Seriously... who gives a damn?
Trajan88
ALEXANDER KLAWS (GERMANY): I felt like I was a teenager again in the 80s watching STAR SEARCH. Only I never watched STAR SEARCH because I thought it was cheesy even then. With the waving arms and cheesy dance moves, This performance was definitely good for laughs. Alexander will have to rely on his boyband good looks to place even in the Top 5.
JAMAI (NETHERLANDS): Probably, without a doubt, the most forgettable performance of the night. I can't even remember the gender of this contestant.
DIANA (PAN-ARABIC): Like Simon Cowell, I did not know whether she was any good or not. Nothing to compare it to. She dedicated a song in the pan-Arab competition to the "Children of Palestine". You make your own judgment.
PETER EVRARD (BELGIUM): To me, he was the second surprise of the night. He belted out Kurt Cobain better than anyone else I have heard. But like the German judge Shona Fraser said, he belongs in a band.
HEINZ WINCKLER (SOUTH AFRICA): This guy knows how and when to smile. His drop-dead good looks means that he only has to be a mediocre singer to sell CDs. But he proved that he could sing as well. I was very impressed when I heard him, but maybe that's because I had low expectations. He's like the 'hot blonde girl' that becomes the valedictorian of the senior class. Watch out for this guy---since most of the people that actually bother to dial in votes are crazed teenage girls, "Hunky Heinz" could walk away with it.
ALEX (POLAND): All I can say is----what was Poland thinking? I never thought I would ever hear an Idol that sounded worse than Nicky McKibben.
RYAN MALCOLM (CANADA): Who ever said the only thing Canada is good at is ice sports? He needs to work on his stage presence a bit, but that doesn't matter. He never hit a flat note. I expect he has a chance to walk away with it.
KELLY CLARKSON (USA): Well, I must say I was disappointed. Having heard Kelly sing "Natural Woman" in American Idol, I was unhappy with Christmas night's performance. Yes, I know, supposedly she was sick and that is why she didn't belt out that 'high note'. She has devoted fans worldwide but I doubt she'll win. The small advantage she has of worldwide recognition will be counter-balanced by a political vote against her, particulary with the pan-Arab vote and maybe even Germany.
GUY SEBASTIAN(AUSTRALIA): No...just NO. I'm sorry, but I could not even concentrate on his song because of that ridiculous hair. And it was sickening to see those Australian girls in the studio audience wearing those fake afros.
WILL YOUNG (UK): I like Will. Always have since I heard him perform on the American Idol finale....and his "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" duet with Kelly was a pleasant surprise. BUT.....he did nothing for me on Christmas night. He gave off vibes like he didn't want to be there (And I am guessing that neither he or Kelly DID want to be there). He won't win. And he really looked like he didn't want to anyway.
KURT NILSEN (NORWAY): And the best was saved for last.....THE HOBBIT! He was absolutely music to the ears. Was able to belt out "Beautiful Day" better than Bono himself. I downloaded snippets of his Norwegian Idol performance today and this dude can sing! I say "Go Fro-do!"
OVERALL: Though Kelly was a favorite before the contest, I think Kurt will take it. As someone earlier on this thread said, there is too much anti-Americanism in the world for Kelly to win.
And the program was poorly edited. It was painfully obvious that the hosts Ant and Dec were just talking to the cameras and not to the studio audience. In the US version, there was one shot of Simon laughing that was used twice in the program----Fox editors take note! We aren't stupid! And you don't need to insult our intelligence by telling us that the home contestant automatically gets 12 points. Just tell us that we can't vote for our own Idol and be done with it!