AI will be having its first audition episode next week on Tuesday. It's incredible to think that the show is in its 8th year already.

The new judge, Kara DioGuardi, will hopefully add something new to the judges table. It would be wonderful if she would give more direct musical criticism for contestants to work on. In retrospect, previous years of AI seemed more focused on presentation critque rather than musical critique which is what they need the most. Instead of saying "I didn't like it" they could say to work on their breathing because the higher notes lacked the necessary breath support to carry them through. In other words, maybe something more specific so as to help the singer improve their singing.

Also, I'd love to see someone with an operatic tone to their voice on the show. Honestly, it could probably work well in a variety of genres including rock as the band Queen proved. The more musical diversity you have the better the show it will be because we can appreciate a great range of styles from the dramatic power voices to the more subtle and nuanced voices. Overall, I'm looking forward to the season.

What does everyone think?

Which people that haven't mentored yet would you like to see mentor?

There are so many people: Alicia Keys, Barbra Streisand, B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Christina Aguilera, and Rufus Wainwright would be cool mentors.

Every year I say I am going to quit watching this crapfest and it never happens. So I'm gonna shut my big fat mouth, and watch it anyways!

I am personally over the belters, unless they can do something else. I don't want any more Syeshas, Kim Locke's, Carly Smithsons (unless she was doing more of a rock edge and not a Celine Dion edge.) Unless they can also kill on a guitar, or kill on a modern non belting song, and not add unnecessary runs to every song. I used to love it, but my music tastes have definitely changed now. I don't really enjoy Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion music anymore. If they belt a song, I suppose it's okay to maybe a more unique song.

I'm really looking for a more unique (or a throwback) style. Someone with like you said SMR, an Operatic tone to their voice would be a 110% made of awesome. As long as they don't use it to sing Whitney Houston/Celine Dion songs to me I'm excellent.

I'd love if we could get a guy who sounds a little more like Mika (when he isn't acting out), or like Paolo Nutini. That would be awesome, and I'd root for them.

As for mentors, I'd like to see Cyndi Lauper, if they have Broadway themed maybe Idina Menzel or Kristen Chenoweth, Santana, Paul Freaking McCartney, maybe someone like Billy Joel? I would love to see Andrew Lloyd Webber come back, I thought he was an absolutely fantastic mentor and seemed to deeply care for the contestants.

Berkana,
I'm with you. I don't want anymore belters. I love Mika's music. I doubt we'll see anybody like him. Last year, Josiah Leming sang Mika's song, ''Grace Kelly'', but he didn't even come close to Mika.

Back in season 5, there was an opera singer, Stevie. Remember her? She really messed up. I thionk she was sick that day. She was unique with alot of potential.

It would be pretty cool if opera singer, Paul Potts would be a mentor. I know the mentors are usually on there to promote a new cd or tour or show of some kind. It bothers me when the coaching is all about them. Also, it's disturbing to see icons past their prime sing worse than the amateur contestants.

I loved Andrew Lloyd Webber too. I thought it was awesome the way Cookie sang ''Music of the Night'' without re arranging it. Up until then, we all thought he was strictly a rocker.

Berk: I love the idea of having some throwback singers. Hopefully we can have a genuine Jazz singer and musician on the show this year. Here in Chicago, we have a lot of amazing Blues and Jazz singers who have yet to make it in the business. It would be a treat to hear someone take on classic Jazz music and maybe some modern spin on it too. Norah Jones would be a fun mentor if they wanted to do modern Jazz. :) And as for another Broadway night.......I hope so! The contestants (overall) did very well with it, and ALB's coaching was a major part of it.

As for the belters, I think they are a staple on Idol LOL. I don't mind the powerful voices. But like you said, they should tap into material that has not yet been showcased on the show. It will be fresh for us as the audience and they can be a trailblazer by doing music no idol has done on there yet. Music like Streisand, Franklin, and Wonder can still be tapped into, but PLEASE do different songs that yet to be done.

Aviva: I agree about the self-promoting. Some of the mentors seem to be more engaged coaches while others are all about themselves. Dolly Parton and Andrew Lloyd Weber were my favorites from last year because they seemed like they genuinely wanted to help the singers. Hopefully the mentors this year will bring out the strength of their voices by sound advice and musical choices.

I saw a commercial of a woman singing Heart's "Barracuda". She had a Rock edge to her look and tone of voice. It will be interesting to see if she makes it. I'd like for niche' artists to show up who can adapt well to each style AI throws at them. It would be cool to have a Jazz, Blues, R&B, Rock, Country, Opera, Pop, Musical Theatre, and etc all thrown in to make it an eclectic and dynamic show.

Oh and BTW, they are supposedly going back to how they did things in Season 1-3. They will sing in groups during Hollywood week and have it be more extensive with less auditions. Then they break a top 36 down to 3 groups of 12. The top 3 people in each week make 9 of the top 12 and then they do a wildcard show to see who rounds out the top 12. I hope that makes sense? LOL. IDK which format I like better, but I'm thinking the top 24 is better because we get to know the people. Whereas now we will only see them once in the preceding 3 weeks till the top 12.

