American Idol Season 7

[KitKat]

A heart warming story. I'll make sure I have a tissue handy tomorrow night. It will be a very emotional, happy & sad, night for David and his family.

[thartley]

Uhm, is the dreadlock guy still on there?  Did he get sent home?  I cant remember his name.     I liked him.

[Ginafish]

Jason Castro, aka dreadlock guy. Still in the running.

Last night was Mariah Carey *gag* night, not surprisingly, the boys carried it off better.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/oU65rIkuFsQ&rel=1" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/oU65rIkuFsQ&rel=1</a>

[KitKat]

Surprising last night wasn't an emotional night after all. David Cook sang next to last and they didn't say anything about his brother being in the audience. I think that was probably the best way to handle it. I did see his brother in the audience and I know David was extremely happy to have him there. David's performance got excellent responses from the judges. 

[ZeroG]

They did show his brother after Ryan commented that David Cook looked like he was tearing up. I think they down played it to not make his story stand out above his singing. It wouldn't be fair to the other contestants. I'm only guessing.

That was the first song I liked by Jason. And David Cook needs to drop this gig and start a band and do an album. I wonder if he can resign from the competition? It seems like a waste of time for him now. The judges haven't given him any advice or criticism. He has had as much exposure as 'Idol can give him. However, he might be bound to a contract which says you can't do a song or album before the winner does theirs.

The shows voters seems to favor the Jordan Sparks, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood types of singers. Daughtry didn't win it, but his album is number one. David is a lot like Daughtry (just from what I have heard of Daughtry's songs, I never saw that season of Idol).

I couldn't even listen to all of Carly's song. If she isn't eliminated tonight, I'll be surprised.

[Ginafish]

At dialidol.com it looks like Syesha or Brooke are the lowest positions this week, but don't worry, Carly won't be making it to the final four. But don't be surprised if Kristy Cook does.

If I were votefortheworst.com, I'd start thinking about changing their campaign from Kristy too another of the girls...

[KitKat]

I watched AI last night and David Cook was, again, AWESOME!! He's already a star, in my opinion.  I love the way he can take an old song, put his twist on it, and make it  modern.   
My second choice is David Archeleta, he's young and has a bright future ahead. 

Brooke did a great job on her second selection, didn't particularly enjoy her first selection.

My guess is Jason will, probably, be eliminated this week, his performances are very weak and he doesn't seem very interested in stretching himself.
Then again, who knows??  The votes are really what count!! 

[thartley]

I am really glad this thread is staying updated.  I don't get the show here, and never think to go to the site and watch performance videos after the fact.  I would like to see the dreadlocked boy do well, but if he is not growing into a bigger and better performer, then maybe he would be satisfied with the exposure he's gotten so far.  (That is Jason, right?  The one you said doesnt seem interested i stretching himself?)

And I can't picture Cook in my head, so I will have to go to the site and take a look. 

[ZeroG]

They changed up the format last night. They were each going to do two songs, and the judges would comment on all after they all completed their first song. Then they would get comments for both performances after each finished the second song.

So, they are all up there after they all did their first song and Randy went down the line and made very brief comments on each performer. Then Paula talked about Jason's (the first performer) song and then she started commenting on his second performance. I actually looked at my recording to see if I was at the end of the show and possibly missed his second performance. 

No, Paula screwed up big time and said she was all confused by the new format. Evidently people are thinking it is rigged (I don't know why). A lady on the radio this morning said the judges do get to see the rehearsal and evidently Paula read her notes from that performance at the wrong time in the show. Poor thing. 

Anyway, the comment from Andrew Lloyd Webber to Archuleta about opening his eyes has really turned him into a performer. Brooke's second song was awesome. Shyesha's voice is awesome, and I think the best of the bunch. She has really found her genre, but it might not get the votes on this show. And Jason did not stand out, however, I would buy his album and of course Cook's album.

[Ginafish]

I didn't like them all waiting for comments. I felt bad that Paula got so flustered b/c yes, the judges get to watch the rehearsals and usually form their opinions then. So in a way it is rigged, b/c what if their performance changes? Like when your voice chokes in rehearsal but is clear later? or starting a song over?? So it's sort of rigged in that the judges have already voiced their opinions to the producers before the show starts.

And yes, now that David keeps his eyes open, his performance is nicer. And someone told Jason Castro to walk around the stage evidently? I just wish he'd look at the live audience instead of only the camera.

[ZeroG]

Didn't see the elimination tonight. But as I was running kids around tonight,  way later than I want too!, the DJ on the radio said Brooke got cut.

So, as we were driving, a 14 year old girl's take of 'Idol is... "Cook is Hot". "Jason's eyes are awesome. Wasted on a guy."

[ZeroG]

I was thinking 'rigged' implied the votes don't count. And I am not so sure the judge's critiques count that much on the public opinion. What does concern me, and could be considered as rigged, is that the judges get to hear ALL vote totals and not just the losers.

[Ginafish]

Well, there is a lot to be said for knowing the totals and the which singer is pulling the most. The closest the public gets to that is keeping up with dialidol.com which might not reflect the entire truth. Last night, for instance, it had Syesha as first place over Cook and Archuleta with Jason and Brook as the bottom two.

