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

[Nana Annie]

I am a bit confused about last night's auditions, particularly concerning Paris - the 17 year old that sang Billie Holiday.

Her grandmother is a 3 time grammy winning, emmy nominated, soul train award winning, famous, famous lead singer of Sounds of Blackness. Obviously, Paris has all the channels in the world to get a recording contract on her own, especially since she is so talented herself.

What does she need Idol for? And why would she want to bring Idol into her obviously talented family (they said her mother and aunts also sang professionally).

Since Kelly and Clay, Idol's winners haven't exactly been chartbusters. Bo is getting there, but....

If Paris wins, will I have to think she might have been a be a plant to win the contest so that Idol would have a legitimate artist who would most likely ensure chart-topping success for Idol?

I just can't for a minute fathom somebody so talented with so many connections wanting to go the Idol route. It has been widely reported that Idol's contracts are extremely limiting and controlling. Why wouldn't she sing for Granny's label?

 

[Fantasmic303]

Annie, there's a thread on the board askign similar questions that you may be interested in, although this one is probably more active. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1011726

I posted in that thread, but I'll repeat it here - I think she needs to use Idol to get her name and face out there. Sure, she could (probably) easily get someone in the industry to listen to her and invite her to record, but how's that going to get her fans and an instant market for her music? In some ways, I think it's probably a lot "easier" (not easy, but quicker anyways) to get your face on Idol, instantly be seen by millions of people, and then pursue a career, where people will already be accepting of your talent.

No knocking on doors to get them to listen, you know what I mean?

I mean, look at Mario Vazquez last year. True, he hasn't done anything - yet - but dropping out of Idol even before the actual competition started developed him a fan base that will be ready and willing to buy his music when he does release something.

(How big that fan base is remains to be seen, but you get my drift.)

 

[ChrisnSteph]

Hmmm.... Makes you wonder

If I remember right ~ I don't think the guy with the dummy was that bad was he? I'd probably remember if he was really good ~ but he wasn't horrible.

I couldn't believe they didn't put this guy through! He was good looking, had a great personality and a good voice - yet they let Chase (the one who seemed like he'd be good doing drag and didn't have that great of a voice) in. This season the judges are really, really weird in their choices.

 

[lillygator]

I really didn't think the "dummy" guy had that great of a voice and his looks didn't do anything for me. Do you really think he thought they wouldn't make him take it in there? I mean, they want ratings and getting people to do weird and silly things is the name of the game it seems. And if you can't tell your wife something like that, I would think he has some issues.....

 

[Figment22]

Since Kelly and Clay, Idol's winners haven't exactly been chartbusters. Bo is getting there, but....

FWIW, Carrie Underwood's CD is currently number one on the country charts.

I just can't for a minute fathom somebody so talented with so many connections wanting to go the Idol route. It has been widely reported that Idol's contracts are extremely limiting and controlling. Why wouldn't she sing for Granny's label?

Who knows exactly why she'd choose the Idol route. Remember Nikko Smith from last season? His dad was a hugely famous baseball player and is in the Hall of Fame. Maybe it's not a direct musical connection, but he certainly should have been able to use his fame and influence to get Nikko a contract somewhere but Nikko chose the Idol route too. A recording contract doesn't guarantee them fame, but with Idol they'll at least get their 15 minutes and in many cases a lot more than that if they truly have some talent.

 

[r3ngels]

FWIW, Carrie Underwood's CD is currently number one on the country charts.


Who knows exactly why she'd choose the Idol route. Remember Nikko Smith from last season? His dad was a hugely famous baseball player and is in the Hall of Fame. Maybe it's not a direct musical connection, but he certainly should have been able to use his fame and influence to get Nikko a contract somewhere but Nikko chose the Idol route too. A recording contract doesn't guarantee them fame, but with Idol they'll at least get their 15 minutes and in many cases a lot more than that if they truly have some talent.

He is Ozzie Smith from the St Louis Cards... he was the one that did the flips on the field...

I don't know if Nikko has done anything since then but he was on the local news last week talking about the up coming season of AI and what the singers might expect.

 

[dturner]

So far, I've seen a couple of people worth routing for this year, the girl last night who sang Billie Holiday and the other girl that lived with her grandpa and from last week Ace.

In my opinion, no one will come close to the popularity that Bo and Constantine had last year.

