2994 replies to this topic

[TWoP Tennison]

Welcome to the thread.

[mshepnj]

Top 12 official!

Casey's my favorite of the guys this season so far. I'd like see something uptempo next week which should be possible with the music of the Rolling Stones.

[estragon]

He's so beautiful that it's stunning. Just...his eyes, his lips, his nose, the entire broad-shouldered tall scale of him is really something to watch. He's mesmerizingly good-looking, and in a real way that's not generic. It's rare to see a man so stunning.

That said, I wonder about his performances. His voice is fantastic -throaty and soulful - but his performances are shallow and I'd like to see more charisma from him, as a person. I hate to sound like Simon but Casey still needs a "moment," or at least a performance I would replay for a reason other than to watch his amazingly composed face.

[hippychic101]

Casey is beautiful, but I wish this season didn't suck so much.

[mshepnj]

He's mesmerizingly good-looking, and in a real way that's not generic. It's rare to see a man so stunning.

I agree and the weird thing (for me) is that there really there's nothing noteworthy about any of his individual features, it's just how they work together. That, and the fact that he seems completely baffled by all the talk about how good looking he is. There are backstage pics on the official AI website where Casey's making goofy faces and he doesn't look stunning but he still stands out in a crowd. (Oh Lawd, I sound like such a fangirl... blech).

Having said that, Casey's very low key. That will work to an extent (it worked for Kris) but he does need a moment and I'd like to hear him do a rock song without sacrificing his vocals for this guitar playing. He's got the package but he needs a little polish. Of course, that's what this show is so good at developing.

Edited by mshepnj, Mar 12, 2010 @ 8:15 AM.

[BootStar]

Jesus Christ, after that bloodbath last night, I'm pleading with the Flying Spaghetti Monster to imbue Casey with some of Kris Allen's and/or David Cook's I.Q. points so he learns how to Play The Goddamned Game STAT. Dude has some legitimate talent and is nice to look at, and nobody seems to hate him yet, which may be his ace in the hole. All of that combined could make him a genuine stealth contestant and add a little drama as we head for the inevitable Crystal/Siobhan showdown.

ETA: Also, I finally figured out who Casey's speaking voice reminds me of: John Corbett's character on Northern Exposure. God, I miss that show! Maybe that's why I kinda love Casey.

Edited by BootStar, Mar 12, 2010 @ 9:27 AM.

[estragon]

I'm pleading with the Flying Spaghetti Monster to imbue Casey with some of Kris Allen's and/or David Cook's I.Q. points so he learns how to Play The Goddamned Game STAT.

Agreed. He really needs some showmanship on that stage - and also the good sense to wear different clothes (that white shirt with the silver swirls has done its tour of duty three times over) and not let them Barbie up his hair with shampoo and curling irons. I hope he improves rather than just occupying this safe, serviceable middle road of performances.

I would hate for people to say he gets by just on The Pretty, and I think the recap was right that Casey is being awfully fake of late. His smile doesn't seem genuine. (Armchair psychology tells me he is so freaked by the attention from Kara that he is afraid to really be himself. That's a really uncomfortable situation. In the worst case scenario, he'll start to believe his value to the show is as the designated himbo, and he just stops trying.)

That, and the fact that he seems completely baffled by all the talk about how good looking he is.

Obviously this is to his credit if true, but maybe there are a ton of strapping young men with golden locks, shimmering blue eyes and singing talent in the Fort Worth area?

really there's nothing noteworthy about any of his individual features, it's just how they work together.

I largely agree, with the exception of his eyes. They're sort of remarkable because they're not blank - there's definitely a soul there. He's seen some things, or he's an older soul than he appears. Maybe it's because of his car accident, or maybe because of being a struggling musician - but I suspect he has felt a lot more pain and can access that for his singing.

In a way the show is moot for him though, because what record executive wouldn't look at Casey and see dollar signs?

[LivenLetLive]

I'm pleading with the Flying Spaghetti Monster to imbue Casey with some of Kris Allen's and/or David Cook's I.Q. points so he learns how to Play The Goddamned Game STAT.

ITA. I really love Casey (he is pretty, and has excellent teeth!) but I also see something in him, but he needs to get loose. Rolling Stones week should be good for him--I want to see the boy boogie. I also happen to love it when he breaks out the electric guitar. Casey isn't really a tween magnet, he is too adult for that, but let us hope that the adults watching see the value and musicianship in him--contrary to some claims, Kris Allen attracted a lot of adults based on his superb musicianship, and I don't think that it was tweens alone that helped Kris win over the OTT, gimmick that is Adam Lambert; sometimes less is more, Casey just needs to up his charisma.

