Regular thoughts and incidents from the life of Jeff Boman, a writer, artist and website designer with a strange lifepath.
The media blitz has begun
Now that Eva Avila is the Canadian Idol, she not only has a pre-release of her title song on Itunes Canada (she still has to record it proper on her album), but I've also now seen her in photos on magazine covers.
Her being my province's champion, I'm hoping even more that she'll go far after that first album.
Tag: Eva Avila
The closest vote?
The just 2 days ago concluded Canadian Idol was said to be the closest race they ever had.
If you look at the percentages, it was. 3.3%. In terms of the number of votes though... over 100 thousand doesn't seem that close, does it? I guess that's why that number isn't used much.
Tag: Canadian Idol
Canadian Idol 2006 winner: Viva Eva!
The show was a half hour less than in past years, but the results still saw me shouting "Yes!"
We had a pleasant surprise in that Cyndi Lauper will be producing one of the tracks on the winner's album.
For now, I just find it cool for us now to have an Idol-winner from Quebec, and I'm glad for the fact that I've now picked the winner two years in a row. I feel for Newfoundland though, having the runner-up each time.
Tags: Canadian Idol, Cyndi Lauper, Eva Avila.
Canadian Idol FINAL Performance show of 2006
Based on how long Eva's vote phone line has been busy so long, I'm thinking Québec will provide the next Idol.
Craig Sharpe is extremely talented, and he'll be a great performer... he just doesn't have the range and diversity of Eva Avila.
Judge Jake Gold stated it best: when the backup singers are giving applause for the singer they just performed with, you know they're good!
The only real drag: the final results show won't be until Sunday. With voting ending in an hour, that will make for a maddening wait!
Tags: Canadian Idol, Craig Sharpe, Eva Avila.
Canadian Idol Semi-Finals-Sept. 5, 2006
Otherwise known as "Buh-bye Tyler...
I missed the performance show this week; I was on the road at the time. The clips shown however proved Tyler wasn't really suited in the standards genre.
What's cool now: my hometown (Montreal) is representing in the finals through Eva Avila! Unless she's bad, it's a given she'll get a lot of votes from me.
(Sorry this post is a day late. I fell asleep while typing.)
Tags: Canadian Idol, Eva Avila, Tyler Lewis.
Late Canadian Idol Catch-Up
Computer problems kept me off-line for about a week,so I missed my chance to post as this happened...
The performance show this week saw the final four perform two songs each chosen by the judges. They chose the right songs for each - but I still couldn't stand Chad Doucette. The chosen songs suited his voice, but his overall style and the goofy look on his face just got on my nerves.
At least in my view however Canada got it right by eliminating him the next night! I actually voted heavily for my favorites, as I will this Monday. I want to see the final between Eva Avila and Craig Sharpe! I want to see my fellow Montrealer win, but that's my own bias...
Tags: Canadian Idol, Chad Doucette, Eva Avila, Craig Sharpe.
Maynard Ferguson (78)
I heard of his death on the news tonight. He had significance to Montreal, as he was also a native.
I bought a CD of his songs years ago, This is Jazz 16. I only saw the numeral much later; at first I thought this was one performer who thought too much of themselves. I know better now.
One thing I learved tonight that was a surprise: he composed the songs we know from Rocky.
Tags: jazz legend,Maynard Ferguson, Rocky.
Canadian Idol Results Show for August 22nd 2006
My kid is gone!
Steffi as a low vote getter I've grown accustomed to... but when Eva Avila was the other one, I figured the writing was on the wall. Chad was safe again, ensuring him of being this year's Jacob Greely (on long past where his talent should rank him). If he'd been on the block, I'd suspect him of getting picked
I had braced myself for Steffi's eventual exit, but it still hit me hard. I was sobbing like a baby, something I've done for no other contestant ever.
Zack Warner once said she may end up the most famous Idol contestant. I hope he's ultimately proven right.
Tags; Canadian Idol, Steffi D, Eva Avila, Jacob Greely.
