Idol Headlines for 07/04/09

It sounds like Taylor Hicks is doing all the right things to move his career forward. He’s giving it 100%, and I hope it works out for him. I like his new cd and I’m rooting for him.

What’s next for the American Idol Top Seven

MJ, maybe I’m in a time warp, but is this article supposed to be here today?

…Hannah Montana 2 soundtrack, …is sure to be a hit with the fans. Be one of the first to get your copy on July 7th.

Well, that kick-started this sleepy Sunday morning after inducing a laffin fit.

Next thing you know, Sara Palin will resign as Gov. of AK!!.

OMG !!! NOT another Gokey free-for-all!!!!!

What’s next for the American Idol Top Seven

MJ, maybe I’m in a time warp, but is this article supposed to be here today?

Looks like the webmaster didn’t put a date limit on the “Most Popular” box. Since the webspiders gather data from the frontpage, it took the link as current news. Bad editing by the the33tv webmaster.

I’m thinking that Gokey interview was given before the Kradison hit Portland. The paper needed an article for the concert and Kris/Adam weren’t available, so Gokey got the interview.

Basically, when I do leave, life for me is going to take off. I feel like ‘American Idol’ has birthed something, and I think now it’s time for it to grow up. It’s going to grow up into something huge. That’s what we probably don’t realize just yet, just how big our careers are going to be after this and how life is going to be, period. I’m just happy that I’ve done something that I feel has set up me and my family.

Does Lil have some sort of news that we are not privy to?
Cuz otherwise she is delusional.

Taylor Hicks is making all the right moves. A lot of press about him that never makes it to mjs, so I’m glad to see these two articles here.
I like Taylor’s new cd: ‘The Distance’ too. This is one handsome man.
I hope he goes far.

Ya know, I’ve really been trying to turn around my opinion of Gokey, but really, “He just needs to shut up!” I hope he was misquoted.

Color me confused!!!! :drunk_tb:

Happy 4th o July, everyone. Just heard Kris’s Heartless on mix98.5. Looking forward to more Kradam music on Boston radio. Tour starts tomorrow night; finally!!!

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy 4th everyone!!! Belated Happy 1st to ya Kristen …

Happy 4th everyone, I heard Adam’s Mad World this morning on 95.3, Crystal River, Florida. I almost swerved into the next lane. Can’t wait to hear about the concert tomorrow. Go Kradison!

Is the 4th of July Groundhog day?
I think Adam should win and I hate the way the judges are pimping Lil and Danny, Are they deaf?!! OMG, did you see the latest pictures of Adam in glitter and drag?! OMG he looks awesome!!! I think he may be gay. :wacko_tb:

ROFL Sunn!

Happy 4th of July everyone. Im still waiting on NYC radio stations to play any of the Idols songs. I havent even heard Kris’ “No Boundaries”. Id swear the day after Cook won they started playing his coronation song. C’mon NYC catch up!

Just bought my tickets to the Idol concert in Tacoma on Tuesday! So excited for Kradison! (OK mainly Kris but Kradison too). Finally convinced my 19-year old son to go with me, although he says he’s totally embarrassed to be going! I showed him the video of Kris saying he plays piano, guitar, and viola (my son plays all 3 too), so I guess that intrigued him enough to say yes! GO KRADISON!!!

Audio of the covers Kelly did in concert last night

Janet Jackson – If
http://www.zshare.net/audio/62212525fbdac379/

Patsy Cline – Walking After Midnight
http://www.zshare.net/audio/6221291960b75068/

Rod Stewart – Some Girls Have All The Luck
http://www.zshare.net/audio/62213135bb318b9e/

Pictures from the show.

Someone posted that there was a 20-foot billboard of Adam in NYC. Is that to promote the Idol tour? Can’t imagine what for else it could be.

At the end of last nights headlines thread there was a video posted of DC’s opening act Ryan Star singing TOML, this is a better video where you can see DC’s reaction a bit more clearly :laugh_tb: Kinda sad tonight is Ryan’s last show. He’s been a terrific opening act all these months and lots of fun.

Delusional Danny. U really think u cld have beaten adam in the finals. too bad ur fans didn’t get u there to even try. and thank God we will never ever find out. Danny was as polarizing as Adam . so anything cld have happened. i guess. Back then i wanted Danny in the finals for Adam to have a chance cos against sweaky clean Kris it wasn’t going to happen.

BestAI
Jul 4th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Someone posted that there was a 20-foot billboard of Adam in NYC. Is that to promote the Idol tour? Can’t imagine what for else it could be.

If you’re talking about the post a few days ago at ontd_ai, it was for the Rolling Stone cover.

Someone posted that there was a 20-foot billboard of Adam in NYC. Is that to promote the Idol tour? Can’t imagine what for else it could be.

If you’re talking about the post a few days ago at ontd_ai, it was for the Rolling Stone cover.

I read it on TWoP. What is ontd?

Wow. Dos RS normally do that for their covers? I hope I can find the MJ commemorative (hate to admit, but I want to see Adam’s essay).

At the end of last nights headlines thread there was a video posted of DC’s opening act Ryan Star singing TOML

I don’t know anything about Ryan Star (never heard of him before) but that was pretty funny. The best part was David Cook coming out at the end saying “Now that you’ve heard it, I don’t have to play it. Thank you.” No worries David, we get it.

Happy 4th of July!!! (I won’t say everyone since I know internationals post here too.:)) However, I hope everyone has a wonderful day anyway!!

Trina Jul 4th, 2009 at 11:51 am

At the end of last nights headlines thread there was a video posted of DC’s opening act Ryan Star singing TOML, this is a better video where you can see DC’s reaction a bit more clearly :laugh_tb: Kinda sad tonight is Ryan’s last show. He’s been a terrific opening act all these months and lots of fun.

Thanks Trina! My husband really liked Ryan when we went to DC and band concert. I was wondering if the night (two nights ago?) Ryan sang TOML was the last night for him opening, but now I know it’s tonight.

The first article was weird/messed up. Lil apparently said her quote before she was eliminated(I think they all did?). I hope her expectations are a little more realistic now.

Color me silly, lol, it’s no longer there!

ETA: Re: RS’s TOML, he’s doing DC’s moves, hilarious!

Hey, Happy 4th everyone!

I posted this last night, but it was pretty late in the night, so I don’t know how many people saw it. It appears that they wanted to try and do a Michael Jackson tribute, but it isn’t working logistically. This is what Anoop tweeted last night:

#so we tried to work in a short MJ tribute to the end of the show today during rehearsal but it didn’t work out logistically, unfortunately#

I wonder if they will continue to try and figure out how to work it into the show, or whether they will just give the idea up? Hope for the former, but expect the latter

I wonder if Danny will get a standing O because he is the only one singing an MJ song. On TWoP that person who saw the rehearsals said Danny’s set sounded like one long 30-min sappy song. It was funny when he/she said the techs started setting up Adam’s set even before Danny was finished (were they a little impatient for someone to finish and someone else to get started?).

I don’t know anything about Ryan Star (never heard of him before) but that was pretty funny. The best part was David Cook coming out at the end saying ‘Now that you’ve heard it, I don’t have to play it. Thank you.’ 
Ryan Star is HOT. Finalist on Rockstar. Look him up on the tube. He would be the only reason I would go to a DC thingie.

#so we tried to work in a short MJ tribute to the end of the show today during rehearsal but it didn’t work out logistically, unfortunately#

I can’t help but think that is “nice speak” for, “Ya, we tried to work in an Mj tribute but most of us aren’t talented enough to get it right in only one day.”

Well, sadly to say, I think Danny was right in one respect, he would get the Kris votes from the “anybody, but the gay guy” votes, I won’t say fans, because I don’t think that’s accurate. However, I have to say that I don’t think that contingent would have let him beat Adam, because in many ways, Danny was polarizing as Adam. Kris had a lot of voters who loved him for his personality and musicianship, and I don’t think that large contingent would have gone strictly to Danny. At least, I hope not. There were too many Kradam fans for me to believe that. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it, the alternative is too depressing.

I can’t help but think that is ‘nice speak’  for, ‘Ya, we tried to work in an Mj tribute but most of us aren’t talented enough to get it right in only one day.’ 

Agreed. I think some of them could do it (the group number from disco night!) but that was the top 7, so Scott, Megan and Sarver don’t know it.

Plus Danny probably doesn’t know any MJ songs except the ones he did on AI (as he said he didn’t listen to popular music) so it’s starting from scratch for him.

LisaE Jul 4th, 2009 at 12:15 pm

At the end of last nights headlines thread there was a video posted of DC’s opening act Ryan Star singing TOML

I don’t know anything about Ryan Star (never heard of him before) but that was pretty funny. The best part was David Cook coming out at the end saying ‘Now that you’ve heard it, I don’t have to play it. Thank you.’  No worries David, we get it.

And yet even Ryan Star made it sound pretty good, I think I have to conclude that TOML, when played with rock guitars and sung by a rock style singer is overall a pretty good song, if you just ignore the lyrics………

It does seem like all those guys, Ryan, David and the respective bands have been having a blast on this tour, they are going to miss each other, it sounds like it made the Cook concert experience that much more fun, hopefully they’ll work again, perhaps in larger venues next time

Had he beaten out Allen to reach the finals, Gokey thinks he might well be wearing the “Idol” crown.

:lol_tb:

Although I would like to think that the journalist put words into his mouth or misquoted him, this really does sound like Gokey-ism.

Unfortunately Danny is still delusional, poor guy. If he was as close to winning the crown as he believes, wouldn’t he have gotten signed right away like Kradison? All I can do is wish him luck in whatever made-up genre he tries to go into….

I’d like to give a shout out to all our service people who can’t be with their families today. THANK YOU! :clap_tb:

Everyone have a safe and pleasant 4th of July!!!

It’s going to be a busy 4th of July for the AI8 peeps. Scott just tweeted the following:

#Up and ready for another day. Today we’re running the entire show twice. Can’t believe we open in two days:)#2 minutes ago from txt

Hope they conserve their voices during rehearsal!

PattyH. Exactly. What I think they should do is forget the Don’t Stop Bel song and have Adam and Kris sing an MJ duet. They are the only ones who could pull it off.

#Up and ready for another day. Today we’re running the entire show twice. Can’t believe we open in two days #2 minutes ago from

Hope Scott realizes, they open in one day!

I think Scott is counting today as one of the two days…

adding onto what CindyM posted, since Adam and Kris were clearly good friends, a lot of the Kris vote may have gone to Adam either because they thought Adam was better than Gokey and because he was a good friend to Kris or just because he was a good friend of Kris ie. who would Kris want to win, and he would want Adam to win no question about it, he may still wish he did….

As for the article of Danny, I don’t agree that he and Kris shared much of a fanbase. Yes, there were probably some “Christians” who would have voted for either guy over Adam. But Kris’ and Danny’s musical styles and personalities are very different. And judging by the crazy about of Kradam stuff that is all over the internet, I would say that a large percentage of those fans would have voted for whichever of Kris or Adam would have been in the finals against Danny.

It’s possible that Danny would have won if he had been in the finale against Adam (or Kris), but it’s not a certainty.

But the competition is over now, so IMO, it doesn’t really matter much. For his sake, I hope Danny figures out exactly what kind of artist he wants to be and gets the guidance to help him succeed. Because, to me, he’s just too scattered/unfocused right now.

PattyH. Exactly. What I think they should do is forget the Don’t Stop Bel song and have Adam and Kris sing an MJ duet. They are the only ones who could pull it off.

That would be amazing. A shortened version, AI style (90 seconds), acoustic of an MJ song with Kris on guitar or piano and both he and Adam singing. Right before the “Don’t stop believing” number, it would work. And all the Kradam fans would get the Kris and Adam duet we’re after! “You are Not Alone” or “I’ll Be There” would be perfect!
Can someone please call the tour director and tell him/her how easy this would be?! LOL!

Happy 4th to MJ and to all my MJ blog buddies!!!

Happy 4th everyone. Making Thai food for the cookout! hahah but having a red white and blue dessert.

Someone mentioned Hanna Montana….She’s filming her new movie in Savannah and they asked my Sister’s business to design and provide the wedding cake(s) for the wedding reception scene. My sister’s wedding cake will be a movie star! We are so excited. 4 tiers, rolled fondant with gum paste peaches and peach blossoms.

I know, I know, not AI, but it’s exciting.

I think what Gokey meant was that he and Kris was a better match in the finale because they both appeal to the same crowd. And if it was Adam vs. Danny in the finale, he would have gotten the same fate as Allen because Kris’ vote will go to him. That was his theory.

I really don’t know what happened to the Gokey magic. Actually, I stopped watching AI (when Elliot lost) but my daughter just loved watching the audition process because of the wacky personalities. So once in a while, I peeped. When I first heard Gokey and his storyline, I said ok this guy might win (he got the Elliot vibe). But right after he got the spot for the Top 13, suddenly there was a change of attitude like he’s becoming arrogant and wants to get attention by talking too much on the interviews even when not being asked (like I’m the leader of this group). He also has the habit of clapping for himself after a performance. That was a turn-off for me. Anyway, after Adam’s Believe audition and Satifaction performance, that was it. Adam had me hooked again on AI. Now I am a big mess.

Here is Lie By David Cook From last night there is a beautiful a cappella part of it. This highlights David’s wonderful vocals which were discussed in the media thread from yesterday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6jeUVMeDTo

Happy 4th y’all.

Regarding Danny — JMO I think that his belief that he “easily” would have beaten Adam is a bit like when Danny thought he hit the high notes in “Dream On”.

