It must have been cold there in David Archuleta's shadow

[jlh]

I know I was never really on the Michael train, but I liked him well enough, and I sympathize with all of you who are disappointed tonight. I was very surprised that Carly and Syesha survived, as they both somewhat flubbed this week. I hope that Carly works her shit out after this.

amyamy gets the cookie, as she's the only one who saw that one coming.

The one thing I will say is that while I know that it's difficult, this middle bit is where strange eliminations happen and where the singer-who-should-not-be-there mysteriously remains, frustrating all. If the top three is David, David and KLC, then I shall be angry. Until then, I'm just waiting for her to sing something from Jesus Christ Superstar and not get the skepticism. "But Jesus Christ IS a superstar! I can tell you what he's sacrificed!"

Oh, and the pimpmercial—I can't hear that song without thinking of Nate from Six Feet Under. Just like I can't hear Sia's "Breathe Me" without thinking of that show, either.

By the way, I know I'm biased, but all the results stuff is scripted and choreographed by Nigel, so your ire for that really mean "last year we didn't eliminate but this year we are" part should be saved for him. Ryan had that look of "sometimes I hate this job" and was in a somber mood all evening. For once I wish they'd had more shit to play because he had to fill WAY too much at the end.

Comments

[dreamerren.livejournal.com]

You always say what I want to say....but better :)

I wasn't exactly Michael's biggest fan, but I didn't think it was his time to go. A lot of factors played into it, and strange eliminations happen every year. (Which doesn't make it any easier for the fans.)

Here's to hoping things get back on track.

[lessthangreat.livejournal.com]

By the way, I know I'm biased, but all the results stuff is scripted and choreographed by Nigel, so your ire for that really mean "last year we didn't eliminate but this year we are" part should be saved for him.
Thank you. It makes me sad and more than a little angry to see people's anger about Michael's elimination being thrown at Ryan. Ryan is not heartless; he is a genuinely good guy. Everybody's calling him an asshole like he comes up with all the results stuff by himself all the time. Please.

♥

[eilujspark.livejournal.com]

What makes me laugh is that there wouldn't be this outrage if KLC got booted.

Whatever. It's not like it was that big of a deal IMO. He was going home...I think he knew he was going home....bleh.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I mean, Nigel often calls the radio show and says, haha, I'm going to make you do things tonight and Ryan's like, aww, man. I doubt he runs around protesting, but he clearly does feel for these kids and gets sad—look at that shout out to Rami on Tuesday, or how he handled her getting voted off last week.

♥

[zorb]

Since the NBC shows are back tonight, I spoiled myself intentionally, and now I'm glad I can avoid watching. Man, what a bummer! Gone before his time.

[amyamy.livejournal.com]

Yay, cookies!

Really couldn't say why I thought it was him, but seriously, he finished his performance and I went 'well, so much for him'. Which was sad, cause I was on the bandwagon. Also, I think that must have been the hardest song to sing out on. I mean, "'Dream until your dreams come true' except for me, cause mine just ended. -sadface-"

[jlh.livejournal.com]

"The Show Must Go On" would have been just as bad, in a way; that's what I was expecting. But alas, poor Michael. At least he has the tour.

[amyamy.livejournal.com]

See, but at least the message of "The Show Must Go On" is that even when you want to cry you keep going, so it would have fit, even if it had been rough.

So, what's the story with the tour?

[jlh.livejournal.com]

The tour runs all summer, like a 40 or so city tour, and is the top ten, so the finalists except Amanda and David H. No matter how they place, the rest are on the tour; the winner and to a lesser extent the runner-up get longer showcases, but they all get their moment. Sometimes they do things in combinations, and last year because they were all so genuinely close they did a lot of things together.

[lillijulianne.livejournal.com]

bad as i felt for him, and much as i wish it had been kristy, i was sort of amused by the singout in that it was really a perfect fit, being that the song does not mean what he thinks it means...

