Nashville Star through the eyes of a virgin

CaliGirl · 04-24-2003, 01:08 AM

After reading what you all had to say about this show, I had to see for myself what all the fuss was about.

I taped an episode and started to watch. Immediately, I began to make mental comparisons with American Idol. I saw a few similarities, but many differences and to tell you the truth, I am not really sure that I liked it.

Of course the genre was different and the performers get to sing one of their own songs as well as perform another song. That shows their creativity. But honestly, the guy that sang about building his wife a "house of stone" while they are still living in a trailer (not even double-wide) was a bit too much country for me. The girl that sang about the boyfriend's ex-wife's picture on the wall, man, it don't get no more sh*t-kickin' than that.

OK, I am being a bit facetious here and may irritate the heck out of you fans, so I started this thread to have someone point out all the good stuff.

The performers don't seem to move as well on stage, they just kind of stride around which leads me to believe there is a shortage of choreographers in Nashville.

That Brandi is a self-obsessed cow and not as good as that other blonde girl. The guy with the two first names keeps invoking God in every sentence which is annoying. Buddy Jewell is the consummate old country singer. He has been around the corral a few times. His wife looked like she had put up with a lot too, like sitting around in cheap saloons all night waiting for Buddy to pass the hat.

The woman judge on the panel was hilarious and I much preferred her to Paula Abdul. Nancy O'Dell's voice is so horrible that I would rather run to my dentist and face drilling without Novocain.

Granted, these are first impressions only. I may be wrong.

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Tigrazhia · 04-24-2003, 02:44 AM

I would say... Good Eye!!! hehe.

I love NS.. but... yes John ARthur's song is a bit boring, and its the 2nd time (or 3rd?) he's sung it.... Brandi.. you're right on about her.... I hope the rest of the audience see her that way so we can get rid of her next time on the show ....

Buddy is my favorite...although Miranda will probably win this competition... I think his wife's days of waiting for him in the bars may be numbered, because even if he doesnt win this show I think he'll be set :-)

Yep, I think you were probably right on about most of your observations :-)

Paulie · 04-24-2003, 10:28 AM

Well, CG, you've made some great points. I'm not a full-on country fan so I've tended to gloss over the parts that are TOO country. My favorite performance so far was a bluegrass tune that Amy sang several weeks ago. I also agree that their movements on stage (especially Brandi's) are boring and sometimes even a bit distracting. And there's a distinct difference between the quality of some of these folks' songwriting. Brandi's songs, for instance, are juvenile and overly simple. I don't like John Arthur's "House Made of Stone" song, either. And he's playing the "wholesome and earnest" card to the hilt, even more so in recent weeks.

That being said, I am amazed at the overall quality of the performers. Some of the songwriting is really quite good, and most of these folks have very polished voices. Even Brandi's voice is strong, but I could handle not having her pummel me about the head and shoulders with it week after week. I've never seen American Idol, but I understand their performers are more like sophisticated kareoke singers, as opposed to mature singer-songwriters who have already paid some dues in the industry.

Misty8723 · 04-24-2003, 11:28 AM

GC, I would guess if you don't like country music, you won't like this show. I find it entertaining, and I take it pretty much as is and don't try to analyze who is better and why. I have my favorites, and the reason they are favorites is that I enjoy seeing/hearing them perform. I personally liked JA's Home Made of Stone, much better than I liked this first original song. I do think he's a little too sugar coated lately... Miranda's original material has been interesting and I think she has potential, but she's not quite there yet. She does sing through her nose and hubby says she needs to learn to enunciate. Brandi doesn't appeal to me at all. Her original songs I found simplistic and too similar in arrangement. She also needs to tone down the "loud" part. Buddy is the most polished, and *should* win the competion (but he probably won't). I've liked both his original songs, and Abilene I would probably actually buy.

GC, I agree with you completely about Nancy O'Dell. I've wondered if she is there to see how the contestants handle an obnoxious and annoying interviewer?

I've been watching AI lately, and I don't find any of the performers particulary appealing. With the exception of Clay Aiken, who I think has an amazing voice, but I could wish for better song choices from him. None of them seems too interested in doing up tempo, they all cling to those boring power ballads (a whole show dedicated to them? zzzzz). Shouldn't they be looking for someone who can do mass appeal songs?

