It's Baaaack!

[d nice]

AI3...

Can I say I have fallen madly in love with Scooter girl. *sigh*.

Anyone else watch? Anyone else addicted?

[pygmalion]

Scooter girl?

[Sagitta]

Artificial Intelligence 3? Robot?

[SDsalsaguy]

American Idol 3 . . . girl who made up a song about her scooter and is a total free spirit. Has some pipes though...

[Taita]

Somehow, I think the pressure will get to this one.... :wink:

[d nice]

I don't know if the pressure will get to her... she is a perfectionist, all state gymnast, all state track, national merit scholar... she is someone used to pressure... and her quirkiness is probably how she deals with it... it allows her to blow off steam.

And yes she has some pipes. Wow.

[Taita]

You're right d nice, she could thrive in this environment. Let us also not forget, she did admit undergoing treatment for an eating disorder. Yes, perfectionists can do very well under stress, however, they can also go mental too. It will be interesting to see how this one goes. I have a feeling this one will find some creative ways of relieving stress.. :wink:

Yes, she does have some great pipes. At first, I thought this would be one of the really bad contestants and started to cringe when I saw her on the scooter, but I was very pleasantly surprised.

[Sagitta]

Pipes!!?!! :? :oops: Someone enlighten me please!! And when and where is this on?

[d nice]

Pipes is slang for someone who sings very well.

American Idol is on Fox, Mondays probably at 8pm (though you'll want to check your local listings). It is a singing competition to find the next "pop star". Season one's winner, season two's winner and second place both entered the Billboard charts with their debut albums at number one. Season ones third or fourth place is a acting and been on a number of different shows with a recurring role on Boston Public.

Its addictive... the first few episodes show a selected number of the tens of thousands of entrants that make it to the judges to decide whether or not they move on to Hollywood from the regional auditions. The people who make in front of the camera are usually very good or very bad... or simply "unique".

"Scooter Girl" was doing flips and handstands and riding around on a razor scooter with silver streamers and a pink basket... she also happened to be incredibely talented.

ITs like watching a train wreck at times, sometimes you feel bad for the people who aren't good, and other times you can't believe that none of their friends or family were kind enough to tell them they can't sing... as a matter of fact that their singing is the equivelant of auditory assault. Simon (Simon Cowell one of the judges, the "mean one") actually said to someone that they were musical food poisoning. He also bet someone that if she walked into a bar and started singing that half the patrons would leave. She took him up on the bet, and the cameras followed her... well he was wrong, about thirty people or so were in there... only two stayed... and it was obvious it was out of pity.

I almost cried... from laughter. What can I say, I'm a "mean one" too.

[Swing Kitten]

and me without television :(

[SwinginBoo]

and me without television :(

Yeah, like you have time for TV!! ....... so when are ya coming out to Murphys??? :wink:

[Swing Kitten]

next week for certain! :D

[Swing Kitten]

so how is American Idol coming? anyone keeping up with it?

[d nice]

I am... how William Hung is bad. I mean BAD!

There were some priceless lines delivered. I wonder if Simon comes with thiese things on his own or if he has a writer.

Last nights had a surprised. They were in Hawai'i and Simon liked a girl who neither Randy nor Paula wanted in. She had a pitch problem or two, but great personality, beautiful, and a TON of potential. She sung a gospel version of "Swing Low". I agree with Simon she should have made it. There were people who were passed on with ess talent and passion than her.

[Swing Kitten]

I am... how William Hung is bad. I mean BAD!


Who is William Hung and is he bad as in awesome or bad as in awful? :lol:

[d nice]

Aweful isn't even close.

I mean he was so far from aweful, something aweful looks grand from where he is at.

That said he seemed like a really nice and endearing guy.

[youngsta]

How did I miss this thread? I'm an AI fanatic!

[dr daffy]

Haha, I hate American Idol but i was forced to watch it on Wednesday night because they took away my show to put American Idol on. Guess who got cut?!?! Ms. Scooter girl or whatever her name was lol. I feel bad for her though... she was really good. And some other people got cut that were fairly good.

My friend is trying to convince me to go on that show... *shudders* no way... i can't deal with Simon lol

[pygmalion]

Is William Hung the Asian guy they were showing in AI commercials this past week? If so, they must have put him on in the first place just for guffaw value. He was awful! Singing some Michael Jackson song, right?

[pygmalion]

Nope. I was thinking of the wrong guy. But apparently, this William Hung guy has won the hearts of many. Check out this news article.
He has fans.

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/life/story/0,4386,233644,00.html

[d nice]

Check out www.williamhung.net

He sang Ricky Martin's She-bang.

Nicole Tiari (sp?) a.k.a. Scooter Girl was cut. I didn't really think she'd make it to the top 32. She does have a good career ahead of her for musical theatre if she wants it.

I liked her story and personality, the fact that she has a good voice gave her potential... Perhaps she is still in the running for the wild card round.

