American Idol 2006--Live Thread (Part II)

FOX ^ | 3-25-06

[Hetty_Fauxvert]

Funny story here about Bucky and his twin using their twinness (twinosity?) to attempt to avoid trouble with the law: "American Idol" Contestant Fooled Cops with Twin Tales

[CajunConservative]

What's sad is the kid pointed out Bucky instead of Rocky. lol

[Netizen]

Maybe Taylor will do a different arrangement.

[Netizen]

'Some news on Taylor Hicks's song choice - I've received an anonymous tip telling me that he WON'T be singing "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." The source is good, so those who weren't particularly fond of that choice song choice can rest easy.'

Of all the Queen songs, which one do you think Taylor could showcase his abilities? I think he needs something a bit up tempo this week to make up for last week.

[SirLinksalot]

Of all the Queen songs, which one do you think Taylor could showcase his abilities? I think he needs something a bit up tempo this week to make up for last week.

I was looking through some of the Queen Videos and I can see several songs that are great for Taylor.

See here for instance :

http://www.graycharles.com/index.php/2006/04/07/more-thoughts-on-queen/#more-172

CLICK on the VIDEO of Queen's performance of SOMEBODY TO LOVE. It starts slow and then builds up to an intricate crescendo. Taylor can SOUL UP that one.

Another one would be WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS (but I bet Chris will steal this one from Taylor). Green Day did a version of it, as did Gavin Mcgraw. The latest (Freddie Mercury less) Queen version of it looks great for Taylor and I can see him doing it :

SEE HERE :

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8420876204610684862&q=hollywood+records

Many Queen song are still obscure after all of these years and I think I know the reason why.

This group has written some Amazing songs ( with very innovative blend of chants, opera, 3 to 4 part harmony and rock mixed in ), they also have a lot of crappy songs that aren't even worth considering.

This theme is going to test our singers much more than Stevie Wonder's week did. Freddie Mercury was a great vocalist with WIDE frequency range and an outstanding falsetto.

I am wondering really, how the girls will do in this genre...

As for the guys, I would really be worried.

I think of all the singers, Chris, Taylor, and Elliott should really have the opportunity to shine here.

Chris has a really good range, and should be able to lower a key and work something out.

Taylor should be able to find something for his bluesy sound. I read from his brother's post on the Idol boards that Taylor is looking forward to this night.

IMHO many of Freddie Mercury's runs are completely perfect for Elliott’s voice!!!

Many Queen songs are breath control nightmares, and that’s one area where Elliott has really proven himself.

I am less optimistic for Paris,Ace, Bucky and especially Kellie. I am holding ou for Kate Mcphee because she of all the women has shown an ability to sustain notes and innovate. I am more than curious to see what song she will pick for this night. Ace might be able to get away a little if he use dhis falsetto.

[commish]

Might be a good week for Taylor. :-)

Just talked to a friend in Atlanta that said the local radio station there just had an interview with one of the guitar players in the AI house band. The band member said that while he could not say what song it was that Taylor's rehearsal for his Queen song was in his opinion one the best performances by any Idol contestant ever.

[CajunConservative]

Might be a good week for Taylor. :-)

Just talked to a friend in Atlanta that said the local radio station there just had an interview with one of the guitar players in the AI house band. The band member said that while he could not say what song it was that Taylor's rehearsal for his Queen song was in his opinion one the best performances by any Idol contestant ever.

That sounds really good. I think he's gonna blow the roof off tomorrow night. He better. I *know* he's got to be about to blow these past couple of weeks just standing there. ;-D

[Netizen]

This site HERE has a pretty good take on Queen. They list what songs should be avoided and which ones shoud be done and by whom.

[CajunConservative]

Someone suggested a possibility is Soul Brother.

http://rarequeen.home.sapo.pt/Queen_Soul_Brother.mp3

[Netizen]

Hmmmm. I'm not sure about that one.

[Palladin]

>>>I think the next female voted off will be the one with the worst outfit, no matter how well she sings.<<<

If past is prologue, that would be Katherine McPhee.

[Palladin]

>>>Might be a good week for Taylor. :-)<<<

Taylor sure does need a good week, otherwise he'll be gone soon.

[Netizen]

All I found were 30 second clips of songs. Hard to know who would be good on any of them being such a short sample.

