This season of American Idol is completely lacking. That is actually not an opinion, but a fact. Ratings are down. The judges are more annoying and serve less of a purpose than ever. It's like all the changes that have been made from last season to this season have failed...miserably.
Before the season ever started, Ken Warwick said in a press conference that this season of Idol would be the best because it would feature more of the contestants' personalities and back stories. Well, with the exception of one or two, I don't know anything about the contestants' lives before Idol. And now more than ever, it seems like when the contestants are interviewed by Ryan Seacrest, they are giving rehearsed, scripted answers. There are less smiles and laughs among the Idols this season, and that alarms me....The show should be all in good fun...it's not a singer's boot camp. From the horrible choices made in the Wild Card round, to the ludicrous "judes' save" rule, to the lip-synched group numbers, it's like everything on American Idol is turning from an exciting reality competition, to a staged, fixed contest in which America gets to make the decision....as long as it's the decision the producers want....And I can't figure out why they're trying so hard to make sure they get the people they want...David Cook is doing fine for himself. It's not like last season was some complete failure. I just don't get it. I'm really afraid that Season 7 was the pinnacle of American Idol's success and it's all downhill from there....let's hope not.
I have always believed that Ryan Seacrest is the fuel behind American Idol. But even Ryan's presentation seems lackluster this season. It's like nobody's heart is in it.
And the judges?! I never in my wildest dreams thought I would see the day when Paula Abdul was the coherent one with the most to say on the judges' panel. It's tragic, really. I don't know if they're aware of it or not, but the judges are making the show less and less credible and more and more like a circus. From Randy's constant "for me, for you's" to his "listen baby, it was just aight". Simon is less invested in the show than he ever has been before. It's like he's more hungry for camera time than he is interested in offering up constructive criticism to anyone....All he does is badger Paula the whole time the cameras are off him...and the whole time they're on him, he's trying to say the most shocking thing he can think of...he has Adam Lambert syndrome (more on that later). And don't even get me started on Kara DioGuardi. She is constantly making blunders...and the kid in the audience this week was right...she is a broken record. All we ever hear from her is "commercial", "artistry", "I really like you, but..."...and then she'll break out into song lest anyone forget that she is actually a singer in addition to her judging abilities. Paula has had her moments of drunken rambling this season, but on the whole, she has been the one to offer the words of wisdom and sage advice to the contestants this year. I had to go back and re-read that sentence because I never thought I would see the day when I praised Paula Abdul.
I started out this season really loathing Danny Gokey. But, to his credit, he has now worked his way up to my second least favorite person. I have to admit, I've been pleased that he hasn't mentioned that he's a widower since the Top 13 started (that I can remember). But there's still something about him I don't like. He just seems pretentious to me. I think his vocals are overrated. He's a good singer, but his performances are always laced with pitch problems. He gets over-zealous while he's singing...I don't think he has a toned down side. I'd like to see a performance where he sings softly and with emotion...but what we get every week is a song with a plain verse that turns into a big, belting chorus where he can pound on his chest and raise his hands in the air.
And if I see that stupid crotch dance of his one more time, I'm going to have to throw a remote control! But my annoyance at Danny and his "funny" dance moves pales in comparison to what I feel for Adam "Drama Queen" Lambert...
Adam is so fake it makes my skin crawl. I was initially impressed by his Bohemian Rhapsody audition, and really, all the way up through his Michael Jackson Week performance of Black and White. After that, though, he lost me. People are describing Adam as some kind of great musical innovator. I am sorry, but Adam is no genius. He operates only on shock and awe...mixed with high dosages of shrieking. His rendition of Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire was insulting and vulgar, not to mention a rip off from Jeff Buckley. And since then all of his performances have been the same way. It's like he's less concerned with actually singing well, and more concerned with what kind of surprising song choice he can make. But as far as real musicianship goes? It's just not there. Has anyone ever seen an instrument in Adam's hands? Has anyone ever heard him challenge himself by singing from the lower register of his voice? He is no Steven Tyler...and he is definitely no Freddie Mercury. He skates by every week because he has emo hair with blue streaks in it, paints his nails black and wears eyeliner, and tries to "stun" America by picking a song that they would never expect him to sing. He's a decent singer, don't get me wrong...but he certainly has gotten more credit than he is due. I wonder if everyone would be so impressed by Adam's song choices if he looked more like...say, Ricky Braddy from the earlier rounds.
Probably not...Adam has it figured out: if he looks like a rock star, then sings something a rock star wouldn't sing, America will be impressed and inspired to vote for him. His rendition of "Tracks of my Tears" really wasn't anything different than the original, except for the acoustic guitar...which Adam didn't even play. And he needs to get rid of his "Twilight" hair...STAT!
My favorite(s) have recently changed. I really like Matt Giraud. Yes, he's had a couple of bad performances, but I feel like he's generally a talented musician. He brings something American Idol hasn't seen much of before, and it's refreshing. I just hope he can truly figure out what works for him as an artist, because it seems like when he tries to sing anything contemporary, he has trouble. His rendition of The Fray's "You Found Me" was not pretty. But I'm confident he can pull through. And I really don't get the whole Justin Timberlake comparison...musically, they're nothing alike, and Matt doesn't have the confidence (or cockiness) to pull of a Timberlake swagger.
I really like Allison, and I felt for her when she did great with that No Doubt song this week and all the judges could critique was her outfit, which incidentally, wasn't that bad. Allison needs to work on her enunciation, though, because I can never understand her lyrics when she sings. And I've seen little tinges of attitude here and there from her...she was pretty disrespectful and defiant during Megan's elimination episode. Don't know if I like that...
I, like a lot of you have mentioned, am really starting to recognize the wonder that is Kris Allen. He has sort of been a quiet force since the beginning of the show, and I think he really deserves to win...I don't know about the heartthrob thing, because I think he has more of an Archuleta "squeeze your head off and hang it from my rearview mirror" quality about him than a Michael Johns sex appeal, but I really like the unassuming grace he has carried throughout the competition. I wish I would have noticed him sooner....I'm even learning to tolerate the side-mouth singing.
I'm really glad you all are participating in this contest...I always enjoy doing things like this. It makes the show more fun, and you all reading the blog every week gives me a chance to work on my writing. So I appreciate your participation...and I think I'm going to have to have a big American Idol finale party this year. I think the finale is scheduled for some time around the 20th of May, according to my calculations (I just pushed the glasses up on the bridge of my nose when I typed that). So plan a break in your schedule to come and join us...and I think everyone who participates in the Idol Pool will get a prize! But the Grand Prize will be worth it.
And yes, Aunt Sharon, you might find some extra points coming your way....I never said I was above bribery.
No comments:
Post a Comment