New York Times:
AT&T, one of the biggest corporate sponsors of "American Idol," might have influenced the outcome of this year's competition by providing phones for free text-messaging services and lessons in casting blocks of votes at parties organized by fans of Kris Allen, the Arkansas singer who was the winner of the show last week
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The bottom line is that both these guys have their diverse talents and followers, and it's now up to them to make the most of what they've been given.
The upshot of the whole story is that people don't seem to be able to leave things to work themselves out, and have to use whatever means, fair or foul, to get their way. Sad. Dishonest. I bet the next season is either going to do away with a few means of voting, or the winner will be selected by the panel. What's the point, if it can be rigged?
AT & T the same company that spies on Americans for Bush, prob still doing it.
T Mobile is a German based company and REFUSED BUSH'S request to spy.
AT & T
Verizon
Sprint
the worst, still spying. Qwest refused, the CEO landed in jail, don't hear much about that
ADAM WON HAND DOWN HE WAS THE BEST ONE.
Damned with faint praise....
C'mon, be a sport and give him both.
What, swayed it by a couple of thousand votes? Probably had no effect on the outcome.
When Kris came home to Conway thousands gathered, those same thousands voted at those parties, texting 10 votes at a time, the margin of the win was tiny. Plus people all over could not get through to vote for Adam, wonder why. Knowing Arkansans the way I do, it was more than just Conway doing this. 38 million voted came from Arkansas, there are less than 3 million people in Arkansas, think about it.
No, that's 38 million votes from Arkansas thing is not true. Some local news programs stated the fact then retracted it.
It's actually a fairly silly rumor to believe in the first place.
I was an Adam fan and disappointed Kris won, but elated all the same because it will permit Adam more flexibility to start a career on his terms. You have to be realistic though. To the best of my knowledge AI did not publish the winning margin nor did the reports state thousands of people attended those parties AND received the free phones and were texting blocks of 10 messages at a time, MULTIPLE times. Where did it state that? So unless the margin between Adam and Kris was that close, it didn't really factor into the final result. Publish some numbers if you have them though.
Its all a conspiracy to make sure the gay guy loses!
http://www
This is about talent. Composed, directed, played and sung by the artist. Our AI is so short on talent compared with Eurovision.
Indpendent,
You gotta be kidding with this example right? This is a tongue in cheek moment right?
You can't possibly think this kids vocals and the insipid tune is a perfect example to use to defend Euro vs US talent?
I'm really digging the Yanni inspired world music...NO
You need to remember, this is Europe, not America. Also, it is folk music. There is no way Kris or Adam come close to Rubak in talent. You might not like the genre, but his writing skills, his violin and pianist accomplishments, not to mention his interplay with the audience, are far and away above what we are exposed to on AI. Typical American judgment though, lord forbid anyone appreciate something outside of "American" taste.
This is a non-story.
thats exactly what i was saying.. I hope Adam comes out with a statement to the press to let them know to stop gining up this controvers
he won, but not fair and square , they cheated... its all good though, Adam's star has been launched..
We have become a truly silly silly society.
It's only a model.
The Beta Version.
My husband and I watch AI, however, we do not vote. We are 55 yros who happen to live and work in Nashville, Music City, USA. Everyday we sees hundreds of wannabees with guitars strapped to their bodies walking the NashVegas area of downtown looking for work. Chris apparently is going country, which means he is just another guy who looks like a million others guys in Music City and is half-way a decent singer. He will not make it here.
Carrie Underwood, on the other hand, is the real deal. It is extremely difficult to be an unknown "girl singer" in this town, but she has made it. with her talent. She also completely destroyed the bogus career of Jessica no-talent Simpson who waltzed into town about year ago (during Fan Fair) and thought she was the new blonde in town. Simpson basically was run out of town. There are so many truly talented people here that another guy like Chris or another blonde like Simpson have no chance.
I do think Adam will make it -- he is talented. As far as ATT, it really sucks. Of course, it is all corporate. They all seem to have a lot more experience than even the Underwood generation of contestants. No one is an amateur anymore in the top 10.
