Not sure I entirely agree with you though. Although he was rather one dimensional and predictable with his performances, and yes he did rather over egg the Michael Hutchence/Jim Morrison appreciation somewhat!

Still I preferred him to Mr. Charisma Bypass (Jason) and that 54th rate (circa "It's Not Right, but it's OK" period) Whitney Huston (Syesha).

I thought Jordin Sparks was bad...

Well that was it really for me and he wasn't particularly good at it either coupled with the pained expressions, I found him very off-putting.

That's not to say I thought he was the worst singer - step forward Mr Castro (I simply don't get him at all). I also think you're right about Syesha, in fact the title of that Whitney song sums up her performances. Especially the bizarre half n half version of Dolly Parton's I will always love you.

Simply put, there's nothing to get. He's surviving for one reason only...and let's make it quite clear it's not his musical prowess!

What is it then?

You need a heterosexual male to spell it out for you?

I would imagine most of his votes are coming from a certain section of the voting community i.e. young girlies and the old frustrated house wife Mafia.

Sorry, how un-PC of me, there's probably a few men voting for him too....

Are you fan, if so, what's the appeal for you?

His fans are a bit fanatical

I did sort of get him the first week of the top 24, thought he was rather good and was an early favourite. Since then all I've ever thought was 'busker', I seriously can't even remember what his voice sounds like from one week to the next, very unremarkable. My hope is, though, as the competition goes on and if he stays he may be splitting the Archie vote a bit, which gives more hope to my favourite.

Heh heh. I just think that he is probably the least good looking of the boys left (not that he's unnatractive), and so I just wouldn't see him as the prime candidate for getting votes based on looks. Michael was much better looking imo, so if someone was going to get votes for being hot I would've expected it to be him not Jason.

I'm a David Cook fan myself, but that's all about the music, man .

I'm not a Jason supporter particularly, though I like artists like Jack Johnson, and Jason has that kind of vibe so I don't mind him.

I'm guessing that Jason's popularity (along with Brooke's) is coming from a welcome backlash against the divas and their belting -- and its male counterpart -- that has been the mainstay of American Idol since it's debut. People get a little tired of having songs shouted at them, especially when a "performer" puts little effort into any other part of a song, except for the glory notes.

Folk music and storytelling type songs have been popular for decades, via the likes of James Taylor, Carole King, Carly Simon, Joni Mitchell, Dan Fogelberg, etc. -- and whoever their modern day counterparts are. It's about time Idol caught up with that, or recognized that there is more than one type of popular singer in the music world. They got the diva part MORE than covered, country western with Carrie, and maybe rock this year with David.

Perhaps next year, Jason and Brooke's relative success will encourage others like them -- others BETTER -- to enter the contest.

Neither of these people are my cup of tea, but I appreciate the style of music they are trying to perform. As a matter of fact, it's one of my favorite type of musical performances.

It's nice that Idol finally caught up.

This is not the point. It matters not if you can appreciate their genre of music but whether you can realise that he (Jason) is plainly just sub-standard.

Perhaps next year when I enter, aping the collective lo-fi stylings of Pavement and Sonic Youth, America will vote for me for being "different"

I'm afraid it's (moderate) style over any substance.

He reminds me of Christina Aguilera in her dreadlock phase.
And for the record, I thought his Over The Rainbow was terrible.

It is the point. Saying Jason (and Brooke) are not my cup of tea was my way of saying that I didn't think they were good enough to my untrained ear. However, the style they are trying to convey appeals to me. I just don't want either of them to win because I'm sure there are better performers, of this type, out there who will come along in the following seasons.

OK I get your point; still I'd rather someone with talent performing a genre I didn't more care for take the honours then the opposing scenario (someone with little or no talent performing music more of my ilk.*)

Then again I never expect to much from these programs anyway and watch them purely for the entertainment element.

*I'm a first generation Jeff Buckley fan (and someone who appreciates Leonard Cohen) and thought Jason's take on "Hallelujah" was nothing more then a karaoke carbon copy.