My American Idol Picks

 Tonight your Head Trucker finally found the time to watch the top 24 contestants from this year's American Idol.

I'm not going to criticize anyone's singing, because having been married to a musician, I know firsthand how very much effort and preparation goes into just a single performance; and I think it's hateful to dismiss someone's work with a rude jab. For those of us who aren't professional musicians, it really all comes down to simple preference, not considered judgment, you know?

But I will tell you whom I did like. Although they all did a credible job, I wasn't too impressed with the women overall, and a few had voices I would find irritating the second time around. But Crystal Bowersox ("Long as I Can See the Light") struck me as being an earthy, soulful original, not in the cutesie cookie-cutter mold; and Paige Miles ("Walk Away") made me sit up and take notice with her powerful voice. Those two I'd like to hear more of.

I was more attracted to the men's side - gee, wonder why - and both Lee Dewyze ("Lips of an Angel") and Michael Lynche ("It's a Man's World") impressed me with their distinctive ear-candy voices. But Aaron Kelly ("My Girl") walked away with the show, in my opinion. He sounds a bit youngish, as you might expect of a 16-year-old. But OMG what a helluva voice that boy has: he sang right to my heart. I'm betting on him at least to be one of the final two, if not the winner of the whole shootin' match.

So who are you guys rooting for?

Even Canadians Have Pants on the Ground

Canadian politicians are no more dignified or high-minded than our own, it seems, as shown in this clip from the New Brunswick legislature:

 

If this doesn't make any sense to you, where have you been, son?  Here's the hilarious original that's been going around the blogosphere:

Frank Rich: La Cage aux Democrats

On account of my trip last week, I missed posting this excerpt from a great NYT op-ed by Frank Rich - go read the whole thing, he really tells it like it is. After noting the growing acceptance across the nation of gay rights, gay marriage, and even, golly, Adam Lambert, Rich says:

This rapid change has been greeted not by a backlash, but by a national shrug — just as a seemingly gay “American Idol” victory most likely would have been.

And yet the changes aren’t coming as fast as many gay Americans would like, and as our Bill of Rights would demand. Especially in Washington. Despite Barack Obama’s pledges as a candidate and president, there is no discernible movement on repealing the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy or the Defense of Marriage Act. Both seem more cruelly discriminatory by the day. . . .

Worse, Obama’s opposition to same-sex marriage is now giving cover to every hard-core opponent of gay rights, from the Miss USA contestant Carrie Prejean to the former Washington mayor Marion Barry, each of whom can claim with nominal justification to share the president’s views.

In reality, they don’t. Obama has long been, as he says, a fierce advocate for gay equality. The Windy City Times has reported that he initially endorsed legalizing same-sex marriage when running for the Illinois State Senate in 1996. The most common rationale for his current passivity is that his plate is too full. But the president has so far shown an impressive inclination both to multitask and to argue passionately for bedrock American principles when he wants to. Relegating fundamental constitutional rights to the bottom of the pile until some to-be-determined future seems like a shell game.

As [Evan] Wolfson reminds us in his book “Why Marriage Matters,” Dr. King addressed such dawdling in 1963. “For years now I have heard the word ‘Wait,’ ” King wrote. “It rings in the ear of every Negro with piercing familiarity. This ‘Wait’ has almost always meant ‘Never.’ ”

The gay civil rights movement has fewer obstacles in its path than did Dr. King’s Herculean mission to overthrow the singular legacy of slavery. That makes it all the more shameful that it has fewer courageous allies in Washington than King did. If “American Idol” can sing out for change on Fox in prime time, it ill becomes Obama, of all presidents, to remain mute in the White House.

David Mixner posted a copy of the 1996 letter on his blog a while back - signed by, you know, that guy who made all those speeches about Change We Can Believe In - ? Read it for yourself:


Mr. Obama, you want to be Lincoln, but are you just another Buchanan? Adam captures my feelings on this:

Know Thyself

Some of the all-time worst American Idol auditions (how do they even get in the front door?):











Okay, now that the laughter has subsided, there's a lesson here for all of us. The ancient Greeks believed that the first rule of wisdom was "Know thyself," and that's still a very good starting point.

How many times have we all thought we were oh-so-good at something, and given ourselves airs about it - when in reality, we were just fooling ourselves, and nobody else?

Upset Victory on American Idol

It was a close race, but at the finish line, with near 100 million votes cast, dark horse Kris Allen beat out front-runner Adam Lambert by a nose to win this year's American Idol competition. Were you disappointed?

The roommate and I were rooting for teh gay, of course: not just because of that, but also because he's got an electrifying stage presence that reminds me of Mr. Showmanship himself, the great Liberace, whom I saw in concert once. He's going to go far, very far, in show biz.

But then there is the oh-so-cute - and very, um, truckable - Kris, who is in fact a fine performer and likewise has a great career ahead, I'm sure. Did I mention how cute he is? Mmm-mmm, when he smiles that little smile . . . it does things to me. Pity he's straight.

Though actually, your Head Trucker thinks Adam could be quite a woofer too, if he'd just butch it up some - lose the eyeliner and fingernail paint, and get a decent haircut. But that's okay, he's young and having the time of his life right now, so rock on out buddy, while you can. His facial structure reminds us both here of Elvis, right down to the curling lip when he snarls out a tune. I want to hear him sing more, and scream a little less (see the video below for beautiful song).

Well, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for these boys. This summer, they and the other finalists are embarking on a 50-city tour - geez, it's great to be young and full of pep. At my age, it makes me feel waaay tired just thinking about a hell-for-leather tour like that. That's what happens to ya when you get to be an old fart.

BTW - did you know Adam is actually a redhead? Here he is singing at his high school graduation in 2000: