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American Idol

1/9: Kara DioGuardi interview

11:23 am January 9, 2009, by Rodney Ho

Kara DioGuardi spoke to the print/online press yesterday. I get the impression she will be tougher than either Paula or Randy but not nearly as caustic as Simon. Plus, the fact she can actually sing will hopefully add some more insight into the critiques.

Here are some highlights:

Liking the men: “Looking at all the contestants as a whole, the males were the strongest. That being said, there are one or two females I’m excited about as well. I’m just waiting for the show to roll out and see who ends up on top.”

Stylistically speaking: “There’s a lot of soul influence, especially with the male contestnats… I’m not even talking R&B. More the way Maroon 5 is soulful. That was different, I thought.”

Simon breaking the tie-breaker: “Is that really democracy? It did happen a few times. I knew it would come down to me. I knew Simon would say no and the other two would say yes, so I’d have to make the critical decision to give them another shot or not. That was tough. You’re dealing with people you’ve seen a few seconds. I was put in that position a bunch of times.”

What she brings to the table: “I’ve worked with a lot of these singers out there that are great from Christina [Aguilera] to Pink to Celine Dion. I’ve been in the studio when they actually recorded songs we’ve cowritten. Worked very closely with them. I’ve listened to how they’ve interpreted songs and given them guidance and support. That’s what distinguishes me.”

Busy, busy: “I haven’t slept. I was working with Colbie Caillait in Hawaii. I’ve been up almost 48 hours!”

Judge’s dynamics: “Everyone has seen the bikini promo. We side with the guys. They were looking at the girls. They want to put someone through. There’s a little girl power going on. It’s a change… it was a little unnerving at first. I didn’t know where I was going to sit, when I was going to speak.”

Who does she agree with more among the other judges? (This was my question) “I take the situation city by city. I definitely can sometimes see where Simon is coming from. But he says it in the way he says it. But if I hadn’t had a second chance, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I grew as an artist. I have to think past some of the mistakes. Maybe they were nervous. I believe in second chances. Third chances? That’s another story.” (To see how tough she really is, I’m going to weigh her comments compared to the other three and see where she lands.)

Who she’d like to work with: “Daughtry! I’d love to cowrite with him. He was going to do a duet on a song I had written but it didn’t work out. If he’s out there and wants to co write, call me!”

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77 comments Add your comment

Deirdre

January 9th, 2009
11:37 am

Thanks Rodney…and I liked your question!

I’m hoping she forces Paula and Randy to pick up their game. They were never very good at constructive criticism(IMO Paula is better at it than Randy…when it’s coherent). Starting season 8, the 3 original judges are not nearly as sharp as they were starting season 2…and who can blame them. Something needed to happened to get them sitting up straight again. Kara may provide just that incentive.

JTesla

January 9th, 2009
12:07 pm

Thanks for the interview. I find it funny that you point out the fact that she can sing. It’s too bad that the ability to sing hasn’t seemed to help Paula with her judging. It should be a good year for judge watching.

Negativo

January 9th, 2009
12:23 pm

Paula can sing, JT?

JTesla

January 9th, 2009
12:34 pm

I remember something about that when I was younger, actually I think I just watched her videos with the sound muted and daydreamed. Although some of those daydreams turned into nightmares when Arsenio Hall and that animated cat showed up. What was up with that?

rho

January 9th, 2009
12:48 pm

I’ll believe Paula can “sing” if she does so live on “Idol.” And she never has. Back in season one, the contestants tried to goad her to sing but she refused. Nobody has tried since.

Nana

January 9th, 2009
1:38 pm

Thank you Rodney for the report on Kara’s interview. We appreciate it, as always.

Kara should make Idol really interesting this season. She sounds as if she has her head screwed on right. I honestly feel she will enhance the quality of AI. I don’t think anyone will be able to pull the wool over her eyes. She is gonna be a very tough cookie to crumble.

