Comments on: Let’s rank American Idol’s Top 12 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/justin/2008/03/11/lets-rank-american-idols-top-12/ All things television with columnist Neal Justin, the Star Tribune's answer to Mr. Roarke. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:18:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Ray http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/justin/2008/03/11/lets-rank-american-idols-top-12/#comment-444 Ray Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:56:40 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/justin/2008/03/11/lets-rank-american-idols-top-12/#comment-444 My list, for what it's worth: 1. David Archuleta 2. David Cook 3. Brooke White 4. David Hernandez 5. Carly Smithson 6. Michael Johns 7. Jason Castro 8. Chikeze 9. Ramiele Malubay 10. Sayesha Mercado 11. Kristi Lee Cook 12. Amanda Overmyer Jason Castro may or may not have a lot of potential, but right now he is hit or miss. I don't think that he really knows who he is or really knows music that well. He does what he does, but does not seem to know why it does or does not work and how it all fits together musically. While David Archuleta is young and needs to mature, yet he has shown clearly his natural talent. David Cook and Brooke White have shown their talent and musicianship. They are the real deal too. They have the whole package, just different packages. David Hernandez, Carly Smithson, and Michael Johns: The two guys seem to me to be a bit contrived. Carly has the pipes and the ability to belt out very fine interpretations of the songs, but does not have a solid stage presence. I like her personality and would even like to see her win, but she does not know really where she fits and I think that this comes across. Being a chameleon is fine from album to album, if one is making clear artistic choices, but these three, as talented as they are, would, I think, need a LOT of help coming up with songs to fill an album. I think that they do not know what their styles are. Michael Johns, I have trouble remembering from week to week. And, Hernandez, I remember because there is something about him that is not right, like in the movies where the music cues you off that something is not right and something bad is lurking just under the surface. Kristi Lee Cook is a sweet kid, but forgettable in so many ways. I can't help but root for Chikeze, but I just have a hard time relating to his musical style (same with Ramiele Malubay and Sayesha Mercado). I can appreciate the style, just not my cup of tea. So, I am probably not the best to evaluate them. Ramiele Malubay and Sayesha Mercado, again I don't think that they know who they are musically and possibly personally and it shows when they make song choices and perform. It is a performance and lacks the conviction that some of those I have ranked higher have. Overmyer, I have commented on in another post. No depth. My list, for what it’s worth:

1. David Archuleta
2. David Cook
3. Brooke White
4. David Hernandez
5. Carly Smithson
6. Michael Johns
7. Jason Castro
8. Chikeze
9. Ramiele Malubay
10. Sayesha Mercado
11. Kristi Lee Cook
12. Amanda Overmyer

Jason Castro may or may not have a lot of potential, but right now he is hit or miss. I don’t think that he really knows who he is or really knows music that well. He does what he does, but does not seem to know why it does or does not work and how it all fits together musically. While David Archuleta is young and needs to mature, yet he has shown clearly his natural talent.

David Cook and Brooke White have shown their talent and musicianship. They are the real deal too. They have the whole package, just different packages.

David Hernandez, Carly Smithson, and Michael Johns: The two guys seem to me to be a bit contrived. Carly has the pipes and the ability to belt out very fine interpretations of the songs, but does not have a solid stage presence. I like her personality and would even like to see her win, but she does not know really where she fits and I think that this comes across. Being a chameleon is fine from album to album, if one is making clear artistic choices, but these three, as talented as they are, would, I think, need a LOT of help coming up with songs to fill an album. I think that they do not know what their styles are. Michael Johns, I have trouble remembering from week to week. And, Hernandez, I remember because there is something about him that is not right, like in the movies where the music cues you off that something is not right and something bad is lurking just under the surface.

Kristi Lee Cook is a sweet kid, but forgettable in so many ways. I can’t help but root for Chikeze, but I just have a hard time relating to his musical style (same with Ramiele Malubay and Sayesha Mercado). I can appreciate the style, just not my cup of tea. So, I am probably not the best to evaluate them.

Ramiele Malubay and Sayesha Mercado, again I don’t think that they know who they are musically and possibly personally and it shows when they make song choices and perform. It is a performance and lacks the conviction that some of those I have ranked higher have.

Overmyer, I have commented on in another post. No depth.

]]> By: Ray http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/justin/2008/03/11/lets-rank-american-idols-top-12/#comment-442 Ray Wed, 12 Mar 2008 17:02:48 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/justin/2008/03/11/lets-rank-american-idols-top-12/#comment-442 Amanda Overmyer showed me a couple of weeks ago that she is not a very good musician. The song that she sang was not just "pitch-y," but she flat out missed notes - A LOT OF THEM. And, she seemed to me not to even realize it. Yes, harder rock at times flaunts convention note choices, but the notes that she hit were just plain wrong. There is a difference. So, I think that Amanda Overmyer has learned to sing a particular style more by repetitious rote, than by really learning music. They talk about song choice for a particular singer and this is good and valid, but it would seem to me that the song choices for her are REALLY narrow. This then, makes her a one trick pony. This is unfortunate because she is a bit of fresh air to the competition in a way. Amanda Overmyer showed me a couple of weeks ago that she is not a very good musician. The song that she sang was not just “pitch-y,” but she flat out missed notes - A LOT OF THEM. And, she seemed to me not to even realize it. Yes, harder rock at times flaunts convention note choices, but the notes that she hit were just plain wrong. There is a difference.

