Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2008 > February > 18 > Entry
2/18: Carly Smithson interview
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
At the Wall Street Journal, I worked in Atlanta with a colleague named Jennifer Ordonez. Now at Newsweek, she eventually moved to Los Angeles to cover entertainment and in 2002, wrote a memorable page one story about the screwy economics of the record industry using Dublin native Carly Hennessy as an example. Two numbers stood out: MCA Records spent an estimated $2.2 million on Hennessy including recording production living expenses, a video, a mall tour, imaging, and radio promotion. The teen-ager sold 17,000 singles and just 378 copies of her album three months into its release when the story came out.
Fast forward six years and we now have Carly Smithson, a possible favorite to win “American Idol.” I got a few minutes with her on the phone Friday because she lived in Marietta for two years with her eventual boyfriend from 2003 to 2005. That’s a good enough excuse for me, especially given how her story has been floating around the Web since November, when the top 50 were named. I didn’t particularly like her audition in San Diego, thought it felt desperate. But given her past, that desperation is truly heartfelt and justified. I started liking her a bit more when she sang “Alone” during Hollywood.
Talking to her one on one, I liked her a lot. I brought up the WSJ story immediately and she groaned - but goodnaturedly. She kept talking about her past record deal in the second person as in “you feel horrible” or “you can’t believe it’s happening,” like it was an out-of-body experience. I’m glad I caught her now because I’m sure after she answers the same questions 100 times, they won’t come out quite the same.
I didn’t properly prep for the interview - like re-reading the WSJ story in detail. Part of it was the last-second nature of my request since I only knew Thursday night about her Atlanta connection. And I should have written questions down because by winging it, I missed an obvious one. I forgot to ask her if she felt like “Idol” should have revealed her MCA deal early on and whether that would have any impact on people voting. She’s certainly not hiding it herself because she did bring it up in her video interview on www.americanidol.com.
“I kind of had a bad experience,” she said. Her viewpoint of the WSJ story: “It was nonsense. It was very damaging.” She ultimately didn’t buy the $2.2 million figure. Unfortunately, I didn’t recall the details in the story so I couldn’t go through it and have her dispute or agree with the specifics. I presume someone will eventually do that or already has. She did scoff at the fact in the story that she drove a convertible but the label did get her a Volkswagen Golf (which comes in a convertible option.). Anyway, she recalled getting signed at age 15 and moved to L.A. and said she lived in Marina Del Rey.
“We did a fantastic recording for a 15 year old,” but she said the label wasn’t happy with it and it sat around. Her sound didn’t match up with that of Britney and Christina and the hot sounds of the day. (This was 1999-2000, the peak time for boy bands and such.) She worked with Gregg Alexander, then lead singer of the New Radicals (“You Get What You Give”) and he pushed her more alternative.
“Gregg pushed the envelope with the lyrics,” she said. “I thought it was a great, cool record. I listen to it to this day. It had some great tracks on it. He helped me find exactly what my sound was. I was pleased.” Though she had been signed at 15, she said this record didn’t get done til she was closer to 17. Given the adult nature of the CD, they waited until she was 18 to release the single “I’m Gonna Blow Your Mind” (about oral sex). It was gaining traction, she said, but then 9/11 happened and “nobody was interested in shopping a new record.” It died. And that’s when the WSJ came out.
At that time, they tried to promote the CD in Europe. She moved back there. But she said the record company went away at that point and promotion really stopped. “The story forget to mention all that,” she said. “It looked like I put out a record and it went nowhere.” She said the reacton to the story “was kind of crazy. One article can have such a snowball effect. They believed everything in it.” [I gently told her this was the Wall Street Journal, not the National Enquirer.] “It was just bizarre. All these facts are in this aritcle and they’re taken as facts. Now you have no record company. The record company overnight was imploded. You have nobody with you.”
That’s when she moved to Atlanta with her new boyfriend Todd. “At that point, I really hated the music industry.” Singing “wasn’t my thing anymore” in Atlanta. “I just needed to take a rest, just be normal for a minute, have a normal job.”
She had met Todd (who is from South Carolina) in a Los Angeles airport and moved with him to Marietta with some of his roommates who did custom hot rods. She’d help out. “I have little hands so they’d hand a wrench to me. They’d fit my little hands in little spots in motors. It was cool.”