Paula can actually sing quite well. If I remember correctly she has had number one hits waaaay back when she first came on the scene.

linny, what we should do is this: Tuesday night at about 7:45pm we should all sit at our computers and tell each other what we have for snacks and drinks and once we have all stated that, then count 1,2,3, and at the same time shout “lets party”. That will probably be the closes to us all getting together.

KPH

January 9th, 2009
1:47 pm

Didnt Paula do a song on Idlol last season with Randy playing bass? It looked to me as if she was lip syncing however.

JTesla

January 9th, 2009
1:55 pm

KPH: that will go down as one of the cheesiest moments in Idol history. If I remember right it was a canned performance, having been shot in advance. Maybe someone who hasn’t tried to erase that event from their mind, as I have, can provide more insight. Oh and I think Randy was playing air bass.

linny ,,,=^..^=,,,

January 9th, 2009
2:39 pm

JT – it was definitely a “canned” performance, and Paula more danced than sang, and even that was so … so … um …. er …. stilted? is that an ok word? it was NOT entertaining or enjoyable to me at **ALL**… but of course, I’m sure someone out there loved it, yanno?

achin4aiken

January 9th, 2009
3:14 pm

Enter your comments here Anything will improve the mix. I’m so tired of Paula’s constant left-handed praise of a truly lousy performance and Randy’s consistant and undetermined non-critique of “I don’t know, Dog; it was just alright (or didn’t work) for me.” It is Randy that has gotten on my nerves more than Paula because he never says anything. Paula has at least tried on most occasions to offer some actual advice. Simon is of course my fav. Even when he is hidious, he is usually on target.

achin4aiken

January 9th, 2009
3:16 pm

Why does that “Enter your comments here” not automatically go away? I am entering a comment. Duh.

linny ,,,=^..^=,,,

January 9th, 2009
3:41 pm

LOL!! A4A, we’ve been griping about *that* one since day 1 (since it’s just a week, and Rodney’s been working hard on this, I shouldn’t complain tooooooo much! It will be great when the powers that control the wordpress format get Rodney’s blog all spiffied up!!!!! but … this is soooooo much better than the bogged-down blog!

and A4A — good to see you — and i totally agree about Randy’s comments — i thought if i heard the words “dude” “dog” “pitchy” and “a’ight” (all right?) one more time i’d scream!!!

rho

January 9th, 2009
3:49 pm

I’ve asked the tech folks about taking the “enter your comment here” deal away and also allow me to have my name and email automatically show up once I type it in once. I haven’t heard back yet. And yes—good to see you again A4A!!!!

harrietth

January 9th, 2009
5:20 pm

Bye everyone. Gone for the day.

Nana

January 9th, 2009
7:39 pm

A4A good to see you back again!!!! Looks like we are geting alot of the old faces back on here again. We should have a good time this year with the old faces and the newbies.

In my post of 1:38. I don’t know where my mind was but my English was not up to par. I should have said “that will probably be as close as we can get getting together” and NOT what I typed. I assure you that I did pass English with straight A’s. :-) (-:

Nana

January 9th, 2009
9:56 pm

I just read this week’s People and there werre two articles that I thought y’all would find interesting. The first was the December 31st wedding of Season 6’s Gina Glocksen. Phil Stacey helped her now husband plan the onstage proposal. Her bridesmaids were Jordin Sparks and Haley Scarnato. For the couple’s first dance, Jordin sung the Beatles “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” and Gina did a duet with Jordin “Livin on a Prayer.” There is a very nice picture of the happy couple with the article.

The 2nd article has to do with DWTS: Maksim and Karina Smirnoff have announced their engagement. Max popped the question to Karina on New Year’s eve in Las Vegas at the Wynn Hotel. Again there is a very good picture of the happy couple.

