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| Welcome to my Internet Mosaic page. I hope you will visit me often. I will be sharing information and thoughts on various topics, many of which will be entertainment or music based, but who knows...guess you will have to visit to find out for sure. |
| American Idol...My Way |
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American Idol is still the rage even as the seventh season is half way through. Everywhere you look there are American Idol labels. T-shirts, Cds, DVDs, board games, etc (check the ratings on these highly popular games at www.karaokecaze.com/kidskaraokeproducts.php
Apparently I, like 35 million other North Americans, have an opinion about the singers and judges of American Idol.
Of course everyone has their favorites and each of us hears the performances with our own biases, likes and dislikes.
The judges' job is to be judgmental of each performance and to give constructive criticism to the singers. The world audience's job is to watch, form an opinion, decides on their favorites for the night (or stick with their favorite no matter how they did), phone in if they can or if they wish to, then eagerly wait until the next night for the eliminations.
This is my seventh season watching and I am a self proclaimed American Idol Junkie. I do not watch to hear people get slammed by the judges, I do not watch so I can phone in for my favorites (they do not allow phone calls from Canada to be counted into their tally), I watch simply because I love to hear the talent that is out there. To watch each and every one as they grow through the season is quite something. The growth in confidence and voice as you watch your favorites or even as some of the 'underdogs' pull into the lead as they 'up their game' as the competition becomes more critical is for me, very appealing. I love watching how these kids, many who never had the means, money or opportunity have now been given the chance to fulfil a dream that they have always had. You begin to see some of these bright, hidden (before now) talents really start to shine. To watch them in their interviews and realize that some of these kids haven't even done some things that many of us take for granted and do all the time.
Sure, American Idol is searching for the best talent in America that's what the show is all about. Sure they are making money hand over fist doing so and yes, only a small number of people actually make it onto the show. But just think of in the audition process there are tens of thousands of people in each city trying out. Many of the ones that are cut are actually pretty good and many couldn't carry a tune in a bucket. However, those that do make it for whatever reason, have to work hard to make it further down the line. Every year without exception, several of the contestants make it big and end up in the spotlight even after they have been eliminated from the show.
For those of you that watched season 2005, you may remember Kelly Pickler. She didn't win the season, as a matter of fact placed 6th, however here is a perfect example of one of the things I love about this show. Here was a young lady that had a very tough start to her young life. Born to a teenage mother and abandoned when she was two, her father was imprisoned for armed robbery and she was brought up by her grandparents. She was from a tiny town in South Carolina and had never even seen the ocean before being on the show. She became a hit with the crowd because of her innocence and naivity as well as her talent. Even though she only placed 6th, she has become a star on the country charts with several hits over the last two years. This is only one example of the now 84 young people that have graced the show by being in the final 12 of each season.
The judges tend to be a big part of the show, but in my opinion really shouldn't be. The show is about the singers, or at least should be. I know, I know, many tune into the show just to watch Simon blast a few singers and just as many don't watch at all because they can't stand him. The drama sometimes caused by the judges tends to deter from the real reason of watching it. This season the judges have not been as hostile to each other as they have sometimes been in the past.
The judges, Randy Jackson, a bass player and record producer, Paula Abdul, a pop singer and choreographer and Simon Cowell, a music executive, have been on the show for all seven seasons. I used to dislike listening to Simon's critique of the singers as I felt he was overly harsh and often not even basing his criticisms on the songs. Comments telling the contestants that he hated the dress they were wearing or in one case telling a contestant that their nose was too big and another that he didn't like the way he smiled, would make my blood boil. After all, they show wasn't about the judges...it was about the contestants. Having watched the show for 7 years, however, I have come to a new understanding and appreciation of the judges.
Randy is always the first judge to give criticism. I have come to know that after each performance he will basically begin his critique in one of three ways. If he starts off with asking the contestant how they are feeling or says, “ Hey (name), what's up dude?”, he does not like the performance. If he laughs as the contestant walks over and stands ready, Randy usually will tell the contestant that it was, “Just ok, for him.”. If the contestant is met with a, “Wow!” or Randy calls their name out three times, they have scored big in his books.
Paula is there as a balance. She is the positive one. The one that makes sure the singer goes away feeling good about at least something. She is the nurturer. She will always find something good to say about the performer or the performance even if they have totally blown it. She will frequently see things closer to Randy's perspective than to Simon's and she is not afraid to put him in his place. You tend to get the feeling that she rarely dislikes any performance because she is always so positive about everything.
The contestants usually take Randy's and Paula's comments a little easier than they take Simon's. Often as they have finished listening to the first two and turn to Simon, you can see a very definite grimmace or worried look on the singers face. They wait apprehensively and listen as Simon often cuts their performances to the quick, criticizing everything from their song choice, to their clothing and movements and of course their abilities (or lack of). Many are quite ready to defend thenselves or their choices (more often with Simon than with the other two.) When it comes to the praise, most of the singers smile politely at Randy and Paula and give their thanks. However, when Simon gives praise they beam, bounce, jump in the air and are generally beside themselves. They understand that Simon does not give praise lightly and when they get it, it truly is a sign that it is well deserved and something to be remembered. Simon is not the most popular judge by any means, but I believe he is the one to please and when the singers realize they have, they seem to feel it is more meaningful. Is this respect or just relief? Who knows but it is obvious they are excited about praise from Simon than from Paula or Randy.
