TVSquad

I agree, she can sing and should show that, drop the act face.

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WE've been talking about this in the comments of the American Idol TOp 12 post.
Melinda isn't putting on an act, I don't think. I think she has been relegated to the background for so long, she can hardly believe that people think she has any value as an artist, as a person, as a human. But, don't you all think that there is a point where audiences will stop feeling so good for the girl with no self esteem who is just surprised to find out that someone wants to dance with ehr at the prom? Stardom is not just about talent. It has never been and it shouldn't be. It's also about personality. Stars have egos. They own their stardom. She needs to take a lesson from Lakiki and just smile, be gratious and say "thanks."
And just how old is she? She has the demeanor of a 40 year old. How is she going to connect with the youth? How is she going to sell albums?

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I would leave Melinda out of your digging at her with the show just beginning. She is a great singer and has been doing backup. Obviously, she is not used to this kind of praise after every gig. She is has great talent. Actually, it's refreshing to see an attitude of someone not wearing the "act face" of the overly confident no-talents contestants. I am sure she will find her confidence and the face more acceptable to you in time if you just leave here alone. Just appreciate. Must you always make a mountain out of a molehill? You obviously are jaded and tainted people desparate for gossip.

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elizabeth,
i'm continually scratching my head at your recent posts to tv squad. they center more on gossip than intelligent conversation about what's on tv. this post has the voice of a high-school blog, comparing deer-in-headlight faces, and adding nothing constructive, or at the very least, witty. i hope this is not an indication of where this blog is headed.

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Allen said "And just how old is she? She has the demeanor of a 40 year old. How is she going to connect with the youth? How is she going to sell albums?"

I am almost 40 and I like music of all kinds. Why does all new music have to be engineered for youth? Is it because as an almost-old person I must be going deaf or is it because my taste in music must be fading?

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Marguerite,I am 41. There is a big difference between a 40 year old musician who can connect with the youth (Think of Everclear when they started out, Art was in his late 30's) and a 20 something who has the demeanor of a forty year old.
My daughter loved Everclear and Bowling for Soup because, even though they were older, they found a way to speak to her and her peers. What I am talking about with melinda is that she has that "old soul" thing going on. She seems like the kind of singer my grandmother would have appreciated.
My grandmother didn't go out and buy a heckuva lot of cd's.
It's not an attack on Melinda, per se. She is extraordinarily talented and deserves to win. How that win will translate into $$ is another story. But if she wants to win, she needs to drop the poor little girl who has no idea she has any talent thing.
I know I sound callous now, but, when she wins, mark my words, this is exactly what her pr people will be telling her to do.

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I have been saying the same thing about her for weeks. I understand she was a background singer but after 3 months of hearing praises from judges, audience and I am sure other contestants, it's time to just smile graciously like Lakisha and just say "Thanks". When Kelly Pickler was on her ingenue was cute and fun the first couple of times, after that it was just ridiculous. I feel the same about Melinda, in the beginning it was fine because she was new to this and taking center stage is a big deal but it's now time to act like a professional.

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All I can say is Melinda is talented - endowed with special singing talent, unpretentious and most of all a very likeable person. She is 27 or 28 years old. And she will be the next AI. Remember Simon's comment, that Melinda reminds him of as a young Gladys Knight?

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One more thing, Marguerite.
As a 40 year old do you spend more or less money on music now than you did when you were, say 15?
The teenagers have the disposable money. It has nothing to do with taste, or with deafness. It has to do with a mortgage, car payments, kids, insurance, etc.
The LA Times did an interesting article a few years back about how the demographic cards we fill out often are broken up as 18-34. You know why? Because it is expected at 35 that you don't have discretionary money anymore. You have responsibilities. And it was weird. I turned 35 at the time and, blam, it was like nobody sold me anything anymore except cars and razors. This makes sense, when you think about it.
If given the choice between spending $30 on a pair of cds or buying new clothes for my kid, I'm picking the kid every time. When I was 15 it was nothing to drop $10 on the new album by a band I had heard on college radio. That was how REM became R.E.M.!
This isn't the end of the world or a personal attack on Melinda. It's a PR check. Like Lakisha mentioned she was working on her onscreen personality (Some passing comment)? That was because she had NO PERSONALITY. She was smart. She realized she had to do something. Talent will only take you so far.
In a head to head between Doolittle and LaKiki, it's Lakiki hands down. And Doolittle is the better performer. But her personality is starting to be and will become a turn off.
Mark my words. You will start to see her more gracious and less surprised in the coming weeks. This will not be because she is comfortable on that stage (Jeez, the woman has been a professional background singer for years, she has performed in front of tons of people) it will be because she realized that the "Please sir, can I have some more" Oliver Twistian charicature that she is becoming will not resonate with audiences anymore and will be a detriment to her chances.

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Point taken Allen. I too would spend the money on my kids and you're right that our discretionary spending money is much less (or gone). I was lamenting the fact that the music is geared to appeal to the youth of today, instead of a broader demographic which would include us older folks. And of course, it does come down to $$ and cents and marketability.

As far as Melinda is concerned, maybe it's an act and maybe she's surprised by the votes, and maybe she's just guarding herself for what could happen, but you're right when you say that she needs to get over that cause she will indeed lose votes.

btw, I like your writing style - very well thought out and evocative. Thanks

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To all those people who made those bad comments about Melinda that says alot about you. I thuoght American Idol was about finding the next singing talent. She is one of the best next to Lakiesha. Who cares if she's not all that attractive. But the girl can blow(sing)and thats what we should be concentrating on. For the record Allen Melinda is only 29yrs old, you would have known if you watched from the beginning.

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I, too, think that look of hers is so fake! She has to know she sings well! I would rather she not have a nasty attitude, but like lskisha...just say thank you andask honest questions.

Melinda ia one of my favorites to win, but I can't help wondering if that nice girl thing is all an act!

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I think she may be that innocent. She is not use to being praised.

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if melinda is 28 im 26 an im 56 she looks like she in her late 30's an the the one not sure of her name but we have 1 fantsia thats enough ugh!!!!!!

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I kept on trying to place who she reminded me of and it was driving me crazy! Anyway, I finally realized who it was...anyone remember the T-rex from Toy Story?

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Wow, Donna. You wrote: "I thuoght American Idol was about finding the next singing talent."

While that's true, that's only part of it. After all they keep talking about the "wow factor", the "yo factor", etc. This isn't just a singing competition. It's not called "American Singer", the idea is to create a brand name, a star, hopefully someone the producers can turn into a cash cow. You are out of your mind if you think this is just about who has the best pipes.
Melinda is a great singer. AND she is a good performer. It's the post mortem that is annoying. The look of, "I just blew the doors off and I know I did a good job, but I am shocked, comepletely off the bend that anybody else thought I was even halfway decent."
I think this is genuine, not fake. That's the problem. She is genuinely not a star. All she needs to do is stop the Oliver Twist-ing that she's doing and she could be huge.

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Do people relize thatr New york nbever saw the last 4 people last night, fox news came on at 10 how to we tell the higher ups about this

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new york people never saw the last four singers fox news came on we need to revote

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How can we tell the higher ups about this

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People Are we really voting here, TYhink about who you are voting off, This year is a joke

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