My Canadian Idol Includes the Pigott Brothers

Okay, so I'm not doing weekly coverage of Canadian Idol this year, nor am I planning to. I also haven't watched every episode so far, nor am I planning to this summer. (My cheesy summer reality show of choice this year is So You Think You Can Dance.) But I have caught enough of Idol to know that Oliver and Sebastion Pigott ROCK. (Theo Tams is pretty damn talented, too.)

The change in the "Top 22" format, however, was a poor choice in my opinion. I would like to know why the decision was made to change the format of 11 guys and 11 girls to the current Top 24 format which looks like it is going to leave us with NO girls at all in the Top 10. Hasn't anybody connected to the Canadian Idol franchise figured out that most early voting is done by 'tween girls with crushes on cute boys? Voting based on merit RARELY comes until later. And voting for the girls ALWAYS seems to come later. Was this format change done intentionally so that there would be no girls in the Top 10? Because that is how it is looking. (Keeping my fingers crossed for the remaining girls… speaking of which, did you know that Amberly Thiessen went to high school with Kalan Porter and my cousins? Okay, you may know the first fact because I assume they would include that in her bio, but I'll bet you didn't know the other part of it! But I digress.)

If the network actually does want girls in the Top 10, I would VERY MUCH like to understand the reasoning behind the changes, when surely by now the network understands how Canada votes. And I sincerely hope that they intend to rectify this error next season so that the girls get a fair chance. Setting it up this way again would be a denial of the facts that gender equality is still not a truth in this world; all is not equal for women yet, and they're not helping (I mean, they don't even have gender equality in their judges). I hope somebody at CTV will give this matter the serious thought that it deserves (and if not, I hope other media will point out the lack of thought that CTV has chosen to give this matter).

Canadian Idol Season Finale

I would give you a blow-by-blow but I'm too impatient for that (but if you want to read everything that happened tonight, check out Idol Stalker). So let's get right to the good stuff...

And the winner is...

Brian Melo!

I don't have video from tonight yet, but here's Brian singing "All I Ever Wanted," the new Idol song — his Idol song! — during last night's show (lyrics):

"All I Ever Wanted" Lyrics

I've had some people searching for the lyrics to the new Canadian Idol single. Since the folks at CTV haven't bothered to post them on the website, I decided to transcribe them from Brian's video. They may not be 100% accurate, but I think I'm pretty close:

All I Ever Wanted

Slow down, make it last
I'm having the time of my life
Take a photograph
I don't want to leave this behind

What seemed so out of reach
We're holding here right in our hands
Let's give up everything
Let's jump in and never look back
Let's jump in and never look back

This is all I ever wanted
But life got in my way
You're all I ever wanted
I didn't see how it could change
That something was missing until today

Read the rest of the lyrics...

The city comes alive
As soon as you walk through the door
Another sleepless night
But I don't want to sleep anymore
I don't want to sleep anymore

This is all I ever wanted
But life got in my way
You're all I ever wanted
I didn't see how it could change
That something was missing until today

Climbing so high
Just don't look down
We can see everything from here
For once in my life
Feet off the ground
Don't want to come back down

Take a photograph
I'm having the time of my life

This is all I ever wanted
But life got in my way
You're all I ever wanted
I didn't see how it could change

This is all I ever wanted
Nothing could get in the way
You're all I ever wanted
I didn't know what I was missing until today.

Canadian Idol Top 2

The last performance show of this season of Canadian Idol! It has been a strange and bumpy road this year. And it all comes down to Jaydee Bixby and Brian Melo.

Click here to read my comments on tonight's performances...

