It's a bit antithetical to the basis of the show to allow a professional singer to participate against amateurs. She is a backup singer and has performed with Michael McDonald, Anointed, Mandisa, Aaron Neville, Jonny Lang, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Alabama (band) and CeCe Winans.
If this is not a successful singing career, then I don't know what is. I think most of the non-winners in the finals would consider themselves lucky to attain her level of professional singing success.
2007-03-28 08:21:17 · 24 answers · asked by freeetibet 4 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Television
Stop drinking haterade. Backrunners don't get fame. Front runners do and that's y she stepped her game up and took her chance and I'm happy for her. With a voice like that she don't need to be nobody's back up singer.
2007-03-28 08:28:42 · answer #1 · answered by svictor24 6 · 3⤊ 3⤋
Melinda Doolittle has as much right as anyone to look for her big break on American Idol.
She may sing for a living, but she's not a star. American Idol is about turning someone into a star.
No disrespect to Melinda, but she's as much of a "nobody" to the general public as everyone else on the show--before they got on the show. She's an amazing singer and she deserves every bit of success she receives.
2007-03-28 15:39:17 · answer #2 · answered by dashelamet 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I tend to agree with the sentiment, but am torn. There has been a marked improvement in the talent pool on Idol over the years. So much so that I believe, truly, that a Kelly Clarkson or a Ruben Studdard wouldn't stand a CHANCE against most of the front runners from this season and last. Part of the fun of Idol is watching a relative nobody shoot to fame, and having a professional singer in the mix somehow misses the point. But on the other hand why should we "elect" sub-par entertainers to represent our music scene? Is it fair to have a professional in the mix? Maybe not, but better a professional than a Sanjaya.
2007-03-28 15:39:16 · answer #3 · answered by snorkweezl 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
What about Taylor Hicks? Hicks got his start as a professional musician in his late teens and performed around the Southeastern United States for well over the span of a decade, during which he also released two independent albums.
I think that "American Idol" should kick Sanjaya Malakar before anybody else.
2007-03-28 15:34:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think the rules on this are fairly clear...And I'm pretty sure that it states that you can't have previously had a recording contract. Being as she was only a backup singer, she would never have had a recording contract.
Additionally, Brandon was also a professional backup singer, and they didn't make him leave because of it.
Honestly, I have more problems with them allowing Antonella Barba to continue after her photo's came out, considering that they made Frenchi leave when hers showed up.
2007-03-28 15:31:27 · answer #5 · answered by abfabmom1 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have thought from the beginning that she should not be allowed to compete. Same with that Brandon Rogers guy because he is a backup singer also. I was happy when he left because I thought that meant America agreed with me and Melinda would be the next to go. It is one thing to have professional voice lessons but to have performed with such an aray of stars and have all the experience that she has does not make the competition fair. For some of the contestants it is their first time singing in front of a large crowd and that is going to play a role in their performances. American Idol is not the only show where I run into this though. I watch Dancing With The Stars and they say that the stars don't have any experience dancing. Don't get me wrong I think Joey Fatone is an excellent dancer but I don't think he should be allowed in the competition because of all his experience dancing with NSYNC. I know it's not ballroom dancing but it is still dance experience. If these shows say they are not professionals then they shouldn't allow professionals on the shows.
2007-03-28 15:33:13 · answer #6 · answered by jsmalom 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋
There were other people who sang back up who made on to American Idol (Brandon Rogers) and Jennifer Hudson had her own gig on cruise ships. Why should they kick Melinda off? It's unfair. The idea of American Idol is to get a record deal. Why shouldn't she be entitled to that?
2007-03-28 15:29:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you kick her off then you would have to kick off anyone who has ever sang in club and gotten paid. Singing in a club is still a music career. So, Melinda Doolittle should be allowed to be on the show.
2007-03-28 15:47:25 · answer #8 · answered by MomOfThree 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No but Sanjaya should because he is a crappy singer... i would pick Melinda anyday...
she has worked hard to get where she is and until she has a record under her belt and making $$ from her singing (not just back up checks), she is just as equal as everyone else. She has amazing singing skills.
2007-03-28 15:40:35 · answer #9 · answered by glorymomof3 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well wasn't Kelly Clarkson supposedly successful before American Idol? I thought that the rule was, contestants could not have record deals prior to AI, or something like that.
2007-03-28 15:31:53 · answer #10 · answered by Sarah R 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. While she has made a living at singing. She is not under contract to any record label. And that is what the grand prize is for American Idol. A record contract.
2007-03-28 15:42:23 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