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EmailAI4 – Group of 2
May 25
That’s hardly a “group” anymore, is it? It’s FINALS time.
Simon was giving interviews before the show saying the same thing: Bo has the advantage due to experience. He’s been in front of large-ish crowds before. Carrie hasn’t been out of Oklahoma. And as much as I love Carrie, he’s right (as nearly always) and it showed through last night. While Bo showed nerves in his third song (no doubt due to it being outside his normal range), Carrie was a wreck all night, pulling herself together for the last song mostly by keeping her eyes closed and not looking out at the entire crowd.
It was, in fact, the final song that clinched it for me. If you count the first two rounds as a draw, the final round goes to Carrie. As schmaltzy and saccharine as you may think the last song was, it’s the perfect one for Carrie and I got the goosebumps. It reminded me of Kelly in season one singing “A Moment Like This” for the first time.
Carrie’s only mistake on the song was ending in the falsetto. When they showed clips from all the performances after that, they showed her in dress rehearsal finishing strong instead of with the falsetto. It sounded a lot better. She didn’t pull out of the note that time. I can’t wait to hear the conspiracy theorists complain that the producers are pushing for Carrie by using the better dress rehearsal footage at the end to influence votes.
In the end, you have two likeable contestants with enormous talent and skills. Someone has to win tonight, and it looks like a complete toss up. It’s been so close that it’s almost random chance. A one or two percent difference in the voting tally of 30,000,000 votes or more is statistically insignificant. Both will get contracts, with the winner getting a slightly fatter one and, one might argue, worse representation from 19 Entertainment. They’ll promise an album for the fall that won’t show up until the spring. The duelling singles will be released in three weeks. The tour will be half attended at dozens of cities throughout the country.
American Idol: The Juggernaut carries on.
Go Carrie.
May 25, 2005 @ 09:26:57
1) The original songs totally sucked.
2) That means, Simon, don’t slam Bo for song choice. At least Randy said, “Bad song, Great performance.”
3) The song they both sang, “Inside Your Heaven,” was done so much better by Bo it wasn’t funny.
4) Carrie was all over the place with her pitch. Each of her songs had a couple of notes that made me cringe.
5) Simon really, really, really wants Carrie to win.
6) Carrie still doesn’t understand what the lyrics to “Independence Day” mean.
May 25, 2005 @ 09:42:10
I thought Carrie was better on the two (lame) original songs — they simply fit her style better than Bo’s. On the contestant’s choice song, it was a draw. I was surprised that Bo picked “Vehicle” when he gave at least five better performances during the competition.
I still think Bo was better throughout the competition, but I think last night’s performances, along with Simon’s final pronouncement, will tip it toward Carrie. Also, did anyone else notice that when they showed the 12 finalists in the order they were sent home (the 12 pictures went by really quickly), they showed Bo BEFORE Carrie? Coincidence?
May 25, 2005 @ 09:51:08
Call this a conspiracy theory if you want, but I noticed it last year in the finals and it happened again this year: The original song the finalists both performed was written to the strengths of one finalist specifically.
Last year it was a song written by Tamyra Grey, a song that had a deep gospel influence and a soulful feel to it. It was a song that played to all of Fantasia Barrino’s strengths.
This year, the chosen song played more to Carrie’s strengths, though she still managed to look like an android while belting it out. She was very shaky throughout as well. I just don’t think she has the “it” factor. She can’t connect with her crowd at all and doesn’t do anything ORIGINAL. She wants to be the next Martina McBride rather than being the first Carrie Underwood and that may hinder her in the long run. That said, that horrid band Creed was (and in some cases still is) hugely popular for mimicking the sound of early Pearl Jam, and artists like Avril Lavigne have made a career out of “pretending” to be something they’re obviously not so there’s no accounting for the music-buying public’s taste.
Also, did anyone notice that the only finalist Ryan pointed out in the crowd was Constantine, who then made sure to turn around and guesture to the crowd? What an ego on that guy. What an ego.
I missed who/what band Bo will be singing with tonight.
May 25, 2005 @ 10:05:19
Ok, I actually thought Carrie almost hands-down beat Bo in the final song. She was almost magic in that moment and as much as I like Bo, Carrie is almost a shoo-in.
Bo, I still stand by my original statement…he needs a rock group contract, not a solo pop-album. I would much rather Carrie win this as she fits the AI mold like a square peg in a well…square hole. Bo doesn’t. Maybe that appeals to some people…something different…but I think Carrie should win. Bo will get a contract regardless and even if he doesn’t win he’ll still be a mega-success, so it’s not like it’s a death knell.
In the end, whoever wins, this is the first time that I’ve actually thought there was a contest…two great singers, and all I can say is finally.
May 25, 2005 @ 10:22:23
I thought Diana did a better job on the Idol Song last season than Fantasia. Fantasia screamed the hell out of the song, to the point of annoyance. Diana /sang/ the song.
But that’s last year’s debate. We’ve got a bigger one on our hands right now…
Man, the choir was wasted last night. They weren’t all that necessary. Not like in Season Two.
And I was talking too much over the episode last night, so I missed any announcements about tonight’s episode. They’re singing with bands tonight? Interesting.
May 25, 2005 @ 10:36:00
I absolutely do not understand the comments about Carrie not connecting with her audience. The crowds go crazy when she sings, and the fans vote with enough enthusiasm to have kept her from ever hitting the bottom three (at least those times they announced the bottom three).