Carly worked at Buckhead’s Irish bar Fado as a waitress to earn cash. Her husband Todd worked at Sacred Heart Tattoo in Little Five Points. After the MCA debacle, she said she didn’t sing at all in public while in Atlanta. Strange coincidence: “Michael Johns used to sing at Fado Thursday nights,” she said. “We never spoke to each other until Idol.” Because of their name changes, she didn’t make the connection until they talked in the top 24. “I just wrote his name [Michael Lee at the time] on the chalkbaord every Thursday.” She said she loved Fado. “It was a great spot. It was very sad when we had to leave to come to California for music reasons.”
In 2005, she moved to San Diego and tried out for “Idol” but had visa problems, as “Idol” mentioned several times. “Paperwork got misplaced in the system,” she said. When she got cut from “Idol” in 2005 over visa issues, “it was awful, I swear. If you had no talent, that would have been easier than a glitch in your paperwork.”
She didn’t try out again in 2006, she said vaguely, “due to things happening in my life at the time.” Todd and Carly had opened a tattoo shop in San Diego. With auditions in San Diego this past summer, Todd convinced her to try one more time. “I went, I queued up. I got sunburned and auditioned. I had a great time.”
She said the reason she was so emotional was her low self esteem. “In this industry,” she said, placing her situation in second person, “you get so beaten down, your confidence is trashed. By the time you do something like auditioning again, it’s very hard… Everybody else had told you no. Why not these people? When they said yes, they were nice and excited, tell you you’re good. For me, it’s so emotional. I was overjoyed. I kept telling myself to stop crying. I couldn’t stop.” By the time the top 24 came along, she said she didn’t think she’d make it. She also said this was going to be her last try. “I wear my heart on my sleeve,” she said.
About her tattoos: “everything seemed to be positive. Todd and I talked about it. Should I wear long sleeves? But wearing tattoos is becoming not so taboo anymore. That’s just who we are. If people don’t like it, they won’t like me… I wouldn’t want to hid who I am at all. We’ll see how Middle America takes it. The public hasn’t voted yet. I have no idea.”
She said she agrees that this is an especially talented top 24. Her husband said, “you auditioned the wrong year!” She hopes the ratings rebound as people glom onto the better singers.
As for her struggles, “it was definitely meant to be. If I had everything when I was 19, I probably wouldn’t have appreciated it. Right now, I love life. With the bartending and singing in bars, I had been at the lows and the highs. Everything is a bonus compared to the life I’ve had. Todd and I are lucky if we have $2 to our name. We’re still happy. We’re great together. We’re a great team. We’re very simple people. We’re not into going out and partying. We like to go to the beach and cook dinner at home. I’m a nester. I like decorating my house… I used to be excited about shopping and fancy restaurants. I’m not like that anymore.”
Interestingly, her CD “Ultimate High” that sold in the hundreds in 2001 is readily available on eBay. A week ago, it was selling for $5 or $6 including shipping. The day after she was named in the top 24? $18.99. The WSJ story said only 10,000 were even placed on shelves so if she goes far, this could become quite the collector’s item.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Deirdre
February 18, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this
Pretty interesting interview, Rodney. I don’t see her failing to get into the top 12 unless there’s a backlash with all this ‘professional/vote American/tattoo’ crap! She’s a good singer but I don’t think she’s endeared herself to the audience…probably because of all the crying…it got a little tedious after awhile. However, there are so many good people this year that I think we’ll have a few surprises during the elimination rounds.
By Deirdre
February 18, 2008 10:19 AM | Link to this
Rodney, I know you were looking for info on Michael Johns singing with the band Film. I found a few things on youtube. Just typed in Michael Johns and scrolled down past the AI stuff. There are a couple of videos with him singing with Film. He was good back then, too.
By War Eagle
February 18, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
I’m not too crazy about the tattoo’s. A small one here or there is OK but when you start doing the whole arm it is a big turn off. Just my opinion.
And what the hell is that thing on her left hand ring finger? It looks like a big tick.
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
February 18, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
‘Lo again, D, Rodney — thank you for the interview, I frankly think you did very well in your conversation with Mrs. Smithson for getting info that is relevant and interesting.
back later, i’m really looking forward to 1) tonight’s winning announcement on Dance Wars 2) tonight’s announcement of who will be on Dancing With The Stars the upcoming season, and most of all, 3) tomorrow’s beginning of the “real” AI season
as WaMu says…
WhoooooHoooo!
