VERNE GAY: The Melinda Doolittle Catastrophe
Here begins the outrage.
How could it happen? Why would it happen? Who's too blame? Why are "American Idol" voters such blithering idiots...?
How could the single best singer in the history of this show have lost tonight?
It is an outrage worth getting outraged about. Maybe it gets our minds off the really important things we should be worried about. Maybe it's a distraction, like talking about the weather (except yesterday's weather, which was not a distraction.)
But really: How could Melinda Doolittle have lost?
You know the results by now. The whole world does. Two pleasant and emminently forgettable singers have made it to the finals. Congratulations to both of them. But with Melinda out, this will be an asterisk finale - a "who cares" finale, a "big deal" finale, a "let's-go-to-bed-early" one.
But I have a point here, besides outrage, and this is it: This may be the beginning of the end for "Idol." The king is stripped naked. We all now know that this show is a farce - smart enough, perhaps, to find a brilliant singer like Melinda Doolittle (and how very rare an accomplishment that was) but so utterly incompetent that it can't even seal the deal. Blame the voting system? Of course, everyone will.
You can hear the spin already - that voters figured she was such a sure bet that they didn't think they needed to vote for her. Or blame "professional observers" like your's truly, who over and over again proclaimed her such a sure bet that everyone else assumes - or believes - she's the surest of bets too. No need to vote for her! Everyone else is!
Or blame Simon (for his accurate endorsement on Tuesday night)? He said she deserved to be in the finale, and he was right - and he usually is. But by such praise did he doom her - the Simon curse, in which viewers zig when he zags, out of pure anti-Simon spite?
Or blame tone-deaf America? We all know this isn't a talent contest as much as a popularity contest.
Or blame the voting system - again? Sixty million votes were "cast" Tuesday, which could be some sort of a ridiculous record. Because of the huge volume, it suggests that the theory behind door number one ( "sure bet") may actually be wrong too. Clearly there was a huge amount of block voting going on, which almost certainly distorted the outcome. Jordin's fan base (younger) is clearly more adept and passionate about pressing buttons than Melinda's, whose fans probably reasonably, rationally and sanely figured - "hey, I've got a life...one quick call should do..."
In any event, all this is trivial and stupid. Who cares? We know who really won. Or at least I know who really won. A glorious career awaits the Great One. Will anybody even remember the "other winner" a year from now?
The Great One is Out. And so is "Idol."
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Comments (32)
Last year Chris Daughtrey was far and away the most talented singer on the show, with Elliott Yamin a distant second, and look what happened to both of these guys. Taylor Hicks? Talk about eminently forgettable; that guy can't sing his way out of a phone booth!
Amen to that. I watched my last Idol. When Lakisha left I was upset. Now I'm mad!
I and my friends were stunned when the announcement last night was made. It is quite clear that people vote not by the contestants singing ability but by how much they like their choice. We are allowing the public to make these decisions of who is in and who is out (of which they are not professionals in the field of music). Why don't the powers that be do something like the show "Rockstar Supernova" last season, the public votes and then the contestants in the bottom 2 or 3, (who goes home is decided by the panel of industry judges-people who can base their decision on talent not just on popularity. I and my friends are officially done with watching the Idol, unless they change there voting/elimination process. When a contestant such as Doolittle or like last season Daugherty are put off the show and lesser talents are allowed to stay (remember Sanjaya) then what is the point of watching a show that is supposed to be rewarding a contract to the best singer, but instead it is going to inferior performers. I do believe that in this case Jordin deserves to be in the finale but do we really believe that Blake (large fan base) has the diversity to be the "NEXT AMERICAN IDOL"? I don't blame the judges, as I am sure they too have not agreed with some eliminations, the powers that be might want to take note before "American Idol" becomes a show of the past. As for myself I hope that Doolittle has a big career as she is humble, very talented and more important deserves it as she is the "Total Package". I myself am done watching this show.
americans have done the most unfaire thing in the history of american idol. melinder was the best singer in the whole competition. but no matter what melinder remains my idol. MELINDER 4 LIFE
Well said. I'm beginning to think the whole thing is fixed. This has been an extremely uninteresting season and thinking back, I don't feel that the show has ever matched the drama of Season Two with the Clay-Ruben faceoff. I hope that whenever Melinda's CD comes out,the producers allow her to do her thing and not try to put her into some image that they have choosen for her.
America did her a favor. We all know she is the best but she would be locked in with American Idol until her contract was over. Melinda can now get the credit she deserves by being scooped up by a company that appreciates talent!!
I couldn't agree more Verne. This show has deterioirated into nothing more than a uber-glorified popularity show. I do agree with Jordin making the finals, but Blake over Melinda?!?!? While I commend Blake for being original and not being afraid to take risks, Melinda was faaaaaaaar better and more powerful a pure singer. I take hopeful solace in that Melinda has the same degree of success await her that did other way-too-early castoffs (Chris Daughtry, Jennifer Hudson).
