02/27/2008
David Archuleta Sings the Crap Out of "Imagine"
There's one clear front-runner in American Idol: David Archuleta. The teenager could win the whole thing. Unless, of course, Paula Abdul gets to him first. Last night a teary-eyed Paula told Archuleta: "David, you are ridiculous. I wanted to squish you, squeeze your head off, and dangle you from my rear-view mirror. You are, no, honest to god, that is one of the most beautiful songs ever written, and one of the most moving performances I've ever heard."
And here's the latest gossip on a couple of the other men:
The folks over at VoteForTheWorst.com have dug up photos of David Hernandez slinging drinks at recently-closed gay Phoenix nightclub Burn.
And there has been some speculation going on as to whether or not rocker Robbie Carrico is wearing a rug:
"TMZ has learned the 26-year-old long-haired wannabe's mane is actually a wig and it's got "Idol" staffers flipping out. Sources tell us Robbie never talks about his matted down piece and that makes production members feel like it's the blonde elephant in the room. It seems Simon was right last night -- Robbie is a fake!"
Posted 3:25 PM EST by Andy Towle in American Idol, News | Permalink
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Wow, Michael Bedwell hates American Idol AND John Lennon. Why am I not surprised?
You really are the most insufferable human being alive. You should consider killing yourself. It's the only way you'll ever find happiness.
Posted by: crispy | Feb 27, 2008 8:06:19 PM
Oh, Crispy Critter—still having problems we see with that 2nd grade education. I never said I hated John Lennon. I said he was limited as a singer. Though he sang far better than you read or write.
Besides, why should I kill myself? I want to be around to see you die of a crack overdose.
Posted by: Michael Bedwell | Feb 27, 2008 8:30:33 PM
The kid is SIXTEEN years old. He was born twelve years after John Lennon's death and over twenty years after John wrote Imagine but somehow people here feel that he should have sung it exactly the way Lennon did or it's crap.
The kid is talented beyond belief and in my opinion his personal expression of this iconic song was beautiful and moving.
In addition to his talent he's cute as a bug and seems to be truly humble and gracious.
What ever people may think about this sixteen year old boy, his performance or his talent, some of the nasty, hateful and bitter comments about him here are really beyond the pale.
Some of you guys seem to just hate life and won't be satisfied until everyone is as bitter and miserable as you are.
That's really sad and a damned shame.
Posted by: Zeke | Feb 27, 2008 10:36:06 PM
Please, Leland or Bedwell or whatever the hell you're calling yourself these days. The only people as bitter as you are the old men rotting away in nursing homes. I have no doubt I'll outlive you.
Posted by: crispy | Feb 27, 2008 10:48:40 PM
Well said, Zeke. Why can't people simply say they didn't care for his interpretation or his performance and leave it at that?
Btw, the kid turned 17 in December but what you wrote is still valid.
Posted by: RJ | Feb 27, 2008 11:28:44 PM
I have a low tolerance for excessively adorable and an even lower tolerance for yet more versions of "Imagine," but he won me over last night, unlike the previous week. David is clearly gifted. He'll be a star no matter what happens on the show, but I can't imagine who'll win over him at this point.
The women tonight were generally lackluster and made some truly wretched song choices.
Posted by: Ernie | Feb 27, 2008 11:42:14 PM
I have a low tolerance for excessively adorable and an even lower tolerance for yet more versions of "Imagine," but he won me over last night, unlike the previous week. David is clearly gifted. He'll be a star no matter what happens on the show, but I can't imagine who'll win over him at this point.
The women tonight were generally lackluster and made some truly wretched song choices.
Posted by: Ernie | Feb 27, 2008 11:43:39 PM
@JON
I believe the only requirements of eligibility for AI are that one be a legal U.S. resident (don't need to be a citizen), have no current major recording contract, have no current agent (a management contract with 19E is mandatory if you make it to the top 24) and not currently under a legal cloud (i.e. no current or pending criminal investigations).
Since season 1, competitors have been a mix not just of ages but of experience in the music industry. The show has NEVER barred individuals from competing who have had prior professional experience or success or who have previously appeared on other talent shows.
Posted by: RJ | Feb 27, 2008 11:46:16 PM
Oops... and be within the age range of 16-28 at the initial audition, of course.
Posted by: RJ | Feb 27, 2008 11:49:05 PM
For anyone who thinks they're on solid ground by defending an iconic song that shouldn't be messed around with, I have news for you: It's only the truly revered and classic songs that do get re-interpreted, again and again. Great songs must live in the realms of performance and interpretation or else die, forgotten; relegated to occasional discovery as quaint time-capsules or interesting curiosities. I suspect John Lennon himself would much rather see his music be on the lips of young performers and in the minds of new generations, than preserved like some fly in amber.
Sing the songs, people, sing the songs.
Posted by: rascal | Feb 27, 2008 11:58:51 PM
RASCAL, very well put.
In my opinion Lennon's genius and mastery was in his brilliant song writing rather than in his performance skills.
I think Lennon would have been very proud and pleased to see this kid's interpretation of his song. I also think he would be glad that the kid would choose this song, understanding at such a young age its significance to current events.
Posted by: Zeke | Feb 28, 2008 12:45:26 AM
Zeke, great points all. I will add that I want to believe that I can spot a fake, and in my opinion David Archuleta is as humble as he is talented. No doubt he's not perfect, but then again who truly is perfect. For me it is the heartfelt honesty he brings to his performances as much as the raw talent he surely possesses. And it's a shame that anyone would harbor such ill-will for the kid -- I mean he's barely seventeen. Let's hope he proves those of us on his side correct and wins this season of AI.
Posted by: robertmalcolm | Feb 28, 2008 1:33:01 AM
David's performance was very moving and well done. I look forward to seeing his career unfold.
