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Tag: Fergie

  • American Idol Season 9 – Idol Gives Back + The Top 7

    I have to share with you a very sad experience. Last night, after I came home from work, I turned on my TV and noticed that I had no cable signal. I looked on the DVR for my saved programs and there was something missing. There was no recording of Tuesday’s American Idol broadcast. Thus, it broke my streak of blogging every single show for my personal website since the start of season two. My oldest son was two years old when I started blogging the show. He’s now ten.

    What’s Left Of Nick And Me?
    I felt empty inside. What was I to do? It’s not like I could go to iTunes and download the show to watch. They let you download the performances, but not the entire show. And why does that even make sense? I felt lost. It was like something was taken away from me. I felt like Nick Lachey after he divorced Jessica Simpson. What was really left of me?

    And I get home today and predictably, the cable is still out. So I had to sneak into the house of my ex-wife while everyone is sleeping to blog tonight’s show for you. That’s how hardcore I am. Oh yeah, and Charter Communications can go run in front of the BART train that also made me late today.

    Tonight is Idol Gives Back which is the charity driven show that they put on every two years. It’s also cut down day to the final seven. Since I didn’t see Tuesday’s show, I really have no idea who did well and who didn’t. But based on the previous weeks, my guess is that not many people did well. In fact, I’d bet that Crystal was the best and everyone else was below her and not close. It’s Crystal and the pretenders.

    On with the show…

    Ryno immediately throws the show to the Obamas. You know you’re big time when you can just throw it to the President of the United States. Is it just me or do the President and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson have similar cadence when they talk. I’m not saying the Pres stole from The Rock, but I guaran-damn-tee you that he’s seen a Rock promo before and might’ve swagger jacked the Rock a bit.

    I’m donating tonight by buying some songs on iTunes.

    Ryno throws it to Queen Latifah who is hosting the live performances in Pasadena. First Ryno throws it to the Pres and then he throws it to the Queen. That’s a U-N-I-T-Y.

    Hey, they let Andrew and Paige Miles back in the building. Is that Didi Benami? I forget Minnie Mouse’s name.

    Jen Garner, aka Mrs. Ben Affleck is the first celeb to show us who we’re giving back to tonight. Obviously, I’m not going to joke about this part of the show because it really is a great idea. But you better believe that when The Black Eyed Peas come on the stage, I’m making Fergie jokes up the wazoo.

    Hey, the original creepy AI contestant, Constantine is on screen. Oh, no, that’s Russell Brand. I think we should have a skinny contest between Victoria Beckham, Russell Brand, and Carrie Underwood. Loser has to eat a hamburger.

    The Black Eyed Peas are performing on Latifah’s stage. My best friend Fergie Ferg is actually looking halfway decent tonight. Well, halfway decent for someone with a face that resembles a baby pony. You have to give it to her on her body though. Like she once said, she works on her fitness. Too bad we can’t give her any exercises for her face.

    Ryno just introduced George Lopez. He’s judging the judges. He calls Randy, Lionel Pitchie. Since he’s the only brother on the show, he’s safe.

    He calls Kara, Karla DiGuido. Since she posed naked for a magazine, she’s safe.

    It’s Ellen’s turn. She’s the Kourtney Kardashian of the crew. Whatever that means. And she’s safe.

    He asks Simon, “Saline or silicone?” Simon’s safe because of the volcanic ash that keeps people from traveling. Ok, that bit didn’t work at all. I love me some George, but he forgot to say, “Sabes que,” at least once. Tonight, he wasn’t a Mexican, he was a Mexican’t.

    It’s time to put someone in the bottom three. Ryno asks Crystal and Casey to join him in the center of the stage. Ryno says one of the two of them was in the bottom three. Casey might as well just walk over there now. Yep, he’s in the bottom three.

    Aaron and Lee are now in the center. Ed Grimley Jr. sang I Believe I Can Fly last night? Man, I was going to call that one. One of the two are in the bottom three. Lee DeWeed is safe. The youngling is in the bottom three.

    Back to the Queen’s side of things, Jeff Beck and Joss Stone are performing I Put A Spell On You. I wonder if Raphael Saadiq is around anywhere. I think Joss Stone is trying to become the American Idol. Someone needs to tell her she’s not being judged and doesn’t have to try to impress Simon so hard.

    Hey, David Arquette was in the audience. I might’ve been the only person to recognize him. I guess the former WCW champion isn’t big enough to be part of the show.

    Big Morgan Freeman and Randy Jackson spent sometime in Mississippi and they want to save the children.

    Junk In The Trunk
    It’s Alicia Keys time. I don’t care what anyone says. Alicia is fine. She does get minus points for breaking up Swizz Beatz’s marriage though. Hey, I guess no one’s perfect. We’ll see a terrible case of noassatall soon with Carrie Underwood, but Alicia absolutely doesn’t have that problem. Even though they’re in LA, she decides to perform her version of Empire State Of Mind.

    Hey, Carrie came on stage earlier than I thought. Luckily for us, she’s wearing a dress that isn’t hugging her hips and backside. If Alicia Keys has junk in the trunk, Carrie’s trunk is empty. Can’t even fit a cooler back there. Carrie’s singing Change. I think I’ll buy this performance as part of my donation tonight.

    Oh, that’s why David Arquette was in the front row. He and Ellen were shown at a food bank. I’ve worked in a kitchen in which we helped to feed people in San Francisco before. I can vouch that it’s a great way to give back. I’m just bummed that David Arquette isn’t wearing his WCW championship belt while helping put the food together.

    I love me some Elliott Yamin. He’s my favorite Idol contestant ever. But why does he wear the Rocky IV beard from when Rocky ran the mountains in Russia? It’s not a good look man.

    Back to the results, Ryno asks creepy girl, Big Mike, and Big Time Timmy Jim to join him in the middle of the stage. Creepy girl gets to go back and sit down. Big Mike is also safe and Teflon Timothy is back in the bottom three.

    The stories that really get to me are the ones where the poor kids are born with HIV and get full blow AIDS as children. Annie Lennox was supposed to perform live, but because of the volcano, she’s not there live. Instead, she performed via video with a shirt that said, “HIV POSITIVE”.

    Mary J. Blige, Orianthi, Randy Jackson, and some other folks whose names I didn’t catch are performing Stairway To Heaven. I think I’ll buy this one too. I also see Travis Barker playing the drums. No one told him about the dress code. I’ve dressed nicer while taking out the garbage in the morning.

    Elton John is performing and unfortunately for probably only just me, he’s not singing Measure Of A Man. That’s my favorite Elton song. I may know only one other person who also counts that as his favorite Elton song.

    You’re out of time, your out of place, look at your face, it’s the measure of a man!

    It’s time to eliminate a sad young man. Ryno first sends Ed Grimley Jr. back to safety so it’s Casey and Timothy who are left.

    And it’s young Timothy who leaves us. Well, it’s only about 14 weeks too late.

    I’m going to buy some songs on iTunes for Idol Gives Back. But, Timothy’s going to have to leave right now.

    Photo of Alicia Keys shared through Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

    Photo of Nick Lachey shared through Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic

  • Idol Does Billboard Badly

    Anyone have a copy of Billboard from the last 20 years besides Young Katie Stevens who finally looked young?  With that lower register, she’ll never sound young, but at least she covered Fergie.   Tonight’s Top 11 sing-off was marred by some of the worst song choices imaginable and they had the entire Billboard #1 catalog to choose from. Amazingly, only Katie sang something recorded after the 1980s.

    Miley Cyrus
    This…is your surprise mentor

    If you watched,  vote now in the Sonic Spring Singing Contest.  We’ll open the poll in a new window so you can save your spot.  And remember–the winner gets a $25 Amazon gift certificate.

    Making the Top 12 is always big, but making the Top Ten means touring and learning  performing chops (sorry Alex Lambert) while making friends and alliances.  A beautiful formula with suspense cutting to the Top 12 and then again when Paige Andrew, no probably Paige, doesn’t go on tour.

    Here’s what happened.

    Lots of early vamping.  Idol is still in two hours slots, but the contestants are still only singing one song.  When the show gets interesting, we’re down to one hour, which is rush, rush, rush until the end of the season when we’re back to three or four people.  So the show starts with Ryan Seacrest who adlibs as well as anyone on television vamping madly.   Kara and Simon continue looking like a married couple, and you have to wonder when Ellen bops Simon for the scripted faux gay asides.

    Tonight’s BIG MENTOR REVEAL is… Miley Cyrus?

    She got hers later in the show from Casey James, and no, not like that because Hannah Montana is still only 17.  Dude told her he was a big fan of her father and his one hit.

    Lee Dewyze opens, a smart choice given the buzz.  Lee immediately puzzles everyone by singing an update of a 50 year old song.   And then he doesn’t sing it well.  He may have thought he was doing Springsteen.  He sounds hoarse-screechy and his body language is closed all the way up to his hunched forward shoulders.

    Paige Miles, the best pure singer, rushes and then hesitates through Phil Collins’ Against All Odds.  Then she sings it in several keys, sometimes in the same measure.  There is no denying Paige’s vocal prowess.  She’s in the Bottom Two for sure though.  Speaking of the Bottom Two, have you played Sonic Clash’s AI contest yet?  That’s the one from several paragraphs ago you may not have clicked on.

    Ryan makes me laugh with the segue of  “Under the tutelage of Miley Cyrus…”   before Tim Urban massacres Crazy Little Thing Called Love, complete with a slide to the audience, while he gladhands the teenyboppers and AI drones in front.  Every judge slams him for acting like a star instead of the guy who got picked up when one of the finalists was disqualified.  Sadly, he will likely tour.

    One guy belonging on the tour is Aaron Kelly.  This week is Aaron’s turn for laryngitis, which he blames on tonsillitis.  Holy Cow!  The judges love his Don’t Want To Miss A Thing, but he covered Lonestar’s song about a guy missing his family and now a song that two grown up acts had hits with in a very sensual tone.  This teen wants to be too old, but sadly only Simon even mentions how old Aaron’s choices make him sound.  Seacrest recovers by calling him David Archuleta, but eh..  Aaron could win this contest.  I called him a darkhorse in our annual American Idol podcast.  He can still make it to the fourth spot, maybe even third.

    How can Crystal Bowersox go wrong covering Janis Joplin?   She can’t, she doesn’t, the judges fawn and Ryan joins her sitting on her own little carpet on the stage.  Crystal is still top 3.  Kara compares her to Janis and Simon compares her to Pink. Can’t go wrong.

    Miley Cyrus looks more like a waif standing next to Big Mike Lynche who delivers a technically fine version of When A Man Loves A Woman complete with crystal clear falsetto.  Everyone thinks the choice is sound but safe.  Lynche hasn’t blown it yet, but the judges aren’t as impressed as they’ve been.

    Andrew Garcia perhaps alters the course of his career by singing Motown while his glasses slide off his nose and he prances in a jacket he stole from Kim Jong Il.  The North Korean leader didn’t ask for it back, but Simon Cowell rhetorically asks if everyone didn’t overestimate Garcia because of his catchy cover of Straight Up.  The others say the version was brilliant, but Simon is right back at them.  It wasn’t brilliant, says he.  It was catchy, quirky and had a Paula connection.  Damn if he isn’t right again.  Idol will miss him.  If Paige is voted off, Garcia joins the tour where he will sing Straight Up and several group numbers.  You can then catch him Thursdays and Fridays next year at the Van Nuys Ramada.

    Katie Stevens rocks out to some Fergie and doesn’t cry because she’s a big girl.  The judges love her.  I love her hearing a song recorded before the 1980s.  Katie looks young and relevant.

    Looking less relevant to me every week is Casey James who covers The Power of Love. Dude didn’t work it out, as Randy claimed, because the song was harmlessly dated when it was made famous 25 years ago as the theme for Back to the Future.  I would have preferred Michael J. Fox performing the song if I wanted nostalgia.   Casey goes on tour and then joins Ace Young working as a poolside bartender at a Sandals resort.

    Casey is Country Constantine(tm).

    Seacrest blows pronouncing Didi Benami’s name, which is okay because I just spelled it wrong twice. She sings yet another 70s song, and while she looks sharp in a tight skirt and black stockings, everyone agrees she appears to be playing  a character as she warbles You’re No Good.  I scream that it’s hokey cabaret and think she’ll be fine in the Houston company of the musical Chicago next year.

    After a commercial for Fox’s Human Target dissolves into Chi McBride looking bored in the AI audience, Ryan introduces The One Who Could Beat Crystal.  Yes, it’s Siobhan, known to GG fans as “crazygirl” and to CJ fans as “snaggletooth”.  I think she’s cute and a great performer.  She looks like a girl I know in 10th grade when she goes to meet Miley (love the big glasses!) and then looks like Peter Pan on stage.  She crushes Superstition as well as anyone not named Stevie Wonder and signs off with her trademark scream.  Simon suggests she open the next song with a scream and then sing to mix it up.

    I heart Siobhan.  I have for weeks.  I would buy a Crystal concert ticket, but I would buy a Siobhan ticket and an album.  What do you think?  Good show?  Bad show?  Who is in it to win it?

    Tune in to Sonic Clash tomorrow for GG’s wrap on the results show!  And once you’re done voting here (you did enter the contest, right?), check out our buddy Roheblius’ And Then There Were Eleven.

  • Fergie Vs. The Censors – Grammys 2010

    SLoretta Lynneal brought the crowd to life with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Leonard Cohen. Then he opens up with another performance. No boring awards here.

    Roll out the songs.

    Here’s Pink, doing herself proud in front of the industry and a worldwide television artist. Her outfit is a cross between nun’s habit and none habit. She is glamour and spins through the track without blemish eveas she disrobed into truly none. If Jerry Falwell hadn’t died, this would have killed him. Our girl spins as though in a circus, looking sexier by the minute until she is drenched in water and hit every note while spinning above the crowd in fabric.

    Amazing.

    Miranda Lambert and Keith Urban, both beautiful, look pretty pedestrian after that. They announce Loretta Lynn’s Lifetime Achievement Award and a Trustee Award for long-timer producer Walter Miller.

    Best New Artist, the Kiss of Death Grammy, that Gaga should have been eligible for rolls up. I told Money Mike that Hilson was the safe Academy choice although The Ting Tings or MGMT should win. Zac Brown Band pulls the well-deserved upset! The boys look happy, yet even though they are performing later, they get played off.

    Miley Cyrus, all growed up, introduces the Peas. Fergie gets “mother-father” in place instead of the lyric and CBS reacted too late for the delay. CBS began experiencing audio difficulties. Language. After watching Pink spin above the crowd, dripping water and dressed in ribbons, do we really need to worry about some lyric. BEP does their typical strong musical theater performance. I’ve Got A Feeling brought everyone out, robots included.

    Welcome to the Future, they exhort the crowd. Except, you know, for the censorship part.

    Loretta Lynn photo: Scott Schram http://schram.net/