Comments on: Idol Thoughts: Season Eight … not great

By: GamerDad

GamerDad — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:18:28 +0000

I’m sooo done with this show. And they stopped following the “crazies” because of that Paula fan who committed suicide. Watching her audition knowing now that she was deeply, deeply, troubled – and tormented for comedy – was deeply troubling.

And Umm, you’ve restored my faith in teens. Great Gig in the Sky INDEED!

By: Steve S

Steve S — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:19:51 +0000

Shows like this simply don’t deserve and/or justify such in depth and lengthy analysis.

What subjects deserve in depth analysis? Frankly, this is very subjective and I am sure there are things you would find worthy that I would find worthless.

I like Idol Thoughts. Putting it up against articles from People and Entertainment Weekly, it is one of the better looks at the show. I hope you keep writing it.

By: Umm179

Umm179 — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:54:12 +0000

Yeah, I saw the oscars with Stevie and I was amazed. Not at the Jonas Brothers’ silent guitars and mediocre singing, but at how Stevie Wonder actually made their song sound really cool.

By: Some Guy

Some Guy — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 22:35:54 +0000

I thought that you weren’t going to do “Idol Thoughts” this year.

Anyway. I’m from the UK and we only have terrestrial TV in my house so I obviously can’t comment on American Idol but if it’s anything like X Factor (the current British version of American Idol, changes every few years) then I don’t know why you’re wasting so much time writing lengthy articles about it. Shows like this simply don’t deserve and/or justify such in depth and lengthy analysis.

Also, considering how much you criticised the last series and this one so far, why are you still watching the show? It doesn’t sound like you’re enjoying it very much. I only watch the auditions of these shows and that’s just for comedic value.

Go awesome laptop with keyboard and no really annoying and restrictive text limitation!!!!

By: Mike Anderson

Mike Anderson — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 21:32:59 +0000

There were a couple of Rock Band attempts … and each made you realize that the singers on Idol were much better in contrast.

Heck, I don’t like music with words AT ALL! For me it is more about the family time and conversation. Given my avant-garde tastes I never thought I would watch … though I admit to supporting ‘VFTW’-type candidates …

And I think that each season is full-up of these over-the-top contrived singers with talent but no real depth of musical appreciation who are just belting out notes way too loud with over-wrought vibrato that is supposed to be emotion.

It is like watching the Jonas Brothers with Stevie Wonder on the Grammy Awards … they sang the notes in time and in tune … but have no idea what it means to work a melody line. Of course, Stevie is one of the very few masters in the popular music form.

By: Umm179

Umm179 — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 21:12:13 +0000

Well, what I’m saying is that the show doesn’t hold my interest because it isn’t really based around what music I like. I mean, they did have a show for rock bands a while ago, but that show was just laughable. And i find older songs even more relevant than new ones depending on the song. Just once I want to see the (not trying to be racist, but this is a type of person that always appears on the show) overweight black girl that has a big full voice sing Great Gig in the Sky. When I first heard that song I was just simply amazed at the singer they hired and how she managed to use a song without words to actually have a theme (well there’s a speaking intro, but whatever). I mean, she just expresses so much using only Ahhh’s and Oooohh’s.

By: Mike Anderson

Mike Anderson — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:04:19 +0000

Actually I think many rock songs make poor choices not because they are ‘not pop’ but rather that they are melodically linked to the harmonic structure. In other words, the melodies don’t stand alone as well as pop songs (and old ‘standards’ that are all about the ‘hook’ – think about ‘Beauty & the Beast’ theme,beautiful song structure, but the melody carries everything)

Later on, when they have the full band they could try that stuff, but as you say it is discouraged … which is hilarious when they trot out Neil Diamond and Dolly and have these kids singing 40 year old songs and then if they choose something 25 years old they get crap for not being relevant? C’mon, Neil Diamond hasn’t been relevant since before Larry Bird graduated college …

By: Umm179

Umm179 — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:32:28 +0000

I skipped through most of that (as I only watched 2 episodes this season), but I think the lack of genre variety is the reason I don’t like the show. I, like your older son am into muse, but a lot of other stuff. I’ve actually gotten into a fairly wide range of music, but unfortunately none of it was represented in the episodes I watched. One person did choose a Cream song which pleasently surprised me, but they almost didn’t make it for poor song choice (obviously referring to the fact that it’s not new pop music).