Comments on: Desi Talent, American Idol (Update: with correct names) http://uberdesi.com/blog/2007/01/23/desi-talent-american-idol/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss Keeping it real, desi ishtyle. Discussing all things, Indian and Indian-American. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 01:31:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: He’s back! | Über Desi http://uberdesi.com/blog/2007/01/23/desi-talent-american-idol/comment-page-1/#comment-200 He’s back! | Über Desi Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:16:40 +0000 http://uberdesi.com/blog/?p=134#comment-200 [...] Looks like you are new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!It’s been nearly two years since this humble blog was one of the first to report on a phenomenon that took the nation by storm. [Original UD post] [...] [...] Looks like you are new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!It’s been nearly two years since this humble blog was one of the first to report on a phenomenon that took the nation by storm. [Original UD post] [...]

]]> By: Sanjaya and Shyamali Malakar - First Audition Review and Buzz http://uberdesi.com/blog/2007/01/23/desi-talent-american-idol/comment-page-1/#comment-199 Sanjaya and Shyamali Malakar - First Audition Review and Buzz Thu, 28 Feb 2008 21:21:10 +0000 http://uberdesi.com/blog/?p=134#comment-199 [...] (image source: American Idol via Uberdesi) [...] [...] (image source: American Idol via Uberdesi) [...]

]]> By: Cool Myspace Layouts http://uberdesi.com/blog/2007/01/23/desi-talent-american-idol/comment-page-1/#comment-198 Cool Myspace Layouts Sun, 04 Nov 2007 02:32:06 +0000 http://uberdesi.com/blog/?p=134#comment-198 <strong>Cool Myspace Layouts...</strong> I couldn't understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting... Cool Myspace Layouts…

I couldn’t understand some parts of this article, but it sounds interesting…

]]> By: uber desi dot com » Blog Archive » Shocking footage reveals the Sanjaya-Call Center nexus http://uberdesi.com/blog/2007/01/23/desi-talent-american-idol/comment-page-1/#comment-197 uber desi dot com » Blog Archive » Shocking footage reveals the Sanjaya-Call Center nexus Fri, 03 Aug 2007 12:57:57 +0000 http://uberdesi.com/blog/?p=134#comment-197 [...] a cold night 6 months ago when UberDesi unearthed Sanjaya Malakar. As Sanjaya crooned his way through the consciousness of mainstream America, UberDesi stood by him [...] [...] a cold night 6 months ago when UberDesi unearthed Sanjaya Malakar. As Sanjaya crooned his way through the consciousness of mainstream America, UberDesi stood by him [...]

]]> By: Desi Blog of the Day - Uber Desi at Gauravonomics http://uberdesi.com/blog/2007/01/23/desi-talent-american-idol/comment-page-1/#comment-196 Desi Blog of the Day - Uber Desi at Gauravonomics Thu, 12 Apr 2007 16:43:54 +0000 http://uberdesi.com/blog/?p=134#comment-196 [...] - They discovered Sanjaya Malakar and Shyamali Malakar. - They have the coolest rotating header images ever. - Gauravonomics is one of the seven ‘Uber Reads’ on their sidebar. [...] [...] – They discovered Sanjaya Malakar and Shyamali Malakar. – They have the coolest rotating header images ever. – Gauravonomics is one of the seven ‘Uber Reads’ on their sidebar. [...]

