INXS' reality show is a tough sell. Replacing the late Michael Hutchence is a very tall order. He had the vocal and charismatic presence that will be sorely missed.
It wasn't until after he died, that I found out that U2's Bono was a good friend. (U2 is my favorite band). Hutchence was a better front man and singer than Bono. U2 was the bigger band but INXS were always grouped with U2 and REM as those 80's bands who grew from obscurity to fame. INXS had the big record (1987's Kick) and some commercial disappointments (1992's Welcome to Wherever You Are). However, their Greatest Hits disc released in 2002 gave fans one last nugget from the Hutchence era. I highly recommend this if you are a casual fan.
I didn't realize how many good rock/pop songs INXS released in the US. Listening to this disc, I heard ballads that rivaled U2 easily. There are some obscure tracks that leave one yearning for more.
I sat down and watched this week's show expecting the worse. Nobody is going to replace Michael Hutchence. However, the surviving members of INXS look to be open minded and seem to be enjoying this public audition. Thirteen contestants and thirteen songs in one show.
Brooke Burke hosting seems out of nowhere but Brooke is not only beautiful but camera friendly and she isn't a dumb model icon. I didn't think I was going to be impressed but I watched with a very open mind. There was a few misses like Neal swinging "Summer of '69" or the one lady singing "Purple Haze."
Surprisingly, the two I liked were JD and Jordis. Celebrity critic Dave Navarro liked Marty and Jordis. JD is trying to be rebellious competitor guy but I am not buying it. Get rid of the goofy wanna be grandiose statements and stick to the competition. The one thing I don't want to see is Big Brother 59. I'm intrigued but this is summertime which infringes on my desire to watch TV. I wonder if any of the contestants can hold up cue cards and flip them one by one. (See "Need You Tonight" video)
Ed: TAS
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Marty Thau
I enjoy the show but think they should just drop the INXS connection and continue to run it as a rock show that presents new talent. Most of the artists are much more interesting than everyone I've seen on AMERICAN IDOL The INXS connection is meaningless. Hutchence can never be replaced and the remaining members of his band are on the boring side.
2 - Natalie Davis
"Yeh're just not right... for ayur band... INXS." BORING.
I love INXS' music, but Mr. Thau is spot on about "Rock Star." The performers for the most part are really good. And the music is better too -- thankfully, we don't have to be subjected to people warbling Mariah or Whitney hits.
3 - Pam Avoledo
INXS is one of my favorite 80s bands due to Michael Hutchence's vocals.
Even in the "Elegantly Wasted" video, when Hutchence is in his Fat Elvis stage, he still is captivating.
I like Suzie so far. But I'm mostly watching it out of curiousity. I really wouldn't go to a concert with the new singer.
4 - Mark Sahm
It makes me feel sorry that the remaining INXS-ers felt they had to do a show like this. I think it tarnished the already rusty image they had as a washed up 80's band.
"Kick" was a great disc, one that I held very highly as a young teen. This TV show is a soulless marketing gimmick if I've ever seen one. You couldn't pay me to watch.
5 - Triniman
I'm not watching it. INXS should have bowed our gracefully. Shame on them for continuing for... the all mighty dollar.
6 - bonojunkie
I too find it distasteful and appauling that INXS are doing this show - unless they are changing the name of the band, I see little reason for them to be putting an add in the classifieds this way. I realize this was their bread & butter too, and we cannot expect them to also roll over and die, but c'mon. It's just bad manners. And can anyone else really sing "Never Tear Us Apart" and win your devotion over?? R.I.P. Michael, you S.O.B. for breaking our hearts. (still hoping it was an accident)
7 - Bob A. Booey
The show will only be about INXS for one season, obviously. I've heard it's not exactly a huge ratings hit, which is too bad because I enjoy it even more than my closet favorite American Idol.
Here are some random thoughts from the last couple of weeks that I've plagiarized:
*I think they got rid of the right guy. The happy-hippie guy couldn't really sing and they're clearly not looking for a hippie lead singer.
