Archives for May 2009

American Idol, Top 4

5 May 2009 by

Now they say that tonight’s episode of “American Idol” is rock and roll night, but I’m hoping that there will be a broad interpretation of what constitutes “rock” because I’m not really much of a rock and roll fan and therefore would be very grateful if the contestants have a chance to branch out of the rock thang a little bit. However, to the AI folks’ credit, they’ve pulled in Slash as this week’s mentor, and he promises that “it’s gonna be a really good time.”

With each contestant singing two songs a piece, I reckon it will.

Adam Lambert – “Whole Lotta Love” – Y’all, I’m sure that people who know something about this kind of music would tell me that Adam’s performance was brilliant, but for me it was like fingernails on a chalkboard. There’s something about the tone of his voice that sort of makes my teeth hurt. Or maybe I just have dental issues. But regardless, this was not even a little bit enjoyable for me. Others seemed to like it, though, and I am delighted for them.

Allison Iraheta – “Cry, Baby” – I thought the verses felt a little jumbled and muddy, but the choruses were stronger. The biggest problem was that the song was boring. It didn’t give her a chance to show off her personality, and at this point in the game, we need to see that from her. Also: STOP ARGUING WITH SIMON.

Kris Allen and Danny Gokey – “Renegade” – A cappella beginning? Harmony? Duet? Band dropping out mid-way through with vocals backed only by drums? Why, it’s a perfect song! And even if it was a little uneven during the solo parts, it was great fun indeed. I wonder if Danny will let me borrow that necklace?

Kris Allen – “Come Together” – Honestly, I thought Kris might disappear in this song because it’s SO big, but in the end he held his own. And he actually made me like a Beatles song, which is nothing short of remarkable. Kris knows his strengths so well, and he found ways to play to those strengths in the middle of a genre that’s not really him at all. I liked it a lot.

[As we’re listening to the judges, I can’t help but wonder if the judges have made up their minds in terms of who they want in the finale and if they’re constructing their comments accordingly. I’m not trying to be all cynical, mind you, but what Kris did was WAY better than what Allison did, and he was even way outside his comfort zone, thankyouverymuch.]

[Bless his heart.]

Danny Gokey – “Dream On” – The first part was really engaging (and surprising, at that), but the end was a little rough around the edges. It was a bold choice for sure, and it should be enough to get him to the final three.

Allison Iraheta and Adam Lambert – “Slow Ride” – They sounded good together, but at this stage in the show I was so outdone that my reaction was pretty much along the lines of Um, whatever.

Now. A brief rant.

The judges kept telling Danny and Kris that they know rock and roll isn’t what they do, but WHY PICK THAT THEME WHEN YOU KNOW THAT TWO OUT OF YOUR FOUR CONTESTANTS DON’T STEP ANYWHERE NEAR THAT GENRE AND SEMI-FINALS ARE A WEEK AWAY? Plus, with every other theme week, contestants could modify the songs to fit the genre they prefer (for example: disco week), but tonight everyone was LOCKED IN to the rock deal. I’m not so sure that’s entirely fair when you’re heading into semi-final week; let these people do what they do best by giving them some flexibility within the genre.

Also: what’s up with Adam getting to sing first and last?

Another also: what’s up with the reference to the “two seasoned rock stars” at the end? The “rock god” and “rock goddess” getting to close the show? Simon saying that Adam and Allison’s duet may give Allison “a chance to stay in the show”? And Simon not asserting who was the better of two with Adam and Allison after he totally threw Kris under the bus after his duet with Danny?

Fishy.

Honestly, I’m so outdone right now that I’m going to quit typing so that I can vote for Kris and Danny about 100 times a piece. A HUNDRED TIMES.

/end rant

What did y’all think?

If you’d like to add your own AI post to the Mr. Linky, please leave the permalink to your specific post and not your general blog URL.

Filed Under: TV Is My Friend

A Perfectly Random List Of Items I Believe You Will Enjoy

4 May 2009 by

In the midst of all the Shred-type unpleasantness in my neck of the woods, I thought I would take a few minutes to focus on some products that I’ve recently tried and loved. As an added bonus, these things do not cause my muscles to spasm uncontrollably, so basically, you know, SCORE.

And I apologize in advance for another post that’s numbered. But this is a busy week, which means that numbering is my friend.

I do hope you understand.

1. So a couple of weeks ago when I was catching up on “The Hills” (I wish I could take back the first part of this sentence, but I cannot because it is true. Please don’t judge me.), I kept seeing commercials for a certain type of mascara. And since I am forever on a quest for the best inexpensive mascara in the universe, I knew that I had to try the new mascara when it was time to restock the make-up bag.

Last week I bought the mascara, which is called Cover Girl Exact Eyelights. I adore it. The coverage is great, it doesn’t clump, and it stays on all day long. Plus, I think the fact that it’s tinted (to compliment your eye color) as opposed to a straight-on Joan Jett black (as far as I know, Joan Jett has never had a signature mascara color, but I’m trying to be descriptive, you understand) makes it great for spring and summer.

Don’t ask me why I feel that mascara should be less heavy in the spring and summer. I have no idea, honestly. It’s just a gut cosmetic-related feeling.

By the way and FYI: Exact Eyelights is on sale right now at The CVS.

2. Here’s another new product that I adore: L’Oreal Infallible lip gloss in Petal. I got it as part of a Buy One, Get One Free deal at The Walgreens, and it’s my new favorite thing in the world. It doesn’t cake or flake off, and it doesn’t taste weird, either (I have Definite Issues when lip products come anywhere close to having a flavor).

3. I am a girl who loves me some slippers. Sister gave me a pair of UGGs about four years ago, and I have worn them within an inch of their ever-livin’ life. But in the summertime, the UGGs are too warm for me, so I end up wearing flipflops around the house and treating them like make-believe house shoes. However, it’s just not the same. Flipflops don’t have any of the smushy goodness of the UGGs.

Well.

This past weekend my friend Melanie gave me a pair of these slippers, and OH SWEET MERCY AT THE SUMMERTIME COMFORT. You get the coziness of the UGG with the functionality of the flipflop. They are a kicky delight.

4. And speaking of the flipflop – I am currently on a quest for the perfect black flipflop. I prefer a wedge and/or platform, and I was a huge fan of the SODA black flipflop until the only place I could find them was on websites that look like they were created in MS-DOS back in 1992.

So do any of y’all have any flipflop suggestions? I definitely don’t want to spend a bunch of money, but you should probably know that I like a little height on my flipflop heel because I find that when I wear a two-inch (or more) flipflop heel to the pool I am often mistaken for Heidi Klum.

That last sentence is totally true except for the fact that I have never been mistaken for Heidi Klum in my whole life ever.

But anyway, a nice heel on my flipflop makes me feel a little sassier, and if I’m going to have to sit at a pool all day long with other mamas who are cute and, you know, FIT, then I’ll take my sassy where I can find it, thankyouverymuch. Because I’ll tell you right now that the poolside sassiness is not going to come from anywhere other than my feet.

Unless you count my mascara and my lip gloss. And maybe if I wear my new slippers.

The end.

Filed Under: Rambling

Hello, Haphazard

3 May 2009 by

1) I didn’t blog about “The Office” Thursday night because I watched the Compassion bloggers on Mogulus instead. When I finally saw “The Office” it was after 11, and I think we all know that my brain is not terribly operational at that hour. And then Friday I went out of town for the weekend and I just got home and it seems sort of silly to do an “Office” post at this late stage in the game.

But I will say this: Meredith? And her dress? SWEET MERCY.

Also, Michael busting through that sign with the question mark on it pretty much made my week.

2) I have a giveaway coming up Wednesday, and while I can’t tell you exactly what it is yet, I can tell you that it involves a whole lot of Amy Grant goodness.

I KNOW!

3) Please keep the Compassion bloggers in your prayers. They’re all home safe and sound now, but this week will be rough as they try to straighten out their sleep schedules AND as they figure out what their “new normal” is going to be.

4) After Day 2 of “30 Day Shred” I seriously could not walk without making a spectacle of myself. Last Wednesday afternoon Alex and I were walking into Target, and when I tried to speed up a little bit so we could get out of the way of traffic, my knees buckled. Twice. But after Day 3, I really did start to feel sort of normal again.

However, I am sad to report that I have not lost 40 pounds in the last six days, so CLEARLY THE ENTIRE REGIMEN IS FLAWED.

Filed Under: Rambling
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