Although she didn't technically win American Idol, I'd argue runner-up Katharine McPhee is still quite the winner. Considering her reported offer from KFC, calls from Steven Spielberg, an album in the works with RCA overseen by Clive Davis, and an image that couldn't be more marketable if it wanted to, Ms. McPhee seems to be in a pretty sweet spot despite her "loser" status.
As Simon Cowell said to her (which Katharine mentioned in her interview on Larry King Live), where her career goes now is heavily dependent upon choosing the right songs. And no one knows that better than the original, most successful, and most respected idol (whom Katharine has been compared to on occasion) Kelly Clarkson. Here's to hoping Kat goes Clay Aiken on us and not Bo Bice.
I've compiled Katharine's best performances from this Idol season, all of them making it pretty clear why she made it to the finals and why she'll continue to have a good career with the right guidance. I've also compiled the comments I've made on her performances throughout the show's run in my "Idol Watch" column.
“Over The Rainbow” Wow. What an absolutely magical performance. Going in as the underdog tonight, Katharine had a lot to prove. Especially after booting out favorite Chris Daughtry. But boy did she deliver. Poised, slow, and steady, Kat returned to the woman we fell in love with back at the beginning of the competition who knew how to kill ‘em with the quiet moments.Grade: A+
This was truly a "goosebumps" moment, and the closest thing season five had to a showstopper (unfortunately it never really had one). I hope Katharine somehow finds a way to mesh the beautiful talent she has for the standards with the bluesy sound of her voice and incorporate those things into the pop songs she'll be singing on her record.
I wish she hadn't sung this at the finale, as the moment had already passed and it was a perfect opportunity for Kat to remind America of the fantastic performances she had early on in the competition. She definitely needed some damage control after booting out favorite Chris Daughtry and beloved underdog Elliott Yamin.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Sagie
Kat has such a wonderful voice, but to make it she is really in need of a handler to teach her how to speak and talk with interviewers. She comes across as very entitled and very self absorbed, and a Valley Girl with her overuse of the words "you know" and "Like"
Once she has a bit more experience in media and learns how to be more gracious, then and only then can she really go on to big things.
2 - Bliffle
I watched her sing "Over the Rainbow" and thought it was pretty ordinary. But I thought all the last 3 were ordinary and quit watching AI.
3 - mike
I disagree that she "sells the song", she "sings" the song, and does not emote that you believe her. Her performances comes across as mechanical, all smiles and that is why she lost the competition. She is technically a better singer than Taylor, but he is the ultimate performer and believes in what he is singing and therefore convinces his audience.
She is too busy trying to be seductive and pretty.
4 - Rene
She's terribly inconsistent. Over the Rainbow? Give me a break. That song couldn't be easier to sing and still it was just ok. Certainly not outstanding and most definitely not a show stopper. Why some compare her to Kelly Clarkson is inconceivable to me. She has no where near the talent. If you go back and view all of Kelly's performances from season one available at www.kcemedia.com, you can clearly tell that Kelly remains the most talented of all idols. I like Katherine and I do think she's stunning visually, I don't think she has the chops to have a long lasting career.
5 - Chris Evans
She's compared to Kelly because they both have very soulful vocals--which you can tell if you watch her Until You Come Back To Me performance.
No one's trying to say that Katharine is EQUALLY as talented a vocalist--just similar.
6 - sarah
i love katharine mcphee!!! she is so pretty and feels the music....she is so awesome!!! i liked her better than taylor (dont get me wrong he is a good singer)..but kat takes more chances and when she does that she proves to be a better singer than him. maybe its a good thing she didnt win american idol!!! you know. clay aiken gets more attention than rubenhe was runner up! GO Katharine! You ROCK my world!
7 - Rene
What I really disliked about Katherine as a performer is when she goes into a high register which is quite often. She always sounded flat to me. Like all treble with no bass.
