Girls, Girls, Girls!!

Once again, I have my collective work, parent, wife roles together and am able to blog in real time. My friend Yelena pointed out that she likes the stream of consciousness blogs, so she should be really happy tonight. Shout out to you, Alenka - hope you kicked butt on your final.

Okay, so, the girls are up tonight, after a quick switch last night. Ryan introduces the girls, and Crystal is introduced last, so that Ryan can make sure she’s doing okay. Ryan points out that Kara is practically sitting on Simon’s lap, and uh...he’s right. And then there’s some salacious flirting. Like, Paula is waiting somewhere, earrings in hand, ready to throw down with Kara over her man. Simon points out that this week is almost more important than last week - that there’s no room for amateur moves like forgetting the words. So you know, don’t be an amateur during an amateur competition. AI, you are still, after all these years, an enigma.

Crystal is first. She’s singing Credence’ As Long As I Can See the Light. She’s going with a gospel feel, which DEFINITELY works for her. Her voice is like butter for me. I’ve liked her for moment one. And...I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but the first few lines of this reminds me of Miss Kelly Clarkson singing Natural Woman. For those who have not stood up and taken notice of her before, you will now. Her voice reminds me of the finest qualities of Sarah McLachlan and yes, dare I say it, the purity of Miss Aretha Franklin. I know that’s high praise, but I REALLY liked what she did with this song. She absolutely rocked the almighty shit out of this. Simon is kind of frowning. Ut-oh. Randy starts off that she is the truth, that she just does what she does and that she is true to who she is. I think he’s calling her genuine, using about a bazillion more words than necessary. Ellen loves her raw, natural talent, and asks her to stay healthy because she’s amazing. Kara says Alanis didn’t fit her, but that this song did. She’s focused like the greats, and that she went to another level tonight. Simon says she’s great. He’s impressed that she did not play the sympathy card as she was genuinely sick. He then goes on to say that her performance reminded them OF THE MOMENT THEY REALIZED KELLY CLARKSON WAS A SERIOUS ARTIST. Okay, that’s it. I officially quit until they stop reading my mind.

Okay, I thought about it, and I un-quit.

From the sublime to the Haeley, she is singing Miley Cyrus, which should pretty much put the nail in my Haeley love coffin. Haeley says during her video that she loves to make things, including the ridiculous Lady Sings the Blues headbands she wears. And you know, I used to try and wear flowers in my hair when I was a kid, and much to my chagrin, my mother will NOT put away that picture of this fashion tragedy that she has on her refrigerator. It didn’t work then. It doesn’t work now. I freely admit that it’s hard for me to keep an open mind because I. abhor. this. song. I can say that I like Haeley’s voice more than Miley’s. I can also say that it was still a mess and didn’t appeal to me at all. And OOH! That note was not in the same zip code as the band. Oh, this is such a mess, I feel bad that she gets on my nerves. Randy says it didn’t work for him, calling it excruciating. He says she can sing, but it was so pitchy and that she had no connection to the song. Ellen stars with that Haeley is adorable...so it sucked. And she says that this song has a great powerful message. [Must send Ellen an email to ask exactly what this message is.] Kara compares her to Alex Lambert, that people are rooting for her; unfortunately, thinks she needs about a year to strengthen her instrument, that she’s got some fundamental problems. Simon doesn’t want to make it worse, but he does take the time to call it a complete mess. (Damn. I’d hate to say what he’d say when he wants to rub salt in the wound). He said that theoretically, it should have worked - she’s a cute young girl singing a cute young song, but that she shouldn’t have been singing about a climb because she fell off. And. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Ryan takes the stage to somewhat take Simon to task, asking how everything he said didn’t make things worse. I know, right? Aww...I feel bad, Haeley is obviously trying not to cry as they head to break, and it does make me feel somewhat bad for her. She is trying, but honestly? I hope she doesn’t become the AI joke - the contestant that keeps getting voted through, because I think her...lack of readiness is only going to become more apparent. She’s young, no way she’ll endure these critiques week after week without it affecting her performances.

Lacey Brown is an antique lover. That’s all I got from her video...aw hell, she’s doing Kiss Me, by Sixpence None the Richer. Strange the that’s exactly the group that Kara recommended. I don’t love this song, and I don’t love her doing it. Okay, once the tempo sped up, I started to like this more, but it feels kind of copycat to me. But it might be because it’s sing-songy anyway, and perhaps I can’t blame her for that. It’s just that her voice is so similar to the original artist. Randy said it was a good choice, and it would have worked, but for a while he was waiting for the words to flash across the screen. Again, the word he was looking for was karaoke. Ellen thinks she’s adorable and that the song, while not changing it, suited her well. Kara says she liked the beginning (!), but that she needs to step it up. Simon says it was the marginally better than last week, but that she’s trying to win a competition and not trying to showcase her artistry, that compared to Crystal, she was completely forgettable. That she will do whatever is suggested and do a credible job, and that’s it. Um. That was NOT a good critique. Even the best comments said “copycat”. I kind of feel bad for everyone having to follow Crystal tonight. The bar is too high.

Katie Stevens is next, talking about how it always snows during her viewing parties. Her video is kind of cute. She’s doing Girl Put Your Records On, by Corrine Bailey Rae. OKAY! This is the Katie Stevens that I was totally digging throughout the auditions. She’s dressed more contemporarily, she’s singing a fun song, and she’s just singing, and her voice is just so lovely I like this. And it’s the oddest thing - she seems older tonight, more assured than she did last week when she was singing on the Sunset Cruise Ship. I liked this. Well done, Katie. Randy says there were some bright moments, and that her upper register reminds him of the cool girl they saw in the audition. He thought the first part of the song was pitchy. Hmmm...citing the age and confidence, he invites her to take on bigger songs. Ellen *liked* it. Yes, the like was in quotation marks. She said that she still sounds old, and she really doesn’t want to hear anything she’d hear in her dentist’s office. Kara agrees with Ellen, saying that Katie frustrates her, that she’s better than she’s being. She saying that this is a good radio song, but not a good performance song. Simon echoes all of them, appreciating that she tried to take their notes. Simon wants her to decide what kind of artist that she wants to be, but that this wasn’t a winning performance. I’d have to disagree. I liked this more than they did, and I’ll have to watch this again. Who am I kidding? I barely get to watch shows, much less watch them again. Okay, I’m still hankty that they are quoting my blog now...I’m not giving them anymore free stuff.

