jthad1129 said:

Ridin is the shit though

I like Kelly because she has a legitimate singing voice. She can back it up live as well. Which is how it should be. For that reason alone, she's cool with me.

VoicesCarry said:

i didn't say peaches was a viable alternative, did i?

don't pretend to know how my sensibilities work - you'll often end up surprised.

Idol this America...


[Edited 5/2/06 15:37pm]

she sounds better than most shit that i hear on the radio..

i guess out of all the junk thats flowin on those fm waves.. i'd rather have her than the others..

i guess you folks can't agree.

i think there's more to a song than melody and a pretty/impressive voice.

badujunkie said:

These days there's a lot LESS to a song than melody and an impressive voice. "Check On It", anybody? I would name some of these songs by the latest R'n'B, crunk wannabees, but I can't even remember the titles.

i do know this

if you re watch that first season

she was the best among the lot

VoicesCarry said:

they ought to...just a little.

whoknows said:

Agreed. I mean what would say to Karen Carpenter or Anne Murray or Even Carly Simon for that matter. I think good pop music should have a good melody, great voice and accessable to most...and most of all have a timeless quality to it.

I can tolerate Kelly more than that Rihanna chick. ClearChannel's *really* trying to push her down our throats.

Yes, the Soft Cell sample made "S.O.S." initially, but the buzz is over and now it's just more commercial schlock.

superspaceboy said:

it should also sound FRESH, have some BASS, some originality, some hump, some bump, some energy, some glossiness, some trashiness...i'm not big on Gwen or Britney by any means but at least their shit is fun, you can dance to it...if you can't DANCE to it or if it's more rock oriented, at least make it angry or rebellious or funny or SOMETHING different.

Kelly Clarkson really sounds like a cut rate Michelle Branch who was a cut rate Sheryl Crow in the first place. with a little avril thrown in (puke). yet she's ALL OVER THE PLACE. and she has no personality. and i don't think those melodies of her four or five current hits are anything special. and her vocals are compressed to death, along with the instruments. it's the most banal, lowest-common-denominator uninteresting and uninspiring kind of pop. fuck, she makes Mariah as innovative as Fiona Apple.

Mara said:

co-sign. I've never liked Rihanna... she's all flash.

Her new video premiered the other day, a newer song than "S.O.S." and it looks like one of those movie-esque million dollar videos that they had Ashanti in for a little while.

I was like trying to get into it, but the second Rihanna started singing, I CRINGED.... "Worst voice ever!!!" and shut the TV off.

CinisterCee said:

but you still think she's hot right?

i dunno...this may not be a fair comparison, but this week i was watching a collection of janis joplin performances from the dick cavett show, and i was getting CHILLS watching her and listening to her...it was just amazing how she was so one hundred percent emotionally and mentally COMMITTED to what she was singing, to a point where it just sucked you in and you either went on the ride with her or you just sat there wondering what the hell planet she came from...and i couldn't help but think that these days, maybe we don't even know what's good anymore. we just pick from what the "beancounters" (as prince calls 'em) lets us hear, and we honor the lesser of many lessers that are forced down our ear canals. "she's the least crappy crap of the crap that's out there." greeeaaat.

You have got to give the girl credit for managing to carve out some kind of recording career where other idol contestants have failed.

I can see why people would be bored/annoyed with her but there are far easier targets to aim at.

Anx said:

Wait, you're comparing her to Janis Joplin and saying she's not a good singer because you don't get the same feeling...and think that may not be a fair comparison? It's also a bit dismissive to say her fans settle for "what's within reach." Maybe some folks just like her voice and choice of song? Personally, I think Kelly Clarkson has a good voice and does more than just scream and sing loudly.

That said, I've never been moved enough by her career or singles to buy anything she's put out, but I can understand why others are drawn to her. She's a good pop artist. She's not out to challenge anyone's notion of pop art, nor is she looking to redefine any genre. She's safe music, and that's fine.

shausler said:

I couldn't disagree more. Tamyra Gray was the only contestant who had any real talent that season. The CD she released a couple of years ago is surprisingly good. Even on the lesser songs, her voice still shines.

