So, I haven’t said much about American Idol this season… probably because I haven’t been impressed by any of the contestants on “America’s Biggest Karaoke Contest.”
It seems like they basically picked a winner in week one anyway as fans everywhere are fawning over the theatrical Adam Lambert.
Lambert has figured out the formula to winning the show:
– Do really well in week one
– Change up the arrangement of the song you are singing each week
– Judges will continue to love you and viewers will think you’re amazing
– Rinse and repeat
However, if you look at his performances as a whole, they all start to sound the same. For example, the guy hasn’t had one song where he didn’t release that horrid, nails-on-a-chalkboard, ’80s hair-metal scream. If you put his songs back to back they’re all going to sound the same. Who’s going to sit through a concert of him doing that for an hour and a half?
He also trashed some classic songs like “Ring of Fire.” He’ll probably win the whole thing as the viewers fall into line like sheep behind the judges who sing his praises with no criticism whatsoever.
My thoughts — none of those remaining will have a huge career and Lambert will be better off on Broadway. After all, how many Idol contestants still have careers going strong? Out of eight seasons, it’s down to Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry…
Enjoy your 15 minutes, kids. The next time we see most of you it will be on next season’s Idol singing your first single in an effort to jump-start a career that will fade fast, just as David Archuleta, David Cook and Ruben Studdard did this year.
This article appears in Apr 28 – May 5, 2009.
You could not be more wrong about Adam Lambert’s songs all sounding the same. I am a 54 year old married woman who will gladly pay to hear him in concert. You need to check out all the videos on YouTube featuring Adam. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by his ‘Brigadoon’ performance or his fabulous cover of ‘I just love you’ by Five For Fighting. Listen to how controlled his notes are and how right on his pitch is (and gee….not one chalk board note). Of course when you figure out what you need to do to win, you stay with that formula…don’t fix what ain’t broken. What’s wrong with sounding the same..it is called delivering every time. Bet you could recognize Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra or even Elvis. Why…because they sound the same, with the same quality in their voices each time. They are very distinct and recognizable. One last thing….I bet Johnny Cash would have loved Adam’s rendition of ‘Ring of Fire’ because Johnny was a rebel and showed that with his cover of ‘Hurt’ by Nine Inch Nails.
Whether Adam wins or not I think he will be around for quite awhile.
He does that high-pitched scream in every song he has sung on Idol…that’s why I was saying they sound the same. He needs to avoid doing that scream in every song he sings. Unfortunately, since I’m not a fan and his voice is like nails on a chalkboard to me, I probably won’t take the time to find those videos. I’ll take your word for it…
Wow, some good old Adam Lambert hate. Jealous much that you can’t “scream” like that? Mad World was amazing. Ditto for Tracks of My Tears. And on and on. It never ceases to amaze me the depths some people will sink too when confronted with someone talented and different. AI would be a boring piece of trash without Adam.
I’m glad you haven’t said much on American Idol this season since you obviously show an ignorance and lack of grace that should be surprising in this day and age, but of course isn’t.
Trashed Ring of Fire? Thanks for the best laugh I’ve had all day!
Ring of Fire was the best performance American Idol has ever seen. And interestingly not a scream to be found in the entire piece. A banshee wail maybe, but not a scream.
Uh… David Archuleta just finished a sold out tour, is touring in the UK with the major Brit band McFly and will be doing an arena tour this summer with Demi Lovato. He’s not courting your age demo, so he doesn’t count?
I think you have a very skewed perception of what success in the music industry is, and how long it takes to get it. Real success takes time. Kelly Clarkson wasn’t KELLY CLARKSON until her second album, Breakaway. How soon people forget (and I’m sure you would have said (or did say) her star had faded when her last album was released and it underperformed). Oops, guess not!
Adam was Amazing! He is such a great performer and entertainer. I just went on Itunes and purchased all his performances and studio versions so I could listen to them while I work. He has my vote! Go Adam!
You obviously don’t know what you are talking about. Mad World had not vocal gymnastics and is now, according to the Itunes stats the best selling single of the year. That includes all the current artists you mentioned in your article. You may want to do some research before making yourself look like an idiot in print.
It is definately difficult to agree who is the best singer on AI because people are generally a fan of the way the songs are sung; not necessarily on pure talent. Although I’m not a fan of Adam either because of his style of singing, I do think he has a good range and overall has great voice control and therefore, should do well. You’re right that not many idols have gone on to great success in their chosen careers but I think it is still too early to count both David’s out. Even though Kelly’s last album didn’t get rave reviews by the machine backed by Clive Davis, doesn’t mean it wasn’t a great album that still sold better than most artists do on one of their “best” albumns.
Hmm… someone needs to do their homework a bit better. David Archuleta is doing just fine thank you very much. 😉
I’m glad you said it Jeff! Adam screams every song no matter what kind of song it is…..I can’t figure out why he is still on the show. Get the Excedrin out when he starts is Performance Go 16 year old red haired girl whatever her name is!
Funny! David Cook’s album was certified platinum after only 3 months — which is terrific in this economy! Also, he’s currently on a sold-out tour as well, mostly colleges as he wanted as well as casinos and other venues. I’m sure he’ll be around a long time!
David Archuleta is VERY talented; not only as a singer, but also as a performer and a songwriter. David can’t be compared to the rest of the contestants of American Idol; his talent is completely unique and genuine (he is also an amazing human being). He is only 18 years old and he just started his music career which is going to be VERY successful in the US and especially overseas, in English and Spanish. By the way, I’m not a teenager or a grandmother and I am a HUGE fan of David Archuleta. I’m his fan for life.
you are a lazy journalist and an idiot to boot for thinking cook or archuleta’s stars were fading…
can’t say with certainty about reuben’s but you either just want hits to this crappy blog with that erroneous info, or you really need to look for another line of work, as your sub par reporting and fact gathering is an embarrassment to your current employer.
heard of goggle? you could have kept your credibility with just one click on cook and archuleta to find out how successful they both are…. tsk, tsk…..
