Canadian Idol Fans Watching American Idol

[missaddicted]

Awesome recap ross! I just want to quote pretty much everything you said, because it's all so true (Well, IMO of course).

What? Oh, sorry, I was voting for Kris. I don't usually do more than throw a few votes his way, but tonight I was a little surprised there was no busy signal at all.

Yay for the voting. About the voting, I also read that some people voting for Adam aren't getting busy signals either, so I guess we shouldn't be worried too much about that. DI is scary and weird again this week, but they're not even declaring anybody safe, so there must be a lot of phones lines that are open.

Lil won't go home tomorrow, I would bet money on it. It'll be one of the Anoop/Matt/Kris. Maybe they'll be saved. I hope it's not Kris, but if it is, I hope he will be saved. I hope it's Anoop or Matt. Was Matt forgettable for you ross, you didn't even talk about him in your recap!

Allison's big weakness; she doesn't seem to think a lot about the words she's singing.

Yes, exactly! That's also my main problem with her usually. Also, she has trouble enunciating (though she did better with that tonight) and she was just showy for the sake of being showy tonight, it didn't have anything to do with the song.

This guy has never shown any artistry, any subtlety, any personality, charm, grace...okay, I'll stop now.

Yes! I don't get why people like him. I just don't. Actually, maybe I do:

I guess I can understand some people preferring Adam, but how can people prefer Gokey to that?

Because people in general (and the AI audience in particular) don't like subtlety I guess. They like "in your face" emotion and the more cheesy it is, the more "emotional" it seems. I don't know, in the end, I don't understand either.

Reading around, Kris' perfomance gets a lot of "best of the night" of "boring, pitchy, not good" comments. The range of comments goes from one extreme to the other. It's so weird how a single performance can be perceived so many different ways.

The thing I liked about the performance was: it was another demonstration of what he can do with his amazing voice. The thing I didn't like about it was: it was another demonstration of what he can do with his amazing voice.

Heh! Well said. I've gotten used to his voice at this point, so I don't mind his vocal style that much anymore and I just enjoy that at least tonight he was the only one who didn't sing a boring ballad. I'm ready for him to show another side though. He's pretty much the only one in this bunch who can get away from not staying in a "box". Most of the others are not versatile at all and I really really appreciate his versatility.

And LOL on your styling comments. I liked the hair and the eye makeup and I actually thought his face looked thinner tonight. It's weird because he's far from overweight, but he seems to have an excess of weight if you just look at his face. He has beautiful eyes though, so I wouldn't mind seeing them more!

 

[ross 1]

Was Matt forgettable for you ross, you didn't even talk about him in your recap!

I guess so! I came over here again -- after reading some TWoP posts -- to edit my post, because I realized I forgot him. Other than his haircut, on this Night Of Haircuts (that was tonight's theme, wasn't it?), I can't think of anything to say about him. He seems like a nice guy.

DI is scary and weird again this week

Do you ever look at the graphs Dial Idol does? It looks to me like Matt started out a bit lower in votes than Kris and then they were tied for last. It would seem Kris has slightly more votes than Matt, but I don't know. WTF is up with Lil being in third place? Did the judges pour on the mean, tonight, to get her sympathy votes? And it worked? I naively thought she'd be in the bottom three. The bottom one, in fact.

Somehow I'm not totally surprised about Kris being in last place. Not only are you right that the masses prefer Velveeta, but I think last week's negative comments had to be followed this week by raves, and thanks to Randy that didn't happen. Plus, the time constraints -- if time contraints they were, and not knollishly evil manipulation -- that forced Ryan to cut off Miss Verbose at the beginning what was going to be her total rave for Kris. Did you see Paula's hand patting her on the shoulder? The two-judges thing tonight really hurt Kris, because Paula was surely going to go into total-rave mode for him, if given a chance (don't know about Simon, but, regardless, two raves are better than one). On the knollish side, it was weird Randy got in his whole negative comment, and then Kara was about to say something great and Ryan was all: okay, shut up, move it along, yeah, we don't care about this one, let's get to Lil.

When it was time for Lil's comments, well, there was plenty of time for her to give her "reaction."

I have to cut this short right now but I'll try to answer more of your post tomorrow!

ETA: If you look at the blue, green, orange and red boxes, on DialIdol, they give you many different graphs and tables. In many of them (like, if you check "Vote," under "Vote Overall," in the red box), Kris seems to be doing better than in the main results. I have to admit this stuff totally confuses me.

 

[SleepinIn]

Okay the DI results are just way too scary to look at. Seriously people.. seriously? Kris at the bottom? Craziness.

Although if you look at the results and look at what they say is there margin of error - Kris could be anywhere from 2nd - last. And right now I'm only concerned for Kris. If Adam ended up in the B3 the judges would save him. I don't know about Kris. I'd like to think that they would.. but who knows? How has DI been at predicting previously? I've never looked before.

 

[ross 1]

How has DI been at predicting previously? I've never looked before.

Last week he was also at the bottom of the DialIdol results, I think, and he didn't even end up in the bottom 3.

I guess DialIdol is based on busy signals. But with so many people texting votes, and also voting using Gizmo or Skype, the busy signal tally may not be as accurate as it used to be?

In the graphs I was talking about (see the link in my last post), Kris is at the very bottom for "busy signal" results. But for "overall vote" -- and I have no idea how they measure that -- the bottom person is Lil, with Danny next, then Anoop. These are the bottom 3. According to this same chart, Allison has the most votes, with Kris second, and Adam third.

About Allison's approach to songs:

Allison's big weakness; she doesn't seem to think a lot about the words she's singing.

Yes, exactly! That's also my main problem with her usually. Also, she has trouble enunciating (though she did better with that tonight) and she was just showy for the sake of being showy tonight, it didn't have anything to do with the song.

I agree about the enunciation! Her singing and her stage moves both lack precision. It's like she just seems to be winging it. That's probably not strictly true but that's how it looks. I'm not sure she's always prepared, or really competitive enough (in the positive sense); it's like when Ryan interviewed her a few weeks ago; she didn't seem to care. She must have known it was coming, but she didn't seem to have prepared for it.

Reading around, Kris' perfomance gets a lot of "best of the night" of "boring, pitchy, not good" comments. The range of comments goes from one extreme to the other. It's so weird how a single performance can be perceived so many different ways.

I don't know how so many people can find him excting and so many others find him boring.

 

[missaddicted]

You know, I'm not really a fan of Matt, but he was 10x better tonight than last night, so I think he kind of deserved to be saved. Better him than Lil anyway. It was great seeing the other six contestants cheering hard for him and running to engulf him in a group hug at the end. Still, he had to be wildcarded and now he was saved by the judges. I agree with Simon that he can't win now, I give him two weeks. I guess I just hope that Kris outlasts him, otherwise I will be pissed.

So DI was very wrong again about Kris. I'll guess I'll just stop looking at it, it's useless. I was thrilled that Simon told him that he thought he was brilliant last night, I replayed it three times. I would've loved to hear it last night though instead of Randy's useless critique.

I hope Lil is gone next week. Her time is up. But, seriously, disco night? Ugh. Themes like that remind me why I like Canadian Idol much more (as a show) than AI.

Jennifer Hudson is beautiful, graceful and a great singer. Lil wishes she was as good. But, OMG, Miley, that was the most painful thing ever!

The group sing was great! I really enjoyed it for once.

 

[ross 1]

Thought you guys might like to look at/hear this album of Matt Giraud's. Guess he does urban soul type stuff with religious themes.

I was glad he was saved beccause he's a nice guy, and I suspect they wanted to save someone likable. Somebody we'd be glad to see saved -- before they were down to the last save, and had to perhaps use it on someone who it would be controversial to save, someone not so well liked. If Lil had been in last place, tonight, and they'd saved her, for instance, it would not have worked. I'd be pissed, a lot of people would be. Matt was a very "safe" save, for them. They are so very good at this stuff.

I'm just a little worried that this save will create a whole new momentum for him, since it's "historic" and he was the one who "made Idol history." He is going to get a lot of attention going into next week's show, and, I suspect, he's just become a fan favorite. The underdog. None of this bodes too well for Kris, somehow. He (Kris) is popular, though; he's been consistent, and, unlike a lot of people who think otherwise, I think he'll have no trouble with disco.

But, you're right...disco, as a theme? For Top 6 Night? Or, rather, Top Seven Night Number 2?

Toto, we're not in Toronto any more.

I was thrilled with Simon's "Kris, you were brilliant" comment. (missaddicted, you watched it 3 times, is that what he said?) It was so unexpected, I jumped up and did the fist-in-the-air "yes!" three times. (And I never thought I'd be able to get into this show. Ha.) Glad I was alone. Heh.

It really seems the other idols like Matt. One thing I thought was sort of telling was when he mixed up the tense of the word "sing" tonight at some point and said (I guess) "sang," when it should have been "sung." Like, "I had sang." I always think of him as not having had a lot of opportunities or priveleges, like a great education, or whatever. He looks like he doesn't have the best clothes, etc. He looks like he's struggled. All this stuff makes me feel like he's been having an amazing time in Hollywood, and that's why I was glad he stayed. At first.

