Music and Video Review

American Idol - 2012 - Phil Phillips!

Phil Phillips will win the American Idol contest tonight. 

No surprise as Phillips used the same strategy as last years winner Scotty McCreery. Rather than adapting thier styles to suit their material, they adapted their material to suit their styles. Whatever the song, genre or style they all became McCreeried or Phillipized to become something uniquely their own.

It also helps that both were young, male and charismatic and they actually had a style.  The past four years of winners were male and beat arguably better singers then themselves - not all had a style.

Phillips wasn't the best singer this year - hardly - several contestants had more range and power. Sanchez and Ledet in particular are extraordinarily gifted vocalists. They'll win at any karaoke contest they compete in. Neither adequately demonstrated themselves to be real stylists - they were merely great singers.

Unfortunately Idol is not a karaoke contest it is a popularity contest.

While singing talent might be a factor guiding some of the voting, in the end, vocal talent is is not what wins. What wins is the combination of song choice, performance quality, and likability. McCreery and Phillips both chose excellent songs, performed well every time and are extremely likable to people who vote.

So congrats to Phil Phillips for knowing how to play the game. Jimmy Iovine seems delighted to be able to work with him. His style, a bit of a throwback, is a nice contrast to what's on the radio today.

In the end Idol worked. They found another talent. This despite sagging ratings and increased competition from NBC's The Voice which had an excellent season.

Rumours are that Idol will have a major overhaul next season.

Next time some suggestions for this overhaul. 

 

American Idol - 2012 - 2 great singers, 3 knuckle-headed judges.

Jessica Sanchez and Joshua Ledet turned in another round of spectacular performances last night. Sanchez hitting the cover off Dreamgirl's showstopper "And I'm telling You" and Ledet nearly matching Juliet Simms' spectacular performance of James Brown's "It's a Man's, Man's, Man's world" delivered on NBC's The Voice a week ago.

Those two, Sanchez and Ledet, are extraordinary singers. Truly gifted. Whatever heights Idol has reached this season is the direct result of those two contestants singing their asses off week after week. Tour ready Phil Phillips has been a bonus bringing something complimentary to the sing-off going on between Sanchez and Ledet. Phillips' limited range is no match for Ledet and Sanchez. They blow him out of the water. 

Blowing the whole show out of the water has been NBC's rival series The Voice. The singers overall were far more diverse in styles.The finalists, on balance, were equally gifted. Winner Jermain Paul is a find.

The big difference was in the format that gives the judges a stake in the outcome. The only stake the Idol judges have after the initial 24 are chosen is invoking "the save." Here the knuckheads did a good job saving Sanchez a couple weeks back.

The Idol judges have become progressively more useless each week- if that were even possible. Time-shifting DVR viewers are speeding through their overly positive commentaries. When there is criticism - hardly ever - it is never constructive. That's where The Voice has its edge. The judges are actually coaches.

Last night the first four performance were all flat - almost boring. Phillip's Vegas-ready performance of CCR's "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" was overshadowed for no reason by a somewhat skanky looking sax player. Hollie Cavanaugh's take on Journey's "Faithfully" - a song about concert tour road weariness - was incongruous for the 16 year old. Joshua Ledet's take on Josh Groban (also done on the Voice BTW) was flat and out of place. Sanchez singing Etta James, yes, Etta James, was an incredibly odd choice. Maybe .005% of the Idol audience might have heard that song sometime in their life. Chances are if they did, they don't remember it.

But what do the three knuckleheads say constructively? Nothing! They loved everything - all of it!

Thank God Jimmy is there to set the record straight tonight.

The second round was much better for the singers - except for Hollie. 16 year old Hollie singing a song about the deep frustration of someone no longer loving them - "lying in bed" was weird. "I Can't Make You Love Me" is a mature and complex song - a career defining performance for Bonnie Raitt.  Totally the wrong choice for a Hollie.

But guess what? The Idol judges missed that key point!

Hollie will go home tonight, no doubt. If we are lucky we will get the sing off between the two singers in two week.

If we are really lucky we'll get some new judges next year and a format that gives them a stake.

