American Idol: Season 8 Finale

Rob Damen · May-20th-2009, 12:42 PM

Come on, guys, you couldn't avoid this forever!

Today's the finale.

Who ya' got??

The shy boy with the thin voice and a few discernable musical skills ... or the stage pup with no taste and the Duran Duran haircut?

We all know who's going to win, but what did you think of the season?

Don't hide it ... I know several of you watch the show.

Kris or Adam ...

Go ...

Cheers,

Rob

tippy · May-20th-2009, 12:52 PM

one thing - they make an awesome looking couple.

gonzo · May-20th-2009, 01:36 PM

i felt that adam was the winner from the first times he took the stage.

patricia · May-20th-2009, 01:47 PM

One question. Who chooses the wardrobe for this thing? What were those shiny, crumpled tinfoil pants?

cookie · May-20th-2009, 01:52 PM

Adam's my boy. He's got serious pipes and I like the way he delivers. He can sing sweetly as well as powerfully. When they both had to sing that abysmal song at the end, Adam clearly brought more to it.

I have to say that in the beginning, I was put off by his look (though all my kids' friends look like that. I don't get it, but isn't that often how it is between kids and parents?). But he proved himself to be a very solid vocalist and performer, IMO. He knows how to control both the voice and the energy of a performance.

Gentle Giant · May-20th-2009, 01:57 PM

Last season I watched fairly faithfully with my daughter; this season I've hardly watched it at all, relying on my daughter's updates. With a few exceptions, it seems like the runner-up ultimately does better than the winner in terms of launching a career. Taylor Hicks was a bust from the get go, and Archuletta beat Cook to the marketplace by a couple of months I think and had a bigger hit. I think the way that the show has grown, if you're in the top 8 you've already demonstrated you have a fan base and the offers will find you.

Ultimately, none of these "Idols" have the overall skills package to write, perform, and produce their own records so where they go has a lot to do with getting the right material and the right producer and not letting the label put you in a can that doesn't fit.

patricia · May-20th-2009, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cookie

I have to say that in the beginning, I was put off by his look (though all my kids' friends look like that. I don't get it, but isn't that often how it is between kids and parents?).

You are right about my knee-jerk reaction to his clothes, Cookie. Erin said their same thing when I criticized his look. I am now the Fuddy-Duddiest of the Fuddy-Duddies.

Adam does have talent and stage-presence, which cancels out my pre-conceived notion of how he should present himself.
Scary, turning into my parents.

Rob Damen · May-20th-2009, 04:17 PM

Adam bludgeoned "A Change is Gonna Come" last night ... as he pretty much does everything he sings. His version of "One" last week was incredibly overwrought, too. And when he goes quiet like he did on "Mad World" and "Tracks of My Tears," he's entirely too precious.

I mean, look, Adam can sing his ass off and is likely the most technically-assured vocalist in American Idol history, but he is an example of the great voice/bad singer thing in that there's no note he can't hit, but he has no feel for expression. He's a stage singer who kind of has a rock screetch. I still appreciate a guy who can actually sing, though.

Kris is just average, but I liked his versions of "Ain't No Sunshine" (which he did better the first time with some chords I hadn't heard used in the arrangement of that song before) and "What's Going On" that had a stripped down approach not unlike what Donny Hathaway did with it years ago.

Kris is just kind of nice, but I'm not wild about him. He's not going to win. In fact, the winner has been declared on many sites already, but I'll root for him a little anyway.

Cheers,

Rob

jazzfiend · May-20th-2009, 04:44 PM

Kris must win, or I'm done with idol. Adam has no taste or real emotion, and can anyone imagine buying his records? The sound of his shrill, screechy voice makes me shudder. Quite a good performer, however. Kris is creative, talented, and will only get better, And the cat can sing!

Ron Thorne · May-20th-2009, 04:48 PM

There's really no competition between these two finalists. In my mind, Kris shouldn't have even been a finalist. Adam clearly blew away all others this year.

I disagree almost completely with Rob's characterization of Adam, though I'm not gonna get into a lengthy dialogue over it.

jazzfiend · May-20th-2009, 05:26 PM

Ron, I'm afraid you have the boys confused. Rob's analysis is spot on!

Ron Thorne · May-20th-2009, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzfiend

Ron, I'm afraid you have the boys confused. Rob's analysis is spot on!

Do I?

We can agree to disagree on this one, man.

I feel that Cookie's analysis (a singer/musician/educator) is spot-on.

walto · May-20th-2009, 06:21 PM

I don't care who wins, but I didn't like how far the judges got their noses up Adam's ass. He kind of screwed up the last song (was out of tune regularly for one thing), but they all fought about who was his biggest fan and what a huge international star he'd be, and how beautiful he is--from his soul to his perfect wiener. Then Kris did the song (which is, of course, extremely annoying whoever sings it--the double performance is just a long commercial for it, Idol, its Idol writer, producer, etc., etc.--slightly better than Adam (tho it was too high for Kris), and the arbiters "praised" him by saying things like they he didn't completely embarrass himself, they wouldn't kick him out of bed, he's not really retarded, etc.

