Don’t want to get in the middle of anyone’s arguement here but The Pickler is either laying it on extra thick or she’s the stupidest hick ever to pick hayseed out of a mic. The evidence comes out of her mouth every time she opens it.
Some people think she’s a phony. That’s their opinion. Just like your idol-worship of baldy is your opinion.
Chris is talented, but he’s among the least original singers in the bunch. He’s like 9th-generation derivative; he’s a copy of a copy of a copy of a copy. It wasn’t even all that original when Eddie Vedder did it, and Eddie’s the creative great-grandfather of the guy that Chris is copying.
So of course he’ll go far. I tend to watch the first few episodes of AI, then click off when “America” starts eliminating the more original talents and LCDing us down to the lamest–but most technically talented–of the bunch.
I think Eliot and Mandisa should quit now and get on with their careers–they’re the best of the bunch–and leave the rest to sacrifice what’s left of their dignity for the leavings.
Thank you lissener, this is good commentary.
I wish Chris would at least sing Pearl Jam instead of Fuel. Or even Nirvana (though he sounds more like Eddie than like Kurt).
Rights issues. Pearl Jam won’t even make videos – do you think they’re going to let the hacks on “American Idol” use their songs? (I mean, it curdles them to no end already that Staind covered “Black” [terribly].)
And FWIW, I would like hear Chris sing something by Soundgarden or Audioslave. He’s no Chris Cornell, but at least the songs would show some vocal range.
The one I keep hearing him sing in my head is “Hunger Strike” by Temple of the Dog.
That would definitely work for me.
I’m worried about when Disco Nite rolls around…what should Chris sing for that?
I agree that Chris isn’t original, but I’m curious; if he’s among the LEAST original in the bunch, that means at least five other guys are more original.
I’m curious; of the guys - I’ll even give you all 12 who made it this far, including the 4 eliminations so far - which five are the slightest bit original at all? Okay, Taylor Hicks. Name four more. And what sort of originality are they displaying?
Whether someone is a talented/entertaining singer is a matter of subjective opinion. No evidence required.
Whether someone is a phony is a matter of objective fact, and requires evidence.
“Unoriginal” is it’s own thing; it’s not simply the lowest ranked among the original. I meant least original in the sense of most unoriginal; the most transparently derivative; the one who has the highest ratio of copying someone else to displaying his own style. David Radford is also extremely derivative, but he know it; that’s his schtick. Even on that one point–self awareness–he beats Chris.
I really like Taylor, but I don’t see him as particularly original, except perhaps within the bounds of AI. He’s following in some well-tread footsteps, just like every other singer does. The man can sound eerily like Ray Charles. In his early years, RC could sound eerily like Nat Cole. Can Taylor sound like Nat Cole? That’d be awesome.
There’s no huge chasm between “authentic” and “phony,” here, all of the non-musical parts of the show are essentially real but also a performance. The kids are being themselves, but know they’re on TV and try to play to the audience a bit.
I think we’re all in a agreement that Kellie is neither a completely schemer, controlling every nuance of her performance, or that she’s such a naive bumpkin she just talks to the nice fella and doesn’t know she’s on the magic talking box. Some of us just find her performances of late a little affected. No, I can’t prove that she’s never heard of spinach salad before. Nor do I have to do so to think it’s affected. I’m not a juror, and she’s not on trial for murder. I’m on an Internet message board talking about a show that’s the favorite of my 11-year-old girl. I think it’s important to remember the context.
Just because I find some of the praise for Chris to be exaggerated, doesn’t mean I don’t think he’s good. He’s good, and deserves to win as much as anyone. But really, all we’ve seen is a couple of mini-covers of old FM radio hits.
I really just don’t think the show is a good forum for rocker talent. Even with Chris, who’s edgier than Bo, it’s what was edgy ten years ago (Bo is what was edgy 30 years ago). You can’t play your own instrument, write your own songs, or get tight with a band.
I think Chris is perfectly fine, but I definitely don’t think he’s superlative or even very interesting. I think he’ll make a good living someday recording the songs left over after Nickelback takes their pick.
Can I get a prize of some kind for being the first person to predict that Brenna will become a Reality TV star?
Chis sang Tuesday like a Southern summer night; smooth, sweet and hot. Now if they can clean up the gangster look some to match his voice… ymmv
I don’t think she is a star.
Um, neither do I.
But like Ryan Starr and Omarosa, I think she will end up on some trashy reality show–cast as the bitch–very, very soon. I think it is her destiny.
Chicago’s WXRT thinks that playing Talking Heads makes them “progressive.” In the same way, Chris is “edgy.”
No one who could conceivable be called “edgy”–a word I hate anyway, but anyway–would make it through the initial audition rounds.
AI is not about originality. Celine Dion would win AI; Bonnie Raitt would not. Lionel Ritchie would win; Bob Dylan would not. The old Sting would win; the young Sting would not. Mick Jagger would be laughed out of the preliminary audition, as would Kate Bush.
Anyone who wins AI will be, by definition, forever and ever, irrelevant to Capital-M-Music. They will only be relevant to Capital-M-Marketing.
This is why Eliot and Mandisa need to go home and reap the benefit of the exposure they’ve already received. Katherine needs to go home, live a little, die a little, and grow her voice up to the phenomenon it will be. I hope she doesn’t win; the machinery will ruin her. Same with the smoky voiced one; Melissa is it? Paris, Lisa, and Gedeon (once he gets a personality transplant) need to pay a little dues, and go be artists.
Will, Bucky–cute as they are–need to go back to their suburban karaoke bars and get on with the business of growing old and bitter. Kevin will survive I think, but they’ve done more harm to him making him believe he has talent than if they’d left him alone in the first place. Heather can commence her beer-spokesmodel career; Kellie, NASCAR tires. Kinnik will have a short career opening car shows and “entertaining” visiting manufacturers’ reps. Tyler, maybe with some age on him; grow into his hair. He’s almost got something, but there’s more Michael McDonald than Joe Cocker there. Cruiseship maybe?
Let Chris win, or Ace. They fit the machinery mold perfectly. They’re already willing to whore out whatever sense of individuality or originality they might ever have been capable of. The machinery won’t damage them; it will make good use of them, and they will make good use of it.
See, this is why I never watch the whole season; this is where it starts to get depressing.