American Idol, Season 5 **Official Discussion Thread** Part 2

[dolphindan1]

This could have been written by me.

I think it is very obvious that Elliot is the one with a voice -- Chris and Kat, they are more "American Idolic" if you will, the kind that will appeal to the masses in a more Mariah Carey kind of way.

Taylor - he seems like such a nice guy and I'm tickled for his success -- but I don't get it at all -- people are going to be going out in droves to buy his albums??? I doubt it.

I'm so happy Elliot has made it this far. He's the real talent.

Wrong.....very very wrong.....Elliott is the least talented and has the worst voice out of all of them....true Chris and Kat are more "Idolic" but I think Chris and Taylor are highly marketable and Kat has probably the best voice out of the group but does not have quite the popularity as Chris or Taylor...

 

[bicker]

I have to disagree with part of what you said: Taylor isn't highly marketable. In the limited context of American Idol, as part of an ensemble, he comes across as a fun guy, and a bit of a stand-out. However, he doesn't have much upward potential: The "clean up" which producers and stylists apply to "new stars" won't really change Taylor much -- most of his fans will feel that's a good thing because he won't become something that they didn't like. However, it does mean that he's as good now as he'll be later. By contrast, Katherine and Chris are good foundations on which to build. Katherine, especially, has promise. With the right promotion, she could probably be made into a big star (if someone had the inclination to take the risk on her). She would no longer be the tentative, weak-registered Katherine she is today, but she'd be highly marketable.

 

[auntpolly]

Wrong.....very very wrong.....Elliott is the least talented and has the worst voice out of all of them....true Chris and Kat are more "Idolic" but I think Chris and Taylor are highly marketable and Kat has probably the best voice out of the group but does not have quite the popularity as Chris or Taylor...

LOL Did Elliot borrow money from you and never pay you back??? You seem to be on this weird smear campaign!

I think everyone in the top 12 had talent in their own ways and every week has been sad for me. I think it's pretty obvious that Elliot has the best voice, but some people value looks alot, so Elliot could never win, but I'm just so proud of him for making it this far.

 

[damo]

I have to disagree with part of what you said: Taylor isn't highly marketable. In the limited context of American Idol, as part of an ensemble, he comes across as a fun guy, and a bit of a stand-out. However, he doesn't have much upward potential: The "clean up" which producers and stylists apply to "new stars" won't really change Taylor much -- most of his fans will feel that's a good thing because he won't become something that they didn't like. However, it does mean that he's as good now as he'll be later. By contrast, Katherine and Chris are good foundations on which to build. Katherine, especially, has promise. With the right promotion, she could probably be made into a big star (if someone had the inclination to take the risk on her). She would no longer be the tentative, weak-registered Katherine she is today, but she'd be highly marketable.

David Foster seemed to think she has a big future (and he should know!!!)

 

[jaimee1024]

Yes! If I was in the music industry I would definitely want David Foster to have my back. Look what he did for Josh Groban!! I mean...Josh is one of the most talented singers I've ever heard, but until David Foster got ahold of him no one had ever heard of him. That man knows talent when he hears it!

 

[Ranatra]

LOL Did Elliot borrow money from you and never pay you back??? You seem to be on this weird smear campaign!.

dolphindan feels compelled to correct anyone that says Elliott is talented and has a great voice. He just can't let it go.


Here's one for you Dan:


ELLIOTT IS AWESOME!

Now have yourself a ball.

 

[damo]

Yep, I couldn't believe how overt they were with that!

Here's your top three, but oh yeah, Paris and Elliott are still around.
Hmm... we'd better let them sing a little snippet, let's just be sure to keep them off to the side or behind our top three at all times.



I'm one of what seems to be a minority here who really likes Elliott.
Or maybe it's just that some of the folks who don't like him tend to be a bit in your face about it - I don't know.


But I don't think it matters much since I agree that next week is pretty much a done deal and Elliott will be the one to go.



My prediction: Taylor will definitely be in the final two and I'll be voting for either Chris or Kat to win against him. (I'm guessing Chris will be the one to make it - but I won't count Kat out yet)

I've just never gotten the Taylor love thing, but realize I'm very much in the minority there.

It's funny how the Taylor fans complain that Chris is getting pimped and the Elliott fans complain that Taylor is getting pimped. I really don't see this overt pimping but then I'd be happy with any of these top four winning.

I don't see a lot of hate between Simon and Taylor here:

These are cute:

 

[tarmand]

dolphindan feels compelled to correct anyone that says Elliott is talented and has a great voice. He just can't let it go.


Here's one for you Dan:


ELLIOTT IS AWESOME!

Now have yourself a ball.

Could we all possibly let it go so that this thread doesn't get locked like last year? We all like different people for different reasons. Can't that be good enough?

 

[Ranatra]

Could we all possibly let it go so that this thread doesn't get locked like last year? We all like different people for different reasons. Can't that be good enough?

Tammie, there are no harsh words here. It's all in fun. Lighten up!

 

[Jennasis]

I sort of wish they'd quit making the Idols sing "theme weeks". None of them are ever going to sing Elvis tunes, or Barry Manilow, or music from the 50's in their careers (except that red head kid), so why force them to sing it now? Personally, I'd rather have them sing current music from current artists.

On another note....you can't tell people they are wrong for the personal opinions of a singer or song. Some people like elliot, or Taylor, or Chris or Kat...and some don't. I think Elliot is a super nice guy, with a decent voice, but isn't remotely close to being better than the other 3 contestants. I think Taylor is a hoot and a half to watch, but may not be so awesome when you only hear him on the radio. I enjoy his voice anyway. I think Kat is beautiful but I'd rather HEAR her than see her. And Chris, well...you ALL know how much I dig on Chris!!

 

[tarmand]

Tammie, there are no harsh words here. It's all in fun. Lighten up!

The bickering gets old after a while, don't you think? Dan is entitled to his thoughts just like you are entitled to your thoughts.

Yes, it's all in fun until someone puts an eye out.

 

[tarmand]

On another note....you can't tell people they are wrong for the personal opinions of a singer or song. Some people like elliot, or Taylor, or Chris or Kat...and some don't. I think Elliot is a super nice guy, with a decent voice, but isn't remotely close to being better than the other 3 contestants. I think Taylor is a hoot and a half to watch, but may not be so awesome when you only hear him on the radio. I enjoy his voice anyway. I think Kat is beautiful but I'd rather HEAR her than see her. And Chris, well...you ALL know how much I dig on Chris!!

Excellent post!

 

[auntpolly]

Could we all possibly let it go so that this thread doesn't get locked like last year? We all like different people for different reasons. Can't that be good enough?

That's fine with me, I think all of the contestants have been a pleasure to watch. But DolphinDad is acting like Elliot has "cooties" or something.

All of them, in the top 12, in my opinion, have been quite talented in different ways and could have successful careers, now it just comes down to marketability and what appeals to the masses.

There's a reason that Britney Spears was popular, for example, she's not the best singer ever, by far, she just has something that appeals to a vast number of people. In a way, it's like a lowest common denominator.

 

[wvrevy]

I'm one of the ones that think that Elliott is completely outclassed in this final four (and, indeed, in the final five as well). It has nothing to do with his troll-under-the-bridge appearance, no matter how much I make fun of it. I'm no more attracted to any of the other guys in the competition than I am to him, so I'm not sure why I should care less about his appearance (now Kat, on the other hand ). The simple fact is that I believe he has a vastly inferior voice to the other contestants. He sings entirely from his throat, rather than his diaphragm, and that vibrato is the reason he's gotten the name "goatboy" in more places than just my reviews of the show.

Now, if you want to talk about "marketability", then I'm sorry, but you do have to figure appearance into that. Quick...name another completely unattractive music superstar...one that sings the kind of smaltz that Elliott would sing on an album. You honestly think he would sell more CD's than Chris, Taylor, or Kat? I just don't see it.

