Look, you either watched American Idol last night or you don’t care, so whatever.
(Spoken like a viewer who’s never watched an entire episode before this season, but whatever.)
Last night’s finale was packed with stars: Al Jarreau, Wolfgang Puck, Toni Braxton, Prince. The contestants sang better than they have before, although the group numbers remained as lame as ever.
The reaction of Aiken-wannabe Michael Sandecki when the real Clay Aiken walked out on stage was priceless. And the really funny thing wasn’t how Sandecki fell apart; it’s how he pulled himself together and started singing along with Aiken. That’s the heart of Idol: karaoke meets talent show.
But it was a learning experience as well. What did we learn last night?
Did you know this version of Idol is popular in other countries?
Rohit Sarang of Bombay, India, was a Chris Daughtry fan but is eager to see if Katharine McPhee or Taylor Hicks is crowned the latest “American Idol.” Leong Ai Syn of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, shares the anticipation.
Episodes are seen about 48 hours after they air in America and international viewers can’t help decide the outcome by phone or text messaging, as in the United States. But those issues don’t matter to followers.
“It’s fine that we can’t vote in India. I don’t care about that,” said Sarang, 32, an engineer who makes sure his family records “American Idol” if he isn’t home for it. “It’s fun just watching a show that’s well-produced with songs that are well-known.”
Enthusiasm for “American Idol” varies among countries and regions. The series is a widespread hit in Asia but has been largely ignored in South Africa, in part because it — and the local version, “Idols” — airs on pay TV that’s out of reach for many South Africans.
In England, where the franchise began with “Pop Idol,” offspring “American Idol” is relegated to Friday nights on a non-terrestrial channel with a limited reach.
4 Responses
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LondonLee Says:
I’ll admit to being a fan of the show and even I was surprised by how good the final was. You’re right about Dionne Warwick; her voice isn’t what it was, but her phrasing and timing is still spot-on, which is half the difficulty with Bacharach songs — they sound simple, but they’re full of odd signatures and changes. Those things are hard to sing.
Was it just me (and my wife), or was Toni Braxton completely out of it on something?
I’m glad Taylor won; I don’t think McPhee is that good a singer really. She sure is beautiful though.
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The Pop View Says:
Agreed with all your points. Bacharach songs are much harder to sing than one might think.
Yeah, Toni Braxton seemed off. It’s not the dry humping, it’s the way her voice seemed so subdued. Mary J. Blige didn’t seem like she even needed the microphone and I kept wishing Braxton would move hers closer.
Yes, McPhee finally won me over. I didn’t like her before, but she finally seemed to loosen up. I really liked her performances on the last couple performance shows, even the ones that the judges dissed. And she has become a very beautiful and graceful performer.
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The Pop View Says:
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