Didi Benami is singing Lean On Me, by Bill Withers. They didn’t love her as much as I did last week - this COULD rock. I’m hopeful, because I like her. Her voice is very pure - it’s a lovely tone she has going on...but this. Um - it took me a minute to decide how I feel about this. And I’m not sure I loved it, but I didn’t hate it. Really - that just kind of left me puzzled. Randy can make up his mind. He doesn’t like it, that it’s not the genre for her. Ellen loves her voice...and everything else she says means there’s a big “but” coming. And it’s a little “but” - she knocks her on song choice. Kara just said it wasn’t good - and that she’s not consistent. She said she was all over the place and that she’s still a fan. DAYUM! Simon completely hates it. He says she continued the cat theme (nod to her video and her vocal warmups) by screeching during the whole thing. He says it’s a wasted opportunity - that she gets to sing in front of millions and basically makes a mess of it. Didi wins big points in my book (like my book matters), but she takes it all, and plasters a smile on her face, unable to speak, because she’s about to cry. And I think everyone I know has had a moment like that - it’s silence or a sea of tears, so I’m giving her a big hell yeah for getting through that moment. And, I don’t think it was as bad as they thought it was...I would have preferred that they were puzzled too, because I do like her. Definitely a tough break. It was hard to watch.

Michelle Delamor is singing With Arms Wide Open, by Creed tonight. I think this song showcases her voice very nicely. The beginning was really good, and I wish it hadn’t gone all rock-y. Not rocky, bad; rocky roll-ey. I also think it got away from her a little bit toward the end. Uh - I’m eh on this. Decidedly eh on this. Randy says her outfit is hot, and that’s all he has to say that’s good about the performance. He likes the chance she took, but that it fell flat. I think Ellen and I had the same thought - taking the lyrics out of the rock field was good, but it didn’t work as well as she’d hope. Kara kind of disagrees - saying it’s her favorite performance of Michelle’s ever. She said she took a risk, and it was different, and while there were some technical problems, she bought her singing this. Simon agrees with Kara, saying that he admits their advice can be contradictory (YA THINK?). He said he likes what she did in the beginning (uh-huh - get out of my head, Simon), but that she got it about 80% correct. Simon also gives Michelle the “you’re my crush” look. She’s totally his woman - don’t blow it like Lil did last year, Michelle.

Lilly Scott is doing Sam Cooke’s A Change is Gonna Come. She said, with Ryan, that she needs to work on keeping her eyes open. And I wonder how anyone notices whether her eyes are open are closed - i can’t get past her hair. Okay, so I like her voice - I like how unique it is. CYNDI LAUPER! That’s who she reminds me of - just kind of doing her own thing. I like this more than I expected to. You know I think this song is pretty much sacred. I’m really liking what she’s doing with this...it’s working for me. Randy says she worked it out, calling it his favorite performance of the night. Okay, no. It was good. Ellen said she forgot again that she was a judge and that she was her favorite performance of the night. Again, no. Kara said she was riveted - that she had her first moment - that thank God she’s a misfit. Simon said it was good, even great. That he wasn’t as over the moon as the others. He said he’s comparing her to Crystal only because they do have a similar vibe, and that he thought Crystal was stronger. And okay, thank goodness - someone has a good memory on the judge’s panel. Okay, yes, she was good. She was very good. But Crystal, in my opinion, still owns tonight.

Pretty Katelyn Epperly is singing The Scientist, by Coldplay. Oh my. I like this a lot. It got a little rough for me in the middle, but she recovered nicely. Okay, I might be a bit biased because she’s just lovely. I might have a little crush or something. Randy really liked it, but that it was way slow. He said it fell a bit off pitch at the end. He didn’t love it, but he liked it. Ellen liked that she played guitar, which is really funny because she was playing the piano. Ellen makes a joke, but then seriously says that it was way too slow...way too slow. She says slow, like a dozen times, and says that the big note kind of woke her up after the song itself putting her to sleep. And...heh. Kara says she kind of loves her, and I get that. She says she has an incredible instrument, and that she can do a lot of things with it, which is the problem, because she’s all over the place. But she’s really good. Just wants her to figure out who she is. That’s a theme this year. Simon calls it a smart choice of song that makes her contemporary. He says she’s quite corny when she performs and she needs to watch that. And because corny is just about the worst thing you can call a 20+ year old (instead of a cheese ball like me who eats that up), she kind of grimaces. I think she’ll be around for a while.

Okay - 2 hours is too long for this. There are two more singers and I’m sleepy. Just sayin’.

Paige Miles is up next. And the best thing she has for her video is that she likes to color. Hookay. I actually like to color too, to be fair, but really? That’s all she has? You know, that's one of my fears - I get to be a contestant on Jeopardy and when they get to my factoid, it’s going to be something really really dull...like how I like to color. Paige is singing Rockaway by Kelly Clarkson. I LOVE this song. Love it. And Paige is actually doing all right with it. But I must note that she said to Ryan that she had dry mouth before she started to perform, and I think I can hear a bit of it. Okay, here’s my thing about Paige - when she’s singing, I like her. But I don’t remember her much past the end of the show. That may just change after that performance - that was pretty good. Randy points out that Kara wrote this song (didn’t know that!), but that he wasn’t over the top on it (Randy’s in a bad mood tonight. Just sayin’.) He says that there are so many words in the song he missed her voice. Which. Whatever. Ellen disagrees with Randy and says that she loved it. That she had a lot of energy, and that she obviously had fun with it. Kara likes her soul/pop energy, but said the song is a bit angry, and that she was smiling too much for the song, or something like that. I think she meant that her peppy performance was incongruent with the message of the song, and so the whole thing came off fake to her. At least, that’s what I’m going with because that’s solid critiquing. Simon says that she’s picked the wrong song twice, and that it’s concerning. He said that he didn’t think she established herself as someone who could win the competition, and that her performances are forgettable. He says IF she’s still here next week, she needs to be prepared to put her personal stamp on a song and own it.

Last, but not least, Siobhan Magnus, Simon’s funny little thing! And from her video, she is a whack job. A really lovable whack job. I like her so much. Oh my, and she’s taking on Think, by Aretha Franklin. Let’s see how this goes. Oh...I don’t likey this much. And that makes me sad. Her voice is just not that strong, and where it’s thin, it’s pitchy, and when it’s strong - it’s loud. Oh she’s yelling at me and I’m really ready for this to be over. And it’s not just because I’m sleepy. When will this end - oh....that was a powerful note. How did she do that? Wow. Randy loved it, proving he’s on some sort of serious drug. Ellen loved it too. She says most people would say not to take on such a big song, but that people also thought that putting sleeves on a blanket was a mistake too. And. BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Simon says she just so weird, but that she’s interested and very talented. He liked her video, and that he was hating it and then she hit that sick last note. But for me, since I was kind of hating it - the note just made my headache complete. I didn’t see what they saw, but I’m glad they liked it, because I really like her.

