American Idol Wildcard Picks - A Baker's Dozen!!!

When David Archuletta sang "Imagine" it was otherworldly! He is an amazing singer! It was very hard for me to choose between the Davids last year. And the great thing about music is there are all types to attract all people. I just happen to be a rock and roller.

I love Megan's voice. It is very different. I hope she can relax to let her personality show through. Part of the competition is to see how they do under pressure. I do believe there is more pressure in the competition then if they get a deal.

I am glad Anoop made it back, but Jorge is my favorite!

I get the feeling Paula has some issues with her native tongue given her insistence that Jorge should lose his accent. For her (my) generation, it was NOT o.k. to speak Spanish and it was imperative to lose the accent, especially if one went to a Catholic school. Not that I am Hispanic, but I went to high school with many from Puerto Rico. It was not easy for them.

Oh.

I love the spanish language, and it doesn't make good sense to want someone to 'lose' their accent, because that helps to define them. Both of these idol contestants have fantastic voices, and I just thought it would have helped their emotions with only a few words they were better able to relate to. Maybe Paula has drifted from that tongue, or maybe the differences in regions and cultures, although all latino, has distinct differences in speaking, and therefore, she couldn't have communicated with them in that way.

Just curious, but why do you guys think Paula Abdul's "native tongue" is Spanish? Her dad was raised in Brazil, but is a Syrian Jew. Her mother is a jewish Canadian and Abdul was born and raised in the Los Angeles area. She is not hispanic, and I don't think she is very fluent in Spanish which is why she's not eager to take on a conversation with the Puerto Ricans.

FWIW, Abdul is an Arabic name.

I, too, love the Spanish language and the accent around it. And you are correct that Spanish has very many differences among regions. I learned Puerto Rican Spanish in high school, and had to learn a different "dialect" when I moved to Arizona. I had not considered the difference in the regional thing. And "Border Spanish" is often VERY different from the Spanish spoken in the interior of Mexico. I hadn't thought about that stuff in years! Thanks for the reminder!

I am likely to be mistaken, GrayHouse, but I really thought I have heard Paula launch into a fiery little Spanish tirade at one point. I don't remember when or where that was. Now that you've put it this way, I suppose I'm mistaken that she can speak that language.

My bad!

#6.4

I was cheated in high school. I wanted badly to take Spanish my senior year, and the only language offered was German. It's a joke for me know, when people as me what language I speak, I tell them I speak American. Lots of what we speak here doesn't qualify as English.

I thought I remembered a some type of non-English thing with Paula, too. However, as the official language of Brazil is Portuguese, that would explain why she might not do Spanish.

Please don't think that I don't like Paula. I love how she always tries to find a positive thing to say about everyone. It is just that I have gone to school with, worked with, and lived with people who have a language other than English and know how some of them have had a hard time with their accents. I also know that people who have an accent are considered not as smart as those who speak "normal English." (Based on a study done by Yale University.

I also know that people who have an accent are considered not as smart as those who speak "normal English." (Based on a study done by Yale University.

I've noticed that people with accents do have a very difficult time bridging languages, not so much for themselves, but in ways that help others understand what they are trying to say. It's sad. I don't feel like it makes them 'not as smart', though. I'm sure they know things that many perfect 'English' speakers never dreamed of knowing.

Paula is a dollbaby, certainly. She does try to keep a positive, upbeat energy about her, and it makes her that much more of a woman. I was just wondering what had kept her from helping those two communicate. Not being able to seems to be plenty of a good enough excuse.

I wasn't diss'n either of you, just pointing out Abdul's background.

That's kosher, GrayHouse. I didn't feel dissed, and you answered my question really well. Thanks for clearing that up for me. ;-)

GrayHorse, I didn't feel you were diss'n me. You did make me think and I learned something new. All in all, a good thing!

River, LOL about speaking American. I grew up with an English teacher mom! Wow, I still cringe when a newscaster or someone says the wrong thing the wrong way! And it is pure panic when I am not sure how to conjugate a word or use the comma the correct way:D (still laughing at it all!) Never too late to learn a new language. Try your local community college. Better yet, find someone who wants help with their English. You both learn.

And it is pure panic when I am not sure how to conjugate a word or use the comma the correct way:D (still laughing at it all!)

Ooooooooo, don't I know that feeling. Since I've started writing again I've been trying to diagram sentences in my head and remember what such and such word was called, lol. And pronoun use! I get so mad at people who defy a healthy pronoun use.

I've decided to spend some time overseas through the next couple decades. I'm sure I'll find plenty of accents and native language there to keep me thoroughly confused. I spent a great deal of time with a Mexican family for a few years as a teenager. Only a couple of them spoke marginal English, so more often than not, I was an inactive participant in conversations. It was very enjoyable for me to not have the burden of any words, deciphering their intent or their meaning. Such happy times those were.....

Not many of us left who can diagram a sentence! I am always amazed when I cross into Mexico and attempt to speak Spanish. The people I talk to are ALWAYS helpful and encouraging, even if I use the wrong word or conjugate the word incorrectly. They always gently correct me and give me the correct version. And they are always shocked that a white woman with VERY blond hair would even try!

I had a friend from Bogota who said the same thing about the Spanish spoken here on the Mexico/Arizona border (She was often heard to say "Oh, my American cousins", while shaking her head. Then she moved to Chicago and much of the regional English she learned in Arizona was very different than the English in Chicago. That was a fun lesson for her.) It is not dissimilar to the different ways English is spoken around the US with different slang and different word usage.

The people I talk to are ALWAYS helpful and encouraging, even if I use the wrong word or conjugate the word incorrectly. They always gently correct me and give me the correct version.

Hispanics are very friendly people. I've always envied their family values, their love of life, and the happiness. Just a wonderful rich culture of people, they are.

I can totally understand why the judges wanted Jorge to work with a diction coach. When he sang at his audition, you literally could not understand one word. Having an accent is one thing; but having an unintelligible one is another thing. Nobody is saying to lose it completely; just to make it easier for people to know what you are singing.

I must have missed that, or just didn't notice it. Maybe I just have a soft spot for the latinos. ;-)

I didn't notice the unintelligible part, either, but than I have worked with non-native English speakers for a long time now. I know I have a soft spot for the Latinos/Hispanics!

I have to say I was stunned when they put in Anoop as luck 13. I am surprised the neighbors didn't complain about the whoops of joy in my house:)

I agree with all of it, Omega! I have to say that Simon has been an advocate for Jorge and his accent. He said, while they were in PR, they were going to have people with accents. If they didn't want accents then he thought they should just leave right then.