Wolfstar, your AI commentaries have been like an
oasis. More than just factual, they were poignant
and insightful.
Always a welcome read.
Thank you so much.
First, thank you old friend, and how are you. Been a long time.
Second, although Carrie was my favorite from very early in the season, Bo kind of snuck up on me. In the meantime, somewhere along the line over the last month, I swung from really liking Carrie to not liking her much. Can't quite put my finger on it, except to say that there's a plastic Miss America quality to her that didn't wear well with me over time.
I think it started the night Carrie came out looking for all the world like a 20-something JonBenet Ramsey. A moppet beauty pagent star all grown up. I happened to mention it to Jonny at the time, because it struck me so strongly. Something about Carrie's look repulsed me that night, and I've cooled toward her ever since.
Of the guys, I had always liked Anthony the best and felt that he got a raw deal when Simon decided early on that he was another Clay Aiken. To me, for much of the season, Bo was just there. Then, as the top 12 started getting weeded out, and after Paula (very wisely) asked Bo one week if he really wanted it, Bo stepped up his performances to a whole different level.
I, along with most AI fans began to sit up and take notice. And he finally won my heart with his brilliant a cappella performance last week.
I can't say I'm disappointed that Carrie won, nor can I say that she didn't deserve it, because she did in the context of what AI is all about. Rather, what I feel is ho hum -- you know. Just shrug. It's odd, to me, that I should wind up feeling this way about Carrie. Nevertheless, I do. But it's like you've seen one slick, pretty, blonde, blue-eyed Miss-America-wannabe type, you've seen them all. What is Britney Spears, after all, except that type "gone bad." And if one wants a good-girl, little-bit-country version, someone like LeAnn Rimes fits the bill nicely. It turns out Carrie bores me after a whole season of watching her -- of course, maybe part of that is because I'm a straight female, thus am immune to her physical charms.
But a big part of it is also a building resentment that, so far, no white guy has won AI. Maybe I'm experiencing a kind of delayed backlash against the travesty that was Clay losing to Ruben. Possibly irrational, I know. But there it is.
Anyway, I'm glad Bo doesn't have to start out the next phase of his career releasing some stupid, cheesey song that goes against his style. I'm pleased that, like Clay Aiken, Bo will have more freedom to do music that suits him. As Simon was at pains to remind everyone Tuesday night, Bo is older. His big break has come a little later than for many artists, so he needs to make the most of it right away.