American Idol: Movie Night (4/14)

Cafe Society
41

I’ve been battling the flu for the past few days and didn’t feel like keeping track of the performances to write an opinion later. In fact, most of my scribbled comments are
“George- meh
Diana-meh
Fantasia-meh
Jasmine-meh”

I think Storyteller’s comments came closest to my opinion, but I’ll try and add a few more comments.

Fantasia-I just don’t like her voice or watching her sing. Sure she did well, but I much prefer the original. Best performance of Idol, ever? Give me a break.

Jennifer pulled it off, but yeah, she’s no Whitney. For some reason people don’t like her enough to vote for her. Every online poll I have seen to vote for your favorite Idol, she comes in last. She does have a good powerful voice but she’s not winning fans. It may be the scary faces or lack of personality, but she may not make it to the final 5 even, if she doesn’t start winning more people over. I thought her hair and dress were an attempt to make her look softer and less threatening.

JPL- I don’t like him, I couldn’t even watch his horrid dancing. I think he will be safe this week though, which is unfortunate because he’s out of his league.

Jasmine and Diana- These two had such potential in earlier rounds, what happened? Diana practially commited suicide with that Celine Dion number. Yeah, they are probably out of their league with George, LaToya, Fantasia and Jennifer, but there are still better singers that John S or JPL. Unfortunately, I think one of them might go tonight.

John S- I like him but I don’t think he belongs on the show, he’s too young and he is way out of his league. I think he did well with his song choice, it is his “thing”, but I do think he should be the one to go tonight (Actually, I really think it should be JPL, but I don’t think that will realisticly happen).

LaToya- QT’s real comment was “I have 3 words for you 'F-ing Power House”. He actually said “F-ing” not the full word but they had to keep everyone after the show and refilm his comment and the reaction. Apparently, you can’t even say “F”.

Bottom 3 will probably be
John S
Diana
Jasmine

It could be any of them that goes.

42

I don’t want to like Fantasia, her attitude bugs me, but almost every week she has given me goosebumps. I think she’s a true artist. Last night was stunning. Latoya is so poised and lovely, I hope she has a wonderful career - wonder if she can act.

43

Dio, I absolutely agree that there are songs on which John is just plain awful. He should never have attempted “Crocodile Rock,” and “My Girl” was the worst thing he’s done yet. The reason I like him, though, more than a lot of other singers, is that he’s doing something I can’t get somewhere else. I enjoy a lot of types of music. I like the diva belting high notes to the skies and I like the mellow voiced crooner. The thing is, there aren’t many mellow voiced crooners around these days, whereas you trip over a belting diva every time you change the radio station. So John is something different, and when he does his thing - as he did last night - he does it very well (IMO).

Whereas Jennifer, I think, does not do her thing well. I respectfully disagree that she is anything like the best pure singer in the contest. She may be the loudest. But she has no control - all she can do is sing very loud for very long periods of time. She’s all over the place - as she goes up and down in her range the timbre of her voice varies incredibly. LaToya and Fantasia, at least, are better than she is in terms of pure singing ability, and miles ahead of her in terms of presentation.

So, OK, how’s this: I think that John is better at what John does well than Jennifer is at what she does well. John is a better crooner than Jennifer is a belter (again, IMO, of course). And I feel this way especially since there are really three other women doing what Jennifer does in this particular final eight: Jasmine, Diana, and LaToya (Fantasia, I think, is slightly different). If I’m voting someone out, I’d rather keep the variety, so that every week isn’t just a lineup of women screaming high F-sharps at the top of their lungs for three minutes.

Jon Peter Lewis, I think, is a novelty act. He, again, is good at what he does, but it’s going to wear thin because while I would probably buy a CD of John S. singing mellow standards, and I would definitely buy a CD of LaToya doing pop-theatre crossover (does anyone with musical theater inclinations think she’d make a wonderful Aida?), I would never buy a JPL CD.

And meanwhile, George is the sleeper, isn’t he? Even when he has an off week, like this week, he’s top three or four. LaToya’s the same way, but I dunno… I don’t think the voting body loves her the way it does George.

44

I missed the John Stevens/towel thing, but I’m guessing blindingly white with no tone. Am I right? (The boy is just too young for this competition.)

Did anybody think Simon’s comment about Fantasia’s lips was racist? It’s causing a stir on some other MBs.

45

Fantasia came me goosebumps. I thought she sounded very controlled on 'Summertime". It wasn’t George’s best night, but I enjoy his voice and I hope he sticks around. John Peter Lewis was better than he has been in awhile, but he’s really not much of a singer. He is, however, my official TV Boyfriend and I want to see that Herbal Essences commercial a few more times. Yum, JPL in a towel!

46

I am a trained female singer, and Randy & Paula’s constant “pitchy” comments annoy me because most of the time they are just wrong. Oddly enough, not one of the judges commented on Jasmine’s final note, which just hurt.

Fantasia & LaToya chose two of the best songs ever written for the female voice. To me, Fantasia’s voice is whiny, but the song is so good that it made her sound much better than normal. LaToya’s vocals were almost flawless. I think she deserves to win the competition.

John has a future as a Harry Connick type singer, but just not yet.

JPL doesn’t have the chops to be an American Idol, but the star-making machinery could easily turn him into the next Sean Cassidy. I can definitely see his cute face plastered on the cover of every pre-teen magazine, and millions of pre-pubescent girls screaming their heads off at his concerts, which consist of bouncy pop songs tailored for him.

This was the week when the professional make-up, hair and wardrobe people kicked in. The lip gloss on the women singers was just luscious. I think the contestants will be looking much better from now on.

47

I have to agree with jsgoddess. Fantasia, George, and LaToya are my three faves, in that order. Fantasia gives me goosebumps, and her appearance, combined with that sexy, smoky voice of hers just gives me goosebumps.

I have a pretty big question: Did Fantasia do or say something specific that got her labelled as having a bad attitude? I may have missed a week or a performance along the way, but other than exuding confidence, that IMO, she SHOULD have with that voice, I haven’t seen anything too damning.

And her sitting on the stage last night totally fit the song. Just before she came on, I told my wife that it was ridiculous that with a theme as broad as movies that none of the ladies were picking sultry, sexy, bluesy songs.

So what is it about Fantasia?

48

Racist? Gosh, no! I can’t even fathom how anyone could interpret what he said as a racist statement. His comment combined with a dirty little wink was clearly meant as some kind of sexual innuendo. Besides, Fantasia was the first person to ever comment on her big lips. She said something along of the lines of … I have big lips, but even bigger talent.

49

Smoke, I can’t recall exactly what Fantasia said that made me decide she had a bad attitude. A couple of weeks ago, she had just finished her song, then Randy and Paula gushed about her performance, and Simon began to give her some criticism, when she just brusquely blew him off. It had a “talk to the hand” vibe about it.

50

Around the second week or so, Fantasia came on wearing what I thought was an elegant black evening dress, and did a very nice song.

Simon told her that it looked like something her mother should have worn. (I don’t think he blasted her singing; it was just the outfit.)

Fantasia came back with a sassy “Simon, you just don’t know CLASS!”

The week after that, when he made another critical statement, she just gave a humph, and said something which conveyed that she didn’t care what Simon had to say.

In terms of overall talent, I’d have to say LaToya and Fantasia are the best. LaToya just puts out a smooth, polished performance no matter what the genre, and just seems to be a professional already. While Fantasia’s voice is not my style, I have to admit that she also pulls off a well-done song every time. (Though, as some have mentioned, I could do with out the patented yeah-yeah-yeah in every song.) I’d put Jennifer in third, and I’m seeing George at fourth and rising. I thought his performances in the first few weeks were serviceable, but a bit weak. His beautiful personality pulled him through the first few weeks — it’s hard to keep from loving the guy. I was really pleased to see him grow and really nail his songs the past few weeks. This week’s song was only back in so-so territory, though.

Then we have the second tier — Diana, JPL, John, and Jasmine.

I’ll have to say that nobody really stunk up the place this week. It
I think that the youth mafia will keep JPL and John in, and give Diana the boot this week.

51

Thanks, Dung Beetle. I seem to vaguely remember there was a sort of minor stir over Fantasia copping a 'tude. I somehow missed it though.

52

And I somehow miss YWalker’s detailed explanation while typing my tiny little thank you. Thanks to you too.

53

Last night.

The good –

George – I thought he was good, but not great. Much better than the judges said he was.

Jennifer – Good, but she should be careful. QT was right. She’s picked up her game, but she can’t blast every song, or she’s going to turn into a “screamer”

Fantasia – Not the best in AI history, but very good. #2 for the night.

La Toya – Just give it too her now. Great voice, and a great look too. #1 for the night

The So So –

Jasmine – Pick a simple song, and just sing it nice next week. Forget trying to wail, or belt it out.

JPL – Oye, if he’s a “rocker” so was Donny Osmond.

John Stevens – Steve Lawrence/Vic Damone. Not Sinatra. Good effort for him.

Diana – Her last week? But if she would have sang anything other song, she might not have gotten such a trashing by the judges.

kevja’s overall –

  1. La Toya

  2. George

  3. Fantasia (up from 6 last week)

  4. Jennifer

  5. Jasmine

  6. Diana

  7. JPL

  8. John Stevens

54

I very much agree with Lainaf. Those pitch complaints sometimes just come out of left field.

And while I’m thinking about it, I’ve been meaning to say this for quite some time. JPL reminds me of a 70s singer named John Davidson. Is anyone here old enough to remember him, and do you agree?

55

Yes, I remember him.

Kind of similar. Except, John Davidson never had a down minute before the camera. EVER. Always upbeat. It worked for him.

JPL might want to think about trying to be a little less “cool” and more engaging.

56

Sure, I remember John Davidson. Though some may be too young to remember his singing career, he might be better remembered as the host of “Hollywood Squares.”

As far as JPL reminding me of him – No. John Davidson was kindof cheesy and lounge-singery, but technically he was a very good singer. I’ve seen him on stage and he can not only sing, but he can dance and perform. JPL would do well to emulate him, but he’s not even in the ballpark. Sorry.

57

John Davidson? Is that the guy from That’s Incredible?

58

Are you certain about that? From the World Entertainment News Network:

59

Was it just me, or did anyone else think that was a HORRIBLE night of AI. They just picked some piss poor songs. Only a few were actually good.

My bottom three:

Jasmine
Diana
John Stevens

I think Diana goes… she doesn’t have the following and wasn’t that impressive last night.

I thought John Stevens picked a PERFECT song. Really liked what he did with that. George Huff laid an egg. Fantasia was 'ight, but nothing that special. Jennifer was good, but LaToya killed everyone, again!

As for Q’s cursing, couldn’t they have just ‘bleeped’ it?

60

I heard it on one of the entertainment news shows and it sounded to me like they said he didn’t actually say the “F” word but since you can’t even allude to it in that manner that it had to be cut. They could have had it wrong or I could have misheard them, I’ve had the flu for a few days so I may even have hallucinated that in a fever dream.