[ziggy1278.livejournal.com]

I restate that Michael is a tard for never, not even at the very very end, understanding that "bad song choice" does not mean that the song is bad, or that he is bad for liking the song, but that he would have sounded better if he picked a different one. I honestly believe he could have won the competition. He had the look and the pipes - but his brain was small... or stubborn... or small and stubborn. I'm glad he's gone, and I think it was clear that there will always be a place for him at Dollywood.

Also I don't get all the KLC hate. More and more I appreciate her. More and more I realize that she is a true pop star in the "i will be whatever you want me to be" sense. Chick is frickin' shrewd. And not bad looking. And not a bad singer. She beats Britney on just about every front... so... from a marketing standpoint, why not KLC?

In fact, as soon as she gets voted off she just needs to adopt a bad girl "fuck it" attitude and pose for playboy and put out a couple solid singles (that somebody else will write) and she'll be a star for sure. Little extra eye liner and she can be the anti-Carrie. I dig it.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Winning the competition, and for that matter, making a living as a singer if you aren't a songwriter, is all about song choice, so yeah, deeply problematic for Michael who didn't seem to understand what he would sound good singing. A fatal flaw.

Ah, Ziggy, but you forget, lustful men do not a leggy blonde pop star make. They might buy the Playboy, but they probably won't buy the CD. No, Britneys and Xtinas and Fergies are built on a fanbase of preteen girls who want to be just like them and think they're really great and fun. It's a weird line, that of appealing to men without looking like that's all you're doing—girls hate that; they know those girls and they hate hate hate them, and boys are always like, why do all you girls hate that other girl, and then the girls are like, woe, why do you like her when she's so awful? It's a visceral reaction.

Kady, the semifinalist who didn't seem to know who she was and had that great Britney impersonation was a better bet for having this appeal, as is Jordin from last year. And Britney has always been more of a dancer who can sing; Xtina was the singer in that bunch.

I don't care for KLC because she's obnoxious to Simon and I always hate that; it makes you look like an idiot. I don't like her voice much and she's certainly had atrocious weeks at the start of the show. And, which is only somewhat unfair, I just don't like everything she stands for, the canny manipulation of people who voted for Bush twice and go to megachurches and listen to country when they're not listening to Christian rock and feel that the only other person they can vote for is small David. If she were really willing to be anything-you-want, she'd be playing up to Simon, rather than away from him (not unlike Carly).

I also hate it when people manipulate Idol or pander to their voters, ridiculous as that sounds. It's why I hated Taylor. Taylor was a good singer and could have pushed himself, but he decided that wasn't where the votes were and kept playing to his fan base with the ridiculous dancing and screaming "Soul Patrol" (his fan club) every time Ryan tried to talk to him.

[lillijulianne.livejournal.com]

And, which is only somewhat unfair, I just don't like everything she stands for, the canny manipulation of people who voted for Bush twice and go to megachurches and listen to country when they're not listening to Christian rock and feel that the only other person they can vote for is small David. If she were really willing to be anything-you-want, she'd be playing up to Simon, rather than away from him (not unlike Carly).

yeah, on top of everything i've started to feel that her bitchiness toward simon is a sop to those people, too. they hate europeans and snobs and limousine liberals and simon is certainly the first and no doubt strikes them as the rest as well, whatever the truth is.

[ziggy1278.livejournal.com]

Good point about the lustful men. All good points actually.

They allll talk back to the judges and it is annoying as hell. I now find all of the contestants annoying and retarded except David Cook - which is an odd turn. I think I'm not cut out for this show.

I maintain that there is nothing wrong with knowing, and playing to, your audience - shamelessly or otherwise. I suggest that you actually hate America for keeping her safe, not KLC for pandering to them. I love her for this. I believe there is no depth to which she will not sink, and it's awesome to watch.


Answer me these questions please:

Why can't more girls put together a sentence like you can? So hot.

