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American Idol 2011: Scotty McCreery And Lauren Alaina On The Season’s Finale

2011-06-14T08:47:00.000-07:00

First, I must confess that it sure doesn’t feel like a “Finale” on this season’s “American Idol”. With all my “favorites” gone, the curtain fell many, many weeks ago starting with my gal Thia Megia and then my man James Durbin. Who would have thought that James might not even make it to the “Top 3”. The audacity of the American voters!! Yes, I’m still stinging from his elimination.

But if he has to go, he has to go. So… Let’s get down to the “Final 2”. Notice I did not say the “Top 2” because all the best ones had already exited the Idol stage. Okay, enough of my “rants”. To the “music” business at hand.

With the 2 remaining “country music” contenders left to battle it out, one does not expect much from this season’s “Finale”. But I must go on record that the 2 kids did put in a lot of effort to at least indicate their genuine interest in vying for the Idol title. And like in all past season “Finales”, both Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina had to belt out 3 songs. The first was to be a repeat of their personal favorite performance of the season, the second being a song selected by their own idol and the third an original coronation song which was to be their first single.

Scotty McCreery was first to sing, going with Montgomery Gentry’s “Gone” followed by Lauren Alaina’s choice of Carrie Underwood’s “Flat On The Floor”. So far so good but nothing spectacular from either one of them.

For the second round, we find Scotty singing his idol George Strait’s choice of “Check Yes Or No”. Lauren went with her idol Carrie Underwood’s selection of “Maybe It Was Memphis”. At this point, I was almost giving up on watching altogether because it certainly did not feel like a “Finale Night” at all!! The judges were no help either. They gave “Round 1” to Scotty McCreery while “Round 2” went to Lauren Alaina. No surprises there. It’s been like this all season from these 3 “oh-so-brainy” judges!! Yes, I am being intentionally “sarcastic” here!!

And now for the third round. Scotty took on “I Love You This Big” and although it wasn’t that big a deal, he at least did maintain his personal “style” (let’s just call it the “Scotty Way”). One thing for sure, he’s made Idol history by being the most consistent contestant who has been “sticking to his gums” from Day 1 until today on the “big stage”. I at least could admire him for that. And coming from such a tender age, it is most pleasantly surprising to discover such maturity in one so young. Yup, that’s Scotty alright!! As for Lauren, she closed the night with “Like My Mother Does” and she certainly did it with all the “drama” she could muster, mother and all. Coupled with the fact that Ryan Seacrest had earlier started the evening by declaring Lauren a little “under the weather” because apparently she had strained her vocal cord or something and he even took the “drama” a little further by bringing on board a doctor to confirm the diagnosis. Now isn’t that a little obvious that they’re fishing for “sympathy” votes? Geez… and guess what? All 3 judges practically declared Lauren the winner after this round. Poor Scotty – thrown under the bus (like what happened to Haley Reinhart earlier)! Double geez…!!

Now if Simon Cowell was following this season of “American Idol” and was watching tonight, I wonder what might have crossed his mind?? Dare I mention it in this article of mine?? Anyway, like what I’ve been saying in my last couple of posts, since my “favorites” are no longer around to battle it out, I certainly have no expectations about tonight’s event and certainly not that excited about the results either. But in all fairness, even though there were no memorable “moments” in either country kid’s singing, they did put on a good show with it looking a little lob-sided though because I somehow felt that Lauren was a teensy-weensy “too confident” tonight for her own good. Dare I utter the words “too cocky”?? A little “humble pie” might help her to acquire more votes. This sudden inflation of “overconfidence” on her part reminds me of the old saying “Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched” as her attitude might just result in a “backlash” of sorts. As for poor ol’ Scotty. He did look mighty “uncomfortable” with all that going on around him. But his professionalism and maturity won me over as I’m sure did a lot of fans who tuned in tonight. Go, Scotty, go!!!

Anyhow, let me try to end this article with an upbeat mood by giving you a couple of videoclips from these 2 future “country” musicians.

Dancing With The Stars: “Karate Kid” Ralph Macchio Gave His All Until The Very End

2011-05-30T10:09:00.000-07:00

Week 9 on “Dancing With The Stars” showcases a “Winner Takes All Cha Cha” which earns the winning couple an extra 15 points. So it should be a motivating factor to spur on the remaining 4 celebrities on this all-important night.

My favorite “Karate Kid” Ralph Macchio was like a completely different dancer altogether. Having recovered from the previous week’s leg injury, he hit the dance floor (with his partner Karina Smirnoff) with such sharp and precise moves when he took on an “Argentine Tango” (song “Violentango”) that he probably caught every spectator by surprise. For once, he was displaying a terrific posture. But alas, the judges only awarded him a score of “25”.

Next, we are shown clips of his “Karate Kid” days with Pat Morita, pixes of a young Ralph with his girlfriend (before she became “Mrs Ralph Macchio”), his parents, his kids – they were all showcased in nostalgic fashion. His “flashback” was that of a happily-married family man with a stable kind of environment unlike those of the “Hollywood” jet set. When he performed the “Salsa” complete with “stuffing” to his “booty” to the tune of “I Know You Want Me” with Karina in a sexy wild animal outfit, he was “oh-so-flexible” and “shaking like he means it”. Although I wasn’t too crazy about the choreography, I definitely loved the way Ralph and Karina enjoyed this dance routine. Unfortunately one of the judges Len Bruno gave some pretty rude (bleeped out) remarks which clearly offended Karina. Ralph was defensive of his partner as proven by his comments during the interview clip. For this dance, they received a low score of “23” which together totals up to only “48”.

In the challenge between Hines Ward and Ralph Macchio in the “Winner Takes All Cha Cha”, I must say that although my “favorite” is Ralph, the choreography in Ralph’s dance routine is not so typically that of a “Cha-cha-cha” and I actually enjoyed Hines’ old-fashioned take on this genre much more and probably so did the judges as they awarded the win to Hines and his partner Kym.

Next on is my female “favorite” Kirstie Alley. During the rehearsal, we witness Kirstie no longer enjoying herself (with her professional partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy) as much as she used to. Either the pressure of the dance competition is getting to her or the “rapport” and “chemistry” she once shared with Maks has “fizzled” into “thin air”. But on the night itself, she managed to command a beautiful “Viennese Waltz” (song “One and Only”). Of course the sweeping movement of her gown as she swayed in time to the music helped to paint a perfect portrait of a dance performance but it was somewhat “robotic” in nature. I have to say that she’s lost that certain “spark” that she normally brings to the dance floor. There is no longer any excitement, passion or energy in her dance steps. In the brief interview that preluded the results, it was a case of “oil and water” when you look and listen to this pair – such a stark difference from past interviews when Kirstie was oozing charm and wit and character. What’s happened to the “old” Kirstie? Even when they were awarded a score of “27”, she didn’t look too ecstatic.

Before she performed her next dance, clips of her early years in “Star Trek” and “Cheers”, her 2 kids from her previous marriage to “Hardy Boys” Parker Stevenson and her cocaine-addiction story all came into view as did a short clip of John Travolta (her ex-movie-co-star) as well as that of his wife Kelly Preston. Obviously they were rooting for her. When she finally performed the “Paso Doble” (to the tune of “White Room”), it felt a little too forced. Kirstie’s movements looked more like a “walk in the park” and the overall routine did not look polished enough and of course there was still no “love” between her and Maks. But the judges loved it and started to praise the “technical” aspects of her performance, awarding a score of “27” thus bringing it to a total of “54” for both dances.

