Dudie
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Post by Dudie on May 8, 2005 6:52:00 GMT -5
And now, disproving my own theory, I was talking to two people last night who didn't strike me as the sort of people who would ever watch American Idol, and they both knew who Fantasia Barrino was. Curious. There you go. Mind you as far as names go it is a brilliant one for a pop star. It couldn't be made up. I loved Fantasia. She rocked.
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AugustMoon
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Post by AugustMoon on May 8, 2005 8:19:54 GMT -5
Vonzell can sing, but for some reason unknown to my British ears, prefers to shout. I don't know how true this is. I've just re-watched her performances on ITV2, and was struck by how she saved herself from the screechiness by bringing out her chest voice at the right moment. A couple of weeks ago I was much more disturbed by her shoutiness, and then maybe she didn't wrap it up like this then? I think she's an awesome, awesome singer when she gets it right. I'm not going to make any excuses for that. Bo, Carrie and Nadia are great artists too. And Anwar... He must change to make me interested in him again... Sadly a lot of Americans like to vote for loud, shouty singing over light and shade singing, so she might get to the final. Very unlike the Britons, whose PI-2 winner was nothing like that... But seriously - hasn't that much to do with this being a competition? You, as a voter, have to find workable criteria for ranking the artists. And voice gymnastics fits that better than "lovely/cool/tough/whatever character". You needn't worry if LaToya London's votes were of the sympathy variety, for example. And that was good. Anyway. There's a quite nice reference to this in the "Be Cool" movie. I hope some of you noticed that.
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flufff
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Post by flufff on May 8, 2005 11:19:15 GMT -5
Oh, I agree that the punters at home when voting want to believe the person they are voting for is the 'best' singer, and singing loudly is often considered a marker for being good. People say to themseslves - wow, what a great voice when they hit a great big note, and often overlook that the big note was not fitting for the lyrics, or that when you listen to the radio, your favourite songs often don't include big notes, because good songs are not about proving what a great voice the singer has.
However, even before the Idols phenomenon, I've noticed that big voices have been favoured more in America than the UK. Mariah Carey's success here is nothing to the US, but Kylie's always done well and so on. I know this is a generalisation, but I do believe that in general Brits don't like warbling as much as the Yanks and in that respect I'm very British.
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AugustMoon
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Post by AugustMoon on May 8, 2005 14:57:28 GMT -5
However, even before the Idols phenomenon, I've noticed that big voices have been favoured more in America than the UK. Mariah Carey's success here is nothing to the US, but Kylie's always done well and so on. I know this is a generalisation, but I do believe that in general Brits don't like warbling as much as the Yanks... So could this mean that people in the most surreal place in the whole of Cyberspace, www.michelleofficial.co.uk/bb/have actully been more realistic than normally when they've been gushing about an American launch? Interesting.
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Post by Pandarama on May 8, 2005 15:26:54 GMT -5
The whole glory note thing is interesting, actually - I don't remember any contestants from Pop Idol going for that approach, except possibly Chris in Pop Idol 2, and it was awful whenever he tried. I rather like it when the contestants on American Idol do it, but it annoys me when someone like Anwar will get through on an extremely lazy (and fairly off) performance just on the strength of the held note at the end.
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Post by Poptastic! on May 8, 2005 17:07:53 GMT -5
I actually tested this on my flatmate last night, and while she admitted that the name Kelly Clarkson sounded reasonably familiar, she was convinced that I'd just made up Ruben Studdart and Fantasia Barrino. You kind of did - it's actually Ruben Studdar d. I'm soooooooo pleased Scott has gone - it's the first welcome reality TV result in weeks. Jessica
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Post by Twiloboy on May 9, 2005 3:20:05 GMT -5
Every year the person I have wanted to win from the beginning has won. I have a feeling that won't happen this year with Vonzell. I personally believe she has a great voice and she really seems like a sweet, genuine, nice person. If she goes, I really don't see myself caring about the show anymore. That's sad. The only thing I really care about, is that Carrie does not win. Get your ass over to Country Star and stay there. Country music of any kind makes me very unhappy. I actually really do enjoy Bo, but I'm not as interested in him as I am Ms. Baby V.
And as a random note....my mother is completely obsessed with the show now, since Vonzell is from Ft. Myers, where my family has a condo. While she was down there, she cut out every little article in the local paper and even attended AI parties. She spends every Tuesday voting. It just cracks me up. I even got her an AI magazine as a little extra gift for Mother's Day today. hehe
Peace, Ben
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Post by gabbygoo on May 10, 2005 10:39:18 GMT -5
There is a theory going round that the show is being manipulated for Carrie to win to tap into the C & W market and therefore not taking any revenue away from previous AI winners.
I would believe anything from this show which in reality is no longer a competition but a money making machine for the owners. Maybe the bubble is about to burst. Too many scandals and rumours going round now. Unfortunately the A1 contracts are so tight no one can speak.
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andrea69
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Post by andrea69 on May 10, 2005 15:31:39 GMT -5
Simon usually slates the person who leaves,see if he is particularly kind to Carrie-that would be a bit of a giveaway.
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Dudie
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Post by Dudie on May 10, 2005 15:53:29 GMT -5
I thought Simon was strangely reticent this week actually. It's as if he had decided to try not to provoke a backlash and get everyone voting for Scott just to spite him.
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NumanumAnzej
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Post by NumanumAnzej on May 14, 2005 4:14:00 GMT -5
And Anthony is gone! He was dead weight really. Looks like a Bo/Vonzell/Carrie final, and I think it's between Bo and Vonzell.
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flufff
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Post by flufff on May 14, 2005 4:46:28 GMT -5
Anthony was lovely, in a nice guy kind-of way, but as a competition to find the next big singing superstar he wasn't a realistic competitor.
All of the remaining three are very different to each other and both Carrie and Bo are very different to anything that's gone before them, and will appeal to new markets without detracting from previous winners.
I think there may be something in the conspiracy theory about the producers wanting Carrie to win because there haven't been any C&W singers in the past, and it is a massive market, but the same could be said of very good. I also think that from a tv point of view, it's more interesting to have people who are different each time, and I think the rest of the media that gets involved with promotion of AI and the public at large would rather have someone different too.
It doesn't do any individual singers any favours to be compared to previous success stories, as fans of those singers will resent it and them, and if the fans of those singers are the natural market for their sort of material they'll end up in trouble.
I would say that Carrie would be a much easier project for them to market as a legitimate country singer who is also the American Idol as she is right now, whereas with Bo they'll have work out how to incorporate his band and come to terms with the reactionary nature of a lot of the rock community who could easily turn their back on him, or if Bo starts to resent not being seen as authentic, which is inevitable.
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NumanumAnzej
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Post by NumanumAnzej on May 14, 2005 5:11:43 GMT -5
Let me test something here. very good. Bo, very good. Bo? (That's BoBoBoBo with a variety of punctuation - what's that about? He is very good though).
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Post by Poptastic! on May 14, 2005 6:46:35 GMT -5
There's no way Carrie will not be in the final. She and Anthony did the same song and not only did he do it better, he is a young blonde innocent boy who sings ballads, and yet she didn't even get into the bottom 2 and he left! I really do find her voice overrated - I think she's got Kelly Clarkson syndrome, people confusing a powerful voice with a tuneful one, cos I have not heard one song from her that sounds in tune the whole way through. But she's probably no worse than many other country stars, she's blonde, sort of bubbly in a slightly brainless way and so utterly inoffensive it's almost offensive in itself. She's had it sewn up since the start of the finals. However, I'm glad Vonzell and Bo are still in cos at least there are 2 at least vaguely likeable people still around, even thought it's insane that Anwar and Nadia are not.
Jessica
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Dudie
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Post by Dudie on May 14, 2005 11:48:03 GMT -5
It's true that Carrie is not tuneful but she is very beautiful and very marketable. What went down with Vonzell on the first song? She was out of tune which is unusual for her and Simon said something about very emotional so wouldn't comment further??
... Didn't notice what was wrong but was in the kitchen pouring a spritzer at the time.
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Post by jacko on May 14, 2005 14:13:41 GMT -5
I was wondering what that was about too, but I dont think they showed/told us, maybe the US Audience see more then us?
I have to say the great song 'If you dont know me by now' was murdered. I love that song too. Simon was right, it needed soul.
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Post by Pandarama on May 15, 2005 9:08:14 GMT -5
One of the rumours I heard was that Vonzell's dog was run over the day before/the day of the show, so that might have been it. I have absolutely no idea how truthful that is, mind.
I have to admit, when Bo's second song fired up, a very small part of me (no jokes please) hoped that against all odds he was going to do Bad Ass Strippa. If he had done, I would have flown to America on Tuesday and voted for him myself.
Quite a poor week from all of them this week, I thought. And I can only assume that Anthony was given the same song as Carrie in some kind of sabotage attempt.
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gjtje
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Post by gjtje on May 15, 2005 13:08:58 GMT -5
What was goin on with Carrie goin all frantic when Anthony was booted off? Cryin and signing I <3 You on camera... Secret luv affair? I always thought Ant was gay.....
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Dudie
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Post by Dudie on May 19, 2005 12:57:32 GMT -5
What's the consensus for this week's show then? I'm a fan of Vonzell but am nervous for her this week. I keep consoling myself with the fact that she's done brilliantly to get this far. Hope she's in the final.
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Post by gabbygoo on May 19, 2005 18:16:46 GMT -5
Carrie will be the winner . I feel it in my bones or maybe the Cowell has been hinting along those lines.
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NumanumAnzej
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Post by NumanumAnzej on May 19, 2005 19:30:02 GMT -5
I really want it to be very good. In a perfect world he'd win and release a cover of this year's Russian Eurovision song as his first single. Is there no way I can influence the voting outside of America?
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AugustMoon
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Post by AugustMoon on May 20, 2005 7:16:02 GMT -5
...In a perfect world he'd win and release a cover of this year's Russian Eurovision song as his first single. You're wrong. In a perfect world Vonzell would win, Bo would do a G4 and outsell her; and more importantly, his Russian single would outsell the cheese-fest winner's single. But this is no perfect world, and I still feel sure the order will be reversed, with Carrie winning. Still, two of the four I most wanted to be in the top-50 are actually in the top-3 too, so I shouldn't complain. And the third one I really like. How could I've missed him before? Did Bo not figure in the series until quite late? Is there no way I can influence the voting outside of America? There's some obsessive over at DigitalSpy who describes how you can vote from the UK if you get up in the middle of the night. But since your votes would go against Vonzell I won't tell you more than that.
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doggie
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Post by doggie on May 20, 2005 10:21:45 GMT -5
So, who do we think will be leaving tonight then?
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andrea69
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Post by andrea69 on May 20, 2005 12:29:46 GMT -5
Vonzell I think,but it will depend on the performances and song choice.
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Post by jacko on May 20, 2005 13:53:56 GMT -5
I hope Bo will be in the final, I dont mind with Carrie or Vonzell. But it all depends on the songs they sing and how they sing them I suppose.
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Post by I have no face! on May 20, 2005 15:10:10 GMT -5
Poor Vonzell. Chain of fools and Ill never love this way again were fantastic!
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Post by jacko on May 20, 2005 15:32:05 GMT -5
Bo was fantastic, especially the second song. Hope he wins.
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Post by Pandarama on May 20, 2005 15:55:33 GMT -5
Well, colour me entirely unsurprised by Vonzell's ejection. Even she knew she was going this week; she had "I'm totally going home" written all over her face during the results show.
I have a bit of a problem here, though. If I were asked to give a general comment on the singers' abilities, I would concede that Carrie is a better singer than Vonzell. However, on the strength of this week's performances, Vonzell deserved a place in the final more than Carrie did. Vonzell's 'I'll Never Love This Way Again' and 'Chain Of Fools' were great, although her 'On The Radio' was a little iffy vocally. By contrast, Carrie's 'Crying' was pedestrian and the final note was flat, her 'Making Love Out Of Nothing At All' was fine, but her 'Man! I Feel Like A Woman' was embarrassing both to watch and to listen to. And she still has absolutely zero stage presence, bless her.
Interestingly, my flatmates who are at best casual viewers of American Idol and are generally absent during the judge's verdicts where they've been plugging Bo and Carrie for months now thought Vonzell was the best tonight. They were pretty unimpressed with Carrie and very good.
I also kind of have a problem with Bo (and not just that I think he needs a shave). Up until now I was indifferent to him but considered him pleasant enough. However, after tonight I kind of hate him. I find him dull, his mic-carrying schtick is no longer cute, he's developing something of an overlarge ego and I find his wearing of sunglasses indoors pretty affected. I also got very tired of the judges lauding his decision to perform acapella as "brave" and "courageous". Okay, so no-one has done it in the finals before, but it's not like he was rescuing a small child from a burning building or anything. A cynical part of me thinks that one benefit of singing acapella is that it's harder to tell if you're off-pitch because people can't compare the key you're singing in to the key the band is playing.
I've enjoyed this series, but I won't be watching the final next week. This isn't due to any bitterness over Vonzell not making the final, but more because I consider the final two to be deeply boring, and I don't think I could take a whole hour of just the two of them honking and yodelling. I may, however, tune in if someone promises me that they will sing 'I'm A Little Bit Country, And I'm A Little Bit Rock 'n' Roll'. In fact, I almost think this final two was pre-determined exclusively for that purpose.
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Post by Twiloboy on May 21, 2005 4:44:24 GMT -5
Vonzell's gone, and I couldn't care less about the 2 remaining. The person I wanted to win each year has won the past 3 years, but I guess I ran out of luck this year. Baby V gave me plenty to look back fondly on though. Her Best Of My Love, I Have Nothing, and I Turn To You were all fantastic. I really do hope there's more left to be heard from her. I did happen upon a couple of her demo tracks, and they are fun.
I guess my saying "I couldn't care less" isn't entirely true. If Carrie's bland country nonsense ends up winning, I won't be too happy. Oh, how country angers me.
Peace, Ben
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Post by flufff on May 21, 2005 4:45:07 GMT -5
What a brilliant idea.
I did enjoy Bo's performances overall last night, but didn't think the acapella thing was that brave either. Bold perhaps, but quite clever really. It was a sure-fire way to ensure he stood, and I don't think it's an 'easy' option, but each and every one of them had to sing without backing tracks in the early rounds so we know they can all do it. I'm sure he fucked up at the end anyway, not that anyone commented on that because they were so excited at his bravery.
Typically it was my favourite Vonzell week, but Clive was right about her smiling during tragic songs. I've noticed he was into all that stuff last year too, so please take note prospective AI finalists. If Clive picks a sad song for you to sing - look sad and don't go for a glitzy ending.
The sun-glasses thing is really getting on my tits too.
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