Sounds like she would be a totally different person with all those changes. One thing I have always liked about Crystal is that she is unique. I like her hair and clothes. I like the fact that she is real. I personally don't think she needs any so called "improvements". She is awesome the way she is.

Jeannine

Well I always thought she looked pretty bad. I can understand the teeth. It costs money to fix teeth and she didn't have any money. However, I know that Clay Aiken (after the audition and before he came back on that 2nd try), got his teeth fixed and started to gain weight because he looked like a skeleton because he knew he had to think of the exterior package too.

Crystal's clothes could have been better because after all, she was on TV and she had a clothing allowance and access to A.I. wardrobe too. She often looked like she rolled out of bed and literally ran out the door. The meager clothing allowance didn't stop Adam Lambert because he knew what it would take to WOW people on that stage - the whole package. I bet he had to take a loan out to fund his wardrobe during A.I. They have these folks there who can help you clean up, do your make-up and style your hair, dress you, etc., but in her case, she couldn't do much with her hair until it grew out enough to cut it short and start from there but they could have done something with it I should think. She has a great voice but that apparently was not enough. I saw so many nasty comments on YT about her looks that I hope she never read them because it was nasty.

The reason she got her teeth fixed is because the label probably insisted and/or even paid for it because she is a product now and they want to promote their product in the best light as a NEW ARTIST. Image is everything in that business when you are starting out. Singer open their mouths to sing and what do you see--the camera can't help but focus on the face/mouth? You don't want to see silver fillings, stained or broken teeth that's for sure.

With a little bit of help here and there, who knows they just might make her a star.

Well, I have always liked her because she is different and not afraid to be that way. To me, that is what sets her apart. I have always thought she possessed a beauty that is hard to come by. I relished the imperfections. Besides, that girl can sing like nobody's business and that is the most important. I'm looking forward to hear more of her own work. Quite a talented girl.

Jeannine

I agree. If Crystal changed everything about her appearance, she wouldn't be the same person. I understand the teeth, but I think that's enough. She is who she is, and I don't think she wants to be anything else.

I did read that Crystal got her teeth fixed. They look good. I'm sure they waited until after Idol to do it...they did the same thing with Elliot Yamin. I agree that she looks fine the way she is. It makes her, her own person. One day she may get rid of the dreads...who knows. I do have a feeling that she will lose a few pounds only due to the tour (though I hear not going so well), recording and getting the album out, and doing all sorts of promotions/interviews for her debut album. It usually happens to some artists.

I do mostly agree with reinharv that image is everything in the music business...especially starting out. I feel image has A LOT to do with it, but I don't think it's everything. However, people thought she must've looked all right on Idol for her to get to the finals. Grant it, most people voted way more than once, but singing isn't everything whether it's Idol or you're trying to make it the old fashion way. Looks do play a part and there's gotta be that spark there. People have to relate to you in some way and feel like you can be their pal.

She made it to the finals because she could sing up a storm. I see your point about image, however, I personally don't like the thought that your talent can't get you where you want to go and you have to change who you are in order to succeed. It seems to superficial. But hey...there are many performers out there who are attractive and don't possess a huge amount of talent. I guess that is the nature of the beast whether it appeals to me or not.

Jeannine

Your talent can make you go places, but unfortunately it's not everything nowadays. Not everyone changes their image entirely...look at Cook. Yes he has lost weight, but otherwise he's the same. That was his choice...at least that's what I hope. Not everyone has changed their look to be successful...Daughtry's another one. Yes, there are artists who change their look/image, but I believe it's because their music changes as they grow as artists/grow older. I wish image didn't have a lot to do with, but unfortunately it does.

I think that most of his changes were made before AI was over. Glad he decided to go with the shorter hair recently. Comb overs just don't work. Might as well go with the lack of hair and make it work.

Ugh...hate talking about looks. What am I thinking? Meaningless stuff as far as I'm concerned.

Really, these days talent means very little. It seems to be all about media hype. Nice if the person has talent, but it doesn't seem to always be the case. Sure is a fascinating business.

Jeannine

What does everyone think about the possibility of Steven Tyler and J Lo added for judges. Also it looks like Nigel Lythgoe is coming back as a producer. Mostly I just want it to go back to 3 judges.

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/t...be_a_judge.html

Not sure what I think. A big part of me wants to see this show put a period and end. All the hype over this seems quite frantic. And, given what a weak season last season was....I don't know, anymore. I just hope that Nigel coming back as producer doesn't affect So You Think You Can Dance.