]]> By: HinduAmerica http://uberdesi.com/blog/2007/01/23/desi-talent-american-idol/comment-page-1/#comment-195 HinduAmerica Wed, 11 Apr 2007 22:58:33 +0000 http://uberdesi.com/blog/?p=134#comment-195 <!--%kramer-ref-pre%-->[...] While others watch "American Idol," I read blogs and nearly-incomprehensible working papers about weaknesses in Environmental Kuznets Curve theory. But some of those blogs are devoted to topics of interest to Indians, and that means, especially of late, that there has been a steady drumbeat of comment on all things Sanjaya. Naturally, the best source of coverage is Ultrabrown -- if you're looking for links to YouTube clips of mean-spirited SNL, Letterman and Leno anti-Sanjaya savagery, Ultrabrown has it all. There are two conspiracy theories at work attempting to explain the failure of right-thinking "American Idol" watchers to boot Sanjaya off the show. One holds that the Howard Stern-endorsed VoteForTheWorst.com campaign is successfully sabotaging results. Another is that Sanjaya is benefiting from ethnic solidarity -- desis all over the worlds are phoning in for him. Call it the Yao Ming NBA All-Star Top Vote Getter Syndrome. I decided that How the World Works had to investigate, so I spent some time today reading the comments on various Indian-oriented blogs referencing Sanjaya. And I am happy to report that I found no evidence of racial solidarity. Sure, there was some excitement as far back as January when it became clear that a desi was going to make the show, but his performances since then have not won him unanimous support. Solidarity goes only so far when you butcher "You Really Got Me." But then I stumbled on a comment by someone labelling himself ShorelineBlvdTechie: "Great going Sanjaya! Keep the Indian flag flying high. Indians gave music to this world. So you have to win!" Indians gave music to this world. Could this be true? There is something ludicrous about spending a couple of hours Googling through the Web trying to determine if there is any historical consensus on when or where "music" was invented. Suffice to say, no. Music seems pretty much integral to the human experience, and no one's got a monopoly. However, music does definitely play a not-insignificant role in the most ancient expressions of Indian culture and spirituality. The universe, according to one interpreter of Vedic tradition "is said to be birthed from pure sound." One of the four canonical Vedas -- believed to be among the oldest scriptural texts in the world -- is the Sama Veda, described as basically a song-book for chanting priests. Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge, is never portrayed without her veena, a prototypical stringed instrument. I'll grant you, it's a bit of a leap to try to connect the dots between Simon Cowell's put downs of Sanjaya Malakar and the divine inspiration for the Indian conception of the universe. But culture is a funny thing. While speeding through my Cliff Notes review of the roots of the ancient Indus Civilization, circa 2500 B.C. I ran across a figurine unearthed from the millenia-old city of Mohenjo-Daro. Four inches high, made out of copper, it is a sculpture of a saucy dancing girl. Dress her up in a faux-hawk, trade the impudence in for a bashful grin... The Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-Daro would be a big hit on "American Idol," no matter how out-of-key she might sing, and no matter what Simon Cowell might dare say. http://www.salon.com/tech/htww/2007/03/30/sanjaya/index.html?source=rss   [...]<!--%kramer-ref-post%--> [...] While others watch "American Idol," I read blogs and nearly-incomprehensible working papers about weaknesses in Environmental Kuznets Curve theory. But some of those blogs are devoted to topics of interest to Indians, and that means, especially of late, that there has been a steady drumbeat of comment on all things Sanjaya. Naturally, the best source of coverage is Ultrabrown — if you're looking for links to YouTube clips of mean-spirited SNL, Letterman and Leno anti-Sanjaya savagery, Ultrabrown has it all. There are two conspiracy theories at work attempting to explain the failure of right-thinking "American Idol" watchers to boot Sanjaya off the show. One holds that the Howard Stern-endorsed VoteForTheWorst.com campaign is successfully sabotaging results. Another is that Sanjaya is benefiting from ethnic solidarity — desis all over the worlds are phoning in for him. Call it the Yao Ming NBA All-Star Top Vote Getter Syndrome. I decided that How the World Works had to investigate, so I spent some time today reading the comments on various Indian-oriented blogs referencing Sanjaya. And I am happy to report that I found no evidence of racial solidarity. Sure, there was some excitement as far back as January when it became clear that a desi was going to make the show, but his performances since then have not won him unanimous support. Solidarity goes only so far when you butcher "You Really Got Me." But then I stumbled on a comment by someone labelling himself ShorelineBlvdTechie: "Great going Sanjaya! Keep the Indian flag flying high. Indians gave music to this world. So you have to win!" Indians gave music to this world. Could this be true? There is something ludicrous about spending a couple of hours Googling through the Web trying to determine if there is any historical consensus on when or where "music" was invented. Suffice to say, no. Music seems pretty much integral to the human experience, and no one's got a monopoly. However, music does definitely play a not-insignificant role in the most ancient expressions of Indian culture and spirituality. The universe, according to one interpreter of Vedic tradition "is said to be birthed from pure sound." One of the four canonical Vedas — believed to be among the oldest scriptural texts in the world — is the Sama Veda, described as basically a song-book for chanting priests. Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge, is never portrayed without her veena, a prototypical stringed instrument. I'll grant you, it's a bit of a leap to try to connect the dots between Simon Cowell's put downs of Sanjaya Malakar and the divine inspiration for the Indian conception of the universe. But culture is a funny thing. While speeding through my Cliff Notes review of the roots of the ancient Indus Civilization, circa 2500 B.C. I ran across a figurine unearthed from the millenia-old city of Mohenjo-Daro. Four inches high, made out of copper, it is a sculpture of a saucy dancing girl. Dress her up in a faux-hawk, trade the impudence in for a bashful grin… The Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-Daro would be a big hit on "American Idol," no matter how out-of-key she might sing, and no matter what Simon Cowell might dare say. http://www.salon.com/tech/htww.....source=rss   [...]

]]> By: How the World Works - Salon.com http://uberdesi.com/blog/2007/01/23/desi-talent-american-idol/comment-page-1/#comment-194 How the World Works - Salon.com Sat, 31 Mar 2007 00:27:40 +0000 http://uberdesi.com/blog/?p=134#comment-194 <!--%kramer-ref-pre%-->[...] I decided that How the World Works had to investigate, so I spent some time today reading the comments on various Indian-oriented blogs referencing Sanjaya. And I am happy to report that I found no evidence of racial solidarity. Sure, there was some excitement as far back as January when it became clear that a desi was going to make the show, but his performances since then have not won him unanimous support. Solidarity goes only so far when you butcher "You Really Got Me." [...]<!--%kramer-ref-post%--> [...] I decided that How the World Works had to investigate, so I spent some time today reading the comments on various Indian-oriented blogs referencing Sanjaya. And I am happy to report that I found no evidence of racial solidarity. Sure, there was some excitement as far back as January when it became clear that a desi was going to make the show, but his performances since then have not won him unanimous support. Solidarity goes only so far when you butcher “You Really Got Me.” [...]

]]> By: Supporting Sanjaya = Racism? : uber desi dot com http://uberdesi.com/blog/2007/01/23/desi-talent-american-idol/comment-page-1/#comment-191 Supporting Sanjaya = Racism? : uber desi dot com Tue, 13 Mar 2007 13:33:50 +0000 http://uberdesi.com/blog/?p=134#comment-191 [...] MerGussaII on O3 alleges that the voting for Sanjaya has racial overtones. The blogger alleges that most of the votes Sanjaya is receiving is from Indians or people of desi origin. I say Sanjaya is this year’s version of Chicken Little. Uber Desi was one of the first blogs (arguably the first) to pick up on the participation of the Malakar siblings in this season’s American Idol. The reasons for our interest at that stage were multiple: the silblings were desi (ok: half), the siblings included a Hooter waitress, the boy was (allegedly) more talented than the girl. The posts detailing their initial audition and that of Shyamali’s ouster are still rated #1 and #2 on our most popular posts of all time. However, in recent weeks Sanjaya, who is currently in the top 12, has been on the receiving end for not performing to expectations. This situation has also been exacerbated by the fact that the most talented male participant Sundance Head was eliminated last week while Sanjaya has stayed on. My contention is that Sanjaya does not possess the intangiables that make an American Idol. His performances are monotonous. He cannot dance to save his life, hit different notes, move and entertain the audience like a pop star is supposed to. He will be voted off at some stage but all this does not translate to “he is not talented”. He is just not American Idol talented. And as much as we would like to think that Indians or people of desi origin in general are making a significant difference in American Idol voting, that premise may not hold much water. If you look at the history of American Idols, this is not the first time an akward teen has stayed on for longer than he’s deserved to. Among the contestants themselves, Covais looked like he was one of the more popular figures, probably in part because of the massive age distance between him and the rest of the men. Covais is 16; the next youngest of the six male finalists is Ace Young at 25. [...] [...] MerGussaII on O3 alleges that the voting for Sanjaya has racial overtones. The blogger alleges that most of the votes Sanjaya is receiving is from Indians