1. Jaydee Bixby

i) "Who Says You Can't Go Home" by Bon Jovi on Have A Nice Day (lyrics)

First of all, I'm thrilled that Bon Jovi said what I've been saying all season: "you need to find your own voice, your own style." Exactly! And I think he actually listened a little. Because he was neither as twangy nor as Elvis-y as usual. But he still wasn't connected to the song itself. Oh well, one thing at a time.

ii) "All I Ever Wanted," the new Canadian Idol song (lyrics)

Either Jaydee couldn't find the sweet spot for this song or he lacks the range it requires, because the verses were way too low for him and I think he needed to sing it in a higher key. But then could he have hit the notes that he needed to in the chorus? I'm not sure. I think Zach is right that Jaydee is cracking under the pressure. But I find it interesting that the pressure seems to be forcing his real voice to emerge, because the twangs and Elvis-isms were to a minimum in this song also.

iii) "It's Not Unusual" by Tom Jones on Colour Collection (lyrics)

Oh dear, we're back to imitation. Well, his fans who think that imitation is as good as the real thing and that schlock is quality will be happy, but I'm disappointed. I thought he'd shown some artistic growth with his previous songs even if they lacked some of his usual performance value, but I guess it wasn't growth… it was just nerves. Pity.

2. Brian Melo

i) "This Ain't a Love Song" by Bon Jovi on These Days (lyrics)

Brian's performance was passionate and believable. Not only does he have a great voice, he bares his heart for the world to see and that takes honesty and courage. And personally that's what I want from an Idol.


ii) "All I Ever Wanted," the new Canadian Idol song (lyrics)

Now THAT's a hit song. Brian owned the song, owned the stage… and if world stays in its proper orbit, he also owns the Canadian Idol title.

iii) "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen on The Essential Leonard Cohen, check out the Jeff Buckley version on Grace or the K.D. Lang version on Hymns of the 49th Parallel or the Jasmine Whenham version on 1:37 am (lyrics)

I'm always nervous when singers cover Hallelujah. It's one of the most beautiful songs ever written but few artists do it justice. Brian did it justice and then some. His version reminded me a bit of the Jeff Buckley version that made me fall in love with the song in the first place:

And Jake Gold really hit the nail on the head when he said that Brian has a humility and a grace that shines through whenever he sings. I am fully aware that the world is not fair, but I seem to be hoping the results of this show will be. Is it the triumph of hope over experience? I guess we'll find out tomorrow night.

To watch the rest of Brian's videos, head over to Idol Stalker.

Assume nothing… VOTE!

Canadian Idol Top 3 Results

Well, I had to tape the show because I was working, so I haven't watched it yet. But I've been informed that Carly Rae Jepsen went home. I'm extremely disappointed in the Canadian voting public that they didn't "get her" (as Zach put it), that they failed to understand what a unique and gifted talent this girl truly is. But I have every confidence that Carly Rae will have an exceptional career in the music industry. And I, for one, will be eagerly awaiting her first CD.

So the top two are Brian Melo and Jaydee Bixby. I really hope that Canada can see that Brian is ready to win this thing and that Jaydee isn't. And to those Jaydee fans who seem to believe that he is ready, keep in mind that if he wins he will have to record a pop album. Do you really want to do that to him?

As for tonight's show, I'll write a review about it tomorrow after I've had a chance to watch it. I'm not really in the mood to watch it now. Hopefully that will change after I've had a night to sleep on the results.

Canadian Idol Top 3

This week was judges' choice, people's choice and working with Sass Jordan.

1. Jaydee Bixby

a) Judges' Choice: "Break it to Them Gently" by Burton Cummings on Up Close and Alone (lyrics)

Those rare moments when Jaydee dropped the exaggerated twang finally showed me that Jaydee is capable with connecting with a song and finally showed me the potential that this kid has. But I still emphasize POTENTIAL. He's not there yet. And I firmly believe that winning this competition would stunt his growth as a performer rather than enhance it. The boy needs more time to become a man.

b) People's Choice: "Ring of Fire" sung by Johnny Cash on The Essential Johnny Cash (lyrics)

He was soooo not in the pocket for this song. And, unfortunately, my opinion of him just reverted to what it was before "Break it to Them Gently." He's just not ready for the big leagues.

2. Brian Melo

a) Judges' Choice: "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum on A Whiter Shade of Pale (lyrics)… also check out the Annie Lennox version on Medusa

I have to confess that I don't think this was Brian's best performance, but I still think he stepped up to the challenge of this challenging and iconic song. Which comes as no surprise to me because I think this man is up to any challenge put before him.

Read more...

b) People's Choice: "Lightning Crashes" by Live on Throwing Copper (lyrics)

This is definitely Brian's genre. He knows his voice, he knows his style, he knows who he really is and he knows how to perform. Win or lose, I wanna see this guy in concert!

3. Carly Rae Jepsen

a) Judges' Choice: "At Seventeen" by Janis Ian on Between the Lines (lyrics)

I know that some viewers out there are sick of hearing the word "vulnerable" when it comes to Carly Rae and think it's just an act that she puts on because it gets good comments from the judges. But I just don't understand that attitude at all. If Carly Rae weren't truly connected to the song, she wouldn't create the heart swelling, tear welling effect that she had on me tonight. Simple, truthful, beautiful. Win or lose, this woman is a star and I'll be buying her CDs.


b) People's Choice: "White Flag" by Dido on Life For Rent (lyrics)

Perfection.

Canadian Idol Top 4 Results

Well, with only four competitors left, it's no surprise that they didn't do a bottom three or even a bottom two. They just jumped right into the results. And I doubt those results were a surprise to anyone based on performances last night (and what we know of various fan bases): Dwight D'eon was eliminated. I think even he would agree that standards are not his style but I'm sure he'll do well with his own music when he gets back home. Rock on, Dwight!

So that means our top three are: Carly Rae Jepsen, Jaydee Bixby and Brian Melo.

You certainly couldn't ask for a more diverse bunch. Given the vast differences in their singing styles and general appeal, I think it's impossible to predict how things will go from here on in. (Because it's been so predictable up to now... er, ahem, sure...)

To quote Monica from Friends: "It just got interesting!"

Canadian Idol Top 4

1. Carly Rae Jepsen

[singing "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" written by Cole Porter for "Leave it to Me", sung by Ella Fitzgerald on Dearly Beloved, also sung by Sinead O'Connor on Am I Not Your Girl (lyrics)]

I wasn't worried about Carly Rae doing standards and I was right. But Zach was also right that it lacked the sizzle that we know this girl is capable of.

[singing "I Got it Bad and That Ain't Good" by Duke Ellington on Best of Duke Ellington (lyrics)]

I love the fact that she left herself vulnerable for this song… she actually brought tears to my eyes at the end. If that performance doesn't win over the Carly Rae doubters, then I don't know what will.


Ci5 Top4 Part4
Uploaded by igrecman
2. Jaydee Bixby

[singing "Fever" sung by Peggy Lee on Capitol Years (lyrics)]

I love the very carefully worded way that Paul Anka referred to Jaydee having a "concept of how to perform."

[singing "When You're Smiling" by Louis Armstrong on The Definitive Collection (lyrics)]

Hmm… I actually preferred Fever to this performance because this one was just plain cheesy.

Read more...

3. Brian Melo

[singing "Mack the Knife" written by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill for "The Threepenny Opera", sung by Bobby Darrin on The Very Best of Bobby Darin (lyrics)]

He started a little shaky but he found his groove and, even better, the attitude. (And I love that Zach said he was a Brecht fan! I was raised on Bertolt Brecht!)


Ci5 Top4 Part3
Uploaded by igrecman
[singing "Feeling Good" written by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley for "The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd", my favourite version is sung by Nina Simone on Gold Collection (lyrics)]

I have very high standards for this song because the Nina Simone version of it is one of my favourite songs ever (you can listen to below). But I think Brian did it justice. Good job.

4. Dwight D'eon

[singing "I Get a Kick out of You" written by Cole Porter for the musical "Anything Goes", sung by Frank Sinatra on Gold (lyrics)]

I think Dwight was even further out of his comfort zone than Jaydee, something I never thought I'd admit. But standards just aren't his thing.

[singing "Unforgettable" by Nat King Cole on Definitive Gold or Natalie Cole & Nat King Cole on Unforgettable With Love (lyrics)]

I liked this one better than his first choice. I think he was just more relaxed for it and let himself enjoy it a bit more. But I think it's safe to say that this boy will never willingly record an album of standards!