Off the top these sound good, but who knows the next 30 seconds might have sucked! :)

The Show Must Go On
One Vision
Innuendo
Hammer To Fall
Who Wants To Live Forever

[b9]

If past is prologue, that would be Katherine McPhee.

:::sigh:::
If only they could sing behind a screen.
I just want to HEAR them.

[SirLinksalot]

THE SONGS OF EACH CONTESTANTS HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED ( OR SPOILED AS THE CASE MAY BE ). BY NONE OTHER THAN USA TODAY.

See here :

http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-04-10-idol-queen_x.htm

By Bill Keveney, USA TODAY

ANAHEIM, Calif. — After a performance before 30 million American Idol viewers each week, a rehearsal in front of a few dozen might seem like a yawner.

But this practice took place one afternoon last week in a cavernous arena with members of '70s stadium anthem king Queen. It gave finalists a taste of the big time and increased their anticipation for their own Idol arena tour this summer.

"They're one of the greatest rock bands of all time," said Taylor Hicks, who, even as the eldest finalist at 29, wasn't born when Queen hit the charts.

"Knowing they're going to have 20,000 people here, you could think of (the fans) screaming at the top of their lungs," Hicks said after practicing. He'll sing Crazy Little Thing Called Love on Idol's stage when finalists take on Queen tonight (Fox, 8 ET/PT).

As other finalists sat with Bad Company's Paul Rodgers, the lead singer on Queen's current U.S. tour — its first in 24 years — Kellie Pickler was on the Arrowhead Pond stage, bathed in a single spotlight.

"Is that right? I couldn't hear myself," Pickler asked after a countrified take of the late Freddie Mercury's melancholy solo in Bohemian Rhapsody. Guitarist Brian May gave her tips on holding the notes when singing the famous lyric, "Nothing really matters to me."

May and drummer Roger Taylor, whose Queen hits with Mercury included Another One Bites the Dust and Somebody to Love, said they initially were reticent about getting involved with a pop reality contest but were pleasantly surprised none of the finalists killed the band's songs. "I thought they had some depth and some soul and some rock and roll," Taylor said.

One of the trickiest elements was adjusting to Idol's truncated song arrangements, he said.

Band advice ranged from the immediate — explaining how to "feel" a song — to the long-term — that Idol is just one way to build a musical career, May said. There were musical tweaks, as when he advised Ace Young to try We Will Rock You in the key of E instead of D.

Rodgers talked to singers about breathing on stage and shared some of his soothing tea, called Throat Coat.

May and Taylor have listened to many auditions for the Queen musical, We Will Rock You. May dislikes harsh public critiques. "When Simon Cowell's on there discussing intimate details and being very negative, that would be OK for me in private. That people have to go through that (in public), I find difficult to watch," he said.

But Queen knows tens of millions do watch, including potential new fans. "We're not blind to that," Taylor said.

THE SET LIST: Who's singing what?

---

Here are the Queen songs the Idol finalists will be singing — and their comments.


•Ace Young, We Will Rock You: "I urbanized the verses a little, just by riding on (the notes). I put a little R&B soul on it. When we were done, they said, 'That sounds like a record.' "

•Bucky Covington, Fat Bottomed Girls: "Yes, we all love the fat-bottomed girls."

•Chris Daughtry, Innuendo: "It's a relatively unknown song. It just had a mixture of a dark feel and a positive message. And I just found out they've never performed this live."

•Elliott Yamin, Somebody to Love: "I was drawn to the passionate emotion of the song. I heard a lot of soul in it."

•Katharine McPhee, Who Wants to Live Forever: "How could (this) not be fun? We're working with so many different legends."

•Kellie Pickler, Bohemian Rhapsody: "We only have 1 minute and 30 seconds, and the song is really long. Having to cut so many pieces is really hard to memorize, because I'm not singing the song as it's originally played."

•Paris Bennett, The Show Must Go On: "Being with the band was a big experience to me, never being with a rock band before. I was able to pick a song that fits me, that's still rocky."

•Taylor Hicks, Crazy Little Thing Called Love: "You listen to a Queen song, it's really melodic and very powerful, and the dynamics (are) really cool."