Some of the public fills that the judges and shows producers pick out early on who they'd like to see win and then skew the comments for that singer, perhaps working harder on 'grooming' them. I like to think that since they are professionals (the judges) in the music industry, they realize earlier on which of the contestants really has the 'it' factor.

Last night, Brooke really took the elimination hard. But some 5th place winners still get recording contracts and do well post Idol. Look at Daughtry.

[KitKat]

Yes, Brook took her elimination very hard last night. Her spirit is very sensitive. I know she'll do well on her own. She has a bright future ahead.

I think the judges have a great deal to do with getting votes for the performers. They
decide early on who they want to win. The music industry has changed a lot in the last decade and they're looking for an "edgy" performer. Someone that will make the charts and sell lots of CD's. They know their sales market and gear or groom the winner to that particular market.  I don't know if this is right, but the music industry is a huge business and they're looking for sales.
I witnessed this in the very first AI, with the winner Kelly Clarkson. Today, she's not anything like the person that performed on stage then and winning AI. Her music is "edgy" now and has held it's popularity among her fans.   

[ZeroG]

EV.com 'American Idol' Exit Q&A: Brooke White

[Ginafish]

Aw man...even I have to agree with the judges tonight on their review of Jason Dreadlocks Castro's first song...don't do Bob Marley. On the other hand, Syesha has really stepped it up in the last couple of weeks. Her version of Proud Mary was probably the best of the four's first songs.

Now onto round two, who will reign supreme?

[ZeroG]

It was almost like Jason gave up and thought he might as well do what he wants to do. He forgot a whole verse in the second song he did. I just got the feeling he didn't care, and gave up.

Cook's Baba O'reilly was cool. His voice kind of reminds me of Jimmy Gnecco from Ours. Look up "ours miseryhead" on grooveshark for a listen. Not exact, but pretty close.

[Ginafish]

When Jason filled in with the lala's dododo's, I thought to myself, he has given up.

Cook and Archuleta is who I expect for the final two. How about you?

[KitKat]

Jason definitely wants off the show.
I also think Cook and Archuleta will be the final two. They're both in the top with me, Cook is more creative with his music, but then again Archuleta has done a great job making his music choices his own. It's going to be an exciting final night.  We'll know in 2 weeks!!

[ZeroG]

David's dad, Jeff Archuleta, has pushed too far...

David Archuleta's dad loses 'American Idol' backstage pass

[Ginafish]

LoL! ZeroG? Did we push you over the edge of enjoying American Idol to digging for dirt on the show? What's even more awful is that I didn't have to click your link to know what the story was about b/c I've already read comparable articles. 

As for Jeff Archuleta, I can't imagine being a pushy stage parent, and on the other hand, I can't imagine being a parent responsible for nurturing a gift like David's. The line is hard to see when you walking it.  As for American Idol, I believe they did the 'right' thing from a business aspect, I just imagine they've been really watching for something they could legally do since Jeff has been a very hands on parent since the beginning.

[KitKat]

I really feel sorry for David.  This must add to his stress. There's no mention of his mother and what role she's played in this.  I hope there's a family member that can be with him and give him the good moral support he needs to finish. He's only 17!! 

[ZeroG]

No digging here, I heard it on the radio.   

Here’s how it went down. “Idol� sources tell TMZ Jeff has been a complete pain in the ***, interfering with the entire production. He has badgered producers, the band, vocal coaches and even other contestants. The final straw came this week, when Jeff wanted to change the lyrics to David’s first song, “Stand By Me.� Jeff insisted on adding a verse from Sean Kingston’s hit, “Beautiful Girls.� Producers sent him an e-mail telling him the lyrics could not be changed. They were beyond pissed when David sang the song with Kingston’s lyrics during the live show.

We’re told by changing the lyrics, it created problems with the song’s publisher and cost “A.I.� a lot of money.

So yeah, it is dirt.  I figured something was going on behind the scenes when Simon questioned David's song choices early on. I don't think it is fair to have someone helping with arrangements and song choices, if the other contestants are doing it on their own. I can't really put myself in Jeff's shoes, or at least I wouldn't be that way. I would be thankful for everything, not get in the way and let his talent do what it can. David isn't the first talented youngster to come along.

If David altered his performance due to pressure from his dad, after being told not too by the show, Jeff has definately pushed too far.

[ZeroG]

It's gonna be Cook and ______ for the final.

Archuleta doing Chris Brown?  The teenagers in the house were gagging. I had to reel them back from Cook. So, the hotness barometer in the ZeroG casa points to Cook for the night.

ZeroG has had Cook from the start. Ok, so I said I would buy Jason's CD. Well, it depends. But anyway, Cook is the next American Idol, and everyone else is a millionaire.

It's all good on Isara. 

[Ginafish]

If I had bothered to vote, it would have been for Syesha last night. She has relaxed and vocally shown the most improvement to me, I was ready to boot her out by the third week. Cook is alright, but I can see how his album will turn into one like Daughtry's. Buyable, with maybe a couple of radio hits, but in the end, the entire album sounds the same. David Cook has sounded the same from day one for me.

The big reveal will worth watching for shizzle!