Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m not that familiar with modern rockers but the ones Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ve seen arenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t particularly hot.

LOL, I’m always amazed by the rock star hysteria that overtakes women and turns them into groupies for seriously fug dudes like Mick Jagger. In my early 20′s, I worked in an office building that housed the local rock station. On occasion, I would quite literally bump into some famous rockers on the way in or out. The one that sticks with me the most – was Aerosmith. Their collective fugness in real life nearly knocked me over. Yet, the hotest women in the world will have sex with them because they’re rock stahs!

Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m sure Cook has male fans but Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m mostly seeing the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“thudà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  focus.

But, on another note, I think the thudding is pretty harmless. I’m not typically a thudder (for instance, I can plainly see that my dearest beloved Billy Joel is kind of homely), but I totally understand how people can become overcome by such things. I don’t think it becomes troublesome until fans get, as you say, “over-invested” and defensive and protective and start pearl-clutching and mother-henning all over the land.

Archie has one fan who isn’t a teen. Barbara Cook(Bway legend) did a recent interview and raved about him. Archie has enough to deal with overcoming the curse of the runner up. So far only Clay has survived that one.

Archie has a much broader appeal than Cook and a much longer career, because of his age and the changes he will go through along the way.

I’d love to know what you’re basing that assessment on (not fanwaring, actually curious). I’m refering more to the first part – How can you tell Archie has a “much broader appeal” without having some kind of survey in place? I just don’t get how anyone can do anything but guess at this point – we really don’t know what their albums are going to sound like, so how can we say who they will and will not appeal to?

I guess maybe ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s a perception thing, but my perception is just the opposite. I think huge success usually requires both male and female fans. I also think the more you move away from the pop rock and into the harder stuff, the more the male fans outnumber the women.

I agree, and to take it further, the appeal has to go beyond looks and personality if the artist is going to have any sort of longevity in the business.

Oh, I forgot how many male fans contributed to the initial success of pop/rock artists like Bon Jovi, Nickelback and our very own Daughtry. Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m sorry, I couldnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t even keep a straight face while typing that. They may have gained some male fans along the way but I think we all know the majority of their fans are of the female persuasion.

Huh? This theory doesn’t wash for me. I was in high school during Bon Jovi’s late 80′s heyday. They had a ton of male fans, and if the most recent concert I attended is any indication – they still do.

All of the Nickelback fans I know are men. And, my husband loves his Daughtry cd. I also attended one of Daughtry’s first concerts, and while there were plenty of fangirls in the room – there was also a respectable representation of men.

I guess maybe it’s a perception thing, but my perception is just the opposite. I think huge success usually requires both male and female fans. I also think the more you move away from the pop rock and into the harder stuff, the more the male fans outnumber the women.

But, on the subject of fans, I wonder what will happen to the Archie fans who are fans of his pretty ballads if he puts out a Disney type pop album? Will they go the way of Kat fans who wanted the performer they saw on the show and not the one that the record label tried to manufacture? Or, on the other hand, if he does make an album of what he does best, will the little Disney types who squeal because heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s cute (really?) and young buy it? We know that he canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t go the urban route; that would be absurd (he is no Timberlake and I giggle thinking of Archie bringing sexy back). And, looking at Jiveà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s artist roster, the only non-urban male solo artists are Nick Carter and Nick Lachey (former boy banders who have struggled with solo careers). Good luck Archie.

Archie’s fans are much more diverse and much more savvy than most people give them credit for. The “Disney” comments are not even a worry as that is as laughable as you say going the urban route is. The young girls who are squealing now are squealing for everything he’s done so far, so I don’t see a problem. If the album is less ‘ballad-y’ than some older fans like, they will stick with him anyway. Archie has a much broader appeal than Cook and a much longer career, because of his age and the changes he will go through along the way.

I don’t see anyone making fun of Archie personally or his actual looks, I see complaints about the horrible outfit he has to wear, which even some of his fans don’t like.

Archie has his own problems.

Cook better hope he doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t have too much in common with Taylor although I see some similarities. Cook will need alot of male fans as thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s what usually gives rockers their careers. Heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll need more fans who donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t care about how à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“hotà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  he is. Good luck Cookie.

Seriously? Oh, I forgot how many male fans contributed to the initial success of pop/rock artists like Bon Jovi, Nickelback and our very own Daughtry. I’m sorry, I couldn’t even keep a straight face while typing that. They may have gained some male fans along the way but I think we all know the majority of their fans are of the female persuasion. Certainly goes a long way toward explaining why singles from those artists sell more when marketed through pop and HAC. Why, you ask? Well, because most men listening to rock radio are not music buyers. They will go to a concert or buy an album after they have liked an artist for a long while (sometimes) but they make up a small minority of the music buying public. If you doubt this statement, take a look at the BB rock charts and compare to the Hot 100. You will find few, if any, similarities.
That having been said, my personal adoration of Mr. Cook began sight unseen. I wasn’t watching this season initially, until my local radio station played his Billie Jean the morning after that performance. The voice and the style are what hooked me, anything more than that is just icing on the cake. As far as any Taylor comparisons, I will grant that both men are great performers. The problem was that Taylor never had a commercial look or sound and radio was completely not receptive to him. Cookie does have a commercial look and sound and radio is apparently receptive to him, even with a coronation song. Apples and oranges, IMO. And, looking at RCA’s artist roster (complete with Foo Fighters, Daughtry, The Strokes and Velvet Revolver) they seem to be quite rock-friendly and Cookie fits right in.

But, on the subject of fans, I wonder what will happen to the Archie fans who are fans of his pretty ballads if he puts out a Disney type pop album? Will they go the way of Kat fans who wanted the performer they saw on the show and not the one that the record label tried to manufacture? Or, on the other hand, if he does make an album of what he does best, will the little Disney types who squeal because he’s cute (really?) and young buy it? We know that he can’t go the urban route; that would be absurd (he is no Timberlake and I giggle thinking of Archie bringing sexy back). And, looking at Jive’s artist roster, the only non-urban male solo artists are Nick Carter and Nick Lachey (former boy banders who have struggled with solo careers). Good luck Archie.

Idol One on One

ETA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiisF8sTeYY

Video of the handstand! LOL

wow….i’m impressed, lol, cook didn’t last as long as archie though, lol