In the “Winner Takes All Cha Cha” between Kirstie Alley and Chelsea Kane, it was observed that even though a little “cheekiness” by Kirstie did bring back memories of the “old” Kirstie, it was not enough to take on Chelsea who is obviously the stronger of the 2 dancers and moreover, the latter had more vitality and energy coupled with a very good sense of rhythm. It was sheer joy to watch Chelsea perform. Her moves were just so tight. And yes, the judges favored Chelsea who won this challenge.

In the final round to decide who would take home the extra “15” points, Chelsea Kane and partner Mark Ballas beat Hines Ward and partner Kym Johnson after their performance of an “instant cha-cha-cha”.

When it was time for the elimination for Week 9, my “favorite” Ralph Macchio and his professional dancing partner Karina Smirnoff were the ones given the “boot”. I was so utterly devastated. I will truly miss his “boyish” good looks come next week. He has brought back so many fond memories of those “feel good” movies he used to star in. Let’s hope some movie or television moguls will sign him on to a new movie or better still television series so that we can “ogle” him on a weekly basis. I could still remember his guest appearance in “Ugly Betty” where I did not recognise him at all but thought he was such a “cutie hottie”. So, I truly hope his career will be re-vamped after his popular stint on “Dancing With The Stars”. He exited with such grace and sincerity when he thanked those who had supported him and I definitely feel that his presence in this season will not be forgotten. He has touched us with his “dancing” but most of all, he has touched us with his determination to plod on.

Let’s look at the following videoclips which captured the essence of Ralph Macchio aka The Karate Kid’s spirit in his last quest on this dance competition. Also included is my other “favorite” Kirstie Alley who’s still in the running and who’s still plodding on…

American Idol 2011: The Curtain Falls On Haley Reinhart

2011-05-24T10:32:00.000-07:00

America’s done it again! Is the voting on “American Idol” rigged or are the American voters really that “dense”? To have 2 “country” singers in the Finals is more than just a coincidence, don’t you think? There’s just no way that “that many votes” could pile on the count for both Scotty McCreery as well as Lauren Alaina while Haley Reinhart gets booted out of the “Top 3”, could it?

Now make no mistake, I love “country” music as much as any other “music” genre. “Stand By Your Man” comes to mind immediately. After all, any song of a “heart-wrenching” kind would certainly appeal to me. So I really have nothing against both Scotty and Lauren. In fact, I was hoping for Scotty to go all the way to the “Top 3”. But now that he’s about to enter the Finals with Lauren who’s also “country”, it kind of makes the whole turnout more of a “Country Idol” than an “American Idol”, don’t you think? Ah… so very boring!! Yawn!!

The results tonight does make me wonder if something is really wrong with the voting process. If “American Idol” continues to use the same mode of operation next year, I feel that the viewers are going to abandon the show and will be switching to greener pastures like “The X Factor” or “The Voice”. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for my country’s free television station to initiate Simon Cowell’s new reality show. If not, it’s back to viewing online by way of video-streaming.

And the choice of judges. I think the powers-that-be should seriously consider replacing all 3 judges come next year. Bring on board those who have the guts to call it as it is. This year’s about the worst ever. All 3 judges appear to be having 1 brain among them most of the time. If they’re always pimping and over-praising the singers when they ought not to, how are the contestants ever going to find out the difference between their good and bad performances? And if they’re so afraid to hurt their feelings, then don’t go lowering the minimum age like they did this year.

And of course let’s not forget the week-after-week “ganging up” on just 1 particular contestant when it’s certainly uncalled for. Looks more like high school “bullying” and don’t let’s pretend to call it “pushing her to excel” or whatever words they were using as an excuse to explain their actual motive of wanting to see her exit the Idol stage. Does Randy Jackson think the viewers were dumb enough to swallow his explanation? Huh, huh?? Think again, Randy!! As for Steven Tyler, my gut feeling is that he’s being a little uneasy on the judge’s chair these past few weeks and I doubt he’d want to return next year. As for J.Lo, would her ego be affected by all the critiques she’s been getting as an Idol judge? Would it be enough for her to call it a day as well? We’ll see, we’ll surely see…

Anyway after the announcement of her elimination, Haley closed the night by “rocking” it out with “Bennie & The Jets”. She certainly showed those voters out there that they have committed the biggest mistake in Idol history for wanting a “country” Finals!! If you’re still doubtful of her singing prowess, check out her “swan song” below. I believe she “stole the thunder” from right under the 2 finalists Scotty and Lauren. What a hoot!!

American Idol 2011: Top 3 Night With A Little Bit Country And A Little Bit Rock ‘N’ Roll From Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina And Haley Reinhart

2011-05-24T10:10:00.000-07:00

Honestly, with my man James Durbin no longer in the race for the Finals on “American Idol”, I really shouldn’t be bothering with writing any more articles on the remaining weeks leading up to the Idol “crowning” moment. But then, I did promise I would. So here goes my “2-cents worth” of my usual 3R’s (rants, raves and ramblings) minus my man James of course. Sob-sob!! One consolation though – James did get his “hero’s homecoming” after all – another “American Idol” first for a 4^th placed contestant. However, we don’t get to see a full-blown screening of the event. But, we did catch a few seconds of James thronged by his fans back home. Thank God for YouTube. We can always stream the entire event online, parade and all.

For tonight’s “Top 3 Night”, the remaining contenders will have to slug it out with 3 songs. Yup, 3 it is. The first song would be one of their own choice/picking, followed by one selected by Jimmy Iovine and finally one picked by the judges. So here goes nothing…

First up was Scotty McCreery, the only male left in this singing competition. For his first number, he selected Lonestar’s “Amazed” and I was frankly quite taken by his rendition. His performance was solid and he definitely sounded like an old country music “pro”. This boy has got it made whether he wins or loses. He’s managed to come such a long way. I can still remember the “controversy” he was embroiled in during “Hollywood Week”. Remember the selection of group members “fiasco” that was highlighted at the time? Even back then, I remembered the look he had on his face and the adult way he handled the situation. My instincts told me back then that he was a real “sweet guy”, that he had a conscience and that he was really an upstanding young man and the American voters would fall in love with him. And love him they did. As we all know, being talented alone is not enough to sustain these contestants through a gruelling period on “American Idol”. They have to appeal to the audience by way of “connecting” to them in order to survive this crazy reality show. And survived he certainly did, our Scotty McCreery!

Next we have Jimmy’s pick for Scotty which was Thompson Square’s “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not?”. Well, he certainly sounded confident in his voice and so very relaxed in his approach to the song, it almost felt like I was listening to the radio. In fact, it was like watching a young boy being dubbed with an adult voice. He looked a “picture of perfection” singing this song. Yessirree!! Hats off to him!! For a young man of only 17, he certainly sounded mature and at ease with his vocals. But most importantly, he sounded “country”. He’s definitely the “real deal” of this genre. He stayed true to his roots without straying too far from the basics. So I salute him for that.

However, I did not enjoy his third song as I’d hoped I would. When it was announced that the judges had picked Kenny Rogers’ “She Believes In Me”, I was “over the moon” with this choice because it would mean that the sentimental side of Scotty will once again surface like he did in an earlier week when he sang “You’ve Got A Friend”. Unfortunately, he did not have a moment in this song. Sigh… Oh well, 2 out of 3 ain’t bad!!

