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Posted on 03/24/2006 9:00:43 PM PST by silent_jonny
Thanks, grania. Your's is most interesting as well. I love reading the wide variety of opinions on this thread. I've been especially touched by your motherly concern for Kellie, although I don't think you need to worry. If she can act even to the level of the typical TV show, I believe the girl has a bright future. Too bad Hollywood doesn't know how to make really good screwball comedies anymore, because Kellie would be perfect as a 2006 version of Carol Lombarde.
Re your comment, "Summary.....this year isn't as good at this point," you and I are in the minority on this, but I agree with you. The only one of the remaining contestants I really like on a human level (vs. merely judging their talent) is Elliott. Although I doubt he'll win, I hope he makes it to the top three at least.
This is a particularly interesting observation you made: "One is that ALL of the 'help' has been powerful male singers." I think you have something there, and I will think it through. At the very least, there would be more balance to the guest coaching if they had a couple of female artists do it.
I was looking at the Hot 100 on Billboard.com (really only the Hot 50 because that's all they show you without paying up) and I hope there's more from 51-100.....Yikes! Lot's of hip-hop/rap/whatever. I do see a Nickelback song so Chris is set...;-)
Yes -- and I believe the apology will only benefit Katharine from here on out, because it reinforces the notion that she's something special. She is not. Better than poptarts like Brittny Spears, perhaps, but not even as good as last year's AI winner, Carrie Underwood.
I keep looking for that one truly exceptional performance from Taylor that most of us believe he's capable of, but so far...blah.
It may seem harsh to say, but to me singers like Chris are a dime a dozen.
I'm open to being convinced that, as you say, Kat has an exquisite voice but doesn't know how to use it. But in my heart I don't believe it. I think she has a good, but limited voice, and no amount of training is going to change her limitations. If she kept within the limits of her voice, and learned how to perform better, I think she could be a star. But the way she is right now in this competition, I'm not impressed.
You're absolutely right that Elliott has grown the most in this competition. Because my father had the same disability Elliott has, I may have a deeper understanding of just how remarkable a singing talent he is. The makeover people have done wonders with him, and as his confidence has grown, his personality shines.
So I agree with you commish. Elliott most deserves to win the competition. Sadly, I think the usual shallowness of what so many people these days expect in entertainers will win the day: looks (Kat) and flash (Chris) will defeat Elliott.
Sounds like acting is her forte. She's been doing it for months now. :) Thanks for the update!
I disagree, from the standpoint that Carrie, at this same point last year, still had a lot of work to do on her stage presence. I think that combining vocals and presence, Katharine has roughly the same "polish" that Carrie did with the competitin cut down to 5.
That's what's so much fun about this thread. We can and do disagree without beating up on each other. :)
I've been a big lurker on these AI threads and agree with you about Taylor. I thought he was a fun performer and very refreshing at first and am sure that he is talented, but I kept waiting week after week for his "big performance" with disappointment. I'm still waiting. At this point in the competition I don't see much difference between the rabid Taylor fans and the die hard Pickler voters. If they don't give a good performance week after week, they should be gone.
On the other hand, I was initially surprised they picked Elliot in the top 24 because he was so physically unattractive even tho a good singer. He was never my favorite until they got down to the top 8. But, it's obvious now that Elliot has the best vocals, is an humble, likeable guy and has gotten better week after week. And also, the stylists have done wonders. They only thing Eliott needs is a dental overhaul and to work on his stage nerves. I was blown away by his performance Tuesday night.
Katherine and Paris are both talented but, in my opinion, not as talented as Elliott. Since Pickler is gone, all the men who were lusting after the little Southern minx are going to vote for Kat, so Paris is probably gone unless she pulls a rabbit out of a hat.
I just don't get Chris other than he's a great looking guy. The hard rock has never been for me and I am a child of the 60's. Even though he did a fair job vocally, the last two weeks, his voice is not exceptional. I would never buy any CD he put out.
I just love FR! Where else will you see the word "myrmidons" in common useage? :)
Welcome! Thanks for sharing your opinions with us. The more the merrier, truly.
Silent_jonny is our host on this thread and I'm sure he'll be happy to see you jump into the ongoing discussion.
At this point in the competition I don't see much difference between the rabid Taylor fans and the die hard Pickler voters. If they don't give a good performance week after week, they should be gone.
I agree. Taylor better step up next week, or I will hope he goes home. I can't decide if he's coasting or if that really is the best he can do.
People become iffy when they are given one day to practice a song because their first choice was deemed to not be a love song.
Taylor wants to win and he'd be better off ignoring Simon, just nodding his head to whatever Simon says, but doing his own thing. He's also got to think of ways to protect himself against the AI sabotaging. There is talk on another forum that his earpiece wasn't working proper. sound familiar?
myrmidon A faithful follower who carries out orders without question.
Fits to a 't'!
E will get around to doing something with his teeth when this is done.
However....
Whatever he does will be balanced against the potential impact on his singing. Why do you think that libeal freak Babs Streisand keeps her nose big? Messing with that changes her vocals.
I didn't feel that old until I saw that Paris was born in '89!
You have to be kidding. It's a great song-- she's a foreign import from the UK (Scotland, I think). I heard it before most folks via International Music Feed (a satellite channel that is MTV for the world). It's absurd for a guy to sing the song, though. "When the big black horse that looked this way, said hey lady, will you marry me?" Actually, the song was tailor-made for Kimberly Caldwell. You have to have a rocker growly voice to do it. It's got that kind of vibe, not just because Tunstall has that kind of voice.
I think it was a case of protecting the product based on how many votes were cast. With Pickle gone Simon doesn't have much of a choice but protect the goods.
And, I do think that she was owed something of an apology. Tell her the performance wasn't great, her voice was off or the song didn't fit. Don't compare her to a crack addicted waste of talent and say that she ain't good enough. Plus, the guy who wrote the song helped her work on it. Think his opinion might count for something here?
There, I fixed it for you.
To those of you complaining that Taylor's song choice of TRY A LITTLE TENDERNESS BY OTIS REDDING was rejected because it does not qualify as love song, maybe we should read the lyrics to see if it does. Here they are ...
Hi retrokitten. Gee, I don't know. Wasn't able to keep up with the pre-show rumors this week. If it's true, the first question I would have for the producers is this: If a song doesn't qualify for the week's genre, what's it doing in the songbook for the week?
Then I wonder how anyone could think this fine old standard is not a love song. Written at the height of the Depression, what it talks about is keeping love alive in the real world when life is at its hardest. (Borrowing a lyric fragment from 'Fiddler On The Roof'), "If that's not love, what is?"
Try A Little Tenderness
Words and music by Harry M. Woods, James Campbell and Reginald Connelly
First recorded by Ruth Etting on February 8, 1933
She may be weary
Women do get weary
Wearing the same shabby dress
And when she's weary
Try a little tenderness
Oh, she may be waiting
Just anticipating
Things she may never possess
And while she's without them
Try a little tenderness
It's not just sentimental
She has her grief and her care
But a word, so soft and gentle
Makes it easier to bear
You won't regret it
Women don't forget it
Love is their whole happiness
And it's all so easy
Try a little tenderness
But a word, soft and gentle
Makes it easier to bear
You won't regret it
Women don't forget it
Love is their whole happiness
And its all so easy
Try a little tenderness
You've got to try
You've got to hold her
You've go to squeeze her
You have to try
You got to try
And always please her
You won't regret it
You won't regret it
Oh, try a little tenderness
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