Now, a couple of hours later, I'm not so glad he's staying. It would have made sense had he gone, followed by Lil and Anoop in the following weeks. This would have guaranteed Kris at least 4th place. Now, it's all messed up, isn't it? I feel like I can't relax at all. Damn...

Still, he had to be wildcarded and now he was saved by the judges. I agree with Simon that he can't win now, I give him two weeks. I guess I just hope that Kris outlasts him, otherwise I will be pissed.

Yeah, I don't like him THAT much.

"And now the judges will deliberate," says Randy. Paula and Kara immediately jump up and sway/dance like 14 year old fangirlies. Which at heart I guess they are. They do this during regular performances, too. They're a great audience. But they're supposed to be judging. And for 90 seconds they can't seem to sit still and respectfully pay attention to the performers. It's so freaking weird.

The group sing was great! I really enjoyed it for once.

I wonder if the absence of Scott was the reason? Not necessarily the main reason, but, I mean, I wonder if they could relax being able to move around more? And if the choreographer was able to open it up more? Poor Scott. Don't take that as a dig at him.

I was on the wrong channel and realized it just in time to see the group sing. Yeah, I liked it, too. Felt bad for Allison, who had to tap Simon on the shoulder so he'd pay attention to her, singing right next to him. What's with him, jet lag? And Anoop nearly fell going down the stairs.

 

[missaddicted]

I'm just a little worried that this save will create a whole new momentum for him, since it's "historic" and he was the one who "made Idol history." He is going to get a lot of attention going into next week's show, and, I suspect, he's just become a fan favorite. None of this bodes too well for Kris, somehow. He's popular, though, he's been consistent, and unlike a lot of people I think he'll have no trouble with disco.

Well, I'm reading a lot of "they saved Matt??" type of comments, so I guess it could also create backlash against him, since he has been voted out twice at this point if you count the semis. People might think that he doesn't deserve to be there anymore. He's a likeable guy for sure and I was actually happy for him despite not being a fan, but there's no way I want him to last beyond the next two weeks, and I would be absolutely pissed if Kris left before him. Matt has been very inconsistent.

In a perfect world, Lil and Anoop would be the two leaving next week (well, Danny too, but I don't see that happening). The double elimination is scary though. Be great Kris!

I was thrilled with Simon's "Kris, you were brilliant" comment. (missaddicted, you watched it 3 times, is that what he said?) It was so unexpected, I jumped up and did the fist-in-the-air "yes!" three times. (And I never thought I'd be able to get into this show. Ha.) Glad I was alone. heh.

Oh, I did that too. Actually I think I squeed out loud. And yes, I rewound my DVR to watch Simon say it again. Three times. Too bad it didn't happen last night.

I guess I mostly enjoyed tonight's show because it was so heartwarming seeing the contestants like that. Also, Kris, Anoop and Danny totally yelled at Matt right before he started performing, to support him I guess, it was great to witness that. The group hugs were awesome. I love seeing that on the show, it makes me a little less cynical about it.

Just bought Kris' and Adam's songs from iTunes. Kris' is amazing. Probably my favorite from the whole season. Adam's is quite dance/techno, I dig it.

 

[ross 1]

I guess I mostly enjoyed tonight's show because it was so heartwarming seeing the contestants like that. Also, Kris, Anoop and Danny totally yelled at Matt right before he started performing, to support him I guess, it was great to witness that. The group hugs were awesome. I love seeing that on the show, it makes me a little less cynical about it.

I loved that. Is it typical for AI? I was really amazed at how happy Adam and Kris looked hugging Matt. What a love fest. These seem like great people.

I don't know if you read somewhere (as I did) that someone said this group is very different from last year's. Where I read it or who said it I can't remember. This group supposedly laughs and jokes with each other right up to the moment they go onstage, for instance. As opposed to all other years, where they stood backstage nervously and silently.

Funny thing, I was also surprised that I was happy and even whooped slightly when Anoop was safe tonight. I have no idea why. I never like his sitting there with his slightly entitled, slightly bratty 'tude. But something in me was glad he was safe, both this week and last week. It's crazy.

Really, the only one I was hoping would go was Lil. But, unfortunately, Lil lives to yell again.

Well, I'm reading a lot of "they saved Matt??" type of comments, so I guess it could also create backlash against him, since he has been voted out twice at this point if you count the semis. People might think that he doesn't deserve to be there anymore.

