Posted on 05/08/2006 4:22:13 AM PDT by silent_jonny
I think we've all been wondering that, too. My best guess is the same as yours, that he's saving it for the finale.
OT: I was wondering if there are any video's like this that can be downloaded of last night's AI. I can't get the stream video to work with my dino-dialup 56k. I know there has to be some DL'able video clips somewhere of the 5/16/06 show?
I can record a .wav file off an audiostream, but how do you record video like this? Thanks.
Clips of just certain ones or the whole show?
Indeed. I will have mine.
I didn't post this last night both due to being tired and because I kept thinking what's the point.
The AI powers-that-be engineered "a moment" for Katharine last night that was so transparent, it comes extremely close to turning me off the show permanently. They not only engineered "a moment" for her, but they did everything possible to sabotage Elliott.
Before fans of Katharine leap to a misunderstanding, I don't blame her in any way. I blame the AI powers-that-be for their transparent, over-the-top manipulation.
"Over The Rainbow" is an easy, undemanding song to sing. The reason it's become so iconic is due to the depth, pathos and yearning the then 16-year-old Judy Garland infused in the song in "The Wizard of Oz." But the song, itself, is just an easy, simple tune that kids with passable voices have been singing in school productions of "The Wizard of Oz" since 1939. It was a canny choice for Katharine, because it kept her in that middle range where her voice is pretty. Even then, she did her best to try to over-sing it.
However, the AI powers-that-be did exactly the same thing with Fantasia when they gave her "Summertime" to sing. They sat her on the stage, gave her a song that, while more difficult than "Over The Rainbow," still did the same thing for Fantasia as OTR did for Katharine. It kept Fantasia from doing one of her screeching, over-the-top performances.
In contrast to Simon's choice of OTR for Katharine, the songs Davis and Abdul chose for Elliott were AWFUL. They weren't just unsuited to him musically, they were boring in and of themselves as songs. Unfortunately, Elliott then compounded the problem created for him by those first two songs when, as he's done throughout the competition, he chose a very difficult and not well-known piece for his final number. Elliott's performances weren't bad. They just were boring, unengaging, and his nerves clearly got the best of him. He didn't have the pizzazz of either Taylor or Kat.
Still, whatever happens tonight, Elliott has grown so much during this competition that he may already have won in the larger sense of what's really important in life. It's been a true joy to watch him develop, and I'll continue to follow his career.
Seeing a different side of Katharine on Good Day L.A. a few days ago, I could finally appreciate her as a person. She said her ultimate goal is to act in films. Although she didn't say it in so many words, she implied that she sees a recording career as a stepping stone to a career in films. That's fine. I wish her every success. She's a gorgeous young woman. If she can act, she can step right off AI into film offers if she so desires -- and if the AI big shots will not tie her up contractually for too long.
But as a fan of American Idol, I had totally bought into the premise that it was about finding the best undiscovered musical talent, not about replacing the Miss America Pagent as our favorite annual family-oriented contest. If Katharine wins, it will be the fourth straight season that the winner has not moved me musically.
I know. I know. It is't about me in the narrow sense. But we all judge these performers from within our own little corners of the world, bringing our own preferences to the table -- and we are all potential CD buyers.
Which brings me to Taylor. He is the person who deserves to win the contest this year. Whether or not he will I think depends on how much more the powers-that-be are willing to manipulate things in Katharine's favor. Let's face it, of the three, Katharine is probably the most marketable to today's shallow pop music scene. Sex sells. Beautiful females sell. The music is secondary.
Taylor was absolutely brilliant last night -- not technically perfect, but then none of the three were -- but brilliant. He is a true entertainer in an old-fashioned sense of what that means. He's part Bobby Darrin, part Elvis, part Ray Charles, part Rod Stewart and, yes, part Bruce Springsteen. If that kind of entertainer still has a place today, Taylor will win. If it's all about looks, Katharine will win.
The wild card is Chris' fans -- who they vote for or against, and in what numbers.
Ooh, good point. You could be right.
It's so frustrating because where I'm at I can't get DSL or even highspeed DU, but two houses up they get it!
Just tell me which ones you want.
Are you kidding me?!!! Wooohoo!
All three of Taylors and Kats, SOTR and her blues thing.
Thanks!
Are all New Hampshirites this cool? ;-)
i've listened to his Georgia and to me it's ok, but not great. I understand that he did that years ago so maybe he would do it a little differently today.
Dana's the best! :)
Taylor is impressive because he seemed like a longshot in the beginning but he made his spastic-ness work in his favor.
Actually, I think there were several reasons that the thread wound up in the smokey back room.
Quite some time back, about 6 weeks ago, you posted part of a review from the Advocate and gave the url, so people could read the rest if they wanted.. Nobody complained. I found the writing hilarious and I posted a small paragraph, dealing with the contestants and a quiz to match them with certain statements, from the Advocate, and gave the link.
Doodlelady had a fit, called me disgusting. I told her to stuff it. No one else posting at the time complained. I called her a thread nazi and told her to stuff it and leave me alone. Others since have commented that they too find the review from the Advocate hilarious.
Then there are all the mctata shots and coversation surrounding her. I just think there were several reasons for the thread being in the smokey back room.
I probably am more to blame for than anyone I guess, but like I mentioned earlier, you posted from there and gave the url and no one griped, I did it and one person screamed bloody murder.
Sorry to all those offended for having to go to the smokey back room. I take my share of the blame. But, I really don't see what's so bad about being in here.
. That was my first season to watch and while I think Clay had a beautiful voice something about him turned me off. Of course I tend to prefer blues and soul.
McPhee will win this thing now that Chris is gone. Taylor has no marketing niche...if he did Michael McDonald would have the #1 song in the nation right now and on MTV/VH1 round the clock.
I have said it before and will say it again...all gimmick. Taylor is a karaoke version of Michael McDonald with the looks of Jay Leno.
McPhee will get all the young votes that Elliot would have gotten.
Figures...just what the world needs..another half-decent model looking bubble gum vocalist to add to the airwaves. America's pop culture tastes really blow sometimes.
Paula went on record stating that she wanted Elliot to win. Why do you think she picked a bad song for him?
Great post and I agree completely. Kat winning would be confirmation of the shallow/vapid popular music scene where looks and voice altering computer power rule the day. I am a musical snob and proud of it. I want my music raw, passionate, heartfelt with real artistics merit. Kat is none of those things.
Because it was a bad song.
I have to respectfully disagree. I had never heard of Michael McDonald until AI. I would never have heard of Taylor except for AI, but now, thanks to AI, the whole world has heard of Taylor.
As with last year when so many said that Bo would outsell Carrie by miles. Time will have to be the true test. jmo
I'm with you!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.