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Pop Rock Nation

Category: News

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  • The X Factor USA Recap: Season 3 – And Then There Were 13

    X Factor USA recapAfter last week, the top twelve was set. However, much like Simon used to do on American Idol, they kept a wild card. After being given the boot last week, Josh Levi came back to the show as the mentors thought he deserved another chance. Oh, how nice?

    The theme of the night was Motown which meant Kelly Rowland was looking as much like Diana Ross as she could look.

    It’s unfortunate that instead of trying to replicate the fun Motown sound, many of the singers chose to slow the songs down so that they could show off their voices. What happened is that instead of a fun night of television, it was a pretty drab night on the X Factor.

    Let’s get to the X Factor USA recap:

    Performances of the night

    You mean other than Rachel Potter’s legs?

    I will say that Khaya Cohen is my favorite voice in the competition because she sounds so much like Amy Winehouse and that’s a voice that we’re missing in music today. She unnecessarily sultry-ed up My Girl, but it allowed her to show off the voice. It’s hard to believe that she’s just sixteen.

    Lillie McCloud had to kill Motown night. And I think she did. I’m not sure how a 54-year old could not be outdated. Let’s not try and make her young. What’s special about her? She’s a 54-year old hot grandmother out-singing everyone! She performed one of the better versions of Stevie Wonder’s All In Love Is Fair you’ll hear.

    I’m a sucker for girl groups. Last year it was Fifth Harmony. This year, it’s Sweet Suspense. They remind me of an American version of the Spice Girls, which is right up my girl group alley. They performed You Keep Me Hangin’ On and it was fun, Fifth Harmony-y, and everything I want from a girl group. I hope they stick around for a long time.

    Duds of the night

    Carlos Guevara is very popular, partly because of his story and partly because of his crazy nice voice. It’s smooth and more powerful than it should be. But he was amateur to the core. He had zero stage presence with his What’s Going On performance, looked nervous and was out of his league. However, because of his popularity, there’s no way he goes home anytime soon.

    Tim Olstad is the weirdest contestant. He doesn’t look like he’s having any fun and he receives feedback in a very painful way. I’m wincing while the mentors are telling him what they think while he squints hard. Thankfully, Simon enjoyed his performance of I’ll Be There, which was just okay.

    Someone thought that Carlito Olivero should slow down Stop! In the Name of Love to a crawl. You mean, one of the most energetic and fun Motown songs ever? It was awful. There’s a good chance that Carlito may be on his way home.

    Who are the front runners?

    I think it’s fairly obvious that Restless Road is the main front runner right now, much like Emblem3 was last year. I find them a bit cheesy, but I get their appeal (definition: the girls love them).

    Alex & Sierra are easy to enjoy. They’re the only boyfriend/girlfriend couple in the competition and really, let’s face facts, Sierra is cuter than all get out. I can also see this backfiring on them, but for now, I think they’ll get major love from America.

    Who goes home?

    It’s quite possible that Josh Levi may leave again, even though his rendition of Who’s Lovin’ You was at the very least, the middle of the pack. I think it’s going to be between painful Tim Olstad and cheesy Carlito Olivero. The wild card here is Rachel Potter because it seems that the females hate her. But I do hope she sticks around for a while.

    If I have to make a call, I’m going with Carlito.

  • Tori Kelly Offers Foreword To 2014

    You know Tori Kelly already, but you’re forgiven if you can’t quite place her.

    Last year’s “Handmade Songs by Tori Kelly” grabbed lots of attention including Billboard’s iconic “Heatseekers” chart and a top 10 iTunes pop chart placement.  Or maybe you remember her appearing in “America’s Most Talented Kids” at age 12 or getting to Hollywood Week on season 9 of “American Idol” at 18.

    Maybe you know her from the viral YouTube channel with more than 56 million views.

    Yeah, that’s it.

    Everyone has managed to catch a Tori Kelly video by now, especially after an appearance on “The Ellen Show”for the new single Dear No One.  I spent a big part of today with Tori on shuffle, and the “Dear No One” track, complete with a video filmed on location by Brooklyn, has an infectious chorus and showcases her crazy range.  A musical chameleon,  there is something on her Tori Kelly’s “Foreword”, the brand new EP, for everyone.

    Ballads like “Paper Hearts” and “Daydream” are gorgeous and showcase even more of her voice than the bouncier up-tempo tracks.  The range among the new five songs is well worth space in your music rotation.

    What’s coming in 2014? Maybe that long rumored full album? “I’m just excited to be doing what I love and sharing part of myself through my music. I feel like “Foreword”, the “Dear No One” video and& my tour are just an introduction to what’s coming in 2014,” said Kelly on her way to making “Dear No One” the iTunes single of the week.

    “I’m always very real in my songwriting—I’m not trying to put on a mask or hide behind any kind of gimmick,” says Kelly, who lists artists as eclectic as Lauren Hill, Jill Scott, Jeff Buckley, and Maxwell as key inspirations. “No matter what I’m going to do my own thing. So when people tell me that they relate to my songs, or that something I’ve written really connects with them, that’s just the best feeling in the world.”

    Have a look at the new video and then find out about her blitzing two week tour opening tonight in Colorado.

    Tori Kelly Tour Dates

    6 DENVER, CO – GOTHIC THEATRE
    8 AUSTIN, TX – CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
    9 DALLAS, TX – PROPHET BAR
    10 HOUSTON, TX – HOUSE OF BLUES
    12 ATLANTA, GA – THE LOFT
    13 CARRBORO, NC – CAT’S CRADLE
    14 WASHINGTON, DC – FILMORE
    15 PHILADELPHIA, PA – TLA
    17 BOSTON, MA – SINCLAIR
    18 NEW YORK, NY – IRVING PLAZA
    20 TORONTO, ON – OPERA HOUSE
    21 CHICAGO, IL – HOUSE OF BLUES
    22 DES MOINES, IA – WOOLY’S
    23 MINNEAPOLIS, MN – VARSITY

  • Four Bitchin’ Babes!

    Four Bitchin’ Babes!

    As a woman in her early 40s, I can really relate to Four Bitchin’ Babes!

    A couple of months ago, an online friend I “met” while writing book reviews on Epinions.com posted a link to music by Four Bitchin’ Babes on Facebook. I was intrigued by the band’s name, so I checked them out. I quickly recognized the name Christine Lavin, who founded the band in 1990. Christine Lavin is the genius behind the hilarious early 90s song, “Sensitive New Age Guys”… Believe it or not, I discovered that song while working as a cook at a church camp of all places!


    A fairly recent live rendition of “Sensitive New Age Guys” by Christine Lavin… Skip to about three minutes into the video.

    Anyway, in 1990, Christine Lavin founded the equally hilarious band Four Bitchin’ Babes. Lavin has since left the band and it now consists of Sally Fingerett, Debi Smith, Deirdre Flint, Marcy Marxer. These women write funny songs that combine excellent folk stylings with stand up comedy. Their music is about the plight of middle-aged women navigating the world as they get older.


    Here’s a very funny number called “Hungarian (Hormonal) Rhapsody”…

    I admire them for their wit, sublime harmonies, original lyrics, and guitar playing. But I also admire them because I relate in a big way to their songs.


    Well, maybe I don’t relate to this one. The Boob Fairy definitely came to my house.


    But I do definitely like “Elastic Waistbands”. The older I get, the more I appreciate them.

    Many of my Facebook friends know how much I enjoy making presents for my ass on occasion… Usually, the gift is in the form of homemade macaroni and cheese, which is not so good for my body but definitely is a delight to the soul. Eat too much of it, though, and you WILL need elastic waistbands for sure.


    A more serious offering… “These are the Things” (That Women Do)

    These ladies are multi-talented and have the ability to be serious, too. In the above clip, Sally Fingerett, one of the Four Bitchin’ Babes sings a moving song about motherhood. As I listen to it, my eyes are filling with tears as my heart fills with emotion, even though I am not a mother.


    A less serious song about motherhood.

    “Don’t Mess With Me” is a song that reminds everyone how tough mothers can be in every situation. While I’m generally not one to revere motherhood, I do appreciate the cleverness of this song and what it took to come up with the story that makes up this song’s very witty and original lyrics.

    The Four Bitchin’ Babes can play a variety of instruments, too. On YouTube, you can see Babe Debi Smith playing the Irish Bodhran as she sings.

    Here, the Four Bitchin’ Babes sing a song about Viagra.


    “Viagra” (In The Waters)

    And here, they sing a great song that recognizes the plight of the less outgoing.


    “The Introvert Song”

    I think I would love to see these women perform live. I will definitely keep my eyes peeled for performances near us. The older I get, the more relevant the Four Bitchin’ Babes will be to my life. If you are at a similar stage in your life, I would highly recommend checking them out on YouTube or live!