American Idol Season 9 the only place you get to see a bunch of Folk, Rock "singers" attempt R&B/Soul Night

Last week on American Idol, during Billboards Top 100's where only one of our season 9 contestants picked a song from the past 10 years (and figures it was Katie Stevens) this show was labeled by many as the worst of the entire season and I have a hard time disagreeing them though I do remember that horrible Latin night where star singer LaToya London danced her way though "Rhythm is Going to Get You" or the infamous Broadway Night where some guys screeched out "Climb Every Mountain" and Carrie Underwood known for her emotional singing sang "Hello Young Lovers". I'm still in therapy over that one. Based on last week we also said goodbye to Paige Miles. I liked Paige but felt like many others that for so many weeks she was giving mediocre to abyssal performances. Come on her "Smile" almost left me in tears. I read on many sites that she said that was still suffering though laryngitis and was choosing songs that she could work around (I know,) but judging on her sing out where she belted the heck out of "All Right Now" and compared to Tim Urban. I wished she was able to perform healthy and at full vocal force and was able to stay at least another week.

Tonight's theme for the final ten (let's stop with calling them the Top 10 this season because we all know that's not true) is going to be Soul and R & B. This weeks guest mentor, who by the way also happens to have a product to sell, is Usher. Usher has a new disc out today called "Everybody Loves Raymond". Sorry, "Raymond Vrs. Raymond" So with all that said on to the final 10's "performances". Also a new thing this episode is the kids will be greeting the cameras after the show tonight. By the way I HATE this idea as I think nothing screams taking away from a performance like the kids acting like politicians.

Okay, after the judges, introduction with Usher, sit down with Usher, Usher having a press conference to introduce his new line of nighttime sun glasses. Okay maybe that last part didn't happen but this is a 2 hour show and I already feel like we've passed the 2 hour mark we are given the first singer.

Siobhan Magnus – "Through the Fire" by Chaka Khan – I laughed when Siobhan told Usher she was a big fan since she was 6 or 7. He probably wanted to kill her for that. I hate to start this off with this said but I think Siobhan looks great from the neck up tonight. As usual in the song I think she starts off flat and under pitch. She has this ability to sing the beginning of the song flat, then switch to the power of the song and make us forget the rest of the performance to where we are standing and applauding. I watched her "Think" back an it's all mumble, soft notes, off notes and then that big note and we're all standing and applauding. Tonight doesn't seem to be one of those performances for Siobhan. When she gets to the high belting parts she's really sharp and then she's throwing in the scream and this time it's a scream just for show and at places it doesn't fit which makes it weird. I'm waiting for the "Silent Night" version with scream. The problem she has is that Chaka is one of those singers who makes a hard song look so easy but more importantly she can control everything about her voice to handle it. Siobhan has the range, has the ability, but doesn't have the control at her age. Usually I defend her vocal style because I think if you got it use it but this was showboating and not being able to back it up.

Coming back from commercial we get the horrible look backstage and Siobhan looked like Dead Man Walking. All the others throwing faint praise and her looking understandably upset.

Casey James – "Hold On, I’m Coming" by Sam and Dave - Casey is always lucky when there's a close-up shot of his face. I noticed that they always do a lot for him. It's interesting that I hear him playing guitar but usually see him in the same pose with one hand on it. He's smart with the song choice but I don't really think it sounds vocally that special. It's one of those that the performance is better then the vocal because the vocal is secondary at best . I think with Casey he has a lot working for him especially his looks, which are his best asset. I just wished the voice stood out more then anything else. Also I think doing this song with this arrangement the week right after lasts "Power of Love" made it sound almost like it was the same performance he gave last week and was a mistake. I'm wondering if we're going to get the same bar performance that sounds better after a few drinks every single week until he has to do jazz or standards and that'll be the week he's eliminated.

Even after seeing someone praised I still HATE this interview after the performance. It's so in your face and doesn't add anything but filler. I really hope when they start getting pressed for time they decide to cut this bit right away.

Michael Lynche – "Ready for Love" by india.arie – Am I the only one who is really tired of him always being referred to as Big Mike? It's hard for me to take him serious as an artist with this tag name on him or all the shots of him walking in with the baby. I normally think of Mike as too much of a ham then as a singer but I thought this was an excellent performance for him tonight. He kept all the distractions in check and delivered an honest performance and I thought the vocal was excellent until the final note which was off but not as noticeable as it could have been. I thought he was smart picking an honest singer like india.aire that a lot of people might not now but writes with her emotions. This made me even consider him finally as a singer then just as Big Mike. I also LOVE that he choose an india.arie song to perform on Idol so I give him high marks on that.

Didi Benami – "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" by Jimmy Ruffiin – Is anyone else really tired of them dragging out the emotional card on Didi all the time. Another thing is why is Didi who sounds so good with simple arrangements pulling out the big belty cabaret turn for this song? Stick to what you know Didi. I have to say I think she looks gorgeous tonight. She reminds me of Michelle Pfeiffer in the Baker Boys movie. I love the simple start of the song and think that her voice works on that really well. Once it starts building and the band starts overpowering her it feels like she is trying to compete with them until the end where she's trying to give us a moment when the arrangement and her voice can't really give a moment for this. I love Didi and normally really like the original takes she give to the songs but didn't care for this as much as the other stuff. I really wish she would have done the Mandy Moore version of "Umbrella" which could have been a moment for her because it would have played up to everything in her wheelbarrow. I thought this could have put her in trouble tonight but couple with her fans worried about her and that interview afterwards I think she's going to be safe because of that. I also felt really uncomfortable with Ryan trying to get information out of her when she didn't want to answer him. Can't wait to see the backstage camera for this.

Tim Urban – "Sweet Love" by Anita Baker – When I heard that Tim was singing this song I was scared. This is a great song with a gorgeous rhythm that much like most of Anita's songs are just cool. She sounds cool singing them, they sound cool hearing them, and you even feel while listening to them. All things that I don't really apply to Tim Urban though he has nice teeth. Tim smartly starts the song as far away from the audience as possibly however the lighting makes him look like he's nautious, which is actually rather fitting since that's how he usually leaves us when he's done. Though the song the best I could say about it was that he got though it. I didn't think anything of it really to the point where I've forgotten it a few times. Let's face it Simon said what we're all thinking vocally Tim is tap water but as long as he has hair and smiles little girls and gay boys will vote for him.

All this backstage camera is teaching me is the boys can sell their personalities no matter what and the girls re all breaking down afterwards.

Andrew Garcia – "Forever" by Chris Brown – What "Straight Up" wasn't on the list. I was impressed that Usher took his shades up in the clip. Andrew who still looks like a stoned college kid at a coffee house and a youtube account surprised me by picking a Chris Brown song. I'm sure somewhere Chris is happy that someone remembers his name and will be begging for a chance to work with Andrew. I liked the acoustic arrangement however I thought it missed the dramatic build the song needed. I'm happy it didn't come across as the gimmick that it has been these past few weeks though I always snicker hearing the lines "double your pleasure, double your fun" knowing that this was used for a gum commercial. I thought Andrew's vocals were fine not as memorable as they could have been and were masked by the arrangement. I disagree with Simon on boring I think he comes across as very laid back. I do think what he needs to work on is his voice and putting more muscle into his vocals and his performing skills. His Mother scares me.

Katie Stevens – "Chain of Fools" by Aretha Franklin – When I heard they were doing this night I figured she would sing this song as I still have memories of Diana DeGarmo singing this. I can't get over why she decided to do the Snookie Poof? Is she hoping to get more votes from people thinking she's Snookie? I hate this choice for her as it's another song that has been done to death on Idol. It's funny that this is the first song so far that's been done on Idol before. I wonder if they're taking some heat for the comments about "Against All Odds" being done 7 times on Idol and are wanting them to be more creative when picking a song. I thought her voice was strong during the belting but not really memorable. There was no excitement in the performance of her delivery. It was a decent job on a song I've heard done better and I never feel any magic from her when she performs. I also hate her robotic movements when they're giving out her phone numbers.

Lee Dewyze – "Treat Her Like a Lady" – They must be pushing Lee big time. He gets a chat before the performance that concentrates on the him having a moment. Ryan also brings up him being sick which is something they generally don't before the performance. In Lee's interview he still looks scared to death talking and refuses to look at the camera. During the performance he must have had a drink. I love how his voice sounds on this song, he's bringing the "Creed" type of sound that really works for him but makes the song sound like something he would do. He's being smart by not stretching out the notes so we don't get the pitch problems though it seems he switching between singing and screaming when he sings but it works for this performance. He looks the most excited and into it then he has ever looked. Good job Lee.

After the commercials end we come back to these new face camera and the fist interview we get has Lee avoiding eye contact with the camera yet again. Showing after all these weeks he still hasn't gotten over his nerves.

Crystal Bowersox – "Midnight Train to Georgia" by Gladys Knight and the Pips – I really hate how many times does Ryan have to bring up about the pressure being on for her right before her performance.

I'm sorry. It shows my true love for Mama Sox that, I love that she's talking about stepping out of her box and do something wild for her and then all she does is play the piano!! I'm not complaining but she did look scared and out of her element I would have preferred her doing this song with her guitar if that's what works for Mama. When I heard that Mama Sox was doing a song about Georgia, originally I thought she was doing "Georgia on my Mind" She starts out and I can tell right away this was her makeover episode. I loved parts of this performance and I thought parts had problems. I loved the piano and the slowed down beginning. It made it sound original, and the sound of her voice had some wonderfully honest gospel belting complete with a gorgeous tone though out the song. The high note was amazing for her even though it was a little off but it really gives you hope that she's capable of a lot more then I think we really give her credit for. It actually makes me even more excited for what's in store for us after some time and when she's finally letting go in a song. The things I did hate about this was you could tell she was nervous about playing the piano and she wasn't able to get into the song as much as she should have. Like Simon I did not care for the three singers up close at the piano adding support. You only do that when you've got Mariah, Shaina, Celine, and Gloria as your backup otherwise it distracted from her. I think she brings the gospel, church, sound into her singing I would love for her to do that with her performance style, almost like Fantasia does. Also one side note I thought the outfit looked great she really needs to hide from the hair and makeup people because they're turning her into a guest star on a nondescript UPN show. She looks like she could be campus hippie #4 in whatever college dorm show that lasts a week.

