DRG

Looking at a list of songs performed throughout the competition, I noticed INXS has had Suzie do "Never Tear Us Apart" twice now, once in week one and again last week.

tasha99

She's been in the bottom three a lot. If they had each singer practice a few INXS songs, maybe she's gone through her repertoire. I'm not sure how they handle that, but it seems like it would be really hard to expect them to be able to perform any INXS song.

movieking

Next week is the finale! Judging from this article, it seems like no one will get booted this week perhaps?

From Zap2it.com

'Rock Star' Singers Get the Boot ... Camp
(Monday, September 12 04:06 PM)
By Kate O'Hare

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) In the Tuesday, Sept, 20, finale of CBS' "Rock Star: INXS," the members of the Australian rock band will pick a new lead singer from among the final four members of a talent pool that numbered 15 at the show's premiere on July 11. That person will take the place of Michael Hutchence, who died in 1997.

For surviving contestants Mig Ayesa, Marty Casey, J.D. Fortune and Suzie McNeil, it's been a long, strange trip. Each has had years of professional experience, but the whirl of filming, performing, publicity and workshops conducted by INXS and others has pushed them to -- and even beyond -- their limits.

"This is definitely rock 'n' roll boot camp," says the lanky blond Casey, taking a break in the billiard room of the "Rock Star" mansion before performing in an acoustic jam session after the taping of the Tuesday, Sept. 13, episode.

"I really have changed. Number one, confidence in what I'm doing, even songwriting-wise. It's going from shoving your songs down people's throats, 'Listen to me,' to just doing a song once in the right place, and having people love it.

"This is the experience of 10 years on the road without actually having done it. There's plenty of partying, but all that aside, what it's been about is the pressures of uncertainty.

"Now, if they say, 'You have to hang upside down and sing this song, and we want you to do it in reverse,' I'm like, 'Fine. I can do that.' I've done it all. There really is nothing I can't do now."

Along with the exposure and the opportunity to take on fear by conquering new challenges, the contestants have also had the benefit of weeks of comments and instruction from the members of a band that has survived for 20-plus years in the music business.

"INXS has been around for a long time," Casey says. "They have a lot of wisdom. They've been up; they've been down. They've been giving me advice, like, 'We worked with one of the best frontmen ever, so why don't you try cooling it down a little bit?' So I tried it one week; it really worked. 'Why don't you try screaming less, and saving that potent scream for the moment you need it?' 'OK, you know what, I won't scream all through the song, I'll sing it, and I'll scream just at one point.' It really works; it's effective.

"So those are the tools that I've learned, and getting this falsetto voice that I never knew I had. There have been a few honest musical breakthrough moments that kicked me up a notch."

While INXS has been advising and judging these hopefuls, the band members -- Kirk Pengilly, Garry Beers, and brothers Tim, Andrew and Jon Farriss -- also know they're seeking a permanent replacement for a man who was a friend and colleague for more than two decades.

In collaboration with Hutchence, Andrew Farriss -- who describes himself as "resclusive" and "an introvert" -- penned almost all of INXS' music.

"There are five us in the band," Farriss says, "and we all have different opinions. But for me, I had a very art-related relationship with Michael Hutchence. We wrote songs together. It's a little different for me than for some of the other guys, because my relationship with Michael was like one of those classic relationships you have in bands, like Bono/Edge, Richards/Jagger, Lennon/McCartney.

"That relationship was severed when Michael died. I can't imagine, for some of those other bands, putting them in my shoes right now, how they would feel and cope. I can't imagine what they would do right now."

While it's conceivable that the eventual winner of "Rock Star: INXS" could be a new writing partner for Farriss, he's currently taking a broader view.

"I don't know the answer to that yet," he says. "I'd be lying if I said it can be done overnight or in the space of a day or two. The truth of it is that it develops over a long period of time. For the moment, because I'm a professional in what I do, I'm more interested in seeing what [the contestants'] interests are as people. Do they like poetry, painting? Do they have communications skills with people? How much do they read?"

Everyone knows about the wilder aspects of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle, but fans seldom to get to see the hard work that goes into creating the music and the performance. "Rock Star: INXS" has provided an opportunity to do just that.

