Idolwatch: On a Steel Horse I Ride

Dear James,
good analyses. What ruined the entire night, however, was the appearance of Dubya and Laura thanking viewers for the $70 million, as if somehow they had anything to do with the viewers generostiy. Bush's incompetence and cruelty are responsible for much of the poverty and suffering in the world that "Idol Gives Back," was intended to alleviate. What a cheap political trick, worthy of Karl Rove and Fox News, who were probably behind it.
Larry Reynolds

Larry, it also occurred to me that, if GWB's approval ratings weren't in the 20s or 30s or wherever they presently are, they might have had him tape a message for the show in which they were *raising* the money, rather than after the fact.

Wow, James. What has made you so bitter in life? Is the cup always half empty to you? Everyone is entitled to their opinion (fortunately, the recipient determines whether or not it has any value), but the sooner you join reality the better. I am a Bon Jovi fan, but even if I wasn't it would occur to me that after 120,000,000 albums sold they're worthy of some credit. Does it bother you that his writing skills are better than yours? Comparing Poison and Bon Jovi is rather interesting considering they have nothing in common. Since the Slippery When Wet album is what brought Bon Jovi their initial success and Livin' on a Prayer was on that album......I'm pretty sure he wan't a millionaire when he wrote that. Think before you type, James.

Getting back to THE CONTESTANTS....

Blake was brilliant - he checked in with the voice, the entertainment factor and a great production effort - a great combo for success in the music industry. No nerves for Blake - what you saw last night was what you get w/Blake - bravo to him and I'll be downloading that tune from the AI website later today...

Lakiesha - never a fan of hers. While she may have sung the song well, to me, I felt like it was a cop out - make a rock night "fit" her style instead of fitting herself into "rock" - I felt like she scored with "beating the system" and doing the same genre we've seen most every week.

If Phil leaves, he'll leave on a high note and good for him - he seems like one happy camper and will go out with a smile on his face.

And yes, Melinda cracked me up with her pseudo rock signs - she may not be a rocker but she rocked it up very well for her 5 minutes.

Bet it was killing Gina who was in the audience that she wasn't on stage for rock night...

I predict that Phil and Chris are gone...

Hey Poniewozik,
what are you a communist? Here's the rule. If you have a minimum of 2 beers in you and are in a social setting i.e bar/party/BBQ and don't belt out the words to JBJ Living on a Prayer as it plays...We pull your American card okay. You don't get to watch baseball or eat apple pie or marry the girl next door. Either get with program or move to Europe. Talkin Smack about Bon Jovi...I bet you drink Lattes instead of coffee too.

Go Blake! An excellent, gutsy performance that blew everyone else away. There is nobody else like Blake in this competition - who is that original and creative, who understands the way music works well enough to change up great songs into something new, and who could expand the targeted demographic of idol music - I would buy a Blake CD, and have never ever bought a CD by an American Idol (no offense to them, just not my kind of music usually). Blake is the only ARTIST on the show. If Blake wins, I have faith in him to keep his artistic integrity in the face of the massive corporate pressure to homogenize himself. Yay Blake!

Mike, HEV, etc.:

Actually, as a transplanted Michigander, I'm just bitter that Idol has never done a Bob Seger night. I so want to hear Blake sing "K-k-k-k-k-k-katmandu!"

Mrs. Tuned In is from New Jersey, and as you can imagine this is a great source of strain in our marriage.

Hey James,

As a longtime Bon Jovi fan, I was really insulted at the comparison with Poison. It just goes to show that you know nothing about rock music. While the music of Bon Jovi might not reach the political/social artistic commentary of a band like U2, it's impact on rock culture and longevity at least puts it in the same league as Aerosmith. One of the things I really like about Bon Jovi is that their music has grown and changed as they've grown and changed, as many of their fans have grown and changed as well. It's part of the soundtrack of my generation, and if J-Lo can make the Idol cut, then there should be no argument about Bon Jovi!

Jeez, the lefties can't even let a quick snippet of Bush commenting on a freakin' charity show go by without trying to bash him. Get a life, losers.

As for Bon Jovi, his songs usually have an overblown background hyping sophmoric lyrics presented by a singer who certainly had a lot in common with Poison in the 80's. Just watch the old videos. The most amazing thing about Bon Jovi is how someone sells 120M records and has so few decent songs.

The remaining 'talent' is limited to Melinda, Jordin, and Blake. Melinda should win and Blake should have a career as an arranger or producer. Jordin will mature and have a career (albeit probably not very big). The others are a forgettable yeller, a redneck nasaly whiner, and someone who just gets increasingly irritating each week.

Finally, why Idol insists on doing these specific artist shows is beyond me because they really suck. Diana Ross? Ewww. J-Lo? Boorrringg. Bon Jovi? Weak. Thank goodness for DVR!

Melinda's "worst" performance is still light years ahead of anyone else's "best" on the show. If she doesn't win it will be a tragedy. Phil and Lakisha were great last night too. Jordin's performance and hairdo last night was reminiscent of Sanjaya! Chris is awful and should go. I know some loved Blake's originality, but I thought it smacked of self-indulgence and was a gimmicky way to mask lack of singing ability. At least he was in key though.