Canadian Idol Performance Show, August 21, 2006
I didn't always agree with the judges: I can't stand Chad Doucette's voice! To my ear he has too much vibrato and sounds warbly. To me he lacks good technique - what they call uniqueness of his voice.
I was also a bit concerned with my 'kid' Steffi D. A 17-year old just isn't convincing to me when she tries to convey sexiness. It felt like a child's play last week, and it did again now.
Surprising to me again was Eva Avila. With the exit of Ashley Coulter last week, I'm thinking she may be our first winner from Québec.
Tags: Canadian Idol, Steffi D, Eva Avila, Ashley Coulter.
Canadian Idol results show of August 15 2006
Yup, I was completely off on my guesses!
Tyler was safe. Chad was safe. The bottom 3...
My 'kid' was in the bottom 3 - again. I keep steeling myself to the idea of her being eliminated soon. The other two (Craig Sharpe and Ashley Coulter)... these were the two most predicted to make the finals. Even more of a surprise: Ashley was eliminated!
This is a shock on par with Suzie Rawn being eliminated last year... and Theresa Sokyrka not winning over Frodo two years ago. Strong voices, much talent... yet not winners in the end.
If fate is doing right, their albums will all do well. Theresa's already is, so 1 out of 3. Go ladies!
Tags: Canadian Idol, Ashley Coulter, Suzie Rawn, Theresa Sokyrkya.
Canadian Idol performance show, August 14, 2006
There were some surprises for me when the competitors went unplugged. Much as I initially guessed Chad Doucette would perform badly, he was actually pretty good here. Mind you, good all of a sudden often means peril on results night.
As always I thought Steffi D was adorable here, but the lounge vamp isn't really appropriate for her yet. Tyler Lewis stuck with the same routine though. I'm guessing him to be cut tonight.
(Watch me be wrong yet again).
Tags: Canadian Idol, Chad Doucette, Steffi D, Tyler Lewis, unplugged.
Canadian Idol Double Post
My webhost was down for two days, so I have to cover a lot of ground in one shot:
Performance Show of August 7th 2006
Featuring classic rock was a show I liked a lot. Supertramp's Roger Hodson didn't really wow me since I'm not really a fan of that band. Dennis DeYoung on the other hand... next to various jazz groups, Styx is one of my all-time favorites. That made a huge difference for me.
Most of the performances were from very good to great. Eva Avila made us Montrealers proud. My kid Steffi D was also a standout.
Not terribly impressive to me was Chad Doucette. I really don't like his vocal style, and I suspect he'll be eliminated.
Canadian Idol Results Show of August 8th 2006
Hearing Denis DeYoung perform a medley of Styx songs gave me shivers. I was surprised that he sang Mr Roboto though; the "Kilroy Was Here" album ruined the group, as no one could take it seriously anymore.
The results were surprising: Chad Doucette was safe, but Steffi D was in danger again? What do folks have against my kid... she's been getting low votes 3 of the last 4 weeks! At least she was safe though. Rob Masters was cut.
As soon as Chad is cut, it will only be among the most talented competitors.
Tags: Denis DeYoung, Styx, Supertramp, Canadian Idol, Steffi D, Rob Masters.
The One no more!
I suspected something when there was no show last night, so I visited the website. According to the site:
There are no plans for additional episodes. Thanks to all who participated in and supported The One!
I feel bad for the competitors, and I hope the really talented ones like Aaron and Scotty get work in the music industry. It looks as if the show's bad reviews led to bad ratings, and it's gone.
Canadian Idol - Results Show, August 1st 2006
I would have posted this yesterday, but a thunderstorm and power failure kept me from it.
Before anything, I have to say how great it was to hear Cindy Lauper perform. I was a teen in the 1980s... she's one of my music icons! I have to say: for a woman over 50, she's still one of the most energetic performers I've seen.
This was the final bow for someone who should have been cut last week: Brandon Jones. I was surprised folks waited for this week, because he actually performed well this time.
At least my "daughter" (Steffi) wasn't on the block this time!
Tags: Canadian Idol, Cindy Lauper, Brandon Jones.
Canadian Idol - 80s Show performances - July 31st 2006
Overall, most of the 8 remaining performers really stepped up for this show. To my ear however some still didn't sound as good as the judges thought.
Rob Masters didn't really sound so good to me, and I suspect he'll be at least in the Bottom Three tonight. Sadly, my 'daughter' Steffi D wasn't really on for the first half of her song either. Craig Sharpe was again great, but seeing 'sure thing' Chris Daughtry cut from the American version made me leery about calling another certainty.
One thing for sure: Cindy Lauper was great to see. She's now over 50? Gahd I feel old!
Tags: Canadian Idol , Rob Masters, Steffi D, Craig Sharpe, Chris Daughtry, Cindy Lauper.
The One results show - July 26th 2006
This one showed it's even more a popularity show than even the Idol ones... Nick was easily safe, even though he was sloppier than even the people who disappointed me Tuesday night - and after already having an emotional revelation of how careless Nick is, Aubrey was eliminated.
If the revelations about him don't affect his votes next week I'll know too many teen girls are ruling voting, and that their votes are just based on how good-looking a person is to them.
Aaron has so far been the only one to show himself worth winning. Actually, he's been the only one they've shown to be talented enough.
Based on what I've seen so far I'll be surprised if this show lasts more than a season.
This webhost has way too many times offline. This site is now moving: http://jazzlife.thehostcity.com/
The One Performance Show July 25th 2006
I won't be voting tonight. Based on that show, MOST of the performers were off key at points and didn't nail their performances. Plus: at 2 hours, this show felt way too long to me.
Tag: The One.
Canadian Idol results show - July 25th 2006
Results tonight had me cursing and yelling 'WTF?'... nothing about it made sense tonight!
Brandon Jones was nowhere near the bottom three... but three ladies far more talented than him were: Ashley Coulter, Steffi D (again!? She isn't the top choice of the group, but she was good last night, and of everyone she's quite original), and Sarah Loverock. Sarah was eliminated.
This show proved that pre-teen girls top the list of voting numbers... teen dreams seem to so far be outruling talent.
Tags: Steffi D, Ashley Coulter, Sarah Loverock, Canadian Idol.
Canadian Idol Performance Show - July 24 2006
Like the American show using Elvis Presley, the use of Rolling Stones songs gave a difficult job to the contestants to do something different... except some of them succeeded.
I didn't agree with the judges for some performances. I found Rob James didn't really impress by really staying on a few repeated notes for the song Start Me Up.
The guy who got the worst from the judges - and I agree - was Brandon Jones. I think either he or the above-mentioned Rob James will be eliminated this week.
Tags: Canadian Idol, Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones, Rob James, Brandon Jones.
First Elimination - The One - July 19th 2006
I do have to agree here with another blog I read: the folks on this show lack the 'sizzle' of the Idol shows... maybe it's due to us not getting to see them coming up to this point.
I DISagree with the choice of letting performer Michael Cole be the one saved though. As a fan of pro-wrestling, that name makes me chuckle - but performance-wise, I don't like his sounds or his white trash appearance. Based on the audience reaction, many of them don't either.
This show now already has it's Carmen Rassmusin/Scotty Savvo/Bucky Covington, and in only one week. He hasn't been around long enough yet, but we'll see if he breaks their stay records.
Tags: The One, Michael Cole.
The One
I know: this is really turning out to be my summer of performer shows...
If they show us more of the stuff behind the performances, it could be very interesting. The voting/results step sounds like a lot of work though. We'll see how it works out Wednesday.
One neat thing for this one: I can actually vote! As a co CBC-ABC production, we can vote through the Website... plus, we're limited to 10 votes tops, so we'll see no cases of thousands of votes from one person.
Canadian Idol Results Show July 18th 2006
Well I guessed the final results, but I was shocked at Steffi D being voted into the bottom 3!
I really got an idea how tiny Ashley Coulter is this night also, when she stood eye-to-eye with a younger Steffi.
