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Tuesday, January 13, 2009

American Idol from Phoenix – How the West was (Not) Won



American Idol time is here again folks! I have been counting down the hours since 0700 this a.m.!

So I suppose I should do that “disclaimer” thing that I did last year… you know, where I say “these opinions are mine and only mine and if you don’t agree, tuff dooky and don’t send me hate mail.” Nah, not gonna… there’s a link to it already, over to the right. Same story, different season.

Now begins our eighth year… There’s a montage of seasons past, then an ethereal shot of Ryan at the Grand Canyon. The burning questions for the new year include: Will the addition of Kara interrupt the flow at the judge’s table? Will the trainwreck-like contestants be fooled AGAIN, even after seven years? Will we actually get to see more of the good singers? How many times will Simon roll his eyes? And most importantly, will they use a picture of “before-or-after makeover” David Cook for the American Idol Wall of Previous Winners?

Here’s how it all went down in Phoenix, home of Jordin Sparks:

Introducing Kara DioGuardi
As soon as they show Kara on screen, My Hubby says “Dang!” This is man-speak for “She is a very attractive young lady.” She seems to fit right in and holds her own with the others. I believe that she will be a welcome (and coherent) addition to the show once she loses the “no one knows my name” attitude.

You Have GOT to be Kidding
Note to Whiner Randy: Your Axl Rose Halloween costume plus crocodile tears will not get you any respect when you go back to your cubicle job.

Hey X-Ray: DeBarge called and they want their look back. And tomorrow? Take the whole pill, okay?

Bikini Girl – okay, let’s face it – she’s a skank and that’s why the guy judges put her through to the next round. Too bad she missed the casting call for the new reality series “True Beauty,” the Ashton/Tyra show where gorgeous but very vain people are set up to be mocked and scorned. She would be a perfect fit for that hot mess.

“Omigod It’s Coming Toward Me!”
Tuan has Chris Sligh Hair Times Ten but he’s got moves we ain’t seen since Michael Jackson’s heyday. And we don’t ever want to see them again.

Some sweaty guy sounds like Britney on the john when he sings. Dear Producers: really now? And then you fed him a banana?

What did Bon Jovi ever do to deserve “Wanted Dead or Alive” trashed so heartlessly by a hodgepodge of bad, badder, and badness? Didn’t Jon even do time as a guest coach a couple years back? Show some love!

Totally Should’ve Known Better
Grungy Emo dude makes “Mad World” sound like nails on a chalkboard.

Daddy-Sang-Bass but my gosh, even Mufasa never sounded this deep-voiced. At least Paula recommends a career in voiceover work, which is reasonable.

Poor Eric. He should have hired a tattoo artist that can spell better. “Sexual Chacolate?”

Casting Call for “Bring it On 5”
Teenager Arianna has the sweetest story of the evening with her “Adopt a Grand-friend” program. She is cute, has a decent voice, and the judges put her through to Hollywood. The adorableness factor is over the top but leaning way more towards the good.

Lea Marie looks like a teenage hooker in her pink cowgirl outfit. She likes Kara, sings okay but she’s told she’s not ready. She threatens to come back next year.

Little curly-haired Brianna is delightful with a sparkling personality. Even after blowing two audition songs, she is inexplicably put through by Paula and Simon.

Teeny Tiny Cody is (brace yourself) a maker of horror movies! I can’t make this stuff up! He is also a blend of Sanjaya and Noriega with a pretty good voice; he makes it to Hollywood.

Good but Most Likely Cannon Fodder
Young J.B. has a great voice but he’s somewhat cookie-cutter on the Ruben song.

Big Tall Oil Rig Worker Michael has the country twang and “likability factor,” but he’s not that memorable.

Simon’s not fond of the Clay-like Alex, who is out of the closet (but not THAT way, perv!) The other judges overrule the Brit and let the poor boy through.

Hooray for Hollywood – the Best of Phoenix
Our first rocker this year is a female named Emily. She looks like a heavily tattooed Drew Barrymore. Lip rings are gross, but she has a great voice and does Heart proud with “Barracuda.”

Write this name down in pen – Stevie Wright. Although named for Stevie Nicks, she sings “At Last” and does a fantastic job. Simon teases her about being too nice (Brooke White anyone?) so she socks him in the jaw. Just kidding, but that would have been funny.

Southern blonde Deanna reminds me so much of Kellie that I expect her to say “Pick Pickler!” However, she is an awesome surprise and has a unique sound on the old “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay.”

Our heartstrings are pulled with Scott, a talented singer and piano player who is almost totally blind. Even Simon is moved by his story. Scott is My Kid’s favorite of the evening.

Only Obsessed Freaks Like Me Would Catch This
Elliott Yamin’s late mother was shown in the opening montage (awwww!)

The shot of David Cook used in the intro is from the night of the Final Two.

Paula was giving Simon the middle finger early on; you could see the “blur-vision” on her hand.

The Powers That Be Strike Again
They showed that youtube video of the little gals losing their shee-yat over Archie’s loss to Cook last May. (Sorry girls, but it was Cougars: 1 and Tweeners: 0.)

Proof that the Producers Loathe Ryan
That awful Katy Perry song “I Kissed a Girl” was playing in the background when Bikini Skank was frenching Ryan. Low blow much?

Most Memorable Quote of the Evening
Katrina (to Kara): “But your demonstration wasn’t any better.”

Tomorrow night will be auditions from Kansas City. Expect many David Cook references, since that is where he had his hometown visit last year. Maybe they still have the banner from the parade.

'Til the morrow!

Friday, November 28, 2008

Melinda is "Coming Back" to Us!



Whatever happened to my favorite season 6 Idol Melinda Doolittle??

The fabulous "Mindy Doo" has a single and album coming out soon! I am sure it will be worth the wait!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

David Cook (Self-Titled) - Aunt Pearl's Review



David sounds like a seasoned pro on this CD and little wonder. In addition to his pre-American Idol solo album (the amazing Analog Heart), David was also the lead singer for the indy rock band Axium. My iPod is proudly loaded with all of the Axium tunes that I could find, Analog Heart, and now the Self-Titled new release.

So is this supposed to be the “new and improved” David Cook? All summer I have been listening to his earlier music which is raw, gritty, emotional, and full of sexy angsty oomph. It is no surprise that his post-AI effort is way more “vanilla,” because that is just the way they roll.

It is as if those sharp rough edges have been smoothed out, presenting to us a sleeker, cooler, more GQ David. For the fans who only know him from American Idol, that is perfectly acceptable. (After all, didn’t we see a metamorphosis right before our eyes?)

Even though I still prefer the music of “pre-fame” Cookie, this champion’s new release is enjoyable nonetheless. David wrote or co-wrote 10 out of 13 tracks. For some reason, the two songs released as singles are the ones that he did not write – “Time of My Life” and “Light On.”

The only track that comes close to his early ROCK days is “Bar-Ba-Sol.” This is one of those ditties about raising heck that young people enjoy and makes older folks (like moi) reminisce fondly.

One song, called “Permanent,” made me cry because it was written for David’s cancer-stricken brother Adam. As the mom of an angel-daughter who battled that dreadful disease, I can definitely relate to the lyric “And so I ask oh God is there some way for me to take his place.”

As David promised after winning the AI title in May, he would give his fans an album that surprised us and made us think. He has accomplished this feat and I am prouder than ever to be a fan.

Check out the lyrics on DC’s official fan site, and his first music video on his web page.