As for Taylor and his "marketability"...Taylor has consistantly been among the top vote getters every week, and it seems to me that Michael McDonald has had a pretty successful career singing the same type of music that Taylor would put out. With the AI pedigree, he'll open that market up even further to people that wouldn't ordinarily go anywhere near that type of music. I'm willing to bet, here and now, that Taylor's first post-AI album will outsell any previous Idol, save only Kelly and, possibly, Carrie. I have that little doubt about his "marketability".

Yes, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and if you like listening to Elliott than that's "all good". But personally, I find his vibrato annoying in the extreme, and don't think he stands a chance of being any more successful than, say, any of the other Idol finalists that didn't go on to win. Some of them sold as many as 100,000 albums...but that's a long way from having a successful music career.

 

[damo]

Taylor isn't any more attractive than Elliott. In fact, I find his facial expressions much less attractive than Elliott's. So, if we are going on appearance, Taylor (IMHO) is the least attractive of the 4 remaining contestants.

Elliott has chosen much more difficult songs to sing than Taylor. Taylor's songs maintain a steady beat and constant timing and have very few words. Elliott's songs tend to have a complexity that really should be respected.

Taylor can outperform the socks off of Elliott.

 

[gometros]

I'm not in the for or against camp, but I just want to point out that early on Elliott had commneted about how he doesn't warm up at all. That shows a sign of either an inexpereinced singer or a foolish one.

 

[auntpolly]

Now, if you want to talk about "marketability", then I'm sorry, but you do have to figure appearance into that. Quick...name another completely unattractive music superstar...one that sings the kind of smaltz that Elliott would sing on an album. You honestly think he would sell more CD's than Chris, Taylor, or Kat? I just don't see it.

I think you've missed my point. Because that's exactly what I'm talking about. Elliot would not sell as many albums as Chris would, the same way lots of other talented people who haven't the mass appeal wouldn't sell as many albums as Britney Spears. I've never been a "Super Star" fan, per se ( I mean, some I like).

I really don't think Taylor has the superstar qualities that Kat and Elliot have -- that's just going way over my head. But I understand that Elliot is not "superstar" material, I've known that all along. That's why I'm so proud of him for getting so far. Being a "Superstar" is not always the greatest thing in the world. The pop stars of the world aren't always very interesting.

 

[ckay87]

Eh ... I have a hard time believeing any of us can predict marketability ever since that geek Clay Aiken hit it big.

Oh my gosh I can only imagine the chains I've rattled with that statement! I'm totally kidding; I LIKE Clay. But who would have called him marketable pre-Idol?

I personally don't care who's marketable and I like who I like. Fortunately there are a lot of people who feel the same way.

 

[wvrevy]

Taylor isn't any more attractive than Elliott. In fact, I find his facial expressions much less attractive than Elliott's. So, if we are going on appearance, Taylor (IMHO) is the least attractive of the 4 remaining contestants.

Elliott has chosen much more difficult songs to sing than Taylor. Taylor's songs maintain a steady beat and constant timing and have very few words. Elliott's songs tend to have a complexity that really should be respected.

Taylor can outperform the socks off of Elliott.

Complexity is only to be respected if it is accomplished in turn, and I'm sorry, but I don't feel that stretching every two syllable word into 6 or 7 syllables constitutes accomplishment. And again, I find his voice grating in the extreme...like a poor imitation of Willy Nelson, without the accompanying something that makes Willy's voice special.

And I'm not the right person to say whether one guy is "more attractive" than another, as I don't really lean that way. Still, I think you'd be hard pressed to find many people that would agree with your statement above, particularly if they weren't familiar with either of their singing abilities.

 

[auntpolly]

Eh ... I have a hard time believeing any of us can predict marketability ever since that geek Clay Aiken hit it big.

Oh my gosh I can only imagine the chains I've rattled with that statement! I'm totally kidding; I LIKE Clay. But who would have called him marketable pre-Idol?

I personally don't care who's marketable and I like who I like. Fortunately there are a lot of people who feel the same way.

Oh, I totally get the Clay Aiken thing. He's like Donny Osmond was in the 70s -- a nice, likeable, non-sexually threatening pop star.