3 posts tagged “american idol”

Sean rings out his ears and puts the vomit bowl away...

Last night's (April 8, 2008) American Idol seriously disappointed and almost made me blow chunks. I am all for taking twists on songs that truly are great and either perform them straight out or re-imagine them. Last night, two songs that I would put in my personal top 20 list either underperformed or just torn to shreds... Robbie Williams' 1998 hit Angels and Queen's The Show Must Go On.  Part 1 will address the dismal thrashing of The Show Must Go On.

Carly Smithson delivered a horrible version of The Show Must Go On that I fear will discourage people from trying to hear what this great and honest song tells. Inspirational in that it does what William's Angels does also - keep fighting and don't let them see you cry until you win.

"Inside my heart is breaking, my make up may be flaking, but my smile still stays on... The Show Must Go On!"

Here are two great versions. First is a video (sorry couldn't find a live version on YouTube) is from Queen. The second is from Baz Luhrman's film Moulin Rouge, with Jim Broadbent and Nicole Kidman giving a great dramatic rise to the song (ignore the French dubbing at the beginning). Enjoy and don't even think about Carly's huge drive off a high cliff.

Here are the lyrics to this song about going on when obstacles get in your way and pain is a factor.

Empty spaces - what are we living for?
Abandoned places - I guess we know the score..
On and on!
Does anybody know what we are looking for?

Another hero - another mindless crime.
Behind the curtain, in the pantomime.
Hold the line!
Does anybody want to take it anymore?
The Show must go on!
The Show must go on!
Inside my heart is breaking,
My make-up may be flaking,
But my smile, still, stays on!

Whatever happens, I'll leave it all to chance.
Another heartache - another failed romance.
On and on!
Does anybody know what we are living for?
I guess i'm learning
I must be warmer now..
I'll soon be turning round the corner now.
Outside the dawn is breaking,
But inside in the dark I'm aching to be free!

The Show must go on!
The Show must go on! Yeah!
Ooh! Inside my heart is breaking!
My make-up may be flaking!
But my smile, still, stays on!
Yeah! oh oh oh

My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies,
Fairy tales of yesterday, will grow but never die,
I can fly, my friends!

The Show must go on! Yeah!
The Show must go on!
I'll face it with a grin!
I'm never giving in!
On with the show!

I'll top the bill!
I'll overkill!
I have to find the will to carry on!
On with the,
On with the show!

The Show must go on.

Sean rings out his ears and puts the vomit bowl away...

Last night's (April 8, 2008) American Idol seriously disappointed and almost made me blow chunks. I am all for taking twists on songs that truly are great and either perform them straight out or re-imagine them. Last night, two songs that I would put in my personal top 20 list either underperformed or just torn to shreds... Robbie Williams' 1998 hit Angels and Queen's The Show Must Go On.  Part 1 will address the underperformed Angels.

Robbie Williams is a performer that many Americans are unfamiliar with because they have rejected him out right many many times. I am a HUMONGOUS fan of his honest songs about love, death, faith, redemption, celebrity, ego, avarice, insanity, pomposity, satire, and just plain gritty blunt honesty.  His song Angels is an increible song about redemption of a man who has lived a hard life but wants to change. If you ever heard his song Nan's Song, it also has glimpses of how "she" in the lyrics could be his grandmother and how she personally helped Robbie try and turn his own life around... because he does have some substance and (rumored) sex addiction issues. But a great singer and a great performer. I have been a fan since 1998, he never gets old.

Below are a live performance of Angels that Robbie did years ago. David Archuleta got praise for his performance last night on American Idol for a song he has no personal knowledge of the feeling it talks about or the power of redemption. This clip I chose to show how this song has received so much personal love by its audience as performed by Robbie Williams, it has to be seen to show up the competent but weak attempt "little" David made at it. I am not against covers mind you, just borderline competent one's being praised as great. But the power of the song couldn't be denied. (I revised my comments here after talking with my friend Ramiro... I was being a bit too harsh.)

Here are the lyrics of this great song about fighting to live and being redeemed.

I sit and wait
Does an angel contemplate my fate
And do they know
The places where we go
When were grey and old
cos I have been told
That salvation lets their wings unfold
So when Im lying in my bed
Thoughts running through my head
And I feel the love is dead
Im loving angels instead

And through it all she offers me protection
A lot of love and affection
Whether Im right or wrong
And down the waterfall
Wherever it may take me
I know that life wont break me
When I come to call she wont forsake me
Im loving angels instead

When Im feeling weak
And my pain walks down a one way street
I look above
And I know Ill always be blessed with love
And as the feeling grows
She breathes flesh to my bones
And when love is dead
Im loving angels instead

And through it all she offers me protection
A lot of love and affection
Whether Im right or wrong
And down the waterfall
Wherever it may take me
I know that life wont break me
When I come to call she wont forsake me
Im loving angels instead

And through it all she offers me protection
A lot of love and affection
Whether Im right or wrong
And down the waterfall
Wherever it may take me
I know that life wont break me
When I come to call she wont forsake me
Im loving angels instead

Sean and Stefan exclaim...

Last night on American Idol (yes we are addicted... well Sean got Stefan addicted last year...) David Cook gave an incrdible performance of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean, the 1983 hit single. Cook slowed it down and made us love a song that Sean has freely admitted that he hates. Cook's arrangement was from a Chris Cornell (former lead singer of Audio Slave and Soundgarden) cover from his 2007 album.  Although not original to Cook, the arrangement is what sells this song and Cornell will benefit we bet from the comparisons. Here are the YouTube clips of all three versions... you be the judge! Who sung it best???