American Idol 5/15

[Liberal]

I think Blake’s dad looks like Stephen Root (Milton in Office Space.)

[Liberal]

@Sam Stone

One thing I’ll say about Blake - after seeing his homecoming video, I’ve decided that I truly like the guy. He didn’t seem overly ego-centric or overly humble or at all fake - just a nice guy who hit the big time and is having a gas. And the love he showed for his dad, and his willingness to hug him and give him a peck on the cheek in public just says something very good about his character. And notice that when he and Melinda were standing there, Blake called her a ‘machine’, and fully expected to go home. And to his credit, he actually looked a bit angry when Melinda got the book, as in, “Are you people deaf? She’s way better than I am!” He seemed truly upset that she was voted off. So… I like Blake.

Melinda should have won this thing. She’s maybe the best singer the show’s ever had (from what I’ve watched of it), and I disagree with those who say she has no emotion - she knows exactly how to sell a song. I’ll buy her CD, for sure. If there’s still room in the music business for a new Tina Turner, Melinda will do well. If not, well… She’s from Nashville, and there’s a big, big musical scene there. She’ll find a niche somewhere, now that people know who she is and what she can do. She won’t be flipping burgers in five years, that’s for sure.

But given that she didn’t win, I’m at least happy that the final two appear to be decent people. No head-cases or ego trips. Just a couple of young people having the time of their lives. So that’s cool.

It remains to be seen if Blake can put together a career with his talent. I agree that he’s not quite the singer the other two were, but I think he could easily put on the best stage show of the final three. And they can do magic in the studio to remove whatever imperfections he’s got. His voice is somewhat thin, so they’ll double-track it and put some backing vocals behind it. If he goes a little out of tune here and there, they’ll auto-tune it out of existence. So he can make a good sounding record, and put on a great show on tour. That could be big. So what remains is whether he can come up with an album of compelling songs that are both radio-friendly but don’t make him come off as a musical lightweight. He’s got to find a little more edge than he’s shown so far.

I don’t know about Jordin. Great singer, but aren’t there a million just like her? And her taste seems to be more towards older torch songs and power ballads. That puts her in some seriously tough company. I hate Celine Dion with a passion, but she can sing amazingly well. Put Jordin in the record bin with Celine, Mariah Carey, Beyonce’, Whitney, and the other pop divas, and does she really stand out? I don’t know. Unless she puts out a CD of stellar songs, I probably won’t listen to it.

I agree with everything you said about Blake, but I think his voice is better than you do. I like his voice. It has a certain Phil Collins quality about it — a vulnerability. The thing about Jordin, to me, isn’t that there are a million like her. It’s that there are a million better than her that do her type of singing.

[Hampshire]

@Sam Stone

I don’t know about Jordin. Great singer, but aren’t there a million just like her? And her taste seems to be more towards older torch songs and power ballads. That puts her in some seriously tough company. I hate Celine Dion with a passion, but she can sing amazingly well. Put Jordin in the record bin with Celine, Mariah Carey, Beyonce’, Whitney, and the other pop divas, and does she really stand out? I don’t know. Unless she puts out a CD of stellar songs, I probably won’t listen to it.

That was my thought. Do we really need another artist to include on the “Light Hits 105.7” or “Easy Listening WEZW” rotation list?
But then again what the hell do I know? Apparently the Soundtracks for Titanic and The Bodyguard are some of the best selling albums out there.

[Sampiro]

Blake’s fun with a pleasant voice and seems like a sweet guy, kind of like Sanjaya with less gay and more personality and talent. Jordin is just a powerhouse talent trying to find herself. I wouldn’t have had a problem if Blake had beaten Jordin for the final 2 or if Jordin had beaten Blake. (Mmmm… beating Blake… CB antenna… big boo-tay… Bad Idol Finalist, BAD!..

Sorry, got off track…

I thought it would have been hysterical if the mayor of Nashville had changed the name of Melinda Doolittle St. to Blake Lewis “because we only honor winners here!”, OR if Melinda had dropped the humble act and gone totally postal when voted off, finally having to be drug from the stage by guards after ripping out Ryan’s hair implants, Jordin’s weave, and a patch of Blake’s chest hair all while trying to attack Simon. But, I think she really is sincerely that nice a person.

[Sampiro]

@Liberal

I think Blake’s dad looks like Stephen Root (Milton in Office Space.)

And I got a Dan Akroyd character (especially the pear shape and huge butt) or a not quite as fat John Candy character.

Is Blake a blonde who dyed his hair dark or a brunette who dyed it dirty blonde for a while?

[Liberal]

I wonder whether the CMA awards had anything to do with it. Seacrest said the votes were close, and if all around Nashville people were watching the other show, they might simply have not voted, reasoning that Melinda would be safe anyway.

[Nature_s_Call]

Put Blake’s dad on a remote island for a while. I’ll bet he’d start to look like this guy.

[vivalostwages]

Isn’t Seacrest just doing what the producers prompt him to do, at least most of the time, in regard to the Simon-baiting and so on?

[Phlosphr]

@vivalostwages

Isn’t Seacrest just doing what the producers prompt him to do, at least most of the time, in regard to the Simon-baiting and so on?

Perhaps, but it appears to this mass market fool that they have a legit gripe. I could be wrong.

[Kalhoun]

@Phlosphr

Perhaps, but it appears to this mass market fool that they have a legit gripe. I could be wrong.

I saw Simon on an interview a few weeks ago. It’s a big love fest between the four of them. They’re genuinely friendly toward each other. It’s all part of the act.

[yellowval]

Yes, I saw an interview (I think it was with Simon) once and he admitted that he, Randy, and Ryan are all friends. I recall something with them all getting on a plane together, and if I remember correctly it was for a non-work-related trip. Paula wasn’t mentioned in that interview from what I recall. Of course, it could have just been another one of my crazy dreams, but I don’t think so this time.

[vivalostwages]

@Kalhoun

I saw Simon on an interview a few weeks ago. It’s a big love fest between the four of them. They’re genuinely friendly toward each other. It’s all part of the act.

I saw something similar some time ago, with Simon and Ryan appearing on a nightly talk show together.

[Rebo]

@Phlosphr

I think Blakes Dad looks exactly like Blake Clark from Waterboy and other Adam Sandler movies.

That’s him!! Thank you.

[lissener]

I’m without cable this week, so I’m only catching the performances on YouTube, etc. Thankfully not having to FF through all the non-performance glurge that pads out every AI show.

Though Melinda is the best singer the show has ever had, I don’t think there was a miscarriage of justice: she undoubtedly appeals to an older demographic than that which probably makes up the bulk of the AI voting audience. Plus, she’s demonstrated her talent sufficiently that she’ll have the major labels climbing over each other to give her a contract. No way we’ve seen the last of her.

Plus, Blake and Jordin have done nothing but improve consistently over the last few weeks, while Melinda hit 10/10 from the beginning. Perfection can be boring.

Either Jordin or Blake can win now and I’ll be cool. They’re both young and immensely talented, and I for one am looking forward to their maturing talents.

[Saint_Cad]

DVR went “boop-boop” early. What was Simon’s comment on Melinda losing?

[lissener]

Hey, was Simon quick enough on his feet to go, “OK Melinda, NOW you act surprised.”?

[DanBlather]

So did Blake have the best day ever or what? Get to go ON TOP of the Space needle, fly in a float plane, then sing before a Mariner’s game.

[Icarus]

Here’s an idea, kills two birds with one stone…

Get rid of Ryan and replace him with Blake!

He’s got the right cheery delivery without the creepy nerd-trying-to-be-hip vibe. He skews young and contemporary, and he can actually sing fairly well. He could host and perform occassionally.

It’s brilliant!

[Sampiro]

@Icarus

Here’s an idea, kills two birds with one stone…

Get rid of Ryan and replace him with Blake!

He’s got the right cheery delivery without the creepy nerd-trying-to-be-hip vibe. He skews young and contemporary, and he can actually sing fairly well. He could host and perform occassionally.

Kind of like this generation’s Deney Terrio or Adrian Zmed.

Where have you gone
Deney Terrio
A nation turns it’s mournful eyes to you…
Whoo ooh ooh

What’s that you say
Miss P. Abdhul
Deney sued Merv for sex harassment and went away
Hey ayy ayy…ayy ayyy

[MoodIndigo1]

@Kalhoun

Well, I’m bummed. But Melinda is going to do well. As much as I didn’t want to see it, Jordin has youth on her side. I’m not sad to see that she’s going to win, but she’s not the best. Not by a long shot.

A kindred spirit. Exactly my feelings. Jordin may develop into a fine singer, she already is damn good, but she wasn’t the best, not by a mile.

However, facing Blake, Jordin has a sure win-- provided all her fans keep on voting for her.