| Ashe Priest |
 Posted: May 20, 2009 - 11:34am |
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I was actually okay with Adam's arrangement for 'Mad World' and actually think it worked better than when he did it the first time. Yes the long coat and fog was theatrical, but it really did work with the tone of the song. The only problem was he had to stop walking when he got to the edge of the stage, and that's when it was just a wee bit too much. But other than that, I thought the whole setup was actually kind of cool. Plus, did Simon really think he was insulting Adam when he said it looked like Phantom? He's talking to a guy who obviously loves theatrics and what is more theatrical than Phantom of the Opera? That's the one thing that's been consistent about Adam through the whole competition, he's been an over the top theatrical person who's enormously entertaining because of it. I only wish he'd sung his goth-sounding version of Ring of Fire instead, because that was probably one of his best performances and interpretations of a song through the whole season.
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| tata58 |
| Posted: May 20, 2009 - 11:47am |
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Joined: 12 Mar 2007
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Did anyone else notice Cunty in the audience last night?
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FUCKING UGLY DOG FACED ASS FAT ASSES!!! - Mailbag 5/7/08
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| superduck |
| Posted: May 20, 2009 - 12:01pm |
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Joined: 16 Apr 2009
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I hope Kris wins. I don't particularly like either one of the contestants, but Adam's screeching just gets on my nerves. And the producers obviously want him to win.
That last song that Kara helped write was just awful. And besides the fact that the song itself sucked, it was totally meant to throw Kris under the bus. Kara even admitted that it was too high for him. So why didn't they let him do the song in a different key? They do that all the time with other songs throughout the year. More proof that this show is totally rigged.
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| WarzonePrez |
| Posted: May 20, 2009 - 12:28pm |
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Joined: 24 May 2008
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Hurricanes? I wonder what it would be like if Tatiana sang it...
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- WarzonePrez - Unofficial Fantard of MyndJack Radio
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| TFB |
| Posted: May 20, 2009 - 12:48pm |
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Joined: 17 Apr 2008
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Ashe Priest said:
I was actually okay with Adam's arrangement for 'Mad World' and actually think it worked better than when he did it the first time. Yes the long coat and fog was theatrical, but it really did work with the tone of the song. The only problem was he had to stop walking when he got to the edge of the stage, and that's when it was just a wee bit too much. But other than that, I thought the whole setup was actually kind of cool. Plus, did Simon really think he was insulting Adam when he said it looked like Phantom? He's talking to a guy who obviously loves theatrics and what is more theatrical than Phantom of the Opera? That's the one thing that's been consistent about Adam through the whole competition, he's been an over the top theatrical person who's enormously entertaining because of it. I only wish he'd sung his goth-sounding version of Ring of Fire instead, because that was probably one of his best performances and interpretations of a song through the whole season.
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No flames or anything - I really enjoyed Madame's performances, especially the out-there "over-the-top" ones.
But you do realize that both "Mad World" and "Ring of Fire" were interpretations that Madame directly copied from other artists WITHOUT giving them any credit - you knew that, right?
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| Ashe Priest |
| Posted: May 20, 2009 - 12:55pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2009
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Oh I know he used the style of another artist's remake of the original song, every Idol contestant has done that. When I first heard David Cooks version of Billie Jean I had no idea that someone else had done that cover first, but I found out later, ironically here at VFTW. What I was saying is that I liked his versions of the songs. As far as him giving credit to the artists, no Idol contestant ever does. Seacrest is always the one who tells everyone whose cover the contestant is doing.
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| TFB |
| Posted: May 20, 2009 - 1:09pm |
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Joined: 17 Apr 2008
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Cool - I figured you knew, I just couldn't resist asking.
But - just FWIW, I'm not at all sure that anyone on the show has given credit to the artists Madame has copied this year. Its not a huge deal and I'm not personally "offended" or anything - I just think its part of the murky shit-soup of Idol hypocrisy that they praise some cast members for being "original" and "great artists" when all they are doing is searching YouTube for real artists to copy -
Sorta like how they bust some cast members for "poor song choice" when they don't really give them much (or any) choice in what songs they sing.
FWIW, It will be interesting to see if "gay, overly theatrical cabaret singer" will become a recurring character on future shows - sorta like "country guy/girl", "rocker guy/girl", "black Diva", "teenager with big voice", "redneck working man", etc.