At the end of the night, Simon says that Crystal stood out for him. And for me, which means that I gave an hour and fifty minutes for...what? If I had to pick who would be in trouble tomorrow night for the women? Probably Hayley and Lacey? I worry that Didi is in trouble too. We shall see!

Thanks for reading!

If I Were A Boy

Okay, so I’m blogging in real time tonight, where I find Ryan saying that the girls are NOT performing tonight. Turns out, Crystal Bowersox has been hospitalized and can’t sing until tomorrow. Here’s hoping you’re okay, Crystal - it stinks to be sick away from home.

Ryan introduces the judges and Ellen is sitting one seat closer to Simon. Before this season is over, I will have Simon and Ellen dating. Ellen and Ryan are prattling on over missed shows and Ellen is getting the opportunity to do what she does best...just ramble on, and I find her hysterical. I would love to see her in concert. Kara says that the guys are going to step up their game because they should have shaken off their nerves last week. And my my my, Kara is smokin’ tonight. The curly hair with the kind of 60’s makeup works for her.

First up - Mike Lynche, who was in theatre class along with playing football. I missed the men’s performances last week, so this will be my first time seeing Big Mike on the big stage. He’s singing “This is a Man’s World”, by James Brown. I hope this goes well for him - you can see where I’d be concerned. But it starts off very nicely and my cougar has stepped out at 8:06 tonight. A big man that can move AND croon some JB. But you know, the middle of this was kind of slow for me, but it really picks up here toward the end. Liked the beginning, and the end - the middle kind of made me sleepy. But it’ll be hard for him to piss me off - just sayin’. Randy feels like the season is starting right now - that he could look in his eye and see fire. It seems like perhaps Mike bought out Randy’s cougar too? Ellen likes all of his song choices, but called this performance the one to beat. Kara says he owned it, and didn’t really get his appeal until tonight, and that she’s feeling it. She says she didn’t know what he ate (to which Simon says - probably a lot. HA!). Simon calls it his best performance of the competition and that he seemingly changed from last week from something to a tiger. Mike makes me laugh, a lot. I hope he sticks around.

John Park is singing Gravity, by John Mayer. He said that last week he was trying too hard, and now I must wonder just what the hell I missed last week. Okay, I like John (Park. And Mayer too) a lot. I have since the auditions, but I always expect treacle when they sit down to sing. I like this very much, but I love this song so I might be biased. I think this song may actually work for him, because John Mayer has a soulful voice, but I find when I’m listening to John Mayer, I’m waiting for him to rip on his guitar. What I’m saying is that Mayer’s voice is secondary to me, so perhaps people will find this original. Okay, this wasn’t that great to me. This did NOT work for Randy, saying it was not special to him and that it wasn’t different from the original. Maybe this song won’t work for John after all, because Ellen says it was better than last week, but not original (hot mess last week, I think). Kara’s going back to old Kara, saying she didn’t connect to it. Simon struggles with his believability, saying it was a forgettable performance and that his group at Northwestern, Purple Haze (love that name, by the way), may be getting their singer back. He doesn’t imagine him at the top of the charts this time next year. They are all in agreement that he’s not star power material - Ellen tries to make him feel better about this. After all that, a flight from LAX to O’Hare International may be in John’s immediate future.

HELLOOOOOOOOOO Casey. Ryan is getting on the way back machine talking about Elliott Yamin and Chris Richardson. I’ve been watching this show for a while now and I don’t remember Chris Richardson - guess it didn’t pan out for him past AI. Casey will be doing I Don’t Wanna Be, by Gavin McGraw. Casey’s video kind of cracks me up when he says he won’t share his Idol ritual because those people are better than he is so he can’t give them anything. I usually find those videos stupid, but I liked his. Of course, I don’t dislike much about Casey. Including this song. He caught me with the opening guitar lick. Okay, I do *like* this, but this song kind of trips up his lower register. I think this was a great performance which will sail him to next week, but I don’t think this was a great vocal, honestly. Randy gives props to his musicianship and he draws the comparison to him and Stevie Ray Vaughn being from Texas. Ellen says he couldn’t go wrong with the song (apparently Chris Richardson, whoever the hell he is, did), but she finds him stiff and she wants him to have more fun on the stage. Kara calls herself on her own cougar-ness, but says that he took two steps back for her tonight, saying that everything that was distinct about him is gone tonight, reminds him it’s a singing competition. I’m not entirely comfortable with Kara and I being BFF’s this season. Simon, after needling Kara about Casey not returning her calls, agrees with her. He calls his performance last week a great song, standout; this week, someone in any bar in America, and that it didn’t work for him. I, for one, am tired of doing all of the judges work for them and wonder why I’m not making a kazillion dollars like Simon. Oh, right. Because no one knows me.

Next up, Alex Lambert who admits that he has a real case of nerves up there. Work through that Alex - that’ll hurt you in the long run. He admits to usually throwing up before big games and “especially before this”. Aw. Maybe what it is this year is that this is the first time there’s been an honest to goodness bunch of amateurs competing for their shot. Which honestly, makes me like the show more. I like this guy. Maybe this week the videos are helping me understand these kids more. Yeah, I called them kids...what? Im knocking on 40, so basically, I was too old for this who before Y2K. He’s singing John Legend “Everybody Knows”. Awww...this kid is a sweetheart. I actually like his voice, and I REALLY hope he works through this nerves thing because he could be one to watch. Randy calls it such an improvement over last week and that he enjoyed it, calling him legit. Ellen agrees that he’s so much better than last week, and likens him to a ripe banana, gaining a lot of experience so quickly. She says under that mullet is a Sam Cooke. And. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Kara says that everyone is rooting for him and that he has an incredible recordable voice, and that he doesn’t know what to do with him. Simon says it was a million times better than last week. Simon then says “the only time you should be nervous is if you’re useless”. He said he seems like he’s out there, happy to come in 7th or something and that Alex has to have a killer instinct. He goes onto say that he wishes he could choose his songs. Welcome to the top 12, Alex. He tells him he doesn’t want to hear anymore about the nerves bullshit and that he could win the whole thing. And right there, in that critique, Simon pointed out why this show really should end if he leaves. He gets completely invested in the talent, and despite the way he says it, gives spot on advice, every time. And I’m totally adding that quote to my list of favorites, by the way.

