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'American Idol' Pre-Season Reflection
Welcome to another season of American Idol. Auditions are over and publicity is ramping up for the Jan. 13 premiere. I'm going to be your new Zap2it Idol blogger and I'm very excited to start covering it for you, fair readers.
We've already had Korbi's thoughts on judge Paula Abdul, the new American Idol broadcast schedule, and a story on the many changes Idol is making this year. Look for an article later this week about an interview with my favorite judge, Simon Cowell.
For now, let's relive my favorite and least favorite moments from each of the last seven seasons. The moments are going to be from the Top 12 going forward because there are WAY too many bad moments from the initial auditions. I'd never be able to choose just one of the 15-minutes-of-fame-mentally-ill-adults-who-want-Simon-to-be-mean-to-them people.
Season 1, Winner: Kelly Clarkson
I'll confess... I didn't watch season 1 until the finale. I honestly didn't even hear about the show until some of my dormmates were having a finale party. I wish I had watched this season because I love Kelly Clarkson, but alas, I only saw the finale.
Favorite Moment: Kelly singing "A Moment Like This." The way she got all choked up was really sweet.
Worst Moment: I don't actually have one because I didn't watch this season. Sorry, guys.
Season 2, Winner: Ruben Studdard
I was not a fan of the chocolate teddy bear. I liked Clay Aiken okay but Kimberly Locke was the one who won my heart. That lady had such a velvety voice and such amazing control.
Favorite Moment: Kimberly Locke's "Band of Gold." That girl had some PIPES.
Worst Moment: Anything involving Corey Clark. Dude gave me the wiggins.
Season 3, Winner: Fantasia Barrino
There aren't many great moments to choose from in season 3. I found it to be the weakest of all the seasons thus far. In my opinion, the final 3 of that season wouldn't even sniff the top 10 of the last few seasons. I really didn't like Fantasia's voice. It was nasal and grated on my nerves.
Best Moment: That being said, Fantasia's rendition of "Summertime" was haunting and beautiful. Definitely a great moment in Idol history.
Worst Moment: Jon Peter Lewis's "Jailhouse Rock." Good lord. I think Perry Como had more soul than JPL.
Season 4, Winner: Carrie Underwood
I am a big Carrie Underwood fan. I loved her right from her audition all the way through until she won. Bo Bice was definitely awesome in his own right and I really wanted to pick "Vehicle" as the Best Moment, but I just can't.
Best Moment: The crowning achievement (obviously) was Carrie's performance of Heart's "Alone." It gave me chills. The big hair and the vampy makeup and her soaring vocals made it just amazing.
Worst Moment: Anthony Fedorov "Climb Ev'ry Mountain." Now, don't get me wrong. I lurved Anthony Fedorov. But his rendition of the most-boring-scene-in-an-otherwise-great-movie was terrifying.
Season 5, Winner: Taylor Hicks
Taylor was entertaining but his constant affectations and Tourette's-like "Soul Patrol" shouts really drove me nuts. I was a Katharine McPhee fan. She was so beautiful and had a really strong voice.
Best Moment: Katharine's "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" made me tear up a little.
Worst Moment: Kevin Covais's "Part-time Lover." Holy mother of god, I STILL need a shower after that performance.
Season 6, Winner: Jordin Sparks
I enjoyed the final 3 of this season quite a bit. Jordin, Blake and Melinda were all really talented and brought a lot of different things to the program. It's actually really hard to pick a favorite moment, but I finally narrowed it down.
Best Moment: "I (Who Have Nothing)" by Jordin Sparks. Chills. Just chills.
Worst Moment: Sanjaya. That's it.
Season 7, Winner: David Cook
I am not an Archuleta-head. Yes, he is very talented, especially given his age. But the fervor with which teenaged girls fawned over him was alarming. A-LARMING. If you haven't already seen it, this YouTube clip is hysterical.
Best Moment: It's a tie for me between Carly Smithson's "Crazy on You," because she effing rocked that song and David Cook's "Hello" because it was so different than what we're used to on American Idol.
Worst Moment: Kristy Lee Cook's "God Bless the USA." GAG. ME.
So that's a peek into my personal Idol-watching history. I can't wait to bring you guys news, updates, scandals and recaps!
You have discriminating taste,Andrea and I totally agree with you re:the exceptional talent of Katharine McPhee!!
Please check out her more recent performances of Something and Somewhere on youtube....Her voice and looks are even more beautiful than 2 years ago!
Concur re:Fantasia as well....not Idol material in my book.
I was just wondering on your thoughts of the changes to how Idol was going to work this year with a top 36 rather than 24 and no Idol gives back etc.?
As an aside, with the way the economy is Canadian Idol isn't going to happen in 2009 - which is shocking since it was the 2nd most watched original Canadian show of 2008 (behind only So You Think You Can Dance Canada?) - I'm wondering if AI will be effected in the short term (excluding the already announced scrapping of Idol Gives Back?
Rishi | Dec 17, 2008 10:41:58 PM | #Since Andrea didn't see the first season I'll make it clear the worst moment was Tamyra Gray going over Nikki McKibbin. Tamyra-Kelly would've been legendary, no disrespect to Guarini. If a performance must be the worst moment then it's a tie between Ryan Starr "You Really Got Me" and Rodesia Eaves "Daydream Believer". On the Fantasia front, I hated her during Season 3 but after rewatching some performances, she was talented and would easily make the Top 10 on any season, and remember I'm not even a fan of hers.
DB | Dec 19, 2008 3:23:54 PM | #Season three had certain structural weaknesses -- lack of talented males, too many teenagers, overwhelming ameturism -- which were rectified in season 4. But I'd take issue with Fantasia not ranking with the top 10 of any other season. She possesses a natural showmanship which immediately set her apart from her competition (including the much-lauded Jennifer Hudson, who still IMO needs to turn the sound down a bit) and easily stands tall with the winner of every other season. Her performance of the cornation song "Believe" was a teer-jerker.
I do have to say that season 3 is the one that got me hooked on AI. But it wasn't because of the talent. It was the sadistic delight of watching the judges have their way with the contenstants.
deedee | Dec 20, 2008 10:46:38 PM | #DB, The funny thing is I don't think it would have been Kelly vs Tamyra in the finals had Tamyra made top 3 - I think it would have been Tamyra vs Justin. Kelly really wasn't that popular when she was on the show. She didn't even appear to be a frontrunner until Tamyra was eliminated. At that point it was thought that she had a shot against Justin - and then she went out and smoked him in the finals - but before then it was always thought to be Justin vs Tamyra -> especially the way the show was edited throughout the season.
Rishi | Dec 22, 2008 1:11:19 PM | #I liked the last reviewer of Idol better. He had a personality.
Harry | Dec 29, 2008 8:12:19 AM | #
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