This was not a good weekend for young starlets. Lindsay Lohan was arrested on a DUI and found with cocaine in her car, and then passed out at a club less than 48 hours later. Mischa Barton was rushed to the hospital after mixing prescription medication with alcohol (or illegal mushrooms, depending on who you believe). The latest photos of Nicole Ritchie show that she is back to wasting away. And, lest we forget, Paris Hilton is heading to jail and Britney Spears has popped out two children in the last couple of years and still manages to find time to do non-stop club hopping, even after a stint in rehab.
Which brings me to today's Person of the Day -- Christina Aguilera. For awhile there it seemed like Xtina was the problem child, what with songs like "Dirrrty" and her penchant for wearing chaps and other revealing clothing. But whaddaya know? Ms. A is riding high, while her contemporaries are scraping the bottom of the barrel.
While her most recent album "Back to Basics" has not been the bona fide success her earlier "Stripped" was, Christina has still had several hit singles ("Ain't No Other Man," "Hurt," and "Candyman") and found time to set off on a very successful national tour. I saw the lady perform at Madison Square Garden in NYC a couple of months ago, and she puts as much energy into her live performance as Lindsay and Mischa do while getting their drink-on on a Saturday (or, let's face it, Monday) night. This is the second time I have seen Christina in concert, and I must say she puts on one of the best shows of anyone I've seen.
Christina seems to have found true happiness in her life, courtesy of husband Jordan Bratman, and that support seems to have provided her with a grounding force that these other girls are apparently lacking. I'm not just talking about her more ladylike apparel -- I loved Christina when she was dirrrrrty, and I love her now that she is cleeeeeean. She just seems relaxed and happy with who she is, and that is a pleasure to see.
Who would have thought Christina would end up being the good role model?
Congrats, Christina, on being today's Idol Thoughts Person of the Day.
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Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Person of the Day: Christina Aguilera
Friday, May 25, 2007
Person of the Day: Ryan Seacrest
Sure, he has the ability to be the most annoying man on the planet, but he's also better at what he does than nearly anyone else in the business, and for that reason American Idol host Ryan Seacrest is today's Idol Thoughts Person of the Day.
It is easy to take Ryan's skills for granted -- after all, what does he really do besides make unfunny jokes to and about Simon and introduce the contestants? It is how easy he makes it look, though, that testifies the strongest to Ryan's abilities.
Ryan is responsible for hosting a live show, which means he has to juggle performances, judges' comments, clip packages, musical guests, and much more. He does so without breaking a sweat -- in fact, he makes it look easy. He keeps the show moving at a brisk clip, he rarely stumbles over his words, and he always appears relaxed and as though he is having fun. Sure, sometimes he is like that annoying brother you want to punch in the face, but be honest -- can you imagine American Idol without him?
All of these things that he does may not seem that special -- unless you've watched one of the 15 other reality television shows on the air. No one can do what Ryan does with such ease. Not Tom Bergeron or especially Samantha Harris (hate her!) on Dancing with the Stars or Cat Deeley on So You Think You Can Dance or Brooke Burke on Rock Star; in fact, only Jeff Probst on Survivor, which is not live, comes even close to rivaling him when it comes to hosting skills.
And consider what Ryan's day is like -- he hosts a radio show in the morning and America's Top 40 on the weekends; he works for and hosts E! News, and then, for 5 months of the year, he records voice-overs, interviews people on the street, and hosts the show. And lest we forget he's Larry King's sub on CNN and is Dick Clark's replacement on the New Year's show. He is, literally, the busiest man in show business.
So, while Jordin basks in being the new American Idol, and Simon gets the spotlight for his always incisive commentary, today I salute Ryan Seacrest, a very worthy Idol Thoughts Person of the Day.
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Thursday, May 24, 2007
Person of the Day: Jordin Sparks
Yes, the announcement of her win may have felt a little anticlimactic, but that doesn't do anything to take away from the significance of her win -- Jordin Sparks is the new American Idol, and she's also the Idol Thoughts Person of the Day.