Todrick Hall gets on my nerves. So filter everything I’m about to write through that. He’s singing What’s Love Got to Do With It, by Tina Turner...and I...kinda like it. I like this arrangement, and I do think this guy has a nice voice. He just seems so full of himself that I find him hard to take. So, this performance demonstrates he needs to sing more and talk less, because I really liked it. Randy says that part of it was hot, but that a great song doesn’t need a new arrangement, and he can just sing a nice song, and for once, he needs to do it. Ellen thinks he needs to go with his strengths and that she didn’t like that he wasn’t dancing. She says it was the wrong song choice. Okay, they all like him, but didn’t like this song choice, making me think I’m in opposite land. Kara didn’t like it either. Simon didn’t like it either, saying it’s of the caliber of a theme park performance and that he’s getting it completely and utterly wrong. Simon says he needs to stick to dancing. Hmmm...I may have to listen to this again. Todrick says he thought that they wanted him to take songs and make them his own and if he gets to come back next week he’ll just do that. Okay, he’s annoying, but I’d understand why he’d think that. Because HELLO! That’s what they always say! But Randy says he changes them too much, and once again, I feel like I really need to see last week’s episode.

Jermaine Sellers is up. And in his video he is wearing an awesome onesie. He looks a hot mess, but I love that he’s wearing it. He calls himself a young guy with an old spirit. He’s singing What’s Going On, by Marvin Gaye. And I like this - I like his voice, but I have to close my eyes, because quite frankly that Nino Brown haircut is a bit off putting to me. Just sayin’. Okay, I don’t love how his voice can head to that Adam Lambert screech - not the Adam that won me over last year, but the first Adam Lambert that got on my nerves. This performance doesn’t really command my attention. I found myself looking at the clock wondering how much longer. Randy says it’s so close, but so far at the same time. He says it wasn’t a great performance and that all of his screeching was so away from Marvin Gaye. Ellen said she loves that he rocks the onesie. And that was the best part of the her critique, so you know what she thought of it. Kara says he’s always doing too much, and that he doesn’t need every trick in every performance. And I get what she’s saying -- it's kind of like when scrapbookers want to put every single technique they've ever learned on one page. You think it's going to be hot, but it's just awful and really quite amateurish. Simon says he speaks for everyone that they are frustrated and disappointed because he waters down songs and that he didn’t need to water down one of the best pop songs ever. Jermaine asks what he should sing next week, to which Simon replies that he’s not sure he’s going to be there next week. SNAP! Ellen says perhaps Frankie Beverly and Maze...we shall see.

Andrew Garcia is a break dancer, and he’s singing You Give Me Something, by James Morrison. He’s without his guitar, and I think it’s pretty good, but boring. Like, I was back on Facebook because it got kind of long. I can’t really pick what I want. Last week, the songs were too short, this week, too long. Randy doesn’t like it. Likes the song, saying he has soul, but it not a soul singer and that it didn’t work for him. Ellen does like it, but says the problem is the he can’t top Straight Up in Hollywood Week, which *was* kind of awesome. Kara said that he’s not surprising her like Straight Up did. Simon says it’s problematic that he’s chosen the wrong song 2 weeks in a row, and that this song will not make him stand out. Simon thinks he’s better than what he’s shown and he’s frustrated. And I appreciate that frustration - I do believe at this point, the judges would prefer to be lavishing praise instead of saying the same thing over and over and over and OVER again.

Aaron Kelly’s video shows him so awestruck by Simon that it’s cute. Aaron is singing My Girl by the Temptations. Isn’t this the kid who blew the Four Tops during Hollywood week? Hmph. Okay, the vocal is okay, but I want him to stop bouncing around on the stage - he’s making me nervous. So, how to say this. I thought this was okay, even good for him. But the thing is, his vocal performances never make me forget he’s 16. I remember last year, Alison Iraheta made me think she was out and out lying about her age. She had a presence that was beyond her years. But sweet Aaron is a great 16 year old performer. It’ll be interesting to see how far he goes, Randy likes this young kid who can really sing. He liked the beginning, but was eh on the end. Ellen finds he has a whole lot more confidence, but doesn’t love his song choice, calling it forgettable. She wishes he had picked another song. Kara really liked it, and really likes him. She finds him consistent, and appreciates his control, thinking he’s only going to get better. Simon didn’t like the song, saying it was all over the place. Simon offers that it’s all there, but he has to figure out what kind of artist he wants to be. He said the arrangement was too old fashioned. He offers that he has to decide what kind of artist he wants to be and come out ever week and be that artist. Kara thought he put his own spin on it.

Tim Urban is also a victim of nerves. We get to see Simon’s critique last week, who told him he needs to get it together. And what I saw of his performance has miles to go to be considered a hot mess. He’s singing Get High tonight. And this performance is closer to a hot mess than last week, but not by much. His voice is very...uh..uneven. And I’m thinking he missed more notes than he got, which is unfortunate. He seems like such a nice guy, but based on that - I’m having a hard time seeing why he got to the top 24. Randy doesn't like it, and you know he doesn’t because he asked what he thought before he started his critique. Ellen says he has no charisma or stage presence, but that he’s so adorable, and perhaps he would be great as an actor who could also sing. I see her point. Kara liked the song choice, but she said she didn’t make it his own. She said he’s not there yet, but that *maybe* he could get there. But maybe not on AI this year. Simon, in a startling display, disagreed with all of them, saying he was more relevant tonight than others tonight. He liked that he took the criticism, and didn’t whine about it, that he obviously listened. Simon complimented his work ethic, and let that be a heads up to you lippy contestants: don’t back talk. Take the criticism and work hard to change it. You may still suck, but they won’t slam you as bad. Simon may very well have bought Tim another week.

And ending the night is Lee Dewyze. I hope he sticks around now that I’ve learned how to spell his last name. He’s singing Lips of an Angel. You know what? I like Lee - I really like the sound of his voice. I’ve never heard this song before, I don’t think, but I like him singing it. He kind of has an Adam Duritz vibe going on with me right now. I think this was one of the better performances tonight. Talk about faint praise, right? Randy calls it a bold move and like that he wanted to take a chance with it. He said he liked the song, despite the pitch problems. Randellen comes out, as Ellen echos everything he says, saying he was in the song and that it was great. Kara thought it was a big improvement over last week, and says he’s radio ready right now. She doesn’t want him to be nervous. Simon says that vocally he’s head and shoulders over his competition, but he has to believe in himself. He wants him to choose the right song and just own it.

