<p>I never particularly liked Fantasia. Her voice strikes me as “gimmicky” and something I wouldn’t care to listen to for more than a minute or so. At most.</p>
<p>We Watch So You Don’t Have To</p>
<p>[Moraes</a> on TV](<a href=“http://blog.washingtonpost.com/tvblog/]Moraes”>http://blog.washingtonpost.com/tvblog/)</p>
<p>My family taped the show for me and I totally missed Fantasia. Was she on in the very begining? I’d love to see Simon’s face.</p>
<p>I don’t know what to think of Fantasia’s performance. On the one hand, at least it wasn’t the boring drivel that has plagued this season. The whole season has been quite a snoozer in my opinion. She was at least alive and vibrant and can work a stage. I couldn’t believe she could utter a word after that performance. On the other hand, her vocal was scary - my throat hurt listeniing and the raspiness is getting worse. She said she was going on tour but I don’t see how her voice will handle it.</p>
<p>I had never seen her perform before - I though the whole performance was dreadful. It *was *alive and vibrant - but still pretty awful and somewhat amateurish. That girl cannot dance!! And the 3 back up dancers performed like something I would expect too see on a high school talent show night - well - at a high school without strict dress and ‘appropriateness’ codes. ;)</p>
<p>The Moraes comments are entertaining. Don’t know if Simon looked so much terrified as horrified. I think a camera on my face and my daughter’s would have shown a similar expression down to the open mouth and dropped jaw. I would love to know what he and Randy were saying to each other at the end of the performance.</p>
<p>I guess it was a reprieve from the ‘gooiness’ of the rest of the show.</p>
<p>Was Fantasia a performance from a musical or something? It was bizarre and a little scary, those back up girls needed to stop bending over in those skirts and, yes, Simon’s expression was perfect- befuddled wonderment</p>
<p>What is the deal with Syesha? I thought all along she would have a Broadway type career, but some of you MT mavens here are saying she is not that good. Educate those of us who have no musical ear/talent/ability. What is wrong with her voice for Broadway?</p>
<p>
Funny you should say that. My 19 year old daughter said she thought she was a little scary also. </p>
<p>I am also surprised by how much people don’t like Syesha. I thought she was pretty good - though there were others I though should have made it to the final 3 rather than her.</p>
<p>It will be interesting to see who wins. I think David C should but David A (who, while talented, I think is just too one dimensional - can’t seem to carry off anything other than inspirational ballads) has the teenyboppers out there voting. I’ll vote David C but I’m not going to vote hundreds of times. I think each phone number should be limited to one vote for the final.</p>
<p>I kind of think David C. will get the votes from Syesha’s fans, who are probably a bit older, so maybe that will push him past David A. in the final.</p>
<p>I have loved Fantasia ever since she sang “Summertime” as an Idol contestant. But last night’s performance was just bizarre. :eek:</p>
<p>“What is the deal with Syesha? I thought all along she would have a Broadway type career, but some of you MT mavens here are saying she is not that good. Educate those of us who have no musical ear/talent/ability. What is wrong with her voice for Broadway?”</p>
<p>I was wondering the same thing. I could absolutely see Syesha on Broadway, especially after her dynamite rendition of “Fever” a few weeks ago. She’s very pretty and animated, and has a far better voice than Fantasia (IMHO). That being said, I’m happy that the two Davids made the finals. I really hope David C. wins.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>As I said in post #310, it is entirely possible that Syesha will be stunt cast in a show, just as Fantasia, Anwar and Clay were, depending on the show. It’s unlikely that she would be able to perform a show eight times a week in a vocally demanding role. Fantasia surprised a lot of people by how good she was in The Color Purple and she sold a lot of tickets. She was incredibly popular on AI, and of course, she won so not exactly the same situation as with Syesha. It would take the right kind of role, both acting and vocally, for her to be cast, in my opinion. Her voice is not strong enough, even mic’d, to survive a demanding role eight times a week. So, yes, it’s possible she could be cast in a show, but a career on Broadway, as many have suggested (not just here on CC) is very unlikely. Trained, experienced, and talented musical theatre actors have a difficult enough time having a ‘career’ on Broadway. It’s not as easy as it looks! :)</p>
<p>You may be right, alwaysamom. What does “stunt cast” mean? Is it a short-term role? A relatively minor role?</p>
<p>I guess when I suggested she might do well on Broadway, I, too, didn’t think it would be in anything like originating a role… but more along the lines of Clay Aiken, et al.</p>
<p>What I did mean more specifically was I think she would have better success pursuing that as a career than as a touring recording artist. I think of the three left, she has more potential to perform on stage and possibly support herself, than the other two. I think the producers of Broadway could see in her the potential to ‘draw’ crowds to shows they produce (given the right role), just because of her AI success. I suspect many, many people went to see Spamalot because of Clay Aiken, that might not have ordinarily gone to see it without him in it.</p>
<p>It also takes a lot more than a voice to be successful on Broadway. She has to be able to act and dance. Do we know anything about any acting or dance training that she has? Successes on Broadway usually have years of voice, dance and acting lessons under their belts. She will probably do well in the showcase type tour that AI will do. I think she has more of the type of talent you see in a theme park or on a cruise ship, although landing those gigs is not at all easy either.</p>
<p>Got roped into watching this with some people a few days ago… am I the only one who thinks not a single one of the top 3 have any real substance to their voice? Seemed to me they were all pretty middling, at best. Smooth, but not powerful, no presence, etc.</p>
<p>Hindoo, stunt casting is when producers bring in a ‘name’ so that people who normally wouldn’t buy a ticket, might decide to do so. 
It’s not necessarily a short term thing but can be in some circumstances.</p>
<p>Cartera is right about most Broadway roles requiring more than a voice. The acting is probably the most important asset and who knows if Syesha has that ability. She certainly comes across as, what is often called, schmacty performing, which is not going to be beneficial, depending on the role. Are there roles out there where she could probably do a decent job? Possibly, but the way her voice is now, there’s no way she could sing eight shows a week. I agree, cartera, about the theme park and cruise performances, much more suited to her, in my opinion.</p>
<p>I still think that none of these kids are likely to have sustained success with a recording career. Kelly and Carrie are really the only two who have had that kind of sustained success in the music world.</p>
<p>Who knows with Syesha? Actually, who knew about Jennifer Hudson? She had a stronger voice than Syesha, but winning an Oscar and Golden Globe for her acting? Who knew? … Thanks for the explanation, alwaysamom.</p>
<p>You don’t think Taylor Hicks will enjoy sustained success? … Whatever happened to him, anyway? People refer to him disdainfully these days, but I recall thinking he was pretty good at the time.</p>
<p>I just looked up a bio on Jennifer Hudson out of curiosity and she had done some community theater and, coincidentally, had done some cruise line and Disney work. </p>
<p>Clay Akin will make money 'till the last Claymate dies.</p>
<p>Clay Akin is one I never did get.</p>
<p>Me neither. Still don’t. I’d be more likely to watch Spamalot without him.</p>