To Care or Not to Care: The Beatles on 'Idol'

chuen Thu, May 14, 2009 at 06:00 AM EST

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Stephanie T. Mon, Mar 3, 2008 at 01:23 PM EST

Kevin, the song is called "Buffalo Bill". EP is right. Stil, I think that it's going to be more about the arrangements of the songs, and if Amanda pulls through to the next round, "Helter Skelter", and "Don't Let Me Down" would fit her vocal. Idol producers won't let her sing "Do it in the Road". Jason Castro could pull off "Norwegian Wood", and Michael Johns could do "Octopus'es Garden".

Intercede Sun, Mar 2, 2008 at 01:43 PM EST

Even though it's a bit suprising to see the Beatles/Macartney song book pimped out like this. It's no suprise that Jackson's accountant found a way to add to his impending bankruptcy yet again.

VH Sat, Mar 1, 2008 at 11:16 AM EST

I hope that Idol never, ever does a show using the Beatles' songs. It's insulting.

Kevin Sat, Mar 1, 2008 at 11:05 AM EST

I really hope one of the contestants is brave enough to choose Rocky Raccoon or The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill.

Raven_Moon Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 10:37 PM EST

I love the Beatles & I think an Idol episode covering them could be fun. I don't know, though. I find that I haven't been as excited over the contestants on Idol lately. The last good group in my mind, was the Chris Daughtry season. Now seeing them sing Beatles songs would make me much more enthused. Oh well.

Aurora Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 08:10 PM EST

I'm glad that I stopped watching American Idol a few years ago because I don't think I could stand watching a bunch of wannabe musicians butcher the Beatles catalog.

Winona Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 04:14 PM EST

I'm a HUGE Beatles fan, and have been waiting for this day for years... that being said (and others have said this as well), I really really really hope that the contestants do try to pick some of the lesser-known Beatles songs. I could go the rest of my life and not hear "Yesterday" or "Hey Jude" or "The Long and Winding Road" ever again, and be just fine.

And I just realized those are all Paul songs... and I love the guy. Really, I do!

BHM1304 Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 04:13 PM EST

John Lennon would have loved the idea. He was a huuuge fan of the Monkees! Its an awful idea in that we love the songs and "American Idol" sucks, but I really think John would have thought this was OK.

Rose Tyler Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 03:55 PM EST

I'm going to ignore all negative comments about the Beatles because I can already feel my blood pressure rising. On topic, I think this could be cool if the contestants make really, really good choices. What I don't want to hear is another cover of "Yesterday", "Across the Universe" or heaven forbid "Hey Jude". I hope they are smart enough to pick lesser know but still awesome songs.

Working Girl Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 01:49 PM EST

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay

Amber Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 01:27 PM EST

I personally do not want to hear Amanda screech her way through Helter Skelter, nor do I want to hear Danny sing I Want to Hold Your Hand...oh the horror.

Bluegreen Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 01:23 PM EST

This is great news. There really are only a handful of Beatles songs that have been over-covered. For obvious reasons, I hope to hear songs with strong melodies that don't rely too much on gorgeous vocal harmonies. Here are some songs I'd like to hear covered: Cry Baby Cry, For No One, Girl, Here, There and Everywhere, I'll Be Back, In My Life, It's Only Love, Julia, Michelle, Something, Things We Said Today, This Boy.

The fact that I even bothered to make this list shows how much I will be looking forward to this Beatles tune week. And I'm sure I'm not alone. Hearing even one great cover of a Beatles tune would be a really nice thing.

Ep Sato Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 01:20 PM EST

I think there's some potential here but agree it would make more sense for the women than the men. The Beatles catalog is so well known it'll be impossible to perform their songs without drawing comparison. Good as the Idols are this year, it's going to be hard to top the original when the original is considered a classic worldwide.

Elizabeth Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 01:17 PM EST

Why should the Beatles be left alone to not have some of their songs permanently ruined? There are songs that I used to like, but now the only version(s) that are stuck in my head are those from AI. Hope this helps with the foreclosure on Neverland Ranch :)

Marcus Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 01:16 PM EST

David Archuleta has already done horrible things to a Lennon classic (I know many disagree, but "Imagine" is not a song you over-sing or make to sound schmaltzy). Since he got the ball rolling why let it continue to wreak havoc. The only person I could see doing the Beatles any justice is Brooke White.

Marcus Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 01:16 PM EST

David Archuleta has already done horrible things to a Lennon classic (I know many disagree, but "Imagine" is not a song you over-sing or make to sound schmaltzy). Since he got the ball rolling why let it continue to wreak havoc. The only person I could see doing the Beatles any justice is Brooke White.

Cara Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 12:35 PM EST

This is only semi-related to topic, but...thread suggestion! We've seen the AI kids sing the 60's and the 70's, so it's a fair bet to say they're singing the 80's next week. Let's get a PopWatch thread suggesting songs for them! We could sure do a hell of a lot better than they're doing for themselves...

JoeC Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 12:34 PM EST

I am still waiting for Led Zep night. Now I wouldn't miss a single minute of that. THe Beatles were great, but Zep was the best. I'd love to hear that David Archu--however you spell his last name sing Whole Lotta Love. Let's Make it Happen!

mscisluv Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 12:24 PM EST

The picture says it all - Jason Castro could do some incredible, understated, appreciative Beatles covers. David Archuleta would be pitch-perfect. Other than that, it could be somewhat disastrous. But that says more about this year's AI contestants than the Beatles' music.

ZF Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 12:00 PM EST

If the guys sing Beatles songs, they run a huge risk. Only the girls should dare try it.

Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 11:17 AM EST

This is disgusting. Why do shows like American Idol even exist?

Dave Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 11:11 AM EST

Taylor Hicks sang "Something" 2 years ago---I guess George's people okayed that one.

Since "Idol" (and karaoke night) singers generally get a better response when they perform a familiar song, certain songs are done to death. And there is a finite number of familiar songs. So it only makes sense to add these songs to the mix.

And if the producers could use this to get Paul (or even Ringo) to be part of the show this season, that would be HUGE!

Chris G Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 11:04 AM EST

I dunno, I think I'm a little excited about this frankly because as much as I love The Beatles I think I love Beatles covers even more! (Am I in the minority here??)

barbara Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 10:38 AM EST

Heather, I'm with you. I'm not a Beatles fan either. I'm 58 years old, and I do believe this will make the show dull and boring. Ok, everyone may have a Beatle song that they have memories to, but all in all they were not all that good. I believe that will be one show that I'll skip also.

Jim Cooper Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 10:35 AM EST

I couldn't be happier. Who can dispute the familiarity of the Beatles music, OR it's melodic structure. And how can one possibly confine the genre? There is everything from the hardest edge to the softest ballads.

OK, I'll admit, I grew up in the era, and I am older than the target audience. But..... I have had to slog through a night of Bon Jovi--and still enjoyed every song.

Feel free to disagree, but it will be VERY revealing, indeed. ;) Jim

beckykatt Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 10:33 AM EST

I agree with Heather and Erika-- let's just let the Beatles songs lie, and tiptoe slowly past them. There is so much other available music to tackle that isn't extreeeeemely overplayed. Moving on!!

RTA Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 10:30 AM EST

The worst song in the Beatles' catalogue beats the crap out of inane, banal tunes like "Hopelessly Devoted" and "Me and Mrs. Jones" every day of the week so I, for one, will savor every note from Lennon/McCartney, thank you very much!!!

Sunshine Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 10:28 AM EST

Who's best to tackle "Revolution No. 9/"???

Erika Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 09:46 AM EST

The Beatles are ridiculously outdated and in my opinion, overrated as well. I really think we could find a better way to challenge the contestents, especially after the schlock we have had to listen to these past two weeks. The 60's and 70's were a disaster, and this will be too.

krikky Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 09:36 AM EST

I think the picture you chose says it all. I think Jason Castro could do WONDERS with some of the Beatles songs. I'm putting in my requests now for his low-key, yet striking renditions of: Girl, In My Life, Norwegian Wood, Here Comes the Sun, Revolution 1 and Blackbird.

anon Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 09:35 AM EST

I was not happy to hear about this at all. I might have to skip that episode, I can't take people butchering The Beatles library.

Cliff Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 09:19 AM EST

Two seasons ago, I picked Elliott. He came in third. Last year, I picked Melinda, she came in third. This year I'm not watching. Every week I read about who butchered what, and I'm so glad to be free.

Jakeem Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 09:13 AM EST

Hey, we've had three movies in the past 30 years that have entirely covered Beatles songs. If we could survive them, why wouldn't we make it through the "Idol" version, too?

Heather Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 09:11 AM EST

I'm not a Beatles fan (I know, I know - the horror!), but it just screams of being a bad idea. The Beatles have some simpler melodies that might be within the contestants' ranges, but really, other than David Archuleta, do we really want to hear all these kids butcher music that a lot of people hold dear?