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| Weenrocks |
| Posted: May 20, 2009 - 1:14pm |
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Joined: 22 Feb 2008
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Prof Chan - I still can't believe that back in the Top 36 you predicted that someone other than Danny Gokey, Adam Lambert, Lil Rounds, Scotty Mac, and Alexis Grace would win.... and what's his name might actually win this thing! You have proven your credibility to write about this show.
Great season for you Professor! Kara's song sucked, even worse than the final Idol song usually sucks.
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| The_Walking_Con... |
| Posted: May 20, 2009 - 1:44pm |
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Joined: 29 Apr 2009
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Even though I think Adam has way more deserving of the Idol Crown then Kris, I'm scared of him winning. The very thought of him being controlled by 19E and Idol is just frightening. I'm thinking that all his creative freedom might be screwed if he wins; the record people are going to want to make something commercially appealing that will sell easily. I'm thinking bubble-gum pop with a catchy hook. Why let that much talent get wasted? Adam deserves to have a career far away from those greedy Idol jerks with unlimited creative freedom to make something truly extraordinary. I agree, I want him as far away from those producers as possible.
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Scott Macintyre is a good man.
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| love like a bomb |
| Posted: May 20, 2009 - 3:55pm |
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Joined: 24 May 2007
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Uh... you do realize that 19E will sign him whether he wins or loses, right? It's not like they didn't recognize the cash cow that he was since day one. Simon actually begged people to vote for him!
Of course, I think it would be better for Kris' career if he were to lose for those same reasons as what you think about Adam... but I want him to win just to see the ensuing shitstorm. Maybe Kara will unhinge her jaw again for the occasion like she did for Gokey.
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PROUD MELO-TARD!
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So here we are, the Penultimate episode of Idol Season 8, and the last competition episode. Tonight gave us still more proof that Kris Allen (who?) is a gamer. He went head to head with Adam Glambert and in my humble opinion, he came out on top. Lambert brought his usual professionalism to the show so there really weren't any surprises. Of course this being American Idol, we were punished with 5 mid-tempo ballads including the Worst Song I've Heard Since Last Year's Idol Winning Song.
The big story, and the true VFTW victory is how clueless the Idol Producers continue to be with their musical tastes. Year after year they torpedo their own Idol's musical credibility before their career gets going with a thoroughly awful Idol coronation song. It's like they're compulsively searching for the absolutely shittiest songs known to mankind. This one was written by Idol's own Kara Doucha-Guardi.
Simon likes to rank the performances head to head. And so do I. So let's get on with it.
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Ryan (Dramatic Pause) Seacrest dubs this battle Conway vs. California, and Guy Next Door vs. Guy-Liner. We get it, Adam is gay and Kris comes from a small town. And you can tell the Idol Producers really, REALLY want Adam to win because they're setting up the battle between Conway, Arkansas, population 10,000, versus the UNITED FORCES OF THE ENTIRE MIGHTY STATE OF CALIFORNIA. And Adam.
10 minutes in and nothing of import has happened.
Adam Lambert -- Personal song choice -- "Mad World."
Good choice Adam. This song plays to his best attributes, namely his theatricality, his beautiful tenor voice, and his emotional connection with songs. Glambert gets the Professional Wrestling entrance, riding the stage elevator to the top of the stairs amidst billowing green smoke while dressed like an extra from The Matrix with trench coat and combat boots. Did I mention Adam is cool?
I liked his earlier performance of this song, and I think he sings an album-ready version of it tonight.
GRADE: A --
Kara immediately gets on my bad side with her ebullient, over the top
praise. She's insufferable. Paula looks puffy and beat up, wearing a
bra-less green dress. Cover up woman, your ribs are showing. She also
looks like she fell asleep on a tanning bed set to Deep Fat Fry. Her
tan has an unwholesome purple hue. Simon is merely trying to out-boob
Paula with his shirt unbuttoned to the navel. Paula still has more
chest hair.
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Kris Allen -- Personal Song Choice -- "Ain't No Sunshine"
Another excellent performance from Kris. His voice was solid, his song was nicely textured and emotional, without going over the top. I finally could hear his piano playing over the strident backing band!
Paula mumbles something about "Allen-izing his songs." You mean singing watered down Dave Matthews/Jason Mraz, funky white boy versions of songs out of the side of his mouth? I kid of course.