[Swing Kitten]

:shock:

[SDsalsaguy]

OMG, he sings almost as poorly as I do! :shock: :shock: :shock:

[pygmalion]

Did anyone see the news story about Mr. Hung getting a record deal? I believe he signed yesterday. Eeek! What is this world coming to?

[Genesius Redux]

Did anyone see the news story about Mr. Hung getting a record deal? I believe he signed yesterday. Eeek! What is this world coming to?

Record deals, especially connected to this popular television show, are all about selling records, not about talent. When the record companies were doing the promotion via recordings, it was a different world. You had to be able to sing. Now, with television and the Internet, you really don't; it's all about some other source of popularity.

Simon's really the only judge there with consistent integrity and the talent to discover real talent. He approaches the whole thing from a professional angle and tells people what honest-to-goodness promoters would say if it all were away from the hype and the cameras.

Everyone else throws flowers and tries to make sure everyone can feel good about themselves. Not everyone can be a great singer-performer. I'd love to play shortstop for the Yankees. I don't have the talent. Things are tough all over.

Good Lord, I despise that show! :x

[Taita]

Hmmm....

From what I understand of this situation, Mr. Hung became famous for simply being honest and giving it his best shot, even if it was painful to witness. However, from what I can tell, he's approaching this very humbly and very professionally. He's fully devoted to finishing school as well as taking voice lessons and by all accounts, he's a genuine, nice guy. Yes, he sings poorly, very poorly. Yes, he has no dance ability and his flailing about to music is funny, if not painful. However, I wish more performers and people in the limelight had his character. There are much worse things in this world then William Hung getting his 15 minutes of fame.

I have to wonder..... If he's known for bad singing and his voice improves...

.....back to lurk mode....

[Genesius Redux]

Hmmm....

From what I understand of this situation, Mr. Hung became famous for simply being honest and giving it his best shot, even if it was painful to witness. However, from what I can tell, he's approaching this very humbly and very professionally. He's fully devoted to finishing school as well as taking voice lessons and by all accounts, he's a genuine, nice guy. Yes, he sings poorly, very poorly. Yes, he has no dance ability and his flailing about to music is funny, if not painful. However, I wish more performers and people in the limelight had his character. There are much worse things in this world then William Hung getting his 15 minutes of fame.

I have to wonder..... If he's known for bad singing and his voice improves...

.....back to lurk mode....

Well, I can see that I'm going to look like the villain here.

It's not the 15 minutes of fame I object to--it's the sense of entitlement, one that is shared by the members of the audience who, sunk in their mediocrity, find comfort in someone else's appalling badness. Or worse yet, the noblesse oblige of the arrivistes who, secure in their own talent, find it assuages their conscience (in democratic America, they have committed the terrible sin of actually being better than everyone else at something) to invite a beggar to their feast, so that he can crouch under the table and fight with the dogs over the scraps.

This marketing of someone's genuine goodwill and hopeless inadequacy is nothing more than a pleasant American myth--if you really try, work hard, and keep your heart in the right place, you'll eventually realize your dreams--better still, you have the right to expect your dreams will be fulfilled! Ya gotta have heart!

If only humility and determination were all their were to it. You'll never meet another human more humble about his modest ballplaying skills than I am. I worked at it all throughout my youth. And I'm decent, and I have character. But as a ballplayer, I'm a complete loser.

Then there was Ty Cobb. One of the most malignant and graceless humans to have ever walked on the planet. But Ty Cobb was a genius.

American Idol, by foregrounding and awarding mediocrity, high-handedly reinforces a myth that can never be true. How much more moving, and how much more true, are Salieri's words at the close of Peter Shaffer's Amadeus:I was born a pair of ears, and nothing else. It is only through hearing music that I know God exists. Only through writing music that I could worship. All around me men seek Liberty for Mankind. I sought only slavery for myself. To be owned--ordered--exhausted by an Absolute. Music. This was denied me--and with it all meaning. If I cannot be Mozart then I do not wish to be anything. Now I go to become a Ghost myself. I will stand in the shadows when you come here to this earth in your turns. And when you feel the dreadful bite of your failures--and hear the taunting of unachievable, uncaring God--I will whisper my name to you: "Antonio Salieri: Patron Saint of Mediocrities!" And in the depth of your downcastness you can pray to me. And I will forgive you. Vi saluto.

How much more moving, to me, is that.

Genesius

[pygmalion]

No, GR. You're no villain, to me. You're an artist. 8)

As far as William Hung, well, I can see why he's so popular. He's the underdog that many people identify with. People acknowledge his lack of talent, but want to see him succeed anyway.