Basically, both shows have their merits and shortcomings, but it's better fare than most of the tripe that's on tv these days.

breathless4975 · 04-26-2003, 09:28 AM

I watch both AI and Nashville Star and I feel that when you compare the 2 shows, Nashville Star is by far more entertaining. Having a live band backing the performers really adds to the excitement plus most of the contestants play instruments--except of course, for Brandi who usually tries to make up for it by braying like a donkey at the top of her lungs and prowling the stage like a caged tiger. Maybe she does play a guitar but I can't remember seeing her do it. In order to fully appreciate the show it helps to have watched it from the beginning of the series and feeling a connection with the performers. I think one of the differences is that the people on NS will continue to have careers in music after the show ends and the contestants on AI will more than likely fade away and go back to their ordinary lives.
The ability to write their own music is a definite advantage. I'm not aware of anyone on American Idol who can do it. Maybe I'm wrong and someone can but all of the contestants on Nashville Star can and are doing so- in fact the ability to write is one of the parts of the competition.
Nancy O'Dell is a lousy choice for host though while Ryan Seacrest has really improved this time. I have had a hard time relating to the contestants on AI2 and have a remarkable attachment to the ones on NS.
Buddy Jewell is by far the best on the show and should win it if his fans have continued to phone in their votes for him. If not, it will probably go to Miranda. Meanwhile, on AI I expect Ruben or Clay to win.

feed jake · 04-29-2003, 05:39 PM

breathless, you and i think very much alike. i could not agree more about the live band giving Nashville star an edge over ai2. I didnt watch the first idol, i had not given in to reality tv yet at that point. (of course now i am a reality tv addict). I think the contestants on nashville star are so much more tallented. They will use the show to catapult their career, not creat one. It is much easier to take a professional musician and turn him or her into a star, than to create one with glits and glamor, and little content. I dont mean to say that the people on idol are not tallented, because they are, however, i dont think of them as musicians. i think of them as an example of how corporate rock/pop is rotting the musical tastes of todays youth. we thought boston and journey were cookie cuter groups that would ruin music, little did we know we would have brittney and n sync. anyway, back to nashville star.... i dont think nancy O dell is a bad choice. she is very popular from her show on e, and she brings an audince with her to the program. I think the questions they have her ask leave a little to be desired, but over all i enjoy her. i am just dissapointed the show is not longer, they could have expanded the beginging episodes, and stretched this thing out a bit. now, after saturday, we will only be able to hope they bring ns back for one more season.

04-24-2003, 01:08 AM	#1
CaliGirl Beach Under The Stars... Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central Coast Posts: 1,633	Nashville Star through the eyes of a virgin After reading what you all had to say about this show, I had to see for myself what all the fuss was about. I taped an episode and started to watch. Immediately, I began to make mental comparisons with American Idol. I saw a few similarities, but many differences and to tell you the truth, I am not really sure that I liked it. Of course the genre was different and the performers get to sing one of their own songs as well as perform another song. That shows their creativity. But honestly, the guy that sang about building his wife a "house of stone" while they are still living in a trailer (not even double-wide) was a bit too much country for me. The girl that sang about the boyfriend's ex-wife's picture on the wall, man, it don't get no more sh*t-kickin' than that. OK, I am being a bit facetious here and may irritate the heck out of you fans, so I started this thread to have someone point out all the good stuff. The performers don't seem to move as well on stage, they just kind of stride around which leads me to believe there is a shortage of choreographers in Nashville. That Brandi is a self-obsessed cow and not as good as that other blonde girl. The guy with the two first names keeps invoking God in every sentence which is annoying. Buddy Jewell is the consummate old country singer. He has been around the corral a few times. His wife looked like she had put up with a lot too, like sitting around in cheap saloons all night waiting for Buddy to pass the hat. The woman judge on the panel was hilarious and I much preferred her to Paula Abdul. Nancy O'Dell's voice is so horrible that I would rather run to my dentist and face drilling without Novocain. Granted, these are first impressions only. I may be wrong.

04-24-2003, 02:44 AM	#2
Tigrazhia Glad 4 Vlad! :) Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Good ole I.E, Southern California. Age: 36 Posts: 1,521	I would say... Good Eye!!! hehe. I love NS.. but... yes John ARthur's song is a bit boring, and its the 2nd time (or 3rd?) he's sung it.... Brandi.. you're right on about her.... I hope the rest of the audience see her that way so we can get rid of her next time on the show .... Buddy is my favorite...although Miranda will probably win this competition... I think his wife's days of waiting for him in the bars may be numbered, because even if he doesnt win this show I think he'll be set :-) Yep, I think you were probably right on about most of your observations :-) __________________ "He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how."