And that’s a wrap. I think Mike, Casey, Alex, and Lee were my favorites tonight. I’m thinking that John Park and Jermaine are in trouble. Or maybe I just hope they are.

That’s all for now, Friends!

Girls Just Want to Have Fun!

Okay, so first up? The Ladies are singing. The song list is wide open as it only has to be a billboard hit. But the big list ends up biting a lot of these girls in their collective rear ends because the judges hammer a lot of them on song choice.

The Coke cups are back for the judges. And thank goodness. I was about to start a conspiracy theory about the different cups now that Paula’s gone. And I miss Paula. I find that no one does bat shit crazy quite as well as she does. This will be the first time Ellen gets time of her own to judge the singers. Something else I noticed, they made a joke about Simon and Ellen being separated because Simon was hitting on her during Hollywood week. However, I wonder if there’s something to the rumors that those two hate each other. Which I can’t see…but I can see where sitting next to someone while listening to a bunch of kids mangle songs day in and day out can bring out the worst in a person.

Paige Miles gets to go first and she’s singing All Right Now. It’s ehh. I actually find her to be ehh, yammering on and on about “her moment”. What moment? I find her noisy. Not screechy. Noisy. Simon thinks she has the best voice (really? So just go to hell other 11 girls?), but hates the song. He says it was not believable and needs to believe in herself. Kara says that she chose a rock song with soul, but didn’t love the chorus. Randy, says something about her powerful voice, and uh, Randy? If Simon really does leave and this show has a hope of surviving without him – step it up! Ellen says that she appreciates her being first. And there. Great voice. Hookay. I just may not like Paige.

Ashley Rodriguez takes on Leona Lewis. Not wise considering she’s Simon’s ingénue – you’re going to have to nail it for it to work. And she doesn’t, but she reminds me of Jessica Biel with her hair like that. I don’t know that I’ve heard this song before, but she’s not keeping up with the band. It’s ehh. Kara gives her credit for taking on a big song, but wants her to take a risk and be different. Oh here we go. Did you like it because it’s a big song, or did you dislike it because she was cookie cutter? I have a feeling that if I drink every time one of them says “be different” or “bad song choice”, I’ll need to go to rehab before sweeps. Randy says she didn’t step out as herself (DRINK!), Ellen says basically the same thing – will it be Ellandy or Randellen? Simon wants to remind people that he does have a knack for picking people and says she does big singers, but not well. That it was clumsy and he didn’t like the arrangement.

And here, I must wave the bullshit flag. Can we really blame the singers for the arrangement? Perhaps if they would stop doing the mushy back story junk, there would be more time for them to…oh, I don’t know…SING.

Anyhoo, Simon’s harsh critique moves Ashley to tears, and I have to say, I thought that was an honest response. I don’t know how these people hear all of this stuff without blubbering on a regular basis.

Janell Wheeler – What about Love. You know, I still remember her first audition Hollywood week. I like her a lot, and I love this song (LOVE IT), but the two don’t work together. And here I must wonder, am I just in a bad mood? I hope she sticks around though, because I *do* like her. Randy nails her on a bad song choice (DRINK!); Ellen liked it, despite a few wonky notes (I love the term wonky). Simon said she gave 100% effort, but delivered 65% - that “she thought it was going well, but not that well”. And? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Kara says the song is way too big for her.

Lilly Scott is doing the Beatles’ Fix in a Hole, and she’s got this Corrine Bailey Rae/Adele thing happening that’s working for her. And for me. She seems like she’s the first one tonight who’s not overwhelmed by her nerves. But what is UP with that hair? Ellen likes it, saying that’s what they are looking for. Simon says she’s the best of the four (talk about damning with faint praise). Kara and Randy like it too – that she’ll be remembered for her real indie artist appeal. During Ryan’s recap, Kara and Simon are chatting – something along the lines of “will you be my new AI girlfriend”, and Kara’s all “Actually, I’m digging Ellen. But we all know that Kara is really digging Casey James, and of the things that are making me like Kara more this season, that’s up there.

Katelyn Epperly is doing Oh Darlin. I liked her in Chicago. I like her now, even though she looks like she’s losing a Mae West look-a-like contest. Oh-oh…that almost got away from her, but she recovered nicely. I like this. Simon likes her – that’s she’s quirky. He praises her song choice, but says she’ll need work. Kara says even though she wouldn’t have picked that song (DRINK!), she knows what she’s doing. But she doesn’t like her makeover (Am I, God forbid, connected to Kara this season?). Randy said that she was in tune. Talk about faint praise, indeed. Ellen said it made her want to pay attention.

Hayley Vaughn is also covering the Beatles. Her song is “I Wanna Hold Your Hand”. What? And what the HELL is she wearing? What a hot fried mess. Deeply fried in oil. Kara says the performance had issues, but that she’s fun. Randy says she’s a mess. Well, I’m paraphrasing, but that’s what the gist of it was. Ellen notes that she has a lot of presence for a 16 year old and that she shines. Simon said it was verging on terrible (not for me. It WAS terrible), and that she was like a wind up doll that never stopped smiling. He then punctuated it with “a mess”. Welcome back, Simy. I missed you. It really did kind of suck.

Lacey Brown is singing Landslide. Okay, this is one of my favorite songs ever, and aside from some phrasing issues, I liked it okay. But I think it will end up being a bad song choice because it’s a song SO easy to criticize. And the judges roundly pan it. Randy just said it was terrible. Damn. Ellen said that she’s better than that. Kara said it was an indulgent choice, felt forced, but does note she has pretty eyes. Simon said after about 15 seconds, he wondered how much longer there was (45 seconds, Simon, because of the stupid clips).

Michelle Delamor sings Alycia Keys Fallen. Another mistake, in my opinion. It’s too easy to mess it up. Okay, so I didn’t like the first note, but it does get better. Oh…this arrangement kind of sucks (I really think I’m in a bad mood tonight). Ellen loves it though – says it was fantastic, but it felt safe because it seemed so easy to her. Simon calls it good, but not great. He does say she looks fabulous (she’s his crush, I think. You know he has one every season!). Kara says she’s going for the diva spot, but has to get better technically first, that she lacks believability. I see her point. Randy says she has a great voice, and a great look, but needs to take some risks.

Didi Benami. Oh I like her. She sang Kara’s song during Hollywood week. She’s doing The Way I am, by Ingrid Michaelson. I really like her voice – it’s different. Oh – it’s THIS song. You know, the song you hear on commercials and it’s a bit of an earworm. I really liked this. But Simon didn’t. He said she was dull, but likes her. Kara says she made a good choice in the changes she made, but Simon repeats it’s not memorable. Randy calls it sleepy. Ellen, coming as close to criticism as she had yet, says it would be an okay song in a set, but one shot for the week? Not so much. Simon then compares it to your first kiss – you want it to be memorable. And now we know who got Paula’s cup this year.

