# American Idol 3/21 - the 1950s **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 21, 2006, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270 "2006-03-21T12:31:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/161 "2006-03-22T20:18:20Z")
> [@yellowval](#): > > My point was simply that Chris has the most current sound, and will sell the most records if he wins. Bingo. Heres the thing about Chris Daughtry: **He’s winning.** It’s a game show. Complaining about him singing what’s popular is like saying that it was boring and derivative for Ken Jennings to give all the right answers. ---
**Author:** ![Walter\_Windchill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Walter\_Windchill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walter_Windchill)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/162 "2006-03-22T20:29:21Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Bingo. > > Heres the thing about Chris Daughtry: > > **He’s winning.** > > It’s a game show. Complaining about him singing what’s popular is like saying that it was boring and derivative for Ken Jennings to give all the right answers. Well, right now he’s tied with 10 other people. I don’t think it’s fair to say he’s “winning,” because he hasn’t lost yet. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/163 "2006-03-22T20:39:29Z")
> [@Wile E](#): > > Taylor - I like Taylor but this was not his best performance. The song was not right for him and it was too repetitious. Taylor could’ve done a good _Heartbreak Hotel_. Come to think of it…no Elvis at all last night. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/164 "2006-03-22T20:56:07Z")
> [@Walter Windchill](#): > > Um… > > Yeah, that’s right. You’re Chris’s big brother. > > It was the rendiiton of the song I had trouble with. It lost the driving rhythm of the song so the singer can emote all over himself. That’s what I thought, and I really don’t give a damn if you find my opinion “insipid” and “boring” compared to your own enlightening commentary. If you want to be the only one entitled to an opinion and not encounter other people’s boring and insipid opinions, start a blog. Man, I just _knew_ that **Lib** was asking for trouble with the way he worded that. I’m not a listener of Pearl Jam, or Live, or that–crowd, so I didn’t find anything objectionable about Chris’s interpretation. He did kind of remind me of Schnitzel from [Olive, the Other Reindeer](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0227173/), if that’s what the cracks about “goat bleating” were referencing (I know, Schnitzel was a reindeer, not a goat, but still). I liked the performance, myself. Kellie grated on me. Her makeup suggested: “I’m a dissipated barfly, tryin’ to keep myself pretty for my beau, should he ever decide to come back”. She blew the key change, and lost the pitch at the end. I couldn’t understand Simon giving her a pass on that (although I suspect he pervs on her in the privacy of his own head). Looking at (and listening to) her after the performance, I was struck by how much she resembled Doris Day channeling Dolly Parton. Kevin Covais-_Potter_"??? **HAHAHAHAHA!** I thought he looked like Frankie Muniz. And sounded like Peter Brady, in that episode where his voice is changing while the kids are trying to cut a record. Well, not really, but his pitch was definitely off. Mandisa floored me, she was so good. I was reminded of Dinah Washington and Nancy Wilson, both. Wish I was familiar with the song, though. I also wish I knew her last name. Paris was technically flawless, and while I thought her look was exquisite, I had a sense that I was looking at a Barbie doll that someone had handed to Bob Mackie with instructions to dress as a composite of Billie Holiday and Marilyn Monroe. I agree that Lisa probably doesn’t have staying power, but my daughter is rooting really hard for her because some of her classmates are Lisa’s friends. Bucky – from Hell’s heart I stab at thee, or something like that. Go already. The sooner you’re gone, the sooner we can be rid of Chicken Little. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/165 "2006-03-22T20:59:34Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by **Dolores Reborn** : > _Nit-pick: Ethel Merman._ Duh. :smack: When _will_ I learn to not post till I’ve had a sufficient caffeine intake? _Preview is my friend. Preview is my friend. Preview is my…_ I really wish they’d stop with the stupid theme weeks, or at least make them a little less ancient. I get tired of hearing kids get all gosh-gee-whiz over singing a song that was popular “30 years before I was even born!” And that’s supposed to show us who’s the best pop star who can sell albums currently? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/166 "2006-03-22T21:06:40Z")
> [@Mama Tiger](#): > > I really wish they’d stop with the stupid theme weeks, or at least make them a little less ancient. I get tired of hearing kids get all gosh-gee-whiz over singing a song that was popular “30 years before I was even born!” And that’s supposed to show us who’s the best pop star who can sell albums currently? I questioned the usefulness of the 50s thing as well. In addition to making me feel all geezer’d out, it brings out the absolute worst in the kids performing the song because they’re all conflicted…voice? costume? attitude? Who am I??? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/167 "2006-03-22T21:07:25Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Bucky – from Hell’s heart I stab at thee, or something like that… Cool literary allusion, if a bit overwrought. “For hate’s sake I spit my last breath at thee, thou damned, damned…uh, wannabe pop star”. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/168 "2006-03-22T21:10:40Z")
> [@simply\_cats](#): > > Slight hijack: > > The sloth from Ice Age is Sid. I still don’t know who Sam is! Sam (aka Sammie/Sammy) was some young girl (guessing 8-10) in the audience that Ryan talked to a couple of times during the show. Once was to push something to do with text messages (wasn’t paying attention); the other was to introduce Ace, whom the girl apparently is in love with. ---