*Jessica did yet another vocal affectation -- not a Melissa Ethridge growl like on the Hendrix song, but she was doing some kind of Blondie-type thing on the INXS song. Even though she's kinda hot, it doesn't look like the viewers are fooled. She's not one of the better singers on the show and it doesn't seem like she'll be around for long.
*Tara did the best job out of the 3 on "Mystify," but I think that's a great song that's probably easier to sing than the other 2. Tara seems to have changed her look a little as well, which might help her since she's a pretty good singer.
*I hate JD Fortune and his sideways Kevin Federline-like hat. Ugh. He's trying way too hard with the mascara as well -- he and Dave should exchange eye makeup tips.
*Monday's 30-minute show was the reality housemates video portion of the week, I guess, with no singing. It's probably not worth watching on Mondays -- I taped it and watched Hell's Kitchen insted because my life is just that exciting
*(Brooke Burke (or is it Burns? I get the two confused all the time) is illiterate. She somehow managed to mangle the word "stylish" into "styrrrlirsh" while introducing Dave Navarro. It's a 2-syllable word, honey. To be honest, I think Brooke's overrated. She's a bit of a butter face who can't read a teleprompter and has a poor voice for introducing singers in a theater (even though her entire job is saying people's name repeatedly). I mean, don't get me wrong, she's hot, but she's not all that. There are a lot of girls who look like her -- she's nothing that special and her D list celebrity career wasn't looking too good before this show. I think she was doing workout infomercials since leaving Wild On. The criss-crossing beads over her skirt on Wednesday weren't hot and made her look like she was wearing some weird version of a hula hoop. She looked a lot better in that denim skirt last week.
*Dave Navarro wears so much makeup.
*I thought the guys playing fake guitar (not plugged in a la Hit Me Baby One More Time) but not moving their fingers were amusing. The Sweet Home Alabama happy hippie/Davy Crocket dude did a good job, but he's clearly not what the band is looking for. The other happy hippy Mick Jagger-Beck wannabe guy can't really sing that well.
*I still think JD Fortune sucks and I can't believe the band loves him so much for his "arrangements." His comment about loving the band and knowing their songs more than anyone was so phony and grating. I'm sure his fellow contestants feel the same way I do about him -- the annoying teacher's pet who's really a snake. Even his name sounds like some made-up porno jive.
*I thought the band was too hard on Ty, the brotha with the mohawk. They really got on him about his theatre background and Broadway-style vocals, which was more apparent on his song tonight, but he still did a good job and outsang all but a couple of his rivals.
*Jessica Robinson is hot but her vocals are so damn affected. She has a different vocal affectation every time -- this time it was some sort of weird Melissa Ethridge drawl on Purple Haze. She strikes me as being somewhat insecure about her voice.
*Marty, on the other hand, is a lot of fun, but I don't know why he needs the show if he's opened for so many huge acts already. He also looks to be somewhat older and experienced than a lot of the other contestants.
*Jordis was human and not as flawless as the first couple of times she sang (particularly on the introductory soft verses of that Hoobastank song), but she's still the best singer on the show and really sang the choruses well.
*That Tara girl who sang "Take It Easy" last time probably saved herself by rocking out this time.
*I think the band's comments are becoming dangerously American Idol-ish, from Dave asking every contestant, "How do you feel about how you did tonight? Why did you pick that song?" to the band saying "you really nailed it" and talking about pitch.
*Who is INXS kidding with that "playing in front of 100,000" line they keep repeating? They weren't even getting that many fans before Hutchence died and while I hope the show does well and they tour successfully, they're lucky to sell out small arenas, not football stadiums. I gotta admit, the show works to get INXS back on the cultural radar. I was never a fan and the truth is that their career had slowed way down even before Michael Hutchence decided to have some auto-erotic asphyxiation fun, but the show has reminded me of some of their songs and I've had a couple stuck in my head, like Mystify.
*Jordis is my favorite so far and the best singer on the show. It was a little weird to see her smiling while singing the lyrics "Broken hymen of your highness, I'm left black / Throw down your umbilical noose so I can cliiimb right back" on national TV. I think the only part of the song that lacked Kurt's trademark angst was the "your advice" part, where you kind of missed the grit in his voice. Her upbeat version of "Heartshaped Box" still rocked though.
