I was inspired to write about apple juice today as I was drinking a juice box full of it at my desk.
I don't know why, but it has been awhile since I've consumed this wonderful sweetness. Perhaps because I grew wary of the effects I know it can have on a digestive system. I know I'm not the only one out there who has suffered from PAJBTS (Post Apple Juice Bowel Traumatic System). Perhaps because I've decided that because I'm now "grown up" I can no longer consume apple juice on a regular basis, as I did when I was a kid.
Whatever the reason, I decided that those reasons were foolish today, and so I went forth bravely into the world of my youth and grabbed a few apple juice boxes from the fridge. I ripped the straw off the back of the juice box, pushed it through the little plastic wrapping that's glued more tightly to the box than is necessary, and plunged the straw deep into the sweet brown syrup that awaited my thirsty tongue.
I took my first sip...ahhhhh. So sweet! So tasty! The flavor of apples picked from an orchard danced around my mouth and taste buds like a waltz. I swished it forward and back, side to side, to fully let the flavor sink into my body and mind. And then, as though helpless, I continued to gulp the apple juice down, and in seemingly seconds, the entire juice box was gone, and all that was left was the vacuum sound of sucking up the remaining drops of this sweet nectar of life from the bottom of the container.
It was all gone. The juice box was no more. Set upon me were memories of drinking juice boxes as a kid, and the disappointment I felt when the whole box was drunk up. When you're a kid, and the juice box is done, you don't get another one. You don't get a chance to experience the wonderfulness that is drinking apple juice from a juice box. That's it. Snack time done. No more.
Ah, but today I was victorious over those memories from my childhood. For today I had brought with me not one, but TWO apple juice boxes from the fridge, so that I could drink through one box with the vigor of a starved man, and then savor the second box more than I had the first.
And just a few minutes ago, I finally enjoyed my second juice box of apple juice. Once more, I was brought into a Utopian existence, where cares and concerns fade away, because the taste of this sweet apple juice was more important than any of those.
Thank you, apple juice, for giving me a great afternoon, and for reminding me that I don't have to be a kid to drink you. Now that I'm grown up, I can appreciate you even more.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Should I Be Inspired?
I don't know what American Idol considers inspirational, but moderately entertaining karaoke performances qualify for this evening's inspirational week.
To be honest, I'm just glad I have to only break down 7 performances instead of more, because I'm getting tired of this year's lack of talent, and I grow weary of having to write about Siobhan and Aaron and Casey and Tim, all of whom bring the same thing to the show, week after week after week.
First of all, never, ever take on Whitney Houston. I don't care if your Whitney's sister, or her vocal coach. Whitney is in a class all by herself, and when you take on a song she has sung, you're bound to pale in comparison. That's exactly what happened to Siobhan tonight. By the key change, she had already went bombs away on a song that, to be done with justice, has to be sung by someone who understands its meaning. When Siobhan started talking after the song was done, I think all of the producers as well as Ryan Secrest went "oh dear God. She's talking. Who let her talk?!? WHO LET HER TALK?!? Why are there such ridiculous pauses between words? WHAT IS THIS?!?" Siobhan makes a good example of what everyone is this season falls short of: being believable. I don't believe she's a dynamite, pack the house and stop what you're doing because she's performing type of singer.
Same goes for Mr. Roboto, who apparently was working with the same double A batteries that were put in him last week. Move left, look right, back away from the mic, play a guitar solo, come back to the mic, smile while it looks like leg hairs are being pulled from you, back look straight ahead at the camera, smile, back away for another guitar solo without feeling, and finish by making a big motion for the band to stop with you. Casey hasn't shown creativity, spark, personality, or emotion beyond a fake smile here and there and embarrassment over Kara. I'm so sick of seeing him do the same thing every week.
Aaron Kelly got back to familiar ways with a ballad, and the same hip motions, hand motions and eyes closed maneuvers that make it look like he's a blind 8th grade boy trying to pet a horse for the first time. It's just uncomfortable, and you really want to help him out by showing him how he looks. But you can't, because he's blind. Not only that, but singing an R Kelly song that's been sung by every bad, drunk singer in a bar on a Friday night was a mistake. And it reminds me of Space Jam. And Michael Jordan. And six Bulls championships. Oh, if only the Cubs didn't suck so much right now...
Big Mike sang a song he shouldn't have sung. Lee is the only one from this season that should have attempted that song, and with Big Mike singing it, it lost its grit. It lost the feeling. That song is not meant to be sung by a pretty, R&B voice like Mike's. Not unless you change up the arrangement, which Mike didn't do. If he had infused it with his own rhythm and style, it might have been different. Stripped it down, simplified it, and really let the words shine through. Instead, he tried to do a carbon copy of Kroger's, and it fell flat, because he wasn't able to put the same raw emotion into it. We got a staged, musical version of a song that deserved better.
Turban reminded everyone why he's the VFTW guy tonight. He attempted a song by a singer who would sing circles around him. Okay, okay...every original singer of each of these songs could sing circles around all the contestants. But still, Tim Urban was especially bad. He still has no emotion, no connection with the words, and honestly bored me 15 seconds into the song. Not one judge mentioned the fact that he couldn't find his notes for most of the song, and when he did, they fell flat and leveled off. Tim will still be around another week, because...well, what else would we expect from this season?
