Today I will be attending the wedding of my nephew, Scott, to his significant other, Cheryl. To mark this special occasion, I thought I would start the day with a romantic duet I can't get enough of. I have long been a fan of handsome and talented Matt Alber, and have been lucky enough to see him perform live on a couple of different stages. I was not, however, at his show in London in August of this year, at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. Alber was joined on stage by Brendan Sweet Rogers, and English singer/songwriter I have recently discovered thanks to Alber, and have also developed a crush on him. His voice makes an interesting counterpoint to Alber's on Bob Dylan's "To Make You Feel My Love". Here they are performing the song live.
"To Make You Feel My Love" can be found on Matt's latest album, 'Wind Sand Stars'. I heard it first there, and instantly fell for it. And looked up and purchased all the music I could by Rogers. You can purchase "To Make You Feel My Love" from iTunes and Amazon. For more about Matt Alber, visit his official website. You can also 'follow' him on Twitter, and 'like' him on Facebook. To learn about Brendan Rogers, you can visit his official website. You can also 'follow' him on Twitter, and 'like' him on Facebook. I will soon be sharing some of Brendan's music with you.
Well, it is Memorial Day Weekend and yet I am sitting at my computer, waiting for The Voice to come on. The Top 8 will be taking to the stage, looking to sing their way to the Top 6. Shakira and Usher are hoping the lone remaining contestant makes it through this week, and that Adam Levine and Blake Shelton might finally be sending an artist home. I might still be a bit cranky after they sent home 'the pretty' last week, leaving very little distraction from a few mediocre acts that should be going home. Between doing some tree and hedge trimming today, and losing the pretty one, I fear I might be a bit cranky this evening, so I hope the artists are ready to deliver!
Left to right: Adam Levine, Shakira, Blake Shelton, Usher, and Carson Daly
Carson comes out to remind us to be grateful to those who have fought for our right to enjoy reality singing competitions. He introduced the judges, and reminded us who was sent home last week, and tried to remind us about the stakes for the teams, with the possible elimination of Team Shakira or Team Usher. Then he introduced 'rarely sober' Blake Shelton coming out to sing his latest single, "Boys 'Round Here". It is as close to a Country Rap song as I have heard, like, ever.
It is a fun song, but not one I will be running to purchase any time soon. However, if you are in a frame of mind that you have to have it, you can find it on his most recent release, 'Based On A True Story...'. You can find it on iTunes or Amazon. After a break, Carson talks to Adam about what his team needs to do to keep together. He also asked Shakira about what it will take to keep Amanda coming back, and Shakira hopes America will hear her great voice. Usher hopes America realizes there is no one else like Michelle Chamuel in the competition, and will keep her on the show. Blake hopes his team makes it through again, for he is just so proud of each and every one of them. Team Adam puts up with Judith Hill, who will be singing #thatPower, by Will.I.Am and featuring Justin Bieber. She takes a very Electro-Pop song and brings it to a deep Soul place, more James Brown than Justin Bieber. I think she was great, really showing off her amazing vocals and ability to really imprint a performance with her own style. Blake loved it, and thought it was yet another performance where he could find nothing to complain about. Usher thought she started the show off well, and is a real talent. Shakira loved what she did, and loved that she is taking chances with performances. Adam was so very proud of his star, and thinks of her more as an artist than a competitor on a singing show. After a break, Holly Tucker meets with Blake to work on her performance of the song "Done" by The Band Perry. Blake asks her to stay away from the pretty side of her voice, to get down with the angry side of the song. Here is The Band Perry with "Done".
I find this performance lacking, as Holly's vocals seldom show me any depth at all. She always reminds me of the girl taking the microphone at the County Fair. I kept wanting her to do something that wasn't predictable, that wasn't safe. It didn't happen. Carson called on Usher for his thoughts, tossing some shade by calling out Urkel (with his Michelle Chamuel glasses), and Usher served back, reading Daly as 'Jimmy Neutron', and damned if he isn't right. That could be my favorite part of the show so far. Usher loved Holly's boots, and thought she was incredible. Shakira loved the performance, and enjoyed the sass and attitude. Adam loved it. Blake tells her he is so proud, as it is the first time she has really owned the song. Really, Blake? You seem to love her every week, but this was the first time? I'll move on. Judith, Michelle, Sarah and Sasha team up to take on Rihanna's "Diamonds". All the ladies look great, and I have to say I was most impressed by Michelle Chamuel, who was so completely on the for the entire song. I thought Judith and Sasha were also wonderful, but Sarah kind of was overwhelmed by it all, and faded out a bit. During the commercial break, I see the advertisement for 'America's Got Talent', and I can't imagine a judging panel I would be less inclined to tune in to hear. Back on the show, Blake is talking to The Swon Brothers, who will be singing "Seven Bridges Song" by The Eagles. First they discuss what is happening back in their home state of Oklahoma, and all 3 are moved by what they have heard, and keep everyone in their prayers. Blake loves what they do in rehearsal, but reminds them it needs to be tight. They are the last men left, and the only duo or group to make it this far in the history of the show. Here are The Eagles performing "Seven Bridges Road".
