# American Idol 4/29-4/30 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 29, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374 "2008-04-29T18:15:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/181 "2008-05-01T17:21:47Z")
Some thoughts. I’m glad Brooke is gone. It’s not so much that I don’t like her singing, but she was always compelled to TALK when it was least appropriate. She did it again last night. Just shut up. I can’t tell David Archuleta’s songs apart. He mangles every single melody so that the songs are somewhat unrecognizeable. He just can’t sing a damn song the way it was written. Between this and his weird audible breathing problem, I can’t stand him as a performer. He’s probably a genuinely good person whose sensitive to others, so I don’t want to condemn him personally. He’s not Brooke. Since American Idol is one big marketing machine, the only thing they ever sold me was David Cook’s “Always Be My Baby.” iTunes collected 99 of my hard-earned cents for that one. He’s a talented musician. He’ll sell records. I like Syesha, but I’ll probably never buy one of her records. I think she’s a professional and a sweet person. She’s also very cute. The beach bum with the guitar is way out of his league at this point. One last thing, when they were doing the group-sing, I noticed that the 5 on the stage have absolutely no chemistry with one another. It was less noticeable when there were 10 singers, but with 5… the performance was a mess. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/182 "2008-05-01T17:29:11Z")
Neil Diamond did some great songs in the past, but this new one sucked. Natasha Whatsherface----I don’t remember a single note she sang. ---
**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:** [May 1, 2008, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/183 "2008-05-01T19:09:34Z")
Ah, _that_ Natasha - I missed that part of the show. Doesn’t sound like I missed much. I thought of why they may have been less than huggy with Brooke - she might have been somewhat judgemental of the rest of the gang. I got that vibe from her, that she would go there. Since Jason is a Rastafarian, far as I can tell, she probably didn’t get along all that well with some of her co-contestants. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/184 "2008-05-01T19:19:56Z")
I liked Natasha. Not enough to buy a record but she was fun to watch, and she looked like she was enjoying herself. Brooke could have learned a thing or two from her performance. EW referred to Brooke as the “sentimental favorite”. What do you think they meant by that? I agree with the poster above who described Syesha as sounding the same as many other female black Idol contestants, but that can be said for all of the contestants. Except for Cook, none of them stand out (in a positive way) from the years past. The white boy band types sound alike, the white boy rockers sound alike, the white girl rockers sound alike, the country singers sound alike (and why haven’t there been any male country singers?). ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/185 "2008-05-01T19:28:38Z")
Someone has posted the farewell performance on [YouTube](http://youtube.com/watch?v=C3tNPSDjaFs) (which was mostly cut off on my TiVo). Wow, yeah, awkward doesn’t even begin to go there. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/186 "2008-05-01T19:45:48Z")
[QUOTE=AuntiePam] (and why haven’t there been any male country singers?). [/QUOTE] They usually don’t make it to the 24. One exception was Bucky Covington, who’s having a fairly successful country career now. ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/187 "2008-05-01T19:47:31Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] They usually don’t make it to the 24. One exception was Bucky Covington, who’s having a fairly successful country career now. [/QUOTE] Josh Gracin as well. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2008, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/188 "2008-05-01T19:51:56Z")
[QUOTE=DudleyGarrett] Josh Gracin as well. [/QUOTE] Yep, good one. ---
**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:** [May 1, 2008, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/189 "2008-05-01T23:04:39Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] And that differentiates him from whom, exactly? [/QUOTE] Everyone else in the competition. Most get a look of relief, a few will just smile about it, David C. mouths “Thank you”. But no matter how will David A. performs, no matter how much of a 100% lead-pipe lock he is to be safe, he’s still up there with his mirror-perfected look of shock and his “Oh my God”. Seriously…early on he was pulling more votes than any half-dozen other contestants combined; yes he was still pulling that same act. That kind of phoniness just grates at me. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/190 "2008-05-02T01:36:17Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Brooke doing the Monkees…and this is terrible. The worst she’s ever sounded. I think this is the first time I’ve ever thought she really sounded _bad_. That “woo” was really irritating as well. [/QUOTE] Two words Country Fair ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/191 "2008-05-02T09:33:24Z")
[QUOTE=Hal Briston] Everyone else in the competition. Most get a look of relief, a few will just smile about it, David C. mouths “Thank you”. But no matter how will David A. performs, no matter how much of a 100% lead-pipe lock he is to be safe, he’s still up there with his mirror-perfected look of shock and his “Oh my God”. Seriously…early on he was pulling more votes than any half-dozen other contestants combined; yes he was still pulling that same act. That kind of phoniness just grates at me. [/QUOTE] That didn’t happen with the [top 7](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icwN_Kh8sQI). There was no “Oh my God” with the [top 8](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQqEj0iQ6ao). Just a look of relief, and maybe an “Oh my,” with the [top ten](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idphO5y97UY). Couldn’t really tell if he said the G word. Just a smile and what I think is a “Thank you guys” with the [top 12](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgsp-bPWyY8). Nothing but a smile and a quiet “Thanks” with [the top 9](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNrarzjQVbw). I guess you could say there are looks of relief in there, which as you say “most get”. Plenty of "thank you"s, which I guess look good only on the noble David C. You know what I hate about the evil David Archuleta? He’s well behaved and disciplined. He thanks the judges for bad criticism as well as good. He is humble and deferential. He’s quiet and always has a ready smile. He doesn’t feel entitled to anything, and appreciates everything. Oh my God, what a fucking monster. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/192 "2008-05-02T12:52:29Z")