American Idol - 2012 - Little Steven - Skyler goes home

Who knew second banana Little Steven/Silvio would be so insightful into music?

Actually a lot of us rock music fans who never miss an episode of his syndicated radio show "Little Steven's Underground Garage."

The Garage, heard by over 1 million listeners each week  featuring "The Coolest Song in the World this Week" - is a rock music lovers dream. Rare tracks and anecdotes for old and new songs are all presented in Little Steven's distinctive style.

Coaching Idol's 5 finalists, Steven provided practical help on how to improve their performances. They all listened and turned in what was easily the best single show of the inconsistent Idol season. The rapport between Jimmy Iovine and Little Steven was infectious. This was a case of making something great (Iovine) even better (adding Little Steven).

Wish I could say the same for the judges who get three penalties for the following:

  J-Lo - When Phil Phillips performed The Box Tops/Joe Cocker classic "The Letter" she said, "I don't know that song!" Foul #1.

Steven Tyler - When Leona Lewis's worldwide smash "Bleeding Love" was performed by Hollie Cavanaugh, Tyler said, "I don't know that song!" Foul #2

Randy Jackson - When Sklyler Laine did her version of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son" - Jackson piped in with, "CCR is one of the greatest bands EVER! Let's hear it for CCR!" Really? Then why won't John Fogerty play with them anymore - even at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction? Because Stu Cook and Doug Clifford (sued by Forgerty for touring as Creedence Clearwater Revisited) are marginal musicians - at best.

You would think the judges of America's number one singing show would know these basic peices of musicana. Mistakes Iovine and Little Steven would never make.

As for the performances Joshua Ledet secured his place as the finest singer of any American Idol competition simply slaying "Too Proud to Beg" by the Temptations  and lifting "To Love Somebody" by the Bee Gees to the rafters of church. They might as well give him the award now except American would miss out on a few more amazing performances.

Also amazing was Joe Cocker's "You are so Beautiful" by Jessica Sanchez. Her phrasing and vocal control is other worldly, and as mentioned before here, belies her 16 years.

In a world where is all is just, the final show will feature these two singers.

The others? Phil Phillips "did his thing" and Hollie Cavanaugh sung Phil Spector's Waterloo, "River Deep, Mountain High" with some new confidence and conviction. Unlike Pia last year, Hollie didn't go home after singing this very odd "classic" that was never a hit that people insist on parading in front of music fans.

Country twanger Skyler Laine went home.  I suppose the three girls split the "girl vote" and she drew the short stick. She is talented and as Iovine likes to point out "professional" but going country with Dusty Springfield was a wrong move that cost her.

A detail Little Steven and Jimmy would grasp - not the three knuckleheads.

 

Mad Men - Season 5

After a bit of a hiatus, 4-times-in-a-row "best dramatic series" winner Mad Men has returned to AMC.  Within five episodes this show has put nearly every other dramatic series to shame with its seemingly boundless creativity and enormous entertainment value.

Adult themes, unpredictable plot twists, and superb acting work in perfectly balanced harmony to create an always fascinating screen image for viewers to digest. The characters, even the less attractive ones, are all beautiful to look at. Richly drawn and slowly developed, many of these characters (Roger, Peggy, and Lane to name a few) are worthy of a show all their own.

But what really sets this show apart from nearly everything else out there today is the very deliberate pacing that has become the shows signature. Never rushing toward a punch line or a network mandated commercial break, every scene has ample time to unfold in ways unusual for network television. Plus, shorter than usual commercial breaks provide a pause to digest what has just transpired.

This time elasticity allows actors to act (and react) in genuine ways. There is no winking at the camera in Mad Men - it is all played straight. Even when the going gets wild, as when Lane and Peter engaged in fisticuffs, or Peggy provided a release for midday movie goer, it never strays to camp as it could in less capable hands. It is always serious and somehow on-the-money.

Best of all viewers are able to take in all those perfectly preserved relics from 60's culture that set directors and costumers weave into virtually every scene. It might be a lamp, wallpaper, a magazine cover, dress or a console stereo (not only does it sound great, it makes a great piece of furniture!). Each episode has something that can easily trigger a baby boomer a synaptic trip down memory lane.  Better put for this season, at times the show is an LSD flashback.

