American Idol 2006--Live Thread (Part II)

FOX ^ | 3-25-06

[silent_jonny]

still for Tammy

[Senator Goldwater]

"Kat is doing "Can't Help Fallin' In Love" and "Always On My Mind"

That's a little worrisome. The ballads haven't been kind to her of late, while the spunky bouncy numbers have carried her through.

[Netizen]

I wouldn't put much stock in those songs.

[MarMema]

For anyone interested, it looks like the Richmond Times Dispatch took on their own defense for extensive coverage of Elliott.

From the Newsroom

[Nea Wood]

Taylor is doing "Guitar Man" and "You Gave Me A Mountain"

I'm not familiar with those songs. Do you all think they're good choices for Taylor?

[SirLinksalot]

Regarding...

---

I'm not familiar with those songs. Do you all think they're good choices for Taylor?

---

I'm not going to comment on GUITAR MAN because I'm unfamiliar with the song. The only song with that title that I know of was the one sang by the group BREAD ( composed by their lead singer, David Gates) in the 1970's. But by then, Elvis was dead.

As for YOU GAVE ME A MOUNTAIN...

Just in case the "rumor" is correct, I found this to listen to:

http://hometown.aol.com/black4hawk/Page16.html

Give it a listen and tell me what you think ( that means anyone ).

For those who forgot...or don't know what the song is.

YOU GAVE ME A MOUNTAIN is a lamentation and gospel/blues. It is a very difficult song to sing and requires a lot of raw emotion. Also, the notes are qite high and highlights range and power to sustain notes.

For those who read the Bible, think about the BOOK OF JOB.

Taylor, I guess chose this to show that he isn't always or just about being FUNKY and dancing. He wants to show his serious side too.

Mere vocal technique ( like what Kat Mcphee usually does ) isn't going to cut it. YOU NEED TO CONNECT to the audience.

If you don't have passion, the song will be meaningless. If you do on the other hand, It'll bring tears ....

It will be a COMPLETE change from PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC and will definitley NOT be Balmy Taylor ( to use Simon's British term).

Here are the lyrics to the song...

---

Born in the heat of the desert
My mother died giving me life
Deprived of the love of a father
Blamed for the loss of his wife
You know lord I’ve been in a prison
For something that I never done
It’s been one hill after another
I’ve climbed them all one by one

But this time, lord you gave me a mountain
A mountain you know I may never climb
It isn’t just a hill any longer
You gave me a mountain this time

My woman got tired of heartaches
Tired of the grief and the strife
So tired of working for nothing
Just tired of being my wife
She took my one ray of sunshine
She took my pride and my joy
She took my reason for living
She took my small baby boy

But this time, lord you gave me a mountain
A mountain you know I may never climb
It isn’t just a hill any longer

[SirLinksalot]

HERE ARE PICTURES AND ARTICLES OF IDOLS IN GRACELAND... AND YOU THOUGHT ELVIS' CRAZE WAS GONE !

SEE HERE :

http://www.graycharles.com/?p=286&cp=1#comments

Also, here is a Memphis article on the Idols in Graceland:

http://commercialappeal.com/mca/local/article/0,2845,MCA_25340_4680046,00.html

[andyssister]

Thanks for the info. I'm sorry I never got to see his "Svengali-like stare"! Are past seasons available on DVD?

[andyssister]

Great pictures!

Chris looks a little tired,but the other three look like they're having a blast.

[Palladin]

Great pics. Looks like Chris is leaning out of the car window to get away from Kat, who is in the back with him.

Taylor has grown quite a gut since Idol began this year. He's popping his shirt buttons.

Elliott is like a kid at Disneyland, amazed at the wonder of it all!

[Palladin]

Good choices for Elliott; I'm not familiar with Taylor's choices; and Kat will bomb out on those two songs.

[misterrob]

Our "American Idol" coverage has clearly demonstrated that news isn't just shootings and fires, city councils and school boards, politics and elections. It's more than that.

It's a review of a new movie that opens some still-fresh wounds from 9/11. And it's a show that captivates viewers from elementary schoolchildren to the elderly, a show that brings families together every Tuesday and Wednesday night to watch and root, a show that inspires radio call-in shows and "Elliott" parties and billboards all over town.

I will say that Elliott has given people in Richmond something to be excited about. Everywhere you go there are signs, bumper stickers, banners and decorated cars. Little kids are writing him letters, the local diabetes groups have someone that they can point to with the disease who is out there living life, families gather round the TV at night and the chatter is all good. Richmond news is often depressing in terms of the inner city violence and politics. It's great that they have something else to cover that's actually positive.

[misterrob]

Just waiting for someone to complain about how boring his song choice and performances were.

[Palladin]

Someone probably will--but not me!

Both of those songs are well within Elliott's vocal range, and will be terrific, I'm sure.

This from a loyal fan of The King.

[misterrob]

Elvis did some fun stuff that was up tempo as well as a bunch of crooning corny love songs. People will gripe about stuff being boring but back in his day he was considered a bad influence on younger people for being too racy.

BTW, my wife burned a CD of Elliott's song performances and I can't say that he's had a really bad week. People might not like his style which is very heavily R&B influenced but he's done up tempo, showbiz, slow love songs, rock, jazz and he even did okay with Garth Brooks (who I personally cannot stand as a singer). Give him some good song writers, the right promotion and some good direction and he will do very well.

He's not a top 40 person but then again, for those of us over 30 in maturity and mentality don't listen to that anyway.

[MarMema]

I can't wait to hear what he does on his own.

My current hope is that he makes it to third and then goes home. He/we will be very fortunate to make it to third.

I understand third place means a parade in Richmond, and people there certainly deserve that. People talk about crying a lot when Elliott comes up, but the thing that has brought me to tears has been the support from Richmond.

You had better take pics and post them if you get a parade, btw!

What can I send you from Seattle to exchange for a second copy of one of those CD's, btw. We have a few specialties out here that can make their way to your place. Let me know.

[MarMema]

I like everything he has done except Heaven, which is pretty bad, imo.

[misterrob]

even that wasn't horrible...

BAD song choice though....

[SirLinksalot]

Simon Cowell Predicts Chris Daughtry & Taylor Hicks For The American Idol Final Two

http://www.realitytvmagazine.com/blog/2006/05/simon_cowell_pr.html

With only four American Idol finalists left in the competition, Simon Cowell has been voicing his predictions for the final two. FoxNews.com reports that Simon Cowell told Good Morning America that “If I had to put money on it, I think it will be between Chris [Daughtry] and Taylor [Hicks].” ExtraTV.com also quotes Simon Cowell as saying “"My favorites now have to be Chris or Taylor with Katharine being the dark horse."

Simon Cowell has barely had a kind word to say about Taylor Hicks throughout most of the American Idol 5 competition. Now with Taylor Hicks as the sole remaining contestant who has never been in the bottom group up for elimination on the show, Simon Cowell seems to be finally warming up to the singer that he once compared to a drunk dad at a wedding. Not only is he predicting Taylor Hicks for the final two, he also called Taylor “a very, very good singer” after his recent performance of “Something.”

However, Simon’s comments could very well backfire against Chris Daughtry and Taylor Hicks. Elliott Yamin fans will likely be upset that Simon appears to have pretty much ruled Elliott out as having any real chance at winning the competition. Katharine McPhee fans will also likely feel inspired to vote repeatedly to insure her continued survival in the competition.

[Hetty_Fauxvert]

I don't know if Season 4 is available on DVD or not (although I'm sure there's a bootleg copy available somewhere if you knew where to look - maybe from someone on this board?). I found a DVD of "American Idol - The Best of Seasons 1 - 4" but customers criticized it as not actually being the best performances. Couldn't find a DVD of just Season 4.