Babeth, I've refrained from replying to you until now, but frankly your endless preaching about how we are all wrong about Syesha has finally got on my wick. It's not a case of knowing her, none of us know any of them after all. Rather it's a case of how people perceive her and how she comes across. Personally I don't think she's fake, but clearly quite a few people do think that. That makes a huge difference to whether people would be prepared to buy into her. We all respect your right to like Syesha, perhaps you should respect others right to dislike her instead of shoving her down our throats all the time.

Personally I find her balled singing dull, unoriginal and poor in comparison to the people she would be pitted against and I certainly wouldn't want to listen to a CD of her singing like that. You've claimed before that people are trying to turn her into a diva but she's actually done that to herself by singing the songs she has. She also comes across in her VT's as really rather full of herself and trying a bit to hard. When people try and be something they're not it puts people off them.

Personally, Brooke is my favourite but I'm objective enough to know when she hasn't been so good, and also understand that she is not everyone's cup of tea and allow them to voice their opinions without jumping down their throat or telling them to 'give me a break'.

This week, Syesha went a dfferent route, showed the artist she really is and I personally really enjoyed watching her. For the first time she actually came across as a fun, likeable person as well instead of her usual 'stage school' model/actress persona that turns some people off.

As I said, we respect your right to think she's the best thing since sliced bread. Please now respect the fact that some people think she is not.

Wow, OK, I never want to come across as preachy on here. When did I ever do that? I may have said a few things in support of her that people keep going on about . But everybody is entitled to their views like you to yours.

And I have to apologise that I did not mean that you said fake and Plastic. I forgot to include the poster in particular I was referring to. Obvoiusly I allowed passion to take over. Oh God-I do not want to ever come across as that. Music is subjective is what I always preach-and we all should like what we like and not shove it down people's throat.

Let hope that clears that up.

Babeth

Okay, I get annoyed by some of what I read on here, too. I don't doubt some get annoyed at what I write as well, but I try to be respectful of other posters when I state my oppinions.
Anyway, I have seen people say some harsh things on here, and some things I disagree with, but I still respect their opinions. I have also seen some absolute misinformation as far as how the show opperates, etc. that I just left alone because it isn't that big of a deal.
I am sticking up for Babeth because I enjoy her posts and have never seen anything in them that would deserve being talked to that way. Others praise their favorites, and criticise those they don't care for, in a much more extreme way. That doesn't bother me much either, because we all have our opinions.

I've heard this year's Idol ratings in the States are the lowest yet.... And to be honest, I'm not surprised. As Simon said..... No personality and WOW factor this year. The only person who comes close to this is David Cook. And even he can sometimes come across as being too 'polished'.

And as for David Achwachawawawalalababa- whatever....... Bland, bland, bland, bland, bland, bland, bland- Do you get the picture? He might work on the Disney Channel.... But on a network like Fox.... You need the pulling power... And he aint got that.

P.s. I'm biased yes, but Leona totally put the Idol contestants to shame! My opinion of course.

do you have a link? i think it is still the number one show in its time slot at the very least. 38 million votes for the top is pretty huge. I must admit though, if people had to pay to vote and weren't allowed to multi-vote it would not be so high.

The ratings are lower than last year....but it is still the #1 and #2 show each week and obliterates its competition. Idol has had a great run...but all shows eventually show a bit of decline. Any other show would kill to have their ratings.

I do get what flashgirl is saying above. Its like you can't say anything about certain performers without their fans jumping to their defense....every...single...time. But whatever...that's their choice/right. I've just learned to skip past them...

Argh Im so annoyed. I hate Brook so much (well her performances), she isnt a good singer atall. Sorry but she isn't. Every performance of hers has been crap since Top 12 week, and Carly deserved to be in the top 5.

