Simon Says: the American Idol thread

If the contestant does Dolly's version of "I Will Always Love You" I'll be fine with the song choice. No mercy for the person who tries to sing the flippin' Whitney monstrosity. I really don't want it on there mainly because the judges will show no mercy even if they sing it better than Dolly and Whitney combined (though good luck with that). And, frankly, I'd rather not have Whitney's name come up this season anymore than is necessary. I can see Paula avoiding the connection, but it's the first thing Randy will mention and Simon, even if he's drawing a distinction between the versions, will still have something to say. I'd rather they just steer clear of it. The only cover of Jolene I have ever liked was Mindy Smith's. It would be nigh onto impossible to even hold a candle to that. The Geraldine Fibbers did a kick ass cover of it on one of their EPs. It's awesome. Very bluesy and Carla's gravelly voice kills on it. It's the traditional version of the song, but her voice just makes it a special cover. I wonder if they'll be restricted to songs Dolly wrote or if they can do any song she recorded. I would think, assuming they can get the rights, that if the Dolly version of something is the definitive (or if the song was written for her by someone else) then it's fair game.

From what I'm hearing the White Stripes did a version of Jolene so David is set ;) I'm willing to put good money on one of the 'belters'(Carly, Syesha or Ramiele) to sing the Whitney version if I Will Always Love You. And fail.

Now that you mention that, I remember the White Stripes cover of Jolene. Good stuff. But I'd love, love, love it if he did something crazy and really tore it up Dolly Style.

I downloaded the studio version of Billie Jean, but I like the performance version better. I haven't heard the White Stripes version of Jolene. It might seem kind of off-putting to some viewers if David was singing "Please don't take my man," don't you think? :lol: But, that's an awesome song. Heaven forbid Kristy Lee or Ramielle get their hands on it.

I've made the decision that KLC's not going to do anything to jeopardize her Red State voting block, so "Jolene" is out of the question. Even though the singer is the wife and not the other woman, all that infidelity nastiness? That's bad and stuff...unless you don't get caught. :-P My interest in anything Ryan Seacrest had to say Tuesday night was nonexistent, so I wasn't paying attention to most of his intros and comments. I completely missed, if it actually happened, him pointing out that it was Chris Cornell's version of "Billie Jean". Did he? Cornell was on his show last week and expressed his annoyance that even though Ryan didn't credit DC, the judges seemed to be giving him total credit. I agree (and it's annoying), but if Ryan credited the version then it's even stranger than them just being dim. Given that this is the most open any contestant has ever been about their influences, it's pretty irritating that he'd be getting shit for something the judges are doing.

Ryan said it was CC's version, he never even mentioned the original artist btw(slightly peeved about that since everyone makes such a big deal about covers) and said it again during the result show. I'm getting pretty annoyed by everyone attacking only Cookie for doing covers of covers(not here, it happens on various AI fan sites), as if he's the only one.

There's no question at all that Ryan said it was Chris Cornell's version. Not only did I catch it the first time, I recorded David's performance, so I've heard Ryan say it was Chris Cornell's version about 15 times. LOL I'm annoyed with the way even FOX News out of NY tried to make it like David "stole" something. But, then again, FOX NY has been plugging "everybody's favorite" David A for a month, so I guess they're trying to take David Cook down since he seems to be one of the strongest contenders.

My interest in anything Ryan Seacrest had to say Tuesday night was nonexistent, so I wasn't paying attention to most of his intros and comments. I completely missed, if it actually happened, him pointing out that it was Chris Cornell's version of "Billie Jean". Did he? Cornell was on his show last week and expressed his annoyance that even though Ryan didn't credit DC, the judges seemed to be giving him total credit. I agree (and it's annoying), but if Ryan credited the version then it's even stranger than them just being dim. Given that this is the most open any contestant has ever been about their influences, it's pretty irritating that he'd be getting shit for something the judges are doing. Ryan definitely said he was doing the Chris Cornell version, so I don't know what's up with the judges. As for Chris Cornell, it appears someone put him wise that he was given proper credit for the arrangement, because I saw something linked where he was fine with the version being used and even complimented it, IIRC. Several people have commented on the unfairness of David C. getting the heat for covers of covers. It is true that others have done covers of covers without getting criticized, but they also aren't getting praised for making it original, that I can recall. Except Brooke with the Pat Benatar song, maybe. I don't know if it was established that she used someone else's recorded version. Most of the covers of covers I've heard have been pretty close to the original, close enough that no one is going to get a pat on the head for choosing that version. So I'd say most are pretty much a non-issue. Edited to add, it's always a good idea to be upfront about whose work you're using. I didn't mean to imply that others aren't also obligated to say so. And David's fans probably shouldn't worry too much about the fallout from this, since it certainly hasn't hurt him so far.

