Okay, well maybe. Certainly he talked Carly out of her original song choice of The Phantom of the Opera's "All I Ask of You" and into the more controversial "Superstar," from Jesus Christ Superstar. The New York Times reports that Carly Smithson's song choice may have spelled her doom from American Idol this past week. Many fans were none too pleased with her performing that particular number, sounding off online against the singer. Surely Webber recalls the furor the album and subsequent stage production of Jesus Christ Superstar wrought from some religious groups when it first came out. While, as the Times piece indicates, the sensitivity over its controversial nature has waned in the passing decades, it has not died out. Just as many say Kristy Lee Cook's rendering of "God Bless the USA" rallied a certain sect of the population to vote for her and keep her around longer, it's certainly possible that Carly's "Jesus Christ Superstar" had the exact opposite effect.
Her performance was lauded by the panel as one of the stronger ones of the night. So if it was the choice of song that spelled Carly's demise on American Idol, and Andrew Lloyd Webber essentially pushed her into singing that song, then logic dictates it's all his fault. Right? Or was it the tats? Or the failed former recording career? Or the funny faces she made? Or was it just her time? Hey let's find out all official-like what you all think it was.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
4-25-2008 @ 11:16AM
kevjohn said...
I saw a snippet of her singing this song during the closing wrap-up montage before Hell's Kitchen came on. The first thing I thought about when I recognized the tune was Jack Black doing "Jeepers Creepers Semi-Star" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bxfxfh9w44g) on Mr. Show. Perhaps she should have sung that instead.
By the way, I didn't think her singing was very good. Is this what passes for talent on Idol?
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4-25-2008 @ 1:06PM
Leota said...
I love that sketch!! Thanks for posting the Youtube link. =)
She should have performed Simon Zealotes IMO. =P
4-25-2008 @ 11:53AM
Jimmy said...
Sour grapes!
She made the right choice; people just don't like her.
She wasn't going to win anyway, so it's a moot point.
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4-25-2008 @ 3:12PM
David said...
What Jimmy said. It had nothing to do with the song.
4-25-2008 @ 12:16PM
Dave said...
Jason, do you have a conspiracy theory about everything?
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4-25-2008 @ 1:05PM
Jason Hughes said...
I can make one up for everything! ;)
4-25-2008 @ 12:23PM
David said...
Umm, she got the boot because people are oddly enamored with talentless Jason and talentless Brooke.
Cook all the way!
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4-25-2008 @ 2:32PM
Museseeker said...
I'm with you. For some reason, Jason has enamored all the little girls into voting for him because of his androgynous looks; Brooke is simply boring, but she is such a sweet personality that people feel sorry for her. David Cook has more talent than all of them put together--he's not only an excellent musician, but a talented artist as well, as his well received changes to his songs reveals.
Carly wasn't voted off the show because of Andrew Loyd Webber or because she didn't do a stellar job with the song--which she did. I honestly can't understand why fans would be upset by the song--it's a SONG, people, and one that was recommended that she sing because it suits her voice. She didn't choose it because she wanted to worship the devil by singing it.
4-25-2008 @ 1:09PM
1iPete said...
It's the teens and tweens who log hundreds of votes for the 2 full hours and I just don't think Carly attracted many of those rabid fans. At this point, it's inevitable that Brooke and Syesha will leave in the next 2 weeks, just the order remains to be seen as we get to the power fans' faves in Jason and the 2 Davids.
On the other hand, if a contestant gets voted off by singing Shout at the Devil during Motley Crue week, then I'm convinced.
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4-25-2008 @ 1:14PM
C C said...
The Times article hit the nail on the head. A huge chunk of Idol's audience comes from the southern states, which are generally more conservative and religious than the rest of the country. My mom, who grew up in Missouri and Arkansas, actually said on Tuesday after Carly's performance that Webber shouldn't have persuaded her to sing "Jesus Christ Superstar" because it would be offensive to some Americans. Her words were prophetic. Carly wasn't going to win anyway, but she should have ended up being the third or fourth kicked off.
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4-25-2008 @ 1:21PM
BL said...
She HAD an Album - sales were poor!
She HAD a label - they dropped her!
Totally unfair she used Idol to try to jump start her career AGAIN! She had her chance, and that chance was blown. Someone else, who NEVER HAD AN ALBUM OR LABEL SPONSORHIP, should have a shot!
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4-25-2008 @ 2:35PM
Museseeker said...
My understanding was that she wasn't dropped from the label (which was a small label), but rather that the label went out of business. I suspect her album didn't sell because it wasn't marketed properly. Did you ever hear about it? I know I didn't.
