Re: American Idol Thoughts

jchitty · Post by **jchitty** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 3:59 pm

Sorry Michael....guess I need to crack open my British slang translation book as far as the word git goes, I thought it simply meant smug bastard or something. I really have nothing against Simon, but like I say, I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of his critiques sometimes. You have to give him lots of credit for succeeding like he did as well. Plus, I think he's kinda cute. He needs to ditch all those t-shirts though...maybe we should do a fashion makeover.

booker · Post by **booker** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 4:16 pm

I saw a bit of tonights episode. It still stuns me that so many people think they have talent that don't. And then they get so pissy when you tell them. Not only are they not talented, but they're a bit of a jackass as well.

michael11 · Post by **michael11** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 11:40 pm

Quote:Sorry Michael....guess I need to crack open my British slang translation book as far as the word git goes, I thought it simply meant smug bastard or something. I really have nothing against Simon, but like I say, I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of his critiques sometimes. You have to give him lots of credit for succeeding like he did as well. Plus, I think he's kinda cute. He needs to ditch all those t-shirts though...maybe we should do a fashion makeover. Hi J,your right about Simon and his success but I think I will let you work on his makeover. Thought you might be interested to know BBC Radio had a Country moment this morning. Amazed and Standing Outside The Fire,one straight after the other.Very unusual. Great songs.Oh yeah, I just rememebered.Ricky Skaggs had a go at some Cockney Rhyming Slang at a concert in London a few years ago.It was hilarious.Mick.

jchitty · Post by **jchitty** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 6:32 am

Rockinthebox, I missed AI again, but I have to admit, I don't watch it that much anyway. Mick, yeah, I hear the Irish and the British like American country and bluegrass music....since the roots of American country seem to be Irish folk music, I guess that's why. I guess I could get BBC radio by my computer, maybe I'll have to check that out sometimes. Ricky Skaggs is unbelievable. My husband plays the banjo, but not LIKE THAT. Somehow, I can't imagine 'ole Ricky doing Cockney Ryyming Slang.....that would crack me up.I agree, Lonestar's "Amazed" is unbelievable......so the Brits like Garth too?

booker · Post by **booker** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 7:16 am

For anyone who wants to read about Kelly Clarksons take on the AI judging:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16796638/

jchitty · Post by **jchitty** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 10:37 am

I believe Shaka's heart is in the right place when he defends the contestants that were criticized, but the fact of the matter is, you have to be tough in this biz. I have to agree with Kelly Clarkson. I'm sure worse has been said about other musicians and singers.....all you have to do is pick up a tabloid to read some of the very critical comments of them. None of us like having our feet put to the fire, but if you believe in yourself, you will overcome it, I think. I don't know if you will get that brass ring as in 'huge contract', but maybe you'll find your place in the music world anyway. If you can't take those hard knocks, no matter how brutal they are, you're going to give up. Look at the kid who Simon called 'Bush Baby.' He didn't give up. He couldn't sing well, granted, and he won't be in the music biz probably. However, he got a guest correspondent deal on a late night TV show. (sorry, forgot the late night TV show host's name) So he's parlaying whatever he has, 'bush baby eyes' and all into something positive. You might feel he's humiliating himself, but I think he has to decide that for himself, and he seems to have gotten something from the whole experience. I'm guessing you get tons of rejection, snubs, insults, 'call security' instances and whatever have you, hehe....tons of doors will be closed in your face. I read the Dixie Chicks (whether you like them or not) were thrown out of David Letterman's studio when they auditioned, long before they got their big break. I believe Hummingbird recommended the book "Six Steps to Songwriting Success" by Jason Blume. I read it right before Christmas, and it's helped me deal with any rejection that comes my way. Knowing that Blume had 11 years pass before he even got a song on the radio inspires you to keep plugging no matter what. I also read that Jeffery Steele had a hard time in Nashville at first....even though he started out as a member of the group "Boy Howdy." Nashville didn't like his songs at first either. I figure this biz is like a game of darts.....keep throwing (and creating) those darts....sooner or later, something's bound to hit the target. And if nothing ever happens, well, if you're a songwriter, you'll end up making a CD of all your demos, and your family members will get one helluva Christmas present.

ernstinen · Post by **ernstinen** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 11:55 am

Quote: the fact of the matter is, you have to be tough in this biz. Yea, I believe I made a similar observation.Here's one of the classic rejections ever: Before The Beatles were signed by EMI, A&R heads at EMI and their labels Columbia and HMV had actually turned down signing the group even before the infamous Decca rejection.EMI finally signed The Beatles, and released "Love Me Do"/"P.S. I Love You" on Parlophone. Then The Beatles recorded "Please Please Me," and the rest is history.Recording engineer Norman Smith recalls a rather cruel joke played on EMI's great rivals, Decca. "We sent a tape of 'Please Please Me' under plain wrapper to Dick Rowe, the man who turned down The Beatles. We hoped he would think it was from a struggling artist looking for a break, and that maybe he would turn them down a second time! I honestly can't remember what, if anything, he replied." Ern

booker · Post by **booker** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 12:10 pm

I've had a song on broadjam refered to as "Cheese whiz" once. That kinda hurt. Then I looked at the #1 rankings I had in my genre, and my 30% TAXI forward rate, and blew it off.

jchitty · Post by **jchitty** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 12:37 pm

Cool story, Ern. What if the Beatles had given up because someone insulted or rejected them?

ernstinen · Post by **ernstinen** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 4:22 pm

Yes, George Martin thought "Please Please Me" didn't work, but it was really a tempo (and arrangement) issue. It really wasn't a re-write, but an attitude change.The Beatles were playing it like a "dirge," as Martin put it. It was very much in the mold of a Roy Orbison ballad. Imagine "Please Please Me" being played at the tempo of "Blue Bayou." That's what it was like. (Sing it at that tempo with Orbison's vibrato, and you'll get the idea ).John & Paul were trying SO HARD to write good songs, but really the band was simply a kick-ass rock band at that time. If you've heard the "Hamburg Tapes," they were probably the best unknown rock-n-roll band in the world.So Martin wanted them to let loose this incredible energy, and that's what drove "Please Please Me" to the top of the charts. It's still the most EXCITING record they ever made, IMHO!Ern