I agree with Dung Beetle on this one. The judges are part of what makes the show fun for me to watch. I enjoy those, “Oh, Paula” moments, and I think Simon’s right to roll his eyes when he doesn’t like something and everyone boos. Who do you think knows more about the music industry and what will sell, Simon or the audience? For those who think the judges should give better musical critiques: What kind of critique are they supposed to form live on-air and be able to give in 20 seconds? I think it’s up to the voice coaches and/or whatever celebrity guest coach they’re working with that week to make those constructive points.
Exactly. People who want to get rid of the judges don’t understand how much a part of the entertainment they are! If you got rid of Simon, I’d imagine viewership would plummet, especially in the early shows. You watch the first couple weeks BECAUSE of Simon.
This was the only performance by Ace that I thought was pretty decent.
Maybe it’s my imagination, but it looked like Chris was trying real hard to keep some distance from Seacrest after his song. Seacrest put an arm around Chris’s shoulders and Chris moved as far away as he could, and tried to stay away. What’s up with that? He looked uncomfortable.
Wow! I have never before in an AI thread have I agreed with someone so completely. I would just ditto your comments with three short caveats:
Cowell is going nowhere, It’s his show, he’s the executive producer and creator. In fact, other networks are clamoring for his non-Idol dregs, like AmericanInventor. If it is actually a war between then, Seacrist is out.
I’m shocked that Ace wasn’t the worst since a week before Chicken Big left. Hate the falsetto, though.
Kellie did great, but the song lyrics were a little too on the nose. Creepy.
Paris did show a major weakness in dynamics. “How Do I Live” is punctuated by a split tag line. The words “How do I live” should be strong followed by a quieter (and lower) “without you”. She was good when she can belt it out, weaker when she has to pull back.
I was sad it was almost all pop-country. THe only one that went out of the genre was Katherine, and she just pretended the song was country.
Maybe they didn’t get along when they filmed The Fast and the Furious together.
Speaking of “How do I live”, it always grates on my nerves because whoever sings it (Paris included) sounds like they’re saying “how do I leave.” It probably helps the “how do I breathe” part rhyme, but I hate it.
I really need to shake my Idol habit. I thought everyone was sub-par and I’m getting embarrassed by the Simon/Ryan bickering.
She messed up a word in the first line too (What kind of love would that be - it’s supposed to be what kind of LIFE would that be IIRC).
The audience automatically boos Simon almost as soon as he opens his mouth. Last night he got annoyed about being booed when all he said was he didn’t like the SONG. Randy and Paula can say they don’t like the SONG all the time and they don’t get booed. The song isn’t the same as the singer. I don’t blame Simon for getting annoyed about that. There are also some times I’ve seen him actually try to be contructive only to get booed so loudly he can’t be heard, then he gets off so Ryan can say something stupid. Frankly, I don’t think the “Cruise Ship” or “Wedding Singer” critique is that cruel, basically he’s saying “you could make a living singing but you won’t be a star”. The show is about finding a star.
Paula is fun to watch just for the unpredictability factor. I think she was on downers last night or she was hungover. She was rather subdued. What’s most annoying about her is really that she rarely comes up with an opinion of her own, 95% of the time she mirrors whatever Randy says or just blathers on about how they were true to themselves.
Randy is Randy but he does need a new scthick… several new schticks.
I forgot to vote, I hope no one I liked is in danger or I’ll feel bad although I doubt the 10 votes I usually make would save anyone. But I get paranoid about that ever since Tamyra Gray went home when I forgot to vote that night.
So… *you’re * the one I can blame for Tamyra. Boo…hiss.
My mother called for a solid hour last night and got through for Katharine over 30 times. That’s a little scary. I just tried off and on throughout the whole time and never could get through for her or Chris. I did get through for Elliot three times in a row though! And my dad, who for some strange reason likes Kellie, only got through for her once.
I’m sure we were a funny sight last night (I always go watch AI with my parents since my husband doesn’t like it). I was sitting there holding my baby in one arm and my cell phone in the other, Mom was across from me in her recliner on her cell phone, and Dad was walking around the house trying to get things done while on his cell phone – all of us dialing furiously and my parents constantly asking me what the numbers for IDOLS are. Mom is yelling down the hall “You’d better be calling for 08! I just got through again.” and dad yells back “But I can’t get through for 06!”
