32 posts tagged “culture”

Well, first of all I'm not overwhelmed by tonights performances by either contestant. Second of all, I'm somewhat deflated and saddened by Cook's lack of charisma tonight. I'm not bashing him by any means. The guy has got a major distraction in his life with his Brother being deathly ill and I actually feared that he might quit the show if his Brother took a turn for the worse. The fact that he remained on the show and was able to perform is commendable in itself. His distraction has been obvious to me the last few weeks and was really obvious after he returned from his homecoming trip. To compound all of this, funds were raised to bring his Brother back to L.A. for the finale tonight but, sadly, he was too ill to make the trip. I cannot even imagine how tortured this young man must be and I fully commend him for sticking it out and I also totally understand that his heart wasn't fully in it tonight.

All this being said I think David Cook took his unofficial concession tonight and I hope he sleeps very well (he will need it because win or lose, both the finalists will be BOMBARDED with media following the results show tomorrow night).

On the other side of the coin toss, Archie was definitely 'in it to win it' tonight. I think booting his Dad from backstage has actually allowed David A to be himself and show some personality in his song choices and his performances. He did better tonight that I think he has any other night. Without that oppression from his Father he really seemed to shine. The judges all seemed to favor Archie. Simon called it a "knockout".

I voted 440 times for David Cook tonight and stopped (there's still a while so I'll probably vote a bit more) but I don't think it matters at this point. Either way, they are both winners and will do very well.

We will see how it all comes down tomorrow night.

I loved seeing my man Ruben on the show tonight. He was here just a week ago filming a documentary with his childhood voice coach for his upcoming role in a Broadway musical. While he was here he also visited some local elementary schools and actually singing with them! Ruben is an awesome guy!

Good luck to both David's tomorrow night!

I found out yesterday that you don't have to be a baker to make a great pie. I'm not a baker and have never claimed to be a baker. Yes, I made a cheesecake from scratch once and it was pretty good. I've made cakes from scratch that tasted about the same as cake made from a box mix. I love to cook but baking has just never been my thing.

But I wanted to make a blueberry pie so I decided to give it a try. I was browsing pie recipes on www.allrecipes.com and came across a simple recipe for a blueberry pie. I didn't want some big complicated recipe that called for cornstarch or other weird ingredients. I wanted it to be very simple and fresh. When I told Hailey we were going to make a pie her stock answer was "I don't like pie." I just asked her to give it a try. The recipe just called for blueberries but I wanted to include some strawberries too. I modified the recipe just a bit too. As the filling was cooking I noticed Hailey taking some interest in it. We both had a taste with a little spoon. "Yumm!" she said. It was ridiculously good!

So here's my recipe for,

88gurl's berry delicious pie for dummies!

Ingredients:

2 pre-made pie crusts (I couldn't find a top crust so I just bought 2 bottoms)

1 small bag of frozen blueberries (thawed, drained and rinsed)

1 small container of fresh blueberries (or even better, go out and pick them yourself!)

About 10 fresh strawberries, sliced

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Preparation:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

While you are preparing the berries bake the bottom crust for about 10 minutes and set it out to cool

 

Melt the butter in a dutch oven

Stir in the flour, sugar and cinnamon

Add the sliced strawberries and drained blueberries (not the fresh ones)

Simmer this over medium heat until the liquid has reduced and the strawberries have softened and let it cool a bit

 

Line the bottom crust with some fresh blueberries

 

Pour the cooked pie filling over the fresh blueberries, place the top crust (I had a bit of trouble with this) stick a fork in it a few times to release the steam.

Return to the oven to bake for another 10 minutes or so unti the top crust is brown and the filling is bubbly.

Voila! You have made pie!

 

It ain't too pretty. I cracked the top crust taking it out of the oven because the aluminum tin was kind of flimsy but who cares? I'm sure it wouldn't win any pie baking contests but who cares? It was absolutely delicious with the fresh blueberries still firm enough to 'pop' in your mouth! And adding in the strawberries and the cinnamon (which the original recipe didn't call for) really made it delicious!

We were trying to keep the calories down so we served it with whipped cream (from a can) instead of ice cream.

Hailey couldn't even wait until after dinner! She begged me to hurry up and cut it and gobbled up a whole piece! SCORE!

 

So all you people out there who think you have to be some kind of master baker snob to make a delicious pie, think again! This was super delicious, not too difficult and one of the best things I've ever made! With ready-made pie crust and some fresh ingredients anybody can make a berry delicious pie!

ps: next time we're gonna try apple!

Well, there's not much to say about last nights results show. I loved seeing Maroon 5 and Bo (love, love, love that guy).

I got the go-homer correct but I'm definitely not jumping for joy. I am content and assured that America got it right. Jason will be fine and I wouldn't at all be surprised to see him involved in a revival or reggae music. He seemed relieved to be going home. So, I guess we won't get to see him interact with his hometown but that's OK. Sayesha deserved the 3rd spot.

Good luck to Jason and also the top 3 when they go on their wild homecoming tours. We've experienced it here in Alabama and it is crazy! I hope a lot of the tours will be streamed online so we can all watch. Of course, the homecoming tours will be re-capped on the show next week.

Onward and forward, only 2 more weeks!

 

Well, Haiiley and I are both home sick today....yucky but at least it gave me some time to finally upload my videos. For anyone that has ever been involved in high school band you know that spring is concert season. Each band class performs songs that they performed at district and state competitions back in the winter. This is concert music and if you don't like concert music you probably won't like these videos!

The Jazz band is not a class but more like a club. They meet to rehearse before school every morning. This year's jazz band was the smallest I've ever seen but they still played very well. The band director is a trumpet player and he often jams with them. The Jazz band plays while everyone is still arriving and while the different band classes are changing out from the stage to their seats.

I had to be careful not to film too many videos so my memory card wouldn't get full before Hailey's band performed.

 

The percussionists performed one song with the percussion director standing in for someone who wasn't able to make it to the concert.

 

Next the Freshman band performed and they did very well. One of their songs featured a girl singing. I didn't video them though.

Next was the Symphonic band which is the band Hailey is 2nd 1st chair clarinet. They played five songs but I only filmed 3 of them and during the last song my memory card got full so it cut off the last couple of minutes (these are in no particular order as I can't remember the order).

 

 

 

After the symphonic band played the honor band performed. Honor band is mostly Seniors and I hope that Hailey makes it for next year.

As I was sitting in that auditorium I began to realize that my times there were limited. I've been coming there since Hailey's first middle school concert when she was in the 6th grade. How time flies!

Hailey met up with her friend Cami (who she's been playing in band with since 6th grade). Cami missed most of this school year due to illness but now she's back. She had to play with the Freshman band but at least she's still performing.

 

Here's a picture of them together before a middle school concert when they were in the 7th grade.

 

Well I was basically underwhelmed by the performances tonight. I figured with them having the huge catalogue of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame that everybody would dig deep and blow us away. Well, they didn't.

David Cook - He's my guy but, although he was good on both of his songs I was slightly disappointed. I was expecting something of the same caliber as Billie Jean. Well, maybe that level of greatness isn't meant to be achieved more than once while on the show. I'm not sure. I voted for David for a solid hour and did not get one busy signal. I think (hope) that David C will be safe this week.

Sayesha - Wow! Who'da thought she had that kind of hottness in her? I don't care what the judges said, her performance of Proud Mary was hot, hot, hot! The second song was also great and I was really feeling for her as she broke down on stage. I think Sayesha will be in danger this week.

Jason - Man! I love Jason! I've loved him throughout but tonight I think he was very weak on the first song. Then he forgot some words on the second song. He owned up to it in his own Jason way, but still I thought his were the weakest performances of the night. I think Jason will be in danger this week.

Little David - He really stepped it up this week. He sang wonderful, showed us just a smidge of personality and appeared to be having a good time. He used his falsetto in both songs (which he hasn't done very much) and it worked, worked, worked! Archie was the class of the field tonight and will definitely be safe.

So, now to pick the go-homer. Well at this stage it gets really difficult. There's nobody left that I hate. I have my favorite but I really love them all. It's going to be hard to see any of them go.

Based strictly on performance I have to pick Jason as the go-homer; HOWEVER, like a pebble in my shoe, VFTW has Jason as their chosen one so who knows? Are they capable of saving Jason after his performances tonight? I personally would be very upset to see Sayesha go home because she gave 2 stellar performances and you can just FEEL her passion and desire to do well when she sings. On the other hand I really wanted to see Jason make the top 3 just for the hometown visit. He's somewhat of a mystery and I would like to know more about him and his life.

Both Davids' hometowns have been contacted by Idol to go ahead and plan top 3 homecoming festivities. I'm sure that all 4 hometown's are making plans because they will have a homecoming celebration regardless. Basically, this week, everyone will go home but only 3 will fly in private jets and have the Idol cameras and crew in tow AND get the opportunity to return to LA and compete for the 2 spots in the finale. Oh boy it's getting intense!

We will find out tomorrow night....get tissues!

 

Well, I was wrong yet again but, as they say, justice was served. As I stated last week when Carly was handed her walking papers, VFTW may keep people on the show for a couple of weeks longer than they should be. This is seemingly such a negligent effect on the outcome on the show that it's hardly worth mentioning; however, in these past two weeks that Brooke survived under the umbrella of VFTW two very talented people were sent home. Brooke should have gone home earlier and possibly even before Kristy, but VFTW had Kristy as their gal so you can see how the whole thing snowballs and skews the results. It's really, really lame.

