Thoughts on last night's American Idol

bassjones · Post by **bassjones** » Thu May 17, 2007 7:19 am

I think the best singer the show has ever had just got sent home. Oh well, she'll be better off by not winning and having that has been hack Clive Davis producing her record.

Garr · Post by **Garr** » Thu May 17, 2007 8:18 am

I think that only the losers of that show are actually winners.

I mean, of all the winners, two went on to actually do anything with it. The late round losers have done more than many of the winners.

bassjones · Post by **bassjones** » Thu May 17, 2007 8:52 am

yup

she'll be better off by not winning and having that has been hack Clive Davis producing her record

Oliver's Army · Post by **Oliver's Army** » Thu May 17, 2007 10:08 am

I am dissapointed that you can dismiss Clive Davis career into a "has been hack"

He's sold more record that you could ever imagine.

traumaqueen · Post by **traumaqueen** » Thu May 17, 2007 10:12 am

well, really, this sparks an interesting discussion about an artist's willingness to compromise....
clive davis....sure. amazing career history.
obvious fast-track stuff....
but, then, what would *you* choose if given the opportunity?
would you slave yourself to a pro with a proven resume'?
do what you were told when you were told to do it to achieve a goal?
or would you "fight it out" as far as needed to get your own gig, your own way??
hmmmm.....

Oliver's Army · Post by **Oliver's Army** » Thu May 17, 2007 10:21 am

My remark was more about his history and track record.

You could do a lot worse considering the nature of the business and the format that the shows premise is built upon.

So Clive produces sugary mainstream pop that does not feed your tastes.

Is the content of American Idol *why* you watch it?

IF given the oppurtunity, as given the contestants of AI, you would be stupid not to work with Clive.

Take the free ride that was never offered or even available to you in the first place.

Dagwood Lee · Post by **Dagwood Lee** » Thu May 17, 2007 10:23 am

I can't wait till the whole feakkking show has run its course.

Waste Of. Time. Talent. Money. Etc.

bassjones · Post by **bassjones** » Thu May 17, 2007 10:59 am

Oliver's Army wrote:I am dissapointed that you can dismiss Clive Davis career into a "has been hack"

He's sold more record that you could ever imagine.

Have you heard anything he's done the last 20 years? Horrible. He WAS a genius, but he lost it a long time ago - hence, "has-been" and the AI stuff is pure hack. The best AI alum albums are non-winners - excepting Carrie Underwood and the recent Kellie Clarkson disc (which, I don't think Clive produced), featuring Mike Watt (yes, THAT Mike Watt) on bass and a bunch of other great musicians with less canned, programmed crap.

Oliver's Army · Post by **Oliver's Army** » Thu May 17, 2007 11:03 am

Define "horrible", and which releases were this way?

And how *many* units did these *horrible* album sell?

tiny · Post by **tiny** » Thu May 17, 2007 12:27 pm

Funny. I don't like the show at all, and yet I wouldn't characterize it as necessarily bad in any way, or criticize it, given its success. But lots of 'musicians' have, both here, on other boards, and in person.

Clive Davis is a hack? Give me a freaking break. The stuff to come out of AI isn't anything I'd choose for myself. But it's certainly done well enough, for the audience it targets.

All i hear is biotching about how lame the show and the music is. And yet most on these boards would give their right nut to have the chance to have a tenth of the career of this washed up 'hack'. Or even have a tenth of the career of the LOSERS on American Idol. Or even get a trip to LA to watch American Idol being taped. Or even to get a free copy of the sugary pop crap put out by this washed up hack and his lame excuse for a show.

I believe the equine carcass has been flagellated enough. I'll turn off the irony and sarcasm meters, and just let the wanna-be artists here continue to spew forth.

Carry on, great artists! Meanwhile, Ruben Studdard ONLY sold half a million albums. A dismal failure by AI standards. How many have YOU sold?

bassjones · Post by **bassjones** » Thu May 17, 2007 12:42 pm

Oliver's Army wrote:Define "horrible", and which releases were this way?

And how *many* units did these *horrible* album sell?

Throw away music. Reubens, all of Clay's, Fantasia's, Taylor's. All of whom (except maybe Clay) could have/should have put out great albums of timeless music that would still be talked about 20 years from now. As it stands now, they will be mere fodder for future Where Are They Now segments of Reality TV winners.

I don't define great/horrible by album sales. I get that the producers of Idol are trying to cash in on this show by putting out quick albums, produced as cheaply as humanly possible and all made to sound the same, but it's at the expense of the singers, many of whom have real talent. None of whom's real talent was allowed to shine due to overslick, overpolished, production and drivel songwriting.

Oliver's Army · Post by **Oliver's Army** » Thu May 17, 2007 1:16 pm

Welcome to the current state of the recording industry.

The very elements that you condemn are the very reason for its existence.

"You mean if I sign up for this singing show and I can become famous and make money but I will have to record crappy music that a portion of the public will dislike?

Dang.

I was really hoping to wallow in obscurity with hopes that I might be seen by tens of people in sh*tty bars and live in a van down by the river."

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Thu May 17, 2007 1:37 pm

Word.

I'd do it in a heartbeat.

bassjones · Post by **bassjones** » Thu May 17, 2007 1:55 pm

Oliver's Army wrote:Welcome to the current state of the recording industry.

The very elements that you condemn are the very reason for its existence.

"You mean if I sign up for this singing show and I can become famous and make money but I will have to record crappy music that a portion of the public will dislike?

Dang.

I was really hoping to wallow in obscurity with hopes that I might be seen by tens of people in sh*tty bars and live in a van down by the river."

Can't it be both??? REAL music played by real musicians that know WTF they are doing and actually being promoted. I blame the suits who wouldn't know a half note from half and half. I also blame the degenerate nitwits who keep buying this spoonfed horseshit.

And I (at least partially) blame Clive Davis, who is the chief of the horseshit people.

Oliver's Army · Post by **Oliver's Army** » Thu May 17, 2007 2:11 pm

Music "business" does not lend itself to that.

Music "passion" does.

They are not the same monster anymore.

Occasionally these worlds collide and something great comes from it.