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"American" Idol?

Change we can believe in?
The Virginia Governor has declared April Confederate History Month.
Once again, "American" Idol has lived down to its history of relegating superior black singers to the back of the pack.
Please tell me you understand why those two statements go together.
Change we can believe in? Really?

(There. I finally said it.)

Hey Lee - It's a SAD song!

There were a lot of good things about tonight (Siobhan) and some very good (Big Mike, Crystal, Casey). But there was one thing that has me very angry and since this blog has always been all about me, I need to get it out of my system. Lee not only butchered Hey Jude but completely misrepresented the song. Singing badly I can handle. But did he bother to read the lyrics or get the history of the song which is a song Paul McCartney wrote to comfort John Lennon's son Julian during his parents' divorce? Uh, grinning ear to ear and shouting, "Everybody put your hands together", isn't typically the way one handles a young boy losing his home life. The whole way he sang the song (uptempo, shouting, toe tapping, clapping) was just so, so wrong and I am really quite angry about it. And musically, it is one of those songs that can't be shortened without ruining it. It reminded me of Michael Johns trying to do A Day in the Life a few years ago.
And what was with the freaking bagpipe?

OK - with that beginning to get out of my system, I can review the rest of the night. Everybody else was OK to great including Teflon Tim who seems destined to be with us another week. I will say the show felt too long to me at two hours maybe because everybody sang fairly slow tempo songs. Even though Crystal was fabulous - again - I really wish she had taken my first choice for her of Helter Skelter which would have broken up the mood of the evening created by so many somber songs. I do like the behind the scenes looks as they give us a better idea of the personalities of the Idolists which is so important to their stage personae.

I am also feeling a bit like the rest of the season doesn't matter for me because I don't really care who wins at this point although I so want Tim and his smile gone. I already know whose records I want to buy - Crystal's, Big Mike's and if matched with the right songwriters and producers, Siobhan's. The fun for me at this point is seeing how the Idolists change and grow, e.g. Casey showing a really soulful, sensitive side tonight or what My Girl Siobhan will wear each week.

As to tonight, Big Mike was my big winner. He sounded like Bebe Winans of contemporary gospel music fame and his version of Eleanor Rigby is ready for urban radio right now. Simon, who doesn't get gospel or R&B, won't understand.
Crystal was, again, Crystal. At this point she only needs to be compared to herself. I did recommend Come Together as a possible song for her and I thought what she did with was really cool. She does need to make more eye contact, though. Still, she is totally radio ready.
Casey finally showed us he is not a one-trick bar-singing pony. Jealous Guy (a John Lennon song from his album Imagine) was tender, sensitive, soulful and gave us an expanded perspective on who he is as an artist.

I've got My Girl Siobhan slightly below them tonight. She has the best pure voice in the competition and she gave a technically perfect performance of Across the Universe that was, unfortunately, a bit too restrained. Still, a great recovery for her from last week.

The rest: Aaron seemed to struggle with his voice tonight. It had no power at all. His arrangement of Long and Winding Road just laid there with nothing happening. He does need to sing an uptempo song - he should have taken my advice!
Katie is SOOOOO cute and telegenic but vocally she's just one of a zillion other 17-year olds out there who have nice voices. It was her best performance to date but just go ahead and download Jennifer Hudson's version of Let it Be.
Andrew made a good song choice with Can't Buy Me Love and his Jason Mraz-y take on it was alright but nothing worth remembering.

That leaves Tim. The following are real quotes from Diandra. First, she held her head and whined, "I'm melting", in the voice of the Wicked Witch from the Wizard of Oz. Then this exchange:
Christine: Do you know who he reminds me of?
Diandra: Satan?

Need I say more?

Lennon-McCartney Week and I Pick the Songs

First, let's get the blindingly obvious out of the way. The catalogue of Lennon-McCartney is epic in it's breadth and depth. Therefore, to predict what the Idolists will sing is folly. But it's my blog so I get to tell them what I want them to sing. So here we go, in no particular order:

Casey: Back in the USSR, an old-school style rocker with guitar licks he can play with.

Crystal: I hear a bunch of songs for her but a cool stretch she could pull off is Helter Skelter; I also hear "Crystal-ized" versions of Blackbird, Come Together, or Eleanor Rigby.

Siobhan: Let It Be. Just sing it straight up and let everybody hear what a great voice you have and that you can be taken seriously.

Andrew: an Andrew-ed version of Hard Day's Night.

Aaron: he should bring his country-twang to either Eight Days a Week or Ticket to Ride.

Katie: she's probably going to get skewered no matter what but let's give her something upbeat and catchy like Can't Buy Me Love or Paperback Writer.

Big Mike: If he wants to break out of his R&B comfort zone, I would love to hear him sing Lady Madonna. But I think he could stay in his R&B comfort zone and still blow everybody away with the Stevie Wonder version of We Can Work It Out (on my short-list of all time favorite covers).

Lee: Day Tripper is a perfect rock type song for him. A possible alternative is Drive My Car.

Tim: BANNED FROM SINGING THE BEATLES!!!! And he should be convicted of a hate crime if he sings Yesterday.

What Becomes of the Broken-Hearted Ryan Without Didi?

Look - we knew it wasn't going to be Teflon Tim even though he appears to have taken up permanent residence in the Stools of Abject Rejection. However, he is sure to lose his lease soon. Given that he seems untouchable for the moment, Didi (Benami - not to be confused with Diddy Dirty Money) was a logical choice to go on merit.

For all of those who have been predicting the demise of Idol, when have they ever seen Usher and Diddy (Dirty Money not Benami) on the same show that wasn't an awards show? Usher appears to have left his best days behind him and Diddy (Dirty Money) might want to consider getting diet advice from Ruben Studdard before he goes back to being Puffy. Still, that's pretty impressive when the big guns come on Idol to promote themselves.

At least now the nightmare that was Ryan's Didi-crush is over. Sadly, the nightmare of Tim mangling the Holy Grail of Lennon and McCartney lies ahead of us. Give me strength.

Lee Makes a Large Leap

First a shout-out to the (Used to be Kris Lovin' but now) Lee Lovin' Ladies of Scottsbluff, Nebraska with whom I watched Idol tonight. We didn't find too much to argue about and we were able to share each others' pain during Didi and Tim's back-to-back atrocities.

Wow - what was My Girl Siobhan wearing?

"Hi, I'm Usher and given my years performing R&B, I am proud to be a mentor to these performers." Translation - "I am proud to be here pimping my album that comes out tomorrow. Please buy it and throw your Robin Thicke CDs in the trash." OK, seriously, Usher is great and he was a fabulous mentor. You can really see why he is a big star.

The highlights: Lee and Crystal. Lee has had a personality transformation and his stage performance FINALLY matched the quality of his voice. I am seriously re-evaluating him as a legitimate contender not that I think he is the best but because he is good enough and will be someone that will attract a lot of votes - a Kris Allen situation.
Crystal, of course, was fabulous. I agree that she looked a little uncomfortable on the piano but when she sings - WOW! To make a song as iconic as Midnight Train to Georgia sound like it was yours is remarkable. She draws you into her songs and makes you feel them.
I also liked Casey and Andrew this week.

The rest in order of performance:
My Girl Siobhan - Through the Fire was a bad song choice and was poorly sung - and what exactly was she wearing? She should have done Sweet Love and saved us from Tim's aggregious attempt at it. Anita Baker's low sultry voice fits Siobhan better than Chaka Khan. She really needs to tone down the quirky or nobody will take her considerable talents seriously.

Casey - Hold On, I'm Coming was good, really good.

Big Mike - I personally liked the song Ready for Love better than the performance although I am certain I am in the minority on this one. It's a tender song but it didn't register any emotion in me for whatever reason and I thought his voice sounded thin at times.

Didi sang What Becomes of the Broken-Hearted Ryan When Didi Gets Voted Off the Show. Ryan - YOU CAN LET GO OF DIDI'S HAND NOW. It is getting painful (another week of my head in my hands) to listen to her now and even Didi was trying to get crushing Ryan to LET GO OF HER HAND!

Tim - first, there was laughter. Then dead silence. When will this blight on our national conscience end?

Andrew's take on Chris Brown's Forever was really good this week, too.

Katie - It is time to declare Idol an Aretha-free Zone! Yes, Katie is adorable but she is not yet an artist. Yes, the notes are there and a voice is there, too, but where was the drama in the song? Please, please, please, don't let people sing Aretha!!!!

Aaron - I was surprised at how mediocre he was given how good I thought he was going to be from the clips of him with Usher. Ain't No Sunshine was a good song choice but totally lacked dynamism. Don't look now, Aaron but Lee is in your rear view mirror and moving fast.

Two other quick thoughts: I liked the post-performance behind the scenes shots. And all the time the judges spent critiquing Siobhan tells me that they really like her and will try to keep her around a long time.
Overall, this was a pretty good night, especially for Lee.

We Are the Fallen concert review

Diandra and I saw We Are the Fallen at the Sonar Club in Baltimore on May 27th. The Sonar is a converted warehouse with standing room for 1,000 at their main stage. We Are the Fallen is a "new" band fronted by Carly Smithson. For me, Carly was one of the best singers ever on Idol is spite of her unjust 6th place in Season 7.

A little history for context is in order. We Are the Fallen is essentially the original Evanescence band from their first album with Carly as the singer in place of the mercurial but utterly captivating Amy Lee. Evanescence's 2003 album Fallen sold 15 million copies worldwide and was nominated for six Grammy awards (winning two) including Album of the Year. The band went through a variety of break-ups and was essentially a different band by the time of their second album especially with the absence of co-founder and co-songwriter Ben Moody. Calling themselves We Are the Fallen seems to be a statement that this is the Evanescence band of the Fallen as opposed to the work that followed that album. This was the second stop on their U.S. tour opening for the Finnish metal band HIM.

While it was fun to see Carly it would have been better if we could have heard her, too. The sound was very challenging and whether it was the mix or the loudness of the band, Carly's voice was drowned out far too often. There was also some question we had as to whether the songs were written in slightly too high a key to perfectly fit Carly's voice. However, musically this sounded like what I imagine Evanescence's second album would have sounded like had these musicians, in particular with Ben Moody, had stayed together. A highlight of the evening was a goth-rock version of Madonna's Like a Prayer. It was very clever and totally worked especially with gothic choir sounds replacing the original's gospel choir.

I had an opportunity to talk to Ben Moody after the show and told him how happy I was that this group of musicians was back making music together again. Others in the band overheard me and agreed they were happy, too! As a lover of the Fallen album, I am looking forward to hearing the music again and want to hear what Carly really sounds like with this band. For a 6th place Idol finisher, this could be a big deal. Quick - how many 6th place finishers are really doing anything that we know about with the exception of Kellie Pickler? Carly is working with a band that sold 15 million albums and whose songwriter not only co-wrote those songs but also has written for Celine Dion, Kelly Clarkson, Daughtry, and Avril Lavigne. This is quite a opportunity for her and also for a great band to re-establish itself at the top of the charts again. We Are the Fallen's album will be released on May 11.

The Predictable but Still Disappointing Elimination of Paige

That Paige was sent home is not a surprise but, paradoxically, is yet a mystery. On her swan song, she finally justified Simon's opinion that she has the best voice of all the girls. Not only that, she has the most contemporary style of anybody in the competition. Hearing her bring it on All Right Now really showed how bad her choice of Against All Odds last night was. She should have been a serious contender. But underwhelming performances and woeful song choices wrecked her opportunity. That's a shame.
I had figured Terrible Tim for one of the Stools of Abject Rejection. Katie's joining him ever so briefly was not too big a surprise. She's cute but she's not connecting in the way that other teenagers have in the past not to mention Aaron this year. Never singing on key isn't helping, either!

So, some other random thoughts. I need to comment on the singing tonight from Miley, Joe and Demi. It was awful.

Based on weeks of observing Ryan's facial expressions and body language with Didi, our household believes he has some sort of crush on her. Did you catch him holding out his hand to her when he gave her result? Last night he put his hand on her back and shoulder while the judges were talking to her. Watching his body language with her is becoming great sport.

I loved Crystal saying that in the face of conflicting judges' advice - a REAL theme this season - she listens to herself. She can do that because unlike most of the Idolists, she knows what she is about as an artist.

Based on how she took the judges criticism last night, I didn't think Siobhan was self-aware enough to take in their comments about the screaming. But based on what she said tonight, it did seem like she got it. Hard to figure out what is going on inside of her head but what comes out of her mouth is insanely good when it's good. Listen carefully, people: with the right songs and a good producer, she has the potential to be a big star.
And I think that anybody who has fans called the "Siobhanbies" or fans who won't shave until she goes home deserves extra consideration for your votes.

Re-thinking Lee. Unlike the judges, I thought he picked a perfect song for him. The Letter was a hit song twice by gravelly-voiced singers (the original by the 16 year old Alex Chilton of The Boxtops and then Joe Cocker). While I didn't like the jazzy arrangement at all, he sang well and it's obvious he is improving each week. He desperately needs more stage presence and to display more confidence. He does have a good voice and seems to have solved his pitch problems. I see him as a bit of a wild card this year - not as bad as the worst, not as good as the best but seemingly moving in the right direction.

Next week, I will again be on location with the Kris Lovin' Ladies of Scottsbluff, Nebraska and an Idol watching party has already been planned. Given the intensity of last year's Kris vs. Adam debate, I look forward - again - to hearing in person who I am wrong about this year (although I am pretty sure I already know).

False Idol Worship

First, a moment of silence for the dearly departed. Top 11 week was the week that My Girl Alexis (yes, once a My Girl, always a My Girl) was wrongfully sent home in a monumental miscarriage of justice.
Thank you for paying your respects.

As for tonight, I'm not even sure where to begin. It feels like cheating to be snarky when the targets are so easy. This was a night where I really wish I had a video blog of our family watching idol. Then you could have laughed along with us at such lines as:
"This is like slow burning death." (Didi)
"This is disgusting." (Tim)
"Is Pierre (our dog) crying?" (Paige)
"Just be silent Dad. We know you're in pain." (Andrew)
"GO! LEAVE! DEATH! DESTRUCTION!" (as written on the Omnipotent Idol Clipboard)

It is painfully - and I mean that in the literal sense (Diandra pointed out that I was holding my head in my hands while Didi was on) - obvious that there are five Idolists worth paying attention to: Crystal, My Girl Siobhan, Big Mike, Casey, Aaron. Instead of a Judge's Save, how about Judge's Coup D'etat where they just decide to ignore the votes of the people and banish Lee, Paige, Tim, Andrew and Katie. And along with that, finding a place within our penal code for Tim Urban voters.

So as to my Fave Five:
Crystal - is amazing. She is so good she gives me chills and she really threw down the gauntlet tonight in a major way. I agree with Ellen that all she needs is to physically connect with her audience as she  started to do that at that fabulous double-time ending of Me and Bobby McGee.
Aaron - he can seriously be there at the end. Props to him for giving a professional performance under physical duress and for understanding what his voice could and couldn't do throughout the song. Hard to believe he is only 16.
Big Mike - totally disagree with the judges negative review. When a Man Loves a Woman can be a cheesy song in the wrong hands (see Bolton, Michael) but Big Mike took it straight to church.
Casey - I hate The Power of Love and never had any time for Huey Lewis, anyway. But he gave a solid performance of a bad song. And I really wish he would be able to do something with his guitar!
My Girl Siobhan - I saved for last because she is the most interesting. Simon is right, she is a lightning rod. I could have done without the screamo notes at the end of Superstitious but up to that point, she was brilliant. See - even within a song she can delight and make you nuts. She has an amazing, amazing voice but does need to be smarter about the big notes. But she does have that Adam Lambert-ish quality of making you wonder what she is going to do each week.

If we could eliminate someone on style points, it should be Tim Urban who goes this week. I mean, how bad is it when both Randy and Ellen crush you? But the reality is Paige was on thin ice already and she gave possibly the worst Idol performance of all time. So she has to be gone.

But lest I forget, let's give Miley her due. She was a good mentor as she stuck to advice about what she knows best - giving a stage performance and knowing how to connect with a live audience. She was personable and seemed to make the Idolists feel comfortable. And who knew that she wasn't even close to being the worst singer in the room tonight?

A warning and some random notes

As a public service to my devoted readers, I offer the following warning to the five of you about this week's Idol. The theme is Teen Pop Billboard #1's [thankfully changed from Teen Pop] and the Idolists will receive "mentoring" from that musical sage Miley Cyrus. To add indignity to insult, she will be, uh, "singing" on Wednesday night along with teen sensations Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato. Ah, yes, it is the Idol season of pimping movies and CD releases no matter how awkward that turns out to be. I'm trying to imagine Crystal singing a teen pop song and getting "coaching" from Miley. Certainly will make for compelling television.
The silver lining in this black rain cloud is that I hear Usher will be guest mentor in Top 10 week.

Because I have no life, I periodically peruse (as in every week) the Billboard charts to see how Adam is doing. As a public service to the more data oriented readers (yes, I am talking about you, Jenny), this week I also thought I'd check in on Kris Allen and Danny Gokey and give a report. My biggest test of an Idolist is whether they can generate sales and not just text votes (see my March 14 entry). So in order of their finish (with commentary because I can't help myself):

Kris Allen - his hit single Live Like We're Dying is having a good run but may finally be losing steam after 20 weeks. It's currently #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 after peaking at #18 last week and has peaked on eight other Billboard charts. His album is #172 on the Billboard 200 with a high of #11 in the week of it's release. This was the lowest opening ever for an Idol winner.
Commentary - he's a singer-songwriter but his first hit was a song he didn't write. Can another hit song be found on an album that hasn't sold well? The good news is that in a digital download world, albums don't mean what they used to. Still, it's legitimate to wonder if Kris' career has already peaked.

Adam Lambert - Whataya Want From Me is #22 with a bullet (rapidly increasing sales) this week on the Billboard Hot 100 and is also rising on six other charts. His first single For Your Entertainment peaked at #61. It was no doubt sabotaged by his controversial performance at the AMA's and was quickly replaced by the current single. Looks like a good move. His album is #71 in the Hot 200 after opening at #3.
Commentary: controversy is good and controversy with a hit song and great marketing is even better. His album is loaded with songs written by hit machines like Lady Gaga and Ryan Tedder (OneRepublic) so it will be interesting to see if he is just the flavor of the day or long-term pop music force.

Danny Gokey - in a stunning move suggested by Randy Travis no less, Danny recorded a country album and Randy's foresight is being validated. Danny's new CD had the best first-week numbers for any new male country act since Billy Ray Cyrus in 1992. It is currently #16 on the Billboard Top 200 and #4 on the Billboard country chart. His single My Best Days Are Ahead of Me has risen to #29 on the country charts but has yet to crack the Hot 100.
Commentary: It's a simple question - Does Danny really have street cred in Nashville? I will be following his sales numbers with great interest.

Wow - I just woke up out of this horrible nightmare where I saw Miley Cyrus giving singing advice to Tim Urban. I mean, that really couldn't happen, right? Right?

A Classy Lacey Leaves Us

Lacey went out with her head held high and with the same grace and style she brought every week. She was the last person to go before the voting rounds last year - instead we got Simon Crushing Megan. It's a nice story to see her come back this year and get into the Final Twelve.
I have no problem with Lacey being the first to go - Idol history is that cute guys like Tim Urban hang around longer than their female counterparts; a notable exception being in Season 7 with Ladies Choice Michael Johns going out before The Horrifying Kristy Lee Cook. And let's face it, Paige is next because it's entirely possible with Tim we have a brewing Unspeakable One situation. OK, for the new readers I will give the identity of the Unspeakable One - Sanjaya. Now, I have to wash the keyboard and vow to never mention his name again.

Far more interesting was the gift we hope keeps on giving - not only no Cheesy Idolist Sing-and-Dance-along but a smokin' version of Jumpin' Jack Flash* by David Cook to begin the proceedings. [memo to Lee: That's what a gravel-voiced rocker sounds like when he let's it rip. Take note.] Please, producers, we beg of you, do this every week. I'm guessing Casey and Crystal were especially happy about the absence of Idol Cheese.
And then we got Orianthi. It will look really bad if I throw My Girl Siobahn under the Ford Focus after one night so I'll just keep my thoughts to myself.
Oh yeah, somebody else "performed". A friend already got a text messaging diatribe from me about that so I don't have energy left to say any more. It would all be unprintable anyway.

* Historical trivia: Jumpin' Jack Flash was the first song I ever played to death. Hundreds have followed since most recently Adam Lambert's Sleepwalker (hot guitar solo by an Aussie girl named Orianthi).

My Girl and Two Others Pulling Away

It's official. I am in love with Siobahn. Yes, Anonymous, your challenge question (March 2, 2010) is answered. Irrational affection and lack of objectivity have now taken control of my previously objective criteria.

Now, on to the night's performances which were way better than I expected. Well, that wouldn't include Tim Urban. White guys from Texas doing a reggae version of a Stones song - where was a Jim Bunning filibuster when you really needed one? Otherwise, the song choices for everybody were spot on and really allowed us to see who each Idolist is and how good they are.

And what we can see is this - it's a three horse race between Crystal, My Girl Siobahn and Big Mike. They have clearly separated themselves from the others and only Casey's good looks and hot guitar (or is it hot looks and good guitar, ladies?) or substantial improvement from others can change that. These three are the most complete artists right now. However, after tonight I think it's fair to say this is the best top-to-bottom Idolist group ever even with Katelyn and Lilly wrongfully voted off.

Big Mike got things rolling by turning the latter-day disco Miss You into a pleading Teddy Pendergrass style R&B burner. Nice - not "desperate", Simon. It's called soul. Put on an Otis Redding album and get a clue. My Girl Siobahn went - in Diandra's words - Adam Lambert meets Gwen Stefani. She is becoming a star in front of us week by week. And when Janis Joplin died, she passed her spirit to Crystal Bowersox. But I think Simon is right, Siobahn - like Adam last year - is becoming the one who commands your attention and Crystal's consistent competency may not be enough to win.

Just below them I had Casey and Aaron and - surprise! - Lee. Casey is just not the singer that Mike, Siobahn and Crystal are. But I really wish he could break off a really serious guitar solo! I thought Randy's comparing him to Johnny Lang and Kenny Wayne Sheperd was putting him in the right musical zip code. Angie was the perfect song choice for Aaron and Lee also picked a perfect song with Beast of Burden. And, yes, he sang in tune. I agree with Simon that Lee's lack of confidence may hold him back from his potential.

The rest were OK to uninspiring. Didi, Katie and Paige have great voices and did OK, especially Paige essentially singing for the first time all week due to laryngitis. Big ups to her but I am still waiting for her, Didi and Katie to bring a wow moment. Maybe they don't have one in them. Andrew and Lacey filled out the bottom of the pack.

Tonight unexpectedly grabbed my attention. Instead of seeing Idolists fall to the wayside, I saw a lot of them step it up. Rather than a David vs. David or Adam vs. Kris battle, we could see three to six serious contenders. But for now, can the national nightmare that is Tim Urban be over? Please?

Why I like who I like

Each voting week on Idol is typically a painful reminder of my lack of success to get people to think like I do. Perhaps someday I'll give up on this pointless narcissistic pursuit but since I'm still breathing I will carry on. It occurs to me that while I regularly rail against the choices of others, I've never really ever plainly laid out how it is I come about my Idolist favorites. So I thought such a manifesto would be fun for me and (self-indulgently) interesting to others. The five criteria are are quite objective. However, whether someone meets the criteria is quite subjective. With art, sometimes you just know it because you feel it. When I give examples, they are not definitive as in the only ones or best ones. They are hopefully familiar examples that are indicative of lots of people besides those I mentioned.
I don't claim to be an expert in any of these categories, it's just the way I think.

Unique vocal quality - good singers are a dime a dozen starting with your local junior high choir. What I'm looking for is someone who immediately stands out sounds in a "wow, I haven't heard anybody quite like that before". It can be pure vocal ability (Adam, Melinda, David A.). It can be tonal quality like Crystal and Lilly this year and Allison last year. It can be power like Kelly or Carrie.

Vocal artistry - Start with singing on key. That's bigger for me than Simon's forgetting the words. So I don't care much about Lee's decidedly nice vocal quality if he's only going to be on key every other note, especially the important ones in the song.
Then, can you interpret a song in a way that does justice to the lyrics? Adam's Mad World or Big Mike's This Woman's Work are good examples. Can you put your vocal own stamp on it without obliterating the original? Katelyn did a nice job with her Coldplay take as did Siobahn with Wicked Game and House of the Rising Sun. Or if you are going to obliterate it, do you have the talent (and guts) to pull it off in a way that the song sounds like it was yours in the first place - whether people like it or not? Andrew's Straight Up; Adam's Ring of Fire; and David Cook's Hello are good examples.
Jermaine was a clear example of a great voice that over-sings and obliterates to no good effect; Katie has a great voice but she hasn't done much other than sing the notes as written.

Performance artistry - Do you command - and even DEMAND (Adam) attention on the stage? Do you look at ease? Do you actually look like you know you are taking advantage of the opportunity to wow the audience? With their performance backgrounds, Syesha and Adam were the queen and king of this. Their dress, the lighting, the mood they created all matched. They weren't just singing - they were giving a complete performance in one song. Katelyn did a nice job of this, too, when she sang The Scientist. Crystal, Katie and Big Mike all look very at ease on stage. So did Lilly and Todrick.

Appearance - This is by far the most subjective criteria. It involves who I find attractive (Alexis); who others find attractive (Casey, Kris Allen); and who others don't find attractive which is the most bothersome. I know appearance affects marketability and I am OK with that. But when no-talents get votes just because they are deemed attractive, i.e. The Horrifyingly Bad Kristy Lee Cook, Let's Leave NOTHING to the Imagination Haley Scarnato and I'm Going to Show More Skin Each Week Katherine McPhee, and talented singers get the boot because they are not deemed to be attractive - that makes me nuts. Mandisa is an award winning singer whose talents deserved way better than a 9th place finish, worse than any of the aforementioned ladies. And 7th place for Jennifer Hudson? Really?
In any case, my thoughts about appearance are a factor in how I see an Idolist.

Personality- Do you have a fun, out-sized personality (Kelly Pickler, Big Mike)? Do you dress in a stand out yet appealing way (Siobahn)? Basically, it's a live singing competition so do you give people a reason to look at you or be interested in you - this can anything from Taylor's Joe Cocker-esque dance moves to Carly Smithson's tattoos to Adam's make-up.

Straight Cash, Homey - This is my biggest criteria of all and where I often end up in the biggest disagreements with people, e.g. the Kris vs. Adam debate last year. I know ultimately Idol is a popularity contest and a distorted one at that, i.e. it's encouraged to stuff the ballot box by casting multiple votes. But I don't think of the winner as who gets the most text votes. I, like Simon, am looking for a star, someone who is going to move product in the stores, get people to turn on the TV after Idol, sell magazines with cover stories, and sell concert tickets.
Every week somebody sings I am thinking - "Does this person have star power?" I am looking for someone who, at some point, no longer needs to win to make it big - Daughty was that way, David A. and Adam, too; and I think I see Crystal as being there. Melinda Doolittle was maybe the best pure singer Idol has ever had but I never saw her as a star. On the other hand, Kellie Pickler isn't much of a singer but you could tell she was going to be a star in a way the other pretty blondes (Kristy Lee Cook) weren't going to be.
But what that also means is that I won't know if my favorites have "won" (using my straight cash, homey criteria) until 5-6 months after a season ends. By this criteria, three Idol "losers" have come up sure fire winners: Jennifer Hudson, Daughtry and Adam.

So there they are - all the reasons for who I like and why I like them. Each week and across the weeks, I am jumbling each of these factors together to form my opinion. And the fact that people agree with me AND disagree with me each week is delicious fun!

When Will I Learn?

When will I learn? How many seasons will I have to watch - endure - before I learn that Idol is specifically and pointedly - with ingeniously malicious and unrighteous intent - completely and utterly designed to make me go insane? And so early this year! I am STILL feeling the pain of Alexis being gone from last year! The whole Adam vs. Kris thing is STILL making me nuts. And now this?

I am seriously sitting here staring at the screen trying to figure out exactly how Katelyn and Lilly are not Idolists. Even Paige wore a "what I am doing here" face all night and Katie looked no less shocked. Poor Crystal looked stunned and she made it through!
As far as the guys, I was upset about Todrick and became even more enraged because he sang even better tonight than last night. He is so much a better performer than most of the guys remaining. Unfortunately, I was more hoping for him than sure he was going to survive because of his earlier weak efforts.

What does this mean? Are Crystal and Mike still the clear voting favorites? If cute matters more than singing ability, why is Katelyn gone? I just don't get what happened tonight.
Arrrghhhhhh! My arms are tired from swimming upstream against the current of popular opinion.

(and of course I will be back for more next week and the week after that and the week after that and . . . . . .)

Never mind, apparently they are all chasing Big Mike

At 10:05 I got the following e-mail review of the night from my classically trained, professional singing mom: "MICHAELMICHAELMICHAELMICHAELMICHAELMICHAELMICHAELMICHAELMICHAELMICHAEL".

I would tell you what she said when I called her (like I usually do after each Idol when the show gets really serious) but she, like Kara, was crying.

So, moving on from Michael . . . . Casey was nice. I thought he sounded like Bob Seger at times and while I agree that there was no "wow" moment it was a solid, professional, authentic performance.

The night had two HUGE surprises. The guys I thought were gone came up big - Tim and Todrick. Not only were their performances surprisingly good given their track records but shockingly good given the songs they chose. Hallelujah and Somebody to Love had Titannic written all over them but may turn out to be their life rafts. So does that totally hose up the voting? You have to love the irony that Vote for the Worst got behind Tim this week and he was one of the best!

The rest: Lee (Fireflies) and Alex (Trouble) should have switched songs. Look it's not just me regarding Lee. My youngest daughter Cassandra said, "If he wasn't so flat, it would sound OK." And the judges finally got on him about pitch problems. Alex's lack of performance confidence is killing his natural ability. Andrew's Genie was clever but vocally uninspired and off the beat. Aaron took on too big a song and was pitchy, too.

Given the cuteness factor that seems to work on Idol more in favor for the guys than girls, it is way too hard for me to predict who stays or gos now given how well Tim and Todrick did tonight. Todrick, in particular, has a great voice which the judges have pointed out each week. And he is an engaging stage performer. His potential is great and tonight we finally got a glimpse of it. Obviously, Mike and Casey are safe. I am invested in Todrick's raw talent and potential. Beyond that, I am feeling I can live with any of the other guys being gone. Despite each one having a unique style, they all seem to blend in together as "a-ight". Nothing special.

