Canadian Idol Top 8 Results

Why did they only do a bottom two? Seems kind of silly when there are still so many competitors, but that's hardly the main point so...

Bottom two: Matt Rapley and Martha Joy

I was really shocked to see Matt there. I would have thought maybe Jaydee Bixby... but I guess his fan base is too big with all those country folks out there. But at least the final result was the right one as far as I'm concerned: Martha Joy was eliminated.

And next week it's the music of Queen. I'm both excited and worried. Excited because I love the music of Queen. Worried because few people sing it well. And particularly worried for Carly Rae... can she make Queen work for her unique voice? I sure hope so, but we'll have to tune in next week to find out!

Canadian Idol Top 8

Unplugged week with vocal coaching by Enrique Iglesias... (Sorry for the delay in posting videos!)

1. Martha Joy
[singing "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper on True Colors or The Body Acoustic (lyrics)]

I thought she sang it well technically (apart from that one clunker of a note), but I've realized that I really don't like the tone of her voice in her upper register or when she's going for those Star Search moments. And I guess the judges have just come to accept that she isn't yet capable of having an emotional connection with the audience, because it kind of felt like they'd just given up on that.

2. Dwight D'eon
[singing "Every Breath You Take" by The Police on Synchronicity (lyrics)]

It was definitely a good arrangement of the song, because he actually managed to make the song his own which is very hard to do with any song originally sung by Sting. Did he sing it well enough? I'm not sure.

3. Jaydee Bixby
[singing "Time of Your Life" by Green Day on Nimrod (lyrics)]

I think I've already made my opinion of Jaydee clear in previous posts. I don't deny that he has talent, but I would never buy his albums. And, quite frankly, I don't even think he was true to himself tonight so I can't even give him kudos for that.

Read more...

4. Tara Oram
[singing "Heaven" by Bryan Adams on Reckless (lyrics)]

I think Enrique has a wee crush on pretty, blonde Tara! Gossip aside, there was less twang in her voice this week so I was able to enjoy the good bits more. But there were bad bits too and I think, judging by Tara's facial expressions, she was well aware of the notes that didn't work. Should she go home for that? I don't think it was that bad, but she's not my Idol so the point is moot as far as I'm concerned.

5. Brian Melo
[singing "She Talks to Angels" by Black Crowes on Shake Your Money Maker (lyrics)]

I completely felt and believed his performance, loved his tone. He's got my vote tonight.


Canadian Idol Watch - Brian Melo Top 8 Performance
Uploaded by jo2306
6. Matt Rapley
[singing "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers on The Best of Bill Withers (lyrics)]

I love the tone of Matt's voice and thought he sang the song beautifully, but he didn't hit the pain or the grit that I kept hoping for. I still want him around though. I'm with Zach on his potential! (Dontcha just love it when Zach gets so worked up about talented people not living up to their potential?!)

7. Carly Rae Jepsen
[singing "Torn" by Ednaswap on Ednaswap covered by Natalie Imbruglia on Left Of The Middle (lyrics)]

I'm always nervous before Carly Rae sings because I want her to do well, but she's been hit or miss for me. Well, tonight was a hit. Keep up the good work!


Canadian Idol Watch - Carly Rae Jepsen Top 8 Performance
Uploaded by jo2306
8. Greg Neufeld
[singing "I'm Ready" by Bryan Adams on Cuts Like a Knife or MTV Unplugged (lyrics)]

Killer performance, honest performance, goosebump-inducing performance. Keep this boy around. (And I'll admit, he gets a little cuter each week.)


Canadian Idol Watch - Greg Neufeld Top 8 Performance
Uploaded by jo2306

We Interrupt this Music Blog...

Okay, I know this is a music blog but I'm about to post about dance. Granted, most dance requires music so it is still in keeping with the spirit of the blog, right? But I was watching "So You Think You Can Dance" tonight (something I believe I've already confessed to watching) and was very moved by the message of peace in the solos that each dancer performed. (Which has apparently stirred up quite the furor over on the Fox forums about pushing political agendas, etc... sheesh people, can anyone really argue with the message that "peace is good"?)

Anyway, the performance that moved me the most was Sara's, which surprised me because my favourite dancers on the show are Lacey and Danny (who just did the hottest samba that I've EVER seen). But while the other dancers danced their solos well, Sara was the only one that seemed to really feel the message of peace and communicate it to the audience by dancing with such conviction. So I just wanted to share it with you (thanks to MickeyWorld.net). I hope you enjoy it as much as I did:

Sara Solo Week 6
Uploaded by mickeymcc

Canadian Idol Top 9 Results

Bottom three: Martha Joy, Khalila Glanville and Brian Melo

I have to admit, I was surprised to see Brian there and not Dwight, but otherwise the bottom three made sense to me.

But before we get to the final result, I wanted to comment on "Believe in You" the nice, mushy, for-a-good-cause song. While I enjoyed it and hope that it raises lots of money, it left me wanting to hear "Just One Person" from Snoopy! The Musical... similar sentiment, but with that wonderful nostalgia. So, to satisfy my sappy craving, here are the Muppets singing it as a tribute to Jim Henson:


And now for the final sad result: Khalila Glanville was eliminated. I truly think it was just song choice, because that girl can really sing. I wish her well and hope we see more from her in the future.

Canadian Idol Top 9

I was really hoping for a bit more protest rock with the sixties theme, but alas... Anyway, here are my mini-reviews:

1. Jaydee Bixby
[singing "Runaway" by Del Shannon available on Greatest Hits (lyrics)]

I really don't feel qualified to critique his performance because I just don't dig his vibe to use the period-appropriate vernacular. But he seems to be staying true to himself, so good on him for that.

2. Tara Oram
[singing "Suspicious Minds" by Elvis Presley available on The Essential Elvis Presley (lyrics)]

It was a good song choice for her and she sang it really well, but I always hear that country twang in her voice that keeps me from being a fan. But I'd wager that she'll be safe tomorrow.

3. Matt Rapley
[singing "Whipping Post" by The Allman Brothers on The Allman Brothers Band (lyrics)]

The boy became a man tonight and that man's got some gravel in his voice. Great song, great performance, great power. Damn, that was just HOT!


Uploaded by JeanneDupuis
Read more...

4. Dwight D'eon
[singing "Undun" by The Guess Who on Greatest Hits (lyrics)]

He seemed a little lacking in energy tonight. Yes, I enjoyed hearing him sing some melody, but it was just average to me. And I don't know if average is going to be good enough tonight.

5. Carly Rae Jepsen
[singing "Georgia on my Mind" by Ray Charles available on Ultimate Hits Collection (lyrics)]

Great song choice! She brought back a little of that magic tonight and redeemed herself for me. I don't think she needs to worry about being in the bottom three this week.

Uploaded by JeanneDupuis
6. Brian Melo
[singing "Bold as Love" by Jimi Hendrix on Axis: Bold as Love (lyrics)]

Interesting song choice. I wasn't sure about it at first but I think he delivered. Good job.

7. Khalila Glanville
[singing "Natural Woman" by Aretha Franklin on Lady Soul (lyrics)]

I don't know… I think I've heard that song too many times. She sang it extremely well but, unlike the judges reaction, to me it felt like the same old, same old.

8. Greg Neufeld
[singing "Long Black Veil" by Johnny Cash on Orange Blossom Special (lyrics)]

I've always been a sucker for a story song, but I've actually never heard this one before. I agree with the judges that it was a smooth performance, but it wasn't my favourite thing that he's done. I still want him around though (and not because I think he's pretty… he's really not my type).

9. Martha Joy
[singing "Love Child" by Diana Ross available on The #1's (lyrics)]

The verse was beautifully sung, but the bridge and the chorus didn't work for me at all. I think she pushed too hard. Pity.

I Missed The Storm?!

I just found out that Storm Large was in Calgary this past weekend! How did I miss that?! I'm so disappointed! (Sorry about all the exlamation marks, but that's actually showing restraint compared to how I feel right now.)

But I've just signed up for the Storm Large and The Balls newsletter so that won't happen again. I just can't believe I missed it. I'm almost tempted to head down to Oregon for the August show. It's not that far... right?

Persian Teardrop

I posted about this on my personal blog before I had this music blog up and running but never received any response to it. I'm hoping that the readership over on this blog might be able to provide more help.