Whether AI features belters, throwbacks or something else, I'm just glad it will start in a matter of days. :woot: Although I, too, have had some criticisms of the show, I'll probably watch it every season it airs. Where else am I going to find this combination of musical talent with some of the best unscripted comedy (during the auditions) on television today? :)

Kara DioGuardi

Interestingly enough, I think she is going to be the female equivalent of Simon. :)

I hate that they're doing the top 36 format instead of top 24... blah.

Yeah, I agree with you. Hopefully we will end up wrong and we get to see strong and balanced talent across the 3 weeks. From what I heard, a strong singer from Chicago potentially made the Top 50. Yay!!!! :) I hope it is true.

I'm so ready for the new season!! im not too thrilled about the 4th judge thing (like they say...if it aint broke...dont fix it) lol...idk thats what i think.

I'm soooo oexcited to look for jason castro' brother!!
and the osmond guyy

ANNNNDDD my friend just told me that she might try out next year (i'm going to make her) since the first time i heard her sing i told her that she HAS to try out when she's old enough. She's RLYYY good. so im excited for that

that would b awesome if someone won from chicago! all the winners have been from the south...so that would be even cooler!

i hope some more people sing elliott songs..at least once that would be graeattt lol!!!!

I'll give the new judge a chance. Who knows? Maybe she has something that the show needs.

I didn't know anything about Jason Castro's brother. I knew about the Osmond guy, though.

I'm not sure about the Top 36 format. I just want good talent. I would like to see more of Hollywood Week.

I'm just excited that it's finally almost here already again! :rocker:

I'm looking forward to the new season, as well.

I'm liking the Felicia Barton girl, so far. :)

Angela Martin from Chicago is supposedly in the Top 50. :)

So I can't take the suspense... I had to check out the spoilers. Besides, I'm not watching this year, like I say every year since Season 5. Yeah right!

SMR I just checked out the singer from Chicago... she's excellent!

Hmmm, but what about the rules for having a website and being on AI? I noticed a lot of the youtube videos have been taken down from the so called contestants, but they still have myspace's.

I think they can have their myspaces up until they are actually on the show. I know the contestants in the past have kept them up till they were on the show.

what Osmond guy is everyone talking about?

The Osmond guy is supposedly related to Donny and Marie. That's all I've really heard about him.

Potential Top 50 people (Warning: Spoilers)

Felicia Barton singing: No One

Angela Martin audition from S7: Audition

Adam Lambert singing: Crazy

Justin Williams singing: The Prayer

David Osmond singing: Some Kind of Wonderful

i think it should b interesting w/David on the show...Falicia seems RLY good and so does Angela

I'm sooooo excited for a new season!!

Ok, I was 'eh' excited about the new season, but after listening to the clips above...I am so excited!! :woohoo: (altho, still not as excited as I will be when I FINALLY hear Elliotts' new CD!! lol)

A couple more:

Asa Barnes a 28-year-old band director at Smith Hill Middle School. And, Wayne Hutcherson, a 26-year-old Starbucks employee from Grain Valley

http://www.myfoxkc.com/myfox/pages/Home/De...Id=1.1.1&sflg=1

Jesse McCullagh

http://www.myspace.com/jessemccullagh

Von Smith:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRexSeidRF0

David Osmond diagnosed with MS. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVN_w4Z5PE4

There are many videos of David Osmond up on youtube.

Hey, RM, long time no post. How is life going?!

ITA. If these are people in the top 36, this might end up being a strong and diverse group of singers. I can't wait for tomorrow!

Like Berk said upthread, for all of our aggravation at times with this show, it can still be fun/entertaining to watch LOL.

Hi ya soul!! yeah, I have been slacking badly in posts, but I still peruse the board daily. I'm 36 weeks along now, so sitting at the computer for extended periods of time is not at all comfortable! LOL
I'm gonna try to post more, especially as I'll have even less time for a while once he arrives. *sigh* The things I do for love...;)

Wow, RM, only 4 more weeks until you see your beautiful new baby boy! Yeah!

Sorry if this has already been posted. It's about changes to the show.

Less themes and only 30 minutes on results night!!!

Sort of makes booking talent a little tougher doesn't it??

http://tv.yahoo.com/blog/when-idol-becomes-idle--77

I'm sooo exited they brought back the Wildcard! That is awesome!

Lovin the 30 min results show too....1 hr was way too long.

Yep chatty, it won't be too much longer now! It's hard to believe how quickly this pregnancy has flown by!

Hey rm, got any names yet???

Yay, it's here!

Here we go.......................

:awe: ELLIOTT AND CLAUDETTE IN RICHMOND!!!!!!! That was awesome!

That was amazing! :awe:

Okay, now I'm in the right spot. I edited my post in News Alert. Nancy can you edit yours that quotes my post. Thanks. I got excited and forgot.

It's gonna be a good season!

No problem! I did the same thing and had to delete, lol!

I think that's one of the best starts of a season that I've seen. It was awesome all the way to David Cook. They even included the screaming teens for Archie. LOL Those girls have become famous. That clip was also shown on Ellen when Cook was on there.

That was a great opening.

I also feel that they included that footage of Claudette on purpose as kind of a tribute. Could be wrong but that's how it felt to me.

I felt the same.

This had better be a worthwhile cat fight.

Excuse me guys - Elliott is logged in

:thud: WHAT............... :hooray:

I noticed he was logged on as well. I like the screen name. :)