David Archuleta - Season 7

[mbcrowder]

Originally Posted by Uncle David

You say potato...

I happen to think, for the most part, the judges have reflected my views on David Archuleta from week to week.

Really? So when you saw him sing the same type of song, week after week, in the same tone, you thought, "Boy, when you can sing, you can sing ANYthing!", as Randy kept saying?

(I think Paula gushed over him to ridiculous levels... but that's not a problem with David --- she gushes unnecessarily over MOST of the contestants and seems unable to see or hear flaws, or articulate them at all when she does. And I think Simon was MOSTLY fair on David - occasionally too easy on him, occasionally too harsh ... about the same as he is with most (although he does always seem to find someone he hates (KLC) for no apparent reason))

It was really Randy that got under my skin this year regarding Archie. I probably said "All judges" earlier, but if I really think about it, it was Randy.

[Google]

 

[TopCatDC]

Do you find it happening often - you hear an idol perform and then decide whether you like them based on what the judges say?

Originally Posted by Just Sayin

No, not me personally. But, I am sure it happens in the general public.

That's just it. I hear lots of complaints about judges comments skewing results. But everyone I know (including everyone on this board) evaluates the judges based on whether they agree with their opinion of the performer.

Posters are aghast that voters sometimes disagree with their opinion. But just because some voters and judges share similar tastes, does not demonstrate that the judges comments are causing the (misguided) votes.

As you pointed out previously, the only judge anyone respects is Simon. Why? Because often, he agrees with our opinion. Not the other way around.

At least, that's what I observe. Anyone else want to chime in? Do what the judges say affect your opinion of a performance?

Or, does your opinion of a performance affect your evaluation of the sanity of a judge?

[mbcrowder]

I don't know about that. I think many people do base their opinions on the judges on whether or not the judges agree with them, and I suspect at times I fall into that category. However, ESPECIALLY early on when fanbases are being created - the fact that they decide to tell us a backstory or not has a huge influence on whether or not we, the general public, start liking a contestant or not - which, like it or not, WILL influence our opinions. If we like someone, we're likely to forgive their flaws (probably like KLC and MJ for me), and if we dislike someone, we're likely to FOCUS on those flaws (like DH and Danielle Noriega for me). That early pimping makes a difference.

When you get to the rounds of 24, 20, 16, and even 12, 11 - many of us have not formed solid opinions on ALL of the players. For example ... I didn't have an opinion on Ramielle at all - but early on (not sure what week), Simon mentioned that her voice wasn't very strong. I hadn't noticed it ... but I SURE noticed it the following week. And I started putting her in the "not like" pile. Who DID I like early? I kind of liked Carly early - not necessarily based on her singing, but based on backstory and the fact that the judges liked her. It took a LOT of average singing and missed notes before I changed my opinion.

So sure - the judges opinions, especially early, really can make a huge difference in this show.

[Just Sayin]

Originally Posted by Uncle David

You say potato...

I happen to think, for the most part, the judges have reflected my views on David Archuleta from week to week.

Although this is DA's thread, I wasn't speaking only of DA. But, I do believe that it doesn't matter what or how he does, Randy will give him the same "you can sing the phonebook" crapola.

My problem with that is that DA has done the same exact type of song each and every week, and Randy has had nothing but praise, when in the very next breath telling Jason, DC and others that they needed to "get out of their box".

So, I guess, as someone already mentioned, it is really just Randy.

[Veruka]

Originally Posted by Just Sayin

My problem with that is that DA has done the same exact type of song each and every week, and Randy has had nothing but praise, when in the very next breath telling Jason, DC and others that they needed to "get out of their box".

So, I guess, as someone already mentioned, it is really just Randy.

Exactly. The only two contestants I can think of who have ever gotten away with singing the same exact sort of song every single time without being criticized for it are David and Ruben. Simon has made a few hinting comments about being able to guess the song David would do and being right, but that's been the closest he's come to being criticized for being a one-trick pony. I wish that at some point, Ryan would have asked Randy how you compile and entire album of inspirational ballads.

[TopCatDC]

Originally Posted by Veruka

Simon has made a few hinting comments about being able to guess the song David would do and being right, but that's been the closest he's come to being criticized for being a one-trick pony. I wish that at some point, Ryan would have asked Randy how you compile and entire album of inspirational ballads.

Yeah... I've picked up on the same thing. But I think Simon has been hemmed in a bit by the fact that the overall quality of performances in the last few weeks has been rather lackluster. It's hard to throw Baby Elmo under the bus for lack of variety, (yet who at least brings consistently strong musicianship) when the rest of the field is showing only good but not really great work. (I'm thinking of the past three weeks in particular.)

[paridy]

OK i was reading an article about the results show on MTV news, it mentioned a few things about David's dad that made me dislike him more, when Syesha was singing her farewelll song everyone stood up to applaud her except for Jeff Archuleta, second when the coin toss happened and Archie won his Dad was seen screaming from the audience go 2nd go 2nd. Yikes makes me feel even more sorry for this kid, this Dad sounds like a real nightmare.

[calamari]

Originally Posted by paridy

OK i was reading an article about the results show on MTV news, it mentioned a few things about David's dad that made me dislike him more, when Syesha was singing her farewelll song everyone stood up to applaud her except for Jeff Archuleta, second when the coin toss happened and Archie won his Dad was seen screaming from the audience go 2nd go 2nd. Yikes makes me feel even more sorry for this kid, this Dad sounds like a real nightmare.

Ick. And to think most teens find their parents to be embarrassments.

Y'know, what's vanished from the discussion is the reality that, with his father removed from the rehearsal process, Archuleta did not screw up in Top 3. He performed about the same as he ever does -- not his absolute best on two of the three songs, but with the same strengths and the same weaknesses that we always see. I'm therefore inclined to believe that the kid is genuinely what he seems to be -- a quiet young man with a great voice and a non-teenish view of music -- and that his father's putative Stage Daddy qualities show themselves mostly in annoying everyone else for miles around.

It's too Archuleta's credit that he seems to have remained a nice, polite, unassuming young man, if what we're hearing about his father is the example he's been given.

[TopCatDC]

...when Syesha was singing her farewelll song everyone stood up to applaud her except for Jeff Archuleta, second when the coin toss happened and Archie won his Dad was seen screaming from the audience go 2nd go 2nd.

Originally Posted by calamari

...his father's putative Stage Daddy qualities show themselves mostly in annoying everyone else for miles around.

This is what I don't get: What if it was your son in a high profile national competition, (whether in music, sports, or anything else). He's doing great, but for some reason a story comes out that makes you controversial (rightly or wrongly), drawing all the attention away from your son's accomplishments and hurting his chances.

Wouldn't your first instinct as a parent be to pull as far out of the spotlight as possible so your issues don't overshadow your child's opportunity?

[Leo]

Originally Posted by TopCatDC

Wouldn't your first instinct as a parent be to pull as far out of the spotlight as possible so your issues don't overshadow your child's opportunity?

Yeah, but many stage parents aren't really normal in that sense.