Katharine McPhee’s MySpace page has sneak previews of four tracks from her self-titled debut CD (due Jan. 30), and they’ve prompted a PopWatch feud between writers Helin Jung and Michael Slezak. Check out their saucy tit for tat, listen to McPhee’s music, then weigh in with your own opinion on “Over It,” “Love Story,” “Each Other,” and “Open Toes.”Jung: OMG! Have you heard Katharine McPhee’s new songs on her MySpace page? They’re so JoJo — in a good way.Slezak: If by that you mean this music could be mistaken for a demo from one of the Pussycat Dolls’ 14 backup singers, then yes, she’s a great success.Jung: Precisely…she’s stunning, in a Barbie sort of way…she has a great voice, but not a lot of pizzazz, so she’s not threatening…it’s all very easy to digest.Slezak: Look, I know I’m biased…I was never a McPhan during her Idol days, but “Over It” is so completely forgettable. Her voice has absolutely no personality, and it disappears on the lower notes. And, if you’ll allow me to nitpick for a second about grammar, when she says “your eyes…I’m over it,” it ought to be “your eyes…I’m over them.”Jung: Fair enough, I hated her barefoot prancing and that crazy lay-on-the-floor version of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” too. However, girl went through an eating disorder and some throat malfunction before she got to this album…I say give her some props.Slezak: I don’t care about her backstory, and frankly, even though she was far from my favorite Idol, this material is beneath her.Jung: Mike! Did you not hear “Open Toes”?Slezak: Exactly…”Open Toes” is the WORST. For some reason, it makes me think of old, worn-out shoes that are starting to smell bad.Jung: Now you’re just being mean.Slezak: Seriously, those lyrics? “Wear ‘em all day and listen to the click-clack/ Shoes like this make me hate flats”? WHA?Jung: LOL, okay, okay you win on that one. But it’s very danceable, and nobody’s listening to the lyrics of “Hood Boy” either.Slezak: Oh I know she didn’t just mention ‘Tasia!Jung: Mmmhmm. It’s like that.Slezak: Right after I made a resolution not to write about her again in ‘06? Vicious.Jung: If you’re gonna dish it out…Slezak: Touché. But I can’t help feel like “Open Toes” rips off Kellie Pickler’s “Red High Heels,” except it uses a recycled synth line from the waning days of Paula Abdul’s music career. Where are the big notes? Where’s any hint of Kat’s vocal range?Jung: She has to save some of her goodies — which is something she hints at with the album-cover photo (pictured). Britney could take a lesson from Katharine.Slezak: Indeed, I appreciate she’s not giving anyone a tour of her nether-regions. The girl has some class. And her boots are made for walkin’.Jung: Mike, she’s the anti-Britney! And her bumblebee costume is really cute.Slezak: True, and she’s gorgeous without looking like a stick figure. Okay, I like Katharine McPhee!Jung: Me too. [Logs off]Slezak: Just not any of the new songs on her MySpace page.
Snap judgment: Katharine McPhee's new music
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Comments (1-30) of 73 Add your comment
Sounds like something from a former Spice Girl…
I’m with Slezak on this one…the songs are just plain hokey (“Open Toes” is awful) and her voice is completely forgettable.
The music on all the songs just sound like some preprogrammed tracks that you have on a 40 dollar keyboard. Then when her vocals kick in, you’re like “Who is this?” Her lyrics are barely audible and when you can make out the words you kinda wish you hadn’t. Plus, what is up with that pic?? Whatever, I want to give her another chance, but she will have to deliver some songs where she actually sings and has some real instruments being played.
I agree with the assessment of Over It. It doesn’t featire Kat’s voice at all…too over-produced.
But I DO think she does show her voice on Open Toes. She has a very rich tone in that song.
Ooooh…and I love Each Other and Love Story. Love Story would have to be my favorite of the four. Perhaps not upon first listen, but a few more times and it really becomes infectious. I dig it.
And a note to Dave….Love Story uses all live instruments.
Sounds like a thousand other girls. And she gets props for hiding her crotch with her dress. WOW. A true American Idol. Carrie and Jennifer Hudson – look out.
Ho Hum.
I see Kat’s bitter haters have hit this one early. Way to follow her closer than her fans do guys.
Lets reserve judgement until we have heard the entire album.
Katharine McPhee is HOT! The songs are OK. But she’s still…. HOT! And that’s all that matters right? HOT! I would still buy her CD… HOT!
so not much vocal on the 4 tracks on her myspace, who’s to say their won’t be any ballad-esque ones on her album? I quite like Love Story and Eachother(Ihope those ar ethe only one of the 4 that make the album). the other two not so much. Open Toes does give me a good laugh though. oh and she looks hott on the cover.
