Pic of the Day
| Quote of the Day Since most major decisions in this country are, for the most part, done by majority vote, I'd like to make a motion, please. I move that : As many Americans as are able, gather at the Mexican border, cross into Mexico and , waving a profusion of American flags protest to Mexican government to create more jobs and better wages for their own people. Mike K |
| Kitchen Myth Don't salt meat before cooking The idea behind this one is that the salt will draw out juices from the meat, removing flavor and preventing the surface from browning properly. In theory salt can draw out moisture, but in the real world it does not seem to make any difference. I have salted meat before cooking innumerable times, including steaks for pan frying or grilling, roasts, and briskets headed for the smoker. I have never once seen any juice being drawn out by the salt. In addition, there are innumerable cooks ranging from at-home amateurs to professional chefs and cookbook authors - including the super-fussy people at Cooks Illustrated - who direct that salt be put on meat before cooking. It's impossible to believe that if the myth were true, all these people would be blind to the supposedly dire effects. More Kitchen Myths HERE: |
Five Left; Two Songs Each
It’s down to five and as usual, this missive with its thought-provoking commentary is written BEFORE the elimination round on 5/4/06. Thus my thoughts are pure and unfettered by any knowledge of who came in last, first or in-between.
Believe me, I get enough wrong that this is very plausible.
These five finalists are certainly fine performers, the epitome of American talent, determination and the pursuit of a dream.
The five at the top range in age from the oldest-Taylor Hicks, 29- to the youngest-Paris Bennett, 17. Only one is married so far as is known-Chris Daughtry. They hail from across the fruited plains, from Georgia, California, North Carolina, Virginia and Alabama. Two of the five consider Usher their favorite male singer. Their female preferences range from Gwen Stephanie, Beyonce to Whitney Houston and beyond.
In short, they are a compilation of American youth, typical in many ways but with dreams, aspirations, hopes and the drive to make it happen.
First, just for giggles and grins, here is a :
Blast From the Past
Remember America’s first Idol? Indeed Ms. Kelly Clarkson and this child continues to perform, her records sell and recently she won a Grammy award! This is not a contest that is a national past time. America is building a recording industry of artists chosen by the American people and like them or not, they made it on their talent and star quality as appeals to the great unwashed out here in la-la land. Their mother was NOT Judy Garland. There were no casting couches. Okay, so there’s Paula Abdul and some male contestants but that didn’t bring home the prize.
Only thing, maybe the American Idols SHOULDN’T be making movies. Below, a pic of Kelly Clarkson and Justin something-begins-with-a-“G” in a photo from their very forgettable flick.
Below, a picture of the top five American Idol’s 2006.
Since they are the top five, we’ll feature some brief information for each finalist. Now onto some thoughts of their performances on the night of 5/2/06, when each contestant sang a song from the year of their birth and a song from the current top billboard hits.
| Chris Daughtry Age: 26 Hometown: McLeansville, NC Audition City: Denver Favorite Female Artist: Kelly Clarkson Favorite Male Artist: Rob Thomas |
I believe Chris Daughtry’s going to win this thing. There, I’ve said it.
And I am not especially a fan of Chris’ genre, which is rock music. But this fellow has a truly great voice, he excels in his genre, and frankly, it’s about time American Idol had a rock singer in the repertoire of winners.
From the year of his birth, Chris sang “Come Alive” and a song about a lawman. Yes I missed some of the song names and I’m not even going to bother to look them up. Shows I’m genuine, not a Blogger-for-Hire.
I thought Chris’ performances were great. Curmudgeon Simon said Chris’ song was a “million times better than the first two performances”.
Chris’ voice is deep and rich, his stage presence is enthusiastic but not jerky or full of himself. His bald head, well it’s different.
| Elliott Yamin Age: 27 Hometown: Richmond, VA Audition City: Boston Favorite Female Artist: Alicia Keys, Gwen Stefani Favorite Male Artist: Usher |
If he wasn’t running up against Chris Daughtry, I’d suggest Elliott Yamin would have a chance at winning this contest. Elliott sang “On Broadway” and I thought I heard the second song was “I’m Coming Back Home”.
I thought the performances were mediocre, at least in terms of the final stages of a contest in which the viewer must be wowed off their chair.
Yamin is not, or has he ever been, my favorite performer in this fifth season of American Idol. There’s something major lacking in his star quality as I see it.
| Katharine McPhee Age: 22 Hometown: Los Angeles, CA Audition City: San Francisco Favorite Female Artist: Whitney Favorite Male Artist: Brian McKnight |
Katharine McPhee is a cutie, has a good voice- but not the best in this competition- and has a stage presence that will work.
Hey, I love that little Paris babe so my prejudice is stated.
Katharine sang “Take a Look At Me Now” and another song-on her knees!- called, well something about a black horse and a cherry tree. I never heard the song before and didn’t like it at all. Simon called the song with the horse and cherry tree a “good choice”.
As for the first song, I thought Katharine sang it a little too breathy and at the end she sounded distinctly off-pitch. Randy said the “key was too low”, Paula said it was not her favorite performance and Simon told Katharine the “song ran away from you”.
All in all, Katharine’s a real contender for a trip home tonight.
| Paris Bennett Age: 17 Hometown: Fayetteville, GA Audition City: Greensboro Favorite Female Artist: Beyonce Favorite Male Artist: Usher |
I adore Paris Bennett although I know she’s way young for this contest. But if America is really looking for a dynamite singer with a love to perform, Paris is the little sweetheart who would fill the bill.
I don’t think Paris will win this contest and indeed Paris has been performing poorly in various online polls and was in the bottom three last week. America is deciding, I surmise, that it’s not Paris’ time to win. Surely her ascending into the heights of American Idol top five will insure Paris a musical career for many years to come.
Pity. I consider her a total package but whatever the result, Paris has a future in music locked up solid.
Paris continually stretches the boundaries with her song choices, another factoid about this cutie that impresses me. From the year of her birth, right about the same year I was going through change of life, Paris sang “Kiss” by Prince, and “Be Without You” by Mary Bilge. While I didn’t know either of these songs, I thought Paris gave a fine performance. As always, Paris was dressed in the most cool, happening and hip attire. This child can wear almost anything and goodness knows her hair can go any which way.
Simon declared Paris’ performance as “screechy and annoying” while Randy said she “rocked it”.
| Taylor Hicks Age: 29 Hometown: Birmingham, AL Audition City: Las Vegas Favorite Female Artist: Cyndi Lauper. Favorite Male Artist: Billy Joel, Van Morrison, Bob Seger. |
Again, I don’t like Taylor Hicks although I bow to his top five status. I think his stage presence is gawky and at times a bit painful to watch. He has a fine voice, as they all do by this point in the contest. But there’s already one rock singer in the top five and this white man trying to dance is outshined by Chris Daughtry like the sun to the moon.
In fact, Taylor sang “Funky, White Boy” which was, heh, a perfect song for him. I did note his dancing was not as gangly on the night of the final top five as it had been. He still looked like he was out of his element moving around on that stage, trying to dance and not even coming close.
Taylor also sang a Beatles’ song-“Something”. Of all the Beatles’ songs, well I don’t like this one at all.
Paula stated that Taylor “had fun”. As if having fun on stage is some sort of criteria for selecting a finalist in this contest.
Heh. Simon got it right. He declared Taylor’s singing and “dancing” as a “horrible wedding performance”.
The Elimination
Alas sweet Paris was in the bottom two. Also in the bottom two was Elliott Yamin.
Sent home this week: Paris Bennett. Good luck, darling.
More American Idol Reviews Here
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