Idol, Not Idle Talk

[mrdreamjeans]

After avoiding this program for four years, I got pulled into watching American Idol this season because of my mother's addiction to it. She votes multiple times! She writes down everything the contestants sing, has since this year's competition began. I can't watch the early episodes. I get too frustrated with the bad singing and the attitudes which are even worse. Now, that I've watched most of this season's shows, I realize that it's definitely not about finding America's Best Singer, it's all about who will sell records. I've never heard so many mediocre voices as I have in listening to this final group of 12.

In tonight's competition the remaining three contestants, Elliott, Katherine and Taylor, sang three selections each. All of them are showing vocal wear and tear which, given the grueling pace of the show, is understandable. Here's my opinion:

Elliott - 0 for 3 ... Sang slightly off-pitch on all three selections; the songs were very similar in feeling, not particularly exciting. They've cleaned him up a lot, but he's still awkward with his body and it appeared to me that the pressure of getting this close to the prize did him in. If the voting public does the right thing, he's gone tomorrow night.

Katherine - 1 1/2 for 3 ... Forgot to actually sing any of the actual melody of her first song ... too much riffing!!!; sang the hell out of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and took a step back with the final song. She has by far the best pipes and range that I've heard on the show, but over-sings everything (except Rainbow). I have the feeling that she goes home to Mom (her voice teacher) and is told you just do what you do. She should listen to the judges who are asking for simplicity. I believe she'll make it to the final on talent alone. Not sure she's not better suited to musical theatre, rather than idol-dom.

Taylor - 3 for 3 ... He hasn't been my favorite. I'm not a fan of his squatting style when he sings overly-earnest ballads, but he's fun, he's original and you can't mistake his voice. I'm glad he's resisted stylists' efforts to dye his grey hair too. He's the real deal in terms of being an entertainer, making the most of a modest vocal gift. I know he also plays instruments and is a song-writer which should give him a head-start in the studio when he wins this competition next week. Unique.

ps ... I took my Mom out to dinner tonight to Cici's, a pizza buffet place, that opened here two months ago. Who's ever heard of macaroni and cheese pizza? But there it was ... I can feel my arteries clogging just thinking about it:)

Comments

[bearchitect.livejournal.com]

Hey Neil!
have nothing to add/comment on what you say about "Idol", have never watched it, just wanted to say hi to you...

-Hi!
:>

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

That was me until this season:) So, HI!!!

By the way, did you see the post previous to this? I know you're an uncle. I wondered if you are a "Keepsaker".

HUGS!

[bearchitect.livejournal.com]

Neil, sorry, but I hadn't read that entry, until now, that is...I just did!

Wow! I wish I had more time to be able to touch on all the points that it has touched me. From the 'keepsaker' to the trustee, from the avuncular to the parternal instinct.
Oddly enough all these themes are active in my life as we speak, running parallel to each other. Maybe, hopefully, one of these days when I catch a breather I'll be able to expand on them.

Sufice it to say that I carry the ring with the family crest that dates to the eleventh century, am the trustee for my parents/family trust fund, have fallen in love with a wonderful man who happens to be a father of two kids, and my nieces and nephew think I'm the coolest uncle they could have ever hoped for.

Hope you'll be around when I make it to Houston in August, would love to carry this conversation further.

Thank you, Neil
:>

CiCi's pizza

[howbearca.livejournal.com]

we have those back in Murfreesboro and it was THE place to go for starving college kids. $3.99 for ALL YOU CAN EAT.

Do all of the staff members still yell, "WELCOME TO CICI'S", when you walk in?

Re: CiCi's pizza

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Prices have gone up. It's $4.49 all you can eat here. Luckily, I kept it under control ... limited the number of pieces of pizza I ate and no desserts.

Yep! All of the employees greeted every single customer as they walked in .... Nice touch ...

Re: CiCi's pizza

[howbearca.livejournal.com]

i guess the place back home has really gone down hill...and they don't welcome you like before..oh well

Well, at least it wasn't "Survivor".....

[becker-boy.livejournal.com]

I can imagine that watching "Idol" with you probably would redeem the show for me somewhat, since you have some background in the sort of thing they are doing. In any other situation, I would probably sit there like some extraterestrial, scratch my head (maybe all three of them) and in my best E.T. brogue asked: "just what ARE these creatures doing?"

We have CiCi's here too...but sad to say that I have never tried them. Your mention of a macaroni and cheese pizza kinda tells me that I may never get around to trying them. LOL

(hugs) to you.....

Re: Well, at least it wasn't "Survivor".....

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Trust me ... You can have the background and still be scratching your head, asking what were they thinking when it came to material or what the stylist gave them to wear. Of course, Clay Aiken came from no where to second place the 2nd season because his assigned stylist knew what they were doing:)

The macaroni and cheese pizza looked obscene, not inviting. My mention is not a recommendation:)

As to the survivor reference ... I've never watched that series, but I saw where Richard, the guy from the first season, was just sentenced to 51 months in prison for not paying taxes on his winnings. He said he wasn't aware it was his responsibility. Richard was many things, but naive wasn't one of them and the judge added extra penalties because he believed that Hatch perjured himself throughout the trial.