Lee was phenomenal. He took the Simon and Garfunkel song, slowed it down a little bit, and added his own little flair to it. Lee wasn't much different than other weeks, in that he played the guitar and had the familiar gruff, but in this season, that's more than anyone else can offer. The same for Lee is good, because his same is better than everyone else's same. I loved the choice of "The Boxer", because it showcased Lee as someone who can do Simon and Garfunkel, and not have to do it exactly like S&G did it.
Crystal, while not playing her guitar tonight, still didn't do much. The guitar limits you to the mic stand and to one place, and so without her guitar, I thought maybe she might move around a little. Turns out, didn't matter if she had her guitar or not. She didn't move from that mic stand, instead holding the mic the whole time, or standing very, very close to it. To criticize her stage presence is really the only thing left to criticize, because she's so much more vocally talented, and emotionally invested in her songs than anyone else. The judges pounced on the tears factor, saying she was the most inspirational of the whole night, and I guess I agree. Tears will always get the sympathy symphony going. In the end, Crystal did do the best job of conveying why it was inspirational songs night, as she felt it more than anyone else.
So there it is. Tonight's breakdown. I'm hoping Lee and Crystal end up being the final two, as they've been the most consistent in bringing interesting and praiseworthy performances each week. The rest, it's just trimming the fat till we get to them.
Tonight's Rankings: 1. Lee. 2. Crystal. 3-7: Tim, Aaron, Casey, Siobhan, Big Mike, in no particular order. They all just kind of mush together.
Tomorrow night's bottom 3: Big Mike, Aaron, and Turban. Going home: Big Mike. Who should go home: Doesn't matter. Any of those bottom 4 from tonight should go home. The only 2 that shouldn't go home till the finale is Lee and Crystal. The rest, get rid of 'em!
Whaddaya think?
To be honest, I'm just glad I have to only break down 7 performances instead of more, because I'm getting tired of this year's lack of talent, and I grow weary of having to write about Siobhan and Aaron and Casey and Tim, all of whom bring the same thing to the show, week after week after week.
First of all, never, ever take on Whitney Houston. I don't care if your Whitney's sister, or her vocal coach. Whitney is in a class all by herself, and when you take on a song she has sung, you're bound to pale in comparison. That's exactly what happened to Siobhan tonight. By the key change, she had already went bombs away on a song that, to be done with justice, has to be sung by someone who understands its meaning. When Siobhan started talking after the song was done, I think all of the producers as well as Ryan Secrest went "oh dear God. She's talking. Who let her talk?!? WHO LET HER TALK?!? Why are there such ridiculous pauses between words? WHAT IS THIS?!?" Siobhan makes a good example of what everyone is this season falls short of: being believable. I don't believe she's a dynamite, pack the house and stop what you're doing because she's performing type of singer.
Same goes for Mr. Roboto, who apparently was working with the same double A batteries that were put in him last week. Move left, look right, back away from the mic, play a guitar solo, come back to the mic, smile while it looks like leg hairs are being pulled from you, back look straight ahead at the camera, smile, back away for another guitar solo without feeling, and finish by making a big motion for the band to stop with you. Casey hasn't shown creativity, spark, personality, or emotion beyond a fake smile here and there and embarrassment over Kara. I'm so sick of seeing him do the same thing every week.
Aaron Kelly got back to familiar ways with a ballad, and the same hip motions, hand motions and eyes closed maneuvers that make it look like he's a blind 8th grade boy trying to pet a horse for the first time. It's just uncomfortable, and you really want to help him out by showing him how he looks. But you can't, because he's blind. Not only that, but singing an R Kelly song that's been sung by every bad, drunk singer in a bar on a Friday night was a mistake. And it reminds me of Space Jam. And Michael Jordan. And six Bulls championships. Oh, if only the Cubs didn't suck so much right now...
Big Mike sang a song he shouldn't have sung. Lee is the only one from this season that should have attempted that song, and with Big Mike singing it, it lost its grit. It lost the feeling. That song is not meant to be sung by a pretty, R&B voice like Mike's. Not unless you change up the arrangement, which Mike didn't do. If he had infused it with his own rhythm and style, it might have been different. Stripped it down, simplified it, and really let the words shine through. Instead, he tried to do a carbon copy of Kroger's, and it fell flat, because he wasn't able to put the same raw emotion into it. We got a staged, musical version of a song that deserved better.
Turban reminded everyone why he's the VFTW guy tonight. He attempted a song by a singer who would sing circles around him. Okay, okay...every original singer of each of these songs could sing circles around all the contestants. But still, Tim Urban was especially bad. He still has no emotion, no connection with the words, and honestly bored me 15 seconds into the song. Not one judge mentioned the fact that he couldn't find his notes for most of the song, and when he did, they fell flat and leveled off. Tim will still be around another week, because...well, what else would we expect from this season?
Lee was phenomenal. He took the Simon and Garfunkel song, slowed it down a little bit, and added his own little flair to it. Lee wasn't much different than other weeks, in that he played the guitar and had the familiar gruff, but in this season, that's more than anyone else can offer. The same for Lee is good, because his same is better than everyone else's same. I loved the choice of "The Boxer", because it showcased Lee as someone who can do Simon and Garfunkel, and not have to do it exactly like S&G did it.
