Bo Bice

[EricF]

With the exception of Carrie Underwood (who is fast becomeing the new Queen of country music), and, to a lesser extent, Kelly Clarkson (a few genuine big hits), the rest of the AI winners have not been tremendously successful - especially in the most recent seasons.

Of the people left in the race, Fetus Archuletta is probably the best fit for the AI machine. He has a technically great voice, but hasn't found himself yet and needs some guidance. In the long run, he may get ground up and spit out, but I bet he'll be a big hit on Radio Disney and make someone a crap-load of money. My wife thinks he's a robot.

The best thing that could happen for Cookie is to finish second. His name is now well known, and there is a big market for his music. If he can do his thing, he'll do just fine.

I've been a fan of Syesha's voice for a while, and it's good to see her finally start singing well, but if she happens to win this thing, she won't be tremendously successful (in a multi-platinum kind of way).

 

[Vandelay]

"Idol" is both a good and a bad deal for these contestants. On the one hand, it gives them a chance at a career that they probably would never have had otherwise.

On the other hand, the contestants are forced to do lots of really cheesy things: the badly choreographed "group" songs on every results episode, the silly Ford commercials, the terrible first single that the winner has to release (i.e. Taylor Hicks' "Do I Make You Proud?", Jordyn Sparks' "This Is My Now", etc.) The show could gain a little bit more credibility if they just let the contestants be themselves instead of making them jump thru all these silly hoops.

 

[EricF]

Since when has the big-money music business ever been about letting the artist be themselves?

 

[MakiSupaStar]

"Idol" is both a good and a bad deal for these contestants. On the one hand, it gives them a chance at a career that they probably would never have had otherwise.

On the other hand, the contestants are forced to do lots of really cheesy things: the badly choreographed "group" songs on every results episode, the silly Ford commercials, the terrible first single that the winner has to release (i.e. Taylor Hicks' "Do I Make You Proud?", Jordyn Sparks' "This Is My Now", etc.) The show could gain a little bit more credibility if they just let the contestants be themselves instead of making them jump thru all these silly hoops.

There is so much tie-in with the labels and corporate sponsors that what you end up with is a song written by committee.