Category: Music Page 12 of 19

Connie plays 4 musical instruments and her daughter is a graduate of Belmont University in Nashville with a degree in Music Business and once worked for Taylor Swift. She may comment on concerts or reminisce on concerts of old.

"American Idol" 2012 judges Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, and Randy Jackson.

AmIdol2012After many years of faithfully following “American Idol,” this year, for the first time, the group performances have been as polished as those from Hollywood. One-hundred hopefuls out of over 1,000 would-be singers formed groups in Las Vegas for the February 16, 2012, program, but, this time, the contestants sang on a big stage with costumes, props, choreography and bells and whistles that we usually don’t see until Hollywood. The goal: to whittle the troupe down to forty (forty-two fortunate souls were passed on).

Changing Audience

The young singers performed songs from the fifties and sixties. This may well be because the demographic watching the show has become older and more mainstream. Other programs, like “The Voice” and “The X-Factor,” have siphoned off the younger viewers, but “American Idol” is still doing fine with middle America.

Song Selections

Every group performed a professional rendition of a song that those who are older than twenty-one would know and remember. Examples: “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?,” “Rockin’ Robin,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “The Night Has a Thousand Eyes,” “I Guess It Doesn’t Matter Any More,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?”, “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” “I Only Have Eyes for You,” “Sealed with a Kiss” and the Elvis anthem “Blue Suede Shoes.”

Standout Performers

There were some standout performers: David Leathers, who looks like an elementary school student, was outstanding. Reed Gramm, 26, from Wisconsin, who kept phoning home to talk to his mother on the last show, continued to please the judges, who were heard to mutter that he was “like Casey (Abrams).” Reed seems to be a crooner in the Michael Buble mold, but he’s better heard than seen.
The villain of the show has already been cast. He’s Richie Law, the cowboy wearing the hat and acting arrogant. Richie teamed with Jermaine Jones, a fine singer with a great voice but a bad lisp when he speaks. Both have deep bass voices like last year’s winner, Scotty McReery.
The camera consistently followed the Asian contestant Heejun Han from Flushing, New York, who has a very sweet tone to his voice, but who locked horns with the cowboy early on. Also in Heejun’s group was Neco Starr, whose lead vocals on “I Only Have Eyes for You” were great and Phil Phillips, who seems to have modeled his style on Dave Matthews.

There are too many good voices this year to start taking odds, but I was particularly impressed with 16-year-old Jessica Sanchez of California, whose group sang “Guess It Doesn’t Matter Any More” and with Joshua Ledet of Lakeview, Louisiana. The weird hair guy whose sister (Skylar) got cut is really starting to creep me out, so the less said about him, the better.

Passing of Whitney Houston on Eve of Grammys a Tragic Tale

By Connie Wilson

On February 14, 2012

In Movies, Music, Pop Culture

Whitney Houston, a tremendous talent, dies tragically at 48.

Whitney Houston possessed one of the most beautiful female voices of the past quarter century. She was the only female singer to have won a Grammy Award, an Emmy, an MTV Video award, an MTV movie award, a People’s choice award and a Billboard Music Award. She won six Grammies and earned twenty-six Grammy nominations, as well as twenty-two American music awards and thirty-eight nominations—a record.

But the Whitney Houston I saw onstage at the Moline (IL) Civic Center after her 1992 marriage to Bobby Brown seemed unprepared. She didn’t know what town she was in and didn’t seem to care. She seemed lost in a fog. That fog may have swallowed her up on February 11, 2012, as she lay in the bathtub of her room at the Beverley Hilton Hotel, where singer Ray J around 3:30 p.m discovered her, underwater and unconscious.

The call for help went out at 3:43, but help came too late. Clive Davis, who had launched her career, was trying to help Houston get her career back on track, but the damage was done. She looked weary in the last footage I saw of her, a brief interview with Houston and Jennifer Hudson.