Crystal, while not playing her guitar tonight, still didn't do much. The guitar limits you to the mic stand and to one place, and so without her guitar, I thought maybe she might move around a little. Turns out, didn't matter if she had her guitar or not. She didn't move from that mic stand, instead holding the mic the whole time, or standing very, very close to it. To criticize her stage presence is really the only thing left to criticize, because she's so much more vocally talented, and emotionally invested in her songs than anyone else. The judges pounced on the tears factor, saying she was the most inspirational of the whole night, and I guess I agree. Tears will always get the sympathy symphony going. In the end, Crystal did do the best job of conveying why it was inspirational songs night, as she felt it more than anyone else.
So there it is. Tonight's breakdown. I'm hoping Lee and Crystal end up being the final two, as they've been the most consistent in bringing interesting and praiseworthy performances each week. The rest, it's just trimming the fat till we get to them.
Tonight's Rankings: 1. Lee. 2. Crystal. 3-7: Tim, Aaron, Casey, Siobhan, Big Mike, in no particular order. They all just kind of mush together.
Tomorrow night's bottom 3: Big Mike, Aaron, and Turban. Going home: Big Mike. Who should go home: Doesn't matter. Any of those bottom 4 from tonight should go home. The only 2 that shouldn't go home till the finale is Lee and Crystal. The rest, get rid of 'em!
Whaddaya think?
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Lennon, McCartney, and You
I have a growing dissatisfaction with TV lately. I find myself bored by plot lines, inundated with advertisements for new shows that get canceled quickly, and in general unhappy with what is being called "entertainment" these days. If not for "The Pacific", "Dexter", and "Amazing Race", I would be just fine without TV.
Don't get me wrong about a lot of shows. I enjoy the entire NBC Thursday comedy lineup, as well as Survivor and Justified and what not. But increasingly, I just find myself ready for things to come to an end, so I can move on with my life and not have to endure another week of the same old crap.
This is similar to the way I feel about American Idol this season. Week after week, we are treated the same old same old as each contestant gets up there and gives us exactly what we got the week before.
Aaron Kelly, how many ballads can you sing? Will you ever find a song you can stay in tune for? Do you have a creative bone in your body to infuse a song with a new and fresh arrangement? Long Winding Road left me wishing I'd exited sooner.
Katie Stevens offered a nice change from her usual crappy versions of songs she does. She demonstrated that she yet has some vocal talent. But in the same breath, she did the same song Brooke White did a few seasons back, only with less feeling and talent. Maybe this is the problem with American Idol. With a limited songbook to choose from, they end up repeating songs that someone else already knocked out the box.
Andrew Garcia, your playing the acoustic guitar for "Can't Buy Me Love" was pointless. We couldn't hear it, and it hindered your ability to have fun with the song. You stuck in the same range for the whole song, didn't vocally jump around, and killed whatever energy was produced by the arrangement. You had so much potential! Now, you will find yourself on the outside looking in.
Big Mike is a star. He's a cheese. He's perfect for Broadway. He's perfect for American Idol. Everyone complains about the cheesiness, but, let's be honest, American Idol is all about cheesiness. He took a different spin on "Eleanor Rigby" with an R&B feel, and it was pretty cool. But in the end, I wonder if the lyrics were lost a bit with the big arrangement. This is, after all, called one of the saddest songs of all time, and Mike made it into show tune.
Even Crystal Bowersox I am starting to lose some patience with. She's by far the most talented of the whole crew, but week after week, she brings the same vocals to every song. We know she's going to throw in her "yeahs" and her twangy, soulful, deep throated voice into every song. In the end though, I wonder if she really feels like she wants to be on this show, and if instead, she'd rather be back in Chicago, playing at bars and entertaining crowds of hundreds instead of thousands. Because eventually, I want the winner of this show to become a chameleon, capable of captivating a crowd, no matter what song it is. Crystal is a one trick pony. The trick is a good trick, but eventually, it will leave me wanting more.
Turban...did well. I mean, it's the best he's done. He's still a joke, but he actually didn't do as bad as he did in previous weeks. Finally he found a song that didn't challenge him very much, and he proved he could rise up to that.
Casey picked the right song for his voice, finished fantastic, and showed a bit more chops this week. Unfortunately, he's not convinced he's having a good time, or that he enjoys the national spotlight. Week after week, he stays behind the guitar, unwilling to engage the audience or move even a little bit, demonstrating all the physicality of a robot. I'm pretty sure we could get a robot on stage that looked like Casey James and no one would know the difference each week.
Siobhan, man she's weird. Man. I just don't get her. I used to believe she had the vocal chops to be this season's strongest voice, but now I just don't know. When she's not screaming, she's sharp. She has a very timid voice. When she's not throwing vibrato on the end of a phrase, she's pitchy throughout. If she gave herself more air when she has to go into her higher range, maybe she wouldn't be out of tune.
And Lee...bagpipes? Really? I just didn't get this one. Everyone seemed to love it, but I thought it was a train wreck. He started flat, threw in some weird vocal inflections, and turned it into a karaoke sing by shouting "come on everybody!" That was just weird. He's supposedly a star, but he doesn't act like one, perform like one, or feel like one. However, in this crappy season, he'll go far, because he's better than the rest.
Last night's Idol Rankings: 1. Katie. 2. Casey. 3. Crystal. 4. Big Mike. 5. Turban. 6. Lee. 7. Andrew. 8. Siobhan. 9. Aaron
Tonight's Bottom Three: Andrew, Tim and Katie (shouldn't be her, but based on the way voting is going, she's going to be there).
Bottom Three should be as I listed them.
Don't get me wrong about a lot of shows. I enjoy the entire NBC Thursday comedy lineup, as well as Survivor and Justified and what not. But increasingly, I just find myself ready for things to come to an end, so I can move on with my life and not have to endure another week of the same old crap.
This is similar to the way I feel about American Idol this season. Week after week, we are treated the same old same old as each contestant gets up there and gives us exactly what we got the week before.
Aaron Kelly, how many ballads can you sing? Will you ever find a song you can stay in tune for? Do you have a creative bone in your body to infuse a song with a new and fresh arrangement? Long Winding Road left me wishing I'd exited sooner.
Katie Stevens offered a nice change from her usual crappy versions of songs she does. She demonstrated that she yet has some vocal talent. But in the same breath, she did the same song Brooke White did a few seasons back, only with less feeling and talent. Maybe this is the problem with American Idol. With a limited songbook to choose from, they end up repeating songs that someone else already knocked out the box.
Andrew Garcia, your playing the acoustic guitar for "Can't Buy Me Love" was pointless. We couldn't hear it, and it hindered your ability to have fun with the song. You stuck in the same range for the whole song, didn't vocally jump around, and killed whatever energy was produced by the arrangement. You had so much potential! Now, you will find yourself on the outside looking in.
Big Mike is a star. He's a cheese. He's perfect for Broadway. He's perfect for American Idol. Everyone complains about the cheesiness, but, let's be honest, American Idol is all about cheesiness. He took a different spin on "Eleanor Rigby" with an R&B feel, and it was pretty cool. But in the end, I wonder if the lyrics were lost a bit with the big arrangement. This is, after all, called one of the saddest songs of all time, and Mike made it into show tune.
Even Crystal Bowersox I am starting to lose some patience with. She's by far the most talented of the whole crew, but week after week, she brings the same vocals to every song. We know she's going to throw in her "yeahs" and her twangy, soulful, deep throated voice into every song. In the end though, I wonder if she really feels like she wants to be on this show, and if instead, she'd rather be back in Chicago, playing at bars and entertaining crowds of hundreds instead of thousands. Because eventually, I want the winner of this show to become a chameleon, capable of captivating a crowd, no matter what song it is. Crystal is a one trick pony. The trick is a good trick, but eventually, it will leave me wanting more.
Turban...did well. I mean, it's the best he's done. He's still a joke, but he actually didn't do as bad as he did in previous weeks. Finally he found a song that didn't challenge him very much, and he proved he could rise up to that.
Casey picked the right song for his voice, finished fantastic, and showed a bit more chops this week. Unfortunately, he's not convinced he's having a good time, or that he enjoys the national spotlight. Week after week, he stays behind the guitar, unwilling to engage the audience or move even a little bit, demonstrating all the physicality of a robot. I'm pretty sure we could get a robot on stage that looked like Casey James and no one would know the difference each week.
Siobhan, man she's weird. Man. I just don't get her. I used to believe she had the vocal chops to be this season's strongest voice, but now I just don't know. When she's not screaming, she's sharp. She has a very timid voice. When she's not throwing vibrato on the end of a phrase, she's pitchy throughout. If she gave herself more air when she has to go into her higher range, maybe she wouldn't be out of tune.
And Lee...bagpipes? Really? I just didn't get this one. Everyone seemed to love it, but I thought it was a train wreck. He started flat, threw in some weird vocal inflections, and turned it into a karaoke sing by shouting "come on everybody!" That was just weird. He's supposedly a star, but he doesn't act like one, perform like one, or feel like one. However, in this crappy season, he'll go far, because he's better than the rest.
Last night's Idol Rankings: 1. Katie. 2. Casey. 3. Crystal. 4. Big Mike. 5. Turban. 6. Lee. 7. Andrew. 8. Siobhan. 9. Aaron
Tonight's Bottom Three: Andrew, Tim and Katie (shouldn't be her, but based on the way voting is going, she's going to be there).
Bottom Three should be as I listed them.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
The "Haves" and "Have Nots"
Andrew Garcia, welcome back to the competition. While taking on "Forever", a song immortalized by a bridal party entrance last summer, Andrew actually brought himself back into the minds of those watching American Idol by infusing the song with a fresh arrangement. I knew he was capable of providing a refreshing take on songs, and tonight he reaffirmed that by putting a great spin on "Forever". Great addition of the strings, and loved using a percussionist on the cajon, my personal favorite percussion instrument of the moment.
By proving himself as a legitimate contender once again, he made the other ones who are not that much more obvious. Tonight I felt was a real breakdown of the "haves" and the "have nots".
