I swear she put this on herself.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
I'm Going to Hollywood
I have been holed up for the past three weeks watching hours and hours of Idol audition footage and I am actually really hopeful for Season 8. The producers made a great choice in cutting out a good amount of the really unfortunate auditions, making this part of the season a little more bearable. I am looking forward to two whole weeks of Hollywood and seeing which of my favorites succeed and which fail. But before we can get to Hollywood, here is a recap of The Good, The Bad and The Scary from the 2009 auditioning season.
Beginning Montage From Episode One: Montages really are the way to my heart and when you include Claudette Yamin (Elliott's mother) in that montage then you can expect me to shed some tears. What a great way to pump the audience up!
Emily Wynne-Hughes: She chose a really difficult song with Heart's Beracuda and she sang it really well. I will put money on the fact that we will see her in the latter rounds, if for no other reason than to see her awkwardly tell her band that all her dreams are coming true, while their dreams come to a crashing end. It's just good T.V. people. Update on Emily: Ms. Hughes will apparently be wearing a SCRAM ankle bracelet during Hollywood week after a November arrest for a DUI. Only time will tell if that will be enough to get her booted fro
m the show.
Deanna Brown: Loved her rendition of Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay. She has a great smokey tone and to top it off, she actually has the look too. I predict that we will see much more of her.
The Castro Brothers: If Whitney Port can get a show, these two should
definitely get their own reality show on MTV. They can call it High Times. I just love these guys. They don't try even a little bit, but it seems to work out just fine for them. I hope if Jason becomes a surgeon, Michael doesn't employ the same logic of "if J can do it, I can do it." All I know is that I would like to have a little bit of whatever they are smoking.
Anoop Desai: A little eyebrow waxing and a wardrobe makeover and we may just have our very first Indian (dots, not feathers) Idol.
Adam Lambert: Simon said Adam's rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody was theatrical, but I just didn't see that. I think his mistake was telling the producers that he was a stage actor. As long as the judges don't continue to ride the theatrical train, I think he has a great chance of breaking into the Top 12.
Brent Keith Smith: Good singer + good looking = great chance at winning, right? No, just ask Ace Young.
Matt Giraud: The dueling piano players rendition of I Don't Wanna Be was one of my favorite throughout the entire audition process. I am almost guaranteeing an appearance in the Top 12. He is my new Elliott.
LeNeshe Young: I could have done without the sob story about her homeless family that, based on the pictures, is comprised of 20 children, but I thought she was great. The homelessness and the fact that her original song was really well written makes her audition reminiscent of Josiah Lemming's audition, which means, it won't end well for LeNeshe.
Utah: Utah actually gave us some great talent. The night started with David Osmond, who had a pretty good voice, but I think his back story was better. He is an underdog, but there is something about him that I like and I kind of root for him. I really enjoyed Frankie Jordan and her Amy Whinehouse-esque vocals. However, she did seem a little bit over-confident for this stage in the game. I have a feeling she will get some wind knocked out of her sails in Hollywood. A little less confident was Megan Corkrey who had a very interesting voice. Time will tell on how far that quirky voice will take her. I am not sure yet if her voice will translate well into the pop genre, but she definitely deserves a shot in Hollywood.
The Bad:
New judge Kara DioGuardi: I am most definitely not a fan of the new judge. First of all, I never thought adding a new judge was necessary or a good idea. If the producers wanted to add new life to the show, start with getting rid of the old fashioned theme nights or washed up mentors. Don't add a judge who is full of herself and who is going to take away all of my precious Randy time. I just don't handle change well
so this is my petition for Idol to go back to the way things were. PLEASE.
Bikini Girl: On one hand, ew, on the other hand, Bikini Girl gave me the opportunity to see what it is I don't like in the new judge. I really didn't care for Kara's attitude with her. Look, I don't love bikini girl, but the judges are not there to out-sing the contestants. That said, I don't understand this girl. She actually had a decent voice and she most likely would have gone through to Hollywood if she was fully clothed. However, to her credit, she got people talking. What I definitely could have done without? Her awkwardly making out with Seacrest.
