The use of sob stories in general on this series of American Idol has been ridiculous, but this guy took it to a whole new level.

It was almost like a parody. I think I lost count of the amount of sob stories he crammed into his few minutes of air-time. He even turned on the waterworks and milked it in front of the judges too.

He actually has a good voice, a really good voice. But he came across as far too desperate for my liking.

I agree the sob stories were not only used in the auditions but now we get a reminder of them in hollywood week. BORED ALREADY just let them sing and make it about that.

I really think there is absolutely no point in putting him through as he has zilch chance of winning, if Adam couldn't whose range was far superior then James will fall by the wayside, he will of course get a bit of exposure.

He is trying to hard to be Adam and the pained expression on his face when trying to hit those notes is really offputting.

Hate sob stories, hate people shrieking at me for no good reason in a middle of a song, take a guess where I stand on Mr Durbin

I cringe whenever this guy is on screen. He reeks of desperation and it's off-putting.

He was getting right upset when the mothers were helping the youngsters.

I know he has high functioning autism?? But if you didn't realise it would be a bit weird. I noticed one of the youngsters looking at him at one point in a strange way.

Could not agree more. A bit like the much more talented Siobhan from last year - really good singer but putting the scream in nearly every song (especially when irrelevant) made me go off her really quickly.

I really like him, easily one of my favs.


You're forgetting why Adam Lambert didn't win - because of his sexuality and because Chris Allen was/is a good old Christian boy with a wife Anyone who disagrees that that is one of the reasons.....is wrong, plain and simple. It sickens me that there are still people out there with such a bigoted view on homosexuality. Taking all that into account, I think James has a great chance. I do agree he needs to show more restraint with the screaming though.

He also possesses the neverending screech.

I think he feels that louder equals better. Whereas he makes me wince when pushes it too far, it doesn't sound as good as he thinks it does.

There was more to Kris' win over Adam than what you are suggesting. If Adam's sexuality had been such an issue, he wouldn't have got within a million miles of the final and if the public were going to vote in the droves for a good Christian boy, Danny was that and then some - not just a married man but a widower. Triple whammy!

The problem is that James doesn't have more than a fraction of Adam's range and not an ounce of his charisma and what power he does get into his voice is extremely forced. The irony is that James performed

Jacob was the only one who impressed me last night.

Just made me chuckle (not because he has a dead wife) 'the triple whammy'!

Talking of that final I felt sorry for Kris he looked a little uncomfortable imo with the win, he knew Adam was the star.
Both great guys.

When they were standing there awaiting the result, he looked resigned to his fate as runner-up and the first thing he said when his name was called out was "But Adam deserves this".

I know what you mean. I think in the long-run he would have been better off as runner-up. Unexpected victors of strongly-favoured runners-up have a lot to live up to and don't tend to. Leon Jackson??? And can you imagine if Susan Boyle had been beaten by another singer instead of a dance troupe?

Well yes, I think the fact Adam didn't really perform anything uptempo in the final(Satisfaction, Black or White for example) had an impact on the result too. I still think his sexuality played a significant part too though.

Totally disagree - his range is very similar to Adam's and I think he has more than enough charisma. He was fantastic tonight.

Stand out performance of the night for me. He should get through based on last night, and has winning potential. Forget about the sob stories, that's the work of the producers not the contestants. If you dont know that after 10seasons and many many other reality TV shows, where have you been?

Amen to that

That's really not what I am getting at but never mind.

Under the circumstances, Adam could have been straight as a die and performed anything or nothing in the final while Kris could have croaked like a bullfrog and still won.

James Durbin has got about as much of Adam Lambert's range as my tortoise has and all the performance skills of its shell.

I'm a big fan of James' song's original artist and felt embarrassed for James for even attempting it. Good luck to him though. He may not stand out in the big scheme of things but he's one of the few that stands out in the competition this year when, with two exceptions, they appear to have very much gone back to the diva type for the girls and the inoffensive type for the boys :yawn:

None of the "rockers" since have been a patch on AI's original rocker, Bo Bice.

Yes, there is a whiff of La Lambert about him and proffessionalism. Hes done the clubs, he has done his dues and the audience like him.

He stands out and unless he blows it has a good chance of winning.

99% of the contestants who make the live shows in AI have extensive professional experience. Right from the first series, Kelly was a seasoned performer (cocktail waitress my rear) and was chased across states by the producers to stop her from signing a contract that would have precluded her from entering the competition. Even 16/17 year old Allison Iraheta and David Archuleta were winners of previous TV talent shows.

As for Durbin having a touch of Lambert about him, in his wildest dreams. Durbin's voice is not so much Judas Priest as overexcited choirboy. It's far too feeble to pull off rock and his performance is "stage movement by numbers".

[quote=Acashoonhay;48576156]99% of the contestants who make the live shows in AI have extensive professional experience. Right from the first series, Kelly was a seasoned performer (cocktail waitress my rear) and was chased across states by the producers to stop her from signing a contract that would have precluded her from entering the competition. Even 16/17 year old Allison Iraheta and David Archuleta were winners of previous TV talent shows.

As for Durbin having a touch of Lambert about him, in his wildest dreams. Durbin's voice is not so much Judas Priest as overexcited choirboy. It's far too feeble to pull off rock and his performance is "stage movement by numbers".[/QUOTE]

Yeah, Steven knows nothing about what it takes to sing rock, dont know why he likes this guy, but you know what, the US public are so easilly fooled that they might just go and vote him all the way to the final. What do they know? You and I wont be falling for it though, we know better.

He has possibly laid it on a little thick, but I'm prepared to cut him some slack, not only because he seems a very emotional guy, but I don't get the feeling he's playing for sympathy, or even needs to with a voice as big as his - instead he's relating something he's been dealing with all of his life, and how music has literally been as escape from the prison of his condition.

It's another thing he has in common with Steven Tyler, who appears to be using a 'tourettes stick' to cover his potty mouth!

James does remind me of Adam Lambert, and has doubtless felt encouraged to enter because of Adam's success. If he's straight he may even sell more records (though this 'love you man' bromance with room mate from the start, the cute Stefano, and the sight of them both stood there holding hands while a decision was made, has had me wondering.) But I'm probably just fantasising, as I wouldn't mind holding hands with Stefano either.

But unlike Adam, he is very untidy at the end of his vocals, as if unable to fully recover from overpowering his voice, and some of his runs have been all over the place. He lacks Adam's 'professional' polish - what comes from Adam's experience in musical theatre and being 27 when he entered as a supremely confident performer. 22-year-old James hits the same sort of notes Adam does, that's where the comparison lies, but there isn't any rapid and raucous 'Sylvester' like vibrato there, as with Adam, instead it's more like a guy who has sucked in some helium for a karaoke trick.

But there is obviously a similarity, it's pointless denying it.

The other big sound-alike for me, being a Siobhan fan, is Pia - she's just as bold, and sounds a little like her, but less nasal.

With all due respect, it's not as if Steven is spoilt for rock singers to critique. He can praise James Durbin or he can praise James Durbin. If he's feeling really adventurous, he may compare James Durbin to James Durbin.

Those of you questioning his talent and claiming he is nothing compared to Adam Lambert, I suggest you go over to Youtube and type in James Durbin. You'll be presented with plenty of videos going back a few years of him singing lots of different songs. He's the real deal. Hope that helps