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

[BuzzBoyMom]

Thought it was a great show. While I was hoping for Katherine, I'm happy Taylor won. I haven't felt that way about a show in a long time. They really had some great talent in the end....very hard to choose.

 

[Kitty 34]

Thought it was a great show. While I was hoping for Katherine, I'm happy Taylor won. I haven't felt that way about a show in a long time. They really had some great talent in the end....very hard to choose.

I agree. I was a Taylor fan but Kat has a beautiful strong voice so I wouldn't have been disappointed if she had taken the title.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

I don't think he should drop the "Soul Patrol," but he should definitely tone it down. I mean, all it does is make me laugh, and, honestly, I think it makes him more of "a joke." Now, I don't think Taylor's a joke, but I think the Soul Patrol hand-pump is an annoying schtick.

And as for the McPheever being annoying...Kat never shouted "McPheever" every week. She only mentioned the "McPhans" or the "Kat Pack" (the latter of which is just plain stupid) when asked about them.

Now, I like Taylor because he's different and I like the songs that I downloaded by him. BUT, if he doesn't lose some of his schtick, I think he might lose some of his fans on the fringe.

I know you'll disagree, you being "surly" and all (), but it's just my opinion.

Eh, I do disagree. Mainly because one of my evening high points was calling my "McPhan" dad and screaming "SOUL PATROL" into the phone repeatedly. Hey, he gloated last year when Carrie won. Now it's my turn.

 

[beattyfamily]

Well, we all knew who was going to win but I still enjoyed the show.

I felt SO bad for Kat having to sing with Meatloaf. I think there's something wrong with him because his voice was SO shakey. She did the best she could though.

I loved seeing Carrie and Clay. Those were the highlights of the show for me.

This year, for me, is like the Rueben/Clay year where I wanted the runner up (Clay) to win but I knew Rueben would win but I'd never buy his CD; but would and did buy Clay's CD. Although I do like Taylor a lot more then Rueben, I'd never buy his CD either but I'd certainly buy a Kat CD.

I can't wait to see how Taylor/Kat CDs do. Will they be equal or will someone do better than the other. My guess is Kat will do better.

 

[Ranatra]

but I think the Soul Patrol hand-pump is an annoying schtick.

Especially after every song

I'll miss AI on Tuesdays, can't wait for AI6.

 

[TeresaNJ]

Gee, why so much sour grapes on this board?

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

I will be utterly stunned in McPhee's CD does better than Taylor's. Sorry, peeps, but she's cute in a pageant way and sings in a pageant way. She's not that good. Unless her CD includes 12 different variations of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". Or a full booklet of various cleavage shots.

Can't stand. her. Or her "McPhamily". I would love it if they tried to merchanize that annoying McPhan stuff....McDonalds would be all over them with "cease and desist" letters in 10 seconds flat.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

What the * was that? Taylor was great and Toni Braxton was scary...she wasn't even singing...she was caveman grunting. Poor Taylor, she looked like she was trying to get him to grab her b**b too! SCARY!

Taylor didn't know what to do with her!

 

[auntpolly]

That was the most entertaining variety show I've seen on TV since Ed Sullivan -- my DD, and DH who hate AI were glued to the set. Loved Prince, Burt Bacherach, all the guest stars, it was just fun to see them all.

Watching the 2 finalists DD and DH kept saying, "Really, are you kidding? Those were the best in the whole contest?" I can see people gettting behind Kat and Taylor, honestly I can. They both have things that I could see as being attractive to some people, but I think it's a valid question.

Are we the only ones in America thinking, "That's really what American considers the best of the best?" I'm not trying to be mean, honestly, and this isn't sour grapes. I just wonder if, looking at past winners, it was so odd. When Carrie Underwood won, for example, did she seem like the pop star that she is today, or did she seem as amateurish as Kat and Taylor?

 

[TeresaNJ]

That is a very interesting question, auntpolly. Thinking back, I do think Carrie Underwood has evolved quite a bit this past year. If you think about it, American Idol is a contest for amateurs. If they were professionals, the contestants wouldn't be on the show. Isn't it like that with any career? No one is a "professional" starting out.

 

[auntpolly]

Gee, why so much sour grapes on this board?

I don't think it's sour grapes, I think it is actual amazement. I wish I could properly express how I feel without sounding like I'm just mad Elliot didn't win.

I just don't get Taylor. There are lots of singers I don't like, but I get why people like them. I don't like Bono or Elvis Costello, for example, just don't care for them, but it's not like I can't see what others see in them.

I'm just really in the dark about Taylor. He seems like a really nice guy and not untalented. He just doesn't seem like the kind of personality to make people go wild, or have the kind of voice that stands out.

I know, I know, you disagree with me, I get that. I just can't see it and it's not sour grapes.

 

[auntpolly]

That is a very interesting question, auntpolly. Thinking back, I do think Carrie Underwood has evolved quite a bit this past year. If you think about it, American Idol is a contest for amateurs. If they were professionals, the contestants wouldn't be on the show. Isn't it like that with any career? No one is a "professional" starting out.

Well this is the first season I've watched so I really don't know much about it. I just intended to watch the early ones for a laugh, but something about Elliot struck me from the first time he was on, and I just had to see how far he would go. I wish I had a better reference of past shows.

Did Carrie Underwood move around as awkwardly as Kat and Taylor, for example. Clay Aiken, last night on the 2 hour show, seemed like Frank Sinatra, he was so cool. Maybe he was probably not always so suave?

 

[JimFitz]

Elliott didn't win because he didnt look the part. I think the show is somewhat fixed.

 

[auntpolly]

Elliott didn't win because he didnt look the part. I think the show is somewhat fixed.

DD was watching last night and said, "That's Elliot? He's cute! I thought you said he wasn't good looking enough to win."

I think Elliot came a long way in the looks department -- a great improvement over his first days, and yes, I think he's adorable. But I really didn't expect him to win. None of my favorite singers are GQ models anyway, so really that isn't what I'm looking for anyway.

I'm looking for a certain something that is hard to define. I'm not trying to say that just because I don't see it in Taylor no one else could. I just look at him and say, "What is it?"

Even Bucky, for example, I don't think he was wildly talented, but I could see the appeal.

I really don't think it's fixed. I think that's who America chose. How does any pop star get popular? There are lots out there I don't get.

 

[Donna]

My favorite part was when Clay came out And suprised that wanta be Clay. It was so cute to see how excited he was. I'm not sure if I liked Clays hair or not. It will probabley grow on me. Congrats to Taylor! Kat did awsome too.

whoever told clay to wear that hairstyle, ugh...i felt bad when he walked out. his skin is too chalky for that dark color and it was like he was trying to be someone he's not. He looks better with a little weight on him but overall, i thought maybe he wasn't well with that fuller and whiter face. the hair looked like a wig to me, like a bad beatles wig! i admit,i haven't been wild about clay since seeing him film the christmas parade on main street. He wasn't exactly nice to the people who had waited hours to see him. he barely acknowledged anyone but himself that day.
i can't wait to hear taylor on the radio. i would have been happy no matter who won cause i liked both of them. i loved the burt bacharach part of the show. those are my "growing up" songs. you know you're getting old when you know all the words to his songs, lol.

 

[TeresaNJ]

Actually, auntpolly, it's not your posts that I was referring to as "sour grapes". Everyone has their own likes and dislikes. For instance, I can't stand the Beatles, Billy Joel, Mick Jagger, yet people loooovvveee them, and they've done amazingly well. I just don't "get" what people see in them, have never owned one of their albums, would never buy one, and turn the station if one of their songs comes on.

I do understand what you mean about Elliott. Although I am thrilled for Taylor, I was so hoping Elliott would have also been in the finals, and would have been happy had either one won. Katherine, while having a lovely voice, for some reason leaves me cold. She inspires nothing in me. As my husband put it, Katherine has no soul. Nothing about her voice makes me want to buy one of her albums or download one of her songs. There are lots of pretty voices out there. I want a personality to go along with it. I think what makes people stars is the connection factor. Taylor connects with alot of people. He makes me smile. So while he may not have the traditional classically trained voice, he has something that made him win last night.

