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I will also be sending 5 questions for the INTERVIEW MEME to:
Julie
Coco
Dana
&
Angell
Give me a day or two to put them together.
Then when you answer, let me know and I will link your post here.
OK, well we are down to six....and now the big thing is
IDOL GIVES BACK... or is it that
BONO is the Musical Mentor this week...?
Idol Gives Back... money going to the poorest children in
Africa and the
USA...personally, we would love it all to stay on our continent...
Video from
Ryan and
Simon in Africa. Some horrible conditions shown. Simon showing a side of himself that you never see.
CHRIS RICHARDSON: Singing Clapton.. tough assignment...voice is clear tonight...pronouncing the words...would like to hear it in a lower key...a bit too high for my tastes...but not a bad job overall...last note nicely done....
Video from the USA.
New Orleans, Kentucky, Arizona, Atlanta...children who need assistance...our citizens who tend to take the backseat to others in other countries...
MELINDA DOOLITTLE: OK, time to say this... our music industry is wack. How is it possible that this talented woman needed American Idol to be discovered. How many producers used her as a backup singer and
never ever ever saw this talent???? Are their heads all up their collectives arses?????
BRILLIANT... nuff said.
BLAKE LEWIS: John Lennon... wow... can he do it? Voice sounded good. We had absolutely no connection with him singing the song. None. It was a nice performance with very little emotion to it. Felt like he did not become part of the spirit of the song. Sorry, didn't feel it at all.
END NOTE: Sorry Simon, we did not feel any sincerity tonight.
LaKEISHA JONES: Hummm... a coronation song from another idol...does diva-mama think she is in that place? This woman was the one to beat way back when, now she does nothing for us. Her performances are average and she tends to shout the words more than anything.
PHIL STACEY: Started off rocky for us. Got better in the middle. began to own the song and show his strength. A few pitchy notes here and there. Overall, think he did a nice job with the song. Was not as full as last week's performance, but still a strong showing.
More video of a food bank.
The best line of the night "No one knows there are starving people in America."
JORDIN SPARKS: OK, was unsure of this one. Had visions of Jerry Lewis in our head. Began a little breathy, but then she brought it home incredibly strong. She has come on week after week and this week she absolutely killed. Tremendous job young lady.
Did we miss something? Wasn't Bono the Musical Mentor? Were they not allowed to show any video with him??? Confused. We even went back and watched again "We have a very special mentor, Bono is joining us." Ryan said it. Maybe we get to see those videos tomorrow when they are doing a two hour results show.
TOP TWO:
Melinda Doolittle
Jordin Sparks
BOTTOM TWO:
LaKeisha Jones
Chris Richardson
GOING HOME:
LaKeisha Jones
Gonna do separate comments.
I agree with your bottom 2 selections. It pains me, but I think LaKisha has run out her string. It's too bad, because she's one talented lady.
It's Melinda & Jordin, Jordin & Melinda.
I did like Phil this week. And I will give Blake his props for simply singing the melody of an iconic song. Did not like Chris at all.
It occurs to me that in the beginning, we thought that the ladies were far and away the superior talents. And yet we're down to 3 & 3. I guess that proves that there's really no telling what America will do.
The tension of a marriage dissolving.
You've got the selfishness of each of their perspectives. We see each partner through the other's eyes, thinking the worst and letting it overwhelm.
They react to perceptions of each other. And they are well beyond talking their problems out.
Good job.
Here's part of an e-mail I received from the ONE.org (campaign to end world hunger) about Bono on AI:
"We are excited to announce that Bono will be making an appearance Wednesday night on behalf of ONE urging the millions of Americans watching the show to join us in the fight against extreme poverty. Bono will meet with the Idol contestants to talk with them about ONE and the difference your advocacy is making in the lives of the world's poorest people. The Idol contestants will also perform "American Prayer," a song written by Bono and Dave Stewart about the AIDS emergency in Africa."
So there you go; only a Wednesday night appearance.
Great tension story, V. Um...seems...oh, never mind...
Well written, as usual.
Glad Jordin continues to do well on AI; her hometown is very proud of their girl!
I watched last night because I heard that Bono was supposed to be there too...maybe he'll be there tonight. It's good that Idol is actually doing something to raise people's awareness of what's going on in the world. I wish more shows would follow their lead. There are so many people just struggling to survive...it breaks my heart.
What's so upsetting is how un-willing some people are to help. Well that's my experience anyways. I sponsor a little girl in Africa, and when I was working, I asked my manager if the store (of at least 60 employees), would like to pitch in and sponsor another child. It would have worked out to about 50 cents a month per employee. He flat out told me no. I was so upset. A lot of people don't want to help...they just want to forget about what is happening. I could rant about this all day. It's something that is very close to my heart.
That was incredibly intense Bond baby, for your first try it was impressive...no surprise! :) mouaaah
I have to agree with you on the Bottom 2. And sadly agree with you about LaKisha leaving. She was one of my favorite top 3 at the beginning. But now I have cut it down to my most all time favorites Melinda and Jordin.
At this time, I would love to see either one of them win. Actually, if they don't they will go very, very far in their musical careers cause babe... THEY HAVE GOT WHAT IT TAKES!!!!
We should do a children's book called "Where's Bono?" It's much harder to find a guy in a leather jacket and fly glasses than a doofus in a red striped sweater.
Yeah, it's a toss up between LaKisha and Phil. I still think Phil will go. Such a good voice, but so painfully dull.
Great story Bond. You are so freaking good - get thee to a publisher my friend!
As for your picks, I agree with most of what you said, only I loved Blakes performance. Not so sure I bought Phil's though....
But Melinda and Jordin as the two to beat - for sure!
Bond: You were brilliant on last night's show. You're inner-Randy Jackson shown through.
TRAVIS: So right about the thoughts from way back when... I have it in one of my posts that it would be 4 women at the end... well, nope that is not happening.
TRAVIS: THANKS for your critique. I always appreciate your take on my writing.
SONGBIRD: Makes sense since they filled the time with the videos last evening. Tonight we should see the "coaching" tapes. TY for the encouragement.
TWYLA: Yes, it is good Idol stepped up. I would just like to see all the money stay here for once, selfish? I guess so.
TISHA: So glad you enjoyed...SMOOCH
DIXIE: I think my comment says it all..what were those producers thinking????
BECKEYE: wheres Bono? LOL LaKisha has just brought the diva level too high for me, need to see her knocked down...
ANGELL: You are too kind. Blake just does not make me think IDOL
DOC: Making me blush dude. Thank you so much for allowing me the airtime. I truly enjoy it.
I will think about your question in the email...
Okay, I've never seen Idol, so skipping on to "Dangerous" - very good, esp. for a writing excercise!
How sad that I can relate to the dissolving of the relationship and the tensions - many of which could be worked out by simple communication.
But, it takes two to communicate...
Hopefully, mine gets worked out before we cross that dangerous line.
Excellent story, Mr. Bond!
Vinny--very good job on the assignment. I really liked the duality. Giving us both points of view is a good way to build the tension---this story rang true.
And your Idol critique is informative--I missed it last night but I feel like I didn't
Thanks sugar
smooch
Talk about pissed, I pay much more for my bras and pan---I better go now. Cheers!!
I think you may be right. Although I had her as number two for a lot of this, she has little personality or as Simon might say "likeability". Plus Jordan keeps getting better. I would send home Phil.
You really need to get this published, and all the others, too, my friend.
Thank you so much for your sweet comment on my WW. *SMOOCH*
Nice post, as usual, Bond. I agree with you about the top and bottom two, but I can't make up my mind about who is going. I fear it might be Lakisha as well.
MORGEN: Thanks for the critique. It is sorrowful when a relationship degrades to the point of this story.
TURN: TY for your comments. I appreciate your words.
Hope you are enjoying ..
SMOOCH
MATT-MAN: But you have so much class, I would expect you to pay more...
BUD: They screwed with us tonight... LOL
SANNI: You are kind... and I am so happy for Luis' celebration
Nice touch...but may I suggest next time seperating posts.
I think your strength in writing is an understanding of characters. The only thing I would be criical of is the economy. But then as an assignment, we don't worry about that sort of thing. Economy comes with editing.
Peace.
Sadly, I find this story to be the most disturbing of any that you have written. Everything else can be explained as imagination, but this was ... too real. Well written, but I couldn't read it again, like I do most of your stuff. Don't have to post this if you don't want, hon.
STEWART:
You are correct, and in the future I will separate the posts. Thank you for your critique. I appreciate your comments. I agree about economy and editing and I guess even with my Monday Matinee's they could be edited at points. Guess I better just hire a good editor for the future! LOL Enjoyed the assignment.
COCO:
Of course I will post it. I am sorry it disturbed you so much. Of course y intention whenever I right is to get a visceral reaction from the reader, but this is not the first time someone has written telling me it was just a bit too real. Just think if I was not writing and all these thought were jammed inside me.
I agree with Stewart on separating the posts and economy, though I think you still had the spareness down pretty well. This was a nice job on your first assignment - the tension was felt from the start with only a few details. It was so realistic it gave me the willies. ;)
KATE: Thank you for visiting and the words of encouragement. I will be separating the posts in the future (strange thing is I normally do so... Brain cramp I guess).
I was thinking of Stewart's "economy" comment and I am not sure where I could have cut down on this... Stewart, if you come back, would you please explain?
Just the beginning of a relationship gone awry. How does it get fixed?
DOES it get fixed?
So sad.
Sad when couples let things get to this point... and oh so frequent...
Rather not think of what happens later on..
For the kids... now that's something you want to expose your kids to! What a lovely model for a relationship... the most overused excuse ever.
Well done.
Smooch
JULIE: Story ended.. not sure what happens!
ANN: Yes it is and it does happen too frequently... just took a ton of stuff and mashed it together to make a work of fiction... I guess it worked as it caused so much visceral feedback LOL