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Idols - Getting Better or Worse?

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: American Idol/Canadian Idol/Other Talent Shows ARCHIVES: American Idol X: Idols - Getting Better or Worse? users admin

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Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Sunday, May 15, 2011 - 1:14 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
I thought it might be interesting to talk about how this year's finalists stack up against previous seasons' finalists.

2011 (in no particular order): Scotty, Haley, Lauren

2010: Lee, Crystal, Casey

2009: Kris, Adam, Danny

2008: David C., David A., Syesha

2007: Jordin, Blake, Melinda

2006: Taylor, Katherine, Elliott

2005: Carrie, Bo, Vonzell

2004: Fantasia, Diana, Jasmine

2003: Ruben, Clay, Kimberley

2002: Kelly, Justin, Nikki

So how do this years Idols and prior season Idols stack up? Strongest season? Weakest season? Top? Bottom?

Lazylu
Member

04-09-2010

Sunday, May 15, 2011 - 2:35 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lazylu a private message Print Post    
All I can say, is by this time in previous seasons I knew who I wanted to win. This year, I know who I don't want to win, but I'm not sure anymore of which one I want to vote for.

Prisonerno6
Member

08-31-2002

Sunday, May 15, 2011 - 2:41 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Prisonerno6 a private message Print Post    
2003 was the best, IMO.

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Sunday, May 15, 2011 - 6:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
I think each year there was someone in the top three I really liked. This year I flat out dislike two and am ambivalent about the third. Totally bored.

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - 12:55 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
I guess I'll try answering my own question.

I can't say I'm terribly excited by this year's finalists. At the risk of sounding negative, I think it's simpler to list who I like.

2010: Pretty dull
2009: The only truly innovative and entertaining artist the show has produced is Adam and he came in second. Lee and Casey = dull
2008: Pretty dull
2007: Jordin is pretty good and at least she tries and has had a few hits. The rest = pretty dull
2006: Not much happening here
2005: Not a country fan but you can't argue with Carrie's success and she is likable. The rest = pretty dull
2004: Ugh
2003: The best final three.
2002: Kelly has been a great idol. The rest = not much.

Scooterrific
Member

07-08-2005

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - 1:32 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Scooterrific a private message Print Post    
Jimmer scares me sometimes

Kitt
Member

09-06-2000

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - 1:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kitt a private message Print Post    
I think the more recent idols have been technically better, but often don't have much spark. And the whole show was so much more exciting in the early days, when it was new, that the idols seemed better looking back than maybe they actually were.

None of the 2011 ones thrill me, but I think they're all good.

2010 I thought Crystal was special, but probably not what the show intended to create/reveal.

2009 Adam Lambert ruined the show for everyone else. I don't think any American Idol will ever be as talented, savvy and versatile as Adam was.

2005-2008 weren't very memorable. I don't even recognise some of the names.

2004 Fantasia was special, and it was great when they had her and Jennifer Hudson and someone else (L name??) each week.

2003 Clay vs Reuben was great.

2002 Kelly vs Justin was really exciting.

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - 2:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
Thanks Scooter. I consider that a compliment.

The problem is that despite all their protestations to the contrary, the show discourages innovation and risk taking. I keep going back to it (because I found it so frustrating at the time) but the all time worst example was the judges trashing Haley for singing a new Lady Gaga song. The horror! Can't take the risk of doing anything where the viewers might not have an instant connection or a fond but ancient memory of the song.

So every year I tune in hoping to see someone who is different and challenging and generally all you get is a cover band and singer. The sad thing is that a lot of these young people are talented and innovative - until the show gets them in its grasp and they realize that they can't win if they are too different. And yet it is the "different" people who become superstars.

The same was true with Canadian Idol. The best person we ever had on Canadian Idol was a guy who is fairly similar to Adam. He was different and innovative and took chances and he finished third (though I kind of suspect he wasn't trying too hard at the end and he has made a rather nice little career for himself).

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - 4:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Jimmer, it's what I was saying from the beginning... I really loved James but no way in hell was he gonna win. Lee, Kris, David, Jordin, Taylor... really pretty much white bread. And pretty much boring.

Maybe younger is better? They can't argue with the "you didn't make it your own" thing and can instead do what they are told (if you think of the gawdawful outfits Gwen Stefani put 'em in, you'll think they aren't saying no!).

Prisonerno6
Member

08-31-2002

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - 5:52 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Prisonerno6 a private message Print Post    
2006: Not much happening here

Daughtry? I mean, if you're talking about all the Idols of that year. And Taylor Hicks might be white, but I don't on what planet he qualifies as white bread. He was one of the most unusual winners.

Kitt
Member

09-06-2000

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - 6:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kitt a private message Print Post    
Oh yes, Daughtry was a bright spark in the 2005-2008 lull. He was almost the same at the beginning as at the end though, like he was waiting to be discovered more than mentored in any way.