Next up is Lauren Alaina. Although she was up tempo enough in her first song choice of Faith Hill’s “Wild One” and her voice was strong in deliverance and solid in performance, it was pretty “forgettable” (as what Simon Cowell would say) as far as I was concerned. Hated the outfit, hated the hair, hated the flowers. Or were they ear-rings?? Anyhow, I wished Lauren had been more natural in hair and attitude this entire season as that would definitely make me like her more. I so want to like this sweet young thing but somehow I couldn’t. Don’t ask me why. If you watched the 3 clips of Beyonce with these 3 Idol contenders, you’d notice that Beyonce was a little “cold” towards Lauren. Me thinks that Beyonce was enjoying herself more with Scotty and Haley. Or were my eyes deceiving me?

Anyhow for the second number which was the one picked by Jimmy, Lauren had to sing Band Perry’s “If I Die Young”. Unfortunately even though she sang it well, it did not do anything for me. As always, there’s no “connection” there.

However when she sang the third song which the judges picked for her, she finally did justice to Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance”. I loved her voice in this one. She excelled in it the way I wanted her to during the entire season. And this is only the second time I loved her singing. The other being “Candle In The Wind” so many weeks ago when my gal Thia Megia was still around. To take so long for Lauren to have a “moment” again, is it too little too late? Her voice here sounded “country” in a most sincere way and I felt “connected” finally. One (very strong) out of three is my verdict for Lauren’s performance tonight.

Last up is Haley Reinhart, this season’s “underdog”. This girl again received permission from a celebrity to cover her first song “What Is & What Should Never Be” by Led Zeppelin. I guess she’s getting lots of attention from the “music” greats before the competition even reached its Finals. And I think she definitely deserves it, what with all the knocking she’s been getting from Randy Jackson. He should be so ashamed of himself!! Yes, he should. With her father accompanying her on guitar onstage, Haley totally “slayed” this song. I think they totally “rocked” it – both father and daughter!! And oh yes, there was a scene right out of “Dancing With The Stars” when she tripped and fell. Just for a moment but she recovered immediately without dropping a note. That’s a “pro” for you.

For Jimmy’s pick of Fleetwood Mac’s (think Stevie Nicks) “Rhiannon”, I’m not so overwhelmed by this second number. The judges praised her for this song but I think they got it wrong. What’s with them anyway? Are they so afraid to say it as it is? Will someone please dial Simon Cowell’s number? Or should I contact someone in my country’s free television station to bring on board “The X-Factor” so that I can catch my favorite ex-judge together with his old sidekick Paula Abdul? If not, I’d have to struggle through the torture of online streaming. Sigh!!

The last song for Haley was the judges’ pick in the form of Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know”. Wow! Even though it was not as great as her first song, her voice certainly “rocked”. For a moment I was transported back to the time when I first heard a young Alanis so many years ago when she made an appearance on my television screen. Two out of three is my verdict for Haley tonight.

So there it is – my take on all three. And to finish off as usual is my selection of videoclips. I’d like to give you 1 videoclip from each of the contestants – obviously the songs that appeal to me on this “Top 3 Night”. Round 1 goes to Haley, round 2 to Scotty and round 3 to Lauren. So click on them and enjoy!!

Dancing With The Stars 2011: Kirstie Alley Not Being The Old Kirstie And Ralph Macchio Being The “Karate Kid” Plods On

2011-05-20T15:30:00.000-07:00

Week 8 of this season’s “Dancing With The Stars” sees Kirstie Alley “out of love” with professional partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy? Looks like it. After a run of weeks of Kirstie “loving” the guy, “hugging” the guy and “kissing” the guy, we suddenly find her no longer in a “lovey-dovey” situation with her dancing mate. It all started last week but by this week, the relationship has succumbed to that of a “freeze zone”. If you look closely at the two of them, they’re hardly on “eye contact” even.

During the rehearsal, Kirstie looked a little dejected with scenes of her falling down not once but twice and on performance night, although she emerged stunning in “red” and took on the “Argentine Tango” (song “Cite Tango”) with ample sexiness, sensuality and passion, it makes me wonder if this is the same Kirstie Alley I used to love and admire. Gone is the “silliness” and “playfulness” that’s her trademark. Although this dance genre should demonstrate a passion-of-sorts, the chemistry between Kirstie and Maks tonight was almost a total “zero”. She’s lost that certain something she used to have for him. After completing the dance, she looked completely out of breath as the judges passed out their compliments and even when she obtained a total score of “28” (including a perfect score of “10” from one of the judges), she still did not look genuinely happy with the results.

And in the next round during the “instant Latin dance”, Kirstie again looked beautiful, this time in turquoise blue with a matching flower in her hair. She managed to execute the “Salsa” (song “Cobrastyle”) in style but lacking the usual spark she normally exudes. After completing the dance, she was still “cold” towards Maks. Very obvious was the lack of “eye contact” and “playful flirting” she normally directs at her partner. Even during the interview before the results were announced, the jokes and the laughter seemed “forced”. What’s going on, Kirstie? The “instant” dance earned them a score of “25” and the 2 routines together gave them a grand total of “53”.

Ralph Macchio on the other hand was a picture of great courage as he braved a leg injury to go on even though he was obviously in great pain. It is quite evident that the “Karate Kid” spirit is still embedded within the soul of this fine actor. And yes, “Mr Miyagi” would have been so proud of his ex-pupil. It’s a pity that Pat Morita who played his karate “master” back then is no longer alive to witness this proud moment. I’ve always felt that Ralph who always plays the “good” guy or “underdog” in most of his movies is actually a nice guy in real life as well and his appearance in “Dancing With The Stars” this season has confirmed this. But people do say that “good guys finish last”, don’t they? Even more so the pity.

When the videoclip of his rehearsal indicated that he had injured the spot behind his knee, he decided to have it checked out and the result was a reduction of rehearsal hours to a mere 9 (from the usual 40) due to a ruptured cyst and tendonitis being diagnosed. In spite of the shortage of practice hours and the pain he’s obviously going through, he managed to complete both his dance routines.

When he made his entrance with his lovely partner Karina Smirnoff, all eyes were on them. This beautiful partnership took the “Viennese Waltz” (to the tune of “Maybe I Maybe You”) to a different level altogether. They injected it with an air of mystery from the moment they made an entrance in equally-stunning black outfits, eye makeup and all. The whole interpretation was dark, dramatic, passionate, feisty and ominous but it spelt “bravado” as Ralph painstakingly went through the dance motion to complete it to the delight of the judges and audience alike. At that moment, it was like the ending of the “Karate Kid” movie once again when the “underdog” triumphed. Long live Daniel LaRusso! Sigh!! Those were the days… Anyhow, although he did look a little “stiff” in tonight’s performance (probably due to his pain), the both of them managed to pull in a score of “25”.

For the “instant Latin dance”, they cleverly devised the beginning of the choreography to reflect Ralph’s old movie “Karate Kid”. The scene started with Karina prompting Ralph to dance but he declined because of the injury to his leg. So what happened next was just so “brilliant”. She puts her hands together in a clasp, rubbed them and then placed them on his knee. And of course, the pain miraculously disappeared. He jumps to his feet and they were on their way with their “Cha-cha-cha” (song “Stuck In The Middle”). For some reason, with the easy-going look portrayed for this dance, Ralph actually seemed more natural thus making the entire dance pretty entertaining to watch. Although the overall performance was below par, the judges showered him with compliments of “perseverance” and “dedication” to his craft and gave him a “standing ovation” in spite of awarding him a low score of only “21”. The 2 routines earned them a grand total of “46”.

This week we are down to the final 5 and although Ralph Macchio was in danger of being eliminated because of his low scores, he was saved when the announcement came stating that the ones leaving were Romeo (the rapper formerly known as Lil' Romeo) and his professional partner Chelsie Hightower. Thank God we get to see another week of my “Karate Kid” Ralph Macchio.

The following are 4 videoclips from my 2 “favorities” Kirstie Alley and Ralph Macchio to entertain you:

American Idol 2011: James Durbin Elimination Is Biggest Shocker Ever!!!

2011-05-15T12:33:00.000-07:00

What the heck’s wrong with the American voters of “American Idol” this year?? It’s bad enough with them making mistake after mistake on every single season of this popular singing reality show. But now they’ve gone “stark raving mad” – to eliminate the most “consistent” talent in the entire “American Idol” history is sheer stupidity!! Yes, I’m calling it as it is. You people are just plain STUPID!! To eliminate James Durbin before he even got to the “Top 3” when there are obviously less talented, less consistent, less prepared to become “professional” in the “music” industry and less entertaining (the most important factor in the “music” world yet) contenders left in this round.

You can be talented but minus all the other factors, you are certainly not prepared to be showcased on the world platform just yet. With James Durbin obviously packed with all the above, it makes me wonder if the American voters are those made up of people who are “tone deaf” or perhaps they possess a brain with less grey matter than the average person out there. Or else why then would an all-round WINNER like James Durbin be eliminated?? On just his voice and showmanship alone, there is absolutely no logic behind this non-support for James at this crucial point in the competition. So my conclusion is as I’ve said earlier: the American voters are just oh-so-STUPID for getting it wrong once again!! When will they ever learn, I wonder?

If people like me outside the US who is unable to vote and is no “rock” music expert or even like this genre in the first place but has “fallen in love” with James Durbin and his music, what more can I say for the rest of the world who’s probably fuming out there this very moment. James Durbin, I’m going to miss your voice, your showmanship and most of all your “tail”!!

The remaining weeks leading to the Finals will no longer feel like a competition. There will not be any excitement in the air as the final 3 who made it are not made of the stuff that could produce a “fireworks” scenario of mega proportions. Not without my man James. No, I will not boycott the show. I will continue watching “American Idol” until the very end. And yes, I will also continue to write about it. But I will obviously no longer look forward to it with the usual amount of anticipation and passion as there will be no more expectations on my part.

If anyone should be declared the eventual “American Idol” from the 3 left to compete, it ought to be Scotty McCreery who at least has the voice to become a recording artist and who has exhibited tremendous maturity (in spite of his youth) by managing to remain “cool and calm” in his journey thus far. On a lesser note, Haley Reinhart should be voted into the Finals as she has endured so much unfair critiques from the judges even on those occasions when she has performed well. She may not possess that “little something” to easily draw people towards her but nevertheless, she does have the voice tone to make it in today’s “music” industry. In other words, she’s marketable in the “current” music scene. As for Lauren Alaina, I feel she still needs many more years to grow up. Having just a beautiful voice is just not enough if she has not been able to utilise it to its full capacity as yet. And furthermore, for some unexplainable reason, I have not been drawn towards her “oh-so-sweet young thing” image. I think it’s a little “fake” to begin with.

Anyhow, back to this evening’s going-ons. In spite of his elimination, we see James Durbin trying to console his fiancée by gesturing to her in the audience (and mouthing the words “it’s okay”). This scene was just so heartbreaking. I bet when his tears fell, the rest of the world who tuned in was tearing up as well. So long James! As much as I’d still like to catch your performance on the Idol stage, I guess I’ll have to find other ways to get hold of your music. I have no doubt that you’re going to be a really big “star” in the “music” world and with this early elimination, your fans would undoubtedly be impatient and hungry for news of your first release of whatever music you’d be delving into and as I speak, I bet there’ll be quite a number of music producers lining up to snatch you for their labels. So, no worries there! James Durbin’s “music” career is set!!

In spite of the “bad” news of James Durbin’s departure from the Idol stage, the night was saved by 3 very exciting performances. First up was Lady Gaga who’s performance as expected, was a little “outlandish”. She with the skimpy underwear (??) outfit and positioned on top of the piano stool while she performed “You And I” magnificently. No doubt this icon does pack quite a talent and unique showmanship to boot.

Next came my previous “American Idol” favorite Jordin Sparks. A “new” Jordin Sparks mind you!! Gone is the innocent 17-year-old who she gave us those beautiful “melodic” performances in the past. In her place, we find a newly-vamped sexy, vivacious woman singing “I Am Woman” (and she certainly is). Man-o-man!! What a “hot and sizzling” sensation she’s turned out to be. And her voice is still great!! But the “sexy-turn” was just “wow”!! Oo-la-la!!

Last but certainly not least, judge Steven Tyler’s videoclip came on. Yes, the old rocker can still dish it out. His voice is just as great as ever. He is certainly no “has been”.

Well, there goes the night. To finish it off, here’s a videoclip of my gal Jordin Sparks. She’s certainly a fine example of a deserving “American Idol” winner!!

American Idol 2011: James Durbin And Haley Reinhart Inspires On “Top 4 Night”

2011-05-15T12:10:00.000-07:00

And then there were 4. Yes, the 4 remaining contenders left on this season’s “American Idol” had to “bring it on” this week being a crucial week and all what with their going home next week as their town’s or city’s “homecoming hero” or “heroine” as the case may be. The iconic “Lady Gaga” was brought in to give our young “AI” wannabes some pointers on “how to loosen up” when delivering a song.

As always, my man James Durbin “rocked” the stage with his opening number. As his “inspirational song” for the night, he selected Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” and although it wasn’t his best song of the season, his showmanship on the Idol stage was superb, to put it mildly. It got me grooving to the beat of the song as I watched him execute his little “concert” up there. Yup, win or lose, James Durbin is the man!!!

For his second number, James picked “Love Potion Number 9” from among “the hits of classic 50’s songwriters Lieber & Stoller”. Again not something I would pick but then, James Durbin could sing most anything. So he took the song and gave it a new meaning altogether. Honestly, I could listen to his voice and watch his performance all night long. He possesses a unique and special talent – that which could melt your heart as his voice takes you to a place where you’d feel safe and warm and that to me is why he rocks it every single time. Even when the choice of songs was not to my liking, he still had his “moment” right there and then.

After Haley Reinhart finished his rendition of Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song”, it was no surprise that J.Lo and Randy Jackson “pounded” on the poor lass once again. What’s with these 2? Do they have something personal against the girl? Week after week, we witness unnecessary “harsh” critiques raining on her and her alone. If the other contestants messed up, they still receive undeserving high praises. I smell a “conspiracy theory” here. Although it’s not a song that I would choose for Haley’s husky voice, I still feel that the critiques especially those from Randy Jackson were pretty mean and unwarranted. I certainly loved the way Haley fought back in defence of these senseless critiques. When Randy gave a personal verdict opinion of selecting a 3-way tie for James, Scotty and Lauren for round 1, I think it finally reflected what he really thinks of Haley. It truly revealed that he is really out to burn her. He could have easily mentioned 1 or 2 being his choice but to mention all 3 was indicative of being intentionally cruel.

If this was a strategy to get Haley all roused up and mad so that she’ll direct all this pent-up anger and rage into her second song, I think it most unprofessional of the judges to be using such a gimmick. Judges are supposed to “judge”, not take sides. They may help the contestants along but for this year, it looks like the “new” as well as the “old” judges are exhibiting some form of prejudice. Call me paranoid… I don’t think so. Where’s Simon Cowell when we needed him? At least his comments were never “personal”.