They keep the harmonies tight and strong, and I loved it. There was a real strength and heart behind it. Usher loved it, and thought it was so strong. Shakira thought it was a little bit Country, and a little Rock & Roll, and loved it. Adam loved it, but noticed there were a few moments that were a bit scary. Blake was very proud of them, and thought this performance showed how talented and unique they are. Sasha Allen talks about the pressure of being the last representative for Team Shakira, and she will be singing "Without You" by David Guetta and featuring Usher. She comes out and sounds a bit vulnerable, but soon is owning the song, her voice coming out big and bold. She is killing the song, and brings it to a surprising soft and beautiful ending. Adam just tells her how bittersweet it is to hear her, and that she is with the right coach. Blake loved it, and thought it should keep her around for another week. Usher is so glad she did her thing with it, and thought she was great. Shakira loves her, and thinks she is just so talented, and made the risk of singing another coach's song pay off. After the break, it is time for Sarah Simmons to meet with Adam, as they talk about her singing "Somebody That I Used To Know" by Gotye and featuring Kimbra. Adam feels the song has been out of culture for long enough it will be fresh with her. I am not sure about that. He feels this is the artsy kind of music she should be making. Before too much longer, here is Gotye and Kimbra singing "Somebody That I Used To Know".
I loved her audition, but ever since then, I just feel she is all about affectation, not real communication. She doesn't sing a bad note, although there is that unfortunate scream near the end. I felt like the performance was scattered, and frantic, almost manic. Blake, Usher, and Shakira are all supportive and polite, but not gushing. Adam thought she was wonderful, and one of the first people to get the song right. I roll my eyes, and opt to just move on. The four Country acts will be working together, as The Swon Brothers, Holly Tucker, Danielle Bradbery and Amber Carrington get together to sing a great song by Sugarland. They tackle "Something More", and I have to say it is a little bit less successful than the earlier group song. While all four are Country artists, they all seem to have a different take on the song, and it never comes together. No one did badly, but I didn't feel anyone shined, either. All I can think of saying is "Next!" And that would be Michelle Chamuel, who is meeting with Coach Usher to talk about her take on "Grenade" by Bruno Mars. Usher wants to pare the production back, and show off her voice and artistry. Here is Bruno Mars singing "Grenade".
Michelle's performance is powerful, and soaked with real emotion. She connects with the song on a real visceral level, and shared that with me. This was the best performance of the night, and she just controlled that moment. Shakira thought it was spectacular, and Adam was excited to watch it, and called it one of the best of the night. Blake was impressed such a big voice comes out of such a little human being. And he thought it was her best so far. Usher is so proud of her, and what a special artist she is. I have to agree with him. After a break, we learn that Danielle Bradbery will sing "Grandpa" by The Judds, one of Blake's all-time favorite songs. In rehearsal, she struggles a bit with the lyrics. We also learn she never really met either of her grandfathers, and she is singing this for them. I am not loving this performance, for I don't feel a real connection from her. She sounds great - she has a wonderful instrument - but it was very paint-by-numbers. Usher loved her boots, and loved her effortless performance. Shakira also loved it, and thought she has real star quality. Adam just thinks she is a Country star in the making, a true talent. Blake was so proud, and thinks she did the song beyond justice. That leaves us with just one more for tonight, as Amber Carrington will rehearse with Coach Adam as she prepares to sing "Skyfall" by Adele. That is a huge song by a singer not used to doing Pop. But first, here is Adele singing "Skyfall".
She has a cool new look, working some great hair. She delivered some seriously wonderful vocals, with great attitude and boldness. Blake loved her, but pointed out you can't hide the Country. Usher thought she was incredible. Shakira was sold on her with the high notes, which were amazing. Adam is just so proud, and thinks she is the first person on this show to do Adele justice. Carson tells us it is time to vote, so it is time for me to review the night. With only six acts making it through to next week, this means there are two acts leaving tomorrow night. I truly hope that Judith, Sasha, Michelle, Amber and the Swon Brothers are safe, for they all had strong vocals this week. Danielle was good, but I felt a bit off this week. The weakest of the evening for me was Sarah and Holly, neither truly connecting with me for their moment in the spotlight. Of course, it all hinges on who has the most votes, and which two have the least. Speaking of votes, to learn how you can place your vote, visit the official website. In brief, you can vote via a toll-free phone number, online at NBC.com, with the special NBC App, or Facebook. Unlike some shows, The Voice limits the amount of votes people can place per method. You can vote 10 times per phone, or 10 times via Facebook, or 10 times via NBC App between now and 10AM Tuesday morning. The phone number is (877)553-37XX, filling in the 'XX' with the artist number. Those numbers would be Judith Hill 01, Holly Tucker 02, The Swon Brothers 03, Sasha Allen 04, Sarah Simmons 05, Michelle Chamuel 06, Danielle Bradbery 07, and Amber Carrington 08. Don't forget, your iTunes purchase also counts as a vote, if you are so inclined. There is a link to all the songs on the iTunes front page.
The Top 4 of American Idol Season 12 take to the stage tonight, the first time since Season 3 that the remaining four are all women. Heck, that is the only time in the history of the show one sex has dominated the top 4 positions. But in season 3, the producers stacked the deck, as the Top 12 was made up of 4 men and 8 ladies, as opposed to the 5-5 split this season. But that was also back in the day when the contestants needed to adhere to the themes of the shows, unlike this year, when the announced themes seem more like loose generalizations, "as long as we can praise Amber." This week, the fans voted what musical theme they wanted to see/hear, and they picked One-Hit Wonders. But after seeing the list of spoilers, I seriously am confused about the concept of what exactly makes a One-Hit Wonder. Procol Harum had three songs in the Top 40, and yet their biggest hit, "A Whiter Shade of Pale", makes the list here. "McArthur Park" was a one-hit wonder for Richard Harris, although he did appear in the film version of Camelot playing the lead on a fairly successful soundtrack album. Of course, most people will remember the version by the late, great Donna Summer, which is more like the version we shall hear. The second theme of the night, Contestant Free Choice, is perhaps the best of the season, as we finally get to hear music that is hopefully more current so we can judge how the young ladies sound in a contemporary setting, rather than a karaoke contest. Oh, let's just get this thing started.
