American Idol 2006--Live Thread I

FOX ^ | 1-16-06

[silent_jonny]

for Tammy

[kevkrom]

Glad to be back! This year, in addition to posting evaluations at the semifinal and final rounds, I hope to be able to post notes on the auditions as to possible rising stars and/or early favorites.

In the later rounds, I'll also try and post two lists for each round -- how they did for the night, and where I see them overall in the competition. While the nightly evals are subjective, the "overall" list is going to be highly subjective. Remember, it's not just about the voice, but also the stage presence, personality, and "the look". (Side note: if the contestants are really going to be back-stabbing vultures, it is going to hurt them on my scorecard.)

I also might as well define a few terms and/or concepts that I will use throughout the competition, so that the regulars will know what I mean when I use them.

• Pitch - More or less, this can be summed up as "are they hitting the right notes", A/K/A being "in tune". What Randy means when he says someone is "pitchy" is that they're not hitting the notes right. (Of course, I don't always agree... Randy will call someone "pitchy" even if they're not, but something else sounds wrong to him, likely tonal quality (see below).
• Sharp and Flat - Singing higher than and lower than the proper pitch, respectively. Note that singers on the stage are more likely to be sharp than flat, probably because they are "over-singing" (see below).
• Tonal Quality (Tone) - Different than and regardless of pitch, this is the overall sound the singer's voice makes. I'll usually use a descriptive adjective here. Examples of tonal quality include nasal/pinched (see Mikaylah from Season 4), gravelly (Bo), full/rounded (Carrie, Anthony), etc.
• Over-singing - probably the most misunderstood term. it may mean different things to different people, but when I use it, I basically mean that the singer is "forcing" their voice beyond it's normal limits, which can be in pitch, volume, and/or "energy level".

Oddly enough, in the later stages, the single most critical factor each week will be song selection -- can the contestant find the right song within the style that allows them to showcase their voice and personal style to the best extent? It needs to be challenging, but not so difficult as to not be able to be performed well with less than a week's preparation. It needs to allow the singer to show range, power, versatility, and emotion.

Other things to look for on the vocals:

• Volume does not equal quality! Many of the auditions will have people who just belt it out, but most of the yellow tickets will go to people who are in control and focus on getting the song right -- yes, you need some power, but power alone will not get you very far.
• Watch out for one-trick ponies. Some people sound incredible on first blush, but may not be able to do anything else. Take Anwar from last season -- he had only one speed: all out. He had real problems getting a song to build to the high point because it was either a complete mess in the beginning, or he gave himself nowhere to go by starting out too big.
• Specifically for the girls, take heed of the lower register. While guys can have these problems too, it's more common for the women. Many songs start out lower and softer, to allow for a natural emotional peak during a higher and louder section at the end. The gals seem to have a harder time keeping a solid and controlled performance during the lower-register "verse", while still nailing the higher-pitch "chorus".

In terms of stage presence, what I'm really looking for is:

• Appearing comfortable on stage: This is entertainment, folks. A "pop idol" needs to be able to look like they're having fun up there, and that they aren't intimidated by the lights, cameras, and/or audience.
• Playing to the audience: Both the live audience and the folks at home (via the TV cameras) need to be drawn into the performance. There are many ways to do this, it's not just with moving around the stage and audience area, but could be done just with eye contact, if done right.
• Matching the visual to the audio: Dressing, moving, and generally acting in a way that matches the mood, tempo, and style of the song selected
• Song choice: While very important for the vocals, it also is important to match the song with the personal style and look of the singer.

[Txsleuth]

bttt

[Wolfstar]

kevkrom, I look forward to your evaluations. It's gonna be fun.

Just FYI, for those who are interested, the real work of making a star comes after the contest. The artist has to go out and promote their album and themselves, and work hard at it. Only a small number of former AI contestants are doing well in other entertainment industry venues. Jennifer Hudson will be the first former AI alum to star -- have the lead -- in an A-list motion picture. Dianna DeGarmo is touring in a Broadway musical as the lead.

So far, only Kelly Clarkson, Fantasia, Josh Gracin (who had two #1 Country singles) and, although she's still only just beginning, Carrie Underwood, look likely to have long-term recording success. Clay might, but he still hasn't cut a 2nd album.

Recording artists must tour to promote their material and to stand any chance of making the really big bucks. Here is a link to the list top touring acts of 2005.

The 2005 American Idols Live tour (which the top 10 contestants have done each year) is #37 on the list, grossing $16.9 million.

Only Kelly and Clay Aiken have had success with solo tours. In 2005, Kelly grossed $11.7 million domestically on her first solo tour. This figure does not include her overseas tours. She has become a big star in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Ireland, and is building in continental Europe.

Clay did a solo domestic tour in 2005, grossing $7.1 million.

Although my personal favorite of the AI alumni is Kelly Clarkson, Josh Gracin has the best story of them all. As fans of the show will remember, he was in the Marines during his stint on AI. Afterwards, he went back, finished his commitment to the Marines, then moved his family to Nashville where he has become one of the top new Country artists largely on his own without any help from the AI machinery.

Finally, so far (and to the best of my knowledge) only three former AI alumni have gone to Iraq to entertain our troops. They are Kelly Clarkson, Diana DeGarmo and Josh Gracin.

[Jrabbit]

Thank you, jonny!

[Wolfstar]

Let's hear it for the Marines...

Josh Set To Open for Trace Adkins

Country giant Trace Adkins will kick off 2006 with his Honky Tonk Badonkadonk Tour, and Josh Gracin will be the opening act on the tour. This will be Josh's first big tour (most new artists start out opening for established acts), and we wish him every success.