The other "haves" tonight were Casey, Lee, Crystal and Mike, all of whom are quickly establishing themselves as the top 5 to beat. My problem with Casey is that he's just too...stiff. And, he has two moves. One of them is stepping up to the mic with the guitar. The other is stepping away from the mic with the guitar. And it all happens with literally two steps, or, really, one rocking motion. Kind of like a pivot. So, Casey has one pivot, and he doesn't stop smiling the whole time. Only, it's not a happy smile. It's more like a "I'm in a beauty pageant" smile. Forced, fake and uncomfortable. He's a great performer, don't get me wrong, but he's just not showing me that he really likes this ride. He's not comfortable.
Lee is the same way. Fantastic voice, but treats being on stage like getting a shot at the doctor. He has to go through it, but he's really glad once it's done because he doesn't have to do it again till next week. He strikes me as a guy who will do some great tracks on a CD, and a guy whose record I might actually have an interest in, but not a guy I'd go and see in concert.
Crystal was good tonight. I'm not going to knock her. At all. Just because she wasn't behind the guitar doesn't mean she was bad. It was a change, and I think if she receives criticism, it'll be because people fear change. People will say she had a good thing going with the guitar, why leave it? I think that's ridiculous. She's a top tier performer, no matter where she is or what she's doing. Tonight was her best of the season, but by no means was it poor. She simply got outshone by a few other performances.
Big Mike was also good, not great. I'm starting to get annoyed by his whiny, soul voice a little bit, but that doesn't mean he doesn't bring it every week (that sorta sounded like Randy). The gist of it is, Mike won't have to worry about any votes until it gets down to the top 5. Then, he might have to do a little something else with his voice. For now though, he's fine coasting along, doing safe songs that are in his wheelhouse.
The rest of the performers fall into my "have nots" category. I seriously couldn't distinguish the rest of tonight's performances from each other. Siobahn was pitchy (I don't know man, for me, it was pitchy dawg). Didi was boring. Katie shouldn't be singing Aretha. Aaron sang a song that's been sung by everyone and their mother's mother. Tim sucks.
I think tonight that Siobahn was actually revealed for who I feared she might be. She really had some pitch problems tonight, and I discovered that when she isn't power shrieking her top notes, she has a hard time singing out her upper range. She had a hard time finding the right note to sing when the song got higher, and she just never looked comfortable singing that song. I think this is a truth about Siobahn, and the further she goes into the contest, the more obvious this flaw will become.
I think Didi has worn out her welcome with America. She's got a cute voice, and a nice stage presence, but it's quickly becoming apparent that she just can't hack it with the best of this season.
Poor Aaron. Has he watched American Idol before this season? If he had, he would've known not to choose "Ain't No Sunshine", because Kris Allen most recently knocked that out of the park. Aaron didn't do a terrible job on that song. But comparatively speaking, he was just sub par with others who have done it. Even on the whole night, he was sub par. It just wasn't an interesting performance tonight.
I'm sorry, but no skinny white girl with a mediocre voice should EVER take on Aretha Franklin. I can't help but imagine Aretha sitting at home, watching tonight's performance, shaking her head over what has become of her once great song. It's been butchered by karaoke singers in probably every state, and she deserves better than that. Tonight, it was sung with amazing karaoke quality by Katie. If she were singing it at a bar, I'd have given her a round of applause, and then gone back to eating bar pretzels and finishing my black and tan, never giving a second thought to what I just heard, because it just blended into the background noise.
And Tim, well, come on. What more criticism could the judges offer except the one, glaringly obvious truth that they can't say on TV: "I don't know why we picked you to be in the top 24". They won't say it, but every comment they make, every joke they offer every week just dances around that one statement. They really want to admit that it was a mistake to put him in the top 24 and give America a chance to vote for his cuteness, but they won't. To do so would lessen the credibility of American Idol, whatever credibility it has left.
So, all that being said, tonight's Idol Rankings:
1. Andrew. 2. Lee. 3. Casey. 4. Crystal. 5. Mike. 6. Siobahn. 7-10 (whatever order...doesn't matter). Didi, Aaron, Katie and Tim.
Tomorrow night's bottom 3: Katie, Tim and Didi.
By proving himself as a legitimate contender once again, he made the other ones who are not that much more obvious. Tonight I felt was a real breakdown of the "haves" and the "have nots".
The other "haves" tonight were Casey, Lee, Crystal and Mike, all of whom are quickly establishing themselves as the top 5 to beat. My problem with Casey is that he's just too...stiff. And, he has two moves. One of them is stepping up to the mic with the guitar. The other is stepping away from the mic with the guitar. And it all happens with literally two steps, or, really, one rocking motion. Kind of like a pivot. So, Casey has one pivot, and he doesn't stop smiling the whole time. Only, it's not a happy smile. It's more like a "I'm in a beauty pageant" smile. Forced, fake and uncomfortable. He's a great performer, don't get me wrong, but he's just not showing me that he really likes this ride. He's not comfortable.
Lee is the same way. Fantastic voice, but treats being on stage like getting a shot at the doctor. He has to go through it, but he's really glad once it's done because he doesn't have to do it again till next week. He strikes me as a guy who will do some great tracks on a CD, and a guy whose record I might actually have an interest in, but not a guy I'd go and see in concert.
