I have long been resistant to Melinda's charms - the hackneyed narrative of the backup singer who just wants a shot in the spotlight. I was an early critic of her fake surprised look whenever the judges complimented her. (Weeks later I was vindicated when Simon himself criticized her for this.) And I thought she seemed like a throwback - an Idol for yesteryear, destined at best to sing a jingle for rolaids or polident.
I hungered for a forward-looking Idol.
But last night something clicked with me. It began with the shots of her lovely grandparents. I happen to be a big fan of grandparents in general. Relationships between grandparents and their grandchildren are less complicated, fraught than parental relationships. My grandmothers, for instance, gave me pure unfiltered affection. I had nothing but warm feelings for them and admiration.
These days grandparents are assuming greater financial responsibilities for their grandchildren in light of increasing financial stress on a still increasing number of single-parent households. So grandparents are more valued than ever. Plus they're a link with the past. And that's comforting.
Seeing Melinda's grandparents beaming with pride, I began to see Melinda's connection to the past as a strength, an anchor in these unsteady times.
And maybe, too, her advanced age and experience will give her the emotional maturity and mettle she needs to serve as our American Idol. Make no mistake: the show faces tough times. (Already the ratings have been rocked.) The next American Idol needs to demonstrate leadership and make difficult decisions.
For her third selection, Melinda sang I'm A Woman and her whole journey came full circle. She ended the song alongside her own back-up singers. It was a brilliant image: Melinda, the former backup singer, returning to the mothership - receiving the blessing of her former doowop-ers.
As for the song she sang, the message was clear: I'm a Woman, not a Girl. I'm ready to lead.
***
I still like Jordin. I think she's magic on stage. And it's clear from the reaction shots of her very intense Dad that there'll be hell to pay if she loses. But she hasn't recaptured the glory of "You'll Never Walk Alone" from a few weeks back.
As for Blake, he should have sung I Like Big Butts. The clip of him with Sir Mixalot was more entertaining than what he did on stage.
Mo Rocca has appeared on a bunch of shows, including 'The Daily Show,' 'I Love the 80s,'...
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Melinda's Grandparents
Posted May 16th 2007 10:51AM by Mo Rocca
Filed under: American Idol, Melinda Doolittle, Jordin Sparks, Simon Cowell, Blake Lewis
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. How odd, Mo, that it takes Melinda's grandparents for you to see what a phenomenon she is.
Wow, a great night for these three.
It will be sad no matter who goes home tomorrow, but here's how I think they stacked up.
I thought Jordin's first song was pretty good. I did not care for her rendition of "She Works Hard for the Money," but completely disagree with Simon about her third song choice. I love the song to begin with, and think Jordin did a great job with "I Who Have Nothing." She sang it with raw emotion and her vocals were spot on, which they are not always for her. I hate the whole idea that if they sing certain songs they get labeled old-fashioned.
I actually liked Blake's "Roxanne." He always goes for broke, looks like he has a great time and is not afraid to shake things up a little. I agree with the judges that his second song, "This Love" was his best. His third song, "When I Get You Alone" had so much original spin it was hardly recognizable, but he sang it well. I always like Blake's originality and his willingness to put himself out there.
Melinda. What can you say? She was so incredible it just blew me away. Thought the Whitney song, when I heard what it was, would be a bore, but her intensity and vocal mastery made it great. "Nutbush" is a great song and its a real challenge to do Tina. She pulled if off flawlessly. "I Am Woman" was such a showstopper and should silence all the folks who think Melinda doesn't know how to excite a crowd. She is clearly head and shoulders above Blake and Jordin vocally.
I am in the minority here, I know, when I say that I would like to see Melinda and Blake in the final two, with Melinda to win. It would be such a diverse competition with these two, with the best vocals matched with the most original performer.
Jordin is very good but not great yet vocally - that will take a few more years. Because she is not the best singer, nor the most original, I think she should be eliminated. That probably won't happen. I'm betting Blake will go.
One thought on this whole marketing business. You hear people going on about how Jordin is the most marketable. Maybe she is, but that's what matters most to record producers. You and I should care less about who sells the most records. It's odd to think that I, who thinks Melinda is the best, would vote Jordin because she's more marketable. What do I care? It won't affect any paycheck I bring home. I'm voting for the best singer, and Melinda has sealed the deal for me.