From the moment I saw Jordin's initial audition in front of Simon, Randy, and Paula, I knew she was going to go far in this competition, although, truth be told, I'm not sure I could have guessed that she would take the crown. I kind of worried that she might go the way of Lisa Tucker -- strong start, clearly lots of talent, but simply too young to be able to handle the demands of the competition. Boy was I wrong! Not only did she not peter out -- she got better and better as the competition went on!
Her semifinal peformances were strong ("Gimme One Reason," "Reflection," "Heartbreaker"), but she was very much in the shadows of Melinda and LaKisha throughout the first few weeks of the competition. In fact she stayed there until her remarkable Top 11 performance of "I Who Have Nothing." Fiercely dramatic and incredibly well sung, that performance launched her to the front of the pack, where she stayed for the rest of the competition. Week after week her triumphs were plentiful ("On a Clear Day," "You'll Never Walk Alone," "Broken Wing," "To Love Somebody," "This is My Now") and even her setbacks, which were minimal, were not trainwrecks, but rather interesting risks gone slightly awry ("Hey Baby," "Livin' on a Prayer"). Melinda and LaKisha may have been the soul of this competition, and Blake and Chris brought the cute hipness, but Jordin's youthful enthusiasm and transcendent voice make her a very worthy victor.
Like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood before her, Jordin's appeal is broad enough that she should find tons of success. It is easy to see her scoring hits on pop, Adult Contemporary, or country radio, and I have no doubt that she will sell millions and millions of albums.
Congratulations Jordin on being this year's American Idol -- and today's Idol Thoughts Person of the Day!
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Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Person of the Day: Blake Lewis
Idol Thoughts Person of the Day is a new daily feature that identifies one person I am currently diggin'. This could be anyone -- it could be a singer, actor, politician or none of the above, but it will be someone who has done something noteworthy, someone I have fond memories of, or simply someone that I like and want to write about.
Tomorrow's person of the day is going to be the next American Idol, so I thought it would be nice to honor the gentleman who will likely finish this season as the runner-up -- Mr. Blake Lewis.
Blake has managed to do something that very few contestants over the years have been able to do -- infuse some genuine excitement and originality into the competition. Soul singers and girls who can belt high have been plentiful on the show, and while I (and the audience) loves the kind of magic a wailin' girl like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, or Jordin Sparks can provide, the breath of fresh air that Blake has brought to the competition will not soon be forgotten. There has never been a contestant quite like him.
There's been lots of talk about how Blake's voice "isn't good," which simply isn't true. As his performances of "Somewhere Only We Know," "I Need to Know," and "She Will Be Loved" have proven, the boy can sing, and he can probably sing better than 90% of the male artists currently played on the radio. No, he doesn't have the dynamically thrilling voice of Jordin, but he is a solid singer, nonetheless, and when put next to current hitmakers like Adam Levine (from Maroon 5) or Robin Thicke, he can certainly hold his own.
And it's not just the beatboxing that makes Blake unique -- to call him a one-trick pony is to diminish what he really brings to his performances. It is, rather, the way he attacks a song from a musically adventurous perspective, using beatboxing, his voice, and his slick little dance moves to fully perform a song. He has taken more risks than any contestant who has ever appeared on the show. And, despite the fact that he was clearly vocally outclassed when he got to the Top 4 by LaKisha, Melinda, and Jordin, he never gave up, finding new and interesting (if not always entirely successful) ways to show who he is as an artist.
American Idol is a pretty conservative show -- most of the songs the contestants sing were written, in fact, decades before most of these kids were born. The fact that Blake was able to take songs like "Keep Me Hangin' On," "Time of the Season," and "You Give Love a Bad Name" and make them feel current and relevant in today's market is astounding, and, if not worthy of the American Idol title, definitely worthy of kudos.
And certainly worthy of being today's Idol Thoughts Person of the Day.
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Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Person of the Day: Melinda Doolittle
Idol Thoughts Person of the Day is a new daily feature that identifies one person I am currently diggin'. This could be anyone -- it could be a singer, actor, politician or none of the above, but it will be someone who has done something noteworthy, someone I have fond memories of, or simply someone that I like and want to write about.