And what of the plot? Try as much as it has plot has never been the key selling point. The Don Draper/Dick Whitman back story and the growing pains of a new agency are hardly factors this season. Betty Draper has virtually disappeared. While Pete, Joan, and Peggy toil to gain respect within in their various sub groups, Roger squanders whatever is left of his in the most flamboyant fashion.

But these are all merely glorious details of what is for the viewer, to use appropriately a 60's term, a wonderful Gestalt.

Mad Men achieves that rare outcome where entertainment and information are skillfully combined - Mad Mad makes you think.

Mad Men, while entertaining you, asks you to consider your life, your time, and your choices. Best of all - through the eyes of Don Draper and others - and get to view those choices for what they always are - gloriously precious and beautiful.

Mad Men is on Sunday evening. 

American Idol 2012 - Saved!

American Idol deployed its "save" feature last night to keep Jessica Sanchez in the mix for at least another week of a fairly dismal 11th season.

Sanchez is, without a doubt, the finest singer of the bunch. Her combination of vocal chops, power, and the seldom-used-on-Idol quality of restraint put her slightly ahead of Joshua Ledet as the favorite (at least in my book). Ledet too is terrific, but he over sings every week.

But as any fan of Idol knows, it isn't the best signer that wins, it is the best player of the game. The best singers are often at a disadvantage. This is because voters are drawn to development more than sheer talent. Fully formed singers like Sanchez or David Archuletta, whose phrasing belies thier years often can't top their initial jaw-dropping performances. 

As the weeks grind on these great singers get hamstrung by goofy themes forcing them to make poor song choices.   

Add to this the "popularity contest" factor that seems to favor men (or boys) over the ladies for the past four years. Last night's vote showed once again why "the masses are asses" has become the well worn cliche it is. Clearly mom and dads all over the country are letting their kids text-vote for the cutest contestants with impunity. A missed "teachable moment" by parents to their kids for sure.

Were it not for the ace commentary by Jimmy Iovine - always on the money - I would not be watching anymore. I prefer NBC's The Voice. But Iovine is brilliant. More Jimmy...

Even with the save don't be surprised if Sanchez has an early departure in the coming weeks - or Ledet. Those two could exit while streaked mullet-man Colton Dixon and uber young and cute Skyler Laine and Hollie Cavanaugh remain cranking out their less accomplished performances.

The thing to remember here is that popularity hardly ever is equal with excellence in our culture. And with the rambling uncritical commentary provided by the three knuckle-headed judges - my favorite by Mr. Tyler "you turned a simple song into genius!" - there is little chance the voters will get better educated as to how to properly evaluate a performance.

So in in the end the cutest and least threatening contestant to the mostly young female audience will win. 

 

American Idol 2012 - Switching to "The Voice"

 

 

Steven Tyler, when commenting on a singer's performance last night referenced "40 million people..."

Clearly Mr. Tyler is not paying attention to the ratings. Fox's ratings champ is down nearly 30% in overall viewership from 2006. Then 30 million tuned in. Today it is around 20 million which is the same number as NBC's sophomore music competition show "The Voice" is attracting.

And Idol is clearly feeling the heat from the show with the spinning chairs. New wrinkles in the competition are being introduced that have a "The Voice" feel that give the judges more power in decision making. But do you really want to give those Idol numb-nut judges ANY authority?

Last night Randy could not name two performers who might be in trouble because "they were all so good."

Really? This crew has only two standouts - the rest all all forgettable.

Jennifer too stumbled when asked the same question but to her credit the Kohl's clothing designer did provide an answer.

But Steven said it best summing up the entire season with his comment, "there were two winners tonight, Jennifer Sanchez and Jennifer Sanchez!"

And yes, Sanchez's version of Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" was a thing of beauty. Phrasing well beyond her 16 years. Powerful in her restraint that still delivered  ALL those impossible notes. Her and Phil Phillips are the only contestants worth watching.

Them and music industry truth teller Jimmy Iovine. He always has something interesting and relevant to say deeply rooted in music business reality.