For her second song, Haley selected “I Who Have Nothing”. Now, just the choice alone has made me so very happy. Remember how previous “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks “slayed” this song so many years ago? I just loved Jordin’s “old-fashioned” rendition of this very beautiful and heartfelt “Shirley Bassey” song. So I was expecting a great deal when Haley started to sing it. Well, her take was very different. She was certainly no “Shirley Bassey” or “Jordin Sparks”. But nevertheless, her voice was suitable for this type of song. In fact the tone of her voice reminded me of a young “Dusty Springfield”. Although she did not raise the bar when she sang the song, with a little time and maturity, she probably would make a killing out of this genre. It had its moments but I still preferred Jordin Sparks’ version and of course Dame Shirley Bassey’s original take is beyond any comparison – no one could come even close to her original version. She was a “class act” and still is.

Fortunately for Haley, the judges decided to sing high praises on her second performance. I think they’re so faking it. I don’t believe them anymore. As much as I liked them at the beginning of the season, I’m beginning to suspect that they’re not being honest with their opinions, be it “praises” or “critiques”. And obviously, I’m beginning to lose respect for the position they hold in this singing competition. Will somebody please tell J.Lo, Randy Jackson and even Steven Tyler to “tell the truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God” when they next give their so-called “expert” opinions? If not, let’s hope and pray that come next year, “American Idol” producers will replace all 3 judges, especially Randy Jackson who’s beginning to irritate me to bits. They seem to be on this reality show more so for their own personal gain (we’re talking “music career” here) than for their “2-cents worth” when judging these poor “AI” hopefuls. Enough with their self-promotion and “music politics” and let’s get down to business.

Next on is Scotty McCreery who took on Alan Jackson’s “Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning” as his first inspirational song and although I found it a little boring, it was pleasant enough. At the end of the song, he had his moment. Just a little bit but enough to make you go “ah…”. That’s probably why Scotty’s popularity is still going strong. He can “connect” with most anybody whenever he turns those phrases within the songs he sings. He is a “story-teller” after all and Scotty’s best at what he does – telling a story, in a most effective manner.

For his second song, he sang the Coasters’ “Young Blood” which reminded me of Casey Abrams somewhat, who by the way was in the audience cheering his “AI” pals on. Yes, his turn as a Casey-impersonator-of-sorts (weird facial expressions and all) as he went about the stage did not exactly sit well with me. Nevertheless, I still like the boy.

Finally we have Lauren Alaina. Now in all honesty, it was a good week for her. She came out of her shell and sprung to action when she belted out her 2 numbers. Even though I had initially liked her right from the start during her auditions, after a time, I found her pretty bland and somewhat “brainless”. “Sorry Lauren, but you’re not only holding back your singing but also your personality as well.” It’s like she’s not very good at communicating with people. I have a suspicion that she’s lived a very sheltered life and is probably under some form of strict control and is probably coached as to how she should act on-camera. Well, that’s the price you pay for having little girls in the competition.

Anyhow like I said, this week was a very different week for Lauren. Makes me wonder if she was “acting” and “pretending” all this while (to fish for “votes”)?? But after being at the “Bottom 2” last week, reality set in and she had to do the about-turn in order to survive. She belted Martina McBride’s “Anyway” and although this is also not my “cuppa tea”, her voice sounded quite good. Again I don’t care too much for the hair because this style really makes her look old and pretentious.

When she gave her version of her second song, we were finally sold on her transformation. She decided to showcase the vixen in her when she took on Elvis Presley’s “Trouble”. Even though I think she has improved by “leaps and bounds” this week, I personally felt it unfair if she is again saved by the American votes. After all, both James Durbin and Scotty McCreery had been consistent all this while. And as for Haley Reinhart, need I say more? The girl had been fighting for her place on “American Idol”. Never in its history have I ever witnessed anything like this. Have you?

To end this chapter of my “rants, raves and ramblings” on “American Idol”, I have selected videoclips of James Durbin and Haley Reinhart. I have also taken the liberty to include 2 other versions of Haley’s “I Who Have Nothing”. Yes, from none other than Dame Shirley Bassey and of course my past favorite “American Idol” Jordin Sparks. Enjoy!!!

Dancing With The Stars 2011: “Karate Kid” Ralph Macchio Is Back In Form While Kirstie Alley Loses It

2011-05-14T14:15:00.000-07:00

Week 7 on “Dancing With The Stars” this season saw Ralph Macchio back in form. That’s to be expected as can be seen from his various turns of “good week”, “bad week” cycle. And this week was “THE” week, but I’ll get to that later.

First, let’s look at the rehearsal. We find it a pretty much “brutal” week as far as his knees were concerned. Yes, it was a “brutal” scenario of knee-punishment as Ralph worked earnestly on trying to perfect his footwork. And with a little help from an “expert” who appeared during the rehearsal, he also managed to overcome his “shoulder” problem which now looks more relaxed and natural.

So come performance night, Ralph Macchio and his beautiful, sexy and talented professional partner Karina Smirnoff was simply delightful to watch when they both took on the dance floor. Karina looked absolutely stunning in emerald green (with a “Roaring 20s” headband and feather to match). Ralph, clad in a “gangster” outfit (hat and all) with a matching green tie and handkerchief neatly tucked in one of his pockets simply looked the part.

As they made an explosive entrance to the tune of “Pencil Full of Lead”, images of “Bugsy Malone” came into mind together with all the Mafia-like gangster movies that have ever graced the screen. Ralph’s shoulder posture improved tremendously as they showed no signs of previous weeks’ stiffness or awkwardness. They tackled the “Quickstep” with exuberance and enjoyment thus making the difficult dance routine seem so much more easier than it really was. Ralph’s footwork improved by “leaps and bounds” while Karina appeared to have had more fun than usual. And as a result, they attained a total high score of “36” inclusive of an individual perfect score of “10” from guest judge Donnie Burn (Latin dance champ), being Ralph’s first “10” of the season. “Karate Kid” is back!! Way to go, kid!!!

Next in this week’s theme of "Ballroom Greats", we find a completely different Kirstie Alley altogether. From my observation, the week’s rehearsal is where the problem originated. Call it “women’s intuition” because the minute Kirstie’s professional partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy lost his patience with her, it was downhill from then on. Doesn’t this guy know that in spite of her age, Kirstie’s still a “little girl” inside? With all that passion going on between them the past few weeks, something like this is tantamount to a personal “slap in the face”, right? Yes, we “gals” are pretty “sensitive” when it comes to being chided by our “loved ones”, especially “on camera”. So, regardless of whether there’s really anything going on between them “off camera” (which I suspect there is), Maks had done the “unthinkable” of not only hurting her “ego” but her “heart” as well. That’s what I think anyway.

So it is with no surprise when they performed badly during the night’s performance. Kirstie looked absolutely “haggard” under a ton of makeup (she probably did not catch much sleep the night before) and for the first time during her dance journey, she looked like she really didn’t care anymore. The poor dear. I think it’s an absolute shame if she’s bothered by whatever is bothering her because I would definitely like to see her find her way to the Finals. Watching her each week is such a “pleasure” and I would certainly hate to see her eliminated for the “wrong” reasons.

Dancing a “Jive” (with “La Bamba” blasting away in the background) which is supposed to be lively and action-packed, we instead witnessed a Kirstie minus her usual “spunk, playfulness and vivaciousness”. Her lack of energy and drive coupled with a display of “non-passion” (as painted on her facial expressions during and after the performance) clearly showed a “defeated” attitude. Was it a “self-sabotage” on her part? It’s like she’s saying “let’s call it a day ‘cos I’m not enjoying myself anymore”. Again, this is just “women’s intuition” on my part. There’s more to it than meets the eye or what’s being portrayed on screen, clearly. And of course that awful-looking skirt she wore didn’t bring justice to her figure.

