As expected by pretty much everyone, Matt Giraud had his valentine to American Idol’s viewers roundly rejected, and so he was sent packing on last night’s episode. More surprising to observers, though, was the appearance of longtime frontrunner Adam Lambert in the bottom three, alongside Giraud and Kris Allen. Was this the result of shenanigans by the producers–who want people to keep watching, even despite the widespread assumption that Lambert’s going to win this thing–or was it the first piece of evidence that a wide swath of America isn’t really into the whole Scissor Sisters/Muse/Adam Lambert axis of rock, despite poor old Randy Jackson’s claims to the contrary?
Keep in mind that last year’s winner operating in the “covers of other peoples’ covers” paradigm was actually using as his touchstone a genre of music–crummy radio mook rock–that, while being objectionable for a host of completely valid reasons, does relatively well, especially when compared to the glammy and fabulous bands that Lambert has chosen to emulate on the Idol stage. Sure, his fanbase is pretty devoted to him and he normally has amazing energy on the stage (save Tuesday’s oddly inert performance), but as other contestants drop off and their former fanbases find new horses to back, that may not be enough.
This is probably a good time also to bring up the sex-crazed older women who have taken time out of their hectic harassing David Cook schedule to back the single least sexy member of the Top Five:
I know. I know. There is so much wrong with that picture, beginning with the fact that “cougar” was a made up term in the first place. (Lol, words.) But what if it reveals a secret side of Gokey’s appeal? What if people are finding the secret LensCrafters shiller–gasp–attractive?
Anyway. Back to Adam: Is he really in all that much trouble? And wouldn’t it be crazy if they sent Adam packing next week–when shock eliminatee Chris Daughtry is scheduled to take the stage? Conspiracy theories ahoy!
American Idol [Official site]
Adam has some serious Emoticon Face going on in that picture:
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“Adam Lambert Gets An Ego Check”
LOL, you’re kidding me, right? Seacrest asked him to choose the group he thought he belonged in (Allison and Gokey both gave similar performances to Adam - big band, big volume) not the one he thought were safe, the best or the worst. Lambert’s a risk-taker anyway, you think he’d have sat himself down in the middle of the stage? That’s so f-n old. I always get annoyed when they don’t choose a group but had he refused to choose, he’s gave been called lame, predictable, cowardly, doing the same thing Melinda/Bo & Co did. Had he chosen a group, he’d have been called a jerk, obnoxious, egotistical.
Now smug, calculating, musically-stunted Hokey Gokey needs an ego check. LOL at the fact that he’s now the only one who hasn’t been in the B3. Peoeple seriously like that douchebag? America cracks me up.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: democracy doesn’t work.
I noticed that at the end of the episode, all of the top five were embracing/holding hands/touching in some manner… except for Danny, who was slightly off to the side.
I still don’t think they like him very much, either.
When will Adam play Tommy? It will happen.
Few thoughts:
1. With Kris and Adam now vulnerable, I think we have to form a new team: ABG, Anyone But Gokey.
2. Ford video song: Apples in Stereo! And just a week after Lykke Li. Anyone else wish the singing themes were as cool as the songs their friggin’ sponsor has been choosing lately?!
3. Matt G. thanking his Michigan fans last night got me thinking: We finally have a real chance this year at American Idol’s first-even blue-state winner. Thus far, the seven winners have all come from Southern — or in the case of Jordin Sparks, Southwestern — Republican strongholds. David Cook’s from Missouri, a state that looked like it might flip to Obama in November, but didn’t. The uniformity thus far of “heartland” types has been depressing for urban viewers like me — other than a gay winner, it’s the one cultural line the show hasn’t crossed in its prior seven seasons.
The one fly in the blue-state ointment, and it’s too bad because he’s one of the finalists I’m rooting for: Arkansan Kris Allen. Other than him, we’ve got two Californians left, and the Gokester from Wisconsin; of course, if he goes all the way, we coastal liberals will have other reasons to be wary.
4. @KingofPants: Nice. I, for one, salute our new Ant Overlords.
I think that was a total producer tactic to consolidate Adam’s rabid fanbase. Up until now, they’d been spliting their votes between Adam, Allison and Kris, believing that Adam was untouchable, and safe, whereas Kris and Allison were in trouble. Putting Adam with Matt (no one ever said he got less votes than Kris, btw) was a wake up call to them. I saw mucho evidence on TWoP and mjsbigblog of Adam fans announcing they were very sorry Kris and Allison but no more could they do such a thing and risk Adam.
So Kris and Allison lose voters as they rally behind Adam, get picked off one by one over the next two weeks and the producers get their Adam/Danny final after all.
@Chris Molanphy: As loath as I am to drop Simpsions references on the Internet, it was definitely apropos.
@Hendrix: Gokey needs an ego check? THANK YOU. What was this rambling on about studying other performers and having “almost perfected the formula”. Reeeeeally. But of course the Gokey could not reveal his study sources. Go home.
@insideoutbox: that’s because his study “sources” are 1) taylor hicks 2) taylor hicks 3) taylor hicks
Yeah, I think I’m going to swallow my hipster pride and start voting, multiple times, every night, for everybody who isn’t Gokey.
@Chris Molanphy: Remember when Ford did Modest Mouse a few years ago? At that point I knew the commericals were the best hope for new music on this show.
Anibundel: this is sorta my fear as well. That Kris and Allison were only safe because of a lot of vote rallying, and that now the fear of god (or the devil) is in Adam’s fans. Hopefully Kris and Allison’s fans can keep it up next week for Team AGB.