Lift up that skirt honey, reveal the goods. DAMN you fine!
She sounds fantastic. I can’t wait to pick up her album.
She has a decent voice, nothing special. She reminds me of Jennifer Lopez. She is a beautiful girl and did not need to cheapen herself by the trashy pose.
These songs are pretty decent. Each Other is probably the best. But if this is best she has to offer, I’m sorry but her career will not catapult as so many people suspect.
I was a huge fan of McPhee on Idol, but these songs don’t do a thing for me. I liked her for her ballad singing, jazz-infused reworkings of songs, but these RnB-tinged songs sound like anything else you’d hear on the radio. Blah!
Love Story & Over It are my favorites. I think Katharine’s album is going to be awesome.
Jane you are certainly entitled to your opinion, but Carrie and Jennifer have nothing to worry about as far as the vocals go, and Carrie is a beautiful girl. Jennifer Hudson is a big girl that knows how to carry her weight, and she has beautiful skin tone. She has nothing to worry about either. Hope she wins as many awards as possible too.
Katharine is a beautiful girl with enormous talent. It would be a waste to see her disappear because of these terrible songs. I would be pissed off, along with every other straight men, if that should happen. Come on Kat, you can do better than that. Open Toes? Give me a fricking break! The album cover is sexy though. I’ll still buy your album, in hopes of hearing better songs.
It’s a shame when someone who had a blank slate and the chance for greatness delivers something so disappointing. She’s a very nice, pretty girl but there’s no flare or edge to her image or sound. This is a waste of time.
These songs are sure hits. They are catchy and upbeat and she may surprise a lot of people, in a good way, with the new sound she is going for. I love them.
When I posted look out Carrie and Jennifer H, that was a joke. Kat is a joke. Get it.
I like “Love Story” and “Each Other”. “Open Toes” is cheezy and is intended to be…that doesn’t mean I love it, but it is what it is. “Over It” is probably my least favorite of the four. I agree that the four tracks (except for possibly “Open Toes”) don’t really show off what Katharine is able to do vocally. I know for a fact though that there will be ballads. She worked with The Underdogs (Beyonce’s “Listen”) and Babyface, so I expect a lot from them. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t slightly disappointed with these songs, but I’m waiting to judge them in context with the rest of the album. I for one find it refreshing that she doesn’t have to power-note her way through the entire album.
Listen to her rendition of “O Come All Ye Faithful” if you’re looking for a strong vocal from her:
http://katharinemcphee.com/xmas_song/index.html
Bravo, Jake. I agree with everything you said.
Open Toes is crap, right up there with the crap Gwen Stefani and Fergie release. However, I like the other songs. Does Kat’s voice sound generic, yes, but I think they took the “we want our songs to actually be heard route” instead of loading an album full of ballads. Of the songs I really like “Love Story” and “Each Other.” I’m kind of indifferent on “Over It.”
you’re kidding, right? there isn’t really a song that has lyrics about shoes click-clacking right? because that’s sort of awful.
Okay, I listened to all the songs. And while I’m not suprised, I’m definitely not impressed. It’s clear that she didn’t write much of the material because the songs mostly, don’t sound like her. “Open Toes” just sounds like Christina Aguilera rip off. The lyrics are awful but Xtina probably could’ve pulled the song off just on the strength of her vocals, which Kat does not have. “Love Story” has too much R&B vibe for her bland voice. That’s like, Beyonce territory. “Over It” it’s kind of cute but, again, sounds like it came from Kelly Clarkson’s reject pile. “Each Other” probably was the closest to fitting her vocal style and persona and probably will be a hit. Her voice is decent and she’s a beautiful girl-so she’s already starting off with more than half of the bimbos holding down spots on the Billboard 100 as we speak. She just needs to take control of her career and find her authentic voice. No pun intended.
Never was a McPhee fan, didn’t understand the appeal. This albums going to suck!
I’ve seen her recent photos at events and only have one question: Where have the McTaTas gone? Where’s the killer bod? Her legs her wonderful, but please, we want the mctatas back. Someone give her a sandwich.
‘Dangerous’ and ‘I Lost You’ are incredible, but where the hell are they? This is ridiculous. What the **** is going on?
You guys should really listen to these two songs, they are much, MUCH better than the 4 songs she has on her myspace.
omg the lyrics for Open Toes are hilarious!! I cant stop laughing. I gotta admit though the beat is hot.