So we get stuck with the weakest boy finalists ever and a bunch of girl clones.  I don’t know what the producers strategy was, but it’s NOT working.  I will be watching NCIS on Tuesday nights and may or may not watch the girls on Wednesday.  The results show – no way.

The good news is I can get caught up on my reading.

Tribute to Lilly Scott (one of the most gifted singers and musicians ever on Idol)

Ryan Bingham is one guy who is really gaining a following with his Americana charged tunes.  I would love to see AI contestants Crystal Bowersox, Casey James or Lilly Scott give him a try,

Country Roads

The Weary Kind

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEkDOtg0h38

Dylan’s Hard Rain

From Ryan’s website -

Ryan Bingham has spent most of his life on the road, first on the rough-and-tumble rodeo circuit, then moving from town to town on the equally volatile roadhouse musical circuit. Those travels have given him plenty of material to draw from – and plenty of reason to stop for a moment to dig in his heels and take a stand.

That’s exactly what the Texas-bred troubadour does on his second Lost Highway album, Roadhouse Sun, a hardscrabble collection that’s at once unblinkingly personal and unapologetically political – the latter a new and bracingly vivid addition to Bingham’s palette. The expanded consciousness bursts to the surface of several cuts on Roadhouse Sun – nowhere more movingly than on “Dylan’s Hard Rain”, a stark look into the darker corners of an America in which the storm its namesake sang of has blown through.

“With all that’s happened politically and economically in the last couple of years, I felt like there was a lot to say,” explains the 28-year-old singer-songwriter. “As a young person, I felt like it was time to get involved, to write something that wasn’t just about Saturday nights in bars. And as far as Dylan? Things that were happening back then are still happening. Things keep repeating themselves.”

Making the Album

“God is gracious.”   (from Baby Names of Ireland)

Her performance of Think was just OK.

But then she hit

THE NOTE

.

So ONE note will get Siobham into the Top 12.  Congratulations!

Lee Dewyze? He is the only male that can sing and command the stage. The other frontrunners are all overhyped and in any high school talent contest across the country. Casey James – great guitar player but can’t sing. Aaron Kelly – good for a 16 year old but so what.

I’m guessing that AI really stacked the deck in favor of the girls this year. At this point in the competition, at least 7 girls are still in the running. I can’t wait for the top 12 so we don’t have to keep listening to all boy nights.

The 2 girls I was looking forward to were Didi Benami and Crystal Bowersox.. Neither were at the top of their game. I think Crystal really made a mistake playing the harmonica. At this stage of the contest, she needs to wow us with her voice. She should have saved the harmonica for a breakout moment after she makes the Top 12. She used her magic bullet when she didn’t need to. Lilly Scott is my pick for dark horse and a couple of good performances could move her up the leader board.

If there are any great performances, I will probably post about them. Otherwise, I will start posting when we reach the Top 12.

So first thing to do is yo decide what your style is and stick to it (unless its not working). Decide what style of music you want to sing and then each week, arrange your song to match your style. If you can find an arrangement you like that matches your style, go for it.

Next, I would identify my go to singers – singer/songwriters are best. Here’s my list of 10 of the most influential female singers of the last 50 years.  Obviously I picked my favorites.  I’m especially looking for great singers that did a great cover of another artist’s work.

Who else should be on the list?

Melody Gardot singing the Beatles “Because” at Abbey Road Studio. Melody makes it her own with a hauntingly beautiful version.

Mary Chapin Carpenter sings Down at the Twist and Shout - a great song for country week.

Mary Travers (of Peter, Paul, and Mary) sings The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. Which is better – Mary or Roberta?

Joni Mitchell sings You Turn Me On, I’m a Radio. Prolific singer/songwriter.

Amy Grant covers Joni Mitchell’s Big Yellow Taxi.

Nina Simone – Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood. This is how you make a song your own.

Rickie Lee Jones – Chuck E’s in Love. If a contestant ever pulls this off, it means guaranteed top 5.

Aretha Franklin cover of Bridge Over Troubled Waters.

Eva Cassidy covers Ain’t No Sunshine.

Judy Collins cover of Leonard Cohen’s Suzanne (I believe Judy was in her 60′s when this was recorded, amazing)

So girls, sing the melody and sing in tune.  Forget about the runs and the trills and just sing a beautiful song with real emotion.

Josiah Leming – Cover of James Taylor’s Fire and Rain

Bobby Blue Bland – Stormy Monday Blues

Noisettes Every Now And Then Live Abbey Road Oct 2009

Columbia Records has confirmed that Caitlin Lynn and Will Snyder have split as a duo. Future plans for the two are uncertain as of now.  Headline Country

I don’t like this at all.  Apparently, winning gets an album produced, but not necessarily released.  I hope  Caitlin and Will get rights to the album so they can at least release it on their web site and make a few bucks.  Address in the Stars should have been a top 10 hit, but Columbia put out a cheap looking  video and killed the song.  A better video might have pushed that song to the top.

I sure hope they stay together as I don’t think either will make it on their own.  Not that both are not extremely talented, but this is a case where the sum of the parts is greater than the parts.

C&W put out some good stuff, so here’s to you Caitlin and Will.

Address in the Stars

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-Fk9BFJahQ]

Dark Horse

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoUCBbMAcJE]

Even Now

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TK2hPzz8Wek]

I’m guessing Sony will probably remove these soon.  Enjoy while you can.

Address in the Stars

Joey and Rory were the other powerhouse to make their name in the first season.  Their 1st single, Cheater Cheater, made it to #30 on the Country Chart.  Another great song from their 1st album is Play The Song.

Joey and Rory – Play The Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1mVDZ_LclCc

Kate and Kacey Coppola also signed with a major label, but I’m withholding judgement.  So far, they haven’t shown me anything that makes me think they will make it in Nashville.

This year, there is only one duo, Ryan and Avalon, that  has the potential to be great – in an Allison Krauss and Robert Plant kind of way.  Ryan is a story teller who currently plays the church circuit.  Avalon is kind of new age country.  She just signed with BMI in June, so I wonder why she is still in the contest.  Together they are fantastic – but I don’t think either will make it as a single.

Avalon Peacock recently signed with BMI at the organization’s Nashville offices. In addition to being a contestant on the new season of CMT’s Can You Duet, Avalon is the daughter of legendary avant-garde musician Annette Peacock.   BMI

Ryan and Avalon – Tennessee Waltz

Their Myspace page has a nice version of I Can’t Stop Loving You.

CMT’s Can You Duet? web site has their performance of Shine.   A little flat at times, but a pretty good performance for only being together for 2 weeks.

Can You Duet? is on Saturdays at 8pm ET.

She also did a great rendition of Ain’t No Sunsshine (Sorry but it’s a short cut)