduced the Beatles to drugs that one day in NYC.

[Fouts]

Peter Noone and Lulu sang tonight. While I knew Peter Noone from Herman's Hermits, I had no idea who Lulu was until she sang "To Sir, With Love". Even then, I only remember the song from the movie (years later on cable).

Sanjaya not even in the bottom two. He picks a pretty easy song to remember, and jumps around some. Any knucklehead could have done that performance.

[Ksyrup]

Sanjaya had to make the top 10 - now AI is guaranteed sellouts of the tour that will be infested with Tweens. Disney is probably kicking themselves that they didn't discover this goofball first.

[Flasch186]

discover?

Thats like looking back in the toilet and going, "I dont remember eating that." Discoveries can be overrated.

[Ksyrup]

There is little doubt that he is a moneymaker if marketed to the right target audience. As sad as that might seem.

[Flasch186]

perhaps in the same vein as William Hung but by no means in an admirable way, no?

[Ksyrup]

Yes and no. I don't think he's exactly like William Hung because he does have some talent, it's just overwhelmed by his lack of maturity, experience, stage presence, and general way he acts. But that childishness is a plus for marketers of non-threatening entertainment. Honestly, assuming they can straighten (no pun intended) him out, I think I'd rather have my 7 year old listen to him than, say, Hilary Duff. He seems like the stepping stone between grade school-type entertainment and high school entertainment. And as a father, that's perfectly acceptable to me.

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Yes and no. I don't think he's exactly like William Hung because he does have some talent, it's just overwhelmed by his lack of maturity, experience, stage presence, and general way he acts. But that childishness is a plus for marketers of non-threatening entertainment. Honestly, assuming they can straighten (no pun intended) him out, I think I'd rather have my 7 year old listen to him than, say, Hilary Duff. He seems like the stepping stone between grade school-type entertainment and high school entertainment. And as a father, that's perfectly acceptable to me.

My impression has always been that his voice is not that bad - it's just the delivery, stage presence, etc. that have suffered.

[FBPro]

Originally Posted by Flasch186

discover?

Thats like looking back in the toilet and going, "I dont remember eating that." Discoveries can be overrated.

Almost sprayed the monitor and keyboard w/ Diet Pepsi.....

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by wade moore

My impression has always been that his voice is not that bad - it's just the delivery, stage presence, etc. that have suffered.

I think most of us were generally positive about him during the auditions. That was before we saw him perform on a real stage, though.

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I think most of us were generally positive about him during the auditions. That was before we saw him perform on a real stage, though.

Right. I think I'm supporting you here . There's something to work with there if he were with like say a Disney. He's got a good voice, they could mold him into that Disney image pretty easily and work on his "stage presence".

[Crim]

Originally Posted by Flasch186

discover?

Thats like looking back in the toilet and going, "I dont remember eating that." Discoveries can be overrated.

[MJ4H]

1) Lulu freaking ruled

2) How can 9 out of 11 people not be in the bottom 3?

[Crim]

MJ4H - Post #966.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by MattJones4Heisman

1) Lulu freaking ruled

2) How can 9 out of 11 people not be in the bottom 3?

Technically, they didn't say they were going to tell us who was in the bottom 3. All they did was tell each grouping of 3 that they were not the bottom 3. That doesn't mean one or two couldn't theoretically be in the bottom 3, just that those particular 3 people were not, collectively, the bottom 3. Obviously, 1 of those 9 got the third-least votes, but they're not telling.

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I think most of us were generally positive about him during the auditions. That was before we saw him perform on a real stage, though.

And we (at least I) underestimated his sister's...talents...based on Tuesday night's show.

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by lordscarlet

And we (at least I) underestimated his sister's...talents...based on Tuesday night's show.

Same here - made me do a double take.

[Ksyrup]

Next week's guest is Gwen Stefani, and the theme is 90's songs. I guess this means Melinda will be able to sing something from Rent, Cats, Hairspray, Beauty and the Beast, or Lion King, huh?

[Ksyrup]

I found these comments from MJ at MJ's Big Blog particularly interesting...


Chris Richardson and Stephanie Edwards are left. Ryan asks them both to stand. “You are the bottom two this week.” Ryan tells us. The bottom two what, Ryan? Notice he never mentions the word “vote.” It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that Stephanie is probably going home–a victim of vote splitting between the 3 R&B singers and 2 lackluster performances in a row.

Chris Richardson? Just thrown into the mix for drama. No way this kid is actually in the bottom. Not after Tuesday night’s personal best performance and tons of praise from the judges. It’s widely rumored that the producers get creative with the bottom three for the sake of good TeeVee. They don’t screw with who actually gets eliminated–but everyone else is fair game.

[MJ4H]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Technically, they didn't say they were going to tell us who was in the bottom 3. All they did was tell each grouping of 3 that they were not the bottom 3. That doesn't mean one or two couldn't theoretically be in the bottom 3, just that those particular 3 people were not, collectively, the bottom 3. Obviously, 1 of those 9 got the third-least votes, but they're not telling.

I was being a smart-ass. I guess you can play, too, though.

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by lordscarlet

And we (at least I) underestimated his sister's...talents...based on Tuesday night's show.

You guys just weren't paying attention.

(and apparently, she worked at Hooters?)

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

You guys just weren't paying attention.

(and apparently, she worked at Hooters?)

she certainly is qualified

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by MattJones4Heisman

I was being a smart-ass. I guess you can play, too, though.

I couldn't tell. When I saw the technicality your statement raised, I was obliged to answer as a lawyer.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I found these comments from MJ at MJ's Big Blog particularly interesting...