Kati Durst being the one first eliminated came as no surprise though.
Tags: Canadian Idol, Steffi D, Ashley Coulter, Kati Durst.
(This was delayed by a thunderstorm)
Canadian Idol Performance Show, July 17 2006
I echo a comment made by Ben Mulroney here: playing with a full band made a huge difference in quality.
Considering Nelly Furtado's recent admission that she's bisexual, I'm surprised that Idol didn't consider her too racey for the show.
The performances on this show overall were above what I expected. Kati Durst still underwhelms me. I'm guessing she'll be eliminated tonight.
Tags: Ben Mulroney, Canadian Idol, Nelly Furtado, Kati Durst.
Canadian Idol Results Show - July 12th 2006
I just came from watching the show that determined the top 10 -- and yet again I was only half right, and shocked by who I got wrong.
I was right about Sheldon Elter and Ashley Coles not making the 10, but the other two shocked me...
Keith MacPherson didn't make it, but Brandon Jones did? Keith was almost perfect each week, but Brandon was mediocre.
On the womens side Nancy Silverman at her quirky best was cut, but Kati Durst (who was VERY unimpressive) made it?
I expected some surprises, but Canada, we all got it wrong.
Tags: Canadian Idol, Idol Results Show July 12th, Keith MacPherson
Canadian Idol - Mens Performance Show - July 11th 2006
I don't think my hearing or tastes are similar to the judges. Some of the performances they liked I didn't. Example: I thought Chad Doucette sounded bad, but the judges loved what they heard!
Even Keith Macpherson sounded so-so to me this week, but not to them. I realized something disturbing about him tonight also: when he stands under the lights, he gets a shahow under his nose like a small square moustache, and he ends up looking like the Fuhrer. Not a fair comparison, and I still think he's great... but that look is very disturbing.
Based on the performances, I think the two guys who'll be eliminated are Sheldon Elter and Brandon Jones. Shelton is a nice guy, but a fun personality won't beat weak singing ability here. Likewise, Brandon is a nice kid, but he just doesn't have it.
Of course Canada has surprised us already. It may again tomorrow.
Tags: Canadian Idol, Chad Doucette, Keith Macpherson, Sheldon Elter, Brandon Jones.
Latest Canadian Idol performance show - women - July 10, 2006
First off, I have to say: Steffi D is just too adorable! She had a solid performance, and although I don't picture her as the winner, she makes me wish I was her dad everytime I see her. The kid just makes me smile.
Overall, most of the ladies didn't wow me. Only Sarah Loverock's performance blew me away.
I could be wrong, but based on what I heard, I think Ashley Coles and Kati Durst. Neither one really connected with me performance-wise.
Tags: Canadian Idol, Steffi D, Sarah Loverock, Ashley Coles, Kati Durst.
Just a correction here: I looked at the Canadian Idol Website, and finally realized the contestand name Brandon Jones, not Routh.
I can go back to post-lurking now until Monday.
Tags: Canadian Idol, Brandon Jones
Canadian Idol - Results Show - July 5th 2006
(If it hasn't aired yet in your time zone, don't read this until later. I don't want to spoil it for you.)
The results came out as I predicted to only 50 percent. On both the men and women's side one of my two guesses were eliminated, while one guy I'm surprised was voted out now, one I thought would be on the block wasn't, and one of the woman I was surprised with.
I predicted that Greg would get the axe, while Chris Labelle I thought would last a bit longer.
On the woman's side, I expected Allysa to be cut (and even her final words gave me the same urge to slap her as I got from Avril Lavigne; both are too young to think they know a lot!), but Alicia was a surprise; she's very talented.
Also, I have to get Brandon's last name right... Brandon Routh is the name of the actor playing Superman!
Tags: Canadian Idol, Superman.
For a change I can actually post something related to jazz!
Today I went to the Montreal International Jazz Fest with my power-chair, Rosebud. This was the first time I've attended now in two years.
