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American Idol's Top Eight Girls - 9th March 2010

No intro! Like they're actual pros! I can barely contain myself, but this is mainly due to Idol only being an hour tonight.

 

Katie Stevens with Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson.

No too bad. Little bit off on some notes, really off on others. Decent big note. Agree with Randy that it's too big for her, and apparently she doesn't know who she is blah blah, but who cares about what song, big, or young or whatever. Bottom line: She didn't sing it well.

Siobhan Magnus with House of the Rising Sun by The Animals.

I'm genuinely interested to see what she does with this, and, well.... she delivers. This girl is honestly a great singer. I thought she might be pushing the kooky shit, but for me, it works. It's like a great diva deigned to sing a bloke's song. She's won me over a little. Her new-found cleavage might have something to do with it, admittedly.

Lacey Brown with The Story by Brandi Carlile.

Brave girl, and she does a great job, but I was waiting for a climactic moment that never came, in a song that should be full of them. Still, those eyes, man.

Katelyn Epperly with I Feel the Earth Move by Carole King.

steviekane's picture

Cheryl Cole - Parachute - Single & Video Review

Sorry to say it, but the solo debut of 'national treasure' Cheryl Cole has been a distinct non-event. First off, there was Fight For This Love, which was one of those 'hit back at the gossips' songs that has recently backfired on her almost as hard as Rehab did for Amy Winehouse. Then there was that dreadful collaboration with will.i.am a track that no-one outside of the studio needed to hear, let alone release as a single.

And let's not get started on the wacky styling, which her 'people' probably described as edgy and modern, but which actually looks like Lady Gaga in the deepest throes of depression.

But there's a glimmer of hope - Parachute, a song with some kind of decent chorus. And instead of trying to do anything too edgy, this borrows a tango rhythm with a touch of a hip hop beat. It's a gentle, romantic song, only slightly marred by the declarations of "I don't need a parachute, baby if I got you" and "I won't fall out of love".Hard to rely on someone catching you from a freefall when they're probably distracted trying to text a photo of their privates to a glamour model. But hey, that's a lesson everybody needs to learn once, right?

Gerard McGarry's picture

Introducing - Dinosaur Bones

The good and bad thing about the SXSW showcases is the sheer number of new bands you start getting emails about. It's almost impossible to listen to them all, never mind write about the ones you like.

But I'm glad I turned on to Toronto's Dinosaur Bones, even though there's a distinct lack of material on their MySpace page. On the other hand, the two songs that are currently featured on their player are so top notch that they deserve a spotlight.

First up is Ice Hotels, a track that builds layer upon lavish layer of sound while a romantic tale plays out in the verses. Booming, deep drumbeats punctuate the lyrics and build the tension up until it's all released with a single cymbal crash, then silence. Royalty takes the band into a bass-heavy rock groove while singer Ben Fox puts in an impassioned vocal. On the press release, they describe Dinosaur Bones' songs as "broody pop gems, dripping with haunting synth layers and a throbbing rhythm section", and there's not much more I can add to that. Check out Ice Hotels...

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Glee - Ballad, S01E10, Episode review

It's crushes all round in the tenth episode of Glee tonight - this ballad-themed episode has Schuester dealing with an unwanted crush from Rachel, Kurt helping Finn with ulterior motives.

And yes, tonight's the night when Puck finally snaps and tells Mercedes that he is Quinn's babydaddy and not Finn. Oops, did I spoil it for you? Well, there's more to come...

As we've already said, Rachel Berry develops a schoolgirl crush on Will Schuester, which leads to some brilliant comedy and musical moments. First off, is when Schue's wife Terri realises what's going on an manipulates Rachel to come round and clean her house, reasoning to Schue that if she has to put up with perky, younger girls calling for him, then she should get something from it too.

Next, is the Don't Stand So Close To Me/Young Girl medley that Will sings to Rachel as a hint for her to back off. Naturally, she interprets this in exactly the opposite way, but the swooning looks on Rachel and Emma Pillsbury's faces are priceless.

Gerard McGarry's picture

The Guardian interviews Matt Smith

You know it's getting close to the new series of Doctor Who when major interviews with its stars start appearing in the press. This weekend, The Guardian published its interview with new Doctor, Matt Smith.

To be very cruel, it's essentially a puff piece, profiling Smith for people who probably haven't already researched him. I mean, one entire paragraph is dedicated to his dead cat, Timmy! In other places, it gives the impression that Smith is a vibrant and energetic character himself, and possibly addicted to Mini Eggs. If that gets out, he'll have more Mini Eggs sent to him than he could eat in a lifetime.

Things get interesting when Smith finally gets talking about The Doctor, his approach to playin the character and about Karen Gillan, the Doctor's latest companion. On the subject of the eleventh Doctor:

Gerard McGarry's picture

UK Singles Chart - Top 10 - 7 March 2010

It's time for the latest and greatest music on the UK pop scene. Here's this week's top ten singles.

For me, it's a mixed bag. Some great tracks, but mostly rubbish. I hate the new Rihanna single. It's another step toward destroying her image and potentially her career. And Cheryl Cole makes a third single out of Parachute, which is frankly the best of a very inconsistent and unsatisfying solo career so far.

Gerard McGarry's picture

American Idol - Danny Gokey sings My Best Days Are Ahead Of Me

One of last years strongest contestants, Danny Gokey, returns to the American Idol stage with his latest single My Best Days Are Ahead Of Me.

I won't lie to you, I couldn't stand him last year, I thought he was an overconfident arse, and he seemed to think he had the competition in the bag. I'm not proud to say that I was glad he didn't win.

However, Gokey's gone country, and it's a good sound for him. It's a decent track too, doing well on iTunes from what Seacrest says. He goes nuts self-promoting, definitely milks his marketing value out of the conversation with Seacrest afterwards.

Having said that, My Best Days is quite an autobiographical song for the Gokster. You see, now that he's not competing, I kind of like Danny. Yes, I'm that fickle. Anyway, the song's quite an uplifting one - a great message. Better than The Climb, I think Haeley Vaughn would agree...

Gerard McGarry's picture

American Idol 2010 - Park, Sellers, Delamor and Vaughn eliminated

Funny how, when you run all the judges comments together on American Idol, they sound a little bit pissy and cliched. All that talk of not knowing what "it" is, but you've got it, and "stepping it up" comes across as insincere. Really? Step it up? In what way - care to be more specific, dear judges?

Interestingly, Cowell notes that he's been second-guessing himself lately - comments that he's given, he's regretted on watching the show back again. They definitely hear something different in the studio to whatever mix the viewers at home get. He wouldn't be drawn by Seacrest on who particularly caused Simon to change his mind.

Next is the group performance of I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas. Is it just me, or are these particularly train-wreck TV this year. The fake smiling is grating, every single one of them looks uncomfortable (sharing the limelight?), and their movements on the stage are robotic. Not great. Not even close. Maybe the difference is that this year Glee has raised the standard for group performances? Can we expect a wheelchair group routine on Idol soon?

Gerard McGarry's picture

American Idol's Second Elimination - 4th March 2010

After an intro that looks and sounds like a bastardized version of a Jeremy Bruckheimer trailer, the drama unfolds...

...and so does the bloody lip-syncing! When is it going to stop? If we have to watch a lipdub of the song, i'd rather watch this. Nonetheless, despite Paige trying to literally upstage everyone, and Siobhan's ree-cock-ulous outfit, I enjoy the little sing-song.

John Park, pick a window, mate. You're leaving.

Yet, he manages to knock out a much better performance of his chosen song. As do all the eliminations, apart from Haeley, who screamed so much, she might have been better off letting Debbie the floor manager do it. I mean it - I winced quite a bit at the end.

 

Danny Gokey with My Best Days Are Ahead of Me by Danny Gokey

Not great. Almost identical to original artist's version. Some bum notes and pitc...... 

 

Oh sorry, I really thought he was an inexperienced contestant there. Seems like a nice bloke all the same, as do the eliminations. Yet again, more class shown tonight than I expected. Jermaine Sellers seemed like he had a complaint/excuse/insult hidden away in his blatherings, but that's about it

steviekane's picture

American Idol 2010 - Week 2: Billboard Hits - the girls!

After Miss Bowersox's hospital visit - did we ever find out what she was in hospital for, anyway? - the remaining 10 ladies of American Idol take their turn on stage. Randy tries to up the ante by claiming that a bunch of the boys had fire in their eyes. And for a minute, we entertain the notion that some of the guys are satan worshippers who've done their deals with the devil (Simon?) in return for winning Idol...

Anyway, mysteriously ailed Crystal Bowersox is up first. Let's get started:

Crystal Bowersox

Taking on Creedence Clearwater Revival's Long As I Can See The Light, Crystal Bowersox gives a soulful, atmospheric rendition of a classic tune. Wow, showing off a fantastic voice -  no major tuning problems on this one, and she looks decidedly comfortable being on the stage.

Gerard McGarry's picture
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