Idol musings
I guess I?m one of those Johnny-come-lately types that is helping give American Idol its highest television ratings ever.
Until this season, I never really watched Idol except for bits and pieces during the early auditions when the no-talent wannabes made fools of themselves.
This year, however, I got hooked, and I think the reason is that the finalists are seriously talented entertainers. Each week, I am amazed at how poised and confident they are, how they can hold a tune and how polished they sound. A couple of the women are not hard to look at either.
That being said, it comes as a relief that the frontrunner in this cheesy contest is a rock singer as opposed to a Britney Spears knockoff or a pretty boy pop singer.
Chris Daughtry, a 26-year-old from McLeansville, North Carolina, has a powerful rock voice and a super cool stage presence. In the past two weeks, he has managed to turn songs by Stevie Wonder and Johnny Cash into powerful alternative rock tunes. Impressive stuff.
With a shaved head and modestly grungy clothes, Daughtry doesn?t look like he?s pretending to be a rocker. Instead, he seems to be the real deal. Although, being a contestant on an overly commercialized show like American Idol doesn?t seem to fit with rock?s tradition of being antiestablishment.
Then again, maybe his presence on Idol will inspire kids in America to rediscover the music that they have largely abandoned for Hip Hop and other so-called genres. Regardless, I?m no music expert, but I am a huge music fan and I?d gladly buy this guy?s CD if he had one out.
Currently, Daughtry is listed as a strong favorite to win the contest at +150.
His biggest competition is an attractive 21-year-old brunette from Los Angeles named Katharine McPhee. Like Daughtry, this girl has pipes and never seems to screw up.
While performing, this girl is so engaging and sexy it?s hard to take your eyes off her. I can?t for the life of me remember what songs she has sung, but I can tell you she sounds great.
Based on her high-quality performances, it comes as no surprise that McPhee has formal training in singing, acting and dancing. In fact, she has performed in a couple of stage musicals and had a role in a recent movie called ?Crazy?. She also inherited the performance gene from her mom who apparently was an L.A. cabaret singer and once appeared in a TV movie (?The Incredible Hulk Returns?).
McPhee has the second-best odds to win this season?s Idol at +300. It would not surprise me to see those odds drop in the coming weeks as more and more Americans fall in love with her.
Checking in at +450 is Taylor Hicks, a grey-haired 29-year-old from Birmingham, Alabama who looks like he?s in his 40s. Hicks is arguably the most unique of all the contestants. This dude has strange but intriguing body language while he sings and has been compared to Joe Cocker and Ray Charles (he cites Charles as his ?American Idol?).
With a raspy southern voice, every song Hicks has performed on Idol has been thoroughly entertaining. Like McPhee, it comes as no surprise that Hicks has plenty of experience performing in front of live audiences and has actually recorded a couple of albums, which can be found on ebay.
While this guy will no doubt have a successful music career after Idol, it?s hard to see him capturing the hearts of Americans, especially the hearts of millions of pre-teen girls who watch the show and actually pick up the phone to vote.
The remaining seven include:
Mandisa - 29-year-old from Antioch, Tennessee. Pretty face, strong pipes and a solid performer. Being overweight will likely be her downfall. +500
Kellie Pickler - 19-year-old blond bombshell from Albemarle, North Carolina. Seems to be limited in what she can sing. Comes across as a female version of Forrest Gump, although it could be an act. +700
Paris Bennett - 17-year-old from Fayetteville, Georgia. Has famous gospel-singing grandmother. Awesome voice and performer, but perhaps too young. +900
Ace Young - 25-year-old pretty boy from Denver. Girls love him, but he sings the type of music that makes most guys barf. +1000
Elliott Yamin - 27-year-old from Richmond, Virginia. White guy who can sing Motown. Probably doesn?t have the looks to be an American Idol. +1200
Lisa Tucker - Cute little 16-year-old from Anaheim. Great performer but probably needs more seasoning. +1200
Bucky Covington - 28-year-old from Rockingham, North Carolina. Likely has a future in country rock but will probably be the next one voted off. +4000
I guess I?m one of those Johnny-come-lately types that is helping give American Idol its highest television ratings ever.