If I want a popularity contest, I'll go back to high school
Dawn at 12:16PM on May 16th 2007
2. OK Mo, here's my conundrum:
You and all the other voters who love Jordin's youth and perkiness baffle me. You have cited her performance of "You'll Never Walk Alone" over and over again. It was one of her best, although I thought last nights "I Who Have Nothing" was better. But those two songs were old. She sang them while rooted to the stage in the same spot like a statue and has a habit of wearing what looks like prom or bridesmaid's dresses. I don't feel the contemporary vibe on what are said to be her best performances.
Melinda, on the other hand, rocks the house doing Tina and "I'm a Woman." She has blown the roof off the joint on a number of occasions, yet gets the "boring" label.
Blake, of course, IS an original, but his vocals can't compare to the girls.
So what is it? If its just age, then its just a number, because Jordin's performances have been consistently beyond her age.
If its the perkiness factor, that Jordin laughs and smiles a lot, while Melinda seems to be more self-effacing and shy, then we need to examine why we vote. To think that someone's cute interactions with Ryan after the song is the reason she gets a vote is incomprehensible to me.
You're longing for a young, forward singer? Then wait till one who truly has the vocal chops comes along in the competition to reward them. Don't just give your vote to Jodin because she is 17.
BetteBBest at 12:42PM on May 16th 2007
3. Mo, loved your comments on grandparents and your understanding of how it helps tie Melinda to her past, which makes her future. She's amazing and I hope she wins, even though I like all of them!
SingIt2Me at 1:32PM on May 16th 2007
4. Blake is clearly the musician of the bunch. He is not the jack-of-all-trades...he's more like a semi-master of all trades. He's a great, versatile singer, and has the ear of a producer, and the ability to make his musical vision come to life without the aid of the 3 judges. I think that he'd be better off in the music industry without the "idol" title.
Mattmandu at 2:22PM on May 16th 2007
5. I think Jordin is an exceptional singer and can pull anything off. She is young and vibrant. She isn't always original but she is only 17 imagine what she will bring to the stage if given the opportunity , we have to remember she is coming into this almost blindly where Melinda has been on stage back up singing and knows the ropes. I think she is a performer and the shyness is an act. I think she can sing but I also think she is limited.
Blake by far beats them both in originality but what he does only goes so far . I don't think his singing alone sets him apart from anyone else. He has certainly held his own.
I watch the show faithfully from the beginning and look forward for each show. I wish them all good luck but I am personally pulling for Jordin. I dont think they should be critisized for the age of the song sang or the originality because,,,, from one person to the next the critisizim changes and the rules to how they feel is important or not important change. If that makes sense? Geez Judges!
Natalie at 2:23PM on May 16th 2007
6. Ok personaly i gotta say i dont know what your thinking
i mean cmon melenda is gold and always has been.
Jordan well i love jordan but here's the thing her voice is amazing and all that she's got power and range ... but no personal style
not saying it wont come with age but well shes got a long way to go
now blake wow such mixed reviews
but then taylor got them too its what happens when your different
blake is probably one of the most brilliant competitors to date
he has a deep understanding of music compasition and theaory and even more amazing is his vocal ability fromt he beat boxing to the vocal tricks to his amazingly pure voice . Yes he may not have the power of melenda and jordan but niether of them have the crystal purity of tone that he does . i think blake in every way deserves to have gotten this far and deserves to be in the finals . as for the winner well ill judge that when i see there final performances
Dave at 2:43PM on May 16th 2007
7. Natalie,
Just so you know, Jordin is not coming into the competition blindly. This is a myth Jordin worshippers like to foster. In fact, she has toured and done backup with singers like Michael Smith. She was not plucked from obscurity to compete against the evil professional, Melinda Doolittle.
We've all heard a million times that she's 17. We've heard 2 million times that she's refreshing. I, for one, don't see this, especially in her most praised perfomances. I think if this was last year's season, she'd have gone home a month ago.
Just because she's young doesn't mean she deserves to be the next Idol. This isn't Teen Idol or Most Improved Idol or Perky Best Smile Idol. You don't deserve a win over the best singer because you're 17.
She hasn't earned it.
SingIt2Me at 2:50PM on May 16th 2007
8. Although I believe Melinda has an amazing voice ( I will not deny her that) She does not need this contest. I don't think an "american Idol" label will do her justice at all. Also, although I also believe that JOrdan (whom I absolutely love) and Melinda have the stronger voice to do knock out songs, I love love love EVERYTHING that Blake sings. Wether I know the song or not, he makes me want to hear it because he does put such a contemporary feel to it. He could sing about a box of cheerios and I would love it.