Best wishes to both couples and may their lives be filled with love and happiness. :-) :-) :-) :-)

linny@home

January 10th, 2009
1:25 am

Oh. Wait. She actually said “the way Maroon 5 is soulful”. double triple quadruple G*R*O*A*N. Maroon 5 is boooooooooring! So if that is what she likes… um… well let’s just say i’ll be disagreeing with her if she thinks ANYthing positive about the sound of Maroon 5. Sorry guys. Just telling it like it is. Or… if that is the way most of the men sound this year on AI, i’ll DEFINITELY be going for a female! ugh. ugh-ugh-ugh-U*G*H — I’ve SEEN Maroon 5 live (Ga Theatre in Athens) and found them to be …. well, i’ll just say i do NOT think they are particularly “talented”.

Deirdre

January 10th, 2009
7:57 am

linny…don’t hold back, hon…tell us how you really feel about Maroon 5. :-)

I actually like a couple of their songs. My kid met them while he was working for a local radio station. He says the guys in the band are great but the lead sing is a real…..well, I can’t use the word he did but, suffice it to say that he wasn’t fond of the gentleman.

Deirdre

January 10th, 2009
11:05 am

A quote from Kelly Clarkson:

“! we decided the cover of the album and just in case you haven’t seen it i’ll post it! it’s very colorful and they have definitely photo-shopped the crap out of me but i don’t care haha! whoever she is, she looks great ha! i’ve had so much fun with this album i really hope y’all dig it woohooooooooooo!!!!”

If Jen Hudson had taken this attitude, she wouldn’t have had to face so many questions on the subject.

Deirdre

January 10th, 2009
11:06 am

Yes! I KNOW it’s Saturday!

JTesla

January 10th, 2009
11:54 am

Thanks Deirdre, that is reason #252 as to why I like Kelly Clarkson.

Mike D

January 10th, 2009
12:50 pm

Idol sucks. Most of the contestants sound no better than a bag of dying kittens.

Nana

January 10th, 2009
3:40 pm

I guess we have one lurker who doesn’t care for AI. The sentence was really uncalled for. I assume he doesn’t like kittens as well.

linny@home

January 10th, 2009
3:55 pm

LOL! D — hubby working at the Ga Theatre said much the same as far as the *ahem* personnel of M-5 is concerned. I can’t help it tho…i just find their stuff soooo repetitive and booooooring (picture Joanne Worley with finger at cheek, there) (and if that reference is over your head, you’re way too young, LOL!)

linny@home

January 10th, 2009
3:56 pm

Nana i always find it rather interesting that some people who profess to absolutely abhor American Idol and all things related will post ON an American Idol blog. Kinda makes you wonder what those folks have to do with their lives, anyway! And I like kittens…. certainly NOT “dying” kittens, but i LIKE kittens…

’nuff said, eh?

Josiahshouldhavewon

January 10th, 2009
4:09 pm

Can’t wait for idol, long time lurker here.

Nana

January 10th, 2009
4:37 pm

right linny……………nuff said :-)

Rusty Nail

January 10th, 2009
5:54 pm

Is this blog limited to only positive comments about American Idol or can people express any opinion they want to?

Deirdre

January 10th, 2009
6:04 pm

Josiahshouldhavewon…while I totally disagree with your name…please stop lurking and join in the fun. We’ll try to stay really nice to you for the first couple of days…then get ready for a rumble!!!!! :-)

Rusty…if you’ve been reading this blog at all, you’d KNOW that negativity is allowed….but that doesn’t mean we will agree with you. We’ve spent a great deal of time on here looking for ways to improve the show and that involves quite a bit of complaining about stuff(mosh pits, for example…what were they thinking)

Deirdre

January 10th, 2009
6:07 pm

And let’s give Mike D his due. Some of the contestants HAVE sounded pretty bad…I would have used a different way to describe it but…each to his own.

kelly&carriefan

January 10th, 2009
6:40 pm

See, yet another reason for my username…Kelly is one of the most honest people out there. Hilarious answer to the cover! Love it. :)

Deirdre

January 10th, 2009
7:45 pm

I copied that one just for you, k&cf! :-)

linny@home

January 10th, 2009
7:45 pm

Oh lordy! If we were limited to positive comments about American Idol all of us would have been banned a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnng time ago!!! LOL!!! No… but we do try to at least give intelligent commentary based on our OWN opinions about things both good and bad, horrible and excellent! And yes, there HAVE been some contestants who fortunately did not make it to the top levels of competition — well — there HAVE been a couple that I would not personally have put through to the finals, but made it anyway — but usually they are either voted off fairly quickly, or they are SO controversial/quirky/individual/weird (or any other adjective you wish to insert) that they stay around for a while until the competition gets reeeeealllllly serious and are finally voted off — sort of like Cloris Leachman on DWTS.