Are we liking Fergie now? Because I think I might kindof like her. Before I just thought her name was stupid. Singing with Hart was cool. Those cartwheel things were cool. Is she smart? I'll have to google her.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Thank you, sweetie. ♥

I maintain that there is nothing wrong with knowing, and playing to, your audience - shamelessly or otherwise. I suggest that you actually hate America for keeping her safe, not KLC for pandering to them. I love her for this. I believe there is no depth to which she will not sink, and it's awesome to watch.

Ah, but the problem is, it's the wrong audience. Unless she does a Christian rock album, which hey, she might, those people aren't going to buy her CD—that was the fatal flaw in Taylor's plan. He got all those people to vote for him, sure, but none of them bought his record because they already owned all the Jimmy Buffet they personally need. If she wants to be a pop star, she should be pandering to Simon, because he can make her one. And he can recognize a country star when he sees one, too, as he was all over Carrie. Randy said on Larry King the other night that he'd sign KLC, while Simon said he wouldn't, and the way Randy put it was very "she's good for one single maybe." Which surprised me from him.

What do you find annoying and retarded about small David and Brooke? The rest, I can guess, but both of them seem to just take in the crit and at least not argue with it. But you used to like Brooke a lot. I did find Cook's "he thinks I'm arrogant all the time, what are you going to do" thing to be the right stance, where he is aware of it and takes it in but isn't sure what to do about it because he can't see it in himself.

I don't know why you aren't meeting girls that can write. I will try to put out a pulse of psychic energy that brings those girls toward you, if you can put out a pulse that puts your finding it hot into someone that is closer in age and geography and also actually wants a romantic relationship.

You know, I think we are liking Fergie now. I don't like Black Eyed Peas not because they suck but because they're kind of full of themselves, especially Will.i.am, and she was just "scantily clad white girl singer." Her solo stuff is perfectly fine pop with some nice tongue-in-cheek moments. None of that prepared me for her ability to be awesome with Ann Wilson or to sing while turning a one-handed cartwheel. Before she was famous she was a big methhead but she kicked that. She's close to her mother. She's engaged to Josh Duhamel who seems to have a good head on his shoulders. Every time I've heard an interview with her she's been well-spoken. I don't like her whole black eyeshadow-nude lipstick makeup thing because I think she could look prettier.

[annearchy.livejournal.com]

I was disappointed last night. I keep hoping KLC will get voted off, but Michael was a real surprise to me. I guess I thought he had a fanbase, but maybe not. The studio audience and even the judges seemed shocked - even Simon had a WTF expression.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

If Kellie Pickler is any example, KLC will not get voted off until either she actually seriously sucks two weeks in a row, or the people left are just that much better than her that it's time for her to go, which would be like, just before top four probably. I can't see her going out before D.Cook or Brooke, or certainly small David, but Syesha is soon to go, and Carly has been fucking up lately, so she could easily outlast the two of them. Jason, it's a tossup because he has a huge fanbase, so it's more about whether he keeps choosing wisely. But if KLC finally runs into a theme she can't get around, like Andrew Lloyd Webber, she might be out sooner.

[annearchy.livejournal.com]

I'm still a bit surprised that Syesha (whom I like a lot more than KLC) keeps getting by on her attempts at divadom. I'm still on the D.Cook bandwagon even though he screwed up plenty this week in his song selection. IMO he's the most versatile singer. I wish there was an all-out rock week because small David and Jason couldn't hack that :P

[eilujspark.livejournal.com]

BTW, you are right about Nigel being to blame:

http://ryan.kiisfm.com/cc-common/mediaplayer/player.html?redir=yes&mps=kiisfm.php&mid=http://a1135.g.akamai.net/f/1135/18227/1h/cchannel.download.akamai.com/18227/podcast/LOSANGELES-CA/KIIS-FM/nigelthgoe041108.mp3?CPROG=PCAST&CPROG=RICHMEDIA&MARKET=LOSANGELES-CA&NG_FORMAT=personality&NG_ID=RYAN1027IP&OR_NEWSFORMAT=&OWNER=&SERVER_NAME=ryan.kiisfm.com&SITE_ID=3108&STATION_ID=RYAN-IP&TRACK=