"A WORKING MUSICIAN'S REVIEW" - AMERICAN IDOL TOP 11, TAKE 2 (3/30)

For the newbies, I'm Darci Monet and I make music and teach people to sing for a living. I have two albums out, I perform all over L.A., I've sung backup for some super cool people, I've won a few awards for songwriting and some of my students are making great careers for themselves. Also, I am making my very first music video, which I am describing as a "video love letter to the world"!  My production team and I would love for you to keep up with our progress on our Facebook page.

I've been watching American Idol since season one and kvetching about it since season two. I do "drive-by reviews"...one watch, first impression critiques (cuz you don't get do-overs in concert). Thank you for reading, and please feel free to pipe in with your opinions, even if they disagree with mine -- just keep it on a grown up level. Thank you! 

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ELTON JOHN TUNES, WOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO!!! 

Don't mess it up, kids. 

Scotty's up first with "Country Comfort"...gee-tar and everything. Well...I just can't say anything negative about this kid ever. Ok, except that last basement note was slightly sharp but that's just being nit-picky cuz he knows who he is and he knows how to give that to the audience and he passes with flying colors every time. He's a natural. He could get voted off tomorrow and I think a bidding war would break out. It's done. 

Hmmm...Naima's made a reggae tune out of "I'm Still Standing." Hmmmm. I didn't hate it at all, I just felt like she could have gotten revved up a little sooner. Reggae's not about flashy vocals but American Idol is, and she has the ability to hear and sing jazz licks so I think throwing some in may have been a benefit. Her performance style reminds me a little of Gwen Stefani back in the Tragic Kingdom days. I disagree w/Jen and Randy...I thought the style worked for the song, she just didn't sell it enough is all.

The Taco Bell dogs next door have been barking for a straight hour and a half. I'm just about willing to stick a fork in each ear to make it go away. 

Here comes Paul with the classic "Rocket Man." Oh Paul...I do love you, but just not this song on you. Here's the thing about Elton John's songs...melody is king and if your voice isn't built to handle such a thing then you're gonna have trouble on this particular theme night. When Paul's in his element he's a superstar - this is just not his element. He probably should've picked an up-tempo where he could play more on his quirky strengths. Still think he's a great performer, though. And that suit...nice nod to Sir Elton's flashier days.

Ryan...what's up with your hair tonight? Kinda makes me wanna beat you up after school or something. Eek.

Hey Pia's doing a ballad...WHAT??? ARE YOU KIDDING???!!! I NEVER SAW THAT COMING!!!  Well...I'm sick to death of "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" but I have to say that it was refreshing to hear a female do it for a change. She once again sang her patootie off and as always looked stunning (sick outfit!). And I did feel like she brought a little bit more emotional connection to it than she has so far. But still...there's an "I-love-you-don't-touch-me" vibe that's got to be cracked. MAKE ME CARE, PIA! SING LIKE YOU MEAN IT!!! When you finally do...it's gonna be on like Donkey Kong. Viva Italia!

Poor Stefano and his super tight pants. I'm just really upset about that for him.  He's singing "Tiny Dancer." (Does anyone realize Elton John has WAY more songs than the ones we've heard so far tonight?) Well, he worked HARD to keep those pretty eyes open tonight and work the stage...good for him. He's just so freakin' adorable, I want to toss him over my shoulder and take him home and make him my famous spaghetti and meatballs. Not sure I loved this song on him, there are plenty of others that would've fit his voice better and allowed his natural soulfulness to shine through. A good job, but not sure it'll be enough to keep him for another week if he was in the bottom three last week. Viva Italia anyway!

Steven hears what in Stefano's...Broadway??? Wha huh...???  Mr. Tyler's clearly never been to a cabaret. Or even a Broadway show for that matter. 

I have a horrible feeling Lauren's gonna sing "Candle In The Wind." Ugh. UGH! It's really not fun to be right all the freakin' time, people.  KILLER dress. But I was completely, hopelessly bored. It's not like she didn't sing it well...she really took great care with it vocally, but I didn't feel it. Maybe cuz I hate this song. Maybe I'm getting jaded cuz everyone's so talented this year. Sorry judges, I just didn't see what you did. 

James, please my child, KICK THIS SNOOZER OF A SHOW UP A NOTCH! Oh I knew you would do "Saturday Night's Alright." YEAH!!!! SPLITS OFF THE STEPS! FLYING MIC STAND! FLAMING PIANO! OUT OF TUNE HIGH NOTES!   Oh well, I really didn't care about that last little bit. That was a MUCH needed infusion of fun. He's so comfortable doing what he does...the song fit him like a glove. Made me miss my rock chick days (and my rock chick figure). James doesn't quite have the impeccable control of Adam Lambert but he sure brings as much fun. 

Jasmine...er Thia...is going to sing "Daniel." Shocker, a slow tune. Again...did ANYONE actually LOOK at the Elton John catalog? Okay, shut up Darci, that was lovely. Really, really lovely. Beyond her years. Still the slightest hair consistently under pitch but maybe it wasn't enough for the average joe to notice. She told me the story and she made me care. Well done, Little Bit. 

Casey's gonna sing "Your Song." *sigh* zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Okay, shut up again, Darci. Cuz that was NIIIIIIIIIIIICE. Tender, with some grit at just the right spots, not overdone and charmingly performed. Excellent switch up. I hope that was enough to save him.

My nail polish matches JLo's dress. Just in case anyone was wondering.

A softer, gentler Jacob is up next? I can't take any softer and gentler ANYBODY. Okay maybe I'll make an exception because I absolutely ADOREADOREADORE "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word"!!!  (Trivial side note: this song was pitched to Joe Cocker originally and he turned it down. He ended up recording it years later on "Two Rooms," a mostly excellent tribute to the music of John and Taupin put out in the early 90's. Look it up!) Aw jeez. Like Jennifer Hudson did when she was on this show (and still does whenever she sings), there's something in Jacob's voice that puts a lump in my throat immediately. Where I come from we call that an annointing. I can't describe it and I know a lot of people will disagree. Maybe I'm just having an emotional day and can relate a little too well to this song presently. Regardless, he did his job. To be fair, the front end I didn't love all that much, there was weird diction going on, but it didn't take much for him to make me fuggedaboudit. It worked and it made me want to watch it again. JHud is the only other contestant that's ever made me rewind.

Haley closes with "Benny & The Jets," which is such a fun song. Seriously I LOVE her voice. LOVE. She put some STANK on that song!!! YES!!! I wish the band had upped it a notch to match her but that didn't seem to deter her at all. Plus she wasn't Hunchback Haley tonight which made me REALLY happy. One of my favorite performances of hers, everything fell into place tonight. Suh-weeeeet. Bravo! 

Oh yay, it's over. Even a bunch of good singers can't make an endless night of ballads work, people! No idea what will happen tomorrow night, but I'm pretty sure it won't be as uplifting as last week's elimination show.  

Sweet dreams, errbody! 

"A WORKING MUSICIAN'S REVIEW" - AMERICAN IDOL TOP 11 (3/23)

For the newbies, I'm Darci Monet and I make music and teach people to sing for a living. I have two albums out, I perform all over L.A., I've sung backup for some super cool people, I've won a few awards for songwriting and some of my students are making great careers for themselves. Also, I am making my very first music video, which I am describing as a "video love letter to the world"!  My production team and I would love for you to keep up with our progress on our Facebook page.

I've been watching American Idol since season one and kvetching about it since season two. I do "drive-by reviews"...one watch, first impression critiques (cuz you don't get do-overs in concert). Thank you for reading, and please feel free to pipe in with your opinions, even if they disagree with mine -- just keep it on a grown up level. Thank you! 

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I've been in a bit of a bubble today taking care of my twin pseudo-nieces, so before I get started I'd just like to give a shout out to Elizabeth Taylor, who I just found out passed today. Even though she swiped Eddie Fisher from Debbie Reynolds a hundred years ago and she's had 37 husbands, you still have to give it up that she a) had as much acting talent as she had beauty and b) she was the first celebrity to talk about and insist something be done about the AIDS epidemic back when NO ONE would talk about it. People with HIV are living long, healthy lives in no small part due to her moxie and tireless efforts over the years. Go rest high on that mountain, Miz Taylor...your work on earth is done. ♥

And now to the frivolity. Motown week. This one's always a crap shoot, eh? I have high hopes for this year's crew though, most of whose voices actually possess some soulfulness. I do hope I'm not wrong. About the soulfulness as well as my grammar...cuz that previous sentence didn't feel right. But I'm too tired to fix it if it isn't.

JLo...no on that blue eyeshadow. Normally I think your makeup is stunning, but it's not working with the outfit tonight. On a less snarky note, every single one of the contestants looks SHARP tonight. Seriously, excellent work by the stylists this season. 

Casey is gonna kick off the show with Marvin Gaye's classic "I Heard It Through The Grapevine." Weeellll, another great song choice from him, fit him well. His voice is sounding tired though and no wonder since he grits and growls his way through everything. I always enjoy him though, even though I can't really say this was my absolute favorite of his performances. He always seems to be having such a great time and a couple cracks and glitches on high screamy notes doesn't take that away. Aw look at all his grungy friends in the audience! Sweet. 

Oh man. If Thia sings "Heat Wave" I'm not sure if I will even be able to sit through it. I can't stand this song and someone sings it EVERY freakin' season. Oh dear God, she is.  Aaaaaannnnnnnnnddddddd flat as usual on the first chorus. She got better as she went along, though. I really like the timbre of her voice. I really, really do. And she's just lovely to look at all the time. But I wasn't thrilled with this performance cuz it felt like it usually does with the teenagers...really practiced and lacking authenticity. I do however think this girl's got a great future ahead of her. In ten years - watch out. Glad the judges encouraged her to keep digging in.

Jacob is gonna sing "You're All I Need" written by the great Ashford & Simpson (which has also been sung ad nauseum on this show, the best by Kelly herself). I ain't worried about this one. And I didn't have to. That was SANGIN'. He gave it just enough. Just enough to honor the song, to get the audience having fun (including Kirsten Dunst, apparently), and to get Steven Tyler up out his damn chair-uh and up on the stage-uh! Smokin'.  I would like to download this recording. And I actually watched it twice. I NEVER do that. Ha! I love his Mama dancin' in the Spirit in the aisles! Okay and everyone gets to come up and hug Jacob...I hope he's not a germaphobe...

Here comes Lauren with "You Keep Me Hangin' On." *sigh* Ummm...why is the chick from Rock Mafia (or whatever they're called) right in the sound booth with her? Ugh. That would last all of a half a second with me. Get out mah space, sister. I got WORK ta do!   Anyway...I don't really know how this will go. I guess we're about to find out. I have never liked the Supremes but I liked Kim Wilde's version in the 80's, so hopefully there will be a cool arrangement happening (so far the producers haven't overdone it tonight - I am REALLY appreciative). I'm loving it. She sounds great, she looks AMAZING, something all came together tonight...first time I really saw a star emerge. She could have had a little more fun with her vocals toward the end, I thought she kept it super safe, but hey...she had heels and that hemline to think about not tripping over and a pro has to know how to pick her battles. Great job. I'm kinda surprised. Didn't think I'd dig this song on her.

By the way...I need to find me a "producing partner." I should be part of a "Rock Mafia"...or something. Now accepting applications. 

My boy Stefano is up next. He's tackling Lionel Richie's "Hello" (I forget he was on Motown). This is one of my all time fave songs and Ron Fair gave him some great advice. Caress it. Hmmmmm. Did NOT like how this was chopped up at all and I didn't really love how he approached it. I LOVE ME some Stefano and what he sang he nailed, but he had some weird diction and improv choices that just didn't work for me. It could be that I'm so very used to the original, but usually I can get out of that box pretty easily. Not sure why I didn't like it...perhaps it just felt too big. It's not a big song and I don't think it should be made into one just because the person singing it has a big voice. I think I'd have preferred it if he approached it more carefully and stayed tender with it. I completely agree with Jennifer's comment, "I don't want the intensity to come from you wanting to do well, I want the intensity to come from because your heart is breaking [sic]." I understood her, even if it wasn't a perfectly constructed sentence. And sooooo right. I always tell my students, "Make me care." That was my issue...I didn't care. I still ♥ him, though.

I guess the judges listened to everyone complaining about how easy they've been on the contestants. They've been much more constructively critical this week and never once with an ounce of cruelty. Now that's what I'm talkin' about. 

I'm looking forward to what Haley's gonna sing, cuz I really like her voice and I think it will be well-suited to this style. Better bring it, girl! "You Really Got A Hold On Me" by Smokey Robinson. And that girl THREW IT DOWN. A little shaky start, but she caught up with herself eventually. I get annoyed by her constant hunching (plus it does nothing for breath control) and I don't really see star quality going on but I still really like her voice and what she can do with it, so I'm always rooting for her at least a little bit. Great song choice for her and I thought she sang the hell out of it. This is where I think she lives. Very blues-based r&b as opposed to super current nu skool stuff. More Adele than Alicia Keys.

Oh my Lord, I can't believe there's another entire hour left. 

Here comes Scotty. Motown week. Hmmmmmm. Hahahahaha...ok, I cannot help but be charmed by him every week! At first I was like, "Huh. Just don't know if I like this so country-fried. I think it's gonna get boring really fast." But then he went up into his higher register and TOLD US ABOUT IT...and I believed him. And then he got cheeky. And that was adorable. Maybe not his best of all his performances, but he certainly didn't crash and burn like other country wannabes have done during Motown week in the past. Not by a long shot. Well done. BUT - quit holding the mic like that. It's just...well...just stop it. Trust me.

I really really really don't want Pia to do a ballad (no, last week didn't count as an "uptempo"). Dang it...she is. *sigh*  I do LOVE this song though, so I might let her slide. Jeepers...seriously, this girl has such chops, it's just stupid. But I wasn't with her...cuz she didn't take me with her. She too was closing her eyes too much and shutting us out. The expression on her face was too contented. These lyrics speaknothing of contentment. You've gotta tap in, paisano. All the vocal calisthenics in the world won't cover the lack of connection and at the end of the day, the singer is there to serve the song. BE THE VESSEL. 

Ok, shut up a minute, JLo. Stop talking all over Randy! Jeeeeeez. (Notice she doesn't DARE do it to Steven...?)

Paul gets to use his gee-tar tonight, yay!  Aw he's gonna do "Tracks Of My Tears," such a great old Smokey song. Looking forward to the arrangement, I always thought this tune would be fantastic with the tempo pulled back. Too bad we can't hear him over Hugh Hefner's Girls Next Door belting in the background. Now...honestly I could barely hear if he did well or not. I was aggro that he smiled all the way through (as sparkly as that smile is), because it was INAPPROPRIATE to do so considering the subject matter (hello, pet peeve). I think I'd probably dig the recording, though. I really don't have anything more to say. 

I have a feeling Naima's singing "Dancing In The Street." And can I call 'em or what? Snoooooooooze.   The good news is that she has such an authentic stage presence and connection to what she sings, so I might not hate it. And yeah, I kinda liked it. It fit her voice nicely. I still think everyone else sings circles around her, but she's so unique and fabulous on stage...vocals can be improved. I don't really know why Jennifer got goosebumps, though...I don't know if it was quite all that...but I enjoyed her. 

Last song of the night comes from James. Good. Good. Really cool arrangement. Some off-pitch notes but...he's getting so comfy in his own skin on the stage. He's such a great throwback to those good old fashioned rock singers...like Steven Tyler, Robert Plant, et al...and dear GAWD we need one of those right now. While I don't know if it was his best vocal ever, his ease on stage has "supahstar" screaming all over it. 

So it's like this...I actually like them all and I don't really think anyone did badly enough to warrant going home. Ten seasons and that's NEVER happened. My least fave performance personally were probably Thia and Paul, but I still didn't hate them at all. My best guess to end up going home is Haley simply cuz she's already been in the bottom three, though her performance certainly wouldn't deserve it. It's gonna sting every week now, pretty much. Good show tonight.

AND JHUD'S COMING BACK TO IDOL TOMORROW NIGHT! YYYYEEEEEEEEESSSSSSS!!!! SAAAAAAAANG, SISTER!   

Bedtime, finally. 

A WORKING MUSICIAN'S REVIEW - AMERICAN IDOL TOP 12 (3/16)

I've been watching American Idol since season one and kvetching about it since season two. I generally post my reviews here but I don't think it really comes up in searches as easily as Blogger does. So this season I'll be experimenting with posting them in both places. Thank you for reading, and please feel free to pipe in with your opinions -- just don't get too hateful about either the contestants or with each other, please. That's what the Fox boards are for.  I'd also love it if you would let other Idol freaks know about the reviews. The more the merrier!

This is a review of last week's top twelve performances. Note, I do not review the elimination shows.

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Okay...I'm excited for tonight's show, as I was lucky enough to sit in on the American Idol discussion panel at Paleyfest this past Monday night (thank you, Faith Rivera!). In attendance were Randy, Steven, Executive Producer Ken Warwick, head of Alternative Programming (or something like that) Mike Darnell and nine of the top thirteen contestants (Ashthon had gotten the boot already and Lauren, Scotty and Thia had to stay behind and do school work - the audience was NOT happy about that). I have no idea why JLo wasn't there. I was kind of glad though, because if she had been, the place would have been a MAD HOUSE to get into or out of, I'm sure. But it was really fun. Here are a couple really fuzzy pics from my camera phone:

The great Steven Tyler!

The whole panel l-r: moderator dude from L.A. Times, Steven, Randy, Ken Warwick, Mike Darnell, Pia, Karen, Haley, Paul, Jacob, Stefano, James, Naima and Casey.

     

Casey

Stefano

     

Paul and James

I'm sure that looks junky and awful. Sorry. It's more proof that I was actually that close to Steven Tyler more than anything. Ha!

Birth year theme. This always makes me wanna take a long drive off a cliff on the Pacific Coast Highway. You were born when??? 

Up first tonight is Naima, who's missing her babies and singing Tina Turner's 1984 classic "What's Love Got To Do With It" (Useless trivia: Tina never wanted to record this song because she didn't like it. Now she's stuck singing it till she dies.) I'm seriously hating these arrangements this year. I'm finding they are distracting me from the singer, which defeats the whole purpose. And really - leave well enough alone, anyway. Other than that...well...as a person and performer I'm cool with Naima. She's trippy and cool and seems very comfortable on stage. But I have yet to be impressed with her vocal skills even remotely. From that standpoint, she sings a slight hair under pitch in the first place and makes the audience white-knuckle it through, waiting for her to go as flat as Thia does at any second. Her vibrato is an afterthought, which goes sharp when she uses it (a la Beyonce and Rhianna, seems the thing to do these days). It all ends up sounding really sloppy overall. So for me Naima is all aural wackness. I so wish she was better, because she's the only personality out of the girls that I care for so far.

So how adorable is Paul? Oh goody, he's gonna do Elton John's "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" (I'm a geektastic Elton fan), though I admit I can't imagine it. Guess we'll see what happens. (Ummm...did they get three interns from the Musician's Institute to sing backup this year? They looked all of twelve! Been loving this season so far but I'm starting to notice some blatant kid-marketing going on. Guess who buys the tv's the kids watch, Fox? Bite my shriveled up @$$.) Ok...back to Paul. I don't know what I think about this performance. His voice was squeekier than usual and he definitely missed some pitches, so not a great vocal from him tonight. I think I would really like his spin on this song when he's feeling up to it, though. On the plus side, he's a pro...his energy never wavered and he relied on his stage skills to get him through it...which is how it's done, young'uns.  

Thia was born in 1995. Gulp. Wasn't that just yesterday?   Ah, "Colors of the Wind" should be a good choice for her IF SHE STAYS IN TUNE. And as I suspected, yes an excellent choice. On the big last chorus, she was just shy of the higher notes, but just enough that she could have passed them off as "blue" if we didn't already know she tends to sing flat. Overall, however, this is my favorite performance from her so far. Age-appropriate, generally well-sung and she is a GORGEOUS girl whose smile lights up the stage almost as much as Paul's. I like her. I just really want the vocal coach to work on her pitch with her. And I want her to sing something other than a ballad next week.

Uh...Randy has a problem with her vocals THIS week? 

James, GIMME that Bon Jovi, baby!!! 1989's "I'll Be There For You." Weeeeelllllll...I definitely white-knuckled it through that one, too. You can tell he caught The Cold. But he hung on by his fingernails and performed his way through it. Not my favorite of his and the tempo felt rushed but thank God there weren't any cheesy horn parts thrown in at least (biggest pet peeve of past "rock" arrangements on this show). It was kinda "meh" for me. I'm not worried he'll be safe, though.

Ah, so I see why Haley has no idea who she is as an artist - she grew up with musicians who play covers. Therefore, she has been exposed to every style there probably is and can probably sing most of them well. My advice would be to step into studio singing after the show, sweetie. That way you can do everything and get away with it. Now...I'm feeling this song is gonna be a mistake for her. She's hitting the notes and singing it with a cool jazzy style that could have worked if Ron Fair had taken that hint with his arrangement...but he didn't. The audience, I don't think, is gonna get this at all. I feel pretty squarely that she's gonna end up in the bottom three and possibly sent home for that. And I think that would be a shame cuz I really dig her voice. 

Steven's got it...more blues, Haley. That's where you live, darlin. I hope she gets the chance to bring it next week.

Viva Italia, Stefano! He's gonna sing Simply Red's "If You Don't Know Me By Now." I can't wait to hear him do this. I love his voice and I have great expectations for this song. Aaaaannnnddddd, I think the arrangement was soulless but he gave his 150% to it. By far the best of the night so far. My only kvetch is that I wish he would learn to play with the dynamic levels. For those who don't know what that means...loud to soft to medium and back again. He sings everything at 10 from start to finish and that's going to become tiresome for the audience and hard on his voice. He's got to learn not to beat a song to death, but caress and finesse it. I think it's mostly cuz he gets super excited and every week he's singing for his life and just spills it all over the stage (that said, I always believe him), but it won't serve him for an entire career. He's one of my faves, though. Kid can saaaaang. 

I cannot believe I'm hearing one of my neighbors using a power tool of some sort at 10:30pm on a Wednesday night. CANNOT. BELIEVE. 

Viva Italia, Pia! Oh my God that home video was HILARIAL. She's gonna sing Whitney's "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" and I have no qualms that she will sing it well. Dear God in heaven I HATE this arrangement...WHAT IS GOING ON HERE??? Thank God this girl knows how to sing her face off. She's got the stuff. Period. Wish she would use the stage a bit. But I can't complain about her vocals ever. Flawless.

Ryan's cracking me up this season. Turns out he's kinda funny. 

Look at Scotty as Elvis!  Some Travis Tritt from 1993 song I don't know. Aaaawwww, seriously. I just can't say anything. This child is brilliant. I...yeah...ummm...I got nuthin. Just wax my butt and send me down the slopes. 

So is Karen's hair gonna do a duet with her tonight? And with those earrings she could start her own band.  She's going to do Taylor Dayne's "Love Will Lead You Back." Man, I was really digging this until she flipped so noticeably into head voice on her high notes that it tore me right out of the moment. Can someone give this girl a chest voice, please? Bummer. Otherwise, good song choice for her, her pitch was fantastic and she was really owning that stage. I liked this performance overall and I think she gave as much as she's got...which tells me she's got to start moving past being a good vocalist and start learning how to be an amazing one. I think the potential's there, I just don't know if this medium gives her the time to woodshed her vocals like she needs to. 

I think Randy heard some other chick singing. Pitch wha huh? Good advice from Jennifer though...if you don't have the notes, don't do them, play to your strengths. Certainly explains the one-note song she just released. Oh NO she dint! Did you see that coming? Uuhh! Right there, biznitches! .   

Tamyra who? 

Hahahaha...Casey's gonna do Nirvana! NIRVANA ON AMERICAN IDOL!!! Cobain is rolling over in his grave and emo screamers everywhere are weeping and gnashing their teeth! Aaaaawwwwwww yeah. Now...here's the thing...I think he got everything right he could possibly get right or be allowed by this show to get right...I am THOROUGHLY disappointed that Idol couldn't spring for a headset mic for him so he could run and thrash around on the stage, because you KNOW he wanted to! I wanted him to. I think everyone wanted him to. And what the hell with putting him out there all by himself with just his bass and a giant amp? They're doing that a lot this season...making it very karaoke-ish again. Where is the band? Why can't we see them? But I digress. I can't complain about this. Casey keeps taking risks that work. And, true to the spirit of Cobain, I didn't understand a single blinkin' word he sang. That's rock n' roll, man. 

Poor Lauren, all sick n' stuff.  Ummmmm...ok, I never sound like THAT when I've got the flu! WTH, girl?! You GO wicho bad self! Still missing that first week spark but she still sounded pretty dang good, especially for being sick. I'm sure she's safe. Btw, her mama has that Southern Mary Kay face. Oh, how I miss that look from my Nashvegas days! 

Jacob closes the show with my blessed Heart's "Alone." You bettah, child. YOU. BETTAH. LOL...omg he's SO DRAMATIC! I kinda love that. And he's always 110% in the moment, which I can not fault, especially on this show. How do I feel about his version? Hmmmmm. Well...I feel like it kinda got away from him a bit...this song requires a mix of desperation and control that I've yet to hear anyone but Ann herself master properly (ummm...that includes Carrie's bland rendition in season four that everyone seems to think was so amazing but really wasn't - I'd like to hear her sing it NOW that she knows how to properly emote on stage...but I digress). I liked the arrangement itself by the end of it, even though when that key change came I was all, "Aw hayull naw!" But he made it work and he definitely put his own unique spin on it. Lots of pitchiness was had, but I'll take a few wonky notes when they're jam-packed with true emotion any day of the week. And I am a fan of his voice, so I was okay with it. I'm interested to hear the recording, actually. Overall, his is the only version of this song on this show that I kinda sorta approve of, cuz he's the only one who's come anywhere close to the emotional quality that it needs, even if he went a bit over the top. Okay, maybe a lot over the top.  (and I have no doubt that Kaore Bonnell shall henceforth unfriend me, should he read this)

So that was an okay show. Everyone's really different from each other and I'm very much enjoying that. I really want these blechtastic arrangements to go away, though.  Not a clue who's going home, though I think Haley will end up in the bottom three and Naima probably should join her. I'm concerned that perhaps Jacob will because people won't get him, but you never know with this monster of a show.

That's all she's writing, folks! Gonna cuddle up in my bed with Toni Morrison's "Song of Solomon." Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts! (and don't forget to click on my banner below! Only 4 days left! )

Today I'm Grateful...

"Dark Darci" is knocking on my door right now because I've been sick for a week with a nasty sinus infection and cough. My voice is trashed and will take weeks and weeks to recover after the illness has past. This happens several times a year. There's a lesson I'm not learning apparently, or it wouldn't keep plaguing me.

That at the most said, I have found that when "Dark Darci" rears her ugly head, I'm able to at least partially exorcise her by making a gratitude list. And so that is exactly what I'm going to do right now. I know the truth to be that I will not heal any faster by dwelling on my misery and worrying about all the things I need my voice to get better for. As stated by Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith, "Worrying has no transformational value. Worry is emotionally rehearsing all of the very things you don't want to happen." I must heal my thought process in order to heal my body.

Therefore, today I'm grateful...

1) ...that even now my body is restoring itself to its original state of perfect health and well-being. (Thanks for that affirmation, Louise Hay!)

2) ...for Stove Top Stuffing. It's mushy and warm - perfect soar throat food.

3) ...for my comfortable old bed. I cannot imagine being sick and trying to get well on a mat in the dirt. Thankyouthankyouthankyouformybed.

4)...that my parents and siblings are all alive and healthy. Well, mostly. We're all a little mental, admittedly.

5) ...for pretty Christmas lights. (Yes, my decorations are still up. Shut up.)

6) ...for fresh new tv shows this week, FINALLY! (It's only an "idiot box" if you watch the shows that actually cast idiots)

7) ...for the book my sis loaned me that I'm currently reading -- "Dry" by Augusten Burroughs. Wanna feel better about your life? Read that guy's books. Seriously. You have no problems.

8) ...for the ten people who will bother to read this blog. Hey, that's YOU!

9) ...for modern science, from which comes the medication that is working to make me better.

10) ...for living in a country where I still have access to said medication, even if our healthcare system is broken.

11)  ...for a friend who called to see if I need anything. ♥

12) ...for a day with my 4 year old twin nieces tomorrow, whom I haven't seen since before Christmas. I'll be even MORE grateful if they go a little easy on their old Aunt Darci.

13) ...for Producer Jacole and Director Chris who are INSISTENT that we keep plugging away on my video for "Go On" even though we have no idea how we're paying for it. The French call this Le Stepping in Faithe.

14) ...for butter. Butter is really good.

15) ...for quiet evenings watching dvds with DangerPickleKitty snoring under my coffee table...

...which is about to become reality right now.

"All healing is at first a healing of the heart." ~Carl Townsend

All uphill from here!

Be blessed and thankful,
Darci

Darci's 2010 Reflect-O-Blog

Well, here it is. New Year's Day 2011. I can't warm up, I have the sniffles and a cough, I didn't go out last night, I had to get up early on a Saturday to go feed my friend's dog, my Blackberry keeps shutting itself down and I have no clue which direction to go with my career from here. Oh yeah...and stupid Time Warner cable doesn't give me access to Oprah's new OWN network. I have access to 997 channels of violent, over-sexed, embarrassing-for-America trash...but TW won't give me the ONE channel that's sole purpose is uplifting television. *sigh*

And still my heart is light as I'd like to shout from the rafters, "THANK GOD 2010 IS OVER!!! THANK YOU GOD! THANK YOU! PRAISALUIAH!!!" 

 

And I thought 2009 was a roller coaster. 2010 cleaned its clock and took its name.

Starting off with my baby sister moving to Chicago one year ago today, the first half of the year was all downhill from there. It felt like I was mourning a death (Taurus' HATE change). My sisters are my best friends. So it was a good four months before I could actually talk to her on the phone, cuz the sound of her cheerful little voice would just make me burst into tears like a stoopit girl. I know, ridonkulous, right? Get OVER yourself, you freakin' pansy. Some people have actually lost loved ones for real this year -- you have no right to act this selfish. 

And yet, I did. 

This is not to say I cocooned myself in my apartment for half a year or actually allowed myself to wallow all that often. I made great efforts to get out of the doldrums (this is a big deal for me, cuz I tend to enjoy the wallowing). However...the Great Recession decided to nail me full force at the same time, so "fun" - which costs a buck or two - was few and far between. I think I went from January (which is usually a busy time of year for me for voice students, what with New Year's rezzies and all) to June with two or three students MAX at any given time. Sometimes it was one student a week. My nanny job was precarious from week to week because the girls' mom had been laid off the previous July and money was really getting tight for them by this point. 

Then came news of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, which very quickly snapped me out of my "woah-is-me" mentality. So one of my biggest efforts to get back on the posi-train was to produce a benefit for Doctors Without Borders. I was so grateful to have a focus, something to keep me busy, something to do for others so I could stay out of my head (I'm not saying I was grateful for the quake, do NOT misunderstand me -- it simply woke me up). Alaaaaaasssssss...a friend who had agreed to run sound for me misinterpreted something I said, refused to accept my apology (or even speak to me) and backed out of the benefit a week before the show. I then found myself scrambling to find sound equipment and someone to run it to pull off the show while deeply grieving the end of that friendship. Even still...there's that little lump in my throat when I think about it -- it's never been resolved.

So one of my best friends moved far away and another threw me completely out of his life in the span of about five weeks.

BP Oil Spill. Earthquakes in Chile and China. My beloved Nashville gets flooded and the news media doesn't give a rip cuz they were too busy covering the spill and the UNSUCCESSFUL car bomb in NY (2010 went on to produce $222 billion worth of disasters before it was over. Jesus is coming - look busy!).

The icing though? The friggin' cherry? This year I was turning...ahem...coughcough...gulp...the big 4-0. This was a problem for several reasons. 

1) Some say a woman in the entertainment industry is dead after 25.

2) I decided when I moved here in 2001 that I'd tell people I was 27. I kinda still had been.

3) I have always said that when I turned 40 I'd stop lying about my age.

4) But wait - I'm still 27!!!

But most pressing...

5) What the hell have I been doing for forty years? I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED NOTHING! NUH. THING. AT. ALL! THIS ISN'T WHERE I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BY FORTY! ARE YOU KIDDING ME???

My friends all have successful careers, businesses, beautiful families, etc. Now, I chose long ago not to worry about marriage and kids and I still do NOT regret that. But I do recognize that my friends who have chosen that path have accomplished a beautiful thing and they have their legacy. Me? I married music and the songs I write are my babies. And at that moment I felt like no more dysfunctional a "family" could possibly exist. My "husband" was a selfish, soul-sucking, finance-depleting, unemployable good for-nothing who beat me and my "kids" were wit-challenged, lazy, whiny little ingrates who contributed nothing to the family unit and made me wonder often how a reasonably intelligent and talented individual such as I could have produced such rotten offspring.

And where do I go from here?

Needless to say, the first half of the year felt like I was constantly gasping for air, for SOME kind of life, grasping for SOME spark of creativity, for SOME kind of validation that I hadn't completely destroyed my life. For the first time in my entire life I wasn't just alone...I was lonely. I honestly feared I'd soon have to decide if I was going to show up on my mother's doorstep, accept that my life as a performer and recording artist was over and I would now live the rest of my life as a batty old maid with cats, teaching tone-deaf 11 year olds songs from "Annie" for twenty-five bucks an hour. In Johnstown, NY. While the place has cleaned up a lot since I left,there's still nothing else to do there but get drunk or pregnant...just as it was in high school. Obviously, my eggs are pretty hard-boiled at this point. So that leaves drunk. Cheers.

I know, I know. SHUT UP ALREADY!  

The healing began with Jim Caruso's Cast Party at the Magic Castle on April 1st, where I, accompanied by the great Billy Stritch, sang to a packed room of big deal theater folk, producers, composers, celebrities, etc....and the crowd roared. Then came a show I was called to do at the last minute -- a Broadway review show. I had to sing real show tunes, where I accidentally rediscovered my inner actress...and found out that I can be really funny while I'm singing and the sound of people laughing at you (when they're supposed to) is really addicting. I realized it had been soooooo long since I'd really performed with total abandon that I'd forgotten what it was like. Little flickers of life...

Then I threw myself a birthday party. Not cuz I really wanted to celebrate my entrance into official middle-agedom, but because I didn't want to regret that I didn't later. It was that decision that brought forth a miracle in my heart. Since I already chronicled it in an earlier blog, I won't go into detail again, but suffice it to say that a) I found out how many people actually do give a s**t or two about me in this god-forsaken city and b) as soon as I turned that dreaded number...I STOPPED CARING ABOUT IT. I had built up so much anxiety over it for months and months (okay, pretty much since I turned 35)...I don't know what I was expecting it to feel like. Like a truck hitting me or something? It didn't. It came in on a wave of love, celebration, laughter and music. And I literally woke up RELEASED afterward. Almost like I'd had great sex! Not that I recall what that's like either...but as I imagine it would be. Like in the movies and stuff. But I digress...

Then I took a wonderful trip to New York City with my amazing Canadian friend Tiffany (she made it all possible) where I watched my good friend/co-writer Levi win a Tony, where I got to sing at the world famous Birdland, where we spent some time at the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Ground Zero...it rejuvenated me further. I came home having decided, for once and for all, that my life is MINE and can be whatever I want it to be. No one gets to tell me "no" but me. You wanna tell me I'm too old? You wanna tell me I'm too fat? I'm not pretty enough? I don't sing the "right" way? I'm all over the niche map? I'm not qualified to teach voice because I don't have my masters in education, my certification in speech level technique, or because I'm a bad accompanist on the piano? You go right ahead. Don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya! I have been THROUGH IT Nelly, and I'm still standing. Forty is a new beginning for me. I know what I know, I know what I do well and I know that every preconceived notion our society dreams up for us all falls away the minute I open my mouth to sing in front of an audience or instruct a student on how to open their mouth and SING. So naysayers, put that in your pipe and smoke it. Well, not really, cuz smoking is bad for you. So just...go away or something. Pee pee all over someone else's Wheaties.

Thanks to my new 'tude, the rest of the year has mostly been a tidal wave of new students, meeting other musicians, singing at every cabaret and piano bar that will have me, another benefit for Nashville where miracles happened (never mind that I almost killed my neighbor putting the show on), auditioning for tv shows and commercials (as an actor, no less!), slowly dipping my toe into attending church again and my cousin Jenny's wedding! I have had a lot of fun since May and I think I've performed more in 2010 than I did in all the years I've lived here since 2001. Okay, that's kinda sad. But that's what I allowed my life to be before now. I have hoarded my gifts since I moved here - I was warned by a Nashville friend who knew a little about how L.A. works that I should NEVER sing for free out here. "Once it gets out that you'll sing for free, you'll NEVER get paid." So I took that advice to heart. Nine years later that advice hasn't worked (I'm a slow learner, shut up). So this year I finally said, "Screw it, I'll sing anywhere...it's the ONLY thing that makes me happy whether I'm paid for it or not." And while I haven't exactly been rollin' in the dough, a funny thing happened. My student roster started growing. Every time I sing, someone asks for my card. So this year I'll have PAID gigs AND lots of students. And some studio work again (which is my fave cuz I don't have to gussy up!). And maybe a tour...singing backup for someone, a national tour of a Broadway show, my own shows...I don't care what it is. I'm gonna travel and sing, travel and sing. 

So now I feel excited about 2011. I still have NO CLUE what I'm gonna do with it, but I'm going one day at a time right now. My only true goals are to be kinder to myself, kinder to others, write songs and sing, sing, sing. All the pieces around that will fall where they may. Nothing is more important than nurturing my own light which will then spread joy and healing to others via my God-given gifts. There, campers, is your meaning of life. And even though it appears I won't get to see her say it on OWN, as Oprah says, "Live your best life." Truly -- when you choose to do that, others are inspired to live their best lives too and that's what heals the world. And so it is.

Peace, joy, blessings, abundance and love to ALL of you in 2011!

Namaste,

Darci

My Favorite Things for 2010

Before I write my annual Pre-New Year Reflect-O-Blog, I decided to do a fun little list of some of my favorite things of 2010. Many are celebrations of good news, wonderful happenings or just plain fun things. Be aware however that many became favorites because of the sheer stupidity of the situation or of the person(s) involved. That said, if I poke fun at someone in your favorite political party, please don't assume I'm either a commie pinko bleeding-heart liberal OR a radical evangelical minority-hating conservative. Stupid is stupid on both sides of the aisle. Everyone equally offended already? Good! Let's begin...

1. The repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", signed into law by our President just today. It's a huge step in the right direction for HUMAN rights. I now look forward to the day when ALL people who are willing to die for this country also have the legal right to marry in it. 

2. The discovery of the modern day hero, Antoine Dodson, and the subsequent smash hit single recorded in his honor. 

3. I had an AMAZING birthday party, thanks to my beautiful and generous neighbors, friends and voice students.

4. My good friend and co-writer Levi Kreis won a freakin' Tony Award. What up with that?

5. And I got to go to the Tony Awards with him! It was my first time at an awards show as a guest and not a performer or seat-filler. I looked hot, too. That's right, I said it. I mean seriously...look at me! *ssssssssssssssssssss!*

6. Re-discovering my inner theater girl.

7. The finale of "Lost." (Cuz it was good, not cuz I wanted the show to end! Waaaaahhhhh!)

8. My cousin Jenny's wedding, where the entire family came together for the first time since...well...her brother Tom's wedding a decade or so ago, I think.

9. Christine O'Donnell. Serious. Comedy. Gold. 

10. Pat Robertson blaming Haiti's wicked godlessness for the devastating earthquake they will be recovering from for years to come. What a fine example of Christian love that guy is.

11. Heart put out a new record. Yes, I said "record." Look it up, young'uns.

12. Simon Cowell left American Idol. Good riddance, Negative Nancy!

13. Sandra Bullock won an Oscar.

14. The Double Rainbow guy.

15. The BP guy saying he'd "like his life back." Genius.

16. Rahm Emanuel's consistent diarrhea of the mouth. Looking up quotes made by him is good for hours of fun.

17. Sarah Palin. Just when I think she can't possibly top herself....

18. "Drop Dead Diva" on Lifetime. Yes. I said Lifetime.

19. The Halleluiah Chorus flashmob.

20. Jim Caruso's Cast Party. At the Magic Castle in L.A. AND at Birdland in NYC. Which means I've had the fortune of having the great Billy Stritch accompany me and have shared the stage with huge entertainment icons.

21. My twin nieces, Rylie and Kayla, getting cast on "House." Which means not only do I get to see their cute little faces on tv (cuz let's face it - they're too pretty NOT to be on tv), it means I also got to meet Hugh Laurie, Lisa Edelstein and Robert Sean Leonard this year.

22. This Tweet while the Cumberland River was flooding Nashville: "Dear Jesus, it would be a REAL big help to us if you could turn this water into wine right about now."

23. Started filming my very first music video for my song "Go On (feat. Debby Holiday & Levi Kreis)." Hopefully we can finish it in 2011!

24. Ryan Reynolds. Single.

25. Tiffani (Amber) Thiessen accepted my friend request on Facebook. What?

Okay, though I'm sure I'm missing something important, I hope my little list put a smile on your face and encourages you to make your own list. So many of us have had a very difficult year...I have learned that counting my blessings in the midst of turmoil not only makes me feel instantly better, but reminds me what I do have and opens my heart to others. A glass of wine doesn't hurt, either.

Contentment of heart to you,

~D