[use2bshy.livejournal.com]

I agree with you regarding Kathrine. I can see her in a musical more then on the radio.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I was sort of rooting for Elliott till last night. He was "pitchy" on all of his songs ... I think he was trying too hard ... understandable in terms of how life-changing a win would be for him.

scary thought

[tkn1114.livejournal.com]

My God, you actually made me wanna watch Idol! Good point on the oversinging. Whasup with that these days? They try too hard and butcher the whole song.

. "Your mom votes mutiple times and writes down everything the contestants sing" - I love her! My mom has a JAG obssession and gets upset when James Elliott gains weight, or if Catherine Bell has too many love interests. "Good girls should'nt have so many love interests", exclaims mother disapprovingly.

. Stars: Did you see that japanese break dancer/mime named Takahiro @ the Apollo's amateur night show a couple of week-ends back? He was plain amazing. If you have'nt, try to catch him in coming shows. I think he deserves star status. Just dancing, no singing.

. I think you should look into being a judge on one of these talent shows. the money can't be that bad and you certainly have the credentials? Barry Manilow did an Idol stint recently. I love Barry Manilow I don't care what kinda sap that makes me - LOL! I wanna go see his Vegas show and would done a t-shirt from it to which I'll add rhinestones worthy of Jean-Paul Gaultier! :0)

. Macaroni & cheese pizza - That is sooooo 'where-you-are' TX! I'm inquiring if they have that in Houston.

. BTW, you coming for gay Pride?

Re: scary thought

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

As to over singing ... Most of these women contestants grew up listening to Whitney, Celine and Mary K Blige. The histronics sells records. Of course, on her worst night Katherine has more talent than Britney Spears, Jessica Simpson, Ashley Simpson and that generation of singers.

Here's to Moms with TV obsessions! :)

I haven't seen Amateur Night at the Apollo in years, but I really like it. If the contestants on Idol were to go that route, they'd feel the sting of real criticism:) I think most of the top 12 would have been booed off the stage ... get the hook .. before they even opened their mouths.

I like Barry Manilow, but then again, I'm singer who's never met a key change he doesn't like. *grin*

I'll let you eat the macaroni and cheese pizza ... You've got the figure for it. I've got to downsize:)

When is Pride? The last weekend of June?

HUGS!

Pride

[tkn1114.livejournal.com]

Houston = End of June. Come on down, we'll paint the town pink, then ho' down :0) This is my last Gay Pride in Houston as I'm heading for NY end of the year. I'm doing Summer 1 school during June, but July/Aug = free, so I'm thinking Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir/NOLA at least once during that break. Wanna plan? Sigh, NOLA is the one thing I'll miss for cho about this neck of the wood :( NY may be stylish, but NOLA's just plain, well, NOLA! I always feel like Huck when I'm there. Coon asses are fun in bed! :0)

Catch the Apollo. That guy is GOOD.

Britney/Simpson = products. Not singers!
What I find hysterical is the notion that louder is more intense or sincere or something...? You see this on poetry nights or rap beats from blacks to whites from BET to CURRENT TV = everybody screams as loud as they can. Whasupwithat?

Re: Pride

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I think that's a very good label for the youngins such as those I mentioned ... and Hillary Duff, Lindsay Lohan ... "Product" ....

I'll try to catch Apollo ... course, that means I'm home on a Saturday night ... Oh, that's right ... I'm usually home on Saturday night watching HGTV:)

Mmmmm, macaroni and cheese pizza ...

[anziulewicz.livejournal.com]

(Homer Simpson drooling noise)

[markosf.livejournal.com]

While Taylor has always made my skin crawl a little bit (I think it's because he looks so much to me like a used car salesman and yet boogies like Little Richard), he is the most natural performer of the three and seems to screw up the least. That Chris got booted before these three proves the lameness of Idol.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I agree with your assessment of Taylor. I think it's his competition to lose at this point. I know there were/are many folks who were fans of Chris, but two things bothered me about him and so I wasn't surprised that he was booted. The affectation of picking up the microphone stand every moment of every song (or so it seemed) and the fact that he wasn't technically a good singer, bothered me immensely. He had one look and every stylist decision about him underlined the single expression. He was sexy, certainly exciting, but unless he takes some of the advice he was given by the visiting mentors, I think he'll blow out his voice. As the competition progressed, his singing got more amd more ragged. He'll have a big career, no doubt. The criticism I'm lobbing isn't about him having a career, but having a lasting career. You can scream, but to do so takes lots and lots of solid technique.

LOL! I'm reading what I just wrote ... I need to get a life ...*grin* Thanks for the feedback! HUGS!

[rnathanwhite.livejournal.com]

IDOL -- LOVE IT! Although I don't care to watch the final show next week. I'm upset that Elliott is gone, and I was sad when Paris, Chris and Mandisa were all voted off. Katharine is cute, great voice, but what kind of album will she have? Adult contemporary a la Celine Dion? GAG! Taylor Hicks -- big spazz a la Joe Cocker and looks and sounds like Michael McDonald (not a bad thing) but again, how successful will his album be? I won't want to buy it. Even if Elliott had won, I probably wouldn't buy his album, but I liked him because he's humble.

CICI'S -- OHMIGOD! I just had the mac and cheese pizza from there earlier this week, and I'm embarassed to say that I liked it! Hey, it'll probably get kids to eat something besides the "dessert" pizzas they have.