Some time ago, I downloaded a song that was entitled "Persian Teardrop" (currently added to My Music Box) but it turned out to be a brilliant mix of "Persian Love Song" by Dead Can Dance and "Teardrop" by Massive Attack with Elizabeth Fraser (of the Cocteau Twins). I had assumed it was a remix that was available on a CD somewhere but I've had no luck finding it. I'm now beginning to think it's a homemade remix that has just been circulating on the internet. I posted on the Massive Attack forums hoping someone there might know for certain, but no joy. So I figured I would try posting on my blog on the off chance that someone might stumble across it and know if (and where) I can find a legitimate copy of this remix.

Read more...

I'm desperate to use this music in a short film that I'm in post-production on but without this information, I don't know who to contact to ask about the festival rights and I do not want to use it without permission. Both because that's risky for me but also because it's not fair to the artists. So if anyone can help me out with this, I would really appreciate it.

P.S. Due to popular demand, I've also posted the lyrics to Persian Teardrop here.

Canadian Idol Top 10 Results

Well, apparently I wasn't the only Canadian who was underwhelmed by the women of Canadian Idol last night. I am sorry to see Mila Miller go, because I love her vibe, but it does make sense based on her performance last night. I'm still struggling to decide who I'm rooting for, since neither of my favourites made the top 10 (although Greg Neufeld is inching his way into a front runner spot for me). But maybe being in the bottom three will be a wake up call for Carly Rae Jepsen and she'll bring back the magic of "Breathe" and I can fall in love with her all over again. That would be nice.

P.S. I recently did a post over on my general blog about Rihanna that I figured I might as well plug here. It's got her video for "Umbrella" if you want to check it out.

Calgary Musicians

My cousin, Chris, created these two videos of some amazing Calgary area musicians: Jasmine Whenham and The Fates:

Jasmine singing "Stewart's Coat"...


On the road with The Fates...


If you enjoyed these, please go check out the artists' websites linked above!

Missed Canadian Idol Tonight

I'm afraid I missed Canadian Idol tonight. I didn't check the times and I was out shopping for my maid of honour dress for my best friend's wedding. My bad. (But the dress is great!) I guess I'll have to wait for CTV to post the video.

Speaking of which, CTV has disabled all of Idol Stalker's videos on YouTube! That would be fine if CTV was actually offering a viable alternative… like how the Rock Star shows let you watch each song by each performer as an individual video the very night they performed… sure, you couldn't embed them but you could provide an easy to use link. But not Canadian Idol, oh no… you have to watch the whole fracking group. Plus I found it very jumpy to watch, no smooth streaming here even though I have high speed internet. I hate, Hate, HATE it!

Message to the network: C'mon CTV, Idol Stalker was in no way taking anything away from you. It was free advertising for the show! Now if you could provide the videos in more or less the same format as Idol Stalker, I wouldn't be complaining. But your video streaming system sucks!!!!!!!

Pssst to fans... it's still worth checking out Idol Stalker. That blog's author is one smart cookie.

Stampeding with Blue October

I went to see Blue October at the Calgary Stampede last night. And I'm happy to report that Calgary audiences have redeemed themselves in my eyes. Despite tornado warnings and a brief downpour during several songs of this outdoor concert, the crowd was a good size and definitely more enthusiastic than at Mac Hall earlier this year. And my 19-year-old cousin assured me that I would have no doubt about the crowd's enthusiasm if I'd joined him in the mosh pit… I'll just take his word for that! Mind you, my friend Mandy pointed out that it is Stampede and so there were lots of tourists, including folks from Edmonton (speaking of which, it was great to meet you Donna!) and probably folks from Blue October's own stomping grounds: Texas (we get a lot of Texans coming up for Stampede). Well, if that's what it takes to show Calgary audiences how to appreciate this band, I'll take it!

The concert itself was amazing, even better than at Mac Hall for two reasons: (1) Blue October played some of their older songs, not just songs from Foiled. I mean, Foiled is an awesome album but I was thrilled to hear them play "Independently Happy" (now uploaded into My Music Box in my sidebar) and "Ugly Side"; and (2) The band obviously feeds off the energy of the audience. So the more into it you get, the more into it they get. Win-win!

I was also impressed with how aware the band was about what was going on in the audience. At one point, some big guy in the mosh pit started acting like a jerk and pushing people around. And I gather there was a 13-year-old boy in the midst of the fray. Given that I'd heard of a fight in the mosh pit during an earlier Stampede concert that ended up with someone getting all bloody, I was a little worried. But Justin just said a few calm words directed at the trouble maker, saying that we're all just here for fun and to pick on someone his own size (or something to that effect). Apparently everyone in the mosh pit stopped and stared at this jerk of a guy who then just left. No fists, no blood, simply walked away. Well done, Justin.

To read my review of the Mac Hall concert, where I wax poetic about the artistry of Justin Furstenfeld as a performer and a songwriter, head over to Limes with Orange (my general blog) or the Blue October Canada MySpace blog.

Canadian Idol Top 22: Results, week 3

Still sick, but I just gotta say: What the frack?!

Neither Montana Martin Iles nor Liam Styles Chang are in the Top 10?! Were people just so sure they were safe that they didn't bother to vote? That's truly the only thing I can imagine. I'm stunned.

Canadian Idol Top 22: Grrls, week 3

Still sick…

Surprise performance of the night: Annika Odegard (while I'm still not convinced that she's Top 10 material, that girl can really work a piano!)
Grrl that I most want to see in the Top 10: Montana Martin Iles

Canadian Idol Top 22: Boyz, week 3

Too sick to write a full review tonight…

Favourite performance of the night: Greg Neufeld.
Guy that I most want to see in the Top 10: Liam Styles Chang.

Canadian Idol Top 22: Results, week 2

For those of you who missed tonight's results show...

The bottom four boyz: Clifton, Dwight, Andrew and Brian

Now I'm gonna do the girls a little differently:

Three of the four bottom grrls: Scarlett, Naomi-Joy and Khalila

Then there were four girls left on the couches: Annika, Tara, Carly Rae and Mila... I figured it had to be Annika, maybe Tara, but probably Annika...

Read more...

Then Ben called Mila's name. What? I must have heard that wrong. But nope, Mila got up and joined the others on centre stage. What the frack is wrong with the voting public? And quite frankly, what the frack is wrong with Calgary? The first CI, we had Billy Klippert. Did Calgary show wonderful regional support? No! Season 3, we had Melissa O'Neil. Granted she won, but she was in the bottom three several times before Calgary finally stepped up and supported her as a city. But Calgary will support Annika? Are you kidding me?! < /end rant>

So the bottom four grrls: Scarlett, Naomi-Joy, Khalila and Mila

Before I get to the final results, I want to talk a bit more about Carly Rae Jepsen's performance last night, now that I've watched it again:


Carly Rae Jepsen - Sweet Ones
Uploaded by annanalickus
Compare that with Sarah Slean (thanks to Jaclyn of Once I took the Universe to dinner... for posting the link on her blog):


See, here's the thing. Carly Rae's quirky tone is not dissimilar to parts of Sarah Slean's tone, which is why she probably thought she could sing this song. But Sarah Slean... god, when I saw Sarah Slean live, the power in her voice gave me goosebumps and her sweet tone brought tears to my eyes. Unfortunately, Carly Rae completely lacks that power and, as Jaclyn pointed out in the comments for my last post, she growled her way through the song and lost the melody. Plus there's that whole song connection thing. When Carly Rae isn't connected to the song she falls in the cutesy trap. I believe that's part of what we saw last night. But I like this girl, I really do.

So here's my advice to Carly Rae, should she ever visit this way: "Pick songs not just because you like them, but because you have an emotional connection to them. And please be realistic about your voice. Norah Jones once said that her favourite singers were women who could really belt it out but that she had to realize that her own voice wasn't like that. Well, Carly Rae, neither is yours. Maybe you can develop the power but it isn't there now and growling doesn't make a good substitute. So please stay away from anything that needs to be belted out. It's one thing to challenge yourself, it's another to not understand yourself. Please don't make the latter mistake." < /end sermon>

And now for the final results...

The two boyz that went home: Clifton Murray & Andrew Austin
The two grrls that went home: Scarlett Burke & Naomi-Joy Blackhall

I can live with that.

Canadian Idol Top 22: Grrls, week 2

Down to nine girls on Canadian Idol, now that Maud Coussa-Jandl and Christine Hanlon have left. Interestingly, none of the women chose to play instruments. Compared with three of the guys who played guitar. Curious. But on to my comments:

1. Martha Joy
[singing "To Where You Are" by Josh Groban, on Josh Groban (lyrics)]

Her voice is beautiful and her technique is excellent, but I see that she's an aspiring Celine or Whitney, which I'm not interested in. But maybe Jake is right, maybe if she were connected to the song emotionally I might feel different. But I'll need to see it (or hear it) to believe it.

2. Tara Oram
[singing "Safe in the Arms of Love" by Michelle Wright, on Greatest Hits (lyrics)]

I thought she had a few pitch problems this week but the judges didn't comment on that, so maybe it sounded different live. But it really doesn't matter because I just don't do country.

3. Naomi-Joy Blackhall
[singing "Here with Me" by Dido, on No Angel (lyrics)]

Much better song choice and performance than last week, but she's still not knocking it out of the park. Her tone, though, is beautiful and soft... like chocolate melting in your mouth. But I do look forward to seeing her edge.

Read more...

4. Carly Rae Jepsen
[singing "Sweet Ones" by Sarah Slean, on Night Bugs (lyrics)]

I love this grrl's taste in music! Unfortunately, if you're familiar with the original song, Carly Rae's performance doesn't even compare. But on it's own merits, I think she did pretty well with it. Here's the original so you can decide for yourself:

5. Scarlett Burke
[singing "Proud Mary" by Creedence Clearwater Revival, on Bayou Country (lyrics)]

I don't know what to say. This chick just doesn't do it for me. That last note indicates that she might have some singing chops, but she hasn't shown them yet. And wow, I don't think I've ever seen Zack just shake his head and not say anything. Is that her death knell?

6. Montana Martin Iles
[singing "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs" by Fall Out Boy, on Infinity on High (lyrics)]

Well, she didn't quite live up to last week for me. I think she was performing too much and the singing suffered. But she's definitely on the cutting edge of music. And I definitely can't wait to see what she's going to do next. (I had to laugh at Zack's "Lukas Rossi lookalike winner" comment... ouch! LOL)

7. Mila Miller
[singing "Try a Little Tenderness" by Otis Redding, on The Very Best of Otis Redding (lyrics)]

Mila really does hearken back to those jazz and blues divas of old. I love it. And she was feelin' it; I was feelin' it. Good show!

8. Annika Odegard
[singing "Super Duper Love" by Joss Stone, on The Soul Sessions (lyrics)]

Better than last week for me, and she's very likeable, but th-th-that's all folks.

9. Khalila G
[singing "I Can't Help Myself" by The Four Tops, on The Ultimate Collection (lyrics)]

Khalila is very talented but I thought she was shaky in her upper register tonight. And I have to agree with Zack that her song choice was "radically irrelevant." But I hope she sticks around to choose a more relevant song for next week.

So at this point, the girls that I would like to see in the Top 10 are: Naomi-Joy Blackhall, Carly Rae Jepsen, Montana Martin Iles, Mila Miller and Khalila G. As with the boys, I doubt I'll get them all, but I think I can at least count on getting Carly Rae and Montana. As for the rest, time will tell.

Canadian Idol Top 22: Boyz, week 2

Down to nine guys on Canadian Idol, now that Derek Hoffman and Justyn Wesley have left. I like the idea that the contestants are allowed to use instruments on the part of the show now, though I worry that it might become a crutch for some people. But on to my mini-reviews:

1. Liam Styles Chang
[singing "She's So High" by Tal Bachman, on Tal Bachman (lyrics)]

His tone! His clarity! And that beautiful falsetto! While this performance didn't have the same umph for me as last week, it was still great. Top 10 all the way, baby!


2. Andrew Austin
[singing "Sunday Morning" by Maroon 5, on Songs about Jane (lyrics)]

His tone still isn't working for me and the guitar feels more like a crutch than an instrument, but I liked it a little better than his performance last week.

Read more...

3. Dwight D'eon
[singing "Used To Be Alright" by I Mother Earth, on Scenery and Fish (lyrics)]

His lower register works well in the shoutier bits of the song, but not so much in the more musical bits. But I definitely enjoyed it once the pace picked up. I'd like to see him stay around a bit longer.

(I just have to argue with Zack here a bit... How is Dwight the first real rocker on the show?! Are you forgetting someone by the name of Billy Klippert? How was Billy less of a rocker than Dwight. If you mean a specific type of rocker than be specific, but Billy knew how to rock better than anyone on Canadian Idol thus far! End of rant.)

4. Clifton Murray
[singing "You Give Me Something" by James Morrison, on Undiscovered (lyrics)]

Yawn... I'm sorry, there's absolutely nothing wrong with this guy, he's just boring and his tone does nothing at all for me. He's kinda cute, I'll give him that, but that's about all he's got going for him as far as I can tell.

5. Greg Neufeld
[singing "Geek in the Pink" by Jason Mraz, on Mr. A-Z (lyrics)]

"You stay in the pocket like lint." ~ Farley Flex

I'm not exactly sure what Farley means but it sounds good. I have to say that for Greg I felt that the guitar worked, it wasn't just a crutch. And the song was a really good choice for him and just a damn cool song period. He won me over tonight. I want to see him in the Top 10.


Greg Neufeld - Geek in the Pink
Uploaded by regneu
And if you want to compare Greg's version to the original:

6. Brian Melo
[singing "Angels" by Robbie Williams on Ego Has Landed (lyrics)]

Discounting all of the other essentials such as technique, pitch and performance, Brian's voice has my very favourite tone out of all of the men on Canadian Idol this year (with the possible exception of Liam Styles Chang). The song was beautiful and it was a great choice for him. Top 10 material, oh yeah!

7. Jaydee Bixby
[singing "I Got a Woman" by Ray Charles, on The Very Best of Ray Charles (lyrics)]

He's still rockabilly, he's still fine, he's still not for me. But he is choosing the right songs for his voice and staying true to the artist that he is, so kudos for that.

8. Matt Rapley
[singing "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban, on Closer (lyrics)]

There's that lower register that I love. And what a perfect song choice for him, showcasing both his power and his soul. Top 10 here we come!

9. Tyler Mullendore
[singing "Have a Little Faith in Me" by John Hiatt, on Bring the Family (lyrics)]

Sorry to all those Tyler fans out there, but I hate his tone... it hurts my ears. I don't mind him as much when he growls, but that still ain't singing. Why, why, why do the judges like him so?

So at this point, the guys that I would like to see in the Top 10 are: Liam Styles Chang, Dwight D'eon, Greg Neufeld, Brian Melo and Matt Rapley. I doubt I'll get them all, but I think I can at least count on getting Liam. As for the rest, time will tell.

For videos of all of tonight's performance, head over to Idol Stalker.

And my upload for tonight is Jason Mraz' "Geek in the Pink"... check it out in My Music Box.

Got That Swing?

Time to show a little of the diversity in my musical tastes...

It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing. Or a some Latin flavour, or a hint of rockabilly, or maybe just a little jazz. So here's a little songlist of contemporary toe tapping music to get your body moving. Click on the song titles for an Amazon.com sample, click on the album title for the Amazon.com link (the brackets are my confessions of where I found each song):

"Big and Bad" - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, This Beautiful Life ("So You Think You Can Dance")... I also uploaded this one to My Music Box in my sidebar.
"Downtown Came Uptown" - David Wilcox, Rockin' The Boogie (Toronto musician that I discovered eons ago, i.e. high school)
"Trou Macacq" - Squirrel Nut Zippers, Perennial Favorites (my cousin Zenon)
"Cha Cha" - Chelo, 360° ("Dancing with the Stars")
"Stray Cat Strut" - Stray Cats, Greatest Hits (I'm not claiming this is all new music here... just within my lifetime)
"Stiff Jazz" - Dzihan & Kamien, Gran Riserva ("So You Think You Can Dance")
"Hell" - Squirrel Nut Zippers, Hot (my cousin Zenon)
"Hi De Ho" - K7 and The Swing Kids, Swing Batta Swing (searching for swing music on LimeWire)
"Mister Zoot Suit" - Flying Neutrinos, Blast From The Past ("Blast from the Past" movie soundtrack)