I never complain about Kat, but while I was looking up Paula Cole songs on youtube so I could listen to them, I came across a cover Kat did of Paula's song "Me". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVovS3eWgR0

She sang it with no emotion, and kind of ruined the entire meaning of the song. Not to say it's a sad song or anything, but Kat didn't connect with the lyrics. Not that her vocals were bad or anything - but the song didn't match up with them. Her introduction was irritating too - even though I was young, I remember hearing "Me" on the radio. And how can you have the CD the song is on and have never heard it before. Ack.

So uh, I'm done now haha.

This original version is here if you've never heard it before C: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yldJ2XAZYNE

I love Paula Cole! I haven't listened to her in a long time, thanks!!

I think there is very little of Kat's I can tolerate. I saw this video previously, glad to know that I'm not the only one who felt that way.

I can't even listen to the duet with Elliott. I can't tolerate her voice. Besides Elliott sings most of it. She tends to shriek.

Word.

Yup-I see what you mean.

But, Elliott sounds great on it.

Same. There were about 2 of her Idol performances that I thought were good, but after that forget it. She sounds bad on her post-Idol music, and shrieky in Real Love. At least E saves it :elliottcap:

I actually think Kat sounds fantastic on this cover! go figure

I absolutely love Kat's version of Me. It is IMO so far superior to Paula's. It is one of my all time favorite vocals by Kat post Idol. Her version of Mary Jane by Alanis is simply brilliant. I know it is accepted behavior around here to be demeaning to Kat but if you let go of your pre-conceived notions about her and just listen to her objectively you might actually enjoy it.

But I guess my asking for folks to be nice to Kat and give her an honest objective listen might be tilting at windmills.

It works both ways KatfanBill!

And I've listened to her version of Mary Jane, it's not better at all. Kat may have a very nice voice, but she tends to oversing really powerful songs (especially at the Last Chance portion of the song.). Mary Jane is an extremely powerful song that I don't think Kat lived up to. Was it a bad version? No, not at all. And she does have a very nice voice.

I didn't go into it with any pre conceived notions. i go into it as it is something new. And each time I'm disappointed with her singing.

However, I will admit I'm looking forward to seeing what she does acting wise.

Berkana is right it works both ways.

Well I really don't get the "both ways" comment in reference to giving Kat an objective listen but getting beyond that, I will admit that there were times in the past that Kat over sang a few songs. She is not perfect but neither is anyone else. But to me she has a rare talent. A purity to her voice that very few people are blessed with. In the right situation with the right producer she is truly remarkable. Here are 2 examples to me at least.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCHDr4Kzq9A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcBI17rhx2s

The first being an example of why I'm excited for her working with David Foster on her next CD. The second is why I hope she works with Babyface again.

Mary Jane and Me are very special performances to me and a great many other folks as well.

The both ways comment was of the Kat fans bashing (not just not being objective or being close-minded, but actually bashing Elliott, commenting on his looks, his personality, and his music.) Elliott all through IDF for so long.

Edit: I meant to say some, not all. Because I know only some of them were like that.

Nobody is denying you the pleasure of them or criticizing you for enjoying those performances. I'm glad that you have something you cherish.


You're right, noone is perfect. Me, you, Elliott, Kat, Bush, the Pope, anyone. We all have our faults.

Not enjoying a persons performance isn't a fault though, its a preference.

i don't dislike her performances cause I'm an Elliott fan, I just can't take to it. Theres a couple dozen other performers who are well loved who I can't take too. I'm sure if I listed some of the ones I'm crazy about there would be people, maybe even you Bill, who would be like you have got to be kidding..

I really don't want to get into this as I am here to hopefully try to build a bridge between the 2 fan bases in support of Real Love and maybe a more lasting relationship between us. I do hope that you have noticed that I have been nothing but respectful here or at IDF to Elliott and to his fans and I consider myself one of them. But folks, it is 2 years gone since this competition was over and it is time to move on and wish all of these folks well and enjoy their success. It really is time to let this go and for it to not be part of the acceptable behavior on any site anymore. It has gone on from all sides for far too long.


edit. I do agree that personal preference is a big part of it afterall if everyone were like me it would be a very boring place. I just hope that opinions can be expressed respectfully and without a lot of old baggage being dragged into it.

