JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum 2008 American Idol (original official)

2008 American Idol started tonight
any one watch it
what did you think?
I was impressed with several singers

http://www.americanidol.com/

Ande

The usual showing of brain challenged dreamers with an occasional valid singer. Why did I watch it? I don't really know. I wasn't expecting anything different than the other years. I must have a similar brain malfunction, just in the watching area.

We all know they pass the previous tryouts just to be laughed at, or told they are terrible. The judges before them already know that. They are not just judges for talent,,,,but for extreme lack of it. Same as all the years.

It should be called, "American Fool". (for both participants with no talent, and for us watching it).

John

I guess I'm an addicted fool. I watch it mainly because it's entertaining. I use a DVR to record it so I can skip through the commercials and the really horrible performers.

The one girl who wanted to moon Simon and kept giving him the finger...that got old really quick. The really creepy guy who sang to Paula about stalking her....uh, they had security escort that guy out...'nuff said.

I found Simon uncharacteristically decent. For the most part, if he didn't have anything nice to say, he simply kept his mouth shut. He at least was not cruel, as he has been at times.

The girl who raised horses and did karate and some sort of kick boxing or something had HUGE potential. She's the one who sang "Amazing Grace" with some really tasty blue notes thrown in.

They could certainly leave most of the "human interest" stories out of it as far as I'm concerned. I don't really care how hard they've struggled or what their sob story is. The question is "are they star material or not?" I actually don't mind listening to some of the weirder people. Hey, I lived right in Hollywood for 3 years - now THAT was entertainment!

Can't wait to watch this one unfold. Should be real good. At least entertaining. I wonder if some of this is staged. Like the gal and her mom living in the one bed room apartment with their cats. And she has glitter all over her face. What a strange bird! I think she would have a shot at acting. She is good with words. Not singing, but the drama queen stuff she pulled of real well. Mom wasn't too bad eithor!

Tammy

www.tammyedwards.com
www.myspace.com/tammyedwards2

I watched some of it before my gig tonight {trying of course not to be overly bitter as usual} but seriously...It's time to put this puppy to rest {same old same old} What has our culture come to that it's cool to ridicule and humiliate obviously mentally and emotionally challenged people for ratings? What they did to the tour guide guy with the deformed palate {messed up lips and teeth , and obviously mentally challenged} was nothing short of abomidable.
And of course they have to have the human interest stories that tug at the heartsrings/manipulate future voters.
Oh, and theres the inevitable multitude of the William Hung wanna-be's looking for their 10 minutes of fame. Sorry kids, this show SUCKS!
Not to mention it's not even viable anymore as far as turning out bonafide stars.{At least as far as the winners.} Sure you've got Kelly and Carrie {Two true talents} but then you've got Ruben,Fantasia,Taylor, and the chick who won last year who's name I can't even remember, who have more or less flopped by comparison, so the show is losing juice in a hurry, to which I say good riddance!
Sorry to rain on the glorified Karaoke contest! {Yes I'm an old and bitter man!}

We're 6 for 6 in picking the winners. Let's go for 7 of 7. = ) I had last year's winner picked after the second episode. Even though she was the second best singer, it was obvious she would win in the end.

Brian

OH NO here we go again.......

The guy who sang the stalking song to Paula is an active JPF member from the Philly area. Paul Maturano has performed at most of our showcases there and is actually a good singer songwriter, though you wouldn't have known it by his performance. (He's a better piano player and I noticed he referenced his piano. I wonder if he was hoping they'd let him do one of his REAL songs). I haven't heard from him but will need to find him and see what the scoop is. I am sure he had to waive his royalties (well.. not sure. .but I suspect..). But I did notice that another JPF member had his song performed many times.. did you guys know that an active JPF member wrote "I Love Rock And Roll?"

Brian

Exploitation of folk with mental probs, learning or other disabilities should carry a jail sentence. So should conning the public into thinking that the finalists have any real talent.

I agree with the first part Jim, but the finalists, for the most part, do have a huge amount of talent. There's usually 3 bad one in the final 12 each year... I think that's partially due to the "casting" factor, where they want the show to be diverse and balanced and interesting. But typically the best rise to the top 5 or so and compared to the 15,000 live artists I've seen in the last 10 years in person, they're in the top 1% for sure.. probably the top 1/2% in terms of vocal talent. The truth is that the superstars that usually appear on the show can rarely sing 1/10th as well as the contestants do. The pressure week to week is superhuman that those kids go through. Most people would wilt under that pressure first time out.