Jeannine

They both have the cred to do the show. They both have been in the industry for quite some time...okay Steven Tyler a bit more than J Lo, but they wouldn't be bad as judges. They also have different musical backgrounds...Tyler is rock, whereas J Lo is a Latino-pop artist. There's just so much still surrounding it that half the time I have no clue what's going on.

It's definite that Nigel Lythgoe is coming back. I wonder what made him come back? I believe the reason why he left before was because the increasing popularity of SYTYCD and I think there was something else, but I don't remember.

I wouldn't mind going back to 3 judges. You pretty much get the point of what they're saying after 3. It almost sounds like they're going back to 3 judges, only because they got rid of Kara and talking about certain people taking Ellen's and Simon's place. Guess we'll have to wait and see.


I don't think it'll affect it, as long as they keep SYTYCD in the summer time. They did season 6 in the fall and I was hardly able to watch it, because of my other shows that are on during the week. It didn't seem to affect it the first 4-5 seasons.

Has anyone heard anything about Casey James? I really liked him even though he wasn't great all the time. If he does what he came in with I think he could have a really good album. He's a great guitarist . I could see him as a country artist as long as he throws in a hint of blues and rock with it.

As for the judges, it's going to be wrong any way they do it. Without Simon the show will be nowhere as good. There really wasn't any need for 4 judges either. Just my opinion.

Totally agree regarding Simon. It doesn't matter who replaces him. To me, he is someone you just can't replace.

As for Casey, here is some news. Looks like he is about to sign with Sony Nashville. Perfect fit for him...

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog...-nashville.html


Jeannine

You really can't replace Simon, you need him. I know I'll probably watch but I don't even think it's worth it cause he makes the show. He's really the only one who made any sense. I never understood why everyone hated him, the man knows his stuff.

That's great news about Casey. He'll do well in the country genre. Thanks for the link.

Well, I have tickets for the show in San Diego this evening and I guess I'll go. I'm not all that enthused about it. The thing I'm looking forward to most is eating at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants near San Diego before the show. That shows how into Season 9 I was, I guess. I haven't viewed any of the vids out there due to lack of interest and the fact that I personally don't look at many videos of anybody anyway (even Cook), so the show will certainly be new to me.

Funny thing is that I was actually offered free tickets for the show in LA Friday night and I turned them down. Frankly, I'm way more excited to go to the So You Think You Can Dance concert in November with my daughter. We haven't missed their tour concert yet.

So off to SD I go....

Jeannine

That's funny that your more excited about eating then going to the show. I hope it was a good meal

I feel the same way about this past season. If the show would've came here I wouldn't have gone. I would've loved to have gone to last years though.

Hopefully the show is decent enough to sit through and enjoy.

BTW, dinner was delicious, LOL.


I went and survived. We had amazing seats at stage level right on the side of the stage, so seeing wasn't an issue. The place was nowhere near filled. It was a pretty poor turnout, actually, compared to Cook's season's show. It clearly demonstrates the waning interest of the public this season. I actually wrote a recap for some friends of mine of my take (and my husband's) of the contestants based upon last night's show. I'm sure that most will disagree with it, but it is what it is. There are times when I'm sorry I majored in music and am so pitch sensitive...



....Didi - Lovely girl and pleasant enough singer. I was bored, but my husband thought she was pretty. Let's just say she didn't make us wince.

Andrew - Poor guy. Bless his ugly old jeans and plaid flannel shirt. The kid just doesn't have a good voice, plain and simple. We were thankful he only had two songs to sing. It was painful listening to him. We are not sure how he made it on the show.

Katie - Quite the performer. Strong voice and good stage presence. We were impressed and enjoyed her set.

Tim - Bless his heart. He is such a cutie but his voice just goes all over the place. The young girls loved him. It was clear they weren't actually listening. They were hoping he would reach out and touch their hands, which he did. Smart move on his part since his singing isn't very good.

Siobban - Oh my goodness....she is absolutely horrid. It was all we could do to not run out of there. She seems to be trying to be a powerhouse like Carly Smithson. Carly, (who was there last night...she walked right past us) has no worries, though, because Carly can actually sing on key. All Siobban can do is dress in outlandish clothes, pose and scream out of key. She may be a cute, quirky girl but the minute she opened her mouth, she was a disaster. The audience didn't seem to care for her at all. We were extremely grateful when her set ended.

Aaron - Loved him, loved him, loved him. Very good singing voice and stage presence. I can see him getting a contract in Nashville and doing very well. That country western genre suits him. My hubby turned to me during his set and said, "Finally....some talent!!" This was more the AI we were used to.

The above group did a group number at this point. No dancing. Just singing and sounded okay. Intermission wasn't near as long as it was for Season 7. No dancing Pop Tart to deal with, thankfully.

The second half started with Michael. He was fabulous. My husband said to me that he wondered why Michael didn't win the show and that was the exact thing that was going through my mind while listening to him. I explained to my husband that his demeanor on the show was a bit of a turnoff for many and that was his downfall as far as I could see. His wife and daughter were there. I saw them in the back from where I was sitting and they came and sat not far from me for his set. His daughter had on the noise canceling headphones, which I thought was a very smart idea. She is way too young to be subjected to so much noise.

Casey James was next. While his vocal range is pretty nil, that kid can carry a tune and play guitar like nobody's business. I sure wish he could have played even more. I will definitely check out a performance should he hit my neck of the woods. He and Michael performed the duet they did on the show and, to me, it was the high point of the evening. It was beautiful. The thing I'll say about why I like Casey is that he seems to know who he is and is comfortable with it. Take him or leave him, but you know where he stands musically. That kid is quite the guitar player.

Crystal was amazing. I didn't expect anything else from her, really. She sure has a voice. I ran into her on our way to park our car earlier in the evening. She was standing by the gate to the buses and we had to pass there to enter the parking structure. There were only a couple people there talking to her, so I told my hubby to let me off and park so I could say hello. Crystal is such a pretty girl. There is something about her personality that I really like. I couldn't help myself....I had to tell her that I had felt she deserved to win. Of course, she gave the obligatory answer of everything turning out for the best and that she was happy for Lee. I said, "That's all well and good, Crystal, but you were the one that should have won. You can't change my mind on that."

Lee took the stage and we didn't stay long. I'm happy to say that my opinion of his singing capabilities has not changed based upon what I heard last night, which was his opening number and half of Rocket Man (this is how long it took for us to reach the parking structure and avoid any more listening). We took that opportunity to get out of Dodge and avoid any traffic in getting home (120 mile drive back to LA). I still stand by my opinion that he isn't a very good singer. My husband said he just couldn't figure out how someone with such pitch issues could win AI. Ah, it is what it is, though, and I won't venture down that road again. I don't want to be attacked in some dark alley by his fans, LOL.

So that's it. I would have liked to have seen the group number at the end, but it was worth it to avoid the rest of Lee's set and get home by midnight. It was interesting to hear my husband's take on things since he didn't really look at the show this season. It was a fresh opinion on just their singing and stage presence and not all the personality stuff you get hung up with while watching them on TV. If we hadn't had such awesome seats, we wouldn't have entertained going to the show. We drive back down to San Diego on Saturday for our guy, Ryan Star. That should be great.....




So, there you have it. It was an interesting show. I hope the next season is stronger. There has to be better singers out there.

Jeannine

Thank you for your honest review. I agree 100% on each person. I still don't get how Lee won over Crystal. She was clearly the best and way better the Lee. It should have been Casey and Crystal in the final 2 with Crystal still winning. Its like you said, Casey may not have a big range but he is on key. I also thought Big Mikes and Casey's duet was the best. This next season they need to pick good singers instead of picking a certain type of demographic.

Thanks for that review Jeannine, I like your honestly. I can see that show going down exactly as your described it. I will admit that I was never a Crystal fan so I can't agree with anything you said about her lol. I do think she's got a decent voice but it's just not for me. Even though I do like Lee I'm not going to say he's the greatest singer. I in fact think I liked Casey the best out of the whole season. I liked his style of music way better than Lee's and he doesn't need that big range anyway. Do you remember what songs Casey did?

Off the top of my head, I couldn't remember. However, I found the list over at the AI site after a little searching...


1. I Got Mine (Black Keys)

2. Don't! (Shania Twain)

Casey James & Michael Lynche - Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman (Bryan Adams)

3. It's All Over Now (The Rolling Stones)

Jeannine

Casey James has just been signed by Sony Nashville. There have been raves about him on the tour. Simon Fuller also raved about his musical ability and voice. I am so thrilled that I will have an album from him early 2011.

Ah, good choices. I thought he might have done "Don't" cause that was reeeeeeally good on idol. I forgot about that duet but know I remember that it was pretty good.