[PhilNYC]

At the start of this season, I really thought Brooke would come through, she had a much different style than previous contestants, but unfortunately for her, her voice just doesn't quite do it.  Sitting at the piano she does a good job, but every time she's stood up it's been horrible.  David A is just plain boring to anyone over the age of 14, David C is OK but nothing special to me, Jason is horrible, and Syesha doesn't have a chance even if she's OK.  Every one of them has had really bad weeks where you wondered why they were still there.  None of them will make the leap to stardom, they're doomed to Taylor Hicksdom, so why bother. 

Just curious...what did you think of Chris Daughtry when he was on the show last season?

[PhilNYC]

Bottom line- The "real deals" that are out there and that will be don't and will never need American Idol or any other talent show for me to discover them.  With that said, I suppose it is possible for AI to one day discover a truly gifted soul that may have been too lazy or didn't have the confidence or ambition to launch their own career.  I'm also not sure how someone with real chops (typically one that doesn't deliver mainstream garbage) would fair on this show?  I pretty much just listen to or buy music from true song artists meaning those who write their own songs and have their own voice.

American Idol is what it is and it's premise is great in that it brings the less talented individual to the masses to be chewed and then eventually spit out and in the process make someone lots of money.  Typically this is around the time of the show that I start tuning out.  I have a pretty good idea of the contestants capabilities and because I'm not really a fan of any one of them I start to disconnect.   I especially like the trainwrecks at the beginning of the show, root for some I'm interested in, later focus on people I would like to see get eliminated and then end up at the point I am now.  But I will keep watching as I always do, one of the many reasons why American Idol is so damn successful.

For me, as I've said before, I will support this show because it encourages a mass audience to watch, evaluate and appreciate real live singing performances.  Are these the greatest singers out there?  Obviously not.  But IMHO a lot of the singers are more talented than a lot of the "musicians" that are out there making it big because of the marketing that surrounds them.  Sometimes the guest "artists" that appear on the AI results show truly suck compared to some of the contestants, and I don't think a lot of people would notice that if they hadn't just watched the AI contestants singing.  There have been a couple of contestants that I think I would truly enjoy their music (for me, that includes David Cook, Melinda Doolittle, Bo Bice, and a few others).

Who eventually wins isn't all that important to me...but to see guys like David Cook get some recognition for having more substance than a lot of the fluff out there is great IMHO.  And contrary to the above opinion, IMHO I am not a fan of watching the trainwrecks in the early stages (ok, maybe a couple, but I certainly don't like watching 3-4 weeks of trainwrecks)...

[Woodsea]

Daughtry was great, I thought.  But, I am a rocker.
So glad that Sayesha is still on, but if the teeny boppers still vote like they have been, Dreadlock stoner boy is going survive next week.

[jasonc]

Bottom line- The "real deals" that are out there and that will be don't and will never need American Idol or any other talent show for me to discover them.  With that said, I suppose it is possible for AI to one day discover a truly gifted soul that may have been too lazy or didn't have the confidence or ambition to launch their own career.  I'm also not sure how someone with real chops (typically one that doesn't deliver mainstream garbage) would fair on this show?  I pretty much just listen to or buy music from true song artists meaning those who write their own songs and have their own voice.

American Idol is what it is and it's premise is great in that it brings the less talented individual to the masses to be chewed and then eventually spit out and in the process make someone lots of money.  Typically this is around the time of the show that I start tuning out.  I have a pretty good idea of the contestants capabilities and because I'm not really a fan of any one of them I start to disconnect.   I especially like the trainwrecks at the beginning of the show, root for some I'm interested in, later focus on people I would like to see get eliminated and then end up at the point I am now.  But I will keep watching as I always do, one of the many reasons why American Idol is so damn successful.

For me, as I've said before, I will support this show because it encourages a mass audience to watch, evaluate and appreciate real live singing performances.  Are these the greatest singers out there?  Obviously not.  But IMHO a lot of the singers are more talented than a lot of the "musicians" that are out there making it big because of the marketing that surrounds them.  Sometimes the guest "artists" that appear on the AI results show truly suck compared to some of the contestants, and I don't think a lot of people would notice that if they hadn't just watched the AI contestants singing.  There have been a couple of contestants that I think I would truly enjoy their music (for me, that includes David Cook, Melinda Doolittle, Bo Bice, and a few others).