*Skinny Mick Jagger/Beck wannabe Neal Carlson seemed way to hippie-happy during Fortunate Son and didn't seem to have any real anger going there. I think that song takes on a whole new meaning the last couple of years.
*That one hot brunette chick had a Sergeant Pepper jacket. She's weird and seems determined to dress like some vagrant, homeless Gypsy rather than a hot piece of ass.
*Jessica Robinson is kind of hot, but she's not one of the better singers on the show.
*JD Fortune is a douchebag. Not just the crotch-grabbing stage moves, but the fact that he got so much credit from the band for improving over his first-time suckfest and his "arrangement" of California Dreaming. It was boring and not original -- I think the band's so old and out of touch that they thought it was cutting edge music somehow. He can't really sing very well and his performance was only good relative to his own general level of suckiness the week before.
*Ty, the brotha with the mohawk, rocked "Cult of Personality." I think he's my other favorite on the show and it'd be really cool if INXS had a black lead singer.
*God, INXS is old and chubby.
That is all.
8 - Bob A. Booey
Oh, and Tube, honey? That's how it's done. Step it up, ace. Love ya :)
That is all.
9 - Eric Olsen
BAB, I can't believe you blew us off for American Idol season. The hurt lingers
10 - Allison
I have been an INXS fan for over 16 years and I am so happy that they are doing this show. I am surprised how many people forget how many popular songs this group had, like "What You Need", "The One Thing", "Don't Change", "Devil Inside", "Never Tear Us Apart", "Original Sin", "New Sensation, "Suicide Blonde","Not Enough Time", and many others. INXS did play to hundreds of thousands of fans on many occasions contrary to popular belief. They held court at Wembley Stadium in 1991 to over 80,000 fans, and played countless sold out dates all over the world including the U.S. They did suffer a slump in the mid to late 90s as all 80s bands did as grunge, rap, and electronic music took over the top 40 scene. If you haven't noticed, the 80s are back and in a very big way. I heard Duran Duran was going to play Madison Square Garden recently, which they could not have done just a few years ago. INXS has some beautiful, timely, danceable songs that are well worth being resung. Michael Hutchence was a vital, incredible part of INXS, but he was not the only part. Andrew Farris, Jon Farris, and Kirk Pengilly frequently cowrote with Michael on some of INXS' biggest hits. INXS has sold over 30 million albums so I think that they deserve a shot at showing their talents again to the world. I admire INXS' idea for recruiting a singer and what better way to do it than with public input. I am thrilled at the idea of INXS touring again, and INXS still rocks!!!
11 - Bob A. Booey
I'll make it up to you all, my dears :)
I wasn't really feeling the American Idol this season, although I still watched it every week like a 13-year old girl. My girlfriend has even given up on the show after getting me started on it 2 years ago and now makes fun of me for watching it by myself.
I know I can never repair the hurt, but here are some thoughts in my usual whirlwind style:
The only thing I liked about the season was the weird moment where Carrie mouthed "I Love You" to pale Russian boy Anthony Federov and the interesting tabloid stories about their love affair.
Oh, and Bo Bice's mom was hot. His dad was ugly, which is why Bo's kind of ugly. But his mom was way hot and there's no way she looks a day over 30 -- meanwhile, Bo looks older than she does. Weird stuff. Bo probably should have won, but I didn't care for either of the last two that much. Carrie needs to lose about 20 pounds and I'm sure her new handlers/record label execs are telling her to diet every day despite the fact that she's in Hershey's chocolate ads now, but you could tell pretty early on that Simon and the show wanted the cute blonde girl to win rather than the Alabama dirtbag with separate possession convictions for pot AND coke. I was shocked he never sang "Sweet Home Alabama" -- that would have been a gimme.
Vonzell was ghetto fab. I liked her, her kung fu, and her pimp juice relatives in the zoot suits.