Who is saying he’s a monster? People have said they find him annoying, that’s all. And that they think he comes across as insincere at times. I think you’re overreacting, and have been for quite a while, when it comes to defending David A. ---
**Author:** ![KSO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@KSO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSO)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/193 "2008-05-02T15:45:47Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] Don’t be hatin’ on my bro. He can’t help it. [/QUOTE] Touche. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/194 "2008-05-02T15:56:58Z")
[QUOTE=OpalCat] Who is saying he’s a monster? People have said they find him annoying, that’s all. And that they think he comes across as insincere at times. I think you’re overreacting, and have been for quite a while, when it comes to defending David A. [/QUOTE] Well, if you want to make it personal, I think you and the many who agree with you have been overly critical of him — everything from how he licks his lips to how he picks his songs. The post to which I responded painted him as a person who stands in front of a mirror (“mirror perfected”) practicing how to be shocked, even when the fact is that he has never appeared shocked until this week when DialIdol results gave him every reason to believe he might be going home. People are just making stuff up. Honestly, it isn’t just the depth of criticism, it’s the breadth. He has a large number of attackers here, and very few defenders. It takes more water to put out a whole slew of brush fires than it does to put out a small campfire. But I don’t blame you for your reaction. It’s only natural to see something sinister in someone else’s motives while seeing only reasonableness in our own. > [@KSO](#): > > Touche. 🙂 😉 ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/195 "2008-05-02T16:05:04Z")
How is that “making it personal”? I mean, any more personal than any post that addresses another person’s post? I think you’ve misrepresented the way that people have complained. You are portraying our complaints as calling him “a monster” when nobody has done anything even remotely like that. I think that’s a bit disingenuous and unfair. The vast majority of complaints against him have been that he’s boring. A few people have mentioned mannerisms that they find annoying. Nobody has come even close to saying he is a horrible person, as you insinuated. (And I think that people have been just as critical of things that other contestants have done, but I don’t see you charging in on your white horse to defend them…) ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/196 "2008-05-02T17:25:45Z")
(Just to add: that wasn’t meant to sound confrontational at the end, there. Simply matter-of-fact. I think that sometimes I mean to come across simply as direct and it gets read as hostile because of the whole internet text medium thing.) ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/197 "2008-05-05T16:25:03Z")
So is it true that they only released studio versions of one of the two songs sung last week for each contestant, instead of both? ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/198 "2008-05-05T16:43:19Z")
[QUOTE=OpalCat] So is it true that they only released studio versions of one of the two songs sung last week for each contestant, instead of both? [/QUOTE] Yep that looks to be the case, at least according to Brooke and David Archu-D2’s pages there. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/199 "2008-05-05T16:53:19Z")
[QUOTE=OpalCat] And I think that people have been just as critical of things that other contestants have done, but I don’t see you charging in on your white horse to defend them. [/QUOTE] You missed it, then. I defended David Cook numerous times when people were talking about his alleged “combover”, for example. (He was not as popular here early on.) As I’ve said repeatedly, I like both Davids. In fact, David C has averaged higher than David A in my grades listings. > [@](#): > > So is it true that they only released studio versions of one of the two songs sung last week for each contestant, instead of both? Yes. These are the ones NOT released. David Cook: All I Really Need Is You Jason Castro: September Morn Brooke White: I’m A Believer David Archuleta: America Syesha Mercado: Thank the Lord for the NightTime ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2008, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374/200 "2008-05-06T00:36:51Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] You missed it, then. I defended David Cook numerous times when people were talking about his alleged “combover”, for example. (He was not as popular here early on.) As I’ve said repeatedly, I like both Davids. In fact, David C has averaged higher than David A in my grades listings. [/QUOTE] I don’t think that arguing a semantics point about a contestant’s hairstyle is the same as saying that people are unjustified in criticizing their singing, or that they are being unfairly harsh, etc. I haven’t seen you get nearly as defensive about any other contestant when we’ve criticized _their performance_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-idol-4-29-4-30/447374.md?page=11)