Show of hands: Who else thinks director Quentin Tarantino is a pretty brilliant choice for next week’s American Idol mentor, especially since the theme is "Idols at the Movies"? Yeah, he’s a filmmaker, not a songwriter or music producer, but any Tarantino fan can tell you the guy knows from pop music almost as well as he knows from pop cinema — many of the iconic moments in his films are inextricably linked to the pop songs that play underneath them. Here’s just a few off the top of my head: Michael Madsen slicing off an ear to "Stuck in the Middle With You" in Reservoir Dogs, Uma Thurman dancing in her pad to "Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon" in Pulp Fiction, or the opening credits to Kill Bill, Vol. 1 — about a woman’s revenge after her ex guns her down at her wedding — playing over "You Shot Me Down."
Besides all that, QT already proved his Idol cred during his killer stint as a guest judge on Idol’s third season. Never one to mince words, he laid it all out for middling contestants Diana DeGarmo and John Stevens with awesomely direct honesty. So if there’s anyone who can somehow get Lil Rounds to find her inner-pop diva, or Anoop Desai to discover any kind of authentic edge, it’s the man who made John Travolta and David Carradine cool again.
Don’t agree with me, P-Dubs? Well, after the jump, check out what Tarantino had to say about DeGarmo’s attempt at Celine Dion’s "My Heart Will Go On," and his spot-on note to Jennifer Hudson after her rendition of Whitney Houston’s "I Have Nothing," and then see if you still think Tarantino’s return to Idol five years later is a bad idea. UPDATE: To be clear, next week Tarantino will only be a mentor, not a judge.
addCredit(“Kevin Winter/Getty Images”)
Tarantino on DeGarmo:
Tarantino on Hudson (with the song, because it’s just that good):
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I think I just became an AI watcher again – if only for one week. I can’t wait for QT’s return!
The bad news is Miley Cirus sings next week. But Tarantino is so freaking cool that he EASILY counter balances her.
Quentin Tarinto looks just like how I imagine Robert Pattison will look in about 20 years. they could be father and son, I swear.
Like QT, but 5 judges ?!
Can we give Kara/Paula a timeout for next week??
I am sorry but what was so sharp about his critique? he said absolutely nothing useful and constructive. I think that bringing him as a mentor is a stupid move. they should have there music producers that could actually guide them.
Has AI had Billy Joel yet?
Quentin Tarantino and Miley Cyrus are both awful ideas. a lousy perfomer and a mentor with no real musical understanding. The only good thing that could happen here is a future collaboration between adam and him in a new movie.
Thank you Adam for finding that great clip of Jennifer Hudson and reminding American Idol voters how idiotic they were for voting her off. And thank you QT for reminding American Idol voters how stupid they were for keeping Diana deGarmo IN the competition to the finals.
I don’t think they’ll do 5 judges, though as much QT they can cram into the show the better. They could just give randy and kara the boot this week (oh how i dream# to make room for him. But I guess he’ll just act as a mentor. What are the chances Adam does a Cabaret song in full drag and Minelli-esqe jazz hands? #please please please)
Can anyone say this is setup for ADAM
I actually did a happy jig hearing that my Quentin was coming back to Idol. I think he will be just the thing to goose some of these contestants.
i’m really happy about QT. music is so much a part of his films; he’s as much a music as he is a film junkie. i read once something so cool he said, that if he can’t get the rights to a certain song he has in mind for a film, he might not make that film, that’s how much he counts on the convergence of film and music when creating images. my favorite use of music in his films is that very creepy instrumental piece you hardly ever hear, it’s old, but here it is when the killer nurse comes in the hospital to kill our heroine in Kill Bill 1. awesome use of music there. and of course the japanese rock girls singing to the buildup of the major fight scene at end of same movie. and then the great nancy sinatra, bang bang.
and i can’t wait to see how he and adam get along; i think it’ll be the start of a beautiful friendship between two very creative hollywood types. i can’t wait to hear which song adam chooses and then what quentin says. just a great week coming up, i’m sure.
Wow… that was awesome. Love Tarantino and I’m so excited for next week! Can he replace Kara, please??
Hmm, Jennifer Hudson was kind of awkward in that video package. Now I find her lovely.
Linda -
“a mentor with no real musical understanding”
Have you seen his films? He knows how to use music pretty well. And his knowledge of it is pretty large too. And you think Paula or any of the others really do?