If invoking Kent Brockman is wrong, I don’t want to be right.
Did anyone else find it at least a little weird with widower Gokey smearing cake all over 17-year-old Allison? I dunno, maybe I’m too sensitive in my advancing age.
@LeBron: it’s not just you, that was 7 different levels of wtf. what would christ think!
Maybe America doesn’t like Muse because they are godawful.
@Lucas Jensen: REAL TALK
Does anybody else like Gokey? I think I just like it when singers sound like they’re screaming at me. Like Christina Aquilera in the remake of “Lady Marmalade” or Teddy Pendergrass* at his best
*Props to Eddie for introducing me to this in the mid-80’s
@krisskraft: So are you voting for him? I am really wondering who keeps preventing him from going home! Well besides that lady up top in the horrendous tights.
I don’t think Adam is seriously in trouble, I just hope this doesn’t prevent people from voting for Allison and Kris next week. One of them can beat Gokey if we all vote for that person!!! Come ON y’all!!
That was a total stunt last night to bring some drama to the competition. It was interesting to see Adam sort of admit what he thinks of himself .
Did you see that Allison appears to be a ringer?
http://comunidad.terra.com/comentarios/index/id/111182/user/terraentertainment/?title=%27American+Idol%27+contestant%2C+Allison+Iraheta%2C+exposed!++
I would love to hear Gokey sing Teddy Pendergrass. Especially “Turn Off The Lights”!
Anyway, after Taylor’s horrific performance last night, I still don’t hear that much similarity.
Let’s try this again. I couldn’t embed it, but here’s a linky.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo9df0kQx1k
@fabulousrobots: yeah, I’m voting for him. He’s obviously the best singer and he has (aside from Kris) the greatest universal appeal of all the contestants. I’m actually surprised so many people are down on him.
Adam is unbearable and will make an awful record. He also won’t be able to sell records.
And I agree with jonian2008, the similarities between Gokey and Hicks are pretty superficial
@krisskraft: He might have a great voice and “appeal” but he’s just all style, schmaltz and smarm.
Obviously, we’re not his target demographic here so it’s no surprise we’re all pretty down on him.
He’ll probably sell records to soccer moms and grandmas but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t just outright suck.
Diff’rent strokes, I suppose.
That picture up there should be the alternate cover for “Plastic Surgery Disasters”.
@brasstax: I play it like I see it.
@sicksteanein: well, you’re obviously not a fan of Neil Diamond, Tom Jones, Dean Martin, or late period Elvis. I like style, schmaltz and smarm on occasion. Sometimes it works (Robbie Williams, Tom Jones, Dean Martin). There’s all kinds of reasons to like music.
You shouldn’t put yourself in a target demographic. That’s how they get you.
@krisskraft: “Neil Diamond, Tom Jones, Dean Martin, or late period Elvis.” Oh HELL no! Did you graduate from the Paula Abdul school of unearned comparisons? I read Carl Wilson’s book. I’m trying to be cool. You’re making it tough.
@krisskraft: What janinedm said.
Sorry, but he just doesn’t have that charisma. He *thinks* he does though. And that’s the problem.
@janinedm: I’m not getting the Carl Wilson reference as I’ve not read his book.
Style, schmaltz, and smarm combine to manifest as swagger and swagger is probably the most crucial element in great rock and roll. It’s what keeps the Rolling Stones from being a shitty blues band and Oasis from being Ocean Colour Scene.
I’m not saying Danny is there yet, but he’s got potential to be a great showman in a rock sense. Not in a music-theatre/arts&drama annoying way, either
I still don’t understand how you’re having trouble applying the “style, schmaltz, smarm” equation to Neil, Tom, Dean, and Elvis.
INTERESTING. Matt Giraud revealed in his exit interview that Adam was unhappy with his performance on Tuesday. “Adam wasn’t happy in his performance at all. He thought he should have done better and knew he was in the Bottom 2.” Matt said Adam was nervous right before the elimination show went on the air.” So when Ryan told him to choose without declaring him safe, he said, Adam was being honest. He said “based on last nights performances?” & chose to stand next to Danny & Allison because he thought they were the bottom three.
He said he based that on Simon saying Allison was in trouble & the fact that he praised Matt so highly. He knows Simon’s words often have power. He believed Matt & Kris were safe because Simon praised Matt to the worlds end & Kris was great & had never been in the bottom three, so he assumed they were safe. Allison has been in the bottom three every other week & Simon said she was in trouble, & sometimes you can perform the best & get sent home &, therefore, he thought Danny may be unsafe.
“I was definitely surprised that Adam was down there with me but he didn’t like his own performance. We were both goofing off from each other waiting for Ryan to call our name out to try & make it all less serious, y’know? It was a cruel twist for him to have to pick who he thought was in the B3. Me & Kris were giving him a hard time backstage, like, “Why didn’t you pick US!! Because we were sure WE were B3. We love Adam so that was uncomfortable. But you know Adam, he’ll be ok, he’ll bounce back.”
—- I have to say, I find it ludicrous that they they still persist with this farce of making the contestants choose. They are damned if they do, damned if they don’t. Those who have refused to choose have been branded wusses (or “wet” ). Those who do choose get it in the neck for making a decision. It could very easily have been Kris having to make that decision with Danny on one side & Adam on the other. It’s ludicrous.
Oh and Hokey needs to GTFO the show.