That’s the other thing, Rusty — we also comment on other competitions, and in fact even during the week when it’s not right after the show — or the day of the show — we talk about Lost, Heroes, ER, Grey’s, DH, 24, and other shows. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are pretty focused on AI, of course.

But back to your question, we WELCOME controversial opinions. However, sometimes we get people who just want to name-call, harass, or push buttons — not in a conversational way, but to arouse anger, ire, irritation and the like. Disrespect is not appreciated by anyone here, and we like to TRY not to make the comments personal against other bloggers. However, there WILL be name-calling and the like, because no matter how carefully we word things, there will always be someone who takes it personal and gets all huffy and puffy about things. We try to calm those folks down and invite them to have discourse with us in a respectful manner.

It works, largely, because MOST of those who post here, and a lot of lurkers who pop in occasionally, actually DO try to show respect for others. Nothing wrong with differing opinions…and heated discussions even about those opinions… Just no need for name-calling and insults, right?

OK, i’ve soapboxed enough for one day…. catch you guys later … and welcome to Josiah…, Rusty, and even MikeD … please stick around and join us especially on Tuesday nights and Wednesdays (and thursday for reactions to vote-offs once the season really kicks in)

peace! ;)

linny@home

January 10th, 2009
7:49 pm

Oh, i doooooo love this instant posting thing!!!! LOL!!! see you guys, i have to get back to my typing (that i get paid for, that is)

later!

Justin

January 10th, 2009
8:39 pm

Is it just me or is the extreme pimping of the guys getting a bit annoying?

And adding a random side-comment… Rickey from rickey.org is the most immature blogger I’ve ever encountered on the internet.

JTesla

January 10th, 2009
9:00 pm

Happens every year Justin, last year we were told that the women were strong. We all know how that turned out.

Deirdre

January 10th, 2009
9:13 pm

Get used to the pimping. It creates controversy and therefore, will never end.

And Justin…if it’s the same Rickey who throws cryptic “i know everything” messages out on the Idol forums then yes…that is definitely one immature blogger.

linny@home

January 10th, 2009
10:19 pm

LOL – hey Justin! You pegged it, about the pimping! But like D says, get used to it. I had to grit my teeth last year, LOL!

I’m working on this typing stuff and took a break — this beautiful people show was on in the living room (no one watching, tv was just “on”) so i stopped. this one girl says she just got a degree in biology. Then she’s complementing this guy with big muscles, touches his arm and says “i don’t know what this is called but looking goooood”

Now. A biology major who doesn’t know what a bicep is? Hellooooooooooo? I just was laughing so hard i couldn’t stand up. Had to leave the room quick. what a show this must be….don’t think i’ll be watching, LOL!!!

JTesla

January 10th, 2009
11:20 pm

Linny, that show is awesome. It’s fun to laugh at conceited people.

Justin

January 11th, 2009
12:51 am

haha probably not the same blogger your thinking of…go to rickey.org and look…….. he’s really weird too

JTesla

January 11th, 2009
1:19 am

Hey Justin, did this guy come over and pee in your pool or something? Weird yes, but the most immature blogger you’ve encountered? Remember your friends at AJC before you go start handing out titles.