Crystal was good tonight. I'm not going to knock her. At all. Just because she wasn't behind the guitar doesn't mean she was bad. It was a change, and I think if she receives criticism, it'll be because people fear change. People will say she had a good thing going with the guitar, why leave it? I think that's ridiculous. She's a top tier performer, no matter where she is or what she's doing. Tonight was her best of the season, but by no means was it poor. She simply got outshone by a few other performances.
Big Mike was also good, not great. I'm starting to get annoyed by his whiny, soul voice a little bit, but that doesn't mean he doesn't bring it every week (that sorta sounded like Randy). The gist of it is, Mike won't have to worry about any votes until it gets down to the top 5. Then, he might have to do a little something else with his voice. For now though, he's fine coasting along, doing safe songs that are in his wheelhouse.
The rest of the performers fall into my "have nots" category. I seriously couldn't distinguish the rest of tonight's performances from each other. Siobahn was pitchy (I don't know man, for me, it was pitchy dawg). Didi was boring. Katie shouldn't be singing Aretha. Aaron sang a song that's been sung by everyone and their mother's mother. Tim sucks.
I think tonight that Siobahn was actually revealed for who I feared she might be. She really had some pitch problems tonight, and I discovered that when she isn't power shrieking her top notes, she has a hard time singing out her upper range. She had a hard time finding the right note to sing when the song got higher, and she just never looked comfortable singing that song. I think this is a truth about Siobahn, and the further she goes into the contest, the more obvious this flaw will become.
I think Didi has worn out her welcome with America. She's got a cute voice, and a nice stage presence, but it's quickly becoming apparent that she just can't hack it with the best of this season.
Poor Aaron. Has he watched American Idol before this season? If he had, he would've known not to choose "Ain't No Sunshine", because Kris Allen most recently knocked that out of the park. Aaron didn't do a terrible job on that song. But comparatively speaking, he was just sub par with others who have done it. Even on the whole night, he was sub par. It just wasn't an interesting performance tonight.
I'm sorry, but no skinny white girl with a mediocre voice should EVER take on Aretha Franklin. I can't help but imagine Aretha sitting at home, watching tonight's performance, shaking her head over what has become of her once great song. It's been butchered by karaoke singers in probably every state, and she deserves better than that. Tonight, it was sung with amazing karaoke quality by Katie. If she were singing it at a bar, I'd have given her a round of applause, and then gone back to eating bar pretzels and finishing my black and tan, never giving a second thought to what I just heard, because it just blended into the background noise.
And Tim, well, come on. What more criticism could the judges offer except the one, glaringly obvious truth that they can't say on TV: "I don't know why we picked you to be in the top 24". They won't say it, but every comment they make, every joke they offer every week just dances around that one statement. They really want to admit that it was a mistake to put him in the top 24 and give America a chance to vote for his cuteness, but they won't. To do so would lessen the credibility of American Idol, whatever credibility it has left.
So, all that being said, tonight's Idol Rankings:
1. Andrew. 2. Lee. 3. Casey. 4. Crystal. 5. Mike. 6. Siobahn. 7-10 (whatever order...doesn't matter). Didi, Aaron, Katie and Tim.
Tomorrow night's bottom 3: Katie, Tim and Didi.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Karaoke Gone Wild
Alright, let's get one thing straight. There is a clear line between everyone else and Crystal. The simple fact is...Crystal feels what she sings. She puts her heart and soul into a song, and as a result, you get a straight forward, no cheese, honest to goodness REAL song. She enjoys it, does it for the music, and really makes it work.
Then, there's the rest of the bunch. Siobahn is close to joining Crystal in that category of performers I'd stop doing anything to watch, but not just yet. Michael is close as well, but his cheese factor grates on me a little bit.
But the rest of them. I mean, really? Am I going to stop what I'm doing so I can listen to 2 minutes of Paige Miles taking 2 minutes to find the right pitch? Do I need to continue to sit down and not only watch Aaron Kelly swoon over Miley Cyrus, but then go out and sing a song that's been sung by every drunk wedding karaoke singer with just a little bit of talent? Is Tim Urban worth anyone's time?
Now, I don't want to forget Lee Dewyze. He's got some great gruff to his voice. But, he's a poor man's Danny Gokey. Or David Cook. He has the chops, but not the presence. He's got the voice, but not the power. I just kinda wish the guy would have some fun on the stage. Have some fun with the audience. Have fun with the cameras. Don't treat it like you're singing at a Miss America pageant.
Casey made a decent comeback tonight, but it's just so obvious that both he and Andrew Garcia started with full heads of steam, but now are losing quite a bit of it. I loathe the fact that Andrew is still compared to a Paula Abdul song he covered in Hollywood week, and that the judges still haven't commented on Casey's weird warble in his voice. Am I the only one noticing this? Casey has all the stage presence of a Mr. Potato Head. He smiles, and responds to stimulus, but I get the feeling he'd be just fine sitting in the studio, riffing on the guitar and recording songs.
But here's the bottom line: Of Katie Stevens, Tim Urban, and Paige Miles...two of those are going on the top 10 tour this summer. So now, for the low low price of 54 dollars a ticket (starting price), you can hear any 2 of those 3 try and find their pitch for two and a half hours in concert! Doesn't that just make you excited?
I'm baffled too, by the judges. They ripped apart Paige. They tore apart Tim. They didn't like Andrew. They knew Katie was pitchy and all over the place. Yet, these are people THEY CHOSE to put in the top 24. Seriously? There weren't 1000 other guys who looked similar to Tim Urban who were more talented than him? Are you honestly telling me that Paige Miles was one of THE BEST black girls to put in the top 24, and that there weren't another 1000 who were better than her? These are two of the people we have to vote for?
Idol producers, and judges (if you had any say in it, beyond what Simon Fuller had to say)...you have done America a disservice this season. You've highlighted the supremely talented by surrounding her with poop. Crystal deserves better competition.
All that being said...here's tonight's Idol Rankings: 1. Crystal. 2. Michael. 3. Siobahn. 4. Lee. 5. Casey. 6. Didi. 7. Aaron. 8. Andrew. 9. Katie. 25&26 (where they belonged when the top 24 were chosen). Tim and Paige.
Ironically, Tim was #25. If only Chris Golightly hadn't been disqualified...
Then, there's the rest of the bunch. Siobahn is close to joining Crystal in that category of performers I'd stop doing anything to watch, but not just yet. Michael is close as well, but his cheese factor grates on me a little bit.
But the rest of them. I mean, really? Am I going to stop what I'm doing so I can listen to 2 minutes of Paige Miles taking 2 minutes to find the right pitch? Do I need to continue to sit down and not only watch Aaron Kelly swoon over Miley Cyrus, but then go out and sing a song that's been sung by every drunk wedding karaoke singer with just a little bit of talent? Is Tim Urban worth anyone's time?
Now, I don't want to forget Lee Dewyze. He's got some great gruff to his voice. But, he's a poor man's Danny Gokey. Or David Cook. He has the chops, but not the presence. He's got the voice, but not the power. I just kinda wish the guy would have some fun on the stage. Have some fun with the audience. Have fun with the cameras. Don't treat it like you're singing at a Miss America pageant.
Casey made a decent comeback tonight, but it's just so obvious that both he and Andrew Garcia started with full heads of steam, but now are losing quite a bit of it. I loathe the fact that Andrew is still compared to a Paula Abdul song he covered in Hollywood week, and that the judges still haven't commented on Casey's weird warble in his voice. Am I the only one noticing this? Casey has all the stage presence of a Mr. Potato Head. He smiles, and responds to stimulus, but I get the feeling he'd be just fine sitting in the studio, riffing on the guitar and recording songs.
But here's the bottom line: Of Katie Stevens, Tim Urban, and Paige Miles...two of those are going on the top 10 tour this summer. So now, for the low low price of 54 dollars a ticket (starting price), you can hear any 2 of those 3 try and find their pitch for two and a half hours in concert! Doesn't that just make you excited?
I'm baffled too, by the judges. They ripped apart Paige. They tore apart Tim. They didn't like Andrew. They knew Katie was pitchy and all over the place. Yet, these are people THEY CHOSE to put in the top 24. Seriously? There weren't 1000 other guys who looked similar to Tim Urban who were more talented than him? Are you honestly telling me that Paige Miles was one of THE BEST black girls to put in the top 24, and that there weren't another 1000 who were better than her? These are two of the people we have to vote for?
Idol producers, and judges (if you had any say in it, beyond what Simon Fuller had to say)...you have done America a disservice this season. You've highlighted the supremely talented by surrounding her with poop. Crystal deserves better competition.
All that being said...here's tonight's Idol Rankings: 1. Crystal. 2. Michael. 3. Siobahn. 4. Lee. 5. Casey. 6. Didi. 7. Aaron. 8. Andrew. 9. Katie. 25&26 (where they belonged when the top 24 were chosen). Tim and Paige.
Ironically, Tim was #25. If only Chris Golightly hadn't been disqualified...
Thursday, March 11, 2010
America Got it Wrong
Tim Urban, Katie Stevens and Paige Miles make up three of the top 12 spots on American Idol.
Now, I agree, this is actually a pretty down year for contestants. The talent level the judges and producers sent through this year is actually a lot lower than previous years. Especially compared to last year.
But when you allow a guy like Tim Urban to waltz into the top 12 and represent the best of the best of 100,000 plus American Idol auditioners...well, if I were Ben Calhoun, I'd be upset.
Because I know Ben Calhoun auditioned for this show. Ben is the lead singer of a band called "The Least of These." If you don't know them, or haven't checked out their stuff, you'd be wise to check it out. Ben is one of the more talented musicians and singers I've ever known. He makes most of the other contestants look silly this year.
Point is, Ben is an amazing guitarist, singer, and he's a decent looking dude. How a guy like Tim Urban could make it over Ben, out of 100,000 people that auditioned...blows my mind.
It's amazing that Tim was even invited back after Chris Golightly was disqualified. Yet, with the help of the massive teenage, and perhaps, VFTW vote, he continues on, out of tune and all, for at least another week.
Hopefully this season is salvaged by Crystal or Lee. Because you're not going to have Lilly or Todrick to save the show each week, as we sit through one bad performance after another.
Bad job tonight America. Bad job. Katie Stevens? Really?
Now, I agree, this is actually a pretty down year for contestants. The talent level the judges and producers sent through this year is actually a lot lower than previous years. Especially compared to last year.