Left to right: Candice Glover, Angie Miller, Kree Harrison, and Amber Holcomb.
The show begins giving us a look of the Top 4 during their auditions, to give us a thought toward how far they've all come. Thankfully Angie reminds us that we have a really tough choice to make, and then we are introduced to the judges and Crusty, who comes down the steps to the delighted screams of the audience. He reminds us there are only a matter of a few weeks left, and Amber, Angie, Candice and Kree all want to be in the final. He introduces them, and the audience goes crazy. Crusty sends them back to get ready for the show, and tells us about the ladies going to the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. First up, we hear Amber's thought on her trip, and hear her singing a song by Celine Dion. She will be singing "The Power Of Love", originally sung by Jennifer Rush, and then popularized by Celine Dion.
As she begins to sing the song, I hear she is doing nothing really new with the song, and her voice lacks the volume and power of Dion. She does bring the song to a soft landing, easing off the volume. In truth, that is where her vocal strays a bit, sounding strained. I have yet to hear her really bring anything new to a song, save maybe costuming. Keith loved it, and thought it was a perfect choice for her. Nicki loved it as well, and thought the song was made for her. Randy thinks she has come the furthest this season, starting a girl, but now a woman. Mariah also loved her range and tone, and gave her the "hashtag POW" critique. I guess I remain "hashtag HUH?" Jimmy gets a chance to talk, and also heard the strain as well. But he still thinks the song will be tough to beat. Candice is up next, and she will be singing a song by Drake, who she had met a year ago and liked him. But first she tells us how moved she was by the kids at the hospital, who she saw as being so strong and brave. She will be singing Drake's "Find Your Love".
She slows it down a bit, taking it in the jazzy ballad route. She is in great voice, and this is a fantastic performance. She owned the song, and could not have sounded better. It was radio-ready, and I would buy it myself. Nicki starts off the critique, and wishes she hadn't changed it up so much, and thought it sounded too old-fashioned. Randy thought she over-worked the song, and needs to get out of church sometimes. Mariah disagrees, and thinks she takes chances, and takes her on the journey with her. Keith agrees with Mariah, and thinks she brings so much with her music. I am stunned, for I didn't see that critique coming, and just don't know what they are thinking. We don't get to see Jimmy this time, and go right to Kree and her time in the hospital. She seems very sweet and tender with the kids. She is going to be singing "It Hurt So Bad", a bluesy song by Susan Tedeschi.
I love the song, and think Kree delivers it so well. She added just the right amount of grit to her gorgeous voice, letting her star shine bright. I thought that was beautiful. Randy came on to basically feel the performance was alright, but nothing special. Randy is confused by it. Mariah loved it, and thought she delivered, and also connected to the audience. Keith thought she lacked the emotional connection to the song, and Nicki thought it was just not good enough. Wow, I am at a loss. After the stellar critique of the mediocre karaoke performance, and the beating down of two singers trying to give some artistry. Jimmy returns, and not only downs Kree's performance, he also disrespects the song. Sweet. Angie seemed to come alive with the kids, all smiles as she remembers the kids. She will be singing "Who You Are" by Jessie J.
Angie is back at the piano, where the judges love her. I am not sure this is the right key, for her voice sounds a little shrill on the high end, and a little "pageanty" on the wordy parts. This just seems over-wrought to me, a big mess of sound that gives me nothing but a bit of a headache. She is met with a standing ovation by the judges. Heavy sigh. Mariah loved it, but wants her to deliver more original material, for that can deliver her a career. Keith loved it, but pointed out how it takes a while to get her into the performance that wasn't stilted. Nicki loved it, and thought it was amazing. Randy, of course, thought it was better than the original, and the best of the night. I am so damned lost by this panel, cause that isn't what I am hearing on my television. Crusty brings Angie's grandmother up on stage for a quiet moment, and it was sweet, but really, I am getting annoyed. Before a commercial break, Crusty tells us we are getting the first duet of the night, as Amber and Kree will be singing an Adele song. Well, isn't that original. Le sigh. Jimmy spares a few seconds to say he is thrilled Angie had control of her instrument, and has Amber and Angie neck and neck. Then back to Crusty, and her discover Kree and Amber will be singing "Rumour Has It". This is a great, but over-done song. Kree is in great voice, and there is such a depth to it. For me, Amber's voice pales next to it. Keith enjoyed the performance, but was looking for them to cut loose. Nicki thought Amber had a command of the stage, and that Kree lacked personality. Wow, I was watching another show altogether. They don't give Randy or Mariah a say this time. After the break, out second and final duet will be Angie & Candice, who sing Rihanna's "Stay", which also features Mikky Ekko. During the performance, both ladies struggle a little bit at times, and that surprised me with Candice. The performance got all messy for me, with lost notes and squandered lyrics. Of course, the judges gave them a standing ovation, and loved it, saying that is how a duet should be done. WTF. Moving on, like I am passing by an accident on the highway. The AT&T Theme contest named One-Hit Wonders as the theme, and the first one to take it on is Amber as she sings “MacArthur Park” by Richard Harris, later covered by the late, great Donna Summer.
This is not good, showing a lack of a bottom end of the voice, and some rough notes on the top end. And once again, it is a cover of the Donna Summer version, with nothing new or interesting added. I was a bit bored. Donna Summer added such fullness and depth to the song, not easy with those silly lyrics. Now, of course, Keith thought it was great, and Nicki thought she is ready for marketing. Randy is ready to sign her, and complimented the high notes that I thought she missed. Mariah loved the great low notes, which I also heard differently. Obviously, I have the judges for American Idol, but the singers for American's Got Talent on my television, cause what I am hearing ain't lining up with the judges. Jimmy gets a few moments, and disagreed with the judges, thinking the song was terrible, and not even Amber could save it. Nor those bad notes, Mr. Iovine. Next up, we have Candice singing “Emotion”, the song written by The Bee Gees and sung by Samantha Sang.