Canadian Idol Top 5 Results

Bottom two: Dwight D'eon and Matt Rapley

Well, I'm relieved that Carly Rae Jepsen wasn't in the bottom this time. And I really wish I could say that I was stunned that Jaydee wasn't in the bottom which I believe he deserved to be based on his performance, but I'm well aware of his insane fan base that doesn't care that he has yet to find his own true voice and simply mimics others instead. But enough of that rant and on to the results...

Unfortunately Matt Rapley was eliminated. But I think he's grown a lot during his Idol tenure and will continue to grow and put into practice all that he's learned. Matt was the first Idol contestant to impress me during the Top 100 and I'm quite certain that we'll be hearing from him in the future. I'm sad to see him go but I think he's got a bright future ahead of him. And what a high note to be going out on! (Pun completely unintentional.)

I'll be watching for you Matt. Remember, this isn't the end, it's just the beginning. Your career starts now!

Canadian Idol Top 5

Matt Rapley
[singing "Higher Ground" by Stevie Wonder on Innervisions and the Red Hot Chili Peppers on Mother's Milk (lyrics)]

I LOVE the fact that even though Matt is a Stevie Wonder fan, he chose to do the Chili Peppers version. It let him bring that mojo he brought to "Whipping Post" and really rock it. As Jake said… it was fierce!


Dwight D'eon
[singing "Bed of Roses" by Bon Jovi on Keep The Faith (lyrics)]

I think it was definitely a strong performance. I'm not sure if I agree with the judges that it was his best performance. Although, as I reflect back, perhaps they're right. But I think what came across as power in the live audience came across as shoutiness to me sitting at home. I think this guy would be cool to watch in my local bar, but I'm still not convinced that he can or should win this whole thing.

Jaydee Bixby
[singing "I Can't Stop Loving You" by Elvis Presley on Elvis as Recorded at Madison Square Garden (lyrics)]

Please vote this boy off so that he can go home and mature and find his own voice or, at the very least, as Zach said… make his Schmelvis album. Because I have only two words about this performance: Elvis Impersonator.

Read more...

Carly Rae Jepsen
[singing "Chuck E's In Love" by Rickie Lee Jones on Rickie Lee Jones (lyrics)]

I admit that, like Jake, I was nervous about Carly Rae singing this song… afraid that it would end up too cutesy because that chorus is really cutesy. But the arrangement of the song downplayed to cutesiness for me and showcased Carly Rae's voice. I still prefer seeing her vulnerable side, but a little bit of playfulness now and then isn't such a bad thing. I liked it.

Brian Melo
[singing "Karma Police" by Radiohead on OK Computer (lyrics)]

Well, I think Brian just stepped into those big shoes left empty by Greg Neufeld's departure. Great song, great voice, great performance.


Now, my only concern is that I didn't have a chance to vote last night because of my late arrival home, plus I wasn't feeling well so I just went straight to bed after posting my postponement notice last night. So I will be blaming myself if Matt, Carly Rae or Brian end up in the bottom. Okay, if it's a bottom three obviously one of them will be in that bottom unless there's some strange new math that I don't know about. But I will be royally upset if any of those three go home and I will feel terribly guilty for not having had a chance to vote.

For more Idol videos, check out Idol Stalker.

CI Review Postponed

I'm afraid my usual Canadian Idol review will be postponed until tomorrow. I just got home from picking my dad up at the airport and I haven't had a chance to watch the show yet. But I promise I'll post my comments tomorrow before the results show. G'night all.

A Twin Peaks Trance

I was on hold while calling a place of business when the dreaded muzak came on… but it wasn't muzak, it was actual music! And it was the theme from Twin Peaks, that fabulous 90's TV series by David Lynch. Do you remember that music? I loved it; it always gave me chills. The theme was composed by Angelo Badalamenti, who was once quoted as saying: "My world is a little bit dark. . . a little bit off-center. I think of it as tragically beautiful. That is how I would describe what I love best: tragically beautiful."

David Lynch then wrote lyrics to that theme (for the song "Falling" that you can listen to in the widget below) and to some other Badalamenti music and those songs were sung by Julee Cruise (who sang all of the songs used in Twin Peaks) and released on an album called Floating into the Night:

Read more...

I used to have that album but that was almost 20 years ago now, so I have no idea where it might be (it was on cassette anyway which I don't listen to anymore anyway). But I still have part of a review that was written about the Julee Cruise album way back then:

"The link between the songs is love — a kind of sick, obsessive love that's both chilling and beautiful, and pure Lynch in its graphic paranoia."
~ Kim Hughes, NOW Magazine, November 15-21, 1990.

Now I don't know about you, but I think that's a pretty damn cool review!

Canadian Idol Top 6 Results

Bottom three: Carly Rae Jepsen, Dwight D'eon and Tara Oram

First thought: Carly Rae again? Are you kidding me?

Second thought: Thank god Brian Melo's safe.

Third thought: Are the judges right that Canada can't appreciate Carly Rae? If so, I think that's a pretty sad statement about this country.

But fortunately, Carly Rae didn't go home this week. It was Tara instead. While I do think it's past time for her to leave, I am worried that the Jaydee Bixby contingent might grow even larger now that he's the only country singer on the show. Please don't let this young and twangy Elvis impersonator win the whole show, otherwise he'll never mature out of those bad habits or learn how to truly connect with a song.

Final thought: I don't think I've yet recovered from Greg Neufeld leaving last week. I find that I lack the enthusiasm for the show right now. Brian, Carly Rae and Matt better kick some serious ass next week!

Magni's Version of The Dolphin's Cry

In my Canadian Idol post last night, I mentioned Magni's version of "The Dolphin's Cry" from Rock Star: Supernova. So I thought I would share it with you here:

Canadian Idol Top 6

Pop/Rock week… I'm still not convinced that those two genres have truly merged. I think it just represents Pop music with a Rock influence. Real Rock is something else entirely, but I digress.

1. Tara Oram
[singing "Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina and the Waves on Greatest Hits (lyrics)]

This was probably one of my favourite performances of Tara's because there was barely a twang in sight. Although I could have done without those little yips and she was kind of pitchy in the chorus, but I'm just happy it wasn't country!

2. Jaydee Bixby
[singing "Amazed" by Lonestar on Lonely Grill (lyrics)]

I don't know why I bother reviewing Jaydee. My opinion of him hasn't changed since last week except to be a little tinged by bitterness that he's still here and Greg isn't.

3. Matt Rapley
[singing "Everything" by Michael Bublé on Call Me Irresponsible (lyrics)]

It was nice to see Matt at the piano. And nice performance technique when he later stood up from the piano. I think his performance ability is finally starting to catch up with his vocal ability. Good job.

Read more...

4. Carly Rae Jepsen
[singing "Come To My Window" by Melissa Etheridge on Yes I Am (lyrics)]

I don't think it was the best song choice for Carly Rae. The first verse was really good, the first chorus was magic, but the bridge and second chorus were a little shouty for my tastes. But she ended it as pure Carly Rae, so the scale tipped in her favour and I mostly liked it.

5. Brian Melo
[singing "The Dolphin's Cry" by Live on The Distance to Here (lyrics)]

Funny, I was just listening to Magni's version of this song from Rock Star: Supernova on my minidisk player today. While I think that Brian connected to the emotion of the song, I couldn't help but compare it to Magni who just killed it. So while I don't think Brian sang it as well as Magni, I still think it was the best performance of the night. Way to go, Brian.


Brian Melo - The Dolphin's Cry
Uploaded by igrecman
6. Dwight D'eon
[singing "Smooth" by Santana and Rob Thomas on Supernatural (lyrics)]

Well, this performance did help remind me that I actually liked this guy in the Top 22. However, I think his guitar playing trumped his singing. But not bad overall.

Hmm… did everyone else find this week a little disappointing or is it just that I'm not in the right mood because Greg wasn't there?

Another Dance Segue

Another dance segue here on this music blog of mine…

The top four finalists were announced for "So You Think You Can Dance." And three of my four favourites made it: Danny, Lacey and Sabra. Unfortunately, Pasha lost out to Neil (damn his blonde hair, surfer boy good looks… and his amazing acrobatics). One of the things I love about Pasha is not just his incredible dance technique and his obvious passion for dance (or his charming Russian accent)… I love the fact that Pasha is always the consummate gentleman. And I really hope that he takes Debbie Allen's advice and takes some acting classes because I would LOVE to see him in the movies.

As my farewell to Pasha Kovalev, here's one of his dance solos that I just loved:


Pasha Solo Week 7
Uploaded by mickeymcc
And I'll be back after I've finished watching Canadian Idol with my usual reviews of that show.

Canadian Idol Top 7 Results

Bottom three: Carly Rae Jepsen, Brian Melo and Greg Neufeld

What the frack is going on here?!?! The top three singers were in the bottom three? Was everyone too complacent to vote last night? Were the fans who loyally vote for their favourites regardless of performance the only people voting? This is so, so, so wrong. For god's sake people, don't assume... VOTE!!! These three should NOT have been in the bottom.

And Greg Neufeld should NOT have gone home. No way. No how. For once I agree with Ben, Canada got this wrong!

And since I didn't post his video of "We Are The Champions" last night (because I thought there would be many weeks to come where I would have the opportunity to post videos of Greg's songs), here it is:


Greg Neufeld
Uploaded by JeanneDupuis

Canadian Idol Top 7

The music of Queen week!

I was stunned when Jake threw out 1986 as the year that Queen became huge. Are you kidding me? That band shaped my musical tastes when I was but a child in the 70's. So 1986 seems far too recent to me. But I would love to see "We Will Rock You"… and I would have loved to have seen it in London when MiG Ayesa from Rock Star: INXS was performing. But that's not the music show we're talking about tonight, so let me get back to business.

1. Brian Melo
[singing "Too Much Love Will Kill You" by Queen on Made In Heaven (lyrics)]

Smart song choice. First of all, it was good for his voice and he connected to it. Secondly, it was not one of the iconic Queen songs that many of us know note by note, inflection by inflection. Well done.


Brian Melo
Uploaded by JeanneDupuis
2. Greg Neufeld
[singing "We Are the Champions" by Queen on News of the World (lyrics)]

I'm impressed that he managed to sing it in a way that made it different enough from the original that it didn't sound like a karaoke performance. I haven't heard the cover by Gavin DeGraw on Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen, though, so maybe it wasn't Greg's arrangement… but it was still a smart choice on his part.

Read more...

3. Carly Rae Jepsen
[singing "Killer Queen" by Queen on Sheer Heart Attack (lyrics)]

Good song choice from one of Queen's more cabaret style of songs. Although she did that growl thing again to make up for her lack of power. But it was waaay better than I anticipated for this week. Good job, grrl!


Carly Rae Jepsen
Uploaded by JeanneDupuis
4. Matt Rapley
[singing "Under Pressure" by Queen with David Bowie on Hot Space (lyrics)]

I wish he'd chosen a different song, because I don't think he was able to make that song his own. Disappointing because he has so much potential. I have to admit that I'm worried for him this week.

5. Dwight D'eon
[singing "Tie Your Mother Down" by Queen on A Day At The Races (lyrics)]

I did not enjoy Dwight's performance tonight. I didn't mind how he sang the verses but he just shouted the chorus in the most non-melodic way that screamed mediocre cover band to me. Which leaves me wondering: Could the judges not hear him properly?

6. Tara Oram
[singing "Headlong" by Queen on Innuendo (lyrics)]

Tara chose well in picking a song that lends itself to a country rock styling. But there were parts of her performance that also sounded a little shouty to me. But I'll freely admit I'm not a fan, so feel free to disagree with me.

7. Jaydee Bixby
[singing "I Want To Break Free" by Queen on The Works (lyrics)]

I wish he'd lose the twang! I can't take him seriously. For me, he's like a twangy Elvis impersonator singing karaoke. But I highly doubt we'll see him in the bottom because his fan base is ridiculously loyal regardless of his performance. I'm done giving him kudos for "staying true to himself"… I'm ready for him to go home now.

To watch videos of all of the idol performances, head over to Idol Stalker.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Canadian Idol Top 22: Results, week 1

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

The bottom four boyz: Derek, Clifton, Justyn and Andrew
The bottom four grrls: Mila, Naomi, Maud and Christine

I'm not particularly surprised about the men, even though I wanted to see more of Derek to see if he would have improved because I saw potential there. But based on his actual performance, yeah... that list seems about right.

The women, however, were a shock. Well, one of them at least. Mila?! Really? Why? I don't understand what happened when there were several girls who were obviously weak and she wasn't. But moving right along...

Read more...

Before I get to the final results, I want to quickly mention a couple new songs that I discovered. New to me, I mean.

The first was sung by Montana Martin Iles: "The Bird and the Worm" by The Used (on "Lies for the Liars"). I added that one to My Music Box last night (check out the sidebar). I definitely want to hear more by this band and might end up doing a full post about The Used once I've discovered them more fully. And here's a link for the lyrics.

The second was sung by Carly Rae Jepsen: "Put Your Records On" by Corinne Bailey Rae (on "Corinne Bailey Rae"). I've now uploaded that song to My Music Box, too, for your listening pleasure. And here's a link for those lyrics.

And now for the final results...

The two boyz that went home: Derek Hoffman & Justyn Wesley
The two grrls that went home: Maud Coussa-Jandl & Christine Hanlon

My favourites have lived to sing another day!

Canadian Idol Top 22: Grrls, week 1

I figured I should do the same format for tonight's Canadian Idol show as I did for last night's show. So mini reviews all around:

1. Tara Oram: Well, her country roots were definitely showing. She actually reminded me a little of a young Olivia Newton-John, but she was pitchy and not connected to the song. I think it was just nerves, though.

2. Martha Joy: She's got beautiful tone and perfect technique... a little too perfect. Her words were a little too precisely enunciated and her performance a little too operatic for my taste. But if she can just loosen up a little, I think I'll like her.

3. Montana Martin Iles: I LOVED her!!!!! For starters, the song was awesome! (It's called "The Bird and The Worm" by The Used and you can find it on "Lies for the Liars." Or listen to it on My Music Box in the sidebar.) Montana is bold, original, talented... the real deal! Watch her performance in this video:

Read more...


(Just for the record, I don't agree with Ben's statement at the end of the video that Jacob Hoggard had nothing on Montana. Jacob was also a quirky star, whose quirks were different from Montana's but also outrageous. But he showed us many sides throughout the course of his Idol run and he was consistently amazing. So I'm not willing to make comparisons like Ben's based on just one performance by Montana.)

4. Mila Miller: I think Mila was channeling a little Billie as she sang a little Mary. Earthy but sophisticated. I like her vibe.

5. Maud Coussa-Jandl: Too breathy for me. Not at all connected to the song. I don't remember her from the Top 100, so I don't know if I could like her better. But based on tonight's performance... b'bye.

6. Annika Odegard: I agree with Sass (I NEVER thought I'd be writing that), the song was too low. And unfortunately, Annika's lower register isn't very well developed. Plus her nerves really seemed to be bothering her. I want to root for the local girl and maybe she'll be better next week if she stays... we'll see.

7. Naomi-Joy Blackhall: I love her tone. She started off well but it felt like she lost her pitch and connection to the song as the song got faster and higher. Pity.

8. Christine Hanlon: Every once in a while she hit a note or sang a phrase that made me go "Wow," but the rest of the time I was more like "Huh?" Bring back the edge, grrlfriend!

9. Scarlett Burke: It's not that I found anything wrong with her performance, it just didn't do anything for me. Maybe it was just the song choice, like the judges said.

10. Khalila G: Great tone, great connection! Keep this woman on the show!!!

11. Carly Rae Jepsen: I really like the tone of Carly Rae's voice. But I must admit that I enjoyed the slower bits of the song best. I don't know if it's that she loses her connection with the song when the pace picks up or if her tone changes, but I agree with Zack that she should have left the "Idol" part of the performance at home.