By Deirdre
February 18, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
MikeS…if you’re out there somewhere.. Michael Johns singing Bohemian Rhapsody for his auditon made me think about Little Kellie Pickler attempting the song…and your take on how she would sound. You’d honor us with a repeat of the Pickler’s version…I think I laughed til I choked on that one!!!!
By Deirdre
February 18, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this
WE…LOL!!!! I didn’t notice the ‘tick’. I don’t like the tattoos either but, if I like her performances, I’ll vote for her. So far, she’s not high on my list. I like Brooke. And Syesha. And Ramiele. And..one more but I can’t think of her name.
By Deirdre
February 18, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this
Hey, linny! I’m looking forward to The Sarah Conner Chronicles tonight. That show is pretty good. And my kid has me watching Jericho.
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
February 18, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this
I gave up on Sarah Conner… I’ll probably watch in reruns or something, i just had too much to try to capture… i don’t know if i’ll get back into Jericho or not, i sort of lost track of it before it “ended” before… we’ll see! and yes, WE, it DOES look sort of like a spider or tick, lol! wonder if that’s what she and hubby did for “wedding” bands, since it’s on that finger…. interesting concept… hope they never get divorced, if so!
the only time i’ve REALLY appreciated a big tattoo like that was a woman who had had a radical mastectomy (sp??) didn’t want recon surgery, so she had a beautiful plant tattooed across her chest and up over her shoulder instead… it was interesting, and the question (this was YEARS ago) was would she be allowed in public without a blouse/shirt/top because she’s a woman… but no breasts were there to be ‘revealed’ … i don’t know if or how that was ever resolved!
i find those huge, art form tattoos interesting, but not sure i LIKE them… i’ve seen a few doozies on guys’ backs and arms… but…. mmmm i dunno… it’s kind of almost permanent! shudder (and i HAVE two tatts, so i’m not against them…and no, i won’t tell you about them! LOL!)
By Deirdre
February 18, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this
I think tattoos of that size distract from the person. If they’re trying to say something about themselves with the tattoo, I’m afraid I’m just not getting the message. All I see is the decoration and so I miss who the person is.
I’m not anti tattoo..the little tiny ones in unobtrusive places are kinda sweet but…the big ones like Carly’s are not my cup of tea.
By War Eagle
February 18, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this
I have consisered a tattoo before. I actually went to get one one time. I was going to get one of those tribal bands around my arm. But then I couldn’t justify spending $240 on something that was going to be covered up most of the time.
By Deirdre
February 18, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this
I think the bands are kinda nice but that’s a lot of money. Then again…if it attracts the attention of a pretty blond on a beach somewhere, it might be worth it! :-)
By War Eagle
February 18, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this
TRUE
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
February 18, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this
LOL! the ones i cringe at are the lower back swirly name things… because if i’m seeing them, the person is not…mmmm generally speaking (like, not talking about the beach or pool) … dressed appropriately…
also, it sort of creeps me out when you just have one tatt after another jammed up next to each other down the arms or up the neck, where they always show, and seem so random and disconnected from each other.
the ones that fascinate me are the ones that are thematic, covering, say the whole back of someone… usually a fantasy sort of theme… it amazes me that someone could DO that, lol!
but what i think of most, looking at tatts like Carly’s… in 30 years, your skin will be incredibly dried out, not as smooth, and those many tatts will develop little ‘cracks’ and ‘lines’ as your skin cannot hold it together anymore…. i think THAT will be a sad sad (and possibly appalling) sight to see :-(
By War Eagle
February 18, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
Linny those lower back tattoo’s you are refering to are called “tramp stamps” in the male community.
By Deirdre
February 18, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this
I think, if you’re going to spend the money on a tatto, you should put away some money every month to cover the cost of it’s removal when you come to your senses!
By flats
February 18, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this
The ones on the lower back give me a stiffy!
By Shay
February 18, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this
My husband decided to get a few tatooes at a young age and we are spending thousands of dollars trying to get all of them laser removed as we speak. All of them are hidden (upper arm, chest, etc), but it still looks bad to me and kinda embarrassing when we go to the beach. He tells me everyday he wishes he had never gotten them.
I despise all tattoes. None of them look good to me, even the hidden ones. I guess I am conservative sort of speak. And they make women look less attractive to me. JMO!
By War Eagle
February 18, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this
flats, 6 Dodges and 2 Toyos in the top 8. I didn’t see that coming.
By flats
February 18, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this
LOL!!!!!!