Anyway, I am digressing. As far as personality and talent goes as a combo together, I would have preferred to see Elliott, Mandisa, Bucky, Ace, and Kelly win over Katherine. My husband, daughter, and the vast majority of the people I work with all agree. I would have to say that of everyone I spoke to about this year's AI finals, it was about 8-1 for Taylor vs Katherine.

 

[Nancy]

Well this is the first season I've watched so I really don't know much about it. I just intended to watch the early ones for a laugh, but something about Elliot struck me from the first time he was on, and I just had to see how far he would go. I wish I had a better reference of past shows.

Did Carrie Underwood move around as awkwardly as Kat and Taylor, for example. Clay Aiken, last night on the 2 hour show, seemed like Frank Sinatra, he was so cool. Maybe he was probably not always so suave?

Carrie (according to lots of people on the boards here last year) had no stage pressense, I always thought she did a good job. I like to see/hear a person just sing, not run all over the place. She just got up and sang, she didn't move around a lot at all. Kelly Clarkson, way back in season 1 used to sing standing still with her hand on her stomach a lot and Simon would make comments about it. Rueben did the "1 hand out in front reaching out to you" with almost every song. Fantasia bounced so much I thought her "boys" were going to pop out of her clothes every show. The only ones who "performed" when they were up on stage have been Constantine, Bo, Chris, and Taylor. They looked like they had been doing it awhile and were more comfortable. Now, I personally don't like to watch a lot of unnecessary movements, I like to watch and listen to a person singing. Clay pretty much was the same as what you saw, he stood and sang. I have to say that Clay was NOT a dancer!

 

[Virgo10]

Wow, I just got thru reading all 6000 pages of comments about last night.

Over all I loved the show. Here are a few highlights and low lights.

Low Lights

Except for Al Jareau and the band that Chris sang with, I found the guest singers to be REALLY Annoying!! First of all this was suppose to be the Idols' night not theirs. Secondly, none of them were even that good. Mary J Bleech was the worst of a bad lot. And, OMG, that strumpet Taylor sang with. She was trying to get him to do something nasty on prime time? I thought he extracted himself from that situation with class.

The commercials. I'm so glad I Tivo'd the show. I'm watching it again today and I bet that 2 hour program will be compressed into about 30 minutes.

Meatloaf and Kat?

Highlights!

Puck and Pickler -

Seeing Ms Warwick again. She's always been a favorite of mine and always will be.

The Golden Idol segments and especially the Clay wannabe one and the singing cowboys. Man the guy with the head mic really can sing!

Then the moment of moments, the great Purple one appeared and I was like a 13 year old teeny bopper screaming. I'm not sure why, at my advanced age, Prince gets such a reaction from me but he does. This man is so H O T! I found myself unable to get to sleep last night without seeing his performance a second time.

And, of course, the number one highlight of the night......

Taylor Hicks wins!!!!

So, yeah, a mostly great show. Loved the group songs. Mandisa was fabulous. She was my favorite of this year.

Congratulations to both Taylor and Katharine. I really think that they will both do well.

 

[Kimberle]

Congrats to Tyler!! Congrat's to Kat, too! I'm sure you'll both have great careers!

Besides the Clay skit/performance, I LOVED the SIMON intro!! I was cracking up when he kept rubbing his hands on his chest & saying "I'm #1). It was so funny!!!

I thought it was a great show. I really enjoyed it.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Keep in mind that when they win (or almost win) they get lots and lots of coaching after that I am sure as any performer does b/c the label only makes $$$$ when the artist does well.

Carrie did look to me very very professional last night (like she grew up and came into her own in the past year). I missed her on CMA but from what I understand, the audience of her country music peers were just loving her.

And as simon says--it is a singing competition and not a dance one--so it is unlikely we will see people moving all over the stage ever make it to Hollywood. B/c they only care about the pipes.