I'm just not feeling a conection with Melinda, and she seems really fake to me, with this whole innocent act she has going on. She knows she's good, who is she kidding anyway?? I just can't stand to look at her.
All 3 will get contracts, so it really doesn't matter who wins, but I was very dissapointed with this years season.
Holly at 3:33PM on May 16th 2007
9. ok so i think that blake is awesome! look do u see jordin or melinda beep-boxing and pulling it off. he may not seem like the best singer but he is the most origional and i think that in his performance with the song by maroon5 was aweeeeeesome he sounded really good. idk they all r good but wat im trying to say is that blake shouldnt be singled out just yet. lyl pplz!!:)
Erin Lax at 4:26PM on May 16th 2007
10. Im still voting for Jordin.
MrsMoRocca at 4:54PM on May 16th 2007
11. I agree with Holly. Blake's talent is fresh and innovative. He can absolutely do no wrong. He is what today is all about. I'll buy him his first box of Cherrios. Jordin, has a great voice, but she needs time to grow. Melinda and her fake surprised look all the is a bore..great voice or not. All things considered, Blake should win. Maybe is "box" will put a needed dent in the old tiresome rap!!
jackie at 5:21PM on May 16th 2007
12. I agree one hundred percent with you about melinda. but i still dont know about her being an american idol. she seems to act "old." i personally cant see her singing on the pop charts or hearing her on the more popular radio stations. i can see her doing like gospel, soul, r&b stuff. the problem is that i dont think she attracts to a younger crowd. my parents and my grandparents are in love with her. i think she appeals to an older crowd. and thats ok, its just that i think american idol is set for a younger, fresher set of peeople.
i like jordin too because shes just unbelieveable for a 17 year old. and for blake, i still love him, so i think you should give him a chance. he'll definitely be bigger and better than melinda. i hope its jordin and blake in the finale! GO BLAKE!
ohhliviamahhvec at 12:33PM on May 19th 2007
13. Hey!! Blake is the fricken awsomest! so there!
xoobeautyxxo at 5:43PM on May 16th 2007
14. I think that Blake is one of the most overrated American Idol contestants of all time. Unlike Melinda who has risen to the occassion EVERY SINGLE WEEK, Blake has had many bad weeks (e.g. Diana Ross week, Bee Gees week, country week). Being "innovative" and taking "risks" should not be praised just for its own sake. With his "innovation," Blake has butchered quite a few songs on that show, the most noteworthy being "You Keep Me Hangin' On."
Furthermore, let's analyze this alleged uniqueness. Vocally, he sounds like the lead singer of Maroon 5 and everyone else who sounds like him. In terms of music arrangement, he just sets the lyrics to a bad Eurodance/techno beat and then beat boxes in the middle of the song to add flare. Even Randy who usually praises Blake got annoyed at his constant need to generate noise (beat box) to "spice" up a song. He is only "original" within his element. Once he is given a genre where his obnoxious trickery won't work, he falls flat on his face.
On the other hand, Melinda has batted every genre thrown at her out of the park. She should be the Amerocan Idol hands down.
megaloman86 at 5:50PM on May 16th 2007
15. I think that Blake is one of the most overrated American Idol contestants of all time. Unlike Melinda who has risen to the occassion EVERY SINGLE WEEK, Blake has had many bad weeks (e.g. Diana Ross week, Bee Gees week, country week). Being "innovative" and taking "risks" should not be praised just for its own sake. With his "innovation," Blake has butchered quite a few songs on that show, the most noteworthy being "You Keep Me Hangin' On."
Furthermore, let's analyze this alleged uniqueness. Vocally, he sounds like the lead singer of Maroon 5 and everyone else who sounds like him. In terms of music arrangement, he just sets the lyrics to a bad Eurodance/techno beat and then beat boxes in the middle of the song to add flare. Even Randy who usually praises Blake got annoyed at his constant need to generate noise (beat box) to "spice" up a song. He is only "original" within his element. Once he is given a genre where his obnoxious trickery won't work, he falls flat on his face.
On the other hand, Melinda has batted every genre thrown at her out of the park. She should be the next American Idol hands down.
megaloman86 at 5:53PM on May 16th 2007