Is it too early to call Chris Daughtry the next American Idol? Not according to the online gamblers at PinnacleSports.com, who’ve made the shorn, North Carolina rocker a solid 7-2 favorite to take home the season 5 crown. While Daughtry opened at 8-1 in the wagering back when Idol’s final 24 were announced on Feb. 15, the money started pouring in on him after his performances of ”Wanted Dead or Alive,” ”Hemorrhage (In My Hands),” and ”Broken” won the praises of Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson, and landed him in the final 12. Also taking heavy action in the last few weeks is Mandisa, the uni-monikered Tennessee diva who opened in the wagering at 47-1, but is now the second choice among bettors at 11-2. (Her ”I’m Every Woman” was pretty legendary, no?) Rounding out the top-five are Ace Young and Katharine McPhee, both at 6-1, and gray-haired Taylor Hicks, at 15-2.
Now while I wouldn’t disagree Chris and Mandisa are the logical frontrunners, let’s be honest: The idea of disco night has got to fill the former with nameless dread, while the latter’s rendition of ”Cry” showed she’s not above the occasional wonky note. Which makes the current 9-1 odds on Elliott Yamin look like a tempting proposition. As for rank outsiders like Kevin Covais (40-1), Bucky Covington (50-1) and Melissa McGhee (60-1), might I suggest they prepare for tonight’s Stevie Wonder-themed episode by taking notes on former Idol Fantasia Barrino’s scorching ”Superstitious”? Randy, can you handle it? Paula, can you handle it? Simon, can you handle it? I don’t think they can handle it!
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I thought Fantasia did “Signed Sealed Delivered.” Oh well, was never a huge fan of hers, maybe she did both.
I agree with Chris being a frontrunner at this point, but I also agree he may be a one dimensional act. But Bo got to the final 2 even with that awful Pippen performance. He can pull it off. If only they would allow tunes from RENT for the showtunes performances.
He has ZERO ability to sing ANYTHING other than angsty, raspy crap. It got old in episode 4 for me. No way will he win.
Its unfortunate the best male singer has such horrendous teeth – it will prevent him from winning.
Agree that Chris is becoming a one-trick pony but an awfully good one. Even if he tanks on theme nights, he’s still got a recording contract pretty much guaranteed.
Would love to see Elliott in the final four–teeth and all. 90% hearing loss in one ear and he can still sing like that? Inspiring and gifted.
Pickler is the best for the ladies.
Hicks is the best for the gentlemen.
The rest are just not that fun to watch or listen to.
Being the best singer doesn’t always win this. Clay
Aiken proved that. It takes more than that it takes the ability to win over the crowd. I think Pickler and Hicks
do that the best at present.
I think Chris will be a great idol, he has a great voice and is very handsome. I also think Taylor Hicks is great he has a very soulfulsounding voice. but my problem is (chicken little)Kevin how in the hell did he get to stay and Giddon got voted off! are we all listenig to the same people? or is he suppose to be the next William Hung? I demand a recount!
Now I don’t watch the tripe that is called American Idol, but as a resident of Virginia, and more specifically Central VA (where Chris was born, raised, and lived until recently moving to NC), I do want to point out he is from Fluvanna County, in the great commonwealth of VA. How do I know this? The local daily rag finds a way to keep him on its frontpage at least four days of the week.
Terry,
Elliot has severe diabetes and wears an insulin pump. His teeth are like that due to complications from diabetes. Add that to your comment about his hearing loss, and you are doubly right about talented and gifted- and look at all he has overcome!
Ok people, do you not remember the Hollywood round when Chris sang Emotion by Destiny’s Child? Yes it was only a 20 second clip but he absolutely awesome in it!! He is not a one-trick pony, he’s the best there is. I sincerely hope he wins it.
Not to take anything away from Elliot…but as my boyfriend pointed out, being mostly deaf in one ear actually makes it easier for you to stay in tune. There’s less noise to drown out and you’re only hearing yourself through one ear, so there’s no interference really ((boyfriend is a music major)).
I do not agree that Chris is a one trick pony…and even if he was…I wouldn’t mind. Out of all the singers he’s performed the only set of songs I consistantly like. After all, I love rock…the thought of r&b, country, and mowtown fill me with dread.
Ace is my pick to win it all; he’s got the voice AND the look. It will be Ace over Mandisa in the final. Chris can’t win; AI will never have a ‘rock singer’ as its winner.
I am going to have to agree with the one of you about Taylor and Kellie being the final two. Ok….they are both awesome…..but their stage preformance is what keeps me coming back to American Idol each week. If they dont make it to the final two…..once they are both gone……..I will be gone and my American Idol days will be over. Rock on Taylor and Kelli
“Emotion” was not originally recorded by Destiny’s Child. It was originally on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack in 1977–before the members of Destiny’s Child were born.
I stopped watching American Idol last year when “THEY” said that Carrie Underwood beat Bo Bice..YEAH RIGHT?.. I thought how could a country bimbo blonde beat a hard rocker like Bo. He has been the best one so far on Idol and yes I have bought anything he has recorded..He can sing country, rock, R&B, jazz, anything..and they say Carrie Underwood is the American Idol?..Please spare me..
it will be taylor all the way!!!! woooohoooooo,love him,doing bama proud!!!!
Actually, Emotion was sung by Samantha Sang and produced by the Bee Gees who did backup on the song. It was not on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack though you think it would be because it sounds like the stuff the Bee Gees did for that soundtrack. (I actually love Samantha Sang’s version so much more than Destiny’s Child’s.)
Beyond pure vocal talent, which several contestants have, it seems one of the necessary components to win is a kind of charisma or performing style that would be good on a concert stage. I LOVE Elliott’s voice and would readily buy a CD of his, but I wonder how he would actually be in a concert situation. Chris and Mandisa have got that aspect down, but I really find Chris to be not as versatile, but we’ll see. Then again, Bo was far more versatile than Carrie so maybe that’s not such a big deal. I guess, really, no one can do EVERYthing well. That said, if Ace can pull off one rock song in the Chris style, he might become my front runner.
“Chicken Little” is pretty creepy to look at BUT at least we don’t have to see Sausage Fingers this year!
i love kelly pickler she rocks!!!
To the other Laura:
I was a music student as well, and your boyfriend is incorrect abot that. You are hearing less crowd noise, yes, but there is also less of your own voice coming through. Losing hearing does not give you the ability to hear yourself better, and I have a friend who was deaf in one ear that would tell you that. When she had surgery to repair it, she could hear herself singing 100 times better.
My favorite and my pick to win is Bucky. His vocal range has not been greatly showcased as of yet, but it will be during all the theme weeks. And if he gets to do his own song on the show you can bet he’ll blow the competition away! You can expect great things to come from this understated performer!
Clay Aiken did not win American Idol – Ruben Studard did!
Expect Pickler’s fanbase to take her to the final 4, edging out the highly talented Mandisa. I predict final four will be Chris, Taylor, Katherine, and Kelly.
I enjoy Elliot’s voice the most. It is smooth and in tune. He reminds me of Tony Bennett and his jaw line and mouth remind me of Bruce Willis
I think it’s way to early to be calling Chris the winner. American Idol is a Marathon and there’s a long way to go. I like Chris but I think his quavery vocals will start to grate over time. Taylor will probably run into the same problem in terms of sameness of performances. Elliott or Katherine have the vocal chops to win it, but we’ll see how the votes go. The website devoted to putting through the worst contestant will also have an impact. (ie: Scott Savol) Right now they are pushing hard for Kellie and Kevin and it seems to be working.
Yes, Chris is immensely talented and I think we’ll see more range once the theme nights start, but, does anyone really want to have Chris to win and be stuck with something as hideous as Inside Your Heaven? The songs they give the singers to release are notoriously terrible and I think artistically Chris would do better to make it to the final four for the exposure and then be eliminated. He’ll get a deal no matter what.
As far as Elliot goes, he has a pleasant voice, but, I never remember his performances the next day. He doesn’t have any stage presence for me. And I think, unfortunately, Mandisa will go the route of Latoya London or Tamyra Gray and be eliminated earlier than she deserves. As the show is as much a popularity contest as it is as talent show, I see Katherine, Taylor, Chris and Kellie in the final four, though Ace could edge Taylor out.
don’t you all think that chris is look-alike vin diesel??
i mean a ’smaller’ version of vin diesel?? hehehhe…
But I agree there is a long way to go. Just a few weeks ago EW was declaring Paris the winner and now she isn’t (thankfully) even mentioned as a contender…
I think that Bucky Covington has the best male voice, it just hasn’t been shown yet. I am hoping that he sings a ballad so that everyone can see the textures he has to his voice.
Kellie Pickler is really Carrie Understudy with a side of Jessica Simpson thrown in.
I agree with those who think Elliott and Katherine have the vocals to win it. I like Chris too, but I hope people will give Elliott a chance to show what he can do and keep him in, because he’s very, very good. I also agree that Mandisa can sing very well, but the loudness bothers me. Can she sing in a quieter way, perhaps? Maybe a nice ballad? So I can tell if the yelling is masking a possible lack of vocals? Sometimes that can happen. Same thing with Taylor. I like his style, but he’s just a little too…I dunno..something I’m not voting for. As for Kellie, she’s a cutie, I love her southern drawl and her innocent naivete; however, it’s almost just a tad over the top for me, i.e., she’s really playing it up and it’s kinda growing old for me; and besides, all that ‘cute’ is covering up the fact that she has inconsistent vocals. As for Simon saying he might even like her better than last year’s winner, I was shocked and sad to hear him say that. I like Simon very much and value his opinions, but that was just plain rude. Carrie is an incredible singer/artist and her CD is extremely good. I honestly don’t think Kellie is anywhere near as talented. My .02 cents.