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

[Jsme]

OK, I was going to post but this does not sound like much of an AI thread. LOL

Chris lives in the same county I do in NC. I think he is an awesome singer and I think he chose a great song to sing of Stevies but he sang the Red Hot Chilli Peppers version which suits his style of music to a tee.

I also love Taylor because of his style of music. Do I think he will win, NO.

I think Kellie is very marketable for them and they will milk it just like they do every year.

Kevin needs to go but as long as the teeny bobbers are staying up and calling repeatly for 2 hours he will stay on. Melissa really messed up and deserved to go for the mistake but I did think she did HER best to cover it.

I think Katherine is great. My husband thinks Mandisa needs to go back to the church choir where she belongs. Now before you flame me DH and I disagree on her. Lisa is good but not as good as Mandisa or Katherine. I think Paris is funky. I like Elliot too. Then there is Ace. He did not do well on Tuesday but I was still very surprised to see him in the bottom 3. Something about Ace creeps me out. I have not put my finger on it but it does.

The bookies in Vegas have Chris as the winner.

 

[Robinrs]

My husband thinks Mandisa needs to go back to the church choir where she belongs.

Hmmm.... tell your DH that that's not a bad place to go back to.... and the flames will not come from me but from somewhere else.

 

[Slacking]

Can we stop making the assumption that only teeny-boppers (and grandmothers) vote for Kevin. Last time I checked, I am neither of those previously stated demographics.

 

[corie161]

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.

I can see where your coming from. It's amazing how people hear different things. Personally I can't think of a current country music star that actually exaggerates their accent. That doesn't mean there isn't any.

Sorry to get so off topic, it's just something that has been bothering me throughout the thread, generalization. Kinda like when someone says "It's hot in hear and turns on the air, without considering how the others might feel or think.

 

[Planogirl]

I don't get some of the comments about country music. It's not as accepted as "popular" music? What is popular music? Rap? Pop? Techno? A zillion different types of rock?

Country is actually quite popular and varies widely all the way from the Aussie Keith Urban to the queen of twang Reba McEntyre to country rock artists Van Zandt. It's always dangerous to generalize.

Carrie and Kellie certainly aren't "typical". Carrie is lifeless which is not a typical country music feature while Kellie can't sing. There are some fine singers in country who have simply chosen that type of music.

OK, off my soap box. Except to say that it's true that not only teeny-boppers and grannies vote for Kevin. He also has the VFTW group pushing him.

 

[nliedel]

There's a likability factor that goes along with stardom. I don't like some of today's pop stars but some people do and they sell records (why anyone would buy Brittainy is beyond me but I am not the only one making these calls). Lisa has talent but she has not connected. Kevin, with the "Sex symbol" humor has made himself likeable. Especially by those young girls who are a little geeky themselves. He seems attainable, like someone that might like them back (this is me speaking as a former geeky girl who knew guys like the star football player were way out of my league but not the President of the Chess Club, who was geeky but cute).

I just hope all the former fatties (me) vote for Mandissa!

Is it just me or does Katherine not only remind you vocally of Kelly Clarkston but they made her up to look like her the other night. Even her silent, "Thank you" reminded me of her in an almost creepy way? Not putting her down but be yourself!

 

[Slacking]

K-a-t-h-a-r-i-n-e

Katharine. That is how she spells her name. throughout the last few weeks I have seen numerous mispellings of her name, often by fans of her. I finally snapped, but that is how Ms. McPhee spells her name. And to think, I don't even like her.

Planogirl, you're right! Kevin is definitely getting a few extra votes due to VFTW. But beyond that, it is not fair for each contestant for people to generalize or make assumptions of their fan base like I have seen a lot of over here.. I'm sure each contestant as a wide variety of fans that vote for them, lets not pigeonhole them.


Ok, those are my two pet peeves. I had to vent for a second. Thanks.

 

[cheerbop]

Here is my opinion...

Kevin should have been gone long ago. Sweet kid, but goodness..he is NOT one of the better ones! Better singers have gone home before him..much better.
I know it is not mostly little girls voting for him...but that is probably the bulk of his votes. This has happened with other not as talented singers in the past also...

I love AI and it is my fave show, BUT I still think their voting system is ridiculous. So, one 12 year old girl may cast 100 votes herself for ONE singer...is that a FAIR count of how many people really like a singer? Is that 12 year old girl going to go buy 100 CDs of that vocalist...NO!

Look at what happened with Ruben and Clay...Clay got less votes but has sold WAY more albums than the actual winner....

I know this is how they do it....and I live with it. It just makes NO sense to me at all...it is not even a TRUE "popularity" contest.
I wish they would limit the amount of calls/votes....I just think the producers get a kick out of saying.. "we had 55 million votes last night!"

Love the show...always have...just wish they would "tweak" it to be more FAIR in the voting process. I do not have 2 hours to sit an waste voting for my faves. I may vote once or twice and that is it. I am too busy to sit around making hundreds of calls!

 

[Planogirl]

Why can't AI limit the number of votes? Dancing With The Stars did and it seemed to work fine.

 

[ShuisFan584]

Can we stop making the assumption that only teeny-boppers (and grandmothers) vote for Kevin. Last time I checked, I am neither of those previously stated demographics.

Same here! I vote for Kevin and I'm neither of those two. Granted I don't vote for him non-stop all night, but I do usually throw him a few votes because I do like him.