Who eventually wins isn't all that important to me...but to see guys like David Cook get some recognition for having more substance than a lot of the fluff out there is great IMHO.  And contrary to the above opinion, IMHO I am not a fan of watching the trainwrecks in the early stages (ok, maybe a couple, but I certainly don't like watching 3-4 weeks of trainwrecks)...

American Idol isn't exactly getting the top acts in the country coming in to guest star and they never have been (they don't want these acts to outshine their commodity too much  ).  They are usually washed up entertainers either missing recognition because they have gone unnoticed for a good chunk of time or they have a new crummy album coming out that week (Maria Carey, Neil Diamond).  With that said I would say about 3 out of 4 these "musicians" that  come in do show how it's done - the above referenced performers are recent ones that obviously have not.
As far as you being a fan of some of these contestants (to the point you would buy one of their albums at Target or Walmart) that's cool and no fault to you, I will be spending my hard earned on the ones who I feel are the "real deals" in the music industry.  Maybe I just have more of a problem with mainstream music in general.   
Regardless of what I have said above - I find AI entertaining and I am a fan of the show.  Not sure why I take so much joy in the trainwrecks, that could be a personal flaw.

[nodiak]

I was assuming AI is for mainstream by my earlier comments, no confusion here on "the real deals" being out there and doing their thing. But it would be very interesting to see how viewers would react to a Laura Love or similar on AI - some high energy, culturally complex fair. Or of course other solid, complex artists.
Being a show for the masses just seems that logistically several talented main streamish folks never get on the bus. And as we've seen alot of good ones get voted off. But that's just how it is.
I get curious about demographics and statistics, so it would be interesting to me to know stuff like who Carly/Michael/etc. voters switched to, if anyone. Seems maybe Syesha survived because some switched to her. Of course that info isn't available, not even the # of votes per contestant I don't think.
I agree AI is entertaining and interesting. All in all I think it helps me from being completely closed to pop music. I have to say I was lucky that Motown, British invasion, Jimi, Doors, and early folk rock was the pop music of my day, always on the radio. Also I'd say the 13 yo girls of the 60's had alot better choices for puppy lovin 

[Bob in St. Louis]

It should have been a radio show. 
It's beyond being a popularity contest. It's turning into a "cute guy pageant".

Bob (and no, I'm not jealous. )

[zacster]

It should have been a radio show. 
It's beyond being a popularity contest. It's turning into a "cute guy pageant".

Bob (and no, I'm not jealous. )

Maybe, but without their personalities showing through they'd all have a tough time on the radio.  HONEY, change the station!!!!!

As for Daughtry, he's pretty good.  I even have him on my iPod, but I wasn't the one that put him there.  For that matter I have Katherine McPhee as well.  I liked her on AI, but this album is bad.  At least she doesn't take herself too seriously.

I think Brooke might do OK now that she's free of the format, if she can write her own songs.  She's very pretty and that goes a long way in the business.  She really needs to show some confidence.

[ajzepp]

And I refuse to watch HELL'S KITCHEN which follows IDOL out here.  It looks like a totally staged Train Wreck with a "blank blank" throwing tantrums about feakin pizza.

Rather watch an hour of commercials.

John, you're missing out! Gordon Ramsay is a very passionate businessman and chef who is absolutely dedicated to quality of product. All of his antics in the kitchen are to create a very stressful and tense environment for the contestants, and of course it's also for controversy and ratings. If you watch the UK version of Ramsay's programs, you'll get a better idea of what he's all about. But the bottom line is that the winner of the show will represent Ramsay in some way when it's over (especially this year when the winner will become the head chef at his new restaurant), and he wants that individual to be battle tested and molded in the way he sees fit. He challenges them and berates them in order to get them to perform under fire (literally).

I worked in the restaurant industry for five years as a server and trainer, and it's scary what goes on behind closed doors. I have a lot of respect for the fact that he does not tolerate anything but the highest quality and the highest standards of food service. I consider Hell's Kitchen to be one of the most underrated shows on television...I'm glad it's got an Idol lead-in. 

