Tag Archives: Voice

Daily Kos Mourns ‘Such a Good-Natured Woman,’ That Helen Thomas

Posted on June 10, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Even as she sneered that the Jews should “get the hell out of Palestine,” Helen Thomas could easily find fervent defenders in the hard-left environs of the Daily Kos. Some of them couldn’t believe such a sweet and good-natured woman would be demonized. The blogger “General Choomin” literally claimed that on Tuesday night:  This diary is mostly about the smear campaign aimed at Helen Thomas and how right wing propaganda easily mixes with Israeli propaganda. It is a story that people would label me as crazy if I didn’t have the facts to back it up. How could such a good natured woman have so many people denounce her without even knowing the effort that went into it? How could so many people turn their backs on her even though she served her country in a way that most civilians never could ? Perhaps these people should try being on the other end of one of her rants before they try to paint her as Sweet Polly Purebred. “Chipoliwog” agreed on Tuesday that Helen the “patient heroine” had been wronged and her legacy of greatness was unappreciated:  Yesterday, the world lost the voice of one of it’s greatest journalists. Lost to the exigencies of political correctness. Hoisted on her own petard. Gone is the legacy of over 60 years of aggressive truth seeking journalism. Fearlessness in the face of power. A voice that had garnered the respect and fear of 12 or more Presidents of the United States. So undaunted by power that she would even ask a hard question immediately after being praised by such Presidents. Gone is the patient heroine that endured the blatant humiliation of the just previous President who banished her to the back of the room and not once called on her during his term. [ Not true . Just wrong.] Ms. Thomas’s mistake has been seized upon but her apology has not. Her legacy of speaking truth to power, of shining the light on corruption, and the propensity of Man’s inhumanity to Man is snuffed out. This blogger should have really headlined this blog “This Will Induce Vomiting.” The Kosmonauts were upset that Barack Obama wasn’t risking his own image by joining them publicly in hailing her as a brave and truthful freedom fighter:   What I had hoped for in the election of Barack Hussein Obama was that integrity and authenticity would rule the day. What I wanted to hear from the President was that Helen screwed up and perhaps seriously. But to remind the American people that this person should be remembered for her long enduring accomplishments in defense of freedom. Instead, what we got was him either playing the same game or being played by that game. So White House press corps, in the era of false equivalency passing for journalism, who among you can ever presume to rise to Ms. Thomas’s mantle? Who will speak truth to this and future Presidents? Who will be the gadfly when others are sycophants? On Monday, “Sluggahjells” was the first Kosmonaut to the barricades, smelling an AIPAC conspiracy to gin up a mob against this wonderful journalist: Whether you believe her statements or not, Thomas knows that saying things like that in public would come with the risk of dealing with a mob like [CNN’s Ed] Henry and all using the chances they can get to rid of her once and for all. Especially when AIPAC always hovering around. There just seemed like there was no way she was going to survive this one. Still though, thank you DC Stenography society of stupidity for going after an 89 year respected wonderful journalist instead of doing your job and calling out your other colleagues who said controversial cringe like things about Muslims over the years.

Excerpt from:
Daily Kos Mourns ‘Such a Good-Natured Woman,’ That Helen Thomas

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Hollywood, Hot Stuff, News

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Diddy Calls Rick Ross ‘A Very Unique Artist, ‘ Applauds New Mixtape

Posted on June 8, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘That Albert Anastasia [EP] is up there to me as one of the hardest mixtapes in history,’ Diddy says. By Shaheem Reid Diddy Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images On Tuesday (June 8), Diddy gave Rick Ross yet another major co-sign. “That Albert Anastasia [EP] is up there to me as one of the hardest mixtapes in history,” Puff said during a Def Jam conference call with Ross and DJ Khaled. A bold statement, but on top of being an O.G. in the game, Diddy said, he’s also a connoisseur of hip-hop, so he felt very comfortable applauding Ross. “He doesn’t talk about the regular stuff you hear cats talking about now,” Diddy said. “Everything he talks about is from his soul and from his heart. He approaches the record from a real standpoint. You can tell he’s approaching it from an honest standpoint. The tone of his voice, I’ve always been wanting to work with artists that have a certain vocal tone. He sounds like a giant. He is a giant, and he has that personality. “He’s a very unique artist,” he continued. “He’s bigger than just an artist; he’s a brand. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to work with him, because I felt like we could do bigger and better things. Having worked with Biggie, somebody that also was talking about things from the streets — I’m not comparing him to Biggie, before we start going down that road, but I am saying that there are similarities in the mental approach of a record that I do have a familiarity with.” Over the weekend in Phoenix, 50 Cent weighed in on Diddy’s alliance with Ross and Nicki Minaj. He hinted that he felt Lil’ Kim was justified when she said Diddy should be “ashamed” of himself for working with Minaj. “It’s probably a little more irritating [for Lil’ Kim] to see Puffy stand next to Nicki Minaj and for him to say that Ross reminds him of Biggie,” 50 said in an interview with Power 98.3 FM. ” ‘Cause that’s desperation on his part, ’cause his music sucks. It’s bad, so he has to stay close to something else that has momentum for it to be all right” Diddy seems unfazed of any criticism he may get. He said Nicki Minaj is a hip-hop great, and during Tuesday’s conference call, he made it clear he’s riding with Rick Ross. “To me, how anybody ever wanna take it, he’s the Biggie of the South. Anybody can take it how they wanna take it,” Diddy said. “I heard his album. His album is a classic. I heard the Albert Anastasia ; it has six joints y’all [DJs] should be playing right now. … He has the most exciting music in the streets right now, and he’s one of the realest n—as.” Diddy and Ross belong to the new clique of artists dubbed “The Supreme Team.” “Supreme Team, Puff Daddy put a movement together,” Khaled said during the call. “A bunch of fly dudes getting together, getting money, making great music, keeping it 100 at all times. I’m honored to be a part of the movement. Puff Daddy, of course my right-hand Ricky Ross, Red Caf

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Katy Perry To Host Teen Choice Awards

Posted on June 8, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘California Gurls’ singer will also perform at the August 9 show. By Jocelyn Vena Katy Perry at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards Photo: Getty Images It seems only fitting that a singer whose upcoming album is titled Teenage Dream should host this year’s Teen Choice Awards. Just in time for the August 24 release of her sophomore LP, Katy Perry is set to MC the show on August 9, according to ETonline.com . Nominees, as well as Perry’s co-host, will be announced this week, according to the show’s Twitter . The announcement comes just days after Perry stormed the stage at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards, performing her hit single “California Gurls” with Snoop Dogg , amid a backdrop of surfboards and roller-skating dancers. Perry’s Movie Awards performance on Sunday also gave fans a taste of what they can expect from the “California Gurls” video , a preview of which has her dancing in her own personal “Candy Land.” The singer, sporting a blue wig these days, is also slated to perform at the Teen Choice Awards, airing on Fox. In the days before MTV’s Movie Awards, Perry had vowed to perform in the nude — a promise she did not keep. So, maybe this means she’ll have some time to build up the courage for her appearance at the August show? Regardless, the California girl seems to be gearing up for a busy summer, with a number of projects in the works, including her role as the voice of Smurfette in the CG/live action movie adaptation of “The Smurfs” (due for a 2011 release). “I’ve never seen an episode [of ‘The Smurfs’], because my parents wouldn’t let me,” Perry confessed to MTV News on the Movie Awards red carpet. “My mom thought that Smurfette was a little bit slutty, being the only female in the village. And now I showed her. I called her up and was like, ‘Guess what, Mom: I’m Smurfette!’ “It’s just like another one of those days, where it’s like, ‘Guess what, Mom: I kissed a girl! Guess what, Mom: I’m going to be naked in a music video!’ ” Perry laughed. Who should be Katy’s co-host at the Teen Choice Awards? Tell us in the comments! Related Videos 2010 Movie Awards Playlist: Katy Perry Related Photos The Evolution Of: Katy Perry Related Artists Katy Perry

Continue reading here:
Katy Perry To Host Teen Choice Awards

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

Katy Perry Was ‘Ready To Kick Ass’ At MTV Movie Awards

Posted on June 6, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

The ‘California Gurls’ singer also talks playing blue babe Smurfette in upcoming flick. By Larry Carroll Katy Perry poses in the press room at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards Photo: Getty Images While watching the 2010 MTV Movie Awards , viewers may have marveled at how beautiful and talented a performer Katy Perry is. What you may not have realized, however, is that it took a whole team to make her a Movie Awards sensation. And when we caught up with her on the red carpet, she was eager to thank everyone from her vocal team to her fianc

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Real Housewives of New York City Recap: A Boring Farewell

Posted on June 4, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

For a season finale, last night’s installment of The Real Housewives of New York City didn’t exactly leave us with any major cliffhangers. As our Real Housewives correspondent explains below, even the hilarity of LuAnn singing wasn’t enough to save one of the more boring episodes of the year. What did you think of it? This season of The Real Housewives of New York City ended with a… thud.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

U.S. Begins Criminal Investigation into BP/Transocean/Halliburton Oil Spill

Posted on June 1, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

PART ONE… http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/06/01/gulf.oil.spill/index.html?hpt=T1&iref=BN1 U.S. begins criminal investigation into oil spill By the CNN Wire Staff June 1, 2010 4:24 p.m. EDT (CNN) — U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday that the Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into the massive oil spill spreading through the Gulf of Mexico. Holder said the investigation would be comprehensive and aggressive. He promised that the federal officials will prosecute anyone who broke the law. Holder, who made the announcement during a visit to the Gulf, called early signs of the spill heartbreaking and tragic. The attorney general was in the Gulf to survey the BP oil spill and meet with state attorneys general and federal prosecutors from Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, according to the Justice Department. In May, a group of senators — including Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-California — sent Holder a letter expressing concerns “about the truthfulness and accuracy of statements submitted by BP to the government in its initial exploration plan for the site,” and asking Holder to investigate possible criminal and civil wrongdoing. In a reply to that letter last week, a Justice Department official did not say whether a criminal investigation had begun. “The Department of Justice will take all necessary and appropriate steps to ensure that those responsible for this tragic series of events are held fully accountable,” Assistant Attorney General Ronald Welch wrote. Holder said in May that the Justice Department would “ensure that BP is held liable.” BP began its latest attempt to curtail the flow of oil from an underwater well in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, using robot submarines to cut into a damaged pipe a mile down. The operation carries the risk that the flow of crude from the ruptured well, already the largest oil spill in U.S. history, will increase. But if successful, the company says it will be able to catch most of that oil with a cap it plans to place over the severed lower marine riser pipe. “Even with an increased flow rate, this cap will be able to handle this,” BP Managing Director Bob Dudley told CNN's “American Morning.” While the engineering has never been attempted at a depth of 5,000 feet, Dudley said Tuesday the latest attempt is “more straightforward” than previous, unsuccessful efforts. A mechanical claw began squeezing the heavy riser pipe late Tuesday morning, the first step in a series of planned cuts. After that, a diamond-cut saw will be used to make a “clean cut,” preparing the way for the custom-made cap to be fitted over the package. Tar balls and puddles of oil from the oil spill reached the shores of Alabama's Dauphin Island on Tuesday, residents and researchers involved in cleanup efforts reported. Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen said authorities were investigating reports that the outer sheen of oil was reaching coastal waters off Mississippi and Alabama earlier Tuesday, but those reports had not been confirmed when he spoke to reporters in New Orleans, Louisiana. The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration had warned earlier this week that the spreading slick was heading toward the Alabama and Mississippi coasts. Tar balls associated with the Gulf spill had hit Dauphin Island, about 35 miles south of Mobile, in early May. Oil has been gushing from the undersea well since April 20 when the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded and later sank. Government estimates are that up to 19,000 barrels (798,000 gallons) of oil a day are flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. Dudley said that could increase by up to 20 percent — nearly 160,000 gallons — when the pipe is cut, but he said the company has learned lessons from its earlier attempts that it is applying to the new process. Warm water and methanol will be pumped into the cap to limit the growth of gas hydrate crystals that thwarted an earlier attempt to cap the spill, he said. And a second line is planned to draw more oil off the well's blowout preventer, a critical piece of safety equipment that has so far failed to shut down the well, using equipment involved in last week's failed “top kill” operation. BP's handling of the spill and its statements regarding the status of operations have been sharply criticized by some in recent weeks. The Obama administration announced Tuesday that it would no longer hold joint news briefings with the company and that Allen, its point man on the spill, will now become the face of the government's response effort. Allen told reporters in New Orleans, Louisiana, that his job is to speak “very frankly with the American public.” “I think we need to be communicating with the American people through my voice as the national incident commander,” he said. Rear Adm. Mary Landry, who has been the Coast Guard's on-scene coordinator for five weeks, will be returning to her duties as chief of the service's New Orleans district office. Coast Guard Commandant Robert Papp said the plan always has been for Landry to resume that role in preparation for the Atlantic hurricane season, which began Tuesday. Allen praised Landry's work leading “an anomalous and unprecedented response” to the spill, but said Landry now needs to focus “on the larger array of threats” to her district, which includes the U.S. Southeast and Midwest. CONTINUED… added by: EthicalVegan

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Hot Stuff

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lee DeWyze’s Friends Say He Has The ‘Momentum’ To Win ‘American Idol’

Posted on May 26, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘No matter what happens, he’s changed his life,’ one friend tells MTV News. By Gil Kaufman Photo: FOX Even Lee DeWyze’s friends and fans have to admit that the 24-year-old former paint-store clerk from Mt. Prospect, Illinois, got out-sung by his “American Idol” rival on Tuesday night’s final performance show. While Bowersox belted out strong versions of “Me and Bobby McGee” and an emotional “Up to the Mountain,” Lee seemed nervous and sometimes struggled to hit the notes on R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts” and his potential coronation song, U2’s “Beautiful Day.” But momentum is a funny thing, and if there’s anything the soft-spoken DeWyze had going into the last sing-off, it was a head of steam. The judges appeared to turn his way late in the game after a few weeks of so-so performances from Bowersox, whose friends are, of course, also confident she’ll pull it out. Like MTV News’ “Idol” experts , Lee’s longtime friend Brian Friedopfer predicted that his pal would emerge triumphant at the end of Wednesday night’s (May 26) two-hour finale. “He’s going to win,” Friedopfer said. ” The Nokia [Theatre] is a different element for both the constants and the judges. Lee may have been a little nervous, considering the theater was filled with 7,000 people, but the judges didn’t hear what they think they did. I guarantee that if and when they watch it back, they’ll realize Lee did a fantastic job with the songs that were given to him, and America knows it. Lee DeWyze will be crowned the next American Idol tonight.” If there’s anyone in Mt. Prospect who has reason to grin with pride from ear to ear, it’s Dr. Pat Tedaldi-Monti. The dean of students at Prospect High School , which Lee attended from ninth grade until halfway through his senior year, said despite the singer’s off night, she’s confident he’ll win. “Lee had a bit of a rough night, and Crystal did very well, but we’re real confident that he’s going to be the next American Idol,” she said. When DeWyze left her school, the teen’s parting words were, “I’m going to be a rock star … and you [and my other teachers] are going to be in the front row, and I’m going to be playing a really big concert.” He’s almost there, and despite Bowersox’s good night, she thinks Lee is going to make that promise come true. “The next American Idol will be from Mt. Prospect,” she said. “He predicted it.” One of his oldest friends, Vince Ferrara, 26, agreed. “I still think he’s going to win,” said Ferrara, who’s known Lee for almost a decade. “I think he had a pretty good performance, and I didn’t agree with what the judges said, that he was pitchy. If anything, Crystal had the better song choices, and they suited her voice more. I still think he wins, because he has the momentum and he’s done so well for so many weeks.” And what if he does win? Ferrara will watch the finale at home with friends and plans to go to a local bar to celebrate the result. “If he wins, I might just have to start bawling,” he said. “Because it’s so unbelievable that he’s made it this far. No matter what happens, he’s changed his life. … It’s forever changed, and he’s touched so many people. It’s so moving.” Do you think Lee will win the “Idol” crown? Let us know in the comments! Join Jim Cantiello for our live stream of the “American Idol” finale red carpet tonight at 6 p.m. ET, only at MTV.com. Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Videos ‘American Idol’ In 60 Seconds Related Photos Lee DeWyze: From Illinois Boy To ‘American Idol’ Star ‘American Idol’ Season Nine Performances

Read more:
Lee DeWyze’s Friends Say He Has The ‘Momentum’ To Win ‘American Idol’

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Slipknot’s Paul Gray Remembered Fondly In His Iowa Hometown

Posted on May 26, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘He was always a man of the people, and he never forgot his roots,’ Des Moines radio director tells MTV News. By James Montgomery Paul Gray Three days after Slipknot bassist Paul Gray was found dead in an Iowa hotel room, those who knew him are still struggling to make sense of everything that’s happened. It’s not an easy thing to do. Though he wasn’t born in Iowa, Gray was still very much a local boy made good, having moved to Des Moines as a child. And as Slipknot’s fame grew, he made it a point to remain loyal to the scene — and the city — that gave him his start in music. “It’s just been a feeling of complete and utter disbelief, and I think lot of people are still shell-shocked,” Andy Hall, music director at Des Moines’ Lazer 103.3, told MTV News on Wednesday (May 26). “Paul was not just a guy on a poster on somebody’s wall; he was a son, a brother, a bandmate and a friend. And he was a great human being. … Des Moines has a very tight-knit music community, and anyone in it will tell you that Paul was one of the most kind and warm-hearted people they’ve ever known. He was always a man of the people, and he never forgot his roots.” Hall moved to Des Moines 10 years ago, and Gray was one of the first people he became friendly with. He said that even though Slipknot were well on their way to becoming a massively successful metal act, the bassist still remained humble, approachable and downright friendly — to everyone. “He was always quick with a smile and a hug and a ‘How you doing, brother?’ But it didn’t matter if you were his friend of many years or someone he’d just met; he would be very gracious to everyone,” Hall said. “He was kind of an imposing guy, but if you came up to him, took the time to converse with him, you’d have realized what a nice, kind guy he was.” Long before Slipknot hit it big, Gray was an integral part of the Des Moines scene. As a founding member of the group — and the only bassist it every employed — he provided the backbeat at their earliest gigs, at local bars like the Safari Club. And though those shows paled in comparison to the big-budget rippers they’d go on to play, they were just as energetic and impactful. Even in their earliest incarnation, Slipknot possessed a will that was unmatched. “They were always part of the fabric of the local scene. … Initially, they were playing clubs and band battles. And from the very start, they believed so intensely in themselves, even when the show was simple and the masks were homemade,” said Des Moines Register columnist Kyle Munson, who spent a decade as the paper’s music critic. “Here was a band willing to put on a show. They believed in themselves from the beginning, and that was the difference. They would have a power-saw onstage, shooting sparks across the stage. The early songs would have little disco jazz riffs thrown in there with the growls. They were a hybrid from the start. … No one could foresee how far they’d go, but that belief always made them stand out.” And from those formative gigs, the rock monster the world would come to know as Slipknot was born. To folks like Munson, their success brought an immense amount of civic pride — a pride that’s definitely taken a hit in the days since Gray’s death. Seems everyone who ever met him, spoke to him or even sat in the back of a rock club, eyes agog, and watched him rip, will miss him. “He always seemed to be a gentle soul and a peacemaker within the band. That’s what I’ve been hearing from people,” Munson said. “He wasn’t gregarious like [frontman] Corey [Taylor] or outwardly philosophical like [percussionist] Shawn [Crahan]. He was more introverted. But anyone will tell you about the happiness in his voice, his smile. There was a quiet joviality to him.” Share your memories of Paul Gray and Slipknot in the comments below. Related Videos Slipknot’s Paul Gray: 1972-2010 Related Photos Slipknot’s Paul Gray: A Life In Photos Related Artists Paul Gray Slipknot

View original post here:
Slipknot’s Paul Gray Remembered Fondly In His Iowa Hometown

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Crystal Bowersox And Lee DeWyze Face Off In ‘American Idol’ Finale

Posted on May 25, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

While both got positive comments, Crystal appeared to outshine Lee. By Gil Kaufman Lee Dewyze, Ryan Seacrest And Crystal Bowersox on “American Idol” on Tuesday Photo: Michael Becker/ Fox After more than 40 shows, hundreds of contenders, almost as many broken hearts and one of the tamest set of finalists in the show’s history, “American Idol” season nine came down to a pair of 24-year-olds, vying to be the first Midwesterners to hold the crown. Two days after the buzzed-about “Lost” finale, the second meanest man on TV this side of John “Smokey” Locke — departing original judge and the heart of the panel, Simon Cowell — went out not with his usual snarling put-downs, but with mostly kind remarks as Crystal Bowersox re-asserted her season-long status as the woman to beat with a pair of powerful performances that might have beaten back the late-season surge from rocker Lee DeWyze . After Bowersox won last week’s coin toss , Mt. Prospect, Illinois, paint clerk DeWyze went first, reprising his cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Boxer,” putting a bit more emotion into the ballad, raising his voice through the midpoint of the verses as he went into his signature rock-radio rasp. Randy Jackson said it was “nice” but not quite energetic enough, while Ellen DeGeneres confused everyone by stating, “I couldn’t be prouder if I birthed you myself,” complimenting Lee for performing the song even better the second time. Reminding DeWyze that he was on the big stage at the Nokia Theatre, Cowell said he expected more passion, calling it a “kiss on the cheek when I want a kiss on the lips— not from you, you know what I’m saying.” Bowersox was firmly in her wheelhouse with a reprise of Janis Joplin’s “Me and Bobby McGee,” strumming out the rock chestnut on her acoustic guitar and inspiring a group clap-along. The song again showed off her soul-mama bona fides as the wordless chorus gave her a chance to work through her powerful, bluesy range. Ellen said Crystal drew the whole crowd in, and Kara DioGuardi said, “I loved it when you first did it, and I loved it tonight. You told us so much about you as an artist, and you have fire in your belly tonight!” For Cowell, after a few tepid weeks, the performance brought back the Crystal the judges fell in love with, and Randy praised her for picking up the pace midway through and said it was exactly the kind of record Bowersox should make. Lee’s second song was chosen by executive producer Simon Fuller, who went with R.E.M.’s iconic ballad “Everybody Hurts.” Lee turned it into an acoustic campfire ballad, swamping up the arrangement and snarling a bit of a rock edge into the alt-rock classic while highlighting the expressiveness of his voice as a gospel choir backed him up and brought a majestic feel to the tune. “What makes you great as a performer is that you’re emotionally accessible,” Kara said. “I can feel every word you’re saying, and you’re telling a story.” Cowell called it a “brilliant” choice of song, even if he went a bit off melody and Lee was clearly nervous. “You’ve got another song to come, and I think you’ve got to really understand what this night can do in terms of changing your life,” he warned. “And when you come out for your last performance I want a 10-out-of-10.” Fuller went with Alannah Myles’ “Black Velvet” for Bowersox, a song that has a long “Idol” history and seemed custom-made for Crystal’s gutbucket growl. She seemed a bit uncomfortable walking down the steps in her, yes, black-velvet dress and heels, but Crystal matched the squealing guitar licks with throaty growls and a loud, cat-scratch note at the end. DioGuardi said Bowersox proved she wanted it and really gave it her all, while Cowell groused about how sick he is of hearing the tune in countless horrible auditions. “But I’ve got to tell you, you took that song and you absolutely nailed it,” he enthused. “MamaSox is in it to win it!” Randy yelled, while DeGeneres simply gave her a standing ovation. And then it was down to the coronation song, typically a trip to Cheesy Town , but DeWyze dodged a bullet by snagging U2’s uplifting “Beautiful Day” instead of a mewly original. The synth-pop orchestral arrangement was a bit lightweight, and Lee seemed to get lost in it at times as he drifted off-key at points. Wearing a black leather jacket over a black hoodie, he eventually found his footing, gripped the microphone and leaned into the soaring chorus, showing a bit of his rock-star potential, opening his mouth and howling out the refrain with all his might. Cowell said he made the most of it and gave it more effort than the other two songs and then took a moment to say what amounts to his farewell to “Idol.” “This is my final time I’m ever going to judge this show,” Cowell said. “I just want to say about you, is that this is what this competition was designed for, which is somebody who needs a break … having a normal job working in a paint shop. You’ve worked hard, you’ve remained a really, really nice person throughout, and I genuinely wish the best for you. You’re a great guy.” “Watching you grow to where you are right now, standing on this stage making it this far,” DeGeneres said, “I was watching your eyes, you were fully present for that song, taking in every bit of these people’s energy, and I love that you were able to get to that place to do that.” First, the good news: DioGuardi said he has grown the most on the show this season and has the most commercial voice of the season and deserves to be in the finals. But she felt he got swallowed up by the arrangement. “This whole thing has been amazing, from the very beginning to right now,” DeWyze said. “I want to be doing this for a long time. … I will be doing this for the rest of my life, one way or another.” Crystal’s coronation song was Patty Griffin’s Martin Luther King tribute “Up to the Mountain (MLK Song),” which Bowersox sang while strumming her beat-up acoustic, dipping and swaying through her broad range and owning the song as if she wrote it. Hitting a sustained, powerful note and putting her busker’s passion into the emotional lyrics like her next meal depended on it, MamaSox ended the show with a powerful display of why she’s been this season’s front-runner since she first stepped on the stage with the top 12. “An amazing song by an amazing singer,” Jackson roared, saying it was one of the best performances in the show’s history. “I cannot compare you to one person. … You are in a league of your own. You have a beautiful voice,” Ellen added, unable to resist yet another food metaphor. “If you make an album, I’m gonna buy it. If you go on tour, I go on tour and watch you. If you make a salad, I’ll eat it.” After a season in which she sometimes had a hard time connecting with Crystal and felt she had her guard up, Kara said the singer from hardscrabble Elliston, Ohio , finally let her guard down and seemed fully emotionally invested in the song. Before Simon made his final comments on the show, Crystal addressed him and expressed her gratitude. “You’ve been amazing this season,” she said. “Thank you for all the critique and criticism and help. … Good luck on your future endeavors.” “Since it’s becoming a bit of a lovefest tonight,” the typically hard-hearted judge replied, “I thought that was by far the best performance and the song of the night. And since this is going to be the final critique I’m ever going to give, I would just like to say that was outstanding.” After Tuesday’s (May 25) vote, the season’s winner will be announced during Wednesday night’s two-hour finale, which will feature a performance from Christina Aguilera. Who do you think won the battle Tuesday? Who are you going to vote for? Leave your comments below! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos ‘American Idol’ Season Nine Performances Lee DeWyze: From Illinois Boy To ‘American Idol’ Star Crystal Bowersox’s ‘American Idol’ Experience

Continue reading here:
Crystal Bowersox And Lee DeWyze Face Off In ‘American Idol’ Finale

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lee DeWyze’s ‘Everybody Hurts’: Behind The ‘American Idol’ Cover

Posted on May 25, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Simon Cowell calls the R.E.M. tune ‘a brilliant choice of song’ for DeWyze. By Eric Ditzian Lee DeWyze performs on “Idol” on May 25 Photo: Fox After a tepid opening performance that left the “American Idol” judges less than impressed, Lee DeWyze bounced back with an inspired take on R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts” during Tuesday night’s (May 25) performance finale. It seemed like an odd, potentially sleep-inducing choice when Ryan Seacrest introduced the tune, but the 24-year-old stepped up to the mic with his guitar and immediately made clear that this performance would be different, and far better, than his first one (a second stab at Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Boxer” from “Idol Gives Back” week ). There was genuine emotion on his face and in his voice as he sang, “Everybody cries/ And everybody hurts.” The track is from R.E.M.’s 1992 effort, Automatic for the People, which reached as high as #2 on the Billboard albums chart. The melancholy song is perhaps best remembered for the band’s music video, directed by Jake Scott. Filmed on a San Antonio freeway, the video shows the band driving along until they come to a standstill in a massive traffic jam alongside other drivers. Their thoughts begin to flash across the screen as subtitles. “Nobody can see me,” thinks one woman. “They’re going to miss me,” thinks a young boy. It’s depressing stuff, no doubt, but DeWyze’s rendition was an altogether more uplifting take. And the judges dug it, despite the singer’s occasional pitch problems. “What makes you great as a performer is that you’re emotionally accessible and that I can feel every word that you’re saying and that you’re telling a story,” Kara DioGuardi declared. Simon Cowell agreed, albeit with a not insignificant caveat. “I thought that was a brilliant choice of song for you,” he said. “You went a little bit off melody at parts. What I’m feeling from you tonight, Lee, and I understand this, is you’re nervous. You’ve got another song to come, and I think you’ve really got to understand the importance of what this night can do in terms of changing your life.” What did you think of Lee’s “Everybody Hurts”? Let us know in the comments! Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions. Related Photos Lee DeWyze: From Illinois Boy To ‘American Idol’ Star

Read this article:
Lee DeWyze’s ‘Everybody Hurts’: Behind The ‘American Idol’ Cover

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Celebrities, Gossip, Hollywood, Music

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,