American Idol

Anybody can do a version of beat boxing...you just have to make noises right ON the microphone.

Now doing it in multi-tones and with a real beat....that is a special skill that Blake has!

Abrahammy, I'm currently wiping a tear from my eye. That was beeeyooteeful. I can tell it took energy and thought and I agree with every single bit of it.

I have said often about this show that who people vote for on a TV show may not translate to album sales (see: Studdard, Ruben).

Thanks for the laughs!

Green Eyez wrote:

I have said often about this show that who people vote for on a TV show may not translate to album sales (see: Studdard, Ruben).

So true. Conversely, those who buy the albums don't necessarily vote (see: Daughtry, Chris).

I saw his show and while standing in the line to enter the club, I talked with a number of people who paid premium prices to brokers for their tickets. They watched AI but weren't into voting. Sitting and redialing for a few minutes, much less two solid hours, was not their thing. However, they bought his CD and loved his music. There were a lot of guys there and they didn't look like they were dragged to the show if they were with a female. I'll bet this is not unusual for part of his fan base.

Abrahammy, I enjoy very much that you do things like that. This particular one I didn't understand some of, but enjoyed it anyway.

I think I am too far out of the loop of interest in AI to get all the nuances.

As far as I am concerned, it is a TV talent show, like many others before it. I am so ancient I even remember Arthur Godfrey, vaguely. I think Ann Margaret got her start on that.

I dunno about the year Clay lost, but all the other years it seemed to me that the person who won probably actually got the most votes.

It makes sense to me that Chris Daughtry sells records. He has a distinctive rock voice. That in itself makes him very UN-AI.

Janice wrote:

Green Eyez wrote:

I have said often about this show that who people vote for on a TV show may not translate to album sales (see: Studdard, Ruben).

So true. Conversely, those who buy the albums don't necessarily vote (see: Daughtry, Chris).

I saw his show and while standing in the line to enter the club, I talked with a number of people who paid premium prices to brokers for their tickets. They watched AI but weren't into voting. Sitting and redialing for a few minutes, much less two solid hours, was not their thing. However, they bought his CD and loved his music. There were a lot of guys there and they didn't look like they were dragged to the show if they were with a female. I'll bet this is not unusual for part of his fan base.

This is so true. I am a HUGE Daughtry fan and loved him on the show but there were as many guys as girls at his show and they were all talking about they how they didn't vote. Daughtry is definitley the record sales winner of season 5 and personally, I am glad they let him put out an album along with the others. I LOVED last season. This season...not so much.

Does ANYONE ELSE find it just a tad suspicious that since they've done it boy-girl that at the end there's always a boy and a girl. Anyone?

I mean, I don't know why I was so shocked when Daughtry went home. Taylor, Katherine and Chris are left...two boys and a girl...now who should go home...let's think about this...

Yes, I agree it's the more rabid AI fans who vote and not necessarily the people who like to buy the CD's. Taylor is doing the worst of any AI winner. That's because, even though he had a pretty good voice, it was his personality that made him the winner. Once he stopped being on TV every week, people totally forgot who the hell he was!

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Once he stopped being on TV every week, people totally forgot who the hell he was!

Just like some other nameless person who made it to 6th place that we all had such high hopes for....
I'm wondering if the same will happen to McPhee too. She sure is pretty and all, but just can't see people rushing out in droves to buy her record.
And her personality...not that great so I don't anticipate her getting lots of TV or movie offers if her record does'nt do well. Other than Playboy, of course!

Season two was boy/boy (Ruben/Clay) Season 3 was girl/girl (Fanty/Diana) with the Clay/Ruben finale being the most suspenseful. I think the other seasons were pretty much blow outs from everything I read. So 3 out of 5 have been boy/girl.

I think you hit the nail on the head with Taylor. He was so enjoyable and people like the person and watching him more than listening to his CD. I voted for him A LOT and I do not have his CD. I did get it for my mom though and she loves it. She is very sad he is not selling well.

I don't know about McPhee. Her CD is not selling well, but she is drop dead gorgeous and I think that is going to open some doors for her if she can act at all.

