American Idol Round of 9: A Horseplayer's Perspective

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

My pick to win it is Jordin. Melinda is not an amateur. It's BS that she's on the show. Plus she has no neck and that bugs me.

I think Melinda is attractive enough, she has a great smile and this "no neck" stuff is getting old (it's all over the net)...I don't understand the amateur stuff either...most if not all these folks have been singing most of their lives, voice coaches, singing in bands etc...going from being a backup singer who's job is to NOT be noticed and to make the lead look and sound good to being front and center is a huge step and more than makes up for on-stage experience. To me, it's a way of being critical of someone who allows no criticism by her performance!

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by somerfrost

I think Melinda is attractive enough, she has a great smile and this "no neck" stuff is getting old (it's all over the net)...I don't understand the amateur stuff either...most if not all these folks have been singing most of their lives, voice coaches, singing in bands etc...going from being a backup singer who's job is to NOT be noticed and to make the lead look and sound good to being front and center is a huge step and more than makes up for on-stage experience. To me, it's a way of being critical of someone who allows no criticism by her performance!

Melinda has all the qualities of all the backup singers I've ever met. That is, they're perfect vocally and never fail to fire, which in a big venue, is unacceptable.

She's made the remarkable transition to being the center of attention. I've loved watching it.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

Melinda has all the qualities of all the backup singers I've ever met. That is, they're perfect vocally and never fail to fire, which in a big venue, is unacceptable.

She's made the remarkable transition to being the center of attention. I've loved watching it.

I agree! That lack of self-confidence and genuine surprise when Simon and the others praise her is NOT an act! Somehow, she is able to transform herself on stage leaving that doubt behind when the first note sounds!

Originally Posted by somerfrost

I think Melinda is attractive enough, she has a great smile and this "no neck" stuff is getting old (it's all over the net)...I don't understand the amateur stuff either...most if not all these folks have been singing most of their lives, voice coaches, singing in bands etc...going from being a backup singer who's job is to NOT be noticed and to make the lead look and sound good to being front and center is a huge step and more than makes up for on-stage experience. To me, it's a way of being critical of someone who allows no criticism by her performance!

She was a backup singer for a reason. After Taylor Hicks' album bombed the last thing the show needs is another winner who can't sell records. Whether you like it or not the music industry is all style and no substance. Jordin is marketable. She's young, pretty, has a great personality and can sing. Melinda is older, not so pretty, shy and can sing.

Simon is looking for Melinda to make a mistake because she's not going to be a star. You can tell he's pulling for Jordin because she has the most potential to be one.

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

She was a backup singer for a reason. After Taylor Hicks' album bombed the last thing the show needs is another winner who can't sell records. Whether you like it or not the music industry is all style and no substance. Jordin is marketable. She's young, pretty, has a great personality and can sing. Melinda is older, not so pretty, shy and can sing.

Simon is looking for Melinda to make a mistake because she's not going to be a star. You can tell he's pulling for Jordin because she has the most potential to be one.

Melinda is full of star quality. I think that Jordin would sell more records, but Melinda is hardly a toss because of age or style. I'm not saying she'll win (even though she should), but she's as worthy as any of these.

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

She was a backup singer for a reason. After Taylor Hicks' album bombed the last thing the show needs is another winner who can't sell records. Whether you like it or not the music industry is all style and no substance. Jordin is marketable. She's young, pretty, has a great personality and can sing. Melinda is older, not so pretty, shy and can sing.

Simon is looking for Melinda to make a mistake because she's not going to be a star. You can tell he's pulling for Jordin because she has the most potential to be one.

Seriously, have you seen her perform? On stage she's a dynamo...all that shyness disappears while she's performing! I'm a huge fan of Jordin's too but I'd never say that Melinda lacks star quality!

Originally Posted by somerfrost

Seriously, have you seen her perform? On stage she's a dynamo...all that shyness disappears while she's performing! I'm a huge fan of Jordin's too but I'd never say that Melinda lacks star quality!

Ruben Studdard was a great performer too but he was 500 fricken pounds!! There are lots of great singers/performers that don't make it big. Why? More than likely because they don't have the look. If this girl was so good you figure someone in the industry would've signed her by now considering how many major artists she sang backup for.

Oh whatever i'm not going to waste anymore time with this. Jordin is better and it's unfortunate she has to compete against someone who's been in the industry for 7 years.