Aaron Kelly – "Ain’t No Sunshine" by Bill Withers – It's like if a goat was sick and sounded like he has a nasal cold he would sound very similar to our youngest contestant. Cute little asexual Aaron who has not come out of the closest yet but someday will have a corner of People magazine. You take a Soul sound and you layer it on several loafs of White Bread and you get Aaron Kelly singing this. I thought the hair was very Ellen mixed in with a rooster. The clothes looked like an ad for Kid Gap, he needs to come out of the closet soon. The big problem is that its hard to take Aaron seriously but with people like Justin Bieber, the Jonas Brothers we might have to because that's a popular group of guys and their fans must be voting for Aaron. I don't think he was a train wreck like a Tim or even Siobhan but at least with Siobhan and to a small point Tim takes chances that Aaron really doesn't. I think he's trying to put the country spin on everything because that's what the judges told him would work but I think if he worked on his voice and performance style he could be a good vocalist and attack songs with a strong voice. If he had just let loose I think Sunshine would have been great or if he could have brought "something" to it. I still remember Christina Christian doing a memorable sexy "Sade" version of that song. Not saying Aaron should have done that but he could have created something vocally out of all those I Know that would have been special. I know he's going to do semi well but I don't think he adds anything to the show at all. In face the week after he's gone no one is going to miss him.

At this point in the season surprisingly there still are some really bad performances. I think Tim Urban has now officially become Sanjaya and I wonder if they'll keep him around for "Idol Gives Back." Actually I think they should auction Tim Urban off to the highest bidder and watch him sweat when he realizes its a guy who bought him for the night. There have been some decent performances, some or maybe one or two that are spectacular, though usually it's only one spectacular one almost spectacular but sadly its all in the hands if the American Public. Who has brought us Nikkie McKibben, Carmen Rasmussen, John Stevens, Scott Soval, Taylor Hicks, Sanjaya, Jason Castro, most of eight season, and now nine season. So my guess for the bottom two will be Tim Urban, Aaron Kelly, and either Katie Stevens or Andrew Garcia. I hoping it's Andrew Garcia and since Snookie is popular Katie might have a shot. I do think that possibly Tim Urbans time has ran up and if not I hope that even though he had a decent performance. People will worry that by letting him stay they're afraid that the performance of "Forever" will be brought up to Andrew Garcia after every horrible follow-up performance he will give. I think Tim might go home tomorrow night since the judges weren't so mean that the it would spurn his fan base to vote for him and some might have already forgotten him.

I think that Crystal, Lee, Michael, Casey, Andrew, Didi, Siobhan will all sound good to great on the studio records once they're cleaned up. I think without the nerves of being in front of the judges, and the audience Siobhan is going to kill that song in the studio.

Also I've decided that each week I will also post a photo of who I thought gave the performance of the week and it will hang at the end of this blog like digital art for all the see. Until next week where the next winner will hang at the end. I felt there were two singers tonight who earned the title without me having to blink an eye. I would have given the first photo to Crystal as I think that she had one of the best performances of the night however as I feel she will be here many more times this season I'm putting who I thought gave the other best performance this week was:

Congratulations Lee. I have to confess I still have my issues with you vocally, on and off stage but I thought this week you were great. You went above the limit and surprised me with your vocals, with your performance and especially on R&B/Soul Night. I can see that your working on several issues and trying to improve. I think you picked a great song and kept yourself intact during a theme week. A feat that judging by some of the others not an easy thing to do. I know you should be pleased, your fans will be pleased, and I know my sisters who drool over any husky voice pseudo rock singer are please with your performance this week. Here hoping to see you here more often.

The Best Songs of 2009 no this is not a misprint but at least I'm not writing about American Idol tonight!!!

OKAY!!!! I already know that this is way late but istead of putting the best songs of 2009. I would put the songs I "heard" in 2009 and also I thought A.) I was giving everyone something other then American Idol (with other non Idol things to come featuring, pop culture, movies, theater, divas, oh my!!), B) I work in a company that we're still restoring things back to 01/01/2010 and everything that I have learned from watching my partner George's Star Trek episodes and any comedy that brings the space time consortium back to fill episodes. I figured you can always go back and correct the past. This does not work though when you had planned to order a chicken salad and accidentally told them tuna salad which is just disgusting and you take the tuna because you had already bitten into it. I had posted this at a good friends site that's also linked to his site. If you haven't please check it our you'll love it. Who am I kidding he get more hits then me the only reason your probably even at my site is because you clicked on my link though his site. Come on my own Mother told me she doesn't read my blog. I said it was a blog about me and my interests and she said that she really wasn't interested in that stuff. My partner George keeps forgetting to read the site but he will remember down to the exact minute I told him I'd be home for dinner. So In no particular order of songs. First I do have to say I HATE putting lists in order. I'm sure that could be psyched out to the 9th degree. I just don't want to have a "Sophie's Choice" about ranking something like "Muriels Wedding" which is worshiped over something like "The Hours" which I also worship and watch a lot to cheer myself up. However I do love to talk so expect lists from me of my top ten everything's.



So as I'm not too late but like I said I'm just retro this list so it fits. here goes: If I had to pick the best song of 2009. The best single of 2009 for me would have to be "Already Gone" from Kelly Clarkson. If you just going with the CD version it has an amazing sound which Beyonce obviously did "borrow" and released first for her ultra addictive but not as good as AG song "Halo." It's not like we don't know that Beyonce would do anything for her career and a hit song but I'm sorry Gone is a better song with a lot more emotion in it then "Halo" which is another great song too.



That's why she's the level that she is and people either hate her or love her. I think it's an original take on the typical love song where everyone always sings about how your going to miss me, I'm still hung up on you, an I remember her name in the morning. will I be able to give their name out to the doctor when I'm trying to cure that rash. Don't worry just a little joke. :) However Kelly sings the song with mostly a detached emotion that your not used to hearing in love songs till the point when she tells them she's gone and her voice starts belting. It's like she found a new life as soon as he was gone. Everyone knows I'm obsessed with Ms. Clarkson (not to the point that I need a restraining order placed on me....again :) but "Already Gone" places in the top list of the greatest Kelly Clarkson songs. I did though restrict myself to one Kelly song this year as I figured there were a few that could have made the list. I did want to spread the wealth.

"Scars" - Allison Iraheta - I know that I said that this wasn't an American Idol list but come on people I write an American Idol blog. I do listen to everything. A lot more then in high school when all it was, was Musical Theater, Broadway Divas, and Opera but I still have to have my priorities. Allison should have gotten the credit on Idol that she truly deserved. A voice like hers does not come around often. This girl is only sixteen years (now 17) old and she has one of the thickest, soulful voices in music that can belt with no problem ands a wallop of emotion in everything. Hopefully when people hear her excellent CD she'll finally be a star because she is what people like Taylor Swift, Miley, Demi, and Selena should pray to be. This song hits at the emotional center but also is entirely relate able. It's about holding on to pain and suffering of the past but don't in a way that gives the chance for Allison to sink her teeth in and show how that she really is a star.

"Poker Face"" - by Lady Gaga - Even though most of the songs seems to be from female artists that usually I tend to listen to that. I do listen to male singers but always seem to gravitate towards the ladies. It's odd posting about Gaga late in the game when she's been talked, and talked, and talked about so much. We know she's incredible, she's the future of pop, I saw her live and she puts on a HELL of a show!!! I actually think "Just Dance." is better there's something so epic bout "Poker Face" and the fact that she comes up with lyrics that normally would have you laughing but within the song it works and people LOVE to sing them. You can always tell a popular song because of how many covers you see popping up everywhere. This song the covers seemed to pop up right after the song was released and they were taking it to a new direction. I've heard this song in the original version, a strictly acoustic version, just a piano version, a polka version and heck even Broadway Diva Lea Salonga sang a version at one of her concerts. That's the mark of a great song.

"Parachute" - Cheryl Cole - The title is silly and the lyrics are okay but the music in this is the hook. Also this was a song that grew on me. If your not aware of who Cheryl Cole is get aware quickly. She is started her career in London on a reality show to find the next girl group. The group they came up with was a British group called "Girls Aloud" and they are HUGE over thee. Cheryl recorded a solo album with Will.I.Am who is featured on many of her tracks and Simon Cowell wants her desperately to come over to America to be a judge on X-Factor as she already is one in the London version. This is a great song with a hook that sticks with you and the video is stunning.

"Stop Sign"- Beyonce - I tried to make my list about songs that I figured people might not have heard as opposed to the big ones. There were a few that no matter how big need to be in my list. With all the hits that Ms. Fierce released in 2009-2010 I picked a song that she didn't even release. I loved this song because I thought it was such an amazing departure from Mrs. B. I love the acoustic feel she gives this song and switches to head voice with no issue. I usually think o her as all wonderful production but little depth. This is where I think she flipped everything around and turned in an amazing song and an amazing vocal. Interesting that both Beyonce and Oprah are talking time off from their careers soon. I wonder if Wendy Williams and Keri Hilson are counting down the seconds so that they can finally be noticed?

The other song is

"Sober" - Pink - This song put Pink in a completely different perspective to me. I know she had talent and depth from her earlier stuff this song proved she could pull out the drama and the emotions without sacrificing her most powerful vocals and still be daring and original. I included this version done at Much Music because she throws some really powerful gospel notes into the song that brings a different level to it. I have grown to LOVE Pink because of the songs she does and that she can easily switch from foot in your face tough party girl to a full throttle power belter and in this song she's able to do that and strike an emotional message.

I will post this later but this takes forever to come out.,


"We Are Golden" - Mika - When of the few men on my list and of course it would have to be Mika. This is a GREAT teenage anthem that just starts like most soft and then starts building to a point where you can't help but sing/scream along. It reminds me in a way of the music of the Who. In music like "Teenage Wasteland" and "Tommy" they were talking about the issues of a group of people and Mika does this beautifully but for current audience. It's a great song that is VERY hard to get out of your head!!!

"The Fear" - Lily Allen- This was a hard one because I think her other song "22" is just as good and could have easily been here instead but this song grabs you and won't let you go. I feel like it can speak to several generations and builds with a gorgeous rhythm to it that she lays soft but emotional lyrics on top of. I've seen all the crud about her on the gossip sites but block that out when I'm hearing her sing because I believe this song speaks more to people today then any Taylor Swift song could. She's the tough talking, trashy Taylor Swift with talent.