Melinda is a great technical singer, but she is a Diva knock off. Yes she sings wonderfully, and her technique is spot on, but frankly why make her the Idol? How about we make someone with total originality and the guts to be different like Blake? He seems to be able to compose, as well as sing, dance to some extent and perhaps act as well. I would take one Blake over 1 million Melindas for that reason. I think you know what you are getting with Melinda, and to me that is boring, but Blake at least is trying to be unique with his desire to fuse Jazz (Scat), Rap and anything else he can toss in. Feel free to take Melinda, I am sure she will have a grat career amongst the other Divas with whom she will be hard pressed to distinguish herself from, but I will bet that Blake's performances will be unique and in a a great way.
You are so right, I cried when Melinda was booted out. She is one of the best singers ever. She is right up there with Whitney Houston.
its nots america's best singer-its american idol. melinda had a very good voice, but its a whole package america votes for and she didnt have that. she appears told old and matronly, her personality is bland and sometimes you wondered if she was fakingher surprise and it was annoying. the correct 2 are still standing
Please!! Yes she is the best singer, but an IDOL is more than that. She HAS'NT any personality!! She's not likeable, and her surprised look was so annoying. She will never be more than a lounge or back-up singer. The other have the "it" factor that can sell.
All the singers have been great. Perhaps Melinda's fault is sh is already a professional, having been a backup singer professionally. American idol stands for a future heart-trob, fresh and new. That should be Blake. If you watch him on stage he is hot and kool at the same time. He is fresh and original. Melinda should just be a star and make millions of great albums and be on Broadway. Blake is unique and young and fresh. I love Jordan Sparks also. I find it hard to believe that she is only 17. Man what a future lies ahead of her. American Idol had a great group of performers. Don't forget Lakisha. Wow can she sing. Good luck to the winners and the losers.
Melinda Catastrophe??? Lets remember Verne that this is a TV show, not the Grammys. Just because Melinda may have the best voice doesn't mean she appeals to the entire United States. Did Taylor have the best voice? Did Rubin have the best voice? They won and where are they now? Elliot Yamin's voice is obviously outstanding and he lost. If any of these contestants are as good as they appear, they don't have to win this show to be a success. When contestants are getting record contracts regardsless if they win or lose, then who cares who wins? They are all already winners. This is a TV show! Thats all! And if it crumbles... so what? They will come up with something else. Outrage... I think not.
I believe this was the best thing that ever happened to Melinda. She will now soar even greater than Jennifer Hudson who in her own right is awesome; but Melinda will now take it to another level of real 'humble' show biz! Congratulations Melinda...America knows you're the real WINNER!
People hate Simon..but you got to admit...he's right. He knew who the real talent was... Melinda!
This is not an outrage and it's not worth being outraged about. It's a damn TV show. I assume you're an adult? Then act like one.
The right person went home.
Melinda will have the most mediocre of careers out of the top 3.
She has an amazing voice... and is boring. She WILL NOT be as big a seller as Jordin (who will win) or Blake (who whill sell the most albums).
THE LAST PERSON IS RIGHT!! IT ABOUT WHO WILL BUY THE RECORDS AND WHO IS MARKETABLE. SHE GOOD BUT ONLY TO THE OLDER PEOPLE NOT THE YOUNG!! AMERICAN IDOLS SHOULD BE YOUNG AND FRESH AND A NEW FACE. lOOK AT CARRI AND KELLY AND HOW WELL THEY HAVE DONE.
Melinda has absolutely no pop appeal. And though she's got a phenomenal set of pipes, her constant belting of 80s tunes really didn't win her a broad voting audience.
I knew from the getgo that she was going to get voted off last night.
I know, too, that though she's a better vocalist, her professional career won't hold a candle to young Miss Sparks'. Why? Because again, she has no pop appeal. Who would actually go and buy her albums? What stations are actually going to play her music?
It's pretty clear to me that Jordin's albums will outsell Melinda's several times over. Jordin has the perfect voice and (feigned) demeanor for pop music.
And once she loses 20 pounds, she'll have the look, too.
This is silly. Idol has always been this way, going all the way back to Tamyra getting booted in favor of Justin. How can Idol only be exposed now?
Hi Verne
I too was stunned Melinda was voted out -- ahead of Mr. Beatbox!!!
I was hoping for a Melinda/Jordin matchup. My theories: People took Melinda for granted, figuring she's been out front all season. Either they sat on the sidelines or they spread their votes elsewhere. Or maybe Melinda was seen as just too professional. Or maybe the teenyboppers dominated the (multiple) voting.