Seeing the president was reminiscent of that awful American Idol parody movie "American Dreamz" where the president appears on the show to give himself more street cred. Yuck.

I just found this review by Mr. Poniewozik and I have to say, it, well, I find his writing, his take on the show and the contestants rather awful. Plainly put, his style and review SUCK raw eggs! Some like that, some do not. I'll go back over to Entertainment Weekly where they at least have people doing the recaps who LIKE the show. This guy seems like he has a HATRED for the anything Idol.
And what the heck is all the Bon Jovi bashing? Dude they ROCKED in their day and the guy and his band are STILL around?
We will check back on you and your career in another 20 years and see what you are doing!
Later!

Oh and we "lefties" (PROUD OF IT BTW) can't let a chance go by w/o bashing Bush because there is just TOO Much to bash!
It's a free country, remember? That's why I and everyone else have the RIGHT to bash him, he works for ME, for You and for every American!

GORE IS MY PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

James, why the racist comment in your review?

"Chris' collision with this song combines the worst of late-'80s hair-band rock with the worst of 21st-century white-boy soul."

Why is skin oolor relevant? According to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr:
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

So, instead you make stereotypical racial comments based on skin color.

Racism works in two directions.

Let's stop making race relevant and simply judge people based on their skill and their character.

I second everything Mike said. You don't need to infuse your apparent hatred for Bon Jovi. Keep the focus on the performances.

The reviewers comments are awfully heavy on the Bon Jovi bashing. While the music might not suit his refined aural taste, you can't deny the fact that Jon and the boys are an American original and as such, a perfect fit for mentoring future American Idols. Plus, from everything I've seen and read Jon Bon Jovi is a genuinely decent human being; humble in his success, expansively philanthropic and a dedicated husband and father. Lighten up, James.

That's why James is right. Bon Jovi are American originals. Jon seems like a perfectly nice guy whose heart has always been in the right place.

Having said all that, it is their originality that makes having a BJ night perfectly ludicrous. It was just as bad last season when they had a Queen night, devoted to the music of a much superior band.

I don't know why they don't just stick with "movie theme" night, songs of a particular decade, love song night, etc.

When we get around to Bon Jovi night, what is next, Aerosmith night? Fleetwood Mac night? Van Halen night?

Criminy, open it up and let them sing songs in a broad category, not force them to sing tunes and promote whoever is willing to show up and play mentor.

Having said all that, I would think it is between Jordin and Blake. Blake is invariably interesting in everything he does and reeks of star power.

Jordin has to have every high schooler in the country pulling for her.

Melinda is great but will lose out to Jordin. Kiki is first rate, but you can find two just like her in every Baptist church choir in the country, meaning she will go the way of Jennifer Hudson and make a great living on Broadway.

Phil "Cancer Boy" Stacey had a good run but it's time to go home. Chris has a fine future ahead of him as an Ethan Embry stunt double, which like Embry, means he will basically be unemployed.

How he has lasted this long is more of a curiosity than Sanjaya. Whoever thinks he resembles Timberlake in any way whatsoever, please send me what you are smoking.

personally, im not a huge JBV fan, but i dont mind listening to him when im stuck in traffic and need something mindless to sing. He has done great things for charity over the years, and has been a positive role-model....but lets be honest....

his songs have changed little over the years..and while his tune has changed as he has matured....i feel every song of his i hear on the radio could be the same song...over and over and over and over. he oviously has found the recipe for success, but that is NOT an indication of talet....as Sanjaya demonstrated so well.

last sentence above...TALENT, not telet.

These reader comments are really serious for an episode of American Idol with a Bon Jovi theme...

A review used to present an opportunity for the reader to be informed about the quality of a piece of work by a critic who had superior knowledge, training and writing skills, among other qualities. Not so in this case, nor in most of the previously esteemed print media. Besides overwhelming the audience with your unpopular personal take on JBJ, you weaken your writing with grade school errors such as "... how is anyone suppose [sic] to wring 'genuine' emotion out of this bogus anthem ...." Does going online have to mean sophomoric communication skills? No offense.

Hey CJ, what are you stupid? Gore is no one's president. The truth is much like idol this year, the choices are so bad we'll get stuck with the least of the awful (hence Bush defeat of Kerry). Jordin was terrible, Blake was a sideshow and not a singer, Chris MUST go, and the others were pretty good but none worthy of selling anything.

Wow, James, did the Swamplanders find you at last?

And, while Bon Jovi does indeed rock (and my sympathies to Mrs. Tuned In, I'm sure she'll have you seeing the light any day now) the show last night really kind of...didn't. Melinda wasn't bad, and Lakisha wasn't bad, and everyone else I hid under the couch and waited for the bad people to go away.

Gore was and is a loser...his movie was so filled with crap..listen in to Glen Beck tonight if you want to hear the other side of Global warming...BTW...how come the media doesn't mention that this was the coldest winter on record for the NOrth?

oH, ABOUT ai....I like them all but Chris,,...Phil has a pretty voice though..better sounding to my ears than the rest.

Hey, bon Jovi's music may or may suck, but the fact that he's still eye candy at his age has to stand for something!