"Rock 'n' roll is a business," says executive producer (with Mark Burnett and Lisa Hennessy) David Goffin. "Rock 'n' roll is a way of life. It's nice to think of it as a guitar-smashing party all the time, but the truth of the matter is, it's a serious family and business for INXS, in that order."

DRG

I thought the same thing at first too, but I think what they meant is that the winner will be among that group of four, not that all four will make it to the finale. There is still a results/elimination show scheduled for Wednesday.

HE Pennypacker

I can't see INXS recording albums with Suzie, though she has a gorgeous voice. INXS' style of music simply doesn't work with a female lead. I felt the same way a few years back when they performed a few gigs with a female singer.

I say just cut Suzie tomorrow and let the three men go head to head in the finale.

Cellar Door

Holy shit, Brooke! Nice outfit!

DRG

Yeah, she's no Ryan Seacrest. And that's a good thing.

Gil Jawetz

mig is terrible.

nazz

I thought Pretty Vegas kicked ass but I'm not sure that INXS would want JD getting the biggest chunk of royalties if it was a single.

Patman

I thought JD was on the top of his game tonight.

Marty was also good, but there is definitely a difference between him and JD as to what direction INXS wants to go, and I think INXS is truly taken with JD.

MiG was serviceable, but he lacks edge in a big way.

Suzie seemed to sing under the key for her 2 songs, which stifled the melodies in both songs for me.

DRG

Mig just doesn't feel much like a rocker. He's more of a pop singer. I thought he sounded all wrong in "Paint it Black". Suzie sounded good but she made some mistakes and had a few shaky parts. I liked Marty but I preferred the rocked-out version of "Trees".

JD had the best overall performance, plus he had the best transition between songs. Mig and Marty both continued with the corny lounge act talk: "This next number is a song about..."

Bugg

JD - This was his best week by far and even though I can't stand him, He does seem to be the only one that is actually aware that he is auditioning for INXS and not forming his own band.

Marty - I thought he did great on both songs, But I don't really understand why INXS gave him the Radiohead song when it is not at all the kind of music they are looking for someone to sing.

Suzie - She seemed decent enough during the performances but now only 20 minutes after I have finished watching the show, I really can't remember very much that stood out with her tonight.

Mig - Ughhhh, INXS need to clean the wax out of their ears if they really thought he did a great job tonight. This guy is about as rock as Celine Dion singing AC/DC's "You Shook Me"
I'm sorry but going to see a "rock" concert (even a pop leaning rock band like INXS) and seeing Mig take the mic is, if I may borrow a line from Simon Cowell - "Like expecting to get a guard dog, but instead getting a poodle in a leather jacket"

zebop

Mig was terrible. And that jacket. I swear he's an alien. I haven't seen anyone coast this much since Jasmine Trias. I hope he's in the bottom 3 this week...

Roto

I absolutely agree with you on JD and Mig. They better have them do 2 INXS songs each because they have to be prepared to cut him.

I thought Suzie's performance was plenty memorable. She did ok, but she blew all her energy on the STP song and practically lost her voice. I assume she didn't get to pick the order, because you'd think she'd go with What's Goin' On first. I think running into the audience at this point is a little gimmicky, but outside of that she did a better job of showing some emotion than she has in the past. She didn't sound as good as she normally does, but she's the best singer left, so I don't think it matters much.

JD was actually better than Suzie this week, but I'm guessing Marty gets the most votes and Suzie will yet again kick everyone else's ass with the INXS songs.

Roto

After seeing tonight's show, if Mig won I would actually believe the conspiracy theory. Even without hearing him sing an INXS song, I just don't think he belongs in the top 3.

tasha99

MiG really painted it pink tonight. I truly hope he doesn't win, even if he has nice abs. The jacket was

Though I think it was JD's night, I liked Marty's "Creep" best. Love that song, and except for some faltering on the falsetto, I think he nailed it.

I agree Suzie seemed to have lost her voice by "What's Up."

movieking

After watching last night, I don't want Mig to win. I would probably buy a INXS CD if Suzie was the lead singer, but not so sure about JD and Marty. Tough call with who gets booted tonight, but I am going to have to say Suzie is gone.

Cusm

Funny it seems like just last week everyone LOVED Mig, and JD needed to go.

Big Boy Laroux

Mig has fallen off FAST (hasn't been that good for a few weeks now), and JD has come on strong. I used to think JD was an ass, but he seems to have changed over the last few weeks. less games. but again, it could just be editing.

i would have to say that JD is the front-runner for this thing. his mini-set was great. the songs, and the segue between them especially, were top-notch. he has the rock show thing down. the other guys have the VH1 Storytellers show down.

marty was great with Creep. That song suited him well.

Mig kept talking about showing a darker side with "paint it black". He did not give a dark performance. he can sing, but he has theater stage presence, not rock and roll. yeah, he's got a good build, but JD makes the ladies swoon, too.

to me, it has to be JD. and if you look at my early posts on this thread, you'll see i've done a complete 180.

Gil Jawetz

I've never been impressed with Mig. Seems like a perfectly nice buy but the only reason he didn't across to most people as being SUPER theatrical is that Ty was still there to outshine him in that department.

movieking

I still think that JD is an ass, but vocally he has had a couple of good weeks. Marty is not the right person for the band, INXS, and Mig is too boring. Suzie is my choice, but she is testosteronally challenged, so she probably won't get it.

Roto

That'd be at least two weeks, because last week Mig sang his sickeningly sweet ballad. JD has had two of his best weeks in a row now. He's always been one of the best stage performers, but several times he's gone up there and just bombed.

JD also dialed down his attitude, which probably peaked when he wrote Dirty Vegas. That's the last time I remember him doing anything to really piss anybody off, and in the end it was actually the right move for him to make.

Nerinab

Pretty much agree with the posts above. I DO think JD is the best overall performer (and I agree he's toned down the "strategy" he had early on). I feel like I've watched a concert after he's done whereas with the others...not so much.

Marty is a very talented guy and I wondered, too, why they gave him "Creep" to sing if they are trying to alter his style. "Creep" was quintessential Marty. Both versions of Trees worked for me, but I'm not particularly thrilled with the lyrics. The man is very intense.

I think the bloom is off Suzie's rose a bit. She blew all of her energy in the first song and you could tell it was a struggle for her with 4 Non-Blondes. She would have to do some serious physical conditioning to make it through an entire concert. BTW, do these people just eat and drink to excess in the Rockstar Mansion?

As with Jordis, MiG's shortcomings are now revealed with more intense exposure. He's pop. No way around it. I thought he did a nice job with Seal's song, "Kissed by a Rose" (actually, I considered it a gift from INXS). Paint it Black? Eh.

lysander

My rankings from last night alone:

JD
Marty
Mig
Suzie

Overall:
Marty
JD
Mig
Suzie


Suzie appeared awful in the interview with the band and her set seemed really off. She got too pumped up and just made a lot of technical mistakes. While not a big deal in a rock show usually, they wer noticable and kind of detracted from the set. She has a great voice, but I don't think she is a good fit for the band INXS.

JD rocked last night. He has been able to perform his song three times now, which kind of seems unfair to everyone else who has to continue to learn new songs. However, Money seemed to be the most challenging song of last night, and I thought he nailed it, both technically and artistically.

Trees is a really catchy tune. I keep finding myself singing it after the show. The lyrics seem pretty dumb though. Doing it acoustically focused on the lyrics and kind of takes away from the song. I liked Creep. If Marty really wanted to do an acoustic, he should have done Creep acoustically and used the whole band for Trees.

I really don't know how I feel about Mig. He seems like a great guy. He is stable and talented. He sings very well, but does not have a rock and roll voice. I think he is getting all of the AU vote and that is why he is always in the top. I can't see him winning , whereas, I think the other three each have a realistic shot.

DRG

Mig also seemed to have picked up Jordis' habit of not really "getting" the song he's singing. His comment after the song, something along the lines of "That was about a person who wants to paint everything black." It made it seem like he really had no clue what the song was about, other than it was "dark".