# American Idol 3/17-18 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 17, 2009, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-17-18/489792 "2009-03-17T20:10:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-17-18/489792/121 "2009-03-18T16:09:57Z")
> [@Rachael\_Rage](#): > > Of course, maybe they just _told_ Scott he lost the hat pick. And I’m off to hell! See ya! I’ll be right behind you, laughing all the way at this comment… Surprised it took 3 pages before someone **AuntiePam** commented on Megan Lastname-of-the-week’s juggs. They were the talk of the living room last night at our house. Very distracting. FTR, I agree 100% with Simon on Adam. I love offbeat covers, but that was dreck. Couldn’t even watch the whole thing. Wifey and I both thought Anoop won the night. (Go Anoop!) ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-17-18/489792/122 "2009-03-18T16:16:04Z")
Does Simon honestly think Lil Rounds’ name is “Li’l” (like Li’l Kim)? That it’s not short for Lily? Does he even bother reading bio’s on the contestants? ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-17-18/489792/123 "2009-03-18T16:17:19Z")
> [@gonzoron](#): > > Wifey and I both thought Anoop won the night. (Go Anoop!) Of course he did! (yay) ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-17-18/489792/124 "2009-03-18T16:21:16Z")
> [@Rachael\_Rage](#): > > That look of sheer horror on the face of the woman with Randy Travis (his wife? mother?) was _priceless_. I didn’t see it, but it was probably his wife/manager who is older than he. He’s almost 50 and she’s in her late 60s. [http://www.mylifetime.com/files/imagecache/photo\_gallery\_featured/files/images/e-gall-travis-2007cmas.jpg](http://www.mylifetime.com/files/imagecache/photo_gallery_featured/files/images/e-gall-travis-2007cmas.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-17-18/489792/125 "2009-03-18T16:26:10Z")
The problem with Lil is that it seems like a rerun. How did she separate herself from Fantasia and others that have a similar style and voice. That don’t want to appear that they are doing a yearly rerun. How is this year giving a different look and sound to keep viewers interested? Megan is the yearly pretty girl. But she does have a different sound. i still am open to her. Rockin Robin was a mistake but Micheal Jackson songs put some singers at a disadvantage. Country and Western put another group in a hole. Song selection becomes critical when there are few songs that suit your style or range. Could Lambert have picked a song in the huge C and W portfolio and given an honest attempt at winning a new audience? I think so, but he just blew it off. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-17-18/489792/126 "2009-03-18T16:31:19Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Could Lambert have picked a song in the huge C and W portfolio and given an honest attempt at winning a new audience? I think so, but he just blew it off. Hence the “indulgent rubbish” comment. He stood on the stage and said “I don’t do country. Take it or leave it.” ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-17-18/489792/127 "2009-03-18T16:34:51Z")
With that shrilly voice and awful lip curl thing he does, Adam is like the forgotten lovechild of Janis Joplin and Elvis. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-17-18/489792/128 "2009-03-18T16:44:47Z")
> [@Shark\_Sandwich](#): > > With that shrilly voice and awful lip curl thing he does, Adam is like the forgotten lovechild of Janis Joplin and Elvis. From my Domebo comments: “That was like some bizarre Jim Morrison/Elvis/Taime Downe blend”. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-17-18/489792/129 "2009-03-18T16:45:08Z")
> [@SaharaTea](#): > > It’s not a Garth Brooks song. Bob Dylan wrote it and it’s been covered by Brooks, Joel and a bunch of others. It irks me that nobody pointed this out, but oh well. > > Props to Anoop last night. He really brought it. But Adam and Megan are both awful and I can’t wait until they’re off my screen. Kris’ version of “Make You Feel My Love” sounded an awfully lot like the version that [Adele has on her album "19."](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0put0_a--Ng)I hate it when they blatantly rip off someone else’s version of a song and nobody points it out. ---
**Author:** ![Shark\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@Shark\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shark_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-17-18/489792/130 "2009-03-18T16:55:55Z")
> [@Hal\_Briston](#): > > From my Domebo comments: “That was like some bizarre Jim Morrison/Elvis/Taime Downe blend”. I like the cut of your jib, sir. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-17-18/489792/131 "2009-03-18T16:57:13Z")
> [@gonzoron](#): > > Surprised it took 3 pages before someone **AuntiePam** commented on Megan Lastname-of-the-week’s juggs. They were the talk of the living room last night at our house. Very distracting. I too wondered how anyone could review Megan’s performance without the word “boobs”. We got a giggle out of the shake/shake/shake “dance step” as well. No, I’m not watching, I swear! Just checking in from time to time to see how Anoop’s doing. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-17-18/489792/132 "2009-03-18T17:12:40Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > How did she separate herself from Fantasia and others that have a similar style and voice. That was my first thought with her - “Sorry, we already have a Fantasia.” and with that other guy “We already have a Michael Buble and a Justin Timberlake”. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-17-18/489792/133 "2009-03-18T17:18:06Z")
AAHH! The office is talking about AI and they are wondering out loud about why Gokey is getting the most votes. “Because he’s good?!” gigi based on the Dope: “Because right-wing Christians are voting for him!” ( :smack: should have remained silent) Next door: “And he’s got the dead wife thing going for him.” gigi: “Yeah, that too.” “Adam got the most in Georgia? That weirdo??” The consensus seems to be that his performance was “just bad”. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-17-18/489792/134 "2009-03-18T17:39:16Z")