What I am excited about though - assuming no unforeseen shocks - is that we have ourselves a real show now! Big Mike and Crystal each with very different styles. Lilly, Siobahn and Casey right there in the mix. And frankly, whoever is left after them isn't so bad, either - well, sorry, I do have issues with Lee. We have much to look forward too.

Yes, they are all chasing Crystal

I am not sure what has my attention more: Crystal's giftedness or Simon's idiocy. I guess let's give credit first. Simon was right that Crystal has established herself as the one to beat. And even if she doesn't win, so what? She will get better and better each week by virtue of working with top-shelf professional musicians, rehearsals for televised audiences and judges' critiques. Then she will go on the Idolist tour and wow the crowds. Finally, she'll go into a recording studio and make a hit album. Case closed.

So now to Simon's idiocy re my girl Siobahn. That's right - my girl. Hey, somebody has to get called that and while this is not an Alexis situation, well, somebody has to get called that and I've picked her. But I digress.
I got chills. I actually had tears. That was as haunting and captivating version of House of the Rising Sun as you are likely to hear. For Simon to be dismissive and say - and this was what REALLY made me nuts - that she did nothing with the song was just so *&%$(_(&^^$@#@#@$%*^! He clearly does NOT know the song if he thought that sounded any way like the original or any other version for that matter. She - rather my girl - was fabulous. I don't care how quirky she is, she can flat out sing.

Nobody else was really close to Crystal and Siobahn. I had Didi 3rd and Lilly 4th but with no real conviction about either tonight. I guess I was happy Didi stepped it back up from last week - I do love her voice - and was a little disappointed with Lilly for a competent but sizzle-less performance. She can do better than that.

Paige - she's gone. Bad song, badly sung. So the question is who's going with her: Katie or Lacey? Katie has a wonderful voice but is clueless about what to do with it. She has brought absolutely zero to her songs each week. Lacey just sang slow and dull. Cute Katelyn was the karaoke queen tonight but she's, well, cute, so I think she's safe.

Now on to the guys. Can Big Mike be big again? Will Aaron still be adorable? Can Tim Urban get any worse? Will Alex Lambert melt hearts? Is Todrick gone? Will Lee sing a note on key? Can Andrew make a comeback? Is Casey a one-trick pony? Yes, ladies, I know, it's a pretty good trick but still . . . anyway, these answers and even more, i.e. more of my ramblings, tomorrow!

Who's Gots To Go?

So, Diandra and I were up way longer than both of us needed to be talking about music. (Please - try to act like you're shocked just for a moment.) Eventually the conversation got around to who probably will go to get down to the Final 12 Idolists. Here's who we came up with.

Guys - Tim and Todrick. Andrew, who is falling fast and falling hard may be on the bubble. The problem with him is that he is up against some guys who probably aren't as talented but have the cannot-be-overstated cuteness factor: Alex Lambert who apparently has become an internet sensation; Aaron who also gets the country votes; Lee; and of course, Casey. Big Mike appears to be safe: good performances, out-sized and likable personality, and the new dad back story.

Gals - there really are lots of top-notch girls this year so if you're merely good, you won't be good enough. Which is why Paige and Lacey are in danger and most likely to go. But "I'd Be a Lot Prettier if I Didn't Cry So Much" Didi better do way better than last week's woeful Lean on Me - for me, one of the most dreadful Idol performances ever which was made worse because of that fact that you know she can sing. Crystal seems to have put herself ahead of the entire field with Lilly, Siobahn, Katelyn close behind. Katie is probably a safe bet for Idolist status. Diandra and I think she is the best pure singer in the whole bunch, has stage presence and cuteness factor. But while she surely knows she is a good singer, she hasn't figured out who she is as a distinctive artist and her toughest competition has.

She Will Be Missed

Michelle is gone. And so are the occasional shots of her sister in the crowd. A shame but somehow I will muster up the interest to tune in again next week. And so are Haeley, John and Jermaine. Vaya con Dios. Hopefully Tim Urban will have his day soon.

This brings me to far more interesting questions. K.E. from Scottsbluff, Nebraska wonders: "So, Ray, since I know how you detest the Black-Eyed Peas and the Weekly Idol Cheesy Sing-and-Dance-along, you must have needed resuscitation tonight." Actually, K.E., since "I Gotta Feeling" is so cheesy a song, it ironically fit the Weekly Idol Cheesy Sing-and-Dance-along in a rather enjoyable way.

And a question to the Used to Be Kris Lovin' and Danny Hating but Now Casey Lovin' Ladies: is there some love for Danny now that he's singing country at Randy Travis' suggestion? While this is a horrifying turn of events for me, is there FINALLY some admission that this guy can really sing?

A Breakout Performance

To Simon, it was the Kelly Clarkson moment. I wasn't an up-and-coming Idol Addict back then. But I remember my Daughtry moment (I Walk the Line); my Melinda Doolittle moment (My Funny Valentine); my David Cook moment (Hello); my David Archuleta moment (Imagine) and my Adam moment (Black or White). Those were the moments when I was thinking, "This person can win."
What Simon was referring to, of course, was Crystal Bowersox's stunning performance tonight. There really isn't too much more to say. Like Adam, you realize you are looking at a ready-to-go performer both live and in the studio. Right now, she is the clear favorite in the competition.
But not totally clear. There are three other women to deal with:

• Katelyn - who really stepped up this week big-time with her version of Coldplay's The Scientist. Yes, it was a tad slow and a bit dramatic but there is a quality voice there.
• Lilly - whose voice I love. I agree with Simon that she oversang but have I mentioned how much I love her voice? I love her singular style, too, as well as her assurance about what kind of artist she is.
• Siobahn - whose performance last week of Wicked Game is still with me; taking on Think was a tall order and while she didn't really do it justice (in spite of the Randy, Kara and Ellen's gushing) Simon is totally right about her - "interesting and talented".

Quickly on the others: Haeley, Lacey were awful; Michelle was so dull we didn't even know she was singing (her sister in the audience on the other hand is, well, hot, as Diandra points out I've said two weeks in a row); Didi was a trainwreck. Paige was OK at times, bad at times. Katie is frustrating - she has an impressive voice, great stage presence and is adorably cute but hasn't picked the right song yet. She can be a contender if she gets the right songs.

On a variety of side notes - Big Mike is sure fun to watch while the girls are singing! Adam was awesome on Leno singing Sleepwalker (which my Facebook friends are probably tired of hearing me say how much I LOVE that song) last night. Danny Gokey released his CD yesterday but it's a country CD so I am not all that interested. I suppose I should listen to some clips before passing judgment, though.

Anyway, props to Crystal. Be well because you are awesome!

The Challenge

With the Ladies performing tomorrow, I want to repeat the very interesting challenged posed by Anonymous:

I would like to issue a challenge to all Ray's Idol Musings blog readers. Which one of the female contestants is he going to unOBJECTIVELY declare his unwavering support for? Each season there is some young cutie he threatens to run off with. Who will it be this time? Ray, hold off a couple weeks before you announce your hottie of the season. Let us have some fun trying to figure out which one will defy your NT logic and turn you into a mushy Feeler.

First, let me say that irrational affection is not given easily nor a given in any year. And it may take weeks to develop. As is the case with irrational affection, it is not so much a given as it is a captivation. I also don't think it is a pattern as much as the possession of key, and often subtle, elements. Ah, that sounded pretty objective, didn't it? See, it has to be somebody that can somehow, some way, get past my usual detached, clinical mentality the way that music does at times. Somebody like, say, Hannah Storm on ESPN SportsCenter. However, I do think there is a possibility (or even two or three) in the group. I stress possibility.