The only thing you are right here is the fact Adam scream in every single song, I do not like that at all.
But I also think he almost too good to be in the competition. Everybody knows he will win!
David Archuleta has sold over 700,000 of his album and almost 2 million copies of his first single Crush.
And this is just the begining.
The other Idols are doing very well too.
Do your homework before you write anything.
Thanks
And the next time we see you is when your article has the name Adam Lambert in it again. Got it?
Before writing articles like this one, you should do some research. David Archuleta is doing fantastic! some people have already commented how his album and singles are doing on the music charts. You should also read articles about his first solo tour, his trip to Asia, his tour in the UK. Read the comments of his fans, not only in the USA but in Asia and UK as well. Watch the videos of his performances during his tours (USA, ASIA, UK); check out how people are buying tickets to see him this summer. I invite you to do some research.
Well, all I could think of when I finished reading your post Jeff, was “if shoes were clues, you’d be going barefoot”.
heard of jennifer hudson?… you know, the oscar and grammy winner voted off in 7th or 8th place in season 3……. or is your most successful idol club limited to those in the caucasian persuasion.
please quit your day job, if this is it.
I agree. You did not do any research. David Archuleta is doing great. He has grown so much in the past year. He will be around for a long time. He is an amazing singer. People all over the world just adore him.
I appreciate all the comments. As it says at the top of this blog, it’s just my opinion.
Sorry I forgot to include her on my short list of AI singers, but don’t get me started on the screaming of Jennifer Hudson, or call it over-singing if you want. I think Hudson got more sales and publicity because of a horrible tragedy than for brilliant singing. Her Academy Award was based on acting, not singing.
I didn’t include Taylor Hicks, either – he had a gold album, but then his label dropped him because his tours were doing poorly. Album sales don’t necessarily translate into success. Sure, Fantasia was nominated for Grammys, too, but she left for Broadway – she’s not off selling out arenas or clubs.
David Cook and Adam Lambert have one thing in common,
THEY ARE A SCREAMER QUEEN !
and
THERE MUSIC SOUND THE SAME.
I don’t think people will go crazy and go to their concert and
I won’t buy their CD even if recession is over. Hahaha !
you were talking about ”successful” idols, idols who had gone on to quantifiable success in the entertainment industry – and if we’re talking ”success”, in that context then your omission of hudson makes absolutely no sense.
hudson’s accomplishments post idol trump underwood’s and clarkson’s and daughtry hands down, in the real world. have you listened to her cd that won her the grammy – it’s fantastic. and how dare you attempt to slag her talent, and diminish her rightful win by inserting her horrific personal situation…
clarkson has truly screwed the pooch with that pop pap she’s saddled with singing now, underwood and daughtry have the personalities of doorknobs, so it’s evident that you have a bias that goes deeper than just giving an ”opinion”. or you are just another lazy journalist not really up on your research.
an oscar and a grammy on your resume, and a thriving solo career without an idol stigma,to any rational thinking person would tend to make one believe that person was damn successful – oh, i forgot – unless you are an ”esteemed” journalist writing for a weekly publication who wouldn’t know ”success” if it jumped up and bit them.
maybe you do need to keep your day job with this ”publication”… you’d never be taken seriously on a more credible publication serving up ”opinions” such as this.
I see you don’t really bother to keep up with past contestants of American Idol. Generalizations like this are so ignorant it’s easy for me to ignore what you have to say.
Jennifer Hudson won a Grammy – or didn’t you know that? Guess that means nothing in your ‘book’ – huh?
Carrie Underwood was Entertainer of the Year at the CMA’s – besides also selling millions of albums – lol – or didn’t you know that?
David Cook has gone platinum and is touring the country – or didn’t you know that?
David Archuleta just finished a sold-out US tour, has been lauded all over Asia and is in the UK with one of the biggest bands over there – or didn’t you know that?
Even Jason Castro was just signed to a record contract – a year later and still making music.
That’s naming just a few. There are all levels of success for artists. Oh, I’m sorry, you don’t really care – that part is obvious.
Besides, if you count ‘success’ as just selling lots of records there wouldn’t be any music on the radio. Many artists never sell a huge number of albums and continue to do well in the music industry. Do some research and you will see it’s not all as simple as you want to make it seem.
hudson’s oscar was in dual part to her great acting turn, and s-i-n-g-i-n-g the showstopper of all showstoppers, ”and i am telling you”… both done convincingly enough to warrant an oscar… an oscar dude.
i’m inclined to agree with the majority of posters here that you really are clueless, and your ”opinion” – you’re entitled to it, it is a free country, was best left unspoken, and not published on the web where your ignorance is on display for the whole world to see.
Do an internet search for “Hudson” and “screaming” or “Hudson” and “oversinging.”
If you think I’m the only one with these opinions, you clearly haven’t done your research, either.
you may call it what you like – still adds up to mayjah success. that ”oversinging” has been good enough for mainstream america, the mainstream music buying public and the voting bodies of the naras and the academy awards to award her the highest honors….. there is none so blind as he who will not see, so i leave you to continue on in your solitary delusion and comprehension of ”success”… peace out.
Hey Jeff, I know what you mean. Adam Lambert screams more like in a horror film. And the quality of his voice is so irritating, the reason why he never becomes a hit, eventhough he has been toiling in stage shows. His voice is like coming from his vagina, er no not from his chords. BTW, uhm maybe from his vocal chords doing deep throat thingy from the dong of his bf.