Candice was singing really well, and sounding great. The backup singers were not on, however. I thought she took the song and massaged it well. Nicki loved it, and thought she was back on her game. She also bitched about Jimmy calling out the judges, and Randy joined in. He also loved Candice. Mariah loved it, and mentioned she had a cold, and Keith mentioned he wished the ladies would sing something more current. Talk to your producers, babe. Then Crusty dragged out Jimmy, and stupidity reigned supreme, and poor Candice was lost in the shuffle as the judges and Jimmy whined at one another, refusing to leave the topic of Amber. But Jimmy did say loud and clear that Candice was better than Amber this round. Go figure, he got one right. After the break, it is time for Kree to return to the stage, and she will be singing “A Whiter Shade Of Pale” by Procol Harum, alhtough it was also covered by Annie Lennox more recently.
She walks to the microphone with some attitude, which seems to be what the judges are looking for. She is once again on top of the song, pitch perfect as she tells the story. She goes big on the notes, hitting the high end with ease and grace. That was a lovely performance, one I would surely download. Randy loved it, and thought she really redeemed herself. Mariah loved it, and looks forward to download it for her phone. Keith didn't love it, and thought it was a middle-of-the-road song, nothing special. Nicki loves her, loves the voice, but fears she will be in the bottom, and maybe going home tomorrow night. Now, that would be truly disappointing, for not only do I think she was far from the weakest performer, I also seriously doubt anyone is going home - there are three weeks remaining, and only two singers to eliminate. So, in my opinion, this week is all about drama with no conclusion. But I could be wrong. And after a long break, it is time to close the show out with Angie, who is singing “Cry Me A River”, originally a hit by Julie London.
Well, Angie is singing the song, and it sounds very dated, and very beauty pageant. She also lost some notes on the shouty section, veering off to the sharp end, with no sense of current at all. Of course, the judges all love it, and in fact, Randy calls her the best of the night. How Keith could call that celestial, but not point out the out-of-date aspect is beyond me. So I will move past the critique, and get to the recap. Hearing it back, I am reminded that inherently speaking, we have two singers in the competition, and Angie and Amber, too. Candice and Kree have so much more to their voices, and a greater knowledge of music, and I fear how this season will come to a conclusion. At the end, Ryan mentions a surprise twist tomorrow night, and I have to guess they will combine the votes from tonight with next week, to get back on schedule. But if I had to rank them on tonight's performances, I would say Candice took the evening, followed by Kree. For me, Amber's wan performances puts her at the bottom, while Angie was just above her. But we won't know until tomorrow night, so turn in to your Fox station at 8PM to get the twist. Who knows, maybe they are bringing Lazaro back!
Left to right: Barbra Streisand; Adele Adkins; and Dame Shirley Bassey.
When I saw the picture above on Facebook (thanks, Casey Stratton!), I knew I wanted to do a post. But then there was the tricky issue of finding a YouTube link that wasn't either crappy or would stay up long enough. So I went to Daily Motion, and found what I needed. But first, I have a confession. I did not watch the Oscar telecast. I was watching hockey for a while, and then tuned in to watch 'The Walking Dead' on AMC. And then 'Talking Dead', with The Nerdist, aka Chris Hardwick. I did follow on Twitter, which told me who won, what worked, and what didn't. But I figured I could find the musical performances that interested me later. But as I documented earlier, it wasn't as easy as I thought. With all the build-up and the Twitter twaddlings, there were three performances that I craved to see, and that pictures said it all for me. The women whose music I love, and all three have been on this blog before. It is Adele, Dame Shirley Bassey, and Barbra Streisand. In those three ladies, there is such a wealth of talent, it is scarey. I shall begin with the newest of the three, the exquisite Adele, who came on to sing the theme song of the latest Bond movie, 'Skyfall'. It is a wonderful song, and she sings it beautifully. After listening to the video, I was slightly disappointed, but not really by Adele, but but the sound mixer for the show. Adele was on the the entire song, but the chorus was mostly lost, overpowered by the band. But still, I will take a badly mixed Adele over so many other artists, so here is Adele singing "Skyfall".
And the second singer from the United Kingdom to make me happy would be the always brilliant Dame Shirley Bassey. I am old enough to remember the original recording of her Bond themes on the radio, and knowing they were something special. And certainly aware that she was special as well. What I didn't realize until this week was that Dame Shirley was the only person in the Bond series to sing theme songs to three different movies. There is no doubt I remember the themes to 1971's Bond film 'Diamonds Are Forever, as well as the 1979 effort, 'Moonraker'. And while I was a bit young to remember the original release of the 1964 theme, I certainly heard it for years to come, as it was something amazing. And forty-nine years after the original release, Dame Shirley returned to sings the theme to 'Goldfinger', and made it special once again, at the age of seventy-six. Enjoy listening to, and watching, as Dame Shirley Bassey sings "Goldfinger".