The good, the bad, the outrage

Before I get to my title categories, a couple of general but cogent observations. What was it with the song choices tonight that we were terrified BEFORE some of the guys sang? You just KNEW that John doing "Gravity" was going to be woeful. Todrick doing Tina Turner? Jermaine doing Marvin Gaye? Alex and John Legend?
Are these guys so bad as a group that the most frequent comments from the judges were, "We like you", "I'm a fan", and "I think you should stay"?

OK, now on to the evaluations. The good: Big Mike wins the night and I think in a landslide. This was one of the best performances of the year and, frankly, I didn't think he had it in him. But his This Is a Man's World was serious and I am not going to say that often when people take on the Godfather - Brother James Brown. Despite my horrified "Are you kidding me?" when Ryan said Alex was going to do John Legend, I think he did OK. Not great and not horrible, either, but he was the most improved this week and I think there is some talent there waiting to mature as Ellen says about him. And Aaron - how can you not like this kid? Simon is wrong about song choice here as My Girl is not dated. It is timeless (thank you, Diandra, for that line). Sure, he was a little pitchy at times but he sang with a confidence and honesty. And a simplicity that Todrick and Jermaine can learn from. Sheesh, I even liked his country twang in there! (Somewhere in Nebraska the Used to Be Kris Lovin' but now Casey Lovin' Ladies are wondering how much I was drinking during the show.)

The bad: John - not enough soul or grit to sing John Mayer; Todrick and Jermaine over-singing; Andrew - bad song choice and very pitchy.

The borderline bad: Casey - I loved how he rocked up Gavin DeGraw and dude can PLAY some guitar. But I am fearing that my fears regarding Casey may be coming true - that he is a very limited singer. His voice sounded thin and soul-less for the first time and I don't think it will be the last.

The outrage: and let me say there is no outrage like Diandra's outrage. With a very weak Idol field this year, I'm not sure that her having a 21-year old's blood pressure can withstand continued appearances by Tim. She had actually forgotten that he was still in the competition and was upset that she had to hear him sing again. And then when he started singing Matt Nathanson who she loves, she said, "I just want to cry." Even more outrageous is the fact that the Simon liked him.
More outrage came in the form of Lee who apparently thinks this is a game of Hide-and-Seek the Missing Notes. Not only was he terribly pitchy but was nasally to boot. And then Simon calls him the best singer? Are you kidding me?

So I have Big Mike as the top guy right now. Aaron and Alex have potential. Andrew needs to prove he has more than "Straight Up" in his repertoire. And Casey needs to bounce back from this week.

America Gets It Right (for now anyway)

CHEESY SING-A-LONGS!!! WITH BAD DANCING!!! PAINFULLY SLOW RESULTS!!! BAD SINGERS SING AFTER BEING SHOWN THE EXIT!!! PRESS "MUTE" NOW BECAUSE THIS - IS AMERICAN IDOL!!!

Tonight was pretty easy. Any one of 37 guys could have gone home so the fact that one of them isn't Tim Urban is only mildly annoying.
As for the ladies, Diandra's flatline icon for Janell turned out to be prophetic. What we can learn from the ladies - which applies to the guys too - is that wrong song (Janell) or bad performance (Ashley) can doom you even if you are a better singer than other competitors. Of course, the aforementioned warnings didn't seem to apply to Tim Urban who was lucky that there were 63 other guys as bad as him last night including Tyler Grady.

Props to Kris Allen for going to Haiti and for a pretty rendition of Let It Be which I know made the Kris Lovin' Ladies of Scottsbluff* quite proud. And do I love me some Allison or what? She is a great example of how much better Idol contestants get as they move through the process. If you haven't checked out her very fine CD, you really need to.

* The Kris Lovin' Ladies have formally announced that they are now the Casey Lovin' Ladies. I have been assured that the name change in no way implies any less love for Kris. The name change does, however, assure me of another season of exasperation.

The challenge

To help out with the challenge posted by Anonymous (Feb. 23, No Shining Stars Yet But a Few Bright Spots), here is a pictorial history of past Idolists who have captured my attention. OK, fine - irrational affection. Alexis, Brooke, Sabrina and Syesha. Sigh.

Do We Really Have to Have Six of Them?

Wow. Tonight the pressure was so on. It was so intense because it was such a huge night and there was so much at stake. Not for the guys. For me! Diandra took a babysitting job and gave ME the responsibility for the Omnipotent Idol Clipboard. With great fear and trembling I went about my assignment. Not my fear and trembling. Diandra was the one uncertain if I could handle so much power and accountability. My judgment awaits. And now to the guys . .

. . . who were pretty lame. Let's first recognize Tim's Apologize as the Worst Song Choice in Idol History. And Lee for not hitting more than five notes on pitch. Simon liked him which must mean forgetting the words is a bigger sin than forgetting the actual notes. I'm not sure why John thought butchering God Bless the Child was a good idea but at least we got some shots of Shania Twain out of it. And you know it's a bad night when a country singer - 16 year old Aaron - is one my favorites of the night.

Oh, did Casey sing? Are you finished swooning yet, ladies? And big ups to him - he was good as expected. But they can drop the Fawning Kougar Kara shtick anytime now. And he wasn't that good although maybe it's just because I detest Bryan Adams. I think he can get away with that kind of slow, plaintive song but he's better with a blues-rock sound in my opinion. Still - and yes, it's very early - I'll be shocked if he's not in the final three or four but (maybe) more on charisma than talent.
Big Michael and Andrew were just OK. Todrick started STRONG but faded badly. Jermaine really oversang. I'm not convinced that Big Michael is better than what he was tonight. I think the other three are better but we'll see.

The whole group of guys is so underwhelming that we are guaranteed to have some really bad performers in the final 12 - even worse the Oil Rig Dude from last year.

Quick notes on the judges: Simon seems especially cruel at times even for him; I love Ellen's listener-at-home approach combined with her knowledge of what it takes to be appealing; Kara appears more comfortable this year and has been bringing more of the industry insider insights I expected last year. The big thing is that Ryan seems to defer to Ellen and often gives her the last word that always used to go to Simon. I'm anxious to see how that plays out especially as we get down to the end - both of the competition and of Simon's reign.

No Shining Stars Yet But a Few Bright Spots

For those of you keeping score at home, it took Christine four songs and 40 minutes to issue the first, "He's hot" proclamation regarding Ryan Seacrest. Obviously she hasn't quite rounded into mid-season form. Cassandra on the other hand was there with her assessment of Haeley: "That's one of my favorite Beatles songs and I just want to hurt her right now". Diandra was back with her infamous clipboard for notes and voting numbers and added a nice flatline drawing she used for Janell.

So, gee, Simon et al put through a bunch of girls who sound like Lilly Allen, Adele and Duffy and now he's mad because everybody sounds like Lilly Allen, Adele and Duffy? I'm sorry but who's at fault here? Actually, I think this is what is going to make this year interesting from the ladies' standpoint, i.e. that some of the best singers don't appear to be standard issue pop belters.

Having said that, the night as a whole was underwhelming given all the hype about how TALENTED THIS YEAR'S GROUP OF LADIES IS. But there is potential. So let's go to the list of my Noteworthy and Notable Notations (in other words, the ones I liked):

• Paige - singing All Right Now; I liked the bold song choice, good voice even if not the best performance
• Lilly from Denver - I really like her jazziness and her going with a lesser known Beatles song Fixin' a Hole; she is definitely not your standard issue pop singer
• Katelyn - Beatles again, Oh Darlin'; nice
• Didi - I got my first goosebumps of the night with her although Diandra was on the fence
• Siobhan - love the name and LOVE the voice and ability to pull off a tough Chris Isaak song
• Crystal - my favorite of the night - has anybody done Alanis before?
• Katie - agree with the judges critique that she looked too old and sang too old a song but she has a great big voice and is the type of Kelly Clarkson pop belter that can win. Not a good performance but she needs another chance.