Chris Richardson and Stephanie Edwards are left. Ryan asks them both to stand. “You are the bottom two this week.” Ryan tells us. The bottom two what, Ryan? Notice he never mentions the word “vote.” It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that Stephanie is probably going home–a victim of vote splitting between the 3 R&B singers and 2 lackluster performances in a row.

Chris Richardson? Just thrown into the mix for drama. No way this kid is actually in the bottom. Not after Tuesday night’s personal best performance and tons of praise from the judges. It’s widely rumored that the producers get creative with the bottom three for the sake of good TeeVee. They don’t screw with who actually gets eliminated–but everyone else is fair game.

Perhaps I'm naive, but that just looks like someone looking for drama where there isn't any. Does Ryan really have to use the word "vote" to get the point across? Maybe Chris didn't really finish 10th in the voting, but I don't have much reason to believe that. If I'm falling for the producers' tricks, so be it, but that blurb you quoted just kinda looks like somebody hunting for monsters under the bed.

[MJ4H]

cue bucc

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

Perhaps I'm naive, but that just looks like someone looking for drama where there isn't any. Does Ryan really have to use the word "vote" to get the point across? Maybe Chris didn't really finish 10th in the voting, but I don't have much reason to believe that. If I'm falling for the producers' tricks, so be it, but that blurb you quoted just kinda looks like somebody hunting for monsters under the bed.

Agreed. For one, Chris isn't good. And you can make the same argument that he is splitting the "fairly good looking white boy" vote with Blake. I wouldn't have been surprised if he was eliminated. Anyway, I agree that this is probably semantics and someone looking for something when there's really nothing there.

Hell, Ryan could have said they were in the top 2, and that wouldn't have meant anything different if it was a list of people who had received the least number of votes.

edit: Also, I've only been watching for this season and last, but I don't ever remember Ryan saying "you are in the bottom 3 in the number of votes received." Hasn't it just been a very undramatic "Brandon.....you are in the bottom 3" all season?

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

Perhaps I'm naive, but that just looks like someone looking for drama where there isn't any. Does Ryan really have to use the word "vote" to get the point across? Maybe Chris didn't really finish 10th in the voting, but I don't have much reason to believe that. If I'm falling for the producers' tricks, so be it, but that blurb you quoted just kinda looks like somebody hunting for monsters under the bed.

To be fair, I've had the same thought as the person who posted that when I hear (or don't hear) certain words used. It may be nothing, but if something ever got out, this is also a way to cover themselves after the fact - "That particular time, I didn't actually say these were the bottom 2 vote-getters like I did in Week X, which was true." Might be my legal training to assign significance to minutia like that at work, who knows. I'd be interested to know the genesis of the rumors. The "rumors" about how they screw with the auditions (once claiming all of them were in a particular city and none of them were) turned out to be true, so I'm not giving them a break just because there's no specific info to suggest this is definitely happening.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Logan

edit: Also, I've only been watching for this season and last, but I don't ever remember Ryan saying "you are in the bottom 3 in the number of votes received." Hasn't it just been a very undramatic "Brandon.....you are in the bottom 3" all season?

No, I'm quite sure that sometimes - no always - he references bottom 3 votes at least once. When he didn't specifically say that last night, the thought crossed my mind, and then MJ picked up on it as well.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Next week's guest is Gwen Stefani, and the theme is 90's songs. I guess this means Melinda will be able to sing something from Rent, Cats, Hairspray, Beauty and the Beast, or Lion King, huh?

Just to update this, the theme for next week is not restricted to the 90s, it's just 'pop.'

[MJ4H]

She could be singing the phone book for all I care.

[Ksyrup]

There are very few vocalists I would be willing to say that about. It's all about the music for me; the vocals can enhance great music but could never be the only reason I listen.

[MJ4H]

Yeah, me too, usually. Really the only vocalist I can say that about honestly (and I mean literally singing the phone book, I would be enraptured) is Chole Agnew.

[Ksyrup]

She's that teen Celtic singer, right? I've heard the name but don't think I've ever heard her sing.

[Ksyrup]

hxxp://www.myspace.com/starvationforsanjaya

Starvation for Sanjaya

Hi, my name is J. I have always been a big fan of American Idol, so like many people I was excited for the 6th season to start this year.

Aside from the initial debacle with contestant Antonella Barba, season 6 was starting to look like it may be actually very good. The big voices of Melinda Doolittle and LaKisha Jones, the innovative styling's of Blake Lewis, and the smooth R&B of Phil Stacey are just a few of the hopefuls with immense potential.

However, there is one hinge in this broad spectrum of talent this year ... Sanjaya Malakar.

We have no problems with Sanjaya personally, he seems like a very personable and charming young man. However, he does NOT belong on American Idol. The judges faltered with their decision to place him in the 24, and American Idol voters have done even worse by keeping him on.

So until the day that Sanjya is no longer American Idol, I will be going on a hunger strike. This means I will refuse to eat anything until American Idol voters wise up, and stop voting Sanjya through each week.

*UPDATE* 03/22/07

I am mid-way through my 6th day of fasting and I am determined not to give up until Sanjaya is off American Idol. I would like to go on the record right now that despite our initial claim, and after going through it myself, we not recommend long-term starvation for anyone. If you choose to do so, please do so at your own risk and digression.

If anyone is looking to lose weight or get fit, there are many things you can do. Personally, I would recommend Fitness-Singles.com, a site that I've had a profile on for a while now.




And yes, she's a fat chick.