And last but not least, there is the magnificent Barbra Streisand, a singer I have adored for as long as I can remember. Indeed, I remember being a teenager and buying her albums, including the early ones with some spectacular music from the Great American Songbook. I wasn't sure what she was going to sing, but if I gave it any thought, it was a no-brainer that she would be offering a tribute to the late Marvin Hamlisch. Once the 'In Memoriam' video rolled, Streisand came out singing one of the many amazing songs written by Hamlisch, sung by Streisand as the theme of the movie 'The Way We Were', starring Streisand and the stunning Robert Redford. The song was released in 1973, making this the 40th anniversary. Like Dame Shirley, Barbra was looking and sounding great. Please enjoy the clip of Barbra Streisand singing "The Way We Were", just a few months shy of her seventy-first birthday.
Just thought I would start the day with a little something special, and this week that is one of my idols, Canadian singer/songwriter Theo Tams. Theo has been in my thoughts this week, as he has not been feeling his best. I know when I am not feeling well, I just put on Theo's music - but I am not sure that will work for him, too. Well, there is only one way to find out, and that is to get Theo to listen to some, like this wonderful cover of Adele's "Someone Like You".
For more about Theo, 'like' him on Facebook or 'follow' him on Twitter.
While I wasn't sure if anyone should even try to cover the latest from Adele, I was delightfully surprised when I heard Eli Lieb's version of "Skyfall". The song is the theme for the new James Bond thriller starring sexy Daniel Craig. Eli manages to keep the song sounding good, and looking pretty damn sexy while he does it.
You can purchase the single "Skyfall" from iTunes. To learn more about Eli Lieb, visit his official website.
Because we cannot seem to escape Hurricane Sandy, or Frankenstorm, I thought I'd give you "Right As Rain" from Adele. The song was written by Adele along with Leon Michels, Jeff Silverman, Nick Movshon, and Clay Holley for Adele's 2008 debut album, '19'.
It is fun to take a look at the rise of Eli Lieb, the handsome singer/songwriter from Fairfield, Iowa. Music has been an important part of his life growing up, and Lieb pursued his dreams, and moved to New York City, looking to hone his skills and get a break. He played some of the top clubs and stages, gaining precious experience and a following. After ten years in the city, the young man returned home to Iowa, but had not given up his dreams. Among the things he learned, music production came in handy as he started to produce his own material. He also began working on some videos to post to Youtube, to get his name out there, as well as to keep a finger on the pulse of Pop music. It didn't take long before people took notice of the guy from Iowa. In fact, people began wanting produced recordings, and soon Lieb made them available online. Some of those songs included "Someone Like You", the brilliant song written by Adele and Dan Wilson, and performed to perfection of the British chanteuse. But the one I really love is his cover of "Turning Tables", off the first Adele album. Check out Eli's version of the song.
I should also mention Eli is an out and proud gay man, just another reason to support his efforts. Among the many covers you can find online, he also gave a shot at Britney Spears' "Inside Out" and gave added depth to Katy Perry's "Fireworks", while keeping a lid on the amount of pyrotechnics. Give a listen to another of his YouTube videos, shot in Iowa, for the Perry song.
Of course, is there anyone who has recorded cover songs in the last few years that have not rearranged and massaged the music of Lady Gaga? Well, count Lieb among those who have, with his stripped down version of "The Edge of Glory" actually gives the song sturdier legs to stand on.
I have to say, Lieb has a beautiful combination of tone and grit in his voice. And he really knows how to use both. And he is a smart man, offering those covers as a FREE DOWNLOAD on his official website, just by joining his email list. Just visit the official website, and click on the headline "FREE ELI LIEB YOUBE COVERS EP". Recently, Lieb released a sweet version of the Maroon 5 song, "Payphone", which also features Wiz Khalifa. Give a listen to this, I think it is kinda wonderful.
You can find much of Eli's music on iTunes, including the covers of "Payphone" and "Someone Like You". Lieb also has an album of original material that is quite nice. I hope to being you more on that soon. But for now, to learn more about Eli Lieb, visit his official website. You can also follow him on Twitter or "like" him on Facebook.
In 1961, Etta James had the At Last! album, and while the title track scored much of the attention, the album also had a track written by Barbara Belle, Anita Leonard, Stan Rhodes, and Louis Prima, that demanded the attention of the public. In 1988, Reba McEntire released her 13th studio album, which had songs that sounded more Pop and Country. Among the songs Reba sang on Reba was Sunday Kind of Love, first made popular by Ella Fitzgerald in 1947, and later by Etta. Here is Reba's very beautiful cover of Sunday Kind Of Love.
Jason Walker sings At Last, a huge hit for Etta in 1961. It was off the At Last! album, and quickly became a standard, not just for James, but really a jazz standard. Enjoy while Jason puts his amazing talent to use on the song.
Clockwise: Van Halen; Lady GaGa; Eddie Rabbitt; Blondie; Adele; Hall & Oates; Pat Benatar; and Crystal Gayle.
The episode opens with Puck thinking about his preoccupation with Shelby Corcoran. He is falling hard for her. In fact, it inspires a performance for the Glee club of the Van Halen song, Hot For Teacher.
Sue is running ads for her congressional campaign that are total lies. Kurt goes to confront Sue about the lies she is spewing about his father. She tells him it isn't personal, just competition. She suggest he fight dirty, just like Brittany is in the Class President race. He storms off, unconvinced. Shelby comes up to Mr. Schuester in the Teacher's Lounge, and they discuss how to make things go smoothly with the two competing show choirs. The invite the kids to the auditorium, and just as the kids seem like they might be brawling, they start singing the You And I mash-up, by Lady GaGa and Crystal Gayle & Eddie Rabbitt.