I think it's worth bearing in mind that rarely do we see the same talent level at the beginning of the voting as we see at the end. Rarely did we know how great any of the top people were in the early rounds of past years. It's a cliche but the cream eventually rose to the top as some people got better each week. A few of these girls are better than they sang tonight.
We'll see if the guys bring more heat - I hear the ladies saying "Casey" - than the girls but again, there are some good guys who don't fit your typical Idol-pop mode.

Finally Semi-Finalists

Talk about life imitating art. After two days of reading about co-dependency, I watch Thaddeus' mom follow a clearly disappointed Thaddeus into a men's room stall. The fact that there was a camera following them around is also quite disturbing but this is reality TV and it's what I sign on to when I watch the show in the early weeks.

So now the voting begins! I find this whole process really awesome - going from 100,000+ people down to 24. I can't imagine not watching it. It's obvious some belong - Katie and Crystal for example - but it surely makes for some hard calls. Last year I thought Danny Gokey's friend deserved a spot. Based on what we saw - admittedly far, far less than the judges - I liked Kelly more than Haeley and NOT because Haeley is country (attempting to preempt comments from certain Scottsbluffians). And despite Thaddeus' very annoying mom, I liked him more than a bunch of guys. It bears keeping in mind that while they keep telling us "it's a singing competition", a pure singing contest would be boring. So I believe they make a choice to entertain and engage us with a compelling mixture of talent, stories, styles and looks.

During the roll call at the end I did a personal vote of "I like" and "I don't like". I said "I like" a lot during the girls and maybe only a couple times for the guys - omitting a vote for Casey since what I or any other guy thinks about him is completely irrelevant. I can't see how a girl doesn't win but we have a lot of votes, a lot of surprises (the Unspeakable One) and a lot of disappointments (yes, still bitter about early exits for Sabrina, A'siah and Alexis) to experience. And I just love it so!

MOST INCREDIBLE IDOL EVER!!!

THE MOST AMAZING PERFORMANCES IN THE HISTORY OF MUSIC!!! THE GREATEST COLLECTION OF MUSICAL TALENT EVER SEEN!!! YOU WILL BE BLOWN AWAY!!!! KARA MAKES OUT WITH CASEY IN THE BACK OF HER LIMO!!!!

So, is anybody else as tired as I am of the SUPERLATIVES!!! (I actually like the word "hyperbole" better but this is why my children think I am a geek.)

At this stage my critical ears (and, fine, my eyes - see Grace, Alexis) are starting to put people into three categories: Can Win; Good but Can't Win; Should Not Be on the Show. Eventually, there will be a fourth category: Should Be Shot on Sight - for example Ace Young, Kristy Lee Cook and the Unspeakable One; sorry new readers, I cannot allow myself to type his name just think hair and name begins with "S" and I feel dirty having even thought about him this much . . .

It's too early to put any of tonight's seven into Can Win although Casey certainly will garner his share of the female vote. I like Didi, too, but she has got to stop crying all the time. Todrick is interesting, also. But if I am right about who we've seen so far, they have saved some big guns for tomorrow especially Crystal Bowersox. So it's premature for me to put anybody in Can Win for now.

Hollywood Like You Shouldn't

Every year I go into Hollywood Week with great anticipation but forget how much I hate Group Night. No, it's not the drama - in some capitalistic way, I rather like seeing people implode in groups because dealing with that is a big part of how I make a living. So I can watch all of that in a very detached and clinical fashion.

No, the problem with Group Night is that every year they only get rid of like 20 people - this year from 91 to 71. So we get all this build up about how brutal it is only to send just 20 people - who weren't any good, anyway - home. Thankfully, potential Tatiana-channeling Drama Queen Amanda was one of the 20 sent packing.

The only thing that stood out for me tonite was - sigh - Casey James who is sure to get plenty of TV time as I can't see how he misses Final 12. Which assures me that I have to listen to how hot he is all year. Diandra says he is kind of like Ace Young from years back who knew he was hot and played to that. Since Ace couldn't sing, he needed to keep unbuttoning his shirt one more button each week. Alas, Casey appears to have some talent so I can't be so dismissive.

Quick Update

Watched last night's show again with Christine who had missed it. No major changes of mind but on further reflection:
I liked Andrew better
I didn't like Rocker Mom as much
Didi I liked even more
Crystal brought tears to my eyes

Ah, but what Horrors and Drama await us on Group Night?

Hollywood Like You Should

(Like the Kool and the Gang reference in the title? Hollywood Swingin' for the uninitiated.)
First this: forget record sales and radio spins. The true measure of Adam Lambert’s stardom is this: signed underwear he gave to Ellen to raise money for Haiti were auctioned off for $8,500! There is no truth to the rumor that my wife bought them (“I love him and everything but I’m not buying his underwear.”)

So you know Idol season has officially begun when Diandra and I do an intense and critical fifteen-minute appraisal/comparison/debate about the pre-Idolists (only the finalists get the formal title of Idolist). So much so that we didn’t even talk about Ellen who I thought was fabulous ("Step forward. Step back. Step sideways."). And the fact that there were far too many weak singers who should not have been brought to Hollywood (later, Skii Bo Ski, baby).

Tonight was heavy on the talented females balanced out on the male side by hot, bluesy Casey James who sang I Don’t Need No Doctor. (Women everywhere are lining up to get a list of what his exact needs are.) On the female side we had more than credible versions of Aretha (Crystal Bowersox) and Ella (Lilly Scott) who were my standouts of the night along with Didi who Diandra thinks is good but will be annoying like Brooke White was in Season 7. Diandra seems to have far less tolerance for cute females than me . . . .

OK, my list, which is tentative given the trials and tribulations of the group round that lies ahead:
Katy – 17 year old with Idolist potential
Andrew – did an incredible re-arrangement of Paula’s Straight Up. Didn’t she used to be on this show? But is his voice going to be good enough?
Janelle – pretty and did a nice arrangement of American Boy
Rocker Mom Mary – good but more than a few women are better and the look is a gots-to-go situation
Lilly Scott – previously cited for her fabulous Ella and Lullaby of Birdland
Michael the big, new daddy personal trainer – I see some real potential there plus a lot of personality
Casey – impressive audition but is he talented enough to pull off all the genre switches or creative enough (like Daughtry and Carrie) to do his (bluesy) thing each week, anyway? The ladies will certainly like him!
Didi – singing a Kara song was my favorite of the night until . . .
Crystal – ARETHA!!!! Wow!! Whoa!! Whew!!

Group Night always sends some good people packing so tomorrow night will be interesting. Especially since I’m sure they have held back on some possible Idolists.

The Best Audition Show of the Best Audition Season

The resident geniuses at Idol outdid themselves tonight with easily the best audition show ever, likewise concluding the best audition season ever. Best, to me, meant they had an ideal combination of entertainment – the good and the tragi-comical – along with interesting stories and clever production. The use of guest judges during the audition rounds really “spiced” things up, too. Seriously, did you even give Paula’s absence a single thought?

Clearly tonight was a warm-up for Hollywood Week as we saw and learned about more talented singers than any prior show. This highlight reel from all the cities was a correct response to the problem of past years when the show moved to Hollywood and we saw a bunch of people we had no prior connection to.

There were many standouts tonight and the ones I had Diandra asterisk for me on her ever-present list were: Crystal Bowersox who sang Janis Joplin; Didi Benami who sang “Hey Jude” in honor of her girlfriend who passed away; and 16-year old Aaron Kelly that Diandra thinks sounds like Keith Urban. In spite of the country sound he goes into Hollywood as one of my favorites. Cute with a great back story and a great smile, the girls and ladies will love him meaning he will be a force to be reckoned with IF he survives the tortures of Hollywood. I’m rooting for him.