As for last night’s performances, I think it was painfully clear that Carrie was considerably nervous, overwhelmed by performing before such a large crowd with so much on the line. I attribute that to her pitch problems. (I also wondered if she was having trouble hearing, as she seemed to move her hand to her ear a few times.) But Bo also had some pitch problems, and that was completely uncharacteristic for him.
Up until the final song, I think Bo had done a slightly better job than Carrie, but I’m with Augie — she knocked the last song outta the park.
That said, I’m still going to be satisfied with either one of them winning. I think Carrie’s got the raw talent, while Bo’s got the more polished skills. And this year I actually like both of them. Last year, I just did not like Fantasia’s voice. So, even though I believe Fantasia was the superior singer and performer, I was hoping Diana would win. This year, doesn’t matter to me in the least.
But that last song…
May 25, 2005 @ 10:37:39
Yeah, Carrie is singing with the ridiculously-hilarious looking Rascal Flatts. I saw them over the weekend on the cover of one of those weekly country music tabloids that are always around the checkout aisles at the grocery stores. They look like cartoon characters or something.
Just out of curiosity, Augie, has your annual “AI Crush” as I like to call it (that started out with Amanda and then moved to Jessica) moved to Carrie now? :-)
May 25, 2005 @ 10:43:57
I don’t know, Wes; Carrie is more of the little sister type.
And nobody could truly replace Amanda The Goddess. Jessica was just smart enough to sing a Steinman song when I was looking for a rebound. . .
May 25, 2005 @ 11:04:00
Wes:
I completely agree with your comments about last year’s and this year’s final songs being tailor-made for one contestant (as it so happens, Simon’s favorite). They could have at least made one of the two songs last night a semi-rocker.
May 25, 2005 @ 11:20:27
I have totally mixed feelings as to who is going to win. I think Bo was great, the first song did NOT work for him at all, and was suprised by his choice of cover (why not “Whipping Post”???). But he did a great job with that cover, and then did a fabulous job with “Inside Your Heaven.” He’s charismatic and has stage presence.
On the other hand, I think Carrie has the substantially stronger voice, even if she had a couple of off notes. The end to the last song was amazing. And while I love love love “Independence Day” I do agree with whoever said it seems as if Carrie doesn’t quite “get” what that song is really about. It’s an incredibly intense song….not sure if her interpretation was spot on, while her vocals were.
May 25, 2005 @ 11:24:11
As for tonight Augie they said Carrie will sing with Rascall Flatts. Calling it “Idols sing with their idols” yesterday I read on MSN (I can’t find it today) that Bo will sing with Skynard, and Vonzell with someone I ‘ve never heard of. Constantine, Jessica and Nadia will sing with Aerosmith’s band on “Walk this way”. And Anwar and Anthony will sing with Kenny G. That’s all I can remember.
Seacrest just said on the radio that Bo and Carrie WILL do a duet…..I’ll love that.
And so Bo had food poisoning yesterday….and Carrie had an ear infection. Who knows how that affected things. I think voters were divided long before last night.
We’ll see.
May 25, 2005 @ 11:28:36
Thanks, Tracie. The ear infection would explain Carrie holding her ear so much. . . I was worried we were having another “dead spot” on the stage issue like we did with Diana last year.
“Walk This Way,” though? Ick.
And Kenny G isn’t a joke? Seriously?
And did Anwar chop his hair off? I didn’t recognize him last night sitting with the other contestants.
May 25, 2005 @ 11:35:29
“Anwar and Anthony will sing with Kenny G”
As if they weren’t getting ENOUGH crap online about their sexuality, this is going to be fodder for a LOT of jokes.
And I can already imagine Constantine going WAY over the top with Aerosmith — you just know he’s going to try to outdo Steven Tyler and he’ll fail miserably. Thank God I’m watching LOST.
And Patricia, I TOTALLY agree with you about “Whipping Post.” I was hoping that would be Bo’s choice because it was his strongest performance this season.
May 25, 2005 @ 12:19:09
No mention of the arch during the closing montage, Augie? You feeling okay?
May 25, 2005 @ 12:54:34
You’re right, Matt. I’m slowing down. I saw it and I even laughed when I saw it. But I wasn’t taking notes as I watched the show, so I forgot to include that in the write up. Hopefully, the Arch will appear at least once in the finale tonight so I can write it up.
Hmmm, maybe I should LiveBlog the finale…
May 25, 2005 @ 13:24:01
I agree about “Whipping Post.” Had Bo done that song, “Spinning Wheel” or “For the Love of Money,” he would have given the performance of the night. What puzzles me is why, having chosen “Vehicle” instead, he didn’t bring more intensity to it than the first time. Very disappointing.
May 25, 2005 @ 13:39:15
I disagreed with Simon when he said Carrie should have done “Crying.” It was too soon for that. She just sang it last week. It needs to rest. That annoyed me last year with Fantasia and Diana, where it seemed like they were singing the same songs for the sixth time in two weeks at the end there.
Carrie also needed to sing something up tempo. The other two songs were slower. She picked, I think, the right song, even if the nerves got to her a bit and she shouted through it a little bit.
May 25, 2005 @ 18:03:25
Hello? Do you realize the producers mess with the levels of the crowd? They go NUTS for Bo and are luke-warm for Carrie but the turn up the volumne for Carrie’s polite, obligatory applause (in comparison to them all going bananas for Bo).
http://birthlaws.blogspot.com/2005/05/if-you-like-conspiracy-theories.html