58 replies to this topic

[thalia ann]

Charlotte. Vroom Vroom. Nikki leaves the track.

Nikki looked really unhappy with the gig for the first half of the show. But I wonder if they were all told to play nice on Day 2, b/c things went better then. As for the talent, I wasn't overly impressed with anyone. The last singer did a nice job with Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Like the judges, I wasn't expecting much.

But what I really want to know is what kind of t-shirt Keith was wearing on day 2. Does anyone know anything about the duck? I loved it.

Edited by thalia ann, Jan 23, 2013 @ 10:17 PM.

[Sedruol]

Color me surprised ... I can't believe I'm siding with Nicki in that little dustup that happened. She was right that they were trying to push some of these contestants in a box way too soon, and I think it's great that she's open to people experimenting with songs outside of the most expected genre. It was a bit rude that the judges were talking over her like that... but I'm wondering if we really saw the full clip.

Some interesting auditions. "Blondie" who sang Cowboy Casanova took me by surprise - I thought for sure she was going to be a joke audition. Loved the girl at the end who sang Fresh Prince of Bel Air - she had amazing charisma. Also liked Candice, who was cut last season.

Third episode in, I have to admit the panel is doing a great job. Not at all what I expected.

[sandrajane]

So they didn't really show The Fight. And I agreed with Nicki. Why were they interrogating some contestants who didn't fit some stereotype? Either they did good or not.

So glad to see Candice!

Obvious editing moment:

First contestant (girl with the sparkly bra), they show Nicki munching on some trail mix. Three contestants later, Keith hands Nicki a little bag of trail mix from his secret stash after some little tidbit about being hungry. I think they edited a lot out to fit this watered down story of the fight. As if we didn't see that TMZ video.

Edited by sandrajane, Jan 23, 2013 @ 10:32 PM.

[Phan]

I'll start by spoiling the snark party early. At least the judge fight was about a contestant, the comments both made by and about said contestant, and between Nicki, Mariah, and Useless, er, Randy instead of just the two women. I saw Nicki's point that, whether they were aware of it or not, Randy and Mariah did push the auditioner into a corner to say something about country music that she could relate to with their questioning. But... the girl has a country voice, which Mariah and Randy were right about, but they should have said "you have a country yodel in your voice, but given that you're saying you're more soul than country, I have reservations about putting you through" instead of beating it over her head that she was country, and Keith got that which is why he seemed miffed during the interview.

Also, I don't give a shit what anyone says about this panel because so far they're far more interesting than J. Lo and Steven were last year. And at least Minaj seems to care enough to get mad.

Candice Glover was awesome. Thank goodness she came back and I hope she makes it all the way to the voting rounds this year.

[rustyspigot]

Color me surprised ... I can't believe I'm siding with Nicki in that little dustup that happened.

Me too. BUT, these are the Idol editing guys and ladies we're dealing with.

Again, the audition shows always want me to go to the dentist. Or at least floss more.

Some crazy eyed people are crazy. General rule. Though, the one tall dancing dude I could see modeling. Be it a crazy model.

Candice sounded good!

Oh, and what of the girl who was nominated by her aunt's outfit that she had the need to shop for? It was like Madonna's depression farmer outfit from the "I Live to Tell" video.

Edited by rustyspigot, Jan 23, 2013 @ 10:55 PM.

[LennieB]

I thought there were some real talented singers and excellent song choices tonight! Isabel, Candice, Blondie, Blue Hat Inspiration Guy, and at least three others.

The final straw for Nicki was Randy's "Thirty years! I've got thirty years (of finding singers)"! So she went, "WTH am I here, then?"

Edited by LennieB, Jan 23, 2013 @ 10:43 PM.

[Bleeding Love]

I'm not hopeful that she'll stay this way for the live shows once Nigel/TPTB tell her what the narrative for the year is, but as for the big fight (which apparently wasn't all of it, but I didn't see the TMZ video - does someone want to recap it?) I'm solidly on Team Nicki because I appreciate her not wanting to put people into boxes, both that girl and the country girl from last week that sang Super Bass. Keith I can understand getting miffed (and honestly, I could understand why once that girl talked) because he comes from country music, but Randy seems like he's just coming from a place where Country's Done Well For Idol = Blonde Southern Girls Must Sing Country. I totally got what Nicki said when she said they were bullying people into lying about what they feel.