So, what about this years contestants? We started with the top twelve, and I definitely had a few favorites and a few that I was not crazy about , right from the start.
After each performance I always have my opinion about itand try to guess how the judges feel. I am not a professional singer, record producer or music executive but I do know what is on or off key, if the song sounds comfortable or strained, whether they have 'played to' the audience or the band, etc. And I make my opinions based on these and other factors. I figure I can't be far off....right? Wrong! I am always surprised as I listen to the judges who have criticized someone the week before for being bland or boring now praising someone who I thought have done the same thing. I would have voted off one contestant several times by now if I had been the judge (so I guess thats why I am here and not there)
I always find the first couple weeks easy to choose people that I would eliminate given the chance. At the end of all of the performances I try to decide logically who will be eliminated the next night. Lucky for me I am just your typical North American (even if I AM from Canada...eh?) and I am usually bang on when it comes to the bottom three.
So here is everything you probably didn't really care if you knew or not, about my choices.
Ramiele Malubay...Big voice in a little package. Can be very good but for me is inconsistent. Pitchy
Jason Castro..... Nice voice. Safe singer so far. Sounds good on the sentimental, soft songs. Lack experience on stage and becomes a bit corny sometimes with his movements to compensate for his discomfort in certain songs
Syesha Mercado... Nice voice but pitchy and inconsistent. Certain songs she does awesome others are all over the place.
Chikezie.....Very nice voice...didn't deserve to go home last week. He was courageous in his choice of songs and stretched himself to be different. Poor song choice last week got him booted.
Brooke White.....Nice, clear voice. Lovely sound...sometimes pitchy but oh so safe and boring for me.
Michael Johns...In my opinion the weakest singer of all the contestants. However, he can sing Queen. Bohemian Rhapsody and We are the Champions were awesome. Everything else pretty much has been pitchy, inconsistent, off key, generally all over the place. Good song choice last week kept him on.
Carly Smithson...awesome voice, clear, strong. Her pitch is usually dead on. Her emotion and intonation of her songs are sincere and evident. One of the best singers here.
Kristy Lee Cook...fairly consistent but not a strong singer. Nice voice but plays it too safe. The only time she was original she got slammed for it (I thought it was awesome) and she went back to safe. If she doesn't up her game she will be gone soon.
David Archuleta....Awesome voice for a 17 year old. As one article put it , 'cute as a basket full of kittens'. He started full of confidence and strong but the last couple weeks he seemed a little unsure of himself. He has shown he has what it takes to go far but unless he can show some of that confidence again his performances suffer. Would like to see him in the top three at the end.
David Cook.....Rock singer...strong, awesome voice. Consistent and makes good song choices. He could go all the way.
Ok so here is where I go out on the limb a bit :)
The top three will be David Archuleta, David Cook and Carly Smithson
The final two will be David Cook and Carly Smithson
The winner will be David Cook
Now, let see if the rest of America gets it right :) |
| Benefits of Karaoke |
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Yup you heard that right...there are actually benefits to singing and karaoke now makes these all possible in a fun, entertaining, social , interactive way.
We have all watched, over the last twenty or so years, as karaoke's popularity has grown into the phenomenon that it has become. Starting as a social activity in Japan, it has grown to the point that it is popular in most countries around the world.
From this social event, it soon became thought of as 'a joke'. Between the fact that it was originally more popular in a country whose English sounded different than our own and the fact that it was usually taken on by those who were too drunk to have sung in puplic otherwise, karaoke became the butt of many jokes.
Over the years as karaoke's popularity grew, people of every nationality have discovered the enjoyment and the benefits (www.karaokecraze.com/benefitsmedical.php) associated with singing. The fact that it is done in public simply adds to the excitement. People are participating every day in singing and karaoke as a form of socialization, fun and even a source of relaxation. It is a medical fact that singing releases a hormone known as endorphins into our blood stream.
Ever think about the fact that singing makes you feel good? Ever wonder why singing is recommended during times of fear or during times of sadness? Ever see a grumpy person singing?
As the years have flown by, with millions of people taking on karaoke as their new interest and pastime, we have watched as it has gone from 'a drunk man's sport' to something done at a higher level. Oh sure, we still find people engaging in karaoke while inebriated, challenging one another the drunker they become. They often defend this action by saying that this is what karaoke is, or that there is NO WAY that they would get up otherwise. (Not because of fear of singing but because they fear ridicule for having participated in the first place) They feel that if they get up and sing drunk out of their minds they can 'pass it off' as a 'mistake', use it as an excuse, because they were drunk.
