American Farce? (Update)
So this is the first time I’ve ever watched from start to well this far of “American Idol.” Most people haven’t liked this season much, and some of my friends boycotted the show after last season, which they were convinced was rigged after Chris got the boot.
After tonight’s show with Melinda going home, I am thinking this show is rigged too. Melinda was the best and most spot on singer of the show, she should have been in the final two. Blake and Jordin are more pop friendly, I think that is why they are there. Hey let’s be honest here, the last few winners of “American Idol” haven’t exactly had blockbuster record sales. This show needs an idol that will sell records to the younger audience out there. Only Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood have actually made it. As for the others, it seems the runners up in those seasons had more luck!
I don’t think I’ll be watching “American Idol” next season after this. I’m so disappointed. When Melinda puts her album out, I’ll buy it just cause.
*updated* Dang I didn’t expect people to get so fired up over me liking Melinda lol.
American Idol does need to change, that was made oh so clear this season with the Sanjaya fiasco. I think they need to change how votes are counted for one (but they won’t cause every text message vote is money in their pockets).
If I have to pick I want Jordin to win over Blake. Sorry Blake fans
Dustin, while I agree with you that Melinda was the best singer, this is American IDOL-not America’s best singer. Melinda is not as relateable to the core audience as a Jordin or a Blake. The kids are voting for their favorite personality and usually that does not coincide with the best singer.
Besides, the contract that the winner gets is not that good and you never hear from the winner until almost a year later. Melinda could record an album and have it out by Christmas!!!
05.16.2007 at 9:21 pm
I agree this was the week Blake should have been voted off. I knew something was wrong last season when Chris got sent home, but this is ridiculous. Well I hope Jordin wins next week.
05.16.2007 at 9:27 pm
I said it last year that I wasn’t going to watch again but after this year and Melinda getting kicked off I am definetly not watching next year. That stupid show is supposed to be about talent and if that were true Blake would be gone and Melinda would still be there. Melinda should have won!
05.16.2007 at 10:03 pm
It’s not just young kids voting though, I know people in their 30s and 40s voting too 🙂
I don’t know, I mean look at past winners. Taylor? Not exactly young kid material. Same with Reuban and Fantasia. I just get this feeling that the show didn’t want to end up with another “old soul” idol winning who wouldn’t sell the records lol. Lets face it, that is what this competition is really about, the money they can pull in!
05.16.2007 at 10:16 pm
I kinda agree Dustin…
I’m not surprised. While I love Malinda, I didn’t expect her to win.
Of all three, the only one I can see hitting it big is Blake. Malinda would be just another Fantasia, IE putting out great R&B records that nobody listens to (I do, and they’re fantastic =D). And there are a thousand other Jordins. Hate to say it, but it is true.
05.16.2007 at 10:29 pm
I am so mad about what is going on in reality tv! First Ian & Cheryl get voted off on Dancing w/ the Stars, no Melinda is gone on Idol! This is terrible. It used to be when whoever i wanted to win usually won, now with Ian and Melinda getting voted off, i see that that is no longer the case. I know that Cheryl is a great dance, i just wanted 2 c her win 4 a 3rd time! That would have been so cool! I hope Laila wins now. With Idol, Melinda will go far in her career. She’s been singing backup since 1999, and now Iol as strenghened her singing ability. Good luck to all my favs who got voted off.
05.16.2007 at 10:43 pm
I hate to say it, but Melinda isn’t “pretty.” Blake and Jordin are. And while Melinda does have the best voice, by far (unless you count Sabrina who didn’t make it to the finals) she really is more of back up singer. It just is what it is.
I agree though. I think that the results are so rigged that the show has become unwatchable.
05.16.2007 at 10:50 pm
I’ve been mad since Gina got the boot actually. I thought of all of the final ones, she was the most marketable and most unique and different.
05.16.2007 at 10:53 pm
While I think Blake is unique and has talent, my problem is once the producers get done writing his album and producing it, it will not be unique or different, it will sound a lot like the stuff that is currently top 20 on the radio. Blake can easily be molded for that, which is a shame (cause I can’t stand top 20 radio nowadays lol)
05.16.2007 at 10:58 pm
Melinda might have the best voice, but I can’t say that I can see myself buying a cd from her. I don’t know. Sometimes it’s not about having the best voice, but the whole package. Gina was my favorite and I was completely shocked when she got the boot.
