It is natural for us as skating fans to LOVE AI.
I also enjoy AI as one of my few guilty, time-away-from-work-home-relationship-skating, pleasures. I also like Survivor and The Apprentice---the competition shows. I even watched (as a guilty pleasure) The Swan and The Biggest Loser. I feel I have some taste in that I never got drawn into The Bachelor and other romance-based reality shows, and I never was drawn into The Race or Lost either. But, I digress.
More digressing....I love scribbling down my thoughts here (typing is more natural for me now than handwriting) in "Le Cafe" because I also love the times of day when I sit to have coffee, read, etc., which for me are early, early mornings and in late afternoons. I am enjoying a cuppa right now, actually. (_)o or [_]o are cool icons for a nice cup of coffee.
American Idol is very much like a Figure Skating event. There is the technical vocal skills aspect, the presentation aspect and the performance aspect all leading up to the goal of entertainment and enjoyment. Hence, both are also subjective. In the case of AI, it is strictly a popularity contest, but great vocals technically can increase your popularity. The winner only need be popular, and talent is, in the long run, secondary.
I watch the show and have kept this year's programs on DVD. Certain performances and people stand right out from the beginning because they are original, rather than good "cover" singers and "imitators", they usually have charisma and an inner confidence in their abilities and knowledge of how they sound to the outside world. Nadia, Bo, Carrie, Jessica and Anwar all demonstrated this from the beginning, Jessica the least and Bo/Nadia the most. I picked them from the first auditions as the best 5.
The final 12/13 can be assessed both technically and artistically, and we can now use the defunct 6.0 system, because it is no longer copy written by the ISU!
Mario Vasquez: 5.4/5.6 He was good vocally in a limited range and style, and was a better performer than he was vocally. He left, but I think he would have not made the top 5 due to lack of versatility/vocal mastery to sing anything.
Nikko Smith: 5.4/5.2 Nikko is good vocally in a limited vocal range and style, and he is not star material in originality or performance. He is, right now, a "cover singer", mimicking other people's songs pretty well in a limited scope. I think he will be in the bottom 3 this week unless the baseball fans vote him in (his Dad was a multi-All Star in voting).
Lindsey Cardinale: 5.4/4.8 This girl with a great tone and voice was dull, dull dull , and even a bit dull. She was so boring that her strong talent couldn't carry her through, and her confidence was crushed by Simon. She could have lasted longer, but not the top 5, so who cares when she goes?
Scott Savol: 5.3/5.2 This big guy has the pseudo hip-hop, underdog circumstance. He has a good voice and her performs fairly well with little sign of stage fright, but his appearance and attitude really hamper him, as he isn't lovable, sexy or much to look at as eye-candy. He will go home before final 5 as well.
Anthony Federov: 5.6/5.5 This young fellow has a beautiful voice at age 19 that is perfect for Adult Contemporary music hits, and tenny bopper love songs. I doubt his versatility in being able to sing any style. He is very staged in his presentation and we have yet to see the real Anthony yet. He is still immature as a performer, but great potential for a career in a certain genre. He will make the top 6.
Vonzell Soloman: 5.4/5.4 This young woman has good vocal skills and is learning to perform. She isn't near her full potential yet, and she needs continued confidence in showing us her personality. I like her, but she will not make the top 5. She is a nice "cover band" singer right now.
Mikahla Gordon: 5.1/5.2 This young girl was ruined by whomever was coaching her. Did she actually believe that a knowledgable segment of the audience (particularly men who adore Barbara Streisand) would not recognize the plagerism of style and song choice. It took Paula Abdul 6 weeks to say it on the show, but it was recognizable from the second the cameras turned on her. The hair style, sweater/slacks and stool singing "Somewhere" trying to be Streisand was ghastly. To think it would be seen as "original" would have been stupidity. Also, from the auditions to the Final 24, she turned into Fran Drescher's little sister. Also, the girl has weird singing pronounciation and I can't understand the words. Twice I think she ate her microphone while singing. Her "Love Will Lead You Back" was like "love" leading you back to the free clinic for a shot of Pennicillin. Please go home Mikahla.
Constantine Maroulis: 5.2/5.6 Constantine might make the final 6 due to his presentation. But I have heard so many garage bands and local music of this type over the years that I must agree 100% with Simon that Constantine is NOT original at all, and his vocals are NOT a cut above the rest of his genre. If it was, he wouldn't still be in a garage. But, he is himself up there, and he's OK because he seems comfortable performing.
Anwar Robinson: 5.7/5.6 He will make the top 5, but he has a very self conscious presentation, and seems wooden up there. He has great vocals, but not the best vocals, in the competition. His style is yet to emerge, so I don't see him with a big enough fanbase to grow on to win, but he will push the others.
Jessica Sierra: 5.7/5.7 She has a great voice in her young self, and I think she could potentially outsing Carrie. If she does this early one, two or three times, she could make the top 3, but I think she will be 4th. Her presentation is still gaining confidence, and this wil bring out her originality, if she has any.
Nadia Turner: 5.7/5.9 She is an original with a great, unique sounding voice and good skills. She has shown great presentation in the rock genre, but also wore make up and a cocktail dress another night and looked great. She is so original and different she will make fans who will vote no matter what she sings, waiting to hear her rock the house. She will stay a long time, I think to #3.
Carrie Underwood: 5.8/5.9 She also has her own voice and style and is a great singer. The presentation she has now is natural and very appealing, and she is very likable. She will push to the top and be #2.
Bo Bice: 5.8/6.0 He is original, himself and a seasoned performer gaining fans by performing very well week afer week after week. When has he ever sounded pitchy or bad? When has he been anything but professional while on the stage? He is the best, and he is close to being the most popular. I think he will win.
Predictions, then, by the 6.0 system for me:
Lindsey 5.4/4.8 = 10.2
Mikahla 5.1/5.2 = 10.3
Scott 5.3/5.2 = 10.5
Nikko 5.4/5.2 = 10.6
Vonzell 5.4/5.4 = 10.8
Constantine 5.2/5.6 = 10.8 (ahead on presentation mark)
Anthony 5.6/5.5 = 11.1
Anwar 5.7/5.6 = 11.3
Jessica 5.7/5.7 = 11.4
Nadia 5.7/5.9 = 11.6
Carrie 5.8/5.9 = 11.7
Bo 5.8/6.0 = 11.8
That was fun to do!