The cynical comments are way off. It should be clear to anyone who reads faces that the boy is sincere.
Posted by: ME | Feb 28, 2008 1:38:30 AM
Zeke wrote "The kid is SIXTEEN years old. He was born twelve years after John Lennon's death and over twenty years after John wrote Imagine but somehow people here feel that he should have sung it exactly the way Lennon did or it's crap."
It doesn't matter how long ago it was written, or how the original person sang it. David stripped the song of nuance. The nuance and the sincerity has to be in the voice - it's a song dammit - not in a face or a pose.
Posted by: Mike | Feb 28, 2008 4:35:37 AM
RUDY,
picking up where we left off: some of us have other things to do. you called me "more uneducated..." and blah, blah.
a person is educated or uneducated. a person can be more educated than another, but an uneducated person cannot be less educated. uneducated is an absolute: think of dead or not dead; there is no undead -- it is either one or the other. otherwise, it is pure fanatasy.
anyway, i cannot think of a more non-un-not useful way to spend my time.
in short, you are not worthy of my time.
go away little girl.
Posted by: nic | Feb 28, 2008 6:20:52 AM
david archuleta is a true talent.
Posted by: nic | Feb 28, 2008 7:20:55 AM
Of Nicky, What are you blathering on about? Just when I think you have established a new personal low, you sink further. Remember the first rule of holes: when you are in one (especially self-created) stop digging.
Posted by: rudy | Feb 28, 2008 7:47:07 AM
I agree with Paula, David is friggin' adorable and I for one am glad I am not so cynical as to not be able to appreciate the cute little bugger. I don't want to squeeze his head off though. That is sort of sick. I usually have Idol on while doing other things but I must say I was forced to stop and watch David. Danny Noriega did annoy me last week but less so this week. Humility is not a bad quality Danny. Finding the correct mix of humility and sassy is key for a fabulous flamer IMO.
Posted by: Timothy | Feb 28, 2008 9:22:14 AM
WOW...
Some of you guys are truly nasty and bitter people.
If you don't like the show and don't believe in it for entertainment sake.Than don't watch.
And the obsurtity of attacking a teenager because you don't believe he had enough nuance's in a song....rediculous.
John Lennon would be ashamed that a kid is being viciously attacked for interpriting his music,and doing a nice job of it too boot,by arm chair critics.
And then turning your nasty attitudes on each other...talk about eating your own.
Please...seek help and get a life.
Posted by: griffin1573 | Feb 28, 2008 10:26:28 AM
Wait did I read that right or is Leland Frances now calling himself Michael Bedwell?
LOL - as if he needed to create another name underwhich to vent his nasty bitterness - like sooooo many others here do.
What a maroon....
Posted by: Derek | Feb 28, 2008 10:55:59 AM
"Of Nicky"? ha, ha! wtf?
"blathering"? "Remember the first rule of holes: when you are in one (especially self-created) stop digging."?
Rudy, have you ever had an original thought?
the question is purely rhetorical.
Posted by: nic | Feb 28, 2008 11:33:39 AM
Nicky, Why do you keep posting? It is now beyond peradventure that you have a masochistic fetish to display your boundless stupidity. I thought at first that you were merely uneducated but you have succeeded in showing yourself to be ineducable, i.e., merely stupid. Far be it for me to dissuade you from your rhetorical self-immolation.
The topic of the thread was DA's rendition of "Imagine". I stated my opinion that that although I did not care for his vocalization, he is obviously talented. Moreover, I acknowledged his professionalism in knowing how to play to his audience. Yes, I also repeated a snarky comment, but did not apply it to him.
Now Nicole, it is an opinion. Anyone is free to disagree. You however, chose to be disagreeable. Sarcasm escapes you; informed opinion escapes you; the basic rules of capitalization and grammar escape you. In sum, polite discourse is a foreign subject with which you have not the slightest acquaintance.
So, go unbunch your panties. You and they are wound too tight.
Posted by: rudy | Feb 28, 2008 12:34:41 PM
Ok after weighing the arguments of both sides, I say Rudy wins by a knock out.
Posted by: Derek | Feb 28, 2008 12:50:59 PM
ouch! well, you put me in my place. ha!
"peradventure"? whom are you trying to impress? and, who helped you write that missive? you should hire someone else.
i've had enough of your silliness. "nicky," "nicole"? grow up.
i will no longer respond to you.
Posted by: nic | Feb 28, 2008 1:30:35 PM
NIC, what, are you twelve years old?
You really should know who you're dealing with before you launch one of your childish, sarcastic and/or misinformed attacks. RUDY doesn't need anyone to help him write a smack down (he’s a very highly educated man). Of course, it makes it all the easier when he finds himself in a rhetorical pissing match with someone who doesn't know the difference between "who" and "whom" and when to use the subjective or objective form.
I would tell you to avoid tilting at windmills like Don Quixote but I doubt you would understand the literary reference since the clever and appropriate “eecummings” reference that RUDY lobbed at you the other day went right over your head.
I guess it should be pretty clear to you by now that your ignorance and sarcasm isn’t as cute and clever as you might think it is. I particularly didn’t appreciate your misinformed and inaccurate sniper attack on me the other day.
It’s extremely rare that I allow myself to be drawn into these bitch fights. People have to work real hard to get on my bad side (not a good place to be) but by repeatedly and unnecessarily attacking my friends (and me) you’re well on your way.
By all means challenge people’s comments and opinions when you disagree with them but grow up a bit a drop the ad hominem personal attacks that seem to come with your every disagreement. And for goodness sake, if you are going to make a personal attack, make sure you have your facts straight.
Posted by: Zeke | Feb 28, 2008 8:32:29 PM