American Idol Turns the Corner

I have always felt that one of the major problems with American Idol is that at the end of the day, it is a singing competition. There is no emphasis placed on what kind of music these contestants are able to create.

This (IMHO) has led to a plethora of albums by pop singers who look good, sound good, but end up releasing what is for the most part, a bunch of innocuous albums

But as I began watching the show this season (in order to tag my protest video against them) I began to notice that this year the series seems to have had some of the most original sounding contestants that they have ever had. I think a lot of this is due to the fact that Simon Cowell is no longer part of the series. His barometer of good has always been very vanilla and with his exit, has been the exit of so much of the shows cruelty too.

But the real surprise this week though is that three contestants on American Idol (where allowed to) perform  their own original songs as part of the competition.

We only got to hear a few bars of these songs (We only got to hear a few bars of the cover songs too, so it's not like there is any bias going on with this), so there is no way to know if these songs are as good as the hits that the other contestants are singing but the genie has been let out of the bottle.

American Idol has finally acknowledged a little thing called song writing

Who knows, they might even start to acknowledge that it's important to the health and long life of music in our popular culture.

Will there be more original songs this season?

I will be curious to see.

Because let's face it. As much as I have despised this show and found it to be denigrating to musicians, A.I. has an enormous impact on the general public. I have always thought that what the music industry and America needs is an American Idol style show that concentrates on finding artists that can not only create a great performance but can CREATE great new music.

American Idol is still not that show yet. But this is a step in the right direction.
Now they just need to stop their discriminating practices and allow the mature artists a chance at "The Dream" too.

UPDATE 03/16/11 : I continue to be impressed with the new direction that the show is taking. The cruelty  (and musical narrow mindedness) of the Simon Cowell era really has gone out the window. That's not to say that there isn't criticism. But instead it is professional and constructive and kindly given. Diversity and uniqueness, is being valued over cookie cutter pop singers. This show is no longer about who will be last man standing. It's about using the opportunity to showcase what you can do. Before it was a chore to watch this show (so I could tag my video), Now it's a pleasure to watch it......They still need to take away the age restriction though.

Bruce Springsteen and the Decemberists - Episode 49

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORDWBNZipvo&w=560&h=349]



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A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Grammys

A Funny Thing happened on the way to the Grammy’s this year.

Two very BIG upsets occurred.

Arcade Fire won album of the year for their rock concept album “The
Suburbs” beating out chart toppers like Lady Gaga.

But even more amazing was the win by Jazz musician Esperanza Spalding in
the best new artist category, beating out pop machines like Justin Bieber.
On Twitter you had people asking “Who are the Suburbs? (No that wasn’t a
misprint, they really said that). And how could they beat Lady Gaga when
they haven’t had a radio hit”?

Already I can hear people in the media saying that the Grammy’s are out of
touch letting a Jazz musician that most people have never heard of, win
over a pop star that everyone has heard of.

And as a voting member of the Grammy’s I say screw em! This has been a
long time coming.

I grew up hating the Grammy's but loving the Oscars.
To me the Grammy's seemed to give awards based solely on sales. It always
felt like nothing more than a popularity contest.  Unlike the Oscars which
truly seemed to make an effort to honor artistic achievement over Box
office receipts. American Pie may have made a lot of money but you didn’t
see it get a best picture nomination. This is because box office doesn’t
necessarily always equal great cinema.

For the most part we don’t bat an eye when a movie that most of the
general public hasn’t seen gets nominated for or wins best picture (how
many people reading this have seen The King’s Speech yet?).  In fact for
most of us the reaction is “I have never seen this movie, but it must be
pretty good if it got nominated or won best picture”.

So why isn’t the reaction the same when it comes to music? Why has there
been so much internet outrage by people who are upset that a music artist
they have never heard of wins over an artist that everyone has heard of.
Why isn’t the reaction; “Well maybe because they are really good”.

I became a member because sometimes the only way to affect change is from
the inside and I have been encouraging indie artists to become voting
members ever since.

Little by little, more and more indie artists are becoming Grammy members
and voting. I knew it was only a matter of time before we might start
seeing things like this. But to be honest, I thought it would take a lot
longer for something like this to happen. But it did.

I am really proud of my fellow voting members for making this happen.  But
I guess it's is going to take a while for the general public to realize
that sales don't always equal quality when it comes to music.

TJR 2011 Grammy Round up

It's the 53rd annual Grammy Awards and time for my annual Grammy Round up. If you've never read this from me before.....I stopped caring who wins these things a long time ago. The only thing I care about (and comment on) now is the live performances and the live performances only.

1 Christina Aguilara, Jennifer Hudson, Florence Welch Yolanda Adams, & Martina McBride

Up first is an all star tribute to Aretha Franklin

The one that I am most curious to hear is Florence Welch since I mostly know her for fronting an art rock band. and this is not her normal element. She does a great job and so do all the other ladies (of course I would have been surprised if any of them didn't do well).

Basically this performance features top singers in Pop, Rock, Country, Gospel and R&B.

It was cool of LL Cool J to also acknowledge and name the band in the opening introductions too.

Good opening

2 Lady Gaga

Either she's doing a real good vocal impersonation of Madonna or they've figured out how to auto tune singers now to sound like her. At one point she hits the mic with her hat and you don't hear the mic pop, but later near the end of the song, the same thing happens again and you do hear the mic pop - So who knows, she may be lip synching all of it. It's obvious that there are pre-recorded multiple audio backing vocal tracks being played along with the performance. - As for the song, This is my first listen and it is better than anything else I've heard from her, but it does sound at times a lot like Madonna's "Respect Yourself".