I noticed this year that the mean factor has been dialed WAY down.. that was a big outcry last year that people were tired of the venomous treatment of contestants.. last night they were nice to all but the folks who were intentionally being idiots just to get attention... our JPF member included.

Brian

I'm with Bob & Jim on this. Stated it last time.

An aside. (I avoid watching the show, by the way.) Anybody hear if American Idol is going to do another song contest this year? I got a lot of mileage this past year out of being able to introduce "Rotten Candy" as "the song that was rejected by American Idol." It'd be fun to do that again.

Joe

After last year, I think I can live without this scripted, over-managed and totally unfair "competition." If these folks refuse to come up with a fair system for judging the contestants and to tone down the ridicule, I'll find something more productive to do than watch three egomaniacs impose their idea of good music on the wannabees and the public in general.

Contests that allow "phone-ins" from the general public really annoy me. It creates significant amounts of totally shameless self-promotion and lines the pockets of the big networks and phone companies. RIP!

Dave Rice

It Starts of with the brainless and the dillusional..them noves on to the "sob stories"..then they look for a love/hate candidate..for the public to take pity on..(for voting purposes)then the cream rises to the top...and the usual frantic cries of "i have wanted this all my life please vote for me".....in the meantime Cowell& his Cohorts are laughing all the way to the "Army Tank"...same old script..then the tears,as the winner is announced...then a few weeks later,the winner in the most part is forgotten about....right boys! time to wheel in the weirdo's....lets do it all over again!!....let us milk this cash cow for as long as we can....

Be good if the record label behind this would find the new artists like they used to, out where the bands and singers are working their tails off year after year to hone their skills, then taking them in on this show, based on their track records of pulling in crowds and having them come back,,,,(buzz creators), especially if original, and even groundbreaking.

Two recent winners got dropped by the label. They had TV fans, but I guess not showing up and buying CD's fans. The show could be trying to find those that are doing that now. (BUT, that might be too much work). So they set up shop to have mostly cut ups on, then to the singers. But, they are still copy cat singers...not allowed to be themselves with their own music,,,or music they want to select for themselves and present it in their way, their own band or not,,,,like previous successful and "unique" talents as in Elvis, Sinatra, Streisand, and many others who worked their way up in the genres they were born to sing.

Bob's "glorified Karaoke contest" is a good title, once it gets passed the showing of unknowing, (in a brain malfunction way), fools, and other jokesters.

But this is part of the music business today I guess; The Youtube for the Bluetube.

the beans were spilled about Paul, i wasn't going to... LOL but REALLY, what was he thinking!?!? LOL his piano playing talent whales anything outta the water. and wouldn't that be something if his royalty rights weren't waived? maybe i'll write him and ask. i am SURE this one is going to be a youtube classic idol clip for a while.

unfortunately i can't watch the 2nd 1/2 tonight but my lovely neice Savannah is going to record it tonight for me. yay!

just want to add a disclaimer about american idol and how they represented Philadelphia as a whole: AI does not represent the talent in Philly AT ALL. there are amazing professional, indie and serious artists here.. i know it is just a "singing competition" - yeah, whatever - BUT don't let the madness and goofballs fool ya.

Watched it.Aside from the regular line-up of strange ones,there were a few standouts.
Felt sorry for the tour guide kid with the speech impediment,that was talked into auditioning by his co-workers.That was a cruel joke.Why do they convince these people they have talent? just to see them laughed at on national TV? cruel,very cruel.Way too much on the human interest story side this year,for the sympathy votes too.
It's a vocal competition people! Spare the drama...more auditions please.
This show has gone downhill IMO.

yep, it's on youtube.. Paul Marturano. i spelled his last name wrong the first time. omg looking at it again is painful! why do i love to hate things such as this..? someone please write me a song titled "Why Do I Love To Hate Things?" hahaha

Philly Auditions
here's a little on the good singers they featured

Joey Catalano
(guy who lost 204 lbs)
sang "Sunday Morning" sweet voice
nice voice, quite excellent, definitely yes

