From Deseret News archives:

Carly Simon: Nobody does it better than Brooke on 'Idol'

Published: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 12:44 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
NEW YORK — Carly Simon has more than a passing interest in this season's "American Idol" and leaves no mystery about who's her favorite remaining finalist — Brooke White.

Simon was tipped to turn on the television at her home in Martha's Vineyard, Mass., the night White won over the judges by performing her hit song "You're So Vain" during 1970s theme week.

"I thought, ' ... this girl is so talented and she sings the song so much better than I ever did or ever could,"' said Simon, interviewed during a rehearsal break with her band at a Manhattan studio. "I was so flattered that she chose the song and ... more than impressed. I think she should win."

Simon was preparing for a showcase performance of songs from her new bossa-nova flavored album, "This Kind of Love," her first album of original new songs in eight years, which was released Tuesday.

The 62-year-old singer confesses that when she watches "Idol" her motherly instincts take over and she just wants to protect the young singers from what she sees as the show's cruelest part — and it's not the comments by judge Simon Cowell whom she likes.

Story continues below
"One thing I don't like about the show is that it turns truly sadistic when the person is voted off and they have to sing while they're crying," Simon said. "I just want to go up ... and carry them off and say, 'It's OK, sweetheart, come with me.' ... I don't know how the panel can stand that cruelty. ... Doesn't that seem like being thrown to the lions?"

With her legendary stage fright, Simon admits she couldn't have gone far on "Idol" if she had to perform live before a TV audience in the tens of millions. And she doubts that the other noted singer-songwriters of her generation — Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Joni Mitchell and ex-husband James Taylor — could have gone far because they all had distinctive but untrained voices.

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image
Jim Cooper, Associated Press

Carly Simon

Related content
previousnext

Latest comments

TCU stuck at fourth in BCS

Why does the BCS poll matter to either BYU or Utah? We aren't going to a BCS...

Vanishing languages a 'tragedy'

The tragedy in these cultures is that they are losing their rich traditions...

Letters: Sodom and Gomorrah

what Rights and Protections? said - When all those who are against...

TCU is fortunate to be 4th, coming from a weak conference. There is no...

TCU stuck at fourth in BCS

Yeah, look at that! Utah still ahead of BYU. Look for that gap to widen...

TCU is the small school that carries every other little school's hope for a...

This is the wrong place to vent. If you really want change we'll see you at...

Great post Sacramento/SLC Aggie Alum, you hit the nail on the head. This team...

To: gays, please explain this: | 2:01 p.m. Nov. 12, 2009 "Please explain...

3A: Hurricane advances to title game

if you times 9k by the number of students that would be a great amount off...

Advertisements
Advertisement