Posted on 04/21/2005 10:53:52 AM PDT by capitoltex
Once again, we've reached that point in the American Idol competition where the voting trends seem to defy all logic and reason.
From a relatively objective point of view, two excellent singers, Nadia Turner and Anwar Robinson, have been sent home, and two mediocre (at best) singers still remain among the top six contestants. Some fans of the show are up in arms, unable to cope with the fact that we'll be subjected to at least one more week of the song stylings of Anthony Fedorov and Scott Savol. In particular, Mr. Savol seems to have struck a negative chord with many viewers.
Last season, we were in a similar situation, with crooner John Stevens and the pretty-but-vapid Jasmine Trias inexplicably outlasting far more talented performers like Jennifer Hudson.
Much print has been devoted to the voting dynamics of the show, but it seems that something is happening that the show's producers probably weren't counting on: some fans are purposely voting for the singer whom they deem to be the "worst."
Witness the web site (www.votefortheworst.com) "Vote For The Worst," with it's tongue-in-cheek mission statement:
This show is not about finding the next big superstar. Your favorite contestant probably won't win, and will probably get a record contract anyway if they're good enough. LaToya London had an amazing voice last season and she didn't make it past 4th place. Fantasia won the competition and her record sales are dismal because 19 Entertainment barely even promotes her. What a great "prize."
TV is supposed to be about the entertainment value, and what's more entertaining than a fish out of water outlasting the big fish and sharks? This pledge is to keep whoever we've selected as the worst competitor in the competition by voting for them for the entire time alotted every week. Even if you live outside of America, tell people about the pledge and spread the word. At the top of this page, we will post a banner with the contestant that we're supporting. If you so choose, vote along with us and help keep the no talent of the week in the competition.
For the time being, the "Vote For The Worst" crew has thrown their support behind contestant Scott Savol, and quite a few fans seem to be on board.
Now, will these renegade voters actually alter the outcome of the finals? Unlikely. With consistently more than 30 million votes cast each week, and far more in the finals, it would be hard for such an effort to swing the needle once the competition gets down to the final 3-4 competitors. But in earlier weeks, when there are more choices and the voting is closer, it's somewhat easier for these folks to make a difference. The only real question is how many of the "good" singers will get sent home while the "worst" remain.
My wife felt the same way about him - he had one vocal style that didn't vary.
I'm really not all that impressed with any of them at this point.
Yea Simon, give his opinion. I don't ALWAYS agree.. But at least you know where he stands. Seems to me Randy cares more about the performance/look than the sound. And Paula would like you if you fell down, puked and got all the words wrong.
I find myself agreeing with him 90 percent of the time. But, then again, I've been to probably close to a thousand live music shows, mostly on the local, small-band level - so I've seen plenty of cheese in my time.
The whole show is a crock. The only time it's worth watching is the beggining of the season, when the idiots who's buddies have set them up are on. Here is what happens: "Yo dog, you can sing boy. You need to go on that American Idol show.......... hehehe this is gonna be funny, he sucks.........." After these losers are gone the entertainment value is gone.
His whiny voice stunk. It was OK for certain songs but I couldn't listen to a whole CD of that.
I never once said that what passes for radio these days is much more than noise either. They all pretty much sound the same to me, too. But it keeps me from falling asleep on the way to work while I'm trying to cut down on my caffeine intake, so I listen. Most of it is garbage. The only unique sound was Linkin Park, whom I liked until they went and lost my respect by doing a compilation CD with Jay-Z. The 80s had several good bands, but overall the decade was not nearly as good as the early to late 60s, with the rise of mo-town, the beach boys, and the Beatles.
You don't have to be black and have a microphone to make money. You just have to have a great marketing team and an "angle." Eminem and Kid Rock are both as white trash as they come and they make a killing.
Is it just me or is Paula seem to be overdosing on happy medicine?
Now that I wouldn't doubt for 1 minute.
Randy Jackson needs some serious hearing aids. He can't tell whether someone's on or off-key. He just says "pitchy" to the ones who are his un-favorites.
Like Ryan said this week, Randy needs a new scriptwriter. We have fun in our house mimicking him before he even opens his mouth. "Yo, Scott. You're da man. A little pitchy but awright. Dude, that was great, Dude. In mah dogpound."
Clay Aiken was talented, and You are right to compare him to Barry Manilow. But barry manilow is hardly a platinum selling pop success these days. His style doesn't sell well with the record-buying public, the majority of which are 12-24 year old females.
Hip Hop will not die out. Ever. It is one of the last ways the powers that be have to control our youth. Get them obsessed with glorifying themselves and collecting things, much like that culture does, and they will be too busy worrying about bling bling to realize that they're being denied basic rights.
Thanks to StrictTime, Ken5050 and Samwise for the heads-up.
I'd hit it.
Twice.
who's that?
Former AI contestant Lindsey Cardinale.
So-so voice, but easy on the eyes.
That's what I say. The one thing that the show is great at is bringing new talent to the public's attention and then letting the public decide if they like it or not. Clay Aiken proved you don't have to win in order to be a winner. While Ruben and Fantasia have proved the opposite, that winning doesn't guarantee success.
Those with the right mix of talent, creativity and business sense will rise long after the show is over. The "winner" doesn't matter.
I only saw very little pieces of previous seasons..I got hooked on it this year because of silent_johnny's live thread..it's a hoot..but I do recall one female from the first season..Julia?..from CT..very bodacious ta-ta's
Forgot already??? :)
She was/is very hot. The horrible Mikalah outlasted her by one week.
Indeed--and the rest of her wasn't bad, either :)
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