American Idol - Some real talent!

[RGA]

Yes I have been following American Idol - and I hate reality TV generally.

Basically this is a glorified Star Search and most of it is considered pop fluff - but I decided to watch this after a very large unattractive man named Ruben won last year - so i figured the people must be voting for reasonable talent over just looks.

This year the talent is insurmountably superior with two young African American women(can I just say Black these days or is it not PC). LaToya London and Fantasia have impressive pipes the latter reminding me of a Tina Turner/Macey Gray mix - only Fantasia has a much better voice...and I saw Tina live front row. Granted Tina was 60ish but still.

The others are ok and certainly good enough to put out a pop cd or two - but these two women could front any Jazz band in the country and make Ella or Billie feel proud.

Interestingly if anyone saw the episode where they all sang Gloria Estefan songs - my opinion of Gloria Estefan went WAY UP. All the singers had a lot of trouble with the fast beats and lyrics - I thought Gloria's music would be relatively easy and these Idol singers had more trouble with that than what audiophiles consider "Serious upper class more difficult" music -- when judging by this Estefan is far more difficult to sing than Big Band Jazz or everything else they've done.

regardless how the stupid voting public votes already getting ridof a few who should be there still - You will see Latoya and Fantasia with a CD - I hope they don't go for the pop bucks and go for the Jazz bucks - so that Jazz can become more popular - or Big Band etc.

If you have not heard em give em a go some time - try and see a couple of episodes because some nights they sing songs from horrible artists like Barry Manilow - and no one can pass that schlock off as decent...even Elton John didn't work.

[markw]

American Idol is vaudville at it's gaudiest. If you want to see and hear REAL talent, check out Nashville Star. These dudes (and dudettes) have more talent in their removed tonsils than any of the imposters on American Idol have. ...except William Hung. He's real.

[46minaudio]

. ...except William Hung. He's real.

Now that guy is gooooood!! Some of RGAs kin folk I think...

[Lord Nikon]

I dislike George Huff (African American male), simply because Pop is not his type of genre, and gospel is as he mentioned in the show. He also sounds like he has 2 q-tips shoved up his nose. His voice is very nasal. Now for Fantasia Barrino (one of the African American females). Her voice is god aweful. People are comparing her to Macy Gray, but it isn't even close. Fantasia's voice sounds like nails on a chalk board. I actually had to change the channel shortly in to her performance. Now for La Toya London, her voice is amazing and her performance has been good also. My top 3 pics are Jasmine, La Toya, and Diana.

For those that have watched the show from day one this season, I would like to add that there was this fake-dyed red headed girl that had a better voice than everyone else but she got ousted off the show.

[RGA]

I dislike George Huff (African American male), simply because Pop is not his type of genre, and gospel is as he mentioned in the show. He also sounds like he has 2 q-tips shoved up his nose. His voice is very nasal. Now for Fantasia Barrino (one of the African American females). Her voice is god aweful. People are comparing her to Macy Gray, but it isn't even close. Fantasia's voice sounds like nails on a chalk board. I actually had to change the channel shortly in to her performance. Now for La Toya London, her voice is amazing and her performance has been good also. My top 3 pics are Jasmine, La Toya, and Diana.

For those that have watched the show from day one this season, I would like to add that there was this fake-dyed red headed girl that had a better voice than everyone else but she got ousted off the show.

The girl you mention Amy Adams was the red - or purple on my JVC LOL I agree with you ad more talent than most of what is remaining.

As the others mention it does not help any credibility the show had or has by awarding Hung a multi million dollar contract and a cd -- which is actually selling.

Bottom line though is that this show has two big record producers on the judging panel who are looking for talent. A lot of people who struggle to get by do not have the time or belief in themselves to give up everything and become another starving musician...so something like this affords them the opportunity to say what the hell let's give it a shot.

I'm interested that the audio lovers on this forum seem to think the two black girls are not good when over on the high end forum Fantasia more-so got raves. I understand your particular aversion to Fantasia because her voice is different than the usual - but different can sell albums while London as strong as she is sounds like a lot of other women with huge pipes - like a Whitney(before drugs) Houston. Both will have mega selling albums. And I give credit to Fantasia for the songs she sings - not the safe stuff the rest generally choose.

I have to agree with the judges and I said it a month ago - Fantasia and London are so far superior to the rest they should not even be in this kind of contest - but then again they need them to give the show some talent.

I did not watch the first year at all and only a couple the second year when they didn't have pretty people winning.

46minAudio - William Hung is to talent what Paradigm is to good speakers. And jeez lots of people buy both.

[topspeed]

46minAudio - William Hung is to talent what Paradigm is to good speakers. And jeez lots of people buy both.

Brother, you're going to get crucified for this!

If La Toya put an album out now I'd buy it...as long as it isn't some overproduced pop shtick. Nora showed people that different can sell (boy, can it sell!) and I'd love to hear La Toya put out an album in the same vein. As far as comparing her to Whitney (pre-rehab as mentioned) I think that's a helluva compliment considering the paucity of singers that have that sort of range, scale, and sheer power. As cute as Jasmine is, she just doesn't have the guns to go to battle. She visibly and audibly ran out of steam during her performance.

I respect Fantasia's talent and loved her rendition from West Side Story but her tonality is not my cup of tea. Still, along with London, they are by far the class of the field.

You're right RGA about this year's talent surpassing last years. However, if you ever heard the first year winner Kelly Clarkson belt it out, you'd know she's right there with London and Barrino.

What exactly does this have to do with speakers tho?

[Woochifer]

As the others mention it does not help any credibility the show had or has by awarding Hung a multi million dollar contract and a cd -- which is actually selling.

Where did you get the info that William Hung got a "multimillion dollar contract" or that it was the show that awarded the contract? I work a few blocks from where Hung lives, and I can tell you that he sure as hell doesn't dress like a multimillionaire. FYI, Hung's recording contract was for $50,000, and he was able to sign a recording deal and do public performances only because he's no longer on the show. My understanding is that the AI contestants cannot do any public performances or recordings while the show is running, and only the winner gets a guaranteed recording deal. Everybody else is a freelancer once the show's done. Hung's CD debuted at #34, but I doubt it will stay on the charts too long (for one thing, what I've heard so far is beyond awful -- basically a karaoke bar from hell). My coworkers love the guy, so I guess he's got a pent up audience. In the end, Hung is a novelty act, and no different than any of the other novelty acts over the years that got their 15 minutes and then flamed out. Hung's had about 14 minutes already, and I can't wait for him to go away.

Bottom line though is that this show has two big record producers on the judging panel who are looking for talent. A lot of people who struggle to get by do not have the time or belief in themselves to give up everything and become another starving musician...so something like this affords them the opportunity to say what the hell let's give it a shot.

I'm not sure if AI is at all representative of the music industry. In college as part of a concert committee, I worked with record company A&R reps all the time, and most of the acts they were actively promoting wrote and played their own music. Cover acts make up a small segment of who gets signed.

The acts that show up on AI do nothing but covers, and covers of songs that never interested me much to begin with. They might have songwriting talent, but the show's format doesn't showcase that. I might actually follow the show if they required the acts to write their own material. As it is, if I want to watch someone do yet another tired rendition of an overplayed pop song, the local karaoke bar might actually be more fun.

46minAudio - William Hung is to talent what Paradigm is to good speakers. And jeez lots of people buy both.

Oh please, let's not drink too much of the Kool-Aid or snort too much of the wafting haze before driving off a cliff. William Hung would make Bose the equivalent of Placido Domingo.

[JeffKnob]

46minAudio - William Hung is to talent what Paradigm is to good speakers. And jeez lots of people buy both.

Is it really necessary to say that about Paradigm? I take offense to your comment because I am the happy owner of Paradigm products.

[F1]

Too bad the recording engineers did not put extra effort to justify those idol's voice. Listen to Clay's and Ruben's albums, both are poorly recorded.

[ameri_fan]

Speaking of American Idol talent, while interning at Universal I caught Josh Gracin's first single "I Want to Live" off of his website joshgracin.com. I heard that his album is set to be released in a couple of weeks on Tuesday, June 15th. His first single was actually very impressive and I encourage all of you American Idol and country fans to check out joshgracin.com to listen to the song and watch the video. Also, I clicked on a link on the site to join his street team. You can win a bunch of prizes, such as signed photos of Josh by helping out the street team. http://www.ufanz.com/teams/joshgracin/ Reply back to me and let me know how you feel about his new single!