Texasdeb
Member

05-23-2003

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - 7:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texasdeb a private message Print Post    
ok.......
fav season: 2 because I LOVE Clay & thought he was cheated out of his win. However, he has made more money as an artist than Ruben,the winner. so nothing is bad!

worst season: 6 I personally liked Taylor Hicks but knew he wasn't idol material. Voted out 4th, Chris D. should have won the whole thing.

weakest season: 10 Chrystal was good - not AI material though, so.......what did they do? They convinced the viewers to like that Lee guy. He's not going anywhere with his win!

This season: I was all about James from early on....I see him (if he applies himself!) going places in the music business. I realize that Scotty has the "little girl" following & he is the country girl's "Justin" right now......I don't see it! He's good.....and deserves to be in the finals...but, I don't think he should win! I really do not like Lauren or think she is AI material!

F2 should be: Scotty/Haley IMO

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - 7:03 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
White bread as in boring. As in cannot remember a single thing he did. As in who the heck is Taylor Hicks again? The only thing I remember him for is his grey hair, which stood out in a sea of young'uns.

And Daughtry wasn't in the top 3. If y'all look at the list above, it's top 3. So yeah, not much happening since he didn't even make the finale. (Plus what Kitt said!)

Tishala
Member

08-01-2000

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 - 7:15 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tishala a private message Print Post    
I didn't watch season 1, but I loved seasons 2 and 3. I've been pretty clear about my Fantasia love--she's up there with my other favorite singers, Ella, Barbra, and Chaka--and I loved the acrimony between Ruben supporters and supporters of the runner-up.

Since Tasia's win I have cared less than I had before. I never liked Miss Underwood or Mr Bice really, but I was sure Mr Bice would win. Wrong. Miss Sparks was and remains wonder bread to me (and Blake? OMG?! what a mess), and Mr Hicks was fortunate that Mr Daughtry was eliminated too early and his competition in the finale, Ms McPhee, had a beautiful voice but was the most boring performer this side of....someone.

I literally can't remember anything Mr Allen or Mr DeWise did. I know I watched the shows most of the time, but I really can't remember anything interesting about either. OTOH, I do remember Ms Bowersox and Mr Lambert and remember enjoying both to a degree.

This season feels the weakest to me, but that might be wrong. It might be that the Hicks-McPhee season was the weakest. But at least it was entertaining with all that soul patrol foolishness, Paula's incoherence, and Simon's bitterness. As a fan of R&B, I am very disappointed in the producers' inability to find strong R&B voices...or, really, strong voices outside homogenized pop/country-pop.

Sadiesmom
Member

03-13-2002

Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - 9:37 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Sadiesmom a private message Print Post    
I liked a lot of the earlier seasons, but I think the goals of the show have changed as they have become more desperate to find a successful winner.

When the show started they were looking for a singer with some charisma. So mostly everyone sang on key, the number of foul notes were few and far between once they got to the top 6. Because they made people sing different genres and really stretch whether they wanted to or not (first exception was daughtry, which I believe made him less liked), there were some train wrecks, there were some amazing shows that could be rewatched.

I like Bo, I found him surprising, but he was so sick during the show, makes me wonder how he would fare today.

Currently they seem to be looking for a great recording star, which means singing on Key is not so important, auto tune is always there,. for the last 4 years, I have noticed sound effects on the mike, an echo some times and other times, I swear, autotune. I guess this is what is declining my interest, all the out of key and out of tune singing followed by absurd and ridiculous praise. i don't agree completely about Simon being honest, there were times he criticized not good singing and insulted effectly fine singing, but the constant harping on song choice annoys me no end, especially when the contestants have very few songs to choose from, I think the worst was in a top 16 where there were 3 more songs to choose from than singers.

The other thing that drives me crazy is the amount of filler on the show - - Nigel being back has had the show end on time and that is good, but we were told there would be 1/2 hour result shows and one hour shows - Why take 2 hours to sing snippets of 9 songs? That should easily fit in 1 hour. Bah, too many ads, too little singing and the singing is off key,

Lilfair
Member

07-09-2003

Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - 11:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lilfair a private message Print Post    
I'll be the first to admit I rarely am able to watch all episodes but I think the contestants level of quality is about the same but the find the the voting public has gotten worse over the years.

These final 2 sorta suck in my opinion.

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - 1:18 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Lil? Um, they haven't hit on the final 2 yet. Unless you are discounting Haley already? <g, d, r>

Jag2000
Member

07-01-2009

Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - 5:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jag2000 a private message Print Post    
I think that Idol this year has been the worse, partly due to the contestants but 99% due to the judging and the judges. Randy is the only one that speaks the truth. Simon was a little rough on the contestants but he was honest with them and told them what he thought. Stephen and JLo sugar coat every performance, love every song, no one is ever off key,etc., etc., etc....It's like having 2 Paula's instead of 1.

Uncle_ricky
Member

07-02-2007

Wednesday, May 18, 2011 - 10:15 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Uncle_ricky a private message Print Post    
I'm still seething that Elliott finished 3rd -- major major crime that he did not win.