Melanie Nyema
back up singer for Taylor Hicks
pretty girl

Geneau Joyner
rich warm voice

Jose Candelaria
hispanic

Jonathan Baines
very good voice

Angela Martin
wedding singer
daughter jessica Retts syndrome
very cute, from chicago
Deweddingnize

Kristy Lee Cook 23
very pretty girl charismatic
from Selma oregon
I remember reading about her
http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/233653
http://www.myspace.com/kristyleecook
http://youtube.com/watch?v=p8hxo--7ehU

Beth Stalker 28
grand blanc MI
bewitched bothered and bewildered
simon said no
randy yes
paula yes
http://www.myspace.com/bethstalkermusic
check out her song "I Can't Imagine" lovely

Chris Watson 20
handsome slim
Dover DE
Follow Me by Uncle Cracker
3 yesses


Brooke White
blonde great smile pretty girl
from mesa az now lives in van nuys CA
never seen a rated R movie
simon wants to bring her to the dark side
sweet voice
http://www.myspace.com/brookewhite

Hi Brian sorry to disagree but I have watched both the USA and UK shows and they all suck. Most singers including the eventual winners can barely hold a tune. I can take you to many karaoke bars and open mics where even the average singers have oodles more talent than anything I have ever seen on these shows. Whilst the finalists might be slightly better singers than the average UK or USA tone deaf citizen top 1% or even 10% they aint. Not by a long shot. Mediocrity has become so commonplace that we now accept it as actual talent. I am disappointed as I thought you had much better judgement.

Brooke White won me over on this episode..

Here is a little song I wrote.


American Idol
well nothing could be sicker
we watch folk not right in the head
and let out a little snicker

American Idol
wow it really sucks
we watch cause we are programmed to
and Simon counts the bucks

American Idol
when will they ever quit
more talent in a karaoke bar
it's such a piece of s...t

Critiques please...do not be too hard it just took me a couple of minutes.

I think AI is a good thing for singers and artists
It pulls people from the depths of obscurity out into the spotlight
it's proven itself to be the best launching pad for new artists ever
but sometimes even AI isn't enough to lead an artist to stardom,
ie Taylor Hicks or Ruben
Now artists don't have to win to get a deal

I found a few more myspace sites and edited my post of good singers they featured from philly

ande

LOL!

Jim, if you could sing that somewhat off-key, with a karaoke machine slightly out of sync, I think it could be a hit.

Joe

Well I don't think I have the qualifications to judge any of them but anyone who thinks Fantasia, Clay Akin, or Carrie Underwood can't sing has no ears.

I'd like to hear anyone here sing Solitaire and nail it.

Bill I am up for an argument I heard Clay Akin crucify my favourite song of all time "At This Moment" wow he sucked.
Do not know much about Fantasia except that it involved hippos doing ballet. Carrie Underwood another nasally bimbo nothing special.
Re Solitaire. If you are referring to the Neil Sedaka song. I like to think I can nail it as well as most.

I didn't watch the show but based on the youtube clip I'm assuming Paul's crazy antics got him on national TV for the 2-1/2 minutes. And of course there are six different postings of it on YouTube that I found on a quick search with a few thousand more viewings there already. If that was his goal he succeeded.

Jim.. ROFL! i guess that's in part what we're gather here for - the creativity!

Big Jim, I like you!!! You are one cool guy! I love how you just say what you feel and throw it out there!! You make me laugh in a good way! I like how you keep it real!!

Tammy

www.tammyedwards.com
www.myspace.com/tammyedwards2

Jim,

Being the expert that you are in judging talent, how come you don't sign some of these amazing talents you describe to a deal and make a lot of money off their talent? The answer is that if you shined the bright light of scrutiny on ANY singer that this show does, they almost never come out unscathed. Chris Daughtry, a legitimate star found on the show, had several really awful nights. But he holds his own with any rock singer out there today.

