American Idol 2012: Judges still looking for that elusive female winner

“American Idol” judges were in Texas Tuesday searching for the next American Idol and took some time out for a press conference.

And like every year, they’re saying talent is even better than the year before and, of course, they’re still looking for a female winner.

“I feel like the bar is raised every year. We had an amazing abundance of talent last year, and I think we up it every season,” Judge Randy Jackson said during the press conference.

Jennifer Lopez, despite being the last hold-out to sign for this season, claims to be excited and gave an even more canned response than Randy.

“We’re excited about this year,” she said. “I don’t think we put the pressure on ourselves to top last year or anything like that. It’s just about having fun, finding great talent.”

But much like last year, the judges are trying hard to find a female to break the guy winning streak.

“The strongest voices we’ve seen this year have been girls. We had a lot of strong girls last year, but they were voted off, one by one,” Lopez said.

It also sounds like Steven Tyler hasn’t hardened any since last season. “It still breaks my heart to tell someone they can’t sing, because everybody’s got a voice,” he said. “It’s not easy. I have my days and moments.”

It all sounds a lot like last season, no? Well, they can search for the next female singer all they want, but women hold the majority when it comes to voters and they’re almost always going to throw their votes at the guys, cute or not.

The past four Idol winners have been men. Jordin Sparks, in season 6, was the last female to win.

Would you like to see a female win next season or do you just want it to go to the most talented person?

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24 Comments

  1. Well, last season worked just fine for me. So, if Steven is going to remain loopy but sweet, that works for me , too. As long as they round up a great roster of possibilities and put them in the top 24, we can take it from there. Can’t wait.

    • I know a girl with a voice from heaven Joanna Lauren @ Joannalaurensings channel Youtube she won a pass to XFactor Chicago and was turned down by a judge who did not like the song Faith of the Heart before the girl even got to sing. If you guys are really looking for singers instead of just publicity – judges for pre-auditions like that should be bounced out! The girl may be famous someday then I’m willing to bet a few hundred of us fans on Youtube will remember the win she was turned down and thought Wow! What does that say about a singing contest? Are the winners already pre-selected and all the rest hype or are these real talent searches? Just wondering what you might think about this kind of thing. Go hear her for yourself and you may be shocked, beautiful, entertaining and well a voice that can sing your heart out.

      • There are many such stories. Pia tried out 4 times before making it to top 24. Hillary Scott [Lady Antebellum] didn’t make it. Idol is not the only way to get famous. If this girl is that good she has other options.

      • I listened to the girl you are speaking of….very pageantry, a much better gospel singer than pop…no depth or soul….They are looking for singers that stand out…not mediocre cover singers..Sorry if my opinion is not what you wanted to hear, but you put it out there and that is my Honest critique..

  2. Season 10 was my favorite season yet and I have watched every year but the first. I love the way the judges show that they care about these kids. I hated Simon’s mean ways but I agreed with what he was saying most of the time. I just thought it could have been said in a nicer way and thats what Randy, J. LO and Steven did. Cant wait for season 11. It’s a singing contest so male or female I want the best singer to win!

  3. I loved last season. It was the best ever. I just want the most talented person to win. The last few contestants are already winners. I can’t wait to get started watching again. I am still following Scotty and Alena sp?

  4. I just wish that for one season we get a really good singer and performer. Not just a singer!!!!!!
    Except for Adam L. and Daughtry(and they didn’t win) there has not been a performer that won since Carrie U. that I cared to see in concert….Looking forward to next season…..

  5. I did not enjoy the judges this season at all. I wanted to mute their “comments” (not critiques) because they never actually critiqued anyone’s performance as needing improvement. They only heaped endless praise on them.

    As fas as a girl winning, I don’t see it happening. I am a female and I vote for females, but I think I’m in the minority. I vote for whoever I think has the most talent and in Season 10 that was Haley Reinhart.

    • I agree with you about the judges. When the live shows started they seemed to forget that they still had a job to do. They were great in the auditions and live rounds in picking the top 24, but they failed in their jobs when the live shows start.

      For the next American Idol to be a female then it’s not so much the judges, but the voting system that needs to change. They should make it so that you can only vote so many times from a device and not vote as many times as you want for the same contestant, that way the teeny boppers won’t be voting for the guys they are crushing on over and over again for two hours.

      • Well said, Shawn. Some of us have been protesting the voting system for several years. And the only reason for keeping it as is must be AIs partnering with AT&T. If this many teens had cell phones during season 1, Justin Guarini would have been the first Idol.

      • well said shawn…but remember these attitude from the judges wasn’t all so sweet an innocent as it looked. their task in choosing the best talent from the auditions was impeccable. (I still think stefano, lauren and casey were fails, but anyway) this year task was to bring back sweetness ( and the children demographic) and the glitz back to a gloomy show that was long lost at the end of the simon years, (kara didnt help) so basically, after the top 12, its the audience’s game.. judges are just there to witness the rise and fall of the public’s favorites…or to rip or praise those ones that the producers are (not) interested in…

  6. The next female singer that you are looking for is Kristynna Bailey,out of Mississippi.She is 20 and is beyond a doubt the best I have ever heard and beautiful also.I know her personally and she has been singing since 5years old.She has won so many awards and competitions.She is on internet radio
    submitted by Razzie Bailey(not kinship).Check out the song Guess Who and Ten Shades of Blue.

    • Maybe not. Most of the contestants have to travel some to the audition cities. I imagine venues in DC would be pretty pricey.

  7. Well I really feel horrible for Steven, Jennifer an Randy they have know clue the amazing talent that the producers an excective producers pass up in the first 2 rounds of auditioning. American will never know it either! My daughter auditioned 2 months ago an although she was a good sport about it all when she didn’t make it to round 2 it was so incredibly hard to see real amazing talent by others passed up to go to the next round all so the producers could find the “asses” of the show! It whats even more sad is they made them think they could sing all to just humiliate them on national tv:( honestly i don’t know those producers sleep at night! I really wish the 3 real judges knew the turth! They are not seeing American talent! It’s being left behind:(

  8. Well I really feel horrible for Steven, Jennifer an Randy they have know clue the amazing talent that the producers an excective producers pass up in the first 2 rounds of auditioning. American will never know it either! My daughter auditioned 2 months ago an although she was a good sport about it all when she didn’t make it to round 2 it was so incredibly hard to see real amazing talent by others passed up to go to the next round all so the producers could find the “asses” of the show! An whats even more sad is they made them think they could sing all to just humiliate them on national tv:( honestly i don’t know those producers sleep at night! I really wish the 3 real judges knew the turth! They are not seeing American talent! It’s being left behind:(

  9. Jennifer, Randy an Steven have know clue what’s happens with the show before they sit through their auditions! There are 2 other rounds you have to mAke it through to get to those 3 judges. An you wouldn’t believe the incredible talent that rounds 1 an 2 are passing up:(

    • Since items 8, 9 and 10 were all obviously posted by the same person in rapid succession, this is in response to all three. Calm down, no one said the system was perfect. What happens before the judges get involved isn’t their fault. Also, from watching all 10 years, I’ve come to realize that it isn’t just about the talent. Contestants also need good looks and charisma. It isn’t American Singer, it’s American Idol. Sure, maybe some great singers get overlooked and it may be for other criteria than vocals.

  10. i cannot wait for this season of american idol i was so excited last year when scotty mcreery won!! But hopefully this year a woman will win and go on!!

  11. The Seasons with the strong female contestants were SEASON 3 where it had Fantasia, Latoya, Jennifer Hudson, Diana de Garmo and SEASON 6 with Jordin Sparks, Melinda Doolittle, Lakisha Jones..

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