In any case, in the unlikely event that there could have been an Adam-Danny final, who knows what would have happened. Thankfully, we don’t live in an alternate universe and that didn’t happen. Even the thought of the ugly “culture war” vote that would have occurred makes me a bit queezey. Instead we got the joy of watching the Kradam final.

If we lived in an alternate universe, and singing well = moving forward in the competition, it would have been a Kradison Top 3 anyway. Danny would have been gone on the Final 4 results night, if not on the Final 7 show.

mj, I was SO trying to look at Gokey at a different angle and just embrace this kid; but then he goes and reaffirms my first impression.

Danny, you & Gene Simmons are SO very alike: You’re both so full of yourselves that I’ll puke for the both of you.

And you sang it best: Dream On!

Go Kradison!

Happy 4th, everyone!

So glad to read that Taylor has people around him that he can trust. I guess after he got ripped off in Nashville, he decided to go back to people he knew would treat him right.

Letter to Danny:

Dear Danny, I am impressed with your flexability. You have to ability to stick your foot in your mouth effortlessly! Keep up the good work.

Yours truly,

MrRJ

Dear Danny, I am impressed with your flexability. You have to ability to stick your foot in your mouth effortlessly! Keep up the good work.

Tell me about it. I got his number when they were being filmed in Motown. Adam said to a girl, “Your eyes are prettier.” (I’m guessing she told him he had pretty eyes.) Danny pipes up with, “He says that to all the girls.” Yep, Danny, nice way to shoot down both Adam and the girl.

One of the reasons I like Kris is that had he not won, he would simply have said he did his best and the others were great, and that’s about it. And as the winner he’s just as gracious. Adam is also gracious.

“All the kings horses and all the kings men,” Danny Dumpty.

Ok, is anybody other than me getting a picture in his/her head of Kris sitting there with his acoustic guitar singing this latest tweet of his?:

#”happy birthday to America. Happy birthday to you”#about 1 hour ago from TwitterFon

Oh, an Allison enthusiastically chips in with this twitter of her own:

#HAPPY 4th of JuuulYyyyyy Whooooooooooo..please please..becareful and only YOU can prevent wild fires…or ur self on fire LOVE u Peeps!!#about 1 hour ago from TwitterFon

On a side note, I’ve never been to Portland, but it must be a great place. Adam tweeted #Portland rocks!” last night, and Matt, Anoop and Kris (and maybe others — it’s hard to keep track sometimes) have all tweeted about how much they like the city.

“PattyH. Exactly. What I think they should do is forget the Don’t Stop Bel song and have Adam and Kris sing an MJ duet. They are the only ones who could pull it off.”

REALLY??? I understand that you are probably a Kradam fan, but lets be realistic here. I believe that the tribute will not happen because, like Anoop said, it is just too difficult to pull something like this off, and make it great like MJ deserves, in one day with tired Idols who are still perfecting a jam-packed show.

But, if they were to do it:
1. Kris may be fine, because though he has one of the weaker voices in this years guy group IMO, that sort of easy tone works for MJ songs because MJ had a similar style of singing.
2. Adam would be the last person I would want to hear giving a MJ tribute because his voice just doesn’t mesh well, or I can’t imagine his vocals on an honest MJ tribute.
3. I would be more inclined to agree that Anoop, Kris, Matt, and LIl would pull off a great MJ set than Adam and Kris…

Ryan Star singing TOML,

I think I officially love Ryan Star. When the tour first started, I had never heard of him and was kind of cringing about another “reality star” touring with DC, but I’ve done a complete 180. This pairing worked so well, and DC and RS seem to have become friends as well.

This video is love. Ryan has David’s moves down pat, he really sings it well, and DC looks sooo uncomfortable just sitting there being sung to. Cracks me up that he finally just has to get up and do something, so he goes and bangs on the cymbals for awhile. And not only did Ryan have to learn the entire song, but his band took the time to learn how to play it.

I wonder if David will get some retribution tonight. I’ll miss crazy Ryan when he’s gone.

What reality show was Ryan Star on?

I don’t want them to do a Michael Jackson tribute. I don’t even know why. I guess I think the tour should just be about the idols. Plus, there’s something I guess I find cheesy about tributes, sometimes. Can’t really explain it.

Especially not some last-minute, tacked-on thing.

Anyone want to buy a $9000 ticket to Indianapolis show?

http://www.stubhub.com/Adam-Lambert-tickets?gclid=CN638L-ctZsCFQ6jagodnWBEOw&cjpub=cj-2192082

Don’t ask me why they advertise AI tour as Adam Lambert tickets.

I think what Gokey meant was that he and Kris was a better match in the finale because they both appeal to the same crowd.

How does Danny know that he appeals to the same crowd as Kris? My favorites throughout the season were Kris, Allison, Adam and Matt, Danny was never in the mix. I think his voice has a nice tone to it, but he doesn’t know how to use it. And he’s proven that he has no musical identity. There are many reasons why I like Kris, but not one of those reasons would apply to Danny. As someoe said, aside from being White, Christians and males, Danny and Kris don’t have a lot in common.

About the Danny article:

Remember that the only thing Danny is actually “saying” in this article is what is in quotes. Much of that is what many, many people were saying when Danny was voted off and after Kris won.

The rest is the author’s words and inferences. You have to be careful not to project the author’s slant onto the subject here. It happens all the time when authors try to make something juicier than it really is. Just sayin’

Imo Kris actually would draw many of the same demographic as Danny. I don’t think that it’s so much that their styles are similar, but rather that Adam’s is so different. For instance, my Mom, if she were the voting type, would definately have flip/flopped between Danny and Kris, depending on who was left in the competition. She’s 65. When Adam would do one of his as she would say, ‘screamy’  rock songs, I can remember her saying, ‘Well, that is NOTHING.’  The other day, in the car, I was playing and Adam song, and she asked me who it was. I said Adam Lambert, and she says, ‘well, I should have known, with all that screaming’ ¦nobody screams like that.’  lol.

Also, most people have no clue which idols are close to one another. I certainly had no idea that Adam and Kris were that close from watching the show. You’d have to be reading about them specifically to know that. Most casual voters are not going to do that.

So, yeah, I think there would be a large contingent that would not like what they might perceive as an ott style of Adam (I loved Adam on the show), and would see both Danny and Kris as the mellower style that they would prefer. I’m not prepared to say that Danny would have won, but I’m not convinced that he wouldn’t have either.

I wonder if David will get some retribution tonight. I’ll miss crazy Ryan when he’s gone.

David will get even. Don’t worry. LOL

Hot For Teacher, David Cook, Thackerville, OK, 7-3-09
Wow… Hot and hilarious at the same time!

Happy 4th of July everyone!!! :grin1_ee:

Good article about Taylor! I read the other day about his 2007 tour coming in 27th was it in revenue? (I’m not sure revenue was the exact word, but it was 27th in something…lol) Anyway, I’m not that sure just exactly how good that is, but it sounds like he’s doing okay.

I hope to see him when Grease comes around this way, but I’d really like to go and see him in his concert after the show. That’s where he shines.

I would be more inclined to agree that Anoop, Kris, Matt, and LIl would pull off a great MJ set than Adam and Kris’ ¦

Remembering how great Adam and Kris sounded in their duet during the last Ford commercial, shown during the finale. I think they blended beautifully and have the talent to pull a song (not a set) together at the last minute.
However, I also have to agree with, ross, above. No MJ tribute is necessary. This show is about the Idols.

Reading the actual Gokey article, the author is very misleading. Nowhere does Gokey say that Kris was his main competition. He just says that he felt they draw off the same crowd,which he’s said since he got voted off. He never disses Adam or Kris at all.

What reality show was Ryan Star on?

girlygirl, Ryan was a contestant on Rockstar: Supernova. Somebody actually turned me on to him before it was announced that he’d be touring with DC, and I just love the guy. His “Brand New Day” is the theme to Fox’s Lie To Me. He’s a great live perfomer and a serious musician. He’s also very funny. I love how he can embarrass DC in a way that few can successfully pull off.

Imo Kris actually would draw many of the same demographic as Danny. I don’t think that it’s so much that their styles are similar, but rather that Adam’s is so different.

Adam and Kris (and later Allison) were my favorites the entire season. Never cared for Danny at all. Adam and Kris may be very different singers covering very different material, but IMHO they’re both serious musicans and, more importantly, they know who they are. Danny has a cool voice, but nothing else about him appealed to me in the least.

aek, the biggest Adam fan I met during the season was a 78 year old woman. He reminded her of Elvis and she thought he was way sexy. Apparently she also liked his singing.

I actually think Kris and Adam may share a far bigger fanbase than Kris and Danny. I know a lot of Kris fans, and not one is a Danny fan, but several are Adam fans. I myself liked Kris best, and Adam second best, this season.

After all, how many people are Kradam, or Kradison fans, vs. Kris-Danny fans? If Kris and Danny ever shared such a huge fan base, we would certainly have heard more cries of “Go, Kranny!” Or “Go, Dris!” (lol. That sounds awful) Well, we haven’t, as far as I know.

I may be wrong because this isn’t exactly scientific, I’ve just noticed that among tweens, teens, college age people, and people in their twenties, Kris is very popular. I haven’t been paying as much attention to how popular Adam is with this group, but I think he must be way more popular than Danny. The Danny fans I know are mostly in their later thirties to their fifties. Some of them also tend to be Adam fans. They are the people who’ve watched the show since the start and mainly like “big” singers. I actually think Adam and Danny share some fans there.

If you go on general image I suppose Kris and Danny are more similar and Adam is different. But to me, Kris and Adam share an ability to create a moment, a performance, and they’re adventurous in their very different ways. I think they have brilliance. I don’t think Danny has those qualities, despite being a good singer. I don’t think being a good singer was enough to beat either of those guys.

Ashley19 – you beat me to it. I was going to post that “Hot for Teacher” vid. Hot & Funny when that guy from Ryan’s band comes out. Ryan Star opened when I saw David Cook, and they were both good and it was a really fun show! Another musician I discovered through Cookie.

Ross, I think Adam has many senior fans. From some articles I’ve read, there were many women in their forties, fifties, sixties and even seventies who adored Adam. In one of his NYC after finale press tour, you could see a fortyish woman crying when Adam was singing. However, in the AI forum they cover every demographic.

@ross re: Jul 4th, 2009 at 2:42 pm post
I agree with every word you said there. I couldn’t believe how many posts I read after Adam’s B3 scare the week of Rat Pack where apparently many peeps were chastising themselves for splitting votes between Kris and Adam to save Kris who they felt needed help.

I also know someone who couldn’t bear to favor one over the others among Danny, Adam and Kris. She cast one vote for each therefore. LOL.

BestAI, I agree. First, thanks for that StubHub link ‘“ hilarious. $9,000 (?!?!) but so bizarre how it’s literally billed “Adam Lambert concert.” I wonder if they have a few different titles linking back, depending on how it’s searched.

There was and is still a thread on the AI forums called “Grannies for Adam Lambert” from all accounts, and based on that it’s always at the top of the thread listings, it huge and very popular. His demo is all over the place. Actually, last night one of the regular posters here told us she was 77. Amazing!

I haven’t actually looked, as I bought my ticket through Ticketmaster, where it was simply listed as “American Idol tour”. But I have read on a couple of other fan sites that some ticket brokers like StubHub are listing the tickets not as AI tour, but as either simply “Adam Lambert” or “Kris Allen” tour tickets.

I was also surprised to see that “Adam Lambert concert”……….maybe a prelude to the future. There are also some articles selling him as the main attraction. Maybe it all depends on the location where they will be performing.

Oh, I never meant to suggest that Adam doesnt have older fans. I am sure his fans run the gamut. I do think that alot of people in my mom’s demographic, which encompasses more than just age, probably wouldn’t like Adam’s style of singing. And would prolly find Danny’s and Kris’s style to be more similar to Danny’s and Adam’s. As I said, I don’t think that Kris and Danny are that similar, but moreso that Adam is very different to them.

I think that someone called Danny a “big” singer, and yes, I think that’s true. He says himself that he’s still working on his artistry….still growing. I don’t think Danny has the “artistry” that Adam and Kris have. But I do love to hear him sing…much more than I love to hear Kris sing. Btw, I do think Kris is talented, though. I still like a good voice, but I think AI is moving away from the big voices and is becoming more of an artistic competition. I like both….we need two shows, one for winter and spring and one for summer and fall…lol.

Hmmm so about those $9,000 worth Adam Lambert tickets, do we get to go backstage with him and help him put on make up and glitter? Very tempting…

Ross, I think Adam has many senior fans. From some articles I’ve read, there were many women in their forties, fifties, sixties and even seventies who adored Adam. In one of his NYC after finale press tour, you could see a fortyish woman crying when Adam was singing. However, in the AI forum they cover every demographic.

I know a 90-year-old Adam fan. Her favorite Adam songs: Whole Lotta Love, Satisfaction, and Ring of Fire.

I don’t think musical taste is nearly as age-related as we often think. There are people from age 0 to 110 who love easy-listening and there is another slice of 0-to-110-year-olds who like rock, I expect.

Gemini, you can do the makeup and glitter — I prefer to have a few cocktails with him (ahem), and I’ll even buy. What did someone say? Adam will never have to buy his own drinks again.

haha. did stubhub just become a pimp? i dont think i could swing 9k on my grad school stipend.

i cant wait for the videos to start rolling in!

On StubHub, the same tickets are listed for sale under ‘Kris Allen Tickets’, ‘Adam Lambert Tickets’ and ‘American Idol Tickets’. It does not list the rest of the Idols individual for tickets (i.e. Danny, Allison, Matt)

I don’t think it is how they are headlining the tour. I think it is just how they have their search function setup.

I know, killjoy….

As one of Adam’s “older” fans — although I really don’t think of myself being that old — I like to think that Adam fans just have great musically taste! He is an amazing vocalist, charming, unabashidly sexy, and knows how “to work the stage” and entertain an audience.

Since I first read a few of these Adam and “older fans” comments yesterday, I have thought about it a bit. I think Adam also appeals to women in their 50′s because:

1. He sings in a unrestrained and emotional way, reminiscent of many of the great rock, jazz and R&B vocalists from the 60′s and 70′s. But sounds current — he took “Satisfaction” and made it sound like something new.

2. Thanks to growing up with his dad’s vinyl collection, he really knows music from the 60′s thru the 80′s — and likes and respects it. This is somewhat unusual for someone on Idol. (How often have we heard Idol contestants the we love say things like “I didn’t know what to pick. I really never heard any of ______’s music before.”)

3. He has great taste in current music. For example, he covered Dilana, Muse and Gary Jules vs. some of the more generic and boring current music. (It very difficult to really get excited about most of the controlled, processed pop/rock and sedate Nickleback rock music that is popular on the radio.)

I have some older friends in their 60′s who love Adam because he reminds them of Elvis — thankfully at least that is before my time.

For better or worse, I believe that some men, mostly older, have a bit more trouble with Adam because of his “gayness”. Just my perception, but even my male friends who like Adam don’t love him like the women I know.

Omigod, keep Louis Walsh away from America, please! I cannot stand that man and he represents everything I dislike about the UK pop scene. Actually, the only think I like that he was involved in was the forming of Girls Aloud (which was a fluke and he did nothing post-TV show with them), so yes to Cheryl Cole.

I’m glad to see Taylor getting some recognition. There was a full page article in my local newspaper about him because of Grease, which is coming to Phila.

Now back to Adam………:)

Q3, I think it is a combination of reasons why “older” women adore Adam. 1) of course his megatalent, 2) Charismatic (even interviewers are smitten), 3) Personality plus (he has clever, witty responses at the top of his head), 4) Intelligent and articulate, 5) Well-mannered and poised, 6) Gorgeous (this could be higher), 7) Oozes sex (this also could be higher), He seems to so much fun to be around, 9) He’s thoughtful and gracious.

On StubHub, the same tickets are listed for sale under ‘Kris Allen Tickets’, ‘Adam Lambert Tickets’ and ‘American Idol Tickets’. It does not list the rest of the Idols individual for tickets (i.e. Danny, Allison, Matt)

I don’t think it is how they are headlining the tour. I think it is just how they have their search function setup.

I know, killjoy’ ¦.

Looks like there are reasons to advertise these tickets as American Idol Tour, and secondarily as Adam Lambert Tickets, and Kris Allen Tickets.

Just looking at Google search volume, most of the search volume is for American Idol Tickets. The only two Idols with any search volume are Kris and Adam — for every 150 American Idol searches there are just 7 Adam searches and 1 Kris search (past 30 days).

BestAI — love that list!!

Ashley19 – you beat me to it. I was going to post that ‘Hot for Teacher’  vid. Hot & Funny when that guy from Ryan’s band comes out. Ryan Star opened when I saw David Cook, and they were both good and it was a really fun show! Another musician I discovered through Cookie.

Ha, when I saw that vid my first thought was that was the guy who tried to sell me a Ryan Star cd outside after the OKC show! He told me he needed the money because he was living in a van. He was pretty funny and I can say I’m not surprised he did something like that on stage!

Floor tickets are still available for the Portland show through ticketmaster. Just checked today.

Funny that everything BestAI said about Adam was said about David Cook last year and we “older” women were made fun of as “cougars”. (I hate that word.) I’m older but I ain’t dead. What a difference a year makes.

Q3. You can tell I’m a little bit enamoured with Adam. Ha! Even if I hadn’t read anything from some industry folks, I, from day one, thought Adam would become a huge star. He was so adorable walking into the auditions. He already had that aura. Did you see that video clip of a producer who interviwed him before and after his audition? He said that Adam had this aura about him, and I’ve heard that so much. Even Lara Spencer (The Insider) said that about Adam when she first met him. I think it is part of the IT factor. Paula and Randy nailed it even before Simon. I don’t know why Simon didn’t see it at first, but he came around and was the one who said on talk shows that Adam would be an international superstar.

On a side note, I’ve never been to Portland, but it must be a great place. Adam tweeted #Portland rocks!’  last night, and Matt, Anoop and Kris (and maybe others ‘” it’s hard to keep track sometimes) have all tweeted about how much they like the city.

They’ll all say that with each city in the tour – in different variations.

Floor tickets are still available for the Portland show through ticketmaster.

Hmm, so it’s not a sell-out. I have a feeling this year won’t sell as well as last year’s…

He’d better just hope that the geriatric GRAM-berts still buy cds.

with regard to his “aura” – one thing ive noticed about adam that i think makes him appealing as an interviewee and as someone to just be around is the way he zones in on whoever he is talking to. ive watched an embarrassing amount of footage and anytime he is talking to someone he maintains eye contact with them the WHOLE time and is clearly listening when they talk. ive also noticed when he is being interviewed with someone else and the other person is talking he usually looks directly at the other person talking and listens carefully to their response. i think it is an indicator of respect and maturity and i love that about him.

also, i study leadership and all the best charismatic leaders do this. they give you individualized consideration and make you feel like you are the only person in the room. it is an incredibly powerful and appealing characteristic (who doesnt want to feel like they are being paid attention to?). of course it has be genuine, not cheesy, which i think adam is. i think it also translates to his performances because he always seems so “present” and conscious of the message being transmitted between him and his audience. and every once in a while he used that “eye contact” trick on the cameras and probably made people feel like he was looking through the camera at them. it surely made me take notice!

Renina…are you serious about Adam’s voice not meshing with MJ’s songs. Get real. On MJ night for American Idol Adam blew everyone else away. I think Simon said it eloquently “You were in a different league than everyone else.

I have reasons to believe that Gramberts will buy his CDs. If not by them, they will ask their children to buy one for them. As a granddaughter, I will buy one to my granny even without her asking.

To me, I think that Kris and Adam had the same fan base because musically and they are more alike than to Danny. They both rearranged a lot of their songs and made it their own and people appreciated that. For me, if Kris (as my favorite) had left, I would have voted for Adam even though I usually stop if my fave had left.

I know the Danny fans would disagree with me but I think the best he ever could have done was be number 2. I think if it had been him and Kris, Kris would have picked up Adam’s fans but if it was Adam vs Danny, Adam would have gotten Kris’s votes as well. People talk about people voting against Adam but a lot of people would have voted against Danny as well because they are both polarizing for different reasons.

I love how each year there is the pigeonholing (and sneering at) of each Idol contestants fanbase as either “tweens” or “cougars” or “grannies” especially if it’s a contestant they dislike or didn’t want to win. Those crazy cougars and teens! I can see why people assume most contestants don’t have the younger demographics (except for crazy, fickle tweens!) as the viewers’ average age is in the forties (which is why the “cougar” rep is there and so prominent with this show and its fans), but overall there seem to be across the board support for most successful contestants. I do find it frustrating that women are considered unworthy fans unless they are in their twenties and thirties (I say this as a twentysomething who has some time left till I am deemed unworthy!). Music meant so much to me as a teenager, so while that group has a reputation as being fickle, there is intense love for music as well. Either way, what will make or break the contestant is appealing to people outside of the fanbase.

Adam and Kris both seem to have appeal across different age groups, from what I gather online and offline (at the rehearsals or just going by the line for the show, Adam seemed to have the loudest teen scream, with Kris not too far behind).

I think pretty much all of the Idols have fans in various age groups. We certainly know David Cook has a LOT of 40 -ish female fans! It appears Adam, Kris, Danny and Matt all do as well, judging from some of the comments I’ve read on various fan boards! I always have to laugh when people act like if someone is a certain age (say 40 ) they can’t be rock or pop fans. If I make it that long, I fully expect to be listening to rock and music and dancing around my house when I am well over 80 years old.

He’d better just hope that the geriatric GRAM-berts still buy cds.

I think a lot of people would be surprised at how “hep” my generation is…us geriatric GRAM-berts.

We’ve lived through “stuff” that most people on this planet haven’t even taken the time to study much less lived through. Not only socially, historically, but musically as well. We’ve gone from cutesy lollipop and roses 2 minute spins performed by nice safe melodic voices to hell fire and brimstone acid infused 20 minute spins that leave your ears and senses realing.

The “now” generation don’t have a clue what music is all about. They listen to their “new” stuff and marvel at how “with-it” it is, while us old timers just laugh and wonder what else the young kids are going to retread and call their own. You have to remember that those of us under 70 have seen and heard the best of the best…vocalists, song writers, musicians, music interpreters, groups.

If people my age say a “new voice” is great…you better damn well believe it. We have 60 years of voices to compare it to. We know what sells, we know what “IT” is, we know who will endure and who will have their 15 minutes of fame and then dissapear. I’m amazed that the “entitled” generation of today, who haven’t been exposed to much of anything think they know what the world of music is all about.

Nicely said Tess!

Woohoo Tess, may I just say…. That post was the Bomb!! I haven’t had 60 years of voices to compare to, only 30 years, but I know excellence when I hear it. I definitely heard it this year, hence my first trip to the AI concert circus.

Renina’ ¦are you serious about Adam’s voice not meshing with MJ’s songs. Get real. On MJ night for American Idol Adam blew everyone else away. I think Simon said it eloquently ‘You were in a different league than everyone else.

A lot has been written about MJ vocal talent. His vocal timbre: Countertenor thru Baritone Highest note: B5 Lowest note : E2
Vocal range: 3.6 octaves
In the 1990s, MJ’s range expanded to 4 octaves. Apparently, due to aging, Jackson got few additional lower notes, while not losing the highest ones.

The ONLY Finalist, male or female, on AI8 with a vocal range similar to MJ was Adam. Adam has a range of Bb2 to Bb5 (F5 with his falsetto). So that makes MJ and Adam quite similar in vocal range and timbre. No doubt, Adam can sing any MJ song with ease and vocal respect.

You may prefer the style of some other Idol’s MJ song cover, but for the most part, they all do the same thing, arrange the MJ song to reduce the range, and take off the high notes. If you listen to Adam’s Black or White, you’ll see he actually expanded the range in his arrangement. And maintained tonal clarity in the upper range. Really an impressive performance.

Finally, one of the most exciting things about Adam is that he is 27 and has retained those clear, powerful high notes, seems to know how to take care of his voice and should be able to expand his lower range as he ages.

hollygo9
Jul 4th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
He’d better just hope that the geriatric GRAM-berts still buy cds.

Nah, not to worry. It’ll just be the cherry on top …

Oh, I didn’ t know MJ had a 3.5-4 vocal range. Nice! Did he really use the lower register in any song? He always gave me the impression of screaming a lot and singing like a girl (oh I am going to be killed…).

I do think that it was Adam’s vocal range that had people excited about him not to mention that he has that stage presence ang great moves and his emotions working for him. It has been a great while since we heard and see from MJ. He laid low after that child molestation cases and everything just went bad for him. Adam was right in saying that there was a void in the music industry for some kind of sounds and he is hoping to fill in that void.

I agree that we shouldn’t be applying the author’s inferences to Danny. Here’s Danny’s quote:

“When I got voted off, I think me and Kris kind of tended to draw from the same crowd,” Gokey said in a late-June phone interview. “So if I wouldn’t have gotten voted off, and he got voted off, I think our fan bases probably would have voted for each other (over Lambert).”

(English majors, please restrain yourselves.) I think Danny completely ignores the fact that Kris delivered Heartless the week Danny got voted off. For me, that performance sealed the deal for Kris. The song said that Kris was utterly current, innovative, a risk taker, great voice, great charisma and very gifted. I’m betting Kris picked up a whole lot of fans at that moment and even Adam fans (that would be me) had to admit that Kris was as deserving as Adam to win. Danny never delivered a memorable performance like this…well, yeah, Dream On was fairly memorable. Danny should be trying to explain how it was he came out ahead of Allison and probably Anoop and Matt too.

saga
Jul 4th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Oh, I didn’ t know MJ had a 3.5-4 vocal range. Nice! Did he really use the lower register in any song? He always gave me the impression of screaming a lot and singing like a girl (oh I am going to be killed’ ¦).

Naah, won’t get killed. If a person’s vocal talent gets you the record sales, fans, concert revenues and fame that Michael Jackson got, I’m sure no one would begrudge someone having the impression that said vocal talent is comprised of screaming a lot and singing like a girl. The rest of the fans can make up for the negative impression. :clap_tb:

LOL, I have no doubt the “gramberts” will buy his stuff. That’s not going to be the hard part. The big thing Adam has to do is appeal to an audience outside of Idol with his music. If he doesn’t make much of an impact on CHR, he better hope he can appeal to the HAC crowd.

With regards to the “now” generation — I think it’s a bit odd to declare that the now generation has no clue as to what music is. While I admit that much of today’s younger crowd does like to listen to some terrible, watered down shit, there are a lot of us (I say “us” as a 21 year-old male, college senior) who understand what music is and don’t feel any sense of “entitlement.” It really comes down to mileage. Let’s take for example, Adam Lambert. While some of the “older generation” marvel at his talent, I don’t think too much of it. I think he’s a great technical singer, but he doesn’t move me when he sings. So if somebody of the older generation tells me that he’s great and I should believe it just because they have more musical experience, I’d have to laugh at the notion. Again, it’s mileage, and it doesn’t make anybody right.