I was talking more about fan/audience reactions, though, which are somehow a little different from forum reactions. You know how on TWoP everyone loved Anoop, for a long time? But the people who vote never really liked him and still don't. Or, on CI6, no one liked Mitch, on the forums, but as far as I remember he was never once in the bottom 3, so the voters loved him (even if most of them may have been in the Northeast). I'm just saying Matt probably picked up votes tonight. For his grace under pressure, great attitude, for the way the other idols reacted to him, etc. And because he was in the spotlight. But I could be very wrong, and I wouldn't mind a bit if I was!

 

[ross 1]

David Cook likes Lambert and Allen. As you must know, already, missaddicted. Archie has also been telling interviewers his fave this year is Kris.

 

[SleepinIn]

I'm so glad that Kris and Adam are getting the love, and I'm really sorry I missed Simon's praise of Kris, this is why we need all the judges and not just two. (*grumble* tag team judging *grumble*)

 

[missaddicted]

David Cook likes Lambert and Allen. As you must know, already, missaddicted. Archie has also been telling interviewers his fave this year is Kris.

Well, they have great tastes, ha!

I don't know if you read somewhere (as I did) that someone said this group is very different from last year's. Where I read it or who said it I can't remember. This group supposedly laughs and jokes with each other right up to the moment they go onstage, for instance. As opposed to all other years, where they stood backstage nervously and silently.

I think they got along just fine last year. I think the judges' manipulations got to them at a certain point (Carly, Brooke, Jason and Syesha especially all seemed beat down at one point or another). David (Cook) still says that he remains great friends with all of them (mostly Michael, Carly and Archie I think though). Also, last year, Ryan was calling them from backstage one after the other to tell them their fate, so we couldn't see as much interaction.

I'm just saying Matt probably picked up votes tonight. For his grace under pressure, great attitude, for the way the other idols reacted to him, etc. And because he was in the spotlight. But I could be very wrong, and I wouldn't mind a bit if I was!

Yeah, you might be right, but I think all the contestants came off great last night. Also, I read in the EW "on the scene" report that it was the 6 remaining idols who got the crowd to chant "Save, save, save" after Matt was done singing. It's refreshing to see that after all the producers/judges make them go through, they're all still so supportive of each other and they can forget about the competition for a moment and just share the love!

I'm so glad that Kris and Adam are getting the love, and I'm really sorry I missed Simon's praise of Kris, this is why we need all the judges and not just two. (*grumble* tag team judging *grumble*)

Yes, exactly. It would've been great to hear Simon say that to Kris on Tuesday and not only yesterday. People would have remembered that instead of Randy's useless critique. Randy couldn't recognize subtlety and real emotion if it hit him in the face.

According to Richard Rushfield from the LA Times, who got to eat with the Idols after the show last night, it was decided pretty much at the last minute that they would do disco next week, since apparently a mentor fell through or something like that. Too bad...

A lot of people are saying that Adam will do great with that theme, but it's still dangerous, because disco can come across as really "cliché". He really has to be savvy and pick what he'll do wisely. Well, same thing for all the others I guess!

ETA: The contestants really have a great relationship going on: they were on American Idol Extra last night (clips from MJ). Apparently, Adam is the one they all turn to for advice, Danny and Allison get up during the night to eat, Allison thinks Kris is short, and Kris' rap name is K. Sizzle. Lots of good stuff in these two clips.

 

[ross 1]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c630a53ef01156f2daefa970c-pi

Also, I read in the EW "on the scene" report that it was the 6 remaining idols who got the crowd to chant "Save, save, save" after Matt was done singing. It's refreshing to see that after all the producers/judges make them go through, they're all still so supportive of each other and they can forget about the competition for a moment and just share the love!

It was apparently started by Danny.

Part of his evil Machiavellian scheme to keep Matt around, so that Matt will split votes with Kris and Adam, and Danny can ascend to the throne.

Okay, maybe not.
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/ic/blogs/channelsurfing/uploaded_images/gokey-743566.jpg
I watched Simon's sourpuss interview (on mj's blog) about the "save," where he said something like, "They all love it now, but when two of them go home next week they're not going to love it so much." Like it was their fault. Did the chanting really pressure him so much?

That reminds me of something. Have you ever read the Idol Tracker (Richard Rushfield) post-game chat, missaddicted? I've never read it 'live,' but it's interesting to read later.

The chat originally revealed that the idols decided during a commercial they were going to try to save whoever was in last place that night. (Why? I'm not sure.)

Anyway, the save + disco week = insecurity for ross.

I wonder if people like Lil, Anoop, and Matt have just not scored yet because the theme nights were all wrong for them. What if disco turns out to be in their wheelhouse? You have Lil, who, in her wigs, looks kinda like a Donna Summer. What if she slays the audience with a mad redition of On the Radio? Or more horrifying, Bad Girls? Or Love To Love Ya, Baby?