While we thankfully did not get a repeat of Bikini Girl, the producers evidently realized that having a Designated Drama Queen is money. So we get Amanda Schectman to play this year’s version of last year’s Tatiana who delighted me and horrified my mom. At least this year’s version is a better singer and she is destined for some serious airtime. Begin praying for my mom now.

Next week Ellen!!!! I CANNOT wait.

Somebody for me to root for

I really enjoyed tonight’s show a lot and while I am quite ready for Hollywood next week and the emergence of Ellen, I have liked this year’s audition season better than any. I think the guest judges have had a lot to do with that as well as their usual top notch and clever editing. Some random thoughts from the show in no particular order:

FINALLY an audition from somebody I really, really liked – Danelle Haley, single mom from Seattle who sang Melissa Etheridge. Dark, gravelly female voices e.g. Stevie Nicks, Pink, and last year, Allison, kill me. I am hoping she does well in Hollywood.

Nicci Nix, the cute young girl who flew in from Frankfurt by way of Florence, was adorable and has a nice, pop-oriented voice. Great name, too.

I still like the still waif-like Vicky Posh Beckham Spice as a judge and I liked the purple dress she wore. And when have we ever heard, “You have nice skin”, as commentary?

The DC guy badly misrepresenting us here in the nation's capitol. Diandra’s tweet: “Is this DC guy really murdering John Mayer???”

Not related to tonight's show – check out the free download of ex-Idolist Carly Smithson’s band We Are the Fallen. I still think she was the best singer of a strong, strong Season 7 group (in order David and David; Syesha Mercado; Jason Castro; Brooke White; and then inexplicably Carly).

Move quickly. Their last free download was only available for a short period of time. http://www.wearethefallen.com/freedownload /

Finally in Billboard Top 40 action, both Kris and Adam are enjoying success. Kris' Live Like We're Dying is #26 with a bullet. Adam's Whataya Want From Me jumped from 55 to #37 with a bullet.

Idol at the Grammy Awards

Last night was the Grammy’s which is one of my favorite nights of the year and the involvement of several Idolists is my excuse to write about it. The awards are often infuriating – I am STILL bitter about Mrs. Robinson beating out Lady Madonna for Song of the Year in 1969 (and last year "celebrated" the 40th anniversary of that nightmarish selection). And last night I was tweaked by U2 losing to Green Day for Rock Album of the Year and miffed that Taylor Swift – with no disrespect intended as I think she is great – beat out both Lady Gaga and Beyonce for the big one – Album of the Year.

But the Grammy's are a celebration of music and that's a party I always want to be part of. It is also a barometer - albeit faulty at times - of what and who is happening in the music biz. And for me it's fun following the industry trends and what they say about popular culture.

OK, enough philosophizing. Back to the Idolists with three thoughts. First, I love this picture (scarfed from Diandra) of two of my favorite people - Adam and Katy Perry. Adam was working the red carpet for Entertainment Tonight as their fashion correspondent.

Second, I find Ryan Seacrest (presented an award) amazing at the ease with which he talks to people in front of other people. He acts like he is walking into his living room and talking to a few close friends - except he is walking into and talking to millions of strangers. I think he is awesome - as we all can be when we are doing what we were given the gifts to be doing.

Finally, the very moving Michael Jackson tribute performance had former Idolists Carrie Underwoood and Jennifer Hudson. Carrie has, quite deservedly, fulfilled Simon’s promise that she would be the biggest selling Idol finalist of all time. But she may not want to be on the same stage as Jennifer Hudson any time soon. Carrie is the bigger star and quite the singer, but seriously, as a pure singer Jennifer is at another level.

Male judges and some talent

K.E. from Scottsbluff, NE writes, “So are there ever going to be some male guest judges?” (Translation: “Enough, already, with the Shania and Katy eye candy for Ray.”) I will leave it to K.E. to let me/us know if Neil Patrick Harris or Joe Jonas meet whatever criteria she has for determining their entertainment value. I will say that I liked NPH’s critical and take charge manner. And that I am enjoying the theme of professional criticism by all of guest judges in stark contrast to Paula’s gushiness, Kara’s semi-sweetness and Randy’s 150% dawg-ness.

We did get to see more talent this week than past weeks and I noted as noteworthy: big dockworker Lloyd (Stevie Wonder!); Kimberly and Todrick (sang originals), Meagan, and 16-year old Christian who sang Etta James (!) at the end.

I am also wondering how different my daughters' childhood development would have been if Barney had appeared with a Dominatrix.

I want to close with a shout out to my new friend Sheri who is joining the fray posting under Sweetest In the Gale. Diandra and I met her and her daughter at a David Cook concert and we found that we were not the only family with a serious and incurable music addiction. She is also an awesome poet. Check out her work at http://fledglingpoet.blogspot.com/. Welcome, Sheri and I look forward to your always taking my side in the debates this year . . . .

Curt, Catty, Cute, Katy

Yes, that’s me and my cool self hangin’ with my bud Jason Castro. Diandra and I saw him Monday night at Jammin’ Java, a nice, small local club. He did eight songs and was still his unaffectedly, goofy self. His last song, of course, was Hallelujah, and it was fabulous.

I really wasn’t prepared to say much about tonight but this was my favorite audition week. I never cease to be amazed at how they manage to go from 10,000 people to putting together an hour of entertaining television. And while I am REALLY looking forward to Ellen, I am also really enjoying the guest judges, ESPECIALLY Katy Perry:
“Do they frisk these people before they come in here?”
“This isn’t a Lifetime movie, honey.” (A cold dis of Kara)
“I’m going to throw my glass of soda in your face.” (another shot at Kara)

Diandra also kept her infamous notes, noting Andrew Garcia whose parents were in a gang; Tasha Layton, the personal assistant/pastor who sang Joss Stone very well; and Chris Golightly, the foster kid whose “Lifetime movie” back story didn’t move Katy Perry at all. I liked Andrew and Tasha and the mom who sang Pat Benatar very well (finally!) but needs to lose the faux rocker chick thing.

The Adam-Kris Conundrum

I'm almost famous!!!!! Hopefully this link still works which cited my "I'm Down off the Ledge" blog entry! http://idolblips.showhype.com/story/kris_allen_s_wedding_details_revealed/

Shania Twain. Still getting’ it done! A couple of good singers tonite. Now, moving on to a more interesting conundrum.

After Adam’s (totally awesome) appearance on Oprah today, there is really no more question of who is the bigger star as opposed to the biggest gatherer of votes from teenage girls and a cadre (cult?) of women in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Not to mention who was #3 in MTV’s Man of the Year (after Lil Wayne and Jay Z). And how many artists are featured in both the Wall Street Journal and Psychology Today? Oh, did I mention that Adam’s album has sold twice as many as Kris’?

OK, enough of that. My interest here is to point out the rather interesting hurdles that each faces regarding their futures. Kris first. With Live Like We’re Dying on the charts for weeks and now cracking the Top Ten, Kris has a legitimate hit record. Now the bad news. The hit single isn’t getting anybody to buy the album, which is the weakest selling album by an Idol winner. Worse yet, he’s singer-songwriter whose hit song is a cover. So basically, nobody is buying HIS songs. What happens when the current hit song fades?

Adam, ironically, has the opposite problem. His album – really, really good by the way - is on its way to gold status without a true hit single. For Your Entertainment was a lousy first choice of a single (in my humble yet quite smart opinion) even without the AMA performance which made it toxic. Whaddya Want From Me is fabulous (in my humble yet quite smart opinion) but (mysteriously) not a big, i.e. Top Ten hit. So for Adam, the question looking ahead is whether he can continue to sell albums – when albums no longer drive the music business – without a major hit single when it’s the hit single that is driving the business.

Indeed, these are the kinds of strange things I ponder. Probably need to turn off iTunes and get out more.