Comments on: American Idol: “I haven’t been having fun” http://blog.allmusic.com/2008/04/24/american-idol-i-havent-been-having-fun/ Fri, 16 May 2008 21:43:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1 By: Tom http://blog.allmusic.com/2008/04/24/american-idol-i-havent-been-having-fun/#comment-7397 Tom Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:58:21 +0000 http://blog.allmusic.com/2008/04/24/american-idol-i-havent-been-having-fun/#comment-7397 There wasn't much puzzling about the elimination. Brooke may have false-started, but once she put it back together, the vocal and the performance got better, got more confident. Carly (and the show) never let us forget about the record deal that crumbled, and even if Brooke had that false start, she didn't mess up lyrics as clumsily as Carly did. I'm less surprised Syesha hit the seal as much as I am that Jason miraculously avoided it with a misguided performance that implied the guy doesn't know how to use Google to look up lyrical content. I mean, unless you're a drag queen, why bother with "Memory" if you're a guy? Anyway, as much as Jason annoys and Syesha screams and Brooke is extremely fragile, I'd rather hear them sing Neil Diamond songs next week. Carly probably has a contract in place for a "comeback" album, and hearing her diva-fy a song, is more heinous than thinking about how Syesha might transform Neil into an R&B songwriter. There wasn’t much puzzling about the elimination. Brooke may have false-started, but once she put it back together, the vocal and the performance got better, got more confident. Carly (and the show) never let us forget about the record deal that crumbled, and even if Brooke had that false start, she didn’t mess up lyrics as clumsily as Carly did.

I’m less surprised Syesha hit the seal as much as I am that Jason miraculously avoided it with a misguided performance that implied the guy doesn’t know how to use Google to look up lyrical content. I mean, unless you’re a drag queen, why bother with “Memory” if you’re a guy?

Anyway, as much as Jason annoys and Syesha screams and Brooke is extremely fragile, I’d rather hear them sing Neil Diamond songs next week. Carly probably has a contract in place for a “comeback” album, and hearing her diva-fy a song, is more heinous than thinking about how Syesha might transform Neil into an R&B songwriter.

]]> By: Timo http://blog.allmusic.com/2008/04/24/american-idol-i-havent-been-having-fun/#comment-7403 Timo Fri, 25 Apr 2008 04:26:39 +0000 http://blog.allmusic.com/2008/04/24/american-idol-i-havent-been-having-fun/#comment-7403 I read a bunch of American Idol blogs and one thing that bothers me soooo much is that while there is no problem dragging Brooke over fiery coals for forgetting the lyrics and starting over, David Archuleta can do it THREE TIMES THIS season and have it go unmentioned, even by the judges on the show. I really cannot understand what people see in that guy. I can't watch him anymore, I really wish he was the one who went home! He has no personality , chooses horrible songs and has a voice that will NEVER get played on radio (unless it were Michael Bolton 1991ish). I read a bunch of American Idol blogs and one thing that bothers me soooo much is that while there is no problem dragging Brooke over fiery coals for forgetting the lyrics and starting over, David Archuleta can do it THREE TIMES THIS season and have it go unmentioned, even by the judges on the show. I really cannot understand what people see in that guy. I can’t watch him anymore, I really wish he was the one who went home! He has no personality , chooses horrible songs and has a voice that will NEVER get played on radio (unless it were Michael Bolton 1991ish).

]]> By: marcela http://blog.allmusic.com/2008/04/24/american-idol-i-havent-been-having-fun/#comment-7404 marcela Fri, 25 Apr 2008 05:24:40 +0000 http://blog.allmusic.com/2008/04/24/american-idol-i-havent-been-having-fun/#comment-7404 Thank you Andrew Leahey for saying what me, and a lot of unheard audience from Idol believes deeply. I'm so sad we weren't as many rooting for Carly as the deaf teeny boppers who voted for the flea-full Jason Castro. Thank you Andrew Leahey for saying what me, and a lot of unheard audience from Idol believes deeply. I’m so sad we weren’t as many rooting for Carly as the deaf teeny boppers who voted for the flea-full Jason Castro.

]]> By: Alex http://blog.allmusic.com/2008/04/24/american-idol-i-havent-been-having-fun/#comment-7413 Alex Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:46:28 +0000 http://blog.allmusic.com/2008/04/24/american-idol-i-havent-been-having-fun/#comment-7413 Actually, if you've being going and checking comments on internet sites, Carly got the boot basically because the Bible Belt doesn't like Jesus Christ Superstar, apparently. Actually, if you’ve being going and checking comments on internet sites, Carly got the boot basically because the Bible Belt doesn’t like Jesus Christ Superstar, apparently.

]]> By: Shay http://blog.allmusic.com/2008/04/24/american-idol-i-havent-been-having-fun/#comment-7419 Shay Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:56:04 +0000 http://blog.allmusic.com/2008/04/24/american-idol-i-havent-been-having-fun/#comment-7419 What? It's not like the Bible Belt likes tattoos, either, so I don't think Carly's song choice is what necessarily did her in. What? It’s not like the Bible Belt likes tattoos, either, so I don’t think Carly’s song choice is what necessarily did her in.

]]> By: james http://blog.allmusic.com/2008/04/24/american-idol-i-havent-been-having-fun/#comment-7427 james Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:48:36 +0000 http://blog.allmusic.com/2008/04/24/american-idol-i-havent-been-having-fun/#comment-7427 Just wanted to say that you have to give the jason fans more credit - I'm a fan of his and I'm certainly no deaf teeny bopper. Like Andrew Leahey said in an earlier blog (well I think he said this) he's quite possibly the only one whose album I'd actually consider buying. That being said, I also thought Carly was great, but has definitely been losing her charm in the past few weeks. She slightly redeemed herself during Superstar, but (like Syesha) it just wasn't enough to get me to be a fan again. Just wanted to say that you have to give the jason fans more credit - I’m a fan of his and I’m certainly no deaf teeny bopper. Like Andrew Leahey said in an earlier blog (well I think he said this) he’s quite possibly the only one whose album I’d actually consider buying.

That being said, I also thought Carly was great, but has definitely been losing her charm in the past few weeks. She slightly redeemed herself during Superstar, but (like Syesha) it just wasn’t enough to get me to be a fan again.

]]> By: Cathy http://blog.allmusic.com/2008/04/24/american-idol-i-havent-been-having-fun/#comment-7446 Cathy Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:09:59 +0000 http://blog.allmusic.com/2008/04/24/american-idol-i-havent-been-having-fun/#comment-7446 I do think that the general viewing audience is tiring of the big note divas. While I will miss Carly, I don't think that America got it "wrong". There are many genres of music and musical styles. I'm not sure why so many people feel that the big note diva is best. At this point in the competition, each contestent has built a following. One bad or great performance is not going to make or break anyone. This is evident in the results show bottom two. I think that the viewing audience is smarter and knows that bombing on an a broadway song is not an indication that a performer is weak. While it's impressive that some singers can seem to sing anything, that is not what happens in the real world. This is why so many were forgiving of Brooke's start and stop and Jason's uneasy and downright scared reaction to the upcoming performance. By the way, go listen to the iTunes version of their songs. Their songs are lovely, as are the others. People need to feel connected to the songs a singer chooses to sing and feel connected to the performance. I think the remaining contestents have done that better than those who have left. I do think that the general viewing audience is tiring of the big note divas. While I will miss Carly, I don’t think that America got it “wrong”. There are many genres of music and musical styles. I’m not sure why so many people feel that the big note diva is best.

At this point in the competition, each contestent has built a following. One bad or great performance is not going to make or break anyone. This is evident in the results show bottom two.

I think that the viewing audience is smarter and knows that bombing on an a broadway song is not an indication that a performer is weak. While it’s impressive that some singers can seem to sing anything, that is not what happens in the real world. This is why so many were forgiving of Brooke’s start and stop and Jason’s uneasy and downright scared reaction to the upcoming performance. By the way, go listen to the iTunes version of their songs. Their songs are lovely, as are the others.

People need to feel connected to the songs a singer chooses to sing and feel connected to the performance. I think the remaining contestents have done that better than those who have left.

]]> By: groucho http://blog.allmusic.com/2008/04/24/american-idol-i-havent-been-having-fun/#comment-7450 groucho Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:12:16 +0000 http://blog.allmusic.com/2008/04/24/american-idol-i-havent-been-having-fun/#comment-7450 I think the 'America got it wrong/right' thing may not be the culprit in the elimination of AI finalists this season (as well as in previous seasons). I think the producers have so much power, cache and leverage in terms of who they deem should be eliminated to: (a) add drama to the proceedings, (b) defy expectations to make the show interesting and unpredictable, (c1) weed out the unmarketable acts among the finalists, or (c2) make the elimination shocking as to test the waters in terms of public reaction and see if these eliminated contestants are worth signing, and (d) set up the stage for the duel of ill-matched contestants. Having said that, I am saddened to see Carly and Syesha in the bottom two last Wednesdays. It seems like the better the performance, the more uninteresting they become to the powers-that-be. Plus the voting public is also complicit in this outcome although we would never find out the actual figures to support various claims of fraud, etc. Randy was dead-on when he said that the show devolved into a popularity contest when Ryan solicited his reaction on the outcome of the bottom two. Not that we are not aware of that fact (i.e. popularity contest as opposed to a singing contest with a subjective view of who sings the best), but it was blatantly apparent after Wednesday's outcome. I still like Jason and Brooke in their individual ways but I give credit to those who outperform others in a given week. I feel for Syesha's frustration too as much as Carly's. They have given their best performances that week and still they wound up in the bottom two. What can Syesha do to court voters next week? Sing while on tightrope. Do acrobatics while doing her vocal acrobatics? The two Davids are beyond assailable now it seems even if the two ladies outclassed both guys last week in my estimation. Voting has to be this capital-intensive endeavour promoted by the show's telecommunications sponsor. Yet, I am drawn to the rigmarole of this show despite the apparent manipulation because it tells me the power of consumerism over anything else. For now, I will root for Syesha's underdog status, but David Cook might surprise me again. I think the ‘America got it wrong/right’ thing may not be the culprit in the elimination of AI finalists this season (as well as in previous seasons). I think the producers have so much power, cache and leverage in terms of who they deem should be eliminated to: (a) add drama to the proceedings, (b) defy expectations to make the show interesting and unpredictable, (c1) weed out the unmarketable acts among the finalists, or (c2) make the elimination shocking as to test the waters in terms of public reaction and see if these eliminated contestants are worth signing, and (d) set up the stage for the duel of ill-matched contestants. Having said that, I am saddened to see Carly and Syesha in the bottom two last Wednesdays. It seems like the better the performance, the more uninteresting they become to the powers-that-be. Plus the voting public is also complicit in this outcome although we would never find out the actual figures to support various claims of fraud, etc. Randy was dead-on when he said that the show devolved into a popularity contest when Ryan solicited his reaction on the outcome of the bottom two. Not that we are not aware of that fact (i.e. popularity contest as opposed to a singing contest with a subjective view of who sings the best), but it was blatantly apparent after Wednesday’s outcome. I still like Jason and Brooke in their individual ways but I give credit to those who outperform others in a given week. I feel for Syesha’s frustration too as much as Carly’s. They have given their best performances that week and still they wound up in the bottom two. What can Syesha do to court voters next week? Sing while on tightrope. Do acrobatics while doing her vocal acrobatics? The two Davids are beyond assailable now it seems even if the two ladies outclassed both guys last week in my estimation. Voting has to be this capital-intensive endeavour promoted by the show’s telecommunications sponsor. Yet, I am drawn to the rigmarole of this show despite the apparent manipulation because it tells me the power of consumerism over anything else. For now, I will root for Syesha’s underdog status, but David Cook might surprise me again.

]]> By: ian http://blog.allmusic.com/2008/04/24/american-idol-i-havent-been-having-fun/#comment-7452 ian Sat, 26 Apr 2008 20:16:06 +0000 http://blog.allmusic.com/2008/04/24/american-idol-i-havent-been-having-fun/#comment-7452 AI descended into a circus show this week. Jason can't sing. He breathes and talks at different pitches - but it ain't high quality singing. And charm? He's a dork! If he gets across to us to perform in the UK he'd be laughed off the stage. David A is a creation who irritates. Brooke is an amateur - her retention over Syesha was actually embarrassing to watch, not for her, but for the american audience who made this decision. David C is manipulative, cynical, smug, etc - but he's bloody good! He needs to win to revive the credibility of this competition. AI descended into a circus show this week. Jason can’t sing. He breathes and talks at different pitches - but it ain’t high quality singing. And charm? He’s a dork! If he gets across to us to perform in the UK he’d be laughed off the stage. David A is a creation who irritates. Brooke is an amateur - her retention over Syesha was actually embarrassing to watch, not for her, but for the american audience who made this decision. David C is manipulative, cynical, smug, etc - but he’s bloody good! He needs to win to revive the credibility of this competition.

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