Taylor Hicks made a GREAT CD before AI that I bought and enjoy immensely. The ... thing... he made with Clive Davis sounds like "Songs that Clive shoved in the leftovers bin when he decided to force Clay to make a covers album instead of one with new material." It does not match him musically at ALL and I was very disappointed.

Like I said, I think Clive ruins careers. I also think they deliberately soft-pedaled label support for Taylor in favor of Chris. These people really don't like it when America does not do as they are told.

Yes he did make a great CD. I have that one. Clive certainly can ruin careers and Taylor sure did get soft support. No single released before the CD dropped and no video. I heard finally LONG after the single came out, there was some cheesy video that makes Clay's Without You video look good

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Season two was boy/boy (Ruben/Clay) Season 3 was girl/girl (Fanty/Diana) with the Clay/Ruben finale being the most suspenseful. I think the other seasons were pretty much blow outs from everything I read. So 3 out of 5 have been boy/girl.

That was before they split up the boys and the girls. You know, purposely making it even. Judging them separately, etc.

Look, I think if people like the singer enough, they'll buy anything they put out. I think if Clay put an album where he just went lalalalalalalala for every song, it would have sold just as many copies. His fans were rabid and he was not forgotten. Even though they tried to bury him, his fanbase was too big and too loyal. They couldn't do it and knew they had to ride the Clay tide.

He also took control of his career immediately (much as Chris did) and knew what to do to market himself. I think these two have a lot in common in terms of using AI to the fullest extent and then distancing themselves as far away from it as they could. Kelly followed Clay's lead and that's why she's on top as well.

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ook, I think if people like the singer enough, they'll buy anything they put out. I think if Clay put an album where he just went lalalalalalalala for every song, it would have sold just as many copies. His fans were rabid and he was not forgotten.

However, there was also an overwhelming sense, reasonable or not, among his fans that he had been unfairly robbed of a title that was clearly his by rights. Clay was a mainstream success, indeed, but I think as many as 100,000 albums may also have been bought in torrential anger. I've never seen any fanbase as angry as the Claymates were when Ruben won. The Soul Patrol may have been more complacent.

I have to agree that in the past the anger incentive to buy the robbed contestant's record has helped sell them. It has'nt made their careers though. Talent and a quality product has helped build upon what getting robbed of the "Idol" crown started.

Do you all think Taylor's record sales would have gone through the roof if Kat had won?

Luca wrote:

I have to agree that in the past the anger incentive to buy the robbed contestant's record has helped sell them. It has'nt made their careers though. Talent and a quality product has helped build upon what getting robbed of the "Idol" crown started.

Do you all think Taylor's record sales would have fared better if Kat had won?

I personally don't think so.

Also, Abrahammy, I think you proved my point for me. I honestly don't think Taylor's fans were ever passionate enough. I think they liked him and his shtick for a TV show, but like I said, outta sight, outta mind. He didn't have all the coverage Clay did. Clay was a force to be reckoned with right outta the gate. Some album sales were out of spite, but there have been many contestants who many people were outraged over and felt were "robbed" and it didn't come close to a quarter of his album sales. I never got the feeling Taylor wanted it as bad.

How did you all feel about Katherine McPhee?

I just really did not like her very much, but I'm not sure why. Was it jealousy because she was so young and good-looking? Or was it that she seemed to uncover her boobs more and more each show and it didn't feel age-appropriate? Or was it because she seemed to act as if she were an entitled princess? I really didn't care for Taylor that much either, but I definitely wanted him to win over her. (I was an Elliott woman.)

If anyone is interested in hearing Bucky's whole CD, you can listen to it here:

http://www.clearchannelmusic.com/cc-common/mfeatures/buckycovingtonSP/

I just could not warm up to Kat. I don't know why for sure. Something about her always bugged me. I really wanted a Taylor/Elliott finale over a Taylor/Kat finale. I would have liked Ace to hang in there to the end just so I could look at the pretty longer!

ETA: Oh, Listen to Bucky's song "Ain't No Thing"! Awesome song!! So is Empty Handed!! Bible and Belt is really good too! Oh no. I may end up buying this CD after all

Really good interview with Michael Orland here!

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20007164_20008533_20034173,00.html?cid=recirc-peopleRecirc

Long article about this season's AI - a lot about Sanjaya:

"There are plenty of reasons to defend Sanjaya
Controversial 'Idol' contestant just isn't that bad"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18014242/

I had the honor of seeing Ms. Kat in person. Of course, my eyes were pretty well glued to Chris, so...

I think she suffered from "pretty voice, no style". I've talked to my friend who's a singer. I'd rather a person have an interesting voice than one that's just straight-up pretty.

One of the guest mentors (David Foster?) I think even warned her about the fact that her voice was pretty, and she's concentrating so hard on that, she forgets to tell a story with the song. You've gotta connect with your song or else you're just another pretty voice.

She was innocuous and pretty with a pretty voice, so she got high votes, but it doesn't translate into a career.

firecracker wrote:

I would have liked Ace to hang in there to the end just so I could look at the pretty longer!

ETA: Oh, Listen to Bucky's song "Ain't No Thing"! Awesome song!! So is Empty Handed!! Bible and Belt is really good too! Oh no. I may end up buying this CD after all

Did you go to the AI5 concert? From my seat in the 4th row, I thought Ace looked *very* good and his performance was so much better than when he was on the show.

Country music is not my genre of choice, but I like what I've heard of Bucky's CD and am going to buy it. I think he and his team found some really good songs for his voice and style.

I'm ashamed to say I went to the concert and screamed like a schoolgirl for Ace. That boy's got some presence!

No Janice, I didn't go to the AI5 concert. By the time I decided I wanted to go, the only seats left were very far away and up high. They came to the United Center, which is huge and holds about 15,000, and I have been far back at concerts there and it's just not fun. If I can't see them I'm not spending the money. I saw Clay and Kelly there and we had great seats and that was fun! I can only imagine how gorgeous Ace was in person though. He has sung better ever since he got off AI. I really think his nerves were his downfall. Remember how his hands would shake when he was singing on AI? Shannon said he has two record labels trying to sign him, so lets hope that works out for him.

I am not a huge country music fan either, but Bucky has a few really good songs on his CD. I think he has a great voice for the type of music he sings. I have a feeling he could do really well with this CD. I hope so. He seems like a total sweetie and is so funny.

Well, for me Blake was the best tonight. I really liked his vocal (no he isn't Marc Anthony, one of my all time fave male voices) and his style. He was young and hip and seemed more like what this competition should be about. I am afraid that Melinda and Lakiki are getting to be like watching 45 year olds (nothing at all against 45 year olds!!) just they do not seem llike new, young performers. They just do not entertain me.

Haley was just awful. Next week maybe she will just come out in her undies. How many pair of eyelashes was she wearing?? Why sooo much make-up? It was just all bad. You know, she is very pretty naturally. She looked lovely talking with J-Lo. Who is advising this poor girl?? It's a shame. She deserved better I think.

Phil, I didn't think he was as bad as the judges said. I think they want him gone.

Chris R. , I just don't get all the love he gets from the judges. I guess he was better tonight then other nights. He seems really sweet though.

I think Jordin has had better nights, but I just love the girl.

Sanjaya sings better in Spanish than English and he has been studying the Aiken manual on eyeing the camera. His hair was adorable. I didn't hate his performance tonight, but I will never be a fan. I know he isn't going away this week.

My prediction for bottom: Haley and Phil and ? Just don't know number 3.

Going home? I hope Haley. I have nothing against the girl, she seems lovely, but her performances and style just get worse every week IMHO.

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Next week maybe she will just come out in her undies.

Next week Haley will sit around watching the show from her home in her jammies.

firecracker wrote:

Well, for me Blake was the best tonight. I really liked his vocal (no he isn't Marc Anthony, one of my all time fave male voices) and his style. He was young and hip and seemed more like what this competition should be about. I am afraid that Melinda and Lakiki are getting to be like watching 45 year olds (nothing at all against 45 year olds!!) just they do not seem llike new, young performers. They just do not entertain me.

I totally agree about Blake. I think he's what this competition needed and has the most marketability. We've had the rockers and the crooners and the Diva's, but no kinda hip cool alt-guys. I kinda hope he wins.

I think you're also right about Melinda and Lakiki as well.