By the way, how come Simon has kept ripping Jordin for singing "too old," e.g., with her dynamite "I Who Have Nothing (a '60s hit for Ben E. King and in the '70s for Tom Jones)? But he said nothing when Melinda minutes later sang "I'm a Woman," a much older Peggy Lee song. In fact, her "Funny Valentine" earlier in the season was even older -- from the '40s. But no putdown...
Here's a song tip for Blake -- country singer Roger Miller's "Dang Me," a variation on Blake's vocal gymnastics from the '60s.
Anyway, like Chris Daughtry, Melinda will do well with her CD. And I'd say Jordin will fare better with hers than Taylor did recently.
Musically,
Jim
You are RIGHT verne. Melinda is the best singer. Some may say that she is boring but she is NOT: she is humble and professional which makes her the total package. I am no longer an idol fan. America is a total smuck when it comes to voting--look at our government. Melinda will do great---who cares about Jordin or Blake, I would never by a CD by them. Melinda is a great---sorry American idiot, you messed up again.
Melinda lost because she is too old, and she is too ugly.
Yeah..she has a great voice, but she's been a professional backup singer for years and she has been exposed to talented "discovered" singers who could have helped her career - but this never happened. Why? because all the producers she has worked in front of, and all the singers she has backed up knew that she would never be a star in this age of mutli-media. Her head is too big, she has no neck and she has the body of a 60 yearl-old and she's only 29. But if she was going to be a star, by 29 years old she should have already been one.
You can't be a 29 year-old discovery, especially when you've been working as a paid singer for years.
She's got a great voice, but she's boring and ugly.
This is my 1st time watching American Idol. I am a baby boomer, and Melinda was the best singer this season. I hope she gets a dynamite contract!
To Musiclover: Beauty is in the eye the beholder. If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it...does that mean it hasn't fallen? So just because you can't see her beauty...does it mean none is there? It's ok...you're just voicing an opinion. While she's not a runway model, she's fortunate to be blessed in many other ways.
Also, just because Melinda hasn't already gotten a contact- doesn't deny that she's always had talent or that no one thought she had appeal. It wasn't her desire to be "in the front"..but she's surely ready for it now. At least you acknowledge she's got a voice.
******
In general- I'm pretty much done with the show. If they change the voting to have input from music professionals or the judges, then it'll be worth watching. Otherwise- I agree with the consensus here, Melinda being booted off was a bummer. But I'll tell you what...that Sanjaya stayed around as long as he did...shows that the quality of the voting set-up of this show isn't all that.
The great thing is that all the deserving top 12 folks, they'll surely be contracted. I think last season had the most contracts. The ones who should have 'won', did win because they are now selling the most (Daughtrey, McPhee).
Melinda, LaKisha, Phil, Blake (maybe), & Jordin (some day) will all go on to do very well I think.
I just hope the show 'wakes' up and does a re-structure of the voting thing. Eh, whatever. It's their show..so I don't have to watch it. However, I still wish it for the contestants' sake.
Melinda Doolittle doing pretty good she just releases her first single song on i tunes My Funny Valentine. She is amazing!!!! next will be her new CD in June 2008 if you want more info about Melinda Doolittle season 6 of American Idol Finish third get at www.melindafan.net
Melinda she is a amazing singer. She will released her first album June of 2008. Congrat's to her
Melinda Doolittle Album have been postponed for July or August 2008. Due to her appearance,for Malaria no more and the Dreyer's ice cream tour she didn't have the chance to go to the studio for recording. If you want to support her and have the latest new www.mdstreetteam.com
It was clearcut that Melinda should have one. The people behind
the curtains pulling the strings, you know the English Idol group who hide their mischieveousnous under the title "American Idol" only want to select them by their looks and they don't have to have much talent in their voice like Jordin. Not to be mean but they base the winner more on looks than their actual talent. I think
Melinda is beautiful inside and out. Jordin at his time needs to
do a duet with Chris Brown. She can't do this on her own. She is failing musically on her own.IDOL people will continue to feel the consequences for what they are doing especially what they did
to David archuleta. Wow! what a political conspiracy. This kid had it all except one thing they won' accept. Guess?????
for your info the album of Melinda have will be for fall, she working also on Holiday Cd. If you want to keep you update www.mdstreetteam.com a new place to support Melinda
It is official Melinda album is for fall,
Hey Everyone,
This past week Melinda finally finished the vocals on her CD! All thats left now to have her album in our hand!
we can expect to see her CD on shelves this Fall! Also, keep your eye out for her first official single that should be hitting airwaves in the coming weeks. Melinda is going to be throwing a lot of music at us in the coming months so get ready!
II am so excited about it!
www.mdstreetteam.com Keep you update!
That you for letting us post about our favorite singer. Without this site, it would be really difficult to share the latest news about them.
FREE SONG FROM AMERICAN IDOL'S MELINDA DOOLITTLE! GO TO www.melindadoolittle.com and get it NOW - FREE! New album released on February 3, 2009! Don't miss it!