American Idol '09

[indulgedcountrymusic]

HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, no.



That was a good one

[Razor X]

I think I'm about to go into diabetic shock after listening to that first song!

[Rainbow]

I think I'm about to go into diabetic shock after listening to that first song!

Crap song or not, can you really say she has a bad voice?

[Occasional Hope]

Truth is, none of them are country or they wouldn't be auditioning for a show guarenteed to garner them a pop following. The question is which one will they sell as country?

I semi-agree with you in that none of the ones we've actually seen really struck me as country, and most of them mention at least one other genre alongside country. But the claims to be country singers/favourite genre come from their own mouths, at the beginning of Hollywood week, before any manipulation by the show. (It may be interesting to revisit this in at the end of the season to see if anyone has changed their minds - I seriously doubt Phil Stacey thought he was country at teh outset, for instance). I'm also not sure that it's true that they wouldn't audition if they were country, because in practice going on Idol has proved the path to a country career for Carrie Underwood, Josh Gracin, Kellie Pickler, and Bucky Covington, none of whom (with the possible exception of Carrie) would have had a hope of it otherwise. Any young singer aiming for a record deal is going to see it as an option, particularly if they aren't getting one by other means.

I do note that the "country" contestants on idol fall into two main categories: the amateurs, mostly very young, and mostly but not exclusively girls, who have little background or commitment; and a couple of people who have tried and failed the usual way, usually those at the upper end of the age range for Idol - Brent Keith Smith is the epitome of this type this year, as Kristy Lee Cook was last year, although she was younger. I think the main problem with the quality, and country credentials, of country contestants on Idol is that the producers clearly have no idea about country.

Indulged: these are out of 142 people sent to Hollywood. I doubt we'll see more than two max in the top 12.

On Kristy Lee Cook: I actually think she has a good voice, but she's very bland as a performer and interpreter. IMO there was a reason her original label didn't keep her.

[indulgedcountrymusic]

On Kristy Lee Cook: I actually think she has a good voice, but she's very bland as a performer and interpreter. IMO there was a reason her original label didn't keep her.

And why they didn't want her again the second time

[Razor X]

I think I'm about to go into diabetic shock after listening to that first song!

Crap song or not, can you really say she has a bad voice?

It's very nondescript.

[Stormy]

CMT is proving its country roots by airing 60 Minutes interview with Simon Cowell from a few years back.

[EastTNGal]

Regarding Kaylan Loyd ... I don't know why AI hasn't shown her singing yet. I saw her perform at a festival in my Upper East TN hometown, and that gal has a set of pipes that knock you outta your shoes! I had gone to see the headliner, and she was performing during the headliner's break. One song I remember her singing was "Gundpowder & Lead" by Miranda Lambert. It was amazing! She has a powerhouse voice, incredible range and great stage presence. The crowd was nuts for her ... I think even more so than for the headliner. I hope we get to hear her! I was so excited to see her on AI ... she has the talent to be a star!

[Sam G]

It looks as if Brent Keith Smith or Anne Marie Boskovich may be the two best hopes to hear any country music on AI this year. Smith doesn't do too much for me, and if Boskovich has been heard at all to this point, I don't remember her at all. I keep thinking the producers are going to shove a male country singer down our throats to complement Carrie Underwood and cash in on some of that Chesney/Urban/Paisley/Keith money, but that may not happen this year, as the Top 36 (if the spoilers from Vote For The Worst are correct) lean heavily toward bland pop/soul instead of bland country or rock.

[Sam G]

CMT is proving its country roots by airing 60 Minutes interview with Simon Cowell from a few years back.

They need something to fill in the gap between "My Big Redneck Wedding" and "Pimp My Tractor."

[JR Journey]

CMT is proving its country roots by airing 60 Minutes interview with Simon Cowell from a few years back.

They need something to fill in the gap between "My Big Redneck Wedding" and "Pimp My Tractor."

God forbid they show a music video.

Actually, the CMT Pure channel is really good most of the time - if anyone else has it. They still play music all day - videos, 330 Sessions, etc. And they don't just cater to new artists either. Somebody at CMT still knows a thing or two ...

[indulgedcountrymusic]

Actually, the CMT Pure channel is really good most of the time - if anyone else has it. They still play music all day - videos, 330 Sessions, etc. And they don't just cater to new artists either. Somebody at CMT still knows a thing or two ...

Never heard of it, but I like the sound of it

[Razor X]

Actually, the CMT Pure channel is really good most of the time - if anyone else has it. They still play music all day - videos, 330 Sessions, etc. And they don't just cater to new artists either. Somebody at CMT still knows a thing or two ...

Never heard of it, but I like the sound of it

It used to be VH1 Country. It's still listed under that name on my digital cable system.

[indulgedcountrymusic]

Actually, the CMT Pure channel is really good most of the time - if anyone else has it. They still play music all day - videos, 330 Sessions, etc. And they don't just cater to new artists either. Somebody at CMT still knows a thing or two ...

Never heard of it, but I like the sound of it

It used to be VH1 Country. It's still listed under that name on my digital cable system.

I don't think I have it I've nvr seen it b4

What I really would like to have is GAC, because my Nana use to have it and they always played a lot more music videos than CMT ever did

[JHD]

We lost VH1 Country but gained AFN (Artists & Fans Network) on DirecTV. AFN is absolutely awesome. They play so many videos that I never even knew were out there. From artists I have never seen. All videos all the time. Good mix with well knowns, indies, plus old stuff as well.

We've got RFD and on Sundays they have Crook & Chase. Or did, haven't watched it in awhile.

Don't know what's going to happen with the whole Sirius/XM deal but I love the country music channels. The classic country and outlaw country are my favs.

We've got GAC, AFN, RFD, and XM/Sirius. I can pretty much watch or listen to any form of country out there at any time. I even saw a Colt Ford video on AFN this morning. Heh!

Kaylan Loyd on Idol huh? Interesting. She's one of the bazillion I have bookmarked on my new artist MySpace favs. I didn't even know she was on the show. That girl can sing! I wonder why the producers of Idol are keeping her a secret? Hmmmmm, now I have a reason to watch a little more. I had pretty much given up this season but now I'll watch just to see if they give Kaylan a shot! Could be good stuff!

[Sam G]

I haven't given AFN a chance since I first saw that DirecTV had it and gave it a try. Their motto is that they play videos from artists who haven't gotten mainstream recognition. The first video they played when I watched? Sugarland.

[Chris J]

Okay...I stopped wtaching after Carrie Underwood.

[Occasional Hope]

It looks as if Brent Keith Smith or Anne Marie Boskovich may be the two best hopes to hear any country music on AI this year.

As it turns out, not so much.

I think they both missed a trick by not picking better songs (and especially in Ann Marie's case, a country one) this week. That's the last we'll see of either of them, I think - they neither of them seemed to impress the judges enough to get picked for the wildcard show.

Brent picked one of the worst songs to be played on country radio in the last few years, and one which doesn't show any vocal ability he has. I thought he sounded like he had a decent voice, but I just couldn't persuade myself to care, beacuse of the song choice. Sheer folly. (On the postive side, at least he picked a song that represented what he wanted to be as an artist, it's just a shame that that means totally uninspired country-rock, fit only for today's country radio.)

Ann Marie made an even worse decision, because she's based in Nashville, and presumably wants to try to get a country deal. She had a great opportunity to showcase herself as a country singer, and instead she picked an Aretha Frankin song. Her voice isn't bad, either, but it's not at all distinctive. She also didn't do herself any favours careerwise by coming across after the song as though she thought she was much better than she actually was. I don't think she's going to find anyone beating down her door after that.

The unfortunate girl who sang Taylor Swift managed to be nearly as bad as Taylor herself live. Now that's an achievement.

[Stormy]

If I were Taylor, Stevie would be my permanent opening act.

It wasn't just that Anne-Marie did AN Aretha Franklin, its that she turned THAT Areatha song into THAT mess. Even she got lost without the Wa-oops to anchor the song down. Also she missed out on the shot to get a boost from the most amazing and awesomest back up singer in the universe.

The sad thing is that underneath about 17 million miles of annoying Titiana has a pretty good voice. On wonders what she would be like if she hadn't taken all of her cues on how to get famous from Brittany.

[Sam G]

I'm a little baffled at all the Danny Gokey love. Does the world need a less-edgy Michael Bolton that badly?