Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION The Anywhere Machine American Idol

I hope he does! I LOVE that show!

Well it took me about 6 months after its release, but true to my word I got Season 7 finalist BROOKE WHITE's cd "High Hopes & Heartbreak" with my Christmas cash.

And I'm very glad I did!

The songs have been catchy from the first listen.

There's mellow uptempo feel-goodies like "Radio Radio". There's mellow ballads like "Hold Up My Heart". I could picture "California Song" being a track playing on one of the old SCOOBY DOO episodes while the gang is running from the bad guy (a big compliment, in case you aren't sure).

The album closes with "Be Careful", a song so sweet it brought a tear to my eye. That's something usually only Lucinda Williams can do. I would list Brooke alongside Lucinda as a performer whose songs touch my heart.

The songs are soothing and fun. If I'm not mistaken, Brooke cowrote all but one of them.

Her voice is lovely. This one's a keeper.

As far as album sales of last season's guys, Adam's cd is close to 500,000 while Kris' which was released earlier has sold less than 300,000. Fairly disappointing for both, I think.

No one can stop the Susan Boyle debut "I Dreamed A Dream", which has sold almost 3 MILLION copies in the USA alone in 5 weeks.

This season I'll be having Idol nights over at my friend's house. Should be fun.

Lash, thanks for the review of Brooke's cd. I've drastically cut my music purchasing budget, but at least I can keep that in mind.

My pleasure, Sketchy. I'm still really into the cd. Much of it I'd file under "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo" 70s-ish feelgood stuff, which I of course love, with lots of beautiful piano and ballads too. But tonight I payed close attention to "Little Bird" and was amazed at how much it sounded like a 90s Natalie Merchant song (another big compliment FYI!).

Has anyone been following the career of Season 5 alumna Katharine McPhee?

Her second album, "Unbroken", came out this week. On first listen, nothing really stands out. It's like a whole album's worth of her self-titled first album's weakest track/biggest hit "Over It." Maybe it'll improve over subsequent listens.

I love Katharine's first album. It seems to have been recorded with the plan of making her the white Beyonce, only for the label to change their mind at the last minute and release the blandest, un-funkiest track, "Over It", as the lead single.

I'm still glad I bought her new album, though, because her career depends on the support of her fanbase, and I'm confident that future recordings will find her back on track.

Of course, it would help if more people bought the first album, which really is a treasure awaiting discovery, and maybe then she'll see that it's the right direction she should have stayed on.

I didn't buy the cd, but I actually liked "Over It" and played it on the jukebox regularly at the time... How do you like Kat's new look???

Not crazy about Kat's new look. I loved her long dark hair.

Hope you give the album a try. "Open Toes" should have been the lead single. Only a meanie wouldn't love that song.

I'll check it out, the cd is on the juke at my favorite girl bar.

Wonderful. Looking forward to finding out what you think.

To those here who are hardcore Idol buffs: those singers whose auditions are shown before the season in the commercials--do those usually turn out to be talents who go deep into the latter stages of the competition? You know what I mean, right? There are bits featuring total flops and bits typically getting enthusiastic feedback from Simon. Of the latter kind did David Cook, Carrie Underwood and some of the other major players ever turn out to have been some of those that were featured in those earliest commercials?

Also, any trepidations about Ellen Degeneres taking Paula's place and, looking further ahead, the rampant rumors that Simon may depart after this season? Would you watch Idol without Simon Cowell?

I simply don't recall if any finalists have been shown in pre-season commercials. I watch the early episodes every season, but I'm not as into them as the true competition episodes.

As for Paula, I was very disappointed when I heard that she would not be back. However, when I heard that it was Ellen stepping in, I was intrigued. I'm quite looking forward to seeing her on the show. I like her. I figure Kara and Randy can critique the true musical and vocal talent. Ellen will just be fun and probably Mom-like or Auntie-like. We'll see. Simon will be Simon.

If Simon were to leave, I'd still watch. I'm sure I'll watch til the show dies.

I will follow Simon to X-FACTOR if the rumours are true.

IDOL would have to recruit someone really cool-- my favorite choice being BEN FOLDS from the recent acapella groups competition. Now THAT guy is COOL.

I'm going to miss Paula a LOT.

If Simon leaves, I won't stop watching. Meanies are a dime-a-dozen and the show is supposed to be about uncovering geniuine talent, something which it has succeeded at and will continue to do no matter who's judging.

I've been typing in random thoughts as the show unfolds.

Victoria Beckham looks lovely.

Lesson # 1:

Jumping up and down too much can leave you out of breath.

Lesson # 2:

Get up to date on who the judges are!

"Hallelujah" is becoming a bit over-familiar, but Maddie wasn't bad. The judges liked her a little better than I did.

Simon never had any friends as a kid! Surprised?

The three girls we saw briefly who got the okay didn't wow me, but they were good.

Amadeo has a good voice but he's so...erm...intense.

Derek Duck? Shame he was so bad, he's cute.

Oh, god, another bad Janis Joplin wannabe.

Luke -- generic growl.

Benjamin -- sweet voice.

Oh, god, another untalented creepy guy with a chip on his shoulder.

Screaming guys were hilarious.

Ashley -- generic warble.

Tyler -- doesn't do anything for me.

Lisa -- shame she couldn't sing, because she had looks and charisma.

Mike -- not bad, shows promise.

Katie -- adorable, potentially explosive voice.

Joshua -- cute but limited voice.

Justin -- pleasant enough.

Bosa -- diamond in the rough.

Leah -- WOW! She's got "it", that's for sure. But I'm concerned she might be too fragile for showbiz.

Oh, and Simon announced earlier today that he's definitely leaving after this season. Ho-hum.

I'm not a regular watcher, but I can't imagine Idol without Simon Cowell. It's not about him being a meanie, per se, it's that he's the only one who really tells it like it is! The others just sugarcoat too much.

Who out there do you guys think will be able to fill that void?

I disagree. Sure, at the very beginning he was brutally honest, but then he quickly became aware of his honesty's effect on American people and it curdled into calculated schtick. Not to say that Paula and Randy were innocent of falling into the same trap. Kara hasn't fallen into it yet, and she probably won't because the show probably won't last much longer without Simon.

Running commentary again:

That picture of Ryan Seacrest as a kid was creepy.

Dewone -- squeak, squeak, rumble, squeak

More squeaking from nameless guy.

Keia -- NOOOOOO! Not the Titanic song! And that "award-winning" personality is a little too cutesy/quirky for me.

Just like last night, three girls seen briefly are all good and all Hollywood bound.

Jermaine -- What a set of church-trained pipes! And he actually made me like that Joan Osborne song!!

Christy Marie -- Obnoxious!!

Vanessa -- Diamond in the rough; I do like country.

Dear God, this whole thing with the accident-prone country boy is excruciating. Note to AI producers -- no one's above making fun of, but this is just cruel. What a waste of time and videotape.

Holly the Guitar Girl -- ...and she can sing!

Mallorie -- "Piece of My Heart" AGAIN, but at least it's more like the Faith Hill version than the Janis Joplin version; not bad at all.

Skii Bo Ski -- the second weirdo with actual talent of the night...he is annoying when he's not singing, though.

BFFs -- Get O-F-F! I can't believe one of them actually got through!

Bryan the Cop -- I don't get it.

Lamar -- untalented, rude, and more than a bit thick; he wishes Paula was there -- HA! Even she wouldn't have anything good to say to him. Good riddance!

General Larry -- Not funny.

And, finally, no offense to Mary J. Blige fans, but I've never liked her and I like her even less now; I thought she had a horrible attitude.

Lookin' like a fool with your pants on the ground!

I have a crush on Mallorie. I want to ask her out for ice cream sodas.

AAAAARGH! And I had just gotten it out of my head! Am I the only one who think it's not funny?

Can't dance at all with your pants on the ground! Tee hee!

I agree, Lash, Mallorie is adorable.

Well, duh! HA HA!

I can tell you're gonna be a GREAT addition to our annual AI discussions, Deirdre! YAY!!!! Glad you're here!

Heh-- next year when X-FACTOR launches with Simon as a judge, he should recruit Paula to join him! Hee hee!