Idol, Not Idle Talk
May. 16th, 2006 08:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mrdreamjeansAfter 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:)
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:)
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