So, I think that Amanda Overmyer has learned to sing a particular style more by repetitious rote, than by really learning music. They talk about song choice for a particular singer and this is good and valid, but it would seem to me that the song choices for her are REALLY narrow. This then, makes her a one trick pony. This is unfortunate because she is a bit of fresh air to the competition in a way.

]]> By: sue http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/justin/2008/03/11/lets-rank-american-idols-top-12/#comment-439 sue Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:22:39 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/justin/2008/03/11/lets-rank-american-idols-top-12/#comment-439 They all are good in their own way. But I agree about Carly, she is great, but she has had her chance. I am sure she will get another, but she does not deserve to win the competition. Michael Johns is good also, and I am sure he will get something out of this. I like David A & David H, all the Davids are good. The girls, Brooke, and Ramiele. She has such a powerful voice for someone her size. They all are good in their own way. But I agree about Carly, she is great, but she has had her chance. I am sure she will get another, but she does not deserve to win the competition. Michael Johns is good also, and I am sure he will get something out of this. I like David A & David H, all the Davids are good. The girls, Brooke, and Ramiele. She has such a powerful voice for someone her size.

]]> By: Sandi http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/justin/2008/03/11/lets-rank-american-idols-top-12/#comment-438 Sandi Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:03:13 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/justin/2008/03/11/lets-rank-american-idols-top-12/#comment-438 I'm 60 years old and love Amanda. I can't wait to see what she does tonight! I’m 60 years old and love Amanda. I can’t wait to see what she does tonight!

]]> By: Penn http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/justin/2008/03/11/lets-rank-american-idols-top-12/#comment-437 Penn Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:38:07 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/justin/2008/03/11/lets-rank-american-idols-top-12/#comment-437 Will Neal Justin be a guest blogger for Technobabble? That would be so kewl. Will Neal Justin be a guest blogger for Technobabble? That would be so kewl.

]]> By: Kurt http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/justin/2008/03/11/lets-rank-american-idols-top-12/#comment-436 Kurt Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:28:29 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/justin/2008/03/11/lets-rank-american-idols-top-12/#comment-436 Life - Get one. Life - Get one.

]]> By: Night Thief http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/justin/2008/03/11/lets-rank-american-idols-top-12/#comment-435 Night Thief Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:16:00 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/justin/2008/03/11/lets-rank-american-idols-top-12/#comment-435 WLECOME TO THE TECHNOSCRABBLE SPECIALIST GUEST BLOGER. IAGREE WITH THE LSIT XCEPT FOR THE TALANT FORM DOWN UNDER, ASLO BROOKEWHITE IS WINNER AND WHO CARES RAMILIE ADN ANANDMA OVERRIGHT. ASLO - #! SHOW WHO CARE WLECOME TO THE TECHNOSCRABBLE SPECIALIST GUEST BLOGER. IAGREE WITH THE LSIT XCEPT FOR THE TALANT FORM DOWN UNDER, ASLO BROOKEWHITE IS WINNER AND WHO CARES RAMILIE ADN ANANDMA OVERRIGHT. ASLO - #! SHOW WHO CARE

]]> By: Chris http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/justin/2008/03/11/lets-rank-american-idols-top-12/#comment-434 Chris Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:14:53 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/justin/2008/03/11/lets-rank-american-idols-top-12/#comment-434 The above rankings are okay, but the song choices are bizarre. "Come and Get it" is one of the worst Paul songs ever written. Why else would Badfinger receive it? Giving "Yesterday" to Chikezie would be suicide. Simon would skewer him on the schmaltz factor. "A Day in the Life" and "Magical Mystery Tour" are just not singable for this competition and would spell doom for Kristy and David Cook (future hook up?). Of all the L-Mac songs how can you forget "Help!" and "She came in through the Bathroom Window". Either of these choices would suit all of them better. The above rankings are okay, but the song choices are bizarre. “Come and Get it” is one of the worst Paul songs ever written. Why else would Badfinger receive it? Giving “Yesterday” to Chikezie would be suicide. Simon would skewer him on the schmaltz factor. “A Day in the Life” and “Magical Mystery Tour” are just not singable for this competition and would spell doom for Kristy and David Cook (future hook up?). Of all the L-Mac songs how can you forget “Help!” and “She came in through the Bathroom Window”. Either of these choices would suit all of them better.

]]> By: Randy Salas http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/justin/2008/03/11/lets-rank-american-idols-top-12/#comment-433 Randy Salas Tue, 11 Mar 2008 20:37:23 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/justin/2008/03/11/lets-rank-american-idols-top-12/#comment-433 My co-worker Lynn Underwood just emailed me to say: "hey -- michael johns doesn't look 40!!! he's a sexy tall drink of water and can sing too -- so i think he'll go pretty far...." Ha! And, hey, as far as the people posting "who cares?" comments: We're talking about the No. 1 TV show on a TV blog. If you don't care, surely you have something better to do with your time. My co-worker Lynn Underwood just emailed me to say: “hey — michael johns doesn’t look 40!!! he’s a sexy tall drink of water and can sing too — so i think he’ll go pretty far….”

Ha!

And, hey, as far as the people posting “who cares?” comments: We’re talking about the No. 1 TV show on a TV blog. If you don’t care, surely you have something better to do with your time.

]]> By: Elmer http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/justin/2008/03/11/lets-rank-american-idols-top-12/#comment-432 Elmer Tue, 11 Mar 2008 20:19:33 +0000 http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/justin/2008/03/11/lets-rank-american-idols-top-12/#comment-432 I agree. Who cares? Please stop talking about this crap. I agree. Who cares? Please stop talking about this crap.

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