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  • New Single! Eric Church “Springsteen”

    New Single! Eric Church “Springsteen”

    Chief Meets Boss
    A couple weeks ago, Bruce Springsteen released Wrecking Ball, his (by my count) 17th studio album in a 40 year recording career. It’s a record that sounds a lot more like the Springsteen I grew up with than any of his other recent albums: anthemic and big and totally ‘merican (that’s a capital ‘postrophe there). It occurs to me that Born in the U.S.A. is now older than all those songs I saw on those “Freedom Rock” TV commercials were back when the “Freedom Rock” TV commercials were on TV.

    So it’s sort of fitting and serendipitous that the same week Wrecking Ball showed up in stores also marked the crossover Hot 100 debut of country singer-songwriter Eric Church‘s latest single “Springsteen”, a song about how it feels to be a middle-aged schlub and to listen back to those old Springsteen records, with lyrics sprinkled all over with references to those (gulp) golden oldies (you know, like “Glory Days”).

    “Spingsteen” is the third single from Church’s third album, the extraordinarily well-received Chief, which debuted at the top of the album charts last year. And despite the fact (or because of it) that the song, Church’s twangy delivery notwithstanding, is about as country as Matchbox Twenty, it looks on pace to become the singer’s biggest hit so far.

    There’s certainly a lot to love about it, like how the lyrics, about a certain girl, a certain Jeep, and a long-ago Saturday night (now that’s country), occasionally give way to a sing-along “whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh”. Or just the song’s mellow, reflective vibe: its extended intro and outro, its piano key moonbeams, which sound more like something off a 10-year-old Josh Rouse CD than a 30-year-old Springsteen 45. And then, right at the fadeout, there a woman’s voice faintly, wordlessly echoing the chorus, as if to prove Church’s line about how a melody sounds like a memory.

  • American Idol Season 11 – Who Makes The Top 9?

    Last night, the contestants performed songs from the Billy Joel songbook. I thought it was the best night of the finals and I recapped it for Popblerd.

    Here’s how I had the top and bottom 3 last night:

    Top 3
    1. Jessica Sanchez
    2. Phillip Phillips
    3. Elise Testone

    Bottom 3
    1. DeAndre Brackensick
    2. Hollie Cavanagh
    3. Erika Van Pelt

    Supposedly, my girl Haley Reinhart is performing live on the show. Does that mean Stefano is nearby?

    The top 10 is singing For The Longest Time. There was a Casey Abrams sighting in the audience. And no, he didn’t pass out.

    Ryno gets to it. He brings Hollie, Elise, and Skylar to the center. Hollie makes it to next week. Are we going to be thrown for a loop here? Skylar is safe and Elise is safe. I was about to open up a can of whoop ass on America if Elise was in the bottom three.

    By the way, Casey Abrams is morphing into Kevin Smith. He just needs jean shorts.

    Lana Del Ray is on stage. I didn’t see her infamous SNL performance. I’m unimpressed. She’s no Carly Rae Jepsen, that’s for sure. Because Del Ray is boring me to death, I’m posting the Carly Rae Jepsen video even if it has nothing to do with this show.

    Joe Perry came out to wish Esteban Tyler a happy birthday. How nice.

    Ryno brings out Deandre, Joshua, and Jessica. I have a bad feeling for Deandre. Jessica is safe. So is Joshua. My San Jose homeboy Deandre is in the bottom three.

    Now it’s Haley time. She’s singing Free. It was every song she performed on American Idol last year. She’s still showing off those legs.

    Ryno brings out the last four. Colton The Muskrat, Phillip, Erika, and Heejun are up and two of them are going to be in the bottom three. It has to be Erika and Heejun right? Heejun just cut his own throat. He said he’s not trying to become a star. He just wants to help the kids. If he doesn’t care that much about winning this show, I’m not sure people will care that much about voting for him. It really sounds like the pressure is getting to him.

    Colton is safe. Erika is in the bottom three. Phillip is safe and Heejun is in the bottom three.

    For the record, I thought Heejun’s performance was fun as hell.

    Ryno sends Deandre back to the land of safety. Heejun is safe and Erika is going home sweet home.

    I don’t think the judges will keep her, but she’s worthy. The problem is that she’ll just end up eliminated next week. She sang her ass off though trying to be saved by singing I Believe In You And Me.

    The judges choose to not use the save. Goodbye Erika.

    Photo of Haley Reinhart shared by mtanne via creative commons 2.0

  • American Idol Season 11 – Who Makes The Top 10?

    Mid-way through Monday night’s show, Ryan Seacrest unveiled the world’s worst kept secret. Even though TMZ reported it the night before, Seacrest had to pretend that many viewers didn’t know that Jermaine Jones was in trouble and was going to be eliminated from the show.

    (I didn’t think he should’ve even made the top 13, but oh well.)

    There were several warrants out for his arrest and he’d used uncreative fake names to evade punishment (until now) like Joel Jones. Jones had no chance in hell of winning this show, so while I hope he can get his act together, I wasn’t really sad to see him go. They will still eliminate someone tonight.

    After Monday’s boring performances, here’s my top and bottom 3 for the week:

    Top 3
    1. Joshua Ledet
    2. Hollie Cavanagh
    3. Colton Dixon

    Bottom 3
    1. Heejun Han
    2. Shannon Magrane
    3. Deandre Brackensick

    Ryno’s not playing around. He brings up Phillip, Skylar, Elise, and Joshua to the center stage. Either Elise is going to the bottom three, or no one is. No way any of the other three are going there. Joshua is fine. Phillip is safe. Skylar is safe and Elise is in the bottom three.

    Demi Lovato is out singing Give Your Heart A Break. I was hoping she’d sing my favorite song Love Me Like A Love Song, but then I remembered that was Selena Gomez’s song. I liked Lovato better on Sonny With A Chance.

    Ryno brings out Deandre, Muskrat Colton, Shannon, and Jessica. If anyone’s in trouble, it’s Deandre. I think Shannon has one more bad performance in her before she’s going to be in the bottom three again. Muskrat Colton is safe. Jessica is safe. Well, I was wrong. Deandre is safe and Shannon is in the bottom three.

    It’s Daughtry’s turn to perform and he performs in Daughtry-like fashion. It’s been stated that Colton is a huge Daughtry fan and they hung out recently. To the right is the photo, via Chris Daughtry’s Twitter, they showed on American Idol. One guy needs to share some of his hair with the other guy. I’m not saying who is who.

    And now, it’s time for Hollie, Heejun, and Erika. Hollie and her soulless power ballads are safe. Heejun is safe and Erika is in the bottom three. America doesn’t like them some females. America doesn’t like them some blond females. J. Lo thinks it’s unfair that Elise is up there. Randy and Steven agree. Guys, Elise is still paying penance for last week. And because she looks like she’s plastered 24/7. However, Elise is safe. So it’s down to Erika and Shannon.

    Well, poor Shannon is a goner. She gets to sing for her life, but even if she kills it, I don’t imagine the judges save her. Not when they’re going to need to save Joshua Ledet or Jessica Sanchez in a few weeks when America screws up.

    The judges won’t save her. Shannon is eliminated. And even worse, she doesn’t make the top 10 tour. If she wasn’t so darn tall, she’s cute enough and charming enough to go the Disney route. She has a bit of pizazz, so I wouldn’t be surprised if she was doing TV or something else show business related.

    Seacrest out!