I hate country night because I love country music. The contestants either sing glurgey ballads or butcher classics. Now I know how older folks feel when the contestants butcher the Stones or the Beatles. I didn’t like anyone tonight. I picked Adam to win it in the SDMB pool, but now I am not so sure. He puts an original spin on everything he sings, but its the same spin. After the show, I had to cleanse my ears by listening to Hank, Johnny Cash, Merle, Alabama, and Dwight Yoakam. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-17-18/489792/135 "2009-03-18T17:43:30Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > His performance made me think of the old “Stairway to Gilligan’s Island” mash-up. Ring of Kashmir, perhaps. I’m assuming there was nothing original about that arrangement, like David Cook’s startlingly innovative arrangement of Billie Jean.) Didn’t Adam actually mention a version of “Ring of Fire” upon which his was based? I too thought Megan’s performance was pretty bad, but hope that it was due to her illness and she makes it through. She was the only performer to even attempt to inject some real country feel into her song. I do believe I even heard a little pedal steel guitar in there. Out of all the other songs, the only one I consider true country was “Ring of Fire”, and Simon’s take on it was as accurate an assessment of a performance on _Idol_ as I have ever heard. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-17-18/489792/136 "2009-03-18T18:26:02Z")
Well, I never paid any attention to Americna Idol until I stumbled across a late episode last year and discovered David Cook. I am now DC’s number one fan. Anyway, I thought I’d give actually watching Idol a try this season since I soaked up so much info about whilst mining the interwebs for Cookie information. I’ve given it a try, but just, no. The “judge’s” comments, esp. Kara’s, are just beyond awful. They get paid to do this people! The retreat back to wailing, oversinging and melisma after last season had a fair number who just, you know, sang. I thought playing instruments brought more musicianship to the affair – apparently we don’t want that rewarded after all. Lastly, and the biggest reason I just can’t watch – Danny Gokey. Overpraised sack of shit. He doesn’t even rank with Taylor Hicks, shouldn’t even share the stage with the actual extremely talented winners AI has produced (Clarkson, Underwood, Cook). So my Idol experiment is over, though I’ll probably read the comments here from time to time and watch the hilarious Idolatry videos on the Entertainment Weekly site. Oh and since Adam seems to be the topic du jour: He’s not my cup of tea. I seriously appreciated David Cook’s approach to country week last year a lot more. However, I would vote and vote and buy more votes for anyone if it would keep Gokey from winning. (The other churchies don’t bother me like he does, obv.) Oh - and I’ve read on other boards some sources for Adam’s arrangement so it wasn’t terribly original. So what - Neither was Cook’s Billie Jean. I think they should judged on choice and execution of song and arrangement, not just originality. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-17-18/489792/137 "2009-03-18T19:03:34Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > Megan needs to go away. She is completely outclassed by just about everyone on this show. She pronounces the lyrics to every song as if she’s never spoken the English language before and she learned the words phonetically. She can’t sustain a note to save her life. Or, as the judges say, “She’s quirky!” 😃 Megan continues to fascinate me. She’s such an oddball. She’s quite beautiful–despite the tattoo sleeve–but she’s also incredibly awkward on stage. You could see last night that she was trying not to do her goofy little twisty-dance. She started off with one hand planted firmly on her hip and you could see her resisting the impulse at the beginning of her song. But ultimately she broke down and started twisting and doing the pointy fingers and such. 🙂 And she puts so much affectation into her voice when she sings, but she is obviously not practiced enough at it to do it consistently, so her enunciation is all over the place and some words or phrases come out sounding really strange. But she sure is pretty. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-17-18/489792/138 "2009-03-18T19:10:03Z")
> [@Ataraxy](#): > > I hate country night because I love country music. \ That’s funny - I hate country night because I hate country music. 🙂 I loved Adam’s performance - I rated it the highest of the night. My husband hated it with a passion. Very much a love it or hate it version (he did mention something about finding that version). Danny “God Boy” Gokey made me cuss at the tv screen - you know how people light up their lighters and wave them back and forth? I was doing that with my middle fingers as he was singing. I just… hate that guy. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-17-18/489792/139 "2009-03-18T19:38:15Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > First: why do they bother having a Country Night, or Grand Ole Opry night, if everybody hates country and avoids it like the plague? I was wondering where all the honky-tonk boot scoot boogies were…only Matt Sarver came through. Everybody else went straight for the pop ballads (except Adam, of course. His performance made me think of the old “Stairway to Gilligan’s Island” mash-up. Ring of Kashmir, perhaps. I’m assuming there was nothing original about that arrangement, like David Cook’s startlingly innovative arrangement of Billie Jean.) You mean Chris Cornell’s arrangement of Billie Jean? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-17-18/489792/140 "2009-03-18T19:41:53Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > You mean Chris Cornell’s arrangement of Billie Jean? That’s the one. “startlingly innovative” was meant to be sarcastic, in case that didn’t come through. No knock on David Cook – but, IIRC, he got undeserved praise for originality on that night last year. Adam said he “found” a version of Ring of Fire; that reference went otherwise unmentioned, and was lost in the review of his performance in general. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-17-18/489792.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-17-18/489792.md?page=8)