Idolwatch: A (Very) Little Bit Country

Well, James, I sincerely hope you are wrong about LaKisha going home. I disagree with you about Melinda; I feel she has been dynamite with the exception of Latin week...which was terrible for all of them. Last night, however, both Sanjaya and Chris were awful, awful, awful. Like fingernails down a blackboard. I didn't think LaKisha was awful at all, and I thought Phil was better than usual. I'm hoping the three gals end up as the top three, but I'm sure that's wishful thinking at this point. Now I'm attempting to figure out what "Life Anthems" as next week's theme could possibly be. Any thoughts?

"When the Stars Go Blue" is a song originally by Ryan Adams, an admitted huge fan of Morrissey. Once again, Blake pretends like he is singing his own "original" version while just copying someone else's.

Kiki does not deserve to go home. Neither do Melinda, Jordin, and Blake. Chris, Phil, and Sanjaya should be in the bottom three, and Chris or Sanjaya should go home. I think that Chris is really likable, but that his voice is not pleasant to listen to, imo. Sanjaya never should have made it to the top 24, and it is pretty cruel of America (whoever's fault it is) for continuing to keep him in the competition. He seems like a sweet kid and I wish people would stop being so hateful about him - that kind of scrutiny and constant negativity must be hurting him and his family. Anyway, my top 3 predictions continue to be Melinda, Jordin, and Blake, and I hope that Kiki rounds out the top 4. I think that Melinda/Jordin are the best flat-out singers, but I have been watching American Idol since Season 2 and Blake is the ONLY contestant that I have EVER seriously wanted to buy their CD. Blake would do the most innovative, creative work and I would trust him to "keep it real" and stand strong against the efforts of studio execs to mold him into something plastic and fake. Go Blake!

Is Idol this bad every year?

There is only one singer (Melinda) with any genuine talent. This week she took a crappy country song and a cliched country arrangement and completely and effortlessly transcended its limitations.)

Each week seems like a competition of the rest of the singers to determine who best personifies the concept of mediocrity -- and then there is Sanjaya.

Sanjaya is over. Maybe not this week, but next week for sure. When Paula Abdul stops trying to be sympathetic, and attacks Sanjaya, and Randy Jackson is applauding Simon at his most vicious, you know the producers realize that they've jumped the shark.

And I also predict that this will be the last of the stupid "theme" weeks. All they do is expose the glaring weaknesses in most of the performers, and the producers need to start showing their strengths to maintain any kind of suspense. (From what I've read, Idol's ratings are already down, and I'd bet that is because that other than Melinda there is no real talent to root for.)

Hi! Well its ok to say that Melinda, Jordin and Blake seem to be doing well BUT Sanjaya is not bad at all considering he has better stage presence than his other comepetitors. Talent not only includes singing but also stage presence... Go for it Sanjaya you can beat the odds. sheme on those racist...........

I, for one, like the theme weeks. It adds flavor to the competition. If everyone got to pick their own songs each week, we wouldn't have anything to talk about. They are forced to adapt and those that can't are one dimensional singers who end up getting voted off. I wouldn't watch it if every week the contestants could play it safe and choose their own songs.

Jamie,

I made this point last week and I'll make it again? Could Ozzy Osbourne go on stage and do a Merle Haggard song successfully. Could George Strait go out and do a Celine Dion song? All of these folks built huge careers doing the musical style that fit them and their voice. No one asked them to prove they could sing another style of music before they would sign them to a deal. I realize that AI is a contest and that the producers need an angle to keep people's interest. But what they put these folks thru t o prove themselves in no way reflects how pros in the business had to do it. Theme week and giving the singers a list of approved songs to pick from sucks. Let them do what they do best and let America vote on who does the best job with whatever it is they do. I actually think that would make for a much better show. As it is, it is too predictable. You know there will be a pop, country, disco, crooning, etc. theme week and that so and so will stink this week because his voice is suited to X style or Y style. Theme week is like asking a football player to do ballet.

I think Sanjaya is a disgrace to the American Idol show. He should have gone home long ago. There were alot better people that should have stayed. Why he is there... is why alot of us are not watching it now.

Go Home Sanjaya... Stay there!!!

Jamie.... there is nothing wrong with "theme weeks" per se. It would be interesting to watch a group of truly talented people working outside their comfort zones -- and to see who can do what Melinda did this week, and transcend the limitations of a genre (while remaining true to it) through the force of their own talent.

But watching a pack of mediocrities demonstrate their limitations week after week gets old.

Sanjaya is in a whole different competition, of course.... and if they ever do a spin-off "American Idol--The Next Liberace!" he's got my vote.

Phil and Chris is boring. LaKisha and Melinda are good, but forgettable when compared to great diva gospel singers. Sanjaya ain't that bad and with a little coaching could sell allot of albums. Jordin can be American Idol winner for good singing and Blake for some originally in style. I think Jordin can be groomed to be a major star. Sanjaya and Blake can be groomed to be pop stars.

I think I would be bored at a Melinda concert if I had to hear her all evening. She's a nice woman, but there's great predictable singing, and than there's good singing with originality and style. The she need to get and the later is more entertaining.

In fact, I would not want to watched any of the singers this season for a couple of hours. Maybe...Blake if he had allot of hot back-up singers in short skirts and some wacky techno videos.

Exactly - can you imagine buying an album (I'm showing my age) by anyone but Blake?

I could easily see buying a Melinda CD... good song selection and production will launch her into the stratosphere.

Last night showed Melinda's true potential -- she was relaxed, and just showed up and sang her butt off -- without showboating.

A lot of what Melinda lacks in terms of stagecraft can be taught -- more importantly last night showed that SHE can be taught -- that she has the tools to engage (rather than just amaze) an audience.

I think Sanjaya should have been gone along time ago. I am rather disappointed that Lakisha was in the bottom 2, she is my favorite for winning this year. I would love to see her win it, you go girl.

I really feel badly for Sanjaya. Although I do not normally watch American Idol, I constantly hear about him in my school and in every place where there is media. People are so cruel to him, booing him and insulting him, and I even heard a radio show play "Hallelujah" after he was kicked out of the show. In fact, I believe that even CNN did a segment about why he's still on.

He is just a kid. He's not an awful singer, just an undeveloped one. And he didn't ASK to be put at the top. America VOTED him there. I think that the next time people complain, they should think about what THEY did, and how THEY voted.

All of that aside, it's just a show. It's really not the end of the world if he stays. Get a grip on reality, and stop freaking out about something that will be long forgotten a year or two from now.