I hope very much that Nicki stays that way and is open-minded, but with Nigel and Randy the mouthpiece I'm not so sure.

[peggy06]

I only saw what they showed tonight on the show, but I tend to agree with Nicki. Keith seems too concerned about a singer having a style or identity, and was way defensive about country. It was like the girl last week who sang Super Bass. A good voice is a good voice - this is only the auditions, after all. Mariah and Randy were just echoing Keith. I really don't get this argument; I don't recall these discussions coming up at this stage in other years.

There were some good singers tonight. The last one, who had her cute little daughter, was quite good, but her story made me roll my eyes. *She's* had a bad year? What about the boyfriend with the 8 surgeries and losing a finger? Also, doing this as a "surprise" for him sounded dodgy. If you want to do it for yourself, that's fine. Just do it. Don't drag someone else in.

[yonyue]

But... the girl has a country voice, which Mariah and Randy were right about, but they should have said "you have a country yodel in your voice, but given that you're saying you're more soul than country, I have reservations about putting you through" instead of beating it over her head that she was country, and Keith got that which is why he seemed miffed during the interview.

This. I think they went about it the wrong way and Nicki was clearly already done with them by the time this discussion came around, but frankly, the idea that the girl was trying to say "I did the country thing" almost dismissively and claim that she was doing some 'soul'ified country thing when she clearly was still deep in the country vocal vein sounded inauthentic. I think that was what they were responding to.

I found both that contestant's earlier statement and her backtracking full of ill-thought artifice. I think Mariah in particular was trying to get at "Look though, what is your passion? If it's country, then own it" when she asked those questions about whether country was what that contestant really loved.

[kelbel]

They edited out all of the Mariah and Nicki stuff in that fight. I was expecting to see at least some on the Mariah and Nicki footage that leaked over the internet. As someone said upthread, at least they made it about the contestant, so I appreciated that.

I thought all of the judges had a point. I got where they were all coming from. But they kept talking over each other, not letting the other get a word in, while the girl was still in the room. It was all very aggravating to me. I felt like Mariah and Randy were being very dismissive of what Nicki was trying to say, so I kind of felt bad for her at the end.

I really liked Candice Glover's audition. And already a standing O? I felt sorry for the people in the hallway who were next in line to audition when she started talking about how the judges thought she was "the best of season" and stood up for her.

That Janelle Arthur girl looked so familiar to me. Anyway, I liked her. Thought she was cute and sweet and had a lovely voice. Hope she goes far.

That last girl...I totally gave a wtf face when she said she was singing "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" but then she sang it, and I was like, "Hey, I really like this." Didn't appreciate her sob story, but I hope her boyfriend is better.

Edited by kelbel, Jan 24, 2013 @ 12:01 AM.

[LutherMahoney]

Team Nicki!

The final straw for Nicki was Randy's "Thirty years! I've got thirty years (of finding singers)"! So she went, "WTH am I here, then?

My thought when he said that was, "Yes, but what's your Idol track record?" This show has always wanted to put people in a box but when those people sing the same type of songs they're told to get out of that box. It confuses me too, Nicki.

[normaltv7]

I do think the judges (Mariah, Randy and Keith) ARE putting people into musical boxes. I am a huge Mariah fan, but in this argument, Nicky is making a valid point about not putting contestants in one category (“you need to go country”) and no one, from multi-decade diva Mariah or 30-year career Randy, seem to understand the concept that artist now seem to want to be multi-genre artists. I respect that; because artist DO branch out into different fields and have done so successfully.

As a viewer, it is SO frustrating to see 3 judges not embrace or respect when a contestant wants to do more than the genre they 'fall' into. Or not respectfully disagreeing with their cohorts.

Randy’s comment about “30 years in the industry” does belittle and dismiss Nicky’s comments about “bullying people into lying”. I thought it was a little bullyish behavior since they seemed to be unwilling to even hear Nicky's point of view.

Having said that, the whole incidence is overrated and exaggerating.

I do like Keith a lot. Nicky, to my surprise, makes so much sense to me in a lot of her comments to the contestants; that and she's entertaining. Randy is same plane Randy. And Mariah has been good (not great for being a superstar diva).