OK, so why don't those people bashing David Cook point out that David Archuletta covered Eva Cassidy's version of "Imagine?"

Ryan said it was CC's version, he never even mentioned the original artist btw(slightly peeved about that since everyone makes such a big deal about covers) and said it again during the result show. I knew he said it during the results show. That was after his radio conversation with Cornell. It was the performance show comment that I missed. I'm weird in that I actually pay complete attention to Ryan's intros and contestant interaction, but the last couple of episodes...he might as well be explaining the rules of the latest "Survivor" challenge for all the attention I've paid to him. I've been that annoying person who sits behind you in a movie theater and repeatedly asks the person they're with to explain who people are. Ryan definitely said he was doing the Chris Cornell version, so I don't know what's up with the judges. As for Chris Cornell, it appears someone put him wise that he was given proper credit for the arrangement, because I saw something linked where he was fine with the version being used and even complimented it, IIRC. In his defense, he's the one that pointed out Ryan's intro. I just didn't hear it myself. He wasn't complaining about the show (and I really doubt that he'd be that worried about not getting credit for someone else's song in most cases), he was complaining about the dimwitted responses from the judges where they were propping up DC a bit too much for something he didn't actually arrange. He was pretty nice about DC himself, though. Several people have commented on the unfairness of David C. getting the heat for covers of covers. It is true that others have done covers of covers without getting criticized, but they also aren't getting praised for making it original, that I can recall. Except Brooke with the Pat Benatar song, maybe. I don't know if it was established that she used someone else's recorded version. I've actually still been kind of wondering about that. I liked it a lot and had never heard that version of it. I think it's pretty weird, too, that DC is getting so much crap. I understand that viewers are both sensitive to it *and* excited to find any reason to criticise contestants and post-Daughtry, people fancy themselves cover detectives, but DC's been almost annoyingly upfront about it (I loved his "I look on iTunes for inspiration" comment) and is still getting ripped. It's a little strange. OK, so why don't those people bashing David Cook point out that David Archuletta covered Eva Cassidy's version of "Imagine?" I saw a couple of people whining about it online, but you're right...he didn't get much fallout there and I thought he got more credit than even Daughtry got. I think it's probably because the people whining about DC (morning drive show hosts, whiny entertainment columnists) aren't familiar with EC, but are familiar with Cornell. Plus Cornell is a rock god who is not to be disparaged by a silly little show like AI and Eva Cassidy is a nice little folk singer. Obviously *real* music columnists know that EC is a big deal, but they're not getting paid to write snarky comments about a pop talent show. And, to be completely honest, though I'm familiar with EC and have quite a few of her songs on the iPod, I didn't realize that was her cover at the time.

Brooke is way too nice to sing Jolene. Simon typically voices what I think. It scares me. LOL But he said it--there was no emotion at all.

Why did I choose to watch tonight while I have so many shiny DVD's I can watch without hating every minute of it? I'm not having a good night at all, country is so not my thing. I kinda feel like Simon.

Brooke wasn't awful with Jolene, but it's such a distressed song. I got the distinct impression that she isn't so much concerned that Jolene will take her man as she's worried that he's going to be out late and throw off her plans for the evening. Ramiele, listen-we need to talk: That's not a happy song. You don't shake your tiny little butt to it. Smiling is the wrong facial expression. It's a question you ask when you know the answer but you're hoping against hope that you're wrong. Trust me on this one, little girl. Castro-I love you. You're rockin' the house tonight. I might have to vote for you because you're pretty and sang the song with the proper emotion (something that is seriously lacking tonight). Cookie-was that yr Elliot Smith impression? I like it-but it was total New Faces Night at the Basement. Sorry BB. That's not an insult-but you can do better. Carly-get some brightness in your voice right now or GTFO. It's a happy song. He's coming again! That's a good thing! Most women would be thrilled for that! You bore me Smithson. Yr notes are all the right ones. But they're totally uninteresting. Archuleta-didn't you get the memo about how this isn't the 8th grade talent show? He's back like I'm the King of America. Does that midget have a human emotion?

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