05.17.2007 at 12:31 am
I have to agree that ever since Gina got voted off (especially since it was before Sanjaya) the show kinda sucked this season. I love Melinda and am sad she’s gone but I’m rooting for Blake and have been since Gina left.
05.17.2007 at 1:01 am
I was really surprised at Blake last night (Tuesday), while he did have a great preformance
I honestly feel he should have been sent a packing.
I haven’t really “loved” anyone this season. None of them have what I call wow factor. No one really stood out.
As for Melinda she has a superb voice, but lacks what sells. I see her more of a gospel singer than that of what American Idol presumes one to be.
Jordin is good but not that great. I think she will win, but will lack the capacity to sell in comparison to other runner-ups. Yes there will be those that buy records etc. but not like people have with Carrie Underwood. I think she is another Fantasia (by the way where is she now?)
Blake, he is cute and litte girls love em! Yes, yes, big girls do too. He will sell albums but he isn’t going to be capable of plantinum or gold. If he does, beat me down with a stick.
Anyway, don’t worry Melinda fans. She probably has already received so many offers since the show aired tonight. She will get something definately. As for the rest we will have to wait it out to see who wins.
Thanks for listening and happy reading.
05.17.2007 at 1:41 am
What do you mean they haven’t had record sales???? Carrie Underwood has gone on to win NUMEROUS awards as well as selling millions of albums. I think you should do your research before making such blanket statements.
05.17.2007 at 5:10 am
I think Melinda is an amazing voice, BUT she definitely lacks something. I can’t really put my finger on it. And doesn’t it make you wonder…if she has been a back-up singer for so long, that means she knows a lot of people in the business. So why did she need American Idol to launch her career? Why couldn’t she just do it on her own? Maybe she tried and other people thought she didn’t have that special something either.
05.17.2007 at 7:13 am
I like Melinda too, but she was so blaaze, no spark. She wasn’t a leader, but a follower. She lacks the confidence the others had. It was my first time ever watching this show, and I was just sucked in. I can definately see the controversy it brings. Gina was definately my favorite too!!!
05.17.2007 at 8:10 am
Wow Jean calm down! Its an opinion not based on research. Guess I will keep my mouth shut. Oh no! I’m not gonna. If you read the statement that I wrote I said she’s not gonna sell like that of Carrie Underwood! “Yes there will be those that buy records etc. but not like people have with Carrie Underwood”, the next statement was in reference to Melinda. Get a gripe girl! I love Carrie!
Ok, lets move on.
05.17.2007 at 8:21 am
I agree that Blake has the stage presence but not as powerful of a voice as the others. But like others have said…I think that the younger voters really relate to him because of what and how he sings. As for Melinda who has a fantastic voice, I think she reates to the older voters.
05.17.2007 at 8:34 am
Even though I voted for two straight hours for Blake Tuesday night, I didn’t really expect him to stay. I love Blake!!! I thought for sure it would be Melinda and Jordin, but I’m glad it was Melinda that went home. I think Melinda is a wonderful singer and she is going to end up with a record deal anyway, so why not let Jordin and Blake battle it out!
05.17.2007 at 9:27 am
Jen, um if you read what I wrote, I said only Carrie and Kelly have actually made it.
05.17.2007 at 9:47 am
I love when people complain about someone getting voted off, when they probably don’t even vote at all.
Thats why Jordin and Blake are in the finals, because their demographic are the people that vote the most.
Was Melinda talented? Yes. But talent alone will not make you a successful recording artist. I’m sure hundreds of people around the country have just as wonderful voices like Melinda, but they’re not famous because they don’t have the “IT” factor.
Melinda has the personality of a carrot, at least thats what it seems like when she’s onstage.
Both Blake and Jordin are talented, are charismatic, and are true entertainers. I’m sure they will both provide a greate finale.