[Chocorokoroko]

That girl who got nominated by her Aunt... she's sweet and all, but her singing was off. But all the judges loved her, and her vote was unanimous. All 4 Yes's. I'm sure the little kids who were part of her support party were expected to celebrate with those confetti stuff. So their hearts wouldn't be broken.

Was the epic feud between Mariah and Nicki shown tonight? I missed the show halfway.

Also, the guy with the son and wife was good too. Got a strong and powerful voice. We'll see how far he goes.

[corvus13]

Oh, Lord, please don't make me side with Nicki Minaj. Putting people into boxes in the auditions? Shut up, Keith and Randy. Who would have thought that I would dislike Keith?

Wow, Blondie was good! Best one of the night. Ja'Bria had a big voice for a little girl, I liked her.


All that crap with the mother and the little girl. Get oooooon with it!

Are there no men?

[kelslamu]

I thought Nikki was right in that so called argument they had. I didn't think I'd ever agree with her, but there you have it. The girl who sang Fresh Prince was okay and also the girl one of the judges compared to a young Phoebe Cates. Other than that, I thought most were mediocre and too much filler.

[whee whee piggy]

Are there no men?

There was this year's 'lovable teddybear' and that kinda gross dude who looks like he's a bartender at a catfish place, but was supposedly a social worker. Oh, and lovable giant #2 who was a two-fer; this year's homeless person. I actually really liked his voice.

I really liked the young African-American rocker chick, but naturally they almost didn't let her through because she wouldn't fit in a box. And the young AA girl who sang Pride and Joy 'like Bonnie Raitt'. After years of white folks stealing soul grooves to sell records, time to hear some chocolate rock.

Thank god nearly dead boyfriend/Fresh Prince chick could actually sing. That was gonna be really awkward if she couldn't. I was a little freaked that her absolutely adorable kid like NM, but then a friend sent me this.

That woman did make me see there's been WAY less sob stories--at least so far. And Returning Not!Champ reminded me we'd made it to the third city before a standing O, and does it count when it's somebody they already like? Thank god JL and ST are gone, that's all I can say.

[flodence]

I am loving Nicki so much! She and Keith are the most constructive and seem to actually give a crap about doing their job. And she's very entertaining. And she also seems interested in the contestants.

Edited by flodence, Jan 24, 2013 @ 5:11 AM.

[themadman]

I thought Mariah, with 200 million albums sold, would be able to tell me when somebody goes off pitch, and that girl nominated by her aunt did it more than once. But yet she got worshipped. WTH was that all about? I expect better from you, judges.

[torreador]

I also sided with Nicki in the argument about putting contestents in a box, but...........

What's with all this nicknaming of contestants? She can't be bothered to remember their names? Also, certain nicknames CAN put people in a box too.

[Mr Negative]

I'm sorry to anyone I might offend, but I was freaked out looking at the blonde-haired black girl (not Nicki). It's not that she had blonde hair, it was the almost-white lipstick she wore, which made her look like a white person in blackface.

[Jaclynovascotia]

Endangered species alert: White guys with guitars this year on American Idol. They don't want another one to win!

[OakGoblinfly]

I thought the “fight” (at least as aired) was much ado about nothing …….. while Nicky did have a point regarding boxing/pigeon holing people I thought she was extremely rude and disrespectful in how she attempted to present her viewpoint. She became angry at the line of questioning from the other three and rather than listen to what they were saying immediately began to think of how she was going to respond and then proceeded to talk OVER the other judges in the most inarticulate, childish manner possible.

In general, I find Nicky to be extremely mean-spirited in her interactions with the contestants; see gives off a very mean girl vibe. I do not appreciate how she speaks to the contests; often teasing or making fun of them albeit it in a very veiled manner.

While Mariah is a diva, I do think she is generally very kind to the contestants, even to those who freak her out.

And speaking of Mariah, I loved that little bit when she sang Billie Holiday to Keith Urban (who thus far is NOT impressing me as a judge).

I only hope that these auditions are the growing pains (so to speak) of a new panel as I see little chemistry between the four.

Edited by OakGoblinfly, Jan 24, 2013 @ 9:45 AM.

[Chocorokoroko]

Endangered species alert: White guys with guitars this year on American Idol. They don't want another one to win!

