I read a blog today that likened American Idol contestant Norman Gentle (known in real life as Nick Mitchell) to Season 6 contestant Sanjaya Malakar.Maybe you remember the admittedly cute but woefully untalented singer who was kept in the competition week after week while singers who could actually sing were sent home, thanks to the frantic voting by hormone-crazed tweens. We never knew what we were going to get with Sanjaya, from horrible vocals to bizarre clothing and hair, but those of us older than 13 knew it was terrible.And while I suppose I can see where someone might question whether Norman Gentle is this season’s Sanjaya, the thought can’t stay in your mind more than millisecond, for a few simple reasons:1) Norman Gentle has talent. Despite the goofy clothing and the theatrics, Nick Mitchell actually has a very good voice.2) Nick Mitchell is very open about his desire to entertain people and make them laugh. He takes himself seriously only in that way; Mitchell understands that what he’s doing isn’t pop star material. Norman Gentle is purely entertaining musical comedy. Sanjaya, on the other hand, actually was trying to be a pop star and ended up looking ridiculous. There is a difference.3) In fact, I’d go so far as to say that Norman Gentle is brilliant. Mitchell has been able to use his talents both as a singer and comedian and pair them together in a way that makes fun of himself and the whole Idol process, and yet forces us to take him seriously because of his talent. We don’t mock him because he’s a caricature, we love him because he’s a caricature.If I had to pick a “Sanjaya” in this competition – and I use that analogy very loosley – so far I’d have to say it’s Adam Lambert. And I say that with a heavy heart, because Lambert has a great voice and he’s adorable. But where Norman Gentle is weird and exaggerated on purpose, Lambert is just being himself and in the end, I think that makes him the bigger joke. Get the Gospel Soundcheck headlines delivered daily to your email inbox. Just sign up for the RSS feed by going to the “Subscribe” box on the right hand side of this blog and entering your email address. Follow me on Twitter!
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posted February 26, 2009 at 11:20 am
Norman was the most entertaining to watch on Idol in a loooong time. And he sang a very hard song to sing and while it wasn’t perfect, it was performed in a way that had me rewinding to watch it again, which doesn’t happen all that often for any Idol contestants– did Norman stand out from the rest? You bet. It will be interesting to see if people vote him thru- they just might because he is NOT boring and they want to see what else he’ll do. So many of the other contestants are, as Simon would say, “Utterly forgettable.”
posted February 26, 2009 at 1:26 pm
The girl who sang Alone by heart last night was phenomenal. Lambert was second. But I would go to see this guy. He’s funny.
posted February 26, 2009 at 4:59 pm
I love Normund aka Nick, but I believe the author of this article underestimates Sanjaya. Sanjaya started out being earnest, then after a couple weeks of being trashed and put in the bottom three even though he was one of the top vote getters, he became quite subversive. He knew what he was doing, and the judges knew too. Randy Jackson called him “the smartest contestant we’ve had” for a reason. The only difference is that Nick Mitchell is starting out parodying the show. Sanjaya also is a good singer, but whatever. The media parrots grab a hold of something, and it never ends.
posted February 26, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Nah, Sanjaya didn’t have the business savvy that Nick Mitchell has. Sanjaya was just winging it and being ridiculous at the expense of other contestants. It was most definitely NOT entertaining. Norman Gentle, on the other hand, hits all of the right points – humor, singing talent, and entertainment. Norman Gentle is defintely not Sanjaya.
Joanne
host of the GS blog
posted February 27, 2009 at 12:30 am
Hey lady,you’re out of touch.First of all I am way over 13,probably older than you.I started watching Idol,just because I accidentally discovered Sanjaya.His voice was weak,because he was shy,but it was
quality.He got better and better,and in the end,he is the only memorable star from that season. Sanjaya has a beautiful voice and all the Bigs in the buisness then,thought he had the most potential.The music director that year,said he thought Sanjaya had a good chance at winning ,because of his beautiful voice ! I met multiple women,not girls who are all Sanjaya fans.Please do not insult us,or all the famous mentors who loved him, by mocking Sanjaya. It is a pitiful attempt at passe humour.Sanjaya is a genius ,and he will have his hand in all phases of the entertainment industry as he progresses.By the way have you looked at his resume lately??? He has made a commercial,written an am idol book,made and co-wrote an album,sang for royalty,sang with Stevie Wonder,ETc…..
posted February 27, 2009 at 12:45 am
Excuse me,but this Norman character’s style of humor is the kind found in gay bars. You do yourself and your audience an injustice to compare him to Sanjaya. Sanjaya was a clean/cut innocent kid,who sang in the church choir,and was one of their stars.He came alive on Am Idol with his wardrobe and youthful style,he used no kiss my sweet you know what humor,like Nick. Nick was funny,but he crossed the line for the young family audience.Aren’t you supposed to be a Christian website,and promote clean ethical values ??????????????