or people of desi origin. I say Sanjaya is this year’s version of Chicken Little. Uber Desi was one of the first blogs (arguably the first) to pick up on the participation of the Malakar siblings in this season’s American Idol. The reasons for our interest at that stage were multiple: the silblings were desi (ok: half), the siblings included a Hooter waitress, the boy was (allegedly) more talented than the girl. The posts detailing their initial audition and that of Shyamali’s ouster are still rated #1 and #2 on our most popular posts of all time. However, in recent weeks Sanjaya, who is currently in the top 12, has been on the receiving end for not performing to expectations. This situation has also been exacerbated by the fact that the most talented male participant Sundance Head was eliminated last week while Sanjaya has stayed on. My contention is that Sanjaya does not possess the intangiables that make an American Idol. His performances are monotonous. He cannot dance to save his life, hit different notes, move and entertain the audience like a pop star is supposed to. He will be voted off at some stage but all this does not translate to “he is not talented”. He is just not American Idol talented. And as much as we would like to think that Indians or people of desi origin in general are making a significant difference in American Idol voting, that premise may not hold much water. If you look at the history of American Idols, this is not the first time an akward teen has stayed on for longer than he’s deserved to. Among the contestants themselves, Covais looked like he was one of the more popular figures, probably in part because of the massive age distance between him and the rest of the men. Covais is 16; the next youngest of the six male finalists is Ace Young at 25. [...]

]]> By: Jim Paye http://uberdesi.com/blog/2007/01/23/desi-talent-american-idol/comment-page-1/#comment-190 Jim Paye Fri, 09 Mar 2007 02:08:16 +0000 http://uberdesi.com/blog/?p=134#comment-190 I can't believe that Sanjaya is still standing. Way said this week his voice wasn't good. and here he beat Sundance! Wow... unbelieveable ! Either got full Support from India or he like Yoke-Ono, screaming in micphone! or like William Hung... he no match to any of them.... I hope will pull himself out next week... usually you get 3 strike and your out.. well this it 4 strike...now let see what will happen! Jim Paye I can’t believe that Sanjaya is still standing. Way said this week his voice wasn’t good. and here he beat Sundance! Wow… unbelieveable ! Either got full Support from India or he like Yoke-Ono, screaming in micphone! or like William Hung… he no match to any of them…. I hope will pull himself out next week… usually you get 3 strike and your out.. well this it 4 strike…now let see what will happen!
Jim Paye

]]> By: ray & jess http://uberdesi.com/blog/2007/01/23/desi-talent-american-idol/comment-page-1/#comment-189 ray & jess Wed, 07 Mar 2007 01:35:46 +0000 http://uberdesi.com/blog/?p=134#comment-189 just a suggestion if this is ever actually read by Sanjaya himself. we believe that the song that could set you through this challenge will be, "oh' happy day" granted its a highly challenging vocal, theres no way to sing it with out energy or character. if you read this friend, good luck... just a suggestion if this is ever actually read by Sanjaya himself. we believe that the song that could set you through this challenge will be, “oh’ happy day” granted its a highly challenging vocal, theres no way to sing it with out energy or character. if you read this friend, good luck…

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