Randy Jackson Gives a Tip to American Idol Talent
To be like Carrie Underwood, know who you are. That's American Idol judge Randy Jackson's advice. He told MTV News that one of the things that made Underwood one of Idol's biggest stars is that she stuck to her guns: "When Carrie was on the show, she knew who she was, right?" Jackson asked. "That meant she says, 'I'm a country girl, I'm gonna get off the show, I'm gonna be a country girl off the show. This is all I want to be, is a country girl.'" That formula obviously worked for her, so Jackson seems to think it would be a wise approach for other acts, saying, "You're not going, 'Well, I could be a painter, but I want to drive race cars. But I could sing R&B, pop, jazz, soul, possibly blues, or maybe I should sing gospel ... We can't be five people. We can only be one and we have to make that choice." It's great advice from a man who has seen so much talent come and go.
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michku3 says:
I havn’t watched a full season of Idol since the season with Carrie. She was so awesome, that the contestants in the seasons after her just disappointed me for the most part. There have been some really good singers, but none have stood out to me like Carrie and made me say “I can’t wait until their album comes out so I can buy it!”. That’s just my opinion of course.
countryiscool says:
While I have kept watching AI, I have yet to find any contestant’s material good enough for me to be excited about & buy either (with exception of Kellie P). I keep hoping. I like Bucky C. too, but Carrie is/has been the BIGGEST “breakout ” country artist AI has had thus far.
jp says:
I’m with you michku3- There hasn’t been nothing but copy cats with no real talent! Carrie was real and never tried to hard or tried to be something she wasn’t. She has the vocals and the soul to make it!!
Sugarland Express says:
This blog makes no sense. Carrie doesn’t even know who she is. AI pulls all of Carries strings for her. Until carrie can get off the AI skirt-tail and find out who and what she can actually do with her life (on her own) all she can be is a AI slap together reality artist who is going to have vocal problems, thanks to their teachings. Does anybody know when she gets to start making her own decisions? If ever? How long will AI have control over carrie people? Good ole Simon set up her Christmas special which really wasn’t a Christmas special either it was for album sales and publicity for AI but that backfired. So really what is Randy really saying here people? Think about it!
Big Bully says:
Hey dude in the picture, the 70s called, they want their clothes back. Looks like something from retro night at the Goodwill.
barb b says:
this board is starting to get me sick
every thing neg about carrie is printed
every thing neg about ts is not printed
all you so called ts fans and staff at CMT
are bias in my heart carrie out sings ts
now let see if you print this
D J says:
I think Randy is right and Carrie knows exactly who she is. She has proved this over and over again. She is an amazing country singer. Her HOLIDAY special not Christmas special was great. She had more viewers than Faith’s special and the music was awesome! I hope we see her with many more specials. Carrie is doing what she loves to do and I would say being very successful at it.
barb b says:
DJ you took the words right out of my
mouth her special was awesome she can
sing the phone book like no other i think
carrie was sent down from heaven for the
whole world to here her sing she is amazing
we just love carrie and i thank American idol
for carrie
Wanda says:
Im still trying ti figure out why people say she isnt country i dont get it what is the real definition of wjat couintry musicbis not sub genres either explain it to me please and i have been around for awhile and no what early country sounds like
solongsowrong says:
People say she isn’t Country, because they haven’t a clue what they’re talking about. And sorry Wanda, it can’t be explained without getting into genre descriptions.
In a overall general terms, Swift is just as Country as Robert Earl Keene, Rosanne Cash, Newfound Road, Ricky Skaggs, Guy Clark, Chip Taylor, and Cross Canadian Ragweed, who are all currently on top of their perspective Country genres. The difference is, they are all a part of Roots Country.
In a more specific description, Swift’s form of Country music is more in line with artists like Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, and Carrie Underwood, which are all Pop Country. Pop Country is the form of Country music that recognizes Swift’s music. She is never played on Roots Country radio stations, or a part of their airplay or sales charts.
If you want a description of Country musicians, I would suggest doing a little research on your own for facts, and stop listening to the opinions of those who refuse to accept that Country music can no longer be labeled as “just” Country music. It has many forms and traits that cover a very wide spectrum of interests. Just because there are those who won’t accept that Swift’s music is Country… because they don’t like it, or think it doesn’t meet their personal ideas what Country music should be… doesn’t make it not Country.
Since you know what early Country music sounds like, what did you think of the music of Jimmy “The Singing Brakeman” Rodgers?
Robin says:
Sugarland Express - Simon did not set up Carrie’s holiday special. He didn’t have anything to do with it. Nigle Lithgoe produced it. Carrie wanted to do something along the lines of what Barbara Mandrell did with a variety show. Variety shows are very country. Just ask Branson, Missouri.
Carrie knew who she was from the time she started on AI and is the same type of artist now. She was a contemporary country artist then and now.
“Pop” country isn’t actually a genre. Contemporary country is a genre. “Pop” country is country music’s pop industry. There are several sub-genre’s of country that is part of the “Pop” country industry. George Strait is New Traditional and still part of the pop country industry. Carrie Underwood is contemporary and part of the pop country industry. Contemporary country also avails itself in Americana so it is not just associated with pop country.
Redmaz says:
Overall a very good description solongsowrong. Even Robin is starting to slowly catch on, and beginning to understand. I hope Wanda comes back and reads this.
Vera says:
I agree with countryiscool. Kellie Pickler also stuck to her guns and when she was on the show she said I’m a country girl so I’m gonna sing country songs like Walkin’ After Midnight and Fancy. Then after Idol she said I’m still gonna be a country girl and this is all I want to be is a country girl. She and Carrie stayed country and made albums better than most of the Idol winners.
Also along the lines of Randy’s advice is that some of the singers from Idol were never really country and decided to go country. Carrie and Kellie sang country their entire lives and Phil, Danny and others started singing it just last year.
Here’s another tip and I know Randy would agree. Be able to SING and sell what you’re singing. It doesn’t matter if you can just sing. You have to sound special and unique. Most singers have generic voices. Carrie and Kellie are the best country singers from Idol and they have special unique voices and deliveries.
Julie4726 says:
You cannot tell me that Cowboy Casanova is a country song. More like Britney Spears number. Only the title is country.
Wanda says:
If you take away the video cowboy casanova is a country song i dont think the video represents the song appropriately and her guve her props fir doing something outside her comfort zone
Dustin says:
Carrie Underwood has a REAL VOICE! She can acutally sing! She can sing country, pop, 70’s music, and whatever else she needs to sing because she has a VOICE!! That is what matters!
Now Taylor Swift! She cant sing live, PERIOD! She just cant sing live, I saw her at CMA Fest last year and my ears where hurting between her high pitched voice and the sound system! She was HORRIBLE! And DONT even tell me she is county because shes NOT!!!!!
solongsowrong says:
Thanks, Red. I get so used to people complaining about Swift’s music not being Country, that I automatically wrote her name down instead of Underwood’s, but obviously the same thing applies for both. Looks like from new posts here though, some still don’t get it.
Since Robin’s remarks some time ago about this site only being about Pop, I pretty much stopped reading her posts, so I had to go back and see what she had to say. Can’t argue a bit about what she posted here.
Wanda says:
Thanks robin and solo read your comments just confirmed what i thought i already knew and red i always love reading your comments