Eh. I'm not sure whether I consider his recording contract one for the good guys, or exploitative of Mr. Hung and the listening public. Either way, Mr. Hung should record a Christmas song. Christmas songs don't have to be good to get played every year. The residual income from a Christmas song will put him through grad school, at least. *shrug* :roll:

[Taita]

Ok, not sure I understand where GR is going here. I don't think you're a bad guy, I'm not sure I agree with everything you are writing. I too agree that there are those with talent and those without. People with no talent who go around thinking the world owes them something irritates me too. However, I don't think anybody, much less Mr. Hung, believes he is entitled to anything. Mr. Hung has acknowledged his good fortune and is very grateful for it. The mere fact that he has acknowledged his lack of talent and is tackling his newfound opportunity with everything he's got is something to be lauded considering how many talented recording artists seemingly put forth little or no effort with a sense of entitlement.

I don't think people who work hard for something they want feel they have a 'right' to have their dreams fulfilled. Some people get what they want through blood, sweat, and tears and some get it by stepping on others and some people are just plain lucky. I also don't find anything wrong with him making money in this deal. If people are willing to pay for his services, why not! If someone wants to give me a lot of money to hear my terrible singing, I'd take it. It's not like anyone is being forced to listen to him sing, much less buy his music. Yes, there are many more talented artists who will never have this opportunity, but life is not always fair and sometimes good fortune is all you need.

Maybe I'm just a dreamer, but I think people who want to maximize their experience of life by maximizing who they are as people is something to be appreciated. History is filled with people who were considered 'hopeless losers' (including geniuses like Einstein or even Fred Astaire) who have gone on to greatness. I certainly wouldn't describe anyone as hopeless. Maybe he's not cut out to be a singer. Maybe he's destined to become a trivia question. In either event, I don't think this experience will somehow make him a lesser person and Mr. Hung will go into the sunset happier for the experience.

While I will not be buying any of his records, I find the marketing for his "genuine goodwill and hopeless inadequacy" *******ing considering what is marketed as 'music' these days.

[Genesius Redux]

Taita-

May I print off your last post and give it to my students the next time one of them walks into my office and says, "Why did I get a C? I worked on this paper really hard!!!" :wink:

My usual answer to them is, "Sorry--I don't pay by the hour!" But then again, Simon is indeed my favorite judge on AI! :lol: :wink:

P.S. Sometimes you have to play hardball--I've occasionally had a really irate student demanding satisfaction.

Student: "Why did I get an F?"
Me: "It's the lowest grade we give."

:wink:

[Taita]

Genesius,

I'm flattered that you (much less anyone!) would think I am quotable! :notworth: I love the responses you give to your students! Sometimes, you do no favors by coddling. In a roundabout, ironic way, I think you are doing more to prepare some of these students for the realities of life than most teachers.

While AI has simply become unwatchable this season, Simon is still the one people tune in to watch.

I agree, sometimes playing hardball is the way to go. :wink:

.....back to lurk mode....

[Bob]

Ok villian!

(By villian I mean one of the cooler villians like Lex Luthor, not one of the less cool bad buys like the Frog)


This marketing of someone's genuine goodwill and hopeless inadequacy is nothing more than a pleasant American myth--if you really try, work hard, and keep your heart in the right place, you'll eventually realize your dreams--better still, you have the right to expect your dreams will be fulfilled! Ya gotta have heart!


A great many people like to belive exactly what you are saying. This man did not. He knows, like everyone who has ever beaten the odds, that without pressure diamonds are nothing more than a lump of coal.

(doing my best Louis Armstrong voice... which isn't very good, which is also my point)

They all laughed christopher columbus, when they he said the world was round
they all laughed when edison recorded sound.
They all laughed at wilbur and his brother, when they said that man could fly......


Mr. Hung swung for the fences and as unlikely as it seems, he hit one out of the park.

Mr Hung, here is your American Dream! Enjoy!

[Vince A]

AI . . . unwatchable . . . no way! However, if you are saying that this is absolutely the wrost batch of finalists on any show . . . I agree!

There may be three singers in the whole lot, and if George Huff doesn't win . . . the show is fixed . . . George is a hundred times better than Reuben Stoddard or Clay Aikens!

Oh . . I am an AI'aholic . . .

[pygmalion]

I have honestly never watched the show, which is bad. It's become such an integral part of American culture, that I'll probably be missing cultural references for years to come. *shrug*

[Sagitta]

I have honestly never watched the show, which is bad. It's become such an integral part of American culture, that I'll probably be missing cultural references for years to come. *shrug*

There are quite a few of us out there. You're not alone! :wink: :) I'm a bit better as I have seen a couple episodes. For me, one issue is that I just don't have the time. Lot more interesting things to do, such as dancing, cooking, df, working out... :D

[pygmalion]

What's the update on Mr. Hung? I think he released his "She Bangs" video and the CD single within the last week or two, right? The CD is supposed to have sold 40,000 copies, I think.

[Genesius Redux]

Like MC Potbelly. Does anyone know MC Potbelly? Rap "artist." He's appallingly bad--which makes the CD curiously compelling. He's only put out one, I think.