Posted on 03/13/2007 5:46:36 AM PDT by silent_jonny
Question...does anyone have any idea what kind of $$ profit a site like VFTW can make...?
Oh, yeah...now I get it! I thought they were former-Idols. Thanks.
Agree 100%....he is extremely entertaining and definitely fits what an American Idol should be IMO.
Somehow they have to get rid of Sanjaya...........I can't even look at him. EEEEEEEEEEEWWW
"Blake- I truly doubt his hetro status. Plus you know he can't go more then 90 seconds without starting the beatbox crap. He probably can't even order a latte without dropping a few beats. "
Blake reminds me so much of Robin Williams as Mork. Maybe he is Williams' secret love child.
He's not hairy enough.
Not if she's a Make a Wish child.
Getting rid of Sanjaya will be like trying to get rid of one of those kinds of stains that won't come out no matter what spot lifter you use. Every one of the other finalists is better than him, but he'll outlast several of them. Even the judges wimped out and found ways to compliment him last night. Go figure. :(
She's not a Make-A-Wish kid.
http://www.people.com/people/package/americanidol2007/article/0,,20007868_20015574,00.html
She won tickets on a website according to what seems to be the far more accurate story than the MAW rumor which sure spread quickly last night! LOL!
Apparently there have been other articles that surfaced about ANOTHER Ashley (around the same age, but black...which clearly isn't the same Ashley) who DID wish for something along the lines of an Idol related visit, but ended up on the red carpet with Randy Jackson and Raven. I'm guessing somehow that story and this Ashley on the show got 'blended' into one story...or so it seems.
:-)
Hey, thanks for the info. I was just gearing up for more searches to see what I could find out about her. What we saw was AI blatantly using this girl to prop up suckgaya. How long til they toss him to the wolves after they get him in the top 10 for the tour?
You beat me to it! I was just going to post the same thing.
I'm interested in why you think Melinda is vesatile. Most of her songs have been very similar. I've yet to see her sing something youthful. Her songs have all been ones that would appeal to, and bring back memories for, people over age 30+. In what ways is she versatile? I'd really like to know.
Cool! Then I don't feel bad for disliking her so much...
What fascinates me is this odd over-interest in Chris's Christianity. Jordin goes to my church (www.calvaryphx.com), sang often with the choir and as a soloist, but no one ever brings up or questions her faith. I guess it's because Chris's parents are missionaries, but still. Doesn't everyone know what they say about PKs? (preachers' kids) :o) So far neither Chris nor Jordin has portrayed themselves in any way that would be contrary to their faith. Their songs have been secular, true, but the lyrics have been "clean", and Jordin's outfits have been stylish but modest. I think they both are representing Christianity very well. JMO, of course. :O)
I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I really like Blake and look forward to his songs each week. Strange for a 46 yo SAHM who has paid no attention to pop music for at least a decade.
I was wondering how long that girl had been crying but the producer decided to make it look like she'd gotten all emotional over Sanjaya.
Here's an article from the other day, that talks about the others, too.
Monday, March 19, 2007
On 'Idol' it's a matter of faith
Contestants often have backgrounds in Christian music but don't call attention to it.
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/entertainment/television/article_1624538.php
By JENNIFER GARZA
McClatchy Newspapers
Now they sing in front of millions on "American Idol," but until recently many of this year's contestants could be found performing in church.
Chris Sligh is the worship leader at Seacoast Church in Greenville, S.C., where he and his wife, Sarah, are active in the congregation. Sligh leads the music during services and fronts the church band. The son of missionaries, Sligh attended Bob Jones University in Greenville and regularly seeks out his pastor for musical advice.
But don't expect him to perform praise music on the hit Fox TV show.
"Chris doesn't want to be the Christian singer; that's not how he sees himself," says Seacoast pastor Chris Surratt, who flew to Los Angeles last week to see Sligh perform. "He's a musician who's a Christian. He doesn't want a label."
How do you mix the sacred and the secular? Very carefully, especially if you're vying for the top spot on the most popular TV show in the country.
Many of this year's contestants honed their skills in church. Now they find themselves in the middle of "Idol" worship.
But those who know them say they can handle it.
"Chris has got his head on straight," says Surratt.
Churches have long influenced pop music – from who sings it to how it is performed. Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles are just a few who got their singing chops with church hymnals.
This year, several "Idol" contenders follow this tradition. For example, Melinda Doolittle performs regularly for her congregation in Nashville, Tenn. Phil Stacey, a pastor's son, grew up singing in church. Jordin Sparks was the 2004 "spotlight" winner for the Gospel Music Association.
Lakisha Jones still sings in the choir at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Flint, Mich. She began singing at the church when she was 5.
"She came up singing," says Herbert Dixson, senior pastor of Mount Zion.
He says Jones returns to the church every week.
"She was here last Sunday, sitting in the front row like she always does," says Dixson. Jones' 4-year-old daughter now sings in the children's choir.
Churches are good training grounds because budding singers can learn how to read music, how to sing harmony and how to perform in front of an audience. And if the singer makes a mistake, well, the audience is usually pretty forgiving.
The style of singing in churches, especially African American churches, has changed pop music.
"It's a style that has been copied so much that it is now a cliche on these type of shows," says Paul Harvey, a professor of American religious history at the University of Colorado and the author of "Black Spirituals: From Folk Songs to Concert Hall."
Harvey describes the style. "It's when all the notes are elongated and they go up and down the scale and go for the big note," Harvey says. "It's a historically black gospel sound that's now expected in pop music."
Churches were often the only avenue available to African-American singers, according to Harvey. He says there are more opportunities now.
"But a lot of people know the churches are still good training grounds."
Many previous "Idol" contestants have spoken about their church backgrounds, expressing gratitude for the opportunity. Churches have held "Idol" viewing parties for these hometown favorites.
One contestant, Sabrina Sloan, received an endorsement from Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Mission Viejo, one of the largest churches in the country and the author of the best-selling "The Purpose Driven Life." Warren jokingly reminded his congregation to vote for Sloane, who grew up singing at the church.
The pastor's support wasn't enough – Sloan was voted off.
Viewers may feel comfortable with contestants talking about their faith – to a point. Last year, Mandisa Hundley spoke openly about her Christian beliefs on the show. Although one of the stronger singers in the competition, she was booted off earlier than expected. Afterward, Christian bloggers wondered if her outspoken religious views played a role. (Mandisa is releasing a gospel album in May.)
This year, some of the contestants' bios on the show's Web site refer to their beliefs.
Jones' pastor doesn't expect her to discuss her religious beliefs on the show. After all, he said, it is a singing contest.
"I just expect her to act like the humble young lady that she is and be a good witness for her faith," says Dixson, who says he has known Jones almost all her life. "We're all immensely proud of her."
No need to be embarassed, I'm not exactly a 20 something girl, but I really find his songs very entertaining and different. I would go see him but would not go see any of the others.
Great info. Thanks for the post.
And there was a longer article including that part about Chris, but also about Phil, Lakeisha, Melinda, Jordin, and Sabrina and their faith (oddly leaving out Haley, who I'd seen earlier articles also mention was a Christian) and their involvement at their respective churches, etc., and comments about two worship leaders, two who used to tour with Christian artists, etc. Truthfully, I suspect it's the BJU thing that people like to bring up in the articles when they talk about Chris and his faith, which they don't have to bring up about any of the rest. Or that's just my hunch! It may also be the blog that Chris had apparently been able to keep up with this theological stuff from early on (he'd had to split it out from his other stuff) so people somehow think that he's more 'open' about it? I don't know... It is interesting. It's only Chris it consistently comes up about.
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