They tell the kids it is possible to work together, compete against one another, and to live side by side. They challenge the students to do a mash-up, and to to perform it in front of everyone. Mr. Schue gets the New Directions to think about the mash-up, and after tossing around some names, Finn suggests Hall & Oates, as a group that has weathered the storm and stayed together. Finn also suggests they give the lead to the new kid, Rory. He is a bit intimidated, but Blaine is also encouraging. In the hallway, Finn tries to explain the Smack Talking to the Irish Rory, and they run into the Queen of Smack, Santana. He tries the insult route, but he is not so good. Instead, he challenges her and the Trouble-Tones to a game of Dodge Ball. Quinn is talking to Puck as they walk down the hall, hoping to further the plan to get their little girl back. She stops by Ms. Corcoran's office to ask about joining the choir. Shelby must give it some thought.
The Dodge Ball match is on, and while trying to pick one another off, the kids sing a mash-up of Pat Benatar's Hit Me With Your Best Shot & Blondie's One Way Or Another
Santana is quite mean, and leads the girls in a pummeling of the others, including Finn and Rory. Kurt stops them at the end, for they have caused Rory a bloody nose. It effects Rachel and Mercedes, too. In fact, when the Trouble-Tones meet, Mercedes suggests an Adele mash-up, and that Santana dial back on the mean. After she nominated herself, Mercedes is nominated leader of the Trouble-Tones, and demands Santana work harder on the music, and less on bullying. She goes to apologize to Finn, only to lose it and be even meaner than before. As she walks away feeling she won, Finn asks her way she hasn't come out, and if she feels better about herself when she rips everyone down just to avoid letting anyone see how she really feels. It hits her hard.
Sue has amped up her false advertising against Burt Hummel, who is getting really frustrated. Mr. Schue, his campaign manager, tries to think about what to do. Puck is helping Shelby with Beth and assembling the crib, when he confesses about the plan for him and Quinn to get Beth back. He really bares his heart, giving Shelby reason to think about it all. Soon it is time for the mash-up competition, and the New Directions go first. With 80s inspired outfits, including curly wigs and mustaches for the boys, the take on the Hall & Oates classics, I Can't Go For That & You Make My Dreams.
It is time for the McKinley High Presidential debate. Brittany wants to make tornadoes illegal, and pledges to go topless on Tuesday. Kurt takes on bullying, and to ban doge ball, the modern equivalent of stoning. When Rachel has her turn, she asks for everyone to vote for Kurt, the only candidate to not go negative. Afterwards, they make up. Quinn stops by to see Shelby, who tells her she knows the plan, and doesn't feel comfortable with Quinn seeing Beth anymore. It doesn't end well, as Quinn leaves. And Sue needs to talk to Santana, as an opponent is using Santana in an anti-Sue ad, labeling her a lesbian. Seems another candidate had a niece who overheard what Finn said to Santana, and thought to use it against Sue, no matter how it hurts a high school student. Santana is distraught, realizing her family, her parents, will see it. Sue is sorry, but there is nothing she can do... It is time for the Trouble-Tones to take to the mash-up war, and perform the Adele songs Rumour Has It & Someone Like You.
Wow, Santana nailed that! After the songs, she notices Finn whispering to Rachel, and she goes to call him on it. She is sure he is telling Rachel about her sexuality. Despite both Finn & Rachel telling her they were just saying she was great, Santana loses it, yells and slaps him. Everyone looks stunned. The episode ends.
Remember, the New Directions are taking next week off for Thanksgiving, and will be back on Tuesday, November 29th, with the next new episode. The title is I Kissed A Girl, and sure to be another great one. In place of GLEE next week, X-Factor will be moving forward a day, with performances on Tuesday, and results on Thursday.
It has been a while since I have posted about one of my favorite Canadians, so it is time to rectify that. Like so many singer/songwriters, Theo Tams has done a cover or two at his live shows, and only the other day, he added a new twist. He posted a video he made of himself singing a cover of Adele's Someone Like You. The song was off Adele's amazingly successful second album, 21.
Last year, I took a bit of a road trip to Toronto so I could see Theo performing live for myself. I am so very glad I did. One of the songs I managed to catch on video from that trip was by Britney Spears, but Theo managed to put his own magic on it. Here is Sometimes.
While I might not have captured a performance of Theo singing Lady GaGa's Bad Romance on video, my friend Sue did. So, without further ado, here is Theo's wonderful Bad Romance.
To discover more about Theo, you can find him on FaceBook here, and Twitter here.
So, Prom is this week, and that means all the hormones and feelings of rejection are running amok at McKinley High School. Principal Figgins had his first choice of a band for Prom, Air Supply. so he wants the New Directions to perform, and get the money for the trip to Nationals. Prom coordinator Sue is not at all happy. She has a list of songs that cannot be performed, which Mr. Schue walks out on. He tells the kids, and Mercedes is saddened, as she doesn't have a date. Neither does Brittany, but she plans on stealing other's dates, so she's happy. Rachel and Mercedes ask Sam to be their date, even if it is a date on a budget, and a threesome in name only - no funny stuff. He happily agrees. Kurt asks Blaine to go to Prom, which throws off our intrepid gay - he and a date were victims of a hate crime in his first dance. Santana can't wait to offer her services as security for the gay couple, hoping to garner some votes for Prom Queen. The girls all want their Pocket-gay to help with picking out their dresses, which Kurt happily does.
Rachel and Jesse sing an awesome version of Adele's Rolling in the Deep.
Jesse is apologetic, and asks Rachel to the Prom. He will join Sam and Mercedes on the budget run. Puck was ambushed by the school press, who intimate that the school thinks Lauren has neutered Puck, which has the young bad-boy on edge. He wants to spike the punch, and needs Artie's help. Puck will dance with Sue while Artie drops the alcohol. Artie resists, for he is still looking to make up with Brittany. Finn complains to Rachel about the return of Jesse, when she steps up and reminds him he is back with Quinn, and Finn has no say in Rachel's life any more. Artie has a plan, and breaks into the home economics class to sing Brittany a song. He sings Stevie Wonder's Isn't She Lovely.
Plans for the festivities are in high gear, including Kurt, who wears a designer jacket and kilt, showing off to Finn, Blaine and his father. Finn is supportive, but his father is concerned about the statement Kurt is making, as is Blaine, remembering his own bashing. Kurt tells them this is what he is wearing, and if Blaine would prefer to not join him, he would understand. Finn goes to pick up Finn, who looks absolutely stunning in her dress. They get to the restaurant, and Finn starts to pick a fight with Jesse, which Mercedes puts an end to when she shuttles Finn and Quinn off. We find out Jesse has failed out of college, and can't find a job. But Rachel is still happy to see him. But it is time for Prom. Puck and Sam do a great job with the rather unfortunate song, Rebecca Black's Friday. They are joined by the resident rapper, Artie.
There is plenty of action with the kids dancing, who have been the focus of the show, thankfully. Rachel sings Christina Perri's Jar of Hearts while gazing across the floor at Finn. Sam asks Mercedes to dance in a sweet moment.
It is time to spike the punch and Sue catches Artie, and tries to bust him and have him turn on Puck by threatening to clean his teeth. We cut to Blaine singing Black Kids' I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You
While the song is going on, Finn picks a fight with Jesse, which Sue has to take a break from her dental torture to toss both boys out. Quinn sees her dream of Prom King & Queen going out the door with Finn. After the song, the candidates are called to the stage, and closeted Dave Karofsky is named King, and in a surprise write-in vote, Krut is named Prom Queen. He is devastated. He runs away. Blaine chases after him, and we hear Kurt telling about how hateful the vote was, and the school's way to spew their hate with hidden ballots, to poke fun of his manhood. Quinn breaks down at Rachel, and slaps her. They have a moment. Santana is hurt cause Karofsky won and she lost. But Brittany tells her she is cool, and they must go out to support Kurt. Artie will be there, cause he didn't spike the punch with Vodka, but with lemonade. He is going out there, because he won't let them win. He goes out to utter silence, and soon has the room applauding for his witty gay ways. All of a sudden, Mercedes and Santana are singing ABBA's Dancing Queen, the song the King and Queen dance to.
Karofsky bolts rather than dance with Kurt, but stalwart Blaine is there to offer his twinkle-toes. Soon everyone is dancing, and Artie approaches Brittany. Life is a disco, after all.
As singer/songwriter Gregory Douglass prepares to release a new album, he has offered up a video performance of on the the amazing songs found on the latest Adele album. So here is Gregory's cover of Adele's Set Fire To The Rain.
Gregory has a wonderful blend of rock and earthy Pop sounds. His voice is rich and soulful, and I can't wait until Lucid is released! I pre-ordered it a while back, an investment in my aural pleasure. For more about Gregory and the new album, be sure to stop by and visit his official website here.
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins is a British singer/songwriter who seems to be conquering the world at the moment. Her searing and heartfelt styling has grabbed the hearts of the buying public, supporting her first album, 19, and now her second, 21. Check out a live version of her second single, Someone Like You. Adele co-wrote the song with Dan Williams.
Set Fire To The Rain is set to be the third single from the album, It was written by Adele and Fraser T. Smith. This is a performance captured by a fan at the Tabernacle in London this past January.
Adele remembers going to see The Cure in concert when a child, going with her mother. She does a great cover of their great Love Song, written by the members of The Cure; Robert Smith, Simon Gallup, Roger O'Donnell, Porl Thompson, Lol Tolhurst, and Boris Williams.
Of course, the first single off 21 was the amazing Rolling In The Deep written by Adele and Paul Epworth. It is such a signature song, it just took my breathe away the first time I heard it.
For more about Adele, check out her official website here. There you can find links to purchase her music. Both albums are must-haves for anyone who loves music.
The generic announcer's voice intros the judges, and then Crusty, the host. With Paul gone, the quirk-factor of the line-up has dramatically decreased. This leaves a season that is bathed in boring and swaddled in mediocrity. Speaking of which, they surprise us with a performance from the eliminated Idols to date, proving that the audience isn't particularly partial to women or, well, minorities. Ashthon, Karen, Pia, Thia, Naima and Paul performed Pink's song Rockstar.
Wow, seeing Paul and Pia singing together was just so train-wrecky... Such an odd way to start the show. After a break, Scotty was the first one to take to the stage, singing Swinging by LeAnn Rimes. If there was a safer, more predictable move for Scotty, it would have him breaking out some Josh Turner... He sang it with little missed notes, and less emotion. Oddly, the judges kind of agreed, calling it safe, and a bit boring.
James is next, and he chose to sing Muse's Uprising. Opening the song in a lower register wasn't the slickest of moves for James. The chorus rings in his sweet spot, and soon he is jumping around his falsetto for no apparent reason. He added little to the song, and rather paled in comparison to the original. Jennifer and Randy nominate it for best of the night, and Steven found it to be wonderful, like T-Rex. Huh?
Before the break, we are told Haley is taking on Adele, and I visibly cringe. Oh, how I love Adele's sophomore album, and fear what is to come. When we return, Crusty is overheard telling the marching band they are being paid, and he plans to use them. They play him on to the stage to introduce Haley. She is singing Rolling In The Deep, and again I have fear. I sit here stunned, as I think she is doing a nice job with it. I have to laugh, as the judges have a lukewarm response to her.
Jacob sings Dance With My Father, the Luther Vandross song. He lost his father at a young age, so this song means a lot to him. He has an odd shrill quality to his voice tonight, a little heavy on the head voice. They all think the emotion was great, but the performance less than stellar. Wow, they are actually going there. And then Randy says he needs the old Jacob to bring the church back. Well, Randy, you crazy!
We return to see Casey on the stage, and he will be singing the Maroon 5 song Harder To Breathe. I love this song, and am a bit fearful once again. And once again, I am surprised, as it is not as bad as I had feared. Well, until the end of the song, when Casey takes it off the rails. And when he goes to Jennifer at the table and kisses her, I just sigh. He ladled the gimmicks on the song, and I just think he lacks musicality. The amazing syncopation utilized by Adam Levine is totally lost on Casey, as that section comes across winded and vacant. Next!
Of course, the judges feel the exact opposite. They love him, and think he is this jazz genius. I am at a loss. Thankfully, Stefano is up next, and will be singing Neo, the hit song Closer. Wow, he managed to take all the dance out of a Neo song, that ain't easy. Vocally, it comes closer to muddled mess than it does to music. His dancing wasn't good, but I have to let it go. Of course, the judges thought it was very good. And they are trying to sell him as this sex God. Really? I mean, I know this isn't a pretty group, but can't you just let that go this year?
Lauren closes out the show, returning to country. She is singing Born To Fly by Sarah Evans. The song is rather generic, but she is singing the crap out of it. She has more depth in her voice than all the men combined. She was really good tonight. Unlike the men, however, she doesn't have an over-inflated view of her abilities. The judges love her, and tell her to believe in herself. I would agree with them.
With the recap, I am reminded that for me, the two girls ruled the night. Lauren and Haley were the strongest, and the boys a bit of a huddled mass on the floor. My bottom group would be Jacob, Stefano and James, with Stefano finally hitting the road. But then again, I have been really off the last few weeks!
Clockwise from top: Adele, Eric Carmen, Jack Johnson, Aretha Franklin and Lykke Li.
The episode starts with a classic scene in the Glee-room, talking about the need for money to make it to Nationals. Mr. Shu came up with his own brilliant idea - the sale of salt water taffy. There was a collective eyeroll. We cut to Sue in her office, talking to a group that includes Sandy Ryerson, Dustin Goolsby and Terri Schuester. Sue is trying to focus their attention on the hate for Will Shuester or the Glee club. Ryerson was the former coach, and is still bitter. Terri hates the club and the kids, and Dustin, the coach of Vocal Adrenaline, just wants to screw with Shue's mind. The Legion of Doom is born. Back in the chorus room, the need for money expands, as Arty, Brittany, Tina and Mike are part of the Brainiacs, the academic team for McKinley.
Will is on a date with Holly Holiday, the endlessly hip chick who convinces him to dump the taffy and do a benefit at the school, to raise money for both the New Directions and for the Brainiacs. They have qualified for the scholastic competition Nationals. They made it with the astute knowledge of Brittany of a special category, Feline Diseases. The evening has a theme, A Night of Neglect, focusing on neglected artists. They won with the final question, Artie's category, White Rappers.
Vocal Adrenaline star Sunshine offer's her services to the kids, as well as her over 600 Twitter followers, and Rachel and Mercedes are battling for the final slot. Sunshine auditions with the song she feels is appropriate, Eric Carmen's 1975 hit, All by Myself. OK, she thinks she is singing Celine Dion, but I like Eric's better. It was written by Carmen but the verse borrows heavily from the second movement (Adagio Sostenuto) of Sergei Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor.
Sunshine wins. Mr. Shue walks in on Ms. Pillsbury being incredibly driven by her OCD, and she admits Carl is gone, and is asking for an annulment. After all, they never did "it." They have a lovely moment, and he promises to be there for her. Sue is meeting with the Legion of Doom, and tells Dustin Goolsby to go after Holly, to break up she and Mr. Shue. He goes to work, and insults Shue's hand size. Cause, size matters. Lauren sees Mercedes stepping into the background, and offers to be her manager, and to enact some diva demands. She thinks it will gain her the respect she deserves. The demands include a puppy to dry her hands on, a new one each time...
At the school the night of the event, they discover Sunshine and her 600 followers will not be showing up, they only have about 6 people in the audience. While they toy with the idea of not performing, Finn decides they must give those six people their best. Tina is up first, and is inundated with heckling from the crowd, headed up by Sue's peeps. She sings I Follow Rivers, the latest single from Sweden's Lykke Li.
Although panic hits the kids, Mr. Shue steps up, and tells them they must go on. Mike is going next, and he is going to dance to Jack Johnson singing Bubble Toes.
It is a fantastic number, and I'd love to see more from him. Holly pulls aside three of the hecklers, and tells them there is ramifications to being mean, and they decide to go home. Next on the program is Holly, singing Turning Tables is a song by Adele, the brilliant British singer/songwriter and co-written by Ryan Tedder.
Thus she proves she is not a third the singer of Adele. This leaves Ryerson to heckle alone, which makes Sue pull him aside. when he comes back, Mercedes, who talked to Rachel about respect, and decides to join the kids. She makes one last demand, that they kids all go out to watch her. She sings Ain't No Way is a song written by singer-songwriter Carolyn Franklin and sung by her sister Aretha.
After the song, Mercedes and Rachel have a touching moment. Mr. Shue and Holly, on the other hand, do not. They, in fact, break up, as she is taking a teaching job in Cleveland. But she tells him that he loves another, and with her assistance, she is now available. She knows about Ms. Pillsbury... The Legion of Doom are meeting, as Ryerson and Goolsby have disappointed Sue, so she is sending in Terri next to ruin Mr. Sue's day....
