"By the way, take the dead fish out of your plexiglass platform shoes."

Good god, WCH, you made me snort milk out my nose when I read that. Be more careful!!!

LAST EDITED ON 05-12-04 AT 04:36 PM (EST)

What is everyone, a Monday night Quarterback or what? Every week, someone is griping about what song belongs in what genre. I sincerely doubt that ANYONE on that show threatens to walk. Didn't any of you watch last season? Maybe not.

The fact is, there is a list of songs given to them, and they choose from there. Period. Why would the producers, who have a show to put on EVERY week, give them free reign to go out and research just what "Disco" is, or "Big Band", and then let them pick from their own research? It's just easier and it makes more sense that they have a list, and they make them choose from that list. Last season, Kimberly Locke SHOWED the list as she was choosing her song for that week.

Imagine the way you are all figuring it will go:
Wednesday night, one gets booted, and apparently the remaining finalists are given the next genre to choose from. So, according to your scenario, they have to figure out what the genre involves, research the time it was popular, search out some song that was popular during that time, find out if it's something that they would like to sing, (either by finding a recording or maybe having it played for them?) and then go to the producers with their choice, which may or may not be acceptable. If not, they need to go back to their research and find another and go to the producers, and on and on and on. They could lose days trying to find something. Especially if they've never heard them before. So, the producers provide a list, and the whole mess is avoided.

I am only writing because it's really sad that LaToya even SAID that she was making her second song into Big Band, and none of you LaToya followers even heard that. But, let Fantasia sing something a bit different and you're all over her like cheap poparazzi.

I am sure that as the finalists dwindle down, there will be a lot of mud-slinging from the fans. I just wish people would think things through without such accusations and save us all a lot of heartache. If you don't like Fantasia, so be it. I didn't particularly like Ruben, either. I thought Clay had more power and talent in his little finger than Ruben had in his whole body. I was terribly disappointed that he lost, but the vote is the vote, right? So it will be when this season is finished, too.

Just think, this coming week is Judge's Choice, isn't it? I can't wait to see who tries to decide if a song should have been Simon's choice or Paula's choice or Randy's choice! Don't you think that Simon should choose British songs, Paula should choose her own, and Randy should stick to Journey? I mean, why on earth would they have any right to look outside the box? I hope you can see how stupid this really is. If not, I'm sure you're going to argue.

(We gotta b*tch or we'll explode!)

(Edited because I said Tuesday someone gets booted, when it's Wednesday.)

Just because you don't feel like discussing something doesn't make it stupid. On these forums, as long as people are remaining within the community guidelines, anything on the show is fair game. The choice of music selections is a pertinent topic of discussion, and posters are keeping their remarks at a guideline-appropriate level.

You don't like these discussions? You think they're a waste of time? Fine, don't read them. But don't tell the posters on this forum what they can and cannot discuss, and don't tell them it's stupid to discuss something you're not interested in discussing. That's not your place.

If people can talk about whatever they want to talk about and say what they want as long as it's within the community "guidelines," then why can't we use these forums to complains about certain comments people make? Why can't we try to prove that certain discussions are worthless or try to make a point to some who obviously don't get it? And why do you feel the need to defend people from these comments. As long as they're within the community "guidelines," just let it go. We're all big boys and girls. I think we'll all be fine. It is just a message board, after all.

<why can't we use these forums to complains about certain comments people make? Why can't we try to prove that certain discussions are worthless or try to make a point to some who obviously don't get it?>

I thought that was what the clown was for?

Why can't we try to prove that certain discussions are worthless or try to make a point to some who obviously don't get it?

There's a difference between proving a point and saying it's stupid to discuss it. One falls within the guidelines, one doesn't.

It is just a message board, after all.

And as a moderator of this forum, I'm going to make sure that posters feel comfortable posting within the guidelines.

And if you have further issues with what I say on an issue, please refer to section XIII of the guidelines and take it off the forums. It's not a matter to be debated publicly.

Wow, Bebo, I guess I didn't come through that well, did I? Apologies are in order.

I do agree that the choice of selections is a pertinent topic. I don't mean that anyone is stupid, either. I meant that implying that someone threatens to walk off if they can't have their way and assuming that it's all up in the air doesn't make sense. I shouldn't have said stupid. The heartache I was referring to is the number of threads where someone has attacked one of the finalists and it results in a long thread of bickering back and forth.

I am really amazed that I was interpreted in this way, but it's a good lesson in posting anything here. I could have edited out some of my own opinion, but at the time it seemed appropriate, and without venom. Maybe a touch of sarcasm over Fantasia stomping her feet to get to sing "Hero", but not anything meant to harm anyone.

My reference to being sure someone would argue was because I expected that I wasn't the only opinion out there.

Point taken. Sorry it came out so harshly. Live and learn, after all.

(We gotta b*tch or we'll explode!)

...and see my own post above:

http://community.realitytvworld.com/boards/DCForumID44/949.shtml#20

No tantrums are needed; you can pick from the list or sing what you want, as long as the producers can get clearance to use it (in other words, can afford it). In fact, song selection is just about the only real choice that the contestants have to make on their own, because they have fashion consultants and a music director who oversees their rehearsals and works with them on the songs they've picked.

Guess I should write a story about this....

Well, I was slightly underwhelmed by La Toya's 2nd song in Big Band week, but I will admit that there isn't really a 'big band' genre & that you can make most songs into 'big band' songs by having a...'big band.'

With Fantasia last night, though, I don't know. She picked a 1984 song that was pretty straight pop-rock, from a pop-rock soundtrack & a pop-rock artist. And it's not even like they tried to change anything around in it to make it more disco-y.

As for "the list," well sure, I'm guessing that it is the case that contestants are usually given the list. I just can't understand how "Holding Out for a Hero" could be on that list. it not in the slightest bit related to "disco" music. This makes me think that Fantasia came up with the song on her own & made the A.I. people let her sing it. Of course, I guess it's more likely that the song was on this list, but then I still blame a) the A.I. people for having it on there in the 1st place, and b) Fantasia for picking it. It should be readily obvious to anyone looking at that song that it is not disco.

Fantasia is only 19 years old (born in 1985). She, in all probability, DOESN'T have a good sense of which genre is which. My guess is the producers add some songs to the list that mix things up a tad. I would be surprised if she were even familiar with "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" or "Holding Out for a Hero" before the show. She seems to be the contestant that is most likely to push the envelope and may have thought that adding some twists was different and fun. I wouldn't be surprised if the producers encouraged her interesting song selection since she breathes life - love her or hate her - into this season. I'm sad I didn't get to hear her sing a truly Big Band number. She would have been fabulous. (I, too, love Queen and thought it was an unfortunate choice!!)

All the contestants want to win and IMHO none of them would randomly pick a song and stubbornly stick by it if the mucky-mucks were advising against it.

As a 19-year-old, I'm truly saddened by the Idols' lack of a grasp on genres.

They all called me sexy Randall, the Pharaoh wizard. - Randall, Clerks - The Cartoon

LAST EDITED ON 05-14-04 AT 04:43 PM (EST)

Beyond music, I'm sure MOST 19 years aren't as articulate, socially and politically informed or down-right cute as you, either. You are a wonderful exception to most.

I know you don't know me (cause I don't post often) but I'm blowing an admiration kiss your way!

Winky

I will disagree with just about everything you say here, but I will make it a bit more succinct.

The whole point of this forum is to have our chance to be a Monday morning quarterback. I happen to think that griping about what song belongs in what genre is a relevant issue. If this show is going to have genre nights, then the show and contestants should make sure that their songs fall within the highlighted genre.

If the list the producers provide is wrong, then it is the responsibility of the singer to pick a song about which there is no question. There are literally hundreds of songs that are obvious candidates for big band night or for disco night. Why would you choose, two weeks in a row yet, songs that are obviously not really a part of the genre. Even Fantasia has to be aware that Queen was not on the charts at the same time as Benny Goodman. Even Fantasia has to be aware that there are certain rhythms associated with disco and "Hero" does not have that rhythm. You're right in that I really, really don't like Fantasia, but this willful veering from the genre (or musical illiteracy if that makes you feel better)is one of the reasons.

--won't even comment on the last paragraph as I cannot find any logic at all with which to argue.

I personally couldn't care less if the singers follow the theme or not, the themes usually suck anyway. The only thing I care about is their peformance as a whole not just the song choice. Fantasia sounded great, and was the best in my opinion of the night.

Fantasia seems to do that on a regular basis. When everybody else was singing Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin type songs, she pulled out 2 songs from like 1982. I guess Queen's version could've been a remake, but it was just wrong.

I think she's not willing to step out of her comfort zone and picks whatever the heck she wants... 'cause she's Fantasia.

I really enjoyed Diana's last song. I was hoping there would be more songs like that on the show!

Donna Sommers sang that song as a duet with Barbara Streisand. I guess that makes Babs Big Band and Disco. Who knew?

LAST EDITED ON 05-14-04 AT 09:13 AM (EST)

I love Fantasia...she's my favorite singer and I really want her to win. But the problem that I see here is that if you constantly try to choose songs that are "outside the comfort zone," you become as predictable as someone like Diana, choosing safe songs. Fantasia should mix it up with some standards.

I have to agree that "Holding Out For A Hero" and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" were not good choices for the genre. I was really hoping that Fantasia would choose a torch song like "Why Don't You Do Right" for Big Band week, something that would really have shown her chops. Sometimes you need to give the audience what they want, not wow the judges with your originality.

I love Fantasia and think she shines when singing more standard material. A torch song would suit her perfectly!

LOL too funny! Thank you very much- that is NOT disco--- I heard that and thought it was a bit off. I think they should also have a free style night-- or *gasp* is that making it too real???