American Idol 2005--Live Thread

3-15-05

[A CA Guy]

Well don't knock yourself on being divorced, over half the people were at least once and most all had the same intentions of living in love forever.

Then life lets you know that love can also be a four letter word.

[texasflower]

Then life lets you know that love can also be a four letter word.

Isn't that the truth!

[texasflower]

I wonder about this voting stuff. I can't see this method really works very well.

Especially when they are down to two people. The phones will get basically the same workout for each contestant. It seems like it's just a matter of the capability of the phone lines more than anything.

[A CA Guy]

Or, they let the phones go until they get the winner they want!!!

[texasflower]

WHERE WERE YOU? I missed you.

[texasflower]

Good point. Very good point.

[texasflower]

Well, I'm off to bed. Hopefully I'll see you again for the finale in a few hours.

It's been nice visiting with you!

[A CA Guy]

Good night.

I was just back from two hours of exercise at the fitness club, so I'm checking posts here and my winnings at Ebay.

Dream well and often.

[YaYa123]

FOX & Friends at Foxnews.com has a fun, Carrie/Bo poll going, and amazingly, it's 50-50 this early in the morning.

[Netizen]

49 - 51 in Carrie's favor now. I got through at least 160 times last night.

[ken5050]

FYI..my daughter said there's a story on the MTV website..Kelly Clarkson asks "Who's Bo?" I tried to find it..no luck..wanna try..? regards

[kevkrom]

A very fitting final... in the sense that it was a very disappointing end to a very disappointing season. I honestly cannot say there were any "winners" last night, so let me start by recapping the "losers", in no particular order.

• The Songwriter: whomever wrote this year's original AI song should be fired, publicly ridiculed, and then shot. It was, without a doubt, the most boring and inane piece of pop tripe I've heard in recent memory. There's no way either of these contestants could have made that sound good, not that it seemed they were trying that hard.

• The Judges: I didn't have much respect to lose for Randy and Paula, but Simon's attempt to put a happy face on last night's disaster was particularly forced, fake, and unconvincing. (Ryan is exempted from this, over-hype and exaggeration are his stock in trade, and so he is impossible to disappoint when he engages in it.)

• The Sound Board Mixer: did the guy think to record the dress rehearsal and play back the tape? The "air mix" was sapped of all energy and life (but then again, we have the contestants to partly blame for that as well...)

• The Viewers: we deserved better than this for all the time we've watched the show. Anyone tuning in last night for the first time, wondering what the AI buzz is about, must have been shaking their heads in confusion afterward.

• The Contestants: Not just Bo and Carrie, who turned in dull, lifeless, and not particularly good (from a technical point) performances, but all of the other contestants who lost out to these two.

The rankings (and "rank" is the key word here):

1. Bo - I'd have to give a slight edge to Bo, solely on the basis of performing the common song better, which isn't saying much. Bo's vocal weaknesses, especially range, were on full display in the first and last songs. He was also unusually reserved. His security blanket song ("Vehicle") was OK, but really only a fair imitation of the original. Tip to Bo: singing an original song is an opportunity, not a challenge... if you're going to make records, it's not like dollar draft night at the bar where you just do covers and try to imitate the originals.

2. Carrie - SI particularly admire how, on a stage in front of hundreds and on TV in front of millions, she can both sing and do a near-flawless impersonation of a statue. Vocally, she was very "tight" -- obviously nervous -- and really never delivered on the first or last songs; the first had pitch and lower register issues, on the last song, she proved that not only can she not really hit the big note, but she can't hold it, either (slid into it, faltered at the end). "Independence Day" was probably the best vocal performance of the night, but again, no real challenge for her (though she did better in the lower register than she has been doing). She still wins the competition, even losing the night, because she looks the part better.

Seriously, excepting the middle "safety" songs, can anyone honestly tell me that last night wasn't a complete and total train wreck?

[kevkrom]

Diana's the best female vocalist EVER on AI. She NEVER goes pitchy and always knows how to finish a song.

Amen, with one caveat... she still has to hear to sing. When she was sick, her pitch suffered, and of course, who can forget the sound board "accident" in last year's finale?

[GraniteStateConservative]

This is from the Showstoppers CD...

And also...

[silent_jonny]

but I obviously didn't hear the same performance that others did.

I was disappointed by all the performances last night--not that they were bad, they just weren't great. I was hoping for one of them to blow the roof off the place, but it never happened. I did like Bo's version of the "Heaven" song more than Carrie's. It's a toss-up, though. I have no idea who'll win tonight.

[GraniteStateConservative]

They are on these shows to promote the AI tour and the AI CD. The producers are HAPPY to have invitations for them to sing. He didn't get to sing on Leno or Tony Danza's show, but he sang on R&K and Ellen.

[GraniteStateConservative]

He was just sticking by his prediction from after "Alone." That's all it was.

[silent_jonny]

right-click, save. right-click, save. right-click, save ... :)

[GraniteStateConservative]

Especially when they are down to two people. The phones will get basically the same workout for each contestant. It seems like it's just a matter of the capability of the phone lines more than anything.

Not with three phone lines and 4 hours of calling. That's a huge number of ballots, so to speak, that can be used-- more than enough than will be used, IMO. As an aside, I voted for Carrie about 20-30 times after well more than twice as many tries (redial is awesome) and my wife wanted to hear Bo's message (she heard the one Carrie recorded). I called his number and got right in the first time. I just don't believe that Carrie has ever gotten fewer votes than Bo and I don't believe she did last night. IMO, Bo's supporter are just less likely to vote. This is a voting contest more than a talent contest.

[silent_jonny]

She [Lindsey Cardinale] had a lovely voice. I wish she had lasted longer

At the very least, she should've outlasted Mikalah! Mikalah shouldn't have been in the Top Twelve at all. Better find some ear plugs for tonight :)