04-24-2003, 10:28 AM	#3
Paulie Sexy evil genius Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Not the regular cabana boy Age: 39 Posts: 11,787	Well, CG, you've made some great points. I'm not a full-on country fan so I've tended to gloss over the parts that are TOO country. My favorite performance so far was a bluegrass tune that Amy sang several weeks ago. I also agree that their movements on stage (especially Brandi's) are boring and sometimes even a bit distracting. And there's a distinct difference between the quality of some of these folks' songwriting. Brandi's songs, for instance, are juvenile and overly simple. I don't like John Arthur's "House Made of Stone" song, either. And he's playing the "wholesome and earnest" card to the hilt, even more so in recent weeks. That being said, I am amazed at the overall quality of the performers. Some of the songwriting is really quite good, and most of these folks have very polished voices. Even Brandi's voice is strong, but I could handle not having her pummel me about the head and shoulders with it week after week. I've never seen American Idol, but I understand their performers are more like sophisticated kareoke singers, as opposed to mature singer-songwriters who have already paid some dues in the industry. __________________ When you're ten years old and a car drives by and splashes a puddle of water all over you, it's hard to decide if you should go to school like that or try to go home and change and probably be late. So while he was trying to decide, I drove by and splashed him again. - Jack Handey Read Paulie's Precaps for Survivor:Vanuatu: 1-2-3-4-5

04-24-2003, 11:28 AM	#4
Misty8723 FORT Fogey Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,063	GC, I would guess if you don't like country music, you won't like this show. I find it entertaining, and I take it pretty much as is and don't try to analyze who is better and why. I have my favorites, and the reason they are favorites is that I enjoy seeing/hearing them perform. I personally liked JA's Home Made of Stone, much better than I liked this first original song. I do think he's a little too sugar coated lately... Miranda's original material has been interesting and I think she has potential, but she's not quite there yet. She does sing through her nose and hubby says she needs to learn to enunciate. Brandi doesn't appeal to me at all. Her original songs I found simplistic and too similar in arrangement. She also needs to tone down the "loud" part. Buddy is the most polished, and should win the competion (but he probably won't). I've liked both his original songs, and Abilene I would probably actually buy. GC, I agree with you completely about Nancy O'Dell. I've wondered if she is there to see how the contestants handle an obnoxious and annoying interviewer? I've been watching AI lately, and I don't find any of the performers particulary appealing. With the exception of Clay Aiken, who I think has an amazing voice, but I could wish for better song choices from him. None of them seems too interested in doing up tempo, they all cling to those boring power ballads (a whole show dedicated to them? zzzzz). Shouldn't they be looking for someone who can do mass appeal songs? Basically, both shows have their merits and shortcomings, but it's better fare than most of the tripe that's on tv these days. __________________ He was showing them contingencies when they showed him to the street - Harry Chapin

04-26-2003, 09:28 AM	#5
breathless4975 Metallica Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,036	I watch both AI and Nashville Star and I feel that when you compare the 2 shows, Nashville Star is by far more entertaining. Having a live band backing the performers really adds to the excitement plus most of the contestants play instruments--except of course, for Brandi who usually tries to make up for it by braying like a donkey at the top of her lungs and prowling the stage like a caged tiger. Maybe she does play a guitar but I can't remember seeing her do it. In order to fully appreciate the show it helps to have watched it from the beginning of the series and feeling a connection with the performers. I think one of the differences is that the people on NS will continue to have careers in music after the show ends and the contestants on AI will more than likely fade away and go back to their ordinary lives. The ability to write their own music is a definite advantage. I'm not aware of anyone on American Idol who can do it. Maybe I'm wrong and someone can but all of the contestants on Nashville Star can and are doing so- in fact the ability to write is one of the parts of the competition. Nancy O'Dell is a lousy choice for host though while Ryan Seacrest has really improved this time. I have had a hard time relating to the contestants on AI2 and have a remarkable attachment to the ones on NS. Buddy Jewell is by far the best on the show and should win it if his fans have continued to phone in their votes for him. If not, it will probably go to Miranda. Meanwhile, on AI I expect Ruben or Clay to win. __________________ There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats. - Albert Schweitzer The most thoroughly wasted of all days is that on which one has not laughed. If I accept the sunshine and warmth, then I must also accept the thunder and lightening.

04-29-2003, 05:39 PM	#6
feed jake FORT Newbie Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 4	breathless, you and i think very much alike. i could not agree more about the live band giving Nashville star an edge over ai2. I didnt watch the first idol, i had not given in to reality tv yet at that point. (of course now i am a reality tv addict). I think the contestants on nashville star are so much more tallented. They will use the show to catapult their career, not creat one. It is much easier to take a professional musician and turn him or her into a star, than to create one with glits and glamor, and little content. I dont mean to say that the people on idol are not tallented, because they are, however, i dont think of them as musicians. i think of them as an example of how corporate rock/pop is rotting the musical tastes of todays youth. we thought boston and journey were cookie cuter groups that would ruin music, little did we know we would have brittney and n sync. anyway, back to nashville star.... i dont think nancy O dell is a bad choice. she is very popular from her show on e, and she brings an audince with her to the program. I think the questions they have her ask leave a little to be desired, but over all i enjoy her. i am just dissapointed the show is not longer, they could have expanded the beginging episodes, and stretched this thing out a bit. now, after saturday, we will only be able to hope they bring ns back for one more season.