GRADE: A
ROUND 1 WINNER -- I'm calling it a tie. Both singers played to their strengths and neither screwed up.
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Adam -- Producers Choice -- "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke.
Producer Simon Fuller may be as rich as King Midas, but unlike that mythical king, everything Fuller touches does NOT turn to gold, it turns to shit, musically.
Who the hell looks at Adam and thinks, yeah '50s R&B/Soul? And then thinks, "I will be so rich I will wipe my ass with money."
Personally I'd go with some David Bowie, Queen, or even Aerosmith. Something rocking, Glam and screaming. I just don't get this pick. I'm guessing the music rights were cheap.
This song plays to all the worst tendencies of Adam, namely tuneless screeching, tortured facial expressions, and his compulsion to push theatricality over musicality. This was a truly awful performance mainly because Adam should NEVER sing the blues. Also the crappy backing guitar was entirely too loud for the lame blues chords he was playing.
GRADE: FAIL -- If this is how the Producers see Adam moving ahead in his career then Adam will be playing county fairs two weeks after his album comes out.
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Kris -- Producer's Choice -- "What's Going On" by Marvin Gaye
This is another thoroughly awful pairing of song to performer by Simon "I Poop Gold Bullion" Fuller. The song is a jazzy social statement on poverty and the Vietnam War that became an anthem of the era. Marvin Gaye had an unworldly three octave voice, and layered his vocals to haunting effect on "What's Going On."
Kris Allen has what we'll politely call a two-octave range. He sings a poppy, funky white boy acoustic version of the song that starts off too low to enable him to even hit the notes in the chorus. Kris' talents are credibly singing contemporary pop songs and connecting with them in new and interesting ways. So of course he gets to sing a song that's 38 years old, that he could never hope to connect with in any meaningful way.
Kris didn't sound bad, but the song is much bigger than a 90 second version that Kris learned earlier this week.
GRADE: C -- Simon says Adam "won this round by a million per cent" and the Producers have branded Adam as "The most contemporary artist ever to hit the Idol stage." Kris has repeatedly been the most contemporary as he sounds good on popular songs from THIS YEAR. Adam's best song was the "Donnie Darko" version of "Mad World" from 8 years ago, and his wheelhouse is '70s Hard Rock and Glam. So yeah, that's certainly "contemporary." (NOTE THE SARCASM.) And don't get me wrong, I love '70s Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. But is there any question who the Producers want to win?
ROUND 2 WINNER -- I think Kris wins this round.
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Shitty Idol Coronation Song -- "No Boundaries"
The song is an over-wrought, and shallow collection of cliches about the weather, that even Simon can't help but mock. It is shit, and it is impossible to sound good singing it.
Adam is once again given the Star treatment as he gets backing vocals to make his version sound bigger, fuller and more dramatic.
Kris doesn't get any backing vocals and his stripped down version of the song exposes his thin voice that's ill-suited for the Celine Dion/Mariah Carey vocal exercise of schmaltz that is "No Boundaries."
Adam gets a verbal tongue bath from the judges and is anointed "God's Gift To Pop Music."
Kris doesn't get ONE SINGLE COMMENT ON HIS PERFORMANCE. Kara damns him with faint praise by suggesting Kris' fans vote based on "his body of work this season." Randy tells him, "You should be proud for getting this far."
I CALL SHENANIGANS. The Producers are clearly in Adam's corner and aren't even apologizing about their homer-ism. And mind you, this is a week after Simon outright begged fans to vote for Adam so that he could win.
I like Adam and I think he's talented, but he's been on cruise control for a couple weeks now while Kris has been clawing to the top every week.
WINNER ROUND 3 -- A too-close-to-call TIE of Crappy Proportions.
SEASON 8 WINNER: I think Kris won this night, and he deserves to be the Idol. Also I want Adam to have a successful musical career FAR AWAY From the Evil Idol Producers, so he needs to lose.
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Tomorrow's two hour Finale promises to be the shit-storm that it is every season. I'm watching. But I have to say, I got more musical chills from one well-performed, well-harmonized version of "Don't Stop Believing" on "Glee" tonight than I got in an entire season of live performances on Idol. And more laughs too.
Suck on that Evil Idol Producers.
--Chan
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