Carrie Underwood will be touring later this year as the opening act for a big established star. Rumor is that it might be with Keith Urban, but nothing firm has been announced.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

A great thread to begin the season, y'all! Thanks for posting all this...I'd no idea that Bo was so ill.

[STARWISE]

WoW!!! Jonny, you did a great job on this complicated presentation, with Wolfstar's help. I breeze in and out through the weeks .. not a regular viewer, but y'all will have some fun judging and picking the next big star.

[kevkrom]

I hadn't been keeping up with Diana since she released Blue Skies. I did a Google news search to find out about the musical she's doing, and also found an article: Diana DeGarmo entertains U.S. troops... I always did like that gal.

[b9]

Jonny, beautiful tribute and wonderful thread - again.
Your sensitive portrait of Tammy is just exquisite, especially the soft light in her beautiful, warm eyes.

~~~~~

Our daughter just saw Carrie Underwood perform last weekend in Maine.

It was such a lift...so excellent and generous and wholesome, with all ages having a really good time.
She could truly see first hand why Carrie was the right one to win.

She told me that American Idol gets razzed for being lightweight, but it makes people so HAPPY. It makes them want to sing.

There were three little girls who went up to Carrie afterwards, handing her little stuffed animals, and they were THRILLED.

Can you think of a better example for them than Carrie?

[Wolfstar]

Excerpt from a USA Today article about how difficult the USO has found it booking stars for appearances in the war zone. Click link provided to read the entire piece.

USO cheers troops, but Iraq gigs tough to book
Posted 12/22/2005

Williams said he'd like to see more comedians in their 20s entertaining the troops, most of whom are that age. Pop singer Jessica Simpson and American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson are among the few young stars who have visited war zones.

Kelly has also lent her celebrity to the group "Cell Phones for Soldiers." Here is a link to their website, which has the following photo of Kelly with some of the kids raising money for this worthy cause:

For their generosity toward our troops in a time when the vast majority of celebrities run the other way, Kelly, Diana and Josh are the three former AI contestants that I most admire.

[Wolfstar]

I always did like that gal.

So did I. At 16, she was probably a little too green to win AI, but I always liked her better than Fantasia. Now more polished at the ripe old age of 18, Diana has gotten a really big break recently:

'American Idol 3' runner-up Diana DeGarmo lands 'Brooklyn' lead

UPI News Service, 01/07/2006

"American Idol" runner-up Diana DeGarmo has been cast in the lead for the U.S. tour of the Broadway pop musical "Brooklyn."

Tony Award winner Melba Moore will star as the 18-year-old's nemesis, Playbill.com reported Saturday.

Broadway director Jeff Calhoun will again helm the cast, which also includes Tony-winner Cleavant Derricks re-creating his Broadway role.

"Diana came in and auditioned for us, and she blew us away," Calhoun told Playbill.com. "Brooklyn is an 18-year-old pop star, and that's what (Diana) is. You're not going to do better than that."

The tour is scheduled to kick off in June in Hartford, Conn., with other dates yet to be announced.

The Broadway production of "Brooklyn" closed on June 25, 2005.

Moore won her Tony for her work in the musical "Purlie" while Derricks got his for "Dreamgirls."

Diana has a huge, beautiful, strong voice. With the seasoning and mentoring she'll get on this tour from a Broadway director and a Tony-winning star like Melba Moore, Diana may very well be on her way to Broadway stardom.

[Veto!]

Gorgeous thread, silent jonny, and thanks for the invite.

However, the only thing I like about Idol is Simon, so I don't watch the show. Please take my name off the ping list.

Thanks, and best wishes for a very interesting season.

Veto!

[Wolfstar]

Jonny, you did a great job on this complicated presentation, with Wolfstar's help.

Hi STARWISE. Jonny deserves all the credit. I didn't help with the thread, although I sure appreciate his very kind credit to me. I just kept him informed privately throughout most of 2005 of the various chart rankings and achievements of AI alumni. Most don't have careers, although many have released albums. Only a small handful have shots at genuine, long-lasting A-list careers. The ones who do (1) have genuine talent, and (2) are still working hard at their careers after the glow of being on AI fades.

[no more apples]

Darlin' you did a great job! And you know which part I liked best.

(And how are you doing?)

I've been asked to teach the class (from 7-9) tomorrow night so I won't be on the thread until the show is over. (We'll be taping it so I can have a few good laughs.) I'll catch up with you as soon as I can.

((hugs))

[jocon307]

What a great job you did on this thread! Very professional, it's like a promo magazine or something, I doubt American Idol itself could have done a better job.

And how sweet to dedicate it to Texas Flower, that was lovely.

I gotta say, I've really been looking forward to Idol starting again. Say what you like against it, it is a clean, entertaining show, no manipulation or backstabbing like the other reality shows. It's the closest thing on today's tv to the old style variety shows, sort of like the Dinah Shore show in fact, based on a great "best of" show about that show that I saw on PBS. (For anyone who can get the PBS on Channel 21 in the Long Island/NY area they do some great music shows on Saturday/Sunday evenings.)

Have fun folks, I'll be sure to check in with this thread later!

[silent_jonny]

Thank you :)

[silent_jonny]

You've all been added to the AI list. Welcome aboard :)

[silent_jonny]

The Dunkster!

I grabbed this pic from a funny site: WHAT HAPPENED TO BRIAN DUNKLEMAN?

LOL

[silent_jonny]

The same goes for "Dancing with the Stars". I'm simply not interested...nope not at all, never ever, no way.

BTW, can you believe Tatum O'Neil got voted off over P Miller and "perma tan man"?

Ha!

Tatum O'Neil is still alive???

[silent_jonny]

Hi, Beandog :) Hope you're doing well.