When I see the promos for tonight's finale of American Idol something seems a little bit off. Watching images of Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis flash across the screen, it seems like the kids have been left alone at home, and I'm left with the question -- where's mama?
Of course by "mama" I mean Melinda Doolittle, whose absence will be deeply felt this evening, and for that reason she is today's Idol Thoughts Person of the Day.
Don't get me wrong, I'm excited about the Jordin/Blake sing-out this evening, but it just won't seem like the finale without Melinda there. From the moment she stepped foot in her first audition it seemed like a given that Melinda would be a finalist -- in fact, until she was eliminated last week, I never really conceptualized a finale without her in it. She was the class and the substance of this competition, giving it some heft when it seemed like Sanjaya's hair or Haley's legs would force it to lose credibility for good.
I'm not sure if a Jordin/Melinda finale would be any more competitive or entertaining than a Jordin/Blake finale, but I would be lying if I said it didn't feel a little empty without Ms. Mindy Doo there.
So, in honor of "Since You Been Gone," "My Funny Valentine," "I'm a Woman," "Home," "As Long As He Needs Me," "I've Got Rhythym," "Have a Nice Day," "Nutbush City Limits" and more, Melinda Doolittle is the Idol Thoughts Person of the Day. I'll miss you tonight, Melinda, but I look forward to seeing you on tomorrow's show, and for years and years to come.
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Monday, May 21, 2007
Idol Thoughts Inaugural Person of the Day: Simon Cowell
Idol Thoughts Person of the Day is a new daily feature that identifies one person I am currently diggin'. This could be anyone -- it could be a singer, actor, politician or none of the above, but it will be someone who has done something noteworthy, someone I have fond memories of, or simply someone that I like and want to write about.
The inaugural Person of the Day is...Simon Cowell!
There are a number of reasons Simon could qualify as Idol Thoughts Person of the Day (the fact that American Idol would be far less entertaining without him is obviously at the top of that list), but he grabs the title today for not being afraid to speak his mind. No, I'm not talking about his brutally honest critiques of the American Idol contestants, I am talking about his inability to censor himself when he is talking about the show in the media. Most entertainers who have millions and millions of dollars riding on them hedge their bets when speaking candidly about their projects -- not Simon! He says what he wants, when he wants to, and you gotta love him for that.
Thanks to USA Today, here are a few examples of thoughts he has expressed in the past week:
On Melinda Doolittle's elimination last week:
"When you allow the public to choose, you've got to live and die by the vote. I didn't agree with the vote. More people should have dialed for Melinda -- it's as simple as that. It just didn't seem fair to me, so I felt for her. There's nothing much you can say... 'You sang better than anybody else, you gave it 100% every week, you're not in the final.' It didn't seem right."
On host Ryan Seacrest and apparently on-camera tension:
"It's rather like having a silly little dog who likes to jump up on your lap, and you just swat the dog off. And occasionally in a very stern voice you have to say 'No.' That's how I deal with Ryan."
On Sanjaya Malakar:
"I like crazy. I would never want to be in a situation where we cast the 12 (finalists) as just normal people, because I think it would be boring. The (judging) panel is wacky enough, and therefore I think the contestants should be as strange as well. I quite like that, and I thought the whole Sanjaya thing was hysterical. I'm happy now because he's out. I don't think I'd be happy if he was in the finals... Looking back, I thought it was quite amusing."
On Taylor Hicks:
"I was talking to someone about this the other day and I was saying, 'Don't confuse talent with popularity because actually this is a talent show.' No one listened to me at the time, and they all laughed at me last year. I remember saying that he's not the best person we've had enter. He's just the most popular."
On Kelly Clarkson and her upcoming album:
"Kelly is not a puppet; she does not like to be told what to do. She... made it absolutely clear that she wanted to steer the musical direction on this record. You (the record company) just gotta say, 'You know what? This girl has given us millions and millions of sales.' You've got to give her that opportunity... Because Kelly will be here for 30 years. She has one of the best pop voices in the world right now."
How can you not love honesty like that? Congrats, Simon, on being the first Idol Thoughts Person of the Day!
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