posted February 27, 2009 at 12:47 am
Excuse me,but this Norman character’s style of humor is the kind found in gay bars. You do yourself and your audience an injustice to compare him to Sanjaya. Sanjaya was a clean/cut innocent kid,who sang in the church choir,and was one of their stars.He came alive on Am Idol with his wardrobe and youthful style,he used no kiss my sweet you know what humor,like Nick. Nick was funny,but he crossed the line for the young family audience.Aren’t you supposed to be a Christian website,and promote clean ethical values ??????????????
posted February 27, 2009 at 8:56 am
Hey Harve,
I’ll defer to your apparent expertise on “gay bar” humor, but I fail to see what was unethical about Nick’s performance, or why it should offend Christians or families. I didn’t see anything overtly “gay” in his shtick, maybe you have an overactive imagination?
posted February 27, 2009 at 11:18 am
I’d watch Nick anyday over Sanjaya. No one has made me laugh as hard as him in a long time, and he can sing. I hope he’s a wild card, but I doubt it, because Simon doesn’t like him. He’d make season eight’s ratings preety high just to tune in for him. I LOVE HIM. And I’m a strait married woman. I saw nothing gay about that perfmance or how he crossed any line. I hope he makes it some how. I’ll bet he does!!!
posted February 27, 2009 at 11:22 am
Harve, are you serious? You thought Norman Gentle wasn’t family friendly, but thougth Jeanine Vailes short shorts were?
Norman Gentle was as clean as it gets, Sassy Pants.
Joanne
host of the GS blog
posted February 27, 2009 at 11:26 am
If I were in charge of Idol and Nick didn’t make it to the top 12, I’d give him a weekly spot on the show as Ryan’s sidekick or doing opening numbers or something. I would love to see him every week this season!
I was watching him during the group performance last night and he was so funny – he was himself but you could see he was really trying not to do Norman, LOL. He has nothing to worry about if that was the last we saw of him on the show – if you’ve seen any of the comedy videos he did before Idol, he’s really, really funny. And Norman is only one of his characters, apparently
Joanne
host of the GS blog
posted February 28, 2009 at 12:09 am
Sorry Mary,maybe you don’t have many gay friends,or been in many gay bars, but Nick used very typical gay bar humor,also some insinuations. He also made some comments that I would not want my children to ask questions about a few times on and since his audition.Gay bars have a lot of men in drag performances.Face it,let’s not make excuses for him… he is not atypical all American performer. He might even be straight,but his humor is not ! That is why last year that guy from Arizona, was let go so soon,because he was a former lap dancer in gay bars ! Disney likes to hire a lot of former American idols,and they expect a clean cut image,always.
posted February 28, 2009 at 12:22 am
Wrong. The short short comments were too frequent also.Trust me the values we want,and ethical families want, are Walt Disney’s original ideas of integrity and wholesome American values. We need to get our consciousness away from sex ,and onto what we can do with our God given talents,such as our brains and our voices,and other talents.Everyone has a sex,so what ?
posted March 1, 2009 at 12:25 am
Whoever wrote this article is out of touch with who Sanjaya’s fans were,are.I wish I, and my friends were 13. WE ARE ADULT MEN AND WOMEN WHO BELIEVE SANJAYA WAS AND IS ONE OF THE MOST PROMISING SINGERS FROM IDOL SEASON 6. WE FOLLOWED THE IDOL CONCERT LATER,AND SANJAYA WAS AGAIN A HIT..SANJAYA HAS A LOVELY, SULTRY VOICE .GROWING UP, WHAT WE ENJOYED THEN ,IN SO MANY FORMER TEEN AND ADULT HIT SINGERS WAS… SOFT,WONDERFUL VOICES. FORMER IDOLS SUCH AS KELLY CLARKSON,CLAY AIKEN TONY BENNETT,DIANA ROSS, J.LO,PETER NOONE , EVEN THE SEASON SIX MUSIC DIRECTOR,ETC.ETC.ALL OF US LOVED SANJAYA’S SINGING,AND THOUGHT HE WAS EXCELLENT.WE ARE ALL MATURE INTELLIGENT WELL READ,AND SKILLED IN THE ARTS.SO… YOUR GENERALIZATIONS ARE… JUST THAT !
posted March 19, 2009 at 1:45 am
Adam Lambert wishes he could let out his inner Norman Gentle.
But he did rock the sassy pants off that Johnny Cash song.
posted March 19, 2009 at 9:02 am
IdolFangirl, part of me hated that Adam Lambert performance and part of me thought it was brilliant, LOL. I think Adam Lambert needs to front a rock band … or join Norman Gentle for a stage show.
Joanne
host of the GS blog