3/11 Show

[Sweet Melissa]

I thought last nights show was a little boring..........I guess I expected so much more from the group with the Lennon/McCartney songs :(

I think David C. shined again-that boy will go far winner or not

I know this will make some fans angry but I really wanted to discuss this and see if I am the only one who thinks it is wrong.

In Carly's preshow interview she mentions that the song she is singing is one that she sings EVERY Saturday night at her bar. To me that makes it so unfair of her to get to sing that on competition night! She is already comfortable with the song, she has her "show" already worked out, she is already comfortable and confident with that song. Some of those kids had never heard of their song before (me either, truthfully) and had to come up with a version of it and a stage "show" of it in what? 3 or 4 days?? Not right in my opinion. Very, very unfair.:mad:

The only one that really came through with something new last night was Jaquzzi (sorry, don't know the sp of the real name). He was awesome, and I am not really a fan.

[dc-snoopy]

And my perspective was just the opposite. I was expecting to be completely bored. I was wondering how these singers (some of whom have never even heard the originals) were going to be able to take these classic songs and do them justice. I was afraid of very karaoke, nightclub or grunge basement band versions that were going to be awful. Although there were some bad performances (Kristy Lee's cover still makes me shudder), in general, it was pretty good and I was pleasantly surprised by at least half of the Idolettes.

As for Carly doing a song that she's done before. Just like they don't have to be completely amateur, they don't have to do a completely new song any week. Many contestants in the past have ended up doing one of their own personal standards at some point during the final 11 weeks. Elliot Yamin doing his personal standard of Donny Hathaway's "A Song for You", Melinda Doolittle doing her personal version of "W-O-M-A-N" and Clay Aiken doing a repeat of one of his earlier auditions (the wild card round) of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On You" all come to mind. All of these are personal standards that they've sung quite a lot. I wouldn't call it cheating. The key is picking the right song at the right time that fits the theme and still gets the audience to vote for you.

Last, the man's name is Chikeze.

[Sweet Melissa]

Just like they don't have to be completely amateur,



That bothers me A LOT also. I fully understand that if a person is very talented they are bound to sing any chance they get in school, college, locally and so forth but IMO if they get as far as a 2 mill recording contract and can't sell any records then they blew their chance. They were obviously not good enough the first time. AND along with that 1 or 2 mill contract they were guided and coached and polished from very professional people in the business. That makes it a very lopsided competition IMO

Last, the man's name is Chikeze.

I knew his name, just not the spelling. Thanks for giving it to me.

[dc-snoopy]

I fully understand that if a person is very talented they are bound to sing any chance they get in school, college, locally and so forth but IMO if they get as far as a 2 mill recording contract and can't sell any records then they blew their chance. They were obviously not good enough the first time. AND along with that 1 or 2 mill contract they were guided and coached and polished from very professional people in the business. That makes it a very lopsided competition IMO


Well, I do have to agree with you here. In the case of Carly Smithson, I do think that it is clear to me why her first album bombed. She has a great voice but she has very little stage charisma and she's boring when she sings. Most things about her are predictable. She's the power belter and she has very few really original riffs that she uses. This week's performance was definitely a cut above the rest, but that means that she's gone from average and unforgettable to good, but not great. There is very little here that truly sells albums. At least some of the others have definable character, charisma and stage presence. Like Jason C, David C, and Brooke. David A is in the same category as Carly but is so clearly a step above Carly. He has stage charisma and makes his renditions much more memorable. Carly should end up in the 5-8 range. She's better than a lot of the performers (Kristy Lee, Syesha, Michael, Amanda, Chikeze) but sooner or later, people will get bored of her.

[Sweet Melissa]

Well, I do have to agree with you here. In the case of Carly Smithson, I do think that it is clear to me why her first album bombed. She has a great voice but she has very little stage charisma and she's boring when she sings. Most things about her are predictable. She's the power belter and she has very few really original riffs that she uses. This week's performance was definitely a cut above the rest, but that means that she's gone from average and unforgettable to good, but not great. There is very little here that truly sells albums. At least some of the others have definable character, charisma and stage presence. Like Jason C, David C, and Brooke. David A is in the same category as Carly but is so clearly a step above Carly. He has stage charisma and makes his renditions much more memorable. Carly should end up in the 5-8 range. She's better than a lot of the performers (Kristy Lee, Syesha, Michael, Amanda, Chikeze) but sooner or later, people will get bored of her.

Wow dc snoopy, you so eloquently stated what I have been thinking and just couldn't put into words. Thank you! I even agree, regrettably, with you on David A. I love that kid but I don't see him selling millions of records:( Of the 3 you mention, Jason C, David C and Brooke, I believe David C will be the most successful even though I am a die hard Jason fan. IMO, those 3 are the ones that will go the farthest, if not on AI, then in the music industry. I do still have my reservations about Brooke because she is one of the so called "professionals" that I think have changed the face of what American Idol originally was.

[dc-snoopy]

I would not put Brooke White in with the other "professionals." Although she had an album in 2006 (Songs From the Attic), it was not a commissioned album and she wasn't paid to produce it (unlike Carly Smithson). She created her album and it wasn't until after it was cut that it was picked up for national distribution by New Millenium records. Carly Smithson (nee Hennessy)'s album on the other hand was commissioned and she was paid, it was publicly hyped (for around $150K of advertising). She was *PAID* $100K up front plus $5K/month living expenses and a car. Michael Johns worked full-time as a musician in Australia in two different bands. He had a recording contract, that although it fell through, helped them financially get their album recorded and allowed them to distribute. David A won $100K for his Jr. Star Search title. Brooke on the other hand, was a lead singer for a backup band and worked as a nanny. She put out her own album which was later picked up by a record label to distribute. All very different.

And it doesn't change American Idol. Kelly Clarkson who was the Season 1 winner had a record contract 2 years before appearing on Idol, but it fell through before the album as produced. Chris Daughtry played in a professional band before American Idol. Chris Sligh ditto. Haley Scarnato worked as a professional singer (mostly weddings) before Idol. Many of the previous Idol contestants have had some professional work before American Idol. The key is that all are virtual unknowns and looking for the publicity and "big break." The reason that I object to Carly Smithson is that she's had a contract and it failed. And I think are other artists out there who deserve the chance that she is taking. She's had her chance and she blew it. And I don't think she is different enough now to warrant another shot. Pretty much the same good voice, boring performance as before.

[Sweet Melissa]

I would not put Brooke White in with the other "professionals." Although she had an album in 2006 (Songs From the Attic), it was not a commissioned album and she wasn't paid to produce it (unlike Carly Smithson). She created her album and it wasn't until after it was cut that it was picked up for national distribution by New Millenium records.

I understood that Brooke actually opened for Phil Collins, is that unsubstantiated?:confused: If it is true than I would have to say that she would have to be pretty "professional" for a star like Phil Collins to have her on tour with him.


Many of the previous Idol contestants have had some professional work before American Idol. The key is that all are virtual unknowns and looking for the publicity and "big break."

I believe that I have said I understood that and agreed.

[dc-snoopy]

I understood that Brooke actually opened for Phil Collins, is that unsubstantiated?:confused: If it is true than I would have to say that she would have to be pretty "professional" for a star like Phil Collins to have her on tour with him.

Can't find any web-based substantiation of that. I googled and yahoo searched for several combinations and it didn't pop up in the first three pages of each search. I did hear that Carly Smithson did tour for some big name when she was hyping her album back in 2002, but I can't find the reference, so don't know if that is true either.

[Sweet Melissa]

Can't find any web-based substantiation of that. I googled and yahoo searched for several combinations and it didn't pop up in the first three pages of each search. I did hear that Carly Smithson did tour for some big name when she was hyping her album back in 2002, but I can't find the reference, so don't know if that is true either.


Thanks for searching, I did some myself and couldn't find anything. Where in the H*LL did I get that idea from?? I am pretty sure I 1st heard it during audition week before all the hoopla about so many of the top 24 being professional or semiprofessional.........maybe it has been buried? I don't see why or how since Carly's info is still out there as well as the others.......hmmm
:confused::confused::confused:

[dc-snoopy]

Hmmm...the only reference that I've been able to find is that Brooke White considers Phil Collins one of her influences and favorite artist. That's the only connection that I've been able to find between the two names.