American Idol 4/26

Cafe Society
141

Cause she isn’t talented enough for “Nashville Star”. The talent level on NS is FAR, FAR, FAR higher than AI. They all have much better voices and are required to write their own songs and a lot of them play their own instruments. It doesn’t hurt that a lot of them have been around the music scene for a while, but just haven’t broken through (playing backup, things like that, etc), which means they usually older and more experienced in knowing what songs work their voices.

Carrie wouldn’t have made the Top 12 on “Nashville Star”.

142

Just watched last night’s AI. What a train wreck. The audience is distracting and I wish they’d control them from turning the show into an 'NSync concert where you can’t hear the music for the pre-teen girls screeching.

Hated the fillers, probably because I’m not emotionally invested in anyone since I just started watching a few weeks back.
Carrie - Didn’t recognize the song. Thought she did well with it. She’s young and refreshing.

Bo - Thought he did fine. Wasn’t overly impressed.

Vonzell - She’s just darling and she can sing. Good for her.

Constantine - His lack of vocal training is starting to show. And I hate, hate, hate how he constantly looks at the camera with his bedroom eyes. He’s a good looking dude (better with short hair, IMO) but as Jackson said, he needs to focus on his SINGING.

Anthony - He would be perfect in a Broadway show, “Joseph” or something like that. He doesn’t have the charisma to carry him into the finals. I think the only reason he’s still around is that he appeals to the pre-teen girls (Bo and Constantine being too old and Scott being…well, you know).

Scott - He shouldn’t be messing with a Luther song. He doesn’t have what it takes to run with the big boys. And, God love him, Scott has no stage presence at all.

I didn’t think any of them was a stand out tonight. My ranking (lowest to highest):

Scott
Constantine
Anthony
Bo
Carrie
Vonzell

143

Are those the same sensibilies that made Garth Brooks the #1 selling single artist in history for a while… until they realized Elvis’ 1 and got Presley the #1 spot again? :wink:

The year end albums charts for 2004, had Toby Keith at #3 and Kenny Chesney at #7. Country does sell pretty well in this nation.

144

AI contestant albums are:

Winners
Kelly Clarkson – Thankful
Kelly Clarkson – Breakaway
Ruben Studdard – Soulful
Ruben Studdard – I Need an Angel
Fantasia Barrino – Free Yourself

Runners Up
Justin Guarini – Justin Guarini
Tamyra Gray – The Dreamer
RJ Helton – Real Life
Jim Verraros – Rollercoaster
Clay Aiken – Measure of a Man
Clay Aiken – Merry Christmas With Love
Kimberley Locke – One Love
Josh Gracin – Josh Gracin
Carmen Rasmusen – Carmen
Diana DeGarmo – Blue Skies
George Huff – My Christmas EP
John Stevens – Come Fly With Me

Nikki McKibbin has an album in the works (you can listen to some demos here), a single is supposed to be released next month, but they aren’t planning on releasing the full-length album until next February (??!). Lisa Leuschner is also working on an album. Clay Aiken is rumored to be working on another album (release dates vary), George Huff is going to have an album out in July, and Corey Clark is releasing Wiggle & Shake next month. Also rumored to be releasing albums this spring or summer are Latoya London and Jennifer Hudson, though no details are available on their websites.

I don’t know what all the official sales figures are, but I do believe Clay has outsold all of them. I’ll see if I can dig something up.

As for last night’s performances, I can’t figure out what everyone was hearing from Anthony, who I thought majorly sucked (and was very vaguely creepy), and I actually liked Constantine. No one was all that great, but since I didn’t know any of the songs, it might’ve been harder to impress me, I dunno. Scott should definitely be going home tonight.

145

After Anthony’s home interview (which won him some points in my household), I noticed for the first time his accent. Anyone else have the same experience?

146

Yeah that home interview from Anthony made me feel better about the kid. His parents were too cute.

147

His accent comes and goes. I think it is more noticeable when he is tired. The reason I say this is because I notice it more on Wednesdays.

FTR, I’d love to hear him sing something in Russian.

148

Two country albums in the end of year top 10? Not very impressive. Especially including Toby Keith who definitely softened his country edges as did Garth Brooks. They had hit albums because the crossed over.
I know it’s painful. Kinda like how I feel any time a poster bad mouths “church singing” which is just R&B on full blast. But the truth is the truth. Rock rules in this country’s music charts.

149

I’ve said to my girlfriend (who’s rooting for Constantine) that Anthony should play up the Russian angle, “I want be big Amerrican pop star, get girrls.” It’s funny the way I do it. Promise.

150

I haven’t done “reviews” in a couple of weeks, because it’s the same every week: Scott sucked and needs to go, Anthony was insipid, Bo was competent but the song choice was boring, Vonzelle was good, Constantine made me laugh (at least), and Carrie was fine for what she is which isn’t anything I especially like but isn’t anything I especially hate.

PLLLLLLLEEEEASE America, send Scott home. I don’t care who wins, I just need Scott to stop sucking and stop his surly sulking.

151

BERSERKER!!!

152

I saw last night differently from some of the others. I grouped the contestants into two categories:

  1. Mainly on-key but sang a song without much difficulty. Relied on performance more than vocals but no major mistakes:

Carrie
Bo
Constantine

2)Sang a difficult song. Really nailoed it in places but excrutiatingly off-key at times:

Vonzell
Anthony
Scott

I can’t decide a ranking. I think Carrie did well by showing some personality, although her jeans were not flattering. Anybody but Bo could go (he’s too cute :cool: )

For those wondering about Idol CD sales:

TVClubhouse had posted these numbers for the other AI CDs, including sales thru the first quarter of 2005:

Clay Aiken - Measure of a Man - 2,695,203
Kelly Clarkson - Thankful - 2,158,106
Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway - 1,674,742 (now 1,862,320)
Ruben Studdard - Soulful - 1,769,039
Fantasia - Free Yourself - 1,214,262 (now 1,300,579)
Clay Aiken - Merry Christmas With Love - 1,009,294 (Does not include Provident sales)
Ruben Studdard - I Need an Angel - 378,497 (388,200 thru last week)
Josh Gracin - Josh Gracin - 354,772 (now 380,290)
Kimberly Locke - One Love - 201,801
William Hung - Inspiration - 189,563
Diana Degarmo - Blue Skies - 143,511
Justin Guarini - Justin Guarini - 141,987
Tamyra Gray - Dreamer - 119,826
William Hung - Hung for the Holidays – 29,189
R J Helton - Real Life - 20,892

153

I take everything back! Looking at Billboard’s Top 100 for 2004 it looks like R&B is the country’s best selling music followed far behind by country. Bubble Gum (which I happen to love) comes third and Rock-- a distant fourth.

Sure, the best selling country album (Toby Keith’s Shock 'n Yall) came in 7th behind the Rocky Evanescence with Fallen-- Rock is definitly underrepresented in 2004’s charts.

However— Country is represented by deliberate cross-overs like Toby, Gretchen and Tim McGraw. What suprised me is how Hip Hop dominated the charts last year. So much so that Rubin outsold Clay handily last year.

P.S. Shock 'n Y’all is the best selling Country album? Gah! No wonder I hate Country music!

154

eeeeeeee! Who goes? Lets watch Ryan milk it for all its worth (and not worth).
I dislike these group songs.

155

What an adorable commercial!

156

Gee, I wonder which one is the safe group.

157

If I were Diana Degarmo, I think this would plunge me into near-suicidal depression.

158

Oh Sweet Jesus!

159

I’m going to start powervoting for everyone but Scott. This is bullshit.

160

Oh boy. Connie in the bottom group? Sigh. Scott safe. Audience understands.