I have reasons to believe that Gramberts will buy his CDs. If not by them, they will ask their children to buy one for them. As a granddaughter, I will buy one to my granny even without her asking.

Heh. I’ll buy one for my granny too, not that she’d know what to do with it. She still lives in a small town in the “old country” and I’m not even sure she knows what a CD is.

About Danny winning. I agree with some of the other posters.

I am pretty sure the majority of Danny fans voted for Kris when he left because they surely weren’t going to vote for Adam this late in the game. Not if Danny and Adam were supposedly running neck and neck. But I don’t think that Kris fans, like myself, would have voted for Danny. Many of us Kris fans are Kradam and Kradison fans and I don’t believe they would’ve voted for Gokey. I don’t have anything against Danny it is just that I am a Kradam and Kradison fan and was totally into that.

Also Danny’s and Kris’s singing and music stylings were not the same. Kris is more modern and like today’s music and Danny’s has a little older sound.

To Matt: If Adam does not move you when he sings…perhaps you have not listened to his non-idol cabaret and musicals footage… or else you have a very hard heart…lol

Has anyone noticed how interviewers can’t seem to keep themselves from touching Adam? Seems he’s like a magnet to both sexes..mmmm..chance would be a fine thing….

RadioOne, who is one of Adam’s music producers, is one of the most current music creators of this new generation. So I’d like to think that Adam had all the generations covered in his RCA album. This is why his album is worth waiting for.

To Matt: If Adam does not move you when he sings’ ¦perhaps you have not listened to his non-idol cabaret and musicals footage’ ¦ or else you have a very hard heart’ ¦lol

I’ve listened and I was not moved. Sorry. I guess a difference of opinion means I have a black heart. Darn.

You & me both, Matt. Double darn.

Seriously, it is a matter of taster.

Alana
Jul 4th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
If Adam does not move you when he sings’ ¦perhaps you have not listened to his non-idol cabaret and musicals footage’ ¦ or else you have a very hard heart’ ¦lol

I most assuredly do not have a “hard heart” and have listened to most of the available footage of Adam’s singing – and it doesn’t “move” me either (Mad World the exception). Totally love him in interviews – he’s hot, intelligent, well spoken, funny….but I prefer cook, castro, and Allen’s tones of voices.

Another black heart checking in. And about taste. As an older person my tastes differ from my kids. One likes country, one hip-hop, one techno. I prefer Rock music. So no matter how much my son trys to explain a hip-hop artist I don’t get it. Now I have shown him some of David Cook’s live performances and he says “yea he is good Mom but not my thing” but he says he will come to see him because he doesn’t think he sucks. Now does he love him? NO Would he ever buy his CD? NO but he likes live music and will go and see him with me. And BTW he is also Black Hearted. YMMV

^^ what lifeisgood said. I can like Adam as a person but I don’t think I have a hard heart just because his music/performances don’t particularly move me. I’m impressed by his vocal range and technical skills though.

Ross, I think Adam has many senior fans. From some articles I’ve read, there were many women in their forties, fifties, sixties and even seventies who adored Adam.

Excuse me, who you calling “senior” here? – kind of offended forty-something.

Sorreeey.. all you soft hearted people that I appear to have offended (I never said you had ‘black hearts’). You are right, it is a matter of perception, and mine is that I find it difficult to appreciate that many reading these comments have another agenda of opinion than what seems to be the majority.

Alana
Jul 4th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Sorreeey.. all you soft hearted people that I appear to have offended (I never said you had ‘black hearts’). You are right, it is a matter of perception, and mine is that I find it difficult to appreciate that many reading these comments have another agenda of opinion than what seems to be the majority.

I actually quoted you correctly at “hard heart”:) I feel it is a matter of taste not “matter of perception”. I really like Adam – just not as enamored with his vocal tone. He certainly is a gifted singer and as I said love his personality, intelligence, and spirit:)
I read your post several times and I sincerely am not sure what your second part of your post means “I find it difficult to appreciate that many reading these comments have another agenda of opinion than what seems to be the majority”. ?

I like Adam, but don’t like his music. People just have different tastes. And for the record, I don’t like Danny’s music either, mainly because he doesn’t have a musical identity and lacks emotion in his songs. He has a nice tone to his voice, but that’s it. Back to Adam, I know he is talented, but I just wouldn’t buy or listen to anything that he puts out.

Also, there are plenty of Danny fans who seem to have a problem with Kris, and didn’t vote for him. There are those who think that Danny was the one who belonged in the final two, and they have no problem with spamming Kris Allen related boards in order to repeat their opinon over and over again.

IMHO, I think personality wise Danny and Adam have more in common than Kris and Danny. Looking past some of Danny’s more negative traits, both he and Adam want to be in the spotlight, have big personalities, are very talkative (especially about themselves, and both are overly confident (even though I’ll admit that Danny may be more insecure and loud than confident.) I think some people may have liked those traits, and wouldn’t have a problem with supporting both Adam and Danny.

quote: Alana said I find it difficult to appreciate that many reading these comments have another agenda of opinion than what seems to be the majority.”

Uhm, how do you know that your opinion is in the majority? There are so many genres and types of music for a reason. Everybody isn’t going to like the same things. Why can’t we all just accept that?

Ok. I am in my early 30s but I like Adam because of the star qualities I already mentioned in this site. Adam may be actually on the advantage if he has fans who are in their 40′s and above (as someone has mentioned) because these women belong to the earning class. They have money to spare for CDs and concerts.

I wonder if Danny will get a standing O because he is the only one singing an MJ song. On TWoP that person who saw the rehearsals said Danny’s set sounded like one long 30-min sappy song. It was funny when he/she said the techs started setting up Adam’s set even before Danny was finished (were they a little impatient for someone to finish and someone else to get started?).

This is way upthread, but I was wondering where this report can be found? I looked at TWOP and didn’t see the thread about it.

I can’t say Adam “moves” me either, and this is coming from a total fantard (hello, my alias?). Even Adam’s more emotional songs don’t make me tear up or anything. However, his music excites me. It grabs my attention and makes me appreciate being alive and shit (pardon my French) and I get high on that. So, Adam is succeeding in what he states he hopes to do with his music: get people thinking, excited, feel sexy, want to go out and have fun as far as this fan is concerned. Music doesn’t need to be deep. Art doesn’t need to be deep. Everyone can enjoy it at a level that they can relate to.

Mad World had a strange eerie effect. I am not sure what that effect is called. At first, I was mostly stunned by the purity of his vocals. I stood (yes stood, not sat) in front of the TV after that first MW performance with my mouth open, and had a “whuza” moment. Since I am not a regular AI follower I don’t know if this is a novel experience or not.

What I can say for myself is that neither Kris nor Danny, or even Allison, move me either, because I fall asleep before they are done. Matter of taste. I did stay awake for Kris’ Heartless but it was more due to the shock than any emotional impact.

Lola, I don’t think any of the contestants AI fans are a good indication of who will make up their fan base when they get out into the real world, and actually put out an album. You say that you like Adam’s star quality, but what does that have to do with his music? I think anyone who is expecting Adam to release anything like Mad World or Tracks of My Tears, will be very disappointed. Most people who vote for a particular contestant during the season won’t buy any of their albums, aside from what they do on the show. It’s not that they don’t like the cotestant, it’s just that the music that they release doesn’t fit their tastes. This is just one of the reasons why the contestants have to appeal to an audience that goes beyond the idol fandom, which isn’t as large as we all would like to believe. All of these people would fail if the only people interested in their post show work were those who voted for them.

babybelle32, why dwell on the negative when we can look at it on the positive way. You have your own favorite and I know you will support him too. As I will also support Adam irregardless of the music he puts out. It’s not only his star quality that I am counting on. I have mentioned it a lot of times what they are on this site and I just don’t want to repeat myself over and over again.

Adam may be actually on the advantage if he has fans who are in their 40′s and above (as someone has mentioned) because these women belong to the earning class. They have money to spare for CDs and concerts.

True, provided his fanbase is primarily 40+ crowd. I was in grad school in my late 20′s. After rent, food, killer (cheap) high-heels and booze in dance clubs, there was nothing left for big concerts and CD’s. A girl’s gotta get her priorities straight. Ha!

I do find it frustrating that women are considered unworthy fans unless they are in their twenties and thirties

It’s not that women outside this group are considered “unworthy fans”. But, it’s no coincidence that when that demo started tuning out of Idol en masse, Idol stopped churning out Kellys and Carries. Females in the age bracket both above and below the 20 – 30 range may continually claim that it’s not about the guys’ looks but their singing when they line up their support behind them. Yet year after year the boy contestants are the ones they continually “idolize”.

And as an offshoot of this phenomenon, male Idols, even in their post-show careers, have almost exclusively female fanbases. Adam may have women from all age groups supporting him, but they’re still all mostly women, along with whatever gay males he’ll be able to bring along for the ride.

The closest male Idol to being able to break out and appeal to a larger male audience is Daughtry because he/ they have managed to tap into Nickelback’s white trash base to a certain extent. But, still, male rock fans typically being the snobs that they are, will continue to have intensely strong resistance to any “rock” artist who came from Idol, Daughtry included.

Lola, I’m not being negative, I’m being realistic. I bet if you did a poll and asked everyone who voted at least five times in a season for a paticular contestant if they bought the contestants album when it was released, the answer would overwhelmingly be no. Speaking for myself, I’ve spent countless hours voting for people over the last seven seasons, but I’ve ony purchased music from three of the people that I voted for, and out of that only 2 albums. Most people aren’t going to buy a cd unless they like the music. Star quality isn’t going to have a lot to do with it. I think the days of people buying a cd as a souvenir are over.

My post had nothing to do with whether or not you like Adam or me likng Kris, it was about thinking that these people’s, whether it’s Kris, Allison, Adam or any of the other contestants, current fan bases will translate over to who they will appeal to when they release their albums.

Well, let’s just hope that all of them will put out an album that majority will like. Yes, I do agree that they cannot please everyone but having a solid fanbase will be a good lift in starting their careers. I also believe that if their recording labels promote and package them right, they have great chances of penetrating the music scene and be successful after Idol.

methinks none of them will amount to much post idol.

@noctem seizure: can you clarify the significance of 20-30 fan exodus from AI causing the end of Kellys and Carries era? Are you saying 20-30′s women are likely to vote for female contestants? I have always preferred male voices since my teen years all the way through 20′s and 30′s.

Adam may have women from all age groups supporting him, but they’re still all mostly women along with whatever gay males he’ll be able to bring along for the ride.

And the point of is? Is this bad or good?

Frankly, if women of all ages now make up a chunk of music buyers – I don’t know if it is true, but if it is – and they tend to prefer male artists whether it be because they are just male, have good voices, they sing well, or their representative genres appeal to them or whatever, isn’t that good? Why do you have to break into 20 somethings or male market?

Excuse me, who you calling ‘senior’  here? – kind of offended forty-something.

I’m with you. I didn’t realize that I’m already a “senior”at 44. I guess AARP will be mailing me stuff any day now.

Many of us Kris fans are Kradam and Kradison fans and I don’t believe they would’ve voted for Gokey.

That would include me. I hoped for a Kradison Top 3 and when it didn’t happen I voted like mad to keep Danny out of the Top 2. Once my Top 2 were in I didn’t care which one won so didn’t vote in the finale. But, rest assured, if Danny had by some miracle gotten into the Top 2 instead of Kris then I would have voted like hell for Adam.

I wish all Adam fans were like me. just back away from negative posts. there’s no need to defend him day after day after day .it makes no difference what you say, these people still won’t be fans and really taste does differ. His music is not 4 all, he said so himself and if u don’t like it go buy that guy’s record. it’s all good.

@noctem seizure: can you clarify the significance of 20-30 fan exodus from AI causing the end of Kellys and Carries era? Are you saying 20-30′s women are likely to vote for female contestants? I have always preferred male voices since my teen years all the way through 20′s and 30′s.

Women in the 20 – 30 range are the most likely identify with a Kelly or Carrie and perhaps even to feel solidarity with them. That’s not to say that women in that age bracket are immune to the appeal of good looking male contestants themselves. But, I think they make up the age-range of women who are most likely to embrace a female contestant and support her “all the way”.

The past two seasons especially, the finalists have been stacked with “heartthrob”-potential males. In S7, maybe neither of the Davids appealed to you. But, then there was Jason Castro and Michael Johns at your disposal too.

The more talented “cute boys” there are, the more likely that at least one of them is going to appeal to the majority of the individual females in Idol’s majority-female viewing and voting audience. For a talented girl to attract support, she has to win over female audience members over and above all the talented male eye candy they have to choose from.

This past season, if you didn’t find Adam’s androgyny sexy, then there was Kris’s Tiger Beat looks. Or Danny with his spiky hair, glasses, and stubble look. Or Matt and his fedora. Or Anoop and his goofy, frathouse charm. This made it all the harder for ultra-talented females such as Alexis to find a base– or even Allison, who should have finished second (to Adam) or possibly even first if the contestants were ranked according to talent….

Frankly, if women of all ages now make up a chunk of music buyers – I don’t know if it is true, but if it is – and they tend to prefer male artists whether it be because they are just male, have good voices, they sing well, or their representative genres appeal to them or whatever, isn’t that good? Why do you have to break into 20 somethings or male market?

You don’t have to in order to have a successful career. But, then you’re going to have the stereotypical Idol fanbase, and that in itself becomes a deterrent for many non-AI music fans when it comes to them embracing your music and embracing you as an artist.

