May 20, 2019

"Look, I love being on 'American Idol,' but of course, some would say in the past, 'American Idol' — you know, it’s been a bit of a karaoke show."

"Not anymore. When people like you come on, you bring original music. You bring artistry, and you make the stakes even higher," said Katy Perry to Alejandro Aranda on last night's "American Idol" finale, quoted in "The ‘American Idol’ finale ended in an upset. Katy Perry may have accidentally hinted at why" by Emily Yahr in WaPo.

I didn't think it was an upset. I'd predicted Laine would win. His winning fits the show. Alejandro went a long way with his whispery, musical voice. I appreciated the quiet, when so much else is noisy, but no reason to festoon modest musicality with a glitzy prize.

And Katy Perry is all about big, loud, ludicrous noise, so she can't really talk. Here's how she presented herself on last night's show:



That's the concept of entertainment the show forefronts, and people who enjoy that are taking the trouble to vote about a prize. So it's impressive that Alejandro made it to the final.


30 comments:

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Is this the Game of Groans thread?

Wince said...

How can there be global warming?

The entire orchestra is wearing winter caps.

Henry said...

Sounds like being unhappy with endings is the theme of the day.

Henry said...

Whoever wrote the orchestration for Mr. Aranda should get some kind of award.

Show Concept: American Background Music.

chuckR said...

I have never watched the show. I note that Post Modern JukeBox recruits a lot of the people who didn't win and they sound pretty damn good.

reader said...

It looked like Katy Perry was being devoured by the daughter of Cousin It. Why wasn’t she dancing to that music? Even at the end she barely shimmied.

rhhardin said...

They just redefined the kilogram. Adjust your scales.

Danno said...

Blogger reader said...It looked like Katy Perry was being devoured by the daughter of Cousin It. Why wasn’t she dancing to that music? Even at the end she barely shimmied.

I think she was trying to avoid a wardrobe malfunction.

Mike Sylwester said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mike Sylwester said...

I have watched the entire season, except for last night's show, which I have recorded and will watch.

I have been mystified by the vote-winning of Alejandro Aranda.

He is OK, but the kinds of people who watch the show and who vote are not the kinds who would vote for him. Those kinds of people voted for Laine Hardy, who deserved to win.

I think the producers and judges were rigging the contest in order to attract different kinds of fans. I have thought so for the past several weeks.

WisRich said...

Mike Sylwester said...
I have watched the entire season, except for last night's show, which I have recorded and will watch.

I have been mystified by the vote-winning of Alejandro Aranda.

He is OK, but the kinds of people who watch the show and who vote are not the kinds who would vote for him. Those kinds of people voted for Laine Hardy, who deserved to win.

I think the producers and judges were rigging the contest in order to attract different kinds of fans. I have thought so for the past several weeks.

5/20/19, 11:33 AM
-----------

Agreed. It was egregious how heavily they put the thumb on the scale for Alejandro each week.

Wilbur said...

Wilbur has liked Daddy Yankee's music for a long time.

Is it still called "music"?

Choirmom34 said...

I totally disagree. There is no doubt that Alejandro’s voice and musical skill were far superior to Laine’s. Alejandro performed with subtle, yet authentic, emotion, in contrast to Laine’s dead-eyed phone-it-in performances, especially last night’s. Unfortunately, the pretty face won over the far-superior musician.

stevew said...

Ms. Katy Perry is quite attractive, whether shimmying or not. She is not my type though, musically or otherwise.

Alejandro's song is pretty weak. Nothing particularly creative about it. Uninspiring and indistinct from lots of other pop songs.

Richard Dolan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mike Sylwester said...

The show's producers do not like the fact that the winners almost always are White young men who sing country-western songs.

Richard Dolan said...

LH was the better entertainer who owned the stage, as Perry said earlier in the competition. AA was a remarkable instrumentalist with a whispery, mostly falsetto voice (every once in a while he would sing full voice) and original if offbeat songs.

No surprise in how it ended or who won.

Mike Sylwester said...

Choirmom at 12:28 PM
There is no doubt that Alejandro’s voice and musical skill were far superior to Laine’s. Alejandro performed with subtle, yet authentic, emotion, in contrast to Laine’s dead-eyed phone-it-in performances ...

The people who watch the show and who vote prefer White young men who sing country-western songs. This fact has been confirmed season after season after season.

John Ray said...

I read somewhere that LH has a really strange personality and an unusual lack of social skills -- don't know, never met him. I read somewhere else that AA is basically an uneducated backroom restaurant employee -- don't know, never met him either. But watching both sing, I think that LH had the edge, although I thought the crowd would elect AA. Nevertheless, AA's fame will carry him far, if he keeps working at it.

However, the interesting thing to me was that Perry, having been caught in an inappropriate moment by the cameramen in a previous show, was on their radar last night. She was on my radar too. Her crazy ill-fitting wardrobe such such that her bosom was at high risk of being totally exposed. I, like the cameramen, was waiting, and apparently she was aware. She had to hold the outfit close to the chest damn near the whole night. Now that was entertaining. TV entertainment ain't what it used to be.

reader said...

Katy Perry is adorable. Pretty rather than beautiful. A wild Mary Ann. Her dancing is technically proficient but lacks a joy of dancing. Compare her choreography to Tina Turner or Madonna letting it loose back in the day. I like her singing.

Never listened to Blaine prior to this morning. He needs to learn to emote. Of the clips I watched I enjoyed his music the most.

brylun said...

Is Alejandro Aranda an illegal immigrant?

There is no mention of his parents anywhere (unlike ALL other AmIdol contestants). There was some reference to homeschooling, and some reference to an older sister who gave him incentive to learn piano at age 8.

madAsHell said...

Frank Zappa was discovered on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour.

effinayright said...

reader said...
Katy Perry is adorable. Pretty rather than beautiful. A wild Mary Ann. Her dancing is technically proficient but lacks a joy of dancing.
**********

And she stares at her own tits a lot.

Jim at said...

Star Search is still on?

JaimeRoberto said...

Katy Perry might have a future with Beach Blanket Babylon.

rhhardin said...

Wait for the soprano, babe on the left
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3v9unphfi0

(1:38 and then especially 3:53)

rhhardin said...

Thomas Tallis Third mode melody
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8oKEx1-J1w

one guy six instruments

Known Unknown said...

So the discussion of original music is hilarious when the Perry/Daddy Yankee song is basically a Spanish-language take off of Snow's Informer, from 1992.

Known Unknown said...

I see that Snow is featured in the video for the song "Con Calma"

Kelly said...

Alejandro was suppose to take the redeye to New York to be on the Kelly and Ryan show the day after the finale. He has a tremendous fear of flying and got off the plane before it took off. Just as well he didn’t win, he could never tour or do the promotions needed.