Video Beat SUPER MAX - Chickezie Eliminated From AMERICAN IDOL - MARCH 2008

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

Some weeks choosing the right song is a daunting task such as the previous two weeks contestants had to choose songs written by Lennon and McCartney and the Beatles. For all of the contestants those songs were written BEFORE THEY WERE BORN. For some contestants the songs were written 20 to 27 years prior to their birth. - NBA ON TV - Recommended TV Listings

Sunday March 23, 2008

He Picked The Wrong Song

Being selected for the bottom three was familiar territory for Chickezie Smith and Syeshia Mercado as they were also joined by Texan Jason Castro. America voted and they decided that it was the end of the road for Smith who walked the Simon Cowell tightrope of criticism since he participated in the Hollywood auditions.

In a week where the contestants chose a song to sing from the year that they were born apparently was Chickezie's undoing as he sang 'Living In The Moment' a song that I'm not familiar with. As Cowell often warned the contestants must choose the right material. "He picked the wrong song," replied Cowell when asked by AI host Ryan Seacrest what went wrong for Chickezie?

In some weeks choosing the right song is a daunting task such as the previous two weeks contestants had to choose songs written by Lennon and McCartney and the Beatles. For all of the contestants those songs were written BEFORE THEY WERE BORN. For some contestants the songs were written 20 to 27 years prior to their birth.

Do the logic; their grandparents are more likely to be more familiar with Beatles songs than their parents. Beatles drummer Ringo Starr is 67 years-old but will go on tour this summer.

The oldest surviving (not eliminated) AI contestant is Australian Michael Johns who was born in 1978. The Beatles disbanded in 1970 after their famous roof top performance of their last album 'Let It Be.'

The difficulty for the AI contestants to choose a song from material they may never have heard before is enormous. They then must find one they like and listen through it to see if it fits their style and comfort zone. They then have to learn the lyrics and know it well enough to get inside the song and feel and interpret its meaning. This must be accomplished during a busy week for all contestants of making appearances, learning their song and practicing and arranging it with the AI house band and then do a walk through rehearsal of the television show. For a seasoned professional doing that is demanding but for an AI newcomer it can be overwhelming.

The other determining factor is if the performer sings the song well how many of the AI viewers are familiar with the song and like it? The next step is how many of the viewers take the time to vote? Those are things that an AI contestant must consider when choosing a song but being young and inexperienced its unlikely that those thoughts enter their mind.

Cowell often complains that he hoped that the contest would be based on talent and NOT be a popularity contest. Aside from the personalities and various backgrounds of the contestants might also factor in a voters decision. Some contestants who have marginal talent and voices are getting by not by their talent but by their looks, background or personality.

One of the strongest singers among the group is David Archuleta who was born in 1990. I have shoes older than that. He has drawn criticism from Cowell for his choice of material. But certainly there is no escaping the fact that Arhuleta he has a tremendous voice capable of being in the top three. The question is will he choose the right material.

David Cook who is 25 and born in 1982 is making a strong bid to be the AI champion. He did a Chris Cornelius version of the Michael Jackson hit 'Billy Jean.' That rendition was a first for me but Cook did the job in a very moving performance. Win or not Cook has the talent and voice to be the next Chris Daughtry and be a major recording artist. His strength is in his choice of material and performance. He feels what he sings.

Who will be the next American Idol? Stay tuned.

Note:

Since starting the final 12 the show airs only two days a week Wednesday and Thursday in the Asian region and Tuesday and Wednesday in America.

AMERICAN IDOL RESULTS

12. David Hernandez

11. Amanda Overmyer

10. Chikezie Smith

2007 - AMERICAN IDOL COUNTDOWN To FINAL

12. Brandon Rogers

11. Stephanie Edwards

10. Chris Sligh

9. Gina Glocksen

8. Haley Scarnato

7. Sanjaya Malakar

6. Phil Stacy

5 Chris Richardson

4. Lakisha Jones

3. Melinda Doolittle

2. Blake Lewis

1. JORDIN SPARKS

NBA GAMES ON TV

NBA (National Basketball Association) games are televised in the Southeast Asia region on the Star Sports television Network on Friday and ESPN Saturday's. Start times vary depending on the start time in the region of the USA from where the games is televised.

TV SCHEDULE

Note: The shows listed are for the Cambodia - Thailand time zone. Check your local listings for time and date in your area.

MONDAY

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

6:00 PM - TOP MODEL CYCLE 9 - Channel V - NEW EPISODE

10:00 PM - TOP MODEL CYCLE 9 - Channel V

TUESDAY

7:00 AM - TOP MODEL - CYCLE 9 - Channel V

11:00 AM - TOP MODEL - CYCLE 9 - Channel V

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

WEDNESDAY

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

5:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World

7:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World - repeat of 5 PM telecast

8:00 PM - CONTENDER ASIA - AXN - NEW EPISODE

10:30 PM - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World - repeat of 5/7 PM telecast

11:00 PM - CONTENDER ASIA - AXN - repeat of 8 PM telecast

THURSDAY

11:00 AM - CONTENDER ASIA - AXN

12 NOON - AMERICAN IDOL - Star World - repeat of previous day

5:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL ELIMINATION SHOW - Star World

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

7:00 PM - AMERICAN IDOL ELIMINATION SHOW - Star World - repeat of 5 PM telecast

10:30 PM - AMERICAN IDOL ELIMINATION SHOW - Star World - repeat of 5/7 PM telecast

FRIDAY

??:?? AM - NBA GAME - Star Sports

12 NOON - AMERICAN IDOL ELIMINATION SHOW - Star World - repeat of previous day

2:00 PM - TOP MODEL - CYCLE 9 - Channel V

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

9:00 PM - NBA GAME - Star Sports - Replay of earlier game)

SATURDAY

7:30 AM - CONTENDER ASIA - AXN

??:?? AM - NBA GAME - ESPN

3:00 PM - TOP MODEL - CYCLE 9 - Channel V

5:00 PM - CONTENDER ASIA - AXN

7:30 PM - HI NET WORTH - (financial magazine show) - CNBC

9:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

1:00 AM - CONTENDER ASIA - AXN

SUNDAY

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

6:30 PM - HI NET WORTH - (financial magazine show) - CNBC

9:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

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