What? Wait a second, no one is being disrespectful to you. Or Kat. Fine, yes we are saying that we didn't like the songs, we don't like some of her other songs. We have the right to our own opinions.

I couldn't care less what this fan or that fan says. It's not a "fan war" to me. My mother ADORES Katherine. Despies Elliott. (ok despise is a strong word, but still) We live in great harmony.

I am not going to Kat sites trashing her nor would I ever. What's the point? And I believe that in another thread I stated that while I am not a fan of her singing, I am looking forward to seeing what she does an actress.

No one is not wishing Kat to do well. (At least as far as I can tell. I specifically haven't ever said anything like that.) We had a couple people here state they didn't like her version. Like LilRedDevilLizzy state it's a preference. And again no one has said anything about you, not being respectful. I was merely pointing out when you mentioned that just because some posters didn't like her intepretation that they were not listening with an open mind because it's normal around here to be demeaning to Kat.

And you are right about it needing to come from both sides.

Wow. lol must. keep. mouth. shut.

Bill, I know you have been a great supporter of Elliott on the Kat site. I'm a member there and have posted a few times. I'm a supporter of Kat on this site. I wish her the best. I think she's a warm, funny person who adores her fans. I hope she sells a million records and is very successful as an actress or in whatever else she plans on doing. But I have to agree with what others have said here. I'm not a big fan of her voice. She has sung some songs very, very well - Over the Rainbow was brilliant - but in others, IMO, not so much.

You asked for an objective listening, and I think that is what you are getting.

I appreciate and welcome - heck, I applaud - what you are trying to do. I would love for our fansites to stop throwing stones at each other. But, if we both look around, we will see that it is a very few people on both sides.

terri,
helllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp me!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey cfans, I recognize your SN as well. I understand your points and thank you for your kind words. I know this isn't going to be easy for some to let go of old habits. I do think it has diminished on both sides at IDF in particular but I also belong and am an avid poster over at KMF where it isn't tolerated at all. IDF as you know is a different place but from what I have seen it has diminished to virtually nothing of late.
I know that a lot of people are not going to like Kat's voice and are not really interested in her but many many are including a lot of E fans some of whom have PM'd me here to tell me so. I see two things happening here. First we have 2 artists that have had some success with their first singles, in Kat's case it went gold and in Elliott's case it did extremely well, went platinum and still is getting airplay. However both of these artists had major flops for their second single and did not get a third because of it. So Real Love is a chance to maybe have a moderate hit and keep these 2 in the public eye and ears on the radio. Secondly I come from the if you aint got something good to say then don't say anything and if we can do that a bit more maybe we can get these few and I agree it is a few folks on both sides to just move on from all this and enjoy the fact that virtually all of the folks from the best season ever on Idol, season 5, went on to have successful careers. Be proud of them all and maybe just maybe a few folks might actually become fans of someone they never were before.

Bill, you probably did not mean it the way it came off, but your last post was pretty condescending.

I will stop there.

Well I apologize if it did as that was certainly not my intent. Maybe it's best if I just let this go for a while till folks get to know me a bit better and can see through my wordiness and run on sentences to what I am trying to say.

With all due respect, I don't think you posting here daily will help Elliott fans (like myself) like Katharine's music. :no: Sure, it might help those of us who have had bad experiences with Kat fans see that you all aren't so bad but no amount of posting will ever make me like her music or possibly change my opinion of the way she sings. I post on IDF too.

Maybe so. But if all I can do is change a few people's minds about Kat's fans then it will be worth it.

Hi Bill, I like Kat’s voice. It can be very clear and pleasant, and IMO it’s recognizable. But it’s just got too many faults to justify the professional training she’s received all her life. She’s good, but she’s just not cut out to be a world-class singer. That can’t be too pleasant for a die-hard fan to realize, because we all envision stardom for our idol.

Also, ever since being on Idol, she’s exhibited diva-like behavior. I won’t elaborate here but I can think of several examples and I’m sure every non-Kat fan could add to the list.

This image problem hasn’t added to anybody’s love of Kat’s music. Also, contrary to our Elliott, who we love because he’s the perfect blend of voice/persona, the only goal in life Kat seems to have is getting herself famous…however.