Kara DioGuardi: New Judge for American Idol Season 8 | American Idol Fan Site | Who got voted off American Idol

January 11th, 2009
2:23 am

[...] Here is what DioGuardi had to say in a recent interview: [...]

linny@home

January 11th, 2009
11:13 am

As nice as it is to have a link to other AI sites, is this the way to do it? Or…RODNEY…. is this legit? Just curious … it LOOKS like someone took their URL and put it in as their name… to get folks to go to that website, which gives them a “hit” and makes them look good.

Or am i just missing something?

JTesla

January 11th, 2009
11:35 am

It is the same concept as some of the spammers we saw last year: suntan lotion and male enhancement are two that I can think of. This one just appears to be more Idol orientated. I think the thing that I would ask is can a limit be placed on the name length? The fewer things people can abuse, the fewer things they will abuse.

JTesla

January 11th, 2009
11:37 am

It looks like they fixed the “Enter your comments here” issue. Thanks Rodney.

Deirdre

January 11th, 2009
1:46 pm

Enter your comments here Test

Deirdre

January 11th, 2009
1:49 pm

Not for me. :-(

Josiahshouldhavewon

January 11th, 2009
2:03 pm

Thanks for the welcome. I have no dpubt that if Josiah had made the cut, he would be the American Idol. His music style is like no other.

Deirdre

January 11th, 2009
2:17 pm

Hey Jshw(short for Josiahshouldahavewon) Welcome! I won’t get on you(yet) about Josiah’s issues. We’ll leave that until we know each other better.

Deirdre

January 11th, 2009
2:19 pm

OK…the “enter your comment here” is solved on Internet Explorer but not on Firefox. At least its a start!

JTesla

January 11th, 2009
2:50 pm

IE > Firefox

Deirdre

January 11th, 2009
2:59 pm

Excellent!!! Now its solved on Firefox!!!

Justin

January 11th, 2009
4:30 pm

No.. lol the Rickey guy is the actual site runner… reason why its called rickey.org

JSHW

January 11th, 2009
4:34 pm

I like jshw, thanks Deidre. I can’t wait til we get some new music from him. I hope he shows his musical ability by writing and producing his own stuff. He reminds me of a young John Lenon, and I truly believe he will change the world with his music.

JTesla

January 11th, 2009
4:35 pm

Welcome to the blog JSHW.

War Eagle

January 11th, 2009
5:22 pm

Sounds like JSHW has a few screws loose. Should fit in here nicely.

Deirdre

January 11th, 2009
5:45 pm

I was thinking along similar lines, WE! :-)

JSHW

January 11th, 2009
6:55 pm

I am not a Josiah fanatic, I just truly believe he got a raw deal on Idol. When you play an instrument, you can hear how your sound should be. He got so much grief for dismissing a lame band. I bet more would love him if he had been just given the chance to show his talent.

JSHW

January 11th, 2009
6:56 pm

thanks Jtesla

Deirdre

January 11th, 2009
6:59 pm

Josiah’s problem was never the music. He’s very good. Josiah’s problem was what appeared to be a VERY shaky emotional state, which, from his recent interviews is STILL on shaky ground. IMO, Idol was smart not to let him continue. The pressure of the show might have driven him over the edge. Maybe, someday, when he gets some help, he’ll be everything that JSHW hopes he is.

JSHW

January 11th, 2009
7:14 pm

I don’t think he is emotionally unstable. He is really just misunderstood. Idol wanted to showcase his being homeless and he didn’t dance to their tune, they got p/o’d and set him up for failure. They encouraged him to dismiss the band, but when it was not accepted in a positive way, they distanced them self from it. So he was kicked off by the powers that be, cause they knew America would never be so dumb as to vote him off.

JTesla

January 11th, 2009
7:29 pm

I don’t know what you all are talking about Josiah changed my life ;)

War Eagle

January 11th, 2009
7:34 pm

LOL JT. I don’t think Josiah is the only one emotionally unstable.

rho

January 11th, 2009
8:33 pm

Enter your comment here is still here on Safari, too. The tech folks are doing a big redesign of the main ajc.com so that’s why they haven’t gotten around to my issues here on wordpress. Priorities, priorities! I have a new blog entry up for Monday.

rho

January 11th, 2009
8:34 pm

Rusty Nail–feel free to talk about Idol any way you want! That’s what I hope to make this blog. Just not be abusive to other bloggers.

