A look at the performances on “American Idol” of March 31, 2009.

See more at http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1613429/american_idol_march_31_megan_joy_sings.html

On March 31, 2009, the final 9 contestants in this year’s “American Idol” performance took the stage and it appeared, to me, that those who earned a “pass” were Scott MacIntyre, Kris Allen, Danny Gokey and Adam Lambert.

Those whom the judges dissed included Anoop Desai, Allison Iraheta, Megan Corkrey and Lil Rounds. The judges also did not seem to like Matt Giraud, but I have a feeling that the public may.

What were the songs and the comments on this night? And who were the “best” and the “worst?”

The very best, for me, as always, was Adam Lambert strutting his stuff while singing “Play that Funky Music, White Boy,” by Wild Cherry from 1976. I have always loved this song, and some may remember that Craig Kilbourne, who disappeared from the late-night airwaves a few years ago, used it as his theme song. Adam used a light show backdrop, did some fancy footwork, and had amazing vocals, as always. He also generously gave credit to Ricky Minor and the band, for, as he said, “hooking me up with that arrangement.” The judges were universal in their praise of Adam’s incredible vocal skills, with comments like “true genius shatters expectations” (Paul Abdul), “You worked it out. Definitely in the Star Zone.” (Randy) and “I cannot wait to get to the show to see what you’ll do” from Kara. Simon, also, declared Adam’s performance as “original’ and said, “Good for you.”

If we rank below Adam (in order from “good” to “weak”) second, for me would be a tie between Scott MacIntyre, who sang Billy Joel’s “Don’t Go Changin’” and Danny Gokey—one of the front-runners—who did a stripped-down version of “What Hurts the Most.” For me, Scott lapped Danny for 2 reasons: 1) I had never heard of Danny’s song; therefore, I did not enjoy it as much as Scott’s and (2) Scott looked better than Danny, with a newly “pouffy” hair-do, black leather jacket and a good, clean look and performance. The judges said, of Scott,  “One of the best performances of the night” (Randy) and “Your best performance by a country mile” (Simon). Simon also chose the occasion to point out that Paula’s advice, given on an earlier program, that Scott should step out from behind the piano, was poor advice (which led to the two squabbling at the table, as usual, with Simon telling people to “rewind” to prove his point.

Of Danny Gokey’s stripped-down song (violin accompaniment front and left) the judges said, “This is where you thrive,” (Paula); “Your best performance so far. So much better than the first two.  Get a great song. Sing it brilliantly. And do your version.” (Simon). Kara said, “You moved everyone in this room emotionally,” and said she had goosebumps (I wasn’t that “moved,” at home, but I’ll take Kara’s word for her goosebumps.) Randy said, “I felt that the competition starts right now. Very nice.”

I’m puzzled by Matt Giraud’s standing. Last week, he was a standout, doing a great song, and yet he ended up in the bottom three! This week, the judges did not like his rendition of “You Found Me” by the Fray. About the only judge’s comment(s) I agreed with was the one uttered by Kara, who said, “You are a talented guy and you don’t deserve to go home.” I actually liked the way Matt took his keyboard(s) right out into the audience and had adoring fans (mostly girls) surrounding him. However, Randy said it was “Just the wrong song for you” and Simon felt it was “just uncomfortable.” Paula did not like his lack of riffing and falsetto, calling it “more of a sound alike” and saying, “This wasn’t a great performance for you.” Simon said, “I didn’t get it at all,” and added that his performance was “uptight. Not a good commercial song.” Last week, when the judges declared him to be one of the best of the night, he almost bit the bullet. I hope that the fact they didn’t like him this week works in his favor, because he is really good. He didn’t deserve to be in the bottom three last week, and he doesn’t deserve to be in the bottom three this week.
So, who does deserve to be in the bottom three tomorrow night?

Megan Joy Corkrey has been hanging on by her fingertips for weeks now. Why she is still there can be attributed to one judge, Simon, and she seems to have lost favor with him. Megan sang a Bob Marley song “Turn Your Lights Down Low” and was robotic and looked uneasy. The song had about a 3-note range, which reminded me of “Send in the Clowns,” which was written specifically to cover a very limited range because the female lead in “A Little Night Music” couldn’t reach notes beyond those 3 or 4 notes. When Megan sang her Marley song, I was bored and felt it was typical of her last few performances. Randy said,” It was like watching paint dry.” (I don’t think that is a positive comment.) Simon called it “indulgent, boring and monotonous.” Kara declared, “I really like you, but I think you’re in trouble,” suggesting that Megan should have tried some Adele and used her falsetto. I think Megan should try packing, and that she should have been sent packing about 3 performances back, which Simon confirmed with the statement “You’ve been selling that every week.”