May I ask, just out of curiousity, what makes you such a devoted fan? I don’t know if Kat deserves them.

I agree. We all have the right to our own opinions.
Mine, for what it's worth is such;
I have never cared for Kat's voice--and that opinion was cemented permanently when she sang George Harrison's "Something" on AI.
I wish her well, though!!!!111

I also wish Kat well, but I don't see her future in music unless it is on the stage. I'm another who just doesn't care for her singing...sorry.

It's hard for me to be objective about Kat, because so much of my opinion is shaped by what she has said and what she has done.

She was one of my early favorites in Season 5 but I found that 1) She seemed more concerned about looking pretty on camera than connecting emotionally with a song and 2) She continually pushed in her high register to the point that it was painful for me to listen to. She has some nice smoky lower tones and needs to switch to her head voice when she hits the higher notes... otherwise it's just not a pretty sound. 3) I felt that she had a sense of entitlement in her comment to the judges that they were being hard on her. They were being honest and objective, but she just couldn't believe that her performance could be anything less than wonderful. 4) She's her own worst enemy in interviews. She has managed to diss a couple of her fellow contestants on the air, perhaps not intentionally, but that's how it came across. I saw one interview she did at a cancer event and she came across as a total flake.

Now I'm trying to be objective here... I found a nice acoustic version of "Over It" on YouTube that I would say I loved, but once again she starts pushing in her upper register. Its starts out really well and then once again becomes less than pleasant to listen to. JMO!

Here's a link if you want to listen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-H2KUlL6_c

Bill,

I think you are doing fine. And there are members of this forum who share your desire and actively work at building bridges between the fan bases.

I respect the opinion of forum members who just don't like, and in the case of some seem to actively hate, Kat. They have their reasons for disliking her just as I have my reasons for liking her. I think she has a beautiful voice and I believe she is a genuinely nice person.

I watched the video that is the subject of this topic again, and I think Kat did a wonderful job with that song.

Mar

As I said I really don't want to get into this but I'm sorry I find your last statement very offensive. I could not disagree with you more. Kat has NOT exhibited Diva like behavior and has done nothing but class. From her charity work, to her devotion to her fans, to doing benefit after benefit her quality as a human being is beyond approach.

As far as why I am such a devoted fan goes she has connected with me on a level I would not have though possible from an artist let alone a reality show contestant. She has brought me joy, friendships, and has moved me in my heart just like Elliott has done for many of you.

But what bothers me most here is the level of dislike/hatred that some E fans display towards her is beyond simply not liking her voice. It is based in something far more that I just can not understand for the life of me.

Folks can dislike her voice, song selection, style etc and that is fine but when you say a comment like You don't think she deserves the devotion of her fans, I think that is far more reflective on you than it is on her or her many many other devoted followers.

It's interesting that this thread all began on the basis of the Paula Cole song, Me. When I first heard her sing it, I thought it was a bold choice and she showed a vulnerability and a connection that I hadn't always heard from her on AI. Her interpretation is just as valid and beautiful as Cole's more empowering one. I see Kat as still searching for her musical identity and that's a daunting task. I'm not a fan of the pop sound, and don't think that everyone is geared for the Mariah or Christina route either, More interpretive songs like this one where it's not all about impressing with the power of your voice would be more of an interesting direction to go in. So you see, as many diverse opinions as people on the etrain.
I also appreciate that you're here and willing to work together to help make Real Love a success for both our idols.That's the ultimate goal and the reason why many of us are here too.

Thank you I appreciate the nice comments and all that I have been receiving. I agree with you on the song and on your comments about her direction. I love Kat for more of her interpretive style than her generic Pop sound that she displayed on some songs on her first CD. We all know that the Idol CDs are compromises at best and rushed hodge podges at worst. There are moments of brilliance on her first CD, Everywhere I Go, Neglected etc and I think that Kat choosing to perform Me and Mary Jane on tour was a demonstration of the direction she wants to go in and not just try to compete with the Mariah's and Rhianna's. Her lower register is amazing and when she controls her upper register is can be breath taking. Her mentoring by David Foster now I think shows that even more clearly. IMO her performance of Something was brilliant, controlled, emotional and possibly the best performance by a returning Idol this season. I think that bodes very very well for her new CD coming out later this year.

