Is it me or is Melinda Doolittle already a Star?

[Phlosphr]

Just saw her sing ... my wife and I are looking at each other and Holy Sh*t the girl can blow! We all know it.

Whose taking bets on her getting picked up and going multi-platinum just like Chris Daughtry..if of course she doesn't seal the deal with Idol first. Which she just may do.

Good Going Mel!

[Sampiro]

I'd have bought her My Funny Valentine that night if it'd been available on Itunes. She and Blake are each other's only real competition imho and it's ironic since they couldn't be more different.

[Equipoise]

Is it me or is Melinda Doolittle already a Star?Since I'd never heard of her before I came into this thread, probably not. I'm reminded of a scene in the Bobby Darin movie. He's gotten success in his own little world but wants to be a STAR! His manager tells him he's already a star, and Bobby grabs a passing janitor and asks him if he knows who Bobby Darin is. The guy says no. Bobby was a star when the janitor, who wasn't particularly into music, knew who he was. I suppose Kelly Clarkson is a star because, until a little while ago, I'd never seen a minute of American Idol, but though I dislike her music intensely, I knew who she was.

Of course, now I've heard of Melinda Doolittle, but I still don't think she's a star. Yet.

I'd have bought her My Funny Valentine that night if it'd been available on Itunes. She and Blake are each other's only real competition imho and it's ironic since they couldn't be more different.This got me to go to YouTube to watch her performance, because I love that song. Other than the diva wailing, which I cannot stand no matter who's doing it, it was a decent version. She seems like a really nice person (though someone in the Comments said she was a homophobe) and even if she doesn't win, she'll go far. The cat is out of the bag about her. I have no doubt she will become a star.

I still like Nico's version best though. Nico would never have made it past the hotel ballroom auditions.

[MoodIndigo1]

I would buy Melinda's album, without hesitation. You may well be right to mention Chris Daughtry, but if you're right, we should wish her to be in the top few, but not win.

[Colophon]

Pah. It's easy to be famous when your daddy's (http://img.tesco.com/pi/entertainment/DVD/LF/419549_DV_L_F.jpg) a star.

[Kalhoun]

I'd have bought her My Funny Valentine that night if it'd been available on Itunes.
Me too. Do they make the competition tunes available after the show ends? Not that it matters...she's going to get a contract either way.

[Kalhoun]

I think that she'll be a star and she'll also reach more audiences than any other Idol has thus far. She's far more versatile -- with old standards, blues, vintage Motown, and who knows what else she'll pull out of her bag o' talent. My father was impressed by her performance last night (which, in my opinion, was her weakest) and he's 77 years old and thinks American Idol is complete crap. I think she'll end up turning lots of people on to genres they've never listened to before.

[Colophon]

On a completely shallow level, though, her hunched shoulders bug the absolute shit out of me.

[Wee Bairn]

Probably, and therein lies the fundamental problem with American Idol- winning does not guarantee long term music biz success, and losing does not condemn you to career obscurity. The whole show is about the winner getting a recording contract, but most of the top 10 finishers get one as well. It should be like the lottery- winner gets rich, losers get nothing, ever. One of the rules should be if you lose, you will agree to never sign a recording contract with anyone ever.

[Bear_Nenno]

Probably, and therein lies the fundamental problem with American Idol- winning does not guarantee long term music biz success, and losing does not condemn you to career obscurity. The whole show is about the winner getting a recording contract, but most of the top 10 finishers get one as well. It should be like the lottery- winner gets rich, losers get nothing, ever. One of the rules should be if you lose, you will agree to never sign a recording contract with anyone ever.
Why? How would that improve anything or even add to the entertainment value of the show? You sound bitter.

[vivalostwages]

I've had the same question as in the OP. Just give the gal a contract and let her go home already.

[DMark]

I've had the same question as in the OP. Just give the gal a contract and let her go home already.

Agreed. I would pay to see her in concert, so the way I see it, the sooner she gets bumped, the sooner she can get out and tour and make a few CDs.

And Equipoise, regarding the comment about her being homophobic - let me know if you find a cite for that, as that is a pretty strong accusation to be passing along simply because some yahoo on YouTube wrote it. I Googled and could not find any reference and trust me, if she had ever made a public homophobic comment, I have a feeling there might be some Gay press about the fact. I came up with zilch, so I will assume you read a rant by someone who doesn't know better.

[Quiddity Glomfuster]

Probably, and therein lies the fundamental problem with American Idol- winning does not guarantee long term music biz success, and losing does not condemn you to career obscurity. The whole show is about the winner getting a recording contract, but most of the top 10 finishers get one as well. It should be like the lottery- winner gets rich, losers get nothing, ever. One of the rules should be if you lose, you will agree to never sign a recording contract with anyone ever.
Ludicrous. They got into the top 12 because they were culled from tens of thousands of applicants. That the 'voters' may not deem someone a winner out of twelve doesn't mean they're not great. Jennifer Hudson was a case in point. She should never have been voted off and she will go on to have a distinguished career because she is far more talented than the winner that round. Same with Clay Aiken - he's got an excellent voice, far superior to Reuben's.

Not only that, but everyone who applies (pretty much) is intent on a career in music so you actually think they should drop their life plan if they lose a contest? :rolleyes:
Got news for ya: nobody in his right mind would try out for a contest with an idiotic rule like that.

[vivalostwages]

Agreed. I would pay to see her in concert, so the way I see it, the sooner she gets bumped, the sooner she can get out and tour and make a few CDs.

And Equipoise, regarding the comment about her being homophobic - let me know if you find a cite for that, as that is a pretty strong accusation to be passing along simply because some yahoo on YouTube wrote it. I Googled and could not find any reference and trust me, if she had ever made a public homophobic comment, I have a feeling there might be some Gay press about the fact. I came up with zilch, so I will assume you read a rant by someone who doesn't know better.

Perhaps someone got her confused with Mandisa--or, I should say, with the comments made about Mandisa (last season).

[Kalhoun]

I think in an "AI Stars" contest...say, the top two from each season...Melinda would win. I think she's more polished and has more control than any of the past winners. (I actually forget who all the top two were, but I know I'll remember her whether she wins or not.)

[Hey, It's That Guy!]

Since I'd never heard of her before I came into this thread, probably not. I'm reminded of a scene in the Bobby Darin movie. He's gotten success in his own little world but wants to be a STAR! His manager tells him he's already a star, and Bobby grabs a passing janitor and asks him if he knows who Bobby Darin is. The guy says no. Bobby was a star when the janitor, who wasn't particularly into music, knew who he was. I suppose Kelly Clarkson is a star because, until a little while ago, I'd never seen a minute of American Idol, but though I dislike her music intensely, I knew who she was.

Of course, now I've heard of Melinda Doolittle, but I still don't think she's a star. Yet.
Well, despite the fact that you were thrown off by the fact that there's actually a female singer you haven't heard of, I think what the OP really meant was "star quality," which she apparently has in droves. I'm no American Idol fan, but this girl was even brought onto my musical radar, and she definitely has the star quality that Kelly Clarkson (who I admit is great) also has.

Then again, I doubt she's as huge as Selena, who we all know was a bigger star than Kurt Cobain. ;)

[kezami]

Perhaps someone got her confused with Mandisa--or, I should say, with the comments made about Mandisa (last season).
Is it because they are both backup singers and great friends so therefore guilt by association or maybe it's church mandated. :rolleyes: Anyway, what do her personal views have to do with her talent?

[Wee Bairn]

In other words, it takes all of the excitement out of a contest when the losers all eventually get what the winner gets- fame, recroding contract, etc. Rueben wins! He gets a recording contract! But wait Clay lost, but he gets one too! And so does the third place finisher, and the fourth!

[Liberal]

I think it serves an important self-correction function. It is right that the bizarre result from last year was overturned by the buying public. Same same for the year that Aiken should have won.

[Equipoise]

I apologise for so casually posting an opinon from a YouTube Comments page. The only other thing I remember about the comment is (paraphrasing) that Melinda Doolittle was tight with "Mandisa", and shared her homophobic views. I'd never heard of Mandisa until that comment and this thread, but I've educated myself a bit (somewhat against my will, I really hate this kind of music) and couldn't find anything that indicated that Dolittle was tight with or shared Mandisa's views (or what some perceived her views to be). So anyway, I was wrong and I apologise. I never read American Idol threads, but the question in the Subject Line invited me in. A simple 'no, not yet' would have sufficed.



Well, despite the fact that you were thrown off by the fact that there's actually a female singer you haven't heard of, There are tens of millions of female singers out there I've never heard of. That this one is only known, so far, from being on a TV show that billions of people around the world do not watch indicated to me that she's not yet a star and won't be until she does something other than being on a television talent contest. I'd never heard of Jennifer Hudson until shortly before Dreamgirls came out.



I think what the OP really meant was "star quality," which she apparently has in droves. I'm no American Idol fan, but this girl was even brought onto my musical radar, and she definitely has the star quality that Kelly Clarkson (who I admit is great) also has. If the OP meant "star quality" he should have said "star quality" in the Subject Line and I'd have had a different answer after I checked her out. I said in my original post that I thought she was going to become big, which means my answer to a question of "Does Melinda Doolittle have star quality?" would have been yes.

Then again, I doubt she's as huge as Selena, who we all know was a bigger star than Kurt Cobain. ;) :rolleyes:

[Liberal]

So anyway, I was wrong and I apologise.Kudos for both your admission of error and your apology. Sometimes, the accusation can be as damaging as the conviction.

As with anything else, attitudes about homosexuality range across a broad spectrum. There is a lot in between "I'm gay" and "I hate faggots". One thing I don't like about terms like "homophobia" is that they tend to stamp every nuanced position with the exact same identity. Sometimes, people just aren't comfortable with the whole subject of sexual intimacy, no matter of what persuasion. Or they're involuntarily turned off by the notion of engaging in homosexual sex. I've seen such people called homophobic, which I thought was ridiculous. It is the inablity of some people, in my opinion, to split that out apart from people who actually oppose gay rights that creates some of the obstacles toward their realization. Everyone who doesn't think just like us isn't evil incarnate. And unless Melinda was downright Stormfront in her opposition to gay rights, I'd still buy her CDs.

[Equipoise]

Thank you Liberal. I agree that an accusation can be as damaging as the conviction, and I'm a bit appalled at myself that I fell into that trap.

While I'm here, I apologise for the eye-roll smiley too. I thought it was a bit silly for Big Bad Voodoo Lou to bring up an opinion of mine from an old thread (that Selena was more well-known around the world than Kurt Cobain, but I could never cite it) but I should have just ignored it or said what I meant. It was meant more as a "stop being silly" than a "you %#!#@#$@" comment, which lends credence to those people who say that smileys can be misinterpreted and should never be used in place of words.

[Rilchiam]

Right now, she's a sensation, not a star. The same way Ken Jennings was a sensation, or Richard Hatch, from the first Survivor. She's the star of the show, relatively speaking, although not yet a star outside that arena.

As for her chances of success outside AI? All I know is, I feel like I'm watching "42nd Street," or reading the novel* "Valley of the Dolls," or any of those stories where the unglamorous, shy understudy steps into the lead role at the last moment, goes out a youngster and comes back a star. What will happen? Who knows. We're only one week into the finals.

*Not the movie. In the novel, Neely was not the girl Helen forced out of the show. She replaced that girl, and that was her big break.

[Liberal]

You're a class act, Equipoise. :)

[DMark]

Is it because they are both backup singers and great friends so therefore guilt by association or maybe it's church mandated. :rolleyes: Anyway, what do her personal views have to do with her talent?

Ask Donna Summer...

She had a huge Gay following in the disco era when she was quoted for saying some rather heavy-handed Christian, anti-Gay comments. The uproar was huge and fast. In case you didn't notice, following those comments her career took an instantaneous nose-dive.

She later (far after the fact) denied saying those comments.

However, what celebrity in their right mind would allow such widely publicized accusations to be made and not take out a full page ad in The Advocate or other magazine/newspaper and deny it? Following that story, every attempt by the Gay press to validate, or invalidate, her comments were met with "no comment". That speaks volumes. Would you deny being homophobic?

But thank you Equipoise for clarifying. I only brought it up as it is threads like this that get searched by Google and when someone types in "homophobic Melinda Doolittle" that things pop up. And as a good soldier for fighting ignorance, I am sure you would hate to see your name and thread comment show up unless there was valid reason.

At any rate - she is one hell of a singer, and until otherwise proven, I will assume she is not a bigot.

[Liberal]

Would you deny being homophobic?I know it sounds weird to say this, but sometimes the denial is worse than the accusation. Consider, for example, a newspaper headline about a politician that says, Smith Denies Taking Bribe. [...snicker...] Yeah, well he would, wouldn't he.