The Voice – they are all winners but I am voting for Cassadee Pope (and she won!)

December 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment
VoiceBlogImage

The Voice is a terrific show and as Season Three marched on these final three singers, Cassadee, Nicholas David, and Terry McDermott were voted through over and over. The judges didn't nit-pick (as much) as in Season Two and the show was always entertaining (especially watching a recording to skip commercials.) I think most of the singers that the judges "turned around for" during the audition/selection process could have made it; there are so many people "praying twice" out there, singing … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Music, Musical Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment

Carrie Underwood to star in remake of “Sound of Music”

November 30, 2012 By 2 Comments
underwood-soundofmusic-role

  Although nothing should surprise me anymore, I was fairly amused when I read this news on Facebook today. CNN Reports: Raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens and Carrie Underwood as Maria? On Friday, NBC announced its plans to air a live broadcast of “The Sound of Music,” starring Underwood as Maria, based on the original musical. The three-hour telecast is expected to air sometime during the 2013 holiday season. “Speaking for everyone at NBC, we couldn't be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adult Faith Formation, Music, Musical, Popular Culture Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Susan Boyle’s best yet: “Standing Ovation: the greatest songs from the stage” CD

November 23, 2012 By 4 Comments
92ec5b9a4fe2c4a2abe2aefe446bdadc

    In 2009 I wrote a blog post "What should Susan Boyle sing next?" I said in part: Some may think a Disney soundtrack should be Susan's first release, but I think she could sing"Send in the Clowns" that so many famous artists have voiced before: Judy Collins, Barbra Streisand, Shirley Bassey. "Send in the Clowns" was created for the British actress Glynis Johns (bn. 1923) who played Desiree in Sondheim's 1973 "A Little Night Music" based on Ingmar Bergman's 1955 film, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Adult Faith Formation, Grace, Music, Musical, Popular Culture, Theater 4 Comments

Ear Worms: the sound track in my head

October 24, 2012 By 2 Comments
worm-walk

Do tunes every get stuck in your ears? I call sticky tunes ear worms. Here are the worms traveling through air, time, and the culture right now that are pleasing to my ear. What are your ear worms?   Hum (A Prius for Everyone) (Do you know who sings this?) Well, it's a nice idea. I'd like to think everyone could afford a Prius. But they are giving away this tune for free and it's stuck in my head via a Prius worm  Firework Katy Perry What a great song from the pop … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Analysis, Media analysis, Media Literacy/Media Mindfulness, Music, On Faith and Media Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Searching for Sugar Man

August 30, 2012 By 4 Comments
Searching-for-Sugar-Man-poster

    Music is the language of the soul and no one can ever know what a song means to another person never mind a nation. In  1967 a young Detroit man named Sixto Rodriguez recorded a single that led to an album in 1970, “Cold Fact”.  This son of Mexican immigrants, who came to the U.S. in the 1920s, had the soul of a poet who “took the agony and pain of life and transformed it.” After another album in 1971 the label dropped Rodriguez due to low … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Film History, Film Reviews, Grace, Music, Philosophy, Popular Culture, Spirituality and Media, story Tagged With: , , , , , , , , 4 Comments

American Idol Winner 2012 – A Prayer for Jessica

May 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Jessica Sanchez had me when she channelled Whitney Houston in  "I will always love you". If you look at the uneven album records of the 17 American Idol winners and runner-ups only eight first place winners have released an album - though Carrie underwood and Kelly Clarkson have done well- there is one Oscar winner among the runner-ups and many of these have fared much better than first place winners. (Daughtry should have won - and I don't even like rock.) I think Jessica is amazing. Phillips … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Music, On Faith and Media Tagged With: , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment

The Voice 2012 – who will win? Jermaine Paul gets my vote!

May 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment

What I love about "The Voice" - the blind auditions. What I don't like about "The Voice"  - The judges, especially Christina, turned snarky this season. The first season was so kind and nurturing to the singers. It takes such courage for them to perform as they do. I loved Katrina but she didn't make it. If you watch the performances of the final four, however, they were amazing. I love Chris Mann for singing "Ave Maria". But to me, Jermaine Paul stands out over and above. See what you think. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Media analysis, Music, Popular Culture Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment

American Idol’s Jessica Sanchez: when the whole world held its breath

March 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

If you ever doubt the power of music to transcend daily life, listen to Jessica Sanchez's rendition of  "And I Will Always Love You". Jessica channels Whitney and when she pauses just before she belts out "And I-I-I will always love you" I think the whole world held its breath. I did. I don't think I have EVER seen Randy Jackson so moved. Jennifer Lopez says, "God blesss you" and Steve Tyler tells Jessica: you just made 40 million people cry. Dolly Parton's little song ... Maybe "American Idol" … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Music, TV reviews and notes, Uncategorized, YouTube Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment

American Idol: Go Crystal!

May 21, 2010 By 2 Comments

Crystal Bowersox has my vote to win American Idol 2010. She's got a wonderful, unique talent, and lots of heart and I could listen to her all day long. Lee Dewyze is very good, too, though he's not as consistent or at Crystal's level - yet. Their duet singing the Oscar-winning "Falling Slowly" from the film ONCE, singled them out as the finalists and I just loved it. One of my favorite songs of recent years. I wasn't happy with American Idol this year; the singers really struggled and the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Media analysis, Music, TV reviews and notes Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

What’s wrong with American Idol

May 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

First, what's right with American Idol this season: they discovered Crystal Bowersox. The ONCE duet last night was marvelous. What's wrong? There is supposed to be a way to answer this question on the American Idol website; I tried to register so I could post but it's really complicated so here is my answer: What's wrong with American Idol? Let me count the ways. Low voltage talent, insipid judging by people with limited vocabularies, two of whom who seem bored and ready to bolt; the show is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Media analysis, Music, TV reviews and notes Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment