American Idol’s numbers are down and it seems everyone knows how to fix it.  I think the solution is pretty easy, but I’m sure the producers won’t implement my recommendations.

In the first few years, American Idol was about the American Dream.  We got to watch some talented kids compete for a million dollar recording contract.  As viewers, we thought that winning was important.  But after Season 2, we saw Clay Aiken become a star by coming in 2nd.  And almost all  of the entire Season 5 finalists ended up with some type of recording contract.  So, my first recommendation is that all contestants, except the winner, can’t release an album until 1 year after the finals.  Winning needs to mean something and the winner deserves the priviledge of not having to compete with the non-winning contestants.  And since winning will mean so much more, the viewers votes will become important again and the contestants will actually try to win.

Cut the time spent on bad singers in half.  It served its purpose the first couple of years educating us about about the range of skills of the contestants.  But making fun of people doesn’t attract long time viewers to Idol.  Neither does Simon calling someone a monkey.  Quit going for the lowest common denominator and make this really about talent.  Spend more time on background.

The judges aren’t pulling their weight.  Randy and Paula add nothing of value in their critiques.  Randy adds little to the show and Paula only adds to the show when she pulls a Paula.  Replace one of them now and if the other doesn’t improve, get rid of him/her next season.  Simon needs to tone back the rudeness.  Being mean just to get ratings is not fair to the poor person that is his target.  He can be painfully truthful without being demeaning.

Quit trying to manipulate the viewer.  The producers and judges pick the finalists and then the viewers pick the winner.  Why not just let the viewers pick the person they want to win?  Many viewers feel insulted by the constant manipulation. 

So basically. the show can be fixed by making it about what it was in Season 1 – finding the best singer.

This is the week David Archuleta needs to break out of his rut and do something different and fun. While looking for a song for Jason, I came across this and think it would be perfect for David. What do you think?

Let the Little Boy Sing

Amy Winehouse just can’t get it together.

Read the article here.

Could tattood Amy have anything to do with Carly Smithson being voted off Idol?

Well, American Idol is down to the final 5. Every week I have great hopes for Brook – and then she disappoints. I guess Syesha is good, but I just don’t feel any connection. David A is a good excuse to get a drink or take a bathroom break – bores me to death! David C has a great voice – should win this year – but I’m not a fan of the type of music he sings.

So the plan is to help my man Jason stay as long as possible. I think 3rd is probably the best he can do, but you never know. So here’s the plan.

I don’t think many of Michael John’s and Carly Smithson’s votes will go to Jason, but I think Christy Lee Cooks are still available and that Jason can get most of them. So Jason needs a song with a country flavor to it. If he can hang onto his regular votes and pick up most of Christy Lee’s votes, he’s good for another week.

Neil Diamond did a country album, but the songs just don’t fit Jason that well. So here’s a few Neil songs that could do the trick. I’ve listed in them in reverse order of my recommendation.

Suzanne - This is actually a Leonard Cohen song that Neil covered. Hallelujah worked for Jason so this might too.

Juliet - At first I thought this was the one, but don’t know if Jason has the range.

And the Grass Won’t Pay No Mind – Jason, this is the one. Don’t let me down.

OK. I did the hard work. All you have to do is walk on stage with your guitar and sing.

I just discovered Layla and don’t know much about her – except she is Canadian and can really sing the Blues. Just to give you an idea, she sings like Joss  and wails like Janis. For more info, here’s a link to her web site and myspace page. She has 4 songs on her myspace page.

My favorite of Layla’s so far is a live performance of Stand By Me -

You Won’t Call – by Layla Zoe

I would love to hear her live – with a drink in my hand – in a dark club – even smoke filled would be OK. What do you think of her?

Beatles wasn’t the disaster I expected.  4 were extremely good – 3 were OK – and 5 were the disasters I expected.

1. David C – My favorite Beatles song and he did it justice, best of night
2. Chikezie – Blew it out, fantastic
3. Brooke – Understated but beautiful
4. Jason – Emotional and beautiful
5. Carly – I find her boring and her stage presence frightful, but she can sing
6. Michael – Pretty bad
7. Ramiele – OK, but followed Chikezie’s fantastic performance
8. David A. – His immaturity showed through
9. Amanda – Didn’t like it
10. Syesha – Hated it
11. David H – the only thing that might keep him from going home is Kristy
12. Kristy – Now how did she make the top 12 (24)?

Jason Castro wins the week – but his singing of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah doesn’t come close to other great covers of this song.  Here’s my favorite.

K.D. Lang

The girls just finished a couple of hours ago and I’ve already forgotten what they sang.

Season 7 has the best worst singers – in other words, the bottom 6 boys and 6 girls aren’t that bad.  On the other hand, the top 6 boys and 6 girls aren’t that great.  Makes for a pretty mediocre season so far.

Here’s a few great songs from the 80′s the contestants should try this week.

• Queen of Hearts – Juice Newton
• Bette Davis Eyes – Kim Carnes
• Call Me – Blondie
• Jessie’s Girl – Rich Springfield
• Total Eclipse of the Heart – Bonnie Tyler
• Sweet Dreams – Eurythmics
• Time After Time – Cyndi Lauper
• Another Day in Paradise – Phil Collins
• Lady – Kenny Rogers
• Key Largo – Bertie Higgins

I can’t believe how bad the girls were. I channel surfed through most songs because I just couldn’t stand to listen to them. I think the band really destroyed a couple of the songs and the arrangements for several songs were pretty bad.