I only got to see parts of two shows: klezmer influenced Gadji-Gadjo and part of a performance by the Stage Band of Ecole de Brebouef... but the more important thing is that I got to see more of the festival grounds than a few years ago, as I learned of the access for disabled folks.
Both Couleur Jazz and CBC Radio had setups there... I couldn't get in to the Couleur Jazz one to find out if they plan to get a better transmitter (the signal strength here is lousy), but it's still great to see it represented there!
Tags: jazz, Couleur Jazz, klezmer, power-chair.
Joint Male and female performance shows - Canadian Idol - July 5th 2006
No doubt about it, the women overall beat the men this week!
On the men's side Craig and Keith outperformed everyone (again). The first two guys (Greg and Tyler) were dull to me. They might get cut this week, but Brandon Routh was disappointing this week, and I'm annoyed by the goofing around of Chris Labelle. The judges compared his antics to those of Jacob Hoggarth 2 years ago. Difference is Jacob has far more talent.
On the ladies side Allysa continues to unimpress me, as she did for Zack Werner who gave a major burn with his comment "I'm wondering if we should have let you through.". Of the others nobody stood out to me as giving a poor performance.
Tags: Canadian Idol
Canadian Idol results show - June 28, 2006
I'm totally shocked by one of the cuts on the ladies side, and both of the men.
I expected Anna-Belle Olivia to be cut, but with Alyssa Klazek. Valerie Jalbert I figured would be cut later on, but not so soon!
Steffi D was in the bottom four with Alyssa, but ultimately was safe.
Meanwhile on the men's side, Sheldon Elter (the native Canadian) and Rob James were part of the bottom four. Rob was a surprise so soon - but Jeremy Koz and Nathan Brown as the eliminated performers were a much larger surprise - they were so good.
This is likely to be a year of surprises.
(And yes: I admit it: I'm looking to the Idol site to get the names right.)
Canadian Idol performances - June 26 & 27
Firstly, I think the guys had a much stronger performance show Monday than the ladies did Tuesday.
Two of the guys really stuck out to me for different reasons. I don't remember their last names, but Craig (the blond guy from Newfoundland) really blew me away with his high voice. The other was Grant (not sure, but he was a redhead), because he reminded me of Seth Green (Oz on Buffy, Scott Evil in Austin Powers).
I think the native guy will be cut this week (he didn't show a lot of singing talent) and the final singer, the guy with a mohawk. He doesn't strike me as serious enough about performing.
On the ladies side, many of them didn't impress me. Still, to pick two, the trippy-looking redhead and Annie Belle struck me as the least impressive. As a fellow Montrealer it pains me to judge against a home-er, but she showed great discomfort singing in her second language of English.
Wow. I haven't updated this in about a month? Time to correct that!
I've been watching the initial auditions for Canadian Idol. Some parts of Canada really have a small number of talented competitors (5 for Regina, only ONE for the Northwest Territories!). Unfortunately a guy I was rooting for (Phil) had to withdraw... in any event we're now down to the top 24 and choosing the finalists.
One thing really struck me as strange though: when they held auditions in Toronto, wasn't it strange to tell gold ticket winners "Welcome to Toronto!"? Isn't that a bit redundant to you as well?
I already have one favorite to make the finals... of course I don't remember her name at the moment though.
American Idol Finals, Results - May 24th 2006
Anti-climactically, Taylor Hicks is the 5th American Idol. With the revellation in the last 4 minutes of a much too long 2-hour show, it was even put out pretty much with little fanfare and a sense of haste. The producers have done that for the other male winner, Reuben Studdard as well.
The reveal followed a song that saw Taylor and Katharine singing at the same time, but not really together. They have no chemistry together.
Canadian Idol starts next Monday. Hopefully I'll have some jazz content here as well while that one is on.
I'm watching the American Idol finale right now... and I'm realizing how I misnamed both Becky AND Bucky's family names wrong. I called them both "Carlysle". It's Becky Donahoe and Bucky Covington. Sad how I got Becky's name wrong after finding her so fascinating,
I'm posting just after a duet by Katharine McPhee and Meatloaf. I was blown away by how BAD he sounded though.