I’m a non-Christian, gay-friendly Kris fan, and if Kris hadn’t made it to the finale, I DEFINITELY would never, ever, ever have voted for Danny. Maybe for Allison. Maybe for Adam. Maybe for Anoop, if he and Danny were the F2.

I love Adam’s personality and showmanship, and if his post-Idol sound were more Tears for Fears and less Led Zeppelin or Aerosmith (hated both of them the first time around), then I would probably happily attend an Adam Lambert concert and buy his cd. But if it’s all Led Zepp/Aerosmith/Kiss/Poison… Well, there is no way in hell I would sit through that concert or buy that cd. The masculine equivalent of Lady Gaga or Katy Perry? Yeah, probably not me, either.

I loved Jennifer Hudson and George Huff on the show, but I’m not into either urban/r&b or gospel, so I haven’t bought anything by either. And if Kris’s and Allison’s albums do not suit my taste, then I won’t be buying them, either. I can wish them all the luck in the world, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to abandon 52 1/2 years of developing my own personal musical taste just to buy something from a guy I liked on American Idol.

My 75-year-old aunt loved Adam, btw. She, too, thinks he will be another Elvis. And she doesn’t even own a cd player, so I sincerely doubt she will buy his cd. She also loved Taylor Hicks, and didn’t buy his cd, either. I bought it for her, and I don’t think she’s ever played it, again, not having a cd player.

“Tiger Beat looks”, huh? — boy that’s going old school. Hasn’t “Tiger Beat” magazine been out of existence like for 20 years?

Personally, I love guys who are easy on the eyes, but I’m not going to vote for them or go to their concerts or buy their music if I don’t like it. I’m going to support the person(s) whose music I enjoy the most and whose overall personality appeals to me. Guy/girl, young/old, I don’t care. Although if it happens to be a sexy guy — that’s a nice bonus!

The more talented ‘cute boys’  there are, the more likely that at least one of them is going to appeal to the majority of the individual females in Idol’s majority-female viewing and voting audience. For a talented girl to attract support, she has to win over female audience members over and above all the talented male eye candy they have to choose from.

Very, very true.

For babybelle32 and Lifeisgood:

I guess I was not too clear…getting up too early for Wimbledon and staying up too late reading these threads will do it. The “majority” that I referred to was meant to represent those that post an opinion here that have a sense of humour, are extremely informative and helpful, and are generally light hearted.

One of the many meanings of “perception” = “reaction to sensory stimulus”, so one could call it taste in regards to music if you wish. My perception could have been the cause of my response to your comment, and it could be the basis of my assessment of the majority of the posters here. Perceptions are like opinions, they are personal and never fully understood by all the people, all the time.

Let’s lighten up, it’s getting late.

Thanks for the clarification noctem seizure.

For a talented girl to attract support, she has to win over the audiencemembers above all the talented male eye candy they have to choose from.

Following this logic, the likes of Kelly and Carrie need 20-30 *male* audience not female audience? Not only that, aren’t 20-30 females are more likely to be influenced by a male contestant’s sex appeal?

Women in the 20-30 range are the most likely identify with a Kelly, Carrie, …they would be the most likely to embrace a female contestant and support her ‘all the way’ .

That *might* be true for AI voting 20-30′s whoever they maybe. I didn’t vote for Adam because I identify myself with Adam. Besides the love of boots, eyeliner and leather jacket, kind of nothing on common ground actually. I truly like the way he sings and his personality that comes through in his risk taking performances and interviews.

This made it all the harder ultra-talented females such as Alexis to find a base or even Allison, who should have finished second (to Adam) or possibly even first if the contestants were ranked by talent

This is very subjective, but whatever, we all have our favorites and that’s ok. I personally hoped she’d make it through instead of Scott or Michael.

You don’t have to in order to have a successful career. But, then you’re going to have the stereotypical Idol fanbase, and that in itself becomes a deterrent for many non-AI music fans when it comes to them embracing your music and embracing you as an artist.

That may be true. I guess time will tell. Since I never paid attention to AI I wasn’t aware coming through Idol was/might be a deterrent. But, yeah, since AI is kind of cheesy, doing well in it may not be so good depending on the market you go for…

Some fun tweets from Matt, Michael and Anoop:

Matt:

#Just saw my new home for the next few months.. very cool. I got the middle bunk. It’s amazing to even have a tour bus..ya know?!#
about 2 hours ago from web

#@michaelsaver1 is across from me and Anoop is above me. Thats all I got..moving on.. I’m waiting for a beard trim and a haircut yo!#
about 2 hours ago from web

#I gotta stay fly-y-y-y-y-y-y-y!!met some funs outside today. poor folks were standing in the heat. They said they didn’t bite so I came over#
about 2 hours ago from web

[GG's side note: I saw that it was super hot in Portland today - those poor fans waiting outside all day!]

Anoop:

#bout to do a full dress rehearsal#
about 1 hour ago from web

Michael:

#Hello everyone. Hope everyone is having a great 4th today. We saw our buses today and I picked my bunk. This is all so cool.#
about 2 hours ago from TwitterFon

#@daydreamjovi I grabbed the middle bunk so I didn’t have to scrunch down or climb. It’s going to be interesting.#
about 2 hours ago from TwitterFon in reply to daydreamjovi

So there was no male eye candy when Jordin or Fantasia won? People vote for a contestant for a lot of different reasons. If this was a show that only aired once, then the results may be different, but over a course of several months people vote for contestants based on their personality, singing ability, etc. Not every young female is going to vote for a male contestant, or vote or him just because he’s cute. Just like every male contestant is going to vote for someone based just on singing ability. What makes someone vote for a contestant is an individual thing, while some liked Danny’s personality others hated it. Some dislike Kris’ personality and some don’t.

BTW, most stats say that women make up the bulk of the buyers of pop albums, while men make up the bulk who buy rock albums. I don’t know how that will impact either Kris or Adam, but I thought I’d just throw that out there.

I still say that people are boing to buy the music that they like. While some may jump on Adam or Kris’ first albums regardless of what they sound like, the majority of AI fans won’t, but it will not matter, because the AI fanbase is just a fraction of the audience that these two, like all artists, need to appeal to. There’s nothing negative about that fact, it’s the truth. As is the fact that everything that people are saying is just speculation, because we have no clue what these guys debut albums will sound like.

Also one more thing, all the contestants will carry the taint of bieng on AI and will have to prove themselves, not just the winner. In fact, a few weeks ago Adam even said he was going to change his image, because he didn’t want people to think that is sound or persona was the same as it was on AI. He said he toned his personality down in order to do well on the show.

Damn, I have been staring at this site too long. I meant in the above post that I personally hoped that Alexis will make it through instead of Scott or Michael.

So did Adam get “the top”?

Except for Daughtry and Archie (who gets teens) no male winner/runner has moved past the middle aged female Idol audience. As a result they has achieved little if any critical respect or acceptance by the general audience. And ever time I read about how Adam is seen as another Elvis by a Taylor fan, I think..he is doomed. If he’s smart, he’ll make sure his first single has appeal to the Top 40 audience and not his Idol fans.

Wow, is Kris’s musicality being questioned again? Just skimmed some posts. I know for myself it’s the music first then the looks. In fact it’s generally the music that leads me to find someone attractive. Case in point. When I first saw David Cook last yr. in the top 24, I thought he was so geeky looking, but that night he stole my heart with his singing and passion for music. Funny thing is when I now go back to watch the first night, he’s no longer so geeky looking to me.

This is something I find in Kris as well. His passion for music shines through to me every moment he’s on the stage. On top of that he has ability in spades. Some people joke about his funny faces when he sings (some even make fun of them), but this is something that’s endearing to me because of his ability and passion.

On a side note: If some of the “little girls” like him because he’s cute, I only think that’s a bonus because if they follow him, they will be finding out about *good music early on. (My use of the adjective ‘good’ here is no minor thing.)

ETA: Even Ricky Minor called Kris the ‘Quiet Storm’. This was on an interview where he wasn’t even asked about Kris (iirc), but brought it up himself.

Following this logic, the likes of Kelly and Carrie need 20-30 *male* audience not female audience? Not only that, aren’t 20-30 females are more likely to be influenced by a male contestant’s sex appeal?

Well, since few men watch, and even fewer vote– ESPECIALLY power-vote, then, no, a Kelly or Carrie has to rely on “girl power” to carry her to the win. And like I said, I think young women are the most likely to relate to a female contestant.

That being said, I do wonder if even Kelly Clarkson would have won American Idol in S7 or S8, even though she still would have been the best singer. In her season, the heartthrob was Justin Guarini(?), I guess. In Carrie’s season, it was Bo Bice and Anthony Fedorov? In Jordin’s it was Blake and Chris Richardson.

Against those odds, a girl can prevail. But, stack the finals with four or five guys with a lot of sex appeal, and it becomes that much harder for the female contestants. (A sure sign that TPTB want a girl to win S9 will be if there’s a much higher “fugly quotient” among the male contestants!)

Perhaps the best way to describe the circumstances female Idols face was summed up by a poster a month or so ago (I forget who). S/he put it like this– if a girl is clearly more talented than a guy, she can beat him. But, if he is within the ballpark of her talent, she has no chance.

It’s kind of like the old truism of the workplace– for a woman to get equal respect to men, she can’t just be as good at her job as they are. She has to be clearly better. The same principle essentially holds true for American Idol, ony for different reasons.

Adam has been waiting for years for this to happen in his life. I’d like to believe he has it all planned out to make sure that his music will have a universal appeal. At least this is what I am hoping for and that’s what he said. Although both of them have their own style of showmanship, I beg not to compare Taylor with Adam. Anyway, I hope that we are not only considering America as their target market since we all are aware that these idols also have fanbases outside US.

jpfan, you make good points about how hard it’s been for some of the male contestants to attract male fans after AI. Most of that’s do to the AI stigma, since radio stations, especially for the ones who go into rock, pretty much refuse to play their music. That’s one of the reasons why Cook has being working his tale off performing at college campuses and at festivals, he’s trying to establish musical credibility and build-up a fan base that sees him as more than just that guy who was on a reality show.

I think David C. is also a good example of how small the idol fandom is, and how these kids will have to work hard to reach out to those who don’t watch idol, or who don’t declare that they will be forever loyal to the person who they liked, regardless if they like the person’s music or not.

Lola, this is going to sound obnoxious, but I don’t mean it to; the US is where the money is, that’s why so many acts from other countries try to make it here, and why so many actors from other countries come here. For better or worse, we spend more on entertainment than any other country. I don’t know what a record label would do if an artist was popular outside of the US, but not inside. I remember that one of the contestants from the first season was signed, and I believe she only released an album in the UK. Maybe someone can help me on the details.

I’m sure that the labels want their clients to do well in other countries, but I think the main piece of the pie is in the US.

JB1 Jul 4th, 2009 at 9:21 pm

methinks none of them will amount to much post idol.

No offense, but I think that’s a little silly. I can understand not wanting to predict which one(s) will be the success story, but every season’s had someone. Kelly Clarkson (1), Clay Aiken (2), Jennifer Hudson (3), Carrie Underwood (4), Chris Daughtry and Kellie Pickler somewhat (5), Jordin Sparks (6), and David Cook and David Archuleta (7) have all sold records or won awards.

Sybil Trelawney (spoken in her best Chandler Bing voice): “Could Danny Gokey BE any more clueless?”

He thinks that all of Kris’s fans would have gone over to him instead of Adam? Man, what is he smoking? Because he is smoking some good shit! As between voting for Adam and voting for Kris, it is not surprising that most ex-Gokey fans would migrate to Kris. But the reverse is not true: ex-Kris fans would not necessarily migrate to Danny. At least as many Kris voters would have turned to Adam as not.

Or, in other words, if I hadn’t lost, I would have won.

Adam has been waiting for years for this to happen in his life. I’d like to believe he has it all planned out to make sure that his music will have a universal appeal. At least this is what I am hoping for and that’s what he said. Although both of them have their own style of showmanship, I beg not to compare Taylor with Adam. Anyway, I hope that we are not only considering America as their target market since we all are aware that these idols also have fanbases outside US.

Lola, I like Adam A LOT. I think he is very talented. As a daily reader on this blog in the days and months after Season 5, if you could go back now and read many of the posts regarding Taylor, you’d be surprised at the similarities about what is being said about Adam.

I like both guys, and I think they both have unique talents. I am just saying the same kind of over the top epectations were there for Taylor as well. Many, many posters on this very blog had such high expectations for him, that it would have been impossible for him to even live up to them. Taylor was compared to Elvis, he was going to change music, he was the best thing that had ever hit AI, etc.

I am not saying any of this to minimize Adam’s talents or Taylor’s, for that matter. It’s just that this is a tough business, that takes both talent and luck.

I think and hope for Adam’s sake that he might be more well received than Taylor because he perhaps can relate more to a modern style. Taylor is pretty much retro…he always was.

I don’t think anyone should really generalize what type of person is able to win every year because Idol evolves every year. I mean, a few years ago most people wouldn’t have thought a married guy can win idol since it seems to favor someone who is single. I also don’t think looks is also an indicator of how far someone can go (example Season 2), because after the initial weeks, I kinda think it is their talent that gets them through all the other weeks. Its not like I have a certain type that I root for every season; it’s more about what they can bring for that season.

hehe.. also, in my opinion, Kelly would have won any and every season! btw this is not to start any type of fan war but Kelly rocks!

That would include me. I hoped for a Kradison Top 3 and when it didn’t happen I voted like mad to keep Danny out of the Top 2. Once my Top 2 were in I didn’t care which one won so didn’t vote in the finale. But, rest assured, if Danny had by some miracle gotten into the Top 2 instead of Kris then I would have voted like hell for Adam.

That’s funny this sounds almost just like me. Except replace Adam’s name w/Kris. Because, I actually thought the top 2 could have been Kris/Danny. If this would have been the case I could have voted all night for Kris.

noctem seizure
Perhaps the best way to describe the circumstances female Idols face was summed up by a poster a month or so ago (I forget who). S/he put it like this’“ if a girl is clearly more talented than a guy, she can beat him. But, if he is within the ballpark of her talent, she has no chance.

That was me I think after the top 4 result show. It’s not only true for Idol, most reality shows have a predominantly female audience who vote more for the guys than the girls. There is a demographic component that is very important for any voting show and AI clearly favorize one type of contestant that Kris matches perfectly.

People who think that Kelly, Fantasia or Jordin winning their season proves there is no bias needs to remember how dreadfull the male contestants were. Arguably the second best contestant those years were all female Tamyra Gray, Melinda Doolitle and Latoya/Diana.
Carrie Underwood was the female equivalent of Kris Allen as a contestant (not as a singer or artist), cute white young female coming from a small southern state (lots of hometown support).

AC
I also don’t think looks is also an indicator of how far someone can go (example Season 2)

If I rememeber well all the good looking ones you’re refering to were females, they loaded that season with good looking girls and neither one of them cracked the top 4, the sex symbol of that season turned out to be Clay…

babybelle32
Lola, this is going to sound obnoxious, but I don’t mean it to; the US is where the money is, that’s why so many acts from other countries try to make it here, and why so many actors from other countries come here. For better or worse, we spend more on entertainment than any other country. I don’t know what a record label would do if an artist was popular outside of the US, but not inside. I remember that one of the contestants from the first season was signed, and I believe she only released an album in the UK. Maybe someone can help me on the details.

Don’t know where this belief comes from? I don’t see that many successfull European singers/band trying their chance in the US, not more anyway than US acts trying their chance in Europe or Asia.
The Backstreet Boys were huge in Europe before having success in US if I remember correctly, Elliot has had more success in Japan with his new album than in his home country.
I don’t have actual numbers on hand, but I doubt that the US music market is so much bigger than either the European or Asian market.

Where you may be right is that having success in America may have a positive impact on a singer reputation because the US market is seen as very tough to crack for foreing singers.
It is a completely different story for the movie industry since Hollywood is still so huge in the landscape, successfull actors do tend to go to the US to make it big.

And ever time I read about how Adam is seen as another Elvis by a Taylor fan, I think..he is doomed. If he’s smart, he’ll make sure his first single has appeal to the Top 40 audience and not his Idol fans.

I quite like Adam’s personality, etc., but I never connected with his performances, and I think part of it was that he actually came off a bit old-school to me with a lot of his music choices. I’m not surprised he appeals to “older” women, cuz he kept doing like the classic rock stuff, Play That Funky Music etc. I’m in my 20s, and to me, I never thought he sounded current, except for Mad World, and that might just be because I’m a huge Donnie Darko fan. I liked the music Matt and Kris performed more. Even when those two did old songs, it sounded more current to me I guess. I liked that Adam changed up the songs he did, I just didn’t necessarily feel like he made them current, or made them better the way that Kris and with less success, Matt did. Like, I love One by U2, and hated Adam’s version. Just putting in my 2 cents.

Though all that said, I think with the help of great producers and co-writers, Adam could make a very current Top40 album. I’m just saying AI Adam didn’t necessarily appeal to the Top40 sound, I guess.

So there was no male eye candy when Jordin or Fantasia won?

The key factor is the “quotient” or “concentration” of quote-on-quote eye-candy. If there’s one or two talented good looking guys in a season, then females will have a better chance. Different types of guys appeal to different women just as different styles of music appeal to different women. But, the more different types of potential “heartthrob” males there are and representing more different styles of music, the more chance that at least one of them will catch the fancy of a higher proportion of the predominantly female audience members.

Take season 7. If David Cook’s creative rocker style– and did you notice his timely haircut/ makeover after he sang Billie Jean(?)– didn’t grab you, then there was Archie the teen idol crooner, folksy dreadlocked dreamboy Jason Castro, or the suave, acccented, soulful stylings of Michael Johns. Even David Hernandez had heartthrob potential, but was probabaly hurt by the gay stripper scandal.

And then there was this year. If you didn’t go for Adam’s overtly sexualized gender-bending, there was Kris as the GQ version of Jason Castro, Danny’s grieving widower appeal (especially to conservative Christian women), Matt’s stylish jazz club aura, and Anoop’s goofy college boy charm….
————————————————————————————————————–

This isn’t exclusively my theory, incidentally. Richard Rushfield of the LA Times has written extensively about this. And MTV had an article earlier this year asking whether Idol had become a “boys club”.

Then there were the S7 female contestants who compained frequently about how they might get two or three pieces of fan-mail a day, while their male counterparts would get a new box of it daily, as well as all manner of gifts sent to them. And it is simply preposterous to think that this kind of imbalance in manifested fan support that the boys and girls, respectively, received doesn’t reflect an imbalance in the competitive odds that contestants of each sex faced….

Lola, I like Adam A LOT. I think he is very talented. As a daily reader on this blog in the days and months after Season 5, if you could go back now and read many of the posts regarding Taylor, you’d be surprised at the similarities about what is being said about Adam.

aek, this shocks and somewhat horrifies me. To think that Adam’s prospects are seen as similar to Taylor Hicks? Wow, I can think of no two dissimilar AI performers. I never saw the thrill of Taylor. To me, he was a goofy novelty with modest talent. I never expected much from him, and obviously his lackluster afterlife seems to be bearing me out.
Adam, on the other hand, inspires such passion, obsession, sexual attraction and I haven’t even started talking about his incredible voice, personality, looks and the way the media has gone all gaga over him.
It is because of Adam, and ONLY because of Adam, that I find myself here at mjs, buying tickets to the AI concert, reading everything I can about Adam, etc. Heck, I’m 52 and I am now rocking black toenail polish because of Adam (just can’t do the fingernails … yet)
I find most people on this site to be incredibly smart. So again, it shocks me to imagine Taylor and Adam receiving similar responses here.

aek, this shocks and somewhat horrifies me.

ravengirl, I’m sorry, but it is true. I don’t know if the archives go back that far, but there are some posters that I recognize from back in the day, such as PJ and JPFan, and more. They can pretty much tell you how Taylorized this blog was.

Taylor and Adam, themselves are very disimilar, BUT the fanaticism and ott expectations from their fans are very similar. And I also would like to point out that to me, Taylor was never able to truly showcase his talents on AI as I personallly feel like he could have if playing instruments and arranging music had been as prevalent in Season 5. If you ever see him in concert, you wouldn’t recognize him as the guy from AI….or at least it seems that way to me.

I like both of them a lot, but I don’t think they are anything alike. So I am not saying that Adam is destined to follow in Taylor’s footsteps. I am simply saying that Taylor had a similar huge fanbase who expected “miracles” from him.

And yes, intelligent people like Taylor, too.

ravengirl- i think that is exactly aek’s point. how you describe adam is how people described taylor.

i think the reason it’s becoming more of a boy’s club is because instruments are now involved and with that, the idols also seem like they have to change up the song somewhat. Of the past 2 seasons, it does seem like the guys are better at that so that’s why guys have led these 2 past seasons. I think Brooke was good in season 7 but she seemed to have lost it a little towards the end. i don’t know.. to me, looks can get you past the semifinals, then it’s based on talent, and when it comes to top 4/5, it’s based on a combo of talent and personality

I

don’t see that many successfull European singers/band

I didn’t say these acts become successful when they come here. And my main point was not that being successful in the US gives these acts some kind of cred., that’s not why they are trying to make it here, they are doing it for the money. Are you trying to say that being successful in the UK is as financially rewarding as being successful in the US? That’s the bottom line that these performers and their label care about.

My post was in response to someone saying that we shouldn’t just focus on the US market. All I’m saying is that I don’t know if either Jive or RCA is going to stick with an artist who is popular over seas, but not here.

At this point, since the voting is all over, I’m OK is Danny wants to be deluded and think he almost won. My fav 3, Kradison, all got recording contracts, so I’m very happy. And if Danny gets a Sony Nashville contract, good for him.

Lola, this is going to sound obnoxious, but I don’t mean it to; the US is where the money is, that’s why so many acts from other countries try to make it here, and why so many actors from other countries come here. For better or worse, we spend more on entertainment than any other country. I don’t know what a record label would do if an artist was popular outside of the US, but not inside. I remember that one of the contestants from the first season was signed, and I believe she only released an album in the UK. Maybe someone can help me on the details.

US is only 27% of the global music market and its share is shrinking dramatically. Europe is bigger, but more fragmented. Asia’s share is growing. Here are the numbers for last year.

Global recorded music sales in 2008 (US $)

________Physical_______Digital_____Performance Rights_______Total

USA 3.14 bln (-31.2%) 1.78 bln( 16.5%) 54.8 mln ( 133%) 4.98 bln(-18.6%)

EUR 5.81 bln (-11.3%) 750.8 mln ( 36 %) 576.2 mln ( 11.3%) 7.31 bln (-6.3%)

Asia 3.6bln (4.9%) 1.06 bln ( 26%) 108.1 mln ( 14.6%) 4.77bln( 1.0%)

LatAm 430.3 ml(-10.3%) 62.6 ml( 46.6%) 25.7 mln( 16.7%) 18.6 mln (-4.7%)

Global 13.8 bln (-15.4%) 3.78 bln ( 24.1%) 802.0 ( 16.2%) 18.42 bln (-8.3%)

Source: IFPI

Over all, 39 percent of United States music sales in 2008 were digital, and the United States accounted for 50% of the global digital market. But 2 of the Top 10 digital sellers for 2008 were by Japanese artists.

No American Idol has every really cracked the European or Asian markets. Kelly has done the best of all but the vast majority of her sales come from the US. Maybe it will happen this year, and maybe not. We’ll see in the next year.

it shocks me to imagine Taylor and Adam receiving similar responses here.

I don’t know if a lot of people are actually likening Taylor’s and Adam’s musical styles. I had seen a couple of his performances briefly. This is the first season – and likely the last – I followed the show every week all because of Adam.

It is interesting to hear more “experienced” Idol watchers’ perspectives. Two things that I take away from various posts are 1) What appears to be a phenomenon on Idol is *not* in “real” world. 2) There have been other contestants in the past that were quite sensational and their fans were saying the same things that Adam’s fans are saying now, but their actual post-idol careers turned out quite different from fan predictions. Did I get that right, comment anyone?

to me, looks can get you past the semifinals, then it’s based on talent, and when it comes to top 4/5, it’s based on a combo of talent and personality

I think you nailed it.

US is only 27% of the global music market

Only 27%? According to the CIA fact book, the population of the US is only 307 million. If the world’s population is 6 billion, that means that 5% of the global population is responsible for 27% of the music purchases.

Seems like a pretty significant market per capita. Europe has a population of over 800 million. It should be a bigger market. Music sales should be almost three times as big, but they’re not. They’re not even two times as big. Add in the fact that the European markets are not homogenous (they vary from country to country which means you need to tailor your approach somewhat) and I can see why it can be tough to break in there.

Little Factiod: Royalty rates paid to American artists for music sold outside of North America are less than those sold within North America. I seem to recall it’s like 50% of the North American rate (there is some mumbo-jumbo about it being a higher risk to sell outside of North America, so the label deserves more of the profits for taking the risk). Another incentive for US artists to be popular within the US.

I’m not saying that America rules and Europe sucks, I’m just saying that the picture is very complex. International sales are great, if you can get them.

There have been other contestants in the past that were quite sensational and their fans were saying the same things that Adam’s fans are saying now, but their actual post-idol careers turned out quite different from fan predictions. Did I get that right, comment anyone?

Yep, I think you got it right. As Yogi Berra would say, this is like djà   vu all over again. That’s not to say that Adam cannot be a success, it’s just that the comments sound all too familiar. Right down to the excitement about “the jacket”. LOL.

Adam and Taylor are two different people, but I think one way in which they are similar is that both are more performers/entertainers and not just singers. During the finale, I heard a lot of people say that they would go to Adam’s concerts, but that they would buy Kris’ albums. After his album came out, Taylor wasn’t getting any radio airplay or selling anything, but his concerts were bringing in huge crowds. I think at one point, he was in the top ten in terms of all acts in concert attendance. Taylor’s music wasn’t/isn’t what was being played on the radio, but another problem is that what people liked about Taylor didn’t translate very well unless people actually saw him in person.

Sometimes I have the same feeling about Adam, but I think one thing that Adam has going for him is that I don’t think he will stand in the way of RCA giving him an album that is pop/rock (with a heavy emphasis on the rock). Maybe some day Adam will make the album that he wants to make, but for his first album, I think it will have trace elements, at the most, of the style that Adam said he wants to do.

I didn’t say these acts become successful when they come here. And my main point was not that being successful in the US gives these acts some kind of cred., that’s not why they are trying to make it here, they are doing it for the money. Are you trying to say that being successful in the UK is as financially rewarding as being successful in the US? That’s the bottom line that these performers and their label care about.

I understand your point and I answered that the European and Asian are as big as the US one, so in theory artists could make as much or more money there than in the US.

US is only 27% of the global music market and its share is shrinking dramatically. Europe is bigger, but more fragmented. Asia’s share is growing. Here are the numbers for last year.

Thanks, Q3 for providing the numbers.
There is a ton of money to make outside of the US, it’s just tougher because these are entire different countries with their own culture, values…
It’s very rare to have artists who have a worldwide appeal but if Idol can produce one of those, it’s credibility will take a big step IMO, that’s why they are so excited about Adam.

Very cool. Kelly has a DJ for her short concert tour and she performs If by Janet Jackson!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FwXMFwknxs

I hope she incorporates all this in her Fall tour!

GlamGirlLee, I do think you have that right. I don’t think that just because people are saying alot of the same things about Adam as they did about Taylor, that it means his career will follow that path. But as a fan, I just think it’s probably wise not to get your hopes up so high as to what is possible from whoever the most popular idol contestant is at the moment.

I didn’t follow Seasons 6-7 as closely, but I do remember checking in here one night back in the fall or early winter and reading the headline comments. The discussion centered around David Cook and his older fans, and did they hurt him, and blah, blah, blah. Older people getting offended/hurt at the suggestion and what not. As I sat here reading, I looked over at my sister and said, “It’s like deja vu.” You could literally take out David’s name and replace it with Taylor and I could have been a couple of years younger…lol. Then Adam comes along and it feels the same way in many instances.

Also, back to the comment about intelligence and who you pull for on idol. It seems that people want to think that the smart people are the ones who pulled for “their” contestant. I’ve got to say that I got this feeling from frequenting Taylor’s “Gray Charles” fansite. If that place wasn’t filled with a bunch of people who either were or thought they were or wanted to be intellectuals/deep thinkers…has there been a similar place for another idol contestant? I have no idea. I also say that as no disrespect to the Grey Charles posters…I read there a lot…but I did get that feeling. So I thought of that when the comment was made about thinking Adam fans were intelligent, but Taylor’s not so much. I’m pretty darn sure they both have fans that are quite intelligent and quite dull.

It’s funny how much in the AI world seems to repeat itself…but yes, Adam will be out in the non AI world, and that is a different ballgame with a lot of different factors that will influence his success. I hope he is very successful, just as I wish the best for all of them.

Hmm, I keep hearing about artist and actors from Europe, mainly the UK, who keep trying to break into the US market, and most of them say it’s because of the money. So, it would seem to me that at least in the UK, the money isn’t the same as becoming moderately successful in the US.

Oh goodness, we are back to the Taylor and Adam comparisons. lol How fitting now that the tour is beginning to start, and Adam might actually get some positive feedback on his performances. lol

Yep, I think you got it right. As Yogi Berra would say, this is like djà   vu all over again. That’s not to say that Adam cannot be a success, it’s just that the comments sound all too familiar. Right down to the excitement about ‘the jacket’ . LOL.

Lol. I forgot about THE JACKET! You are so right! Taylor’s purple jacket, that he was so proud of! Thank you for remembering that!

Only 27%? According to the CIA fact book, the population of the US is only 307 million. If the world’s population is 6 billion, that means that 5% of the global population is responsible for 27% of the music purchases.

Seems like a pretty significant market per capita. Europe has a population of over 800 million. It should be a bigger market. Music sales should be almost three times as big, but they’re not. They’re not even two times as big. Add in the fact that the European markets are not homogenous (they vary from country to country which means you need to tailor your approach somewhat) and I can see why it can be tough to break in there.

I think GDP numbers would be more appropriate to use than the population numbers.
The US economy represents I think 25% of the total, so it’s not that surprising.

You’re right to say that Europe isn’t a homogeneous market like the US is because of the different languages and cultures, but some artists do have that kind of appeal like M. Jackson and Madonna in the 80′s and Spears, Aguillera and maybee Lady Gaga more recently.

Hmm, I keep hearing about artist and actors from Europe, mainly the UK, who keep trying to break into the US market, and most of them say it’s because of the money. So, it would seem to me that at least in the UK, the money isn’t the same as becoming moderately successful in the US.

UK artists are definetly more tempted to go over to the US, because the UK in itself is a small market and there is a lot of cultural similarities between the 2 countries, but they try to sell in Europe too, Craig David and Robbie Williams sell huge in Europe while they aren’t big names in the US.

Hey MJ, I wasn’t sure where to post this, but I just wanted to let you know Jason has a new “date night” up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju_P942_EMw

UK artists are definetly more tempted to go over to the US, because the UK in itself is a small market and there is a lot of cultural similarities between the 2 countries, but they try to sell in Europe too, Craig David and Robbie Williams sell huge in Europe while they aren’t big names in the US.

Robbie Williams is a good example, because he has been trying really hard to break into the industry here. If he can make more money outside of the US, why is he acting like the US market is the pinnacle. The same goes for groups like the Sugababes, who have been the best selling female group worldwide over the past decade or so, but I’m not sure their sales compare to the top groups here, and they are continuously treated like they haven’t made it unless they make it here.

‘Tiger Beat looks’ , huh? ‘” boy that’s going old school. Hasn’t ‘Tiger Beat’  magazine been out of existence like for 20 years?

Apparently not!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Beat

After all these valuable discussion, here some side notes I found in idf:

Here comes MissAnalia:

MissAnaliaAllison sang So What, Cry Baby and Barracuda! I was in tears with Cry Baby! She’s amazing!!!
half a minute ago from TwitterFon

MissAnaliaDanny don’t know first, second Maria Maria and Wish
half a minute ago from TwitterFon

MissAnaliaAdam open with Whole Gotta Love, Starlight, Mad World, Slow Ride with Allison and Bowie set.
less than 5 seconds ago from TwitterFon

when asked about slow ride:
MissAnalia: More amazing than in the show! They were so happy and enjoy it!

Kris open with Heartless, No Bonderies, Match 20 song, ain’t no sunshine and Hey Jude!
less than 10 seconds ago from TwitterFon

MissAnaliaAt the end all together Dont stop believing! Bubbles at the end! :0)
less than 10 seconds ago from TwitterFon

ETA:
MissAnaliaFour songs PYT, Maria Maria, What hurst the most and Wish RT @whatever0569: @MissAnalia Danny is only singing 3 songs?
5 minutes ago from TwitterFon

MissAnaliaThe Top 10 yes, Dont stop believing at the end! RT @JosyLoosBR: @MissAnalia hummm just one group song?
7 minutes ago from TwitterFon

sAnaliaLike five minutes RT @MissGolightly22: @MissAnalia Hey! How long was the Bowie set? Time estimate in minutes?
10 minutes ago from TwitterFon

Robbie Williams is a good example, because he has been trying really hard to break into the industry here. If he can make more money outside of the US, why is he acting like the US market is the pinnacle. The same goes for groups like the Sugar Babes, who have been the best selling female group worldwide over the past decade or so, but I’m not sure their sales compare to the top groups here, and they are continuously treated like they haven’t made it unless they make it here.

They try to do it because the US is a huge country that represents a quarter of the total music market.

My point was that you said that:

the US is where the money is, that’s why so many acts from other countries try to make it here

Implying that artists aren’t successfull until they have sold in the US and that you couldn’t earn a lot of money without being popular here.
IMO it’s completely false and there are a lot of artists who are happy to sell in their own country and are fairly wealthy.
It would be like me saying that Carrie Underwood isn’t a successfull artist because she has 0 international appeal.

Regarding the comparisons of Adam to Taylor, I don’t think they have much in common. And sure, they both have/had passionate fans who think they’ll sell 1 billion records. But didn’t Kelly, Carrie, Clay and all the other major Idol contenders have passionate fans who thought they would be big stars at the end of their season?

I think he (Adam) is very talented. As a daily reader on this blog in the days and months after Season 5, if you could go back now and read many of the posts regarding Taylor, you’d be surprised at the similarities about what is being said about Adam.

Adam and Taylor are two different people, but I think one way in which they are similar is that both are more performers/entertainers and not just singers.

I agree that Adam and Taylor both are performers/entertainers and both did some classic rock on Idol. But I can’t picture Adam ever playing the harmonica and I can’t imagine Taylor doing a credible performance of “Tracks of My Tears”, a cover of Dilana’s “Ring of Fire, or Gary Jules’ Mad World. And I really can’t imagine Taylor singing WLL or Aerosmith’s “Crying” — or sincing with Queen.

Adam and Taylor both performed “Play That Funky Music White Boy” on Idol. The preformances and style are very different. (Note: this is one of my least fav Adam performance and a song I hate.)

Here’s Taylor’s version of PTFMWB:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uzD–noRE8

And Adam’s:

http://fr.truveo.com/Adam-Lambert-'Play-That-Funky-Music-White/id/3122110998

I actually think Taylor has more in common with Kris. Except that Taylor actually got the majority of press and buzz when he won, and Kris did not. In Taylor’s acoustic concerts, he does really stripped down, clean versions of songs and plays a lot of instuments. Taylor does a very nice acoustic version of “Ain’t No Sunshine”. All I could find was a bad video of a live performance, but here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6rMIOAf30k

And here’s Kris’ (IMO) better version of the same song:

There is a demographic component that is very important for any voting show and AI clearly favorize one type of contestant that Kris matches perfectly.

Maybe demographics played a part in Kris’s win. IDK. Who does? However, there is one thing that cannot be denied re: the win. Every. other. year. a big voice has won. This has been the bottom line for AI. This yr. it finally changed and I think that’s a pretty big deal.

Implying that artists aren’t successfull until they have sold in the US and that you couldn’t earn a lot of money without being popular here.
IMO it’s completely false and there are a lot of artists who are happy to sell in their own country and are fairly wealthy.

I don’t think I implied that artists aren’t successful unless they make it in the US, if I did, I didn’t mean to. What I did say is that by the estimates that I have seen, the people in this country spend more money on entertainment than any other country, and that’s why so many artists from other countries try to break into the market in this country. In fact, I stressed the fact that it is about the money, and not about trying to become a credible artist.

I actually think Taylor has more in common with Kris. Except that Taylor actually got the majority of press and buzz when he won, and Kris did not. In Taylor’s acoustic concerts, he does really stripped down, clean versions of songs and plays a lot of instuments.

Opinions may vary, but I don’t think Taylor is similar to either Kris or Adam in terms of their music. Unlike Taylor, Kris’ style is very commercial and currently what’s being played on the radio, that’s a huge difference. It’s also something that makes Taylor have more in common with Adam than with Kris. The type of record that Adam says he wants to make, and frankly I don’t think RCA will let him make it, is not currently what’s being heard on the radio. But, that still doesn’t change the fact that the two sound nothing alike. Playing an instrument doesn’t mean that you sound like someone else who plays an instrument, so I don’t even know how that comes into play.

I never compared Adam and Taylor’s musical genres or even the sound of their voices, I did point out one of the things that they have in common that people like, and that’s there visual style, unfortunately for them, that visual style can’t be translated via a cd or the radio.

Valentin432: There is a ton of money to make outside of the US, it’s just tougher because these are entire different countries with their own culture, values’ ¦.

I don’t think there are any easy markets in the world, The US market is big, but it is also very complex and fragmented. The top two selling US genres are Country and Hip Hop/Urban — might as well be two different countries because I can’t think of any cross-over acts.

Europe has a population of over 800 million. It should be a bigger market. Music sales should be almost three times as big, but they’re not.

Actual per capita music spending in the US and Western Europe is about the same. (Almost all of the legal European music sales are from EU countries with a population of just under 500 million. And legal sales of music are almost non-existant in Russia and most of Eastern Europe.)

Simiilarly, most of the legal (measured) music sales in Asia come from Japan, Korea, Signapore and a handful of other countries.

China is growing but most experts believe that over 95% of Chinese physical music sales are of pirated material and almost no legal downloads are sold there. It’s so bad there that many popular Chinese artists use CD as promo materials and make their money from concerts and merchandise sales.

Finally, I think as the conversion from physical media to digital continues, the world may end up looking more like the Chinese market — artists making their money from concerts and merchandise.

I agree that Adam and Taylor both are performers/entertainers and both did some classic rock on Idol. But I can’t picture Adam ever playing the harmonica and I can’t imagine Taylor doing a credible performance of ‘Tracks of My Tears’ , a cover of Dilana’s ‘Ring of Fire, or Gary Jules’ Mad World.

I actually can see Taylor doing a good cover of these three songs. It wouldn’t be anything like Adam’s, but I could see him reworking those to fit his own style. The Aerosmith and singing with Queen…not so much. But then again, Taylor shared the stage with Snoop Dogg, so who knows? lol.

I couldn’t get all of the links to work, but I did listen to Taylor’s Ain’t No Sunshine…I enjoyed it. The sound quality is not that good because I think it’s from a live pre idol performance in a bar, but it does show a side of Taylor that people didn’t see on Idol. Thanks.

babybelle32: Opinions may vary, but I don’t think Taylor is similar to either Kris or Adam in terms of their music. Unlike Taylor, Kris’ style is very commercial and currently what’s being played on the radio, that’s a huge difference. It’s also something that makes Taylor have more in common with Adam than with Kris. The type of record that Adam says he wants to make, and frankly I don’t think RCA will let him make it, is not currently what’s being heard on the radio. But, that still doesn’t change the fact that the two sound nothing alike. Playing an instrument doesn’t mean that you sound like someone else who plays an instrument, so I don’t even know how that comes into play.

Yes, I guess we will never agree on everything, but I agree with a lot of what you wrote.

I agree with you that Taylor has very little in common with Kris or Adam. My point was simply that saying Taylor = Adam because they both are “entertainers” is the same as saying Taylor = Kris because the both play acoustic guitar. A superficial comparison.

I also agree with you that Kris is more contemporary than Taylor, and Kris has more commercial potential. He reminds me of James Morrison (a compliment). I think that 19/Jive will push Kris more toward the commercial pop space but I hope they leave Kris be Kris.