High Five: Speaking of Seacrest. Just when you thought he won the award for most awkward moment with BG, he decides to top it. After Scott Macintyre got through to Hollywood on an okay version of And So It Goes, Ryan goes to give him a high five. However, Scott is blind and so obviously he unintentionally leaves Ryan hanging. Not embarrassing at all Seacrest, not embarrassing at all. Side Note: I do predict that we will see much more of Scott. And I will note it here that my dear friend Patrick has chosen him as the winner already. Let's see if that pans out.
New York and Puerto Rico: The last episode of the audition process and you give us shitty leftovers? Damn you, Idol. There was not a single person on this episode that we will see again, guaranteed.
The Scary:
Michael Gurr: He is the reason why I don't particularly enjoy this portion of the audition process (I guess it's just the Paula in me). I mean, poor kid is only 17 and now he has to go back to high school knowing that all of his friends have seen it. And what's worse than a horrible audition for all to see? Passing out afterwords.
Kara's Number One Fan: Lea Marie Golde, I dislike you for so many reasons. First, who is seriously Kara's fan? Who even knew who she was four months ago? The fact that this girl is her fan just proves to me what a loser Kara is. Did I mention that I don't like the new judge?
Von Smith: REALLY? This guy is going to Hollywood? From his stupid hat, to his horrific shouting of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, this guy needs to be as far away from Hollywood as possible. And he actually looked so proud of himself when he was done singing. Oh Von.
Tatiana Del Toro: The girl from Puerrrrrrrto Rrrrico who is an actor, model, assistant director, singer - basically she is a slashy and a raving lunatic. I am actually afraid of her and what scares me more is that she is going to be in Hollywood. I am begging the producers to never show her laughing again.
I am glad this portion of the Idol season is behind us and we can move forward to seeing who will be a part of the Top 12. There was definitely some great talent that was shown and I am sure there is a lot more that wasn't shown (26 people got through in New York and they maybe showed five - all of which shouldn't have gone through). I am really excited to see what is next and that is more than I can usually say at this stage of the game. I will be back next week recapping the first week of Hollywood, but if you need something to hold you over, Allen will be playing the Cavs Sunday on ABC at 11:30 am.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Forever A Fan
It may be an understatement to say that I am not Allen Iverson's "typical" fan. In fact, I believe that on the surface, my infatuation with him is almost contradictory of everything else in my life. I am a girl who grew up in an upper-class city that had villages, yes, you read correctly, villages. And, I grew into a woman with a love for things like tabloid magazines, boy bands, and cheesy reality TV shows (think Real Housewives of Orange County, not Idol). But, from the moment I laid eyes on Allen Iverson's version of basketball, I was hooked.
My Dad was a sports writer and he successfully turned his son onto sports when he was young. They would spend time together watching most types of sports, but I specifically remember basketball being on the television the most. I also specifically remember basketball getting in the way of my television shows - Full House and Family Matters, you know, the classics (for you younger readers, this was before TIVO. Hard to think about, I know). Michael Jordan was definitely the sports hero in my family. My brother had his posters and quoted his commercials and, yes, we even saw Space Jam. I would occasionally enjoy watching the Bulls and the Bullets when Chris Webber arrived (you've seen him, right?), but it wasn't until I first saw Allen Iverson that I really responded to the actual game of basketball.
Since that time, basketball has become so much a part of my life that it was actually a career for me at one time. Working for an NBA team for five years led me to see hundreds of basketball games and almost every NBA superstar of the past decade. However, there has not been a single player to impress me more than Allen Iverson. In fact, I believe that all those years of watching Jordan when I was younger made me appreciate Iverson even more.