So Brooke is gone as she should be. As bad as I wanted her gone I cried for her. At this point in the competition you get so personally involved and develop a feeling for all of the contestants. It's hard seeing them eliminated and it just gets harder and harder as the weeks tick by.

I'm cautiously predicting an all guy top 3 but it really depends....we will see.

This time last year the demographics were reversed. Last year the guys were dropping like flies and the top 4 landed with 3 girls and Blake. People probably thought he would naturally go home the next week but he did not. He survived until the finale and scored runner-up to Jordin. In a way Sayesha is in the cat-bird seat. She's the only girl left so does she naturally inherit Brooke's voters? Will VFTW pick her up as their new candidate? Do the guys start cancelling each other out in the same way that the girls did last year? We will see....it's getting good now! (and I'm already feeling the withdrawal....Gawd it has gone by so fast this year!)

Well tonight was Neil Diamond night and quite frankly NOBODY absolutely blew me away. At this stage in the competition I either want to get goose bumps and feel weak in the knees, get teary eyed or suddenly flushed with attraction or be moved to break out in full dance. I want to be affected by the performances!

David Cook - I liked his first song but wasn't blown away. I LOVED his second song and definitely got that weak in the knees feeling (but not as much as last week). David Cook is my guy and I think he is well on his way to winning the whole thing. I'm phone voting now and I probably got in 100 votes for David Cook tonight. That is small potatoes but I haven't even begun to power vote yet. I'm afraid that David's fans are becoming too comfortable and thinking they don't need to vote. I've seen this happen before and the results can be devastating. VOTE, VOTE, VOTE! BTW, David will be safe this week!

Jason - I can't help but be mesmerized by this guy! His smooth 'Don't worry, be happy' swagger along with his smooth voice and those georgeous blue eyes. I especially loved the way he puffed his cheeks out while Randy was judging him. So cute! I'm not sure exactly who is voting for Jason (in addition to the entire state of Texas) but he obviously has some fans out there. In polls he's ranked just beneath the two Davids. I think Jason is in danger of going home this week or at least being in the bottom 2.

Brooke - Well I didn't exactly hate Brooke this week. I really hated her first song and those weird Elvis faces she was making, but the second song I really, really liked. I can't help but admire someone who can sing while playing the piano or any instrument for that matter. Both acts require such concentration to me, having played the piano, I can't imagine trying to do both together. It would be like trying to walk and chew gum, or something like that. Anyway, I think that Brooke will be safe this week (although I could definitely be wrong).

David Archuleta - Lately I've really been noticing that there is something that is just not right with Little David. He just seems oppressed and robotic in his lack of emotion and his programmed responses. I just get the feeling that he is a very unhappy kid. He is only 17 years old. My kid is only 17 years old and I can't imagine how she would handle such pressure. Not to say that a 17 year old can't handle it, Jordin handled it just fine but her family was supportive. I just get the feeling that David's family is banking on him. That's a hell of a lot of undue pressure added to the pressure he's already under just doing this show! That is so cruel and I think it's a subtle form of child abuse. I've been noticing in the photos on AI.com and if he's not singing or smiling he seems to have this blank look (when he's listening to the judges). His smile is a flatline and his eyes look fearful yet deader than dead. He seems to say the things that his family expects him to say. He sings the songs his family wants him to sing in the style that they have formed him in. I'm tired of the cyborg, I want to see a 17 year old kid get out there and belt one out in his own style! I didn't really like either of David's songs tonight because they sounded like the same song we've heard for weeks and weeks. I wonder if he would do better if his Father weren't in the audience intimidating him? I think David will be safe this week, luckily.

Sayesha - I loved both of her songs tonight! She has a beautiful voice and is a great performer. I would rank Sayesha second to David Cook in not only their ability to sing, but their ability to perform well. Like David, Sayesha knows how to work the camera for optimum effect. Although I really liked Sayesha this week, she just cannot seem to gain 100% approval from the judges, and based upon her record number of times in the bottom I'm going to rank her there once again with Jason.  I also pick her to be going home.

We will see...results tomorrow night on FOX at 8pm CST.

I'm about 24 hours late doing this...but it's not because I was shocked or devastated by the results last night...I've just been too busy to do it....so here goes...

I really don't have much to say about last night and I'm NOT going to say that I got it wrong, because, clearly America got it wrong and there is a very specific sect of America that is to blame for the way the results went down last night...it's not people of a certain gender or nationality, it's not people from a certain state or region...it's a group of losers who hate American Idol and take sick pleasure in f*cking up the results...I'm sure everyone is wondering why Carly, clearly the most talented girl contestant left on the show, was sent home, while Brooke, an undertalented, whining, complaining blonde who can't even remember her words, was safe. I will tell you all why...