JTesla

January 11th, 2009
8:56 pm

IE > Safari

Thanks for the tech update. Let’s “hope”

Deirdre

January 11th, 2009
9:27 pm

JSHW I certainly understand why you like Josiah so much but I saw his Hollywood auditions very differently than you did. Rather than ‘dancing to their tune” he insisted on doing things HIS way. And failed miserably. All the other contestants found a way to show their talent while following the judges instructions . This is a television show. It is not HIS television show. Josiah Leming may someday be the biggest thing to happen to music since Elvis Presley but he was asked to perform according to the regulations set for ALL the contestants and he didn’t. They had every right to be “p/o’d”

JTesla

January 11th, 2009
9:42 pm

Josiah will outsell the Beatles and Elvis Presley… oh and he will discover the cure for the common cold.

Was that a little too much? Sorry, just warming up for the Idol season.

Nana

January 12th, 2009
7:01 am

Happy Monday Morning Bloggers. Hope you all had a great weekend and are rested enough to face the week.

Today’s Quote: “Follow what you are genuinely passionate about and let that guide you to your destination.”

I see that over the weekend we had some new faces :-) and to them I say, “Welcome.” All are welcome as long as respectability to others is present. Since this is an AI blog, your comments and thoughts can be entered. Sometimes comments become a big conversation item and others not so much. There will always be a difference of opinion, but hey, that’s what makes this so interesting. So all you newbies (and lurkers)be ready to comment!!! Join us and see how much fun we have. :-) :-)

Justin

January 12th, 2009
4:43 pm

I just kinda realized I’m the only one on here… well almost the only one who actually uses a name….. i don’t get y’alls nicknames lol

JTesla

January 12th, 2009
7:45 pm

Justin, we moved to the more recent thread quite a while ago.

Mike

January 13th, 2009
7:32 pm

Kara is a talented songwriter who has worked on multiple projects with seasoned artists. It will be a breath of fresh air to see her on the show. Check out her colab with Dave Stewart @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fW6sA2oGh0

Bridget Hawkins

January 13th, 2009
9:50 pm

I am a 24 year old woman from the East Coast, and I can tell you with much certainty that the new judge is a big mistake. I just witnessed her not judging, but combating with a contestant. I mean, she has issues, right? Come on! The girl in the bikini was amazing and she totally embarrASSed herself by trying to outdo her. That was pathetic. Please don’t ruin my favorite show with this jealous (wait, sorry, who is she again?) Oh yeah, sorry, she worked with Pink, is it, and who else? Celine Dion? Oh yeah? When was that? Definitely not any song worth mentioning! Sorry Kara, you messed up. See you next year. At auditions.

Bridget Hawkins

January 13th, 2009
9:59 pm

Please girl, the next time you want to correct yourself, don’t start off by saying exactly what you must mean honey. Come on. “I’m not just saying this because you are “way hotter in a bikini than me” but let me show you how I can sing it…” I mean, that is so, so, so, pathetic. I must have missed her last album. Yeah- as a matter of fact I think everyone did. I’ll catch AI whenever she is gone, however many years they give her to make a dumbass out of herself.

Clive Davis

January 13th, 2009
11:03 pm

Kara Dioguardi is going to rock the whole American idol scene, mainly because of her extensive work as a singer/songwriter. Her single “taking chances” with the one and only DAVE STEWART is one not to miss.`EVERYONE YOU TUBE “Taking Chances” you won’t be disappointed.

Tm

January 20th, 2009
9:04 pm

Kara has got to go. There’s a reason she’s a “songwriter” and not a “singer”. Some people are meant to be seen and then there’s Kara. Fox made a HUGE mistake hiring her and needs to correct it immediately.

celine dion

January 21st, 2009
10:47 pm

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