[new cruelty]

From the little I've seen of the show, you are right, Taylor Hicks does stand out, and in a good way.

[ansel12]

The show is very upfront about not looking for the best singer. Simon has often pointed out when someone has talent but not the look, that the show is looking for the whole package, a good singer that has the marketability to become a pop song commercial hit among teens.

[cowboyway]

This post proves that there is balance in the universe.

I've never watched a single episode of Idol ever and it appears that you haven't missed a second in the last 5 years.

[StrictTime]

(...rewind Quentin Tarantino's comments about Diana Degarmo in season 3 after she sang the theme from the Titanic ).

Could you refresh my memory? Couldn't find it in Google (although there were numerous references to the re-taping of QT's "f-in power house!" critique.

[paudio]

Good review. Thanks. I think Taylor may go far. Apart from him, my other favs are Kathrine, William, and Patrick. I think a guy will win this year.

I don't like Kellie. Her 'innocence' doesn't seem to be real. Never sing accompanied by a piano or a band? Come on...

[conservativebabe]

Excellent analysis.

On the AI live thread, we call Kevin Covais, Pee Wee. He is a little man with a big voice, and he and Taylor Hicks are my personal favorites for the guys at this point.

Paris is good, but annoying to me. I predict she will hang for a little while, but when people start voting, her bubbly squeaky personality will become grating to most.

Same with Brenna. Just not at all likeable.

Becky O'Donahue is drop-dead gorgeous, but in my opinion, is pretty weak in the voice. She should be on magazine covers and would make a great Revlon spokesmodel.

Katharine McPhee has the best voice and "it" factor package in my opinion, but Kellie Pickler has the story and the All-American girl look about her. Unfortuantely, for Kellie, her twin one last time around.

[edcoil]

What are their chances of winning ?

1 in 23


Do I pass?

[Wyatt's Torch]

You are right. Taylor Hicks is an original and completely out of the pop mainstream mold which is exactly why he has zero chance of winning. I love him, he's my favorite and I'd buy his record. But he is not the formulaic marketing star that they want to pump out millions of boring and unoriginal music to the masses. That is who wins this. It is not a singing competition, it is a marketing competition.

BTW, I've watched every episode of every season as I love music and love watching people perform to the best of their abilities. But this is not about the best singer/artist. Unfortunately.....

Also, as a dedicated fan of Bo last year, I was appaled at the complete lack of originality of his record. Sounds like every other "rock" song you'd hear on a top 40 station. I;m sure he had no choice as the "producers" and "A&R" men know best....right?

[Wolfstar]

Er...not to be picky, SirLinksalot, but unless you use the screen name Houster over on KellyClarksonExpress.com, your unattributed review above is a rip-off. Here's the link to Houster's review. With the exception of some minor editing, what you posted above is identical to what appears at KCE.

p101.ezboard.com/fkellyclarksonexpressfrm9.showMessage?topicID=884.topic

[FreedomForce]

I'm hoping Taylor Hicks does well, too. Here's a link to one of his songs. He's good. A couple more of his songs and an interview can be found at this website(wbhm.org/Tapestry/bands/TaylorHicks.html)

http://wbhm.org/songs/Soul%20Thing.mp3

[Hildy]

We're going to see who really votes in this competition...I don't believe older people vote, like, a thousand times like the younguns do. If they do, Taylor will win. But I suspect that Ace, because of the young girls out there, will be the one to beat.

[A knight without armor]

Is Brenna, the one with the lesbo lick, the same girl that got excited when she learned she was picked to continue and began romping around squealing, "Let's make good TV!"? I thought that was an odd comment. Almost like she was revealing that the whole thing is fake and they are just making good and profitable tv.