# Idol finale **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 17, 2009, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728 "2009-05-17T06:55:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/181 "2009-05-21T04:21:42Z")
I’ve also seen them accusing him of being an atheist, though. Obviously, one can be ethnically Jewish without being a believer. I don’t know if Adam believes or not, but there’s no contradiction between being atheist and ethnically Jewish. Anyway, it’s not ME mking these characterizations, it’s them. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/182 "2009-05-21T04:22:48Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > So is Paul McCartney’s. So therefore Paul McCartney can’t sing or compose? Paul McCartney is a hell of a bass player, FYI. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/183 "2009-05-21T04:25:51Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > I assume that the notion of calling one contestant “monkey-faced” while professing not to understand how American Idol generates hostility is meant as irony? I guess it would be if that’s what I had done, which it isn’t. I was saying that one _particular_ criticism made no sense in that the other guy was even more guilty of what was being criticized than the guy they were criticizing. ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/184 "2009-05-21T04:31:37Z")
So, did y’all see [this](http://www.fox16.com/news/local/story/Conway-reacts-to-Kris-win/sv8BNSsGY0G8GRZWSr0fRw.cspx)? > [@](#): > > AT&T says about 38 million American Idol votes came from Arkansas last night. Chances are, most of those came from Kris’ home town of Conway. More than a third of the votes came from Arkansas??? ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/185 "2009-05-21T04:40:55Z")
> [@BetsQ](#): > > More than a third of the votes came from Arkansas??? Well, what else would they have to do last night? As Kris himself said “there’s not that much going on in Arkansas.” ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/186 "2009-05-21T04:42:37Z")
That can’t be right. The entire population of the state is [less than 3 million](http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/05000.html). Maybe they dropped a decimal point. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/187 "2009-05-21T04:43:06Z")
That brings it back to the more sane argument that people who supported Kris voted more than people who supported Adam, rather than some bizarre hysteria about religious warfare. Personally, I think the difference came from “tweeners”. According to our oldest grand daughter, Kris is “soooooo cute”. She dialed God only knows how many times. Not because he’s Christian (if he is), but because she’d like to hang up a poster of him, or squeal over a magazine with a shirtless photograph. She lives in Kansas City, MO, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/188 "2009-05-21T04:46:42Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I guess it would be if that’s what I had done, which it isn’t. > > I was saying that one _particular_ criticism made no sense in that the other guy was even more guilty of what was being criticized than the guy they were criticizing. You act as if there’s some objective thing called “monkey faces” that nobody can dispute Kris made. I myself have no idea what you’re talking about. It sounds like childish name calling. You might as well call him “poopy head.” Also, I don’t know where this idea that Paul McCartney is only a “basic” piano player. Again, nothing to prove or disprove, since I don’t know what the objective meaning of “basic” means (he plays all the notes in the song at the right time?), but the guy plays a nice board. Been playing piano longer than he’s been playing any other instrument. I think if anything Adam merely fell into the same camp as Chris Doughtry, which is that his fans don’t actually vote. They just wail and cry if other people don’t vote for their own favorite. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/189 "2009-05-21T04:51:27Z")
> [@BetsQ](#): > > So, did y’all see [this](http://www.fox16.com/news/local/story/Conway-reacts-to-Kris-win/sv8BNSsGY0G8GRZWSr0fRw.cspx)? > > More than a third of the votes came from Arkansas??? If true, that’s pretty amazing, considering the entire state population is about 3 million. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/190 "2009-05-21T04:54:45Z")
Has anyone mentioned that the population of Arkansas is 3 million? ---
**Author:** ![Rachael\_Rage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71c47a/32.png) [@Rachael\_Rage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachael_Rage)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/191 "2009-05-21T04:57:40Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > That can’t be right. The entire population of the state is [less than 3 million](http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/05000.html). Maybe they dropped a decimal point. That’s only 12 votes for every man, woman and child in the state. OK, so most of them don’t vote, but I voted 880 times last night, and I wasn’t even trying very hard. (_sob!_) Let’s say “only” 250,000 people voted, that’s still only 152 votes per person. That’s not to say the reported figures aren’t absurdly inflated, but it is possible that a few people voted _a lot_. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/192 "2009-05-21T04:57:56Z")
Has anybody mentioned that you can vote more than once? It would only take 160,000 people power voting to generate 38 million votes. So five percent of Arkansas being really into this shit is not inconceivable. Edit: and I was calculating one call per 30 seconds for two hours. I forgot the finale goes longer. Anyway, Rachel’s numbers suggest that I was conservative. ---
**Author:** ![Satellite\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Satellite\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satellite_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/193 "2009-05-21T04:59:05Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Has anyone mentioned that the population of Arkansas is 3 million? Y’know, I heard somewhiere that the population of Arkansas is 3 million… ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/194 "2009-05-21T05:27:33Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > You act as if there’s some objective thing called “monkey faces” that nobody can dispute Kris made. I myself have no idea what you’re talking about. It sounds like childish name calling. You might as well call him “poopy head.” Entirely the opposite of the mature, sober and objective observations about Lambert opening his mouth too wide or “screeching,” huh? In point of fact, Kris had a habit of grimacing hideously when he sang, in a parody of deep, artistic emotion. It threw his already simian features into rather unfortunate relief. That’s ok, I’m not Johnny Depp. My point is that fixating on facial expressions is s stupid voting criterion. I don’t vote, but if I voted, I wouldn’t not-vote for Kris because of his monkey faces. I would not-vote for him because of his bland mediocrity. Listening to him is like sipping a nice warm cup of plain water. > [@](#): > > Also, I don’t know where this idea that Paul McCartney is only a “basic” piano player. Again, nothing to prove or disprove, since I don’t know what the objective meaning of “basic” means (he plays all the notes in the song at the right time?), but the guy plays a nice board. Been playing piano longer than he’s been playing any other instrument. **Lib** is the one who said that about Sir Paul, not me (I think he’s a great bassist and a fair country guitarist. I don’t think I’ve ever paid that much attention to his piano playing. He infamously can’t read music, though, so maybe that’s what Lib meant), but what I meant when I called Kris “basic,” is that he just plays the chords without a lot of fills or phrasing or color. His piano playing is the equivalent of just strumming the open guitar chords down at the nut. It’s beginner’s level. I suspect that they just gave him some simplified arrangements to make him look more versitile than he really is. They did the same thing with that blind guy (I forgot his name already), when they hung a guitar on him that he obviously had almost no idea how to play. > [@](#): > > I think if anything Adam merely fell into the same camp as Chris Doughtry, which is that his fans don’t actually vote. They just wail and cry if other people don’t vote for their own favorite. I would have a scathing comeback for that if it wasn’t completely true in my case. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/195 "2009-05-21T05:34:24Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I never vote. Cynic. ---
**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 21, 2009, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/196 "2009-05-21T05:35:11Z")
I loved the whole show. What a spectacle, in the biggest, gaudiest, loudest meaning of the word! If Adam did a studio version of “Beth” and kept it under control like he did tonight for the whole thing, I’d buy that. He has a pure, lovely tone to his voice when he isn’t screeching. Chances are good that I will buy Kris’ album, too, especially if he leaves the funk in it. If he de-funkifies everything, he’ll just be another boring, slightly pleasant guitarist and vocalist. ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/197 "2009-05-21T05:53:07Z")
So how close of a win was it actually? God, now I have to wait eight months for it to start again. David Cook rocks. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/198 "2009-05-21T05:57:00Z")
There is no question that Adam’s loss was due to his being gay. Absolutely none. Kris is a very pleasant singer, but Adam crushed all of them under his 8-inch glittery platform shoes. And as for Adam being no Mercury… Brain May was clearly pleased with Adam. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/199 "2009-05-21T05:58:06Z")
Oh, and this was FAR and away the most entertaining Idol show ever, no contest. ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2009, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/200 "2009-05-21T06:02:51Z")
When Adam isn’t shrieking, I like his performances. The only Idol song I bought on iTunes this year is “Mad World” by Adam. But, he does tend to shriek in most songs, and I could never see myself wanting to listen to that in my car or at home, so I would never buy those. Kris can sound boring and mediocre if he is given the wrong song, but with the right song choice he sounds great. How they both do in their careers from now on (and how famous they eventually become) depends on how good they are with song choices that work for them. In the end, it doesn’t matter who won. History has shown that anyone who is in the top 3-5 can make it. Adam is lucky that his first single won’t have to be that song from Kara. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728.md?page=11)