Every major star they've had sing on the show has sounded worse than the singers on the show every season. And they've had some legit talents perform. We're all so used to hearing recorded perfect voices that I question how many of you detractors really listen in an unbiased no chip on your shoulder way to those drunk karaoke singers you hoist up as better. They have plenty of flaws and hell, if they're so talented, why are they singing karaoke? Why not become an artist locally and do something with their lives? It's easier to blame "the man" for not making it. Having commerical success takes making a lot of tough decisions and doing a lot of things that most people simply don't want to, or can't do. That's fine. But don't blame those folks who DO make those decisions and DO the things needed to succeed. You can't have it both ways. Talent is only one tiny part of having success. Massive amounts of work are also required. And for those who choose a path like American Idol, they have to put up with a massive amount of venom from those not willing and able to even do what they've done to get there. If the AI contestants are such untalented hacks, what does that say about the laziness of those more talented who can't be bothered to try? It certainly DOES NOT make them better. Not by a large stretch.

It's always easy to cast stones from the safety of the shadows. Just as you're now casting stones at my judgement. How about you go out, start a music org, and spend 10 years helping artists and writers with no strings attached... and then come back to me and we'll see if your perspective is the same. Or do you prefer to do no work at all and just take pot shots?

Brian

I'm the one guy standing who has never seen an episode of American Idol.

But in listening to country music lately, I remember hearing Carrie Underwood sing "Jesus, Take the Wheel" and she blew my socks off.

Very uncomfortable thing to happen in Minnesota.

I already know who is going to win it all this year. The gal from Selma, Oregon. She raises horses; kick boxes; is pretty; unspoiled; smart and most importantly, she can really sing- the best of last nights voices.

By the way Brian, when Chris Daughtry played Dallas a few weeks ago, the Fort Worth Star Telegram hated his show. I wasn't there so no comment.

I just tell it like it is or as I see it sorry you disagree.
But to turn your argument on its head. How come so many bad singers get to perform on A I as top pros? I have stated that mediocrity has become the accepted norm and you prove my point by your argument. I am not saying that karaoke singers and open mic acts are great I am saying that A I acts and industry standards are poor in comparison.
If it was easy to break down the barriers and get recording contracts based on talent alone then why are so many folk here moaning that they cant get a break or even get heard?
Unfortunately luck, a pretty face and a friend or relative in the business wins over talent any day.
A. I. is nothing but exploitation and the public fall for it everytime. Even you.

I saw REO Speedwagon in their heyday and Kevin Cronin was so bad that people in the audience were booing at his voice. It was the worst professional singer performance I have ever seen still to date. I've seen a large number of famous artists who are beyond reproach over their careers still have off nights. These are seasoned pro's and they can still tank. Put them on the AI stage and most of the time they crumble faster than any of the kids do. Most big stars won't even perform on there because they know they can't hold up (and some have said as much in the press). Pavarotti, one of the worlds greatest voices, had off nights. He skipped the Grammy's one year because his voice wasn't up to par. These kids CAN'T skip a show and have to sing even when their voice is blown out.

Give me the names of these better than world class amateur voices that are a dime a dozen out there and better than the kids on this show. Let's check them out.
---------------------
To Jim,

Are you suggesting there is someone posting here that is a better singer than the AI finalists? Who?

And it's not that standards are "down" at all. Who is better out there? Sure, there may be a handful of singers at the pro level in the past who could ALWAYS be on and ALWAYS be perfect. I don't think anyone has ever claimed the AI contestants are the greatest all time singers. But for singers under 29 that are amateurs, where's the BETTER talent that is being passed up? Who are they? If you make a broad statement, show us the examples. And there's a big difference between "telling it like it is" and "telling it like you think." You seem to have the two confused.
-----------------

To Everyone:

Each season, it seems that people are baffled by the really bad singers who have no clue that they are really bad. It's a form of self delusion, mostly caused by lack of perspective and experience. I see this a lot in both artists and writers. Everyone has it at first about our own talent, even you and me. When you first start writing songs and singing, you think "heck.. this is easy.. I can be a star.. or I can write a hit.. heck I already have written MANY hits..." Though most professionals get past that and learn the truth and reality on how things work and what it really takes, sadly, this state of delusion is where many people simply park themselves the rest of their life. They're convinced they (or those around them) are already good enough and it's the "man" (which is a euphemism for that mysterious string puller that doesn't really even exist) that is keeping them down. Forget the fact that they haven't worked hard to get anywhere.. it's still the "man" who is keeping them down.