"Sexy Chick" also known as "Sexy Bitch" - Paloma Faith - Okay I hate and love the original song. I think there are parts you can't get out of your head and there are parts that make you cringe (some of the lyrics, Akron, etc. ) What this unique woman who I had never heard of was able to do was turn this song into a GREAT SONG. I don't quite know how to describe this but she adds a Billie Holliday sound, with a Janis Joplin performance and turns it into a Woman Power Song!!! Ifyou have not heard this PLEASE listen to it and let me know what you think?

"Dead Flowers" - Miranda Lambert - It was done to the wire between this song and "Use Sombody" from The Kings of Leon. I went with this song it builds and builds to such a powerful climax that your not sure where they're going to go at the end of the song but the song moves you. It's got an amazing vocal form Miranda Lambert that really should have been awarded this season however it does remind me of another great Faith Hill song called "Stealing Kisses". I love the Kings of Leon and if I had been doing these lists in the past would have put Sex on Fire on my list in a second. I think Use Somebody is a great song I just think it runs into a mess during the chorus. It's still a great vocal.

There are some honorable mention songs that didn't make the list (and actually have some men listed) these are songs that I listened to a lot this past year and would have loved put them on the list. They are: James Morrison & Nelly Fortado "Broken Strings," Brandi Carlile "The Story," Leann Rimes "What I Can't Change," Miley Cyrus (Yea I said it) "The Climb," Regina Spektor "Laughing With," The Black Eye Peas "Missing You," "Boom, Boom, Pow,!" Chris Cornell "Scream," Green Day "21 Guns," La Roux "Tigerlily," Jennifer Hudson "Jesus Promises Me a Home Over There," Adam Lambert "Mad World," Katy Perry "Hot & Cold," Adele "Chasing Pavements," and Will Young "Leave Right Now." I did excluded other types of music like Musical theater songs, jazz, songs only because there's no way I could come up with a list like that. It took long enough for me to get this out. I'm hoping I'll have my best of 2011 by January 1st, 2011 instead of say March.

So long...farewell...auf weidersehen goodbye...
StrevenT.Dein (STD)

The Top 11 sing number one hits for everyone but them.

Last week we lost sweet innocent yet boring Lacey Brown tonight we get our remaining 11 tackling Billboard Number 1's. A theme that in past seasons never really has given us great performances with the exception of Carrie Underwood's still talked about performance of "Alone". I as one of the most obsessed Idol fans ever can still remember in season 2 when this theme was first introduced and we got Carmen Rasmusen "performance" of Blondie's "Call Me." Who would have ever thought that a Mormon virgin would be able to take on rocks original bad girl Debbie Harry. Well Carmen didn't and she looked horrible at the same. It' the kind of theme night that even certain contestants who do well cn pick strange song choices Clay Aiken chose out of all the #1 songs the classic "At this Moment" which originally was released in 1981 but hit #1 after it was featured in a scene in Family Ties. This week I spent a few hours looking over songs that went to number one. Some I was shocked and I think I was even more surprised that songs I had assumed were number one hits weren't on the billboard hop 100 which seems to be the big list. Songs can be number on many different charts but the hop 100 is the big chart. It's like Carrie Underwood has number 1 hits for every song she has ever put out but if you look at the chart the only time she ever had a number one hit song is "Inside Your Heaven."

I heard that tonight's theme was original going to be teen Idols and with Miley in the house I can understand (as my good friend Ricky who knows everything about #1 pointed that ms. Cyrus has never had a #1 song so I think that makes sense why she was supposed to be here tonight. They were going to have her coach though the "Teen Idol" theme and then have her sing and Demi Lovato and Joe Jonas were going to perform. I think so the producers could show the kids that if they were as pretty as the three of them they didn't need talent to make it in this world. Which is sad since most of our contestants don't even have talent to begin with.

I can't understand with all the songs that they could have done that would have fit them as singers they picked some of the worst songs ever. I went though the list it would have been hard but they could have found something better then most of the crappy they did tonight plus most of this has been done on Idol so many times why bother. Both Aaron Kelly & Paige Miles attempted to sing the two most overplayed Idol songs ever. Against All Odds has been done on Idol 7 different times and by no one who has one. The closest was Katharine McPhee and it was considered to be her worst performance. I Don't Want to Miss a Thing has been 7 times on Idol so those songs should never be done again. As for the rest really The Letter, Me and Bobby McGee, Crazy Little Thing Called Love these are the type of songs that are the smart songs to pick on different theme nights but on a night like this felt old!!! Tonight as I'm ripping them apart I'm going to try to come up with a few possible better solutions then the crap they gave us. I felt that tonight felt like having major surgery without any anesthesia.

Lee Dewyze – “The Letter” by the Boxtops – Normally I'd say Lee looks nervous being around Miley however this is how Lee always acts so its hard to tell. I was proud of him I have to say. I had said that the first song he gets where he moves around was going to kill him but I was wrong. He still looked like he was going to apologize after the performance was over but he did better then usual. He has a very likeable persona that makes girls want to hug him because he's every guy in those jackets always looking like's afraid of everything. I thought he handled the tricky rhythm of the song better then I thought. I thought he should have watched Michael Johns and Carly Smithson do this song on Idol last year and the year before because they did it so effortlessly. Interesting bit of trivia the original singer of this song Alex Chilton died this week. Hopefully people don't think he did hearing Lee sing this which would almost be untrue. I noticed that when I'm not watching the television I semi enjoy Lee's performance. He still miss's notes, mumbles the words, and owns all of Creeds music but I think he brings an unique sound missing on Idol. It's like the Aldi's version of Chris Daughtrey. He could have sung "How You Remind Me," "Arms Open Wide," "Smooth" or any others.

Paige Miles – “Against All Odds” by Phil Collins – I guess this season is about starting the number on the staircase. Paige sounds like she's gotten over the laryngitis because last week she sounded great and from the start she sounds like old Paige. Her voice sounded lifeless, off though out a lot and she finally hits a semi decent note and then the rest went from soft and pitchy to moderately belty and off. I almost feel like Paige is a bad audition plant because she is doing nothing in this competition. She had one semi-decent performance with "Walk Away" which really wasn't that good then and a decent one last week but Smile was like she forgot her meds and tonight was a joke. She makes me angry because she said song choice has been hard why couldn't she have picked Killing Me Softly, Touch Me in the Morning, The Way We Were if she wanted to go the older route as so many were doing or is she wanted recent there's Bleeding Love, My Life Would Suck, or No One. I think at this point she wants to get kicked off.

Tim Urban – “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” by Queen – Up next is everyone's favorite dollar star Zac Efron. For Billboard Number 1st Tim decides to sing a Queen song. This is the type of song you do if you get stuck with Big Band or Queen night but for #1!!!! I hate the shirt and the jacket but I'm glad someone had the good sense to put the jacket on anyway because the shirt was worse but it might work and hurt his Archille heals which are his muscles. It's bad when the guest mentor spends most of the time knocking him down and he still thanks her. Tin closes his eyes, walks awkwardly is able to touch hands with the audience and still able to maintain eye contact with the camera. His voice doesn't change at all during the song. He doesn't play around with it. He seemed so worried about working the stage he put NOTHING into his singing and it just went on and on. Tim gave on the singing and now he's just looking at the audience and trying to show some personality so he might have a career once he's eliminated which could be tomorrow. He could have done Hey There Delilah, or Umbrella which would have been better.

Aaron Kelly – “I don’t want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith – He looks like a cross between Joey McEntire and K.D. Lang. Aaron is so cute and adorable the show will keep him around till he get to the 7th or 8 spot and then have him eliminated. I thought it was funny that last week they weren't going to mention Paige being sick because it's usually a good sign to get them eliminated. This week they mentioned Aaron right away and he didn't get a single Ooh or Aw from the audience. Picking the other most overdone on Idol song. Aaron has some major problems though out the song. He did sound strained and had trouble sustain the drawn out note and then cracked in the middle. I don't think he would have sounded that great in the song even if he hadn't been sick. I think that this is a big song and would have required him to push his vocals during it. I honestly think that he dodged a bullet getting sick. If I could swap this song out with a better choice it would have been Amazed or On Bended Knee.

Crystal Bowersox – “Me and Bobby McGee” by Janis Joplin – Okay we ALL knew that Crystal would be doing a Janis song sooner or later on the show. I am so glad its done and we can move on, I'm also glad it wasn't Piece of my Heart. I do think it was funny that this seemed to be only Mentor practice that seemed like it was against Crystal. I love that Crystal came out dressed like a hippie for this number but I worry if that's going to turn off a section of fans? She starts the song with a soft tone that builds into almost a revival meeting. I love that Crystal brings out the gospel tones to a song and makes it her own. After watching this a second time I felt like I finally got the energy she brought to this performance. It felt like she lost herself in this song and delivered a great performance. I worry though if women will turn on her out of jealously and that could cost her. If there were another couple of songs I would have rather Crystal sing would be "One Week" "Single Ladies", "Poker Face," or Womanizer. Current songs that she could give an acoustic contemporary sound too.

Mike Lynche – “When a Man Loves a Woman” by Percy Sledge – Mike is ALL about the personality. Which is a GREAT thing that you remember him, you like to be in a room with him, you want him to pick you up which is funny because I always think that's rude when someone does it. The bad thing seems that personality is the best thing he has. I could easily see him as a commentator for some Sports show or E but his singing though fine pales compared to that. He felt over the top, giving us pretty much the same arrangement, and performance that he gave on the Maxwell song. He has a nice tone, and works as an R&B singer but as someone who would put out decent records but missing that big hit song. I don't know if there is a current song that would really work for him.

Andrew Garcia – “Heard it Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye – WHY? WHY? Grapevine needs to be taken to the Church. It's a Big Song all in vocal, rhythm, and music. I knew this would bomb when I heard he was going to do it. Andrew walks around as a military dictator with strange staff arm movements. I also don't understand removing any type of emotion out of this song and his strange staccato phrasing and pointing to his ear over and over again. He almost sings it like he's threatening the person about the news he heard though the grapevine. His voice sounded shouted, he walked around stomping the song with robotic tendencies that made it COLD! I truthfully don't even know what I could suggest for this guy that he could have done.

Katie Stevens – “Big Girls Don’t Cry” by Fergie – I want to HUG Katie for picking a semi current song. It's like she's the first and only person who paid attention to the lesson in being current. Sure she most of missed the classes on performing, song choices, pitch, likeability, and fashion but she got something. I thought this was Katie's best performance. She seemed alive, young, and looked Top 36 material. Her vocals are an entirely different performance. Katie's chest voice sounds way to low and I think are going to be her big weak sport in future songs. I think her as someone who probably would win 1st or 2nd at a local karaoke bar and maybe a state fair or Brandon but she's an assembly line. There's nothing special about her that screams I need to jump off my couch and buy her CD or even save her from falling off a bridge. I think "Unbreak My Heart," "Live to Tell, and "Time After Time", could have done really well for her.

Casey James – “Power of Love” by Huey Lewis and the News – You know it's a crudy show when this song sounds exciting. There used to be a time that if a contestant had done this song it would have been a kiss of death. This season it could be Top 2. Casey is really luckly that Idol loves the close-ups because otherwise I could think of 3000 things I'd rather do then watch him perform. You know the he's not going to do anything but keep his hand at the side of the guitar that I think he's bring out at the drop of hat. I think "Jessie's Girl" would have been a great fit or "I Love Rock n Roll".

Didi Benami – “You’re No Good” by Linda Ronstadt – Is it me or when did Didi turn into Brooke White? She never came across this scatterbrain before. I love the slow start of this song and I'm totally into the dark jazzy tone of Didi's voice. I can't believe how much she looks like Michelle Pieffer in the close-ups. I also love this cabaret style of the song and I think her voice sounds fantastic and is pushed in the right direction. It's an original performance that I think some with love and some will hate. I actually would like to see Didi on a stool in a peasant light a overhead light and just a simple guitar (not played by her) doing a jazzy/folk type of song. I think that his the market that she would really soar at. I think that possibly "I Honestly Love You," "Say You Say Me," or even "Faith."

Siobhan Magnus – “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder – In Siobhan's opening package I keep think she's one of those girls in the move about the nerdy girl who has a makeover and goes to the prom with the cute guy. Siobhan doing an interesting Bride of Frankenstein hair do. Is coming out and giving us a smiley, disconnected performance. Her voice doesn't have the strength for the beginning for we know what's going later. She starts powering on the vocals and at the end starts screaming at me. Usually when it's actually sung I love it and think she sounds amazing but tonight she stopped singing it and just went into full fledge screaming. It was like she didn;t even pretend she was going to sing it. I laugh when Randy said he never though she would sing Superstitious. I'm surprised he said that after all the times that he brought up the other Stevie song. I think she really could have had a moment singing Nothing Compares to U, Take a Bow, anyone of Mariah's songs

My favorites of the night were as always Mama Bowersox, and Didi. I'm not sure after tonight but if I'm going to guess a bottom three I would say Paige Miles because she hasn't shown up for the past month, Tim Urban because a pretty boy is only as good as the first few minutes then he's boring, and Andrew Garcia because when your best known for a 30 second Paula Abdul song that doesn't bode well for you in the future. I'm hoping that Paige get enough sympthy votes and they finally get rid of Andrew Garcia from my television but my actual guess is Tim Urban because everyone is saying he sucks as opposed to some saying that he's good. At this point I think they should send home 4 and bring back 4 others. I seriously still can't understand Paige Miles over Angela Martin, Tasha Leyton, and a few others????

"We Can't Get No Satisfaction" American Idol Top 12

Yay!!! Only after 525,600 minutes we have finally gotten to our top 12. Actually with last weeks elimination I can only say that we've gotten to "a" top 12 instead of our top 12. Seriously, Alex had amazing tone, Todrick was a showman, and I have a special place in my heart (and on my CD selves) for both Lilly and Katelyn that I still can't believe they're gone. I had considered wearing black in tribute to them however I realized I was already wearing it so I decided to play "Coldplay" instead. Actually, I played "Coldpay" until I realized they were more depressing then the loss of two of my favorite singers so I just decided to watch "Sophie's Choice" to cheer myself up. Anyway, tonight we get the top 12 singing the music of the Rolling Stones who are four times older then most of the American Idols and we also get treated to video montages of why they are all depressing enough to win our votes. Seriously between parent's who've passed away, poor people who sat around the piano instead of eating dinner, parents who can't bear to watch their children perform (Hi, Mom!!), and so many others I can't tell if I'm watching American Idol or Extreme Home Makeovers. I mean come on I like my Idols to be inspirational but do I need to know that their lives have been the makings of a telethon instead of just performing on one.

With that said let's get on with the show.

Michael Lynche – "Miss You" – If I'm grading on a curve, and let's face it with the boys this year how can you not. I would say that this was decent. Mike performs much better then he can sing. It's like some men that his package is bigger then his actual goods. He uses way too much of the falsetto and tries to unleash a voice that isn't that powerful. I wish he would hold back a little, which could be hard since he doesn't have much to work with. I wish he would hold back the high notes and use a few to make it sound more impressive then trying to stretch them out which just sounds like he got kicked in the crotch. I think the other issue is the problem with this song is the chorus is more memorable then the song, so I end up remembering that part more then the vocals.

Didi Benami – "Play with Fire" – I love Didi's phrasing and her distinct vocals. Didi has a voice that has such an unique quality that's borders on a jazzy folk singer sound. I think she is going to record beautifully. Her voice reminds me of an adult Jewel with a lot more distinction. I loved the start of the song where she switches up the power and shows that she has more to her voice then we might have thought and plays around with it but still maintains the anger that's in there. I do think she gets a little caught up in the performance and loses her way with a few notes and is a little bit off on the rhythm but it wasn't extremely noticeable and didn't cripple what she did. It's funny throw in "Terrified" which is a Kat song, there's a lot about Didi that reminds me of Katharine McPhee.

Casey James – "It’s All Over Now" – I could see this entire performance in a 20 seat bar on a Sunday Afternoon. Casey kept his eyes towards the guitar probably to make sure it wasn't upstaging him. Hi vocals weren't special but he would have made a room full of 20 drunk people clapping and getting into the music. I thought average was something he should aspire to be. I know he's could looking, great hair, I like his shirts, and poor guy to be hot and had to take his shirt off. Which actually means that he'll probably end up in 4th place just because he showed the top part of his money maker. I thought he was smart to play up to his audience but I think this and a few others are starting to make me think he's gonna have some major performances issues (don't we all) done the road. I think he's going to do very well for himself in Country Music once his time on Idol is over with. 5...4...3...2...

Lacey Brown – "Ruby Tuesday" - I really didn't know that 1ast season Nikki McKibben had come back to perform. I really want to like Lacy, I think the hair is cure, the eyes are stunning, she comes across as she would be sweet as apple pie in public but cut you in private and her fashion sense!!! I don't think she could ever be a serious artist because no one ever performs with that much clothes on at the same time. I can't get the thought of a cheeseburger out of my head when I hear the title. I love the strings and think it added an original freshness to the song. The issue with the song is that the rhythm of the song is very tricky and even thought it's a cute song I don't know if it's going to have a huge impact. I think Lacey's voice always seems to waken on the final notes and she has problems with that. I think she is going to be on of those artist I put in the Katy Perry, Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, and Nelly McKey. They all have distinct small voices that work magic and power on their original songs and usually don't ever touch covers, I think if Lacy have finds a great original song she's going to have a hit with it.

Andrew Garcia – "Gimme Shelter" – In Andrew's video montage his father mentions he liked to collect keys which made me wonder why? I then started worrying about that what he was going to use those for. This is one of my favorite songs from the Stone. I love that intensity rolled in with the Shout Away. I think Andrew was able to sum every trick he had in his arsenal but he sucked everything possible out of this song, out of this performance, out of the life and turn it into one long painful air raid. His last note actually sounded like the horn that goes off during an air raid. He was flat while shouting and think he might be in trouble. I don't understand why the judges are trying to save him and why? He hasn't has a decent performance since "Straight Up". Which last 30 seconds and wasn't like it was a great performance of an amazing song. So now I think that his true talent is making great songs sound like crap and taking crappy songs and turning them into masterpieces. I can't wait for his version of "My Humps" done Operatic.

Katie Stevens – "Wild Horses" – Kind of Creepy that Katie' brother's friends have a head shot of Katie. I wonder what they do when they're drunk? At one point in the interview our little Katiebot says that she wants to "Hopefully put "Connecticut" on the map. I had to watch that twice. I hope someone has told her that Connecticut is on the map. I think everyone knew Katie was singing this song as soon as they announced the theme. I think the bright white light gives her more character and depth. That outfit looks like she pissed off her dresser that morning and he convinced her it would make her thinner. I thought she picked a great song but sucked out the feeling and it felt overproduced. I feel like she hits the notes and probably did well in her show choir in high school but in real life she's chorus at best. She try's to hit a big note (at least for her) and it does nothing for me. I wish I could love the Katiebot but she does nothing for me.

Tim Urban – "Under My Thumb" - He is SO lucky that he is so pretty. It's funny he's going to be working a lot after all this is over with on Idol but very little of it will be for singing. I thought he tried a stupid idea of trying a different version in order to mask his many vocal flaws. The only thing it did was probably upset any Rolling Stone fans who already probably don't like Idol to begin with. At this point we all know Tim is dreamy, the hair will NOT move, he has a six pack and e probably wears a promise ring for show only. So since we know all that about him and we also know how bad he is let's just say eliminate him so we don't have to watch him anymore. I'm sure there are many hosting jobs on MTV just waiting for him to be sent home.

Siobhan Magnus – "Paint it Black" – Her family seems like "The Walton's" meet "Sid & Nancy". I always forget how pretty Siobhan is. The number starts with her on the stairs singing slightly under pitch. I love the look that she has going on and the performance is arresting due to the dramatic evening wear, make up, red lighting, and her moving around building the song powerfully. She started it a little flat but started building the song and finished up with an amazing intense end and with several inhumanly long and high couple of notes. I'm starting to wonder if Siobhan is going to win everything this year. I think that Siobhan is the Adam Lambert of the season and you will either LOVE her or hate but I have a feeling as the season progresses most of the people who hate her with change over.

Lee Dewyze – "Beast of Burden" – I ALWAYS love hearing stories about people I want to hear singing starting out not wanting anyone to watch them. It's funny when Ryan said that he heard Lee was nervous. You don't say Ryan. I really liked the arrangement he gave this song and the John Cougar Mellencamp sound that he brought to it. I still can hear a lot of problems in his vocals. I think Lee's biggest problem is he doesn't have any stage presence and I don't think that he has it in him. He's gonna be one of those people who performs in the middle of the stage with his guitar doing the bug eye thing and that's it. I think he'll doing fine until the them night is standards, or the music of Edy Gorme and that'll be his downfall.

Paige Miles – "Honky Tonk Woman" – It's good to see Paige having more fun and putting more personality in this then she did last week. I like how she's working the crowd and getting into it. I had heard that she had laryngitis and was wondering if the judges were planning on throwing her under the bus so I applaud Ellen for bringing that up. I thought it was a fun song that gave a great country vibe and maybe get some country votes. I thought vocally under the conditions she had she sounded great and I didn't feel that much cheated when she went for the big notes. Which is still pretty impressive. Also after my bitterness to Paige last week over living another day over Katelyn and Lilly I applaud her for remaining positive and turning in a good performance over laryngitis.

Aaron Kelly – "Angie" – His hair looks like Ellen's and when the camera pulls back he looks like a member of the lollypop gang. Also I'm not a fan of the sunburn he has. I'm sorry if I was "Angie" I would have locked the door and moved to another town. His "tender moments" were flat and lifeless. Every time he sang "Angie" he muffled the title so much it took some time to figure out what he was singing. It just didn't feel like it went anyway. The song started, the melody started and nothing changed. It went on for a little longer and just ended. It was one of those hat I could forget within the next 2 minutes at tops.

Crystal Bowersox – You Can’t Always Get What You Want" – Mama Sox walks out with a smile and we know just like a baby we're in good hands tonight. First this is a great song and I love the Gospel, Blues, Rock, version she's giving us. I like how she's made this a little gospel mixed in with a Janice Joplin quality to it. Crystal start's soft and starts building the song with her performance and showing an amazing voice that she doesn't really get the credit she should the only let down to the performance is that we're so used to the big finish it was kind of a let down when ended it softly. It was nice but Idol is really about the big finishes. However, this has been said by just about everyone but it's almost like Crystal is in a different league then everyone else on this show is. I've heard her original music and judging from the selections she's done on Idol I could tell in a second what type of album she would release and I think she is one that could develop a following. I think Idol might want to look at her as a long term investment instead of trying to make her something she's not. Getting back to the competition my one fear is that she's going to be that one contestant who slips though the crack this year but until then I can't wait to see what else we're gonna get.

My guess for bottom three for tonight will be Lacy Brown, Andrew Garcia, Aaron Kelly or possibly Tim Urban if it's based on talent and voice (HA HA!!!) My guess is that Andrew Garcia will be sent home on the results show for not living up to a 10 second clip of a cheesy Paula Abdul song where he will meet Paula and the two of them will start dating just for the photo op's. It will be as usual only about getting there names in the press. I also won't be surprised when we hear about them recording it as a duet. Join me again to discuss the results show, performances by Season 7 American Idol Winner David Cook (who will be performing Jumping Jack Flash), Orianthi (According to You), and the ever classy Ke$ha (Tick Tock.)

1 comment:

Again What is wrong America

From what seemed like an eternity of weeks, months, years, we are finally down to the last elimination show till we get to the top 12. Then it will be every woman and road kill for themselves.

We start out the night with another lip synched performance. Its Michael Buble's "I Haven't Met You Yet." It sounds nice, intune, and something I would listen to again. You can tell there wasn't a single live performance on that at all and it was auto tune so much that I felt like I was watching Glee. I understand that every man in this year has a slight problem with pitch, tone, phrasing, rhythm, etc. etc. but couldn't they at least try to be live considering this is a SINGING competition!!!! It's not find the next Brittney Spears however, give it time.

Ryan starts the show bringing the highly emotional Didi down. He probably figured the longer she waited the better chance she'd end up having seizures from nerves. Not that they wouldn't have done that so we would have had some entertainment tonight but Ryan gave her and us the good news. She's in. YAY!!!

Next up is our quirky powerbelter, glassblower, future candidate for what not to wear Siobhan. She's safe and I scream. I don't know if I wanna live in a would without Siobhan. That is till she gives a really bad performance and I'll be forced to kick her to the curb.

Next up comes Paige and Katelyn. Now I'm nervous because I adore Katelyn but felt that she had a cheesy performance on Tuesday. I'm hoping that Paige who gave us the strangest saddest performance of "Smile" will be going home but I think that people might have vote for her out of pity. My fears are true when Katelyn and the rest f the world is given the bad news. Paige will be around for one more week.

Katelyn fighting back tears delivers a great performance of "I Feel The Earth Move." If she did this on Tuesday then she would have been safe.

Next up is the boys and we get Lee, Todrick, Tim, and Casey standing in a row. Ryan sends Casey to the stools because he was the easiest to guess, Next he tells Tim that even though he sucks and he's so bad that the judges grade him on a special curve he will grace u with his presence in the top 12.

It's down to Lee and Todrick. Lee misses most of his vocal notes and has no personality but does a current popular sound and is edgy just because he carries a guitar. Todrick butchers songs made famous by Divas and has weird fashion sense but he ca sing. So we find out that America would rather her someone miss 5 or 9 notes out of a song then see someone where black and white strips rapping to "Since You Been Gone."

I'm skipping over the Scott and Matt duet because Scott's eyes scare me (yes I know he's blind) and his voice scares me even more. I'm proud of Matt since the show he seems to have learn not to kill a song with his handy high note he put in every song thus killing it.

Ryan pulls the finale group of singers and let's Crystal (who looks like she's going to pass out) know that she is safe. So is Michael Lynch who of course has to be a pompous ham about it and Ryan has to make a joke about his size. I'm wondering when the Ruben comparisons are going to come out soon.

Lacey wearing a heart pendent is safe which is a big shocker because Lacey has had one good week and stays away from songs that require singing but she has pretty eyes so this means she's going to win. Aaron who last night was flat and over and weighs 4 lbs is told that America must have been in a different room when he sang so they voted him in the top 12.

We're down to the finale 4 and I'm scared for the guys. I just wish they both could go. Ryan breaks the news to Carol Brady I mean Alex Lambert that his unique voice, and charm can't beat Andrew Garcia's flat, lifeless performance of Genie in a Bottle. Alex takes this like a man and keeps looking down, putting hi hands in his coat and crying and refusing to leave the stage.

We come back from commercial and he's still on the stage looking at the camera like he doesn't want to leave. I'm afraid he's going to be one of those former contestants that show up for the performance shows all the time.

Next up when you have someone so original, confident, cool, and unique like Lilly up against a girl like Katie who looks like she would be the 7th understudy for Rachel in a touring production of Glee the musical. You automatically think that Lilly is safe. Wrong!!! Katie gets to bore us another week and look lost when she asks who are "The Rolling Stones" and why do we have to perform them. You just know that none of those Stones are going to be allowed within 25 feet of Katie unless there's a taser around.

So America has decided that the two guys with the best voice on Idol needed to go home and preferred girls who ended up crashing and burning on Kelly Clarkson songs should stick around longer then the talented ladies.

So American Idols official Top 12:

Didi Benami
Siobhan Magnus
Paige Miles
Crystal Bowersox
Lacey Brown
Katie Stevens
Casey James
Tim Urban
Lee Dewyze
Michael Lynche
Aaron Kelly
Andrew Garcia


Look for my article this weekend profiling the top 12 and then join me for our first semi look at the top 12 singing the music of The Rolling Stones." I'm hoping that there will be a miracle from now till the show and all the boys, suddenly get better, the girls are able to finally start picking better songs, and if we're really lucky 2 boys will have to drop out so we can get Katelyn and Lilly back!!!

Until then Happy Idol Obsession
StevenD

Arena Stage Presents THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA

No this isn't a press release however if people want to send them along with free theater tickets I'll be more then happy to post them.

I read in different articles that Arena Stage a well respected regional theater company located in Washington, DC. Is presenting a Chamber production of the Tony award winning musical "The Light in the Piazza". They are putting doing the show in an intimate way with an equity cast. The production will play in a borrowed space at Crystal City, in Arlington while Arena Stage builds a new location.

The show's story is: "While touring Florence with her mother, Clara meets by chance the handsome Fabrizio. As their tender romance blossoms, Clara's mother struggles to conceal a family secret which may put an end to Clara's happiness as well as to her own."

Playing the role of Margaret is Chicago's musical theater Diva and one of my personal favorite actress ever Hollis Resnik. I will probably attempt a profile of her when I get around it but I don't want to come across as creepy. It's always embarrassing when you get another restraining order served against you. I'm kidding. Really I am, at least for now.

To give you a brief rundown I've seen Hollis in many roles in Chicago and she's one of the top stage actors that Chicago has. I'm surprised she's not treated the same way that some of the Steppenwolf people are however she does work a lot and it's always an interesting role.

Some of her Chicago theatrical triumphs have been Grey Gardens (Northlight Theatre, Sarah Siddons Award), Song & Dance, Evita, Into the Woods, Nine, and Little Shop of Horrors all at the defunct Candlelight Playhouse. Piaf at Interplay, A Little Night Music, Wings, The House of Martin Guerre, and The Beard of Avon. At Court Theatre she's played leading roles in The Little Foxes, The Chairs, Man of La Mancha, The Play's the Thing, The Misanthrope, An Ideal Husband and Celimene and the Cardinal. At the Appletree Theater in Chicago she appeared in Wold Goes Round, Songs for a New World, The Bakers Wife, Pen, and Design for Living. Resnik is also a multiple 9 time Jeff Award winner, 4 Time After Dark Award Winner, 2 time Sarah Siddons Award winner and an Best Actress from Connecticut Critics Circle for Man of La Mancha. Hollis has also starred in the national tours of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Les Misérables.

Margaret Anne Florence is playing Clara and recently appeared Off-Broadway's in The Fantasticks.
The Arena cast will also include Nicholas Rodriguez (Fabrizio Naccarelli), Mary Gutzi (Signora Naccarelli), Ken Krugman (Signor Naccarelli), Ariela Morgenstern (Franca Naccarelli), Jonathan Raviv (Guiseppe Naccarelli), Thomas Adrian Simpson (Roy Johnson), Drew Eshelman (Priest/Ensemble), Jennifer Irons (Tour Guide/Ensemble), Michael Vitaly Sazonov (Ensemble) and understudies Conrad Buck and Kate Guesman.

As a big fan of Resnik's (I followed her career since I was sixteen years old.) I remember being in my high school music class and my music teacher had a sign that was advertising a show at the Marriott Lincolnshire called "Anything Goes". I remember seeing Hollis and the leading actor Kurt Johns and thinking they were both attractive people but I got interested when I saw that Hollis played both The Witch in "Into the Wood" at the Marriott and Fantine in Les Miserables so I wanted to see her and went with my then partner to spend the night closing weekend.

I thought she was dripping with star power, looked amazing, sang her music with this distinct piercing jazz sound and I've been a fan ever since. Knowing that Ms. Resnik usually plays a role once I may have to look at travel plans and go there to see it so I can compare her to the wonderful Mary Ernster who I saw at the Marriott.

Here is Hollis singing Colored Lights from the Rink i concert and her singing "I'm Tired of Loving You from her solo CD. These are not my audios.


http://www.mediafire.com/myfiles.php

The remaining 8 boys showed up tonight. I guess that's a good thing. Right?

After last nights performance where it seemed like some of the girls decided to show up and some of them used cardboard stand ins, as the boys are performing tonight. I'm cursing myself that I ran out of liquor before this night started because as always it helps with the pain and bored when the guys perform. Sadly I have to face tonight's performance sober but luckily it's only an hour show. At least it's supposed to feel like an hour.

Lee Dewyze – "Fireflies" by Owl City – Lee stands there hunched up shoulders, bug eyed and straining any note he has to hold for more then 3 seconds. It's the wrong song for him as it's quirky and is nothing like him but for this part of the competition I already know it's going to be up in the best performances of the night tier. I think my issue with him is that I like him more then I like him as a performer. Which is more then I can say for most of the other guys.

Alex Lambert – "Trouble" by Ray Lamontagne – His tone is gorgeous and if we don't have to look at him he'll do very well. I liked how he sounded on this song and thought it was the perfect choice. Again he still has that look someone gets right before a car crash. I think he do all right on themes that he can stand there and sing but the night he has to do something with rhythm will be his final night.

Tim Urban – "Hallelujah" by Tim Buckley – I can't stop staring at his hair during the entire performance. It doesn't look like it's going to move. It's also large enough to bounce all the light off of it to create an angelic scene. I realized when I woke up a few minutes after this was over with that he was smart enough to focus on his physical appearance to the point that I forgot he sounded average. He might actually be saved because of his hair. I just hope that on the tour they focus the lighting off that helmet on his head because all will be forgiven.

Andrew Garcia – "Genie In A Bottle" by Christina Aguilera – My partner pointed out that sung by a man it sounds like he's asking a girl for a hand job? I'm getting images of Mr. Clean for some reason but none of these are things you want to think about while someone's singing. I think what the judges are telling Andrew is that he's capable on one surprise performance and after that he became ordinary. His voice is okay but nothing to write home about and I find him cold during his performances and even cocky. After his first week it seems like he's lost all the tricks up his sleeves and might be going home.

Casey James – "You’ll Think of Me" by Keith Urban – At this point I don't think anyone can criticize Crystal for always playing the guitar because he is the fifth contestant in a row tonight playing a guitar. I swear I'm seeing as much advertisements for guitars as I have for Coke. Seriously guitars around there must be like red plastic cups at parties. You put one down and then you can't figure out who's is who's.

All kidding aside I think Casey does his thing really well. He doesn't try to sing out of his box, and I don't get the impression he's going to be really risky with song choices but I don't think there's anything wrong with that. He sounded great, looked great, played like he was actually playing unlike a few others that move one chord. I had never heard the song but thought that he could very nicely with it if he had released it as a single.

Aaron Kelly – "I’m Already There" by Lonestar - At the start it sounded like he had marbles in his mouth and missing ending up either flat or missing a lot of notes. He also really loves to sing though his note so when he's trying to go for power I start getting scared. It least when its about causing me pain he's always consistent. I also thought that he's even starting to look cocky now which is taking away his aw shucks persona. He would have been so much better if he had tried out 2 or three years later but at this point not a chance.

Todrick Hall – "Somebody to Love" by Queen – I don't think it's a great idea to start off the song the way they did it on Glee. It makes get in the mood to see an over the top theatrical performance with gospel choirs, riffs, and held notes. I will say this I liked the arrangement, thought it could have been a bit bigger. His riffs were all over the place but I thought he sang this well and he kept me awake which is more then I can say for anyone tonight. I think he'll still be eliminated but at least he can go out on a high knowing that he won't ever have to performer with the worst group of boys we've ever had ever again.

Mike Lynche – "Women’s Work" – by Maxwell (Kate Bush) – Wow! Where did this come from? I didn't know that he had all this in him. I seriously think he's been coasting up until now. Maybe he thought with his size and stature that he would advance no matter what and on a night do this. I though that big note was excellent and his falsettos were sometimes decent and sometime powerful. The issue I have is when he stops singing he comes across incredibly cocky and is a huge turn off. I think he's not stopped it up to be the best of the males but I still see 5 girls I'd rather see stay then him.

After all it hasn't been the purgatory that it has been when the boys perform. I do think that the girls were better but the boys were better with playing to their strengths and to the voters. Their looks and their personalities or lack there but their like ability and lots and lots of pity votes will by them more time on this show then some of the really talented girls. .

I think Todrick Hall will not be able to survive the damage done by the previous episodes and I have an odd feeling that Andrew Garcia will be leaving us tomorrow. However I really wish we could get ride of a few extra this week. I have feeling that the judges were being extra kind to the guys because some of them have been phoning it in since they know there are so any others that are worse. I think next week they are going to be ripped to shreds.

It's funny I feel like there are girls who are very similar in style, voice, and performance and yet I enjoy them I actually get excited when they perform and I think of them as all unique. I feel like the guys also are the same way for all the wrong reasons. I just think these are the weakest guys this year. I could see a few of the girls signed after this year I can't really see any of the guys signed with the exception of Casey James and Tim Urban and sadly it would have nothing to do with their singing.

StevenD

American Idol The Top 8 Girls otherwise known as another Kelly Clarkson song

It's the top 8 on American Idol. Actually, it's the top 8 girls but since any one of these girls are miles ahead of any of the boys this is the only night to watch Idol this week. It's the last performance show before the each group is narrowed down to the top 12 and get to perform on the theme shows until one of them is crowned the new American Idol. Which may or may not be a good season depending on the theme nights that could go wrong so very wrong. I can just imagine the train wrecks for some of the better contestants when we come up to Disco night or Showtunes. I'm actually hoping since we have so many talented girls this year we might get a Fleetwood Mac night or even a Madonna night. Okay, as I'm getting ahead of myself instead of thinking of the future let's think about the present, and get right to who doesn't have a future in music. As you know this will be another long winded review of the show but after a while they will get smaller (saddest thing I've had to type as a man). At the end of the review I will also list my picks for the song they should have done on this important night instead of the one that they did sing.

Katie Stevens – “Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson Has Katie NOT learned anything from any of the other contestants who have attempted the greatest American Idol winner ever??? Everyone always thinks that singing a Clarkson song is so easy but really they're monsters. She sifts keys so often and powerbelts that her songs are tricky eve for an accomplished. They only work when your drunk and in a bar and no one will remember you. As Katie proves tonight she's no exception to this rule. Our little Katebot is able to start off the song both in a flat voice and also flat in personality too. She gets mildly better at the middle of the song with far less voice then Kelly has and then Katie just ends the song. There's nothing much else after that and really nothing much during it either. Katebot sounded old and bored and is talented but not Kelly talented and sounded like something you would see in a pageant. I think Katebot could be in a lot of trouble tonight. I think she would have done so much better with a JoJo song

Siobhan Magnus – “House of the Rising Sun” – Everything about Siobhan is kooky. Even though it seems like she might be boring. I don't think she ever could be. I love that she comes out and is so quirky, picks an odd song for her and gives an odd performances but for some reason it works for the most part. She comes across as she's just missing a few brain cells but one week she sings "Think" with a power note and then another week she does "House of the Rising Sun" acapella and using that gorgeous range she has. I thought the beginning of this was gorgeous and really showed the beauty of her voice and how flexible it is. I was a little surprised that it was an old fashioned song but it caught you off guard and made you sit up and notice it from the start to the finish which fits Siobhan to a tee. If I could pick a different type of song I would have liked to have heard her sing "Vision of Love" "For your Eyes Only," or even possibly Blondie's "Heart of Glass". I also would have liked to hear her tackle a Kelly Clarkson song as I think with her quirkiness and range could have handled it.

Lacey Brown – “The Story” by Brandy Carlisle – When I heard that Lacy was singing this song I have to admit I was scared. It's an unique song that gets really big and needs a powerful voice to belt it out. I don't think Lacy has that range and is even capable of getting there ever. She was super smart enough to use the parts of the song that highlighted her voices strengths and showed everything that is really special about her. It fit her vibe much better then the other songs that she did and the close-ups made those eyes of hers look like 3D. Also with the sitting at the edge she didn't have to move around awkwardly like she usually did. I thought this was a great performance and may have saved her for another week or not. I really liked this choice but if I had to pick something else I would have gone with "Linger" from Cranberries or actually anything from "The Cranberries.

Katelyn Epperly – “I Feel the Earth Move” by Carole King – I LOVE Katelyn but this with the hair, outfit, and song choice looked like something out of "The Electric Company." I don't know what she was thinking!! It reminded me of a television show where they have a pretty girl in a band pretending to play an instrument lip singing to a dubbed track. Her performance last week looked like she was performing at the AMA's or one of the other big award shows. This week she looked like she was trapped in a bad 70's Varity hour. This is a great song that just does not work in this type of show and Katelyn looked bored, scared and like she was hoping to be eliminated. She had some decent vocals but the problem is the song isn't really about the voice so you don't notice it or really anything about it stands out except the odd rhythm of the song . Which is a huge problem especially when there are so many talented girls this year. I was hoping she would have done acoustic version of "Poker Face" from her to cement her place in the finales or maybe "Angel" by Natasha Bedingfield or even If I were Boy.

Didi Benami – Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac – I love that there are girls this season who actually know who Stevie Nicks is! This is also something that I love about the girls of this season 9 contestants. It seems that unlike the boys who choose to lay down and act like road kill on performance nights. I get this felling the girls come out each Tuesday and aren't going down without a fight. This was simply amazing, Didi performed it beautifully and was a highlight for the season. She was able to take a Stevie Nicks song and make actually make it her own where you were able to hear her Didi Benanmi's voice instead of Stevie's distinct vocals. I also loved how she lifted the notes at the end of each phrases that made you sit up and notice. It worked beautifully. I know it seems like I've got a hard on for Didi tonight but she sounded incredible brought her magic into this performance and chose a song that I loved and performed it well. Take that "any" future contestant who decides to do Kelly Clarkson. I actually watched this a few times and have a feeling she'll be performing this song in the future. This was just so perfect that I really can't think of any other songs she could have sang. However I would love to hear her one day since something like "Beautiful Disaster," or anything by Fiona Apple though "Extraordinary Machine" is a favorite.

Paige Miles – “Smile” by Charlie Chaplin – Okay, I have to take back the comment about the girls going down without a fight. Paige is done. I don't think she even bothered to try this week. It felt like she gave up before she even performed. Even from the start with the piano interlude I was bored and then if you add her awkward walk in and the lack of vocal control her voice just seemed weak and all over the place. I guess she missed the episode in season 6 when would be rocker Gina Glocksen sang this song. She went home the next night and she sang it better then Paige did. I think she's an easy one to say goodbye to. There are so many other songs that I would have picked for Paige. I think she would have been amazing doing 'Sober' by Pink, a rock version of 'Bleeding Love', maybe a rock version of a Toni Braxton song she could have chosen to get that R&B place in the 12 that was begging for her. I'm not sure if anything more then a complete pity vote will get her though to the top 12. I almost wanted to call out Dead Singer Walking.

Crystal Bowersox – “Give Me One Reason” by Tracy Chapman – I LOVE this girl. I think it's easy to say she hides behind the guitar or does the same type of music every week but I think what she's showing us is exactly who she is as an artist before, during, and after the show. Bonnie Raitt, Tracy Chapman, Melissa Etheridge and so many others perform mostly behind an instrument and no one gets bored with them and they're legends. While I don't think she's legend status just yet I really people don't judge her on holding the guitar though every song. What I love about Crystal is the emotion that she puts into her performances and it never a boring vocal. She's flying with confidence this season and I get the sense she's using the guitar and that voice to channel her soul. The other exciting thing about her is she can actually sing. She has a great record able voice and I've heard her on her own originals and she's fantastic on this. I might post some if people are interested. Her phrasing during this the song and when she's able to turn on the belt I got goose bumps. I hope sometime soon she gets to sing something like "Knocking on Heavens Door," any Patty Griffin, "Message in a Bottle," or Bitter Tears from INXES and that would be a moment.

Lilly Scott – “I Fall to Pieces” by Patsy Cline – I have MAD love for Lilly. I think she probably stands out wherever she is because you can't forget her. My word for her is arresting. You notice her and either you hate her or love her and if you love her you can't get enough of her. I'm fascinated by everything she does on stage more so then what her voice can do. I just wish she might pick slightly more current songs and work that unique performing style she has into those instead of older songs. I would love to hear her on Pinks "Who Knew," any Fiona Apple, and if there's a God I would love for to rock out to Celebrity Skin or Violet from Courtney Love and Hole. Lilly has confidence, and drive which is a lot more then I see a lot of the other contestants have. I think she's brilliant and can build a song and a performance into a showstopper. I don't thinking we're always going to get the best vocals but we'll have a star this year for as long as she's on.

I thought that it was a definitely a mixed bag of performances tonight. At this point it takes 4 women to automatically get into the top 12 then two possible who had an off or mediocre performance tonight get the last two slots. The two that don't make it into the top 12 are either truly horrible, lost most of their buzz, or came in with only a little buzz in the first place.

My guess is the four automatically enter the top 6 girls are Crystal Bowersex, Didi Benami, Siobhan Magnus, Lilly Scott they've had good buzz, featured a lot in the beginning gave at least one killer performance in the past three weeks. The next two who had an off and luckily an on performance that got lucky is Katelyn Epperly and the last spot will either be Katiebot from past good will because her three performances have been week or Lacy who didn't have great performances the past two weeks but really saved herself at the end. The thing that worried me is she latched on to the popular folk, rock, singer, and songwriter type that Idol has in abundance so it might have been a good thing for her or a bad thing because it's a crowded field this season so I could see both going home and Paige getting though because she's the only R&B girl this year.


On another note I think someone needs to talk to these kids about giving an A+ performance every week. Everyone (some more then others) seems to either be coasting, or great one night and on Quaaludes the other night. I hope they sit these kids and make them watch at least an hour on other Idol shows or performances to build their skills. It worries me when the girls are stars one week and the next week they wouldn't even be in the chorus at a community production of Oklahoma! I at least think the girls can be exciting this season the guys on the other hand are just road kill. Really that's the nicest thing I can say about them. The always look scared to death, like they have no personality or they spend more time perfecting their smile in the mirror then working on their vocals. At this point I might keep two boys and then probably eliminate them the next two weeks.

We shall see Thursday night. Join me tomorrow night where the boys.......show up. I'm sure tomorrows column is going to be very short since it is the boys.

Steven Dein

The Queen of the Oscars

On the eve (actually at this time it is now considered day of) the announcement of the winners of the 82nd Academy Awards. The highest honor anyone can win in the world of film. I have been following the Oscars ever since my older sister Julie gave me as a Christmas Present the amazing book "Inside Oscar". My sister has excellent taste in book (if not in film--come on she owns Roller Boogie and A Night in Heaven) because she has given me two books on the Oscars and one of them "Inside Oscar" is considered to be some the bible on the Oscar and the other one she gave me was Tom O'Neils, wonderful "Movie Awards"

Usually in most years I'm good enough to get most of the categories right. My secrets are I always vote for any movie with the holocaust because that will win or an actor that has had the most press that year. I used to play an Oscar ballot game with friends until one year I withdrew because I didn't want to look pompous, Sadly I did it by telling everyone that I was dropping out because it was way too easy to win. They forced me back in the game and guess what. I won again.

Instead of thinking what's a good movie or a bad movie because in the long one that doesn't matter and it's always so subjective. I try to look at current buzz, past history, press, other awards, like ability (if you don't believe me just as Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, and Burt Reynolds they all lost Oscars because no one liked them) and a few other things before making my picks.

This year however, I've decided to not post my predictions fir the awards, but well that can always change at the moment. However I'm going to highlight the Oscar career of my favorite film actress Meryl Streep.

Mary Louise Streep holds the record for the most Oscar nominations for Acting. Meryl has received the record of 13 Nominations for Lead Actress, and 3 Nominations for Supporting Actress, She won a Supporting Actress Oscar in 1979 for "Kramer vs. Kramer", and then only a few years later won her only lead Oscar for her unforgettable performance in "Sophie's Choice." She has been nominated for her performances in "Silkwood, Out of Africa, A Cry in the Dark, Postcards from the Edge, "The Bridges of Madison County," "Adaptation," "The Devil Wears Prada", and "Doubt" among others.

I can't think of a single actress currently or previously that was a box office draw at Streep's age. She's at a point where her film career starting with "The Hours," "Adaptation," "The Manchurian Candidate" "Angels in America," "Devil Wears Prada," "Prairie Home Companion," "Mamma Mia", "Doubt," "It's Complicated," and "Julia & Julia." I remember in the early days it used to be a joke that Streep was always doing the accents, transforming herself into the character and giving a Callas type of performance. It's funny we usually get mad at actors and actresses after a while because they're always good. Shouldn't we celebrate then for always keeping up a high level of film. At least with Streep I know when I walk into a movie I'm going to get an idea and an amazing performance. It seems like today Hollywood is so obsessed with money that when I see a new Jack Nicholson movie I assume its going to stuck because I'm sure it will be a copy of a copy of another story that Jack probably did 5 yeas ago and Jack Nicholson plays himself in every movie. He's only thinking about the paycheck and nothing else. Let's face it when someone asks you to name Nicholson's best moves they're usually located in the 70's ad 80's but with Street you will hear about recent performances.

I think why people are so vocal about Streep as an actress and as a talent is because her performances tend to bring out such great emotion from people and Streep generally tends to fall into the role so completely that it might bother people who still want to see a favorite playing a role. You look at her Julia Child and compare it to her Sophie, Lindy, Francesca, or even Miranda Priestly and they're completely different women but they have so much life and power in them they end up taking over the film they're in. She's the Callas of film at this point. She's a grand dame, giving grand dame performances that yet has that capability of seeming real as well. What I love about Streep is she can take a role like Miranda Priestly and underplay it so much and so well that she still seems like someone that you know yet she doesn't miss any of the humor that comes from the role. Another equally talented actress like Glen Close would have played that role so over the top it would have been Norma Desmond at Runway.

If I had to list my top ten performances and in no particular order and I apologize if this is too long.

"Sophie's Choice" - First Best Actress Oscar and in my opinion first performance that stunned audiences with Streep's film talent. This is the performance that she will be remembered for in probably just about every frame during the movie. It's sad because 27 years later the film hasn't held up as well. Come one have you ever tried to watch it? I love Meryl but sometimes even I doze off. However, it wouldn't surprise me if we hear there's a college course on acting that teaches this performance one day in the far future. She runs the gamut of emotions, languages, pain, suffering, climaxing in a painful ending. Thank god that this isn't her only greatest performance but this will always no matter what rank up there as one of the best. (1982 Best Actress Academy Award, Gold Globe New York Film Critics, LA Film Critics, National Board of Review and many other awards)

"Silkwood" - Only Meryl could follow up "Sophie's Choice" with Karen Silkwood. My problem watching something like "Erin Brockovich" is that I always think of it as a poor mans Silkwood. Meryl was so real in this role regardless of how white trash Karen Silkwood was. I'm sure knocks on Merly go something like she's so prim and proper. In "Silkwood" she's nothing like that. She's neurotic, fun, bitchy, nosey, trashy, but at the end want's to do the right thing, even to the point where it will kill her. It's interesting that even with all the suspense going on, the performance of Cher, and the propaganda that the movie sparked it's still Karen Silkwood's story and that is entirely owed to Ms. Streep for making her such an interesting character. I still remember crying the first several times that I saw this movie especially in the scene where Streep brings out a delicate soprano and sings "Amazing Grace." The interesting thing about this version is that she doesn't sing it like she's hoping for a top 40 hit but sings it completely in character in the setting that the song appears. (1983 Best Actress Academy Nomination - Lost to Shirley MacLaine for "Terms of Endearment.")

"Marvin's Room" - Okay, as my favorite Streep performances go I know this is a complete surprise as I'm not sure anyone saw this movie. Though if you get a chance please go see it. It's a wonderful movie about love, live, and death and has a message that is powerful. The original play was done n Chicago at the Goodman and the movie has Diane Keaton, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Hume Cronyn, and so many others. I always loved how Meryl's ad Diane's performances showed you a family with a lot of wounds and they were mending them but they both knew that it was only a mend for the time being. I watched the movie last week and I could see the passing back and forth the performance these two gave. The came across to me as a real family with all their junk and other drama instead of something you would see in the latest Hoffman/DeNiro movies. I love that Meryl is not playing for audience sympathy though the entire move but at the end of it though her performance you end up sympathizing with her. I know Diane Keaton has the showier role and handles it well but Meryl will leave you with the thoughts. (Golden Globe nomination for Lead Actress)

"A Cry in the Dark" - I watched this again last night. It was one of the first Meryl Streep movies that I saw when I was a kid and I fell in love with it ever since then. I still remember after seeing this on video thinking that I didn't know what nationality she was due to all the different accents I had heard. The other interesting thing is in this day and age you can understand this women's coldness to the press and everyone else a lot more then you would have back then. I think that's what possibly killed her Oscar chances back then because this is up there with performances that she deserved the Oscar for. She's incredible in this movie from the dingo scene, to the car interviews, the trial with the breakdown and the emotional end. This was the kind of performance that if it had been done currently by an unknown actress would have won the Oscar. There's a few scenes that Lindy Chamberlain is cold, distant, she doesn't strike e as heartless so much as protective. What I love about Meryl is that she shows us all these emotions and yet is able to break down realistically in the court room scenes and most importantly without going over the top. (1988 Golden Globe and Academy Award Nomination for Best Actress but lost to Jodi Foster for "The Accused". New York Film Critics and Cannes Film Festival Awards for Best Actress.)

"Postcards from the Edge" - This is yet another performance that I thought if this had been made now with Streep at that age in the film would have gotten her the Oscar Award for Best Actress. I think if this movie had been made currently including the sarcastic humor and Hollywood setting that it would be more appreciated a lot more then it was when this was originally released. This movie has so many great one liners and humor that I think goes over way too many heads. After Susan finds out that the doctor who pumped her stomach with drugs just sent her flowers her response is "I'm tempted to marry him just so I can tell everyone where we met." That is a line I still use today. This has so many wonderful one lines and features Streep in her most contemporary, sarcastic, droll, and spaced out roles to date. Meryl hits every comedy zinger, look of pain, and is still able to belt out two songs that showcase why she is La Streep. She was also able to play this character in the lesser hands would have been seen as annoying in Streep's hand's she was fascinating and complex but at the center of the piece Streep played her with heart and love. (1991 American Comedy Award for Best Actress; Golden Globe & Academy Award Nominations.)

"Bridges of Madison County" - I still remember that the studio thought at 5 she was too old to play this role next to 65 year old Clint Eastwood. They wanted Isabella Rossellini or Cher to play this role. As much as I love either actress neither one of them could encompass the sense of duty and then boredom that Meryl did so well. I don't think any one does puffy red eye like Meryl, except quite possibly Susan Sarandon in "Dead Man Walking." Meryl's lonely yet sexually charged housewife in this film was to the level of Anna Magnani in "The Rose Tattoo" in this. I loved that Meryl couldn't sit still thought out most of the movie (until Clint showed up.) It seemed like this was the life that she choose yet she kept wanting to burst out of it and yet felt iron clad caged. There are so many wonderful scenes she gives us in this movie but I have to say that the scene in the rain with her seeing Eastwood standing there and her hand on the knob. I've been told by happily married woman if that was the case they still would have run of and joined Kincaid. (1996 Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and Academy Award Nomination.)

"Death Becomes Her" - Okay, I know how over the top this movie and her performance is, and it reminded me in the most affectionate way of two drag queens but any time you get Meryl starting a movie with a song from the musical version of "Sweet Bird of Youth" that also breaks into a disco dance number and she does it flawlessly just proves that there is nothing she can't do anywhere. I look at Death as Meryl trying to get into the box office success world at that time. She picked a movie where she could be funny, look great, dance, border on the drag queen level, and most importantly sing. This was cute campy movie that many years later morphed into gay camp. (1993 Golden Globe Nomination.) I still have one of my favorite lines and favorite acting expressions from Meryl because of this movie. "And now a warning!!"

"One True Thing" - The first time I saw this movie I thought to myself that this could have been your typical Lifetime movie of the week. It's took me after a few additional viewing's and also a few life lessons thrown in the mix I came to realize the impact and the truth that was this movie and the performances. had over me, I watched it recently and I watched how full of life Meryl seemed from the moment she entered the first frame to that romantic scene with her and William Hurt putting so much joy and sexual chemistry into that dance. In that one moment they showed some of the most romantic chemistry that I haven't seen since a movie in the 30's and 40'. Which couldn't have been easy since she was playing off the original ice cube William Hurt. In this role I think Meryl was the mother that all of us wanted but seeing the other side that chidren don't normally see from their parents none of us could handle getting. (1999 Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award for Best Actress.)

"The Hours" - I'm always surprised that this isn't in more peoples lists regarding LaStreeps best work but I know a lot of people don't like this movie or her performance in this. They see it as either was too depressing, or way too chick flick, or way too something that never really makes sense. As for my personal feelings regarding this movie I love almost everything about it. I think it is a haunting film that stays with me for days even after I've seen it a few times. If you looks past the star studded performances of Nicole and Julianne you can find one of the most naturally intense performances from Meryl. To this day and till this moment I still can't get over the sadness she has thought this movie. I love how she turns from totally in contra until she gets to the flower shop and talks about the novel. She loses it for a second but spins a tale to make protect Richard You get the sense that she is Richards keeper thought the entire movie desperately needing his love and surviving his painful assaults, There's a moment with Jeff Bridges that she loses control and starts to panic. Quite simply put Streep is unforgettable here in his scene. She plays it as a woman being drowned in all the despair of her life to the point she is begging for help with someone she doesn't care for. (2003 Golden Globe Nomination)

"The Devil Wears Prada/Doubt/Julie and Julia" - I apologize if this looks like cheating but truthfully can you name any other actress who has completely submerge herself into so many roles that you have a hard time telling her apart. Meryl started out giving us an understated villain in Prada!!! Instead of chewing the scenery and going over the top like so many of her contemporaries would have done (yes I'm speaking to you Glenn) she played the role bored. Almost to the point where it took so much energy from her to crush someone. In "Doubt" she turned it around and played the role as a cat looking for the mouse. There are some who claim she was over the top but I think of I as someone who spent her entire live with these kids, teachers, etc. and even though her concepts of truth and justice might have skewered. Her desire to go back to the old ways was as clear as day. Streep finished up an incredible journey for an actress with the iconic role of Julia Child. Even Meryl must have known enough people would be interested in the back story stuff from the past more then anything else. The pleasure of "Julie & Julia" it let us watch the Greatest Film Legend give us a performance that was so memorable, so full of life, that she never slipped into Julia Child. She WAS Julia Child just as Meryl has been every character she has ever breathed life into. (2007 & 2010 Golden Globe Awards for Leading Actress, 2009 Golden Globe Nomination for "Doubt", and 2007, 2009, 2010 Academy Award Nominations for Best Actress)

I'm sorry if the last three looked like I'm cheating but these to me are the start of the grand dame role period that she seems to be moving into. This excites me and yet scares me. I see her getting a lot of amazing roles that mostly fall into the supporting category where Hollywood being Hollywood will cast young marginally talented actresses in the lead and Meryl in a supporting role. Which makes me nervous because I would much rather see someone as capable as Streep in a leading role in a movie then any number of actress working today. I felt recently and even WAY before that, that she has turned in over and over again the performance for that year. I'm hoping that she finally wins another Academy Award for her work in "Julie & Julia." I'm thinking since arguably the Greatest Actress in English Speaking Film has not won an Oscar since 1993 and her competition is basically two unknowns, one winner, and one golden girl who is praised more for her box office success and her environmental causes then her actual talent. I guess we will find out tonight.

For a quick Honorable mention regarding Meryl's roles, I would have to mention "Angels in America" if for no other reason (and trust me there are SO many reasons to mention it.) her versatility in the film. It's an epic miniseries where she's able to play a Mormon Mother, Ethel Rosenberg, and a male Rabbi, She does all this without a trace of vanity and the typical look how talented I am that you normally get from actors who use this trick.

There are of course so many other roles I could have chosen from (and I'm sure that will be post number 2) but for the most part I wanted to give a descriptive list of roles that show why she's a legend and more importantly on a personal level the roles that have meant more to me then anything else she ha ever done. These are the roles that I think will keep her legacy alive.

Meryl Streep is and always will be a legend in film (if not considered the greatest actress in the history of film) because she gives often the equivalent of an operatic performance of Maria Callas in every film worth in a disturbing story.

Here's hoping that tonight Meryl joins an elite group of Oscar Winners composed of Walter Brennan, Ingrid Berman, Katherine Hepburn, and Jack Nicholson. These four are the lucky recipients of 3 Oscars each except for Katharine who happens to have 4 Oscars for leading actress.

I think everyone should raise their hands and cross their fingers in hope that la Streep should win her third Oscar. She deserves it and she gives the best speeches.

StevenD