American Idol - It's over! WOOOOO-HOOOOOO!!

I didn't bother to post after last week, because it was a given that Jordin was taking it all. Still, I felt compelled and "invested", so I sat through the 2-hour (plus) finale tonight.

Some observations:

1. On Joe Perry performing with Sanjaya: Dude, wtf? Do you need a little help? A little cash, maybe? Are you indebted to Clive Davis for something?

2. Taylor Hicks is still really, really fun to watch.

3. Bette Midler would never have made it past the initial auditions with that performance.

4. A Sgt Pepper revival? Why?

5. I should have written these thoughts down, because I've forgotten what transpired throughout the rest of the show, and I'm pretty sure I had some really funny comments to share.

So here we are. American Idol is over, and we sign off on the new house TOMORROW (!!!!!!!). Moving day is May 30th. And then soon after, my life will be back to normal. Yay!

American Idol - 3 bottles of beer on the wall

Yay! No guest mentor looking to plug a new cd, or pimping themselves to revive a career that dried up 40 years go. This time, it's a fast-paced parade of songs from the last 3 contestants standing, and it has turned out to be relatively entertaining. It's also an organic episode, with very little fillers.

JORDIN: Judges' Pick: This song's bringing out the pop quality in her voice. It's making me believe she can really win this. Simon says he doesn't like the jazzy vibe to the song arrangement, but I think it's actually showcasing exactly the type of sound that suits her best. She moves well to this, compared to other styles of music......... Producers' Pick: She's having trouble moving around in her Gene Simmons KISS shoes, but she's nailing the vocal part. She also seems to have matured a lot. Gone is the giggling bubblegum teen on speed. She has simmered it down to "bubbly".............. Jordin's Pick: She chose a memorable one. She sang it well. All eyes are on her. The audience loves her. Given all of that, I'd say it was a success. But Simon is dissing her, and now she's attempting an unfunny retort. Sshhhhh, Jordin. Quit while you're ahead, sweetie.

BLAKE: Judges' Pick: I called it! I called it! Who called it? I DID!! Weeks ago, I said he should do Roxanne. Obviously, the Idol cast and producers are reading my blog. I'm very flattered. Unfortunately, he's not doing as well as I'd hoped. LOVE his voice, but his movements seem laboured.............. Producers' Pick: Oh yeah! Perfect song for him. He's looking very relaxed up there. Adam Levine wishes he could sing this as well live. This is spot-on. Perfect................. Blake's Pick: Half-way through the song, I actually forgot this was A.I. I was watching intently, and was thoroughly entertained. I love that this guy knows music and is progressive.

MELINDA: Judges' Pick: What, no crowd showed up for Mel? That's not a good sign. I'm not sure why the hell Randy picked a Whitney song. It's so far off of her natural key. Is he setting her up for failure? Maybe they're paving the way for Jordin. I'm not digging this. The judges are pretending to gush, but I'm not buying it. They have an ulterior motive................. Producers' Pick: Tina Turner. Much better choice than Whitney. BUT, they're not doing her any favours, because 93% of Idol viewers have never heard this song. Seriously, I'm convinced they're trying to sabotage her voting power........................ Mel's Pick: Ah, there's the crowd! We're also seeing the first ever sign of emotion from her. I preferred the first time she sang this. It was a nice surprise at the time, but now it seems contrived. And the back-up singers are wearing way flashier outfits than her.


I have a feeling it might very well be Jordin and Blake in the final. Or at least, if based on tonight, it should be. Jordin's the best pop material left; Blake's got tons of progressive commercial potential; and Mel's market is the older crowd.

Whatever the outcome, the bottom line is that I get my life back after next week. WOOO-HOOO!!!!!!!

American Idol - the final 4

The Idol theme nights could really use a makeover. I thought that last season proved once and for all that Disco night was painful for everyone involved, but last night someone dusted off Barry Gibb, and I plunked down in my TV chair to watch the whole mess.

MELINDA: Song #1: Why so stationary, Mel? How can you not dance around to disco on stage? Great vocals, but a boring performance. Song #2: THERE she is! She's channeling Gladys Knight again (but her voice seems to have risen a few octaves...?). She looks like she's lost of bit of energy this week. Maybe she's bored with the whole thing too.

BLAKE: Song #1: Oh yikes. Yikes, yikes, yikes. That falsetto... it's just not working for me. You can't compete with the BeeGees in that department. Oh my, this is just getting sillier and sillier by the note. The beatboxing has entered "annoying" territory. And now he's doing the brass solos with his voice. I'm not digging this. Not digging it at all. Song #2: Hey... I just noticed the new skunk line in his hair. I preferred the dark mane, but at this point, I don't think it matters what he does to his hair. I think he's killing himself tonight. It's NEVER a good idea to choose an obscure song. Surely he must have known that by now? He's sucking pretty badly.

Lakisha: Song #1: Hmmm.... she's funked the song up a bit. Sounds okay, I guess. She's afraid to hit those higher notes. Don't blame her. She's dancing around, but her face is showing doubt and discomfort. Maybe it's the shoes. Song #2: Oh dear. I see she brought her boobs out for some air again. Simon really likes that. Whoa. She's nailing this song.

Jordin: Song #1: Yep... pretty awesome performance. That's not easy to do when one is wearing a curtain. Song #2: Holy crap... I guess Barry Gibb highly endorses Jordin! Hmmmm.... she's a little heavy on the whining. And the volume knob as well. It's a mess.

Right. One more week to go. Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's been a looooooooooooong season.

American Idol - (still) 6 bottles of beer on the wall

Wait... Am I the only one laughing here? Jon Bon Jovi: "singing coach"?

Pwaaaaaah-ha-ha-ha!!!!! No, seriously. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!! Stop!!! Heeeeeeee-hee-hee-hee-heeeeeee!!

Okay, okay.... Next week, Roseanne Barr will be "etiquette coach".

Pwaaaaaaaaaaaah-ha-ha-ha-ha-haaaaa!!!

Okay, okay. Enough of the silliness. Back to serious business...

PHIL: Blaze of Glory. Poor guy thinks every week is his last week, and he picks his songs according to the message they send, and how they'd sound as the final "goodbye" song when the credits roll on Wednesday. You know, this is yet another cowboy hat opportunity lost. He's a little high-pitch, and a little dramatic. But he's getting praises from the judges, and lots of love from the audience.

JORDIN: Ah yes... I remember exactly where I was when Livin' on a Prayer first hit the Montreal airwaves. I saw Bon Jovi in concert a few months later and jumped up and down with abandon when they performed this song. Fast-forward to 2007, and I still want to jump around when I hear this anthem. No-doubt one of the most memorable songs in rock history. Jordin's really not doing it justice. C'mon, girl. Move around already! Rock it! Jump! Stomp! Christ, the girl is bolted to the stage. Seriously... she should've worn flats instead and taken this tune for a spin. She could've had the entire audience up on their feet.

LAKISHA: Whoa. I mean... whoa. Pretty awesome performance, I must say. Oh look, Simon wants a kiss. He's going on and on about her lips, and his eyes have glazed over. I think she just gave Simon a chubby.

BLAKE: Hmmm.... a new twist to the song. Let's see how this goes. He's keeping the original chorus. Smart, very smart. Don't mess with that. Hey... this is way more entertaining than the usual stuff. I think it's brilliant! And I like the dark hair, too. Yep... I'd say he totally pulled this off. He's quickly becoming my favourite.

CHRIS: Uh-oh. The normally articulate guy is tongue-tied during the intro on stage with Ryan. He must be nervous, which means he must not feel very confident about his upcoming performance. Yikes... this song should be more from the gut, less from the nose. Oh wait... his throat is a little smoky now. Good, good. If he keeps it up, he'll do okay. Nope... he's running out of gas. He looks good rockin' it out, though.

MELINDA: Oh, how cute. She's not sure how to move to this music, but she's sure showing the right attitude!

Two of them are going on Wednesday. Last week, I thought it would be Lakisha. But she'll have generated enough votes this week to get back in the middle of the pack. I have no idea who's in trouble this time... Phil & Chris, perhaps?