American Idol: Taylor Hicks is No. 1!
It's probably final - my prediction is correct.
Taylor Hicks is the new American Idol.
And from what I've read on MSNBC, it was deserving even based on performance too. Taylor outperformed Katharine last night, on an overall basis.
As usual, Kat's song choices let her down again.
She chose "Black Horse and A Cherry Tree", a song which she sang when there were only 5 contestants left. It's a good song, but it's certainly one not to be sung at the finals. And it's hard to repeat a good performance on the same song, twice.
Her second song played it safe, too - and she chose "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" all over again. Again, the risk of trying to top a great performance from the week before - is not a very wise one.
She should have tried an entirely new song - it would have stood out and sound fresher to the viewers and voters.
Her third song "My Destiny", which was specially composed for her, was according to Randy Jackson, not great. And there's not very much that one can do about songs, specially composed for you. It's a 50/50 shot - they either get it right or wrong.
And the consensus from the press and the American Idol judges, is that they got it wrong. Let's hope in that case that "My Destiny" would not be her first single, then. It'll may wreck her career launch, as a recording artiste.
(Though I still think that she would do better by people telling her what songs to sing, than if she had picked her own songs - other people (like Simon Cowell) seem to have a better feel of what sounds good on her)
But even based on the first 2 song choices - I would have predicted a Katharine McPhee defeat outright. In these sort of competitions, a singer not only has to be good - but she has to be intelligent and know what songs to pick and when to pick them. As the underdog, she had nothing to lose and the pressure was off her - all she had to do, was to risk it all and give it all.
American Idol finals are made for bigger songs - songs which just throw it out there and show them that you're a superstar. And Katharine deserved to lose, if these were the best selected songs that she could come up with, for the finals.
I would have preferred a final with Chris Daughtry winning it - but given that it was Taylor and Katharine, in the finals last night - America picked the right and deserving winner.
Nevertheless, I'm happy with the outcome. Looking forward to Katharine's first single, album or music video. Win or lose - it's just the beginning of the journey for her.
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Now that "McPheever" is over - next week, "Demam Akademi Fantasia" begins,...hehehheheehe,...and this time, unlike American Idol, kita boleh AFUNDI! ;)
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UPDATE ON AMERICAN IDOL:
After watching the finals just now, I'm revising my opinion but not my conclusion. It wasn't a total whitewash.
In fact, I would say that it was only the 3rd song - the original song segment - that clinched the title for Taylor Hicks. Katharine's performance of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" was just as good as last week's. Sometimes, lightning does strike twice!
Both Randy and Simon agreed that in Katharine's case, the singer was better than the orginal song - unfortunately entiled "My Destiny". I agree - the original song was bland and uninspiring. Even Jaclyn Victor's "Gemilang" was a far better song.
And I think in the final analysis - it did impact her chance of winning tonight - as after 2 songs, they were clearly tied at 1-1.
Paula pointed out that the song - "Do I Make You Proud" - was lesser than the singer in Taylor's case, too (although Randy pointed out that it's a better song than Katharine's) but his voice and personality came through in his original song and made it strong.
Simon concluded that Taylor had won American Idol. I agree with Simon, wholeheartedly.
My personal rating on tonight's performance are as follows:-
Katherine McPhee:
1) "Black Horse and A Cherry Tree" - 7.5 points
2) "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" - 9 points
3) "My Destiny" - 7.5 points
TOTAL POINTS: 24
Taylor Hicks:
1) "Living for the City" - 8.5 points
2) "Levon" - 8 points
3) "Do I Make You Proud" - 9 points
TOTAL POINTS: 25.5
And the votes tomorrow will confirm that Taylor Hicks is the next American Idol. But I do believe that both of them will go on to have sparkling careers, ahead.
****************************************************
UPDATE ON THE RESULTS:
Taylor Hicks has won! My prediction was spot-on! Congrats to all "Soul Patrol" supporters. :) And I think "Do I Make You Proud" is a great first single for Taylor.
And to all McPheever fans - let's look forward to her first album. This girl's gonna be a star. There's much to look forward to. :)
Taylor Hicks is the new American Idol.
And from what I've read on MSNBC, it was deserving even based on performance too. Taylor outperformed Katharine last night, on an overall basis.
As usual, Kat's song choices let her down again.
She chose "Black Horse and A Cherry Tree", a song which she sang when there were only 5 contestants left. It's a good song, but it's certainly one not to be sung at the finals. And it's hard to repeat a good performance on the same song, twice.
Her second song played it safe, too - and she chose "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" all over again. Again, the risk of trying to top a great performance from the week before - is not a very wise one.
