Pop Idol who's going?

[AndyJK]

I have a feeling Michelle will go tonight.

[James]

Yeah, I think it will be between Michelle and Roxanne, and Michelle will go.

However I think it should be Suzanne really because, although they say she is quirky, she doesn't sing in tune in my opinion.

[LEE]

I think you might be right, but my least fave is Roxanne and I hope it is her.

My order for tonight is as follows:-

1 Susanne - absolutely brilliant
2 Sam - I'm not usually struck on him but tonight he was great.
3 Chris - loved it, I thought he sung really well tonight.
4 Michelle - I like Michelle, this week wasn't her best week but she was OK
5 I really like Mark, but he wasn't brilliant tonight
6 Roxanne - Bland bland bland. I really don't see what people see in her

[LEE]

Yes!!!!!

The right result :thumbs:

[James]

I thought it was Chris's best performance this week because he cut down on the strange affectations that he does with his voice. Like Laurence Olivier once said to Dustin Hoffman, "Dear boy, why don't you just act?" Or in Chris's case "Why don't you just sing?" And he did tonight.

Michelle had the benefit of singing my favourite Beatles song, Hey Jude. (Not very interesting piece of trivia - you can hear John swearing on the original at 2 mins 58 after he messes up a backing vocal) I agreed with whoever said that Michelle started average and got better as she went on.

Sam was fairly good but not as good as the Cocker version he was imitating.

Mark gave an entertaining performance of Help!, which is all you need to do on this show. So the judges were wrong.

As I said before I think Susanne sang flat, and she sang the same way in the previous two weeks.

Roxanne probably sang well, but I've forgotton it.

[LEE]

Roxanne probably sang wellWell that would be a first!

[James]

Actually I remember now, it was Let it Be. And she did sing it pretty well, though not outstanding.

[James]

Originally posted by LEE
Roxanne probably sang wellWell that would be a first!

I think you have to take into account her age. She's singing to her maximum capability. Well not anymore in this anyway...

[LEE]

Sorry James, but I have just never rated her. She is OK, but definitely nothing special, and I thought she was the weakest tonight (and last week actually).

I'm glad she went tonight.

[BigSister]

I thought before the show it was between Roxanne and Chris
But when I heard Chris sing I thought that Roxanne would go
Next week should be good with the big band:hugesmile:

[LEE]

Yeah I agree BigSis - I loved the Big band week last year and this years should be good as well. Susanne fronted a Jazz Band when she was at Uni so I think she should shine next week :thumbs:

[James]

They should have a live band every week.

[LEE]

Yes I agree James. I remember Tone saying in Reborn that if there had been a live band every week as opposed to just at the final it would have been a completely different show. (and they had all been promised that but the program ran out of budget early on and decided to scrap the idea)

[AndyJK]

I must remember to bear in mind that the Scots vote for Michelle which is in her favour. I'm not disappointed Roxanne has gone. I was a bit worried about Susanne who incidentally I voted for 20 times tonight to keep her in. Oh well it's only money and I'm in a good mood! :hugesmile:

[LEE]

I was a bit worried about Susanne who incidently I voted for 20 times tonight to keep her in.
Good for you Andy :thumbs:

I thought Susanne was brilliant tonight

[Amy]

:shocked::shocked::shocked::shocked:
LEE i have just noticed that you are near the 4000 mark :shocked::shocked::shocked::shocked:

Your way ahead of us all :shocked::shocked::shocked::shocked::shocked:

[LEE]

Ooh well spotted Amy- I hadn't noticed. :shocked:

I haven't even been posting that much recently lol

[AndyJK]

Originally posted by LEE
I was a bit worried about Susanne who incidently I voted for 20 times tonight to keep her in.
Good for you Andy :thumbs:

I thought Susanne was brilliant tonight

When I heard she was going to sing Ticket to Ride I instantly thought 'Oh no!'. That's one of my least favourite Beatle tracks. And when she sang the first two lines, I thought 'Suze, you chose the wrong song here love.' But to her credit she picked it up and I agree LEE she performed it brilliantly. She certainly didn't deserve to finish in the bottom two.

[LEE]

Yeah Andy, when I found out earlier in the week that Susanne was doing Ticket to Ride I thought it was a disasterous idea, but i thought she sang it brilliantly tonight. For me she was the best performance of the night.

[James]

Pete Waterman said on Pop Idol Extra that he thought last year's contestants were hungrier to win than this year's.

Simon agreed with him and suggested that it was because they had watched American Idol. Presumably that means that they think they are going to be big stars even if they don't win.

