Canadian Idol Fans Watching American Idol

[ross 1]

I didn't see any Idoloonies this season and I still agree with what you said! Speaking of scripted, I was surprised when someone (Scotty?) came offstage and was giving his supposedly spontaneous comments into the backstage camera - and apparently the crew thought the camera wasn't on yet, and asked him to start over...so he stopped, and started again from the beginning - word for word, exactly like he was reading off cue cards.

In any case, Idol didn't feel organic at all this year. So many things are wrong with Idol, but it seems that even when they're trying to fix them, they only make things worse. And they don't even seem to realize it.

Yeah, that's very well put. I can't add anything to that.

the judging really sucked this year (don't we say that every year though?)

It did, and we do. But this season was something else. I can't say I ever wanted Simon back - because I feel you can be kind and still say something that amounts to real criticism. Unless you're JLo and Steven and you don't want to alienate a single fan. It was clear both of them wanted something from the show other than to be the greatest judges they could possibly be. I don't even know if they were doing what they were directed to do or what they wanted to do.

But yeah, the show just gets more unreal-seeming.

I really was nodding my head to this one by Slezak:

7) Let the narrative of the season unfold organically instead of trying to force it to fit into an outline conceived in a conference room back in January: One of the most maddening aspects of Idol over the years is the refusal of Nigel Lythgoe & Co. to recognize when a dark horse contestant (Kris Allen, Jason Castro, Haley Reinhart) ups his or her game and emerges as a true contender, or an early-season front-runner (Danny Gokey, Jacob Lusk, Lil Rounds) fails to pan out as expected. This unwavering obstience often leaves viewers wondering if they’re watching an exciting reality competition or a soul-crushing scripted drama controlled by a dystopian regime.

In fact some of these people would not even be dark horse contenders if the show gave them equal time from the get-go. The manipulation often keeps them from emerging from the pack earlier. Kris, for ex., was not someone who was getting into bottom three situations. Yet his screen time was limited from the start compared to some others.

Anyway, I think a show that unfolds organically is much more dramatic, and interesting. I've been saying this since I first started watching. Just give eveyone equal time, equal consideration, fair judging, no manipulation, and watch what happens. It would then be as unpredictable as sports and just as gripping.

 

[missaddicted]

Anyway, I think a show that unfolds organically is much more dramatic, and interesting. I've been saying this since I first started watching. Just give eveyone equal time, equal consideration, fair judging, no manipulation, and watch what happens. It would then be as unpredictable as sports and just as gripping.

I don't understand how the Idol producers don't get this. Isn't it obvious that it would make things way more interesting?

Anyway, I thought all of Slezak's points in his article you quoted from were very very good.

 

[ross 1]

I don't understand how the Idol producers don't get this. Isn't it obvious that it would make things way more interesting?

Yes. But they're strongly hinting they want the judges [producers] to have more power in the future. They've given the judges the save. The media usually seems to be on their side. Craig Berman on the Today Show website made the point that the judges this season gave everyone the same praise, and at the same time berated the viewers for not making the choices they would have made, when the viewers didn't vote for Pia.

"The judges are extremely unhappy with the “American Idol” voters for their decision to send Pia Toscano home on Wednesday.
“I’m shocked. I’m angry. I don’t even know what to say,” J.Lo ranted, faulting the voters for failing to read her mind and discern which of the nine heavily praised finalists she loved better than others.
“I’m with Jennifer. We’re all in shock. I’m gutted. You’re one of the best singers in this. I’m never upset on this show, but this makes me mad. Really mad,” Randy Jackson told the tearful Toscano. It was a display of passion that would have been more useful had his preference for her been made clear 24 hours earlier.
“A mistake is one thing, but lack of passion is unforgivable. They’re wrong. She’s beautiful when she sings — she’s a bird,” Steven Tyler added, which sounded a lot like the type of praise he offers to any and all competitors every single week."

Anyway, I thought all of Slezak's points in his article you quoted from were very very good

I agree. Except maybe #1, where he suggested itunes sales count towards voting. Voting and buying are two different things. You can't let people with the most buying power sway the vote. Votes are still free (except texting). Anyhow, I'm not about to start buying the singles of everyone I ever feel like throwing votes to.

I know he's trying to suggest ways to limit votes. People whose faves rarely win usually think it's due to unfairness in the voting. I doubt it. I've always felt the vote would be the same, regardless. Dialidol seems to prove texting doesn't matter, for ex. But go ahead and limit it and see what happens. I doubt it would end the charges of unfairness.

Ain't No Sunshine in Vegas...

YouTube - ‪American Idol Slot Machine Bonus‬‏

 

[missaddicted]

I think limiting the voting would just maybe even out the playing field a little. Now with the internet voting and the texting, it's so easy to vote thousands of times. Let's say I liked contestant A, not enough to vote for them during two hours, but enough to vote 20 times. But if I know that several people somewhere are voting 2,000 times, how could I believe that my votes would even mean something. I probably would choose to not vote at all.

 

[SleepinIn]

I'm so glad I can't vote. I'd never last, I mean I'd probably vote more than 10 times for a favourite but I don't think I'd make it to 1000 votes ...although if you can facebook vote, text and phone..no I still wouldn't make it.

I'm really curious about how many voters are power voting. Are there really that many?

Also.. lol at the slot machine with ANS!!

 

[ross 1]

Like I said the only time the power voting is brought up seems to be when online and media peeps think the "election" didn't go their way. I suppose I'm exaggerating slightly (but not a lot) - as long as their favorite has won, most people suddenly become very cool with the voting. I haven't heard a lot of complaints about it this year, even though a teen won and a teen was runner up. People are usually so quick to blame the "unfair" results on teens texting and power voting. But apparently if no one minds the results, it becomes a non-issue?

I've never thought there's a lot of power voting, but I have no idea. However much there may be, anyone's fans can do it, so I never feel it favors anyone.

 

[missaddicted]

Funny about the voting. The Voice has a limit in voting. You can only vote 10 times per contestant. You can vote per phone, on the internet and... by buying the single on iTunes. Also, the voting lasts for like 5 days.

MJ met David yesterday, she pretty much squee'd on Twitter afterwards, LOL.

YouTube - ‪MJ comes to the stage in Boston to meet David Cook‬‏

 

[ross 1]

I can't watch this because I have no sound, but I'll say MJ really loved meeting Cook, based on all she wrote. He looks good there.

MJ is a really accessible person for a big-time Idol blogger. She's a fan and likes to talk to fans and doesn't mind giving her opinions or telling you what she thinks about anything. The Mix folks tend to be pretty accessible also.

I don't have any news other than LLWD re-entered the Top 200 and has sold a lot recently (@10,000) and has sold more overall than Jordin's Battlefield, at this point (but only half as much as No Air)...I'm looking at Mansfield's column.

Also, as I was saying elsewhere, Castro has gotten three EPs despite selling only @60,000 albums and having no hit singles - and various other people have gotten EPs, and I wish Kris had gotten just one. Because he hasn't recorded with his band - or live - or acoustic. And also because he has a lot of other (non-album) material. Oh, well.

Though nobody here is talking Lauren/Scotty but me (and I can't blame you), I have to say I'm just kind of surprised that there hasn't been a peep from the media about a guy winning for the 4th time in a row. Since this was such an important issue to them, as well as on the boards, up until recently. Where did all the people go who were so upset a girl hasn't won for years? I guess it depends on the girl.

Interesting about voting, on The Voice, missaddicted. Do you think it's better?

 

[missaddicted]

Also, as I was saying elsewhere, Castro has gotten three EPs despite selling only @60,000 albums and having no hit singles - and various other people have gotten EPs, and I wish Kris had gotten just one. Because he hasn't recorded with his band - or live - or acoustic. And also because he has a lot of other (non-album) material. Oh, well.

Don't give up hope! The Cook fans wanted an EP so bad as well, and we'll finally get one when the album is released. Well, of course, we have to order it through his website but it's cool, for like 20$, I'll have the album, the acoustic EP and a DVD with studio footage.

Do you think it's better?

I'll probably be able to answer you that after I see the first results next week, lol.

 

[SleepinIn]

I don't have any news other than LLWD re-entered the Top 200 and has sold a lot recently (@10,000) and has sold more overall than Jordin's Battlefield, at this point (but only half as much as No Air)...I'm looking at Mansfield's column.

I was really interested to see that it's sold more than Breakaway. Surprising for me actually.

MJ was really funny - hee. Nice for her to get to meet her faves too. And David -- I think the opener/midliner tour thing is a great idea.

Jordin was on NML on Much the other day and someone told her one of the floor directors was a fan and sang her songs at Karaoke, so she invited him to sing No Air with her, he did... and then she invited him to sing it at the ACC with her. She was really charming and funny, and really made a big impression on the show's staff. I think the floor director is now appearing on every media outlet CTV owns post show, lol. Good job Jordin.

 

[ross 1]

I'm sitting here totally full of myself for knowing that ACC means Air Canada Center (or, Centre?).

 

[CapsuleNeo]

I'm pretty sure that Battlefield has sold more overall than LLWD. Battlefield did well in different countries like Canada, Australia and UK. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battlefield_(song) Jordin has a decent-sized international fanbase. Her 2nd album was considered a "failure" in the US but it sold over 500,000 copies worldwide. Record companies don't care where the sales came from as long as they can make a profit.

Also, as I was saying elsewhere, Castro has gotten three EPs despite selling only @60,000 albums and having no hit singles - and various other people have gotten EPs, and I wish Kris had gotten just one.

His first album “Jason Castro” was released in April 2010 and his second album “Who I Am” was released in November 2010. His record label is weird.

 

[SleepinIn]

NML is still talking about Jordin today and they had footage from the concert. She made a big impression on them. Really positive press.

The people and media who judge things as successes and failures are sometimes talking out of their asses... There are a LOT of factors, and Jordin is still really young, and yes she's sold a lot of singles and records.

 

[ross 1]

His first album “Jason Castro” was released in April 2010 and his second album “Who I Am” was released in November 2010. His record label is weird.

It's confusing because Wikipedia lists it in his discography under both Albums and EPs. I don't know a lot about this stuff, so maybe you can help me out. It was released as a physical CD so does that mean it's considered an album by Billboard? Because I do remember it charting as an album. (Or maybe that was on itunes.) How many songs were on it?

I'm pretty sure that Battlefield has sold more overall than LLWD. Battlefield did well in different countries like Canada, Australia and UK.

I don't doubt it - but the Mansfield article was about the Soundscan Top 200. Worldwide sales were apparently not considered. I was just talking about US sales, if that wasn't clear.

Scotty and Lauren singles stay in the country top 10 - Idol Chatter: American Idol News, Rumors, & Information

I don't know what "NML" is, even though I know what "ACC" is.

 

[CapsuleNeo]

It's confusing because Wikipedia lists it in his discography under both Albums and EPs. I don't know a lot about this stuff, so maybe you can help me out. It was released as a physical CD so does that mean it's considered an album by Billboard? Because I do remember it charting as an album. (Or maybe that was on itunes.) How many songs were on it?

“Who I Am” included five new songs and five recycled tracks from Jason's first album. He released it to the Christian music market. Apparently, he has transformed from a hippie pop-folk artist to a Christian music artist.

 

[ross 1]

“Who I Am” included five new songs and five recycled tracks from Jason's first album. He released it to the Christian music market. Apparently, he has transformed from a hippie pop-folk artist to a Christian music artist.

Thanks for the info. That clears it up. Also apparently this was released on Word, the inspirational division of Atlantic.

Has he transformed, or can he just be both? I think: both. Though my first thought was cynical. Maybe because it's Jason and he seems fake, somehow. So I thought: he's going to make a buck one way or another. Not questioning his faith. It's just that he didn't go that route, as a singer, at first - only after his album didn't do great. Maybe. Or maybe it was in the works all along. Anyhow, he can be both - or he can be whatever he wants, it's a free country. lol

I liked his originaI CD. I don't think the tone of his voice is the strongest thing he's got. In my opinion he puts a song across, he seems to have songwriting skills, and charm that even comes across on a CD. I think the CD itself is organic and kind of a gem.

 

[SleepinIn]

I don't know what "NML" is, even though I know what "ACC" is.

Hee! New Music Live (the replacement show for MOD - Much on Demand)

I think Idol portrayed Jason as this hippie stoner which really wasn't true.

 

[CapsuleNeo]

Most of the so-called Christians I have known are fake. They have no problem touting their religion, their holier-than-thou attitude, but they don't really follow the teachings of the Bible. They just want to claim to be a Christian because they somehow think it makes them look good. I rolled my eyes when James Durbin stated because Daughtry is a Christian he gets double points because it must mean he’s good people. I don't think he has even read the Bible because he doesn't seem to think having a child out of wedlock is morally wrong. The Bible says that sex before marriage is a sin and this is one of the ten commandments. I probably understand their religion better than they do :lol:.

 

[missaddicted]

David and Neal performed with the PS22 chorus kids yesterday. Must. See. Videos.

The Last Goodbye:

YouTube - ‪"The Last Goodbye" David Cook & PS22 Chorus‬‏

Rolling In the Deep:

YouTube - ‪"Rolling In The Deep" David Cook PS22 Chorus (Adele)‬‏

Living On A Prayer and an incredibly cute Q & A:

YouTube - ‪"Livin' On A Prayer" David Cook & PS22 Chorus (Bon Jovi)‬‏

David and Neal doing Light On (guh, the Voice gets me everytime):

YouTube - ‪"Light On" David Cook @ PS22‬‏

LOL at David forgetting Ryan Tedder's last name. Oh and I love the cute kid on the drums!

 

[ross 1]

Wish I could listen to those videos. Did you guys read how Danny Gokey's Sophia's Heart Foundation kids chorus opened for him and sang Lady Antebellum's Need You Now? Some people were a little surprised the schoolkids were singing "It's a quarter after one, I'm a little drunk and I need you now." Or maybe they changed the lyrics. I hope.