Canadian Idol for Aug. 30, 2005

Performance night again.

First off, the songs of Elvis was a hard theme choice. His performances have generated so many impersonations that it's hard to bring something original to them.

I didn't see anything original enough to wow me, but of the four I think Aaron Walpole came off the weakest. This wasn't Suzi Rawn's week either.

Karma Works

You'll notice I have this blog still in my Blogroll, even though Sam died from breat cancer early this year.

I kept it in tribute to her. I had a few things published by DP7, the company she abd her husband Todd founded. I never met her in person, but she was still like family.

I'm listening to some podcasts with the Windows beta for IpodderX right now.

My friend Evo Terra from the Dragonpage podcast network (he and Mike Meninguez put out several science fiction 'casts) raves about this program on the Mac. Although Itunes has some problems, I find it a little more functional. Besides, it's free; IpodderX is shareware.

I needed a breath of fresh air after finally listening to the free track from Itunes. For some reason they seem to offer mostly alternative or rock songs that don't interest me.I think only Theresa Sokyrka and The Vanity Project, by the lead singer from the Barenaked Ladies tracks I've listened to more than once.

As a nice change of pace, I'm listening to Ray Charles final album, Genius Loves Company.

While I don't share the religion, his duet with Gladys Night of "Heaven Help Us All" (a song by Stevie Wonder. In one bar they showed more soul than Casey Leblanc showed period.

Today at my gym was the first time I used my new Iriver. First time I worked out to Podcasts and it was also my first time hearing Couleur Jazz in weeks!

The programers must have read my mind: while I was doing my exercises, they played one of my favorite Sonny Rollins' tracks also.

Finally, Casey Leblanc was eliminated from Canadian Idol.

As I always said, she has the vocal talent. She just didn't have the stage presence or charisma to be a performer yet. She's only 16, and you felt that on stage.

She can't come back to compete again (I think. I'm not familiar with those rules), but if she pursues this she may learn to perform as she lacks the skill to do now.

I taped Canadian Idol for later viewing tonight, because I was out.

While most of the judges were up on Casey's performance, I agreed with Zack: watching her was like watching paint dry. She went back to her old problem: technically her vocals are strong, but she has no charisma or stage presence.

Of the five people left, I'm hoping the final two will be Rex Goudy and Suzi Rawn. While their vocals weren't the best this week, they have charisma to make up for it.

I'm guessing right now, but based on the performances Melissa was the weakest this week.

I got my new Iriver working today, so now I'll be able to exercise with my new jazz MP3s!

Results night on Canadian Idol this evening...

The bottom three was composed of the three best of the Josh, Suzi and Rex. I was sure Aaron would be there this time, but he was safe.

In the end, Josh left this week.

I liked a point the judges made (I think it was Zack): the bottom three were all people who would make it in the music industry anyways.

Tuesday was Canadian Idol performance night again.

Surprisingly Casey Leblanc actually gave her best performance of the series. Based on what I heard, the bottom three would be Aaron Wampole, Josh Palmer and even more surprising Suzie Rawn. Those last two just didn't perform at their best in my opinion.

On my local news tonight was the 80^th birthday of jazz piano great Oscar Peterson.

The concert hall at my University was named for him. Canada Post will be issuing a stamp commemorating him as well.

He's one of my fellow Montrealers I'm most proud of.

I got an IRiver MP3 player / radio tuner / voice recorder I won off Ebay yesterday.

With it was included a 40 song free trial of Emusic, a legal MP3 site

Without hesitation, I took it. I now have Ray Charles final album, a classic by Sonny Rollins, a team-up between him and Miles Davis... and as my sole non-Jazz pick, a collection of Frank Zappa music.

I'm really looking forward to hearing them all soon.

While the signal for Couleur Jazz is lost to me, I've changed over to 92 FM. For my readers outside Montreal, this is a light rock radio station, and one of our rare English ones.

One thing about it bothers me (besides the lousy music): it's called "The new 92". After 10 years of that name, it isn't so new anymore.

It's official: Couleur Jazz lost signal on my clock radio again.

This drives home to me again how analog radios aren't that great for tuning anymore. Unfortunately digital ones are still too pricey for me.

On Canadian Idol Casey Leblanc is rapidly becoming this year's "success you love to hate". I still can't believe she was safe.

At least the other out-of-place teen Darryl Brunt got cut this week. The funny thing: when I first heard him, I thought he'd be the winner of the whole thing.

With 6 left, I'm not sure yet who'll win. We have three solid competitors: Rex Goudy, Josh Palmer and Suzie Rawn. While Rex is a crowd pleaser, I think Josh and Suzie are the ones most talented.

I just finished watching this week's Canadian Idol. This week's theme was Big Band / Golden Age / Standards.

Some of the performances were outstanding: Josh Palmer's When I Fall in Love comes to mind right away.

Not surprising the two 16-year olds didn't fare well: Casey Leblanc again proved to me she isn't able to sell her performances yet; Daryl Brunt... well, even the judges said he was like "Pee Wee Herman singing standards".

I'm expecting them both to be in the bottom 3 Wednesday. I'm not sure who the 3^rd will be.

I just learned Ibrahim Ferrer, an innovator of world music, just passed away at the age of 78.

He just won an award at last year's Jazz Fest. The Antonio Carlos Jobim award.

Also Peter Jennings has died as well, a victim of cancer (he announced it a few months ago). He was 67.

The 4400 is being re-aired on Space to build up to the new series launch.

This is now the first time I've seen it from the beginning. I always come in on the 4^th and 5^th show, so now I finally know where the character stories grew from.

My mind is reeling: crooner Paul Anka's latest abum Rock Swings is a mix of rock n' roll songs as crooning tunes. Couleur Jazz plays the album a lot.

Pat Boone tried to do this with heavy metal a few years ago, and it was a disaster. This one seems to be doing better.

Still, hearing Smells like teen spirit as swing is bizarre.

Well, Canadian Idol's results show was this evening. For what it's worth, I don't think Josh or Suzie deserved to be in the bottom three.

I know this is all because of Canada's votes, but I have to ask myself what Canadians are on when they hear the performances.

They keep voting for Casey Leblanc enough to be safe. She's on key, granted... but while she plays the part, I think she's too young, and doesn't have the feelings of her song choices.

Darryl Brunt... I can't help but think "boy band" everytime I hear him.

Amber Fleury was cut tonight. In other performances she was ethereal. She just didn't have "it" with the Cher song she chose, and I think it got her voted out.