To summarise, I feel the entire dance was “uneventful”. And even when the judges were giving her much support in some of their “positive” remarks, we can clearly see that Kirstie did not buy it and could not wait to leave the dance floor. Before the score was announced as “30”, Kirstie apparently tried to show a much more uplifting spirit during the interview prior to the results but it was by no means convincing. She was feeling “down” and no words or laughter could disguise her emotions. Come on Kirstie, get your act together gal. We love to watch the “old” Kirstie so… let’s bring her back next week shall we??

This week, the individual scores were added to the group scores which comprises the 2 teams of “Team Chelsea” (consisting of Chelsea & Mark, Ralph & Karina and Romeo & Chelsie) and “Team Hines” (consisting of Hines & Kym, Kendra & Louis and Kirstie & Maks). Both teams scored identical “30” in group total but I personally felt that “Team Chelsea” were the better team, both in formation and in execution of the “Cha-cha-cha” and they certainly looked “hot” in black!!

The night ended with my “favorite guy” Ralph Macchio tying for top spot with Hines Ward while my “favorite gal” Kirstie Alley was up for elimination. I sighed a “sigh of relief” when Kirstie managed to slip through to the next round when it was announced that Kendra Wilkinson and her professional partner Louis Van Amstel were the ones departing this week.

I’ve picked the following 4 videoclips for your viewing pleasure. First up is Ralph Macchio’s individual performance followed by Kirstie Alley’s, then on to Team Chelsea’s group performance and ending with Team Hines’. Click on them and enjoy!! I surely did, over and over again. Click, click, click I went…

American Idol 2011: Jacob Lusk Finally Shown The Idol Exit

2011-05-11T14:11:00.000-07:00

Eeny meeny miney mo… who’s the one to finally go…

Yes, Jacob Lusk is finally shown the door. And about time too. Week after week, he’d survived the elimination round while we watch helplessly as one by one of our “favorites” exit the Idol stage. Of course I’m using the term “favorites” quite loosely here as my No. 1 “favorite” American Idol contender James Durbin is still on board. But I’d lost my favorite gal Thia Megia many weeks back and of course my 2^nd level favorites like Casey Abrams and Paul McDonald had already been eliminated due to the “incompetence” of the “voting Americans”.

Yes, I say “incompetence” because they are probably not equipped to judge a singing contest and are obviously unable to see real “talent” even when it’s right in front of them. Well, that’s “democracy” for you. I think it’s foolhardy to have a system whereby any “talent” be it singing, dancing or any other “creative” acts are judged by the public as we all know that more often than not, favoritism, popularity and the likes usually play a big part in determining the winners. Professional judges should always be in place as the deciding instrument of separating the “good” ones from the “bad”.

It’s not like in politics where you have to live with your decision. After all, if you vote for someone to hold office, you obviously have to live with the consequences of your choice as it will affect you one way or another. But in the case of music for example, you really don’t have to burden yourself with buying the eventual winner’s cd or attend any of his/her concerts. I’m just making a point that’s all. So hopefully, the American voters in this season’s “American Idol” will use their power wisely because the future of someone is obviously in their hands.

Back to the moment when Ryan Seacrest was about to announce which of the remaining 2 contestants will be the one eliminated. At this point in time, we’d already witnessed 3 of the contenders being sent back by Ryan to the safety of their seats, leaving Jacob Lusk and (surprise, surprise!!) Lauren Alaina to their fate. Now, it’s certainly no surprise to me as I was expecting her to be in the “Bottom 3” or even “Bottom 2” way, way back on those nights when she was oh-so “non-connecting” in her performance. But unfortunately, her fan base kept her afloat all this while. But her time has run out and probably her lack-lustre take on those themed nights have finally taken the toil out of her die-hard followers. So… need I say more??

Anyhow, Lauren started “tearing” and even when Jacob was being announced as the one going, she was still in tears which made me think that this year’s youngsters were ill-prepared for the pressures of a contest of this mega proportions. Perhaps the “powers-that-be” should revert to the previous minimum age criteria. We wouldn’t want any of these sweet young things to be scarred forever, do we??

American Idol 2011: James Durbin, Scotty McCreery And Haley Reinhart Owns The Night Of “Now & Then”

2011-05-10T13:34:00.000-07:00

Of the 5 left standing on this season’s “American Idol”, I should think it obvious that James Durbin, Scotty McCreery And Haley Reinhart should be the ones to take their places in the “Top 3”. Yes, I’ve skipped from “4” to “3” as I personally feel that Jacob Lusk should be leaving the Idol stage real soon and as for Lauren Alaina who doesn’t seem to be able to unleash whatever talent that’s still in a “latent” stage (we had such high hopes for this young lass when she first made her appearance during her audition), it’s a little too late at this point in time seeing we’re almost reaching the “Finals” already. And time being of the essence, I think it’s a case of being “too little, too late”.

Also it’s really quite unfair for Lauren to still survive week after week especially since she’s been inconsistent in her performance as opposed to James Durbin and Scotty McCreery who are being pretty steady throughout the duration. And Haley Reinhart being the “dark horse” is definitely catching up. So, even though Haley was not my earlier choice to be in the “Top 3”, she’s now won me over with her quiet tenacity.

The week’s theme being “Now & Then”, a 2-song night of a “modern-day” tune and a “60’s/70’s” classic should certainly be an interesting night of “today” vs “yesteryear” in the “world of music”. So, it is with much anticipation that I tuned into the night’s performance.

First up, my thoughts on my man James Durbin who does what he does best – which is sing, sing and sing!! Yes, but tonight we see a diverse situation of an up-tempo rendition of Thirty Seconds To Mars’ “Closer To The Edge” and a somewhat overly-emotional deliverance of Badfinger’s “Without You”. When Steven Tyler connected his first song’s performance to Freddie (as in Freddie Mercury of “Queen”), I couldn’t help but think of it as a coincidence as I had also seen the similarity during one of James’ past week’s performances which I followed up with a mention in one of my articles on “American Idol”. For me, even though I’m no fan of the second song, I definitely loved his take on it. After all, James can do no wrong in my book, yes?? Even with all the emotions oozing out of him due to his self-confessed “homesickness” (yes, he’s missing his “better half” and kid like crazy) when he was singing this song, he still managed to lock it in. Yup, James is on the way to the Finals for sure!!

Jacob Lusk thought he’d use the “

Thailand

’s Got Talent” contestant Nantita Khumpiramon’s take on both the male as well as female parts when he selected the song “No Air”, popularised by Jordin Sparks/Chris Brown duet. Not great… in fact not even good. Ah, time to go Jacob. His time’s running out. His second song of Nazareth’s ballad “Love Hurts” was so screechy that I had to cover my doggie Akita’s ears because she was beginning to “growl” at the television set. Lol!! Yes, even dogs could be critics and my doggie certainly is one!!

Lauren Alaina’s back to her “big hair” which I loathed because being 16, I think the “straight hair” look is much more becoming on her. But that’s just my fashion take. I’m sure many will disagree with me?? Anyway, back to her singing. She was no Carrie Underwood when she took on “Flat On The Floor” and her second number “Unchained Melody” (think Patrick Swayze/Demi Moore movie “Ghost”) was in shambles by the time she finished with it. My all-time favorite song and she totally “murdered” the classic tune. Lord!! If Simon Cowell was here, he’d probably give her a piece of his mind, this being his favorite song as well. But all 3 judges gave her positive raves. What’s with these 3 – are they tone-deaf or what?? Geez… I had such high hopes when it was announced that she’s taking on my all-time favorite song but she certainly blew it!!

Ah Scotty McCreery’s next. Like in last week, he had a really good take on his second song “Always On My Mind” (think Elvis Presley or Willie Nelson). I’m not too crazy of the first one though but putting his “physical” performance aside, Montgomery Gentry’s “Gone” did sound upbeat and fine though not my “cuppa tea” (as the British might say). Anyhow, Scotty’s getting more and more seasoned as the weeks progressed. And his attitude is pretty “cool” too. The “no nonsense” look he gives is pretty darn “cute”. It’s no wonder that he’s also one of “America’s Sweethearts” (male version that is). If he carries on with more ballads that’s surely bringing out the best in his voice, he’s a shoe in for “Top 2” (with my man James Durbin of course).

Haley Reinhart who had taken many, many unnecessary beatings from the judges throughout the entire competition coupled with the fact that American voters did not warm up to this girl, had plodded on in defiance each week she survived the elimination. Her facial expressions on numerous occasions had been the talk of the “cyber” world. But I for one feel that she’s not pretentious and has been patient with all the “gibberish” that’s been unfairly dumped on her. Mark my words, even though I don’t favour her winning the Idol crown, I think she’ll do well in the music industry. With her unique voice and a little guidance she’s going to be a hit!! Tonight was kind of an “Idol first” again for “American Idol” history when she was given the “go-ahead” to sing a song that has not been released yet. That’s right… and from none other than “Lady Gaga” herself. She sang “You And I” like she was the original singer herself. Yes, she owned the song and yet her take on it did not win over Randy Jackson and J.Lo who both gave pretty uncomplimentary comments. Thank God for Steven Tyler who fortunately heard it the way I did, which was in a “positive” light. Haley started the second song “House Of The Rising Sun” (from The Animals) off a cappella which brought the house down. Yes, and finally all 3 judges decided to give her a standing ovation. The poor girl certainly deserves it after struggling for so many weeks in her bid to impress the judges.

I’d like to end by showcasing James Durbin and Haley Reinhart’s videoclips which comprises the 2 songs which I enjoyed most this week - “Without You” and “House Of The Rising Sun”.

Dancing With The Stars 2011: Kirstie Alley Wiggles Her Hips While Ralph Macchio Does His Karate Kid’s “Wax-on, Wax-off” In Style

2011-05-08T13:43:00.000-07:00

This season’s Week 6 of “Dancing With The Stars” introduces us to the very tantalising theme of “Guilty Pleasures”. Think “chocolates”. Lol!! But seriously, this theme ought to bring out the “creative” side of the remaining celebrities participating this year. And as usual, some will succeed while others will fail in their attempt. As I am unable to watch this popular dance competition on my country’s free television channels, I would only stream online the videoclips of those of my “favorites” but occasionally I would also view the other contenders who had made “waves” during their week’s performances.

So here’s my progress report of my 2 favorites – Kirstie Alley and Ralph Macchio.

The videoclip I managed to acquire online started with the rehearsal where we found Kirstie having a much more difficult time than usual. Or perhaps the pressure is getting on to her? Regardless, after witnessing scenes of her frustrations at trying to get the choreographed dance steps done right, she ended up lying on her professional partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy’s lap. This clearly indicated the close rapport they both shared. The personal attention which Maksim had been administering to Kirstie by way of a close one-on-one interaction and the bolstering of Kirstie’s confidence to spur her on had clearly indicated that he’s the “perfect” partner for her. Each time we see Kirstie hugging Maksim, we feel both the comradeship and intimacy that is so evident in their relationship. Is there or is there not a “romance” brewing underneath all that “heat”? We hope so, right??

On the night of the performance, were my eyes deceiving me or did Kirstie look slimmer than before? Did she lose all that weight within a week? Also, Maksim spotted a different look altogether. He was completely unrecognisable in his “clean shaven” appearance. It took years off his age. Personally I prefer his “old” look which makes him more “manly”, yes??

After completing their “samba” dance routine accompanied by Britney Spears’ “Baby One More Time”, she kissed him. Ah… so sweet!! They had executed the steps of the samba so smoothly, almost in fluid-like motion with clockwork precision. Kirstie’s fringed skirt which she “wiggled and shook” vigorously certainly brought the best out of her sexy “bums”. When one of the judges Len Goodman mentioned her history of a series of “misadventures”, I couldn’t help but smile as memories of both of her previous dance “mishaps” came rushing back. Well this week was quite a “breeze” for this adorable couple and when a score of 26 was announced, I’m sure it brought a lot of joy to all Kirstie Alley fans who would like her to still remain in the competition.

My other favorite Ralph Macchio who has been “inconsistent” throughout the competition had more “bad” weeks then “good” ones and for the first time, he encountered his first “mishap”. During their “paso doble” dance routine accompanied by C+C Music Factory’s “Gonna Make You Sweat”, Ralph’s professional partner Karina Smirnoff tripped after she skidded on the dance floor but fortunately, Ralph did not lose his “cool” during this unexpected incident. He effortlessly pulled her up and although in the next few seconds they looked a little “jerky”, they managed to continue with their dance routine earning high praises from the judges for being able to recover from this “mishap” and completing their performance. Although they did not do as well as Kirstie and had this little “incident” under their belt, they managed to pull in a triple score of 8 from all 3 judges giving them a total score of 24. I for one found their performance pretty darn good. “Paso doble” never looked this great!!

I think it was not so much the dancing itself which caused Ralph Macchio’s performances to look slightly “off” week after week. From the videoclip showcasing the rehearsal, it can be seen that when Ralph is dressed in casuals, his shoulder posture is very much evident. In fact if I recall correctly, he had a similar look even when he was young as can be seen in his movie “Karate Kid”. In this week’s clip, when he showed his partner Karina his Karate Kid Daniel-san’s “wax on, wax off” moves (to incorporate into their dance routine), you can see his shoulders’ stiff-looking bone structure very clearly and that is his “archilles heel”.

After last week’s fiasco, this week’s “paso doble” was magnificently choreographed and it contained many moments of “whoa”. The costume especially the gold-lined jacket (with tail) which Ralph dorned looked great and it was in line with the dance genre and he definitely looked “hot” in it. Although the overall performance was not “perfect”, the choreography certainly took on a life and “style” of its own and the high energy both Ralph and Karina gave had fire and passion with an “oomph” for great measure. I marvelled at Ralph’s successful execution of those difficult dance steps and it was wonderful to see such joy in his face after weeks of looking tense, pressured and scared. I thought he’d lost his confidence altogether then. Thank God our “Karate Kid” is back!! And a last minute thought about his partner Karina Smirnoff. Did she look a little worried and pressured the last few weeks as well? Even during the past interview segments, she spotted a “far away” look. What exactly was in her mind, I wonder?

Anyway when the results for the week was announced, although Ralph and partner were placed at the “Bottom 2”, they were saved. Phew!! The ones to exit were professional wrestler Chris Jericho and his professional partner Cheryl Burke.

Check out the following 2 videoclips of Kirstie and Ralph and witness for yourself why I still continue to cheer them on in spite of their shortcomings. With fans like me around, how can they go wrong… yes??

AkitaWoof.com: Another Make-over After A Vicious Hacking!!

2011-05-05T14:13:00.000-07:00

Yup, my doggie blog website "AkitaWoof.com" was the target of another online "hack" 2 days back. So bear with me once again while I "struggle" in the next few weeks to bring back the past 3 years' entire load of publications. It's going to be a "heck-of-a-job" considering that I've been extremely active on my publications this year as opposed to the previous years.

So for those who can't wait to view my entries, you have a couple of options. You can either go to my niche site over at:

http://www.CreativeThinkingForWomen.com (a 1-Stop Centre for "Creative Thinking")

or find your way to an article-submission website that I regularly submit my articles to, over at the following link:

http://www.triond.com/users/Doris+Lim

and when you get there and find yourself interested to also join the "family of writers/poets" in this very closely-knit community of "creative thinkers" and earn "a couple of bucks" along the way, you may choose to use my personal referral link, namely:

http://www.triond.com/rw/472585

to start a new "Triond" account.

For whatever it's worth, I'm the "new kid of the block" over at this highly-rated article-submission website and I have truly been enjoying myself "reading" the stuff that's been churned out over there as well as being "read" by my fellow "Triond" mates.

So hopefully, I'll see you there as well!! Later...

American Idol 2011: Casey Abrams Exits The Idol Stage In Style

2011-05-03T10:03:00.000-07:00

Yes, Casey Abrams will surely go down in “American Idol” history as the contestant who exited the show in style. And it comes to no surprise as he had indicated on many instances that he had a “heck-of-a-colorful” personality!!

We have had the pleasure of viewing his crazy antics “on” and “off” the Idol stage. Can anyone ever forget the growls he inserts into most of his performances? And all the fuss made on his hair and beard? And yes, we must not forget the time he was ousted but was promptly saved by the “Judges’ Save”. The image of a “Casey meltdown” still lingers in my memory.

He did not seem too surprised when the announcement revealed that it was time for him to go. I guess Ryan Seacrest let loose a hint when at the beginning of the night, he remarked that it was an Idol “favorite” who would be exiting the Idol stage.

In my honest “musical” opinion, I personally feel that Jacob Lusk ought to have been the one to go. Heck, he should have left weeks ago since his performance had been deteriorating of late. Unfortunately, the other more unique and better singers had exited much earlier which was a shame as we the viewers had been deprived of enjoying more screen time of those contestants’ performances.

By the way, for those who did not catch Ryan Seacrest mentioning that it was a random reading of the votes, the fact that Scotty McCreery was left with Casey on the stage did not necessarily mean that Scotty received the 2nd least votes for the week. I guess they intended to give Scotty’s fans a heart attack of sorts. Bad Ryan, bad!!

Anyhow, even though Casey did not survive this week in spite of his fabulous stage presence during “Carole King Week”, he took it all in stride and performed “I Put A Spell On You” (as his exit song) in ways that you would never imagined. He started off by coming off stage and kissing each and every one of the judges beginning with Steven Tyler then J.Lo and finally Randy Jackson. Then he fluttered from woman to woman (in the audience), kissing each and every one of them and then proceeded back to the stage where the rest of the remaining Idol contestants were and ended with the final words from the song as he gazed upon his Idol “rumoured-sweetheart” Haley Reinhart.

I would like to end by saying that at the age of only 20, Casey Abrams is one of the most instrumentally-inclined and gifted Idol contestant. He was reported to be proficient with the following instruments: bass, guitar, piano, drums, clarinet, cello, sitar, melodica and accordion.

Here’s the videoclip of his swan-song “I Put A Spell On You”. Well Casey, you certainly did and we’ll never forget the likes of you…

American Idol 2011: Will You Still Love “James Durbin” Tomorrow?

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Does James Durbin need to ask the entire world if you will still love him tomorrow? No he certainly does not. We loved you “yesterday”, we love you “today” and we will definitely love you “tomorrow”!!

With him “bringing it on” this week with Carole King’s beautiful, soul-searching ballad-of-a-song entitled “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”, he took on the persona of a heartbroken young man reaching out to his “one and only”. And once again with this “heartfelt” performance made even more prominent with his guitar-strumming, he succeeded in “connecting” to me and the rest of the world. I’m a sucker for guys like him. Yes, my man James Durbin “rocked” the night away, once again!!

It’s now down to 6 and I will surely be missing “American Idol” once the winner is declared. I wish it would just go on and on. Couldn’t the “powers-that-be” come up with a show which features all our Idol “favorites” – just to fill in the time gap before the next season of “AI” is upon us once again? Yah, wishful thinking on my part as always.

I think the fact that I can’t get enough of James Durbin is because he’s not only a fantastic singer but a really, really adorable guy. When he’s not performing on stage, he’s still “performing”. Just look at the way he reacts to Ryan Seacrest or whoever he’s with when the camera is upon him. He’s like the guy you wanna pal with and have around you for the rest of your life. Sigh!! He’s such a “hottie”!!

Okay, snap out of it girl!! There are 5 more contestants to review. Lol!!

Well I must say that this week, Scotty McCreery brought forth a different look altogether. He is beginning to look really cute. Give him a few more years and he’ll have the ladies (and not just the teens, tweens, whatever) fawning all over him. Yup, mark my words. Tonight emerged a “new” Scotty, one that will break a million hearts in the future. When he took on “You’ve Got A Friend”, I felt for the first time that this young boy possesses a really romantic streak in him that’s yet to be uncovered. Yes win or lose, he’s got it made.

Surprisingly this week on “Carole King Night”, it was pretty darn good as far as song choices and performances go. I enjoyed Lauren Alaina’s take on “Where You Lead” (theme song from “Gilmore Girls”?). Tonight she looked and sounded more “real” than she’s ever done for a long time. Perhaps the little visit from Miley Cyrus did some good to boost her confidence? I’m glad she sounded great tonight. Anyone noticed her eye make-up? It really highlighted her beautiful eyes. Was there a change in make-up artist?

Casey Abrams was the “showman” of the evening. Sporting a fedora and a “cool” swagger, he began his number by pounding a couple of notes on the piano’s keyboard and then proceeded to pace the stage filled with brass band musicians. His unusual “personality” brought about the best of the song “Hi De Ho”. I personally feel that he’s more an “entertainer” than a “singer” if you were to compare him with the rest of the competitors.

This week Haley Reinhart looked stunning but unfortunately I did not enjoy her rendition of “Beautiful”. I felt that her voice was somewhat drowned by the resident band. But she looked radiant in her little outfit and those beautiful “locks” of hers certainly shone tonight. A change in the hairstylist?

And Jacob Lusk’s choice of “Oh No Not My Baby” was again not my “cup of tea”. And what is he wearing?? I could still remember one particular week when he did justice to the song he sang but since then, he’s become mediocre and “irrelevant”. I guess this year’s crop of “youngsters” could not handle the pressures of competition, more so in some than in others.

Duets were sung in between the solo numbers and although they were “entertaining” enough, the performances were not “polished”. I suppose they did not get enough rehearsals.

Casey Abrams and Haley Reinhart belted out “I Feel The Earth Move” (although the earth beneath my feet still felt solid), Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina came away with “Up On The Roof” (which was a tad much better) and James Durbin and Jacob Lusk ended with “Something Good” (I loved the way these two used the song to “fight” over J.Lo).

To end this article, I’d like to dedicate the following videoclips (by James Durbin and Scotty McCreery) to all the girls out there. These two songs had a huge impact on my love life decades ago and Carole King songs being evergreen and such would certainly still be a part of future generations of “love-struck” teenagers.