I hated Constantine. What a poseur. Did anyone see the old Elimidate episode where Constantine was on? They replayed it during the Idol run and it was back when he was studying music in NYC. He was really mean and snarky, which was funny to see because I've always thought he's really calculated and manipulative with the smoldering eyes and bad stage moves. He also serenaded the girl horribly (terrible voice back then, and probably today too) and fended off numerous gay jokes from the goombahs he was competing against. He ended up winning though, because the girl was Greek as well. I don't get the heartthrob thing, because he's like really old and it's creepy for 13 year old girls to be drooling over a guy pushing 30 with weird eyes.
I thought the Smith kid who sang all the R & B looked a lot like Ozzie Smith and then they said on the show he was Ozzie's son one day. And I was like, damn, I'm good. He was only fake ghetto fab, though, doing his R Kelly Lite act.
The one annoying teen girl from Las Vegas was kinda hot but really annoying at the same time. You couldn't hate her cuz her annoyingness was kind of cute -- at least she had a personality, unlike instantly forgotten chubby teen Diana DeGarmo, who sold less records of her album than Justin Guarini did of his.
Simon wasn't as entertaining this season. Randy was more negative and much more accurate with his comments.
Paula was a trainwreck, but that's why she's wonderful. I liked that whole Corey Clark thing and his horrible "Paula-tics" song promo push. The reason the Whitney Houston replacing Paula rumors probably aren't true is because America doesn't care if Paula's a good person while watching the show. Simon's right when he says the show is a big hit because of cruelty. Why mess with huge success? Dump her if the ratings start to drop, but otherwise, 20 million an episode is nothing to mess with. Whitney's an even bigger trainwreck and would be fun to watch, but you never know with her if she'd even show up for tapings. Plus, she'd bitch-slap Simon if he ever tried to make out with her at the judges' table, not to mention what Bobby would do.
There :) Happy, all?
That is all.
12 - Natalie Davis
Not quite all, Mr. Booey. You describe RS' Mohawked Ty as a "brotha." How do you know he has siblings?
OHhhhhhhh... Disappointing.
13 - Bob A. Booey
I love you too, my sista Natalie :) Of course Ty's a brotha, despite his Brodway background.
P.S. -- Are you still down with the struggle? I thought you bailed on this site long ago :)
P.P.S -- Are you still into chicks?
14 - Natalie Davis
Mr. Booey, I am ashamed to be of the same species as you.
As to your questions:
What struggle?
I pop in and out. Glutton for punishment.
Absolutely.
15 - Bob A. Booey
Awwww, Natalie.
I thought we had a lovefest back in the Cosby/race discussions when we were arguing against all the right-wingers.
You know ... THE struggle.
Chicks are hot. Kudos on that.
That is all.
16 - Natalie Davis
There are many struggles, Mr. Booey. Everything is a struggle, in my experience.
17 - Bob A. Booey
So I watched the Monday reality housemates show of Rockstar: INXS tonight.
I think the way the show is edited is bad news for JD because he comes off like the prick he is. I hate him and even I wonder if they didn't go out of their way to make him seem like a bastard. He's in real danger of being put in the bottom 3 this week, both because of his complete lack of social graces and his poor song choice. But I think INXS is so taken with him that they won't send him home when he's in the bottom 3.
The editing on the show really makes it seem like Mig is a great guy (the whole phone call with his wife) and the leader of the house -- his version of "We Are the Champions" at the end and his imitation of JD were hilarious. Mig might be a dark horse for the competition since he's slightly older and Australian, like INXS.
Oh, in the first week of the show, they definitely got rid of the right guy. Wil was the best-looking guy (or person period) on the show, but he couldn't sing a lick. He had no confidence in his voice, he was way too soft on the choruses of his songs, and he whispered through "I Need You Tonight." He was boring and sucky.
18 - Bob A. Booey
All of you should be watching this show. It's better than American Idol because the songs are better (not cheesy pop and country, but rock), there's a live backing band, the kids can all sing better, and it's produced by Mark Burnett so you get his trademark editing skills (such as the priceless cut-away reactions from INXS/other competitors during particularly poor singing performances). The only thing missing from this show making it a big hit is Simon Cowell.