I hate being called names because of who I vote for. I remember I got bashed for voting for John Stevens in Season 3. This same person actually seemed to bash a lot of other people on the thread. But thank goodness I haven't seen this person around yet this season.

 

[palmtreegirl]

Why can't AI limit the number of votes? Dancing With The Stars did and it seemed to work fine.

Because then they can't have Ryan say we got over X million votes last night, they love to brag about the big numbers too much to change it.

 

[Robinrs]

Because then they can't have Ryan say we got over X million votes last night, they love to brag about the big numbers too much to change it.

They could skip that silliness and just quote their ratings which are amazing enough.

I agree that they should limit the amount of votes that come through. Then we can get a true idea of who has a true fan base instead of how desparate their fans are.

I read on another thread that one guy voted 800 times for Jerry Rice on Dancing With the Stars. No WONDER he made it to the finals! I love the heck out of Ace and Taylor but the most I can muster with my 50 year old fingers is about 10 votes each....

 

[Slacking]

Same here! I vote for Kevin and I'm neither of those two. Granted I don't vote for him non-stop all night, but I do usually throw him a few votes because I do like him.

I hate being called names because of who I vote for. I remember I got bashed for voting for John Stevens in Season 3. This same person actually seemed to bash a lot of other people on the thread. But thank goodness I haven't seen this person around yet this season.

Thats ridiculous! Nobody should be bashed based on who they choose to vote for. It is a person's choice to vote for whoever they want to vote for, and for whatever reason they want to vote.

 

[pkrimier]

Being uneducated does not make a person "dumb or stupid"
Matter of fact I know people with "degrees" that do not have a drop of common sense or logic.
Matter of fact alot of them think they are above others when in truth they are the ones who do not know how to relate to others because of their supposed "higher" intelligence.
Those that would judge someone because they are not familiar with certain foods, customs IMO have alot to learn.
I am not saying that everyone who does not speak "proper English" is or is not an intelligent person ...I am just saying no one should be judged on their chose of words unless those words are offensive.....I personally hate the F...word and find that those that use that word to express themselves do have a problem.
In saying that I hate that word I acknowlege that is still does not mean that person is dumb or stupid although I could call them a few other things.
I think you get my drift.

 

[Nancy]

So back to the show...I hate the "theme singer" nights and wish they would stay with the generic. I liked when they did the "70's" and Billboard #1's. That gave the contestants a better shot at picking songs that suit them rather than trying to suit their voice to a song.

 

[Planogirl]

I read on another thread that one guy voted 800 times for Jerry Rice on Dancing With the Stars. No WONDER he made it to the finals! I love the heck out of Ace and Taylor but the most I can muster with my 50 year old fingers is about 10 votes each....

I wonder how he did that when they limited the votes to 9 per phone? I can't imagine how he could have gotten around that.

I just hate the unlimited calling! It makes me feel like I should keep calling and calling to help offset those who call over and over but I really don't want to. I would be willing to bet that it's mostly the kids (note: MOSTLY) that do the power voting which would distort the actual popularity of the contestants.

As for flaming people for their choices, I think that is so wrong! I don't care for Kevin personally but if others honestly like him, I think that's great. I like Chris, Katharine and Bucky, and would hope not to be flamed for those favorites.

 

[nliedel]

The contestants do have a core fan base. Not all the people that vote for them fall into that base but they do have it. That is not an insult to the contestants, in fact without that core base they cannot win. Many of Kevin's votes do come from young girls. That is good because it has really helped him. There is nothing wrong with that nor is it insultive, in any way, to those who are not young girls that vote for him.

 

[MELSMICE]

I don't think that way. I was talking about how kids in school were and how they are now. I substitute in school and see it all the time. Another poster said that the kids in John Stevens or Kevin's school probably think they are gorgeous. I disagreed. Maybe the other unattractive kids might think they are good looking but the ones that fall into the "cool" groups such as cheerleaders, jocks, and such most likely will not. Those groups are very vane and won't be bowled over by someone being on AI. They want the looks too. The whole package so to speak.

Wow - what makes you think that Kevin or John Stevens for that matter are unattractive. Unattractive to one person is extremely attractive to another. I thought Constantine was unattractive, Bucky does nothing for me, but others love them & would fall at their feet given the chance.

I am shocked by your way of thinking. It's actually very sad & unfortunate for you that you believe those things. Others said they hoped you were a teen & not a parent, but I think in a previous post you mentioned your DS's friends or something, so sadly, I don't think you are a teen.

Okay - I'm off my soapbox now - back to the AI discussion.

 

[MrsMud]

Well, last week Ace and Chris listened to my suggestions, LOL!

So what can they sing in terms of 50s songs?

I think Taylor could do an awesome Jerry Lee Lewis, and I pick Great Balls of Fire for him.

I remember Bucky said he liked Suspicious Minds by Elvis, so he'll probably do that.

I think Chris could smoke Jailhouse Rock, so I'll give it to him.

Kevin will probably try Unchained Melody

Elliott? Don't know, I think he could sing Sea of Love (the 80s, not 50s version)

Ace, well, based on his previous song choices, he may attempt some Johnny Mathis.

 

[Nancy]

I'd have to go get a list of some 50's songs before I could make choice. Hard to think what wss late 50's or early 60's. Time to hit google.