---

Now, let everyone discuss the pros and cons of their song selection prior to the night they shine or butcher their respective pieces.

[Netizen]

•Ace Young, We Will Rock You: "I urbanized the verses a little, just by riding on (the notes). I put a little R&B soul on it. When we were done, they said, 'That sounds like a record.' "

I think there were others he could have done that we haven't heard so often.  

•Bucky Covington, Fat Bottomed Girls: "Yes, we all love the fat-bottomed girls."

Someone wanted that song done.  Not sure if they picked it for Bucky or not.

•Chris Daughtry, Innuendo: "It's a relatively unknown song. It just had a mixture of a dark feel and a positive message. And I just found out they've never performed this live."

That's one of the ones I thought he could do.  There were a lot he could have chosen from.

•Elliott Yamin, Somebody to Love: "I was drawn to the passionate emotion of the song. I heard a lot of soul in it."

There were a few that I thought he could do.

•Katharine McPhee, Who Wants to Live Forever: "How could (this) not be fun? We're working with so many different legends."

This is one I thought she might do.

•Kellie Pickler, Bohemian Rhapsody: "We only have 1 minute and 30 seconds, and the song is really long. Having to cut so many pieces is really hard to memorize, because I'm not singing the song as it's originally played."

Uh huh.

•Paris Bennett, The Show Must Go On: "Being with the band was a big experience to me, never being with a rock band before. I was able to pick a song that fits me, that's still rocky."

I sort of thought Ace or Elliot for this one, but on one of the sites I looked at they said it has drama and so Paris would probably do it!  They were right!  :)

•Taylor Hicks, Crazy Little Thing Called Love: "You listen to a Queen song, it's really melodic and very powerful, and the dynamics (are) really cool."

Well, if he's going to do one that gets done all the time, I hope he puts his own spin on it and does it well.

[SirLinksalot]

Well, if he's going to do one that gets done all the time, I hope he puts his own spin on it and does it well.

Speaking as a Taylor Hicks fan who has heard his CD and knows what he is capable of doing, I must say, I am UNDERWHELMED by his song choice.

I said this before, and I'll say it again... whoever has been giving him advise should be shown the door PRONTO and POSTHASTE.

I am a little let down by Taylor’s song choices. He has for at least 3 weeks, chosen very weak songs that do not highlight what he can do. This week is another one. IT IS UNDERWHELMING to say the least.

Count them –

EASY ( too easy, and does nothing to show range ).

NOT FADE AWAY (5 chords and a repetitive melody. Highlights your ability to perform but does nothing to show you vocals ).

COUNTRY ROADS ( need I elaborate ? )

Now this one — CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE.

This song is WRONG for the following reasons :

1) It has been performed TWICE before. Fantasia did it in Season 3. David Radford did it just over a month ago.

2) Simon will open up his big British trap and then start to say — I’ve Heard that sang in a hundred bars in this country. MARK MY WORDS !!

3) IT IS NOTHING BUT “NOT FADE AWAY” LITE. A LITTLE BIT MORE MELODIC BUT SIMILAR. Does nothing to showcase his range and vocal abilities.

No one chose WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS. Good gosh, Taylor should have selected that song. It would have showcased BOTH his vocals and performance abilities.

Another opportunity wasted.

The only saving grace I have is anticipating someone who will be even worse — Kellie Pickler’s sure to be butchering of BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY.

Just being realistic folks. You can only do so much with a song and he only has about 90 seconds.

[Netizen]

Speaking as a Taylor Hicks fan who has heard his CD and knows what he is capable of doing, I must say, I am UNDERWHELMED by his song choice.

I didn't want to say it, so I'm glad you said it! :) I kind of thought he might do Hammer to Fall, well. There were a couple of others he could have done. I really think more songs fir Chris and Elliot. Ace maybe, except he uses that falsetto so much I'm not sure what his normal singing voice is.

[stlnative]

Paula Abdul is on Jay Leno's Tonight Show right now... She came out with a party hat on and martini in hand. She is giving Jay hell about people talking about her drinking problem.

[Netizen]

Paula Abdul is on Jay Leno's Tonight Show right now... She came out with a party hat on and martini in hand. She is giving Jay hell about people talking about her drinking problem.

I hope Jay is showing some prime clips from AI over the years. LOL