**Author:** ![Walter\_Windchill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Walter\_Windchill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walter_Windchill)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/169 "2006-03-22T21:15:36Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Man, I just _knew_ that **Lib** was asking for trouble with the way he worded that… Heh. You’re right. I thought he was throwing my words back at me. “Oh yea, you’re the insipid one!” If he meant, “I agree with ‘insipid’ but why ‘self-indulgent’?” than my ire is completely misdirected. > [@](#): > > I’m not a listener of Pearl Jam, or Live, or that–crowd, so I didn’t find anything objectionable about Chris’s interpretation. I am a (passionate, passionate) listener of Johnny Cash, so I did find something objectionable about THAT interpretation (which I barely attribute to Chris, just to the whole noxious post-Nirvana grunge movement.) Man, it’s just not meant to sound like that. The driving base of Marshall Grant and clean, lickety-split riffs of Luther Perkins are replaced by this kind of vague noise in the background, and the entire mood of the song changes. In the original, the singer sounds determined to remain faithful (we know what really happened!) and in the grunge version it sounds oddly out of mood with the lyrics… it becomes a kind of moody, depressing, angsty tribute to… well, to monogamy. I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/170 "2006-03-22T21:19:41Z")
Re. the judges: The reason Paula is so nice to everybody is that she knows that her opinion means jumping jack squat, so there’s no point ticking people off for nothing. Good move on her part, which unfortunately lends itself to boring, canned commentary. Simon…I’d respect his opinion more if I knew what the hell it _was_. I can’t believe anyone takes someone who’s constantly all over the place seriously as a jduge. He’s been a tool from day one, and he’s sounding more and more like a tool. Randy seems like he’s just trying to keep himself entertained, so I’ve never expected anything insightful from him. Again, they need new blood. Find someone who _enjoys_ this junk. Preferably getting their comments backstage after the show so they’re not constantly in the line of fire. C’mon, I can’t be the only one who thinks this. Re. contestants we _know_ have a snowball’s chance and yet hang on week after week: That’s just the beauty (hah) of the last-man-standing format. There’s one thing that gets a contestant eliminated and a myriad of things that can prevent that from happening. Let’s just look at Ace Young, for example. He was awful out of the gate, but because he wasn’t one of the two worst _men_ (and not one of the four worst overall), he survived. The he whipped out the don’t-call-it-falsetto, which narrowly edged out a mildly creepy Gedeon and a listless Jose. Last week Melissa _admitted_ to messing up the lyrics, saving him yet again. Now that Lisa’s definitely toast, he’s all but guaranteed to last **two** more weeks, because Kevin is still less appealing than him and Bucky’s time is about up. If Ace goes, that opens the door for Kevin. They can’t both get the boot at the same time, and there’s a good chance Kevin would pick up at least some of the votes that went to Ace. From there, all it takes is a slipup by Elliot or Taylor for him to go even further. Rock bottom plus one. Learn it, memorize it, believe it. Re. Chris: I definitely want to see more of him in the future, but I can’t fault him for his choice this week. For crying out loud, it’s the 50’s. Simply finding something _doable_ was enough of a challenge. When he has more leeway to do his kind of music, then I think he’ll show us something. It’s impossible to tell where he’ll end up. IMO, he needs to have a close call in one of the middle rounds, much like Bo Bice did. That’ll galvanize him and his fanbase and allow him to really go far. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/171 "2006-03-22T21:20:48Z")
> [@Walter Windchill](#): > > Um… > > Yeah, that’s right. You’re Chris’s big brother. > > It was the rendiiton of the song I had trouble with. It lost the driving rhythm of the song so the singer can emote all over himself. That’s what I thought, and I really don’t give a damn if you find my opinion “insipid” and “boring” compared to your own enlightening commentary. If you want to be the only one entitled to an opinion and not encounter other people’s boring and insipid opinions, start a blog. You misunderstood me. I did not mean that your opinion was a boring and insipid opinion; I was referencing your opinion about the arrangement being boring and insipid. If you’d commented on his philosophy, I would have referenced your philosophy opinion. Or on his eyebrows, I would have referenced your eyebrows opinion. And no, I’m not his big brother, though at this point, that wouldn’t be a bad thing to be if he’s as generous and kind as he seems. ---
**Author:** ![Walter\_Windchill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Walter\_Windchill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walter_Windchill)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/172 "2006-03-22T21:26:51Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > You misunderstood me. I did not mean that your opinion was a boring and insipid opinion; I was referencing your opinion about the arrangement being boring and insipid. If you’d commented on his philosophy, I would have referenced your philosophy opinion. Or on his eyebrows, I would have referenced your eyebrows opinion. > > And no, I’m not his big brother, though at this point, that wouldn’t be a bad thing to be if he’s as generous and kind as he seems. Sorry about that… Kayla’s Dad already set me straight. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/173 "2006-03-22T21:29:23Z")
Now I can’t remember who asked, but I was a huge Fantasia fan, then a huge Bo fan, and I like Chris. I like Taylor more, though. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/174 "2006-03-22T21:29:35Z")
