Stefano's story isn't exactly compelling when he was arrested on charges of a DUI. That he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge only means it was probably a plea deal. I've learned more about plea deals than I care to.
You plea to this, get this lesser charge. Don't, and we have to waste time on you and will pursue the full charge.
As for Naima, her story is fairly routine on American Idol. Stories are hardly the reason I back someone.
No, it is my musically trained ear that leads me to back someone. It is my desire to see talent that isn't another Pop/Country hit. It is my desire to see her talent not flying over the heads of the viewers of this show. It is beyond frighting that Justin f-ing Bieber can be famous, but people say she has no talent.
And who the fuck cares about Ruben anymore? No one from that season made it. The only two that have truly experienced expected or beyond expected success from winning are Kelly and Carrie.
Nobody cared about Ruben once he was off screen.
Fantasia did have success, but not what she went on Idol for. At least her voice is more refined now than it was then.
Taylor Hicks was a VFTW victory of epic porpotions and they are the only ones who care about him now. The only one that even registers for me of that season is Chris Daughtry. He actually went somewhere and I hear about it.
Jordin Sparks...last I heard from her was her final performance on the show.
David Cook I hear is having some success. They say Archuleta is, but I'd venture to guess it is about as much talent-based as his show run was.
Kris Allen (Archuleta 2.0) I know even less about. Adam Lambert is the one succeeding there.
Lee DeWyze...who cares? Who cares about anyone from last season?
Also, courtesy of the Billboard Charts, winner and runner up albums sales (I believe it was the first week of sales):
2010
No. 19, Lee DeWyze, "Live It Up" (39,000)
(I had to format that and Crystal is not mentioned)
2009
No. 11, Kris Allen, “Kris Allen” (80,000)
No. 3, Adam Lambert, “For Your Entertainment” (198,000)
2008
No. 3, David Cook, “David Cook” (280,000)
No. 2, David Archuleta, “David Archuleta” (183,000)
2007
No. 10, Jordin Sparks, “Jordin Sparks” (119,000)
No. 10, Blake Lewis, “Audio Day Dream” (98,000)
2006
No. 2, Taylor Hicks, “Taylor Hicks” (298,000)
No. 2, Katharine McPhee, “Katharine McPhee” (116,000)
2005
No. 2, Carrie Underwood, “Some Hearts” (315,000)
No. 4, Bo Bice, “The Real Thing” (227,000)
2004
No. 8, Fantasia, “Free Yourself” (240,000)
No. 52, Diana DeGarmo, “Blue Skies” (47,000)
2003
No. 1, Ruben Studdard, “Soulful” (417,000)
No. 1, Clay Aiken, “Measure of a Man” (613,000)
2002
No. 1, Kelly Clarkson, “Thankful” (297,000)
No. 20, Justin Guarini, “Justin Guarini” (57,000)
You can look at the numbers and see why Justin, Ruben, Diana, Blake, Jordin, Kris, and Lee aren't mentioned often. When the show ended and reality hit, they didn't hold up. They found out that winning the show means little anymore.
So, truthfully, Naima would probably find best success in second place, as Adam Lambert did.
But it pisses me off when you say she can't sing simply because you don't like her. Even more if you are one of those saying that because you don't find her attractive/like how she looks. What the fuck do her armpits have to do with a damn thing?
(Also, why the hell is the words a*mpits turning into a link?)
Oh, that's right, NOTHING. If it bugs you, look at something else and just listen. Close your eyes. Not that hard.
I've been trained in music for years. My ears are attuned to it naturally, and have been trained. So when people support someone that hurts my ears more than my cats' ears, but say someone who is good and original is terrible and can't sing, it makes me want to tune their ears like a violin or piano because something is amiss.
When I don't like someone, I explain why. I don't act like there is no talent in there. I acknowledge they can sing but I don't like it and move on! If they have a good voice and need training, that's what I say!

Frustrating!