It is my belief that they secretly have wanted to get up and sing before but fear the ridicule from their misinformed, unsupportive or intolerant friends and this is the way they can end up where they actually want to be.
Now there will be some out there, that as they read this will deny, that this is the case. That they actually HATE karaoke.
My question to those people would be... why? Is it that they hate music? I seriously doubt this is the case. (Who could hate music? It is the most pure form of sound.)
Is it because they have been told that they are not good singers themselves and have become jaded and so critical of others? (I have seen this happen far too often and EVERYONE has the right to sing for their own enjoyment,without criticism. That's like telling someone not to be happy.)
Is it because they are not tolerant enough to listen to someone else's expression of their enjoyment for a couple minutes? (I think this is probably the most likely case)
If you have ever watched and listened carefully to someone who's singing abilities are less than steller, or to someone who singing differently that we have thought of it before (www.karaokecraze.com/benefitsamazingexamples.php) and seen the smiles on their faces after they have finished, or the enthusiasm in which they present the song, it may change how you view their efforts.
Some people that have fewer manners and weaker social skills, perhaps find it necessary to belittle and embarrass these people for their efforts. Is this their attempt at bullying...making themselves feel better because they don't have the strength to get up and enjoy themselves in an unpretentious way?
I watched a youtube clip the other day called 'antikaraoke'. I giggled my way through it, not because of the singing efforts but because it appeared to me that the two fellows that were performing were having the time of their lives while singing karaoke which they were professing to be against. The applause and hoots afterwards I am sure, felt good and were very encouraging and I would bet that they were up on stage sometime shortly after that, enjoying themselves, again.
When I told my son (who occassionally will do karaoke with his friends in private) that I had finished several pages on the benefits of karaoke he giggled and said, "Sure, Mom...benefits....hahaha." But after he read the pages, said, "Really! I didn't know half that stuff...Cool!" I think if more people knew of all the benefits and ways that singing and karaoke are used in our society they may even decide to try it for themselves.
Most clubs now have regular participants who are far more serious about singing than was once thought of. Most don't drink to excess if they are singing and are accepting of others, new or within their karaoke community. They have been there! They know it is harder than it looks. They understand how nerve wracking it is but also how exciting. We support those that try and admonish those who are impolite to others (I mean after all...why would they come to a karaoke bar to drink if they were not prepared to hear ALL singers?) We cannot all be as perfect as they obviously are. (Cough! Cough!...actually most who do the criticizing are those that are not brave enough to get up and sing themselves.)
I have yet to see someone who is brave enough to get up and sing in one of these clubs, that did not venture up again. It just feels too darn good not to. Between the thrill of performing in front of a crowd and the applause and acceptance afterwards, the good feeling and smiles last a lot longer than the shaking of their hands as they turn the pages to find their next song.
Stay Tuned...............Sharon |
| Karaoke Humor |
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I was thinking about nicknames the other day...in particular karaoke nicknames...how we get them, if we keep them and the variety.
As we hear the Karaoke host or hostess call someone up by some cool nickname, we often smile and wonder how they came upon the handle that they now go by when they are singing karaoke.
Sometimes we come by these nicknames because of who we are or by what we do. Sometimes they rhyme with our given names or come from our appearance. Regardless of how we came by our individual nicknames for singing karaoke, there is often a story behind that name.
I can remember some twenty odd years back when I just started singing karaoke (wow! has it really been that long?). Boy, was I nervous. I must have sat there for about a month watching and enjoying everyone else singing karaoke before I actually got up enough nerve to venture up. I waited until almost closing time on a quiet night and the place had cleared a bit before I put my song in. I was scared but excited and managed to pull off my first attempt at singing karaoke with only a small nervous error or two.
After I had been singing karaoke for about a month or so, my confidence was improving although I was still nervous when I went up.
When I got nervous I had this little habit of flipping my wrist around the microphone cord which would loop the cord while I was singing karaoke. When I was finished my song I had managed to accumulate several knots in the cord. Singing karaoke was a serious business after all and I am always one to try my best.
A month or so later I was sitting with friends one evening, singing karaoke on this particular night as usual, when I heard from behind me, the host say into the microphone, "Well, I wonder who we have up next?"
As my back was to him , I paused and listened, and heard him called back, "Well, I see that it is not Sharon."
I smiled, as I thought he was teasing me, knowing I was anxious to get up but I let it pass without turning and continued chatting and listening to my friends.
Again I hear him say, "It's not Sharon."
Thinking this was getting a little old now, I ignored it and focussed once again on my friends as I waited to hear someone else singing karaoke.
For the third time I hear him call out, " I said, it's (K)NOT Sharon."
Wondering why he was being so persistent, I turned around and called back, " Then who the heck IS IT?"
Amid the gales of laughter from the audience, I realized that he had actually just given me a nickname for singing karaoke, and I sheepishly scurried up as the laughter continued.
Of course, just as a 'crowd pleaser' I had to loop a few knots for them as I was singing my song.
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