Kristy Lee Cook Hits the Bricks As Idol Voters Officially Go Off the Rails

I was off by one person.

My prediction that hippie chick Brooke White would be leaving American Idol this week nearly came true, as White joined kickboxing country gal Kristy Lee Cook in the Bottom Two this week. But America liked the singer-songwriter a little more than the country gal, so Cook took the long walk tonight.

This ejection was notable for something else, though (no, not the boneheaded way they strung out the ejections -- though Ryan Seacrest gets extra butthead points for trying to make David Archuleta choose which group of Idols formed the bottom three). Paired with Michale Johns' departure last week, it confirmed a disturbing trend. Idol voters are no longer rejecting the people who have given the worst vocal performances.

That honor this week went to Jason Castro, who didn't even make the bottom three, and White, who escaped ejection by the skin of her too-pink nose. Kristy Lee Cook turned in a pretty good vocal this week, but it wasn't enough to save her from viewers who still remembered the calamity which was her speeded up, countrified 8 Days a Week during Beatles Night.

We are at a point in Idol where the also-rans are mostly fighting over who gets ejected first. The two Davids -- Cook and Archuleta -- are like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama; the frontrunners trying desperately to avoid making the kind of mistake that would kill their candidacy.   

But at a time when Syesha Mercado can blow the doors off a Mariah Carey song and still nearly get voted off, who knows which way the wind is blowing? Which makes for a lousy singing competition, but an amazing reality TV show.

Here's Kristy's last tune:

Comments

[Chuck Welch]

Eric, being a musician may help you judge the competence of the singers. However, the majority of the audience will judge based more on style that technical ability. (Of course, flub up too many notes and even my tone-deaf neighbor won't vote for you.)

No matter what is said...this isn't a singing competition. This is a performance competition. A 21st century Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour. Even the judges don't restrict their comments to voice. Watch Simon as a performer sings. Cowell watches the video feed on his monitor. He knows the public is strongly affected by the camera work and personality of the singer.

[Family Loves David A.]

Hello Victoria, my family too, feels comfort in hearing David A sings. We are also on auto-update from Google, we downloaded all his videos and we simply adore this little guy. We listen to his songs over and over again. He is no fluke, he is a real talent. We surely will buy all his records. It's comforting to know that some families, which I think in millions are,are also being inspired by David A. We definitely are. We don't like songs that growls, howls, screetches, yells, shouts, screams as what David C. does. I think, it's to each his own, but definitely David C's songs are not my family's cup of tea. We like songs that inspire, lift the spirits, comfort, and have great message. Thank you Victoria for rooting for David A, we are in millions.

[Eric Deggans]

i meant simply that she looks almost too precious and cute -- like a pet with a pink nose...

[Ken]

What do you mean by a "too pink" nose anyway?

[Chris]

Eric,

Not that I was a fan of McPhee at all, (as you can tell, I'm on the side of the full package vs voice only), you are CRAZY to say that McPhee doesn't have a beautiful voice. I absolutely couldn't stand her, but at least can recognize a great voice when I hear one-even with only having had catholic school music classes in my back pocket.

[Eric Deggans]

That's funny Chris. I was always under the impression that neither McPhee nor Hicks were particularly great vocalists.

But, as I said in a earlier post, most of my observations are based on last year's show, which is the first one I watched closely since the series' first season...

[Chris]

Eric,

Once again we disagree. Your statement regarding Idol fans not supporting performance style over singing ability. Look at Taylor Hicks. He definitley did not have the voice that his finalist opposer, Katerine McPhee did, but his personality and stage presence were the tools to get him the highest # of votes for any finale.

[Victoria]

Response to Eric's comment:
-
Hey, Eric-

I'm at this site because our computer is set for auto-updates from Google about David Archuleta. The fam here all love him--husband, wife (me), 20 year old college student daughter, and 14 year old son.

I have to comment on your response about him "changing lives? yeah, right....." Well, I can't say that he's redefined our world, but has he made a difference in my life? (as I can only speak for myself here.) I'd have to say that yes, he really has.

There are some things here that we're having to deal with right now--stressful, heartwrenching, heartbreaking things,and we don't really know how, and/or when they will end. And you know, David's gorgeous, amazing voice does soothe me. We've purchased all his songs from iTunes and put them on cds. And there have been many times that I have felt hope or comfort or just calm from listening to him plus some of the things he chooses to sing about.

So think what you will, but the boy has a gift. And we not only enjoy it here, but actually feel grateful to have come across a voice like his and an individual like him. When things are hard, and so many things and people out there are tearing down or creating more pain or turmoil, it's nice to see a young man with a talent who seems to be trying to use it to do something good. Can that really be a bad thing? We enjoy what he does on AI week after week much more than what on anyone on the show does because his singing is amazingly beautiful and seems to be practically perfect. We don't find him boring or robotic, etc., just very gifted and uplifting.

Victoria

[DoctorDrew]

Wow Marie you make David A sound a lot like Obama.

And Eric, please give up the notion that Syesha is an R&B singer. Unless you are talking about the old marketing definition of R&B, which I would be surprised coming from you, this girl is a pop singer. Just listing Alicia Keys, Lauren Hill and Aretha as influences does not mean you are they.

You have to put feeeling into your music to sing R&B given its jazz, blues and gospel roots. This girl is technically very good but she has no connection. Half the time I do not think she understands the lyrics she is singing. They are merely words that convey no emotion or feeling whatsoever.

And for someone who bragged about Idol surprise week, I cannot believe you were unprepared for Idol Correction week that always follows the surprise.

[Eric Deggans]

Hmmm. David A. hasn't put out a record yet or been known to viewers for longer than a few months and already he's changed lives?

You're right Marie,. I'm definitely not seeing that. But there is no doubt that Idol fans love them some David A.

[Eric Deggans]

Nothing wrong with liking a performer with a strong style. Bruce springsteen and Bob Dylan have huge followings, and no one ever accused either of them of being the best singers technically.

But, outside anomalies like sanjaya and john stephens, Idol voters haven't traditionally supported people whose performing style outweighs their singing ability. This is a new thing.

It will be interesting to see if this trend continues. And whether fans will lose enthusiasm if the show seems to become even more of a popularity contest than it already is....

[Marie]

Carly makes a lot of mistakes. She underestimates the negative impact her tattooed arm and husband make on the voting public. She comes across as brash, beaten down and desperate. She makes poor choices in songs, wardrobe and responses to the critiques of the judges. Her voice as an instrument however, is sublime.

Jason is more than a pretty face. He is a movement, a trend, a statement. He represents. He records well and will sell, because he is selling something more than music. He sells status.

David Archuleta’s voice soothes souls off all ages, not just teenyboppers. His earnestness, effervescence and altruism are endearing. There are men and women of all ages writing on the boards: this 17 year old has changed their lives, they are hopeful, their spirits lifted. He has an effect on people that is undeniable.

Syesha has an unsavoury personality, despite her talent, and great looks.

You are incredibly qualified to write about the art of music. With all due respect, you seem to have missed some of the essence of the artists. The fans don’t miss a thing, and THAT is what the votes reflect.

[Chris]

With all due respect Eric, musician or not, you should realize that the person with the best voice does not (and should not) necessarily equate with the person crowned the next American Idol. The voting public looks at the whole package. Castro may not be the strongest singer of the bunch, but he still has a sweet, pure sound to his voice that people love. In addtion, he is probably the most unique of the bunch who consistently stays true to himself. The final cherry on top of the sundae is that he is oh so easy to look at. That sir Musician is the complete package that voters look for. Open your eyes and not just your ears.

[rachel]

Oh please. I'm tired of the only girls who find Jason dreamy are voting for him. Yes, I'm voting for him.

Reason? He's the most interesting performer there. I don't expect him to win, nor do I really want him to. But rest assured he's the only singer there whose CD I'd actually buy without question.

That weak voice as you call it is actually extremely melodic and far more pleasing for me to listen to than the screams of Syesha or sometimes over singing of Carly.

Plus he wins fans for the fact that emotionally connects to performances, which is something that Syesha has yet to be able to manage.

In that respect he is the total package who will definitely find success in his niche when this is all over. I'm not saying Carrie Underwood successful, but his type of music is very in in the industry--i.e. see Jack Johnson.

I will buy that the guy wouldn't be as successful if he wasn't as good looking, but that's neither here nor there.

And for the record I have not cared about AI since Kelly Clarkson in S1. I can safely say Jason Castro is the only reason I tune in now.

[Eric Deggans]

thanks for the comment chuck, but i have to disagree.

Last year, other than Sanjaya, idol voters were amazingly consistent in voting off the people who had the worst vocal performances week to week.

I've been a musician for a long time -- nearly 30 years -- and was a pro for a while in college with my own record deal. And there is technically good singing, hitting notes and having a strong tone, and then there is style.

Castro is a weak singer compared to the other compeititors. He is, in fact the Sanjaya of the bunch. his voice can barely handle the songs each week, but because he's a dreamy-looking guy with a strong style, he's survived.

Technically, Carly is probably the strongest singer of the bunch, with Syesha a close second. i agree that Syesha looks cold, but I think her bigger problem is the idol voters are showing no love to R&B singing this year, so she's been in the bottom three quite a bit...

and robotic or not, David A. will be among the top three because he sings well and he's cute enough to get the teenybopper vote.

[Chuck Welch]

First, Idol voters have almost never judged final 10 contestants by a single performance. By this point it's a popularity contest. Each week contestants merely hope to get a sizable number of the voters who liked the previously ejected contestant.

For example, I bet most of Kristy Lee's voters will go to Brooke White next week lifting her out of the bottom three.

Second, as a popularity contest the voters look a lot at likability. For the past few weeks Syesha often comes across as cold when she isn't singing. I think that loses her some votes.

I believe the worst performance belonged to Carly. She gets stiff and self-conscious on performance night.

Castro isn't in the top three, but he has a good singer/songwriter solo guy in the club style.

The great thing about having a style is people can love or hate it. I get the feeling you're with Randy on Castro's style.

In my opinion, I concede David A. is technically a good singer, but his performances have been robotic. He has not shown any side other than inspirational singer. Where is the humor, anger, sadness, joy, or any of the other emotions?