American Idol: Top 8 Males

...and tonight is all about the guys again.  Hopefully they have improved.

Lee Dewyze - He's one of the best guys of the season. That was definitely a very current song to choose. Hmm... I'm on the fence with this performance. It was good, but I literally just listened to the song on the radio less than an hour ago. Turned it into a rock song. There were a few pitch problems but it was good.

Alex Lambert - Sang "Trouble" by Ray LaMontagne. Perfect song choice for his voice. Kara DioGuardi was exactly right tonight. Alex lacks a great deal of certainty and confidence. PLUS, he still needs to get his faux-mullet chopped off. 


Tim Urban - Jeff Buckley's version of "Hallelujah" actually suited Tim quite well. He actually looked like he meant the song tonight. Tim did a decent job and held his own for the first time in this competition.


Andrew Garcia - WRONG song choice (Christina Aguilera's "Genie in a Bottle") . It was a bold choice, but just did not work. Fortunately, he might just be popular enough to make it through one more week. 


Casey James - He sang "You'll Think of Me" by Keith Urban. This wasn't his strongest performance of the competition. Definitely a very SAFE choice and enough to get through to next week.


Aaron Kelly - Lonestar's "I'm Already There"did not work for Aaron at all. He's got a great voice, but that was... bad. Pitch problems and a forced nasal effect plagued the song. Definitely needs to improve soon and needs some serious help choosing songs.


Todrick Hall - Great performance of Queen's "Somebody to Love." HOWEVER, I'm having a lot difficulty seeing Todrick as a relevant recording artist. Simon said it perfectly. Todrick is a Broadway singer on American Idol. That was still a great performance though...


Michael Lynche - Sang "This Women's Work." Very unexpected, but WOW! Great. Excellent. Ended the show on TOP. 



Hard to say which guy is going home this week. The two weakest performers were Andrew Garcia and Aaron Kelly.

American Idol: Top 8 Females

Back again for another recap on this week's performances. Tonight belongs to the Top 8 females. Here is the breakdown:

Katie Stevens - Where was your vocal range? Where was the emotion? Sadly, Katie just didn't stand out above the crowd. That was a decent song choice. She  sang Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway." It just didn't work for her.

Siobhan Magnus - Who is this dark horse? Not only did she sing one of my favorite songs (The Animals' "House of the Rising Sun"), but she did a marvelous performance. That was brilliant! She might be this season's most unique individual, but she is also one of the most talented. What was Simon's problem tonight? He obviously didn't hear the same performance I heard. 


Lacey Brown - She displayed a sense of vulnerability and distinctiveness in her voice tonight. It was actually refreshing at various points. This was one of her best performances thus far. She's finding herself.


Katelyn Epperly - I thought we already got over karaoke week. She sang Carole King's "I Feel the Earth Move" and did absolutely nothing with it. She honestly has so much potential, but did nothing to secure her place in this competition.


Didi Benami - Definitely very good.  Fleetwood Mac's "Rhiannon" worked well for her. That was a good song choice for Didi. I'm sure Stevie Nicks was proud to see that performance. Good job and keep up the good work!


Paige Miles - That was definitely a great song choice for the point in the competition. However, she was off and her voice was flat. I want to say that was a good performance. This is really unfortunate for such a talented person. 


Crystal Bowersox - That was the strongest performance of the night! She has an amazing voice and definitely knows herself well. Definitely more than enough to make it into the Top 12. Simon even went as far to say that is was her competition to lose.


Lilly Scott - I agree with Kara -- she successfully made Patsy Kline seems current. However, Simon's verdict is also true. That was a risky song choice at this stage in the contest. 




Crystal and Siobhan walk away with the best performances of the evening. Katelyn and Paige will probably be going home this week. Unfortunately, there is also a chance that Katie or Lilly make their way into the bottom. 

American Idol Top 16 Revealed!

I love when I'm right. This week we saw John Park, Jermaine Sellers, Michelle Delamor, and Haeley Vaughn leave us. It definitely looks like the rest of the country is watching the same show I'm watching. In past seasons, I've honestly been shocked to see various people go home certain weeks. However, that was not the case this week. America got it right. Each of the ousted contestants just lacked star power and direction.

John Park can go back to his a capella group. I'm sure he is missed. At least Jermaine still "know[s] God" and he is still a "God fearing person." Last night, he thought his religious faith was powerful enough to compensate for his poor performance. Haeley can now find the time to get a vocal coach. She's talented, but unrefined. Unfortunately, Michelle didn't do herself any favors.

That means we have our Top 16. I hope the contestants get better next week.

Side note: The group performance was blah (lip syncing was horrible). Danny Gokey sang well and managed to remind us that his wife passed away (yes, this is incredibly sad, but it shouldn't define him).

Don't you just love having Ellen as a judge on the show?

Top 10 Women on American Idol

Last night allowed some of the guys to display newly found confidence and hidden talent. Some of the guys proved they really aren't meant to be there in Hollywood.

Tonight is all about the Top 10 women though. Time for my opinion. Here's the breakdown:

Crystal Bowersox - Not entirely certain why she was in the hospital. However, she certainly seems to be much better. Crystal definitely set the bar high for the rest of the nights contestants. Her performance had a nice relavant and gospel feel to it. Good job! As Randy Jackson said, "That girl is hot!" Favorite performance of the night.

Haeley Vaughn - Part of being a performer is actually performing. For a serious song (Miley Cyrus' "The Climb"), she was smiling far too much. She has major talent, but little control. For once, I can actually say Miley Cyrus did a better job at something.

Lacey Brown - Sang "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None the Richer. This was a drastic improvement over last week's performance. However, she REALLY needs to continue improving in upcoming weeks.

Katie Stevens - Decent performance. Nothing special. Not great. Not bad. Just decent. She has a lot of potential, but seems to have trouble defining her style and selecting songs.


Didi Benami - I personally think this was a safe choice. The music seemed ahead of her in the beginning and it fell apart in the end. Didi has a fantastic voice and star presence. However, that was a weak performance. Not entirely sure if that was enough to make it to next week.


Michelle Delamor - Sadly, that performance of Creed's "With Arms Wide Open" was not that great. She didn't do enough with such a strong song. HOWEVER, she took a major risk and it partially worked.

Lilly Scott - Pretty good. I wish I had more to say. Didn't have a "moment" or anything.

Katelyn Epperly - Good performance. Good. vocals and nice piano playing. Funny criticism: she looked a little awkward when she would look out into the crowd. It was almost like she was looking for a cue card with the words written on it.

Paige Miles - Honestly, this was one of my favorite performances of the night. The judges didn't seem to agree though. She has a really strong and powerful voice.

Siobhan Magnus - That was a really great performance. Certainly has a strong voice in such a petite body. I love Simon's opinion of her -- she is "interesting."

Guys Night on American Idol

Have you been watching American Idol? I hope so. Tonight we had a little switch up. The top women were supposed to perform tonight. However, one of the contestants, Crystal Bowersox, is under doctor's orders to not perform tonight. Hope she feels well enough to perform tomorrow.

Last week presented us with not-so-good performances that revealed very little talent. Here's my reviews and opinions for tonight. I highlighted the names of the people I think will be the bottom.

Michael Lynche - Excellent show starter! Sang "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" and did a fantastic job. I saw a true musical artist in there.


John Park - Good show of basic vocals, but this isn't 노래방 (no-rae-bong; Korean for 'karaoke'). This performance was definitely better than last week, but just wasn't where it needed to be. Didn't live up to his full potential and definitely a forgettable performance. MUST IMPROVE or he will be going home. (Everyone knows I'm learning Korean and love Korean culture... so I'm secretly rooting for him.) 


Casey James - Personally dislike the song and original artist ("I Don't Want to Be" by Gavin DeGraw). Personal bias aside, I though he had a solid performance. His vocals weren't the best, but good enough. Definitely did more than enough to display his talent and secure his spot for another week.

Alex Lambert - Much better than last week. His confidence level went up a lot. Kudos. HOWEVER, get rid of the mullet!! I'm sure there is someone there who is willing to cut it for free.


Todrick Hall - One of the many contestants from Texas. Surprisingly, we have several friends in common from high school. Connections aside........ not the best performance. Wrong song. However, I hope he remains in the contest.


Jermaine Sellers - What in the world was that?! You've got a good voice, but you are not a good performer at all. That was slightly painful. 


Andrew Garcia - Safe performance. Wrong song. This is two weeks in a row. Enough said. 

Aaron Kelly - Definitely found some confidence. This kid can really sing, but needs some help selecting songs. He's young and needs to define his style  (Fun to see Kara stick it to Simon though.)

Tim Urban - Another Texas boy that needed to improve. That performance was an improvement over last week. It was still rough and rocky. Not sure if it was enough to make it to next week. Doesn't he look like that little boy (Liam Aiken) from Stepmom with Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon?

Lee Dewyze - Favorite of the night. Great way to end the night. Sang Hinder's "Lips of an Angel." He got a little nasally and pitchy at certain points, but owned the song. Also, put on a belt.

My mom is the best mom ever.

We've returned to one of the most special days of the year. Today is my mom's birthday. She's the best mom ever. Let me tell you why. Because I said so! She's always so incredibly loving and supportive. She's gone to such great lengths to ensure my happiness and success. She only wants the very best for me and I want the same for her. My mom is my best friend and is always there for me. What more could a son ask for?

Mama, HAPPY BIRTHDAY and I love you! :)

Movies of March 2010.

Hopefully this month will prove to be much entertaining than last month (in terms of movies).

What movies do we have this month?

March 5th


Alice in Wonderland (Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter)

March 12th


Remember Me (Robert Pattinson, Emilie de Ravine) -- This movie allows Robert Pattinson to actually act. It looks excellent and has a great cast.

Greenberg (Ben Stiller)

March 19th


The Bounty Hunter (Gerard Butler, Jennifer Anniston) -- Looks blah, but has a decent cast.
Last Night (Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley)

March 26th


Clash of the Titans (Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes)

American Idol Top 24 Recap

Live shows of American Idol are back!! Yay!

Here's my thoughts and notes on the performances of the Top 24:

Paige Miles -- She was first to perform. Kudos for that. However, the song choice was not the best and the singing was a little rough at various points. Thumbs up for witty personality.

Ashley Rodriguez -- Great song choice. Definitely some rough patches in the middle. Randy Jackson's advice was perfect. We need to see a little more Ashley in her future performances.

Janell Wheeler -- KARAOKE! I kept thinking this throughout her performance. Some tone deaf moments...

Lilly Scott -- She's very interesting... I'm intrigued with her. Nice song choice. Plus, she's from Denver. :)

Katelyn Epperly -- The song choice and costume would not have been my first choice. However, she was probably one of the best of the night. She has excellent control of her voice.

Haeley Vaughn -- Excellent! She's one of the youngest on the show. Although she was squealing and squeaking at various points, I thought she did an amazing job. Her awesome personality makes up for some of the vocal shortcomings. One of my early favorites.

Lacey Brown -- Terrible. Um... the beginning was... ouch. That hurt my ears a little. I had high hopes for her too. She may have ruined her chances. The very end got a little better. Song choice had nothing to do with her shaky performance. Maybe she was just really nervous.

Michelle Delamor -- Good performance. However, it was difficult not to compare her to the very talented Alicia Keys. Unfortunately for Michelle, Alicia is a much better singer. Definitely lacked a 'wow' factor.

Didi Benami -- Great song choice. It was safe though. Her performance was not memorable though.

Siobhan Magnus -- She seemed possessed! Great display of her vocal range, but something seemed strange about her performance. Mysterious. "Haunting." There was a good amount of emotional connection though.

Crystal Bowersox -- Refreshing! Very talented. However, she did seem to be copying Alanis Morissette. Another early favorite.

Katie Stevens -- She sang a good song well. Great voice... wrong song.

Todrick Hall -- What a horrible version of Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone." I give him credit for trying to change it up and make it his own.... but.... no. He is a great performer though and showed that he's willing to take risks.

Aaron Kelly -- Two questions: Is there a little country in you? Is this a high school talent show? You've got a great voice for a 16 year old. However, that performance was not the best.

Jermaine Sellers -- Stop. I didn't feel any connection at all.

Tim Urban -- Awkward glances into the camera. He needs to learn to own the stage and control his vocals.

Joe Munoz -- One of the better male performances of the night. Very consistent singer. He needs to find his star factor.

Tyler Grady -- It is time to travel forward in time. The 1970s have come and gone. It is 2010. Who are you really?

Lee Dewzye -- His song started off so well... and quickly went down hill. He has a very nice voice and chose a great song. His vocals just jumped off a cliff and died when trying to go outside of the range of the song. He has a lot of potential though.

John Park -- Yawn. Horrible song choice.

Michael Lynche -- Entertaining, but not vote worthy. His personality definitely shines through though.

Alex Lambert -- Trim the back of your hair... It is like you're trying to grow a modern mullet. Also, it seemed like he was so uncomfortable on stage. Definitely has potential though.

Casey James -- Good voice. Kara was correct in her assessment. He has "good heart and soul." Sound performance.

Andrew Garcia --  What happened?! You were so talented during your audition and in Hollywood Week. That was not a good performance at all. Very disappointing.


Sadly, there were so many weak performances both nights that I'm not really able to predict who might be going home. I hope they all get better soon.

Snow in Austin!

Oh my gosh! The sky is falling! The sky is falling! Time for everyone to start acting crazy and crashing their cars.

Yes, I do understand the excitement. However, Texans... maybe most Southerners... need to have a reality check. It is just SNOW. Take a deep breath, calm down, and carry on with your life. Just because there is a little wintery mix and maybe some ice does not mean the world is coming to an end.

To be honest, it was neat seeing some real snow coming down in Austin. I tried to take some decent pictures:

Snow accumulating on the shrub-plant-things.

Snow on the parked car.

You can actually see the snow falling in this snapshot.

View of snow and the Main Building/Tower in the distance. 

PS -- Tonight is the first night of live shows on American Idol! My predictions will probably start next week after I get the chance to see each person sing. Enjoy :)

It's my brother's birthday!

In honor of my brother's 27th birthday, I'm dedicating this blog post to him. He might be another year older, but does that necessarily mean he's another year wiser? Hmm, that's questionable. Hehe. Just joking. He's been a great older brother and always gives sound advice. Can't wait to see you again soon!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Winter Olympics.

Have you been watching the Winter Olympics? Great stuff, huh? My brother-in-law, pointed out how people never really pay attention to these sports during the 4 year interval between Winter Olympic games.

All of the events have actually been excellent. It is so much fun watching the snow boarders, figure skaters, and other athletes compete. However, one sport stands out above the rest....

CURLING!

Curling is definitely my favorite sport of the season. It is like lawn bowling or shuffleboard on ice. I've never personally curled (is that the technical term for an individual curling?). It is hard not to watch it though. The people are sliding these perfectly polished stones toward a target on the ice while their partners aggressively sweep the ice to direct the stone. If you haven't watched it before, you definitely need to.

Interesting fact from Wikipedia: Curling dates back to at least 1541 (first written reference). However, it is thought to date back to late medieval Scotland. 

Sadly, the USA men's curling lost to Denmark. No gold for us in this event this year. There's always next time...