[blinkinlovely]

Perhaps it's me....


but I've just been unimpressed with Suzanne all along and each week, i've been surprised that she hasn't left! I find her voice just a bit thin...

Sorry to see Roxanne go:shocked:

[kaphc]

I watched Pop Idol again this week to see if the standard had got any higher now they were down to the final 6.

I don't think so though! To be honest, I think that whoever wins this show is going to struggle to be successful past the first two singles. I know that sounds really negative, but none of them make me stop what I'm doing and look up at the TV like Will, Darius and Zoe did.

[BusyBee]

Yesterday afternoon happened to switch channels and catch American Music Awards as Clay and Reuben from American Idol 2 were performing. They were absolutely amazing and would knock spots off this lot we have.

I think Pete was quite right when he said the hunger doesnt seem to be there this year, as he said last year Darius, Gareth and Will were out to win, this lot seem to take it as a bit of a joke. The only one who seemed to take it seriously was Andy and he's gone.

To be honest, this year I really dont care who wins. None of them have been consistently good.

[AndyJK]

There is a high standard of singing this year, but I agree the hungriness to win perhaps isn't there with some. Brian and Andy, both tipped to win the competition, exited without showing any reaction or displayed any signs of disappointment. In fact Andy looked relieved it was all over! As we know, image over talent can sell just as many singles in the pop industry now. It just needs some producer to mix together an oldie and anyone of the final ten contestants would have a hit with it.

I think Susanne is singing songs unsuited to her voice and style. And I believe this week no matter how good she sings she will be the next to go. I do think out of all the failed contestants, she deserves a record deal because she is talented and her voice is unique.

[LEE]

I think Susanne is singing songs unsuited to her voice and style. And I believe this week no matter how good she sings she will be the next to go. I do think out of all the failed contestants, she deserves a record deal because she is talented and her voice is unique.

I agree with you that Susanne is one of the most talented contstants left in there and I hope you are wrong and she doesn't go this weekend.

As to her singing songs that are unsuitable for her voice, she doesn't really have much choice in the matter with Pop Idols format of different themes every week. It does make good television, but it isn't very fair on the performers. I know people will say that they should have the ability to perform different styles of music equally well, but that isn't necessarily true - I mean look at Nora Jones, how would she have done in the disco week, and very few deny her star quality.

[AndyJK]

Originally posted by LEE
I agree with you that Susanne is one of the most talented contstants left in there and I hope you are wrong and she doesn't go this weekend.

As to her singing songs that are unsuitable for her voice, she doesn't really have much choice in the matter with Pop Idols format of different themes every week. It does make good television, but it isn't very fair on the performers. I know people will say that they should have the ability to perform different styles of music equally well, but that isn't necessarily true - I mean look at Nora Jones, how would she have done in the disco week, and very few deny her star quality.

I hope I'm wrong LEE, but last Saturday when it was widely acknowledged Susanne performed better than the others she ended up finishing in the bottom two. And the different themes which demonstrate the versitility of the contestants voices have showed for several weeks Susanne struggling to maintain any consistency. She's still in there because she does have a great voice, personality and looks good.

One positive thing I will say is that Susanne appeared more confident on last Saturday's show, let's hope she can build on that.

I'm more or less certain the final will be between Chris and Sam now.

[BusyBee]

I'm more or less certain the final will be between Chris and Sam now.


Think you may be right, but Michelle could sneak in there. Though all the pushing Simon is giving her could backfire. I dont think that helped Gareth last year when despite all the pushing the best man won.

Personally I would like to see Mark in the final - he seems to be the only one who can actually see both ballads and up beat songs and seems to be growing in confidence. He doesnt have the individuality of Susanne for instance but is an all rounder.

This is the difference between Pop Idol and Fame Academy. I wonder how far Alex would have gone if she had been faced with Disco etc.

[James]

I don't think that anyone is guaranteed to be leaving this Saturday, it's so open. Mark was in the bottom two a few weeks ago and he has been appeared to be safe recently, so anything could happen.

On another note, The Sun has published a story saying that the contestants only earn £150 pounds a week (plus living in the mansion and going to showbiz events of course :hugesmile:)

Also they won't make a huge amount if their Christmas single goes to No.1.


£150 a week pauper idols

POP Idol finalists are being paid £150 a week — while show bosses rake in millions.

Show judge Simon Cowell gets £1MILLION for four months work — around £60,000 a week.

And wannabes such as Susanne Manning and Michelle McManus will get less than 18 per cent of profits from their Christmas single between them.

If they get to No1 by selling 250,000 copies of Merry Christmas (War Is Over), each will earn £7,000.

Pop Idol bosses will take more than £500,000.

An insider said: “The contestants were forced to sign tight contracts.

“They live in-house and rehearse non-stop, with very little time off.

“These poor kids live in a goldfish bowl — and then there is no guarantee they will make it.”

The remaining singers — Michelle, Susanne, Sam Nixon, Chris Hide and Mark Rhodes — reckon their measly pay does not reflect the workload.

And losers will be banned from working for three months after the December 20 final.


http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2001320029-2003550320,00.html

Although the winner should do very nicely out of the series, judging from last year anyway. And don't forget that the finalists will get a cut from album, tour profits etc.

[AndyJK]

I thought they'd receive more royalties for the single. I don't always believe what they say in the Sun so it's possible they made up the figures.

On RI:SE this morning, they were discussing Pop Idol and the contestant bookmakers predict will leave this Saturday, and which is (in order of most likely):

Susanne
Mark
Chris
Michelle
Sam

[James]

Well I think it could be Susanne whose time is up on the show tonight unless her fanbase starts hammering the redial button - which could happen. :hugesmile:

It was a bit unfair of Pete to bring up the bullying allegations of the week in front of Susanne though. All that has done is inform anyone who wasn't already aware of them, and remind anyone who was of them.

The others were all of pretty similar quality I thought. Oh, and has anyone noticed that Foxy says the same things every week about the contestants. He always brings up the 'image vs talent' thing with Michelle and the vicar remark with Chris.

[AndyJK]

This is why I don't read the Sun, Mirror or trashy tabloids anymore. I haven't bought a copy of any of these newspapers for years. The journalism in our country is vile as Russell Crowe said on Jonathan Ross on Friday. If this was a story made up just to sell newspapers, quite frankly I'm sickened by it.

Susanne is definitely going tonight. I wasn't impressed with her performance at all. It was a combination of nerves and the wrong choice of song, which was a shame as the theme this week was a great chance for Susanne to shine. So I'm not even going to vote for Susanne tonight.

To his credit Sam was absolutely brilliant and is now my choice to win Pop Idol, although I still think Chris might snatch it.

[LEE]

I'm usually a big Susanne fan, but even i would admit that she wasn't great tonight. I hope she stays though.

My thoughts are as follows:

Michelle - brilliant
Chris - don't unserstand why everyone thought he was good tonight cos I thought he was terrible and out of tune for most of the song.
Susanne - disappointing
Mark - OK but not brill
Sam - Not struck on his performance at all tonight.

All in all I was really disappointed this week, I expected it to be excellent but it was mediocre, don't know who I want to go tonight, but for the record I don't think Susanne was the worst performance - I'd give that accolade to Chris.

[AndyJK]

Tonight's result was right, but I hope we haven't heard the last from Susanne.

I switched over to Pop Idol extra after and during the show Simon gave out Pete Waterman's mobile phone number out on air! :laugh: Someone phoned him up shortly after and Pete eventually had to leave the stage.

[blinkinlovely]

Hurrah for Michelle - a champion for the 'larger lady....'



I thought Sam disappointing.. is he only 17??? (missed that bit of info!!)

[BigSister]

Sam is evens at the bookmakers to win
I think they might sing their christmas song during the results show

[BusyBee]

I think its now got to the stage where people have picked who they want to win and whatever their performance they will vote for them.

I too thought Chris was truly awful last night and Sam tried too hard. After her performances over the last few weeks Susanne had to pull out something extra special and to be honest she didnt. She therefore deserved to win. I love her voice though and with the right vehicle she could go far. Pop Idol is just not the right competition for her I think she would have done better in Fame Academy.

Who will win - I think Sam is this year's Gareth but will he overcome Michelle who has been consistently good throughout the series.

[James]

Originally posted by AndyJK
I switched over to Pop Idol extra after and during the show Simon gave out Pete Waterman's mobile phone number out on air! :laugh: Someone phoned him up shortly after and Pete eventually had to leave the stage.

That was so funny - Simon kept repeating the number and they bleeped it out on the repeats. :hugesmile:

The programme might be lacking outstanding singers this year but the entertainment value of the show is top-notch.

[AndyJK]

Originally posted by James
That was so funny - Simon kept repeating the number and they bleeped it out on the repeats. :hugesmile:

The programme might be lacking outstanding singers this year but the entertainment value of the show is top-notch.

I still can't believe Simon did that :laugh: I wonder if Pete took offence at it. It's very difficult to tell when Pete's angry or upset as he's so laid back.

And I think Mark will go tonight.