# American Idol 3/28, Songs of the 21st Century **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 28, 2006, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-28-songs-of-the-21st-century/350256 "2006-03-28T16:02:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-28-songs-of-the-21st-century/350256/241 "2006-03-30T17:00:39Z")
[QUOTE=lissener] Katharine’s too sophisticated for most of the voting audience. Remember, these are people who kept Bucky and Kellie out of the bottom three this week. [/QUOTE] Please. There’s nothing overly sophisticated about Katherine McPhee. She’s a beautiful girl who sings pop standards. She’s sure fun to look at and she’s a talented vocalist, but so what? > [@](#): > > It’s sad to see the great Wyclef Jean reduced to playing a pop tart’s organ monkey. Well, I sure can’t argue with that. What’s next? Beck playing second fiddle to the Pussycat Dolls? Fatboy Slim spinning records for Jennifer Lopez? ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-28-songs-of-the-21st-century/350256/242 "2006-03-30T17:16:17Z")
[QUOTE=yellowval] I don’t think country week should be too bad. I’m not a huge country fan, but there are a handful of artists I enjoy. Also, just because the original is twangy, doesn’t mean the AI contestants need to sing it that way. This might be a chance for some of them to really put an original spin on a song instead of just singing it exactly the way the original artist did. [/QUOTE] Out of curiosity, does Patty Griffin count as country, or what? Because she has quite a few awesome songs that this crop of contestants could do well with. Some of them (I am thinking here of the album “Flaming Red”) are quite thrashy, actually. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-28-songs-of-the-21st-century/350256/243 "2006-03-30T17:42:38Z")
I’d love to hear Chris do a version of “Til I can’t take it anymore” by Charlie Rich. I’ve been waiting for him to get his hands on a ballad. Oh, I hope no one does Faith Hill. Cross over songs are too safe. ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-28-songs-of-the-21st-century/350256/244 "2006-03-30T17:47:38Z")
[QUOTE=ISiddiqui] I think a “Big and Rich” song would be perfect for him, but I wonder if their company has agreed to let American Idol use their songs? Or does that not matter? [/QUOTE] IANAL, but I believe that technically, they can sing whatever they want to. An artist can’t generally force you to not record or perform a song that already been released once. However, if you perform or record a song without the show coming to some sort of agreement with the copyright holder ahead of time, the royalties the show must pay are at a higher “compulsory license” rate. I would guess that there’s no shortage of music publicists trying to get their artists’ songs on Idol, so I would guess that there are few compulsory licenses paid. I suppose their could be some sort of exclusive agreement between Idol’s producers and certain music publishers, but that would be the only real hindrance to song choice. ---
**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 30, 2006, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-28-songs-of-the-21st-century/350256/245 "2006-03-30T17:50:06Z")
You know what would suck? Katharine doing “Man, I Feel Like a Woman”. Or anyone doing it for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-28-songs-of-the-21st-century/350256/246 "2006-03-30T17:51:11Z")
I expect to hear a lot of LeAnn Rimes, Faith Hill and Garth Brooks. Maybe some k.d. Lang if we’re lucky. Probably some more Patsy Kline. Perhaps Chris will skate with some Southern rock. The Altman Brothers or Lynryd Skynyrd. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-28-songs-of-the-21st-century/350256/247 "2006-03-30T18:06:37Z")
If the Pickler does “Politically Uncorrect” the stars will have aligned for Armageddon. On the other hand, a quality rendition of “Always on My Mind” is most welcome. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-28-songs-of-the-21st-century/350256/248 "2006-03-30T19:48:44Z")
Next week could be good. Johnny Cash, Tom T Hall, Buck Owens, Willie Nelson…there are plenty of old-school country artists that don’t do that horrible feline throat yodeling method singing. But to quote Randy, “It’s the song choice dude, a’ight?” ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-28-songs-of-the-21st-century/350256/249 "2006-03-30T19:51:16Z")
[QUOTE=GargoyleWB] Next week could be good. Johnny Cash, Tom T Hall, Buck Owens, Willie Nelson…there are plenty of old-school country artists that don’t do that horrible feline throat yodeling method singing. [/QUOTE] Which matters not. You’re gonna hear New Country crap. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-28-songs-of-the-21st-century/350256/250 "2006-03-30T20:07:04Z")
[QUOTE=scotandrsn] I suppose their could be some sort of exclusive agreement between Idol’s producers and certain music publishers, but that would be the only real hindrance to song choice. [/QUOTE] That’s what I was thinking originally. You now have Idol contestants singing the same things others have done (or Underwood last year who sang a bunch of songs twice). They’d have to be bit less ‘follow the herd’ than that, if they could sing anything, right (I hope so at any rate!)?! ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-28-songs-of-the-21st-century/350256/251 "2006-03-30T22:14:36Z")
[QUOTE=PapSett] NOT ACE!!! I am not done looking at him yet ! Either of the girls… but NOT MY ACE!!! [/QUOTE] Um, PapSett, we can fabricate for you an Ace _poster._ If we guys have to give up looking at, e.g., Kinnik, Melissa, Lisa, & I had to give up looking at Nadia Turner last year; you can lose Mr. Bad Intonation. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2006, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-28-songs-of-the-21st-century/350256/252 "2006-03-30T23:36:16Z")
You know what would bring me entirely back into Chris’s corner? If he did a straightforward, non-grunge-drag cover of “Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other.” ---
**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 30, 2006, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-28-songs-of-the-21st-century/350256/253 "2006-03-30T23:45:08Z")
I think this may be the first season that I’ve watched (I missed most of season 1) that I’ll quit watching before it ends because I simply despise the singing style and/or quality of all of the people who will most likely be in the top 3. The order I’d _like_ to see them eliminated: Ace Chris (poseur should get the boot to give him a much needed cocky attitude adjustment) Kellie Bucky Mandisa Paris Katharine Taylor Elliott The order I have a sick feeling they’ll actually go out in: Ace Katharine Bucky Elliott Taylor Paris Mandisa Kellie Chris Bah! ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-28-songs-of-the-21st-century/350256/254 "2006-03-31T00:48:53Z")
[QUOTE=lissener] You know what would bring me entirely back into Chris’s corner? If he did a straightforward, non-grunge-drag cover of “Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other.” [/QUOTE] Doesn’t Willie Nelson have a deal with “Nashville Star,” though? ---
**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 31, 2006, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-28-songs-of-the-21st-century/350256/255 "2006-03-31T01:10:32Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > You know what would bring me entirely back into Chris’s corner? If he did a straightforward, non-grunge-drag cover of “Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other.” That’s the best thing I’ve heard all day. Listen up, Chris, you need the points! 😛 [QUOTE=rockle] Doesn’t Willie Nelson have a deal with “Nashville Star,” though? [/QUOTE] I thought Pansy Division did it first, but [this article](http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/ent/columnists/mtarradell/stories/DN-cowboysong_0214gl.ART.State.Edition2.e368707.html) attributes the writing to Ned Sublette. Does **lissener** or anyone know who recorded it first? ---
**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 31, 2006, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-28-songs-of-the-21st-century/350256/256 "2006-03-31T01:18:35Z")
[QUOTE=PapSett] NOT ACE!!! I am not done looking at him yet ! Either of the girls… but NOT MY ACE!!! [/QUOTE] It’s a _singing_ contest, not a beauty pageant! [/simon] I’ve been a (rather sheepish) Ace advocate to date, but there’s NO WAY I’d forgive him for bumping Katharine out of the competition. Lisa, okay, but if Ryan had said Kat’s name I would have advocated full-scale riots. So good thing for public safety at large that Lisa got the boot. …it’s not as if there’s anything else in the world worth getting angry about… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-28-songs-of-the-21st-century/350256/257 "2006-03-31T02:11:37Z")
[Hmmm, I knew there was something about that Katharine. . .](http://www.truthaboutscientology.com/stats/by-name/k/katharine-mcphee.html) ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-28-songs-of-the-21st-century/350256/258 "2006-03-31T02:41:44Z")
[QUOTE=vaderspal] That’s the best thing I’ve heard all day. Listen up, Chris, you need the points! 😛 I thought Pansy Division did it first, but [this article](http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/ent/columnists/mtarradell/stories/DN-cowboysong_0214gl.ART.State.Edition2.e368707.html) attributes the writing to Ned Sublette. Does **lissener** or anyone know who recorded it first? [/QUOTE] Last time I checked, I found only the Pansy Divisioni recording. Sublette may have written it for them, or something. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2006, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-28-songs-of-the-21st-century/350256/259 "2006-03-31T02:43:08Z")
[QUOTE=Biggirl] [Hmmm, I knew there was something about that Katharine. . .](http://www.truthaboutscientology.com/stats/by-name/k/katharine-mcphee.html) [/QUOTE] [list=A] [li]What does any of that mean?[/li][li]Are we sure she’s the only Katharine Mcphee (note capitalization) out there?[/li][/list] ---
**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 31, 2006, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-28-songs-of-the-21st-century/350256/260 "2006-03-31T02:54:38Z")
[QUOTE=lissener] [list=A] [li]What does any of that mean?[/li][li]Are we sure she’s the only Katharine Mcphee (note capitalization) out there?[/li][/list] [/QUOTE] Nationwide there are at least a dozen and a half listings for McPhee with the first initial ‘K’, and one Katherine McPhee (note the different spelling of Katharine) in Colorado. That’s just who’s listed. Odds aren’t great that there are other Katharines with that spelling, but I would never have thought there were other people with my full (maiden) name out there, either, and Google returns 5 pages of references (with several duplicates, of course). Anything’s possible. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-28-songs-of-the-21st-century/350256.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-3-28-songs-of-the-21st-century/350256.md?page=14)