VOTE FOR THE WORST

VFTW was started by a loser guy who hated American Idol and he gained a following of losers who hate American Idol. So the VFTW head honcho picks who HE thinks is the worst person and plugs them on the site and the other loser ants vote for them. They achieved great fame and recognition last year by keeping Sanjaya on the show WAY longer than he should have been. I don't know their exact stats because it's completely unscientific and I'm not wasting my time studying a bunch of losers but I think their success amounts to MAYBE keeping someone there a couple of extra weeks at best. They had Kristy as their candidate for several weeks and once she got the boot they immediately nominated Brooke as the worst. So we will probably have to endure Brooke for a couple more weeks as we see Jason and Sayesha get their walking papers. But, you can already see that they can't and won't have an effect on the finale because that is pretty much already sealed with the 2 Davids.

I hate VFTW and I think it is very stupid but what can you do? The world is full of losers with too much time on their hands.

So we said good-bye to Carly. I thought she handled it extremely well and showed the world how much integrity she has. Brooke should take a lesson. Carly will be fine and have a wonderful career. I can SO see her headlining a band similar to Evanescense or something. Her phone was probably ringing before she could get her bags packed...

Good Luck Carly and F*ck you VFTW! And IF there is anyone out there in VOX land that is actually voting for Brooke....all I can say is you need to get your hearing and your heart checked out because they are both messed up...

Onward and forward and congrats to our Top 5: David C, David A, Sayesha, Jason and that other girl who doesn't deserve to be there....I...ummm....forget...oh I'm sorry....can I start again?

Tonight was Andrew Lloyd Webber night. I must admit that, although I've heard of most of the musicals that he's written songs for, I've seen very few of them. I knew that I would hear songs tonight that I've never heard before but I also knew that the quality of the songs would be extremely high. How the Idols measured up in quality remained to be seen.

Sayesha did awesome! I love, love, loved it! A song I'd never heard but very soon into it I was up out of my seat dancing around the room. I thought it was her best performance so far because for once she wasn't channeling an unachievable diva she was just being herself and singing a song that she knew and loved. Sayesha will be safe but could be in the bottom 3.

Jason sang wonderfully tonight! That is the best I've heard his voice and I really thought he opened up a bit. I think Jason will be safe but he will definitely be in the bottom 3.

David A is, for me, becoming a little predictable and boring. Yes, he can sing, yes he's cute, yes he's young but he seems to sing in the exact same style week after week. I'm sure that David A will be safe but I think he really needs to show some variety if he's going to make it to the finale.

Carly did a great job with Jesus Christ Superstar! I loved her outfit and her energy! I just wish she would tone down the screaming just a bit. It's really sad that she has such a tendency to do that when with the voice she has, she really doesn't have to. I think Carly will be safe but could be in danger of the bottom 3.

So 4 down and 2 to go...

Brooke was, in a word, absolutely horrible (oh wait, that's 2 words)! First of all, for lack of practice - she forgot the words. Second of all, for sheer arrogance - she asked the band to start over! As a fellow performer, Paula, after great hesitation, told Brooke in no uncertain terms you do not stop and start again, especially on live television. Brooke, in true 'I can do no wrong' form, defended herself by saying it was the first time she had forgotten her words on the show. No apologies (although she had plenty of opportunity to do so). Third of all, her song was entitled "You MUST love me!", I beg to differ!!! I DON'T like, like, like her (much less love her) and she needs to go. In retrospect, even though I really hated on Kristy, I think now that Brooke should have gone home last week instead of Kristy. When it comes down to bare-boned talent I think Kristy outweighs Brooke. Honestly though, both of them have attitude problems and think WAAAAY too much of themselves, hence dealing them their walking papers. Brooke WILL go home this week.

Lastly, and most affectionately, I hereby predict the WINNER of American Idol 2008! He is real and honest and puts on no airs whatsoever. He is humble and private, trying desperately to hide his personal pain. He is talented and creative and a true performer.....I give you, David Cook (who, by the way, will be safe this week)

 

ps: prayers going out to you and your family during this difficult time. I hope and pray that your brother makes it to the finale to see you win!

Wow! I got it totally wrong! And I'm happy to say that I'm glad I did. I truly, in my heart didn't believe that Jason or Carly or Sayesha should go home.

So the bottom 3 were, once again, all female: Kristy, Brooke and Sayesha.

Kristy went home, it was very sad but she will land on her feet. She will record a mediocre country music album and she will be LUCKY as hell if one single makes it onto the radio. The country music field is extremely competitive and there are country singer hopeful guys and gals everywhere. It will be a tough road because, although talented, the next Carrie Underwood, she is not.

With Michael Johns gone I said I was going to re-vamp my Top 5 so here it is:

 

David Cook

David Archuletta

Carly Smithson

Jason Castro

Sayesha Mercado

 

Those are in no particular order except for positions 1 and 2. I do think we will have a David V David finale. We will see...and the drama continues.