In another forum where "Idol" has been discussed this season, one of the contributors posted that it doesn't matter what anyone thinks of various singers....that they get as far as they get because America preferred them over others. This writer felt that the pending tour would revitalize a number of the former contestants, including the inexplicably popular Sanjaya. I was compelled (!) to respond:
"America will NOT sustain Sanjaya's recording contracts. Bunches and bunches of 'tweens' and 'teens' voted hundreds of times each for Sanjaya...and then Blake...and Jordin. But when it comes to these guys' first CD or concerts, those 'tweens' and 'teens' won't be buying hundreds and hundreds of CDs & tickets each. And thatta will be thatta. It's happened every year.
"Taylor Hicks' CD tanked, and his career is in the doldrums.
"Katharine McPhee's CD tanked, and her career is in the doldrums.
"Ruben Studdard is so lost in the doldrums that no one may ever see him again.
"Fantasia is still trying to recapture the audience that catapulted her to fame and deserted her when her CD came out. She's a game girl, and I hope she succeeds. She's doing "The Color Purple" on tour and I hear she's been well-received.
"Diana deGarmo...almost 18 now, I think...has been on Broadway in a musical.
"Justin Guarini has tried very hard to rescue some professional semblance of his former status. He can be seen on the TV Guide channel chatting with other 'Idol' also-rans...about 'Idol'. Not exactly what he thought he'd be doing now, I'm sure.
"Jordin MAY have a career....in time. But she's NOT the best by any stretch of the imagination ... not compared to Melinda.
"Blake....
? I see no future for Blake beyond this flareup. One CD and he'll be toast (24 tracks of same-o, same-o intonations and beat-box novelties -- yawn).
"Melinda will do well in a niche market -- R&B, more than likely. If Hollywood is smart, she'll get some title songs to sing and make some HUGE hits a la Shirley Bassey.
"'Idol' also-rans who have done very well include Clay Aiken, who has done better financially than any of them -- winners and runners-up. Kelly may have passed him, though. But she owes the resurgence of her career to Clay. His concerts were sold out across the country. She couldn't give copies of her first CD away. She joined up and "opened" for him (performed first). Suddenly, she found a base audience and she soared.
"Chris Daughtry can laugh and laugh and laugh. Ousted early last season, he's outsold Taylor, Katherine and just about every other 'Idol' winner except Kelly and Carrie....and he may pass Carrie very soon.
"There's a reason Elliott Yamin performed on tonight's show instead of Katherine or Taylor. He's hot. They're not
"Elliott went home as second runner-up because America voted and preferred someone else...but apparently not enough to sustain careers.
"As with Clay and Chris and Elliott, they're lining up and paying to listen to and see the ones they didn't vote for!
"(I fully expect one or both of last year's finalists to perform in next week's finale, but both will be pretty much overshadowed by the traditional parade of big-name stars).
"Enjoy Sanjaya and Jordin and Blake while you can."
