Wednesday, May 21, 2008
So another season of American Idol has come and nearly gone, and I realised I have barely discussed anything about it, despite it being like one of the few obsessions in my life (I should get a life, yes I know). I have watched it ever since season 2 when I was a die-hard Claymate and instantly became an addict, following the show almost religiously from then on.
Season 3 produced Jasmine Trias as one of my favourites, Season 4 bored the hell out of me (no seriously, it was country versus bad rock all the way, I’m not sure I even watched the Hollywood or Top 24 rounds), Season 5 I stopped watching after Daughtry’s shock elimination, and for Season 6 everyone who knows me knew I was a Blakergirl, although Melinda should have won.
Season 7 rolled in faster than you can say Sanjaya, and though I hated the auditions, I instantly knew from the Hollywood and Top 24 rounds who my favourites were, or so I thought. Danny and Ramiele both stood out for me. Danny for being so fabulously gay and snarky (he is absolutely ONTD material), Ramiele for being so adorably miniscule and cute and Asian. And both had fantastic powerhouse voices, only that Ramiele seemed to have constant problems with song choice ever since she sang “Against All Odds”. I didn’t think much of any of the other Top 12, in fact the only ones remaining whom I remembered were Carly (if only her tattoos and eyeliner matched her personality!), Brooke (UGH unbelievably fake and annoying), Amanda (really interesting; an authentic rocker) and David A.
I actually really disliked David A when I first saw his audition (this is the part where I get bashed by the rabid fangirls). I had already heard about the hype surrounding him and how he already had his fanclub called the ArchAngels from his very first audition. So I watched him online before I saw him on TV and thought: His voice is good but not great, and he’s not even that cute. He was even slightly pitchy. What’s the big bloody deal?! Like, the other Texas boy from auditions who didn’t make it in to the Top 24 was way cuter (I don’t even remember his name, lol).
Point is, I firmly supported Danny and Ramiele, and was even more happy to find out they were BFFs on the show (proven by the backstage photos, videos and interviews; they’re even moving in together into an apartment soon!). And then Top 16 week cruelly cut Danny out just cuz he basically outed himself to the rednecks/morons/conservati ves out there, who somehow miraculously didn’t already know he was gay, by singing Tainted Love which I loved. Like, whatev. He was obviously TMTH for the Bible Belt who make up like 50% of Idol’s viewership (this is the only thing that explains why Idol is so pro-God, just look at all the past season’s winners, and seriously, Shout To The Lord??? TWICE???!!!).
So Chikezie made it in to the Top 12 cuz TPTB (The Powers That Be a.k.a Idol producers) really wanted representation for blacks, y’all. Cuz ya know Syesha is the only other coloured person in the Top 12 (god knows that’s probably the only reason why she made it so far to the Top 3. Wait, oh yeah cuz she was the only remaining female too. Wow.)
Honestly, the Top 12 should have been eliminated in this order, in my humble opinion:
Kristy Lee Cook (GOD HOW DID SHE EVEN GET IN)
Brooke White (Both she and Archuleta look like they’re always on the verge of nervous breakdowns)
Chikezie Ezie (at least America got THIS elimination right for the week)
David Hernandez (gays ftw!)
Syesha Mercado (had zero personality all the way til the Top 4/3, when she suddenly developed a Southern accent and an inner slut)
Jason Castro (he gives really hilarious interviews I realised after he was kicked off Idol, but vocally definitely did not deserve to reach Top 4)
Amanda Overmeyer (I LOVED her rocking! Why can America not accept a nurse who looks like she’s 40 when she’s actually 24, who can actually ROCK?! Oh yeah, it’s America. And maybe she could have spoken up more)
Michael Johns (umm didn’t do anything for me but hell yeah he’s got the screaming fangirls. And the vocal chops. And he can do really decent rock songs)
Ramiele Malubay (I think she had a better voice than Jasmine to be honest, just picked songs that were bad and that no one had heard of. Also, I admit I might be a little biased. lol)
Carly Smithson (stellar voice, strange personality. Oh but the massive album flop gives her sympathy votes. Did you know she was listed in The Economist in an article about the worst failed business ventures ever? Or something to that extent.)
Leaving the two Davids for the finale.
Finally something America got right. Let’s hope they pick the right winner too.
There is no doubt in my mind who the winner of American Idol 2008 should be. And it’s a really funny thing, because as aforementioned, I really really disliked him at the beginning. But after Ramiele’s elimination (which really hurt), I just drifted for a while, almost decided to quit the show but began contemplating the remaining 8 (because you know its no fun following a show religiously when there’s nobody you support in it!). Who is the most suited to be the American Idol? Who really wants to win it? Who is the most talented to win it? Who deserves to win American Idol?
And the name that pops up most of, if not all, of the time is undoubtedly David Archuleta.
Everything, from his dramatic life story to his genuine humility to his pure yet husky singing voice which took me months to realise I loved, points to me that he IS the American Idol 2008, and I will be damned/furious if he doesn’t win it.
It took me a while, but I made my choice, or rather he made the choice for me. People may rave about David Cook’s interpretations of songs (when seriously the arrangements were copied from other singers, go do your research) or how hot he is (he look like a pervert with his combover and facial scruff wtf!), but it is David Archuleta’s sweetness, innocence and real original talent (he arranges his songs HIMSELF, c.f. Think Of Me, which even music industry insiders praised) that proves the winner for me.
His mannerisms, which have received comments spanning the whole range from “omgomgomg he’s so cute and ditzy!” to “wtf, he HAS to be autistic” have actually slowly endeared me to him. He’s only a young, naïve, awkward, sweet, sincere boy who stepped into American Idol when he was only 16. He won Star Search before, but had vocal paralysis which left him with only one vocal cord, and never regained the confidence he had of his voice ever since, which explains why he is truly genuinely surprised whenever his voice is complimented.
It is not an act. Whoever hates on this boy obviously lives in a dark, dark world. As even Ryan Seacrest mentioned before, he is so likeable. It really is difficult to hate him unless you really want to (i.e. you’re a Cook fan), and trust me, having transitioned over from the dark side, I would know.
Talent-wise, he and David Cook are the two bright lights of American Idol, but their personalities could not be further apart. Who would you choose to win? The arrogant wannabe rocker who claimed he auditioned on a whim and who stood up when Natasha Bedingfield said “I want to say Hi to David”, thinking it was him she was talking about?
Or the young boy whose lifelong dream has been to win American Idol, and who is so humble and shy he could only sit in stunned surprise as Natasha Bedingfield made her her way over and kissed him on the cheek?
I know who my choice is, and whatever happens, I’m glad I made it.
David Archuleta For The Win.