By Deirdre
February 18, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this
Gotta agree with you on that, Shay although the tiny unobtrusive ones don’t bother me.
Are the exiles drooling over Michael Johns as much as I am?
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
February 18, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this
when we’re young and our brains are still working on “me me me” i think we all tend to do stuff that we REALLY (later in life) wish we hadn’t… good luck Shay to hubby on the removal! I was thinking about that during lunch… for example, Carly’s right arm… if she decided to remove all that, wouldn’t her arm just look sort of scarred and weird ANYway? shudder!!
ok, NOW i have to go do reception relief duty for an hour, so i’ll see you guys either later today, or tomorrow….
peace :-)
By flats
February 18, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this
I dont remember much Eagle after Gordon went out……500’s all hype…real racing starts this weekend!!!I flew into GSP a couple of hours ago!!!!HUNGOVER!!!!LOL!!!!!!!
By Shay
February 18, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this
Yes Deirdre, we are all drooling over Michael Johns!!
By flats
February 18, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this
LOL!!!!!
By Deirdre
February 18, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this
I think the Soul Patrol and the Claymates are about to meet the Johns Girls!!!! :-)
By Shay
February 18, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this
I know right!!! The guys on the Exiles hate him though. I wonder why?? tee hee
By Deirdre
February 18, 2008 2:13 PM | Link to this
I guess they’re just reacting the way we did toward Haley last year. However Michael looks great and sings great, too! Females are way more discerning, IMO!
By War Eagle
February 18, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this
Haley would be “average” at best aganist the ladies in the competition this year. Last year she was next to Shreak. Lakisha, and Sanjaya.
By flats
February 18, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this
LOL!!!!!!
By flats
February 18, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this
Chicks this year bring a rise in my Levi’s!!!
By Deirdre
February 18, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this
WE…the ladies are good this year, too! I think we’re in for a very entertaining and enjoyable battle.
Has anyone heard Luke Menard yet? I’ve only heard him in the group Chapter 6 and he’s really good.
Seriously fellow bloggers, I think we’ll have some tough times making our choices this year.
By War Eagle
February 18, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this
I think the younger contestants will struggle a little going up against older and more experienced competition. Some of these contestants would be seasoned vererans by now if they didn’t lose their recording contracts, for whatever reasons.
Seven of the top 24 are 18 or younger.
By Deirdre
February 18, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this
I thought the same thing last year. Nobody had a chance against Melinda but….as we all know, youth won over experience. I know a lot of people who are hoping David Archuleto wins.
By Deirdre
February 18, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this
And don’t you find it amazing that we’re already talking about each of these contestants as potential winners and we haven’t even heard the first night of top 24 singing yet. That says a lot about the talent this year!
By War Eagle
February 18, 2008 2:48 PM | Link to this
The only thing Melinda had going for her is voice, which she had a good one. The looks weren’t even close and her personality started wearing a little thin toward the end. The big folks at AI want the total package to win AI not necesarly the best singer, so they can continue to make money off of them. Just ask Taylor, he is probably singing at a wedding near you somewhere.
By flats
February 18, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this
Chicks this year bring a rise in my Levi’s!!!
By flats
February 18, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
good job ladies keeping the blog busy while i was gone…:-(!!!!!
By War Eagle
February 18, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this
Best looking crew we have had so far. Both men and women.
Even the plus-sized lady ain’t halfbad.
I’d still pass on Carly and Amanda.
By kellyfan
February 18, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this
Hi y’all…busy day. Isn’t it a holiday? ;)
Anyway…tat talk. LOL @ WE. “Tramp stamp” isn’t just in the male world. And blondes? Where does one sign up for that tat? I’m in.
The Top 24 is quite strong, from what we’ve seen so far. It’s really going to be hard to narrow down. I think they’ve stacked the deck this go round.
BTW, WE, there’s already been the first girl with “pics” out there: Amy Davis…
By War Eagle
February 18, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
KF, where can I find the pics??
By kellyfan
February 18, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this
LOL, WE, how’d you know I’d know? ;)
Anyway, here you go: http://americanidol7rumors.blogspot.com/2008/02/amy-jean-davis-american-idol-season-7.html
I think she’s moved up on the list to around 4th…
By War Eagle
February 18, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this
Oh I found them. There not too bad. About what you would see on the beach these days.
http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/gallery/stars/amy-davis/
By kellyfan
February 18, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this
Ha, true…but we ARE hours from the beach. ;)
By War Eagle
February 18, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this
True,
Here’s some picture of Kristie Lee. I know how much you like her. I like the picture of her on the horse.
http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/gallery/stars/kristy-lee-cook/
By Shay
February 18, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this
Amy Davis??? Christian my a**!
By kellyfan
February 18, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this
Hey, Shay….
Where’d you get that from? Not to say that Christians don’t wear undies too, but just wonderin’.
By War Eagle
February 18, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this
And for you D,
http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/gallery/stars/michael-johns/
Oh is Amy one of those part time christians? I read she did some modeling for Wild Turkey ads.
By Shay
February 18, 2008 4:10 PM | Link to this
Kellyfan, I didn’t mean anything by it. Yes, she could very well be a Christian but girl, put some clothes on cause the media will be have a field day with those pics. :)
By kellyfan
February 18, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this
LOL. “Part-time Christians,” isn’t that like being a little bit pregnant?
By War Eagle
February 18, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
I’ve been feeling like SH*T for lack of a better word for the past two days so I’m cutting out early to go to the drug store.Everone have a good evening.
By flats
February 18, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this
Hey KELLYFAN..I love hot girls that like do all those bad thangs!!!!
By Deirdre
February 18, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
Thanks, WE! I appreciate it!!!
By AMERICAN
February 18, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
IF YOU VOTE FOT HER YOU HATE AMERICA! THIS IS AMERCIAN IDOL NOT FRENCHIE IDOL! BOYCOTT THE FRENCHIES!!!!! FREEDOM FRIED FOR AMERICANS BECAUSE YOU ARE AMERICAN!
By AMERICAN
February 18, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
IF YOU VOTE FOT HER YOU HATE AMERICA! THIS IS AMERCIAN IDOL NOT FRENCHIE IDOL! BOYCOTT THE FRENCHIES!!!!! FREEDOM FRIED FOR AMERICANS BECAUSE YOU ARE AMERICAN!
By AMERICAN
February 18, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
IF YOU VOTE FOT HER YOU HATE AMERICA! THIS IS AMERCIAN IDOL NOT FRENCHIE IDOL! BOYCOTT THE FRENCHIES!!!!! FREEDOM FRIED FOR AMERICANS BECAUSE YOU ARE AMERICAN!
By AMERICAN
February 18, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this
IF YOU VOTE FOT HER YOU HATE AMERICA! THIS IS AMERCIAN IDOL NOT FRENCHIE IDOL! BOYCOTT THE FRENCHIES!!!!! FREEDOM FRIED FOR AMERICANS BECAUSE YOU ARE AMERICAN!
By AMERICAN
February 18, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this
BOYCOTT PERRIER!!!!!!
By AMERICAN
February 18, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this
BOYCOTT PERRIER!!!!!!
By Deirdre
February 18, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this
UM…she’s not French.
By AMERICAN
February 18, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this
BOYCOTT PERRIER!!!!!!
By kellyfan
February 18, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this
Shay, I agree that seems a bit out of character for the “traditional” definition of a good, Christian girl.
By AMERICAN
February 18, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this
WHY ARE YOU ANTI-AMERICA DEIDRE? WHY DO YOU HATE OUR TROOPS?
By Deirdre
February 18, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this
We’ve obviously appeared on the front page!
By linny ,,,=^..^=,,,
February 18, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this
holy cow! who let the dogs in?????
By War Eagle (from home)
February 18, 2008 5:27 PM | Link to this
WOW I hope no one is connecting me with this because of my earlier statements.
By ,,,=^..^=,,, from home
February 18, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this
No way anyone thinks it’s you, WE, lol…. geez!!!! this guy must be totally totally bored! or … nah, i won’t speculate, lol, it would be useless!!! we can certainly IGGIT such an obvious … um … weirdo (i’m striving to be nice here, y’all!)
By ,,,=^..^=,,, from home
February 18, 2008 5:56 PM | Link to this
and yes, Deirdre, we hit the front page online shiver i guess we’re actually LUCKY we only have this one!
By zzz
February 19, 2008 3:56 AM | Link to this
AMERICAN, what ever you are trying to do, you are completely ineffective because no one really believes you or cares. Unless you are trying to be annoying like a mosquito, you are failing.
By War Eagle
February 19, 2008 7:10 AM | Link to this
Thanks ZZZ, said well
By your English Lit teacher
February 19, 2008 8:20 AM | Link to this
Rodney, Thanks for the article. Let me ask you though. Don’t you guys have editors that go over these articles before they’re “published”. How about a spell checker? The story could have been a little tighter too. I expect more from a published article from a professional writer. RODNEY RESPONDS: This is a blog and I write it on the fly so typos and grammatical errors do pop in. There are no editors and I often don’t even edit myself to any great degree if I’m in a rush. And yes, this blog entry (it’s not a published article per se) wasn’t tight at all. I decided to just pour everything out for the diehards who read this. Read my stories in print and you’ll see the difference.
By John
February 19, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this
Deirdre- Pickler gave a good rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody and the judges thought it was better than they expected. She finished in the top 3 after that performance according to DialIdol. Only on her elimination day did she drop out of the top 3 according to them.
By Kylie
February 20, 2008 12:44 AM | Link to this
This story definately puts a different spin on her story. I think up until now, that she hadn’t been given a fair break. I actually heard her song “Blow your mind” and I liked it.
tanning lotion directory
By Cathy
February 20, 2008 2:22 AM | Link to this
Carly may think the tattoos are her NOW, but they sure won’t be her LATER. I hope she’s stopped with them too. Enough already!
I hope she makes it as a singer because visible tattoos make you unemployable and it’s pretty tough to hide your arms all summer at work.
Tattoo removal is big business for dermatologists.
I do like her voice though.
By Aubree
February 21, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this
I don’t care if she has tattoos or not, but I definitely won’t vote for her after hearing her talk about her “record deal” tonight. Her label was MCA, hardly an imploder unless they went out of business yesterday and didn’t tell anyone. The fact that Randy Jackson was head of A&R at MCA when Carly was signed and during those 2 years when millions (MCA paid her living expenses in addition to the over $2 million were spent “making her a star” hasn’t been addressed. Lying about her contract and trying to gain sympathy (“The label imploded, really. I had nothing, whine!”) is a bad tactic. What about all those people who didn’t get millions spent on them? What about those whom Randy doesn’t know from his label days? Seems like she’s all too willing to leave out several factors and/or blatently lie, and I have no respect for people like that. Sorry, even though I’m Irish-American she won’t get my vote.
By Deirdre
February 21, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this
Aubree…Number one: Until you’ve walked in Carly’s shoes..you have no idea what REALLY happened.
Number Two: Employees of large companies hardly EVER get introduced to the BIG boss.
Number Three: I thought this was a show about singing. Shouldn’t we be voting for people based on their voices rather than internet fodder? Whether it’s true or not?
Many artists in this country look at American Idol as a shortcut to success…their opinion being that none of these contestants have ‘paid their dues’. Well, some of the contestants this year HAVE paid a lot of dues and see Idol as another path to try.
It’s my opinion that we leave the past out of it(unless there’s a child molester in the group)and judge these people based on their talent and ability.
By Aubree
February 21, 2008 7:11 PM | Link to this
The details of “what really happened” are very basic. Unless the Men in Black or the Illuminati were involved, there’s not anything to add as far as “what really happened.”
Randy Jackson and Carly may not have been having lunch or hanging out playing Scrabble together, but the Director of A&R at a label is well-aware of the talent roster. Especially talent being groomed and supported and developed at the level of millions of dollars that MCA invested in Carly. Even the coffee-fetchers at MCA during those years knew about the debacle of $2.5-3 million loss.
American Idol has never been solely about singing. It’s been about finding a young, untapped singer with enough charisma, attractiveness, and fortitude to develop a career in the music business and thrive. Part of the package is character, something Carly doesn’t project. If she wants to address her previous career and the ties to one of the judges, she should do that - not cop-out and lie or lie by omission. That was quite a gaffe. Kelly Clarkson had been signed previously, but she was very open about it.
I wasn’t impressed with Carly’s singing last night and she emitted zero charisma. Based on last night’s performance, it’s not surprising that even $3 million couldn’t make her a “star.”
If you’re a Carly fangirl, good for you. But she hasn’t earned my vote at all.
By Deirdre
February 21, 2008 8:02 PM | Link to this
I’m not a ‘Carly fangirl” I didn’t even vote for her. I just don’t like people who make pronouncements based on what they’ve read on the internet or in the tabloids.
Someone who says they’re not voting for a person because they don’t like the way he/she sings is making a judgment that fits with the ‘job’ of the voter on this particular show.
Someone who says they’re not voting for a person for dozens of reasons that have nothing to do with the singer’s ability to sing…is just making excuses.
