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

[Jerseylicious]

Oh come on...the Ford commercials are just for fun, and I think they're cute!

 

[corie161]

I think it is more that popular music is more popular than country music -- people, on average, and with exceptions, actually do LIKE it better.

I understand that, but I just don't see why people are so adamantly against likeing country music, when there is definate differences in all the country artists. Apparantly country music is more popular than some think because Carrie obviously won. There is definately a difference in Carrie singing versus the Dixie Chicks or a difference between Willie Nelson's singing and Toby Keith for instance.

 

[bicker]

I could say the same thing about mustard -- there are definitely distinctions between different mustards, but my wife won't go near any of them, so those distinctions don't matter to her.

 

[corie161]

Okay, but I think taste and sound are way different senses!

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I understand that, but I just don't see why people are so adamantly against likeing country music, when there is definate differences in all the country artists. Apparantly country music is more popular than some think because Carrie obviously won. There is definately a difference in Carrie singing versus the Dixie Chicks or a difference between Willie Nelson's singing and Toby Keith for instance.

Country music will always have that hillbilly, "tear in my beer" stigma attached to it, despite how far it's come over the years. My generation of country music is worlds away from my parent's country music! It's not Wille Nelson, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers anymore. Now we have Toby Keith, Big & Rich, Cowboy Troy, Rascal Flatts, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. I also think that as people get older their tastes change. I didn't start listening to country music until I was in my early 20's - I discovered Garth Brooks and was hooked! Before that all I listene to was pop, dance and rap. I would say that 25% of the music on my iPod is country. Some people don't like country for the same reasons some people don't like rap - it's just not their thing. I think it's more "real" and soulful then a lot of the manufactured crap on the radio today. I was listening to KISS F.M. the other day (Ryan Seacrests station) and I swear, it was mostly crap music. The same boring beats to the same boring lyrics. I can hardly tell one artist from the another, and I can hardly understand half the crap they're singing. Mariah Carey used to stand out, now she's just another boring pop singer. Every guy on the radio seems to sound like R Kelly, who I couldn't stand when he was popular. Country music is a nice break from that!

 

[dturner]

This drives me nuts too and they do it every week! Why is Chris praised for doing the same thing every week while some like Bucky really go for it and it's still not right? Makes no sense.

No, it doesn't make any sense.

The judges are just trying to sway the vote for who they like - plain and simple.

Paula did that this week: Told Bucky she would like to see him out of his comfort zone - I think he was out of his comfort zone but did a WONDERFUL job then she told Chris that he made the song his own - no he didn't, it was the Chili Peppers version not his own - it was good just not his own.

 

[corie161]

Country music will always have that hillbilly, "tear in my beer" stigma attached to it, despite how far it's come over the years. My generation of country music is worlds away from my parent's country music! It's not Wille Nelson, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers anymore. Now we have Toby Keith, Big & Rich, Cowboy Troy, Rascal Flatts, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. I also think that as people get older their tastes change. I didn't start listening to country music until I was in my early 20's - I discovered Garth Brooks and was hooked! Before that all I listene to was pop, dance and rap. I would say that 25% of the music on my iPod is country. Some people don't like country for the same reasons some people don't like rap - it's just not their thing. I think it's more "real" and soulful then a lot of the manufactured crap on the radio today. I was listening to KISS F.M. the other day (Ryan Seacrests station) and I swear, it was mostly crap music. The same boring beats to the same boring lyrics. I can hardly tell one artist from the another, and I can hardly understand half the crap they're singing. Mariah Carey used to stand out, now she's just another boring pop singer. Every guy on the radio seems to sound like R Kelly, who I couldn't stand when he was popular. Country music is a nice break from that!

I can accept the fact that people don't like certain types of music for whatever their reason, it's just those who refuse to accept that fact that the person might actually be a good singer even though they may not like that type of music. Look at Bo and Carrie for instance. Two different types of music. I prefer Carrie, but I'm not out bashing Bo because I don't like his type of music. He's a good singer in his genre. I'm not saying man I don't like Bo because he sings southern rock or whatever it may be.

 

[KristaTX]

I wasn't saying singers who prefer to sing in a country style shouldn't be on the show. I just don't like most country music (unless it is old school country/western or actually creative, innovative, and somewhat exaggerated-accent-free). I don't like enough music from the genre that I feel fine in saying "I don't like country music". It doesn't mean there is not an occasional song that I enjoy.

I am a big music fan, and I have actually thought about my distaste for certain types of music and discussed it with friends and family members over the years. What exactly it is that makes me (or anyone else) not like one style of music in general is hard to pinpoint. With most current female country singers, their voices and exagerrated accents actually make me cringe. It's just a reaction in my brain someplace. I just don't enjoy it. Just like I don't like to hear a music in the gruff Cookie-Monster-screaming hardcore music style. It and most country music feels like it hurts my ears and my brain . It's the vocal stylings and some of the rhythms that I just don't like. Just like some people can't stand to hear opera music (which I like to some degree), I don't like to hear country music. (Actually, I think a lot of people don't like Kevin because he sounds like he should be singing opera instead. Those people probably don't like opera or can see that he is better suited to that style.)

As for AI, Carrie was a completely bland and boring contestant to me, despite her musical style. But cool for her and her fans that she won. Kellie, however, annoys the heck out of me voice-wise and personality-wise. Good for her fans if she wins, and good for me if she gets voted out. But if AI starts selecting a lot of country singers for their top 12, I'll find something else to do or watch. It's just like any other show. If I don't like what's on it, I won't watch it.

Each person has the right to have their own tastes in anything - music, clothing, vacation destinations, or anything else. And that is not "IMHO". It's just how it is.

 

[KristaTX]

I'm sorry - I don't mean to sound mean or defensive if it came across that way. I actually wish I liked country music. Just like I wish I liked to drink milk and eat vegetables.

I can sort of see where you are coming from, though. I never understand people who can make the sweeping comment that they "don't like classical music", when I am coming from the perspective of LOVING classical music.

 

[reddixie]

Ok I agree you can like what ever music you like but please stop this exaggerated bumpkin type comments. Southerners have a twang it isn't fake. Our unworldly ways aren't so that judgemental people can make fun of us. We enjoy being classy but not worldly. I know that I tried Lobster Bisque for the first time on my recent trip to DC. I don't eat calamari. I really despise spinach salad and totally agree with Kelli that it taste like you picked a leaf off a bush. That isn't fake or stupid. It is just the way it is. If you hate country so much and anyone from the south for their accents I would look at what is wrong in your life. That is haterd that we as a country need to get over.

 

[Philadisney]

It bugged me how they cut off Melissa's song last night. half an hour goes by where very little happens, they finnnalllllyyyy annouce that she's getting kicked off, she sings two lines of the song and then abruptly gets cut off by the end credits. lame!!! i know it's a live show so they don't know when it's going to run long, but i was still annoyed.
that didn't stop "lately" from getting stuck in my head though...it's still there now! i can't get it out!! (it's still the john stevens version in my head though )

 

[KristaTX]

Ok I agree you can like what ever music you like but please stop this exaggerated bumpkin type comments. Southerners have a twang it isn't fake. Our unworldly ways aren't so that judgemental people can make fun of us. We enjoy being classy but not worldly. I know that I tried Lobster Bisque for the first time on my recent trip to DC. I don't eat calamari. I really despise spinach salad and totally agree with Kelli that it taste like you picked a leaf off a bush. That isn't fake or stupid. It is just the way it is. If you hate country so much and anyone from the south for their accents I would look at what is wrong in your life. That is haterd that we as a country need to get over.

I have a pretty thick accent, too. I'm originally an Okie, now living in Texas. I have nothing against speaking accents or people from the south, north, east, or west. I am strictly discussing singing accents. Some people do purposely exaggerate their accents when they sing, but that is mainly done in country music. In most other genres, accents are greatly lessened when a singer with any sort of accent sings. It bothers me when they are exaggerated, and despite what you may think, they are sometimes exaggerated. Why?? Because some people like that sound. I don't .

 

[Towncrier]

I have a pretty thick accent, too. I'm originally an Okie, now living in Texas.

You have an accent???

And here I thought it was us Yankees that have an accent.

 

[KristaTX]

You also have an accent, TC . We all do .

 

[Southern4sure]

My friends (from up north) ask me all the time to say things. I do and they just crack up and I cant help but laugh with them. I know they are not laughing at me. They think I'm so cute........ Mom of one even pinches my cheeks and says, "I love you!" Me a grown women getting her cheeks pinched....

 

[pkrimier]

I was born and raised on Long Island but I have lived in the deep south for probably longer then most of you on this board have been alive.
I now have a accent that is distinct by itself and most people can tell when they hear my voice who I am.
Saying that ....everyone in every part of the country have specific accents ....have you ever heard someone from the Bronx or Brooklyn talk?It has nothing to do with being smart, dumb or stupid ....it is just the way it is.
I think some people are jealous of others that seem like nice people...why is it so unbelieveable that someone is a genuine person.
Bet lots of people in the North have never had real southern fried chicken , fried Catfish ...Hushpuppies....bet lots do not even know what hushpuppies are. How about turnip greens?
I could go on and on but I think the message is clear...