But really that is not enough. The time has come to switch to the Voice. Why?

• Better judges. Three out of four won Grammy awards this year.
• Better mentors. Alanis, Kelly Clarkson, Lionel Ritchie, Jewel, Ne-Yo, Babyface, Miranda Lambert and the Grammy winning judges themselves all lend credibility to the coaching process.
• Better format. Judges have skin in the game and actually make decisions. They choose songs. Plus the head-to-head competitions are a hoot.
• Better singers. Without age or other restrictions and the lure of working with genuine stars, the Voice has better singers. No way around it.
  

So if you want to sit through a dozen more weeks of Steven Tyler saying "I Loved it!' on the way to a Sanchez/Phillips finale - have fun.

On the other hand if you want a serious music competition then the time has come to switch to The Voice.

 

 

American Idol 2012 - Jimmy Eye - Veen

 

The demise of Idol was reported here earlier.

Bit of shame too. Some pretty solid singers have emerged from this pioneering singing competition reality show. Not sure we are cocked, locked, and ready-to-rock this year with another Kelly Underwood.

Perhaps not disconnected from this was news that last week Idol lost its time slot for the first time in its broadcast history. Big Bang Theory secured whatever geeks were posing as Gleeks. Though they don't go head-to-head, I suspect The Voice will soon overtake the show as well. They have some momentum going into their finals.

The talent on Idol is undeniably w-e-a-k this season. Plus, with four or five exceptions, all the singers are "chunked out" and aren't all that much to look at.

The judges, who must be staring at their paychecks during the actual competition, only offer the most banal and cliche feedback. Uniformly over-the-top and positive, they neglect to mention such minor empirically factual details as "singing the entire song flat."

Instead it's all hype, infatuation and platitudes.

"That's what I love about you!"

"You just do your thing!"

"That was beautiful!"

and most beguiling...

"You know who you are as an artist!"

And will someone please tell J-Lo that the term "goosies" as in "ooh, I got goosies!" isn't cute and endearing - it's stupid.

There is of course one redeeming factor to this massive entropy and that is Interscope President and CEO Jimmy Iovine. Despite having an interest in the business side of the show that might sway his comments otherwise, he simply lets it fly and tells it like it is. His spot on and mostly negative commentary on the performers has all the judges back-peddling from their anemic comments to gain favor with the boss.

Iovine is simply terrific. A real deal music guy. He can't be bothered to actually show up to this fiasco - all his appearances are taped elsewhere. And he's still shamelessly plugging his "Beats" line of headphone and music products  like he did last year. Look at the picture above and you can clearly view the distinctive beats red logo on the speaker. Compositionally framed mid-center for all to see. Mistake? Not a chance.

So who's gonna win? Early money is on Jessica Sanchez whose poise, power, and phrasing are that of a singer beyond her 16 years.

Viewers will have to wait and see. And hope Big Bang Theory is a repeat that week...

 

American Idol 2012 - "The Voice" the judges are hearing....

 

 

 

Finally the crappy part of Idol is over and we are down to the final 24.

But wait...cliffhanger....the judges have decided to make it the final 25 instead of the final 24!

The drama...I can't stand it!!!

Four guys who in retrospect must have been deemed to be too good to have been let go are being reconsidered. Maybe the church going crybaby, mini-Michael Jackson, the good looking guy, or the poor man's Scotty McCreary have some ratings magic in them. Idol better hope so. The show this season needs it.

It has been rough going for Fox's cash cow reality show this year. Without a super bowl lead-in to jump start the season or any clear stand out contestants thus far the show has had its lowest ratings ever. NBC's rival singing competition show, The Voice - the one with the spinning chairs - has been going toe-to-toe in the ratings in the shows second season. The coming weeks might turn the tables (as well as the chairs) making The Voice the new singing show champ.

So one wonders - in the words of SNL's DeAndre Cole - "What up with that?"

Three things:

1. Diluted talent pool.
2. Overall singing competition fatigue.
3. Idol predictable and less about singing and music.

The talent pool of great singers has always been small. It's the single rarest gift to be able to connect with an audience solely through ones voice and appearance. "That's why singers get all the money," any musician will tell you.

So even when Idol was well known and the only game in town, they still had a hard time finding another Kelly Clarkson. Taylor Hicks any one? There are only so many Carrie Underwood's out there. And you can be sure that behind the scenes the other shows are working overtime to find the next Adam Lambert first. As a result Idol's talent pool has been the weakest ever this year.

Idol is also tired. 11 years creates so much familiarity that it has become like a cliche. Few, if any, TV shows have an 11 year run. No matter how good viewers simply burn out on shows. The fact the other singing shows have basically co-opted the idol format with only slight modifications has quickened Idol burn out.

The only real change Idol has made has been with the judges.  What any fan will tell you is that judges, fun as they may be, don't matter nearly as much as the singers. Great seasons are made by great singers. Ellen, Kara, Paula, and even Simon are all footnotes.

So if Idol wants to survive, they should consider some changes next year.  Start with the final 24 maybe! Easily the weakest part of the show, these past six weeks of auditions and "Hollywood week" have been terrible. Phony dramas created through clever editing with moderately talented mostly unattractive and overweight singers. Zzzzz!

The fact that someone falling off the stage was used as the "teaser" to keep people viewing demonstrates how dull this season has become. Judge Stephen Tyler stripped down to underwear, flashed a BA, and jumped into the La Reve pool. It was funny, but indicative of incredible desperation this show must be feeling. Without the talent there to shine, singing can't be the story.  

And now adding the 25th contestant? That's the best they can come up with? They really need to try harder than that. How about combing reality shows? Have singers sing while running on the Wipeout obstacle course. Have singers pitch a marketing plan for themselves to the Shark Tank. Or, work with with NBC to create "The biggest loser, best singer!" Some of these contestants would benefit from such a show.

Even without these changes loyal fans will hang in for a few more weeks and see if any real talent emerges that is worth watching. If it doesn't, expect even more defections to The Voice and the X Factor. They are at least, different.

It's kind of sad really, this show had a great run. Created some real stars. But at least for now, it seems it might be over.

 

 

 

Grammy's Get it Right

 

The Grammy Awards have been a source of frustration for music fans for many years. The Beatles and many other Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees were never properly acknowledged during their careers.

Worse, the "Record of the Year" award, arguably the Grammy's highest honor that goes to both the artist and the producer (and engineer since 1999), is roster of musical lightweights. Winners include Percy Faith, Olivia Newton-John, Captain and Tenille, Christopher Cross, Kim Carnes, and Bette Midler to name a few. Fortunately Grammy has righted this mistake in recent years by awarding more significant artists like U2, Green Day, Amy Winehouse and Coldplay.

In addition to the awards there was the awards show itself. A largely stuffy affair that in a good year featured one memorable performance (or pairing) if we were lucky. The Grammy show became so out of touch with real music fans that two competing award shows, Dick Clark's American Music Awards and MTV's Video Music Awards (VMAs) regularly attracted more viewers. There was a good reason - both those shows were actually entertaining. Those shows had the added benefit of being more relevant as well.

Well this year Grammy finally everything right. It was the best Grammy show ever. There was hardly a dull moment, and thanks to the cloud cast over the broadcast by pop diva Whitney Houston's sudden death, the show managed to soar to some incredibly emotional and musical heights.

Much of the credit has to be given to first time host LL Cool J, who steered the show in all the right directions right from the start. J not only is a true musical innovator but also someone with star charisma. The audience went with him to places others with less street cred couldn't have taken them. He quickly addressed the evening tragedy with a group prayer - that's something you never see on network TV - then righted the show where it should be, a celebration of music.  And what a celebration it was.

Bruce Springsteen's band was tight and got the show off to a great start. Bruno Mars, doing his very best James Brown, was simply electric - delivering the most energetic performance of the night.

But the night belonged to Adele. Her record "21"  has sold more nearly 7 million copies - three times as many as her nearest competitor. Adele's record has become nothing short of a phenomenon. 21's sparse production emphasized the emotionally charged singing about a broken relationship. The level of authenticity on the recording is so striking it can only be labeled artistic. 

There was also the drama to her evening. Unbeknown to many Grammy viewers the 23 year-old siren would be making her first live performance since the vocal surgery that canceled her North American tour earlier in the year. Could she still hit those impossible notes? Did her voice still have that distinctive timbre?

The answer was a resounding yes with the Grammy audience providing a nearly 5 minute standing ovation after singing her breakout hit "Rolling in the Deep." Without any hyperbole here: her performance was amazing. This was one of those rare moments when an artist was in her moment, on display for all to. It was some kind of genius that comes along once a decade. Adele is in a word, transcendent across all musical genres and tastes.

And if Adle's performance wasn't enough there was Jennifer Hudson's tribute to Whitney singing her signature song, "I will always love you." The former American Idol contestant delivered a version that was poignant and a bit chilling in its restraint.

Adele ended up winning all the awards - like she should have - capping an incredible year for the youngster from London. But the show belonged to music. As Sir Paul McCartney proved when he took the stage for a rousing version of the Golden Slumbers/Carry that Weight/The End. This the famous closing medley from Abbey Road.

The awards were over now - this was just music for performance sake. Paul and his veteran touring band sounded terrific. When it came time for the guitar duel originally done by George Harrison, John Lennon and Paul - he was joined on stage by Dave Grohl, Joe Walsh, and Bruce Springsteen for what could only be called an outright celebration of great rock and roll. These songwriters who are also players shared the stage with a legend who had not tragically died early like so many others. Paul was up there doing what he does and the guest artists were over the moon, The crowd was on their feet. 

Perhaps this had something to do with what Dave Grohl said when winning one of his many awards - and I paraphrase - "it's great we actually play our instruments and work on our craft in order to be recognized by this award!"

Indeed. Imagine that, being gifted and woodshedding - the necessities for developing craft. Adele in her early career has it. Sir Paul and boys had it spending Malcom Gladwell's outlier 20,000 hour requirement.

So too did the Grammy producer who may have crafted the most entertaining award show ever.

 

Queen Documentary on DVD

 

Eagle Vision continues its string of great music-lovers DVDs with their release of Queen - Days of our Lives on Blu-ray. 

Since the death of flamboyant front man Freddie Mercury from AIDS in 1991 Queen's popularity, remarkably, has persisted. Fox's Glee featured a show with songs from Queen. Their big hit, "Bohemian Rhapsody" had a bit of a renaissance thanks to the prominent and hilarious use in the 1992 movie Wayne's World. There was also George Micheal's top-of-the-charts cover of "Somebody to Love" in 1992. American Idol reunited the band to back up the two finalists for a rendition of "We are the Champions" capping off the highly rated Adam Lambert season. Queen also toured for four years with Bad Company's Paul Rodgers to sold out stadiums around the globe.

In terms of significance however, nothing trumps Queen's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. While this might not have silenced all the critics who claimed Queen was an overly theatrical version of Muzak - it certainly justifies a long form documentary.

This BBC produced 2 hour documentary will delight fans. It also makes a case for reconsidering this band of college chums who sold over 100 million records. Taking a chronological approach it visits the early days of at Cambridge and how they really took off when they added lead singer/pianist Farrokh Bulsara (aka Freddie Mercury). Freddie was lightning in a bottle and arguably one of the greatest front men in the history of rock and roll. His Live Aid performance was a master class in what it means to be a rock star.

But the story goes deeper than Mercury. Each of the four band members wrote hit songs. This is unusual. So too is guitarist Brian May's PhD in Astrophysics. Loaded with interviews old and new, this is a well paced and never boring production. Of particular interest to fans will be the interviews with reclusive bassist John Deacon. While they are old - he no longer participates in the band - they are illuminating. So too are all the interviews which are articulate and heart felt. 

Make no mistake though, it is a sad story that revolves around Mercury. He was the real deal. He could write hit songs, produce, sing, and play a very accomplished piano. He was also a front man whose gayness somehow didn't diminish his power or appeal. Sadly, his death will always denfine the band.

So check it out - 4 stars for must see music documentary!