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

[mcr5298]

I believe that you are correct damo! But you can't argue that Simon probably never thought that Taylor would get through to the finals, let alone win!

 

[phisigprincess]

Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't Simon say that he thought that Paula and Randy would not put Taylor through to the final 24? I don't remember him saying that Taylor wouldn't make it, or doubting his talent, but instead that it was all about Paula and Randy not letting him make it.

I'm almost positive that Simon said he wouldn't make it past Hollywood and Paula and Randy were pulling for him. Don't worry. When he wins it will be played back in his montage.

 

[mcr5298]

No, Eva Cassidy wasn't in the competition. She died of cancer in 1996.
My main point of bringing up Eva Cassidy was not for the purpose of comparison, but to state that this is not an original version of the song. Most people are probably not familiar with Eva Cassidy's signature version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and probably think that Katharine came up with this herself.

As far as doing the comparison, I was just stating my opinion. It may not matter to you to the competition, but it would definitely affect me as far as the way I choose to vote. I hear the judges comparing contestants to different famous singers and past idols all the time.

Sorry, really didn't mean to offend. I'll shut up now!

 

[Jennasis]

Yup damo, you're right! I mentioned that MANY pages ago. Simon said the others would b=never put him through, but here he is!

 

[lucyblondecat]

Am I the only person here who thinks Elliott is not that bad looking? He's certainly not movie idol good looking, but he's not bad. The comments about him looking like a troll seem weird to me.

That said, Taylor rocks. What a sexy, vibrant man he is....music is in his soul and is his gift to the world. I can't imagine any other ending but one with him as the American Idol, he's without a doubt the best. I loved Kat's Somewhere Over the Rainbow, but she nor Elliott and his hometown boy likeability can hold a candle to Taylor.

 

[bgirldeb]

Sorry, really didn't mean to offend. I'll shut up now!

No problem! I'm a little grouchy today and haven't had my coffee yet- sorry!

 

[Planogirl]

I think that Taylor has winner written all over him and that's my opinion.

Seriously, as for opinions, of course everyone has the right to an opinion. I personally respect those opinions if they're politely stated. I'm not wild about the "get-in-your-face" attitude with comments such as "you're crazy if you like that" or "you're wrong" (which of course infers that the other person is right). There is no right or wrong here, there's just more people liking one person more than the others.

JMHO.

 

[Robinrs]

The result show tonight may be the last nail biter left this season. There seems to be no doubts left, that folks, we have a winner here and his name is Taylor Hicks. I cannot remember the last time I was so thoroughly entertained on AI as I was last night by a single contestant. My take on the top three.

Round One

Elliott: After last week, I had hoped that Elliott would continue to roll. Sadly, that was not to be. Opening with one of my favorite songs, Open Arms, he seemed nervous and did he blow the lyrics at the very end? Not sure as they may have been reworked to save time. At any rate, this certainly was not one of his top performances. Just OK for me dude. He gets a 7.

Katharine: I more or less enjoyed her rendition of I Believe I Can Fly. For once her stage presence didn’t make me want to flee the room. The only down part was the very end when she started screaming the lyrics but all and all a nice performance. I gave her an 8.

Taylor: Having fun with Dancing in the Dark, Taylor was a joy. So relaxed on stage, his smoky vocals made me want to turn out the lights and find his dance card. Hey, a bit corny, but even the Paula part was enjoyable. Just great fun the entire way through, Taylor gets only my second 10+ of the year.

And Now… Round 2

Elliott: OK, round 1 was a bit tough for him, so I’m hoping this will be better. Instead things began to spiral out of control. Doing What You Won’t Do For Love everything was just a little bit off. The rhythm was off. The tone was off and Elliott was struggling. Things aren’t looking good for him and he gets a 6.

Katharine: When I heard the song choice I cringed. Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Huh? Instead, from the Bo Bice a cappella beginning through parts that she really made her own, I was completely impressed. Not sure I was crazy about the floor sitting but, other than that, she presented this nearly perfectly. While Kat is far from my favorite, I have to give credit where credit is due. She gets a 10.