 

[Southern4sure]

I was born and raised on Long Island but I have lived in the deep south for probably longer then most of you on this board have been alive.
I now have a accent that is distinct by itself and most people can tell when they hear my voice who I am.
Saying that ....everyone in every part of the country have specific accents ....have you ever heard someone from the Bronx or Brooklyn talk?It has nothing to do with being smart, dumb or stupid ....it is just the way it is.
I think some people are jealous of others that seem like nice people...why is it so unbelieveable that someone is a genuine person.
Bet lots of people in the North have never had real southern fried chicken , fried Catfish ...Hushpuppies....bet lots do not even know what hushpuppies are. How about turnip greens?
I could go on and on but I think the message is clear...

Just wanted to say Hi.... Until about a yr ago, I was born and raised in Mobile.

 

[Robinrs]

I was born and raised on Long Island but I have lived in the deep south for probably longer then most of you on this board have been alive.
I now have a accent that is distinct by itself and most people can tell when they hear my voice who I am.
Saying that ....everyone in every part of the country have specific accents ....have you ever heard someone from the Bronx or Brooklyn talk?It has nothing to do with being smart, dumb or stupid ....it is just the way it is.
I think some people are jealous of others that seem like nice people...why is it so unbelieveable that someone is a genuine person.
Bet lots of people in the North have never had real southern fried chicken , fried Catfish ...Hushpuppies....bet lots do not even know what hushpuppies are. How about turnip greens?
I could go on and on but I think the message is clear...

I don't know why this AI thread has turned into an "accent thread" but I'll chime in my two cents...

I beg to differ on one point. Accents DO have something to do with education, class and "stupid" or "dumb"... unfortunately THAT is the way it is. I have a degree in speech and wrote a paper on the differences between the way people speak and their so called "lot in life" and it does differ. You do not have to have a degree to notice that.

The psychology of speech affects people more than we realize. Being in broadcasting I have an effect on people by the way I express myself, and yes, I realize that my voice creates a picture, one that we can acknowledge or not, but it defines us.

And, yes, I hear how a person from Brooklyn talks everyday, when I open my mouth. I also hear the many facets of "southern speak", in my office, in my son's school, and in my own family. In fact, I have one sister who sounds like Scarlett O'Hara, and another who talks like Archie Bunker.

That being said, I came to the South from NY in my 30s. I felt like "My Favorite Martian" or ET. People here are DIFFERENT, not bad but different. The word "familiar" comes from the word "family". If we don't recognize a type of person as familiar, we think "it CAN'T be real". And that justifies our feelings. Like I mentioned before, naivete is not attractive to me, real or fake. It's just not. It's the action, not the sound, that bothers me, and the fact that we were basically TOLD by Simon that "America will Love it"... NOT NECESSARILY.

 

[Slacking]

Do we all remember the travesty of Elton John night in season 3 or Billy Joel night in season 2? When was Barry Manilow night? Was that Season 4? I think they should just quit with the "famous singer" themes because they're always a let down. 1950s might be interesting.

Barry Manilow night was Season 3 also (Remember John Stevens singing Mandy?) as was Gloria Estefan night. I prefer themes with a smaller song pool (Artist themes for example) than those with a large pool of songs to choose from (which we saw a lot last year, imo). I prefer to see the singers have to regularly choose songs outside of their comfort zone. I don't want to see Chris rock out week after week, lets see how versatile he really is.)

About the Ford videos, sure they're extremely stupid, but they are memorable and sometimes a bit humorous.

 

[Figment22]

Since some of the singers left aren't all that good, Kevin really isn't hurting anyone YET...but after Lisa, Kellie, Bucky, Paris and Ace are gone IF Kevin is still around it might impact the really good ones.

I think we can count on this happening. I originally thought that Kevin would be in the bottom three but not go home. After last night when he didn't even land in the bottom three, I'm convinced that his fan base will keep him going all the way to the top 5, maybe even four (remember Anthony Federov last year? Same age group for a fan base and he made the top four.) I'm not happy about this because as you mentioned, it's going to impact some of the better singers.

Oh come on...the Ford commercials are just for fun, and I think they're cute!

Call me crazy but I like the Ford commercals too!

I liked Melissa so I'm sorry she went home this early, but under any circumstances she wouldn't have been around much more than another week anyway. I respected her reaction when Ryan asked her if she had thought she might be in that position and she said "Yes." Ace, OTOH was totally shocked (as was his brother in the audience!) If he needed a wake-up call to get back on track with his song choices, this could end up being a good thing because I do think he has talent, he just hasn't been showing it lately.

I'm a Lisa fan (among others) but I fear she won't be around much longer even with her talent. I think she'll probably be gone within the next two weeks.