Casey James’ Hometown Hoedown

2010 May 14

by TopIdol

Casey James is a good boy! He’s already practicing John Mayer covers while on his hometown visit.

Randy & Kara (ugh) chose John Mayer’s Daughters (UGH) for the Judges’ Choice portion of Tuesday evening’s Top 3 sing-off. Because they would choose a shitty song by one of today’s biggest douchebags for Beloved Goat Boy to sing. This makes me cheer for Goat Boy even more! Goat Boy & Bowersox to the finale!

I think I might like Casey even more now that I hear him actually do a full song. He’s the sickest guitar player ever seen on the likes of American Idol.

Here is Beloved Goat Boy performing at the Stockyard earlier this evening. It’s always amazing to me how much better a lot of Idol contestants sound…when they’re not performing on American Idol. (I’m looking at you, Quatto Killer!)

Earlier today, Casey James also went and visit the hospital which treated him after a severe motorcycle accident several years ago. Funny, I don’t remember this being pimped in the Tragic Backstory Rounds, do you? But I don’t really care to remember much of this season, so…Dude seems like a genuinely good guy.

Videos courtesy of @CaseyJamesNews

Spread the word. Do it.

Lauren

Casey’s latest update. He wins Idol now lol. The tards are going to love this.

A few things i love in no particular order. Family, friends, music, my dogs, my fans, food, sunshine, Jesus, Texas, games, reading, riding my mountain bike, star wars, old cars and trucks, the ocean.

http://topidolblog.com TopIdol

He likes Star Wars, mountain biking and the ocean? I AM SOLD. I mean, at least Jesus wasn’t FIRST, even if the list was in no particular order.
Lauren

I am guessing the reason he didn’t make an order is because then he would have to choose between Jesus and family for first place. xD

But yes, knowing that he is a Star Wars geek makes me like him a tiny bit more. Oh, and he loves his dogs. Awwwww.

http://topidolblog.com TopIdol

I now need to know what the others love in no particular order.

JW

Has anyone see the homecoming video of Casey and Drowning on Dry Land? If not, it is well worth the watch.
Dickory Dock

Casey James, you’d better take cover. They’ve abandoned the bus and are coming for you full on fucking Mad Max style, yo.

From OK! Magazine interview with Ryan Seacrest yesterday:

“Casey, Lee, or Crystal!” Ryan revealed his winner predictions for AI at Wango Tango, “It’s going to be interesting to see what happens this week because I think a lot of girls are voting for Casey and if he has an off night, will they continue to vote because they think he’s cute?…I think that the best voices are Lee and Crystal.”

Now I really hope Casey can Kris Allen his way into the finale.

JW

Now I really hope Casey can Kris Allen his way into the finale.

What happens if the out of tune guy and Crystal has an off night? Does it mean their fans will not vote for them? This cuts both ways! Bring it on home Casey. Who at this time last year thought Kris Allen would win and who were the judges pimping?
JW

Casey James, you’d better take cover. They’ve abandoned the bus :

What happens IF Casey kills it Tuesday night and the out of tune guy blows it?
Verbally Dyslexic

Wow, they’re not even bothering with tact anymore, are they. Classy.

JW

Verbally Dyslexic permalink WROTE
May 17, 2010

Wow, they’re not even bothering with tact anymore, are they. Classy.

When have they ever? Year after year I have seen pimping of certain contestants.
I have also seen that the pimping doesn’t necessarily turn into votes. Who would
ever have thunk Daughtry would have been voted off in top 4 and that
Taylor would win? Simon was on Taylor a lot. My question is what happens
if the CASEY we have seen in homecoming shows up Tuesday night? I agree
with Ryan on one thing…it will be INTERESTING and CASEY has the potential
to change the game and prove Ryan right there. Ryan’s personal opinion
is not likely to change a vote and I do not believe die hard fans for any of the
three will not vote for them if they do not have a great night. If that were the
case, according to the pimping and the remarks about CASEY after Sinatra night,
CASEY would be gone! Note that Ryan did not say what would happen if CASEY
has a great night! Nor did the reporter follow up with what would happen if the
out of tune guy or Crystal had an off night. Take it with a grain of salt. IF TPTB
truly go by votes, CASEY has just as good a shot at taking the crown as the other two
IMO. I believe this race is far too close to call and has been for a while albeit the
pimping. I don’t get how judges will tell that guy from Chicago that he was out
of tune and then in same breath tell him he is great! We get it. So do other
viewers. I think it is backfire time as has happened before. CASEY all the
way.
Dickory Dock

Maybe he’s getting more votes than we think? They seem sort of desperate to push the Lee and Crystal finale. Ellen was pimping out Lee and Crystal on her show last week too. She gave Casey the Kris Allen Tribute — she didn’t mention him so he doesn’t exist. Heh.

If Casey makes it into the finale there will be some serious wank going down.

JW

Dickory Dock permalink
May 17, 2010

Maybe he’s getting more votes than we think? They seem sort of desperate to push the Lee and Crystal finale. Ellen was pimping out Lee and Crystal on her show last week too. She gave Casey the Kris Allen Tribute — she didn’t mention him so he doesn’t exist. Heh.

If Casey makes it into the finale there will be some serious wank going down.

I think you are on to something. I think Ellen has a crush on Crystal. :0
Don’t count CASEY out just because of the pimping.

JW

Question: When I reply to comments, how do I put same in dialogu box?
Dickory Dock

Whoa, dude. Chill. Don’t tell me … former Soul Patroller? And Ellen has a crush on Crystal? Uh, whatevia.

Look, it’s 99.9876999% certain to be a Lee and Crystal finale. It would be great if Casey could throw a spanner into the works, but it isn’t likely.
Dickory Dock

JW, you simply reply to the comment by clicking the little “reply” link at the bottom left. There’s no need to quote the comment your responding to.

And maybe it’s just me, so forgive me for being sort of a dick since this isn’t my blog and all, but spamming comments is sort of bad form. But like I said, not my blog so carry on.
http://topidolblog.com TopIdol

I keep them there for a reason

But this is no place to start posting articles proclaiming ANYONE’S greatness. I don’t care who its about. Post a link. Don’t throw all the text up there for everyone to read, plus, it just makes you seem like a crazed fan.

JW

I am trying to get the “hang” of posting here as I am new and this is a test.

JW

Dickory Dock permalink
May 17, 2010

Whoa, dude. Chill. Don’t tell me … former Soul Patroller? And Ellen has a crush on Crystal? Uh, whatevia.

I’m chilled! Just my sense of humor re Ellen/Crystal. As for Soul Patroller, I was just making comparison of pimping and how it turned out. You may be right in your stats, but I still think it is too close to call.
JW

Dickory Dock. Thanks for instructions with replying.

I didn’t think of the comment as spamming but if that is how it was interpreted, I will be more watchful! New to this blog so don’t know my way around yet.

Dickory Dock

It was just a little heads up so it’s all good. And welcome, by the way.

JW

Dickory Dock. Thanks for instructions with replying.

I didn’t think of the comment as spamming but if that is how it was interpreted, I will be more watchful! New to this blog so don’t know my way around yet.

Thanks.
JW

Thanks for the heads up.

http://topidolblog.com TopIdol

JW, I think it was more directed at another poster. At least I was thinking it was Alas, that’s another comments thread.

But no posting of long articles is a good thing. And welcome to the site, JW!

JW

Thanks. I think I am getting it here now.

Go Casey.

auntieaimee

He’s just parroting what he’s been told to say. The producers have such little respect for their audience, don’t they? It’s pretty appalling. I’d say that besides season 5, the audience has gotten it right every year. They should just let the chips fall where they may.

JW

The chips fall where they will anyway. Personally, I think these kind of comments rouse the voting base of the underdog. Neither Crystal or Lee is appealing to me. I am not into the folksy, coffee house or hippy persona which is what I see in Crystal. Her pipes are pleasing for listening, but I do not like to watch her, have a tendency to turn away. Lee is much too intense and out of tune for me. I do wish them all the best for it is not a secret that I believe CASEY is the best total package of the three.

Pandora

Over on TWOP, I read that the producers chose the duet pairings this year (according to Michael Lynche). Raise your hand if you’re shocked that they teamed up Lee and Crystal?

JW

Over on TWOP, I read that the producers chose the duet pairings this year (according to Michael Lynche). Raise your hand if you’re shocked that they teamed up Lee and Crystal?

Not shocked. TWTB are very predictable. CASEY all the way! He rocks.

MaryS-NJ

I’m new here but will try not to make too many noobish mistakes. I didn’t know if you’d seen this YouTube video of Bybee D. James and Friends. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igIgp0mCzo4

‘Tis lovely.

Oh yeah and GO Casey “Goat Boy” James! I can has “Satisfied” on Tuesday?

Pandora

Welcome, Mary!

MaryS-NJ

Thanks Pandora! Good to be here.

JW

I’m new to here too Mary. But recognize you from the other site.

Casey’s homecoming has been eye opening and I hope this CASEY shows up Tuesday night.

MaryS-NJ

Good to see you around the ‘hood JW. I’m hoping one of Casey’s songs from this weekend’s homecoming is his choice for tomorrow.

peg

Jim Cantiello at MTV tweeted:

A co-worker just received Lee DeWyze’s 2 pre-”Idol” CDs with a big fat press kit, sent from Lee’s old record label.

Look out for that bus Casey!!!

MaryS-NJ

Didn’t Glambert’s old label do something like that and cause problems for him as a result? I’m thinking the 19 conglomerate won’t like old labels profiting off their product.

Mithra

No, not the same. AI is more than happy to let Lee’s stuff slip out, because it’s pretty good. Adumb’s stuff is crapola, plus the more people know, the more obvious the roots of THE ULTIMATE PLANT would come to light.
jukejoint

I think the Glambert thing was way post-Idol. Like in the summer after.

Cook’s pre-Idol cd was stripped from amazon.com during his season, though. Which is the weirdest thing. It was fine for Brooke and Michael Johns to have pre-Idol music on sale. But not Cook.

I will never figure out what 19′s tentacles do and do not care about.

MaryS-NJ

So you think Lee’s old label is in cohoots with 19 to mutually profit…
well, it sounds greedy enough that it could be true.

I’m still betting on this being an opportunistic release by the old label.
.
.
.
.
Go Casey!

peg

I think it was the “big fat press kit” that seemed awfully suspicious. Like maybe 19E put it together but had it delivered by the old record label. Kinda like Adam getting the EW cover before the finale last year.

So yeah … Go Casey!!!

J

I thought that was odd too. They let Brooke and Michael’s pre idol music sell throughout the show. Cook’s was pulled right after it hit #1 on amazon. It’s a shame because his pre idol album Analog Heart is so much better than the cd he put out post idol. The only theory I can come up with is that they wanted the public to think that the show created Cook. If the general public found out that he wasn’t really a product of AI it wouldn’t be as easy to market him as their new discovery.

Mithra

Hahahaha!

http://i43.tinypic.com/vimbr6.jpg

Lauren

Uhhhhh. Where did you find that?

Mithra

I got it from the thread linked down the page here, about the goathead at IDF. Don’t tell me it’s yours and you’re a secret Leetard So I take it Idol is the Titanic? Was that intentional?

Lauren

Pahahaha no. I was just wondering what sites you could possibly be visiting to find that monstrosity. I think they were going for the romance part, but funny, no?

MaryS-NJ

Wow… is this intentional satire or the loving creation of some poor CrystaLee shipper lacking an irony gene? All we need now is a photochop of Casey-as-Fonzie on water skis getting ready to jump the shark and that will be a perfect epitaph to this shipwreck of a season.

Trish

Yeah, Casey as Fonzie and Big Mike as Free Willy dueting on Spanish guitar!

What ever happened to that Adam fan who used to post here and hated my my red boots? She could do something brilliant I’m thinking.

Trish

LOLOLOL!Please tell me that was created with tongue firmly in cheek!

summersnow

I’m now rooting for Casey to be the Top 2 with Crystal winning just becos 1) Lee ruined Falling Slowly, 2) Casey seems at least a better guy compared to that ex-high school trouble-maker Lee, 3) He’s obviously skilful in guitar-playing, 4) the judges’ bussing him reminds me of Kris.

I think he could go the route of Keith Urban if he could write his songs. His guitar skills is already quite solid. On top of that, he has that country boy look (plaid shirt+guitar). It helps that country fans always seem very welcoming of Idol artists venturing into country genre.

Trish

I’m no Lee fan, but if you’re going to fault him for *mistakes that were made* in high school, you allow into evidence Casey’s DUI at age 17. (And doesn’t he look darling in his mug shot, LOL?)

http://www.starmagazine.com/casey_james/news/16598

http://topidolblog.com TopIdol

I don’t think either of them should be judged by mistakes they made in their youth. We’ve all made mistakes.

Am I allowed to speculate whether or not Lee has/had a relationship with that teacher? Because that’s a helluva lot more fun, anyway.

et

The teacher thing is *way* more interesting!

I don’t think it’s fair to judge people by what they did as kids. Hell, one of my siblings was a little middle class brat trying to act like he was a gangster in high school, small time drug dealing, police knocking on our door… and he’s now a lawyer, on the board of a charity… I mean, you can change.

http://topidolblog.com TopIdol

I was definitely no picnic. And I do have a huge aversion to digging that crap up because that sort of thing is non-consequential. Last season, I wouldn’t have given a second thought to Danny Gokey’s crazy church if he wasn’t an active member.
et

I was one wild girl in college. Completely different person than I am now, people who knew me then would not recognize me, and vice versa. Sometimes you just gotta get it out of your system
mozart4898

Yeah…we’ve all made mistakes – in some cases much bigger ones than others. The only thing that bugs me is when a double standard emerges for them – i.e. the few times I’ve heard someone question Crystal’s integrity for having a child out of wedlock. The thing that probably really scared Casey straight was the accident that nearly killed him. Something like that will have a way of really changing you.

saskin

I’ve been thinking Casey should sing Two Princes from Spin Doctors or Gives You Hell from All American Rejects and have a lot of fun with it with his electric guitar on his last show. So one of the boring ones will win but he will be the fun one.

maturin

Gives You Hell would be SO awesome from any Idol, hee. It’s so resent-y.

maturin

Why does my icon have both a bandit mask and what seems to be a long, bendy ween? ANd my hands come out of my ears! And I have antenna! Only 1 of those things is true in real life.

mozart4898

You have a long bendy ween in real life?

Verbally Dyslexic

LOL! You beat me to it. Maturin, a long bendy ween is considered a gift in some cultures.

Lauren

I thought it was the hands coming out of the ears.
caspar

That’s a TAIL, Maturin- sooo much better than a mere ween.
It could be worse; look at me, much like our favorite Idol, I have only a few hairs on my giant skull. Though I have got useful lobster claws and a scary octopus maw, ringed with sharp teef.
jukejoint

a) I love your mask. It’s kind of racoony. Like Cartman’s superhero alter-ego, the Coon.

b) I think it’s a tail. Like a possum tail.
Dickory Dock

Well, I appear to be armless. I guess I’m an arachnid. Whith a prehensile tongue. And bolts for ears. Purty, but not very useful.
et

LOL, maturin, that just cracked me up. I have some issues what with an extra eye, some Teletubby-esque triangle on my head, a rat tail, legs that look like earthworms, a mouth that is perpetually in a state of shock (or something), and big red claws.

Samanthacool

I’ve been a fan of Casey’s since his first appearance on Idol after the top ten contestants. I find it extremely offensive that you would call him Goat Boy related to Kara’s remark about his vibrato sound sounding like a lamb. That is extremely unprofessional!

I agree that the song choices and judges critiques have limited him and other contestants, however, I have downloaded every one of his songs and play them on my car cd player.
I am even more impressed with his VOICE after seeing these videos where he sings whatever he chooses.
TEXAS BE PROUD! Im not from Texas, but want to say you can be proud of Casey’s behavior, his humility, his graciousness, and his talent.

Verbally Dyslexic

LOL! Methinks Samantha needs to purchase your Goat Love t-shirt, TI!
caspar

Hmm, what would be the goatly equivalent to ‘Moo’-'Bah’?

I have been most entertained seeing TI posters jump aboard the Casey train over the course of a day. Hopefully, Duh Weezle will = Gokey, and we’ll end up with 2 actual artists in the finale.

Ittybittybear

I’m from Texas. What’s more, I’m from the very same area Casey is from. He DOES sound like a goat at times. I’m not watching the show and I didn’t even know Kara said that. I just watch youtubeys. He sounds like a goat sometimes. These vids TI posted sound great for some reason, though. But at the end of the day, if all we have left is goat boy and smug boy, I’m for the goat boy. But I hope Ms. Dreadlocks wins.

mozart4898

Well I want Ms. Dreadlocks and Goat Boy in the final 2, and I want Ms. Dreadlocks to win. Problem is, I don’t know that she can beat Casey in the final…I think she’d beat Lee though. I think Lee’s “omg he’s so HOT” fans would jump on the Casey bandwagon in the final 2 and Casey being Southern would probably be enough to beat her. That said, I’ve seen comments on different sites from at least a few Southerners (S.C., Texas, etc.) that are 100% behind Crystal.

Pandora

I think that if Casey were to knock out Lee, an awful lot of Lee’s fans would gravitate to Crystal because of the “musical crush” thing.
mozart4898

Except that I think the Crystal vs. Lee fanwars are probably the worst ones, because people have seen them as the likely finaly 2 for so long. I don’t know if Lee’s fans (the ones that would still vote) would be willing to vote for Crystal – they seem to be the ones that have the most hate for her. But I don’t know – Crystal is mentioned as the 2nd favorite by a lot of Lee and Casey fans both too.

et

What the hell do goats say? Something like… maaaaaaaaa? Moo sounds so much more fantardy.

Casey is a *beloved* Goat Boy now. So it’s all good.

http://topidolblog.com TopIdol

Goats also tend to me more svelte than cows. And I love me some goat cheese.

Trish

Yes, and everyone knows goat’s milk is much healthier than cow’s!

jukejoint

We were watching Austin City Limits last night, and Pearl Jam was on, and I realized (never a big Pearl Jam person) that Eddie Vedder totally has goat throat. I mentioned this to the hubster, who had never heard of goat throat before. This is when I realized that I watch too much Idol, and its nomenclature has spilled over into my real life, which is a very bad thing.

Damn you, Carmen Rasmussen, Daughtry, Elliott, Casey, and everybody else accused of using overly goaty vibrato over the years.

http://topidolblog.com TopIdol

Vedder is one of the most famous goat singers!

I loved Pearl Jam back in the day. Then they just got too whiny or preachy. But damn, when they were touring with Lollapoluzza for Ten, that was sick. That’s still one of my all-time favorite albums. They’ve done a lot of great stuff since, but Ten was just a phenomenal album from start to finish. I should listen to it this week and relive my teen years.

Nich

“Last Kiss” is when I stopped listening to them. I understand growing and changing and not doing grunge anymore but then they got all folky and I was like, done! But I did love their fight against Ticketmaster.

http://topidolblog.com TopIdol

Their fight against Ticketmaster was outstanding. Ticketmaster continues to rape concertgoers. They’ve turned the act of buying tickets into dropping the soap in a prison shower.
Trish

I was never into the grunge scene and only discovered Vedder when he went more “folky.” Have you heard the soundtrack for “Into the Wild”? And I just loved Vedder’s performance of “Just Breathe” on SNL. Yeah, this whole “goat throat” thing is kinda lame. I mean I understand not everybody like singers with wide warbly vibratos, but I much prefer them to singers with NO vibrato, because lacking vibrato can result in a pitchy, flat sound.
http://topidolblog.com TopIdol

When I call people goats, I do it with love. Trust me.

et

They’ve done a lot of great stuff since, but Ten was just a phenomenal album from start to finish. I should listen to it this week and relive my teen years.

Hmm, now that I have worked through all my Indigo Girls albums after we talked about them here, maybe I need to go listen to “Ten” now… I bought that and Nirvana “Nevermind” at Tower Records in DC way back when after hearing them on MTV 120 Minutes which was my favorite show in college. And I felt badass when my friend asked me many months later if I had the “new Pearl Jam album” and I’d had it for ages already. Ha!

mozart4898

Ten was the first album I owned that I wasn’t exactly comfortable with my parents hearing (should I say I got it when I was in 6th grade…I’m not trying to make anyone feel bad). Years later when I was a music student in college, I found it mentioned in a music history textbook as a groundbreaking album in the history of rock music. I had always thought there was something special about that album – not a weak track on it, so raw and powerful.

And then someone apparently stole it like my junior year of college. I still have never replaced it. Maybe I should make my first digital album purchase today…I still buy the actual CDs cause I just want to be able to “hold” it. (It’s one of the few new technologies I’ve just never quite bought into – I rip the albums to my computer and then to my iPod, but I don’t do the digital downloads unless I have to.)

burnthis

How could you have missed it? It’s one of the reasons I love Casey’s voice — getting a younger, blonder version of Eddie Vedder (and one who can play guitar, no offense Mr. V) is awesome.

I’m a total fantard and have written a bunch of posts about his awesomeness (just add “too” to my name if you want to check it out, I don’t know that I can post it here). But now that the option is between Lee and Casey, and now that you’ve had a chance to see what Casey can do, c’mon, cast some votes his way!

Ittybittybear

Dang! That’s the same hospital my brother, my sister and my son were born in. And it’s the same one my ex-husband died in 3 months ago from cancer. Crazy!! It’s a good hospital. The best in Fort Worth.

Ittybittybear

No, I don’t know the doctor. Yes he’s hot. But….it is Texas. ‘Nuff said.

Kate123

“No, I don’t know the doctor. Yes he’s hot. But….it is Texas. ‘Nuff said.”

lol, no enough has not been said, I don’t know what that means!! Is there some sort of American saying about Texas?

Ittybittybear

Lots of hot men in Texas….hahahah!

margie

Texas has great hospitals. I personal experience with MD Anderson in Houston.

margie

^I have

Trish

I just emailed you, Melinda, but I’ll post this here too. Bybee’s album is available on iTunes and Casey accompanies her throughout. Check out the last track, which features an acappella duet of Casey and his mama singing what I think is an old spiritual.

http://www.myspace.com/bybeedjames1
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/cross-that-line/id361445821

Bybee is so AWESOME. Look her who friends are on MySpace: Joah Baez, Patty Griffin, Gillian Welch, and Emmylou Harris!

mozart4898

Seriously, do they somehow screw with Casey on the show? The worst of anything I’ve heard from him is what he does on the show. I mean, frequently Lee sounds like crap on the show too and then on recordings he’s ok, but then you see live performance clips like from the Arlington concert he did and he sounds the same live there as he does on the show. Casey’s voice on that duet is great. And the other clips here in this thread are great too.
barado

Thanks for those links. That last track, the a cappella duet with his mother, is beautiful and well worth $.99. I am impressed.

burnthis

There’s a video now up of him playing an original song at the same venue where he accompanied his mom on the mandolin.

J

I’m convinced that idol has the worst sound system in the business. Casey sounds much better in these videos than he does on the show. Even Lee sounds better for his homecoming performance than I thought he would.

My votes are still going to Crystal but I am now rooting for Casey just a tiny bit.

mozart4898

I think Lee would be easier for Crystal to beat in the final. Despite that, I want Casey there with her. Casey’s so much more of an artist than Lee – Lee just doesn’t do it for me at all, and while I want Crystal to win, Casey deserves to be there too. And while it’ll hurt if Crystal loses, I’d rather it be to Casey than Lee (if Lee wins this thing, I may have to cut a bitch).

Nich

I agree. Seeing Crystal lose to Lee would be just crazy. When the show started pushing for a Lee/Crystal finale I was like say what? Was he the best they had left? They should have pimped a Mike/Crystal finale. Part of me would have understood that better.

mozart4898

Exactly. Mike, for all the crap spewed his way about his attitude, was a great singer.

Verbally Dyslexic

While I agree that the sound mixing on the show could be better, I think he sounds better here because amateur YouTube videos tend not to pick up all the subtleties from professional studio-based sound systems. The feed isn’t cleaned up and you don’t notice bum notes or vocal tics as much. Also, in familiar, non-competitive surroundings, the nerves don’t get to people quite as bad. The presence of his goat vibrato might be related to nerves. Competition + millions of eyeballs watching + Kara mentally molesting him = Goat vibrato.

mozart4898

I’ve thought about the whole thing with amateur videos not picking things like that up – I mean, I’m sure we’ve all heard on some recordings where someone that you know sounds great just doesn’t sound good at all because of the recording quality (happened on a couple of the cell phone recordings I have of Crystal). But I’m pretty sure what I’ve heard of Casey is much better singing than on the show. (Actually, I think Lee might have been better at home too than he’s been on the show from clips I’ve heard…Crystal may or may not have been better – if she was, it was only in that she was even more connected to the music and not that there was a technical problem that didn’t show up when she wasn’t on TV.) The goat vibrato might be nerves, but if that’s the case, he’s still nervous in the studio for the AI studio recordings cause it’s frequent in them as well. It’s not in the duet with his mom though. Maybe it is nerves related – maybe he’s actually trying to do something he wouldn’t usually do when he’s not on the show. Heck – maybe he figured on the show he needed to use vibrato and that’s all he knew to do, but normally he wouldn’t sing with vibrato at all. If that’s the case, he should seriously just drop it and try to work with songs that don’t have many sustained notes that would call for vibrato.
muzikizmi

Casey definitely has some vibrato, but on the scale of 0 to Chris Daughtry, Casey is definitely far from the goat-master Daughtry. I love Chris Daughtry, but his vibrato annoys the heck out of me. Casey’s just isn’t that bad, IMO. I agree, that with just a little bit of work, he could train that out of his voice.

Miz

It’s not the studio sound that’s bad. It’s the sound mixing to TV which can be manipulated in whichever direction they want it to go. The studio mix can also (lower or cut out a mic, raise the sound on the backup singers, etc.) but it’s a little more difficult to fool the live studio audience.

Of course, there is also the issue of the sound coming from your home TV or computer which can vary greatly.

I don’t think AI has ever won an Emmy for sound, but given the narrow field has been nominated numerous times.

mozart4898

Oh I understand all about mixing – I did some work with recording technology in college along with electronic music (and classical music – trumpet, piano, and composition). It’s so easy to screw someone up when you’re dealing with mixing – you can mess with the levels in their monitors, you can throw the balance off on what is being sent to the studio audience or TV – all sorts of things. Heck, for how bad Lee sounds at times, I’d think maybe they’re just cutting the feed to the monitors but I can’t see why they’d do that with him being their chosen one for most of the season it seems.

As far as sound from the TV – half the time we listen with our surround system. Sometimes that’s a bad choice because some of them, you don’t want that level of clarity, LOL. And are you serious – AI has been nominated for an Emmy for sound before? Are they the only ones eligible so they automatically get a nomination, but they’ve never awarded it to them because it’s just not that good? For me, they’re merely adequate, and that’s all – it certainly doesn’t stand out.

Acrobat

Holy hell, he sounds fantastic on “Blue Sky.” I’m rooting for him and Crystal, definitely.
CayKat

Wow, impressed! I agree with Stacy – late in the game and I am legitimately pro-casey after seeing that. Lose, less goaty and mad guitar skills! Dynamic.

I understand the argument about limited song choices but, when I look at previous seasons, last year for example, when the contestants fought to get unique/new/ fresh choices cleared. I guess it just makes me wonder if Kelly’s being a bit whiny about the whole thing.

Nich

The one thing I really liked about Casey is after doing “I Don’t Wanna Be” in the first round and being told that everyone has done it to death he seemed to have made a conscious decision to not choose songs that have been done to death on the show.

I sound like a broken record but I really wish someone would bring back the old Rock Star show that used to be on CBS. With his guitar skills he would have been a front runner on that type of show and no one would be surprised.
Sandy

I think the song choices have always been more limited than the show makes them out to be. I remember several instances where contestants said they had to draw from a hat when more than one wanted to do the same song. I also believe they are much more helpful in helping the contestants they like to get clearance for songs not on the list than the contestants they don’t care about.

What I would like to see is less time spent on the judges and more time given to the contestants to sing, especially later in the competition. Why can’t they let the contestants who make it to the later stages sing a whole song for one of their performances when they have to do more than one? Some of the songs really suffer from being cut short. I still wish I could have heard a full performance of Baba O’Rielly from David Cook a few years back because it got cut short just as he was getting in to it.

Stacy

This guy is GOOD. and he’s legit, which is a lot for someone on Idol. I feel like Kara and Randy were trying to go somewhere with the John Mayer pick, because JM is an amazing guitarist and that song is “vulnerable” but I have a feeling that it’s going to be neither. He really should “go country,” because there is a little more room there than in AC for rock-blusey guitar gods.

What sucks, though, is that it’s taken me untill TOP 3 WEEK TO REALLY LIKE SOMEONE. I’ve been trying to muster some sort of enthusiasm for basically the top 7 for the past season and it takes a freaking youtube video of Casey’s hometown visit to finally convince me that this guy is worth voting for, and this is pretty much independent of what he’s done on the show thus far! Sucky, sucky season.

Oh, and if anyone watched Slezak’s interview with Aaron Kelly, he happened to mention that the song list the contestants get to choose from is significantly smaller than the one we see on Itunes… he mentioned that the Rolling Stones list fit onto one CD and that another week they only had about 12 songs to choose from.

Lauren

I just watched the Slezak interview. I think it is awful that they have such a limited selection. When they are choosing from 12 songs, you can’t really avoid singing something another Idol has done. I’ll have to keep that in mind before I get defensive over someone doing something Kradison has done.

Kate123

The strange thing about this season compared to last season is that is seems like everyone in season 9 is just choosing songs from these limited lists and it seemed like last year contestants made more of an effort to get songs they wanted, that weren’t on the list, cleared.

mozart4898

I hate being a conspiracy theorist, but I wouldn’t see it being beyond the realm of possibility that some of the contestants HAVE tried to get other songs cleared but they haven’t allowed any of them – forcing them to deal with crappy songs that are overdone so that none of them stand out and the buzz remains about Adam last year and how great he was and all of that. I mean, god forbid if someone this year would have jumped out and totally caught everyone’s attention and drawn it away from last season’s de facto winner.

And Lee as season 9 winner, sucking in live performances, would only make Adam’s live performances even better by comparison. Because even though I’m not crazy about Adam, he’s better live than Lee. So they could sorta imply “see, Adam’s better than the season 9 winner…he should have won season 8 but there was some kind of fuckery took place and he didn’t.”

Sherena

That’s totally a conspiracy theory.

19 makes a a hundred thousand times more from American Idol than they’ll ever make from Adam or any other past contestant. The $$$ lies with making the show entertaining, not from supporting past idols. And if we know 19… we know that they are where the money is.
barado

I like to hear a good conspiracy theory, and yours is good.

But, I too can’t believe anyone involved in the show would deliberately sabotage a whole season, except Simon Cowell maybe. And, if so, Cowell’s motives would also be monetary.
Verbally Dyslexic

Umm… That’s a stretch, Mozart. I’m guessing the song choice issue stems from budget cuts. Each new song cleared for TV costs money, so better to dip into the existing stash of pre-approved songs.
mozart4898

Totally a stretch, lol. Basically my thought though was that they’re just that they’re trying to do the season on the cheap, and also looking for someone who’d make last year look better after they won this one – more or less hoping that no one would stand out and everyone would forget this season. I didn’t say I really believed it, I’ve just been reading other conspiracy theories enough that one finally popped into my head, so I expressed it just for the poo-poos and ha-has.

Miz

I think this year we may have less ‘students’ of AI in terms of having been fans of the show or did their research once they made the cut.

What seriously annoys me is that Simon has said ‘Out of thousands of songs, why did you choose that one?’ followed by criticism of how bad a song it is. Also annoying is the lie of the iTunes song lists posted then we find out (thanks Aaron) that they’re actually given a stripped down list of 12 or so songs to choose from.

There is no doubt in my mind that some can ask for a song not on the list and it will get cleared, while others will get a ‘Sorry, we can’t get clearance for that.’

Mithra

Yeah, it depends on who wants what song. Starting season 7, they had a list. Some, like poor Garrett Haley, didn’t even get to pick. He was ASSIGNED a song, a shitty Frankie Valley and the Four Seasons song (is there NOT a shitty Frankie Valley song?) He had never even heard it before.
Mithra

Oops, it’s even worse! Paul Anka

Q: How did you choose “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” as the song that would introduce you to America?

A: I didn’t really get to choose it. We’re allowed to choose three songs from a list. Every contestant is for sure to get one of the songs, and I didn’t get to get any of my songs because they gave the songs out to all the contestants before that. So I just ended up with having to choose from the list again. And I didn’t really get to choose, they just threw the song at me and said, “Here, sing this one.” [He laughs.] And I was like, “OK.” It was a total surprise to me, but I took what I got, and I did what I could do with it.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1582171/20080222/story.jhtml
mozart4898

I was seriously kinda surprised that Aaron let that one out of the bag. I have to wonder if they really weren’t supposed to tell anyone that – I mean, if that sort of thing gets out, it totally takes the teeth out of comments like “of all the songs you could have picked…”

Kinda makes me surprised that some of the songs we HAVE seen this season have happened. “Jealous Guy?” Heck, most of the songs that Crystal has done? You’d think if the list is usually only like 12 songs in reality, they’d go with all the most obvious ones and a song like “No One Needs to Know” would never ben on there.
Mithra

Crystal is TCO, or rather, ones. It’s well known they mess with people they plan to throw under the bus. Sanjaya had 6 songs declined the week he was tossed. When this happens to contestents, they also have less time to rehearse, and they rehearse songs they don’t end up doing. They have little time as it is, besides being used for free for an entire day to do the Ford commercial. MANY have complained about it. It is quite interesting that now the list is even BS according to Aaron. They must have forgot to tell him to zip it about that, or he got the “Aaron meets the bus truncated CD and no one told him Those kids… After the song list thing happened season 7, it just became easier and more obvious who they were pimping and who was cannon fodder, as if it wasn’t already. Don’t you find it funny that both Crystal and Lee were allowed to have guest musicians?

maturin

Casey sounded pretty awesome on that Gravity. It made me want a beer though, and to see him someplace like Washington DC’s Madam’s Organ with lots of blues and alcohol sunk into the woodwork. Not in someplace huge and commercial. Well, maybe an outdoor festival paired up with some good blue or country/Southern rock.

I hope, if by some insane chance he makes it to the top two and is signed, they don’t Bice him and make him record some stupid pop song. Hell, I hope Crystal doesn’t get Biced, either. If only Idol would stop trying to make all its alumni into Ryan Tedder-singing pop robots.

Aww, at the hospital visit and cheering up the kid who had the car accident. C James seems like an alright dude.
On The Edge

Okay, I’m convinced. He really IS good…and 19 needs to hire new sound engineers.

As an aside, is no one going to comment on how hot his doctor was?

http://topidolblog.com TopIdol

Ok. I gotta confess. I just now watched the video after you mentioned something about the hot doctor.

DR. COREY COLLINGE AND BYBEE? What a video. But yeah, what a doctor. I wish I could have seen if he was married or not. Holy hell, is that an attractive man. He’s borderline wedding-cake-topper, but not quite. Hot damn.

And yeah…that video made me like Casey more. I don’t think I’m an expert, but since I’ve been doing this blog…at this point in the game, I like Casey the way I liked Cook and Allen. The force is strong in this one. And I still think he could upset the pre-ordained Crystal-Lee finale.

muzikizmi

I think so too. He has his cougars, Vote For The Worst, generic Simon haters, and now a lot of Kris Allen fans behind him.

Isn’t it ‘odd’ that Idol never told of Kris’ or Casey’s near death experiences?

Mithra

They did show Casey’s near death experience, AND they did a piece of some sob story when he was a kid and Peg Bundy said something about them fearing he’d be brain damaged.

Trish

TI, I’m with you on both the surgeon, Cook, Allen and Casey. (Stupid local Fox station that had both “Dr.” and “M.D.” listed wit the guy’s name. IDIOTS!)

I don’t think Casey will win (nor should he because Crystal deserves to and the backlash would make Chriss Allon’s pale in comparison), but how anybody can argue that Lee DeWyze is a better singer, musician or performer than Casey is beyond my pay grade. Not to mention that Casey is about a thousand times better looking.

And then there’s Bybee. Damn, I hope if Casey gets signed he gets to record at least number with his mama. That hymn they sang together was gorgeous. Maybe they can end up like the Judds!

(What’s up with the ads that run along the side? They make it almost impossible to read or edit my posts!)

Lauren

Just watched the video…Awwww. I like Casey a bit more now. I actually didn’t find the doctor that attractive lol, especially when standing next to Casey.

Trish

Give yourself 20 years, honey. Doc was HOT!

Mithra

Um, he was just okay. Casey is hot, but whatevia. I’m more concerned about Lauren liking Adumb But I’ll have to say he’s better looking than the doc, to me as well, if you’d take a fire hose to him and blast all that crap off him.

peg

Well crap! Now as a fellow biker – and since Kris vouched for the guy – I feel obligated to vote my ass off Tuesday night. Let’s see … where is that “special” ATT phone I got at the watch party last year:)
Nich

The doctor was really cute!

Dickory Dock

I just remembered why I sort of liked Casey at the beginning. It was because of this

what-the-fuck-is-going-on-here eye roll during the very first group number.
Miz

My battery is going dead, so I’ll have to go inside to watch the videos. I’m sure you all needed to know that.

Casey is a fantastic guitarist and I’m guessing Randy picked that sucky song for the guitar, which is quite good. Stupid lyrics that are just made for the father/daughter dance at a wedding.

My problems with Casey are the pinch faces he makes, his pandering to cougars, and the ever present vibrato when he sings. Oh, and I hate his hair. Other than that, I like him. heh

http://topidolblog.com TopIdol

I wonder if he thinks pandering to cougars is cute b/c the show is watched by young people? Wasn’t he kind of unfamiliar with the show before trying out or something? Perhaps he has no idea what lies ahead for him?

And since Lee might be smug and might have an attitude, I am getting kind of excited to see his reactions to a lot of his frauen once the tour starts. It could be beautiful. He could be the one who tells them to get a life before hell, mid-August.
Trish

A lot of “cougars” are smart enough to know that song is a total DISS of cougars and not a song of seduction. I’m sure Bybee knows that too. Casey may not be Mr. College, but I think he’s actually pretty sharp and definitely has a wry sense of humor. Who can forget his comment to Miley Cyrus? “I’m a big fan of . . . your dad’s!”

FreeDavidCook

Drat, TI, you did the impossible. You made my three sizes too small cold cynical heart melt for poor lil Casey James. However can I make fun of him now that I’ve seen those clips. I’ll need to go beat a puppy or kick a kitten to return to my state of cynicism.

Sandy

Poor Casey, Holly’s sockpuppets like him. I wonder if there are any beautiful, classy, young blond PR reps with inside knowledge of the biz hanging out on any of his fan boards. I don’t think he knows what he’s in for.

naiya

Crystal and Casey for the finale! It seems AI has sucked the soul out of this guy and stomped all over it, but I have a hard time figuring out why they don’t want him to be in the finale. Haven’t they always wanted a country guy winner? He would have no problem getting play on country radio and he definitely looks/acts the part. Besides, they already have Daughtry, Cook, and Kris on HAC so why would they want to add Lee to that? Le sigh…
Dickory Dock

Casey covered Ian Moore. Sweet. I’d love to hear him do Moore’s Satisfied or Nothing. He really is a fantastic musician.

Casey, where the hell is that range on the Idol stage?

Look, I am trying to remain detatched and cynical here, because that’s how I roll. But I am such a sucker and that video of the hospital visit really got me. And watching him play that Mayer cover? Dude just straight up loves to make music.

Does this mean I’m a legit fan now? God damnit.

Pandora

How much do you want to bet that the hospital visit doesn’t get much if any play on the show?

auntieaimee

He really is an excellent guitarist. I could listen to this. I would buy this. He should just let ‘er rip on Tuesday. He’s got nothing to lose.

muzikizmi

I think Casey has a legitimate shot at a Keith Urban type career. They both have mad guitar skills, and do a rockish type of music. Casey would also have more instant credibility with country music fans. Since he grew up in Texas, it would be nearly impossible to have escaped exposure to country music.

Verbally Dyslexic

If Casey gets a final two spot, I would not be upset. I would point and laugh at the producers though.

jmom376

VD: I agree completely! I am now rooting for a Casey/Crystal finale. However, I will feel very sorry for the crap Casey will have to deal with if he actually wins this stupid show.

I haven’t paid much attention to the contestants this year, but I just watched Casey’s videos and wow. He is an amazing guitar player and seems so comfortable in that setting. Definitely will not go to an AI concert, but if he shows up at House of Blues or somewhere like that in the fall, I am there.

RarelyC

Kris likes Casey best. That’s good enough for me.

I do appreciate your post, mozart4898. It would be fun to see Crystal outside of the AI environment (although she is so heavily pimped in the AI bubble — that won’t happen outside of it). But my AI tour days are over. The first and last time I went to an AI Tour was this past summer to see Kris Allen. It was a blast, a very different experience — but a one-time thing for me. A slice of the great American demography, not to be repeated.

muzikizmi

Wouldn’t it be ironic, if Kris’ stamp of approval, encourages his fans to vote for Casey? I can’t think of a better way to make Simon Cowell choke on his own fowl bile.

jukejoint

Okay, I know it’s only a typo, but “fowl bile” made me laugh really hard. I am imagining some lackey of Simon’s cutting the bile ducts out of chickens to conjure up spells in the attic and keep people like Curse Alien from winning American Idol.

Double, double, toil and trouble
Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt and toe of owl
Bile from a feathered fowl…

muzikizmi

LOL. I REALLY need to learn to proofread first. Or maybe Simon really does have chicken bile.

ross

Okay, I admit it, I voted for him for 1 hour and 45 minutes last week.

jmom376

I haven’t voted yet, but I think I will get out my handy dandy AT&T phone on Tuesday and start my power texting for Casey (LOL). If me and my 4 other friends can get the win for chris allon, then we can do it for Cassy Jimes. (Kris fan here poking a jab at KK & Q3

I haven’t been a fan of anyone this year, but the videos I saw this morning made me a Casey fan. Why does AI insist on sucking the soul out of these guys. They should just let them go up there and be themselves instead of making them pick from obscure songs and expect them to perform miracles. I really like Casey in the smaller stage setting. I hope he knocks it out of the park on Tuesday.

ross

I haven’t voted a lot, but I’ve thrown votes to Casey on the nights I voted (along with Alex, Lilly, Andrew, and whoever else I liked who was left standing). He’s obviously a musician, and he sings well, and he’s on key (except for Sinatra night). I especially liked Mrs. Robinson, so I didn’t like seeing him bussed.

I don’t agree with him needing to go pop country. I don’t like how southerners seem to get pigeonholed as country. It’s okay to have some country influences and still not go that route.

naiya

Oh, I’m sorry, ross, I thought Casey mentioned that he wanted to do blues/country in some interview, so that’s the only reason I mentioned country. I could totally be wrong about what he wants to do, though. Oops

ross

I didn’t realize he said that, naiya. Don’t mind me, I ‘m sure you’re right. Anyway, I hope he doesn’t do country, I’m not a big fan of it.

Trish

I cast a dozen or so votes for him every time I either like a performance of the judges treat him like dog shit. It has no statistical impact whatsoever, but it makes me feel better.

mozart4898

Well those dozen or so votes do at least negate those of some of the “OMG ur so hot” votes that Lee gets from the teen girls that post on the AI Facebook page. I lol’d when I was reading some of the comments to his post last night and one of the girls had said they vote for him 5 times each week or something like that. I guess not everyone’s gotten the word about power texting or redialing yet. It made me feel better because while I don’t have AT&T and can’t power text, I give Crystal at least 100x that 5 votes each week. A dozen votes is probably 10-11 more than the vast majority of voters actually give to anyone (only the crazies vote hundreds of times).

Nich

I really wish Casey could do Lie To Me by Jonny Lang next week. It has enough guitar and bluesy sound to it.

Trish

That would be awesome but is the average Idol viewer familiar with it?

Nich

Probably not but I’ve learned that the average Idol viewer doesn’t seem to know a lot of songs that you would think was popular.

mozart4898

I’m 100% camp Crystal, but this is all kinds of awesome. Unlike Lee, who doesn’t quite seem like he can figure out what he wants to do, Casey knows exactly what he is. I mean the people who have been saying he needs to be able to just play his guitar and maybe sing once in a while actually are wrong. He’s like most true blues musicians – his voice is an extension of any other instrument that he happens to also play. The reason he doesn’t quite seem to connect sometimes on the show is that it’s a singing competition, yet they put him through anyways and then basically berated him for being who he is…at least as much as he can be who he is on the show.

That being said, I’m ready to say with how things are from what I’ve seen and heard of them, and their homecoming days, if there’s a Lee vs. Crystal finale, I think Crystal wins hands down. Any other combination…I think Casey wins. Casey would probably steamroll Lee if Crystal would go home this next week – if her voters go to anyone, they’d go to Casey. If Lee goes home, I think you see one of the tightest finales ever – especially if Casey gathers steam from this visit and goes at it the way he really can.

Mithra

I think Crystal is more of a true blues artist than Lee. Lee is more Stevie Ray and Jonny Lange, which blues snobs don’t really think of as blues.

Mithra

Ugh, I’m need sleep. I meant CASEY. That otherwise made no sense

mozart4898

I dunno – Crystal definitely CAN go bluesy but she’s definitely more folk rock (her originals have touches of blues but for the most part I’m reminded of a cross between Joplin and Jewel). Lately I’ve wondered if SHE even could legimately go country. When Casey started basically doing a call-and-answer with himself – one part with his voice, the other with his guitar – all I could think was B.B. King or something like that. And outside of the Idol bubble, Casey’s guitar playing has that tone and soul that just drips the blues – heck, he can just bend one note and hold it and you can hear it. I totally love it. I don’t see why more people aren’t blues fans – such great music.

peg

Yeah, it’s too bad corporate radio won’t play any of it. Actually, it’s too bad corporate radio exists at all! Great bluesy singer/songwriters like Paul Thorn never get a chance to be heard. They have to record on labels named “Perpetual Obscurity”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbUfDuoSSk4&feature=channel

I wish Casey could get something like this cleared. That would make for some good TV!
Mithra

But that’s my point. It’s roots music. The blues and folk are deeply connected at the source, along with country, gospel, and jazz. I’m talking more Delta blues, not that bar band stuff. I think Casey may do it as well, not sure, but he’s got more of that offshoot blues rock thing that developed from the Chicago Blues of Muddy and Howlin Wolf and Willie Dixon and Koko Taylor, etc – which was taken as an influence by many British Invasion bands, then somewhere morphed into showy blues rock along the way. That’s kind of what I’m seeing in Casey. More of a Buddy Guy feel at best, or BB King.

Crystal has a folk, blues, gospel, soul feel about her. I get the folk thing from Lee as well, which makes me smirk at the David Cook comparisons with Lee. Cook is a blowhard derivative of posuer neo “grunge” bands. Bands who Kurt Cobain wouldn’t have pissed on if they were on fire. And Kurt was a bluessinger. I’m serious.

Stones Week was telling. Cook’s band crapped all over Jumpin Jack Flash. Total shit. They have no clue as to what that song is and the intricate interweaving of rhythm and lead guitars. But I digress…
Dickory Dock

Peg, I think the collective Idol viewership would crap its collective pants if Casey did that. They’d be all, “What kind of music is this? He should have done that song by Hinder/Nickelback/Creed!” Heh.
peg

Ain’t it great we’re at least talking about roots music, delta blues, folk, gospel and soul instead of laser light shows and smoke machines.

And in connection with American Idol yet! Who would’ve thunk it?
mozart4898

I really wish that AI hadn’t ended up being such a commercial machine – I mean, it pretty much has been since day 1, but because they’ve been so set on finding “mainstream” artists, they’ve probably turned away thousands of truly original, wonderful artists. I really think the only thing that’s leading to the show’s demise is the show itself – pick talented people for the semifinals, have some judges who are actual competent musicians or entertainers make honest comments on performances, and let the people vote – and make it a one person, one vote system. With the sort of exposure contestants get on this show, they could have a chance at making ANYTHING mainstream if they got the votes to win it. A blues singer who would win this show is going to sell more albums than probably any other blues singer in a long long time just because of the exposure. But sadly we probably miss out on tons of great artists just because they’re only looking to fill an image of some sort. Well, Lee is in the final 3, but no way will they have a final 2 that doesn’t include someone who’s not traditionally “mainstream.” Casey or Crystal (and god would it be nice if it was both) will be there, and neither is representative of what I think they really want. Gah…I could rant forever about this. And I actually even like a lot of mainstream music too but where the hell is the diversity in that? (Hinder, Nickelback, Creed – I own music of all 3, but also pop acts, folk, indie, country, jazz, classical…everything.) I can’t listen to all the same stuff all the time, and I don’t know how anyone can.
Dickory Dock

Peg, just be thankful I didn’t bring up my collection of Alan Lomax recordings (Prison Songs, Blues Songbook, Popular Songbook).

Mozart, I’ll totally cop to having Gwen Stefani, GaGa, and BSB (shush!) on my iPod. Hell, I think there are a few ancient Ace of Bass tracks on there too. And ABBA. But I’ve also got Cesaria Evora, Lead Belly, Nina Simone, Gillian Welch, Madredeus, and Andrew Bird.

That’s what is so irritating about Idol. They aren’t trying to find something new, or something interesting, or even something GOOD. Roots music? Hah bloody hah. They’re trying to find someone they can slot into a pre-detirmined segment of the market and milk like a cash cow.

And yet, I watch the damn show, so maybe I should shut up.
peg

Man, we’re all on the same page tonight! I agree with everything that’s been said – and remember why this is my favorite blog.

Mozart, I was thinking the same thing about Casey/Crystal being the most anti-mainstream contestants (in an AI sense) in memory.

Dickory Dock, you’re right about watching the show, but I think this will be the last year for me. I’d love to see a Casey/Crystal finale just to see what TPTB would do with that! I could see same great battles with 19E when they record their albums.
On The Edge

Okay, quick hits since I’m turning in early (bad chicken spaghetti…ugh):

*Someone else who knows of Paul Thorn? Awesome!

*I have a personalized autographed copy of Lomax’s “Land Where The Blues Began” and I treasure it, along with my entire blues collection.

*I also forsee this being the last season for me…wow, between Idol, Lost and 24, looks like my long-neglected reading list will finally get a workout!
Dickory Dock

On The Edge, hope you’re feeling better today.

We’re going to have to fantard over our Lomax collections. That’s awesome. Where did you get your autographed copy, if I can ask? Man, I love those recording. You can hear the beginnings of nearly every genre of music in them.
Mithra
Mithra

Youtube post fail – I posted the wrong clip:

Also check out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthology_of_American_Folk_Music

et

I think I like this guy. I hope he just cuts loose on Tuesday and throws down since they are trying to run his ass over with the bus anyway. He’s a pretty damn awesome guitar player.

Nich

Yeah I hope he says screw it, toss aside the sleepy ballads and just go out balls to the wall. The bus is there. I doubt he’ll make it to the finale (though I do want him there) so take the chance man!

http://topidolblog.com TopIdol

You know who chose Pus Mallen’s song last year, right? Randy & Kara.

Nich

I remember that and then Kara yelled at him for not changing it up as if anything could save that song.

Blue Eyes

I want to hate Gravity, but I can’t. That is all kinds of awesome!

Stupid frauen with their screaming and stupid sexist shout-outs. STFU and let the man sing, you stupid cows!

Nich

ITA on both points. It would have been nice to hear him over their squealing.

It’s a shame there isn’t some kind of Guitar Idol or one more season of Rock Star for him to be on cause yeah he is amazing at guitar. I’m halfway tempted to get some last minute cheap seats for the tour IF he does something really guitar heavy.

I really want him in the finale with Crystal just to see who they’d get to perform with him.

et

LOL, Nich, I’m glad it’s not just me, I was just thinking that I almost kinda sorta might want to check out the Idol tour if I can get cheap enough tix, I’d like to see him jam. Not like he’ll necessary get to jam, but… Maybe I’ll watch some YouTubes of the tour before I decide, lol.

mozart4898

We (my family) actually got tickets today as soon as they went onsale in Toledo (I guess we’re fantards). I have a feeling this is going to be a surprisingly good show…as in damn good. Especially if you’re seeing it later in the tour when they’ve gotten used to the crowds and comfortable in their songs and everything. I really think Tim will be good, Katie as much as people loved to hate her could be quite good too, Siobhan might be good or good for the lulz, Aaron if he has the right sort of song should be pretty good too, and the top 4 if they really go in the directions that they “specialize” in (where does that put Lee though?) could all be great to amazing. I was in Toledo (and Ottawa County) for Crystal’s homecoming today and that girl is like she’s lived her life on a stage…you just don’t get to see it because of the sterile, structured environment on TV. She talks with the crowd, cracks jokes, and is just super laid back and cool. And even by the end of the day, she still wasn’t holding back – she’s the kind that I think goes all out until she collapses (she really probably should learn to tone it down just a little tiny bit to conserve, lol).

http://topidolblog.com TopIdol

Did you get photos? How was it?

I will do a Crystal post, I’ve just been a lazy blogger lately. I wanted to get all 3 out today.

I’m excited Crystal sang her ORIGINALS during her hometown visit!
Mithra

I have to say that this is a top 10 that I would actually consider seeing. Most of them are interesting (aside from STW and Drunki, although if they get into a catfight or something…), and they don’t have that patina of fakeness that I got from season 7 and much of 8. I don’t get the hate for this season at all, but then it’s people who take Idol seriously, so I shouldn’t be suprised.
mozart4898

I did actually get some pictures, although mine aren’t that great. I think my dad got some that are quite a bit better – I’ll have to check on the digital camera. I was just using my phone.

Best moment of her entire hometown visit (and I wish I would have been at this one), I thought, was when she sang her first song in the lobby of the FOX station in Toledo right after arriving. Literally an hour after getting off the plane Thursday night. She asked the crowd what they wanted to hear, they yelled “Holy Toledo.” She played it (and sounded awesome on TV), and there was just this roar from the little crowd at the end. She looks out at them, starts to talk, and you can see the emotion in her face. “I’ve been performing since I was 10, and that is the biggest cheer I have ever heard for one of my songs.” She then looks down and you can see her sobbing. All I could think was…wait until tomorrow. There were like 200 in the lobby I think, maybe – the next day she was doing the same song for crowds over 10,000, when I was there. The cheers were almost deafening. And she was great, the whole time. “Holy Toledo,” “Grey Haired Rock Star” (which I think she wrote when she was 16 from what I gathered), and “Speak Now” are all album ready and could all be radio hits.
mozart4898

I’m not trying to clutter up the Casey thread, but here’s a link for the 4 song set Crystal did at the Ottawa County Fairgrounds. TI, if/when you make a Crystal thread, you can feel free to delete this to un-clutter Casey’s thread, but I just thought I’d put this here until then. Songs were “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Holy Toledo,” “Hand in My Pocket,” and “Speak Now.” There was a request at one point (she says “not today guys”) that I found out later was for “Farmer’s Daughter.” Her mom was there…

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvg/video?id=7442961

Before this performance, she’d done 2 songs in downtown Toledo and a private show at Papa’s Tavern where she did 5 or 6 songs from what I’ve heard, so she was far from fresh for this performance. For me, I thought “Hand in My Pocket” was the highlight of this, she just blew it out of the water.
Ittybittybear

Deep in my heart I knew there was a problem with her mother. I hate that those songs are biographical. Sometimes pain is the cause of art, though. Farmer’s Daughter is an awesome song. I became a Crystal fan for the same reason I became a Kris fan. Pre-idol music=AHHHTIIISSSTRY.