I'm not sure how we missed this one but I found it under the American Idol heading on the Boogie Board. If you think this should be moved, let me know.
http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainmen...0&srvc=rss
Ayla Brown made the Top 24 during Season 5. Her comments about her fellow contestants and their prior experience.
When I was on the show two seasons ago, it was the same story. Lisa Tucker had been on Broadway, Taylor Hicks and Chris Daughtry were already in bands that were selling CDs, and Mandisa was doing studio work and touring with famous country singers.
What's your opinion? Are the Idol rules too loose? Should they be tightened up a little bit?
(And we all know that Taylor's CDs were self-pressed and sold from the trunk of his car. I just wish she had done a little research before she wrote her little article.)
I can't believe she hasn't gotten over it yet! lol MB
I think that the problem with the rules is they can be changed at whim, and they can be reinterpreted at whim. The only enforcers are the producers that set the rules in the first place, and since they all have a financial stake in not only the show but the post-show success (and in the case of this year's ringers, pre-show success) of the contestants, of course they are going to want as high quality as possible. (Then again, the fact that Carly (Hennessy) Smithson only sold 3000 CDs after a $2M promotional campaign pretty much assures us she's not really high quality. Arista's just trying to recoup their losses.)
Exactly what makes an amateur, anyway? Someone who has never been paid to sing. And if you really, really want to be a singer, like all the Idol contestants I've ever seen, you're not going to sit around and wait for Simon to discover you in your bedroom. You're going to go out and get gigs. Most won't pay, but some will, even if you're paid in beer. My point is, if you're any good, you have prior performing experience.
(BTW, I didn't bother reading the article... frankly not concerned with what Ayla has to say.)
I disagree with Ayla's statements. I do not think that David Archuleta's "raw talent" will hurt him in the end....that's a weird comment. I spent some time on youtube last night watching old video of David....there is a beautiful version of Mary Did You Know from a corporate Christmas event and stunning piano and vocal performance of A Thousand Miles that looks like it was done in his living room.
I agree that she may still be bitter over her Idol exit. Her music dreams may have been bigger than her hoop dreams.
I was under the impression that the only hard and fast rule was that the contestants could not have a current major label deal....I thought it also implied past record label deal and Taylor was exempt because his CDs were self produced/not with a record label.
Seger: As far as I know, you are right.. no current major label deal.
And I also agree with your assessment of Ayla -- sour grapes!
I think Ayla always came across as a spoiled kid and it doesn't
seem like she's changed much.
She really needs to move
on.
I agree, making your own CDs and having a real major label contract
are completely different.
I was routing for Ayla early on in that season. After all, she was from Boston and I love her name (from the lead character in the Clan of the Cave Bear books by Jean Auel, which I love). But it does seem like there are some sour grapes here.