You've Gotta Be Freakin' Kidding Me

Okay, so here's the thing ... the other day I was watching an "Ellen DeGeneres Show" that I'd had buried on my DVR for several weeks, and one of her guests was then-recent "Idol" cast-off Alex Lambert. It was so much fun seeing and hearing him again, and of course I was naturally reminded of how bitter I felt the week that he and Lilly Scott were booted from the competition. I was also reminded of the teasing he got for his hairstyle of choice: the much-maligned (and for good reason) mullet -- although strangely it seemed to work for him, and in fact added to his charm, at least for me.

Now I'm feeling bitter all over again, with the far-too-early elimination of my favorite female contestant, Siobhan Magnus. And just as was the case with Alex, it's not only because I thought she was more talented than half the rest of the contestants, but I also can't help but wonder if she lost the votes because of her slightly offbeat appearance and personality. I realize that "American Idol" is about finding a pop star, and that looks have been inexorably tied to pop music for decades, but honestly ... do all pop stars have to be magazine-cover beautiful, with perfect teeth, perfect hair, and a perfect face? I for one don't give a damn what a singer looks like, I just care what they sound like. Indeed, the more attractive they are (or are made to be), the less interesting I tend to find them.

I'd be flat-out lying if I said I've never been drawn to an artist more for their looks than for their music -- probably all of us have been guilty of that at one time or another -- but that's something I outgrew years ago. I suppose the attractive ones getting voted through ahead of the musically talented ones is just a pitfall of the "American Idol" viewer demographics being what they are (the people -- usually teenage girls, at the risk of seeming prejudiced -- who value looks above musicianship), not that our obsession with beauty doesn't carry over into other areas of American life as well (How else can the success of "America's Next Top Model" be explained?), though that's a whole different subject unto itself.

Am I outgrowing "American Idol"? That's probably part of it ... and the fact that I've become a jaded listener in general lately, let alone to music of a highly-commercial pop bent, can only have added to my "Idol" melancholy. My enthusiasm for the rest of this season -- as well as the likelihood that I'll bother watching the next -- are dropping more and more each time that a hopeful with genuine talent, or at least the potential for it (Alex, Lilly, Siobhan), is passed up for one with fair but stagnant talent (Casey) or more looks than either talent or personality (Tim).

Having said that, however, I still have yet to tire of the music that's eventually put out by "Idol" alumni ... and not just the domestic product, either. Indeed, that's the subject of a series of posts I've got coming up, shortly after the current "Idol" season comes to an end. But I doubt I'll partake of "American Idol" Season Ten, especially since Simon won't be there for me to enjoy. After all, let's face it: listening to a 45-minute album of spiffy studio-recorded songs is one thing, but watching hours upon hours of contestants warbling their way through songs that other people made famous is quite another ... and can get awfully tiring, too.

American Idol 2010 -- The Top 6

As slow as this season of "Idol" has felt, in a way it's hard to believe that the field is already down to just six competitors. Now that the obvious dud, Tim, has been pruned, who will go home next? I predict that, barring some unforeseen train-wreck of a performance, it will be Casey. Why not Aaron? 'Cause it's Shania Twain week, and country music is Aaron territory. I admit I'm not a Shania expert, but isn't her discography a little thin (and her overall influence on the music world not quite strong enough) for an entire "Idol" installment to be devoted to her? Well, anyway, here we go....

Lee ("You're Still The One") -- Hmmm ... very nice indeed! It's taken me forever to warm up to Lee's charms, and he charmed me with this song. I agree with Simon ... a perfect choice of song for him. Quite well done, I must say.

Michael ("It Only Hurts When I'm Breathing") -- Proof positive that the contest is getting tight now. While it's not my favorite performance of his (although that beautiful falsetto at the end brought it close), I've still gotta love Big Mike.

On a side note ... enough with those silly swaybots in the audience, already.

Casey ("Don't!") -- Well, it was a very good performance, I'd agree with the judges on that ... but -- well, I don't know what it is that's keeping me from loving Casey. He seems to be doing the same thing every week, though I'm sure someone else could argue the same thing about most of my favorites.

Crystal ("No One Needs To Know") -- Oh, adorable! We already knew that Crystal can do the Janis Joplin thing, and she hinted at some Bonnie Raitt potential, but now we can also see she can do traditional country, and do it wonderfully!

Aaron ("You've Got a Way") -- What did I tell ya? "The Cute One" is on his home turf this week, and definitely proved it. While I can't see him winning the competition, and would be surprised to see him in the Top Three, he's gonna get a record deal without a doubt, especially after a performance like this.

Siobhan ("Any Man of Mine") -- Speaking of the Top Three, I'm having a really hard time picturing Siobhan being dropped before then. There may have been tiny flaws (she had a bit of trouble keeping tempo with the band at one point, I noticed, and a creaky note or two), but her owning the stage made up for them in a big way!

My most favorite performances of the night: Aaron and Siobhan.

My least favorite performances of the night: Casey and Michael.

Who I think should be eliminated: Casey.

Who I think will be eliminated: Michael ... hey, anyone could go this week, and he was plucked from the gaping maw of elimination once before, for a performance better than this.

It's About Damn Time

Okay, just in case I haven't made it clear enough, I never truly cheer the ouster of any contestant, since it would essentially be wishing for their dreams to be crushed -- and who would want their own dreams crushed, right? But seriously, no one can honestly say it wasn't way past time for Tim Urban to be let go from the pool of "Idol" hopefuls. Let's face it: the guy has never been able to carry much of a tune, compared to the others in the group. (Really, whoever's been piling in the votes for him has somehow forgotten that this is a singing competition and not a beauty contest.) But enough with the picking on him. He's got plenty of fans, for whatever reasons, and he'll probably pop up somewhere else soon enough ... more power to him. Godspeed, Teflon Tim.

American Idol 2010 -- The Top 7

So, the theme this week is "inspirational songs" ... sigh. Why is this season seeming particularly laborious to get through? Maybe it's because of the less-impressive (overall) lot of competitors this time around. I mean, sure, there are the good ones like there always are ... but I'd be hard-pressed to call any of them "great". Whose albums do I know I'll be buying? Definitely Siobhan, probably Big Mike and Aaron, and maybe Lee and Crystal. I'm not totally sure I'd rank them as my favorite contestants in that order, though ... it probably doesn't sound like it makes sense, but it does to me in a way. (Why not Crystal? She's a great singer, but she doesn't have the kind of voice whose records I'd really want to buy.) Anyway, here come the Top Seven....

Casey ("Don't Stop" by Fleetwood Mac) -- Very good, though it sounded like he was having trouble finding the key at first. Good guitar playing, yes, but I get the impression he uses it as a crutch a little too much. Maybe that's why he's not a favorite of mine.

Lee ("The Boxer" by Simon & Garfunkel) -- Excellent! I can tell that this was a heartfelt performance from him, and I agree with Simon -- he made it sound like it could be a current single. This guy just keeps getting better by the week!

Tim ("Better Days" by Goo Goo Dolls) -- Typically barely-okay Tim ... I honestly don't know why he's still in the competition. Well, yes, I do know why, and unfortunately it has nothing to do with his singing. This was a resoundingly underwhelming performance.

Aaron ("I Believe I Can Fly" by R. Kelly) -- Fantastic! It was a big song, and he pulled it off! This pair of performances right here proves why I'll be highly pissed if Aaron (hell, really anyone else) is voted off the show before Tim ... and why I'd probably pick up an Aaron album.

Siobhan ("When You Believe" by Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston) -- Gorgeous ... her best yet!! Speaking of buying albums, this shows why Siobhan's on my must list! Any record label that passes on her, no matter where she finishes in the competition, is a pack of damn fools!

Michael ("Hero" by Chad Kroeger) -- Hmmm ... I'm not crazy about the choice of song, quite frankly, but whatever Big Mike sings he sings pretty darn well. I can't help feeling a bit disappointed, though ... and that's a first with Michael. I just hope it doesn't cost him the competition.

Crystal ("People Get Ready" by The Impressions) -- Hmmm ... maybe I should rethink not buying her CD. This is a different side of Crystal, and I like what I'm seeing! I wondered why she broke at the end of the song, but then I realized that her dad's presence explained it all. A beautiful performance!

My most favorite performances of the night: Siobhan, Lee, and Crystal.

My least favorite performances of the night: Tim, Casey, and -- it pains me to say it -- Michael.

Who I think should be eliminated: Tim.

Who I think will be eliminated: Michael -- yes, I think the viewers will be that stupid -- but it'd better be Tim.

Damn, I'm Good

Do I know how to call 'em or what? In fact, my predictions for the Top 12 eliminations have been perfect so far (not counting last week, which technically we don't have to, since the save was used)! I was a little intrigued that they didn't do the eliminations in the usual "bottom three" kind of style -- that they just *boom* dropped the bomb on Andrew with little fanfare -- but I suppose maybe it was a little less agonizing that way. As with most everyone else, I'm of course sad to see Katie Stevens and Andrew Garcia sent packing ... but frankly, if two people had to go, they're just about the ones I'll miss the least ... except maybe for Tim or Casey.

As for the rest of the show, it was great seeing Adam Lambert again, and he gave a fabulous performance. And it was fun seeing Brooke White again too ... I never did buy her album, though. Let's see, what else? I can't think of much.