8 - Georgia
Great article! Yes, I absolutely love this girl's voice--it's a perfect mix of old and new. Why is it people bother coming to the article simply to bash someone--if you already know you dislike them? Why even bother reading the article and commenting if you already know you hate Katharine McPhee. Nonetheless, my personal favorite was Til You come Back To me. I loved when she sang that song. I'D LOVE TO SEE A DUET WITH KATHARINE AND ARETHA!!
And to whoever said Over The Rainbow is an easy song to sing, you've gotta be kidding me, right?
9 - Jewel
Katharine has an amazing voice! I love everything about her! For me personally, she should have won! Taylor was not at all a good singer. When you hear him sing(just his singing) he sings flat or out of tune esp on the low notes. And his voice is so ordinary while KAT's voice is extraordinary!!! Great voice, beautiful, entertaining, youthful, funny, joyful, sweet.. what else to ask for..
10 - V
While I admit Katherine has talent, there was NO need to disrespect Bo Bice in your article.
Mr. Bo Bice has tremendous talent in his own right, and is doing very well thank you!
11 - Chris Evans
I was not commenting on Bice's talent--but his music rather--which is watered down generic crap.
12 - duane
Yeah, that Beau Bryce is one of the best little songstresses out there. She lokks kinda like a guy, though. Weird.
13 - Jen
Kat will have a bright future in entertainment business. Only time will tell. I can also see her doing movies and broadways. She will be all over MTV, VH1....
14 - blue velvet
the comments within the article referring to Bo Bice were uncalled for.. my reasoning is this: if you go to a festival of music the exact same type of music is not why you go there.. it is the variety and performances of all sorts of music that draws you there.. the question in the end is.. since when are we required to be exclusive fans to one singer/band?? one genre of music?? how boring.. my favorites include
Elvis. John Lennon. Fats Domino. Fantasia, Carrie Underwood, Willie Nelson, the London based cast recording of Phantom of the Opera, Taylor Hicks, Cirque de Soliel, KD Tunsdall, Elton John, Ricky Nelson, Backstreet Boys, George Michael, and yes Bo Bice.. his songs are "watered down"? they are originally written for the album songs.. how do you "water down" the original while performing the original.. all of the contestants are/have been given an outrageous opportunity to audition for all of the music industry.. in front of a vast audience with professional arrangements for their tunes .. knowing how many ppl see these contestants and are actually living their "resume" astonishes me beyond belief.. the contestants get to have the videos from their performances, spoken criticism aimed to improve ..and, last but not least, contacts, contacts, contacts..maybe AI wants the fans to stay in the position of drawing lines, establishing camps and generally stating their angst over one contestant or another.. it would fit with their marketing plans (ratings) and profit margins (advertisements).. to remain simply entertained is never the object of this show.. the audience has been led to believe that spewing hateful comments and looking for the "error" in the performer is part of the "fun" ..it is in reality (pun intended)the overall manipulaation of the show producers..do we really "hate" Scott Savol, Taylor, Bo, et al?? not me!! all of the contestants have talent and want to remain in the entertainment industry.. it is to all of our benefit that they do so.. or are we trying to be a "johnny one note" audience??
much love
peace out
15 - NR Davis
re: Bo Bice --
I'm so ******* sick of having to remind people: It's a marathon, not a sprint! Yes, his first LP was a disappointment, but anyone who pays attention knows the material put out while under the AI thumb usually is less than stellar. Wait 'til he gets to do his own thing. Like Taylor, Bo is a songwriter and an instrumentalist and a band leader. Wait until he gets the opportunity to break out and do his, um, real thing. I expect we'll see a similar thing with Taylor unless Clive Davis gets wise and decides to let Taylor do his thing from the get-go (which I hear IS a possibility; some AI execs weren't thrilled with the Hicks win and they realize that marketing him the way they sold Kelly Clarkson and Bo Bice won't fly).
In any case, Bo is doing just great - much better than he was before the competition - and better things are on the horizon.
16 - Rene
The song "Over the Rainbow" is considered a standard and it is a easy song to sing. What in the lyrics and/or the melody would make it difficult?
17 - Jane
When you say that Kat did not "technically" win what do you mean by that? She did not win. Period. Literally, technically, figuratively, or in any other way. That's because America had the final say and, guess what? A lot more people chose Taylor.