While that is a relief, we're not out of the woods yet. We had one or two so far, but they've been turned down.


Also, I thought Jimmy Smith and Janelle Arthur were pretty good. They both got some star quality shining.

Edited by Chocorokoroko, Jan 24, 2013 @ 9:55 AM.

[JazzyQ]

I just started watching Idol again last night for the first time since Simon left. I think I caught a few tidbits when JLo and Steven Tyler were there last year and I wasn't impressed.
Nicki's been getting alot of hate on the net but I absolutely agreed with her last night - I thought Randy and Mariah were rude and just because the girl didn't think she was country didn't mean she didn't have talent... the girl could sing and she sounded very good.

I'm sorry to anyone I might offend, but I was freaked out looking at the blonde-haired black girl (not Nicki). It's not that she had blonde hair, it was the almost-white lipstick she wore, which made her look like a white person in blackface.

She freaked me out too.

I am loving Nicki so much! She and Keith are the most constructive and seem to actually give a crap about doing their job. And she's very entertaining. And she also seems interested in the contestants.

Same here

[FemaleViewer]

I just started watching Idol again last night for the first time since Simon left. I think I caught a few tidbits when JLo and Steven Tyler were there last year and I wasn't impressed.
Nicki's been getting alot of hate on the net but I absolutely agreed with her last night - I thought Randy and Mariah were rude and just because the girl didn't think she was country didn't mean she didn't have talent... the girl could sing and she sounded very good.

I'm with you on this because I think Nicki was annoyed with them from earlier when the black "rocker" girl was on and they were trying to fit her into a particular genre, even though they said they liked her voice, they were "confused" and almost didn't let her through. By the time the "not country" girl came along, they had probably been doing that all day, I would be annoyed too.

[LennieB]

By the time the "not country" girl came along, they had probably been doing that all day, I would be annoyed too. But the judges earn big bucks NOT to be annoyed.

Edited by LennieB, Jan 24, 2013 @ 12:12 PM.

[JazzyQ]

I'm with you on this because I think Nicki was annoyed with them from earlier when the black "rocker" girl was on and they were trying to fit her into a particular genre, even though they said they liked her voice, they were "confused" and almost didn't let her through. By the time the "not country" girl came along, they had probably been doing that all day, I would be annoyed too.

Yeah I didn't get the whole genre thing with the rocker girl. She had talent and could sing so I'm not sure why it matters what particular genre she fits into. Its been a while since I've been into the show but I don't remember anything like this in the past. I would have been pissed if rocker girl didn't get in just because Mimi and Randy didn't think she fit into a genre despite having talent.

[NickyPick]

But the judges earn big bucks NOT to be annoyed.

Really? I'd bet big bucks that there is nothing in their contract at all that says they can't be annoyed.

[sharky44]

Nicki was annoyed with them from earlier when the black "rocker" girl was on and they were trying to fit her into a particular genre, even though they said they liked her voice, they were "confused" and almost didn't let her through. By the time the "not country" girl came along, they had probably been doing that all day, I would be annoyed too.

I agree. How is it that Nicki (and maybe Keith) is the only judge who doesn't appear to be prejudiced? When the black rocker chick was on, it seems like the other judges automatically assumed that she should sing like Aretha or Mariah. If you can sing well, you should be able to sing in practically any genre, no matter what you look like.

Mariah and Randy were mean to Nicki. Thank God there is one judge who actually stands up for the contestants! It's true that Nicki has a huge ego and a big mouth, but she also has an underlying sweetness and vulnerability that melts my heart a little.

You go Nicki! Don't let those other robo-judges get you down!

Edited by sharky44, Jan 24, 2013 @ 1:11 PM.

[MrSarahWalker]

One thing I really appreciate about Nicki is that she doesn't beat around the bush and doesn't waste time on political correctness. When the black girl came in and said she was into rock and punk the other three judges talked about her being unique and it was obvious what they were talking about but they were walking on egg shells. Nicki was just like "your black and you sing rock, thats different". I remember Willie on X factor who was a black country singer kept getting the same comment of how "unique" he was. If the judges just say what they are really thinking I'll be happy.

Edited by MrSarahWalker, Jan 24, 2013 @ 1:36 PM.