But I don’t agree that because Adam want to make music that has a distinctive style, he wants to produce an album filled with music that is “not currently what’s being heard on the radio”. He has consistently talked about doing a multi-genre album, with electronica-dance, pop-rock, hip hop fusion — and the radio is filled with that. Adam’s also working with producers and writers who currently have hits on the pop charts in the US, Europe and Asia — and they are the people who were on his list — not RCA’s list.

Very little is certain — but I know one thing — we’ll get all the answers in the Fall. Till then I guess it is fun to speculate.

agree with you that Taylor has very little in common with Kris or Adam. My point was simply that saying Taylor = Adam because they both are ‘entertainers’  is the same as saying Taylor = Kris because the both play acoustic guitar. A superficial comparison.

I never said that Taylor equals Adam, or the other way around. I said they have very little in common besides being performers/entertainers, and that neither of them can translate that to a cd or to the radio. Which is one thing that hurt Taylor, besides not getting played on the radio.

I also said that like Taylor, Adam is interested in a style that’s not being currently played on the radio, at least that’s my impression based on how he describes his sound. Of course I don’t know what his sound will be, since he hasn’t even produced the album yet. I also said that I don’t think RCA will let Adam make the album that he wants to make, at least not for his first album, and that it will probably be more pop heavy than he wants it to be, which will be different from Taylor, who stuck with the style that he likes.

None of that, IMO, reads that Taylor equals Adam.

Thanks, Q3, for the reference to Taylor’s version of PTFMWB. What was that weird thing he (Taylor) was wearing? Did he just come from ROTC training? I thought he tripped and was having a seizure at the end. Having said that, if I saw someone do Taylor-like antics at a party, I would have thought he was a hoot.

I agree with babybell32 that Taylor is not similar to either Kris or Adam. They sound so different, but I disagree on that visually Taylor and Adam are similar. Except for the fact that they both like to work the audience, at least the visual effects are drastically different. Tayor spells frump, fun but nevertheless frump, to me. Adam is edgy, Kris, clean-cut GQ, short GQ.

Now, I am going to listen to Ain’t No Sunshine…

I don’t think RCA will let Adam make the album that he wants to make, at least not for his first album, and that it will probably be more pop heavy than he wants it to be, which will be different from Taylor, who stuck with the style that he likes.

I didn’t get the sense Adam doesn’t want pop-heavy in his first album. In fact, I pegged him to try to do predominently dance-pop-rock for debut album with some fusion flavors. His pre-idol (non Citizen Vein stuff) recording demos were all pop unless I missed some other jewel, in which case I have to go hunt them down. :tongue1_tb:

Didn’t he say he picked the older songs because they showcased his vocals better? Throughout the whole competition he was more focused on setting himself apart from the rest and getting the exposure, showing what is capable of doing instead of specifically what he will be doing. I don’t think pop-dance songs would have cut it in a “singing” competition – although how much of a singing competition AI really is debatable. First of all, old fart Simon would have torn him to shreds. Apparently, the older songs with bigger vocals strategy worked since producers like RedOne sought him out.

IDK, but speculating is fun anyway. :cool1_tb:

Thanks, Q3, for the reference to Taylor’s version of PTFMWB. What was that weird thing he (Taylor) was wearing? Did he just come from ROTC training? I thought he tripped and was having a seizure at the end. Having said that, if I saw someone do Taylor-like antics at a party, I would have thought he was a hoot.

Taylor actually was pretty strategic in his song choices. He would be fun Taylor one week to appease those fans and then serious Taylor the next week to keep those fans.

Perhaps even the frump was strategic…I remember Taylor once said that one of the AI vocal coaches once said to him when he was munching on the food they have out for the idols, “You better watch it, you’re getting a belly.” And he replied, “Middle America loves my belly, I’ll lose weight once the show is over.” And he did. lol.

GlamGirlLee I thought he tripped and was having a seizure at the end.

LMAO at that one!! It is really odd, isn’t it. Somehow even though I watched every minute of AI5, I really had forgotten about Taylor’s stange preformances. No wonder Simon didn’t take him seriously.

AI5 was a strange season for me — my favs wents out #3 Elliott Yamin and #4 Daughtry — so I really didn’t care who won at all. And I still watched.

At least this year, my 3 — Kradison — took #1, #2 and #4. Very cool.

aek: And yes, intelligent people like Taylor, too.

I agree and like Taylor too. So, hopefully I am one of the intelligent people. : )
And I also agree Taylor is really very good in concert — particurly his acoustic concert tour was good.

Taylor actually was pretty strategic in his song choices. He would be fun Taylor one week to appease those fans and then serious Taylor the next week to keep those fans.

Actually, that performance of PTFMWB was even more strategic. That was Top 5 night when AI shows normally (when the judges don’t hog all the time) goes to 2 performances a night. He did PTFMWB for the fans that liked dancing-monkey Taylor and “Something” (by the Beatles”) for his second number to appeal to those who loved him singing ballads. He would continue to follow this approach until he won. He treated his two performances as a mini-concert and I’m not sure you can properly evaluate what he was doing without looking at both of them.

This is one of the things I hated this year. Normally, by the time you get to Top 5, the Idols get more freedom. Matt commented that the reason he threw his falsetto and riffs into every song is that he only got one chance to impress each week. Imagine if he got two songs. He could have left the riffs/falsetto out of one song. Adam could have done one ballad, one OTT performance. Kris would have played every instrument in the orchestra. LOL. Anyway.

Maybe this is one of the problems withe the internet, people misunderstand what you say. Taylor and Adam look nothing alike. By visual, I meant that one of the key elements of what draws people to them is the visual show that they both put on. That’s why both are considered entertainers/performers and not just singers. People constantly talked about the visual element of both, and this is one of the reasons why Taylor’s tours did so well. But, that element is lost in recorded music. That doesn’t mean that Adam won’t be successful, or that Adam won’t break into radio, which was Taylor’s biggest obstacle. I was just listing perhaps the only thing that the two have in common.

Interesting Taylor/Adam talk.

I agree both are “visual performers”. Translating that visual performing talent into cd sales may or may not happen. So far Taylor has not had the massive success(at least not in cd sales) that others have had. It remains to be seen if Adam will be more successful. I believe it will depend on the label’s support. I think Taylor had a tough road because in addition to his genre of music not being currently popular, I think he was pretty adamant about his music selections. I think there was likely compromise but I believe it was likely after much head banging with TPTB(just my opinion based on what I have read over the last few years). I think if the label had fully supported Taylor and he had gotten radioplay his Cd sales would have been greater. If Adam has their support I don’t think he will have a problem.

I agree with aek- lots of similarities between Taylor and Adam post AI discussion on MJ’s.

I also agree that Taylor puts on one incredible live show(I have been to more than I should admit to) and if you get a chance go see him live(the tickets aren’t terribly expensive these days). And if you haven’t seen him live I don’t think you can imagine how good he might be.

I like to hope I am an intelligent Taylor fan. If we measure it in education I’ve got my MBA and my CPA. Should we compare ACT scores?

nevermind, probably not a good idea.

I’ve watched every year, and while I didn’t always read this board, I read a lot of other boards, and yes, most years there were OTT fans excited for their favorites, yes there was a lot of enthusiasm for Taylor, and also for Clay, Kelly, Blake, the two Davids, Michael Johns, etc.

I don’t get the comparisons to Taylor in particular. Taylor danced and was entertaining, but never did he put on hug shows like Adam did, and Taylor never had the widespread media enthusiasm that Adam has generated. Taylor always had detractors among fans, viewers, and the media, especially from those who thought Daughtry should have won. Taylor never had the overall high expectations of superstardom and wild success that are predicted for Adam.

No, I don’t see the comparisons at all, except perhaps as a subtle way to try to disparage Adam and the expectations surrounding him. And when it comes to Clay, while he had fervent fans, he also had a lot of scorn in the media and from non-fans. And while there was some excitement for Blake, there was also derision about his beat-boxing and the excitement was not far-reaching.

While there was excitement for other Idols, like for David Cook, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the level of media expectation and excitement for anyone as I’m seeing for Adam. To me as a viewer, this media sensation that is Adam is unprecedented, and there is not the scorn and amusement that existed for Clay and Taylor. People really, really expect Adam to be a superstar, including many in the industry and the media, so I think this level of excitement is new to Idol and will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

Why only Taylor and Adam? How quickly people forgot Blake was a fantastic performer on the show and was going to sell 5 million albums? He was going into the electro/dance/pop thing too. They even shared the same age! I guess these three have something in common in that they are all novelty acts and very different for the show.

flicker,
not sure if your nevermind was directed at me but my last comment was very tongue in cheek in case you didn’t appreciate my sarcastic sense of humor.

123abc456 so true about even kids/siblings in the same family have different tastes in music. My mother had four kids in four years. But we all had and have very different taste in music so you can’t even generalize about the young’uns. I liked disco and pop, my sister liked what was considered more alternative music then, my one brother always like Middle of the Road stuff adults liked at an early age and my other brother was the 100% heavy metal or die boy.

Though all my nieces and nephews seem to be into the hip hop stuff, the nieces finally having outgrown Hillary Duff and Hannah Montana. Some new guy called Drake, a Canadian guy who is the new hot thing. But perhaps that will change in 5 years again.

Yes another blackheart here, talking about Idol last night with some friends I haven’t seen in a long time and the consensus was split on AL.

Well said Valentin432 A lot of artists who live outside of the US grew up on American music and were influenced by it – see the Beatles for example. I don’t think they thought they had made it until they were accepted in the US, the ostensible birthplace of rock n roll. Same with Elton John. It isn’t just the money or the size of the market, though that is important, but the history of music in the US. It’s the challenge as much as anything else. I don’t think Shakira needed to break the US market, she is a superstar in South America but she can say she did it.

It’s like Frank Sinatra says, if I can make it there, I can make it anywhere.

PS I see someone posted sales figures for music but in terms of tour revenue potential, my feeling is it’s the US baby. Why do you think AC/DC started their latest tour with North America – they filled huge stadium after huge stadium here on the first leg so came around for a second leg to do it again.

No, I don’t see the comparisons at all, except perhaps as a subtle way to try to disparage Adam and the expectations surrounding him.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but when I read this thread yesterday I could have sworn the person that initially talked about the comparison between Adam and Taylor (was it aek?) was a big Adam fan. I thought he/she was just cautioning fans to temper their expectations a bit. So no disparagement intended, I don’t think.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but when I read this thread yesterday I could have sworn the person that initially talked about the comparison between Adam and Taylor (was it aek?) was a big Adam fan. I thought he/she was just cautioning fans to temper their expectations a bit. So no disparagement intended, I don’t think.

Absolutel no disparagement intended whatsoever for either Adam or Taylor. I think Adam is super talented….but I do think fans tend to get carried away.

Ok. I am in my early 30s but I like Adam because of the star qualities I already mentioned in this site. Adam may be actually on the advantage if he has fans who are in their 40′s and above (as someone has mentioned) because these women belong to the earning class. They have money to spare for CDs and concerts.

Didn’t help Taylor.

I have a feeling that, while the young tend to have less money, they tend to spend way higher percentages of their money on stuff like music, jeans, etc. While older people spend more, but it’s on stuff like sofas, carpets, trips, mulch, SUVs, ect.

Seems like we went through a lot of this conversation back in Season 5, and when you looked at the data, it appeared that, while everybody up through their 60s was buying music, teens and 20somethings were actually buying the most.

I find most people on this site to be incredibly smart. So again, it shocks me to imagine Taylor and Adam receiving similar responses here.

It’s true. The last phenomenon similar to Adam I’ve seen on *this* blog was definitely Taylor. They both were going to “change the music industry.” They both were “the new Elvis.” …

The thing is, most really intense fandom is abmout who people fall in sexual love with, seems to me. (and most of it is sublimated, which makes it even stronger, lol!) People are speaking out of their own responses, and of course that doesn’t say anything one way or that other about performer’s actual commercial prospects, which depend on completely different stuff. You never know what’s going to happen. Keeps it interesting.

Well I’ll just say it again, several of the idols have had fervent fans, Taylor, Clay, Blake, Constantine, Bo, the two Davids, and Adam come to mind right away. Other than that, I see nothing in common between Adam and Taylor.

Taylor danced and entertained a bit but it was mild compared to the spectacles that Adam comes up with. Also Adam has received unprecedented media attention and industry attention. It’s not just fans excited about Adam, it’s a whole lot of knowledgable people in the music industry and media.

I’m not a big Adam fan, just kinda, but I think the attention he’s getting is unprecedented and he has fewer detractors than I think Taylor, Clay, and Blake had, for instance. I really fail to see the basis for comparisons to Taylor but whatever.

Taylor was the most boring and annoying contestant ever! I could not stand him at all. Ugh. I’m still grossed out by him.

Absolutel no disparagement intended whatsoever for either Adam or Taylor. I think Adam is super talented’ ¦.but I do think fans tend to get carried away.

Sorry aek, I didn’t even know who started the discussion, I just couldn’t imagine why they were being compared, but I agree that fans get carried away sometimes. I think I did not really understand the gist of the debate so I will bow out of it.

the reason why taylor hicks never been succesfull is due to the fact that he lacks star appeal and commercial appeal. he looks so old and his music is irrelevant. Actually here in asia american idol winners like kelly clarkson, jordin sparks and david cook along with adam lambert (whose song mad world is currently number 1 in china, phillipines,singapore, Malaysia and indonesia and the rest of southeast asia) dominates the chart. Adam is phonemal he can go whatever direction he likes and still be successful. idont get all the talks about him saying his not radio friendly where infact he is no.1 in every radio station here.