 

[monkeybug94]

Here's a thought ya superstars!

What if the wanted the experience? Use yo' brains people!

 

[Nancy]

In my opinion, no one will come close to the popularity that Bo and Constantine had last year.

WHO?????

 

[Slacking]

Not only is Carrie's CD #1 on the country charts, but her single, "Jesus, Take the Wheel" has been #1 for the last couple weeks on the Country Singles chart.


And about that one post that talked about a friend who auditioned back in Season 2 and had to also sing a song that is on the list. I think they still do that today. Last night they had that "Fame" montage (and I remember another song last week) featuring clips of rejectees singing that song including many that we saw previously singing a different song in their auditions.

 

[dturner]

WHO?????

Very funny, like anyone could forget those two rockers

 

[damo]

I am a bit confused about last night's auditions, particularly concerning Paris - the 17 year old that sang Billie Holiday.

Her grandmother is a 3 time grammy winning, emmy nominated, soul train award winning, famous, famous lead singer of Sounds of Blackness. Obviously, Paris has all the channels in the world to get a recording contract on her own, especially since she is so talented herself.

What does she need Idol for? And why would she want to bring Idol into her obviously talented family (they said her mother and aunts also sang professionally).

Since Kelly and Clay, Idol's winners haven't exactly been chartbusters. Bo is getting there, but....

If Paris wins, will I have to think she might have been a be a plant to win the contest so that Idol would have a legitimate artist who would most likely ensure chart-topping success for Idol?

I just can't for a minute fathom somebody so talented with so many connections wanting to go the Idol route. It has been widely reported that Idol's contracts are extremely limiting and controlling. Why wouldn't she sing for Granny's label?

Winning Idol also gets you a bunch of pre-written songs, a concert tour, a car, instant fame, etc. etc. This nice little package doesn't just fall into your lap when you sign with any old recording label.

 

[Planogirl]

Since Kelly and Clay, Idol's winners haven't exactly been chartbusters. Bo is getting there, but....

My old favorite Josh Gracin has been doing well on the country charts too.

 

[dturner]

My old favorite Josh Gracin has been doing well on the country charts too.

I saw Josh not too long ago singing the National Anthem for some sporting event, probably a NASCAR race somewhere and thought "I remember him."

Good to see him doing so well.

 

[Slacking]

I wasn't a big fan of his while he was on the show, but I have been liking Josh Gracin's singles from his debut album.

Also, didn't Fantasia's stuff do ok at R&B/Urban stations?

 

[Nancy]

Very funny, like anyone could forget those two rockers

Yeah I thought it was pretty funny!!! Sometimes I crack myself up

 

[gometros]

How freaky are they, really? I got this tidbit from a friend on another bb.

The guy with the dummy? Who sang to his wife at their wedding?

He tried out and made it through to Simon, Paula and Randy. In the interview the day before, they asked if he had any other talents or anything. He (his name is Richie) said you can't tell my wife I told you this, but when I was a kid, I had a dummy and did ventrilaquism (creative spelling?). He said DO NOT TELL HER. They said they wouldn't and let him through to S, P & R. That night they called and said "bring the dummy" and he said nuh uh... no way. They said "don't worry about your wife... we'll send her flowers." He finally agreed because they said they wanted to do some bits with Ryan Seacrest.

So he goes the next day... they do the bits with Ryan and then it's his turn. At like 4 pm (he'd been there since 6am). He says I'm not going in with the dummy because I don't want to be seen as a freak. They put their hand on the door and said "no dummy, no audition" and made him go.

He goes in with his dummy boxed and apparently they make him sing with him (with him putting up a fight). So then Simon or Randy says... nope, you can't go through, but your dummy can ...

He totally trusted the producers and they totally screwed him.

Now I wonder if the guy in the fire get-up was put up to wearing it in. he seemed HORRIFIED when he thought they were serious telling him he had to bring the fire stuff to Hollywood.

Just out of curiousity, where did that little story come from?

 

[Philadisney]

ohhhh, poor wolfie. he looks like jerry seinfeld....and he does NOT sound like clay....

 

[Nancy]

Tonights show was kinda boring. Simon was being more of a jerk then normal.

I really like the girl with the Mom that was a vocal coach. I think her name was Kelly.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Just out of curiousity, where did that little story come from?

The friend who posted the info said she heard him on a radio show. She's in SC.