I find it sometimes humorous but mostly sad that so many people can identify the deluded people on AI as being that way, but don't realize they themselves are suffering from exactly the same problem if they are blaming someone else for their own lack of success or the success of others. It's the same delusion that makes people say these finalists have no talent and that there's plenty of better talent just floating around out there being ignored by the "man." It's EXACTLY the same level of delusion. You know how amazed you are when you see the bad singers on AI and you can't understand how they could be so clueless? That's how I feel when I see the community at large making stupid claims that these finalists have NO talent and that there's some hack down at the local bar that is better. It's a delusion. Plain and simple. And it's just as damaging as the delusions facing those who can't sing in the early auditions.

Look, there ARE great singers and great talent out there who don't have any interest in trying out for AI. That's fine. But that type of talent is NOT common. It's not easy to find. And it's not usually hanging out at the local bar singing Karaoke. And the talent that does rise to the very top of AI can sing. They haven't had a winner yet that wouldn't blow away all those uber talents at your local bar. You can delude yourself otherwise, but then you'll look as clueless as those sad bad singers who simply won't take the truth, no matter how obvious, from the judges. Instead they rant and rave looking even worse. Just like those who rant and rave look to those who have spent a lot of time working their butt off to learn about the industry.

Add to that the fact that his show is an AMATEUR singing contest. The entire idea is to take amateurs and find one that is good enough to get a record deal. Did anyone forget that obvious fact? These aren't supposed to be polished seasoned pros. The amazing thing is that so many of them are as GOOD as polished seasoned pros. Sure, some wilt under the pressure, but a shocking number of them DON'T. That's pretty impressive.

And, it's an ENTERTAINMENT show. People get so pissed off as if the show is somehow taking away an opportunity from them personally. It's not. It's simply a fun show where some great singers are discovered and developed and at least one of them gets to pursue their dream another day. The pleasant side effect is that many of these kids have gotten a bigger career boost than any run of the mill record deal could ever give them. How is that a bad thing? Would I prefer that they spent less time on the deluded and showed more of the talent? Sure. But if I want to, I can do what it takes to get my OWN show and then I can do it exactly the way I want. In the meantime, I can either choose to watch or not watch this show. I shouldn't attack others or question their judgement because they choose to enjoy it. Why do detractors have to rant and rave every where, looking as deluded as the most deluded on the show, when all they have to do is watch a different TV show to pass the time. For those of us who find it entertaining, let us discuss it and enjoy the experience without having to defend it and ourselves from attack after attack.

Don't you have something more positive to do with your life?

Brian

They were nice to that girl too, said she could be in a band and she still went off. So, something was off there. I'm not sure why, but we watch it too. (but tape it and fast forward thru the worst of it!). It's a show. (note the word, "show").

I don't watch any of the audition shows -- I just don't care to see either the sad ones who don't know any better or the few who realize their only chance to be on TV is to be really bad or really outrageous.

However, when it gets to the top 20 or so, the talent is pretty good, the band's live, and these folks have to learn a new song (or 2) each week working with stars that might leave us weak at the knees. I don't how they keep up. Even last year's "joke" (who was that kid with the crazy hair?), was actually decent -- WHEN HE PICKED the right songs (yea, he did butcher that Bonnie Raitt song).

I think all of the final 8 or so have to be mentally pretty tough.

Kevin

Until I finish watching tonights Idol to add my 2 cents worth on the new adds for LA I will say the little cutey that is from Oregon with the horses will at least be in the top 10. She is new looking and a breath of fresh air. She has the whole package just like Carrie Underwood. I agree with Samuel. She could win the whole thing. But I still need to take a look at the rest of the finalists. I picked Carrie Underwood as the winner from the first audition. You can just tell when someone has it all. That's what it takes to win this thing.