She should have tried an entirely new song - it would have stood out and sound fresher to the viewers and voters.
Her third song "My Destiny", which was specially composed for her, was according to Randy Jackson, not great. And there's not very much that one can do about songs, specially composed for you. It's a 50/50 shot - they either get it right or wrong.
And the consensus from the press and the American Idol judges, is that they got it wrong. Let's hope in that case that "My Destiny" would not be her first single, then. It'll may wreck her career launch, as a recording artiste.
(Though I still think that she would do better by people telling her what songs to sing, than if she had picked her own songs - other people (like Simon Cowell) seem to have a better feel of what sounds good on her)
But even based on the first 2 song choices - I would have predicted a Katharine McPhee defeat outright. In these sort of competitions, a singer not only has to be good - but she has to be intelligent and know what songs to pick and when to pick them. As the underdog, she had nothing to lose and the pressure was off her - all she had to do, was to risk it all and give it all.
American Idol finals are made for bigger songs - songs which just throw it out there and show them that you're a superstar. And Katharine deserved to lose, if these were the best selected songs that she could come up with, for the finals.
I would have preferred a final with Chris Daughtry winning it - but given that it was Taylor and Katharine, in the finals last night - America picked the right and deserving winner.
Nevertheless, I'm happy with the outcome. Looking forward to Katharine's first single, album or music video. Win or lose - it's just the beginning of the journey for her.
******************************************************
Now that "McPheever" is over - next week, "Demam Akademi Fantasia" begins,...hehehheheehe,...and this time, unlike American Idol, kita boleh AFUNDI! ;)
*****************************************************
UPDATE ON AMERICAN IDOL:
After watching the finals just now, I'm revising my opinion but not my conclusion. It wasn't a total whitewash.
In fact, I would say that it was only the 3rd song - the original song segment - that clinched the title for Taylor Hicks. Katharine's performance of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" was just as good as last week's. Sometimes, lightning does strike twice!
Both Randy and Simon agreed that in Katharine's case, the singer was better than the orginal song - unfortunately entiled "My Destiny". I agree - the original song was bland and uninspiring. Even Jaclyn Victor's "Gemilang" was a far better song.
And I think in the final analysis - it did impact her chance of winning tonight - as after 2 songs, they were clearly tied at 1-1.
Paula pointed out that the song - "Do I Make You Proud" - was lesser than the singer in Taylor's case, too (although Randy pointed out that it's a better song than Katharine's) but his voice and personality came through in his original song and made it strong.
Simon concluded that Taylor had won American Idol. I agree with Simon, wholeheartedly.
My personal rating on tonight's performance are as follows:-
Katherine McPhee:
1) "Black Horse and A Cherry Tree" - 7.5 points
2) "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" - 9 points
3) "My Destiny" - 7.5 points
TOTAL POINTS: 24
Taylor Hicks:
1) "Living for the City" - 8.5 points
2) "Levon" - 8 points
3) "Do I Make You Proud" - 9 points
TOTAL POINTS: 25.5
And the votes tomorrow will confirm that Taylor Hicks is the next American Idol. But I do believe that both of them will go on to have sparkling careers, ahead.
****************************************************
UPDATE ON THE RESULTS:
Taylor Hicks has won! My prediction was spot-on! Congrats to all "Soul Patrol" supporters. :) And I think "Do I Make You Proud" is a great first single for Taylor.
And to all McPheever fans - let's look forward to her first album. This girl's gonna be a star. There's much to look forward to. :)
posted by Stingrayz | 8:49 PM
12 Comments:
Who'll be the next American Idol? We'll just have to wait and see...
Anyway for AF4, check out this contestant from Sabah called Rich or Richard. He used to front a hard rock band called Estranged, which sang some good English covers. Good looking and great rock voice. They've even got their version of Chris Daughtry for AF4 this time!
Me, i'm going to check out what all the fuss is about this first contestant in AF4 to wear a tudung. Silap haribulan she may get the Mawi votes pulak...
I love both of them, plus I was a big fan of Chris'. I think it will be close they are both awesome. Katharine McPhee has one of the best voices ever on American Idol and Taylor Hicks is one of the best performers ever.
*gasp*
Encik Stingray checked website tentang American Idol sebelum menontonnya di Star World? Eish eish eish..
Heheh.
But you are right. Taylor deserves to win. Kat was never supposed to be in the finals in the first place.
But she'll probably succeed after this. I can already imagine her coming up with an album cover with her looking as slutty as Christina Aguilera. And selling millions of copies.
Sad kan, when women use their beauty to get attention. If only she had worked on her vocals.. (she's got sweet voice, cuma tak reti control sometimes..)
