Last night was the insanely over-hyped American Idol charity show. For over two months Ryan has crowed on and on about how it's going to be a star-studded spectacular, how there are going to be so many awesome celebrities appearing on the show, and that there will be a lot of great performances.
After watching the 2-hour snorefest, I have one word for Mr. Seacrest: Baloney.
I feel sorry for the poor saps in the audience who thought they would see performers like Celine Dion, Josh Groban, and Annie Lennox live on stage, the joke was on them. Most of the "real" artists performed in the Walt Disney Music Hall (not where the judges and contestants were). Hell, Celine's "historical performance" with Elvis was one big joke. Oooooh, behold the magic of blue-screen technology! Please. Twenty years ago Paula Abdul danced with a cartoon cat. This was more or less the same thing.
Not even the past Idol winners made an appearance in the same locale as the judges. Apparently still allergic to anything connected with the show, Kelly Clarkson stayed far away from the judges, performing instead at the Mouse's music house. Carrie Underwood wasn't even there, submitting instead a music video featuring her surrounded by starving African children.
At least the folks in the AI theater got to see Tenacious D. Granted, it was just Jack Black on stage while Kyle Glass sat in the audience, pretending to be overwhelmed with awe as Jack sang "Kiss From a Rose." I admit that I was laughing heartily during that skit. Loved the Seal cameo. Who was the chick next to him? She didn't look like his wife.
That being said, most of the performances were really good. The guys from Earth, Wind, and Fire must be 65 years old, but they move around like they're in their thirties. Kelly was wonderful, and it was very cool having the legendary Jeff Beck playing guitar for her. Annie Lennox has still got it after all these years. I enjoyed her soulful performance of "Bridge Over Troubled Water." She's starting to look like Dame Helen Mirren though. And oh my, Josh Groban puts Clay Aiken, Michael Buble, and especially Il Divo, to shame. He is so freaking awesome. Speaking of Il Divo, does that name translate to, "Creepy-looking guys" in English? Because it was like getting eye-boinked by four Constantines at once. Yurgh.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Dave
You may find Josh Groban cute with his curls and all but he sings like he has a piece of steak lodged in his throat and the only artists that are in his genre are Il Divo. Michael Buble is a smooth jazz crooner and Clay Aiken is pure pop. Lumping those 4 together is like saying Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston are the same because they're black. Nuh uh!
Annie Lennox butchered Bridge Over Troubled Water. I don't know what you were listening to but her voice has lost something with age and she could barely croak her way through that song.
Jack Black was great, So was Carrie and the Celine/Elvis thing wasn't horrible, I mean she sang well, but it was creepy.
What the heck happened to Kelly? She is well on her way to being the next Cass Elliot, only Mamma never ruined her voice by age 25. Get her to Celebrity Fit Club Now!
2 - steveo
I couldn't agree more about Josh Groban, nice voice, but waaaay too much vibrato, sounds like a goat. Il Divo is just Il Stinko, creepy sounding. Only Carrie sounded good and Rascal Flatts. Celine was ok, but the Elvis gimmick didn't work.
This was an over-hyped self serving show. Raking in millions, they give a measley 5 million of it? Good for Ellen for her $100,000 contribution and too bad Ryan and the zero trio, Simon, Paula, and Randy don't at least match it. Simon makes millions, he could easily afford to donate 1 million himself.
At least people will be helped, that is after the third party administration costs are deducted. That is the only saving grace for the show.
3 - Grandpa Idol
With all the constructive opinions I can't wait to relive each exciting minute of the broadcast after returning home on Sunday. I just hope Jordin recovers from the emotional flogging that Ryan bestowed on her.
4 - tss
Josh has absolutely nothing over Clay's incredible stage presence and personality. Josh does have a great voice; but I have heard many 'pitch' problems at times with him. His performance last night was great, though. But for pure entertainment-he could never, ever come near Clay. Just attend one Clay concert and you just may agree. Oh yeah, just where was 'Borat', anyway??? Il Divo wasn't that bad last night-maybe beause I love that song-but usually I never thought they sounded great as a group. Annie Lennox 'souful' last night???? Everyone I spoke to, or on-line chatted with, thought she 'butchered' that beautiful song that put Clay performed so powerfully and put him way, way, WAY, over the top of Ruben the night he sang in on AI2 (and subsequently had it on his first single; the producers replacing another song with BOTW that was originally supposed to be on the single.)
5 - Phillip Winn
Yeah, I knew it wouldn't be as great as billed, but I was surprised by just how much of a letdown the broadcast was. Something like half the performers mentioned didn't show up, and that's just weird.
6 - Kaonashi
Dave- The reason I lumped them together is because they're all roughly male adult contemporary artists. To compare Josh Groban to say, Justin Timberlake, now that would be weird. As for the Celine/Elvis thing, it wasn't bad, but it was silly. It was hardly a "historical television event". I mean, Natalie Cole did that music video of "Unforgettable" with her dead father over a decade ago. It's nothing new.
Steveo- Yes, Carrie did sound nice...in the MUSIC VIDEO. She wasn't even there, but Ryan made it sound like she was going to appear.
Grandpa- Jordin was definitely having trouble putting herself together after that. She sounded terrible during the last song. I don't blame her one bit.
tss- Ever heard the original Simon and Garfunkel version of BOTW? That was the style Annie Lennox was going for. Slow and sad.
Phillip- wow, half the performers didn't show up? Jeez.
7 - Oliver
I thought Lakisha Jones was going after her pitiful rendition of Fantasia's "I Believe." Poor Lakisha, she's so morose. She seems afraid to smile and let herself go as a singer, for fear she'll make a mistake. She has the voice, but not the guts.
If Chris Richardson could stop imitating Justin Timberlake, he might be more acceptable. He obviously has studied JT and does JT's movements much too much.
Blake Lewis is okay, but he doesn't THINK when he's singing. He often moves to a different beat than the song he's singing.
Melinda Doolittle should win. She's the best singer, takes chances and is consistently good.
Phil Stacey is an excellent singer. He should stay away from that hip/hop look (hats, etc.). Just sing REALLY good if you want to win this thing.
Jordin Sparks will be wonderful one day. For 17, she has a lot on the ball.
8 - tss
Kaonashi- it wasn't the 'version' that Annie attempted; it was the lack of being on key and lack of 'smoothness' in her voice. I just think they could of asked someone with a much better voice to perform that song (like Clay??? LOL). Clay didn't 'up the tempo' of the song when he sang it on AI and on his single; he sang it as it should of been sang-powerful and to-the-rafters!! BTW, I will never diss S & G's version. It is the original. Art also has one of the great voices in music, too.
9 - Carol
Josh Groban is good, but have you actually seen Clay Aiken in concert before writing this?
Youtube link Youtube link 2
Oh, and here's how that arrangement of
Bridge Over Troubled Water is supposed to sound. Sorry, Annie.
10 - Kaonashi
Oliver- Good catch on LaKisha. She seems so serious onstage. I suppose it's why not enough of her own personality comes through her performance. Instead, she tries to play it safe by emulating other people.
tss- Granted, Annie Lennox's voice wasn't the greatest last night, but it seems that it added to the song. Don't get me wrong, I love Clay's version of the song, but hers seemed more suitable. Besides, they already had Josh Groban belt out "You Raise Me Up", which I thought was great. The African kids' choir was adorable.
11 - Kaonashi
LOL, I should have known I'd bring out the Claymates with my Josh Groban remark. Yes, I have seen Clay in concert, during the season 2 tour. No, I haven't seen his other concerts. I'm an unemployed grad student. Yes, I have his first album. All of the songs are on my iPod. But it's my opinion that Josh sounds better overall. His voice is haunting and beautiful. And the man can sing in Italian :) What can I say? I like pop opera, so I also like Andrea Bocelli. However, I wasn't impressed with Il Divo.
12 - Judge Judi
Koanashi - thanks for standing up for my JOSH GROBAN ... I saw him in concert (sitting from the 2nd row) and he blew my socks off. To compare Josh with Clay is a huge stretch. I mean, Clay is ok, but he doesn't give me goose bumps when I hear him sing. Josh is a class act, and is NOTHING like Buble. He sounded like crap when he sang on A.I. several weeks ago.
Anyway, I still think A.I. is going to get hate mail for pulling their stunt of letting Jordin think she was going home. Shame on them! My votes for getting knocked off next week are LaKisha and Blake. (why do people like Blake so much ... his voice just isn't that good?)
13 - tisppa3
I'm a Clay fan. I've attended seven concerts and have all of his CDs, but honestly some of the Clay fans that post on these blogs are so over the top that they make ME want to puke. For the love of Pete, Clay is a human being, not the second coming!! Reading some of the things you write about him makes him and his whole fanbase look like a bunch of empty headed worshipers.
Lighten up and get a life. We may like Clay, but that doesn't mean the whole world has to like him.
14 - Dave
Kaonashi, you really ought to check out Clay's music the way he is now. I think you would like his latest CD, A Thousand Different Ways. The man has grown in control, subtlety and nuance so much that it is amazing. He was very good 3 years ago but now he is even better than he was then. He was touring with full orchestras over Christmas and will be again this summer. I know I sound like a Claymate. Maybe I'm getting there. I'm OK with that.
15 - Carol
Tisppa3, is your keyboard broken? Shouldn't your message say that you are a Kelly Clarkson fan and own all of HER CDs?
Really, people, it's time to come up with a new script. That "I like Clay but hate his fans" line has been repeated so many times that it is getting stale.
16 - Kaonashi
Judge Judi - Oh man, Buble was horrible on AI. Like I mentioned in my review of that week, he seemed drunk. Just embarrassing.
tisppa3 - Thank you for speaking up. It is possible to like Clay Aiken and not think he's God's Gift to Music.
Dave - I've heard tracks on his latest CD and I did almost buy it. But I questioned coming out with a cover album so early in his career. That's usually reserved for something like your 6th album. My brother bought it though, but he's grown to be a bigger Clay fan than I.
Carol - Why can't you and the other Claymates accept that some people who like Clay can be critical of him? Why accuse tisppa3 of lying? What's with the Kelly Clarkson comment?
17 - Carol
"Carol - Why can't you and the other Claymates accept that some people who like Clay can be critical of him? Why accuse tisppa3 of lying? What's with the Kelly Clarkson comment?"
Kaonashi, sure, people who like Clay can be very critical. Just read any of his fan boards for proof. However, the variation of Tisppa3's comment about liking Clay, but hating his fans has appeared on so many blogs and web sites that after a while you just start to notice a pattern. As for the Kelly Clarkson connection, some of her most vocal fans made a mistake of posting these same comments on general music boards, so it was pretty easy to connect the dots.
If you are interested in exploring the Idol fan wars, you can find a lot of good information.
18 - Concerned Clay Aiken fan
Tell you what. There would be no rabid Claymates if there weren't a rabid hate campaign to discredit and smear Clay at every turn. The silencing of the likes of John Paulus and Perez Hilton would be a good start. Do you think we like having to constantly call out their lies? Heck no. I only want to enjoy Clay's music and career. So far, the haters won't allow that.
In addition to Carol's link, another interesting link can be found.
Some of your casual readers who don't know about this may find it unfathomable that this is happening, but it is.
19 - Adam
I donated money but I feel cheated that I waited for 2 hours and no one went home. What was the point of me watching a 2 hour program once I donated.
I have better things to do, I could have cleaned my cat's litter box rather than watch a dull show.
20 - Scotty
"I should have known I'd bring out the Claymates with my Josh Groban remark."
Kaonashi - the above remark seems a bit disingenuous. Every blog, article, etc. that mentions Aiken's name, sends a Yahoo alert to the inbox of Aiken's fans (one of the most pro-active fanbases on the Internet). It was his name that brought us here, not your Josh Groban remark. But I think you knew that. If you don't appreciate the "hits," don't mention the name. And if you do appreciate the hits, then please don't insinuate something insipid on our part for providing them to you.
Josh Groban is a wonderful singer.
21 - Don
Right on Scotty. It's always amazing that people include Clay's name in things they write, even if nothing they have to say is really about him. Yet when the hits bring his fans, and they then defend the slams against him, others seem to go nuts and say they are the OTT ones. Hypocrite much? If you don't want his fans, don't talk about him or mention his name. That way it's your fans that come, not his. It some happen to like both, they still wouldn't have a reason to mention him or defend him. It is interesting that the Clay haters and Kelly lovers also get google alerts though for every mention of Clay, so that they can then throw in their 2 cents. It really is a strange world that comes when the haters follow someone as much as the fans do. Must be some alternate universe thing.
22 - Kaonashi
Carol and Concerned- thanks for the links. That was some interesting reading. With all due respect however, I don't quite buy that there was a "smear campaign" instigated by Justin Guarini, Ruben Studdard, and Kelly Clarkson fans. Don't you think that their fans have better things to do, like support their own favorites?
Adam- I felt cheated as well.
Scotty- Are you serious about the Yahoo alert? No, really is that true? Wow, that's wild! So that's how a bunch of you guys show up here at the slightest mention of his name. So if someone makes a small criticism of him, you all descend on that person like avenging angels eh? Wow. I am amazed. Tell me, do you have people posted all over the streets as well, and when someone breathes his name, you all feverishly text each other about it?
You know what the really weird thing is? Last night's show had nothing to do with him. I mentioned his name in passing. Josh Groban is an adult contemporary artist. Aiken is one too. So is Michael Buble. I just compared the three. It's my OPINION. Just like you thinking that Clay is the greatest thing since sliced bread is an OPINION as well. Sheesh.
23 - carol
Well of course Clay fans are going to speak up, when you say something about our guy that we don't appreciate. So what? Groban sings well, but different than Clay, more theatrical than pop. Doesn't make him better. Just what you may like in your opinion. NOT in mine, however! Annie just reminded me of how great Clay's version of "Bridge" was! And the songs from EW&F reminded me of how great Clay did some of those songs during his Jukebox Tour. Clay rocks! And he should have been on that show with his relationship with AI and Unicef, one of the charities represented. Clay is a Unicef Ambassador after all! He set the standard of excellence for that show and the nature of service and giving back!
24 - carol
PS: I just read the comments section. I'm a different Carol!
25 - Kaonashi
Carol A, Carol B, Adam, Scotty, and all other Claymates- Isn't it interesting that in that same sentence, I also mention Michael Buble and Il Divo, but none of their fans has shown up? I made a snarky comment about Madonna "kidnapping" more children, but no one has come in her defense. I criticized the Ben Stiller skit, but none of his fans have commented either. Don't tell me that these people don't have fans, or that they don't care about their favorites, because you know that's baloney. So what could it be, then?
Hey, I like the guy. I paid an arm and a leg to see him in the Season 2 concert even though I didn't have a job. I went all by myself because no one else would go with me. I have his CD, as well as all the songs he sang before Idol.
But if it is my opinion that someone *gasp* sounds better than him, I shouldn't be afraid to say so without incurring your fury. What - is there a commandment that says, "Thou shalt not invoke the Aiken's name in vain"?