Poll: Will ‘American Idol’ Finalist Jessica Sanchez Be a Star in 5 Years?

Donald Sonck May 23, 2012 at 05:05 pm

Who cares? American Idol is one of the dumbest shows on television and the contestants are mildly talented at best. I have the utmost respect for musicians and music-writers, but not people who rip-off a classic hit for themselves and somehow are then dubbed "stars" by the media.

El Bubba Cajon May 23, 2012 at 06:04 pm

i luv americun idle.

Kevin George May 23, 2012 at 06:10 pm

Please be kidding.

Tom Yarnall May 23, 2012 at 06:15 pm

I watched it once and when I saw the creepy looking guy with all the beads, bagels and dirty looking hair, acting like an intellectual teenager, I gave up and switched channels to a
Mayberry RFD re-run. Barney Fife is much more entertaining.

Kevin George May 23, 2012 at 06:52 pm

Cmon Tom......What guy? You mean the old lady with the over tight skin?

Larry May 23, 2012 at 07:54 pm

Carrie Underwood is,"mildly talented"?

Donald Sonck May 23, 2012 at 08:33 pm

Larry-yes, Carrie Underwood is indeed mildly talented (but extremely good looking)! Name any performer from that stupid show that you could classify as a true "star". You can't! My main point is that you can take anyone off the street, give them a major recording artist's # 1 hit song to perform while supported by a 500 piece orchestra, and they, too, can sound as could, if not better, than any winner from that show. I'm amazed how many parents are riveted to that nonsense but also have no clue as to why their kids teachers might be laid-off and their favorite state park is closed! It's a pathetic testament on the state on our society...........

James Jones May 23, 2012 at 08:39 pm

@Donald: For the sake of discussion and a frame of reference, who do you consider to be a major talent? Who do you see as a "true star"?

Donald Sonck May 23, 2012 at 08:55 pm

Wow; where do you want me to begin, James? Off the top of my head, Adam Levine of Maroon 5 is a true star. He writes nearly all of the band's songs and sings them as well. That dude is brilliant, as the band's success has proven! Taylor Swift is a super-star. Another singer-song-writer like Levine. Those are true super-stars. David Crosby once said that the true measure of a great band/singer is not the success of the first hit album (now CD), but the second. His reasoning was that the first album was comprised of the best of dozens of songs written by the performer years prior to making it big. The follow-up album always was produced and released within months of the first, leaving little time for creative thinking and number of songs to write. Has any of these Idol "stars" ever written and recorded even one hit song? Not to my knowledge.

Kevin George May 23, 2012 at 08:58 pm

When I read that Adam Sandler gets $20,000,000 for a movie I lost all faith that Americans know anything about talent.

Tom Yarnall May 23, 2012 at 09:34 pm

Now Kevin.what do you have against women to put him in that category?

James Jones May 23, 2012 at 10:18 pm

The reason I asked is that I think that Jessica Sanchez is an incredibly talented singer. Add to that that she is a teenager and the story gets better. I see your criteria requires that they write their own songs. Besides being way "old school", how about Frank Sinatra or Barbara Streisand? Not stars? Mildly talented?

Doug Curlee May 23, 2012 at 11:43 pm

but in this contest, one bad song on one night can doom you..
but i think she'll be a bigger star anyway.. doug

Joe Spencer May 23, 2012 at 11:52 pm

I think she has an awesome voice......and will definitely be a star five years from now.....BUT I don't think she will win tonight....I think Philip Phillips has a much more unique sounding voice and has more poularity especially judging by the audience last night.....hmmm.....results from the east coast airing should be online any minute.....

Donald Sonck May 24, 2012 at 12:34 am

Come on, James! How can you possibly bring Sinatra and Streisand into a debate on the subject of these Idol puppets? Not worth my time. Have a great night.

Larry May 24, 2012 at 12:42 am

Did they write their own songs?
That's the larger point, I believe James was responding to.

James Jones May 24, 2012 at 12:50 am

My mistake, I thought we were discussing what makes someone a "star" or more than "mildly talented". Seemed to me you were saying that a "star" would have to be a singer AND songwriter. I mentioned two that did not write their own songs. Apparently I backed you into a corner. I understand if you have no defense for your position. Good night.

Donald Sonck May 24, 2012 at 12:59 am

You guys are missing my point. Go back to my first two comments. Anyone, and I mean ANYONE, can perform a previous # 1 hit record with a 500 piece band backing them, sound great, and become an overnight sensation if played before a national TV audience. Sinatra and Streisand didn't have the luxury of any of those factors, but they had fantastic voices. They played night clubs and dive bars and earned their way to the top; it took years. Sinatra and Steisand took unknown, previously unrecorded songs and made them # 1 hit classics. Idol puppets take #1 hit classics and in turn become stars. That's the easy road. Where is the talent in that? It's like becoming a millionaire by not working a day in your life and inheriting the money from a family member. Yeah, you've got the glory, but on the sweat and toil of someone who earned it. No respect in my book.

Larry May 24, 2012 at 01:12 am

"American Idol is one of the dumbest shows on television and the contestants are mildly talented at best."
Donald Carrie Underwood is,"mildly talented"? Me You didn't respond to that question. That's from your first comment here.

James Jones May 24, 2012 at 01:20 am

I hear what you are saying, however I disagree that "anyone" would sound good with the back up band "Idol" provides. The top 3 in this contest are way more talented than just "anyone". This contest would never work with singers doing original songs because the judges and audience would have no frame of reference as to whether they were singing it well or not. "Idol" is a contest to give the winners a chance to step off into the world of doing original compositions. I'm no fan of the musical arrangements or interpretations of the songs on the show, but it's hard to deny that the contest finalists have plenty of talent.

Donald Sonck May 24, 2012 at 01:22 am

What are you talking about? I answered your Carrie Underwood question in my second comment. I'll state it again: yes, she's mildly talented. That's my opinion. and to reiterate my point, were it not for "Idol", she'd still be waitress in a diner some where today.

James Jones May 24, 2012 at 01:31 am

But don't all "stars" have a story of a turning point? If it wasn't for X, they'd still be a...(insert low paying job here)? Winning "Idol" is just a starting place, a HUGE one for sure, but still just a starting place. These guys have no guarantee of success. Remember Rueben Stoddard?

Larry May 24, 2012 at 01:34 am

My appologies, I didn't see that comment, as I'd not gone back to look since earlier today,
Clearly, you know nothing about singing, or singers. That's my opinion.

El Bubba Cajon May 24, 2012 at 11:19 am

They dont right there own songs??

Donald Sonck May 24, 2012 at 02:26 pm

I respect your opinion, Larry. Frankly, my kids feel the same as you do: that I know nothing about good singers! LOL! Enjoy the day!

Larry May 24, 2012 at 08:00 pm

I respect your kid's opinion. I don't have kids, maybe that's why I think I'm always right? Have a good one.

Earlene May 27, 2012 at 03:49 pm

All talent is subjective. I thought the runnerup, Jessica Sanchez, from Chula Vista had an incredible voice and whether or not she won, she most certainly will receive a contract with a lucrative career ahead of her. As far as other winners and runnerups, i.e. Ruben Studdard (SP), Clay Aiken, and Daughtry, I wouldn't walk across the street to hear any of them. I stopped watching American Idol 2 yrs. ago as I become bored easily. I feel the show has run it's course, especially since Simon Cowel left. Now Jennifer Lopez is maneuvering and jockeying for a higher salary, more than $20 million per season, and if she goes, Steven Tyler is also saying he'lll follow her lead. Who cares? Good Bye, greedy pigs!