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Well, times have certainly changed.
AI no longer discovers mega-stars among the masses; the top contestants this year are PROs already. Take for example one Kristy Lee Cook. Very talented. Strikingly beautiful. 23 year old tall slim blonde country singer. Signed by BMI when she was 15. Has a CD for sale on her web site. And a music video.
Here's her site:http://www.kristylee.net
Now don't get me wrong, I like Kristy. Alot. She'll be in the Top 6 for sure. And there's many other pros like her in the Hollywood round from what I hear.
But somehow, it just isn't the same.
BTW, Kristy was unceremoniously dropped by RCA after 2 years. They apparently weren't interested in developing new young talent. Sound familiar?
Well I didn't watch AI and I don't know if I will at all. Seeing what has happened to Season 5 and 6 top finishers (ie Kat, etc) has really cooled my interest. However, I heard that Kristi Lee Cook from my state is pretty good. If she makes it very far I may get suckered in again. Who knows. I didn't know she was signed by RCA once. If she wins, that would be interesting all right. They would probably make her sing pop instead of country, which is most likely why they parted ways the last time. That would be ironic.
Here is the AI clip in my local paper's website:
http://blog.oregonlive.com/idahosportugal/2008/01/selma_oregons_american_idol_co.html#comments
I actually did watch AI episode 1, I just happened to be at my mother's for dinner that night. (I caught Katharine's audition 2 years before also purely by accident.)
So - it is even worse than I thought. It is so obvious that most of the "talent" was chosen by the producers not because they have a chance of making it but so that they can be humiliated by the "judges" in front of millions of people.
It is also so obvious who has already been chosen. Kristy Lee Cook got such the pimp treatment with the 5 minute preview at her home in Oregon that must have set back Idol a few thousand dollars in transportation and video.
We just know she is going to be in the top 12 and is probably being groomed to "win" the whole thing:
The next Carrie. Half a million debut album sales in the country market without even trying.
And already been contracted to and then dumped by RCA??? The girl is ahead of the game.
She seems to have everything going for her and yet - there is nothing exciting about her, there is no mystery about what she will become, no endless possibilities as there were and are with Katharine. What you see is what you get and that is what the world wants, all pre-packaged pre-marketed and tied up with a ribbon for delivery.
Anyway, one idol per lifetime is enough for me and Katharine is it. I won't be watching any more of this season, except by accident.
How about Kady Malloy, 18 years old, from Houston, TX --- the next Britney or Shakira, or actually, another Carrie.
KADY MALLOY audition - Unchained Melody
But then, Kristy Lee Cook, at 23, might actually cut it farther ahead than a younger girl. Besides, Kristy looks like she has a more pleasing personality and poise, oozing with talents too. Because it's unusual to find brain, body and beauty altogether, sometimes it could be intimidating and too overwhelming for ordinary or regular voters to get into a bandwagon like Kristy Lee Cook, even if she's country or down to earth. Her past pro life might actually be in the way, but who knows how well AI could have her come up amateurish like. Judging would definitely be either ridiculous or outrageous, I can sense. I always have fear and doubts about beauty and talent together winning on idol. The obvious just cannot have an easy pass without intrigues or bashings, which is a shame, like in the case of Kat in season 5, who almost had it all, but then was let down anyway. Amazes and amuses me.
It'd be great to see an Oregonian make the Top Six this year. Last year, there was a guy from Portland who many thought should have gone farther (I can't recall his name...Tommy somebody...) but was cut around Top 12. Oregon has a lot of talent out here, though. The NW is really into the music business with people who actually want to be good and not a water cooler-inspired "Moron of the Week" on national television.
Well, yeah, Kristy Lee Cook already being a professional (you can see just how professional via her website) just shows you that "AI" is no longer the little homemade pie state fair talent contest as we want it to be. That pretty much kills it for me on the songwriting contest, too, if they decide to do it again this year. After finding out last year's winner was already a popular songwriter (with a #1 Christian single under his belt), you realize "AI" no longer wants to take risks with true amateurs--while conveniently--or pathetically--trying to cover it up. I guess all the people who make the judges' life hell with sheer stupidity and ignorance with vacuous talent ruined it for amateurs who actually take it seriously. Some of those auditions are worthy of being somewhere in the Twilight Zone at this point.
I caught the first episode just to see what's what after seven long months away from the madness. And, yes, it's more of the same...which means I'm bowing out until actual competition gets underway. Besides, you can see the highlights on Comcast's The Fan every week if I want to be quickly entertained and not sent into fits of insanity.
It's amazing, isn't it, that all of us are able to figure out every little detail of how this show works now. You'd think everybody else would be able to figure it out, too, if we all can. Of course, we're veterans of watching it and analyzing it to death. The lower ratings on opening night is obviously a sign it's on its way down.
All said, I still find it fascinating to watch once the live competition gets going. According to reports, the writers strike will probably force people to gravitate to the show. Higher ratings based on a technicality would just seem odd, wouldn't it?
We're not criticizing the contestants or saying that they shouldn't have a second chance. It's just, as Greg pointed out above, that American Idol likes to conveniently hide the PRO status of these contestants. They apparently want to feed us a diet of already seasoned pros while making believe they're rank amateurs.
And if you search back on my KMF posts early in season 5, you'd see that I thought it grossly unfair to Kat that she had to compete against much more experienced, semi-pro people such as Taylor. Heck, detractors even complained about Kat's previous experience, though I'd hardly consider regional theater, The NextBig Star, and a bit part in an unreleased movie as even semi-pro.
I agree with you. Thanks for this find. I must say Kady's voice can be versatile - she could project that country and pop sound separately. No wonder Simon said she's talented. To sound like Britney in "I'm Not Yet a Girl", then in "It's automatic" - sounding like Kat, wow, I would give her a listen, definitely, because she has an interesting voice. If her voice is powerful, she is not using it yet fully in these songs. She just sounds like having fun singing. I believe her true voice is in "It's Automatic" and "Unwanted". Both songs are briliantly sung and radio friendly, the kind that would go up the charts easily. Nobody Knows is very good! I like the beat in "It's Automatic", I'm dancing to it right now. ha ha ha...
But I can't get over her sounding like Britney, really. I haven't heard her sing Rascal Flatts yet, but it would be interesting when I get to. On audition, she tried a small part of "Before He Cheats" and she sounded like Carrie indeed. Wow, is Kady Malloy the undiscovered impersonator of female singers or the Queen of Karaoke sound or the next American Idol? Hope she could give same level of performances on the show.
I really don't see why someone having professional credentials behind them shouldn't be considered for AI. Being a "professional" can have a wide variety of definitions... as many here have mentioned.
My fancy has been taken lately by ABC's Dance Wars. The contestants have various backgrounds with both schooling and some professional experience. There are 12 competing in two different teams...6 guys and 6 girls. To me, there are 3 guys and 3 girls who are definitely worth watching. These kids (oldest is 23, youngest 18), have to be able to both sing and dance....yes, at the same time! The 3 girls who did Lady Marmelade (sp) were amazing!
I'm just mentioning this in case anyone else loves singing and dancing as much as I do! It only has (I believe) 4 or 5 more Monday nights so it won't interfere with AI. I just love witnessing the amazing talent that is out there!
"The champions will win a life changing prize - they'll go on tour as the opening act for a major performing artist and a chance to start a thrilling career as part of a brand new all-dancing, all-singing act." For more, just check out abc.com.
Wouldn't it be nice, indeed?&nbs