And both constantly asking me who I’m calling for, as my strategy is to vote for both my favorites and some of the lower people that I still like so that they get enough votes to keep them on longer than people that I hate. Then they are all “What, you are voting for Bucky!” But he has really grown on me and I want him to last longer than Ace, even though I know he won’t, and shouldn’t, win it all.
Another random comment or two (they come to me at odd times):
I was glad to see Chris actually follow the genre this week instead of just following it in principal (like with Stevie and 50’s weeks). I thought he did great.
On the other hand, what was Bucky doing singing a Vertical Horizon song? 
That was only country because he sounds like a hillbilly. What was plan B if that song wasn’t available? If yer gon’ be ma lover, ye gotta git with ma friends?
He turns 68 in August. Maybe it’s time to let nature take it’s course and stop the plastic surgery.
And yeah. Safe, dull and boring summed up last night’s show. In fact the whole season has been a little safe, dull and boring
Why do people like Taylor? What an obnoxious twit.
Just for fun, my season ranking so far.
Katharine
Chris
Elliott
Bucky (probably gone after tonight)
Mandisa
Paris
Ace
Kellie
Taylor
It was remade recently by Gary Allan, a country dude. In a completely un-needed remake because it sounds almost completely like the original. Kind of like that pop version/country version of “I Can Love You Like That” (sorry for the ear worm) a few years back.
Oh, and Kellie sang OK but the idea of taking that song (about someone making the best of a shitty situation) and making it a happy grrl power song is quite annoying.
If somebody has the spleen to sing a song from Highlander/A Kind of Magic, I’m so there.
Heck, if somebody wants to prove that they can outclass Suzie McNeil on “Bohemian Rhapsody” I’m there to mock them. Y’know, come to think of it, there was an uncalled-for amount of Queen on Rock Star last year. Are the surviving members actively trying to get the TV airplay?
For whom do I vote? This was a weird week, where the usually sucky did alright, & the usually good did… just alright.
Taylor seemed uncomfortable. Really odd arrangement of the song.
Mandisa did alright. (That’s white boy for “just a’ight.”)
Elliott was good.
Paris was ok, but it’s not like anyone was awful.
Ace was pretty good, for him. He’s learning to sing within himself again, instead of listening to the judges & sabo-stretching.
Kellie was not impressive. This is her comfort zone? Then why is she just ok, when everybody’s doing just ok? Oh, yeah, she’s a hack.
Chris did better than he’s done in a while. Quite good.
I liked Katharine’s singing, though her goofy smiles seemed out of place to me.
Bucky–boy, you have another cool tone besides the growl! I was expecting him to go, but he was one of the best tonight!
So, I eventually voted for Bucky & Chris[sup]1[/sup] (the two best tonight), Elliott (also good), & Katharine (well, I liked it). Also some for the two goofballs, Paris & Taylor[sup]1[/sup], based on previous performances & general chops. Even though Taylor’s rendition of a song I like was uncomfortable for me. I think he & Kellie were two of the least impressive tonight, not that anyone was bad, exactly.
Mandisa probably has a fan base. Go home Ace. Go home Kellie.
[sub]1 To be fair, I barely voted for Chris & Taylor. I tried, but when, an hour & a half into the window, I can’t get through, I don’t feel a big need.[/sub]
I just read this post:
Wow. You & I saw the same show. Not sure what DKW was watching…
Hee. Didn’t Queen do “Flash–AH AH–Savior of the Universe!”? Please oh please someone do that!
But “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” was covered by Dwight Yoakum so I guess Bucky or Kellie will have a lock on that. Here’s an idea: have everyone do their version of “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.” It has a lot of possibilities for everyone to make it their own, and it’s mainstream/pop enough for a pop idol.
I read this thread, & I’m struck by how one person will say X, & the next will say quite the opposite! Which reinforces my feeling about the show last night. I honestly can’t call this week’s results–except that Taylor (who may be trying futilely to sandbag out, for all I can tell) & Chris are safe as houses, & that’s only 'cos I got busy signals trying to vote for’em.
For myself I don’t feel like I know whom to cut (except for my previously established disappointment in Ace & Kellie). It’s an odd point in the competition to be this…even.
And that’s good. It means that finally, we have a crop of finalists worthy of the name. No Savol, no Covais, no John Stevens. The worst tonight were… not that bad, tonight.