But the producers of American Idol really need to change gears if they want to keep being the number 1 watched showed in America. This season was pretty awful, and that is because the producers choose the wrong people in the beginning. They try to find the next William Hung and send away others that could have potential.
All in all….Go Blake!
05.17.2007 at 9:58 am
Dang I didn’t expect people to get so fired up over me liking Melinda lol.
American Idol does need to change, that was made oh so clear this season with the Sanjaya fiasco. I think they need to change how votes are counted for one (but they won’t cause every text message vote is money in their pockets).
If I have to pick I want Jordin to win over Blake. Sorry Blake fans 🙂
05.17.2007 at 10:16 am
This is called American Idol, not America’s best singer!! Someone wrote that earlier and I completely agree. Someone asked what Fantasia was doing now a days. She is on Broadway, just like Diana Degarmo. And Rueben has had a few very successful albums, just not ones we listen too. Clay has sold a lot as well as a top selling book and a lot of charity work. A few past contestants design clothing. Some do the idol network. Chris Daughtry is SOOOOO successful right now. All I am trying to point out is that is really doesn’t seem to matter who wins, if you have talent, you will go far in life. I am a HUGE BLAKE fan, and want to see him win!
05.17.2007 at 11:16 am
Actually Simon made it very clear this was a singing contest during the whole Sanjaya stuff.
Unfortunately I think it’s more of a popularity contest than anything really.
There were a few moments it looked like Blake or Jordin would go home and Sanjaya was safe. If that had happened you know the you know what would be hitting the fan
05.17.2007 at 11:29 am
Do you think they might ever make the voting more like “Dancing with the Stars”? That would give the judges more power all the way through.
05.17.2007 at 12:26 pm
Maybe. You could tell the judges were annoyed a lot by how things were going, who was leaving, and who was staying.
However they ARE the ones who put these people through 🙂
05.17.2007 at 12:36 pm
The show’s not rigged. People are just realizing that when good, but unmarketable singers like Fantasia, Taylor Hicks, and Ruben Studdard win, they do nothing more than fade into obscurity and sing in cheap musicals.
On the other hand, the more attractive (and not all pop-friendly) winners and runner-ups of the past, like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, both winners have phenomenal grammy-filled careers. Chris Daughtry and Katherine McPhee both lost on last season of A.I but are rocking the billboard charts.
By the way… I know for a fact that Blake is stealing a lot of the old folks votes. I don’t know why, but all the teachers at my high school are ridiculously in love with him. Its kind of insane!
05.17.2007 at 2:07 pm
I would love to see the judges have more power as to who has to go home! Sanjaya stayed on entirely too long and he was worse than any of the past awefuls, such as Kevin from last season and or John Stevens from season 3! At least they could sing the 1 note that they seemed stuck on!
I was so glad people mensioned Gina, because she was right up there with Blake, having something extra that most of the other contestants didn’t have ths season. I can’t wait to see her come back on the finale.
This was by far the most disapointing season ever, and if things don’t get better next year by putting the real talent through, I will certainly not be tuning in.
05.17.2007 at 2:18 pm
I actually liked Sanjaya! Not because he was the best singer in the world (even though Besa me was pretty good) but because he was an entertainer. People said that AI needed Sanjaya more than Sanjaya needed AI. And I agree. He will be remembered more than a lot of others over the past few years. Of course, I don’t think he should have won.
I am still voting for Blake. He could be a really good AI asset, and I think the voters know that.
05.17.2007 at 3:08 pm
Ironically, even though they tout amazing record setting votes each week, the raitings have gone down down down since Sanjaya left!
05.17.2007 at 3:09 pm
I am reading this a few days late but still totally agree with Dustin. I too, typically do not watch this much of a season (nothing else on Tuesday nights?). I actually stopped for a few weeks as I couldn’t take the Sanjaya saga anymore…I mean, look at all the talent that went home before him…that could potentially have changed this outcome we witnessed this week. I think Melinda is “forgetable”…in a good way–she is always good, never in the bottom 3, comments are consistant from judges, etc. The others have different personalities, have been in the bottom, have varied comments from the judges, etc. However, if this is a talent contest then this whole season has been a joke. I think this may be my last season watching. It is evident that this is a popularity contest. Melinda should have won this. I sure hope Blake isn’t the winner…Jordin has the most promise and is really talented.
05.18.2007 at 7:30 pm
You guys are right, this is only NOT a singing competion as mentioned by one of the producers in a magazine article. I know if Melinda had sung more hip songs and had a better stage presence, she would have won. I’m sure some of you have heard of Patti Labelle, Gladys Knight and Tina Turner because that is where Melinda was with her singing.
Gracie FYI – the Color Purple is not a cheap muscial. I totally agree that Kelly and Carrie have done excellent jobs and winning alot of awards but some of the other idols have done so good stuff also.
I also think that the rules need to be changed on idol, like how many votes that you can make, kinda like Dancing W/the Stars
05.18.2007 at 11:02 pm
Hey Dustin! I rooted for Melinda too! But I’m not worried for her! She’s a full fledged artist and won’t lack any job in that field. Remember how the judges jaws dropped when they first heard her singing? I mean, when she said she had backup singing experience, I was sure she was good. Takes a good ear to do that! I’m surprised they were surprised.
I don’t know if the show is rigged or not. Can it be proved, I don’t know. But as far as Sanjaya is concerned, I feel bad for the kid. The judges did put him there in the first place and they sure seemed to take pleasure out of making fun of him (excluding Paula). I think he was victimed. Some will say, he got exposure, yadiyadiyada but saying that he has to take what comes with the exposure doesn’t make it right. He put on a brave face but he’s a teen! I know he must have felt embarassed at time.
I would say that turned me off from the show a bit. But the sucker that I am will still be watching next september.
Maybe the show doesn’t produce stars everytime but they do get a chance in a lifetime which can be frustrating on a struggling artist’s point of view. So many talents go unrecognized! The most popular out there aren’t necessarily the best in my humble opinion!
It all comes down to one thing…money, ratings!
Anyway, with that said, I really enjoy reading your posts Dustin! I’ve been a fan of your Days page for many years now! This page is a nice addition! Congrats!
05.19.2007 at 10:51 pm
To finish what I said previously, it’s nice to see talent win over popularity although this time it didn’t work out for Melanie!
05.20.2007 at 5:44 pm
Melinda was awesome, I was shocked to see her go…even though I didn’t vote for her. Nope, I have been voting for Blake. NOT because I want him to win — I actually DON’T. (I’ll get to my reason why). I have been voting for him because he has entertained me more than anyone else this season. He is adorable with his beat-boxing and always makes an effort to change things up. (And yes okay I have a little crush!) Anyway, Melinda was my number one fave this season, Blake is a CLOSE number two, and Jordin number three (Sabrina would have been my number three if she had made it to top 12 like she SHOULD HAVE). Anyway, even though Melinda is my favorite, I didn’t vote for her at all. I figured Blake was the one who needed my votes to stick around. Oh well — doesn’t matter. I’ll be buying Melinda’s album before the winner’s even hits shelves, I’m sure. Oh and as for tomorrow? I’m voting like MAD for Jordin. If Blake wins it will be the worst thing that ever happened to him, Idol will STIFLE him creatively during the making of his album; I can just feel it. He’d be MUCH better off on his own and if all goes as I hope it does, I’ll be buying his album around the same time I buy Melinda’s….
PS ~ Blake’s performance of You Give Love A Bad Name is my favorite Idol performance EVER…. anyone else agree?
05.21.2007 at 2:25 pm
Watching American Idol tonight, I really enjoyed Blake although he wasn’t my first choice. I think he has a very marketable genre and voice which is in touch with today’s pop music with a hint of classic rock. Great showmanship on his part!
05.22.2007 at 10:01 pm
anyone else think blake would have rocked if he’d sung fallout boy’s “dance dance?” i could just imagine he would have brought the house down on that one. but i like them both. i did not vote, because i could not decide. i agree jordin sings better, but blake is more marketable to a pop audience. his style of music is what is “in” right now. i think he’ll do well in the short term whether or not he wins.
05.23.2007 at 9:23 am