Until this season, I never really watched Idol except for bits and pieces during the early auditions when the no-talent wannabes made fools of themselves.
This year, however, I got hooked, and I think the reason is that the finalists are seriously talented entertainers. Each week, I am amazed at how poised and confident they are, how they can hold a tune and how polished they sound. A couple of the women are not hard to look at either.
That being said, it comes as a relief that the frontrunner in this cheesy contest is a rock singer as opposed to a Britney Spears knockoff or a pretty boy pop singer.
Chris Daughtry, a 26-year-old from McLeansville, North Carolina, has a powerful rock voice and a super cool stage presence. In the past two weeks, he has managed to turn songs by Stevie Wonder and Johnny Cash into powerful alternative rock tunes. Impressive stuff.
With a shaved head and modestly grungy clothes, Daughtry doesn?t look like he?s pretending to be a rocker. Instead, he seems to be the real deal. Although, being a contestant on an overly commercialized show like American Idol doesn?t seem to fit with rock?s tradition of being antiestablishment.
Then again, maybe his presence on Idol will inspire kids in America to rediscover the music that they have largely abandoned for Hip Hop and other so-called genres. Regardless, I?m no music expert, but I am a huge music fan and I?d gladly buy this guy?s CD if he had one out.
Currently, Daughtry is listed as a strong favorite to win the contest at +150.
His biggest competition is an attractive 21-year-old brunette from Los Angeles named Katharine McPhee. Like Daughtry, this girl has pipes and never seems to screw up.
While performing, this girl is so engaging and sexy it?s hard to take your eyes off her. I can?t for the life of me remember what songs she has sung, but I can tell you she sounds great.
Based on her high-quality performances, it comes as no surprise that McPhee has formal training in singing, acting and dancing. In fact, she has performed in a couple of stage musicals and had a role in a recent movie called ?Crazy?. She also inherited the performance gene from her mom who apparently was an L.A. cabaret singer and once appeared in a TV movie (?The Incredible Hulk Returns?).
McPhee has the second-best odds to win this season?s Idol at +300. It would not surprise me to see those odds drop in the coming weeks as more and more Americans fall in love with her.
Checking in at +450 is Taylor Hicks, a grey-haired 29-year-old from Birmingham, Alabama who looks like he?s in his 40s. Hicks is arguably the most unique of all the contestants. This dude has strange but intriguing body language while he sings and has been compared to Joe Cocker and Ray Charles (he cites Charles as his ?American Idol?).
With a raspy southern voice, every song Hicks has performed on Idol has been thoroughly entertaining. Like McPhee, it comes as no surprise that Hicks has plenty of experience performing in front of live audiences and has actually recorded a couple of albums, which can be found on ebay.
While this guy will no doubt have a successful music career after Idol, it?s hard to see him capturing the hearts of Americans, especially the hearts of millions of pre-teen girls who watch the show and actually pick up the phone to vote.
The remaining seven include:
Mandisa - 29-year-old from Antioch, Tennessee. Pretty face, strong pipes and a solid performer. Being overweight will likely be her downfall. +500
Kellie Pickler - 19-year-old blond bombshell from Albemarle, North Carolina. Seems to be limited in what she can sing. Comes across as a female version of Forrest Gump, although it could be an act. +700
Paris Bennett - 17-year-old from Fayetteville, Georgia. Has famous gospel-singing grandmother. Awesome voice and performer, but perhaps too young. +900
Ace Young - 25-year-old pretty boy from Denver. Girls love him, but he sings the type of music that makes most guys barf. +1000
Elliott Yamin - 27-year-old from Richmond, Virginia. White guy who can sing Motown. Probably doesn?t have the looks to be an American Idol. +1200
Lisa Tucker - Cute little 16-year-old from Anaheim. Great performer but probably needs more seasoning. +1200
Bucky Covington - 28-year-old from Rockingham, North Carolina. Likely has a future in country rock but will probably be the next one voted off. +4000