Kat is a pop princess wanna be with no heart and soul. The highest she can ever aspire to is something along the lines of Celine Dion -- technically great but plastic, cheesy and empty. But then, as she has said in her interviews, what she really wants is to be an actress.
As for me, I will be going to the Soulman's concert, buying his CDs and listening to REAL music.
18 - Chris Evans
It's funny Jane...you have no idea what Taylor's music will sound like. It could be the crappiest album of the century. The only knowledge you have of what it will be like at all is Taylor's voice--which as you say in your comment regarding Katharine and Celine Dion--doesn't matter if the music's plastic and cheesy (which for all you know, Taylor's music very well could be).
Second, I'm a little lost. What exactly gives you any indication of what kind of music Katharine will be singing on HER record? Surely not her performances on American Idol--as the closest thing to a pop song she's ever sung on the show is "Black Horse and Cherry Tree", which is hardly anything like anything Celine Dion has ever sung in her life.
Third, after watching performances of Aretha Franklin's "Until You Come Back To Me" and even "God Bless The Child", how you can say Katharine has no soul is beyond me.
19 - NR Davis
Mr./Ms. Rene, the difficulty in performing that classic is in making the audience feel the hopes and dreams of the person singing it. Imbuing lyrics and melody with true emotion is tough. IMO, Katharine failed at that - despite her undeniable talent - for the reasons Ms. Jane stated. (IOW, the McPheever, for many, never rose above 98 degrees.) Indeed, Ms. McPhee has said she wants a career like Julia Roberts'; note that the Oscar winner does not sing all that well (which may give McPhee a bit of an edge: if she proves gifted on the boards and can act convincingly, she has a great shot at doing Broadway plays and - unlike Roberts - musicals). Given her performance with Meat Loaf on the finale (he was off-putting, but she really worked to bring the intensity required by "It's All Coming Back to Me Now," the high-drama ballad they sang), she has a drama queen waiting to emerge. All she has to work on is something the WINNER has down cold: believability, real heart and soul.
20 - Eric
While I respect your opinions Rene and NR, I wholeheartedly disagree that Katharine does not have heart and soul and/or feel emotion when she's singing. I've always felt emotion in her songs especially her Come Rain or Come Shine and Until You Come Back To Me. My favorite was Over The Rainbow. My partner and I watched it with our daughter, and by the middle tears were streaming down all our faces. The sound of her voice, the conviction, the look in her eyes, everything about it was absolutely and undeniably beautiful.
21 - Owens Ryan
Eh, i liked Elliott and Chris and Katharine--would have rather two of those three were in the final. It would've been less boring.
22 - Chris Evans
Chris and Kat should've been the final two, I believe Owens.
23 - Sandy
Blah blah blah ... so many blogs and so many heart felt opinions and horrible comments. Enough bad mouthing. No ONE person or ONE sound can please absolutely everyone. Everyone gets so emotional about their opinions. I like Taylor. I like Katherine and would like to have seen Kat win over Taylor. HOWEVER, to ME Chris is IT. I WILL be watching for what Chris does and I WILL buy his CDs and WILL go to his concerts. To ME and many others Chris IS the winner. He is exactly the sound I look for in music!!! I don't care that he didn't become the AI winner. I'm just happy I got to see him and I hope to see more of him in the future. The rest - I love some but can't be bothered to argue about who's talented and who's not and who should have won. Give me Chris and I'm happy. HAPPY HAPPY!! He WILL make it, regardless of those who don't like him. He's the winner. :) Sandy
24 - Sandy
Oh ... and I think there's a ChrisDaughtry.com site - or something close to that url - for all us Chris fans. Time to visit it and see what's new!!! Woooo Hooo Chris ... you ROCK my world baby! Keep it up!
Bye bye everyone here pining over who won and who should have won. I don't care ... moving on!
:)
Sandy
25 - Anne
Thanks for posting all of those videos again. As usual I cry when I hear her - she's amazing! She's the best performer I have seen in years and years. Can't wait to get to the concert.
Many thanks,