‘Rock Star: INXS’ finale predictions

Posted by Tom Boone on Tue, Sep, 20, 2005 - 9:30 am

The long overdue finale of "Rock Star: INXS" airs tonight on CBS, which means that by this time tomorrow the band will finally have a "permanent" replacement for it's late front man, Michael Hutchence. Since I've been making predictions for most of the show's run, it's only appropriate that I make public my prediction of who will win tonight.

The only way MiG Ayesa wins is if the show is rigged (i.e., the band selected him before the contest even began). If that's the case, then all parties involved did a horrible job of promoting this guy to anyone other than Australians. MiG would be a horrible fit for INXS. His two strongest areas of comfort appear to be vocal theatrics and sappy love songs, two things not normally associated with INXS (thank God). Hopefully the fix isn't in. Assuming it's not, MiG should be going home a loser.

If MiG is too soft, then Marty Casey is just a bit too hard. He never quite seems to have full control of his voice, and when he falters, he alternately resorts to screaming and whining. Throughout the competition, Marty has made a big deal about meeting INXS "half-way" stylistically, but after 25 years of playing together, I find it hard to believe that these guys have any desire to meet halfway with anyone. In addition, I sincerely hope that INXS has paid attention to the way Marty has treated his current bandmates, The Lovehammers, during this competition. For one thing, he seems to have no problem dropping them like a stone in order to get the INXS gig. Yet, he claims in interviews that if he loses, he'll just go back to playing with them. (Why they're waiting around for him, I don't know.) For another thing, he used one of the Lovehammers' own original songs, "Trees," as a major part of his quest to leave them behind. This ensures that the song will forever be associated with Marty Casey alone rather than with The Lovehammers as a band. Loyalty is not this guy's forte. Surely the members of INXS will recognize all this and send Marty home a loser.

That leaves J.D. Fortune. I've consistently pointed out that this guy doesn't have a very strong singing voice. But when a song falls within his comfort zone, he usually nails it. Fortunately for him, that comfort zone overlaps quite a bit with INXS's. Sure, he sounded awful singing "We Are the Champions" several weeks ago, but that wasn't exactly INXS territory anyway. Of the remaining contestants, J.D. is the only one who really knows how to work a crowd, both during songs and between them. Simply put, he's the only real "rock star" left. That's not to say he doesn't have serious issues. Apart from his limited vocal range, his personality is a bit abrasive, and he has a tendency to be manipulative and dishonest. But if this competition really is about finding the best fit for INXS, J.D. has to be the best guy for the job. Or at least the best guy left.

Predictions...

Winner:
J.D.

Eliminated:
MiG Marty
The "Rock Star" Graveyard...
Dana Wil Neal Heather Daphna Tara
Brandon Jessica Deanna Jordis Suzie

Comments

the Lovehammers are a local

Tue, Sep, 20, 2005 - 3:25 pm — bonnie (not verified)

the Lovehammers are a local band in Chicago where I live, and the word around town is that they are hugely supportive (they've been holding local parties to view the show) and actually, "trees" is not a lovehammers song. From what I understand, they say its an original song that Marty had written a rough version of some time back and updated to the version we hear on the show, during the week when the first "originals" show happened. So, by all accounts, I largely agree with your take on Marty, but the song wasn't technically cheating and doesn't have an impact on their band whatsoever. That still doesn't mean he's right for INXS, but if he returns to Lovehammers, I think this whole experience will only help promote for them and push them into the mainstream, probably now along with "trees". I've also heard that all the band members are exploring solo and side projects and therefore encouraged him to go on in a different direction. They've been playing since they were teenagers and maybe they all want something different. (I think I would... )

Thanks for the correction

Tue, Sep, 20, 2005 - 4:04 pm — no true bill (not verified)

Thanks for the correction and clarification, Bonnie. I have no doubt that The Lovehammers popularity will jump tremendously if Marty rejoins them. And based on what little I've heard of their music, I think I might even become a fan. I actually tend to think that Marty would benefit a lot more by losing tonight than by winning. After all, if he wins, he'll just be the singer for a long-past-its-peak band from the 1980's. If, on the other hand, he loses, his options are endless. He can go back to The Lovehammers, he can form a new band, or he can start a solo career. Regardless of which path he chooses, he gets to do whatever he wants (rather than just meet somebody halfway). J.D.'s situation is the exact opposite. He seems to be the best fit for INXS, and I could even see them having a brief resurgence with him on-board. But if he loses, I can't imagine him being a hot property either for another band or for a solo career. He worked so hard making himself "perfect" for INXS that he may have damaged his ability to market himself separate from them. Plus, he's a bit of a jerk (unlike Marty who seems to be a genuinely nice guy). But MiG still sucks.

Your analysis of the show

Wed, Sep, 21, 2005 - 9:22 pm — PusBoy (not verified)

Your analysis of the show has been spot-on from the beginning, NTB. Marty was my chouce from the beginning, but last night, I actually wanted him to lose. I think I mentioned a few weeks ago that the person who came in second might do better in the long run, if they can parlay their run on the show into something independent and possibly bigger than INXS. Also, I'm just glad this show is over. I don't plan to watch the next incarnation of the show, unless it's for Queen. So, looking back, who do you think would have been a better fit for the band? I'm guessing you'd say Suzie, but I don't know for sure. Also, did you notice Ty and Jordis last night? Every shot of Ty revealed a man still pissed off about the "racism" that ousted him from the show. Jordis looked to be medicated. Could she still upset about losing? Anyway. I have my life back now.

I watched INXS on The Craig

Sat, Sep, 24, 2005 - 2:44 am — Skyler (not verified)

I watched INXS on The Craig Ferguson Show (on CBS) this evening. Even though I was rooting for JD for the entire contest, I'm going to have to admit that I wasn't that impressed with the performance. They did Pretty Vegas and it was was fairly lackluster. JD seemed to have done a better job on any of the four times he performed the song during the contest with The House Band. If only JD's voice had some more power to it. I mean come on..... this is JD's song and it just fizzeled. Maybe something can be done about JD's voice in the studio? But at this point I can't see myself paying money to see them in concert and god forbid if they put out a live album with JD singing. I'm wondering if Dave Navarro was on drugs when he said during one of the shows that he thought JD had the best voice for their back catalog? I don't think that Marty would have been that good either, but whatever, what's done, is done (now I'm wishing Suzie had won). I'll make a prediction and say that this version of INXS will have a maximum of two semi-successful albums and then that's going to be it for them. Some of them are approaching 50 years of age and I'm sad to say that they peaked over 17 years ago.