Now here are my thoughts about last night's episode:
I would have to say Mig is the front-runner. He's not the flashiest, but he's just a rock professional. He's self-assured, has a sense of humor, good leadership skills, a good voice and good stage moves, and he seems to be the best fit with the band. He's not super-charismatic to me, but he has some other things going for him like his whole "sweet guy concerned about his wife" thing and the 6-pack abs and cut physique. He also showed he could arrange a song on his own this week and I predict he'll be right there at the end and is my pick right now to be the favorite to front the band, along with Marty (the other pro's pro) and Jordis (the natural talent). Ty belongs in that elite group as well, but INXS seems a little harder on him.
Speaking of Ty, I think he got back in the band's good graces with a heartfelt version of REM's "Everbody Hurts." I hope he's not singing ballads every week from now on, though, because I liked the rockin, big-voiced Ty of the first couple of weeks.
Marty was my favorite of the week, rocking "Lithium" by Nirvana. He had the Kurt imitation vocals down on the verses, complete with the menacing, twitchy, edgy eyes (it reminded me watching an old Cars video with his eyes all over the place) and aggressive posture on the mic stand, and he yelled it out on the choruses. I think his timing was a little off on parts of the song and he did drop one line without it being noticed -- "My will is good."
Surprisingly, I thought Suzie really was pretty good on Stevie Wonder's "Superstition." This was the first time I thought she was any good and she deserves to be safe, but she doesn't seem like an audience favorite. INXS seemed to like her, though.
Jordis was strong as usual, but a song like "Gimme Some Lovin" didn't really allow her to blow you away. She got some crap for forgetting a line, but I didn't even notice that. Even so, she'll be safe for sure.
Jessica did a serviceable version of "Because The Night." I think Black Knight's right that she sounds a lot like Cher sometimes, which is weird. She doesn't have a strong voice and I think it's always affected somehow, but I think she'll probably just eek by and not be in the bottom 3 this week due to some of the trainwrecks that happened.
Deanna did a relatively good job on her song, but she lacks charisma. She deserves to be safe this week, but she might be at some risk of being in the bottom 3 because she's not very exciting to look at or watch on the screen. I think the band's right about her having a good voice, though.
Tara sang OK as well, but I have no idea how that David Bowie song was picked to be on the show. He certainly had bigger hits and that one seemed a little obscure and not the best song to sing. She did a good job of hooching it up, though, with the bra and all that. She kind of has the crazy sideways eyes too and she seems a little odd to me the more I see her. The band seemed a little harder on her than she deserved, so she might be borderline for the Bottom 3 as well. She doesn't deserve to be there, but it's very possible since she was there before.
The big story of the night was that all the singers who couldn't really sing were exposed.
JD has definitely relied on singing in the lower register to hide the fact that he can't hit high notes -- he actually sounds like a bad caricature of a Broadway singer, way off-pitch and even feminine, when he reaches beyond his range, as he did on "We Are the Champions." Everything about him is calculated, like his "I sang that song for all of us, because we're all champions" shout-out to his fellow contestants (which backfired against him) and his trotting out his estranged sister for some pathos, only to blame the emotion of seeing her for messing up the song. JD may be great as a weaselly villain for the show, but kid can't sing. I do love his evil smiles when they cut away to him a couple of times during rough performances by other singers. JD's a good bet to be in the bottom 3, but you wonder if there are people who like the drama he brings to the reality part of the show who will vote for him because of that. If he's in the bottom 3, I think the band's still sort of taken with him and may keep him around if it's close. He would, however, be at a disadvantage because the songs he's been praised for were arranged specifically so he could do his songs in a lower vocal register.
Heather/Butterfly/red-haired freaky hippie chick was sick and you feel bad for her, but she butchered "If It Makes You Happy" by Sheryl Crow. I wonder if she'll get some sympathy votes, since she's generally been OK up to now. My guess is that she barely avoids being in the Bottom 3, but if JD gets lucky, it'll be her instead.