Kelly? Well, I'm not a big fan of yelling.

You have to admit her last song was pretty rockin.

RipHer2Shreds said:

Thank you. I don't understand why Anxy is trying to prove she's shit by comparing her to the greats. Well, duh, she ain't Janis Joplin. No shit. The problem is that Janis Joplin was popular in the mainstream. Now, we can barely find someone who compares to Stacey Q who's making any sort of noise on the charts. I will take a chick who can sing and make pop songs with some reasonable semblance of songraft over anything else in the mainstream. And, yeah, you can giggle and smirk and scoff at how naughty it is to like something in the mainstream, but you know what, Janis & all the greats were once part of it.. It's insulting to say whoever likes her settles for what's in reach - how snobbish can you get? Yikes. He clearly hasn't paid attention to my tastes. Out of pop music today, though, I can't put Kelly down.
[Edited 5/2/06 20:11pm]

badujunkie said:

Of course they're special. That's because they're:

a) Actual fucking melodies.

b) NOT sampled.

You're putting Kelly down for singing original material while Mariah samples all the way to the bank on half her tracks? I don't see the logic. Kelly is by definition more innovative (and no I am not talking groundbreaking music here, I am merely talking about not copying someone else's shit) than Mariah.
[Edited 5/2/06 20:15pm]

VoicesCarry said:

i'd rather hear a hot sample under a hot beat and some flava in the vocals/production that the shrieking of "SINCE YOU BEEN GONE/YEEEEEAH YEEEEEAH/I'm so moving on/YEEEEEAH/YEEEEEAH"

i guess your definition of innovative is textbook correct but i think her shit is pretty derivative of that bland pop/rock crap that has been going on in top 40 radio for way too long

badujunkie said:

Well, if you'd rather hear a sample, then I don't think I need to say anything more other than it doesn't seem to be KELLY or AMERICAN IDOL that's contributing most to the downfall of pop.

VoicesCarry said:

what it's ME? lol

i said i'd rather hear a sample than generic by-the-numbers pop/rock, not a sample instead of a great original song. nothing she has sung or put out is a great song, period.

IMHO of course

badujunkie said:

Yes, YOU and others LIKE YOU

Even if you don't think it's great, it's at least original.

It takes 0 talent to structure a song around a sample, so until peeps start encouraging people to write original songs again, all is lost. I am glad that she has had such major success with this record - maybe it will help reverse the trend a bit. Girlfriend has spent 70+ weeks in the Top 20, so she is resonating with someone.
[Edited 5/2/06 20:46pm]

Her skin is pasty.

PurpleRein said:

wow, she's a normal person, how horrible

VoicesCarry said:

i hafta disagree about it taking zero talent to structure a song around a sample. i've tried using beat making software and it's not easy...plus if you make an awesome track and then think of a sample that will resonate with people and ENHANCE the track, that's even better. but both require some artistic capability to do well. the best example is of course...got til it's gone.

and just because she been in the top 20 for that long...hootie and the blowfish were too.

mynameisnotsusan said:

i know right.

so much kelly hate up in here. -since u been gone- was the sheezy.and walk away is hot to....love the video!

VoicesCarry said:

I agree. I am down with any of these young top40 girls that can hold their own in an intimate setting with nothing more than a guitar accompaniment...which is usually the case when they have to do cd promotional stuff here on TV in Europe. As loud or not "traditionally-accepetd-pretty" girls like Kelly and Pink can be, if you put them in front of a small studio audience with a virtuoso on acoustic guitar, those kids sing their GUTS out...with a solid grasp of dynamics, timbre, and color, and with EASE.... I respect young singers that have evolved that far with their instrument more than, I dunno, the Ashantis or J.Los of the world There are some singers that cannot give you the goods once you take away the 10 backround dancers, headpounding beats, an over the top stage lighting, and in my view the Clarkson girl is not one of them. Christina Aguilera is also one of these type of singers, but I think so many times we were distracted by her poor choice in stage attire and infinite vocal modulating it made it too dificult (or too taxing?) too locate and appreciate her true INSTRUMENT