> [@Walter Windchill](#): > > Sorry about that… Kayla’s Dad already set me straight. No biggie. I know that we clashed some time back in Great Debates, but I hope that that has not lingered with you. I very much enjoy your comments on Idol, even though I disagree with some of them, mostly regarding Chris. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/175 "2006-03-22T21:33:39Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Mandisa floored me, she was so good. I was reminded of Dinah Washington and Nancy Wilson, both. Wish I was familiar with the song, though. I also wish I knew her last name. I’m familiar with Hank Snow’s version. It’s a country standard. I was worried that Mandisa would mess around too much with the rhythm – the song I remember has a bouncy yet mournful rhythm. I think she sounded great, except her high notes are kinda screamy. I really wanna hear Dinah Washington’s version. ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/176 "2006-03-22T21:43:17Z")
> [@Mama Tiger](#): > > I get tired of hearing kids get all gosh-gee-whiz over singing a song that was popular “30 years before I was even born!” And that’s supposed to show us who’s the best pop star who can sell albums currently? I think we’re forgetting that American Idol is not about finding the next hot recording artist, but the next winner of the American Idol contest. The format itself is antithetical to finding a true, unique talent who can galvanize millions to buy their albums for years on end. Sure, they can coast on the gimmick for the first contract-fulfilling obligatory record, but how many of you have bought the records of past AI contestants? And if you did (anyone?), are you still listening to them? The only previous contestants in the history of the show I’d consider successful are Kelly Clarkson (4 years after her win to come out with a record anyone took seriously) and Clay Aiken (he didn’t even win) - in that they gained some recognition - and, presumably, generated sales - outside the context of the show. That’s out of 4 winners, 4 runners-up, and 32 other top-tenners. It’s safe to say that none of our current beloved contestants, not one of them, will be spinning on our virtual turntables two years from now. Thus, the only point is - who do we like enough to want to see next week? I am the first to admit that it’s entertaining and addictive, but that’s all there is to this. ---
**Author:** ![kezami](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eb8c5e/32.png) [@kezami](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kezami)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/177 "2006-03-22T22:01:36Z")
I’d like to see a different format in which an **original song** in one genre or another is sung by each contestant. The genre of the song could change each week. That way there would be no biases and no one would be accused of doing a good or great or crappy karaoke version of the original. Each singer would always be making it their own so to speak. This might even be a springboard for fledgling songwriters. Would it work? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/178 "2006-03-22T23:09:37Z")
Probably not. They’d be accused of stealing melodies, or lyrics, or breathing patterns or something. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2006, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/179 "2006-03-22T23:46:00Z")
> [@vaderspal](#): > > The only previous contestants in the history of the show I’d consider successful are Kelly Clarkson (4 years after her win to come out with a record anyone took seriously) and Clay Aiken (he didn’t even win) - in that they gained some recognition - and, presumably, generated sales - outside the context of the show. That’s out of 4 winners, 4 runners-up, and 32 other top-tenners. It’s safe to say that none of our current beloved contestants, not one of them, will be spinning on our virtual turntables two years from now. Don’t lose sight of the “_Star Search_ Losers Phenomenon,” though. I think there are several contestants from this season and past ones, who have a good chance of popping back up on our radar several years down the road, after they’ve done a lot of hard work on their craft and on things like finding the right venue and pounding on enough doors. And by then, few people will probably remember that they were even on _American Idol_. Consider the following; [LeAnn Rimes](http://www.gactv.com/artists/lrimes.html), [Justin Timberlake](http://www.buyselltix.com/concerts/artistInfo/justinTimberlakeInfo.php), [Britney Spears](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britney_Spears), [Christina Aguilera](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina_Aguilera), [Alanis Morisette](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alanis_Morisette). They all _lost_ the grand prize to other performers/contestants on _Star Search_, yet look how far they’ve come in their careers all these years later. And who remembers their _Star Search_ stints? I dont – and I was an avid watcher back then. ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2006, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270/180 "2006-03-23T00:14:26Z")
> [@Mama Tiger](#): > > I really wish they’d stop with the stupid theme weeks, or at least make them a little less ancient. I get tired of hearing kids get all gosh-gee-whiz over singing a song that was popular “30 years before I was even born!” I like the theme weeks that are more “generic” – e.g., I believe last year they did a Leiber & Stoller night, or a Holland-Dozier-Holland night, or something like that. So, admittedly, I like Broadway Night and Disco Night and Country Night. I _loved_ it when they did Barry Manilow Night back in Season Three (when Jennifer Hudson sang “Weekend in New England”) and I _hate_ Barry Manilow’s music as a general rule. I have a sort of dream that one of these times they’ll do Canada Night. I even have some ideas as to who would sing what in that particular fantasy of mine (and for some contestants I’ve even planned their outfits, because in my own mind? _I have awesome super Idol-ruling powers_). The best part of that fantasy, for me, is that I have reserved the Celine Dion song for the person I want voted out. But anyway. Yeah, I’m crazy. Sorry. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-21-the-1950s/349270.md?page=10)