I do see that there are very many diverse opinions here as there are in Kat's fan base. And I enjoy a respectful thought provoking discussion of why we feel the way we do but being told that Kat doesn't deserve my affection is as much an assault on me as it is her and I must admit I never realized how deep seeded some of the bad feelings towards Kat are here.

Whether I like or dislike Kat, this is a fansite for Elliott. This is where Elliott fans post about Elliott and how and a variety of other subjects as they relate to him. IMO, it is a futile to find every thread where Kat is mentioned, and try to persuade people to like/love her the way you do. I would never dream of doing that on a Kat forum.

I am speaking only for myself here, but my biggest issue with Kat, is that she seems in every way, the polar opposite of Elliott. The only person that will be able to convince me otherwise is Kat herself. I have no reason to be biased in my opinion, it is just how I observe her. My opinion is formed not by anyone elses opinion of her. Example: I have heard Elliott himself speak with kind words about Kat.

I didn't like it either.

Katharine is not so bad. Ive finally figured it out. I actually have her CD. I don't listen to it much, but I did buy it.
Its her fans. The ones who constantly bash Elliott that I cannot stand.

Ive seen SO many rude remarks about him from Katharine fans its insane. No one else bashes him that way Kat fans do. ugh.

I agree.

This is an Elliott site. If you're here, talk about Elliott.

Every post Ive seen of yours is about Katharine. I, personally, don't want to hear about her. (the kat fan, i mean)

I wasn't trying to be close minded. Actually I was a big fan of Kat's on AI long before I liked Elliott -I haven't followed anything with her since the finale with her and Taylor though. So when I do listen to her music I don't think of it as "oh, this is Kat. Blah." But I didn't like her version, and I probably would've posted about it had it been any American Idol. To be honest I never understood the friction between the fanbases (since it all started long before I came here or even joined Moosak).

Somebody help me to understand this:

The title of this topic is "Katharine Mcphee's Cover Of "me" but this is an Elliott fan site and if we're here we are supposed to talk about Elliott?? Why would anybody talk about Elliott in a topic titled Katharine Mcphee's Cover Of "me"?

If we're not allowed to talk about Katharine, then why have so many topics been devoted to her over the past two years?

Mar, my point is that this site in not to promote Kat. period. And to expect nothing but positive opinions is unrealistic.

Also, because someone has an unfavorable opinion, that doesn't mean that is is deepseeded. That would imply that the opinion is mean spirited. It's merely my view point. There are many other musical artists that I don't like, but I am not taken to task about those opinions.

Well I'm sure a number of Kat fans feel exactly the same in reverse. I have never denied that a few Kat fans have said some mean things about Elliott just as some Elliott fans have done the same to Katharine. We could debate for pointless hours who is worse to no real resolution. But this is exactly my point. It's time to move on. As soon as I first heard that Kat and Elliott were doing a duet on Randy's CD I thought it was a perfect time to maybe put all that behind us and enjoy their mutual success with this song.

As far as my postings and this being an Elliott site. This thread was started about Kat's version of the song Me in an off topic area about other AI alumni and it is perfectly appropriate to talk about her here. If you don't want to hear about her then don't read the thread. Also I was asked by some members here to join and hopefully work on a coordinated effort for the song and I jumped at that chance to do something positive for both of my favorites. And that is what I will continue to try to do. But I know a great deal more about Kat than I do Elliott because she is my favorite AI performer ever. So of course I'm going to comment about her in an off topic area on a song I love that she has performed.

I know I will never convince anyone to change their opinion about her and only she can change peoples reaction to her music. But maybe I can change peoples opinion of her fans. A number of them are actually some of the kindest, warmest, most enjoyable people I have ever met. I cherish the bond we have together all because of Katharine, just as I'm sure a number of you feel the same way being here.

All I can do is hopefully be as respectful, intelligent, and welcoming as many have been to me here and maybe a few others will let go of these feelings towards what I believe to be a pretty special group of people on the whole, the Kat fans.

Gahh I wasn't trying to start an argument. Sorry if that's how my post sounded. Sheesh, it's just two singers from American Idol, nothing to get riled up about.

Sorry. D: