AMERICAN IDOL: Official Ledge Thread
 

I know I'm starting early, but in one week (Jan 13), I will lose rational thought. In one week, my every waking hour will be completely engrossed in the minutiae of American Idol-dom. So I thought I'd set up this thread in case any other Fleetwood Mac fans catch the show and feel like sharing their thoughts as the season progresses. Although I've been known to end friendships over American Idol, I will try to remain on my best behavior.

Opening topic: I actually think it would be cool (and smart) if Fleetwood Mac would use the show to promote their tour, Rumours rerelease by guest mentoring a Fleetwood Mac theme night.

Yeah, I've been waiting for a FM/Stevie night for years, but it has never come.... Don't know if it ever will.

But I am excited to see the auditions that took place in Louisville. :nod:

It would be cool & smart. :distress: It will also never happen.

Well, we did have that Nikki girl butcher "Edge" once, I remember.

And Michael Johns ruining "Go Your Own Way" :eek:

2 songs in 7 seasons is not much. I would love to see a full Mac themed show with band members as judges, but I'm a sucker for this cheesy show. :o I figure if 9 or 10 contestants sing a tune, we might get 2 or 3 decent covers.

Definately would make it more fun to talk about. OMG, I think Lindsey and Stevie would be the best mentors EVER!!!

Cool Stevie mention tonight. It really would be great if she did one of their mentor type shows. She would love the role of mother-mentor, wouldn't she? The problem, of course, would be with the contestants trying to sing her music.

On another note (haha, get it?), I'm not sure how I feel about this new judge. In spite of her statement that Stevie is one of her heroes, I'm not sure I'm into her presence on the show. Maybe she'll grow on me. Did I mention how much I love this show? I'm not so crazy about the early auditions, but I LOVE the competition part .

Stevie!!
 

She's has my vote so far.:blob2:

Lee :)

I loved it when that bikini girl told Kara "Well you didn't do much better" when she was correcting her on how to properly sing that song, and Kara and Paula both freaked out and Kara called the girl a bitch...effing hilarity!!

I KNOW!!!! And then that slutbag was like "Where's Ryan!? I wanna go make out with him!" I was like WTF!? WHO DOES THAT!!!???

I was surprised that the didn't bleep out the bitch comment, though. Normally they're pretty good about that stuff. I would have flipped bikini girl a few birds if I were in that situation, though!

Bikini girl........:thumbsup:

I like her personality- she is quick on her feet and she seems to have a genuine enthusiasm for the process. However, I am disappointed that she brings nothing new musically. As a songwriter, I was hoping she would take these kids to task for butchering songs and failing to interpret songs effectively. And I was hoping that she would provide a counterpoint to the other three, who seem to think that simply staying in tune is good enough to be an Idol. So far she just seems to be more-or-less Simon's parrot.

American Idol - Episode 1 (Arizona) Recap
 

My favorite last night was (of course):

Stevie Wright!!! She's named after Stevie Nicks and she sang, very prettily, an Etta James classic. I like her look too. I'm sure I'll be voting 4 her.

Others that I (especially) liked:

Deanna Brown - Sang "Sitting On The Dock of the Bay"; I dig the twang and her crazy blue eyes.

Alex Wagner-Trugman - I actually thought he sang “Baby Come To Me” REALLY well. Simon was unfair. That God Save The Queen joke was priceless.

Cody Sheldon - Everyone calls him Danny 2.0. He's no Danny. But I actually really liked his singing of that lame song, "What a Wonderful World"(?). And though he's an amateur horror movie director who makes stupid Blair Witch ripoffs, at least he finished something. That's always commendable.

Bikini Girl/Katrina Darrell - She kicked butt in the throw down and then she humiliated Ryan Seacrest. She's the bomb! And she reminds me of Megan from Rock of Love!

Did not make it but SHOULD have:

Lea Marie Goldie - Another that should have made it through; this precocious, nasal-voiced songwriter did a dance song, but actually SANG it. She's genuinely musical.

Aundre Caraway - The "Cactus" song guy. He should have made it through. I thought he was genuinely musical and unique.

Did not like:

Emily Wynne-Hughes - Her Barraccuda was so pitchy.

Scott MacIntyre - Just because he's blind doesn't mean his friends and family couldn't do his hair and give him a shave and let him go tanning with Katrina Darrell. Also, his singing was totally unspectacular. This isn't Restaurant Pianist Idol. I'm not impressed by a blind singer.

Michael Sarver - The oil rig guy. Idol always has these big guys who aren't very good singers but end up on the show far too long (Josh Gracin, Matthew Rogers). I don't get it.

^ Really? You liked bikini girl's karaoke impersonation of Mariah but not the Barracuda chick? :shocked: Huh.

I hated bikini chic. Yeah, she was hot, but she's the kind of person who uses only their looks to get anywhere in life. She could not sing well enough to be on that show.

I kind of liked the new judge, Kara. Now hopefully Paula won't get ganged up on as much, although it made for good TV.

I don't think I mentioned her singing in my recap. :) I just liked that she treated the show in the manner it deserves. And she reminds me of Megan from Rock of Love, who I adore. That's all.

But the Barracuda chick was awful in every respect.

I thought she was really disrespectful to Kara. :shrug: Agree to disagree fine, but to call a judge a bitch is uncalled for IMO. I'd feel the same way if someone called Randy a fat pig, or Simon a piece of ****. These people are there to be honest & HELP you. Kara wasn't rude, just honest & telling Bikini what she felt was missing from her performance. Bikini got defensive.

And I thought Barracuda chick was a bit off at first, but pulled it together after the 2nd line & was fantastic.

Megan from RoL is a trashy classless bimbo - not that any of those broads have much class (that show is a guilty pleasure of ours.) But she's particularly icky. Kicking people in the stomach, showing up for a reunion/interview show bombed off her ass - she makes herself look like an assh*le.


Hey - I just realized - do you have a thing for chicks who go on reality shows in their bikini? :p

I ain't ag'in it!

As for Megan from RoL, I love the people on this board too much to get into that argument. But I do love her and I do take her side in all of the conflicts you described above.

As for Kara & the judges, I just don't view them with any respect, so I'm fine with people disrespecting them. Now, Bikini Girl isn't privvy to what Kara said about her Number 1 Fan, but that proved to me that Kara is a horrible person. To me, for how I personally watch this show, I feel that Bikini Girl was making a mockery of the show and thus standing up for all those exploited by it. And for that: I salute her.

Meanwhile, Barracuda chick, for me, for what I like in people, seemed both, in terms of her singing, unappealing (for me) and, in terms of her personality, (for me) repulsive. But that's just me.

I wouldn't get my knickers in a twist over "Bikini." She was clearly allowed to enter the competition because she will stir the pot and create the drama that the show needs desperately. It was obvious that she had this tiny little voice that could not stay in the same key for longer than three seconds. That being said, I thought all of the kids auditioning last night were dreadful. No soul. No personality. No depth. Just a lot of deluded dreamers, posers, wannabes and hacks. If I go to hell in the afterlife, surely they will be playing a continuous soundtrack of former AI contestants in shuffle mode.

I love that a real hit-making powerhouse - and actual singer - such as Kara Dioguardi has joined the judging panel. I'm actually interested to hear her comments moreso than Simon's.

Have we once heard Paula Abdul sing live, even though that is what she is judging? I think Kara will be able to better communicate her remarks by singing.

She is a songwriter, musician, and producer who continues to turn our hit after hit. Just over the past three or four years, her credits include songwriting and production work on recent albums by Pink, Leona Lewis, Carrie Underwood, Britney Spears, Faith Hill, Celine Dion, Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aquilera, Gwen Stefani and Anastacia.

Randy Jackson's background is mainly as a session musician and musical director for live tours. He's not a songwriter. His only album release bombed - hard.


Kara Dioguardi also has a several connections to Stevie:

Kara Dioguardi was one half of Platinum Weird with Eurthymic Dave Stewart.

Stevie appeared in the faux documentary recalling the band's mysterious past.


In a 2005 interview, DioGuardi explained that she and Stewart were asked to write songs for The Pussycat Dolls in 2004. Instead, the pair ended up with material that DioGuardi described as resembling Fleetwood Mac. Although the collaboration did not produce the intended Pussycat Dolls songs, Interscope chairman Jimmy Iovine encouraged the continuation of the project, and longtime DioGuardi partner John Shanks was brought in for album production duties.

American Idol actually starts tonight for us, so wer'e a little behind....I wouldn't fret over a new judge, (it's just Simons way of adding drama to everything!:D)
We got a new fourth judge on X factor this year( wev'e had 4 for a while now) and she is BRILLIANT..(absolutely love her)
If your'e up for a couple of laughs and got 5 mins to watch, then check her out

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6MtFNh...eature=related

The whole recap is amusing, here's just the Stevie bit:

Next up is Stevie Wright, a plain-Jane 16-year-old named after Stevie Nicks. And suddenly I realize just what this show has been missing all these years--more Stevie Nicks. I can't even remember anyone covering "Landslide" on this show, let alone her countless other, better singles. And how about the rest of Fleetwood Mac? Stevie W. makes it through, and I'm left sensing a Fleetwood Mac Songbook this season.

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/...can_idol_p.php

gosh, you know, I've never actually watched a whole episode of Idol auditions before (and I suspect, I may not again in this season either) but we did catch the last couple of Live shows last year.....it sure is different fron our own Xfactor!
I'm guessing it's been fun in the past, but purely on my observation on show 1, it seems very "clinical". I don't know if it's the Brits ability to laugh at themselves at being totally sillyor what, or whether everyone in the States is terribly serious, but it was a strange one to watch.Am I wrong in thinking the panel are all a bit kinda "frosty"? Even Simon wasn't who we normally see...Mind you, wev'e just seen the best Xfactor ever ( thanks mainly due to Cheryl coming across as the most lovliest down to earth person) I'm guessing Simon was hoping for more of the same.Maybe as time goes on, it'll warm through and the panel will have a real laugh together.Liked that blonde girl Deanna and Cody was cool, despite his dark side...think we might wait for the live shows and hope in the meantime, Simon picks himself up a bit.

I couldn't choose a standout from last night, so here are the:

Performers that I (especially) liked:

Jamar Rogers - I thought his "California Dreamin'" was the best audition of the night; a funky take on one of the greatest songs of all time.

Casey Carlson - She sang 1000 Miles better than the original (not hard) and she's cute and fun.

Von Smith - He sang "Over the Top" and it was insane and phlegmy. He'll bring some fun and unpredictability to the show. AND his mom was the sweetest thing ever.

India Morrison - She's got more pep than talent, but she seems really industrious and her rapport with big sister Asia was priceless.

Dennis Brigham - Simon's "dream queen" was very very very very very entertaining.

Did not make it but SHOULD have:

Andrew Lang - This season's first-round rejects are already forming quite a notable group of entertaining, quirky, MUSICAL individuals. Andrew Lang (apparently my twin, according to friends, coworkers, and my MOM???) really did a clever rendition of "My Girl" -- much more fun than music teacher Danny Gokey's by-the-books rendition of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine". . . He wuz robbed.

Yes, the two Stevies may meet after all . . .

Fleetwood Mac is taking it's ONLY break during the upcoming MONTHS-long tour during these Idol weeks:

Tuesday, March 31 Top 9
Tuesday, April 7 Top 8
Tuesday, April 14 Top 7

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


STEVIE WRIGHT (contestant): [Finishes singing "Landslide"]

LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM: I just don't think it has the right sound to it. It didn't reaffirm my faith in cycles.

STEVIE NICKS: Well, I don't think you could say that to Bob Dylan!

One girl (the diagram girl) said she sung from "the wrong rectum". :lol::lol::lol:

LMAOOoooooo ~... I saw her... she was a nut-case, and could not even speak... that was funny when she said she sang from the wrong rectum... LMmmmrectumooo!!!

Donnie Wayne ~

Alright, did any of you all catch the name of the guy tonight who kind of beatboxed and hummed? I'm hoping we can find that somewhere online and post it.... I about pissed my pants!!! Yall know who I'm talking about?

Yeah, that young kid. I forget what his name was though. :(

I [heart] Tatiana Nicole Del Toro


:sorry:

^ I don't think I can't discuss this show with you anymore. :laugh:


Is that the one who kept talking about her "traysheeah?" (trachea.) ;)

She reminded me of someone with Asperger's Syndrome. And her voice was actually kind of cool; it was her affect and presentation that was...off.

I love this show. :woohoo:

Who me?? I know. I'm no fun. It's just that until I find a contestant to fall in love and really get behind, I just really enjoy those who are ... interesting and excessively human and not boring.

My alltime favorite Idol contestant, Sanjaya Malakar, just released a book and an EP. The EP is actually really good and is only 4 bucks download on amazon.com and one of the tracks is free. It's called: Dancing To the Music In My Head. Don't just listen to the samples though; the songs should be heard. Especially I like Track 2: "I Got It For You".

Episode 4 (Louisville) Recap
 

Something about the South makes for better singers. Too bad the show's simplistic treatment of Mudd history/folklore proved typical of its condescending approach to American culture and humanity in general, really.

I'm keeping an open mind about all those who made it to Hollywood, even Joanna Pacitti with her crocodile tears and crocodile smile. However, there was one I loved!