But when you allow a guy like Tim Urban to waltz into the top 12 and represent the best of the best of 100,000 plus American Idol auditioners...well, if I were Ben Calhoun, I'd be upset.
Because I know Ben Calhoun auditioned for this show. Ben is the lead singer of a band called "The Least of These." If you don't know them, or haven't checked out their stuff, you'd be wise to check it out. Ben is one of the more talented musicians and singers I've ever known. He makes most of the other contestants look silly this year.
Point is, Ben is an amazing guitarist, singer, and he's a decent looking dude. How a guy like Tim Urban could make it over Ben, out of 100,000 people that auditioned...blows my mind.
It's amazing that Tim was even invited back after Chris Golightly was disqualified. Yet, with the help of the massive teenage, and perhaps, VFTW vote, he continues on, out of tune and all, for at least another week.
Hopefully this season is salvaged by Crystal or Lee. Because you're not going to have Lilly or Todrick to save the show each week, as we sit through one bad performance after another.
Bad job tonight America. Bad job. Katie Stevens? Really?
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Why the Guys are better than the girls...
Tonight's Guys Idol Rankings:
1. Big Mike. 2. Lee. 3. Todrick. 4. Andrew. 5. Alex. 6. Aaron. 7. Casey. 8. Tim.
I didn't understand why Kara was crying, but big Mike definitely put on an amazing performance tonight. I was leery at the beginning when he started off falsetto, thinking to myself "uh oh, this can't be going anywhere good". But he made it happen, and I think established himself as the best pure power voice in the competition.
Lee took on a risky move, covering Owl City, but he did a great job, making it a pretty sweet acoustic rock cover of "Fireflies". I think it's pretty clear he's the rocker of the group, the closest thing to a David Cook this season has.
The only other guy really worth mentioning is Todrick, who I thought actually might have deserved the top spot, if not for some pretty great numbers that keep him at 3. Is there anyone else bringing the power, energy, and creativity to their songs this season better than Todrick? I haven't seen anyone yet infuse a song with as much energy as he does.
Andrew Garcia was good, and he's got a for sure spot in the top 6, if America does him justice. I hope to see him maybe infuse some future songs with a Latin flavor, or maybe even sing some Spanish in the future.
After Garcia, the field narrows considerably. Casey just wasn't good tonight, and I'm beginning to think he may not have what it takes to last real long, assuming he makes the top 12. Tomorrow night's show I think comes down to these three guys: Aaron, Alex, and Tim. If anyone outside of those three guys heads home, it will be a real upset, because the talent level is much higher outside of those three.
But really, I don't agree with what many people are saying in regards to the talent level this year being heavily weighted for the girls. I think the guys showed 4 really good performances tonight, more than you can say last night about the ladies. I think in general, their creativity and vocal power outdo what the ladies have done so far. Stage presence, originality, and pure energy seem to be on the guys side, and, it makes for a more interesting show. I was much more satisfied after watching the guys perform tonight than I was with the girls last night.
So, tomorrow night, my prediction for who goes home is this:
Paige, Lacey, Alex, and Tim.
Anyone outside of those 4, you can consider it quite the upset. Really, a Katie Stevens doesn't deserve to be in the top 12, but you all voted her in there!
1. Big Mike. 2. Lee. 3. Todrick. 4. Andrew. 5. Alex. 6. Aaron. 7. Casey. 8. Tim.
I didn't understand why Kara was crying, but big Mike definitely put on an amazing performance tonight. I was leery at the beginning when he started off falsetto, thinking to myself "uh oh, this can't be going anywhere good". But he made it happen, and I think established himself as the best pure power voice in the competition.
Lee took on a risky move, covering Owl City, but he did a great job, making it a pretty sweet acoustic rock cover of "Fireflies". I think it's pretty clear he's the rocker of the group, the closest thing to a David Cook this season has.
The only other guy really worth mentioning is Todrick, who I thought actually might have deserved the top spot, if not for some pretty great numbers that keep him at 3. Is there anyone else bringing the power, energy, and creativity to their songs this season better than Todrick? I haven't seen anyone yet infuse a song with as much energy as he does.
Andrew Garcia was good, and he's got a for sure spot in the top 6, if America does him justice. I hope to see him maybe infuse some future songs with a Latin flavor, or maybe even sing some Spanish in the future.
After Garcia, the field narrows considerably. Casey just wasn't good tonight, and I'm beginning to think he may not have what it takes to last real long, assuming he makes the top 12. Tomorrow night's show I think comes down to these three guys: Aaron, Alex, and Tim. If anyone outside of those three guys heads home, it will be a real upset, because the talent level is much higher outside of those three.
But really, I don't agree with what many people are saying in regards to the talent level this year being heavily weighted for the girls. I think the guys showed 4 really good performances tonight, more than you can say last night about the ladies. I think in general, their creativity and vocal power outdo what the ladies have done so far. Stage presence, originality, and pure energy seem to be on the guys side, and, it makes for a more interesting show. I was much more satisfied after watching the guys perform tonight than I was with the girls last night.
So, tomorrow night, my prediction for who goes home is this:
Paige, Lacey, Alex, and Tim.
Anyone outside of those 4, you can consider it quite the upset. Really, a Katie Stevens doesn't deserve to be in the top 12, but you all voted her in there!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