3 Miranda Lambert

First time hearing this song. It's a nice song and a really nice performance. I love the band on this one. I wonder is the record sounds like this?

4 Muse

Right Away this band sounds great. This is my first time hearing this song too (you can tell I don't listen to too much mainstream radio). I like the song too. Based on this one song, I am curious to hear more. This is a great performance but they really don't need the dancers for this performance at all though.

I also wish that presenter Lenny Kravitz and announced the song.

5 Bruno Mars, B.O.B. and Jaenelle Monae

I like the B.O.B album of course and thought it was a good example of mainstream music doing something good. I have heard some Bruno Mars on the radio and really couldn't stomache what I heard.....So how come he is so awesome during his portion of the performance? Maybe I need to give his music another listen. I know less about Jaenelle Monae, but she is equally awesome.I am surprised to realize that this performance (so far tonight) is my favorite of the night. I loved this. And NO Lip synching going on this performance at all......that's for sure.

6 Justin Bieber and Usher

OK, I am ready to start hating LOL: The beginning has him singing solo with acoustic guitar. It's nice to hear him sing without any studio tweaking (IE: auto tune, pitch correction, etc). The song says nothing though. The lyrics are Baby, baby, baby, mine, mine, mine, Yeah, yeah, yeah and gone, gone, gone. Then he's joined by Will Smith's kid (you know he will have an album out soon now) with a song called Never say Never. The song isn't all that bad. I might like it more after a few more listens.
Now it's Usher's turn. This is the second time I have seen him live (the first time was on a previous Grammy telecast. I was impressed with him the last time, but this time his performance is all flash and nothing else. At the end of his performance you can hear them turn on his mic and suddenly you can hear him breathing, I guess they turned it on thinking he might say something (he doesn't).

Mumford and Sons, The Avett Brothers. and Bob Dylan

You know before this even starts that there will be no lip synching. First thing I notice is that the guitar player with Mumford and Sons is not only singing and playing guitar but he's also playing the Effing Bass Drum too (awesome)!

At one point they all look at each other and realize where they are and suddenly really start enjoying themselves. Great performance.

Loved the Avett Brothers too, playing with reckless abandon but never losing their control

So far this is my 2nd favorite performance.

Then everyone joins them with Bob Dylan for Maggie's Farm and it becomes a jam session. Everyone plays well. Bob's voice is incomprehensible. Watching the audience reaction you can tell that JLo just doesn't get this (Bob Dylan wouldn't have made it to Hollywood week).

Lady Antebellum

Good job opening with a cover of the Teddy Pendergrass song, enjoyed the 2nd half too (which I will assume is their own stuff). I enjoyed there performance at last year telecast too. The country (and rock) performers never lip synch (just the pop stars it seems).

Cee Lo Green and Gwyneth Paltrow

Loved the muppets and I start loving this performance right away. Yes, he's paying homage to Elton's 70's performance on the muppet show. Yes the muppets are lip synching (LOL) but not Cee Lo and certainly not Gwyneth Paltrow. Love the song too.

Another Favorite performance

Katy Perry

Haven't liked anything I have heard of her on the radio, but she is doing a good job while she is sitting on the swing (a Pop star who isn't lip synching, imagine that). Then comes the dance section and she still doesn't lip synch. First time hearing this and I think that maybe with a few more listens I might start to enjoy these songs. Good job Katy you have changed my opinion of you.

John Mayer, Norah Jones and Keith Urban

Wow! great cover of the Dolly Parton song. If this recording is for sale I will buy it! Two guys on guitar and a female singer. This is brilliant and a great example of substance over flash.

Another favorite performance

Eminem, Rhianna, Dr Dre joined by Skylar Gray, and Adam Levine

Amazing! Rhianna bucks her own trends and doesn't lip synch! They bury her vocals though as much as possible to try and hide that she really can't sing. Eminem is riveting though (but he shouldn't wear his pants on the ground). Don't know who the girl is who sings during the second part though (but she's really good). And there is a real band backing all of this and they are great too!

Mick Jagger

Mick does a great job of paying tribute to Solomon Burke. In this American Idol world he's the one performer who can run around the stage, like a teenager and doesn't need auto tune (or pre-recorded tracks) during his performance.....He also wouldn't have made it to Hollywood week (along with Bob Dylan)

Another favorite performance

Barbara Striesand

What? You didn't think she wouldn't be good? This is Barbara Striesand. I am the farthest thing from a Striesand fan (trust me on this), but the woman is one of the greatest female vocalists ever.

Rhianna and Drake

First time hearing this song. Even though Drake is speaking the intro it feels like he is lip synching. Rhianna can suddenly sing so I guess she must be too, Then she moves the mic from her mouth and yet you can still hear her voice and that clinches it.

Arcade Fire

I am not a fan of these guys (yet) but they can rock.

The light show is bit overkill though doncha' think?  They don't need the bike riders either.

Arcade Fire (again)

After it's all over Arcade Fire comes out for another song and gives another great performance, made even greater by the absence of an overkill light show (and the bikes).

*******************

So that's it. Those where the live performances. This is why I watch the show. I may not like every performance, but there are always plenty a great and unique performances to make it worthwhile.

I have been a voting member for a number of years now, and I appreciate what the Grammy's does during the rest of the year to help with music education and music advocacy. If you are an independent artist you should consider joining and becoming a voting member. All the details are at Grammy.com

Social Distortion & The Old 97's - Episode 48

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