My favorite last night was:

Leneshe Young - Forget the sob story and focus on the star quality. She ended the night with a breezy, witty, sexy original song titled "Natty." I'm not saying she's the greatest thing out there (she's probably a dime a dozen among those trying to break into the bizz) but she is the best thing on this show so far. I also suspect she'll be a tough competitor: she's got the "teeth" Simon wanted from Stevie Wright.

Others that I (especially) liked:

Matt Giraud - For some reason, the fact that he's a duelling pianist makes me hopeful that he'll be an interesting addition to the competition. Maybe something about how those roots in Southern musical tradition might bring some creative, resonant musical interpretations. Or he could just be Elliott Yamin 2.0. With better teeth.

American Idol - Season 8
Episode 5 (Jacksonville) Recap

In an essay reprinted in Deeper Into Movies, Pauline Kael wrote about some shameful critical practices:

They were so superior to the subject that they never dealt with it. Now it more frequently takes the form of a wisecracking put-down. And that's the bottom of the trap, because, as all critics know, the worst danger of the profession is that one may sink to the level of what one is reviewing.

One must fight not to sink to the level of condescension displayed on American Idol when reviewing American Idol, especially given that there was no audition of note in last night's program. However, I do think, in order to avoid retain my humanity, it is worth relaying two moments of inhumanity that went unacknowledged in the course of the show. And -- most shockingly -- these moments weren't even acted out by the judges:

Naomi Sykes sings "Loving You" to the judges, Ryan, and a friend of hers who crushes on Randy (long story). She's terrible. After the judges mock her throughout and after the performance, she cries. She explains (I paraphrase): "Everybody always tells me I'm great." Her friend stifles a smile: she got to meet Randy and get on TV, riding on the bum high note of her delusional "friend."

Michael Perrelli loses his cool when he finds out that he can't use his guitar during his audition. (Since this is, like, his fourth audition in the process, this must have been a set-up.) He sings "Jumper" in a contemporary rock/punk/emo/greenday style. He breaks down under the constructive advice -- "Start a band" -- since he wanted the easy route to stardom via America Idol. When he exits sans golden ticket and with tears in his eyes, his mom reaches out to comfort him -- she takes on a familiar role. Hyper-aware of the camera, he snarls: "Don't touch me!" What a recognizable moment of shame, captured for the delectation of millions.

That's show business.

I was kind of bored last night. I liked the guy that sang Marvin Gaye, but he'd better calm down a bit in Hollywood. That young girl who sang the Fergie song was good too.

I thought she was nasally.

SPOILER: this just in: Lil Rounds makes it to the Top 36.

blah

Episode 6 (SLC) Recap
 

Episode 6 (SLC) Recap


The highlight of last night's show was, once again, Tatiana Del Toro. After 3 weeks of the auditions, Tatiana emerges as the only star of the season, so far. Her two brief appearances in the Hollywood Week teaser stirred the senses. Her glamour pose under the stage lights made the anticipation and awe of Hollywood Week palpable. Then, to spotlight Hollywood Week group-song drama, the teaser featured beautious Tatiana crying out that she's being "thrown under the bus" and that this is "not a game" to her. Indeed, Tatiana embodies the fodder that Hollywood (the town, the industry, the Week) usually chews up and spits out -- yet, her resolve and signature giggle make her endearing and invites imaginative identification. Even Idol digs the vibe generated by Tatiana's buzz (both The Soup and Best Week Ever tagged her -- and her infectious laugh -- as the show's highlight last week). If you're taking odds on Tatiana or the bus, you might want to place your money on Tatiana the underdog.

Sadly, you won't be able to bet on last night's most noteworthy auditioner: Austin Sisneros. As the overachieving high school class president, Austin's aww-shucks All-American pluck is one of those types that American Idol ought to feature. Austin, Tatiana, and Megan Corkrey could be supporting characters in a Robert Altman epic. Another recognizable type and notable audition: the scarily ambitious Megan Corkrey got through to Hollywood on a jazz rendition on "Can't Help Lovin That Man of Mine," which provided ironic counterpoint to a backstory which insinuated that she divorced her husband so that she could have her go at Idol gold. I wouldn't be surprised if Megan is driving that bus with Tatiana in the sights.

Megan is cool. Vocal reminds me of Fiona Apple. I liked Rose too. And I agree with Simon - those are 2 of the very few that I'll remember when they start the Hollywood episodes.

What was with all the religious songs last night? I assume it's because they were in Mormon country? :laugh: