I really liked this video and just ran across it again. Enjoy the show.
by on March 9, 2008
Ask It Like You Mean It
Have you noticed that the kind greeting “How are you?” has turned into a passing “HeyHowrya!” recently?
I’m not quite sure exactly when it happened, but I can remember the culture shock of moving from a small mid-west farming/industrial community when I was 16 into the big life of the Tampa suburbs. Sure, there were fields, cows, and crap-kicker boots on all the rednecks, but there were enough city kids around to throw me for a loop. The saying back then was, “What’s up?” or simply, “‘sup?”
I’d stop and say something along the lines of one of my classes or a cool movie I just saw, only to look around for the person who asked in the first place. In the words of Ray Stevens: “They was gone!”
Think about this:
How many people do you stop to listen for their answer when you ask how they are?
I’ll up the ante one more on all of us, because I only know two people in all of my hundreds of friends that do this:
Will you take, “Fine” for an answer and leave it at that?
I dare you try to make someone mad for caring that much about how they are doing.
by on March 6, 2008
American Idol: Top 16 Week – Guy’s Predictions 3/6/2008
Hey folks! I’m sorry for the delay, but I’ve been down with the flu this week. I did manage to watch our favorite Spring show and work out my thoughts on the performances. Due to the complete disregard the miscreants over at “That Site Which Will Remain Nameless,” I am giving my rating prediction and my “what I think will really happen because the voting system is busted.”
My wife thinks, and we’ll all have to agree, that Jason Castro looks like Jar-Jar Binks from Star Wars. It really only comes across this obvious when he pulls his hair back, so keep your eyes peeled. He’ll do it again.
Since I’m short on time and energy, here are my girls’ picks:
Actual prediction: Kady Malloy and Ramiele Malubay
Wishful prediction: Kady Malloy and Brooke White
Luke Menard – 9.0
Bad song choice. I’m not even sure that song was in the top 500 Billboard Hits for the 80s. Great voice, but that was dang karioke-like. Go buy some personality.
Simon says: I didn’t like it. It was a bit girly [ed. UMMMM… WHAT THE HECK IS DANNY!!?? Full-blown pansy freak-boy getting voted through for being the worst!]. You won’t make it to the Top 12 and no way will you win it.
David Archuleta – 9.5
Phenomenal vocals again, but it was a strange song choice.
Simon says: It wasn’t as good as last week. Stay at the piano. You’re starting to get a bit gloomy with your song choices. You’re probably going to be in the finals, but it will be depressing.
Danny Noriega – 5.1
I’m done trying.
Simon says: It was horrible. The whole thing: the arrangement, vocals, the whole thing.
David Hernandez – 9.3
Great song, arrangement, vocals… omg! The vocals were hot!
Simon says: It wasn’t as good as last week. I like the soul songs better. 100% secured place in the Top 12.
Michael Johns – 9.3
Excellent song for him, but I just don’t think it was the best arrangement.
Simon says: I liked it. I loved it. Huge talent. You still haven’t connected with the right song.
David Cook – 9.5
Good rock song. A bit pitchy.
Simon says: That was a very brave thing to do… and I… loved it. Lionel Richie will be proud when he hears that.
Jason Castro – 9.7
Boring, but good vocals. Pick a better song.
Simon says: It was absolutely brilliant. One of the best of the night.
Chikezie Eze – 9.2
Boring… good vocals, but another strange song.
Simon says: Was that a Whitney song? Yes? Then I didn’t like it. More cabaret than last week.
Actual prediction: Luke Menard and Chikezie Eze
Wishful prediction: Luke Menard and Danny Noriega
by on February 28, 2008
American Idol Top 20: Girl’s Night (2/27/2008)
Another good show last night, and one with a lot more variation in quality than the guy’s night. Congratulations to Paula for being sober again and to Simon for wearing gray… again.
Once again, I have adopted the Olympic point system for my ratings. A “10” will get someone the crown in the season finale. Really good singing with a bad song choice will get a “9.” Everything better than a bad song with good singing will receive a decimal point between 9 and 10. If there was room for improvement for the vocals, will receive a “9” or less.
Carley Smithson
For me, it was a drastic fall from last week, and I didn’t really go bonkers over her then. It seemed like she was thinking about the words or trying to be anywhere but on that stage. Her eyes were empty and it made her performance suffer. Oh, and her last note sucked. I can do that much on a good day.
Simon says: Better than last week, but you have still not connected with the right song. None of the girls can touch you vocally, though.
Jesse’s grade: 8.4
Syesha Mercado
Simon is full of it. Carly can’t touch her vocally or on an album cover, I can tell you that right now. I can’t quite decide if she is my favorite girl over Asia’h, but they are my Top 2 girls, and she is already good enough for the finale. All she needed last night to get a perfect 10 from me was a more upbeat song.
Simon says: It was a bit indulgent of a song and it wasn’t written to be sung by a woman. It just wasn’t designed for you for that last note.
Jesse’s grade: 9.9
Brooke White
Clean-living Brooke busted out an acoustic guitar and aimed “You’re So Vain” right at Simon the whole song. It was quite humorous in that respect. Luckily, she backed it up with good vocals and perfect playing.
Simon says: I absolutely loved it. It connected, you sang it well, and “Yes,” I think it was about me.
Jesse’s grade: 9.5
Ramiele Malubay
The song had a nice tempo to it, and she had good vocals, but it fell just short of being a winner. Something was off that keeps it out of that upper 0.5 for me. She sounded beatable with that song.
Simon says: The problem with that song is that I’ve heard that song so many times at ghastly weddings. You’re a Top 3 singer, but that song was a bad choice.
Jesse’s grade: 9.4
Kristy Lee Cook
The tom boy farm girl looked spastic and awkward on the stage. She was all done up like Carrie Underwood, but the performance didn’t deliver what the package indicated. The vocals were ok, but there wasn’t any range to the song, and it was a bit disappointing for me.
Simon says: I can’t remember what you sang last week. I’m still not sure who you are, but maybe you can make an impression with Country.
Jesse’s grade: 8.6
Amanda Overmyer
She continues her fall from Hollywood glory from any number of things wrong with that number. Not to be critical, but the hair looked like a lion’s mane, her clothes weren’t working for her, her dancing was spastic (for a lack of better words), it looked and sounded like she was losing her voice, and the only thing to say about her last night is: “boooo.” Time to go home, babe. If you make it, be darn sure you act naturally, even if you sing a rock song.
Simon says: The film was good, and then the entire performance was contrived. I couldn’t wait for it to be finished.
Jesse’s grade: 7.5
Alaina Whitaker
What happened from last week?! She was one of my favorites, and I hate to do this to her, but it wasn’t good. The song was too slow to allow for that vocal performance. She completely fell apart in the quiet parts and screamed in the crescendos. Snore. Bad song choice with no delivery.
Simon says: It’s as if your grandmother picked it, chose the dress, told you how to stand, etc. I still think you are one of the dark horses of the competition, but that had too much pageantry.
Jesse’s grade: 8.3
Alexandrea Lushington
Another bad song from Lush. She wore stinking cargo shorts and an insulated hiking vest for 70s night! Where do you get that? It was too distracting, but even when I looked away, the vocals weren’t impressive. The last word/note really sucked.
Simon says: I think you’re struggling now. That song was stuck where and when it was made. It’s never been a hit outside of the 70s. You looked stretched and uncomfortable.
Jesse’s grade: 8.1
Kady Malloy
I didn’t understand a single word while she was on the stairs, and she looked like she was concentrating too hard on not tripping to sing. Even after that I didn’t understand much of her song. She sounded like she was falling apart when I just listened to the vocals, and when I looked up I was shocked at her awkard movements.
Simon says: I am frustrated. The films are fantastic, but the the stage act doesn’t go anywhere. That was 1 million percent the wrong song.
Jesse’s grade: 6.4
Asia’h Epperson
What a voice! What high notes! Her vocals are so powerful, but tonight she just missed a couple of notes that took her down from perfection more than Syesha.
Simon says: That is one of the diva songs of all time… and you almost pulled it off. Bad decision.
Jesse’s grade: 9.5
Voting prediction: Kady Malloy and Amanda Overmyer