It was too late for Whitney to undo years of damage to her body and her voice, a downward spiral that most believe began with her 1992 marriage to Bobby Brown, with whom she had a daughter, Bobby Kristina, in 1993. Some say her death was no accident. A video of her onstage singing, “Yes, Jesus Loves Me” two days prior was her final performance. The 3 prescription drugs found in her hotel room are not to be taken simultaneously. Xanax, Valium and lorazepam are all powerful anti-anxiety drugs and taking any of them in combination with alcohol would be potentially life-threatening. Did Whitney take a prescription drug by accident, lose consciousness, and sink beneath the waters of her bath by accident, thus dying by drowning? One comment that came out after the tragedy was that there were orders that Houston was not to take an unsupervised bath. (It makes one wonder how something as private as a bath can be “supervised.”) Whitney’s last album, meant to revitalize her career, did not do particularly well, but it was much better-received than her touring, which is where singers really make their money. At several of her latest shows, her voice showed seemed so ravaged by her hard living that patrons demanded their money back. This must have been a bitter pill for the woman who electrified the world with her version of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the Superbowl in Tampa and whose “The Bodyguard” album sold millions of copies. Did Houston simply give up and give in, purposely taking the pills and slipping into oblivion? If so, she left no note, and she had talked to family members within a half-hour of her death.

Whitney charted seven consecutive Number One Billboard Hot 100 Hits: “Saving All My Love for You;” “How Will I Know?” “The Greatest Love of All,” “I Wanna’ Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)”, “Didn’t We Almost Have It All?”, “So Emotional,” and “Where Do Broken Hearts Go?” Those titles parallel the sad rise and fall of this beautiful and talented singer. The female lead in “The Bodyguard” opposite Kevin Costner, she also acted in three other films, including” Waiting to Exhale” and “Sparkle” and was working with Jordan Sparks on a new project, where she would play her mother. (To be released in August).

The Grammys were retooled to include a tribute to Houston with Jennifer Hudson singing a haunting rendition of “I Will Always Love You.”

A Feb. 20^th issue of the Inquirer with unflattering photos of Houston detailed some late-night partying that had gone on in the days leading up to this year’s Grammys. Another article claimed she was broke, dependent on advances from the record company and from friends. Although there will be a surge in the sale of “I Will Always Love You,” it is the very much alive Dolly Parton, the songwriter, who will benefit, not the estate of Whitney Houston. Houston told Diane Sawyer in 2002, “The biggest devil is me. I’m either my best friend or my worst enemy.”

Tim Stop(ulos) Releases “Songs of Separation,” His New Soulful CD

By Connie Wilson

On November 3, 2011

In Local, Music, Of Local (Quad Cities') Interest, Pop Culture, Reviews

Tim Stopulos, Assumption High School (IA) & Wake Forest Musician, on tour with new album "Songs of Separation."

Tim Stop…used to be the Tim Stopulos Trio, then the Tim Stop Trio. Now, just Tim Stop (www.timstop.com) Whenever Tim plays in Chicago and I’m there, as well, I try to stop by, as when he played “Market” on Randolph Street. I wondered about band member Seville Lilly (the hat guy). Justin Hooks and Michael Tahlier are still onboard. (Justin just for the album, it seems.)

Tim’s CD back when I first wrote about him was “The Long Drive Home.” Now, he’s released a new set of “Songs of Separation,” and the universal theme should hit home for anyone who has loved and lost. The 27-year-old Davenport Assumption High School graduate puts all the emotion out there on the tracks. Therapeutic.

Most of Tim Stopulos’ new album “Songs of Separation” (released October 18th) focuses on the heartache and heartbreak that is impossible to avoid when you’re young and in love. Or old and in love. Or young and falling out of love. Or old and falling out of love.Boy meets girl. Boy dates girl. Boy and girl have a long-term relationship. Boy and girl break up to go in different directions. It’s a story as old as Adam and Eve.

The new CD out from Bettendorf’s Tim Stopulos (“Songs of Separation”) begins a favorite, a song entitled “Half A World Away.” Lyric: “You’re safe at home, you’re safe and warm, And I’m longing for one day when I find my way. I will find my place, even if it’s half a world away.” Melancholy. Minor key. One of my personal favorites on the album. Lyric: “Now I’m anxious as these thoughts inside my head begin to swirl about a history that’s only just beginning to unfurl. And I long for adaptation to an unfamiliar world.”

Coming from Stopulos in a John Mayer pop ballad vein, the songs on this new CD chronicle the age-old and familiar terrain of falling in and out of love. Influenced by such musicians as Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Ben Folds, Coldplay, Billy Joel, Radiohead (Thom Yorke) and Jeff Buckley, you can hear the Wake Forest graduate’s 22 years of piano lessons paying off in his composition and performance, and, more importantly to this writer, the lyrics are impressive, too.

The rhythms pick up on “A Little Bit Better,” the second song, which has some interesting and expert guitar work. It’s one of the most upbeat songs, despite this lyric: “It’s a different kind of alone when you’re locked and trapped inside your mind.” [Reminded me of a Sheryl Crow lyric: “I’m a stranger in my own life.”]

Third song on the CD, “Rollin’“, has the line, “I know I should leave you, but my heart won’t let me go.” Next up, “Unconditional:” “Wherever you are, I love you. Whatever you do, I always will. I hope some day you’ll find me. My love is…Wherever you are, just call my name. I’ll race across this empty state. I’d leave tonight to find you, ‘Cuz my live is unconditional. It’s unconditional.” (Wow! You’re a better man than me, Charlie Brown. I remember some break-ups that left me feeling pretty bitter; this guy’s much more forgiving.)

Next up was “Something’s Gotta’ Give,” (which, judging from the sound of young Tim’s weekend at the Iowa Hawkeye game, written up on his blog, may well be his health. Sounded like a long, crazy weekend!)

“Professional,” a song with a slightly more cynical slant about a girl who “doesn’t change for anybody” was less devoted than “Unconditional.” I liked “Professional” a lot. [Maybe I’ve grown more cynical in my old age. You think?]

“Malaga,” the 7th song, is the only one that didn’t seem to focus on the break-up of a relationship. A bit more of a “carpe diem” philosophy, expressed musically.

“Whisper in the Wind” is a melancholy melody that references the death of a young friend from cancer and wonders where she is (“Did she find God or does she wander in the wind to remind the world of a life that could’ve been but never was.”) After spending Halloween night at a local funeral home— [thankfully, not for a person cut down in their prime]—I could relate. (And, by the way, there’s no place creepier to spend Halloween night!) This song has a wistful air of melancholy, and is performed beautifully.

“After You” opens with a ticking sound. Liked it. Lyrics: “I recall she said that if I left I would go alone..she wouldn’t have the strength to follow me, and now I’m gone, so alone is what I chose to be. But I didn’t choose this life, I told her, it chose me.” That one sounds very autobiographical for a musician on the road trying to make it in the music business.

There is no mention of “Every Day” on my liner notes, but that is the last song on this impressive, original CD, “Songs of Separation.” Tim just played with Deas Vail at Legends of Notre Dame and he’s set to hit the following venues in the next few days or weeks:

11/3 – Janesville, Wisconsin, Timeout @ 9:00 P.M.

11/4 – Lindey’s, East Troy, Wisconsin @ 9:00 P.M.

11/5 – Lindey’s, East Troy, Wisconsin @ 9:30 P.M.

11/9 – Crow Valley (Country Club), Davenport, IA

11/10 – Rockit, Chicago, IL 9:00 P.M.

11/23 – Jersey Grille, Davenport, IA

Time off for the holidays, then:

1/20 – The Livery, Benton Harbor, MI

1/27 – The Redstone Room, Davenport, Iowa

Stopulos wrote all the words and music on this expertly produced CD, with help from Michael Tahlier on electric guitar, Tim Seisser on bass, Khari Parker on drums, Matt Nelson on Rhodes/organs, Justin Hooks on percussion with Packy Lundholm on “Something’s Gotta’ Give.” The artwork is by Josh Nelson and photography by Matt Wince, with production by Tim and Bob DiFazio, Engineering/editing mixing by DeFazio, vocal production by El Thornton and Justin Hooks and mastering by Danny Leake at Urban Guerillas.

Among other accolades thrown around about the handsome young singer are: “energetic, soulful, sophisticated songwriter, wonderful voice, mesmerizing stage presence” Hard to top those already-used descriptions. Let me just say: “Ditto.”

Check out his songs on YouTube. Better yet, buy a copy at www.timstop.com or Cdbaby.com. But don’t worry about his broken heart. Something tells me there’s someone out there eager to help nurse it back to health.

“Coldplay”, Sept. 23, IHeartRadio, MGM Grand, Las Vegas

By Connie Wilson

On October 14, 2011

In Music, travel

Here’s a link to the finale of the “Coldplay” set during the September 23 IHeartRadio show in Las Vegas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJKL3ilk810

“IHeartRadio” Show at MGM Grand, Las Vegas, on September 23, 2011

By Connie Wilson

On September 24, 2011

In Music, Reviews, travel

Las Vegas, Nevada, September 23, 2011 “IHeartRadio” hit the MGM Grand tonight, bringing some of the hottest live acts currently touring together in an eclectic 2-day extravaganza billed as “the biggest live concert festival in radio history” in the September 18, 2011 Las Vegas Magazine & Show-Biz Weekly article entitled “Titans of the Airwaves” by Josh Bell. As Bell phrased it, “Clear Channel is pulling out all the stops to promote its new IHeartRadio service.”

First up singing to the audience of 12,000 were the Black Eyed Peas with Will.i.am and Fergie. Noting that they first formed in 1995, were signed in 1997 and put out their first record in 1998 the energetic group said it used to perform for $20 a gig. “Now we get paid a whole lot more zeros than that. We’ve had a great career…We’ll never stop making music,” said Will.i.am. The group invited the audience to join in signing along to the theme from “Dirty Dancing” and it was the most successful sing-along request of a 3-hour concert. Biggest impressions of the group: Fergie’s shorts were cut so high and short that she might as well have worn a thong and there was a lot of energetic jumping up and down.

That level of energy made it difficult for Kelly Clarkson to compete on an equal footing. The former “American Idol” winner and singer-songwriter sang many of her hits like “Since You’ve Been Gone” and “Walk Away” but her request for an audience participation moment resulted largely in a crowd that didn’t know the words, and she finally relented and announced, “We’re not doing any more sad ballads to bring you down.” Clarkson looked slimmer than in some previous performances and sported a flattering hairstyle.

Every so often, for no more than a total of 5 minutes, it seemed, Ryan Seacrest would put in an announcing appearance, although others, such as Joe Jonas and a local DJ (Elvis Duran) carried most of the MC-ing heavy water. Another change in the night’s programming saw John Mayer drop out due to illness.

After Clarkson’s stint, Bruno Mars, who played Little Elvis in “Honeymoon in Vegas” in 1992 when he was 7 performed, and it was as though he was channeling the high-pompadoured singers of yesteryear like Fabian, Frankie Avalon and Jackie Wilson. Mars’ big hit “Just the Way You Are” was well-received, but it was astonishing how retro his look was: dark suit, white shirt, thin black tie and a pompadour that made JFK Jr’s hairdo look flat. Mars performed a bit of fancy footwork and seemed to give off a vibe that he thought he was very cool, indeed. The middle-aged lady in front of me in the nose-bleed section began waving her cell phone and pumping her arm in the air; I wanted to tell her to cool her jets. We were a long way from catching young Bruno’s eye. A song dedicated to Amy Winehouse (“I miss you. I love you.”) Seemed like blatant capitalizing on the recent death of the British songbird.

The next performer out of the box began by telling the crowd, “I think the IHeartRadio show is the most eclectic I’ve ever been in.” The introduction for Carrie Underwood, American Idol’s darling, was given by Joe Jonas, and Carrie was one of the strongest performers of the night. She danced around the stage, looked lovely, belted out her ballads, and all I could think of was how far she had come since the cow-milking segment featured on her early “American Idol” appearance. She is a polished performer now, much slimmer, and genuinely beautiful. It was now nearly 9:30 p.m. and the show had begun 2 hours earlier.

At this point, amongst the never-still throngs who were in constant motion, a stranger climbed over me and, as he passed in haste, something wet spilled on my leg. I could only hope it was beer. An announcement was made that Justin Timberlake plans to host something billed as an Old School Jam on October 1^st. It will feature Earth, Wind & Fire, Charlie Wilson and Vanilla Ice. All I could think of was that I had been under the impression, apparently mistaken, that Robert Van Winkle, 44, had melted years ago, and, having just seen Earth, Wind & Fire at Northerly Isle Pavilion (also known as Charter One Pavilion) in Chicago this summer, the band was now featuring the children of the original performers, after nearly as many years as a performing group (i.e.. 42). However, early word regarding Timberlake’s attempts to cross over to action hero in his newest sci-fi film makes his return to the music world timely.

Next up was 52-year-old Perry Farrell, generally regarded as one of the godfathers of alternative rock. The Farewell Tour that Farrell organized for his band “Jane’s Addiction” in 1991 became Lollapalooza, now a 2-day destination tour centered in Grant Park in Chicago. Tonight, Farrell announced that his performance represented “the rock and roll version of IHeartRadio.” With Dave Navarro on guitar, the set was excruciatingly loud and employed a Persian/Arabic-themed stage backdrop with much use of confetti canons. When Farrell talks to address the crowd, he sounds like a cartoon character with his high-pitched voice. It is now 10 minutes of 10 p.m.

At this point, saving the day and the concert, Coldplay emerges, singing “Rule the World.” Chris Martin actually lay down onstage at the end of the song and asked, “Is there anybody out there?” He also told a story that went Snippet of Chris Martin of “ColdPlay.” (See longer video clip on Facebook at my Profile.)like this: “We played down the street in a little club at 3 in the morning when we were starting out, just this band from Britain, and there were just 2 ladies in the place and one of them was deaf, and even she walked out. We said that one day we’d come back and play the MGM Grand. I hope you’re having a great time. And that’s all I have to say. Don’t lose all your money.” And then, almost as an after-thought, before throwing himself into energetic flailing about that seemed almost childlike in its random-ness, Martin added, “The back is the best place to see our band.” If you gave yourself over to the pulsing, exuberant experience, Coldplay was a fantastic way to go out. They exited to huge applause. Only problem was, Alicia Keys had to follow Coldplay.

Much like Kelly Clarkson, doomed to come on after the Black Eyed Peas, Alicia Keys performed admirably (and overly loudly, much like Perry Farrell), with a backdrop of white doves flying across the projection screen behind her piano. She often stood center stage, solo, to sing songs while attired in a sparkly top like every other female performer. (Sparkles are in this season). It was now 10:30 p.m. and Alicia announced her intention to play a new song, “A Place of My Own” on the Yamaha piano, saying, “It’s an incredible night, I have to say.”

Announcements were made that Lady Gaga would perform with the just-turned-60 Sting on Saturday night, along with Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez, Rascal Flatts, Nicki Minaj, Sublime with Rome, Usher, Kenny Chesney and Jay-Z. The ticket price in the nosebleed section I was in was listed as $165, but there were 9 empty seats in my row (Section C 209) and they were going for 2 to 3 times that on StubHub. Some of the seats down front were priced in the thousands online.

Coldplay and Carrie Underwood made my seat worth what I paid for it, but when the witching hour of 11:00 p.m. came and went, with only the possible appearance of Jay-Z (he was a late addition and may never have appeared, I was happy to bolt, waiting for what seemed like hours in the taxi line outside the MGM Grand.) Stay tuned for tomorrow night’s big show, which drew fans from both coasts and all areas in between. Big draws tomorrow are Lady Gaga appearing with Sting and Steven Tyler.

Paul McCartney, “Live” at Wrigley Field, Sunday, July 31, 2011

By Connie Wilson

On August 1, 2011

In Music, News, Of Local (Quad Cities') Interest, Pop Culture, Reviews

Chicago, IL, July 31, 2011 Sunday, July 31, was my son’s birthday. When he was a teenager in the ‘70s, I took him to see Paul McCartney and “Wings” at Ames’ Hilton Coliseum. Tonight, I took my daughter (age 24) to see Paul McCartney, paired with his new sidemen, who include a fierce-looking drummer with earrings and a bald head (Abe Laboriel), Paul “Wix” Wickens on keyboards, and Rusty Anderson and Brian Ray on guitar. Even with slight heels, McCartney was by far the smallest musician, physically, but the biggest talent onstage.

I first saw Paul McCartney “Live” at the San Francisco Cow Palace in 1965, and I was struck with how often he would toss his head. He and Ringo seemed to have all the moves, while George was an absolute stick-in-the-mud and John did little of the crowd-pleasing physical stuff. I next saw McCartney “Live” in concert in Ames, Iowa in the 70s, with my son in tow. It was son Scott’s 43^rd birthday this day, and he pronounced Paul to be over-the-hill, so I took his much younger sister, who will remember this concert many years from now.
It was a sultry, hot night and Sir Paul sweated through his long-sleeved blue shirt and removed his blue jacket by the time he reached the 6^th song (of 37, total). His first song was “Hello, Goodbye” and later on, Paul would relate a story about how, when playing in the Soviet Union, a man came up to him and told him, “I have learned the English language from your records. Hello. Goodbye.” After the first song, “All My Lovin’” followed, with Paul telling the eager crowd that he was “glad to be a part of the history of Wrigley Field.”

“Baby, You Can Drive My Car,” his fifth song, was a hit, with the people in the infield seats standing the entire time. Jacket removed, Paul swung in to “The Night Before” (“Treat me like you did the night before.”). A priest in the crowd held up a sign that said, “I’m a priest. I’d like to do your wedding,” a reference to the recent announcement of Paul’s intention to marry his girlfriend Nancy Shevell.

Wrigley Field Concert on Sunday, July 31, 2011.

Moving from a normal guitar to a red psychedelic one, Paul played “Let Me Roll It” (Wings) and, in a tribute to Jimi Hendrix, “Foxy Lady.” He shared with the crowd a memorable night when Jimi Hendrix asked Eric Clapton, sitting in the crowd, to come up and tune his guitar. Paul switched back to a more normal-looking guitar, declaring it to be the one he had used on “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”

“Paperback Writer:” ended with one of the guitarists showing the word “Thanx” to the enthusiastic crowd and Paul then moved to the piano to play “The Long and Winding Road.” That was followed by “1985” (Wings); “Let ‘Em In”; “Maybe I’m Amazed”; “I’ve Just Seen a Face” (Beatles); “I Will” (Beatles); “Blackbird” (Beatles); “Here Today”; “Dance Tonight”; “Mrs. Vanderbilt” (Wings); “Eleanor Rigby” (Beatles); “Something” (Beatles); “Band on the Run” (Wings); “Ob-Ladi, Ob-La Da” (Beatles); and a rocking “Back in the U.S.S.R.”

It was some time in the middle of Paul’s touching rendition of “Blackbird” that a very loud man in the upper stands began shouting (“A______”) at a person standing in front of him, and that was to the detriment of all, but motivated by the older crowd who came to hear the 69-year-old Beatle play only to have their view blocked by members of the younger generation who stood up in front of them well before the final songs.

“I’ve Got a Feeling”; “A Day in the Life;” “Give Peace a Chance” and “Let It Be” followed (ironic that 4 girls—all young—began fighting in the stands near me soon after this). Then came the pyrotechnic high point of the evening, “Live and Let Die” from the James Bond film, complete with fireworks and flash pots exploding behind the proscenium. (This was Song #30)

Paul and the band left, but were soon lured back by enthusiastic applause to sing “Hey, Jude,” “Lady Madonna,” “Day Tripping,” and “Get Back.” When that 4-song encore didn’t shut the crowd up, Paul and company played a second encore of “Yesterday,” “Helter Skelter” (Remember when it was said that playing this backward you heard “Paul is dead?” Not to mention the fact that Charles Manson will forever be associated with the title); and, finally, “Golden Slumbers/Carry that Weight.”

The concert, scheduled to start at 8:00 p.m., lasted over 3 hours and Paul McCartney, like his contemporary Mick Jagger, has not lost a step in all of his 69 years. A truly memorable concert.

Casey Abrams “Saved” by Judges on American Idol

By Connie Wilson

On March 25, 2011

In Music, Pop Culture, Reviews, Television

Casey Abrams

Fox, Thursday, March 24, 2011, 8 PM (ET) “American Idol” had one of its most dramatic nights ever when front-runner Casey Abrams received the lowest number of votes and was in danger of elimination from the show. (Surely a “WTF?” moment.) The judges stepped in to use their one “save” of the season to retain the young Joe Cocker-like musician.

Casey and Stefano were the last two standing after the other low vote getters were trotted out, one-by-one, and then rescued, one-by-one. Stefano, Thia and Casey ended up in the bottom three. The first two: not too surprising. But the shocker was Casey’s low ranking.

No less an authority than “Entertainment” magazine (March 18, 2011) selected Casey Abrams as the ultimate winner of the whole competition, saying, “Underneath that goofy facial hair and dazed demeanor, this 20-year-old California dude (born in Wilmette, IL) boasts some serious musical chops.” The author of this “Entertainment” handicapping at 3 to 1, Rob Brunner, added, “And he can really sing.” (I now feel better about my +18 out of 24 showing for the Oscars, and I’m glad I haven’t made any rash predictions for “American Idol’s” tenth season…yet.) Brunner predicted, on page 48 of the March 18, 2011 “Entertainment” in an article entitled “We Pick the Winner:” “Not I-starred-in-a-school-production-of-Carousel-last-year-sing, but actually inhabit a song, infuse it with personality and emotion and a little humor.” My daughter, a Music Business graduate, only watches the show for Casey. (She had better start voting, methinks!)

Casey was interesting from the outset, showing up with a melodica during auditions so he would have perfect pitch when he began singing. On this night, to save his life in the competition, Casey began singing “I Don’t Need No Doctor” in his characteristic funky growl. The 3 judges began waving their arms in the air after approximately 3 bars, telling Casey to stop.

“We know who you are,” said Steven Tyler, declaring that Casey’s elimination was just plain wrong. Which it was. Here’s a performer with true talent, a distinctive style, musical ability out the wazoo and America’s vast unwashed apparently tone-deaf masses kick him off?

What’s wrong with this picture! (Answer: Everything.)

Casey looked like he might pass out after the judges used their one “save” of the season to keep the bearded mop-head on the team. I assume tonight’s failure to reduce the group of eleven to ten means that 2 people will be eliminated next week. In my opinion, losing Stefano, Haley or Thia would be far less damaging to the show’s integrity than losing arguably the most talented and fearless singer in the group. He has come out and sung songs as difficult as Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and then, on Wednesday night’s show, hit the high notes on Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.” What show was the rest of America watching? You had Stefano singing with little or no emotional connection to his song and Thia actually bobbling the words a bit, and then a truly great performer stalks the stage and…what….? You voted for “the cute one”? Yikes!

After he was “saved,” there was a dramatic encounter with Casey hugging his parents and overcome with emotion at the judges’ using their one-and-only save so early in the season. He could be heard saying, “I can’t breathe.” I feared he would pass out.

The rest of the show preceding Casey’s near-elimination consisted of Ryan Seacrest announcing that 30 million viewers had voted, Sugarland and Jennifer Hudson performing, Marc Antony assisting the contestants with the use of an in-ear headphone so that they can better hear themselves when they perform. Another high point was the appearance of Stevie Wonder to play “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” and wish Steven Tyler a happy 63^rd birthday. Hulk Hogan also put in an appearance, (which seemed to thrill James Durbin more than anyone.)

Jennifer Lopez offered the startled audience and the overcome-with-emotion Casey this advice as the emotional show ended on a dramatic note: “Let people feel your soul. You deserve to be here.”

Jennifer Hudson to Play “Winnie” Mandela

By Connie Wilson

On February 23, 2011

In Movies, Music, Politics, Pop Culture

Jennifer Hudson singing the National Anthem in Denver at Invesco Field during the DNC.

Ever since Jennifer Hudson rocketed to stardom as an Academy Award winner for the 2006 film “Dreamgirls” (after having been cut from “American Idol” in 2004), she has embarked on a life journey that is no less remarkable than that of the fictional women of “Dreamgirls.”

If you tried to write a play with a heroine who is multi-talented but scorned by a nationwide viewing audience, but then comes back loud and proud, to win an Oscar, only to have her personal life reach epically tragic proportions when her mother, brother and nephew are all killed in Chicago by her sister’s estranged husband….well, let’s just say that people would say it is too far out to be true.

WEIGHT LOSS

If that weren’t enough drama, the 5’ 9” singer then embarked on a weight loss program as the spokesperson for “Weight Watchers” that has seen her shed 80 pounds. Her television ads now feature a slinky, sensuous, sexy young woman (Hudson was born in 1981).

PERSONAL LIFE

her personal life, she is engaged to Harvard Law School graduate and WWE wrestler (another unlikely combination) David Otunga. The two have an 18-month-old son, David Jr., born ten months after her family was nearly completely wiped out, in August of 2009.
Even Hudson, herself, says, “It’s like, ‘What’s gonna’ happen to the girl now? Will she come back again? It’s like a movie, even to me.”

NEW FILM ROLE AS WINNIE MANDELA

Hudson is coming back to the big screen, and that is one of the reasons she worked so hard to lose the weight. She is playing Winnie Mandela, the 74-year-old former wife of Nelson Mandela. These days, Winnie Mandela goes by the last name Madikizela-Mandela and serves as a member of South Africa’s parliament. Winnie was married to Nelson in 1958 when she was 22. She had 2 daughters before he was sent to prison in 1963. The couple divorced in 1996, but, during the 27 years that Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, she was involved in many controversial situations, including charges of being a thief, an adulteress and a murderer. She was convicted of theft and fraud and kidnapping, in connection with the death of a 14-year-old boy…which also sounds too far-fetched to be “real life.” Says Jennifer Hudson of the role, “Half the country think she’s Satan. The other half think she’s the world’s greatest hero.

THE GRAMMYS

Musically, Hudson appeared on the Grammys recently as part of a tribute to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, and she says, “If I was born in the ‘60s, I’d be right there with them. Every song I do or film role I get seems to fall right back in that era.”

And she marvels…as I did after seeing her sing at Invesco Field in Denver when Obama was to speak before the huge crowd at the Democratic National Convention:”Ten years ago I was singing in Chicago theaters and living in my mom’s house. That’s all vanished.”

And, one could say, not all “vanished” in a good way. But much, now, is good and getting better.

NEW CD “I REMEMBER ME”

Of her new CD, “I Remember Me,” Hudson says she has returned to her soul-inspired roots and remarks that she “used to sing Aretha songs at the top of my lungs and drive my music teacher crazy.”

Nashville, TN: Labor Day Weekend

By Connie Wilson

On September 6, 2010

In Music, Pop Culture, travel

Nashville's scale model Parthenon in Centennial Park.

We’re here in Nashville and have been visiting the Parthenon, a left-over from the Nashville Centennial Celebration and other points of interest.

There was a Friday night beer-tasting event in a park, similar to others held in 14 other cities. It was well-attended, and various beers could be sampled.

After the event in the park, we attended a concert by a group called “Westfolk.” The band consists of lead singer Oscar Anthony of Chicago, who resembles Abbie Hoffman of the 60’s. On guitars and synthesizer is John Shaw. Brady Surface plays bass guitar, Ross Ridgeman helps with vocals and plays keyboards, Jared Ziemba and Houston Matthews on drums round out the group. We met Houston’s parents, who were in town from Little rock, Arkansas. Dad was frantically trying to Skype the concert “live” to Houston’s girlfriend in Los Angeles. Houston was definitely my favorite of the musicians and the last encore song was the best.

Tomorrow we plan to drive to a glass exhibit by the world renowned Dale Cihuly, whose last name I have probably just misspelled. Wish us luck!

Bon Jovi at Soldier Field on Friday, July 30, 2010

By Connie Wilson

On July 31, 2010

In Music, Pop Culture, Reviews

It was a beautiful night, because the rain that had been threatening for much of the afternoon held off. The tickets said 7:00 p.m, but we meandered across the street to Soldier Field at quarter to 8:00 p.m. and Kid Rock, performing with Bon Jovi as the lead-in act, had not yet taken the stage.

When he did, all numbers were up-tempo and, later on, he joined Bon Jovi for a rousing rendition of “Old Time Rock ‘N Roll.”

There was an intermission after Kid Rock’s hour long set and then, at approximately 9:30, Bon Jovi took the stage and held court for 2 and 1/2 hours. They played all the songs they’ve made famous over the years, and some I didn’t know. Bon Jovi looked great in a black jacket and pants that were also black, but sparkled. Other band members mostly went with the black leather pants.
Richie Sambora, in particular, had lost weight. He wore a silver lame jacket to open the show, then switched to a sleeveless leather vest, and finished up with a hat and vest combo. The fans were appreciative at all points, and 60,000 of them turned out. Considering that the band has played in 50 countries and released 11 studio albums, 2 compilations (1 Great Hits in 1994), 1 live album and sold 130 million copies, worldwide, we got what we expected: a World Class show. While the bands were performing a variety of film clips were projected on the 3 large screens behind them.

Bon Jovi, as a group, has been rocking and rolling since 1983. Jon Bongiovani, whose surname provided the group with its name “Bon Jovi” has been married to his high school sweetheart Dorothea for 21 years and has 4 children aged 17, 15, 8 and 6. It’s no wonder that Jon told “E! Online” prior to the Chicago show, “My life’s pretty good.” If you saw the “Sixty Minutes” special filmed at the palatial French chateau that is home in New Jersey, you will agree. The 48-year-old rocker pulled a calf muscle early in this tour, but, unlike Kings of Leon who canceled their entire St. Louis concert because a couple of pigeons shat upon 2 of their band members while they were playing, this band takes a licking, but keeps on ticking.

Jon Bon Jovi revealed that 2 countries they have yet to play, but would like to are Israel and Greece. Considering that they’ve played 2,600 dates in 50 countries, I’d say it’s a good bet they’ll eventually add both of those countries to their tour list. This tour, The Circle Tour, comes on the heels of the November, 2009 release of their latest album, “The Circle” and will wind down the North American leg after Saturday, July 31’s show. Then, one month off (August) and back to tour Latin America, Australia and Japan beginning in September.

A great show with plenty for everyone.