# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/61 "2009-05-20T14:03:56Z")
When Simon said “With the mountains and hurricanes and all”, rolling his eyes, Kara said “I know” like she understood what he was saying?!? Almost like she acknowledged it was crap? How did it take THREE people to write that thing? ---
**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 20, 2009, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/62 "2009-05-20T14:07:23Z")
Why should she be any more immune to criticism than the people she’s judging?If she’s going to take it upon herself to write a song, I think she should have to accept that the song is subject to being critiqued, and something HAD to be said about it, even obliquely. The suckiness of that song was an elephant in the room. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/63 "2009-05-20T14:30:51Z")
Even in the auditions round I don’t buy the whole line that people need to not have the balloons of their great big egos popped. It baffles me that so many people think it’s wrong to give feedback to grown ups. Are we all kindergartners who need constant affirmation that our crayon scribbles are inspired, that we are great artists? No. Those people are attempting to make a career at something they’ve put no effort or preparation into. It’s the perfect time to tell them something isn’t marvelous just because they’ve done it, and it’s just too bad that it took them so long to hear it. Now, for Kara, a professional songwriter with many hits under her belt, the whole idea that she’s a kindergartner who can’t have her bubble burst is beyond ridiculous. Seriously. If an engineer builds a car that won’t run, are we not supposed to tell him? If a doctor removes the wrong limb, are we so worried about his feelings that we don’t say anything? Professionals take criticism. Period. ---
**Author:** ![Long\_Time\_First\_Time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@Long\_Time\_First\_Time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Long_Time_First_Time)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/64 "2009-05-20T14:47:00Z")
> [@Fiddle\_Peghead](#): > > Just a few brief comments: > > Paula: Adam will be iconic. Huh? Ray Charles, Edith Piaf, Ludwig van Beethoven, Duke Ellington, etc etc etc: ICONS. Adam? Not a fucking chance. Let me repeat that: NOT A FUCKING CHANCE. EVER! This is a criticism of Paula, not Adam. For Adam, read on. In Paula’s world Cher, Elton John, Brittney Spears, and the Bee Gees are iconic. It could happen… ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/65 "2009-05-20T14:52:57Z")
Are vote totals per person ever officially or unofficially revealed? As Adam was the judge’s favorite all year I was surprised when they saved Matt Girard last month. TPTB were taking a chance that Adam wasn’t going home the next week. I am figuring the producers and the judges knew that Adam would not be in jeopardy, based on the number of votes he was getting. ---
**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 20, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/66 "2009-05-20T15:15:40Z")
> [@Long\_Time\_First\_Time](#): > > In Paula’s world Cher, Elton John, Brittney Spears, and the Bee Gees are iconic. > It could happen… I believe I heard Paula say that Kris’ first song was inspirational - you know, the song called “Ain’t No Sunshine,” which includes such inspirational lines as, “Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone. It’s not warm when she’s away. Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone And she’s always gone too long anytime she goes away.” All of the judges’ blather was irrelevant at best and idiotic at worst last night. I’m glad to see the opinion of Kara’s song is unanimous - Jim and I sort of looked at each other in disbelief while listening to it yesterday - are you kidding us? That’s the best song a team of three expert song-writers came up with? I make up better songs singing to my cats! And what was up with Kris singing it too high? Did he have no option to sing it lower, or was the song just not right for him? I gave Kris the slight edge in the turd-polishing contest because Adam was all around the key of the song without hitting it once; Kris was slightly more on key. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/67 "2009-05-20T15:23:09Z")
They should drop the whole idea of a coronation song celebrating the idol experience. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/68 "2009-05-20T16:12:35Z")
After “Mad World”, did Randy really say “Dude, I’m glad you picked a song from during the season”? Wasn’t that what they had to do? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/69 "2009-05-20T16:14:34Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > After “Mad World”, did Randy really say “Dude, I’m glad you picked a song from during the season”? Wasn’t that what they had to do? Yes, and yes. Your Idol judges at work: now with 25% more blather! ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/70 "2009-05-20T16:15:52Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Why should she be any more immune to criticism than the people she’s judging?If she’s going to take it upon herself to write a song, I think she should have to accept that the song is subject to being critiqued, and something HAD to be said about it, even obliquely. The suckiness of that song was an elephant in the room. I was talking about the timing of it, not that it wasn’t a crappy song. Like I said, it may have been scripted to come off exactly like it did. Who knows? No one said that Kara wasn’t deserving of ridicule for the song. You’d just think it wouldn’t come 15 seconds after she expressed immense pride of hearing one of her songs sung by a true artist. Is that clearer? I was talking about the timing. The timing, everyone. The fucking timing. ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/71 "2009-05-20T16:17:25Z")
> [@cricetus](#): > > Even in the auditions round I don’t buy the whole line that people need to not have the balloons of their great big egos popped. It baffles me that so many people think it’s wrong to give feedback to grown ups. Are we all kindergartners who need constant affirmation that our crayon scribbles are inspired, that we are great artists? No. Those people are attempting to make a career at something they’ve put no effort or preparation into. It’s the perfect time to tell them something isn’t marvelous just because they’ve done it, and it’s just too bad that it took them so long to hear it. > > Now, for Kara, a professional songwriter with many hits under her belt, the whole idea that she’s a kindergartner who can’t have her bubble burst is beyond ridiculous. Seriously. If an engineer builds a car that won’t run, are we not supposed to tell him? If a doctor removes the wrong limb, are we so worried about his feelings that we don’t say anything? Professionals take criticism. Period. Um, jesus, way to miss the point. But, go ahead, keep on with your condescension and unnecessary snark. It makes you appear smart. ---
**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 20, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/72 "2009-05-20T16:24:24Z")
The timing? That’s the only time Simon was going to get to talk about that song, and so what if she expressed pride in it? That’s all the more reason to hit her with a reality stick. ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/73 "2009-05-20T16:26:29Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > The timing? That’s the only time Simon was going to get to talk about that song, and so what if she expressed pride in it? That’s all the more reason to hit her with a reality stick. yeah, ok, dio, we hear you. everyone needs to hear that they suck all the time. So, did anyone else feel a little cringe after Simon’s comment? ---
**Author:** ![ekweizn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7c8e57/32.png) [@ekweizn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekweizn)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/74 "2009-05-20T16:27:56Z")
If it’s okay for the judges to criticize crappy arrangements by the singers’ advisors immediately after the song ends, then it should be okay for them to criticize crappy songs immediately, no? ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/75 "2009-05-20T16:32:02Z")
> [@ekweizn](#): > > If it’s okay for the judges to criticize crappy arrangements by the singers’ advisors immediately after the song ends, then it should be okay for them to criticize crappy songs immediately, no? I wouldn’t think so. The judges are supposed to critique contestants’ work, not other judges’ work, no? ---
**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 20, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/76 "2009-05-20T16:32:21Z")
Not to mention crappy performances by the singers. ---
**Author:** ![Squooshed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Squooshed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squooshed)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/77 "2009-05-20T16:55:26Z")
For what it’s worth, I didn’t cringe at Simon’s comment about the final song. My reaction was more along the lines of “Thank God someone’s saying what I’m thinking. That song was awful.” I thought that Kris’s first song was the best performance of the night, that Adam was better overall last night, and that Kris is likely to win because Gokey’s voters are more likely to vote for him. Either way though, I liked both of the contestants and won’t care much who wins. ---
**Author:** ![Brandus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@Brandus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brandus)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/78 "2009-05-20T16:56:07Z")
Simon is being Simon. It’s his role to speak his mind unfiltered, and he pretty much makes the show. During the season he’s called Paula’s remarks stupid, said Randy and Kara didn’t do their job right when their song choice sucked, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he told that Rwandan singer who was raising money for refugees in his homeland that he sucked. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/79 "2009-05-20T17:26:19Z")
I don’t have the capacity to feel sorry for Kara because Simon hurt her feewings, nor do I have the capacity to understand why anyone else gives a damn. The judges are extremely well paid for a very easy job, and still do a horrible job of it. That huge paycheck for an easy job is license to criticize them when they still do a half-assed (and sometimes, half-drunk) job of it. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728/80 "2009-05-20T17:29:16Z")
> [@DudleyGarrett](#): > > Um, jesus, way to miss the point. But, go ahead, keep on with your condescension and unnecessary snark. It makes you appear smart. What makes you think I missed your point? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idol-finale/496728.md?page=5)