No Idol, no Cubbies...what's a girl to do?

This is a weird Tuesday. Idol is over, so there's nothing to vote for and critique this evening. The Cubs are blacked out in my area, so I can't watch the game. Granted, this isn't such a bad thing considering they have only won 6 games all month. However, I think it is ludicrous that Cincinnati, Atlanta, and St. Louis are considered Memphis' "local" teams. Since when is a city that is 6 hours away local? I can understand blacking out games if you live an hour away from a city and could technically hop in your car at a moment's notice to attend (i.e. blacking out Milwaukee games if you live in Chicago). In my opinion, this is just another dumb move by Major League Baseball that further alienates fans in a sport that probably ranks third in popularity right now behind the NFL and NBA (and maybe even NASCAR, as much as it pains me to say it). If true blue fans like me are willing to shell out the big bucks for the MLB Extra Innings package, we should get to watch our team whenever possible. OK, I will get off my soapbox now. Please keep the Chicago Cubs in your thoughts and prayers as they need all the help they can get.

America, you make me proud

I am so happy that the citizens of our wonderful nation chose wisely and voted in favor of Taylor Hicks as our new American Idol! There is nothing more American that dancing to the beat of your own drummer and beating overwhelming odds in order to accomplish your dream. Best of luck to the Silver Fox in his recording career. You can definitely count me in as a member of the Soul Patrol! :) Today's music industry lacks distinctive voices and styles, so in my opinion, we need an artist with the infectious personality of Taylor Hicks to make listening to the radio fun again. Can you imagine what his first video is going to look like? I'm smiling just thinking about it.

Now can I get an encore, do you want more?

This is it, Idol fans-the finale. Sorry I didn't write last week, but I think we all knew that Elliott would be the one to go (to quote Whitney, "it's not right, but it's okay"). Tonight, Katharine and Taylor recycled 2 songs and added a new one to the mix. Personally, I thought Kat performed her songs worse than she did previously on recent broadcasts ("Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" in particular). The judges' rave reviews of her "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" seemed rehearsed and I am STILL NOT impressed. Her last song, "My Destiny", was absolute drivel. My sister said it sounded like something you would hear at a county fair beauty pageant and I can't think of a better description. Taylor, on the other hand, rocked the house once again. I think he chose wisely by picking songs he had not sung in awhile. His "Living For The City" was awesome and I thought "Levon" was also very good. I think Randy was just trying to create some suspense by acting like Taylor didn't perform the second song that well (whatever-America isn't fooled). Finally, Taylor did a great job with the lame song he was given, "Do I Make You Proud". I don't know who writes this stuff for the finale but they should not quit their day job. Anyway, Simon said that Taylor's performance should make him the next American Idol. I sure hope he's right because I can't stomach a McPheever victory. So far, I have voted 20 times and there's still plenty of time left. Pick up those phones and call now: 1-866-436-5702 or 1-866-436-5704 or 1-866-436-5706. Thank you for your support. :) SOUL PATROL! SOUL PATROL! SOUL PATROL!

We can't go on together with suspicious minds...

America, you got it wrong. Chris should NOT have been the one voted off tonight. That dubious honor should have gone to Katharine. I am shocked and disappointed. However, I am glad that Taylor and Elliott were in the top 2 because they really deserved it. Chris will thrive and survive, but no thanks to those of you who didn't vote (or wasted your vote on that off-key, lyric-forgetting fashion violation).

On an unrelated note, please think positive thoughts for the Cubbies. They have lost 8 in a row and are in danger of being the team that gives up the home run that makes Bonds tie and/or go ahead of the Babe. I'm afraid to watch... Anyway, keep your fingers crossed that the Cubs can at least pull out a W when I am at Wrigley Field this Sunday. GO CUBS GO! LET'S GET SOME RUNS!

Elvis rocks!

Tonight's Idol was awesome! Taylor and Elliott performed the heck out of their numbers on Elvis theme night. Taylor sang "Jailhouse Rock" and it was entertaining and very fitting. However, Mr. Hicks really brought down the house with his soulful version of "In the Ghetto." Chris did a nice job with "Suspicious Minds", but I found his adaptation of "A Little Less Conversation" to be a little boring. But Chris gets props for saying he was trying to be "true to Elvis." Elliott probably had his best night ever by doing his own take on "If I Can Dream" as well as a stellar rendition of "Trouble." Finally, Katharine really had an off night which could signal the end of the road for her (sob, sob, sniff, sniff). How you can forget the words to a medley of "Hound Dog" and "All Shook Up" is beyond me. Facing away from the camera did not fool the audience nor the judges, sweetie. If she would have been singing "Total Eclipse of the Heart" (turn around bright eyes, turn around...) maybe that move would have worked. Anyway, Katharine ended with "Can't Help Falling In Love" which she butchered. That is one of my favorite songs and it was a screechy mess. Fox, I have the McPheever and the only prescription is more Advil. Ouch! Hopefully America gets it right and votes her off this week. Let's hear it for the boys-you did Elvis proud!

Beale Street Music Fest 2006

I was going to write a lengthy entry about how cool Music Fest was this past weekend, but my friend Carol already wrote a stellar recap. Check out her blog: http://cvarano.blogspot.com

All I can add is that Huey Lewis and the News totally ROCK! I have wanted to see them live since about 1985 and it was worth the wait. If you have an opportunity, definitely check them out. And don't forget to tune in to American Idol tomorrow night as the Fab Four will be singing Elvis songs. "Don't be cruel to a heart that's true..."

Soul Patrol!

I absolutely adore Taylor Hicks. No matter what Simon says, I think he is a great entertainer. Can you imagine what would happen if Taylor and I got together and had a child? That poor thing would be the most hyperactive kid on the planet! Anyway, if you did not watch Idol tonight, you missed one heck of a show. Each contestant had to perform 1 song from the year they were born and 1 song that is currently on the Billboard Charts. Taylor sang "Play That Funky Music" (go white boy, go!) and "Something" by the Beatles (because one of their albums is somehow currently #6). The first performance was spazzy but highly enjoyable. The second was breathtaking and I must admit gave me kind of a crush on the man-child.

The rest of the contestants were pretty good, but their performances were a little uneven. I felt like one of their songs was great but the other was just OK. Elliott sang "On Broadway" (nice but not earth-shattering) and "Home", which earns bonus points with me since it's a Michael Buble' song. Paris sang "Kiss" (it's hard to beat Prince's version) and "Be Without You" by Mary J. (which I thought was right up her alley). Katharine and Chris (or as I like to call them the judges' pets) each kind of bombed one of their songs, so it will be interesting to see who ends up in the bottom three tomorrow night. Stay tuned...