American Idol Performance Show (Finals) - May 23, 2006
That's right: Finals for this year. Tomorrow we crown the new American Idol, and these posts will be done.
(Well, Canadian Idol starts next week, and I'll be blogging about it... but many of my readers aren't here in Canada, so you may not be terribly vested in the results.)
The two finalists traded top performances each round. It was an interesting touch to have them each sing a different new track - but Taylor was given the better song. In itself, that's not fair in my book.
I think Taylor Hicks will be crowned the new American Idol tomorrow night, but I think that Katharine McPhee is the more talented singer of the two.
American Idol Results Show - May 17, 2006
Well, my imagined finals are 0 for 0... both my picks have now been eliminated!
The voting was all close, to within less than 1% difference -- but Elliot Yamin was eliminated... making the finals between Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee.
Now comes the finals. I think that ultimately Taylor will be the winner. He's an entertaining performer... but I find his singing style rather limited. As I said before: the world already has a Mike Macdonald and a Bruce Springsteen. I don't see Taylor bringing any new sound to the mix.
American Idol Performance Show, May 16th 2006
Here we are at the penultimate one, and I have to say the voting will be difficult for you Americans... all three had stellar performances mixed with so-so ones.
My favorite bit of the night came when the judges were down on Katharine McPhee's first song: they gave her flack for song selection, and she pointed out "It wasn't mine!" (Clive Davis chose that first song).
Of the three, I'm guessing Taylor Hicks will be in the finals. I'm just not sure yet if Elliot or Katharine will join him yet. I'll be curious of the results tomorrow.
American Idol, Results Show - May 10, 2006
SHOCK. That's the best way I can sum it up. Tamyra Gray from season 1 level shock.
Chris Daughtry, the guy everyone saw as the frontrunner in the competition, was the person eliminated tonight.
My thoughts of the finals coming down to he and Elliott are now just my imagination.
American Idol, Performance Show of May 9th 2006
Here we go again. :)
I hope this will be the last year for Elvis week. As I said last year it's difficult to perform his songs without performing like yet another Elvis impersonator. That's not really fair to the contestants.
Based on the performances, I think either Taylor Hicks (he seems to alternate a song acting goofy with a serious one) or Katharine McPhee (after months I finally spell her name right!) will be cut tonight. Sadly, I think Katharine will go this week -- after Becky Carlysle she's been my favorite lady -- she just didn't perform as well as she could.
Goodbye Princess P
I goofed and didn't post yesterday. I just saw the Idol results show though, and came to my keyboard right away this time.
The voting is getting more difficult... ALL the remaining group are very talented. I think now folks are just voting for who blew them away the least.
The bottom two I semi-predicted. I suspected that Elliot Yamin would be there based on his shaky first song. Paris Bennet I only suspected at the beginning of the show tonight.
With Elliot surviving however, my guess of the finals coming down to Chris Daughtry and him may still be possible.
One thing I've noticed this season however: after 4 other years, there seems less emotional upset among the performers.
Idol Results for April 26, 2006
I think it showed great integrity for Simon Cowell to apologize to Katherine McPhee on the show!
The end result was what I predicted last night, but it was also an expected result for the person cut, Kelly Pickler. She also showed a lot of class when the result was announced.
American Idol Performance Show - April 25, 2006
First off: Paula Abdul did nothing to quell the theories that she has a drinking problem tonight... she was crying at Elliot's performance, then stood up to cheer Chris about a half hour later. Such inconsistent behavior is questionable at the least.
It was a really mixed bag, the love songs. I still really dig Katherine McPhee, but the judges didn't tonight. Kellie Pickler stood out as the least impressive of the group, and I'm suspecting she'll be cut tomorrow. Taylor Hicks was great tonight -- but I'm wondering if Mike McDonald really has any more hits for him to cover.
I actually didn't like Chris Daughtry's performance tonight (it seemed off to my ear), but the judges all loved him. Go figure...
Jazz Artist Interview - Chick Corea@ jazzreview.com
Chick Corea is a perennial favorite at the Montreal Jazz Fest. Anything he produces is worthy of study to me, and to many here.
American Idol Results - April 19, 2006
I said the results often surprised me, and Wednesday was no exception!
I was sure Kelly Pickler would get cut tonight, but she was safe. The Bottom Three had two of the best singers in the group, Chris Daughtry and Paris Benet. Fortunately, neither were cut. Instead Ace Young got the axe.
I found him too nasal in general, but it's a safe bet he'll still have a great career.
American Idol Performance Show - April 18th 2006
We're down to a very talented 7 right now. Ace is still too nasaly for my tastes, and every week I like Katherine McPhee more. The camera really loves her.
Of the current group, I'm guessing Kelly Pickler will be cut this week. I could still be surprised, but she really messed up her song last night.
Out of touch
I read a newspaper article last week about the Burlington Jazz Festival, and realized that I'm out of the loop when it comes to the newer stars of the musical genre... I read the list of several performers -- not all of them -- and realized that I didn't know most of them!
It's a moot point: while we have the free outdoor concerts here in Montreal, the Burlington one is all shows at a local theatre, and all on paid tickets. Too rich for my blood!
American Idol Results Show - April 12, 2006
I didn't get to watch the show (the first Passover seder was far more important), so I read the results on the Idol Website:
Buh-bye Bucky.
Regular readers of this site know I'm not a fan of his, and I've been surprised he wasn't Bottom Three-bound many times before... at least we now know he isn't this year's Houdini in the voting.
American Idol - April 11, 2006
As I expected, coming up with new interpretations of songs given iconic significance by Freddie Mercury was challenging, to say the least.
Based on the performances, I think Ace Young will get voted out this week. His was the least interesting of the performances.
Paris' performance to end the show both surprised me, and in the case of the song choice really moved me. To stqaqrt with her look was so much older than we've grown accustomed to in this 17-year old dynamo. The song (Show Must Go On) is one I took as a theme right after I was diagnosed with MS, so I got very emotional at a song with such meaning for me.
American Idol of April 5, 2006: Goodbye Mandiva
The results show has been over for more than an hour now, and I have to echo what Kenny Rogers said: I was heartbroken by the results this week.
I was sure that based on their performances this week either Taylor (who really didn't sound comfortable in the country genre) or Ace (I'm starting to dislike his nasal performances) would be gone. Instead it was Mandisa, who I saw as a front-runner!
Next week I'm both looking forward to and dreading. I'm a huge fan of Queen, but the group also has a very defining sound. I don't see any of the current singers able to really do justice to Freddie Mercury's performance.
Weak Idol tonight
Most of the group didn't fare well tonight. Most of them were told they made bad song choices - and based on her performance tonight, Lisa Tucker in the bottom three tomorrow wouldn't surprise me.
I always think this will be Bucky Carlisle's final shot, but if it isn't I'll suspect he'll be this year's performer who lasts longer that he should. He could fit into the group with Nikki Cox, Carmen Rassmussen, redhead John (forget his last name) and Scotty Salvo.
I'm back!
Apologies for the loud proclamation. I've been checking my WSP for ages to see if they fixed their connection problems. An inability to add new content on a blog is bad for it. I'm taking steps to fix this... I hope to have news soon. It's the paranoia in me that I won't talk of it until it happens.
In jazz-related news, I finally found a Jazz theme for my PC! If I recognize the music style it's ragtime jazz... this theme will rotate with my Dracula one in the sunnier weather.
Tags: Jazz, PC destop, blog glitches.
For some reason Blogger has been giving me trouble with this site. We'll see if it works today...
Last night was the final ladies performance show for American Idol before the final 6 of their gender are chosen. I can figure one of the ladies who probably won't make it: Kaniq. She was off-tune for much of her song - what the judges politely call 'off pitch'.
Other than her I'm not sure who'll be voted out, but one thing is sure: this year's crop will not be voted out for lack of talent, more for just not having enough votes.
I don't expect I'll be able to say the same for the guys. So far only 3 of them have impressed me.
Overdue Idol Catch-up
If Randy thought this would be the mens' competition to lose, then he must have felt foolish. Of the 12 performances, I can count only 3 that were really great. A few were downright awful. When Bobby performed Copacabana I thought Jackie Gleason had come back from the dead to perform. I agreed with Simon for once: it did feel like a cabaret performance!
Even worse was the performance by Bucky Carlisle. To my ear it sounded as if he was just growling.
I was 75% right from my opinions this week: both the girls eliminated I picked... Becky looked great, but her singing was mediocre (apparently she and her twin sister are in Maxim magazine. She didn't lose out) and... I think her name was Stella. She was just too timid on stage.
I was only half right on the men. As I expected, Bobby was eliminated... but I expected Bucky to get the axe, only Patrick did instead.
One thing really surprised me here: there were no histrionics among those cut. They all took it calmly. At least this time we didn't have a lifeless performance by a disappointed contestant. Mind you, that's always been something I don't like in theirshow format: "You just lost... so perform for us one more time!"
The first 12 Idols Sang
I was surprised by the judges on American Idol tonight: it took Simon more than 50 minutes to act nasty!
The ladies mostly either gave strong performances or at least earned another week. I really don't like the girl from New York (Brenna? I don't remember any of the names yet) but two of them stood out as the weakest: the third lady was very attractive to me but was an underwhelming singer, and the fifth one (she did a Josh Groban song) just came off sounding timid.
Tags: American Idol, Simon Cowell.
Tonight was the final cuts for this year's American Idol... and neither Terell or Derell Britnam were chosen. The fact that one was already arrested and the other soon would as well (for forgery, in fact) definitely contributed... but just their full-of-themselves attitudes did it for me. Saying to the camera that they had conducted themselves as perfect gentlemen after one brother had acted like a prima donna, the other narced out his group... they came off as complete jerks.
One of the jazz crooners made the cut. I'll be rooting for him to make it to the final 10 (or 12. I don't remember if they said what it would be).
Today's American Idol show is done, and my first thought: as much as I like the Britnam twins voices, their drama queen petulance is really grating on my nerves.
The 'Brokenote Mountain' bit was a chuckler. The trio were all cut, but the way they sounded hurt my ears, so I won't lie and say it is a shame.
Tags: American Idol, Britnam twins, Brokenote Mountain.
I posted stuff for another blog here, so it's the least I can do to honor the ping here to make some new content here as well!
Year 5 has begun, meaning American Idol is back.
In very quick fashion, Simon Cowell has earned my ire: he always makes fun at the expense of the plus-size contestants.
I remember him in past years criticizing body image, but this is too much! Yes, some of these people want to lose their weight -- but it has nothing to do with their vocal talent (or lack thereof).
I'm taking the advice from George in the comments in my last post... I'm currently using Napster 2.0 to listen to the latest album by Polar Bear, Dim Lit.
The tunes are good, but I have one small criticism: the songs on the album don't seem to have a unifying theme to me. Maybe I'm missing it, but it just feels like a collection of disassociated tunes.
Tags: jazz, Polar Bear, Dim Lit, Napster 2.0
I'm listening to a collection I downloaded from Emusic awhile ago: The Early Years Volume 2, Tom Waits
Anyone who thinks he can't be melodic should definitely hear this. He's famous for the fact of sounding like a singer who has had far too many cigarrettes and whisky. He often sounds like a barely alive critter, a wailing banshee. I think these recordings were from before he achieved that state.
You may be asking, "Jeff, what does this have to do with jazz?" Well, Holly Cole recorded a fantastic album of covers of his songs, Temptation.
Tags: Emusic, Tom Waits, Holly Cole.
I learned yesterday that CBC Radio 2 has a jazz show. Unfortunately it doesn't play all day.
Still I may well track it down. If my radio reception for it is good and steady, I may well change my radio to it.
For those of you who listen through Sirius Sattelite radio, it airs there as well.
Tags: sattelite radio, CBC Radio 2.
