American Idol and My Obsession

I love American Idol. I do. Here's why. There are very few shows on television that our whole family can watch and find entertaining. American Idol is one of maybe three, and it's the only one in which we can participate by voting. So that's my defense against potential "couch potato" arguments that might get tossed my way.

Second, the show helps me connect with my children b/c even though we all love music, we have very different musical tastes, (or so we say). Truth be told, my kids are really uncomfortable with the idea of liking my music, (or admitting to it). But by watching this show, I become current to their music (and my kids range in age by 12 years), and they get exposed to some of my music (being done by young performers). We all like most of what we hear. I can't think of another way to connect with my children musically, that rivals this show.

Thanks largely to "AI" - short for American Idol, (she said, in her oh so savvy tone), I now see my kids listening to Bon Jovi, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Sam Cook, and Tina Turner, among many others I love. And I have opened my ears to Daughtry, Fergie, Mary J Blige, Kelly Clarkson, Jem, One Republic, and Adam Lambert, among others. (By the way, I still say Adam Lambert (on right) has the all time best vocal control AND range, I've ever heard. Listen to the "Tracks of My Tears" online and tell me I'm wrong. Weirdly, I also found Lambert extremely attractive. Go figure.)

This is a woman's season & I will make a prediction or two. A woman surely should win this year, unless they all get serious vocal chord damage. Here are some greats, and I don't use that word lightly....Lilly Scott, Lacey Brown, Paige Miles, Katelyn Epperly, Crystal Bowersox and some wacky girl named Siobhan Magnus, are all great. There are also some very good singers, who may pick up the pace in the next weeks as many in the past have.

Honestly, it sucks that there have to be 12 males and 12 females because when you compare them all, there are great women and some very good and not so good, men...as a result, many excellent females will be cast off so that some okay male singers will stay. Add that to the mercurial tween vote, which often goes to "the guy that's so hot", and we're guaranteed some poor choices coming...Oh well.

Prediction--It's way too early, but Crystal's my fav pick so far. Her photo (up on right) doesn't show it, but my other prediction is that her teeth will be whitened by the time the winner is selected. (Dear God, is it that I live in southern California? If her voice weren't so beautiful, I'd say "Stop the meth!-- or cigs or chewing tobacco"...hey, I love the woman! I'm just sayin'...)

If it doesn't go the girl's way, well, I promise to flippin' go nuts, like last year when Adam Lambert was robbed by those turned off of his uber voice and flamboyance. (No offense Kris Allen--you are a class act & you really know how to romance a girl. Kudos to you for winning graciously.)

Look folks, I know there are wars and starvation and earthquakes killing thousands of people. There are very important serious issues being debated and happening all the time, all around us. I am reminded of that every single day, as are my children. But for a few months a year, a few nights a week, we're putting all that aside, to just bond and jam and hum together. And maybe cancel each other's votes out.

Palin On Jay Leno, LA Times

Palin On Leno, and Adam Lambert

So we have yet another distortion of Gov Sarah Palin in the media, and just when we were all getting along. The LA Times reviewed the Jay Leno show which had Olympian Shawn White, Gov Palin and Adam Lambert all appearing the same night. (For the record, I'm a huge Lambert fan). The paper said that Palin and Lambert, the American Idol runner up and an openly gay male, didn't meet up afterwards as "neither camp was interested", then sniffed that it was likely due to her "strong opposition to gay marriage."

Excuse me, but were we watching the same debates in the election? I recall that she, Biden and Obama, all had the exact same position on gay marriage. All of the candidates said they believe marriage is for one man and one woman, all three oppose discrimination against gays, and all three support states using legal civil unions. Gee, what a bunch of right wing nuts they all must be.

Yes, I sometimes wish Gov Palin would use a less folksy speaking style. But that's her, and at least she's not boring. She embraces an optimistic vision of our country and our people. Gov Palin doesn't denigrate those with different views. She showed her sense of humor on the show with great delivery of fairly good material, and her relaxed, "live and let live" outlook was demonstrated again.

I can't tell if the LA Times is simply superficial in their assessments and research, or if they're intentionally distorting her record, again. But it's designed to damage Palin. And that's a shame.

Other than that, the show was a great success for me and I, being the groovy tolerant woman that I am, enjoyed seeing all the guests.

Spitfire Jeannine