Taylor: Gee, Taylor doing Joe Cocker… Ya think? I expected this to be really good but instead it was absolutely amazing. So beautiful it hurt, I had tears in my eyes. He completely captured the feeling of this song in everyway. This man is incredible.
Never before has this happened but Taylor is getting a 10++ for a performance that will be part of any Idol DVD of the future.

And finally… Round 3

Elliott: Still hoping Elliott would work some magic with a song the he got to pick, I was disappointed once again with his offering. Singing a song I’m not sure I ever heard before, I Believe To My Soul?, I once again found everything out of sync. Nothing was working for him and that song was dreadful. Sad to say Elliott only gets a 5 for his final performance. And that may have been his final performance.

Katharine: Well I figured she couldn’t top or even match her Rainbow gig and I was correct. Doing I Ain’t Got Nothing, I mostly got nothing from this song. Pleeeese Katharine, DO NOT DANCE! The song was cute but she went back to screamville. Not terrible but I just wanted it to be over. She gets a 7.

Taylor: With Try A Little Tenderness, Taylor got to let some of the explosive inner energy out at last. Simon may have had a problem with the last few seconds of this song but I was clapping. Hot! Hot!! Hot!!! all the way. It’s just plain wonderful to see someone who is letting it all go in a positive way. There’s too many in today’s music industry who let it all go but it’s violent and profane.
Taylor ends the night completely perfect with another 10.

Who I voted for:
Well I tried for over an hour and never once got through for both Taylor and Elliott. I did get busy signals, circuits are down and, on occasion, dead lines.

Who I want to go home:
For the volume of their work…. Katharine

Who I think will go home:
Elliott

The only thing I’m sure of is that Taylor and someone will meet next week.

As always, JMHO.

What SHE said.... LOL!~

 

[ckay87]

I'm almost positive that Simon said he wouldn't make it past Hollywood and Paula and Randy were pulling for him. Don't worry. When he wins it will be played back in his montage.

It went like....

Randy: "you don't think this guy can be commercial?"
Simon: "nope"

Then there was the yes-no vote. Simon votes no

Simon: "you know why? Because these two will not put you through to be judged by the public."


So he was wrong all around. But he admitted it in one of the first shows after they went live. (I typically try to stand up for Simon)

I'm just reeling from last night. DH picked a very bad night to be away on a business trip

 

[dngrmys]

Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't Simon say that he thought that Paula and Randy would not put Taylor through to the final 24? I don't remember him saying that Taylor wouldn't make it, or doubting his talent, but instead that it was all about Paula and Randy not letting him make it.

From what I can remember, Randy and Paula were pulling for him. I got the impression that Simon didn't care for him and added that people (I think referring to the American public) would never put him through.

Don't know if that is the correct interpretation, but that is what I got out of the clip.

 

[lucyblondecat]

I don't believe Eva Cassidy was in the competition? I thought it was about the 3 remaining? Why do people have to make such comparisons?

That would be a bit difficult, since she's dead.

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

Katharine definitely did sing Eva Cassidy's version of Over the Rainbow last night, and though she did a nice job, it was just really a COPY of a great original.

The problem with Katharine is that when she TRIES to be original, she comes off like a complete dork. I don't know if it's nerves, lack of self-confidence, or what, but she really doesn't seem to have her own style.

It's one thing to have a great ear and be able to mimick anything you hear, but it's completely another to be an original.

That's where Taylor and Elliott succeed where Katharine fails. I don't think there is any doubt that Taylor is going to win, but I think Elliott has a great future in music.

 

[ckay87]

Woooo!

Just got my AI Live tix for DS and I at Hershey. Presale just began. Some of the seats were incredibly crappy. I tried a few times and was ready to give up til Saturday morning's regular sale when the EXACT seats I wanted popped up. Lower level (for shortie DS) next to stage, row F.

Password for presale = CRAZYGOOD (like Taylor )

 

[Nancy]

No, Eva Cassidy wasn't in the competition. She died of cancer in 1996.
My main point of bringing up Eva Cassidy was not for the purpose of comparison, but to state that this is not an original version of the song. Most people are probably not familiar with Eva Cassidy's signature version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and probably think that Katharine came up with this herself.