And the song choices were terrible. With Janis, Joni, Judy, Carol, and Carly to choose from, what the hell were these girls thinking. Brooke chose a good song, but sounded really off to me, even though the judges seemed to like her. Carly was fair. The rest were atrocious.

And as far as the best 24 ever. I think Season 2, 3, and 5 were amazingly better. Seasons 4 and 6 were their equal.

I wonder if this will be the last season of Idol? Seems to me the producers have produced a great show right into oblivion.

Not one single song I recommended for the guys was performed. Not even one of the artists was covered (David Hernandez did sing a Temptations song). The guys don’t seem to understand that songs that tell a story are best – and that females probably outvote males 10,000 to 1. Jason Castro had a home run with Bob Marley and let it slip away. Here’s the recommendations and who could have sung each one.

• Bill Withers (Ain’t No Sunshine) -
  
• Van Morrison (Jackie Wilson Said) – David Hernandez
  
• Elton John (Bennie and the Jets)
  
• Joe Cocker (Cry Me a River) – David Cook
  
• Jim Croce (Time in a Bottle) – Jason Yeager
  
• Rod Stewart (Maggie Mae) – Luke Menard
  
• Bob Dylan (Tangled Up in Blues) – Michael Johns
  
• Charlie Rich (The Most Beautiful Girl) -
  
• Marvin Gaye (What’s Going On)
  
• Bob Marley (No Woman, No Cry) – Jason Castro
• Al Green (Let’s Stay Together) – Chikezie
• David Bowie (Fame) – Danny Noriega
  
• Gordon Lightfoot (Sundown) -
  

David was about as good as it gets on Idol. I left John Lennon off my list because I thought that since the Beatles weren’t approved for Idol, the individual Beatles also weren’t approved.

Danny did use one of my picks (Carpenters) – but it was for one of the girls to sing. Chikezie’s choice was good, but I lived through the 70′s and don’t remember ever hearing that song. I Believe to My Soul was a Ray Charles song from 1959 and later recorded on Donny Hathaway’s Everything is Everything album in 1970, but never released as a single as far as I can tell.  Very strange choice as a 1970′s hit song.

Hopefully the girls will actually sing songs by female singers that were popular. I really want to hear Chuck E’s in Love – which girl is confident enough to take on the great Rickie Lee Jones?

This is easier than I thought it would be. First, here’s all the artists to avoid – either because they have been done too many times already, or just because you will look (and sound) foolish singing one of their songs: Cher, Bee Gees, Simon & Garfunkle, Jackson 5, Beatles, Dawn, Glen Campbell, Neil Sedaka, Paul Anka, Captain & Tenille, Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Aretha, John Denver, Debby Boone, and The Partridge Family.

The 70′s had some of the greatest female singers ever. If you think you are good enough to win Idol, step up and take one of them on.

• Dolly Parton (Joline)
• Joni Mitchell (You Turn Me On, I’m a Radio)
• Judy Collins (Both Sides Now)
• Carol King (So Far Away)
• Carly Simon (Haven’t Got Time for the Pain)
• Melanie (Lay Down)
• Janis Joplin (Me and Bobby McGee)
• Roberta Flack (Killing Me Softly)
• Linda Ronstadt (When Will I Be Loved)
• Rickie Lee Jones (Chuck E’s in Love)

For the guys, the same challenge.

• Bill Withers (Ain’t No Sunshine)
• Van Morrison (Jackie Wilson Said)
• Elton John (Bennie and the Jets)
• Joe Cocker (Cry Me a River)
• Jim Croce (Time in a Bottle)
• Rod Stewart (Maggie Mae)
• Bob Dylan (Tangled Up in Blues)
• Charlie Rich (The Most Beautiful Girl)
• Marvin Gaye (What’s Going On)
• Bob Marley (No Woman, No Cry)
• Al Green (Let’s Stay Together)
• David Bowie (Fame)
• Gordon Lightfoot (Sundown)

And of course there were the great groups such as

• Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
• The Eagles
• Bachman Turner Overdrive
• Three Dog Night
• Manhattans
• Temptations
• Blood Sweat and Tears
• Chicago
• Rare Earth
• 5th Dimension
• Led Zeppelin
• Credence Clearwater Revival
• Fleetwood Mac

Go for great songs that either have a lot of emotional depth or makes people want to get up and move. If you can’t find a good song, just do Mungo Jerry’s “In The Summertime” and be prepared to go home. At least we will get to hear Mungo Jerry for the one and only time on AI. Or if you want to make sure you are remembered forever, there is always “YMCA”.

This girl tried out for American Idol Season 6 and was cut immediately. Makes you wonder what the agenda of this show really is. Certainly its not to find the best undiscovered singing talent in the US.

If you haven’t heard YsabellaBrave yet, here’s 8 songs that she could have done on 60′s night. The first was recorded at a karaoke box, the other 7 in her living room.  Shows you what song choice and making it your own can do.

White Rabbit – Jefferson Airplane

Get Together – Youngbloods (and others)

Oh, What a Night – The Dells

Moon River – Audrey Hepburn

The Weight – The Band – *** This would have been a show stopper ***

Love Me Two Times – The Doors – The other girls would have given up after this

Proud Mary – CCR

Just Like a Woman – Bob Dylan – *** You’ve got to hear this one ***