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

Ruben Studdard was a great performer too

Are you serious? He was a good singer. All voice, zero performance. He was not, a performer in the sense that we're using the word to describe Melinda.

[Cajungator26]

I thought Ruben was a better performer than a singer. I'm still smarting over the fact that Clay got cheated out of that.

[ArlJim78]

Its not like Jordin has to win it in order to sell records or to be heavily marketed and to bring in the cash. Even if she were to come in second or third she will have made her mark, its not like all the deals are off. Theres room for everyone, different styles, etc.

No she has to win. The only American Idol I haven't picked has been Carrie Underwood and that's because I got her confused with a cardboard cutout of Carrie Underwood when she performed.

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

No she has to win. The only American Idol I haven't picked has been Carrie Underwood and that's because I got her confused with a cardboard cutout of Carrie Underwood when she performed.

she may win, because of her ability to get votes, charm, etc.

but she is not the best singer in my opinion.

[onebadbeast]

Frank Sinatra Is Rolling Over Again In His Grave. I Have Seen Him 10 Times And There Will Never Be Another. I Hate That Chris Richardson Too He Is Disgusting, Like A Virginia Yodeler.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by Pillow Pants

She was a backup singer for a reason. After Taylor Hicks' album bombed the last thing the show needs is another winner who can't sell records. Whether you like it or not the music industry is all style and no substance. Jordin is marketable. She's young, pretty, has a great personality and can sing. Melinda is older, not so pretty, shy and can sing.

Simon is looking for Melinda to make a mistake because she's not going to be a star. You can tell he's pulling for Jordin because she has the most potential to be one.

Wait... you think Jordin is "attractive" and Melinda is not?
What am I watching?
They're both mediocre, at best, attractiveness wise. Neither of them will sell records solely based on that.

Melinda is a SPECTACULAR singer, maybe the best American Idol has ever heard.
Jordin is outstanding as well, but not on the level of Melinda.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by philcski

Wait... you think Jordin is "attractive" and Melinda is not?
What am I watching?
They're both mediocre, at best, attractiveness wise. Neither of them will sell records solely based on that.

Melinda is a SPECTACULAR singer, maybe the best American Idol has ever heard.
Jordin is outstanding as well, but not on the level of Melinda.

Not sure I'd go that far...

I'm with you on the attractiveness, though. I don't think either one are in the Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood league when it comes to that.

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by Cajungator26

Not sure I'd go that far...

I'm with you on the attractiveness, though. I don't think either one are in the Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood league when it comes to that.

Oh man, I would go that far. I think she's the best vocalist the competition has ever seen, at least as far as how they perform on the show.

I was watching WGN the other day and their Idol rewind show, and the first season was on. I was blown away at how much better Kelly Clarkson is now than she was then. She rightfully won that season, but oh my, her performances were good but not even in the same world as Melinda when she was on Idol.

[Buffymommy]

Originally Posted by brianwspencer

Oh man, I would go that far. I think she's the best vocalist the competition has ever seen, at least as far as how they perform on the show.

I was watching WGN the other day and their Idol rewind show, and the first season was on. I was blown away at how much better Kelly Clarkson is now than she was then. She rightfully won that season, but oh my, her performances were good but not even in the same world as Melinda when she was on Idol.

NOW you make me mad. Don't you diss Kelly... I may have to smack you down.


But seriously, take into consideration that Melinda has been singing professionally for seven or so years. Kelly was an amatuer when she was on. Were they to go head to head now? Kelly would blow Melinda out of the water!

[brianwspencer]

Originally Posted by Buffymommy

NOW you make me mad. Don't you diss Kelly... I may have to smack you down.


But seriously, take into consideration that Melinda has been singing professionally for seven or so years. Kelly was an amatuer when she was on. Were they to go head to head now? Kelly would blow Melinda out of the water!

I love Kelly completely. I'd be embarrassed to let you see my Ipod

Of course Kelly is better now than she was on the show, that was the whole point I was making -- that Melinda's performances and flawlessness on the show are unmatched in Idol history.

I think, too, that you are a little off by treading on the concept that ANYONE would "blow Melinda out of the water." You may like Kelly more, but Melinda is thus far pitch perfect (why she made a great backup singer) which makes there very few people who would even be capable of coming close to her. I think that Melinda is "technically" better, no doubt.