Edited by LivenLetLive, Mar 12, 2010 @ 11:21 AM.

[mshepnj]

Jesus Christ, after that bloodbath last night, I'm pleading with the Flying Spaghetti Monster to imbue Casey with some of Kris Allen's and/or David Cook's I.Q. points so he learns how to Play The Goddamned Game STAT. Dude has some legitimate talent and is nice to look at, and nobody seems to hate him yet, which may be his ace in the hole.

Did Kris and David C. watch American Idol before going on the show? I can't remember. I wonder if watching the show is a help or a hindrance at this point in AI's evolution.

I desperately want Casey around for awhile because he is the full package musician who also happens to be nice to look at. I will pay way too much money to buy tickets to see the American Idol tour if we have at least one guy who can play the Kris and David Cook did, whether Casey wins or not. His kind of voice/music is right in my strike zone and as much as I like Crystal and Siobahn, I usually enjoy watching the guys perform more.

[BootStar]

Did Kris and David C. watch American Idol before going on the show? I can't remember. I wonder if watching the show is a help or a hindrance at this point in AI's evolution.

Given that Kris and Cook both got roped into auditioning for the show at the last minute by their younger brothers, I'm guessing it's unlikely either was a regular viewer before auditioning. But both guys were smart enough early on to get up-to-speed on how the whole thing works. I think the fact that they both were former baseball players may have spurred them each to study the fundamentals of the 'Idol game.' Adam Lambert certainly credited Cook's strategy as being the basis for his own very successful run at the title.

Aside from driving too fast and racking up DUIs, I'm not sure what Casey did for fun apart from music. (And, damn, is he the tallest contestant ever on the show? He's like 6'4" in his age 17 mug shot!)

He also has a (younger?) brother. I wonder if he auditioned for Idol too?

[mshepnj]

Given that Kris and Cook both got roped into auditioning for the show at the last minute by their younger brothers, I'm guessing it's unlikely either was a regular viewer before auditioning. But both guys were smart enough early on to get up-to-speed on how the whole thing works. I think the fact that they both were former baseball players may have spurred them each to study the fundamentals of the 'Idol game.' Adam Lambert certainly credited Cook's strategy as being the basis for his own very successful run at the title.

And Casey got roped into auditioning by his Mom but I noticed his brother was in the audience at least once. I wonder if Casey took the time to talk to Kris when he was on a couple weeks ago. They both live for the music and came on the show because they want to have a career doing what they love most. I'm not sure either Kris or Casey (or Adam) came into this with a burning desire to be The American Idol.

I know he's really serious about his music, but I guess the biggest question I have for Casey is how hard he's willing to work at what's involved to succeed on the show. Here's Jim Cantiello interview with Casey at the Top 12 party: http://caseyjamesnew...e-top-12-party/. He says one of the things that surprised him the most is that there isn't more music involved and he's used to playing more music.

I hope he's more like Kris, Adam, David Cook and Taylor who had the determination to play the game, rather Jason Castro who was just as serious about the music but seemed to lose interest in being on the show.

ETA:

He's like 6'4" in his age 17 mug shot!

Well, maybe he's wearing those western boots? Or do they make you remove shoes when you're arrested (thankfully never found out)? Still, "footwear or not he's a "long drink o' water" as my Mom would say.

Edited by mshepnj, Mar 12, 2010 @ 4:38 PM.

[moonwater]

Given that Kris and Cook both got roped into auditioning for the show at the last minute by their younger brothers, I'm guessing it's unlikely either was a regular viewer before auditioning.

IIRC, Cook said, in one of his darling solecisms, that he was a residual viewer of the show.

I think at the end of the day, it is as much about Casey starting to play the game as it is about TPTB wanting to play with him. In any case he should come up with a game plan ASAP. I think he wants this but he looks like he could be distracted easily.

I wasn't familiar with the Keith Urban song he sang so I looked up the original version, boy Casey sang it as if some chick hurt him really bad.

[abushenob]

The first live week I thought Casey was fantastic, but not so much since. He is still always in the better 50% of the guys each week. I cannot imagine him failing to make top 5 - he has guitar skills, a good voice, and even when he is less than great, he is never bad. I think he is moderately good-looking, but apparently there are those who find him way more than that. Eye of the beholder I guess. He does seem genuinely dismayed by the Kara thing - I doubt he realized it would live so long. It is SO over and tired, and I think he feels that as much as I do. I'll be really shocked if he misses top 5. Stones week should separate the men from the boys, so to speak. (I include the females in that cliche.) I suspect Casey will do well next week (as should Mike Lynche) - and some others will really blow it.

[hippychic101]

I wasn't familiar with the Keith Urban song he sang so I looked up the original version, boy Casey sang it as if some chick hurt him really bad

I know, right?

I could really feel the anger he had for that girl and her cat. lol. Oh well, he does have an ex-wife accordingly to the VFTW site.

Here's Jim Cantiello interview with Casey at the Top 12 party: http://caseyjamesnew...e-top-12-party/.

There's something weird about Casey, he's a very good-looking guy without an ounce of self awareness. But, he's way too low key on stage, and that's unfortunate because in that interview clip he appears to have a lot of personality.

Edited by hippychic101, Mar 12, 2010 @ 10:59 PM.

[prostiturtle]

I didn't think he was attractive until I saw his mug shot. Casey is way hotter with short hair. He has such a pretty face.

[brief]

He looks like a pretty, shiny, blond version of Eddie Vedder circa the early '90s (whom I think was/is a fine specimen in his own right).

[Song of Roland]

He looks like a pretty, shiny, blond version of Eddie Vedder circa the early '90s (whom I think was/is a fine specimen in his

own right) Yes, brief, you are very perceptive. As to his talent, I was relieved to see a couple of other posters in the general threads say that they can hear a Bob Seger quality to his voice- not Vedder, but, this season, I'll take it

Casey's my default horse (with Alex gone), but I do hope he figures out what he's doing here. Affect-wise, he seems kind of detached. Maybe it's the almost-constant smiling? He needs to learn like David Cook did, to get serious, and look through(not at) the camera with those beautiful eyes.

Rolling Stones night should be very good for him. He seems to get distracted on the electric guitar (not so much on acoustic), so I hope he concentrates on his vocals. I originally saw 'Angie' as a good choice, but he has that (Seger-esque)rapid vibrato/tremolo quality, maybe he needs something less exposed vocally.

[two dogs]

I think Casey has a decent voice for singing country and certainly looks the part. I'm not sure he has the versatility and power to navigate the theme nights successfully and the low key acoustic guitar performances, although pleasant and competent, may get old pretty fast.

But, I think he is attracting the kind of female following that bodes well for getting votes and honestly do think he is more than just a Pretty Boy. Also, the seeming Idol plan to load the deck with weak males to assure a woman winning, may actually be working in his favor. He may have some limitations vocally, but 4 out the 5 remaining guys have more serious problems and Big Mike may have equally, if not more limiting, issues with his sounding cheesy and dated.

He could be a spoiler for Idol's plans. Staying tuned to see how it all plays out.

Edited by two dogs, Mar 13, 2010 @ 2:42 PM.

[hippychic101]

Casey's my default horse (with Alex gone), but I do hope he figures out what he's doing here. Affect-wise, he seems kind of detached. Maybe it's the almost-constant smiling? He needs to learn like David Cook did, to get serious, and look through(not at) the camera with those beautiful eyes.

Rolling Stones night should be very good for him. He seems to get distracted on the electric guitar (not so much on acoustic), so I hope he concentrates on his vocals. I originally saw 'Angie' as a good choice, but he has that (Seger-esque)rapid vibrato/tremolo quality, maybe he needs something less exposed vocally.

I don't think Casey is as clever as David Cook, so I don't see any game changing performances in his future. He reminds me more of Jason Castro, in as far as he's a cute guy with a good voice who has no idea how to play the game to win. I'm hoping for Rolling Stones night Casey pulls out the electric guitar again, and plays something fast and dark like "Paint It Black", but you're right playing his electric guitar does distract him from nailing his vocals. I still think it will be afford it to take that chance because there are still plenty of people left who will get less votes than him no matter what he does.

[Song of Roland]

I don't think Casey is as clever as David Cook, so I don't see any game changing performances in his future.

Honestly, not to get OT, but I don't think any of these 12 has a clue. And nobody's ever been as clever as DCook on this show, so I'm really not expecting much. Casey has a fairly low bar to clear, as far as I'm concerned.

However, Casey should surely be capable of looking longingly(I can't see him doing actual eye molesting at all) into a camera lens, at the very least.

I wonder what would happen if he just sang, no guitar? He seemed to be OK during the auditions.

[LivenLetLive]

If Casey can't nail the Stones I will be so disappointed. Actually the AI Contestant that I would compare Casey to is Bo Bice, and Bice was damn good (and in any other year besides competing with America's Country Sweetheart He would have won IMO.) Of Course Bice had been playing gigs with a band for awhile before he was on AI--anyone know about Casey's experience?

[sylvanaire]

I like Casey, he seems like a good guy, but he's got a little too much vibrato going on for me to really like his voice. I think he kept it under control pretty well last week for Top 16 night with that Keith Urban song, so hopefully that is a deliberate choice and not just a co-incidence. It was also the first time I liked his song choice. The first two weeks the songs he picked were so overplayed, that I couldn't get past that to really care about his voice, so hope fully he can steer away from over used songs in the future.

As far as being pretty is concerned, I think he's fine, but it's not enough for me to vote for him if his vocals don't measure up. *smile*

[jedipancake]

Casey's my default horse (with Alex gone), but I do hope he figures out what he's doing here. Affect-wise, he seems kind of detached. Maybe it's the almost-constant smiling? He needs to learn like David Cook did, to get serious, and look through(not at) the camera with those beautiful eyes.

There's something odd about his eyes. When he sings they are just not emotionally there. I don't know if he is just staring down and to the side a lot or if he looks like he is concentrating too hard or if they micro-dart around just a tad too much.

[hippychic101]

A Pic of Casey from the Top 12 photo shoot.
http://i256.photobuc...top12casey2.jpg
He's got to be one of the most attractive guys to ever be on this show.

[mshepnj]

Read this on another blog:

From @hanapestle:

stopped by the vocal doctors office with @CarlySmithson for a check up be4 she goes on tour. bumped into @cjamesAI9…poor guy has the flu!

I thought Casey sounded a little congested when he was singing last week (Siobahn too). Hope he's feeling well soon and doesn't get dinged by the judges if his vocals are off because he's sick.

Honestly, not to get OT, but I don't think any of these 12 has a clue. And nobody's ever been as clever as DCook on this show, so I'm really not expecting much. Casey has a fairly low bar to clear, as far as I'm concerned.

Arguable, Taylor Hicks was as clever as David Cook. How else could a throw-back sounding, older-than-his-years looking dude win over all the judges' pimping of Daughtry, the more current sounding Elliott and the very attractive Kat otherwise? DavidC and Taylor had different clever strategies that worked for them.

Do I think Casey is as clever? I'm not sure. He seems very chill and straight-forward. I don't sense a lot of calculation in him yet but I do think he's intense about his music and driven to succeed at it (according to his ex). I guess it depends on how badly he wants to conform to the American Idol meat grinder to build some recognition for him name and music. In his comment to Jim Cantiello about being surprised that there isn't more music involved in the American Idol production, it sounded to me like maybe he could go the way of Jason Castro instead of Cook if the non-music stuff gets in way of what he really wants to be doing.

Edited by mshepnj, Mar 15, 2010 @ 9:03 AM.

[LivenLetLive]

I would be pleased if Casey were half as clever as Kris Allen who managed to win last year despite some negativity from the judges--Kris did that by being consistent, and showing growth in his performances, and by pulling a stunning "rabbit" out of his hat when he needed it most, that amazing acoustic "Heartless." I think that Casey really needs to kill Stones night since it is in his wheelhouse.

[estragon]

It's true, there has been no one, male or female, on this show as attractive as Casey. He's like Brad Pitt in Thelma & Louise - just a total game-changer, aesthetically. I just wish the AI hairstylists would stop putting his hair into glossy Shirley Temple sausage curls. It's gross. He should leave it the Kurt Cobain-Eddie Vedder wavy way that comes naturally. It reminds of when the AI hairstylists kept straightening Bo Bice's hair to make it look like Cher's.

Casey is an odd duck in terms of saleability (which is the first commandment of this show). Because he clearly fills the "amiable stoner" role first originated by Bice and continued by Jason Castro et al, but it's clear that Casey's voice and appearance are FAR more marketable than either of those contestants, which is strange for both Casey and the show. When Bo was on, everyone talked about whether AI was capable of featuring a rocker (yes, it turns out) but the asterisk was always that his southern rock roots would work against him. The kind of rock that AI best hosted was Daughtry-like Nickelback rock or Lambert's Queen-like stylings. Bo was considered unsaleable because Southern rock was supposed to be dead and old-fashioned and no one cared about the convergence of old-school Southern rock and country music.

But now with Casey, it seems like perhaps we need to revise our beliefs and open our minds (listen up, AI!) that Southern rock (or country-alternative rock) is actually a thriving genre. Certainly it has some great bands - Ryan Adams, Drive-By Truckers, and so on. They're not huge sellers (compared to the Carrie Underwoods of the world) but it's definitely an area where a good artist could take root and make money. The only problem is that I wonder if Casey has any of the edge to make that happen. And I don't want to see him do FAKE edge, either - a lot of rolling his head around and wearing leather jackets and being fake. He just needs to express a little danger. Not much. He still needs to be unthreatening. But the lack of personality on the show doesn't just hurt his image, it hurts his performances: I agree with Randy that Casey was pulling back on "You'll think of me," and given some of Casey's earlier pictures with the beard and so on I think he's pulling back on the throttle too far to make himself so popular.

I guess I don't think Casey is fake-fake, but he is overediting himself. And I agree that he probably doesn't know how to play the game by looking meaningfully into the camera or savvy song choices where he can be striking.

That said, I downloaded his "You'll think of me" from iTunes (which cleaned up the background) and it does sound actually really, really good and pleasing and soulful. I only wish it were longer.

[BootStar]

I wonder if the Idol folks are with-it enough to consider capitalizing on the Kings of Leon's popularity by marketing a Casey-fronted band? I don't think Casey is going to win American Idol this season, nor do I think it would be in his best interest unless Crystal and Siobhan both completely choke in the next several weeks (because I'd hate for Casey to receive the wrath that Kris Allen has for having the audacity to actually win the stupid contest), but this might be the right time for a southern (country) rock artist to come from the Idol stable.

I think Kings of Leon are on RCA's roster as well, along with Lambert, Daughtry, Clarkson, Cook, et al. It will require a major upgrade in performances from Casey, but I think he definitely has the potential -- along with the pretty. And I gotta believe the "pretty factor" has had more than a small role in the success of KoL.

Edited by BootStar, Mar 15, 2010 @ 1:14 PM.

[Cloud800]

I like watching Kara's interactions with Casey. She's objectifying him in a situation where he has little to no power. Kara is forcing Casey to act using his "me" personality (like: what you are doing to me, what you are saying to me) when men usually act with their "I" personality ( I will be doing this, I say we should...). It's almost as if Kara and Casey have switched gender roles during these interactions.

I think the Kara pervs on Casey thing will end up hurting him but it's fascinating to watch from a sociological prospective.

[mshepnj]

I think the Kara pervs on Casey thing will end up hurting him but it's fascinating to watch from a sociological prospective.

I think the perv thing is already finished, and it's already done its damage to Casey. I don't know if it was calculated to cast Casey as the eye candy but "not-to-be-taken-seriously" sort-of rocker as opposed to Lee who seems to be getting the "serious" sort-of rocker edit, or if it's just that the judges and especially Kara in this case, want to make it all about them.

So far, I've found Kara's antics annoying all across the board. She gives occasional insightful comments and then reverts into a catty junior high schoolgirl with bad impulse control. Unfortunately, when I read some of the media recaps of the shows there are many references to Casey as eye candy or Kara's boy toy before they get around to recapping his actual performances. I think that's too bad because I think he could be very commercial in alt-country or country-tinged rock.

I just wish the AI hairstylists would stop putting his hair into glossy Shirley Temple sausage curls. It's gross. He should leave it the Kurt Cobain-Eddie Vedder wavy way that comes naturally. It reminds of when the AI hairstylists kept straightening Bo Bice's hair to make it look like Cher's.

Heh, poor Bo. And there was Bucky Covington's Farrah flip the first week of finals in season 5. Actually, I would love to know what product they put in Casey's hair to give his waves the glossy shine without frizz. Too much? Maybe - if it looks limp and greasy ( I don't think so) but his waves during his first performance were a little too fluffy - more Leif Garrett than Eddie Veder, and needed some defrizzing. Actually my favorite look for Casey is how he wore it in Elimination night - sleek and pulled into a ponytail.