I just realized, though, that the ratio of guys to girls is now 5 to 2!! It definitely looks (strictly from the odds) like this will be the third year in a row where a guy is crowned the American Idol ... although I do seem to recall that an outnumbered gender came from behind to win the competition in a previous year, though I couldn't tell you who or when. We shall see, eh? Next week it's down to seven. For whom will that be an unlucky number...?

American Idol 2010 -- The Top 9 (Again)

As much as I love Adam Lambert, I have a bit of trouble seeing him as a "mentor", considering he was a complete unknown just a little over a year ago. But, whatever. Oh, and I simply sat here shaking my head just now when I heard where they were sending the Top 9 for Elvis Week. Was it Graceland? Oh, heck no ... it was Vegas. Okay, maybe Vegas is the second city one would associate with Elvis after Graceland (yes, I know Graceland isn't a city, but you know what I mean), but then came the kicker: "Cirque du Soleil style"! Huh?!? Oh yeah, when I think Elvis, I think Cirque du Soleil. Sigh ... again, I say "whatever". I think we'd be better off just getting to the performances....

Crystal ("Saved") -- What can I say about Crystal that hasn't already been said? Yet again, she dazzles us! Elvis is pretty much right up her alley, just like Janis Joplin would be ... Randy made an accurate observation when he compared her to Bonnie Raitt. Brava, Crystal!

Andrew ("Hound Dog") -- Hmmm ... the trouble with doing such a signature song is the inevitable comparison to the original. How much do you dare risk to change it up? I wasn't so sure about this one ... something felt off. Kara's thoughts were closest to what I was feeling.

Tim ("Can't Help Falling In Love") -- Okay, so why didn't he go with the falsetto ending that Adam encouraged him to do? That disappoints me. I thought it was pretty good ... not as wonderful as the judges seemed to gush, though ... could just be that it's such an overused song.

Lee ("A Little Less Conversation") -- Awright!! In my eyes, the one who's most improved over the last few weeks is definitely Lee ... I seem to be liking him more and more each week. This may very well be his best performance yet ... I almost love him now, and that's saying a lot!!

Aaron ("Blue Suede Shoes") -- Oh, I was so worried when I saw that this was his song choice, especially because two contestants are getting the boot this week. But I loved it, especially when he slowed it down near the end!! Has he earned enough votes to carry him forward? I hope so!

Siobhan ("Suspicious Minds") -- Possibly my favorite Elvis song ... and definitely my favorite performance of the night!! I've been loving Siobhan for awhile now, and tonight I love her even more. I have no idea what Simon and Kara were hearing to make them give comments like that....

Michael ("In The Ghetto") -- I shook my head for most of the last seven days, wondering how he could have gotten the fewest votes last week, and even more so after a beautifully tender performance like this. If he gets kicked this week, I will question America's sanity.

Katie ("Baby, What You Want Me To Do") -- It was a really good performance ... but when I think about it, is there anything that really makes her memorable? I'm just afraid that, when the results come tomorrow night, she'll fall through the cracks ... and sorry to say, I don't think I'd miss her very much.

Casey ("Lawdy Miss Clawdy") -- Hmmm ... it was good, but I can't think of anything that made it great. Good vocals, good guitar playing ... but Simon's comments pretty much said it for me.

My most favorite performances of the night: Siobhan, Lee, and Michael.

My least favorite performances of the night: Andrew, Tim, and Katie.

Who I think should be eliminated: Katie and Tim.

Who I think will be eliminated: Katie and Andrew.

Final thought: Ryan was a little crazy tonight, wasn't he? Picking on his mom, complimenting Adam on his "talented tongue" (do tell, Ryan!!), and even a Brian Dunkleman joke thrown in for good measure. What would the show be without you, Ryan?

Record Store Day Is Back!

Well, folks, as you can see by the graphic in the right-hand column, next Saturday is the third annual Record Store Day! Since I'm giving you six days' notice, there's no excuse for you not to take my advice and go support your local independent record/CD retailer. If the only music buying experience you've ever known has been through "big-box" retailers like Wal-Mart, Best Buy, and those kinds of places, then that's all the more reason to give yourself the undeniably unique experience of surrounding yourself with an entire storeful of racks and racks of music titles, instead of the silly two or three thinly stocked aisles those mega-retailers give you. And if you've only ever bought music online before now, then well, I just plain feel sorry for you, and can't stress enough how important it is for you to pull some cash out of your piggy-bank and find a brick-and-mortar music store next Saturday. Trust me -- the time and effort you put into it will be well rewarded, and your music loving soul will be complete. Not to mention, a good number of CIMS (Coalition of Independent Music Stores) retailers taking part in Record Store Day will have totally groovy in-store performances, and just might even have a free bag of goodies for each and every paying customer! How can you pass that up? Have a happy Record Store Day ... but more importantly, help the record stores have one too.

Well Worth Saving

Well, I don't know about y'all, but I found this week's results to be the most shocking since the Top 16 became the Top 12 (when Lilly, Todrick, Katelyn, and Alex were eliminated)! Why wasn't Lee in the bottom three after he managed to get that silly bagpiper on stage with him? I'll grudgingly agree with the voters' not letting Tim slip into the bottom three for a third (or would it have been fourth?) week in a row ... he performed quite decently this week.

Much as I like Aaron, I can kind-of understand him ending up in the bottom three, since he gave arguably the least impressive performance so far. But Andrew and Michael? After some of the best performances of their "Idol" careers? Please. And I'm surprised the audience didn't cry out in dismay when they heard that Michael was the potential castoff ... I'd consider that a total outrage, if the judges hadn't, very wisely, chosen to spare him the axe and give him another chance next week. Great call, folks!!

Unfortunately, as we all know -- assuming the rules are the same as last year -- this means that, not only is the save gone and done with, but not one but TWO contestants will see their runs come to an end next week. Maybe the voters will wise up a bit more between now and then...!

American Idol 2010 -- The Top 9

Wow, fancy that! For some stupid reason, I had serious doubts that the modem was the "weak link" to my Internet access, but lo and behold it was. Forgive me, O glorious ISP of mine, for ever doubting you. (Serves me right for deliberately looking up and reading horror stories from disgruntled former customers ... that's one great thing about the 'net, endless food for one's paranoia.) Anyway, my DSL has sprung back to life just in time for the Top 9 of "American Idol", this time covering the revered Beatles songbook. Here we go....

Aaron ("The Long and Winding Road") -- Very good! Something keeps me from calling it "excellent", though, as much as I love Aaron ... just a tiny bit pitchy here and there, perhaps ... and maybe the arrangement, as the judges suggested.

Katie ("Let It Be") -- Very pretty, indeed! I'd have to say she was better than Aaron tonight, to be sure. Just when I was starting to become disappointed with her, she reminds me why I started enjoying her at the beginning. Wonderful!

Andrew ("Can't Buy Me Love") -- All right! Two fantastic performances in a week from Andrew! This guy appeared to be dropping away from the pack a few weeks ago, but if he keeps this stride, he's gonna end up in the top thee or four!

Michael ("Eleanor Rigby") -- It's almost boring to watch Big Mike anymore ... only because we know he's all but incapable of giving a disappointing performance! Beautiful arrangement, fantastic vocal, and an all-around enjoyable performance!

Crystal ("Come Together") -- Just like Big Mike, Crystal is wonderful again as usual, and there's not much more that can be said about her. I think she's the lady to beat, and that she'll end up in the top three or four as well.

Tim ("All My Loving") -- This was a good performance, I must say ... he seems to have gotten rid of the weird gaze thing, at least this week. In fact, I actually think it was better than his "Hallelujah" performance, contrary to what Ellen said.

Casey ("Jealous Guy") -- Well, that was one of Casey's best showings yet. Best performance of the night? I'm not sure about that, but it was definitely up there. I'm not quite loving him yet, but I'm liking him a bit more each week.

Siobhan ("Across The Universe") -- One of my favorite Beatles songs, and definitely my favorite Siobhan performance!! There's no other way to describe this one other than to say that it was achingly and hauntingly beautiful. Lovely!!

Lee ("Hey Jude") -- Well, I thought it was okay ... the bagpipe was a little over-the-top, though. I'm still not loving Lee's voice, honestly ... I don't know what so many people see (or "hear", as it were) in it.

My most favorite performances of the night: Siobhan, Michael, and Crystal.

My least favorite performances of the night: Lee ... and it's hard to pick three, but if I did I'd have to say Tim and Aaron.

Who I think should be eliminated: Lee.

Who I think will be eliminated: Katie.

Dropping Like Flies!

Well ... first Lacey Brown, then Paige Miles, and now Didi Benami ... I thought the ladies were strong this year, but we've lost three in a row! I wasn't particularly attached to Didi lately, but it's still sad that she had to go and wasn't saved. I tell you, though, at this rate we'll be down to only guys in no time, and there'll be a third male Idol in as many years!

I tuned in a minute or two late (after getting off the phone with my ISP ... long story, don't ask), but it looks like we were spared the grotesque group number this week! I don't suppose we've gotten so lucky that the producers have realized how horrible they are and have dumped them altogether, eh? Probably not ... likely it's just a one-week reprieve. And since I'm not particularly an Usher fan, nor am I any remote semblance of a Diddy (or whatever name he's using this week) fan, I don't have anything to say about the celebrity performances ... except that seeing Ruben Studdard was fun.

Will I have my broadband access back up and running at home by next Tuesday night? It's anybody's guess at this point....