The 12 Dumbest Comments to Date from This Season's American Idol Judges
9. Randy
Comment #1: "Singing Jason Mraz is tough because he's such a stylized artist."
Speaking to: Joe Munoz, after his performance of Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours"
Comment #2: "[Kelly Clarkson] is so good and so stylized."
Spoken to: Katie Stevens, after her performance of Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway"
Pitch Problem: Whether you love or loathe Kelly Clarkson and Jason Mraz, no one can argue that either is pointedly "stylized." Jason Mraz twee-raps kind of fast. Kelly Clarkson is known to get angst-ridden. But these artists are as generic as the small town grocery store where you'd hear them both over the PA.
8. Simon
The Comment: "I would say you're definitely the most improved artist. Because what you've got now, is you've got confidence. And I can see that. And you start to believe in yourself."
Spoken to: Crystal Bowersox, after her performance of Tracy Chapman's "Give Me One Reason"
Pitch Problem: Crystal Bowersox is one of the only performers who, from the start, didn't burst with untamed facial tics and vocal snags when stuck in front of a camera. Simon is confusing "confidence issues" with "not looking exactly like Leona Lewis."
7. Kara
The Comment: "Casey, I don't recognize you with your shirt on, first off -- you know, [from] the last time we saw each other. It was hard for me to listen to that because I'm married -- honey, I love you! -- I think you got a little pitchy when I was in your arms at one point in the chorus, I think. But, yeah, you know, Ellen, you seem... (trails off in ecstasy).
Spoken to: Casey James, after his performance of Bryan Adams's "Heaven"
Pitch Problem: Kara is under the impression that her audition conversation with Casey James, when she ordered him to take off his shirt, was funny and memorable. Actually, it was gross, uncomfortable. and maybe he could sue. This time Kara played into an imaginary idea that we believe her schlocky acting. Even Casey wanted that tired bit to die.
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Comments
"How disturbingly literal. If Paige is “smiling,” that means she doesn’t understand the song?"
Uh, if it's an angry song, and there's no anger behind the smile, then yes, that's a good indication that she didn't connect with it. Would you want someone breaking into a big grin while singing Eleanor Rigby? You Oughta Know? Top of the World?
If you really wanted some bad comments, how about the universal praise Lily was given after she butchered I Fall to Pieces? (Which also featured some inappropriate smiling.)
Lol, Crystal is the truth and the light and the way.
It seems to me that the judges try too hard to not step on any toes while giving constructive criticism. When Paul was a judge, she would sugarcoat too often to be straightforward. Simon definitely more straightforward, but I think he's been asked to soften up because he is not as direct as he used to be.
david- you're right about lilly's version of i fall to pieces... no smiles should've been in that song either, so why wasn't she criticized like paige? b/c it's all b.s. and gut instincts and kara is too busy trying to push her lips out to look full, and trying to connect with anyone but her husband to 'get it right.' she's a d.b., or, as my friend likes to say, a cocky w-bag.
With the judges focusing so much on "interpretation," it seems puritanical and limiting to rag on someone for getting too smiley. There's more than one way to interpret a song, particularly a singalong number like "Walk Away." It's not "You Oughta Know," where the lyrics are an evisceration. In fact, the line, "Hey, hey, hey, hey, just walk away" is downright unassuming.
Am I the only one who thought the whole ripe banana comment by Ellen was stupid! I can't believe it didn't make the top 12.
I find the judges were very harsh and mean the first 2 weeks of semi finals and soften up on the 3rd week. Ellen was so bad the first week as the first to judge with very limited vocabulary of 'great' and 'adorable' and tended to side with the other judges when asked again. I find her useless.
Kara should be told not to keep going because the more she carry on, it's the KISS of DEATH for the contestant. She acts like a prosecutor exacting a death verdict in absolute dismissal how unconscionable the contestant is in rendering a bad performance. She should leave it to Simon and just focus giving constructive critique. Kara is very destructive in ending a contestant's dream. She gave that KISS of DEATH to Alexis Grace last year when she dismissed her, "You have lost your edge, right?" How can one redeem oneself after that?
Simon has softened up but it's too late for some. Their confusing and contradictory advices have warped the natural talents and belief of the contestants in themselves. And they heaped undeserved praises. You can see through their hidden agenda.
Mr. Virtel, I don't picture you as the small town grocery store type . . .
I think Kara's comment about "smiling" is the most telling moment on Idol. That is the main problem> Everyone is worried about being "pitchy" so no one bothers to actually feel the song... Siobhan Magnus singing "Paint it Black" was technically perfect but completely soul dead.
Many of the greatest singing artists of our time were pitchy all over the place. Who cares about technique when they rock your world?
Justin screams like a sissy girl on this video. He is so childish yet. LOL!
http://www.vida.tv/video/Justin_Bieber_Sissy_Girl