4-25-2008 @ 2:56PM
BStu said...
No, she was dropped by her label, museseeker. After that, her label merged with another company. She wasn't on some indie label. She was signed to MCA Records which later merged with Geffen records. Both record labels were part of Universal. Indeed, Geffen was once bought by MCA. Its not that her label went under. It was just phased out in favor of the Geffen name. They had major stars, all of whom stayed after the merger. I gather Carly has suggested she lost her deal when her label went under, but that's pure spin.
The truth is that like her or hate her, she did have a deal with a major label that turned into literally a textbook example of a music industry marketing failure. As in, its actually in music business textbooks for being such an abject failure to promote an artist. I actually liked what I saw of Carly, but her spinning over her record deal irked me. I don't know if its an effort to deceive or self-delusion, but it isn't accurate. That much I know.
4-25-2008 @ 1:23PM
Michelle said...
Perhaps Carly didn't deserve to go home before Jason or Brooke, but it was pretty obvious that she wasn't going to win. She never even gave any stand out performances. The two Davids have several good ones, Brooke had "Love is a Battlefield", Jason had "Somewhere over the Rainbow" and Syesha had the "Rock and Roll" song. Carly was well, just Carly. Nice voice, nice personality but really just missing the X factor. We can blame Andrew Lloyd Weber, but after 3 tries at making it in Hollywood, Carly may just want to try something else.
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4-25-2008 @ 1:25PM
Duane said...
When what's her face did that "God Bless The USA" song I was nauseated, and the fact that the judges raved about it made it all the worse. Everything about that song conjures up for me images of pickup trucks, rifle racks and confederate flags.
JC Superstar is a good song, and a better choice than the one she had, at least as far as fitting her voice. However it not only questions Jesus' authenticity, it has the word "Muhammed" in it, so down she does.
God bless the USA indeed. Was she at least wearing a flag pin in her lapel? Quick, somebody get her Reverend on the line and see what he has to say about this.
(Truthfully, she's been in the bottom 2 before so it's not really a surprise or a conspiracy that she's gone. As has been said previously, when you know the middle of the pack, it doesn't matter what order they go down in.)
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4-25-2008 @ 1:25PM
betty matczok said...
carly should not have been in the bottom two-surely--jason and brooke are far worse singers-only about 20% of the pop. cast votes on AI--the teens for jason and if older--brooke gets the sympathy vote for "sweetness" or that "girl next door type"AI--at times more a popularity contest than a talent one-andrew lloyd webber did not help either by stating " brooke has a special something" (not verbatum--but close)
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4-25-2008 @ 1:26PM
betty matczok said...
carly should not have been in the bottom two-surely--jason and brooke are far worse singers-only about 20% of the pop. cast votes on AI--the teens for jason and if older--brooke gets the sympathy vote for "sweetness" or that "girl next door type"AI--at times more a popularity contest than a talent one-andrew lloyd webber did not help either by stating " brooke has a special something" (not verbatum--but close)
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4-25-2008 @ 1:51PM
Jimmy said...
I find it utterly hilarious that conservative Christians find Jesus Christ Superstar offensive, and quite frankly a little sad. If that's truly the reason Carl got voted off then how sad for our country.
Simple truth is, Carly was never going to win. The woman has a wonderful voice and could still have a career with some proper guidance, but she's simply not the kind of singer the tweens who control this show would like. That why we still have Brooke and Jason, and that's why David A will be the ultimate winner. With the group we have left, David Cook should be the winner, but the tweens will make sure cutesy David A wins.
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4-25-2008 @ 2:31PM
Rmpr said...
She was very needy.. You could feel her suffering and yearning she needed to relax.. Unfortunately she decided to have fun too late she should've been more laid back
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4-25-2008 @ 4:23PM
Kim said...
I was raised as a fundamentalist Baptist although I no longer subscribe to that extreme ideology. True enough, most fundies are/were totally offended by Jesus Christ Superstar. They consider this musical to be sacreligious. I have mixed feelings about that but people should remember that Carly didn't write the song, she just sang it. By the way, I also think most of the fundie's pastors would have something to say about them watching AI at all. In the words of Momma Bouchet, rock music is the devil! Seriously, I don't think the fundies were voting for tattood Carly (Yes, tattoos are the devil) to begin with. Who will they vote for now? Rocker David with the dyed hair and razor stubble, pot smoking Jason with the dredlocks, or (gasp) David A the Mormom? I guess that only leaves wholesome Brooke.
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