Hmm... I think I agreed a little too much with the judges tonight. That always worries me a bit.

Canadian Idol Top 22: Boyz, week 1

My mini reviews of tonight's show, as the top 22 plays with a full band for the first time (is that anything like playing with a full deck?):

1. Jaydee Bixby: His voice is deeper than I would have expected from his appearance, which is a good thing from my perspective, but his rockabilly sound isn't really for me.

2. Clifton Murray: He had moments of an interesting tone, but not enough and not to my tastes. Next!

3. Derek Hoffman: His vocals were very inconsistent but his tone is interesting and has potential. I would like a chance to hear more from him before deciding anything for sure.

4. Justin Wesley: He's got a good voice but it felt like karaoke to me, I'm not sure why. But I'm glad for him that his duet partner has now made it to the top 22 (that was the change... Ritchea Hodge bowed out and Scarlett Burke was chosen to return).

5. Dwight D'eon: At this point, I'd say he's one of my guys. I think it's that rocker vibe. I'm feelin' it even though I'm not feelin' the song choice. I hope he stays.

Read more...

6. Greg Neufeld (aka second chance boy): I don't remember him from last year but he made an impression on me tonight. I'm kinda feelin' it.

7. Tyler Mullendore: I'm afraid I really didn't see what the judges saw. I mean, he's a rocker boy so I ought to like him, but he reminds me too much of the cheesy cover bands that I can see at any local bar (not to be confused with good local cover bands like Caught Staring ). I really don't know why the judges think he's the real deal. Maybe he sounds different in person.

8. Andrew Austin: I can see that this guy has talent, but his tone does nothing for me.

9. Matt Rapley: I can't believe he's only 18! It wasn't my fave song selection because I love this guy's lower register and the song didn't showcase that at all, but he's still good and he's still likeable and he's still my boy. (And for the record, I wrote that line before Zack said it!)

10. Brian Melo: Holy frack this boy has a great tone to his voice!!!! And very good song choice even though I wasn't actually familiar with the song. "The Stereo" by Watchmen... I think I'll have to give the original a listen to and compare.

11. Liam Styles Chang: I didn't think anyone was going to top Brian, until Liam started to sing. A pop-punk arrangement of "This Magic Moment" sung by an emo boy?! But OMG it worked! Great voice, great tone.

Now excuse me while I go and vote!

Canadian Idol Top 100

I'll state right off the bat that I get a lot of flack from some of my indie music friends about the fact that I watch Canadian Idol. I know that most of what they sing is poppy schlock (which is why I prefer the song selection on the Rock Star shows). But I'm always interested in up and coming musical talent, regardless of what songs they're forced to sing. And you have to admit that it's a lot better than American Idol. We have a greater diversity of singers and styles and we have judges who speak their mind without thinking solely of the ratings or being controversial (I think we all know which American Idol judge I'm talking about…). So yes, I watch Canadian Idol. Deal with it. Now for the meat of the matter…

Read more...

I missed the first half of the Top 100 last night, which makes it harder to get to know the competitors. But during tonight's show, the first person to stand out for me was Matt Rapley. Then I thought that Montana Martin Iles was rather interesting. And I think that local Calgary girl Annika Odegard might be worth watching even though she's so young. I was amazed at how good Jessica sounded given the state of her voice on the solo day and she's probably the only one who didn't make the top 22 that I wish had. But the highlight of the show for me had to be when Carly Rae Jepsen sang Anna Nalick's "Breathe." It was honest and heartfelt and moved me like no other performance tonight. What a contrast to her cutesy, fake performance that she gave in her duet. If she can keep it real, she'll have my vote.

As for the teaser that Ben slipped in at the end… who bowed out? Who's coming back? Enquiring minds want to know.

P.S. I've added Anna Nalick's "Breathe" (from "Wreck of the Day") to My Music Box over in the sidebar for anyone who wants to hear the original. Or you can watch Carly Rae sing it in this video:


Carly Rae Jepsen - Breathe
Uploaded by annanalickus