[Hicks]

What's Ramsay's other show called?  The one where he goes into a restraurant that is flailing and then shows them everything they are doing wrong and how they can improve it.  I like that show better myself, and it shows his compassionate side since he really is there to help people out.  Don't get me wrong though, he's still a pushy bastard on that show too.   

[ajzepp]

lol, it's called Kitchen Nightmares. It's based on "Ramsays Kitchen Nightmares" on the BBC, which is a much more docile version of the guy.

[giantsteps]

 It's on and Jason Castro sucked.


 frank
 

[RandyH]

Is it just me or did anyone else notice that the sound mix seems to have been bad on all the performances in the first round?  The orchestra and backup singers were way back in the mix and the contestants vocals seemed much louder.

[giantsteps]

Is it just me or did anyone else notice that the sound mix seems to have been bad on all the performances in the first round?  The orchestra and backup singers were way back in the mix and the contestants vocals seemed much louder.

 Yes, the mix sucked.


 Frank

[reflex]

If Castro ain't the one to leave tomorrow, then the show loses alot of credibility.  I know it's the American voter who determine the results, but Americans can't be THAT stupid, can they?

And Syesha gets more beautiful every week...she reminds me so much of Halle Berry...especially tonight.  For some reason I've not seen the resemblance to the stunning Ms. Berry before tonight.

[Bigfish]

I missed the show tonight and my wife told me Jason missed some words on one of his songs.  She said David Cook was just okay and that David A was very good.  Do ya'll agree with her comments?  My wife thinks Jason should go home tomorrow night!

Ken

[reflex]

He was so bad, they shouldn't even let him in the studio for the show...

[John Casler]

Gotta agree on ALL COUNTS

Jason while in his niche, was pretty amateurish.

Syesha is a joy to watch mature as an artist each week.   

She has turned into something VERY SPECIAL.  She did what I thought Kristi Lee Cook could have done, but instead Syesha has just stepped up and ripped solidly and strongly into the TOP three.  She very well deserves to be there.

David Cook while good, didn't stand head and shoulders above like he sometimes does.

Archletta who for the last couple weeks has been good but not great stepped it up a notch.

The TOP THREE (assuming Jason is traveling tomorrow) are all very deserving of their spots.

I really could see either of the Davids or Syesha taking home the trophy.

Cook is going to have to "find" that song that shows his total package if he wants to stay out in front (if he is).

And to think, I really didn't think he was top 10 material early on.

[PhilNYC]

The mix was terrible...the band was barely audible.

Yes, Jason Castro sucked bigtime. 

Syesha...I still haven't really changed my mind about her.  Talented for sure, but I still think that she pales when trying to tackle the "big" songs in comparison to contestants from previous years who sing that style much better (eg. Fantasia, Lakisha).

David Cook...when he said he was going to sing Baba O'Riley, my first thought was "oh crap, he's going to butcher it and it's going to suck".  But he surprised me with a decent performance.  Not stellar, but still pretty good.

David Archuleta...is it me, or does he make every song he sings sound the same?  He's probably going to win, but IMHO he seems to have a very narrow range of songs that he can sing.

[Bill O'Connell]

You had to Love Jason's reply to Simon about "what in the world made him choose a Bob Marley song?" I was howling
Syesha had me in tears as I felt her heart crying out the emotion of change in this world.
 David Cook although very good and I like how he twists a new spin on songs should probably be in the top two.
You really have to give it up for David Archuletta, every week except one has given it his all and at least tied everybody else's performance if not smashed them into submission except for a couple David Cook weeks.
With David A's humble demeanor and his smooth voice and his young age, I really think he will be the Elvis Presley of the future and will break every record in sales except for maybe the Beatles. He will be that big.If he isn't a superstar in the making nobody will be.

 The background singers were fabulous last night.

[Hicks]

meh, Archuleta is way too sappy for me.  He has a nice voice, but it seems that in these times pop stars need to have some edge to be really successful.  My money's still on Cook, although Syesha is very talented too.