When was the last time I wrote something on this blog? Geez, god knows... Eons ago perhaps...
But the long hiatus I took away from writing was mostly attributed to occupational hindrances rather than intentional self-deprecation.
During the long absence, I took time to reflect on my personal cornucopias, the many ups and downs, the myriads of fascinating turbulence and thresholds I came across during my short, sheltered life. Worthy of every penny... It refreshes my personal predilections in life.
So, here I am... writing again on this crazy, no audience Blog. A very self-absorbing piece of literary armamentarium that was launched solely for the purpose of leaving behind a simple legacy...
Thus, allow me to submerge and sink in beneath the splendors and the squalors of melodic expressions and lamentations...
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
American Idol Season 9 - Top 9
I have not been updating my Blog lately, but each time I do I will try to be as current as possible.
The truth is, I am sick and tired of watching Akademi Fantasia and incessantly complaining about the continuous lack of 'real' talents coming out from the show, with the exception of a few from the previous seasons. And Malaysia (i.e. 8TV in particular) has stopped producing Malaysian Idol for reasons we obviously know why (i.e. they had to swallow the mistake of producing the lamest Reality Show Winner ever - Daniel... Sorry bro, you are no Jacqueline Victor and you just don't deserve it).
So, being a Music Enthusiast like me, I am left with only American Idol to appreciate the new, up and coming talents in the music industry. Each week, I would be glued in front of the box set and be forced to succumb to the whinings and ramblings of Simon Cowell & Co. Nevertheless, this year, there is a pleasant new addition in the form of Ellen DeGeneres. So far, each time she spoke, she left us with a witty one-liner for us to enlighten ourselves in the midst of sometimes harsh criticisms and judgements.
As for the talents, now, as of today, they are down to just 9 Contestants. 3 girls had been booted out of the show i.e. Lily Scott, Paige Miles and Didi Benami. I was wrong in my earlier predictions when I trusted my arms with Lily and my legs with Didi. Both crashed out so early in the season much to our surprise. And yet, somehow, it felt slightly justifiable why they all left early. Collectively, they did not possess the upper edge to win the competition. And to win something as big as the American Idol, you need to have that extra edge...
Speaking of edges, the front runners for this season (if all goes well) certainly have that extra spark in them. The one to beat (personally, for me) is Crystal Bowersox. She has been the most consistent so far, and she continuously showed why she is by far the best bet to be crowned the next American Idol by staying true to herself. She tried changing her style a little bit during the 3rd Week, when instead of strumming her usual guitar, she went for a Piano and she even donned a skirt for a change. She has an extremely powerful voice and a unique thwang that easily identifies her as a unique performer par excellence. Her style even reminded me of Janis Joplin and a bit of Bonnie Raitt.
My prediction: She will be in the Grand Finale, and she will be hard to beat.
2 performers share the second spot, in my opinion. But with not too much difference in style and music genre. Casey James and Lee Dewyze. Casey reminds me of Bo Bice, with much less intensity, rockerisma and vocal range. While Lee tries hard to emulate Daughtry but comes nowhere near. Nevertheless, they both have great manly voices that go well with their song choices and style of rendition. And they have constantly improved themselves week after week. My problem with Casey is that he is sometimes too laidback. And that could prove to be vital if he were to stay in the Grand Finale. Crystal could easily win hands down. The thing about Lee is that he lacks that self-confidence which could pull him off if he's not in his element. But Lee has that capability of producing that 'magic' moment, although he may lack Casey's natural charm.
My prediction: Lee might just squeeze through and Casey lose out to Lee by just a few votes.
Next is Siobhan Magnus - the bizarre and quirky one. Her vocal prowess is second to none. And she hits the high notes with much applomb. and she dares to take the risk and be different from the rest. She is beautiful in a rather peculiar way, and she has a certain style when she speaks that makes you pay every attention to her. She is the dark horse in the competition. If anything goes wrong with Casey and Lee, Siobhan will go through to the Finals. The only setback is that Siobhan has become rather predictable lately with her style of singing (and shouting). The judges noticed this, and sooner or later, the fans will too.
My prediction: She will definitely be in the Top 4. There's no doubt about it. But what happens thereafter will depend largely on the songs they choose and how they decide to go about making the songs theirs... Simon said it well, "it's all about personality now"...
Personally, the Top 4 I mentioned remained in a league above the rest in this comepetition. As for the rest of them, here's my take...
The best among the rest is Michael Lynche a.k.a. Big Mike. Poor Mike, he was adjudged as the one with least no. of votes last week and was supposed to be kicked out if not for the Judges' Special Save. This giant chap has got a good soulful voice and performed rather well during the Beatles' week but he is no Rubben Studdard. And since he was saved last week by the Judges, there will be 2 contestants to be eliminated this week.
My prediction: Andrew Garcia and Aaron Kelly will be the 2 unlucky ones. Andrew... I don't know what to say. His rendition of Paula Abdul's "Straight Up" during the Hollywood Week Audition remained until now his best effort so far. A one audition wonder??? Whatever... Andrew is the biggest disappointment to me so far. As for Aaron, let's face it, girls may think highly of him, but he is no David Archuleta. Not even close... He shouldn't have gone this far. Lily Scott or even Didi Benami were much better. So, Aaron's run of good luck stops this week...
As for Katie Stevens and Tim Urban, both will continue to remain uncertain depending upon their performances during the week. My guess is that Tim will have the strong support from throngs of girls who adore his enduring smile and will enjoy a slightly longer stay than Katie or even Big Mike. While I don't have much to say about Tim's talents, I pity Katie because I personally think she has the kind of personality to thrive in the Music Industry (heck, she can even be picked to act in a movie or something with that sort of looks) but she needs to find her footing or genre of music. Right now, she is confused. She is uncertain whether to follow the path of Kelly Clarkson (i.e. Pop) or Carrie Underwood (i.e. Country). I would prefer if she were to have gone with Country along the likes of Kellie Pickler and Underwood. She might stand a better chance that way. But I am not the one designing her career...
The truth is, I am sick and tired of watching Akademi Fantasia and incessantly complaining about the continuous lack of 'real' talents coming out from the show, with the exception of a few from the previous seasons. And Malaysia (i.e. 8TV in particular) has stopped producing Malaysian Idol for reasons we obviously know why (i.e. they had to swallow the mistake of producing the lamest Reality Show Winner ever - Daniel... Sorry bro, you are no Jacqueline Victor and you just don't deserve it).
So, being a Music Enthusiast like me, I am left with only American Idol to appreciate the new, up and coming talents in the music industry. Each week, I would be glued in front of the box set and be forced to succumb to the whinings and ramblings of Simon Cowell & Co. Nevertheless, this year, there is a pleasant new addition in the form of Ellen DeGeneres. So far, each time she spoke, she left us with a witty one-liner for us to enlighten ourselves in the midst of sometimes harsh criticisms and judgements.
As for the talents, now, as of today, they are down to just 9 Contestants. 3 girls had been booted out of the show i.e. Lily Scott, Paige Miles and Didi Benami. I was wrong in my earlier predictions when I trusted my arms with Lily and my legs with Didi. Both crashed out so early in the season much to our surprise. And yet, somehow, it felt slightly justifiable why they all left early. Collectively, they did not possess the upper edge to win the competition. And to win something as big as the American Idol, you need to have that extra edge...
Speaking of edges, the front runners for this season (if all goes well) certainly have that extra spark in them. The one to beat (personally, for me) is Crystal Bowersox. She has been the most consistent so far, and she continuously showed why she is by far the best bet to be crowned the next American Idol by staying true to herself. She tried changing her style a little bit during the 3rd Week, when instead of strumming her usual guitar, she went for a Piano and she even donned a skirt for a change. She has an extremely powerful voice and a unique thwang that easily identifies her as a unique performer par excellence. Her style even reminded me of Janis Joplin and a bit of Bonnie Raitt.
My prediction: She will be in the Grand Finale, and she will be hard to beat.
2 performers share the second spot, in my opinion. But with not too much difference in style and music genre. Casey James and Lee Dewyze. Casey reminds me of Bo Bice, with much less intensity, rockerisma and vocal range. While Lee tries hard to emulate Daughtry but comes nowhere near. Nevertheless, they both have great manly voices that go well with their song choices and style of rendition. And they have constantly improved themselves week after week. My problem with Casey is that he is sometimes too laidback. And that could prove to be vital if he were to stay in the Grand Finale. Crystal could easily win hands down. The thing about Lee is that he lacks that self-confidence which could pull him off if he's not in his element. But Lee has that capability of producing that 'magic' moment, although he may lack Casey's natural charm.
My prediction: Lee might just squeeze through and Casey lose out to Lee by just a few votes.
Next is Siobhan Magnus - the bizarre and quirky one. Her vocal prowess is second to none. And she hits the high notes with much applomb. and she dares to take the risk and be different from the rest. She is beautiful in a rather peculiar way, and she has a certain style when she speaks that makes you pay every attention to her. She is the dark horse in the competition. If anything goes wrong with Casey and Lee, Siobhan will go through to the Finals. The only setback is that Siobhan has become rather predictable lately with her style of singing (and shouting). The judges noticed this, and sooner or later, the fans will too.
My prediction: She will definitely be in the Top 4. There's no doubt about it. But what happens thereafter will depend largely on the songs they choose and how they decide to go about making the songs theirs... Simon said it well, "it's all about personality now"...
Personally, the Top 4 I mentioned remained in a league above the rest in this comepetition. As for the rest of them, here's my take...
The best among the rest is Michael Lynche a.k.a. Big Mike. Poor Mike, he was adjudged as the one with least no. of votes last week and was supposed to be kicked out if not for the Judges' Special Save. This giant chap has got a good soulful voice and performed rather well during the Beatles' week but he is no Rubben Studdard. And since he was saved last week by the Judges, there will be 2 contestants to be eliminated this week.
My prediction: Andrew Garcia and Aaron Kelly will be the 2 unlucky ones. Andrew... I don't know what to say. His rendition of Paula Abdul's "Straight Up" during the Hollywood Week Audition remained until now his best effort so far. A one audition wonder??? Whatever... Andrew is the biggest disappointment to me so far. As for Aaron, let's face it, girls may think highly of him, but he is no David Archuleta. Not even close... He shouldn't have gone this far. Lily Scott or even Didi Benami were much better. So, Aaron's run of good luck stops this week...
As for Katie Stevens and Tim Urban, both will continue to remain uncertain depending upon their performances during the week. My guess is that Tim will have the strong support from throngs of girls who adore his enduring smile and will enjoy a slightly longer stay than Katie or even Big Mike. While I don't have much to say about Tim's talents, I pity Katie because I personally think she has the kind of personality to thrive in the Music Industry (heck, she can even be picked to act in a movie or something with that sort of looks) but she needs to find her footing or genre of music. Right now, she is confused. She is uncertain whether to follow the path of Kelly Clarkson (i.e. Pop) or Carrie Underwood (i.e. Country). I would prefer if she were to have gone with Country along the likes of Kellie Pickler and Underwood. She might stand a better chance that way. But I am not the one designing her career...
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
The Best American Idol Contestants (Season 1 - Season 8)
I took the liberty of picking my own choices of the Best Among The Best of American Idol Contestants so far. I have decided NOT to include any of this year's promising new talents since it is too early to tell (and I din't take note of David Cook's huge vocal prowess not until after several weeks of his performances).
The selection was based on some personal preferences i.e. Sheer Talent, Voice Control, Crowd-Pulling Factor, The 'X' Factor (which is rather difficult to define), and, to a certain extent, their subsequent impact once they left the show. Mostly, it's based on the strength of their performances during their respective seasons.
So here are my Top 12 Contestants (from Season 1 - Season 8): -
.jpg)
ADAM LAMBERT (Season 8)
Let's face it! He was the hottest, most sensational and bravest performer ever to grace the Idol stage. He's brutally honest about his sexual preferences and he's never shy to show off his quirkiness (to the point of weird) to the public. His rendition of songs were often ridiculuously risky but always verging on the brilliant side. He twisted songs like "Black Or White", "Mad World" and "Play That Funky Music", and even made the legendary Randy Travis brushed his head with an awesome yet bizarre rendition of Johnny Cash's "Ring Of Fire"... It was indeed a pity that Adam was not crowned "The American Idol Winner" for Season 8 (not trying to be disrespectful to Kris Allen). There were many stars in Idol, but, Lambert was without the slightest of a doubt the brightest of them all...
DAVID COOK (Season 7)
David Cook's strength was not just his voice but also his ability to turn great songs made popular by great artistes into his own. Throughout the season, he belched out songs from Lionel 'The Sentimental' Richie, Mariah Carey and even Dolly Parton, and made them his own. With excellent repertoire of songs and blessed with a powerful voice, he looked really, really cool behind the guitar. Of all the songs he rendered during the competition, "Billie Jean" was my all-time favourite. True enough, his slowed-down, unique guitar-backed take on Michael Jackson's iconic pop-soul classic was inspired by Chris Cornell's 2007 cover version. But Cook's pitch-perfect rendition, his rugged delivery of tunes, and his savvy selection of little-known arrangements that fit the week's musical theme, week in and week out, turned him into Season 7's sensational front-runner.
BO BICE (Season 4)
Before David Cook and way before Adam Lambert, there was only one potential Rock Superstar, and that was Bo Bice. And I was introduced to the song "Heaven" courtesy of Bo Bice, and not Los Lonely Boys. Late in Idol's 4th season, when American audience realized that the ending would resulted in a photo finish between country chick, Carrie Underwood, and Bice, the ruggedly handsome and shaggy Alabama rocker set down the mic stand and delivered a sweltering acapella rendition of "In A Dream" - a little-known ballad by Badlands. We were all rooting for Bice. And we all know now who came out the winner. True enough, Bice did not do as well Underwood upon graduating from Idol. His album sales have yet to come close to Underwood's multi-platinum achievements, but it's hard to ignore and even harder not to admire Bice's bold interpretations of his music. He is still the ultimate rocker, the others are just mere imitations...
CHRIS DAUGHTRY (Season 5)
Daughtry did rather well during the Idol's 5th season. And he did even better thereafter. So, it was actually kind of a surprise when he got knocked out instead of Katherine McPhee. Back then, Taylor Hicks was too strong to be voted out. But Daughtry and Yamin should have at least been in the last three. Nevertheless, in 2007, Daughtry became the Top Selling Artist - a phenomenal achievement considering the fact that he didn't even make it to the Top Three. His rendition of Fuel's "Hemorrhage" was the kind of execution and charisma usually showcased only by established headline acts during large concerts. His cool (in a rather rockish way) demeanour landed him a lot of fans, proving that you don't need to be a winner of Idol to be successful.
FANTASIA BARRINO (Season 3)
On a soundtrack-themed night filled with covers of Whitney Houston, Celine Dion and Phil Collins, Fantasia took a completely different direction, picking the hauntingly beautiful lullaby "Summertime". Sitting on the stage and singing with a raw emotion, she was immediately compared to a young Aretha Franklin. Her performance was so heart-wrenching that it moved not only herself but the audience as well to tears. It was perhaps one of 'The Best', if not 'The Best', Idol performance to date. Lately, we've been hearing quirks from Simon and the other judges wanting the performers to bring out 'The Moment' in their renditions. Fantasia's lingering and evocative interpretation of "Summertime" was the best description to define 'The Moment'.
KELLY CLARKSON (Season 1)
All great performers have their own preferred genre of music. In Idol, these performers are thrown into music genres that might or might not be comfortable to some. Some contestants struggled during certain theme nights, especially when they are forced into new and uncharted musical genres. Kelly Clarkson found the spark during one of these nights while performing the brassy and sassy "Stuff Like That There", backed with Big Band Ensemble Orchestra. With her dynamic vocal range, she made the old gem sounded fresh and modern. She continued her effortless style all throughout her Pop Career, turning numbers like "A Moment Like This" and "Since U Been Gone" into huge chart-toppers.
CLAY AIKEN (Season 2)
Clay Aiken's plus points were a strong, power-packed voice with a rather adorable personality. During a stiff competition (between him and Ruben Blades), it proved vital during one of his best performances ever i.e. rendering Neil Sedaka's beautiful "Solitaire". Clay's gutsy performance and attention-grabbing take on Neil Sedaka's mellifluous ballad was as spellbinding as it was sincere. Even the great man, Sedaka, himself uttered, "I have lost my song forever to you. It will always be a Clay Aiken song."
ELLIOT YAMIN (Season 5)
Simon Cowell mentioned that Yamin was probably the best male vocalist in Idol history. He's probably right too... Yamin had such a mellifluous voice that it was hard to resist his soulful approach to music. He was capable of bending various tunes and turning them into soulful sounds, with his dynamic voice control. Simon Cowell even dared to compare his performance to "a vocal masterclass". Now, that sort of praise coming from Mr. Cowell? It takes someone ultra-talented and special to pull that one off. Which is exactly how I would describe Yamin's flawless rendition of Donnie Hathaway's classic, "A Song For You". That night, when he sat down in his classic and elegant demeanour, his beautiful performance made him a superstar.
DANNY GOKEY(Season 8)
Before Adam Lambert turned people's heads with his 'crazy' on-stage antiques, even during the Audition and Hollywood Weeks, I have predicted that this chap will go far. Yeap, he didn't disappoint by reaching the Final Three, and what was more astonishing was that he was probably the only person in Season 8 who was never in either the Bottom 2 or Bottom 3. Danny had a good husky voice and one of my favourite performance has always been his rendition of MJ's "P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing)". A lot of people predicted and wanted him to be in the Final instead of Kris Allen. That would have been awesome i.e. Lambert vs. Gokey... just imagine...
RUBEN STUDDARD (Season 2)
There will always be fans who believe Ruben should have played runner-up to Clay, and especially after Clay's greater success in his album sales, it just added to the point. But back when he was still performing in the early rounds of Idol Season 2, Ruben was a Soul Standout. His rendition of typical Pop Ballads e.g. "Superstar" were delivered with straightforward simplicity. Ruben deserved to be crown the Winner of Season 2.
CARRIE UNDERWOOD (Season 4)
Ever since she auditioned in Season 4, she looked adorable and wholesome. And she had a good voice too. Thanks to the combinaton of powerful vocal ability and warm personality, she is by far American Idol's most successful graduate, with total album sales exceeding 11 million copies up until today. And as far as the show is concerned, her performance of Hearts' "Alone" was second to none.
DAVID ARCHULETTA (Season 7)
Just like David Cook, Archuletta was never in the Bottom 2 or Bottom 3. And he was 17 at the time of the show. But this rather petite lad had a huge voice with a rather pleasant and distinctive personality. He was definitely a star in the making... uber young and talented. He was the obvious choice for a Finalist that year. His rendition of John Lennon's "Imagine" simply proved what a talent this boy has... this adorable teenager delivered a measured, powerful, and emotionally gripping version of John Lennon's classic.
* Worth Mentioning - JENNIFER HUDSON (Season 3)
She came in 7th in Idol. But, she went on to win a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. What else can you say about her talent?
The selection was based on some personal preferences i.e. Sheer Talent, Voice Control, Crowd-Pulling Factor, The 'X' Factor (which is rather difficult to define), and, to a certain extent, their subsequent impact once they left the show. Mostly, it's based on the strength of their performances during their respective seasons.
So here are my Top 12 Contestants (from Season 1 - Season 8): -
.jpg)
ADAM LAMBERT (Season 8)
Let's face it! He was the hottest, most sensational and bravest performer ever to grace the Idol stage. He's brutally honest about his sexual preferences and he's never shy to show off his quirkiness (to the point of weird) to the public. His rendition of songs were often ridiculuously risky but always verging on the brilliant side. He twisted songs like "Black Or White", "Mad World" and "Play That Funky Music", and even made the legendary Randy Travis brushed his head with an awesome yet bizarre rendition of Johnny Cash's "Ring Of Fire"... It was indeed a pity that Adam was not crowned "The American Idol Winner" for Season 8 (not trying to be disrespectful to Kris Allen). There were many stars in Idol, but, Lambert was without the slightest of a doubt the brightest of them all...
DAVID COOK (Season 7)
David Cook's strength was not just his voice but also his ability to turn great songs made popular by great artistes into his own. Throughout the season, he belched out songs from Lionel 'The Sentimental' Richie, Mariah Carey and even Dolly Parton, and made them his own. With excellent repertoire of songs and blessed with a powerful voice, he looked really, really cool behind the guitar. Of all the songs he rendered during the competition, "Billie Jean" was my all-time favourite. True enough, his slowed-down, unique guitar-backed take on Michael Jackson's iconic pop-soul classic was inspired by Chris Cornell's 2007 cover version. But Cook's pitch-perfect rendition, his rugged delivery of tunes, and his savvy selection of little-known arrangements that fit the week's musical theme, week in and week out, turned him into Season 7's sensational front-runner.
BO BICE (Season 4)
Before David Cook and way before Adam Lambert, there was only one potential Rock Superstar, and that was Bo Bice. And I was introduced to the song "Heaven" courtesy of Bo Bice, and not Los Lonely Boys. Late in Idol's 4th season, when American audience realized that the ending would resulted in a photo finish between country chick, Carrie Underwood, and Bice, the ruggedly handsome and shaggy Alabama rocker set down the mic stand and delivered a sweltering acapella rendition of "In A Dream" - a little-known ballad by Badlands. We were all rooting for Bice. And we all know now who came out the winner. True enough, Bice did not do as well Underwood upon graduating from Idol. His album sales have yet to come close to Underwood's multi-platinum achievements, but it's hard to ignore and even harder not to admire Bice's bold interpretations of his music. He is still the ultimate rocker, the others are just mere imitations...
CHRIS DAUGHTRY (Season 5)
Daughtry did rather well during the Idol's 5th season. And he did even better thereafter. So, it was actually kind of a surprise when he got knocked out instead of Katherine McPhee. Back then, Taylor Hicks was too strong to be voted out. But Daughtry and Yamin should have at least been in the last three. Nevertheless, in 2007, Daughtry became the Top Selling Artist - a phenomenal achievement considering the fact that he didn't even make it to the Top Three. His rendition of Fuel's "Hemorrhage" was the kind of execution and charisma usually showcased only by established headline acts during large concerts. His cool (in a rather rockish way) demeanour landed him a lot of fans, proving that you don't need to be a winner of Idol to be successful.
FANTASIA BARRINO (Season 3)
On a soundtrack-themed night filled with covers of Whitney Houston, Celine Dion and Phil Collins, Fantasia took a completely different direction, picking the hauntingly beautiful lullaby "Summertime". Sitting on the stage and singing with a raw emotion, she was immediately compared to a young Aretha Franklin. Her performance was so heart-wrenching that it moved not only herself but the audience as well to tears. It was perhaps one of 'The Best', if not 'The Best', Idol performance to date. Lately, we've been hearing quirks from Simon and the other judges wanting the performers to bring out 'The Moment' in their renditions. Fantasia's lingering and evocative interpretation of "Summertime" was the best description to define 'The Moment'.
KELLY CLARKSON (Season 1)
All great performers have their own preferred genre of music. In Idol, these performers are thrown into music genres that might or might not be comfortable to some. Some contestants struggled during certain theme nights, especially when they are forced into new and uncharted musical genres. Kelly Clarkson found the spark during one of these nights while performing the brassy and sassy "Stuff Like That There", backed with Big Band Ensemble Orchestra. With her dynamic vocal range, she made the old gem sounded fresh and modern. She continued her effortless style all throughout her Pop Career, turning numbers like "A Moment Like This" and "Since U Been Gone" into huge chart-toppers.
CLAY AIKEN (Season 2)
Clay Aiken's plus points were a strong, power-packed voice with a rather adorable personality. During a stiff competition (between him and Ruben Blades), it proved vital during one of his best performances ever i.e. rendering Neil Sedaka's beautiful "Solitaire". Clay's gutsy performance and attention-grabbing take on Neil Sedaka's mellifluous ballad was as spellbinding as it was sincere. Even the great man, Sedaka, himself uttered, "I have lost my song forever to you. It will always be a Clay Aiken song."
ELLIOT YAMIN (Season 5)
Simon Cowell mentioned that Yamin was probably the best male vocalist in Idol history. He's probably right too... Yamin had such a mellifluous voice that it was hard to resist his soulful approach to music. He was capable of bending various tunes and turning them into soulful sounds, with his dynamic voice control. Simon Cowell even dared to compare his performance to "a vocal masterclass". Now, that sort of praise coming from Mr. Cowell? It takes someone ultra-talented and special to pull that one off. Which is exactly how I would describe Yamin's flawless rendition of Donnie Hathaway's classic, "A Song For You". That night, when he sat down in his classic and elegant demeanour, his beautiful performance made him a superstar.
DANNY GOKEY(Season 8)
Before Adam Lambert turned people's heads with his 'crazy' on-stage antiques, even during the Audition and Hollywood Weeks, I have predicted that this chap will go far. Yeap, he didn't disappoint by reaching the Final Three, and what was more astonishing was that he was probably the only person in Season 8 who was never in either the Bottom 2 or Bottom 3. Danny had a good husky voice and one of my favourite performance has always been his rendition of MJ's "P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing)". A lot of people predicted and wanted him to be in the Final instead of Kris Allen. That would have been awesome i.e. Lambert vs. Gokey... just imagine...
RUBEN STUDDARD (Season 2)
There will always be fans who believe Ruben should have played runner-up to Clay, and especially after Clay's greater success in his album sales, it just added to the point. But back when he was still performing in the early rounds of Idol Season 2, Ruben was a Soul Standout. His rendition of typical Pop Ballads e.g. "Superstar" were delivered with straightforward simplicity. Ruben deserved to be crown the Winner of Season 2.
CARRIE UNDERWOOD (Season 4)
Ever since she auditioned in Season 4, she looked adorable and wholesome. And she had a good voice too. Thanks to the combinaton of powerful vocal ability and warm personality, she is by far American Idol's most successful graduate, with total album sales exceeding 11 million copies up until today. And as far as the show is concerned, her performance of Hearts' "Alone" was second to none.
DAVID ARCHULETTA (Season 7)
Just like David Cook, Archuletta was never in the Bottom 2 or Bottom 3. And he was 17 at the time of the show. But this rather petite lad had a huge voice with a rather pleasant and distinctive personality. He was definitely a star in the making... uber young and talented. He was the obvious choice for a Finalist that year. His rendition of John Lennon's "Imagine" simply proved what a talent this boy has... this adorable teenager delivered a measured, powerful, and emotionally gripping version of John Lennon's classic.
* Worth Mentioning - JENNIFER HUDSON (Season 3)
She came in 7th in Idol. But, she went on to win a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. What else can you say about her talent?
Friday, February 19, 2010
What's Hot On My List
Favourite Local Bands - Estranged & Hujan.
Estranged appeared in the midst of a 'long draught', where local bands sounded so laid back and 'so-Melayu' that all new Indonesian Bands felt fresh and more exciting. The 'Draught' catapulted popular Indo Bands like Peter Pan, Sheila On 7, Dewa 19, Ungu (just to name a few) to great heights because of their innovative, simple, yet catchy tunes.
When Estranged came in, led by the charismatic AF4 Alumni - Rich, they brought in a progressive Pop flavour that bodes well with the young, and duly acceptable by the slightly elder generation.
Their song "Itu Kamu" became a huge hit and retained its popularity for a quite long period because of its simple lyrics and melodious chord progression.
They even won the coveted 'Anugerah Juara Lagu' amidst other Hot favourites like "Izinkan Ku Pergi" and "Destinasi Cinta".
Initially, I didn't quite get Hujan. I was not so certain whether to like the song or to despise it. The vocalist sounded so 'sempoi' and so laid back that it caught me off-guard.
But after additional listening, their hit song "Pagi Yang Gelap" became a magical anthem for me. Why?
1. The interlude started off with a Jazzy plucking of the Guitar Solo, a repertoire seldom used by our local bands in an album.
2. The lyrics is not about 'love, love & love' - it's about Relationship among Siblings, Brothers.
3. The music arrangement and the chorus is simple and catchy. After one listening, I would imagine it coming from an Indo Band.
Here's a tribute to Estranged & Hujan - two of the best local bands around!
Estranged appeared in the midst of a 'long draught', where local bands sounded so laid back and 'so-Melayu' that all new Indonesian Bands felt fresh and more exciting. The 'Draught' catapulted popular Indo Bands like Peter Pan, Sheila On 7, Dewa 19, Ungu (just to name a few) to great heights because of their innovative, simple, yet catchy tunes.
When Estranged came in, led by the charismatic AF4 Alumni - Rich, they brought in a progressive Pop flavour that bodes well with the young, and duly acceptable by the slightly elder generation.
Their song "Itu Kamu" became a huge hit and retained its popularity for a quite long period because of its simple lyrics and melodious chord progression.
They even won the coveted 'Anugerah Juara Lagu' amidst other Hot favourites like "Izinkan Ku Pergi" and "Destinasi Cinta".
Initially, I didn't quite get Hujan. I was not so certain whether to like the song or to despise it. The vocalist sounded so 'sempoi' and so laid back that it caught me off-guard.
But after additional listening, their hit song "Pagi Yang Gelap" became a magical anthem for me. Why?
1. The interlude started off with a Jazzy plucking of the Guitar Solo, a repertoire seldom used by our local bands in an album.
2. The lyrics is not about 'love, love & love' - it's about Relationship among Siblings, Brothers.
3. The music arrangement and the chorus is simple and catchy. After one listening, I would imagine it coming from an Indo Band.
Here's a tribute to Estranged & Hujan - two of the best local bands around!
American Idol Season 9
For the first time ever, I walked through the whole sessions of American Idol Hollywood Week and watched all the contestants strutting their guitars and belching out tunes after tunes to the aggressive comments of the ever-so-well-known line of Judges i.e. Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Kara Dioguardi and the newly-installed Ellen De Generes.
Personally, I think Ellen did a great job in replacing Paula. She was honest in her remarks and even landed a few trademark wits onto some nervy contestants. She was indeed a pleasant addition to the Idol Adjudicators.
As the days progressed, one could have easily predicted a handful of favourites amongst the many eager contestants. I have had my favourites picked earlier, even during the Auditions. The Hollywood Week just strengthen my faith on some of these gifted new talents. I had my bets on a few picks namely Andrew Garcia, Jermaine Sellers, Casey James, Didi Benami,Lilly Scott and Katie Stevens. Guess what? They all went through to the Final 24.
When the results were announced, the were one or two surprising omissions but as long as the main favourites were there, I was fine with their selections.
Here are the Final 24 for this year's contest: -
The GUYS (in alphabetical order): Lee Dewyze, Andrew Garcia, Tyler Grady, Todrick Hall, Casey James, Aaron Kelly, Alex Lambert, Michael Lynche, Joe Munoz, John Park, Jermaine Sellers, Tim Urban.
The GIRLS (in alphabetical order): Didi Benami, Crystal Bowersox, Lacey Brown, Michelle Delamor, Katelyn Epperly, Siobhan Magnus, Paige Miles, Ashley Rodriguez, Lilly Scott, Katie Stevens, Haeley Vaughn, Janell Wheeler.
And here are my PREDICTIONS for the Final 12 this year, based on their current performance, sheer talents and their ability to draw potential votes from the American Audience: -
GUYS: Andrew Garcia, Tyler Grady, Casey James, Aaron Kelly, Michael Lynche, Jermaine Sellers.
GIRLS: Didi Benami, Crystal Bowersox, Paige Miles, Ashley Rodriguez, Lilly Scott, Katie Stevens.
Well, the final outcome will definitely differ from the above, as things can only become clearer once these contestants begin to perform on stage and in front of those crazy crowd.
Unlike previous seasons, no clear favourites this time around. No David Archuleta, no Adam Lambert, no Carrie Underwood, no Bo Bice.
Let's see who can secure the highest no. of votes...
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
The Times They Are A-Changin - Bob Dylan
Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.
The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.
Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.
The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'
A Little Less Conversation - Elvis Presley
A little less conversation, a little more action please
All this aggravation aint satisfactioning me
A little more bite and a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and baby satisfy me
Satisfy me baby
Baby close your eyes and listen to the music
Drifting through a summer breeze
Its a groovy night and I can show you how to use it
Come along with me and put your mind at ease
A little less conversation, a little more action please
All this aggravation aint satisfactioning me
A little more bite and a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and baby satisfy me
Satisfy me baby
Come on baby Im tired of talking
Grab your coat and lets start walking
Come on, come on
Come on, come on
Come on, come on
Don't procrastinate, don't articulate
Girl it's getting late, gettin upset waitin around
A little less conversation, a little more action please
All this aggravation aint satisfactioning me
A little more bite and a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and baby satisfy me
Satisfy me baby
All this aggravation aint satisfactioning me
A little more bite and a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and baby satisfy me
Satisfy me baby
Baby close your eyes and listen to the music
Drifting through a summer breeze
Its a groovy night and I can show you how to use it
Come along with me and put your mind at ease
A little less conversation, a little more action please
All this aggravation aint satisfactioning me
A little more bite and a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and baby satisfy me
Satisfy me baby
Come on baby Im tired of talking
Grab your coat and lets start walking
Come on, come on
Come on, come on
Come on, come on
Don't procrastinate, don't articulate
Girl it's getting late, gettin upset waitin around
A little less conversation, a little more action please
All this aggravation aint satisfactioning me
A little more bite and a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and baby satisfy me
Satisfy me baby
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