I have no idea who this Jools Holland fellow is, but he has smashing taste in music. First he had Bat For Lashes perform the stunning "Daniel" on his program, now Regina Spektor is bringing the goods with another track from her upcoming Far. "Blue Lips" appears to be a B-side or double A-side with "Laughing With" and follows in that vein of introspective piano pop. This time, Regina is singing about blue being the most human color against lovely strings and her own piano playing. It's another lovely track from is shaping up to be one of my favorite albums this year.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
FABULOUSNESS BREAK! New Vanessa Williams Single Is Smooth As Glass
Did you know the always fabulous Vanessa Williams has a new album coming out? I didn't. Vanessa takes a break from being the fiercest bitch on Ugly Betty to drop the new disc, called The Real Thing, in first week of June, and the lead single "Just Friends" is produced by Babyface. It's so incredibly smooth, I just want to crawl under some satin sheet, pour lotion all over my hands and... play this song. (You thought it was gonna be dirty, didn't you?) Jazzy and light, it is perfect for playing at your next summer evening cocktail party. Can't you just smell the rose petals on the ottoman? Can't you feel the taffeta gowns? Can't you taste the champagne? Watch the video:
SUPRISE! Kris Wins Idol!!!! WHAT?!!! OMG!!!
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OK, after Adam was pretty much the crowned winner of Idol all season long by a salivating Paula we all assumed Glambert was a shoo-in to win.
But! YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ASSUME? It makes an ass out of me and u.
The point is, hot Christian husband and missionary Kris Allen won the whole shooting match. Which I am happy about, because no matter who won tonight I knew a truly awesome, kind and talented young man was going to win a million dollar album deal and another awesome, kind and talented young man would come in second and get a deal anyway. Adam and Kris both rocked the house, both did their own thing and both made me a little warm... down there.
So congrats, kiddo. Kris, man, you deserved it. For "Heartless" for "Ain't No Sunshine" for "Falling Slowly" and for "She Works Hard For The Money" - you are a true treasure. Thank you for being keeping the Blake/Cook/Brooke fires burning. And thank you, Adam, for doing the same thing. Only you looked better in the KISS boots.
Idol Recap: Torn Between Two Lovers
Hello Idol People! I had to go into work today, so my recap is gonna be short and sweet. Plus, if you read my live-blog last night you already know what went down.
Adam opened the show with a reprise of his best performance, the Tears For Fears song "Mad World" In keeping with his theatre goth style, his entrance was pure FIRE! Rising from behind the steps, backlit and surrounded by fog AND wearing a fly trench coat, Adam wowed us again. His original version had his sitting on a chair, surrounded by fog, and he killed it then. But the entrance was the best ever.
Kris was a little less flashy, but a whole lot more soulful with his encore of "Ain't No Sunshine" from behind the piano. It was everything beautiful, the tone of his voice when it is wracked with emotion is so amazing. And I love the way he closes his eyes while he plays, it's really moving.
For Simon Fuller's pick, Adam sang the Sam Cooke classic "A Change Is Gonna Come." I don't know why he picked that song, it's not really in Adam's wheelhouse at all. But he did a good job and was a little less crazy. Which is OK, we need a breather every now and again.
Kris was a little less interesting with Fuller's pick, "What's Going On" sounded rather like a jam band. It was serviceable and a bit forgettable but played to Kris's strength as a rootsy, crunchy granola kinda laid back guy.
Adam + The Awful Idol Single = EEK! He tried to go crazy with his voice on it, but the melody didn't support that kind of range. Plus, the song (as usual) is pure Hannah Montana cast-off shit.
Kris = The Awful Idol Single = Kinda good? I know, how did that happen? Mostly because of the fact I felt like Kris was living the song, I felt like he could fight a hurricane or whatever that shit was. He made it believable, and that's hard.
So, winner? Who knows? The judges did a soft sell on Kris, which can mean bad news for the Conway boy. But he make pick up Danny fans, which could spell doom for my golden boy, Adam. I couldn't vote, they are both so amazing. I can't wait to hear more from both of them, as well as Allison, Alexis and Matt.
Adam opened the show with a reprise of his best performance, the Tears For Fears song "Mad World" In keeping with his theatre goth style, his entrance was pure FIRE! Rising from behind the steps, backlit and surrounded by fog AND wearing a fly trench coat, Adam wowed us again. His original version had his sitting on a chair, surrounded by fog, and he killed it then. But the entrance was the best ever.
Kris was a little less flashy, but a whole lot more soulful with his encore of "Ain't No Sunshine" from behind the piano. It was everything beautiful, the tone of his voice when it is wracked with emotion is so amazing. And I love the way he closes his eyes while he plays, it's really moving.
For Simon Fuller's pick, Adam sang the Sam Cooke classic "A Change Is Gonna Come." I don't know why he picked that song, it's not really in Adam's wheelhouse at all. But he did a good job and was a little less crazy. Which is OK, we need a breather every now and again.
Kris was a little less interesting with Fuller's pick, "What's Going On" sounded rather like a jam band. It was serviceable and a bit forgettable but played to Kris's strength as a rootsy, crunchy granola kinda laid back guy.
Adam + The Awful Idol Single = EEK! He tried to go crazy with his voice on it, but the melody didn't support that kind of range. Plus, the song (as usual) is pure Hannah Montana cast-off shit.
Kris = The Awful Idol Single = Kinda good? I know, how did that happen? Mostly because of the fact I felt like Kris was living the song, I felt like he could fight a hurricane or whatever that shit was. He made it believable, and that's hard.
So, winner? Who knows? The judges did a soft sell on Kris, which can mean bad news for the Conway boy. But he make pick up Danny fans, which could spell doom for my golden boy, Adam. I couldn't vote, they are both so amazing. I can't wait to hear more from both of them, as well as Allison, Alexis and Matt.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Did You Watch "Glee"?
I just finished watching the most fabulous hour of network TV since Pushing Daisies was cancelled. If you watched TV, listened to the radio or visited MySpace in the last month, you probably heard that Nip/Tuck and Popular creator Ryan Murphy's new project Glee was premiering after American Idol tonight. But did you watch it? 'Cause you totally should have.
The plot involves Spanish teacher Will Schuester's leading of his Ohio school's Glee Club after the director is fired for sexual harassment. He butts heads with the coach of the cheer team (played by the fabulous Jane Lynch) and the rest of the sports cliches, and even finds himself at odds with his wife. He nearly quits, but is lured back by his passionate love of singing.
I'm not sure if I would call it an hour-long comedy or more of a dramedy, but it had moments both moving and funny. A lot of the characters are a bit broadly portrayed, but Broadway star Lea Michele's Rachel is a revelation. Fresh from winning a Drama Desk award for Spring Awakening, Michele brings a fresh joy to the screen as the overbearing former child prodigy and main diva of glee club. Cory Monteith is also a bright young talent, the two have amazing chemistry and pure joy on their faces as they perform the much hyped "Don't Stop Believin'" at the close of the pilot episode. He also shines in a speech to his football team mates after they call a wheelchair-bound glee member a loser.
It wasn't perfect - I found the closeted former director to be a bit campy, and Schuester's wife is almost unbelievably annoying. But Jayma Mays is delightful as Will's germaphobic coworker nursing a major crush on the married teacher, she has always brought such bubbly enthusiasm to the screen in roles on Ugly Betty and Heroes.
I would highly recommend this bright new series to anyone who loves music, teen comedy or Jane Lynch. Also, in case this doesn't sound gay enough, Josh Groban, the Chenoweth!!!! and Cheyenne Jackson guest star in upcoming episodes. The full series arrives in September, until then watch the pilot at Hulu or Fox.com. And you can download both "Don't Stop Believin'" (which owes a big debt to Petra Haden's cover from Guilt By Association) and a rival Glee club's version of Winehouse's "Rehab" at iTunes. Or just listen below:
The plot involves Spanish teacher Will Schuester's leading of his Ohio school's Glee Club after the director is fired for sexual harassment. He butts heads with the coach of the cheer team (played by the fabulous Jane Lynch) and the rest of the sports cliches, and even finds himself at odds with his wife. He nearly quits, but is lured back by his passionate love of singing.
I'm not sure if I would call it an hour-long comedy or more of a dramedy, but it had moments both moving and funny. A lot of the characters are a bit broadly portrayed, but Broadway star Lea Michele's Rachel is a revelation. Fresh from winning a Drama Desk award for Spring Awakening, Michele brings a fresh joy to the screen as the overbearing former child prodigy and main diva of glee club. Cory Monteith is also a bright young talent, the two have amazing chemistry and pure joy on their faces as they perform the much hyped "Don't Stop Believin'" at the close of the pilot episode. He also shines in a speech to his football team mates after they call a wheelchair-bound glee member a loser.
It wasn't perfect - I found the closeted former director to be a bit campy, and Schuester's wife is almost unbelievably annoying. But Jayma Mays is delightful as Will's germaphobic coworker nursing a major crush on the married teacher, she has always brought such bubbly enthusiasm to the screen in roles on Ugly Betty and Heroes.
I would highly recommend this bright new series to anyone who loves music, teen comedy or Jane Lynch. Also, in case this doesn't sound gay enough, Josh Groban, the Chenoweth!!!! and Cheyenne Jackson guest star in upcoming episodes. The full series arrives in September, until then watch the pilot at Hulu or Fox.com. And you can download both "Don't Stop Believin'" (which owes a big debt to Petra Haden's cover from Guilt By Association) and a rival Glee club's version of Winehouse's "Rehab" at iTunes. Or just listen below:
Ten Days Of Idol Insanity: Live-Blogging The Idol Finale!
Hello Idol heads! I was going to be using Twitter to live-blog tonight's Idol finale Part 1, you can still follow my tweeting at www.twitter.com/paulbos for all my Idol-licous comments, snark and fun. But my Twitter widget won't cooporate, so instead I'll be blogging during the commercial breaks whatever is good, bad and Paula-level crazy. Stay tuned to this post, and refresh after each break for new comments!
8:06PM - So far, so filler. Kara co-wrote the single, is it gonna be "I Do Not Hook Up" awesome? Or more "This Is My Now"? And the boys will be doing an encore of their favorite performance of the season, boring. But they look fine as hale, yo. I wanna be all up in that Idol sammich.
8:24PM - They were both so good, Adam's entrance was higher than "Feelin' Good" level, that smoke machine/riser/trench coat combo was hot. But Kris is so emotional, and "Ain't No Sunshine" was frakkin' flawless. Damn, I don't even know who to vote for this time!
8:34PM - Adam is no Same Cooke, that was a really dumb song choice from Simon Fuller. He was good, but he should have rearranged it, except he would have been bashed for that.
8:40PM - It was a little too jam band, and I agree with Simon. Too laid back, and surprisingly I liked Adam a lot more. I'm leaning towards Adam to get my votes, but we'll see if either can rock the Idol single...
8:50PM - Adam is a Broadway-trained actor/singer and not even he could make me believe this Miley Cyrus cast-off of a song. God, why do they have to perform such banal "inspircraptional" music?
9:16PM - Kris sold me on "No Boundaries" but I can't vote for either of them. It would be like picking a favorite kid. I can't do it, I love them both. Like a fat kid loves banana creme cake AND spice cake with cream cheese icing.
8:06PM - So far, so filler. Kara co-wrote the single, is it gonna be "I Do Not Hook Up" awesome? Or more "This Is My Now"? And the boys will be doing an encore of their favorite performance of the season, boring. But they look fine as hale, yo. I wanna be all up in that Idol sammich.
8:24PM - They were both so good, Adam's entrance was higher than "Feelin' Good" level, that smoke machine/riser/trench coat combo was hot. But Kris is so emotional, and "Ain't No Sunshine" was frakkin' flawless. Damn, I don't even know who to vote for this time!
8:34PM - Adam is no Same Cooke, that was a really dumb song choice from Simon Fuller. He was good, but he should have rearranged it, except he would have been bashed for that.
8:40PM - It was a little too jam band, and I agree with Simon. Too laid back, and surprisingly I liked Adam a lot more. I'm leaning towards Adam to get my votes, but we'll see if either can rock the Idol single...
8:50PM - Adam is a Broadway-trained actor/singer and not even he could make me believe this Miley Cyrus cast-off of a song. God, why do they have to perform such banal "inspircraptional" music?
9:16PM - Kris sold me on "No Boundaries" but I can't vote for either of them. It would be like picking a favorite kid. I can't do it, I love them both. Like a fat kid loves banana creme cake AND spice cake with cream cheese icing.
Ten Days Of Idol Insanity: The Fifteen Best Songs By Idol Alumni
After the ticker-tape falls and a schlocky ballad is sung by a tearful winner, Idol contestants and winners alike must now do the hard work of making an album, promoting that album and trying not to get dropped from their label. Some do it better than others. For example, these lovely songs:
15: "Crush [Sonic Ether Club Mix]" - David Archuleta
The original version of this song is pretty sappy, I get a little creeped out when kids sing about crushes like they are the real deal. But the club mix is pretty sweet, and the chorus is catchy as fuck.
14: "Bar-Ba-sol" - David Cook
While the majority of David's major label debut is mid tempo lite-alternative rock of the Lifehouse variety, this shredder is a growly bit of southern-fried grit. The hardest rocker from Idol, at least until Adam makes his album.
13: "Invisible" - Clay Aiken
This is trashy pre-fab pop at it's creepiest. From Measure Of A Man comes a tale of stalking, sung with the bubbly voice of the geekiest kid to grace the Idol stage. I dare you not to sing along. (It's impossible.)
12: "Through The Fire" - Melinda Doolittle
It's just a Walmart exclusive track from season six's second runner up's old-school R&B disc Coming Back To You, but this Chaka Khan cover is exactly what Mindy Doo does best. A more gospel inflection takes the pop hit to church.
11: "What About Now" - Daughtry
Chris Daughtry may have only made fourth place in season five, but he has a bigger career with his own band's self-titled debut than any other contestant that season. This slow-burning inspirational rock number is exactly why.
10: "Love Story" - Katherine McPhee
In this brassy beat-heavy homage to 1960s-era pop, the season five runner-up tries to make the JoJo-aping "Over It" not her only hit from her self-titled album. It didn't work, and I'm still stumped as to why. It's a tale as old as time - boy and girl are friends, become more.
9: "Before He Cheats" - Carrie Underwood
What happens when a petite blonde from Oklahoma is cheated on? C'mon, you know the words: she "dug her key into the side of his pretty little souped-up four-wheel drive, carved my name into her leather seats... maybe next time he'll think before he cheats" and made a nation of girls n gays run out to by Some Hearts.
8: "I Ran [Radio Edit]" - Darude feat Blake Lewis
About the same time he was being dropped from his label after the painfully underrated Audio Day Dream tanked, season six's resident beat-boxer hooked up with techno/house mastermind Darude for a couple of tracks. Among those were an AIDS charity single and this brilliant reworking of the Flock Of Seagulls.
7: "No Air" - Jordin Sparks Duet With Chris Brown
This song, from season 6 winner Jordin's self-titled disc and featuring a pre-Rihanna-beatdown Brown, is epic. The number of Runs Per Minute is Whitney-level and the lyrics are ridiculously over dramatic. Just the way I like it.
6: "Because Of You" - Kelly Clarkson
When I first heard this song, from Kelly's breakthrough sophomore work Breakaway, I could understand every word, every emotion. I knew exactly what kind of relationship Kelly had with her mother, because I had the same one. This used to be the soundtrack to my own (therapy-filled) journey to my own wholeness.
5: "And I Am Telling You" - Jennifer Hudson
J.Hud deservedly won an Oscar for her brilliant work in Dreamgirls, and her performance of this song and "I Am Changing" on the soundtrack reveals why. The emotional connection and completely organic performance are astonishing, she is Effie.
4: "Permanent" - David Cook
The seventh season winner brings tears to my eyes with a painfully intimate tunes written for his terminally ill brother and included on his self-titled CD. I danced with my little sister to this song at her wedding, it's a beautiful statement of familial love.
3: "Irvine" - Kelly Clarkson
In this intimate acoustic ballad that closed her artistic statement My December, the original Idol winner cries out to the Divine as she contemplates fading completely. Bonus points for the hidden track that follows, a sassy bar tune about Chivas.
2: "Praying For Time" - Carrie Underwood
For the charity special Idol Gives Back 2, season four winner Carrie performed this George Micheal cover, which was even more emotionally wrenching than her cover of "I'll Stand By You" for the original Idol Gives Back. I still pull it up on the ol' iPod when I need to get inspired to give.
1: "Since U Been Gone" - Kelly Clarkson
The massive second single from Breakaway may be a predictable choice, I know. But when you combine a chick who can sing her face off with any song and the power chords of Swedish pop masterminds Dr Luke and Max Martin, what else can you expect but perfection? Even after being remixed, covered, inserted into Girl Talk jams and otherwise played to death, "Since U Been Gone" is what every Idol contestant dream of when they stand before the judges and belt.
15: "Crush [Sonic Ether Club Mix]" - David Archuleta
The original version of this song is pretty sappy, I get a little creeped out when kids sing about crushes like they are the real deal. But the club mix is pretty sweet, and the chorus is catchy as fuck.
14: "Bar-Ba-sol" - David Cook
While the majority of David's major label debut is mid tempo lite-alternative rock of the Lifehouse variety, this shredder is a growly bit of southern-fried grit. The hardest rocker from Idol, at least until Adam makes his album.
13: "Invisible" - Clay Aiken
This is trashy pre-fab pop at it's creepiest. From Measure Of A Man comes a tale of stalking, sung with the bubbly voice of the geekiest kid to grace the Idol stage. I dare you not to sing along. (It's impossible.)
12: "Through The Fire" - Melinda Doolittle
It's just a Walmart exclusive track from season six's second runner up's old-school R&B disc Coming Back To You, but this Chaka Khan cover is exactly what Mindy Doo does best. A more gospel inflection takes the pop hit to church.
11: "What About Now" - Daughtry
Chris Daughtry may have only made fourth place in season five, but he has a bigger career with his own band's self-titled debut than any other contestant that season. This slow-burning inspirational rock number is exactly why.
10: "Love Story" - Katherine McPhee
In this brassy beat-heavy homage to 1960s-era pop, the season five runner-up tries to make the JoJo-aping "Over It" not her only hit from her self-titled album. It didn't work, and I'm still stumped as to why. It's a tale as old as time - boy and girl are friends, become more.
9: "Before He Cheats" - Carrie Underwood
What happens when a petite blonde from Oklahoma is cheated on? C'mon, you know the words: she "dug her key into the side of his pretty little souped-up four-wheel drive, carved my name into her leather seats... maybe next time he'll think before he cheats" and made a nation of girls n gays run out to by Some Hearts.
8: "I Ran [Radio Edit]" - Darude feat Blake Lewis
About the same time he was being dropped from his label after the painfully underrated Audio Day Dream tanked, season six's resident beat-boxer hooked up with techno/house mastermind Darude for a couple of tracks. Among those were an AIDS charity single and this brilliant reworking of the Flock Of Seagulls.
7: "No Air" - Jordin Sparks Duet With Chris Brown
This song, from season 6 winner Jordin's self-titled disc and featuring a pre-Rihanna-beatdown Brown, is epic. The number of Runs Per Minute is Whitney-level and the lyrics are ridiculously over dramatic. Just the way I like it.
6: "Because Of You" - Kelly Clarkson
When I first heard this song, from Kelly's breakthrough sophomore work Breakaway, I could understand every word, every emotion. I knew exactly what kind of relationship Kelly had with her mother, because I had the same one. This used to be the soundtrack to my own (therapy-filled) journey to my own wholeness.
5: "And I Am Telling You" - Jennifer Hudson
J.Hud deservedly won an Oscar for her brilliant work in Dreamgirls, and her performance of this song and "I Am Changing" on the soundtrack reveals why. The emotional connection and completely organic performance are astonishing, she is Effie.
4: "Permanent" - David Cook
The seventh season winner brings tears to my eyes with a painfully intimate tunes written for his terminally ill brother and included on his self-titled CD. I danced with my little sister to this song at her wedding, it's a beautiful statement of familial love.
3: "Irvine" - Kelly Clarkson
In this intimate acoustic ballad that closed her artistic statement My December, the original Idol winner cries out to the Divine as she contemplates fading completely. Bonus points for the hidden track that follows, a sassy bar tune about Chivas.
2: "Praying For Time" - Carrie Underwood
For the charity special Idol Gives Back 2, season four winner Carrie performed this George Micheal cover, which was even more emotionally wrenching than her cover of "I'll Stand By You" for the original Idol Gives Back. I still pull it up on the ol' iPod when I need to get inspired to give.
1: "Since U Been Gone" - Kelly Clarkson
The massive second single from Breakaway may be a predictable choice, I know. But when you combine a chick who can sing her face off with any song and the power chords of Swedish pop masterminds Dr Luke and Max Martin, what else can you expect but perfection? Even after being remixed, covered, inserted into Girl Talk jams and otherwise played to death, "Since U Been Gone" is what every Idol contestant dream of when they stand before the judges and belt.
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