So last night, Melissa McGhee got the news that she was leaving American Idol. She said it was no shock to her; it probably wasn't that much of a shock to the American public or the judges either, and it wasn't to me. But it was disappointing.
Yes, she may have really, really screwed up the words to an easy song, but like she said, she had to change her song 24 hours before the performance because reportedly she had the same song as Chris Daughtry (and would you want to compete with that?).
But all things aside, excuses aren't going to win you votes. Melissa did have a very good voice that, unfortunately, she didn't show off in time. She is gone, and we are now left with the listenable but forgettable Kevin Covais, Lisa Tucker, and Bucky Covington, who honestly shouldn't even be in the semi-finals considering the absence of the uber-talented Ayla Brown and Gedeon McKinney.
With any luck, these three will be gone in the next three weeks, but considering the history of Idol voting when it comes to bad singers (Nikki McKibbin, John Stevens, Jasmine Trias, Scott Savol) and good singers (Tamyra Gray, Trenyce, Jennifer Hudson, La Toya London, Constantine Maroulis), I highly doubt everything will go as it should. But hey, this is not just a singing competition; it's also a television show.
And as much as I cried my eyes out when La Toya London got voted off and sang her ass off in a showstopping rendition of "Don't Rain On My Parade" as the laughable Jasmine Trias stood there with a flower in her hair knowing she should be gone, I knew it made great television.
Should Melissa McGhee have gone? Well with a name like "McGhee" I'm inclined to say yes. Seriously, when taking several factors into consideration (the others' performances, her past performances, the lyrics), I don't think so. I think Kevin, Bucky, and Lisa are all walking on thin ice. But this is American Idol. And regardless of what I think, America gets to decide. Hopefully next week America is a little more attentive and sends an average singer home. Otherwise, Ace Young or Elliott Yamin or Kellie Pickler (excellent singers but maybe a little lost) might have to pull out their suitcases.
Article comments
1 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
This saddened me no end, considering i've fallen in love with ms melissa. if Katherine goes, i dunno what a fella'll be expected to do.
And my GOD she could sing. a fluffed line or not, that's a beautiful beautiful voice right there.
And i thought Chris sucked, there was NOTHING original about that, other than he opted for the Chilli Peppers version over the Stevie version.
And i have to say i was more than a little embaressed by the fawning over Stevie. Dear god, i cringed myself inside out.
oh, and Taylor is THE man.
2 - Jim
I don't know if Kellie or Ace are excellent singers. I think he's very handsome and she's amusing and she has a lot of spirit, but they get by more on their personality. Elliott is a good singer, and I hope he stays to at least make the tour because he's one of the few people this season who hasn't had a long career in the music industry (PLEASE people vote for him this Tuesday if you like him, because he doesn't have a lot of fans and he will leave next if he doesn't get votes), but he's so nervous onstage and he also needs help with song selection.
From what Melissa said in a recent interview, she originally chose Ribbon in the Sky, then she changed her mind and chose Superstition. That's the one Bucky sang. Then she chose Lately. Chris sang Higher Ground.
3 - Earl DeLeoni
I wonder what's Chris Evan's credentials that make him decide who the bad contestants are or were. Did he forget that this is not solely a singing contest? Nikki, Jasmine, John and Savoy lasted longer than expected because obviously the American public found other things endearing besides their singing talent. All these negative talks about them is purely sour grapes coming from fans of the losing contestants. And this includs Chris Evans.
4 - Hello!!!
"Yes, she may have really, really screwed up the words to an easy song, but like she said, she had to change her song 24 hours before the performance because reportedly she had the same song as Chris Daughtry (and would you want to compete with that?)."
I don't see the problem here. In Josh Gracin's final week on AI2, he did the same song as Clay Aiken. AI has never had a problem with this. I would have LOVED to see Melissa do "Higher Ground."
AI screwed Melissa over the way they did Clay Aiken when they forced him to sing a different arrangement of song "Vincent" 20 minutes before going live, he stumbled, and the judges called him out for it.
This is a conspiracy to make sure Paris wins. PARIS NEEDS TO GO NOW! As you all know, she has no business being here BECAUSE SHE HAS CONNECTIONS UP THE WAZOO!!!!
5 - Game Theory
"Nikki, Jasmine, John and Savoy lasted longer than expected because obviously the American public found other things endearing besides their singing talent."
Actually some of these people last longer because of fan bases, but most due to GAME THEORY.
Fox understands game theory. They know that if they let you actually vote people off, fans of A and B could pool their votes together to get C off.
But by making you vote people to stay ON, A fans vote for A, B fans vote for B, and yes, C fans vote for C. Throw in fans of A and B who no-vote because "my guy doesn't need it, he/she did so well" and you get crazy results. This is why the show is so loved. By using Game Theory, FOX has been able to make the show unpredictable and thus keep the excitement lacking in Survivor
(Which does rely on game theory, but each seasons alterations to rule don't really change things up. I have been suggesting the each member of the losing team be isolated from each other until Tribal Council and THEN vote. With no strategies or alliances, how will people vote? That is interesting, especially because each tribal council with 7 or 8 people will probably get 4 people who have votes cast against them, and all it could take is 2 to go home. NOW IF THAT DOESN'T ADD DRAMA, I DON'T KNOW WHAT DOES!)
6 - Chris Evans
I definitely think Ace and Kellie are excellent singers, (see Ace Young's "Butterflies", see Kellie Pickler's "I'm The Only One). Ace has this beautiful falsetto that makes me melt inside, and Kellie's voice has potential up the wazoo (which is why for a while, she seemed to get better each week). But what is the greatest thing about Kellie, is that she has this heart that permeates into her performances that the other contestants (with maybe the exception of Taylor) lack because of their(even if unconscious) pretentiousness.
7 - trish
Dear Chris,
After watching AI for a couple of seasons, I feel the public is duped into believing that their votes make a difference. People need to read the disclaimer at the end credits which basically says that the producers have sole discretion over the votes. This leads me to believe that the outcome can be altered to their liking. Additionally, as you mentioned, it is a TV show. TV shows are all about ratings and money. When Constantine was unfairly, prematurely eliminated from the show, it created the shock of the season. Horrible as that may have been, it did make great TV. Additionally, a cast is assembled for this reality show to appeal to the public's different tastes in music. Also, 19E is looking for a diverse group of ten for the annual 43 city Idol tour after the show is over. This is a huge money maker. I attended one of these concerts in a sold out venue of 10,000. It is definitely a variety type concert showcasing each of the ten Idols in their particular genre of music. American Idol is very well thought out and cleverly designed.
8 - shocked dude
What are you talking about! They sent home the wrong person. Chris got ROBBED! This is bs and I am not watching that lame rear show again