Siobhan Magnus sings Wicked Games, one of my Waltie’s favorite songs. I like it too. She’s kind of owning this. Her voice is lovely. Kara wouldn’t have picked the song for her, but liked it, and her in that moment. Randy, if I’m reading my notes right, said that it was a tough song, and the comparison from her owning Hollywood week didn’t help her. Ellen loves it. She forgot to be a judge because she was entertained, which I think is high praise. Simon calls her a funny little thing. He said that he didn’t love it, that the clip hurt her. I think Simon thinks she’s a bit of a whack job. Which makes me laugh.

My girl Crystal Bowersox is singing Hand in My Pocket. I’m biased because she’s my favorite so far, but I wonder if it will hurt her that she’s working all of these instruments instead of using the preciously short 60 seconds to SING? I have to admit, at this point, she and Katie Stevens are the only names I know. Randy calls it original, and finds her honestly good. He’s a fan. Ellen said she adds something fresh and wants to see more of her. Simon wouldn’t stop to hear her outside a subway, and she lips off, which if you know me, you know that bothers me. Kara says it’s good, but not great.

Lastly Katie Stevens does Feelin’ Good. I didn’t love it. The vamp move didn’t work for me. I felt like she was playing dress up. Ellen and Simon were feelin’ me on this. Simon said it started to become annoying. Kara doesn’t like it, saying she couldn’t hear herself, and that it was pitchy. Randy and Kara morphed into Randara, saying essentially the same thing. Actually, they were all in agreement on this one – Randelaramon, perhaps?

Okay, so DVR is still holding the boy’s performance. Might be time to let it go.

Happy AI tonight, friends!

Who Are You?

Hello, and welcome back to American Idol. I must admit that I tried blogging during the auditions, but there's too much fluff and too much to write, quite frankly. So I figure here's a good time to start...here are my thoughts on the 24. I'm already behind because I haven't watched the men yet (DVR is still holding onto it), which makes me think that I started at exactly the right time last year - when we had the top 12.

Anyone else think that the auditions were rather lackluster this year? I may be losing my AI mojo, particularly with the impending departure of my Simy. I'm not at all convinced that they won't offer him a co-gillion dollars to stick around though, because like I said last year...Simon IS American Idol.

Okay, so the 24, in the order that they were announced:

1. Mike Lynche. Big Mike whose wife had the baby girl during the auditions. I love his daughter's name, Leila Rose, but he better go far in the competition to make up to his wife that he missed labor. One minus that Simon noted for Big Mike was his lack of confidence, but that he is likable. He's easily one of my early favorites - everyone knows I'm a sucker for a big man who is light on his feet. If he doesn't make it though, he'd have one hell of a career as a chiropractor. Those hugs he gave out probably fixed a lot of sore vertebrae.

2. Dede Benami. She lost her BFF and was doing this for her. She wowed during Hollywood week on Angel and singing Kara's song. She reminds me of what I hear on the radio, when she's good, she's fantastic, but I don't think she's consistent. I also worry about her emotional state because she's cried the most of all of the contestants so far. But there's always room in AI for crazy.

3. Katelyn Epperly. During the auditions, we were treated to her hard luck story: dad left Mom, all hopes pinned on me, yada yada yada. She nailed that song during Hollywood Week. Honestly, I thought she was a no. I am feeling rather lukewarm about her, and doubt she'll make it to the top 12.

4. Casey Jones. Hello, Hotness. The best moment in the season came when the other three judges called Kara on her cougar-ness. Ellen even notes that "he has his hair down for you." And for me. Yowsa. He's really feeling his acceptance, and Randy clowns Kara about her dainty little hug. I ain't mad at'cha Kara. And actually, I must admit that I'm liking Kara a lot more this season.

5. Aaron Kelly. He's 16 years old and made a mess during Hollywood Week. I'm always leery of performers forgetting the words, particularly a Four Tops song. So I'm lukewarm toward Aaron because he forgot the words to one of my favorite songs AND because he made me feel old by forgetting said words.

6. Lee Dewyze. They accuse Lee of not having a lot of star power or confidence. He objects on both points. He growled at me through the Fray in Hollywood week, but for some reason, I think he's one to watch.

7. Todrick Hall. What the hell is his name? Simon was not on board with this one, and I'm not fond of his picture-name-dropping. He showed pictures of himself with Fantasia and Oprah...I'm decidedly ehh on him too.

Okay, right here is a notable no. Jessica Funey. She's the one who was so proud of herself for getting all the words to The Sweetest Escape. She's out and she's really pathetic about it. Puh-leeze. But I'm wondering why Simon keeps saying twelve? Does he already know? Is it fixed? It's a conspiracy. That's spelled c-o-n...spiracy.

8. Janell Wheeler. Her audition was okay, but she was a bit of a mess Hollywood Week. There must be something there. I think she's through on the basis of her first Hollywood Week solo. That rocked.

9. Tyler Grady. He's got the 70's groove on lock. he did "Let's Get It On". I like him, but kind of hated his fake out. However, it was worth it to see Ryan say "Nice". Yeah, I got some mad love for Ryan ALREADY this season.

10. Lacey Brown. She lost out to Megan Corkrey for the last girl spot on AI8. And now that know the train wreck that Megan is (I still remember that bird squawk she did), I'm sure they are sorry they didn't give her the chance last year.

These next ones just got names, so I'm guessing they won't be around long:

11. Ashley Rodriguez

12. Alex Lambert

13. Joe Munoz

14. Crystal Bowersox. She is, so far, one of my favorites. I guess we saw enough of her that we didn't need any back story.

15. Katie Stevens. Cute little girl who's grandmother has Alzheimer's. I like her, but I fear she's going to get too cute for me. Really fast.

Here's another notable no. Angela. This broke my heart, and quite frankly pissed me off. If they were that concerned for her, why not let her through? I can give you three names right off the top that could have gone home in her place. Anyhoo, it was an honest moment of a girl just trying to live her dream. Unlike many things that are contrived by the AI machine, this one got to me. And I think they got it wrong.

More names, no story.

16. Lilly Scott

17. Page Miles

18. Siobhan Magnus. Another one that I like a lot right now.

19. Michelle Delamor

20. Jermaine Sellers

21. John Park

22. We have Hayley Vaughn v. Tori somebody for the last girl spot. Obviously it was Hayley because I don't have Tori's last name. I'm going to try really really hard for Hayley not to annoy me. So far, it's not going well.

23. We have Thaddeus v. Andrew Garcia. Once again, I have Andrew's full name, but not Thaddeus', so there's no cliffhanger here. I like Andrew.

Okay, so that's twenty three. For the life of me, I can't figure out how I missed the 24th person during this two-night fest...it was Tim Urban.

That's it for now, friends! Stay tuned for the girl's...coming up after dinner!

Auld Lang Syne

Okay, so, I started this before New Years, just KNOWING I’d have it posted before 2010 became a reality. No so much.

So here we are -- New’s Year’s Resolutions, new diets, cleaning up the Christmas decorations. Before I look to the new year, I think I’d like to list, in no particular order, my top random thoughts at this point in time. Some are discoveries about myself, some are questions that remain unanswered, some things are news items that just stayed with me.

1. The year started off with a bang, as President Barack Obama was sworn in while, literally, the entire world watched (and gave him a Nobel Prize for his efforts). This year has worn on him, but I hope he woke up on 1/1/10 as optimistic as he was 1/21/2009. There's still a lot of work to be done. And I'm glad he's still hot. (ha-cha-cha!)
2. Other staggering news - I think the 80's officially ended its run as the greediest decade, courtesy of Bernie Madoff. Ponzi schemes, bank bailouts, staggering bonuses...I think we all gripped our wallets a little tighter, and I *tried* to stop griping about my job ~ after all, I have one. However, I didn't completely stop griping...people *are* nuts, and spending 8 hours daily with nutty people (and not always the good crazy, either) entitles one to a pout every now and again.
3. I kinda love gadgets. People have made references to my gadgetry before; I mostly ignored it because I am a book lover, and lovers of books are not lovers are technology. Or so I thought. In 2009, I replaced my PC with a Mac, I extolled the virtues of an external 1 terabyte hard drive, I bought my third iPod, and asked Walter for a charging station for Christmas. Our electric bill is probably going to be 10 million dollars. But I don’t own a kindle. Book lovers don’t buy those.
4. My friend Becky says that the warranty on your body expires at 40, but that the five preceding years give you a preview. OH EM GEE what a true statement. And if you let your metabolism peter out, it is hell restarting that monkey-freaky. It tops my list for 2010, as I said I was through dieting on May 30, 2010. I’ll let you know how it goes. I kind of feel like everything I need to know about fitness I learned in 8th or 9th grade: an object at rest stays at rest; an object in motion stays in motion. I’m going for the latter this year.
5. But my body wasn't always at rest: tap class is AWESOME! I can't explain it, but somehow in that class I feel...free.
6. I fear that my inability to let go of being great someday is a sign of immaturity.
7. Of all the celebrity deaths that happened in 2009, Michael Jackson and Bea Arthur still stay with me. Yeah yeah, B-Art was 100, but seriously? True entertainers are quickly becoming a thing of the past, and that makes me sad. Part of the reasons that I love watching the Golden Girls so much is that each of those women could sing, act, and dance. Nowadays it seems like borderline talent in one area makes agents assume greatness in all. It’s a painful reminder to me that I am not the target age for pop culture. And speaking of that...
8. I’m DONE with celebutants and reality television (except for, of course, American Idol and the Amazing Race). I mean seriously, why are we all watching people exactly like us do stupid sh!t? We’ve taken the 15 minutes of fame bit just too damned far. So, Kim, Khloe, and that other one, Spencer, Heidi, Megan, Lauren, and all the rest of you: you ARE the weakest link! Good bye! Quit peppering my US Magazine with your being.
9. Along those same lines, I’m done with media whores too. Yeah, I called them that. Octo-Mom, Jon, Kate, the party crashing Salawi’s...it’s ENOUGH. People want to be in the news for being outlandish, for keeping the public’s attention, and it’s all so boring. It’s as if these people have become toddlers again and think that negative attention is still attention. At some point, our society started responding to people being “real”, calling them refreshing, daring them to push the envelope. I personally think we need to reintroduce something very simple, and long forgotten into our lives: shame. People roll their eyes at the “s” word, and say tsk tsk for using it, but really! Jon and Kate should be ASHAMED of airing their dirty laundy in public, making their lives a You Tube spectacle for their children. Balloon Boys parents should be ASHAMED of letting an entire state take part in a wild goose chase. Octo-Mom...well, you get my point.
10. I read a lot of good books this year, and plan to read more in 2010. A couple of titles stay with me, but Date Lab in the Washington Post Magazine is among the most riveting reading. I think I like to read about people trying to make a connection; after all, I've deduced that's what most of life is about, finding, keeping, maintaining connections. With friends, family, loved ones. This is the reason I think Facebook is crazy popular ~ the cyber-knowledge that you're not alone.
11. I shall remember 2009 as the year where I didn't watch that much television. I store a LOT on DVR, but don't get around to watching most of it. I would love to tell you it's because I'm giving up television for more aesthetic pursuits, but really? I felt, moreso than ever before, that I ran out of time every single day. Here's hoping that doesn't happen in 2010. Of course, American Idol is premiering on January 12, 2010, and I'm already planning for this.
12. Michael Jordan was inducted in to NBA Hall of Fame this year, first ballot. That was not surprising. What was surprising is that he took his acceptance speech as his opportunity to show how embarrassingly small the biggest man to ever hold a basketball is. His speech was filled with vitriol, and he invited any person who ever doubted his greatness to the ceremony for the sole purpose of rubbing their nose in it. Michael Jordan is being eaten alive by his own obsolescence, even daring to hint at a comeback. It’s no surprise now to hear people comparing Mike to Kobe, as Jordan in his post-basketball years is seemingly very ordinary, and not very likable. Please Mike, go do some charity to wash this bitter taste out of everyone’s mouth. I realize some of you out there will say that Jordan’s always been a bit of an [edited, rhymes with glass bowl], but when you have Chicago Bulls fans saying it, it’s time for an intervention. Oh, that’s right, Jordan doesn’t have friends, merely fans.
13. Along those sports lines...the New York Yankees. Twenty-seven. More than any other sports franchise ever. And, for those who missed it, the Yankees played like they loved baseball, which made me love baseball all the more. Twenty-seven!
14. Is there ever a point where trying to be organized is futile? I mean really? Can one just have too much sh!t to get it all together?
15. I got to travel a lot more for work this year than usual. San Francisco is still my favorite place on the planet.
16. What end of year wrap-up would be complete without a mention of Tiger Woods? Tiger, Tiger, Tiger...what a mess. I honestly feel bad for the man ~ his entire life imploded in a matter of weeks. I cannot pass judgement, but I *can* wonder just what the hell he was thinking. The whole “too much time, too much money” explanation could probably carry you for 2 women, maybe even three to the very patient. But right around woman #6, it becomes very apparent that you were out there...uh...being liberal with your goodies just because you could. It’s obvious golf is not a team sport; if it were, he would have had plenty of teammates to give him pointers on what not to do. And is Elin the first wife ever to not paste on a dutiful smile and beg for privacy “as they deal with this crisis in their home”? I always want the happy ending, but a large part of me is giving her a hell yeah for saying “hell no”.
17. Alex ends the year obsessed with Hot Wheels, Pokemon, the vacuum, and the Snuggie! EVERY time he sees the commercial he announces that we're all getting one.
18. I'm sad that the genre known as soap operas really are dying. This year we lost Guiding Light, and P&G announced they are getting out of the business altogether with the early 2010 demise of As The World Turns. Unbelievable really when you consider that these shows are at least 50 years old. I don’t buy the obvious reason ~ that the targeted audience is now working. After all, in this enlightened television age of DVR, you can watch tv anytime, any place. Certainly the genre has been trying to survive since it was preempted in ’94 with the OJ trial, and the onslaught of chatter and reality shows that compete with soaps. I just think that soaps are handed down like China patterns and no one’s handing them down anymore. My mother never watched them - they were handed to me from my grandmother, who would watch Another World religiously as she sat shelling peas. To me, soaps are one of the last bastions of a simpler time, a time when computer screens weren’t on 24 hours a day, and when you didn’t have a disembodied voice on your cell phone shouting directions at you (got the Droid for Christmas, love that whole navigation thing). I appreciate the now, but I really miss the then sometimes.
19. In case you didn’t know, life spins on a dime; crying is cathartic; butter is better than margarine; families are crazy, but yours; three-year olds are crazier, but lovable; 2010 really isn’t the beginning of a new decade, but the end of the old one.

Happy New Year! Now I gotta get moving...an object at rest...

Gone Too Soon

Okay, so it seems as though most of the world stopped today to pay tribute to Michael Jackson, who, for those who have been on the moon for the past nine days, died suddenly in his home on June 25th. I have watched transfixed as people have reacted with a startling sense of loss - I have seen images of people all over the world have created makeshift memorials - a lot of them on the Internet. If my office was any indication of the rest of the world, it stopped. It was eerily silent there today. I wish I could have enjoyed it more, but my heart was heavy. I can't exactly explain why...but that won't stop me from trying.

For myself, I know that his death will be one of those moments I will remember when someone says "where were you when?" I was in the BART station, on my way to see Danielle in Oakland, when I overheard a man talking on his cell phone. It spread much in the way startling news does in 2009...hushed reactions followed by furious texting/facebooking/tweeting. I was maybe a little surprised at how deeply it affected me - it took me days to process it, if I have fully processed it now. I was glued to the television, and once I got home, Walter and I would often exchange glances as the reality of what had happened settled upon us. We've been able to share with Alex what Michael Jackson has meant to us - and watching Alex dance around, happily yelling Beat It, or asking to hear "Michael Jackson Monster" (you know it as Thriller), I think about the childhood we are providing him, and the childhood that eluded Michael - the childhood that he chased for most of his adult life. I hope that he was able to recapture some of his childhood through his own children, for his sake.

It seems in death Michael was able to accomplish what had eluded him in the last years of his life - his star has burned white hot over the past two weeks, as folks remembered the child who stunned us with a big voice and dazzlingly quick feet, to the fun guy with the Gheri Curl who sang Rock with You (I begged to be able to hang the album, which y'all know folded out to be a full sized poster, on my wall), to THAT guy, that dancing machine that moonwalked across my television in 1983 when my entire family watched the Motown 25 special that night. And while I was waiting to watch George Michael sing Careless Whisper, Michael Jackson worked it out. And after that, it was dizzying, Friday Night Videos, saving up to buy albums, yes, albums. Then there was watching We Are the World, trying to find my favorite artists. It's only with age that I realized how big that was...and how that young man of 25ish wanted to use his talent for something more, something good. Looking back, it's easy to see that *that* kind of stardom, for anyone, is dangerous. How can you top yourself? How hard must it be to try and be the best entertainer, the best humanitarian, the best dancer when the records you are chasing are your own?

Yes, of course, years later, he started to let his Freak Flag fly beyond what made any of us comfortable. I'll go on record now that I never thought MJ was guilty of anything but startling poor judgment and stupidity. But honestly? I think that he just *knew* that WE knew how innocuous he was, and I think the downward spiral happened after the trials. Not just because he was, you know, acquitted of heinous crimes, but because he could not believe that the public, the very group of people that he worked so hard to entertain and please, had turned on him. Scorned by the public, he retreated into himself, into his life, into his children. I had stopped listening to new news of Michael Jackson, managing mostly a tsk tsk at what his life had become, wondering why you never saw Michael and LaToya in the same room. I had mostly forgotten up until the last two weeks, that Michael Jackson was an insanely huge part of my pop culture, and my life. I had forgotten that watching him dance transports me back to the 80's once again. I had forgotten that I tried to learn ever dance to every video he did. I had forgotten that I loved Michael Jackson, loved his music, considered him a genius. As Walter has noted, in the 80's, it was Prince, Michael Jackson, and Madonna, and I think they, like my grandmother, were supposed to live forever. It has been very easy to do my Michael Jackson Memorial Programming on Facebook, because that is a songbook that is rich with rhythm and rhyme, poetry, and love. And fun - I dare any of you to play PYT and not snap your fingers!

I cannot help but feel in some ways that I let Michael Jackson down. Like any child, his pleas for attention got bigger and bigger as long as they went unnoticed, and by the time we noticed, by the time we paused, it was because a stranger in the BART in Oakland was saying how sad it was that Michael Jackson passed. I suspect we will never know the official cause of death - the Jackson family will keep that as private as possible. I also suspect that it will involve prescription drugs that should have never been outside of a hospital. I think his death was ultimately caused by the inability of anyone to tell this child "no". Maybe if I had done less tsk tsking and more forgiving - forgiving him for letting us down, for his bad judgement, and choosing to remember his good...you know, what I'd hope anyone would do for me, maybe I wouldn't feel such a loss. It's one more reminder that our icons, however iconic, are human. Michael was a fragile human being, and in that, perhaps he'll make a better angel than old man.

Rest in Peace, Michael, knowing that there will never be another you.