I don’t think it came as a surprise to anyone other than 13-year-old teeny boppers that Fantasia won Season 3 of American Idol. Not bad, considering that she barely escaped being voted off halfway through the finals. She is the youngest person to win (she’s 19), as well as the third southerner (she’s from North Carolina). This was a bland, underwhelming ending to a bland, underwhelming season. I didn’t exactly keep it a secret that once George and LaToya were voted off, there wasn’t much excitement in it for me anymore. I suppose I might have liked to see Diana win, but I didn’t think it was going to happen. Despite all the booing in the audience, I think America takes Simon’s comments very seriously when they vote.
Okay, now I will put on my peanut gallery hat and spew forth some choice comments regarding this finale.
1) George, for the love of all that which does not suck, stop singing “Me and Mrs. Jones.” For one thing, it’s about an extramarital affair — not an appropriate choice for a self-proclaimed evangelist to sing. Besides, Billy Paul sang that 100 times better than you. You’re a great singer, but that’s not the right song for you.
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2) Matt and Leah, I sincerely hope you are falling on your knees every morning and thanking whatever deity you worship that people who suck at singing as badly as you do can still make it into the Top 12.
3) Ruben, I wasn’t rooting for you last year, but I have more and more respect for your singing ability every time I see you perform. You make it look (and sound) easy. Rock on…
4) Kelly strikes me as someone who’s about to join Mariah Carey and Britney Spears in the “Most Spectacular Breakdowns in History” hall of fame. Poor girl doesn’t seem capable of handling the pressure, even after two years. Scary thing is, she still looks like a former waitress from Texas (which she is).
5) LaToya, you were robbed. Make sure you play your cards right so you can stick it to the rest of the finalists by becoming more successful than all of them.
6) I am tired of repeats. During the results shows, the contestants almost always sing the exact same song snippets they sang the night before. For the finale, Diana and Fantasia sang the sappy song written for the winner (more on that later), plus two others they had already sung in previous shows. That was a mistake. Why do a repeat of something that was your crowning achievement? At best, you’ll do no better than last time. At worst, you’ll send the message that even your powerhouse performances were more the result of luck than singing skill.
7) Three seasons, three sappy songs for the winners. For once, why can’t they write a really good song for the winner, one that you can tap your feet to? Oh, but that wouldn’t be pop, now would it? Yeesh…
Brian
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7 Comments
I have two words for Diana DeGarmo: Justin Guarini.
My biggest complaint about the result show: why oh why was it two hours long? Was it really necessary to bore us with irrelevent interviews with uniteresting celebrities?
I think you’re right on about Latoya though. Like Tamyra Gray (you have her to thank for this year’s sappy song) from season 1, she’ll prove more successful then the runner up. I’d say the same for Jennifer Hudson too.
Are you telling me you guys actually watched the entire show??
I tuned in for the last five minutes. Fox reality shows have a history of stretching 10-15 minutes worth of viewing material into a full hour.
As to the results, I think Diana is good, but as an overall performer, Fantasia cleaned her clock. Where Diana seemed somewhat stiff or when she tried to move just plain amateurish, Fantasia took over the stage like a seasoned performer. She deserved the win.
As to La Toya, I’m sure she’ll get a contract, as probably Diana will as well. But I don’t know… in the music industry, once one name is taken, doesn’t that lock anyone else out? Can’t have more than one well-know “La Toya” can we?
Vic
Clay and Ruben didn’t have a problem sharing the spotlight last year. Several former contestants have released albums, but most of them haven’t done well at all. (William Hung sold more albums than Justin Guarini, to give you an idea.) Overall, you’re right, Vic. There’s room for one or two big names, while everyone else is relegated to “also-ran” status.
Brian
I don’t know about you guys, but I found Fantasia very very annoying. I think if Diana could have pulled off that last song, she might have had a shot, but she muffed it. I liked her though, I found something more natural about her, and I think in some instances, she was the best perfomer out there during the course of the series.
I think the ending was predictable. The sentimental favorite won.
I agree that Fantasia was annoying, but I really wanted to see LaToya or George win. After they were both gone, I wanted to see Diana win, but it was not meant to be. Such is my lot in life. How does the saying go? Genius is seldom recognized in its own time.
Brian
George didn’t have a shot. I heard him sing a few times and he was not up to the level of Diana and Fantasia.
Vic
Perhaps not, but he was immensely popular. It got him enough momentum to put him in the Top 5. As for Leah, now let’s talk about someone who didn’t have a shot…
Brian