And Im probably overreacting but ive just lost Sharon in BBUSA and now Ive lost Kristy, and now Carly

and it is against Dancing with the Stars, (people do love Bruno and Len) which is what other people are watching as well which is one reason for the ratings, if that show was not on, i think the ratings may not be as low. people love this reality competition tv...there is really nothing else on at that time. dancing is taking over from singing. and i agree, AI is getting old. perhaps they should bring over x-factor and scrap it like they did with pop idol. i don't know the reason it was scrapped but seems like x-factor is much better.

I agree with you about Carly, she was my favourite overall, though not always the best and her song choice frequently let her down.

I found her likeable and up for the whole challenge - she started the series crying about the setbacks she'd had but after that she was totally positive and always supportive of the other contestants. She took being in the bottom 3 with humour when that happened and being in the bottom 2 and exiting with her head held high, as Simon said. It is typical the night he praised her she went, but as someone else pointed out I just wonder if JC Superstar was seen as disrespectful by some American Christians, it's clear they have little idea of ALW or his musicals in middle America.

Originally I also liked Brooke but I find her totally self-indulgent now. Every week her song comes with a moment of drama and an explanation of why it was done the way it was or why it went wrong. It's like she's in therapy and everyone else has got to listen to her hand wringing. I think she could be great in another context, but on AI she has become trying.

I have read that it was an issue, and some were up in arms about it which is a real shame as maybe ALW didn't really understand when he got her to change her song. It wouldn't have been an issue over here at all, but the bible belt is pretty big in the US - such a shame, I loved her performance of it, probably my favourite of hers, and she looked lovely singing it.

very true and well said.

Thanks for that Singy Thingy.

Its water under the bridge now. I respectfully air my views as I see fit without intentionally causing any rifts/arguments. That's not who I am. Passionate Yes- Aggressive No! This forum won't let me start that now.

Babeth

I doubt it played a huge part. Would her fans really stop voting for her because that?
Please don't take the opinions of the few and turn it in to more than it is...
I think its more likely votes that might have gone to Carly went to Brooke as sympathy votes. Or maybe Jason fans knowing he blew it cranked up their voting.
Most people don't vote based on the week's performance...or we'd have said goodbye to either Jason or Brooke.

even though that was a great song choice for her own voice singing Superstar wasn't so great, because believe it or not there are people who cannot put it in context of the show and listen to the words "jesus christ" seriously, i know it sounds silly but some people don't like it, also she was not American (by nature) and had a record deal before. (as did Brooke i thought) she had also been in the bottom before. I personally like Carly but those are the things I saw as the reasons for her going. I really don't think she was well liked. the tattoos are off putting as well to some. I do think Brooke is the one who should be gone, for the main fact that her only genre for me that she does well with is folk type stuff...she can really do Carol King, Carly Simon stuff perfectly. All of these six will do something anyway. people have their favourites now anyway, and will vote for them regardless, i don't think carly's fan base was that huge.

Oh...I'm sure there are people that were put off by it...but not enough to make a difference in the overall vote. Most people bitching about her choice probably were not voting for her anyway, ya know? As far as the not born American/previous record deal...if it really really matter...I don't think she'd have made it as far as she did.

she did because the others weren't as good, except David Johns (was also not American) who knows how close the voting was when she was in the bottom before. i am all about individuality, and even i hated looking at those tattoos, lol... I am just trying to justify her leaving. all of the reasons i stated are probable. just like syesha is a dime a dozen, forgettable performer.

lol @ the tattoos...but I liked them.
I always assume its always about the strength of a fan base (which usually supports a contestant regardless of performance) and hers just wasn't that big.
Also...we had 38 million votes this week...gotta wonder if maybe the Kristy Lee votes went to Brooke?
The world may never know!

exactly. my posts up the page about the number of votes and fan base say that. i didn't mind Carly's tatts as much as her husband's.

it would be interesting if they implemented paying to vote (like the UK) in the US or only being allowed one vote per person how it would work out. i am guessing a lot less than 38 million votes.

This is a poll result from the Idol forum for the top 6

David Archuleta [ 230 ] ** [29.49%]
David Cook [ 226 ] ** [28.97%]
Jason Castro [ 145 ] ** [18.59%]
Carly Smithson [ 73 ] ** [9.36%]
Brooke White [ 64 ] ** [8.21%]
Syesha Mercado [ 42 ] ** [5.38%]
Total Votes: 780

If this is a good refection of the respective fan bases, it looks to me that Jason was safe because he has a large fan base, and Brooke because she was perceived as the one to save.

I personally wanted Brooke to go. I think she's being wa-ay overindulged. Other singers have stumbled over lyrics or have forgotten them -- and you can judge them on that -- but none of the others have yet to stop everything (three times now) forcing the segment to start again. The first time -- it might have been in the Hollywood audition phase -- was fine. No real harm. The second involved just herself playing the piano and some might pass it off as being extremely fastidious. But, the last time involved an entire orchestra, possibly throwing them all off. She doesn't seem to be getting more confident in her performances, but less and its affecting others.

And speaking of confidence....

I definitely feel Carly deserved to remain in the competition, especially compared to Brooke. That being said, I think there are multiple reasons she has not caught on in this particular contest. (And, she really hasn't; her fanbase just doesn't seem as rabid or as large as some of the others.) Anyway, these multiple reasons -- in combination -- probably diminished her support:

1) From the very beginning, she came off as being very needy and desperate -- especially so in getting praise from Simon. I understand she was burned earlier in her career, but that has left psychological scars that she wears on her sleeve. As much as people can sympathesize, they also admire confidence. People are attracted to those who believe in themselves. They are attracted to confident people, and Carly came off, through most of the competition as very uncertain and insecure. (This should also be Brooke's downfall, I would think.)

2) And, speaking of wearing things on one's sleeve -- this is definitely shallow -- but I'm sure there were people who were also turned off by Carly's look. The lack of stylishness, the tattoos, the severe hair and eye makeup. She's not unattractive at all, and she can wear whatever she likes on her own time, but she sure doesn't know how to dress for the stage. Except, I must say, she looked appropriate for the Jesus Christ Superstar number. She looked like a 70's rocker chick.

3) Finally, I think the earlier record deal -- and how much attention was given to it in the beginning of the season -- harmed her to an extent. Maybe people think, what's fair is fair. You've had your opportunity with a big record deal and managerial support and it didn't work out ... for whatever reason. Although many of the others have had professional opportunities, none were quite as big as hers. So, why should she get a do-over?

So ... in a nutshell, I think these combination of factors -- in total -- worked against her and limited her fanbase. And, it had nothing to do with her being Irish.

For myself, the first factor (her lack of confidence) was understandable and forgiveable, but I expected to see her start overcoming it and not constantly regress. The second factor didn't matter to me at all and the third factor actually did affect my support of her a bit. I thought there was nothing stopping her from working on her career, sans Idol. She didn't need Idol. Why I think she wanted to make it on American Idol is that she wanted to quickly regain what had been lost to her years back. Understandably, she didn't want to go back to struggling and slogging in the trenches for it, but wanted to catapult back to where she had been when she had that record deal that went sour.

Edited to add:
Regarding her latest performance, she did look like she was having fun and displaying a great deal of the vim and vigor she hadn't shown earlier, but I really think she was harmed by the backup singers and caused her to get shouty.

PopWatch @ the Results Show

Pretty funny stuff...

http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2008...-scene--3.html

Carly should have stayed in Ireland and audition for XF. Shed own it.

Sheesh! I've just joined the wrong thread and realise who's a gonna! Aww - that's terrible. Wrong if you ask me. Carly was one of the best tonight.

And I have just followed you on because I thought we were on the other thread too

That's a great shame - she was one of the best tonight imo

Wish the word SPOILER was typed all over this thread. It's a bummer.