It's even more sad when you realise that her dad's someone big at Foxtv..
Oklah. I'm rambling. Have fun watching the show! :)
Anonymous:
Yep. Looking forward to AF4 too. Will look out for this Richard character.
Although I think the tudung girl (I think Salima's her name) is going to get a hard time from the likes of JAKIM, if the she has to gyrate to dangdut songs.
Best tanning:
Welcome to the blog. :)
I think your blog is really unique - you must be really into tanning. :)
Pixie:
Ish, ish, ish. Sounds like Bucky sour grapes to me. ;)
Kat didn't deserve to be in top 2, but Bucky didn't even deserve to be in the top 9 - but he went all the way to the top 7. So, luck's been fair to all undeserving here, yah? ;)
As for using her looks, other than her own talent - she's not the first and she won't be the last.
Even people as talented as Mariah Carey and Beyonce Knowles (and as you pointed out, Christina Aguilera), uses sex appeal to sell albums.
Yes, it's probably sad if a woman uses her beauty to get an ahead of others. But a woman use who does not use it at all, is a silly one.
I think she'll improve as a recording artiste, if she gets to work with some of the better producers like David Foster or Tommy Mottola.
She's only 22 - give her time to show what she's got (other than sex appeal, of course).
Honestly Ray, what a sexist statement you made in the last posting.
You could get so harrassed by women's groups in Malaysia by saying that a woman who does not use her beauty to get ahead of others is a silly one.
I'd advise you to retract the statement, lest it be construed as the way you really perceive women and your female friends. Certainly it won't help allegations in a previous blog you wrote that people call you a "player"...
But then it's your blog - you can even delete this posting if you wish and silence the issue. Just a reminder...no offence intended...
Anonymous:
No offence taken.
The statement was not meant to be sexist - I think my female friends know me better than that.
The statement is not sexist, because I would advocate the men to do the same.
An advantage is an advantage - be it your brains, your voice, your looks, your physical or mental strength, your language skills, your personality, your talent, etc. - no matter what form it takes.
As long as you're not doing something illegal or immoral, within your respective belief systems, everything else should be game.
It's a competitive world out there and merit is never just about how good a student you were and which university you went to.
It's about the whole package of a person that you are. And how you deliver results, on the things that you're good at.
Everyone else will be using the natural advantages that they have and so should you.
I respect your stand and opinion and I hope you'll respect mine.
But no - it's not a sexist remark - though it's a probably a Darwinian one. It's about survival of the fittest.
After watching Kath's My Destiny, which was horrendous by the way, Taylor will most definitely become this year's American Idol champion. To me, Kath's performances were just bland today. Blah. Takde ummph la. Understandable that everyone has his/her own offday once in a while, but she couldn't have picked a worse day than today.
Pojan:
Nope, she was definitely not at her best, except for the 2nd song. But I felt that the original song was not entirely suited to her.
GO SOUL PATROL!
First of all Ray I think you're dreadfully bias but so am I..so let's just agree to call a spade a spade and stop this politically correct responses shall we? :)
Taylor's performance tonight goes to prove that he deserves the title. Pixie, pojan and the earlier anonymous was right. I'm sorry Ray, but bad song or not, Kat doesn't deserve to be in the final (it should have been Chris - wow that would have been SOME competition). Her rendition of Over the Rainbow was music class 101, totally disagree with Simon.
Anyway pixie what's with your story that Kat's dad is someone famous at FOX? Tell us more!! Could it be then that FOX fixed the votes that week that Chris got sent out? Waaaaaahhh...American Idol got nepotism one also ah..
Taylor Hicks, I'm greatly looking forward to your first single...whatever happens
Anonymous:
Whatever I say, you don't really care. You'll think what you want to think.
So, I shall leave you to your opinions. Spade or no spade. It's your right to speak.
JUST GOT THE RESULTS...TAYLOR HICKS WINS THE AMERICAN IDOL TITLE.........Yeehaaaa GO SOUL PATROL!!
Hey, you're wrong Ray. You must have me mistaken for some of the other anonymous posts. All I write is in the spirit of good banter. Come on lah, write another piece on American Idol. Just because Kat didn't win it doesn't mean it doesn't deserve another entry.
Off to celebrate....:)
Anonymous:
Sorry, if I had you confused with the other anonymous. I swear that one of them just enjoys taking an unfair swipe at me.
But I'm getting tired of people calling me biased, when I predicted that Taylor would win 3 weeks ago! Geez,....for God's sake!
Yes, Kat was my favourite but my judgement is sound - there's no bias there. Taylor's victory proves it.
Congrats and happy rejoicing to all "Soul Patrol" fans. The win is truly deserving.
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