Tammy

www.tammyewards.com
www.myspace.com/tammyedwards2

Ok lets dive a little deeper into how this circus works..from the horses mouth..One of my artistes,Eddie Lee who has recorded a few of my songs went along to the audition in Glasgow..in June 2007 for the Scottish Leg of the auditions..exactly the same format as AI..only over here it is called "The X Factor"..the judges were the usual suspects...Simon Cowell.Sharon Osbourne.Louis Walsh.and the new judge Danni Minogue..incidentally he sang one of my songs"Your Day Will Come"..it is on the mp3 board by the way...i posted it up last year sometime,cannot remember exactly when..but it is there...first off, he went in front of a couple of producers of the show..he sang the song accapello...not a problem for Eddie..strong singer plenty of experience and confidence..WOW! said the screening producers...Eddie would you mind if we filmed an interview with you?..no problem...Eddie can you tell us your life story...and would you like to dedicate this song to any part of your life,or someone special,we like to add a wee bit to each contestant, who gets thru the first stage,before you go in front of the judges...The only thing Eddie could think of was his sister who succumbed to breast cancer at 33 years of age..wasn't really relevant to the song but they seen it as relevant to his progression on the show...Eddie we would like you to come back to-morrow..make sure you are wearing the same clothes as today,to fit in with the previous days filming...by the way, when Eddie was getting filmed,the wee guy who eventually won the x factor,Leon Jackson was phoning his mother and they were filming it..they made him phone her 3 times and they told him to cry over the phone...He went in before Eddie,they were chatting...he told Eddie he was just taking a chance, he had only been singing for a year or so in Karaoke contests....Eddie called me that night told me a wee guy from Whitburn near Edinburgh had been picked for the next round..but he didn't fancy his chances..i would say Eddie has got shoes older than that wee guy...anyway back to the story...Eddie goes in, in front of Cowell and the others...sang "Your Day Will Come"
last verse and chorus,and was filmed in front of Cowell&Co....ok panel Yes or No.....Yes No Yes (Cowell last)" Eddie i have the deciding vote in a tie,but we have our quota of over 25's...enjoyed your performance Eddie,but i have to say NO..thanks and good luck!"..Producer tells Eddie he personally thought we was a certainty for the next round..but Simon runs the show...Eddie took it well..after all he is a pro..little bruised but he came back ok..you see it all falls into a certain format at the end of the day...and it has to be planned accordingly....i would agree with the comments about" pressure" on the contestants as they progress thru the final stages.. but like any business or sport,hunger and a desire to succeed raises the Adrenalin factor...and of course they are young wide eyed and eager to please..if they can't handle it, they it be cruelly exposed...As for the delusional thing,well the "MAN" has a lot to answer for,i would,nt bracket everyone who has an opinion as delusional,what i DO know for certain,and the same rules certainly apply over the pond....it is a sort of blanket statement" i have heard better singers blah blah blah"...by far the biggest pool of musical talent,serious musicians & singers that i have spoken to,wouldn't touch these talent shows with a barge pole...look they are not looking for TALENT per say..it is entertainment wrapped up in the talent folder..it is a fast track to a fast buck for the lucky few...then on to the music compost heap in the most part..but in between times it lightens the daily grind of life for a lot of people...it is entertainment..BUT,, do not be disillusional..and start thinking this is the best out there in either side of the pond..it aint ,,by a country mile....but what is on show, is the best at that given time,by the contestants who entered the contest...so taking it down to the basics it is a sort of local village hall talent show,televised nationwide,with a little telephone facility thrown in for convenience...now where is that remote control..i want to use the red button...
Terry..

That's the cool thing about this show. Even with all it's faults (and it has plenty) in the end, we get to see some new talent that is worthy of the look. Sadly, with all the hours of TV on cable and sats and networks there's very few places to find new music talent that isn't just the product of corporate label marketing wings. That's not to say that there's not talent on the majors, but they can only market so many artists per year and they can't afford (and reasonably so for those who really understand the business implications of working for a multinational publicly traded company) to make mistakes on long shots or out of the box artists. (It happens now and then but more often when it happens, you never hear about it because all those involved are fired). People have to risk their jobs to put someone forward... and who is more important? Your kids and spouse or some unknown artist's dream? It's no contest.

Wouldn't it be cool if one of the music channels.. you know like VHI or MTV, actually spent an hour a week (in their 24/7 broadcast days) showing off new artists of all genres around the world. We do these JPF shows in cities around North America (and have recently dipped our toes into Europe in hopes of doing the same there) and I'd say that we almost always find 1 artist at a given show that is worth showing the public. They aren't usually the quality of the top AI finalists, but I think we often find artists that folks would like and find interesting and would possibly like having on their iPods. They aren't always model looking and they aren't always under 29.. but I think folks would still enjoy seeing them. But the truth is that it wouldn't hit the magic 14-19 year old demographic they shoot for on MTV and thus, even in the dead of night when no one that age is watching anyway, they simply don't want to show something like that. And that is their right on cable TV. The networks, however, are supposed to serve the public good and interest as part of their right to use the bandwidth.. perhaps we can find some interest there. I do know that PBS and public access often shows more music, but no one watches. In many cases those shows are such low quality (basically VHS recordings last I saw) that it's just not good enough for people to watch (or the talent isn't interesting enough). I think the way we do shows with each artist/band doing 1 or 2 songs max, is the way to keep people interested. Imagine if we showed the most interesting and talented folks we found (while skipping the untalented attention seekers) in a half hour format each doing their very best song? Perhaps our format would work. The question is, who has the time and connections to do all the work to make it happen. Until it does, we at least have AI and Nashville Star and Rockstar to entertain us.

By the way, I can't believe YouTube doesn't already have it's own TV series showing the "best of." It's only a matter of time.

Brian

Dallas Auditions

Jessica Brown
pretty blonde mom with 2 girls
former meth addict
lovely voice
http://www.news-journal.com/hp/content/news/stories/2008/01/16/01162008_American_Idol.html


Alaina Whitaker
pretty blond
3 yesses

pia "zpia" easley
black girl with blonde mohawk
R&B

Brandon Green
Louisiana
had the gross fin

kayla hatfield
survived a tbone accident
very positive and happy
she was questionable
paula said no

kady malloy
houston tx
beautiful girl
does voice
simon said best so far
http://www.kaltura.com/index.php/browse?kshow_id=22788


kyle ensley
somebody to love
randy said no
glee clubbish

colton swan
sang boondocks

drew poppelreiter
my job is farmin
saltillo, mississippi
sang check yes or no
simon no

nina shaw
burleson tx
pretty black girl
simon no

Terry,

Wasn't the actual identical show in the UK called Pop Idol? The X Factor is a different show format. And it's also open to older contestants. Here we have "America's Got Talent" which is the worst produced talent show in US history I bet (certainly the worst of the last generation). It's also the most manipulated. I have much worse stories than you posted about how these shows work behind the scenes. I know finalists personally from Rockstar, Nashville Star and America's Got Talent and communicated with them before during and after their appearances. I don't have direct connections to finalists on AI, but I bet the process is very similar, though from what I've heard, it's not as manipulated as some others.

There's no doubt they "cast" the show. They are open about that at the first audition. I wrote a recap of "Auditioning" and being accepted to be on the prime time version of The Weakest Link. The first thing they told us was that they were casting for characters and to make for an entertaining show and that merely being the smartest would not get you on. I worked the system and got to the final (they started with thousands of people.. I made the final 8 which, we were told, would get us on the show). 911 happened the next week and the halted production and I (nor any of the other 7 finalists) never got a chance to be on it. But that experience further informed understanding of how these shows work.

I think one of the things that people confuse when discussing stuff like this is what the differences are between a great singer and a great entertainer. I know a few dead fish I'd never put on a national TV show who are really good singers. I know some slightly less great singers who I'd always go see perform live long before the dead fish. It was perfectly illustrated by last's year's two best contestants. One was extremely charismatic with a really good voice..the other was a shrinking violet who was perhaps the best singer they have ever had on the show. The one with charisma won. And if it were me, I'd have signed her as well. She was 17 and was already a presence that could light up a room and sing really well. The other was a seasoned 29 year old technically perfect pro who clearly wasn't going to develop the rest of her persona to be a great entertainer on the level of the first.

If you're casting a TV show with the highest ratings on TV (by a large margin) you have to find folks that will keep the thing going. They don't always succeed (and this year their ratings are down for the first show, though it's still WAY ahead of any other show on TV) but they have to try. If it was your kids depending on your salary to live, you'd do whatever you could to keep your job. They do the same. And who can blame them.

Unless you have a chip on your shoulder, you have to find at least one of the finalists to your liking. They can all sing well.. some great.. some amazingly well. They're mostly charismatic and likable (or cast as the mini-villain.. remember.. casting casting casting..) and they often try to touch on some diversity.

Now once the public starts voting, it's clear they seem, as a group, to like R&B type pop singers the best. Carrie Underwood was the exception and we've seen why with her skyrocketing (and still growing) career. If not for this show, neither Carrie nor season one winner Kelly Clarkson would have gotten anywhere. Carrie was a nobody in Oklahoma and Kelly Clarkson had given up. I still really like Kelly. I like that after her contract was up, she immediately started doing her own thing and got BETTER. Her pop edged rock songs were a nice change from the dominate Gangsta Rap in full control when she helped turn the tide a bit. AI has probably done more to shift the music scene away from hate Rap than anything else. That's not a bad thing artistically in my mind. I actually like Rap, but it had gotten too caught up in the culture of violence and drugs and death and anti-women attitude for it's own good. And it wasn't very creative. Gangsta rap is no longer the hippest thing going. AI had a part in that. Last year a Rap/Voice Effect DJ made the final two. But his message wasn't full of hate and talented and interesting. That's a huge shift from 7 years ago. And that's not a bad thing.

In the end, it's hardly a bad thing. Anything on TV that features music is better than nothing at all. And when a music oriented show is #1 in the ratings, it lifts everyone else's boat as well. Kids getting interested in music because of watching AI are more likely to keep their interest going forward. Would you rather they were watching another Law and Order show about crime and death? AI is not the enemy.

Brian

they are casting a show
it's important to have talent
but they are also looking for and featuring human interest stories

What the heck was that angel man singing at the end??!!! Good Lord have mercy!!! He certainly got his moment in the spotlight! ha!

Tammy

www.tammyedwards.com
www.myspace.com/tammyedwards2

I don't know but I have a feeling we haven't heard the last of it! lol

Seems like less guys got thru, or at least what they've shown to us....time will tell. Oh wait, the farmer guy..he'll be interesting to watch...so innocent.

Kristi

I feel bad the guy with the key necklace didn't get through. He had a decent voice, and I liked that he is saving himself for the right woman. Wow! What a great guy! Someone raised him right and then Simon and Randy make fun of him for that. Hmmmm...
Maybe they did him a favor so he doesn't get ruined in Hollywood.

Tammy

www.tammyedwards.com
www.myspace.com/tammyedwards2

Yeah, but he said he'll be back next year....he did have a good voice, I hope he doesn't get discouraged. The girl with orange hair that Simon liked was different...be interesting to see her range.

Kristi

I just wanted to say something about why some AI winners make it and some don't. Kelly Clarkson who is from my hometown (Burleson, Texas) was the first and she rode that horse a long way but except for "Because of you", I don't think she had any great songs. Clay and Ruben got dropped by their labels recently even though they both have great voices; but do you remember any of their songs? Then you have Carrie Underwood, almost as good a singer as Kelly but she had better material. (Before he cheats, Jesus take the wheel etc.) I think it is still about the song not the singer. And when I say "the song" I mean the lyrics, melody, vocals, arrangement and the production because for instance, until Kelly Clarkson teamed up with Reba, "Because of you" was not fully realized.

Probably the most polished of all the contestants was Kathryn Mcphee (she came in second I think) She is knockdown gorgeous-has perfect pitch- is composed, has amazing range-mature phrasing-she had no weaknesses. She was a little too perfect I guess. She popped up in the Rose parade recently and sings at various events but she never quite escaped Earth's gravity. Puzzling.

Samuel,

Kathryn McPhee left me totally cold. She could sing and she was nice looking, but I never felt any passion or charisma from her at all. It always felt like she was just on robot mode.

Most label artists sell far less records and stick around far less long than the AI artists. The labels fail 90+% of the time. Then again, how many non label artists make it big? A few.. but as a percentage, the number has got to be a tiny fraction of 1%.

It's a tough business. It's hard to say anyone with an album that debuts at #2 is a failure.. if that is the case, nearly everyone else who has ever made music is a bigger failure.

Brian

Correct Brian...The original format here in the UK was POP IDOL..
it was a Simon Fuller invention..Simon Cowell then moved in and along with Fuller,took the same format to the USA,and called it American Idol..but Cowell then brought out his own version here in the UK,and named it "The x Factor" without Fuller on board..and has 4 categories of contestants..14/16..17/24..25/over
and Groups...i dare say when the ratings start to drop he will broaden the horizon which he has done here..as i recall Cowell settled out of court with Fuller,for nicking his ideas..but as far as i know he still has a cut of the American Deal...tho in saying that Fuller does not keep in the best of health..so Mr Cowell runs the show...which is his wont anyway....Terry..