I also didn’t like the new aggressive sex symbol side of Anoop Desai and neither did the judges. Anoop selected an Usher song (“This girl’s got a hold on me”) and, while most of the judges felt the vocals were good, and Randy said he had “picked up his swagger,” Simon nailed it when he said his performance was something that seemed ‘as though a bunch of frat guys dared you to get up and sing Usher.” Simon said it was ” a complete and utter mess, if you want my honest opinion. It actually gave me a headache.”

Another usually good performer who was so-so this night was Allison Iraheta. She looked horrible, wearing a red flared dress that had white bands down the bodice that were criss-crossed and which she wore with leggings and fake hairpieces (red) that made her hair look like straw. Simon compared her appearance to Halloween and even Randy, who is hardly a fashion plate, had questions about the outfit. Simon said it looked like something from “The Addams Family.” For me, singing “No Doubt” with guitar, which Simon said “she shouted,” was overpowered by her really ridiculous get-up. Plus, I want Allison to sing biker chick stuff by Joan Jett et. al. However, Allison was, as always, a strong performer vocally, bringing remarks from Kara like “Not your best, but good.” Paula declared Allison’s intonation and delivery to be “masterful,” so I think Allison can probably keep this odd wardrobe hanging in her L.A. digs for another week, but, were I one-armed tattooed girl, I’d be getting ready to pack my bags.

The other low vote getters will, as always, be surprising, but 2 of the 3 should be Megan and Anoop. It’s difficult to predict if Lil, who the judges declared to have sung an “old-fashioned” song will have been saved by her tears and the appearance of her adorable twins, but I’m guessing that will be the case and that means that Allison will end up in the bottom three….again. She really doesn’t deserve to be sent home, but I could live with her being dissed for the outfit alone.

Kris Allen did a very good job on “Ain’t No Sunshine” (When You’re Gone) and Randy declared him to be “in the zone” with Simon chiming in that it was ‘a very good arrangement” and Kris’ “best so far.” Simon added a “well done.” I think that Kris is firmly established as heartthrob material for America’s millions of teen-aged girl voters, so I would expect him to make it through. I’m hoping that Matt’s  foray into the crowd will bring him closer to his fans both figuratively and literally, as I’d hate to see him go.

But Megan? Elimination overdue.

A look back at the performances on “American Idol” on Wednesday, March 25, 2009.

See more at http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1595633/american_idol_march_25th_adam_lambert.html

The Obama administration and auto task force czar Steve Rattner force out GM CEO; give Gm 60 days to restructure and Chrysler 30 days to find a business partner.

See more at http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1607677/gmchrysler_declared_nonviable_ceo_rick.html

(*To take the following quiz, cover the answers at the bottom and see how “up” you are on the unemployment rate in all the states that represent the United States and the District of Columbia.”)

Questions:

1)      How many states saw their unemployment rates rise in February?

2)      The U.S. unemployment rate, released earlier this month, stood at 8.1% in February. That is the highest rate in how many years?

3)      What do economists predict the unemployment rate will be in March? (number)

4)      It is fairly well known that Michigan has the highest unemployment rate in the nation. What % of unemployment is Michigan suffering?

5)      Even if the recession were to end by year’s end, economists are predicting what % of unemployment will have been hit by year’s end in the United States?

6)      The second-highest unemployment rate in the nation is 11%. What state has 11% unemployment rate, as of February?

7)      The coastal state of Oregon comes in third in its unemployment rate at what %?

8)      North Carolina is fourth highest on the rate, with an unemployment rate of 10.7%. That is the highest on records there since what year?

9)      California comes in fifth in unemployment at 10.5%. What other small state ties for 5^th place with California?

10)  The 7^th state with an unemployment rate above 10% (10.1%) is a state heavily dependent on tourism. Name it.

11)   How many people are currently drawing unemployment in the United States at the state level?

12)  This is the highest dating back to what year?

13)  The lowest unemployment rate—3.9%—belongs to what state?

Answers:

1)      49 states and the District of Columbia saw their unemployment rise in February.

2)      This is the highest rate in 25 years.

3)      Economists predict the rate will have climbed to 8.5% in March.

4)      Michigan has 12% unemployment, the highest in the country,

5)      By year’s end, even if the recession ends earlier in the year, economists predict that the unemployment rate will have risen to 10%.

6)      The second highest unemployment rate (11%) belongs to South Carolina.

7)      Oregon has the third-highest unemployment rate, 10.8%.

8)      North Carolina’s unemployment rate of 10.7% is the highest on records kept there since 1976.

9)      Tiny Rhode Island ties for 5^th place with California.

10)  Nevada comes in 7^th at 10.1%.

11)  5.56 million people are currently drawing unemployment (give yourself credit for 5 or 6).

12)  This is the highest number drawing unemployment dating back to 1967, according to reports by the Federal Government made on Thursday, March 26^th.

13)  Wyoming held its place as the state with the lowest unemployment rate (3.9%).

SCORING of the “Unlucky Thirteen” Unemployment Quiz:

If you got all 13 right, please make sure that the unemployment line you are standing in has not moved on without you while you took this quiz.

If you got 10 right, you are possibly Ben Bernanke.
If you got 8 right, you may be a former Secretary of the Treasury. (Paul O’Neill)

If you got 5 right, you are probably currently employed and too busy to read the newspaper.

If you got 3 right, you may be Dick Cheney (or a close relative.)

If you got 0 right, you are possibly someone who goes by a single initial: “W”.

An analysis of Thursday night’s “American Idol” competition.

See more at http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1599219/on_american_idol_michael_sarver_sails.html

A look at President Obama’s Tuesday night press conference and the AIG issue.

See more at http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1592239/president_obama_holds_press_conference.html

“The Eagles” blew into town on their “Long Road Out of Eden” 2009 World Tour on Wednesday, March 17, 2009, and, clad like adults in suits and ties, Glenn Frey pronounced the sold-out performance to be “the Eagles assisted living tour” and called the group “the band that wouldn’t die.”

Band members Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit—who, with his long hair, looked a bit like the Crypt-keeper, —performed at what used to be known as the Mark of the Quad Cities, but is now officially the I-wireless Center. They appeared onstage with a proscenium arch behind them that had green lights flashing, which seemed appropriate for this day after St. Patrick’s Day concert. The stage was able to have film projected on the backdrop, which was used to good effect during the concert, and there were 2 large screens set up to the left and right of the main stage.

At any given moment, in addition to the 4 “name” performers in the band, there were 9 people onstage. Four guitars, 2 percussion stations, 2 keyboard stations, 3 saxophones and 1 trumpet were used in various combination(s) throughout the evening’s performance.

The band initially performed some new stuff in tight harmony, accapella, from their newest album (“Long Road Out of Eden”) and then segued into “Witchy Woman,” with Glenn Frey, who acted as announcer most of the night saying that the song was from “our favorite Satanic country period.” With lyrics like “a peaceful easy feeling” and “every form of refuge has its price” filling the hall, the crowd loved lyrics/songs like “After the boys of summer have gone,” or “You can’t hide those lyin’ eyes.”

After a brief intermission that lasted no more than 15 minutes, the quartet sat on stools and sang close harmony on “No more walks in the woods” and “I’ve been waiting in the reeds.” Frey announced that they were going to sing what he said his wives referred to as “the credit card song,” an introduction to “Take It to the Limit.”

The famous quartet was ably assisted by musicians like Stewart Smith, their newest member; Richard Blade Davis from New Orleans on keyboards; Greg Smith from San Louis Obispo; Bill Armstrong on trumpet, from Amarillo, Texas; Christian Mostaad on sax, from the Netherlands; Al Garth from Santa Rosa; Scott Krago on drums, who has been with the band since 1994; and Michael Thompson from San Diego on keyboards. Glenn Frey, himself, is from Royal Oak, Michigan (where, he said, “mother” is one-half of a word), while Don Henley, the other leader of the band, is from Texas.  Joe Walsh is a New Jersey native.

While playing their song “Dirty Laundry” a very effective montage of various covers of magazines like “People” and “Us” formed the backdrop and, towards the end, fake covers showed Don Henley on the cover of “Time” magazine, with the title: “Don Henley solves Global Warming” and Glenn Frey on a fake cover of “Sports Illustrated” bearing the words, “Glenn Frey Wins Masters.”  Joe Walsh’s was a little less topical: “Monkey Sues Joe Walsh.” At times, the light-show feeling of the backdrop reminded me of the Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine” or light shows I have attended that featured Pink Floyd and/or the Dave Matthews Band.

The show went on for 3 hours and the only “bad” thing about it were the 2 women next to me who had come to the show on a bus and either (a) talked very loudly on their cell phones throughout the concert or (b) sang along so loudly that we couldn’t hear the band members’ voices whom we had come to hear at $168 a pop.  When they began to drunkenly boogie (after knocking my own drink to the ground while stumbling in and out of the row for the 9^th or 10^th time), it was apropos that the lyric that was playing was: “Somebody’s gonna hurt someone…” It turns out it was me who was going to be hurt, as Drunken Blonde Number One smacked me right in the face while doing a particularly interesting move that involved climbing over the back of the seat back to dance in the row behind us (to “Life in the fast lane.”)

For an encore, which was prompted by real, regular lighters that were used “back in the day,” not be cell phone lights, as the kids of today use, the band sang “Take it easy’ followed by one of their biggest hits, “Desperado.” All in all, it was a great concert, but the two women next to me definitely detracted from the overall enjoyment.

An analysis of Barack Obama’s appearance on Jay Leno’s late-night talk show on March 19, 2009.

See more at http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1579017/president_obama_visits_jay_leno_for.html

A review of Wednesday night’s (March 18th) results on “American Idol.”

See more at http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1576457/alexis_grace_cut_from_american_idols.html