While I can absolutely respect the athlete that Jordan is, I never for one second believed him to be the person he portrayed himself to be in the media. However, with Iverson, what you see is what you get. He chose not to conform and play the media games that Jordan did and I respect him for that. I realize that means he has lost many fans, but, in the process he has also changed the NBA forever. He gave young men who grew up in neighborhoods like Newport News the hope that with hard work and determination, they too could make something of themselves. He became a different kind of role model than Jordan. I realize most people disagree that he is a positive role model, but I see him as just that. A man who is passionate about his career and his family and a man who has never forgotten that he did in fact come from nothing and turn into something. A fete that is not easy for most to accomplish.
The passion I see off the court translates directly onto the court. Iverson is undoubtedly an incredible athlete. (To watch him play football in high school is truly an amazing scene). But, beyond his athletic ability, it is his sheer willingness to play to the extreme. He plays with his whole body and as if he was the biggest player on the court. I have stood next to him (I know, it's shocking the restraining order let me get that close) and he is maybe 5'9" and 150 pounds soaking wet, a far cry from the 6' and 165 he is listed at. Yet, he throws himself into crowds of men three times his size without any hesitation. At first I thought he was crazy, but I have learned that his desire to win far exceeds any rational thoughts of physical pain. And, how can any basketball fan not admire that?
In this day and age where players only show up in contract years or sit out weeks at a time for a hang nail, I can only be in awe of a man who, 12 years later is still playing with the same intensity he was when he entered this league. I can't think of anyone who deserves a Championship more, but if that never happens for him, he will forever be remembered as the biggest little man who ever played in the NBA. And, for me, he will always serve as a reminder that passion and heart are not a luxury in life, but a necessity.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Counting Down
As the eighth season of American Idol begins tomorrow, I thought I would share with you, my faithful, my top ten favorite Idol performances. This is something that I have been thinking about for a while and I do not take it lightly. My friend over at ew.com put together his own little list and again, I just can't get on board with some of his choices. I mean, Blake Lewis doesn't belong anywhere near any kind of top ten list for American Idol, ever, period (unless, of course, it was the top ten least talented contestants who beat boxed their way through a singing competition). I'm not sure if my list is better than his, but I can assure you that I wont be including anyone from season six (which he does an unprecedented three times) or anyone with dreadlocks. Please feel free to use the comment section to let me know how fantastic you think this list is.
This was the first time, for me, that I really noticed Chris Daughtry. And even though he used Live's arrangement of the song, it was really one of the first times on Idol that any contestant took a classic song and fused their own vision into it. As Simon said, Chris was the first artist on the show who refused to compromise and yes, for that, he should be applauded.
I have to admit something to all of you. While I love Carrie Underwood's voice and her post-idol music, I think she has to be one of the boring performers that has ever graced Idol's stage. Note to Carrie: you are allowed to do more than sway your hips back and forth, that is why they make stages so big. With that said, there is no denying how remarkable her performance of the Heart classic was. It was the first time she stepped out of her country shell and really proved that she could be (and now is) a major crossover artist. Of course, I had to ignore the outfit and the hair for her to make it on this list.
After his performance of the little known Badlands song, I thought it was all over for Carrie. Everything that Carrie lacked, (originality, personality) Bo possessed. And on this night he showed that he was in it to win by paying homage to the audition round and giving the band a night off. It's tough enough to sing an obscure song, but to sing it completely raw shows how talented and gutsy he really was. While we all know he didn't win, I still believe that risk paid off and it ultimately paved the way for future contestants.
When it came down to the final three in season one, the judges chose one of the toughest songs for the original idol and she did exactly what she needed to do to get rid of Sideshow Bob: she nailed it. She showed that she can hang with real diva's like Mariah, Celine and Whitney. Now knowing that Kelly's real talents lay in the pop-rock category; this performance is all the more impressive.
Tamyra has the distinct pleasure of being the first Idol contestant to make Paula cry with her rendition of the Burt Bacharach song. And it was much deserved. Not only were the tears flowing from Paula, but the compliments were plentiful from Simon. The typically difficult to please judge said it was one of the best performances he has ever seen on TV. It still baffles me that this beat her out - one of the greatest idol injustices.
This is one of my favorite moments in Idol history. Here comes this girl who has had little to no camera time up to this point and she walks onto the stage and before she even hit note one, you just knew she was going to nail it. She exuded confidence and for the first time in season three, she got me thinking that someone other than Fantasia may win this.
I think Jennifer's Oscar win has led people to forget that her idol journey was not always the smoothest. With no prior voice training, she tended to shout and at times she was a little pitchy, Dawg. However, when it came time for Elton John night, she put together her first Oscar worthy performance. With conviction in her eyes, she hit every note and proved that she not only belonged in the competition, but that she could keep up with super-diva's Fantasia and LaToya.
In the battle of the David's in season seven, it was Archuleta who got my attention first with his flawless rendition of the John Lennon classic. His pure and innocent voice along with his ability to show such emotion on a song that probably came out when his parents were in diapers, is just plain impressive. On the down side, that emotion probably stems from his desperation to get out from under his dad's tyranny, but it was impressive nonetheless. (I also had to put him on this list so we wouldn't have this debacle again).
Fantasia was right, her lips are big, but her talent is bigger. And during season three, that talent was never showcased better than when she took on Summertime, a song that she apparently had never heard prior. The only down side to the performance is Quentin Tarantino as a guest judge. I am pretty sure his judging is the reason Idol refrained from the use of future guest judges. Regardless, that night we were in the Church of 'Tasia and every viewer was just lucky to be part of the congregation.
And, drum roll please, the number one Idol performance of all time is...
Elliott admitted that he had been waiting his whole life to sing this song on a stage like American Idol's and his performance proved that. He sang it without a single note out tune and with the kind of passion you don't often see on that stage. The performance was not only the stand out in season five, which is, in my opinion, the best season of Idol by a mile, but it is the standard to which all future contestants should be held to.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Welcome!
Hello loyal fans and welcome to my first blog post. This blog is dedicated to my love of all things A.I., that is, American Idol and Allen Iverson.
My reasons for starting this blog are three-fold. Number one, I am in love with Allen Iverson, period. Number two, I felt like it was time to have an outlet for all the A.I. fans. I have learned, over the years, that being a fan of American Idol pretty much makes you a fan of Allen Iverson and vice versa. Number three, after years of reading this howdy doody looking mother fella's blog,I have come to one conclusion: He is wrong, and I am right. I almost never agree with his Idol opinions and after he ranked Chris Sligh's audition (Really? Is this not a million times better?) as one of the top ten best Idol auditions of all time, I decided he must be stopped. And the best way to stop him, you ask? By writing a blog on my Idol opinions that only people who I share a last name with will read. In addition to my Idol opinions, I will also keep a running tab of Allen Iverson's nightly stats and most memorable quotes in the right hand corner. Could a blog be any better??
So without further adieu, I give you my first Idol Top Ten List:
My Top Ten Favorite Contestants
1. Elliott Yamin
2. Kelly Clarkson
3. Fantasia
4. Carrie Underwood
5. Chris Daughtry
6. Nikko Smith
7. RJ Helton (you know what Dad? RJ is not gay. NOT GAY)
8. Tamyra Gray
9. Bo Bice
10. Chris Richardson
Now, let me explain some of these choices. Elliott Yamin has to be number one on this list because, in my opinion, he had it all. Personality, great attitude, a fantastic life story and most importantly an AMAZING voice. I think it would be impossible not to love him. Now, I know you may be looking at some of my choices and wondering WTF? It is a tradition each year for me to be obsessed with one contestant that Simon loathes and Paula loves (which is so like me since I have a strong dependency to prescription drugs and I also had a string of hits in the 80's). So, that explains Nikko Smith, Chris Richardson and RJ Helton. I will admit, I am actually a little embarrassed about these three, but I don't want to base this blog relationship on lies, I want to be honest with all (two) of you.
As this week goes on I will be bringing you more Top Ten lists to prepare for the 8th season of Idol starting in exactly one week. And don't forget to catch Allen at Portland tomorrow night. GO PISTONS!
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