i miss nadia

Prof. Chan,

I don't care what season you pit against shitfest 7 in the future,nothing will make me laugh as much as this particular Deathmatch!

And for those who take this too seriously, ( and some of you REALLY DO) I send you a Scott Savol hex.

Magooish

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Hey Magooish,

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I'm in agreement with you.

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When I started my Death Match assignment I really thought that Season 7 was pretty hot stuff.  I knew that they were talented but certainly not the MOST talented.  But after two weeks of watching old Idol clips I'm convinced that not only is Season 7 not even close to the best, but that they're one of the worst.  I'm not even rigging these things.  Compare Carrie, Bo Bice, Vonzell, Anthony, Anwar and Nadia to the Season 7 crop and  they're clearly better.  Throw in people's love of Constantine (certainly not mine) and you have a group of solid singers from 1-7.  Mix up Season 7 any way you want and they'll still lose.

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--Chan 

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I am lucky enough to drive through the shithole that is Checotah, Ok whenever I go visit my grandfather in Fayetteville, Ar. I thought it would be fun to start asking people about Farmbot when season 4 of AI started, and continue to ask every time I stop to eat/gas up while I'm there. In case you were wondering, not a single person I've asked (and it's hundreds by now!) has had a single nice thing to say about her (and this started BEFORE she got famous!). I think she might secretly be an even shittier person than Carly...just so y'all know!

"American Idol: The Reality Show."

Oh wait...

Whether Carrie Farmbot is hiding a bad personality or attitude, she looks much better and has more talent than Carly.

According to that John Farnham video, "You're The Voice" was from 1986 . . . how is that Archuleta's year of birth?

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"You're The Voice" 

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From Wikipedia: "The single was pretty much a hit in every country except the U.S. where

it flopped. BMG/RCA U.S. <font color="#ff0000"><strong><u>re-released the song in February, 1990.</u></strong></font> The

song spent 8 weeks on the charts, peaking only at #82.

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You are welcome. 

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--Chan 

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Oh okay thanks. So the year was based on the "re-release." That's still kind of cheap. But then again, Carly Smithson is a "re-release" and people love her, so all is well.

For starters, I like the site. lots of eye-opening info. I agree with much that is being said about how the producers are steering Idol from being the show that finds unknowns to what it is migrating into today which is a showcase for existing talent that might get a second chance.

Do the most talented people in America get on the show? Without question no they do not.

Are the people that do get on the show talented? Yes, a few are.

Are all of the Idol winners the people that should have won? No. Taylor Hicks? Jordan Sparks? Rubin Studdard? I don't think so. Just to name a few.

But, as everyone knows, opinions are like assholes … everybody's got one. All of this is subjective and I only offer my two cents.

I started playing drums when I was 5 and I am 56 now. I've played all over, small crowds, huge crowds and stuff in between and I have played with a boat load of musicians. Some very famous and most not-so-famous.

When I was growing up we didn't have national competitions like we have today. Guitar Center's Drum Off, Earlier seasons of Idol etc. So it was pure luck that anyone got discovered. Me playing back in 1993. http://www.wiz-bang.com/rj_music/wizzie_solo.html the fact is I know a good singer when I hear one. I've been keeping score and I have to admit (at least for what we are allowed to see) I am probably 99% in agreement with what Simon says about each performance.

So who is Prof. Chan? I don't know who Prof. Chan is. He seems like a nice guy … but I am curious if he is actually a musician/performer or just a critic.

I've only read a few things on this site and I have to say while Prof. Chan's diatribe is amusing, but I have to disagree with a lot he says I am not sure he's has what I would deep sense of understanding real vocal talent. There's a lot of stuff involved with singing: range, tonal quality, power, style, grace under pressure, confidence, pitch, use and non use of vibrato, stamina, musicality, arrangement and audience connection just to name a few.

To be honest I like Neil Diamond and I can say I ALSO really liked Led Zeppelin, ABBA, Barry Manilow, Luciano Pavarotti, Celine Dion, Maria Carey, Heart, Chicago, new arrivals Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Evanescence and a hundreds, of not thousands of others.

Trying to compare Carly Smithson with Carrie Underwood is like trying to compare a an apple and an orange. Both are good fruits but they are radically different. Underwood is a PHENOMINAL singer. Carly Smithson is very good but she is no phenom. To say her version of Crazy on You was "album perfect" … I would not go that far it was a way better than average rendition but not stellar in my opinion.

Let's look at the song Alone:

Here's Heart's rendition (early version)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxfdDrKO8uM

Heart's recent version - Age has taken its toll but still very good.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W52PP3lYlUs&;feature=related

Here's Carly Smithson's version of Alone - weak and appears strained.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP_ZdLc8DfQ&;feature=related

Carrie Underwood's Alone (pseudo unplugged version) She pulls off the

vocal brilliantly. Exceptionally strong clear vocals.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltfJFF5BnXA&;feature=related

Here is Carrie performing with Heart - clear strong vocals no signs of strain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQ7ZmaL2480&;feature=related

Celine Dion's verion - great style, powerful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfjM6QyOuDs

Ramiele Malubay's version - a great example of why she's not the winner

a just barely OK version.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aglqdKnu1Nw

Carly is not in the same league. She's an A list singer but not a stratosphere singer like Dion, Carey, Clarkson and Underwood.

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Where you can really tell a singers ability is to pull of a classic like Oh Holy Night

Celine Dion's version - Powerful , inspired over the top performance. Tremendous control

over her voice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jr-2eyRtV4

Maria Cary's (live) version - probably the most original interpretation … lots of power, control, incredible range

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt0VfiFxtHo

Album version - slightly different -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlwuMZxBy9U&;feature=related

Kelly Clarkson's version - great range, great tonal quality … lots of power.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e3FX2EkOkI&;feature=related

Carrie Underwood's version (live version) - clear, concise vocals … great power … beautiful rendidition.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4MQ-emtC1w

I could not find the video but Kelly Lavesque released "Some Hearts" before Carrie did and it's hard to tell the difference. Kelly Lavesque's version is excellent also. Carrie has a unique gift of being able to perform as well as the original artist.

Comparing Bo Bice a very good singer with Robert Cook of this years Idol is again like comparing two different cars. Robert Cook has more range and control than Bo Bice a different tonal quality much like Brian Adams and IMHO a much better singer, more commercial.

All of that being said does that really make anyone better than the other. Not really it still goes back to who you like or don't like.

Regardless of how they get there, the talent on Idol, this year is better than recent years. Brook White is not a phenom singer but she has a unique look, style and appeal that will carry her if she chooses to pursue a career … in other words she won't have to be a Nanny anymore.

It's tough to call because singing wise Robert Cook should win, but David Archuleta is more popular he's got the teenie vote. Then we could all be surprised. I predicted that Archuleta would be in the top 3 if not take the win after the first time I saw him but that was before hearing David Cooks performance.

Actually I was surprised to see Alaina Whitaker go she had a very good quality to her voice. She's young and I think that she should improve and then come back.

Kristy Lee Cook has a good quality to her voice too. Her big downfall was bad song choice. I believe she will have a career singing.

Like it or not, Idol has produced some really great talent

Well there you have it my two cents.