Daphna had the harshest judge comments, and I think she was also exposed as a singer without range or much skill. She'd be good to look at, at least, if she didn't dress so horribly. The ugly beige puffy dress she had on tonight made her look pregnant and she sang a horrible version of The Clash's "Rockin the Casbah." It was a bad arrangement and bad performance. I'd guess she has to be in the bottom 3, but at least she's interesting and kinda hot, so I'd hope she's not. I've decided she's hotter than Jessica despite her freakshow styles -- Jessica's kinda cute, but she's not hot enough to call her band CoverGurl, especially after seeing her without makeup in glasses on Monday's show.
Happy hippie country guy Brandon picked "Tempted By the Fruit of Another," which was a terrible choice for him. He was nasally and had no real soul, and he also got evaluated harshly. I'd guess he's probably in the Bottom 3 and he deserves to be there.
INXS and Dave really seemed to be hitting their mark this week, with better, more critical comments. The one exception was the weird, akward moment where Dave Navarro misread Marty's statement about "kicking his ass" on Nirvana and gave a pissy comment about it not being his best vocal performance. I'm kinda mixed on Dave -- he says some good things and some dumb things too. The INXS bassist, Gary Beers, has a weird sort of authority and command in his eyes and delivery when he speaks and looks like he should be a network TV executive somewhere. He looks and sounds like he should be doing Mark Burnett's job.
That is all.
19 - Negevoli
Some dip comments that he was never an INXS fan and another's only comment about Mick Jagger is that he's skinny. There's no accounting for taste, said Mrs. Murphy as she kissed the cow.
The Stones are and always will be numero uno; INXS numero due.
Michael had the best voice in rock and roll. And, no, he cannot be replaced. But INXS makes/writes great music and I would love to see them on top again.
As for their lack of fans, I refer you to the comment about Mrs. Murphy.
20 - luke Jurevicius
...no one will replace the legend Michael Hutchence...and yes the show is corny (which is unfortunate, because there are some very classy acts on stage)
However, Andrew fariss is one of the all time great songwriters....if he meets a truely great co-songwriter/lead singer, then the magic will start up again for them....go INXS
cant wait for their next tour and release
21 - Brendon
Ive been following the band for years a huge fan im a muso myself and have learnt alot from them they have always said that they would take things as far as it would go its all in there name it is sad that michael has passed but the boys are great and have commitment to it and i wish them all the luck in the world.
22 - Cristy
No, no, no. Michael Hutchence was not heavy in Elegantly Wasted video at all. Look at it again, he just had black hair.
INXS is not washed up and they weren't washed up when MH died. They were getting ready to tour for their 20th anniversary. (Aug 16, will be 28 years together) MICHAEL died, but the BAND certainly didn't. It is not THEIR FAULT that all of a sudden, they were left hanging and without a frontman or gig.
They have plenty of songs and music in them to write - they weren't on the verge of breaking up in '97. So how dare anyone suggest they were washed up and continuing for an almighty dollar??? That's ridiculous!!!
23 - gal
Can anyone name another member of INXS besides Michael Hutchence? Without him there is no band so there is no lead singer to replace.
Also, has anyone noticed that everyone competing in this "reality" program is completely phony and also terrible? And who are these viewers? Someone put them out of their misery as who jumps, cheers, and claps along to acoustic guitar?
24 - Natalie Davis
I think most people knew of the Farriss brothers, Tim and Andrew, before "Rock Star" came along. Michael Hutchence was not the whole band by any means.
Must agree about the audience. They would hoot and cheer for anybody.
25 - smather
what a boob. 'The contestants are phony and terrible'. There are som less talented ones getting kicked to the curb as it should be in a contest. Otherwise, very real talent.
I have downloaded all of the songs by Mig, Marty, Ty, JD, Suzie, and Jordi to date. Watching the show is great but to really judge them you need to listen again.
I hate to say this but after listening to the music several times I think J.D. is going to be the winner. He has the most raw talent. You could not have gotten me to say that just based on watching the show.
We found the Jordi weakness this weak. The girl can't move. She will never be flashy enough on stage. Her voice is beautiful and she will have a solo career.
Marty will get a band
Mig will go back to the stage
Ty will go back to the stage
Suzie will just get married and sing in the shower
J.D. will win