The viewers’ job is NOT to determine the character of the contestant. The show will decide whether or not they want to deal with that before the viewer even gets to meet the singer.
You don’t honestly believe that the producers are not completely aware of Carly’s background? They could have dumped her at ANY time. They have determined that she is a viable candidate. It’s up to the viewer to vote or not vote for her based on her singing.
By Aubree
February 21, 2008 11:41 PM | Link to this
I never said I believe the AI producers aren’t aware of Carly’s background. (In fact, I suspect that’s why she’s there.)
And no one is required to sign a contract or agree to certain terms before being able to watch the show and/or to vote. I make my decisions based on my own criteria. Even the judges don’t stick to only being critical of the singing. There is often a mention of “starpower” or “you have/don’t have ‘it’” etc. How many times has Simon said, “You have a good voice, but I don’t see you going far in this business because (factor other than singing ability)”?
So, sorry, but any attempt to dictate voting policy isn’t going to work. If you focus on singing only, then that is your choice. I consider a variety of factors and that is my choice.
My thirteen-year-old neighbor votes based on whom she believes is “cute.” Voting for AI isn’t a “job,” it’s a recreation.
By Rodney Ho
February 23, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
Carly definitely uses external factors, not internal ones, when describing her MCA deal gone bad. She hasn’t ever said it’s because she lacked the right look or the right voice or whatever. (And hardly anybody ever does in these situations.) To her, it was the tenor of the times (boy bands and such), 9/11 (bad economy), the record label’s problems, et. al. Ultimately, it’s indeed your call as an informed viewer to decide if the MCA situation makes her more sympathetic or less. I personally think it creates more sympathy, more pathos, more depth to her, but if she can’t perform in a way that truly connects with the viewers, it won’t matter how much Randy pimps her out. So I’m Switzerland between Aubree and Deirdre. They both hold valid points.
By Rodney Ho
February 23, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
Carly definitely uses external factors, not internal ones, when describing her MCA deal gone bad. She hasn’t ever said it’s because she lacked the right look or the right voice or whatever. (And hardly anybody ever does in these situations.) To her, it was the tenor of the times (boy bands and such), 9/11 (bad economy), the record label’s problems, et. al. Ultimately, it’s indeed your call as an informed viewer to decide if the MCA situation makes her more sympathetic or less. I personally think it creates more sympathy, more pathos, more depth to her, but if she can’t perform in a way that truly connects with the viewers, it won’t matter how much Randy pimps her out. So I’m Switzerland between Aubree and Deirdre. They both hold valid points.
By Deirdre
February 23, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this
LOL, Rodney!
Aubrey, you’ve completely missed my point which is probably my fault for not expressing it very well.
An audience will vote for someone based on a lot of stuff…and certainly, with the younger set, ‘cuteness’ can be a deciding factor.
What I’m trying to say is, I get annoyed when ‘external’ issues relating to a contestant’s past get people all up in arms about not voting for them…or giving them votes based on the fact that someone’s daddy is in jail and her momma deserted her. While those stories are interesting and sometimes fun, they don’t have much to do with a singer’s ability.
In other words, if Carly WOWS me, which she hasn’t done yet, I would vote for her based on her performance. I may vote for someone entirely different the next week.
If she performs better, IMO, than anyone else on the show, then I don’t think it should matter how many previous chances she’s had or how much money has been spent on her already.
Winning this show is no guarantee of success. It’s what the artist, label and public do after the show that counts.
By Deirdre
February 23, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this
I would never, however, deny that many voters base their votes on who they think the person is rather than how they think the person sings.
By Idk
February 23, 2008 7:54 PM | Link to this
Carly does have a very good voice, and I really like her. idk if its fair if she has already got a record deal though. I’m sorry but im not sure about it. she already sold 400 albums which is a lot, im really confused. I support her a lot im just really disappointed because i like when the singers come out of the blue.
By nereida
March 6, 2008 7:41 PM | Link to this
I just wanted to know about the tatoo and if the tatoo is a picture of someone? We have been talking about this and it is of great debate. Any answers?
By Alison
March 19, 2008 10:16 PM | Link to this
The tattoo is of a geisha, i personally love Carly tattoos and all ( having a 1/2 sleeve-going to be 3/4 sleeve myself i find nothing distracting at all about it, i think it’s beautiful). I’ve been voting for her, Brooke, Jason & David Archuleta… I can’t decide just yet, love them all.