Agreed Eykis. Kris Allen hasn't a chance in country music and it's a very stupid move by him and whoever is advising him. He doesn't sound country; his style isn't even country and his niche is more geared to folk and light pop. He doesn't have the money behind him required to make it in country music and if anyone knows anything about that business, it requires tons of it, unless he has major backers. No record label is going to sign him as country artist anyway. The only ones who would are the rip-off independents where you have to pay them and that's not where anyone should go.
wow GREAT POST .. this should be a huff pick.. your so so right
Let's just put to bed the argument of whether the show has value or whether or not it is ruining the music industry..
That said, as a gay man and a local professional singer, I would suggest that Adam lost more to the fact that tons of Danny Gokey fans voted heavily for Kris, like myself. I simply stopped enjoying Adam's cat sqwalling after several weeks and recognized that his performance skill was unmatched on the show but his vocal skill did have parallels and he could be out sung. Kris didn't out sing him but he matched him with a skill set that appealed to a prettty broad audience. AT&T or not the contest ended as it should, even though my choice was eliminated
You're right about Ga Ga and Brittany etc but Adam clearly was abetter singer than, even if their styles were different. As a singer you should have realized if you watched the show continuousy that Adam had a variety of styles when he was showcased. That's what the show does. It forces yyou to sing songs that require it such as standars and MOoTown etc. Adam had his quiet moments too and they were very effective. You need to know the difference between a one-note Kris and a someone like Adam who can handle anything given to him and handle it more than well.
38 million votes came from Arkansas, a state with 2.5 million people, think about it. 23 thousand people in Conway texting 10 votes at a time adds up quickly.
Some Arkansas reporter cleared it up, I want ATT to clear it up. Kris Allen said the people from Arkansas really supported him. I believe the station had second thoughts about reporting the truth and retracted the statement. There was a reason to report that statistic, it didn't come out of thin air.
Good.
Lambert is a theatrical stage singer at best.
Allen is more the Pop star type.
Frankly, neither was the best singer on the show.
Only the two that got more votes.
Please, if you hadn't known of Adam's theater training etc, you never even would have brought this up.
Actually, I didn't, know that, but it was more than easy to assume.
I was basing my assessment on the auditions (the only part of that show I watch), and snippets of his performances seen on myriad television programs over the 10 or 12 weeks that the "competition" was on, and my personal knowledge from years of knowing many struggling stage performers.
He has an excellent voice, but his on stage presence and voice scream (literally) musical theater.
Or 80s hair band front man.
Next time you might want to know a bit more about the person whom you are verbally assailing before you embarrass yourself with uninformed assumptions like that again.
God, it's a TV show, where voting is done by cell phones, and there's no restriction on the number of votes you can cast. Please don't expect the voting process to actually be democratic.
How is the voting "fair" to begin with if texting is only available to ATT customers? Remove ATT, although AI has lost so much "credibility" that it just may sink anyway.
People, this is just one of the millions and millions of reasons why you should not watch this show, or read about this show, or buy any music in connection with this show. This is corporate entity from day one. This is a money generator disguised as art. This makes The Monkees look like an organic group. This is tripe. The singers are rudimentary and have no real soul, the arrangements are for people who hate music, and the show is for teeny boppers who have not developed a taste for music and should be too young to be allowed to operate a cell phone for entertainment. Grow up people, go downtown see a live band play. Pay a few dollars to mingle with real people and quit pretending to be an armchair Simon Cowell.
I love AI and I watch it faithfully every year! I dont care who doesnt like it. Its just a fun show to watch and it has changed a lot of young peoples lives for the better even if it is rigged. That being said, I am saddened to see that the show is without a doubt being rigged for the most milque toast contestant to win. Adam is a fantastic singer and I will make it my business to support his career. I really thought America just wasnt ready for a gay idol, but it seems AT&T is the one that wasnt ready not America.
Really?
AT&T now has an anti-gay agenda? Because of AMERICAN IDOL?
Ha.
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First Posted: 05-26-09 10:58 PM | Updated: 05-27-09 03:29 PM