As far as doing the comparison, I was just stating my opinion. It may not matter to you to the competition, but it would definitely affect me as far as the way I choose to vote. I hear the judges comparing contestants to different famous singers and past idols all the time.

I had never heard of Eva until this thread, so even if she was brought up I would have been . I knew it wasn't the "original" version, but I certainly didn't think Katharine came up with that all on her own either, no more than Chris did with Walk The Line. I figured the powers that be came up with her arrangement. I hate when the judges do their comparing. They want them to :make the song your own" then when they do they ahve to say, "well that song was so popular with so and so and you changed it and it came off bad". They just can't win, either they sound original, or they sound like a bad copy, or they used someone else's arrangement. All I care about is how they sounded while singing whatever version they chose to do.

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

We just got our tickets to the July 29th American Idol concert at the Richmond Coliseum!

Even with us signing in to the presale, 5 seconds after it started, the BEST seats we could get were in the lower level. Nothing good on the floor. Man, the radio stations and the big companies around town like Ukrops and Phillip Morris must have bought huge blocks of tickets.

That was a bit of an ouch moneywise, but Lauri and I really don't get out and do much together so it's worth it

 

[RyMickey]

DialIdol spoilers in my comments below.
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So everyone's saying that Taylor has this thing in the bag (heck, even I've been saying that for weeks now), BUT if you look at the DialIdol results, Taylor's lead has significantly diminished this week. While DialIdol places Taylor either in slot 1 or 2, they also have Katharine listed as either being in slot 1, 2, or 3. Could Katharine surge and win this thing?

Sure, some may say that DialIdol only has the results for two of the three phone lines. That's correct. However, I was looking at their boards and people are talking about the Law of Large Numbers (or something like that -- I'm an English major and I don't know anything about math) which states that from a small set of numbers you can extrapolate a bigger result (absolutely paraphrasing here).

So...Is Taylor winning as much of a sure thing as we all thought?

 

[ckay87]

So...Is Taylor winning as much of a sure thing as we all thought?

While I love every inch of Taylor, I still do not think he's a "sure thing" to win. I'm surprised anyone thinks that. If all is right with the universe, it will be Elliot or Kat going this week. Then the remaining one gets at least half of the other's votes next week. Another English major here , so that's as far as I'll go on statistics.

Call me pessimistic, but I'm a Philadelphia fan. If Taylor does not go right up to the finals and then get second place, I may just have a stroke. Philly peeps....you know exactly what I'm talking about.

 

[TnKrBeLlA012]

This was the first time I did not watch Idol. My sister did tell me her favorite Elliott did not do well. I told her it does not matter how good or bad he did because he will not win. Taylor is the winner. We both agree Taylor is more annoying than entertaining. His tick and moves I don't find amusing. He has an okay voice. Katherine has a great voice but she is not consistant. She has a really great song than an okay one. She even forgets the words. This is the first year the winner at this point does not matter. This is the first year it so evident who the winner will be. The only Idol that made this show worth watching was Chris. He will do so much better than Taylor in the end. Taylor for many is more visual. Chris can sell records based on his voice. Idol lost some big bucks when Chris left.

 

[2bemarried]

Mandisa may be the only one to give YOU that feeling.

I have felt MANY great moments. Chris has given me at least a dozen. Taylor a few, Katherine gave me a great feeling with Black Horse and Cherry Tree. And my girl Kellie even had a great song or two. I also thought Mandisa had a few great moments too.

The ONLY person this year who "I" never felt a great performance was from was Chicken Little.

I do not like Elliott at all, but still, I admit, he has had a few great performances.

wow...no need to yell. Yes, I should have reworded that to say "me" not "us".

So...to ME Mandisa is the only one that had a "wow" moment this season.

 

[phisigprincess]

Why didn't the judges make a big deal about Elliott switching the verses in Open Arms?? Randy mentioned it in passing, but that was about it. I feel like the judges have been very relaxed about forgetting lyrics for this top 12.