American Idol 2008--Live Thread

americanidol.com ^ | 1-14-08

[MarkMyWord]

I agree. I can’t understand how some folks here liked her. Yes, she did ok on the Heart song but that was it. Her act wore thin quickly. I can’t imagine seeing her in concert.

[kevkrom]

If Amanda was playing at a bar or something, and I’m there with a group of friends, she’d be just fine. But buy an album or go just to see/hear her? I don’t think so.

[MarkMyWord]

Is it just me or did anyone else like Kristy Lee's arrangment of "You've got to Hide Your Love Away"? I thought it was good.

Did she sing it well? Not really but I can see another country artist making that arrangement a hit.

[Miss Didi]

Jason Castro walks to the stage. He and his dread gnats are safe ;)

[Miss Didi]

Ramekin is sooooooooooooooo needy! (sorry, All, I missed the party last night and am now catching up on the groovy comments.)

[Miss Didi]

Me, too! Kristy over Amanda? Are they nuts??? Did you all see Amanda on with the Friends this morning? Made me like her even more...so humble and nice. I hope she gets a great career out of this.

[Miss Didi]

Me, three! I loved Amanda.

[Miss Didi]

I'm just glad we got to see behind the scenes hijinks during the filming of a Ford commercial.

And David C.'s head got even bigger in the role of director.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

Yes I preferred Kristy Lee over Amanda and you don’t have to shout.

[MarkMyWord]

That wasn't my question.

[MarkMyWord]

Yes,she is humble and nice. She just can’t sing without screaming.

[Miss Didi]

I dug her the same. ;)

[big'ol_freeper]

I enjoyed Amanda. She’s a rocker for sure. She is one of the few Idol artists over the years that I would actually pay to see. The fans should have axed Remiel or whatever her name is. She is just plain mediocre and boring. She would have fit in well with last season’s totally unremarkable performers.

[Lucky9teen]

Well dang, now that Amanda is gone....I don't really care who wins. ;(

Now granted, she did kind of fall into that "Alanis Morisette" every-song-sounds-the-same after a while kind of thing....but she had qualities the other contestants do not have.

She was my favorite for 4 reasons:
1) She had a unique and different sound
2) I liked her southern rocker/blues style-sound
3) She was entertaining
4) I liked the way she looked



Now considering the other contestants, although they all can sing pretty well, here is what I think, in the order (for the most part) of how I think they'll fade out on the show:

10) Kristy Lee Cook - will not make it much further and I'm really surprised she made it past last night

09) Ramiele Mulabay - I don't predict she'll last much longer either.

08) Syesha Mercado - Do we need another "black" diva?

07) Jason Castro - He's boring and unless he changes his look, imo, he will not go as far as he could

06) Chikezie Eze - He's good, but sounds just like all the other black artists out there - Jodesi, Usher, etc. Not unique.

05) Michael Johns - I think he could really be a top contender, but he hasn't been picking good songs and I fear he'll get booted too soon

04) Brooke White - Boring! But for some strange reason, people like her.

03) David Archuleta - do we REALLY need another diva?

02) David Cook - Well, I like this guy, but then I don't. First of all, the smugness and his "I'm all that" attitude is a total turn off and to me, takes away from any talent he has. And even though he can sing and rock out, he sounds just like all the other artists/bands out there right now today. He looks like them too. Gag. And to be honest, I'm glad there are internet sites like Limewire.com, because these artists of today may make some good songs, but only like 2 out of a whole album and the rest of their songs suck a$$!

01) Carly Smithson - Again, do we need another diva? I think she's too much like a Celin Dion type and I just don't know what kind of music she'll fit into. Will she be pop? Will she be another diva? Either way...I wouldn't buy anything she does.

I think it'll be between Carly and David C. at the end, but I don't care who wins.

As past Idol contestants have shown us, winning does not mean making a career in singing. After all, look at Miss Pickler. Didn't she come in 5th place or something? I'm not into the country thing myself and a couple of her songs are pretty good, but she's not all that, if you ask me. Again, I see smugness and a bit of an attitude in her, so that turns me off to wanting to hear her music.

But past Idols like Daughtry and Aiken, who didn't win, far exceeded those Idols that did win for those seasons. And their music is really cool, and worth buying albums of. Plus, I have never seen them cop an attitude or appear smug toward their fans. They seem to be humble in their success and that is what makes them all the better for it, imo.

I think Carry Underwood is the best winner of all. She sells millions of records all the while remaining sincerely humble and innocent (from what I've seen). Kelly Clarkson is a close second, but lately, I've seen that smugness and attitude and it shows in her music, and therefore to me, is a turn off to want to hear her latest stuff.

IMO, it kind of ruins the music when the artist becomes or is smug, self righteous and pompous. So good luck AI Season 7 Top 10.

They need to do a Led Zeppelin Night!!!

[Lucky9teen]

For red X above=

[Wolfstar]

Thanks for your comments, Lucky. It's strange, but despite the AI powers that be obviously over-compensating for last year by packing this season with ringers, there's no true standout in the bunch. At least not yet. Maybe someone will break out thanks to a genre that may suit their style better than the Beatles.

The contestant I'm most disappointed in is Michael Johns. When he first auditioned, he seemed like he could be something really special. Sadly, now that we've seen him for awhile, it's become obvious why, at 29, he's never broken through to stardom. There seems to be a threshhold beyond which his performances simply cannot rise.

Hetty_Fauxvert observed last night that Johns has no top notes. I think that may be true, and would take it a step further to say he's a very one-dimensional singer/performer. There's no texture, color or dimension to his singing, if you know what I'm trying to get at.

BTW, Lucky, re your comments about Kelly Clarkson, I'm a fan of hers, but know what you mean. She hurt herself badly with how she handled her third album, and with her utterly stupid public argument with Clive Davis. Kelly is fundamentally a good person, so I'm willing to chalk up her mistakes on 'My December' to the kind of youthful "no old fart knows anything" arrogance and stupidity we all displayed to some extent in our early 20's. She's working on her 4th album now, so we'll see if she's learned any lesson from the relative failure of MD. (It's sold under 800,00 in the U.S. Not horrible, but nowhere near the success that was expected after 'Breakaway.')

[sweet_diane]

"I think I’m the only person who liked Amanda. LOL"

I liked Amanda and would probably enjoy one of her shows. She certainly wasn't the worse or the night and is a better singer then some still standing, IMHO.

Jonathan left Survivor just when I was getting to like him, Amanda left AI, Brittney was voted off Biggest Loser ::sigh:: ..thankfully Matty was voted out of the Big Brother house... really didn't care for him at all.

[Palladin]

You and I are great at picking the non-winner every season. ;)

I really don’t have a favorite this year, so it’s a little less exciting than in previous years.

I’m guessing the last two standing will be Archuleta (a typical Disney tyke) and Carly (Quasimodo in drag).

Neither one a great talent.

[misterrob]

Lennon/McCartney two weeks in a row was overkill. I think it hurts certain performers who gravitate toward other genres. I would really love to hear Brooke and Kristy do some good country ballads (which is a semi oxymoron since I am not completely convinced these exist) to see what they can do. I'd love to see the Cheeze do some more R&B and Carly do some more rock. The Beatles are none of those three genres.

Oh, and a week with Mariah Carey????? Blecch!!!!!!

David Cook is establishing himself as a top 3 finisher. He holds the stage well and his vocals have been good. Screw Simon when he whines about him being smug, Cook was the best of the lot the past few weeks. Very, very current, good performer and he can work a crowd. Simon is too mercurial to try and please on a week to week basis and I always find it odd that he cracks on contestants who have the crowd rocking and rolling and cheering loudly.

I do find this bunch rather likable although I do think that Monchichi deserves a wedgie for trying to work the cuteness angle too much.

[Palladin]

You are blinded by her beauty! ;)