Not about cycling: American Idol – What a Joke

[Lenusik]

I am so sorry for even starting this thread but I am so disappointed. This was the first year I watched American Idol and I was quite impress for awhile. There was some talent and variety. I quit watching the show when Chris Daughtry was eliminated because he was my favorite contester who, I believe, has most talent, versatile, and charisma. I could totally see Kat being in the final. But, oh my God!, Taylor Hicks – what a joke! The guy has no talent, cannot hold a note to save his life. The only think he can do is act like a clown on the stage. I spoke with several musicians and people who understand music quite well and they are of the same opinion.

How can someone like that be an Idol? Lance Armstrong is an idol for his reasons, Arthur Ash is an idol for his, The Beatles. It is because some of us would like to be like some of them. But would anyone like to be like Taylor Hicks? Common! I would rather be like Mandisa, Elliot, Chris or Kat, but definitely not Taylor!

Please forgive me for this non-cycling note, but I just needed to vent.
Thank you!

[bcipam]

Here's my 2-cent... been discussing at work quite a bit and alot of people are in agreement with you but I see it as this... American Idol is a talent contest based on talent, appeal, bankability, and mold-ability. In other words, raw talent that the producers can take mold into whatever they want to mold the singer into and the singer must have enough appeal people will want to come and see them perform. Chris is not that moldable but is talented.

At first I couldn't much stand Taylor. But once you get through the contortions, weird faces and body movements and actually listen to his voice, it's very pleasant. He does have raw talent and you can see that his talent and apperance can be changed through coaching and counseling. Plus Taylor has appeal - he's the sweet guy, with a sweet smile that got a big break. As he said is now living the "American Dream" and you feel good for him. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

I have been a Chris Daughtry fan from day one but I think he went as far as he could - he has a awesome voice but his style does not appeal to the masses, in other words, he's not pop, country or soul. Alternative Chris will do well. He got the recognition he needed and I'm sure we will be seeing alot of him in the future. And of course, we will see Kat if nothing else because of her beauty.

But Taylor for me was the perfect "American Idol." A kid, playing in little clubs who got his big break and ran with it. Each week he got more and more sophisticated looking and he started to tone down his geekiness. He's actually a cute guy and is very well spoken. He will serve the AI producers well. I might even play his album when he makes it. Who knows.

On another note - the Fox channel here (I'm in the LA area) made a comment about Clay Aiken and called him "Clay-d Lang" (after KD Lang). He looked really weird to me.

[Lenusik]

Thank you for the reply an opinion. I just cannot see any of that in Taylor. An Idol, for me, implies that I would like to be like this person, to follow him. Taylor may have a pleasant voice but he still cannot hold a note. The reason I saw an idol in Chris is because you can put him in a band or have him sing solo – he can pull it off. I heard one of his performances after it was recorded and it sounded great. Hard rock or a love song like “have you ever really loved a woman” – he sang it really well. That’s why I am saying that he is so versatile and therefore very recordable. I can deal with the fact that Chris did not get into the finals. But putting Taylor against Kat is ridiculous. There is no comparison. Again, these are all personal opinions.

[SalsaMTB]

Lenusik,

I agree with you. I can't stand Taylor. He was pretty close to the bottom of my list when the show start, I can't believe he won. I haven't really been watching the show every week though, I'm a die hard lost fan, so I just heard on the radio he won :)

[caligurl]

awwwwwwwwwwww i liked clay's new hairdo! actually... didn't even recognize him at first! but then i recognized that voice! phew! he CAN sing!

i thought "clay fan" was going to pee himself! lol!

ya.... taylor.... not my fave.... i mean... he's OK.... but hated his "pottie dance"..... i liked watching him early on... but NEVER expected him to make it to the final 4 much less win!

kat... she's more suited for broadway... every performance was as a "character".....

heck... elliott would have been a better choice as AI! (and moldable, too!)

seeing/hearing chris last night... just reiterated to me that he was the best singer... but i agree with what pam said... he wasn't moldable... he already had his own style...

i kept telling hubby all season... i want chris in the final 2... but don't know if i want him to win... to be stuck in the AI mold! let him be 2nd and be able to go out on his own! well... he gets to do that now! but he never should have been gone while pottie dancer was still there!

[Lenusik]

let him be 2nd and be able to go out on his own! well... he gets to do that now! but he never should have been gone while pottie dancer was still there!

I agree with you so much! Thank you. I am glad that I am not alone!

[spazzdog]

Mandisa shoulda won it... enuff said.

I'm sure most of them will pick up great contracts due to their exposure. I'm betting Mandisa already has a label contract and you can bet I'll be watching for THAT cd.

spazz

[gromit68]

I have to say I disagree with you on this. I've been a fan of Taylors from the beginning. Chris just screams. Yes Kat has talent but she would probably have an agent and contract at some point, she is still young. Yes Taylor can be crazy with his dancing, but he has a musical style that a lot of people like and that you never hear on the radio any more. Yea for the Soul Patrol!!:D

[mtkitchn]

I've never watched the show, but have heard that the final is won by vote of the fans (some article I read said that more people voted in AI than in the presidential election). I suppose it would make sense since the fans are the people who would be buying the albums by the winner. If that's true, then maybe it's just what Americans want in a new artist.....

[caligurl]

there were more votes than the presidential election... but how many votes did each person cast? whereas in the presidential election.... only one vote per person!

funny.... i watched the whole season... and i never heard chris scream once... now last year... fantasia... UGH... that's all she did was screech and scream!

[bcipam]

funny.... i watched the whole season... and i never heard chris scream once... now last year... fantasia... UGH... that's all she did was screech and scream!

Cali I am so with you on the Fantasia thing. I stopped watching last year because of her. Can't stand her!!!!

Back to Chris v. Taylor - I realize the show really promotes 3 categories of music - pop, R & B/Soul and country. Rock just doesn't do well I have also argued I'm glad Chris was out before the final two so he doesn't get stuck in that AI mold!!!!