They want Adam and, by God they'll get him, because, of course, the Simons always get what they want.

Ron Thorne · May-20th-2009, 06:49 PM

For the record, I don't care who wins either.

Our opinion on who's the better singer, greater geek, etc. matters not, nor do the opinions of Simon, et al, ultimately. It's the millions of faceless teen and pre-teen fans who have the American Idol numbers on speed dial who are calling the shots.

Last night, Kris sounded like a one-trick pony to me, though I've liked some of his interpretations in the past.

Scott Dolan · May-20th-2009, 06:51 PM

I can't believe this show is still on television.

Ron Thorne · May-20th-2009, 07:01 PM

Believe it.

Rob Damen · May-20th-2009, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Thorne

Last night, Kris sounded like a one-trick pony to me, though I've liked some of his interpretations in the past.

I have no desire to deeply defend my position vis a vis Adam, but I do think my view had a little more nuance. I didn't completely dismiss him, after all. I do think Adam has lots of potential, but I feel he does need to mature some in his interpretations.

I couldn't agree more with the above statement about Kris. I think he's kind of mediocre, and he's done some nice things in the past. I think his personality has gotten him rather far.

Cheers,

Rob

Rob Damen · May-20th-2009, 07:58 PM

walto,

Kara DioGuardi got on my fucking nerves ... didn't mind looking at her, however ... although that could shift from week to week.

Cheers,

Rob

Ron Thorne · May-20th-2009, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob Damen

Kara DioGuardi got on my fucking nerves ... didn't mind looking at her, however ... although that could shift from week to week.

On the nerves of my wife and me, too ... Bigtime!

Vince Kargatis · May-20th-2009, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzfiend

Kris must win, or I'm done with idol.

I don't know jack about the people involved with this season or any other, but this comment made me laugh. The implication that there is some event that will finally, after 8 seasons, violate some minimum quality criterion for jazzfiend...

Gentle Giant · May-20th-2009, 08:54 PM

Embarrassed to say that I just really like the way David Cook sings. He's what I consider an "idol" to be, for better or for worse. Not quite a man crush, but I'd love the chance to pick his material for him.

Scott Dolan · May-20th-2009, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vince Kargatis

I don't know jack about the people involved with this season or any other, but this comment made me laugh. The implication that there is some event that will finally, after 8 seasons, violate some minimum quality criterion for jazzfiend...

Hahahahaha....

Cold, but funny!

kedoane · May-20th-2009, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Dolan

I can't believe this show is still on television.

And I still haven't seen the show. I'm not a fan.

Gentle Giant · May-20th-2009, 10:06 PM

Middle America has spoken!

Interestingly, I read today that Paul Rodgers has left his gig with Queen to do a Bad Company reunion. Which means there's an opening for Adam Lambert to fit quite comfortably into Freddie Mercury's skintight stage outfits.

Rob Damen · May-20th-2009, 10:38 PM

Totally shocking!

As I said up top, I was backing Kris Allen, even if it was kind of meekly.

By the by ... I take back what I said about Kara D. That skit with Bikini Girl was hilarious and made up for a lot of the irritating crap she does on the show. Great body, too.

Cheers,

Rob

cookie · May-20th-2009, 10:43 PM

Well, you know, whatever......

Kris. Just never dragged my ear in at all ever. Kinda glad I went to a jam session then stopped by Luc's and didn't watch the finale.

walto · May-20th-2009, 11:38 PM

Jesus, I was wrong about everything tonight. The (sucky) Magic somehow beat the Cavs too.

gonzo · May-21st-2009, 04:00 AM

kris came on strong at the end but i still believe adam was the top performer over the entire season. kara was annoying but attractive. failed performer turned song writer.

Kevin Bresnahan · May-21st-2009, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gentle Giant

Interestingly, I read today that Paul Rodgers has left his gig with Queen to do a Bad Company reunion. Which means there's an opening for Adam Lambert to fit quite comfortably into Freddie Mercury's skintight stage outfits.

I don't watch the show but my wife does. The first time I heard Adam singing in the other room, I leaned in and said to my wife, "Whoever this guy is, his voice is grating. But if he ever needs a job as a singer, he could imitate Freddie Mercury to a tee."

Kevin

jazzfiend · May-21st-2009, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vince Kargatis

I don't know jack about the people involved with this season or any other, but this comment made me laugh. The implication that there is some event that will finally, after 8 seasons, violate some minimum quality criterion for jazzfiend...

hahahaha...

Awesome, Vince, that was fucking hilarious! Just saw this. You had me rolling on the floor with uncontrollable laughter. Thanks for bringing pure joy into my mundane existence. Love it! Hey, and my boy won too.