Or Gloria Gaynor's Never Can Say Goodbye, Or: I Will Survive?

Unfortunately, I can just see her singing this stuff well.

Her incredibly bad instincts at selecting songs is my only hope.

Then you have Matt and Anoop. People call Matt "JT Lite." Anoop says his heroes are Boys 2 Men. This is pretty damn close to disco music. Closer than any other kind of music is. So those two may just kill, also.

Everyone (for reasons I don't really get) thinks Adam is going to have no trouble with disco. Since he's spent the whole competition singing hard rock and ballads, I don't know why they think so. But he's recorded dance music (another disco offshoot), so he's probably bound to do great.

And Danny says he's really looking forward to disco night.

Allison might bring out her disco diva side.

Which leaves Kris, the actual antithesis of disco. He is actually listed in medical journals as the antidote to an overdose of KC And The Sunshine Band.

Kris will never be at the very bottom, next week. But what if he somehow messes up, or what if those other three mediocrities have finally found the perfect mediocre genre for their mediocre talents, and do well? He could somehow end up in the bottom two. And, if so -- welcome back to Conway, Ark.

This is why I wish Matt went home last week. Because it essentially would have meant Kris was safe next week.

My only hope is that Kris dances, because the guy can shake his groove thang for certain. If he isn't shy about busting a move, he doesn't even have to sing well.
He's home free. I'm serious. This is the time to shake your booty, baby. Dawg.

Kris' rap name is K. Sizzle.

I saw him say this before! He said it in a piece called "Top 13 choose their nicknames" or something. He was like: "K. Sizzle. That's sick." Adam said his own nickname should be "Adam Bomb."

 

[missaddicted]

Aw, ross, don't be too worried. Sometimes when a theme seems so far from a contestant's wheelhouse, that's when they do the best. Not that I'm completely worry-free, but I'm still waiting to see and not trying to expect the worst from and for Kris.

Matt, Anoop and Lil have been mediocre all through the competition, I don't know why that would suddenly change. Motown should have been right in their wheelhouse, but who were the best that night (according to the "highly scientific" WhatNotToSing website)? Adam and Allison, whom I don't directly associate with R&B. And JT and Boys2Men close to disco music? Well, I wasn't born when disco was around, but for me, JT and Boys2Men are truly in the R&B genre, which I don't really relate to disco. I don't know, maybe I'm missing something.

And Danny may be excited for Disco week, but really, Danny and Disco? I'm not expecting great things there either! The guy can't dance to save his life and he won't be able to count on a song with a "message" this week.

I think people are expecting Adam to be good with Disco since he already did a disco song (Play the Funky Music) and also, like you said, he's already made some dance music, which for me, is now the closest thing to disco.

I don't think it's the perfect theme for Kris, but I think he can pull it off. Last year, they had the "Andrew Lloyd Webber songs" week at top 6, and people were not necessarily expecting Cook to do well with "Broadway Tunes", but he sang "Music of the Night" without rearranging it, and he gained a lot of new fans like that.

Yes, I do wish that Matt had been eliminated last week, since it would be one less contestant for Kris (and Adam) to "take down", but there was no way that the judges wouldn't have used the save. I guess I'm just happy that they didn't have to use it on Kris (and I hope I won't have to eat my words on Wednesday if Kris ends up at the bottom), since I think Matt is kind of tainted. "Oh, he's not that good, the judges had to save him".

We'll see, I guess, and like I said, I'm a bit worried too, but I'm not trying to expect the worst at this point.

 

[SleepinIn]

I think people are expecting Adam to be good with Disco since he already did a disco song (Play the Funky Music) and also, like you said, he's already made some dance music, which for me, is now the closest thing to disco.

I don't think it's the perfect theme for Kris, but I think he can pull it off. Last year, they had the "Andrew Lloyd Webber songs" week at top 6, and people were not necessarily expecting Cook to do well with "Broadway Tunes", but he sang "Music of the Night" without rearranging it, and he gained a lot of new fans like that.

Exactly!

People perceiving Adam as having the easiest time with Disco could backfire on him too, since if he doesn't live up to expectations he might lose some shine.

Whereas for the Idol's like Kris it's a chance to take expectations and pull a rabbit out of your hat and wow people by coming from behind.

Advice for Kris from lowly non-voting Canadian.

1) Stay up on stage, or at least out of the crowd so you're not being swallowed up. We need to see you.

2) Dancing.. What's a little Travolta between friends? You can do it.

3) Bell bottoms? Um.. I vote no.

 

[ross 1]

Matt, Anoop and Lil have been mediocre all through the competition, I don't know why that would suddenly change. Motown should have been right in their wheelhouse, but who were the best that night (according to the "highly scientific" WhatNotToSing website)? Adam and Allison, whom I don't directly associate with R&B.

Good point, missaddicted. But then you always do come up with these good observations I never would have thought of. I forgot about Motown. They tanked.

Have you been to the KrisAllenNation website? I linked to a particular page, here, because of something interesting I noticed.

If you look at the video where Kris is chosen for the Top "12," after it's announced that he's made it, Paula and Simon high five each other. Never noticed that before! It's under the section, "Videos from last night." I didn't realize they liked him especially at that point.

And JT and Boys2Men close to disco music? Well, I wasn't born when disco was around, but for me, JT and Boys2Men are truly in the R&B genre, which I don't really relate to disco. I don't know, maybe I'm missing something.

Okay, this is Whitney, who's considered an r & b singer

Whitney

and this is Donna, who's disco

Donna Summer

To me the numbers are kind of similar.

Wikipedia mentions that disco began in African American and Hispanic communities. And it contained soul, funk, and Motown influences. R & b had similar origins and contains similar influences. In Boston, the two big radio stations that now play r & b and hip hop were the disco stations of the 70's and 80's. "Urban music" stations. Whereas the stations that played rock in the 80's still play rock.

I'm not saying the two styles are identical, I just said they were close. Disco is closer to r & b than it is to hard rock, or punk, or classic rock, etc. That's all I meant.

Advice for Kris from lowly non-voting Canadian.

1) Stay up on stage, or at least out of the crowd so you're not being swallowed up. We need to see you.

2) Dancing.. What's a little Travolta between friends? You can do it.

3) Bell bottoms? Um.. I vote no. :razz:

Haha! :lol:

He must never under any circumstances get swallowed up in the mosh pit of fangirlies again. What weird staging that is. How could anyone look good like that? Who ever came up with it? Plus, he's like 5' 6", or 5' 7" -- he was only visible from the chin up, practically. Matt tanked in that staging also.

Yes, I do wish that Matt had been eliminated last week, since it would be one less contestant for Kris (and Adam) to "take down", but there was no way that the judges wouldn't have used the save. I guess I'm just happy that they didn't have to use it on Kris (and I hope I won't have to eat my words on Wednesday if Kris ends up at the bottom), since I think Matt is kind of tainted. "Oh, he's not that good, the judges had to save him".

Re your last sentence: I don't know. I can also see it as Matt having been boosted, rather than tainted. "He must be great; the judges chose to use their one save on him."

 

[Chev]

I think the judges should have held on to their 'save' and let Matt go. They've got, what, a couple more weeks to go and I think it would come in handy later.

 

[missaddicted]

I think the judges should have held on to their 'save' and let Matt go. They've got, what, a couple more weeks to go and I think it would come in handy later.

I think this week (well, the original top 6) was the last week they could use it, so the chance that their probable favorites Adam and Danny will be at the bottom this week is pretty low I guess. But, I agree that they should have let Matt go, he's not that great, even though he seems to be a fun and likeable guy. If Kris or Adam do indeed end up at the bottom this week though, I'll be really pissed!

ross, you're probably right about Disco and R&B, I guess I was just trying to make you feel less worried! I also know relatively little about Disco music, and it's perfectly fine like that! Everything else I wrote in my previous post still stands though and I would even add that Anoop isn't good at all with uptempo songs, so that might doom him.

If you look at the video where Kris is chosen for the Top "12," after it's announced that he's made it, Paula and Simon high five each other. Never noticed that before! It's under the section, "Videos from last night." I didn't realize they liked him especially at that point.

Yes, yes I had noticed. It's also been discussed by the "Knoll". Maybe they were happy, but I think they were mostly happy that Kara had been somewhat proven wrong. She was pretty much the only one who dissed Kris for his Man In the Mirror performance. Or maybe they were just happy, which would be great!

Re your last sentence: I don't know. I can also see it as Matt having been boosted, rather than tainted. "He must be great; the judges chose to use their one save on him."

Maybe. I just haven't seen that comment really. Simon made it pretty clear that he didn't think Matt was that great and that he didn't think he could win. Also, in an interview he did after, Simon said that he didn't think that Matt could make it further than 4th or 5th place. If Simon had been really enthusiastic about saving him, maybe it would've been better for Matt, but Simon dissed him, even though he saved him.

You know, I'm worried for Kris, but I'm kind of worried for Adam too (maybe not for tomorrow, but the next week, maybe). Even in the latest Idolatry video, they treat Adam as the eventual winner (and they're not the only ones in the media), which could lead to a feeling of safety amongst his fans and thus, complacency in the voting. I mean, I don't blame them, because really, as much as I love Kris, I don't really want to see any other issue to this season than an Adam win, unless he starts being terrible, which I don't see happening. It's not that I wouldn't be happy with a Kris win, but if I'm being realistic, I don't see that happening. Seriously, could you imagine a Danny win? That would really turn me off American Idol for good I think!

 

[ross 1]

You know, I'm worried for Kris, but I'm kind of worried for Adam too (maybe not for tomorrow, but the next week, maybe). Even in the latest Idolatry video, they treat Adam as the eventual winner (and they're not the only ones in the media), which could lead to a feeling of safety amongst his fans and thus, complacency in the voting. I mean, I don't blame them, because really, as much as I love Kris, I don't really want to see any other issue to this season than an Adam win, unless he starts being terrible, which I don't see happening. It's not that I wouldn't be happy with a Kris win, but if I'm being realistic, I don't see that happening. Seriously, could you imagine a Danny win? That would really turn me off American Idol for good I think!

You've given me a lot to think about. First, I guess I should say, it looks like Adam's going to win, though I'm not really thrilled with that. I don't think he will start to be terrible. But nothing is static in these competitions and there just may be a shift in perceptions. People may start to like one person more than another, unexpectedly -- they may tire of him, find him shrill, predictable, or something -- he may have peaked already. I don't see him losing, but I would say (as a major Kris fan) the only shot Kris probably has at going all the way is if Adam does not go all the way. I really don't see anyone else standing in his way if he makes it into the Top 5 other than Adam and possibly Danny. Unless perceptions shift so much that suddenly people start to see Anoop or Lil as brilliant.

Funny, I was looking at a TWoP AI thread that just got revived after lying dormant for a year or more: a thread about the iTunes performances. Guess whose iTunes perfomances everyone is praising over there? Matt's. People say after listening to them they have a much better opinion of him and that he should have a recording career. I tell ya this dude is trouble!! :angryfire: Grrr. Matt- go home!!

I loved Kris's iTunes perf. of Falling Slowly, btw. Though I always like live performances so much better than studio recordings, and I liked the performance on the show better.

If you do look at KrisAllenNation, there's a couple over there that do an interesting weekly podcast. They're friends of Kris from Arkansas, I think.

 

[missaddicted]

Yes, you're probably right that the only chance that Kris has to make it to the end is if Adam is eliminated sooner than later. He would be an incredibly shocking boot though. We can see a lot of "I want a Adam/Kris/Allison top 3" right now. As much as I would love that, I don't really see it happening. Maybe two of the three will be there though (and I think Allison could also be considered as a "threat", she's gaining steam). But it's weird, and I don't really know why I feel this way, but I really want Adam to win. Of course, I want Kris to make it to top 3 at least too and I don't want him to leave anytime soon. But if I'm being honest, as much as I love Kris and as much as I would buy his music in a heartbeat, I believe Adam would make a more interesting winner. I guess I would just like to see the viewers reward this guy with the prize, to say that yes, that guy could win. And I'm not only refering to the fact that he's gay and that I'm unsure that "America" would reward him with the prize of being the "Idol", it goes further than that, but right now it's late and I'm not sure I have the exact words to express what I want to say. I mean, he's not your usual American Idol contestant, but in the "real world", he's not really that strange either (well, I don't think so). I guess I could say that if Danny made it further than Adam, it would be a huge let down for me.

Funny, I was looking at a TWoP AI thread that just got revived after lying dormant for a year or more: a thread about the iTunes performances. Guess whose iTunes perfomances everyone is praising over there? Matt's. People say after listening to them they have a much better opinion of him and that he should have a recording career. I tell ya this dude is trouble!! :angryfire: Grrr. Matt- go home!!

Yes, I've read that elsewhere too and it's been like that since the beginning of the finals. The thing is, his songs are not playing on the radio and we're not really voting for "American recording artist", even though that's the big prize. So, I can't really be bothered with listening to his songs if he can't me like his performances on the show. But I wish him the best if he wants to have a recording career. Please leave before Kris though!

I also love Kris' Falling Slowly. Actually, I have to admit that i did buy all his songs, as well as Adam's songs and also the videos from the both of them. At least, the Idols get a share of the sales that they make with their songs, it makes me feels less guilty about giving my money to AI! I have an iPod and it can play the videos as "songs" if I put them in a playlist so that I can listen to both the studio and the live version!

If you do look at KrisAllenNation, there's a couple over there that do an interesting weekly podcast. They're friends of Kris from Arkansas, I think.

I haven't seen that. Thanks I'll check it out!

ETA: OK, just read this on TWoP, but it came from the website that you linked to:

We heard a story about Kris that we felt we just had to share. As some of you may know, Kris has been on mission trips across the world to Spain, Morocco, South Africa, Mozambique, Burma, and Thailand. While the most predominant story that has circulated on the internet has been Kris’s near death experience in Morocco when he fell gravely ill, this story is heart-warming and telling of Kris’s character. Please circulate this to your friends and family.

Before traveling to Thailand, Kris decided that he wanted to bring along his new $700 guitar, a beautiful Takamine, that his parents had recently given him. Of course, Kris’s parents thought he should leave his prized-possession at home and go without this guitar. Promising to keep it safe, Kris chose to take the Takamine.

During his trip across Southeast Asia, Kris managed to transport the guitar unharmed. But one day, Kris attended a worship service at a large refugee camp in Thailand. There was a local girl leading worship playing a guitar, though her guitar wasn’t compatible with the plug for the amps and most of the crowd had difficulty hearing. Without complete knowledge of why or what he was doing, Kris began to cry; and, feeling moved to act, he approached the stage and the girl. He laid down his guitar and plugged in his new, expensive guitar into the amp and walked away.

Kris later called his parents, worried that they would be upset with him for having given away his new Takiname guitar. But, of course, the Allens were simply moved by Kris’s gesture and proud of the man they had raised. Now, on American Idol, Kris has received many free gifts from clothing designers and from the show, but none of which are more meaningful than a number of new, Takamine guitars.

It kind of brought tears to my eyes, what an incredible guy!

 

[ross 1]

Lil -- A mess. They threw her under the bus, but I would gladly drive it if they asked me. Hollywood and Highland, next stop! Did you hear something? Was there a bump? Ooh, that's not pretty. Kids, don't look.

Kris. I would buy that record. So polished. Almost perfect.

You know how I feel about this guy, whatever. That was the definition of "making it your own." When people say Kris is boring, I don't get it. Subtle, I guess. Good taste? Check. Musicianship? Oh, yeah. Personally, though, I mainly love what he does with his voice. It's something I would like to listen to for years, if he does stuff like this. The performance started out a bit uninterestingly but it didn't take long to take off. Four great judgements by the not-so-fantastic-four. Not the best place in the lineup. Second spot. Grr.

Danny. Gee, sorry, I thought that was fairly standard. Did this deserve the tongue-bath? (And why do the [damn] judges always talk and joke during Kris's judgements but are so attentive during Danny's?) Danny has, like Adam, some chops on him. But little or no artistry. And I didn't even think it was as fun as it was meant to be, either. How about some originality, Mr. Midwestern Lump? No? Okay. Didn't think so.

Allison. I feel like I'm repeating myself. To me it's not like one performance of Allison's is better or worse than another. So all I can do is say the same things all the time. Unfocused, kind of semi-generic performance, generic-sounding rock voice, loud rather than interesting singing. Sort of like a plate of fudge that's been left out in the sun to melt and moosh into a big, gooey, messy, unformed...okay, I'll stop now.

And: Simon, that wasn't brilliant, sorry. Not that she's ever bad. But give her 10 years to mature.

Adam. A lot of Adam's stuff, especially the ballads, don't reach me emotionally. Mainly, I guess, because I do not have a clue of his personality, or who he is as an artist. In this way he reminds me a lot of Theo Tams. "Great" singer, but, like, a blank, to me. That said, for what it was, I can't fault it. I wish I could just enjoy him like other people do. He's too studied for me, maybe. Buy way talented, can't deny it. Just not reaching me. As I guess I already said.

Matt. For once I have to more or less agree with Randy. (Did I say that?) I didn't think it was a great song choice for him, but he does, in a way, have a special, different, interesting voice and a good style. Maybe Matt doesn't quite have a "great" voice, but it's original.

It's kind of like Blake Lewis, to me. I was watching a YouTube video of Blake doing a sort of freestyle riffing, and it was like you took five cats and put them in a bag with some dishes and threw them down the stairs. It was horrific, but so many people in the audience were digging it. And it wasn't like anyone else's music.
Not that Matt is as bad as that stuff. I just don't really dig his music. But I respect him, he's never compromised or done anything on the show any different from who he is. I have to admire that, and I like the guy so much. The performance was just okay, though. I guess I don't care if he stays, for now. Just as long as Lil goes home and is joined by...

Anoop. I agreed totally with Simon. To me it was not only medicre but absolutely his worst performance since Beat It. It was not only uninteresting, it was boring, dull, sleep inducing. There was nothing technically wrong with it, I guess. I just was shocked (nothing less) that he would do that if he wants to stick around. And even more shocked three of the judges loved it.

Must...vote...now...must...vote...now...