American Idol Season 12 • Top 10

So we are ready to head out on the 12th journey with American Idol, an arduous and time-consuming to be sure. The first thing we learned about the new season was that the producers went out and hired an interesting mix for the judging panel, with the addition of Maria Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban to the lone remaining original judge, Randy Jackson. With the addition of Minaj and Urban, this panel is arguably the most current in history, which had previously tapped people well-past their heyday. And as the production also fed gossip about fights between Carey and Minaj to 'news' organizations, we recognized that producers were trying to cash in on those names.

Left to right: Randy Jackson; Maria Carey; Ryan Seacrest; Nicki Minaj; and Keith Urban.

For the last two months, the show has been airing the normal material, from auditions to Hollywood week, and most recently the semi-finals, all in an effort to whittle the numbers down to a Top 10. I have to admit I skipped most of this, catching a few auditions, and tuning in last week to see the Top 10 announced. It seems the judges and producers worked hard to make sure there would be no white guy with guitar this season, ending the dominance on the competition for that 'genre' as well as the supposed 'cougars' who voted for them. This perhaps opens up the show for a possible female singer to have a chance, something that seemed unlikely since season 6. I did watch a bit last week, especially when they announced the Top 10, and it was an interesting watch for me.

Top row: Angie Miller; Kree Harrison; Janelle Arthur; Devin Velez; Amber Holcomb; Burnell Taylor; ; and Candice Glover. Bottom row: Curtis Finch, Jr.; Lazaro Arbos; and Paul Jolley.

The group was an interesting combination of 'types' we had seen before, but some of the types were missing. There was not a talent-challenged teen boy to be the focus of torment, nor the moderately talented handsome guy and girl make voters swoon. And as I mentioned earlier, there was no white guy with guitar, the 'type' who took the crown in 4 of the last 5 years. That said, the Top 10 was more diverse, presenting a cross section of the population, not nearly as whitewashed as previous seasons. I'll admit I was less than impressed with a couple of the finalists when they sang their 'victory' song, but hopefully they can do better tonight. With the first episode of finals, the will be taking on 'The Music of American Idols', being able to choose any of the songs sung by the previous 11 winners of the show, excluding the winner's single, or any music released post-show. Later, it was changed to take away all the restrictions, just a song sung by a former Idol at some point in their lives. So, that would be any theme from the last 11 years, or a song for any genre you would like. Seems like it was tailor-made to offer no one an advantage, to level the playing field. Well, only time will tell if that is what came to be. Soon it will be starting all over again.

For those who might be new to my recaps, I will point out I will not be using the clips of the finalist singing songs, but the original artists. And not all the songs, just a select few. Of course, it once again begins with Crusty offer the trademark line, "This is....American Idol". The broadcast begins with mini-clips of the previous 11 American Idol winners, and then a few words from each finalist. Soon the judges come out - well at least three of four. It seems Nicki Minaj is caught in traffic, but on her way. Soon, Ryan introduces the Top 10 as a group, who come out on stage with screams from the audience. Then we get the usual propaganda, this time the American Idol App, with the super-vote feature, and other nonsense. First up, we have Curtis Finch, Jr. singing "I Believe", the coronation song for Fantasia, the winner of season three.

Well, I have to say it is tough to take on that particular song, because Fantasia slayed it. And Curtis did not. It was a tepid performance, with Curtis sliding off-key and back on again. He only really seems engaged during the chorus, when he would like to see his voice soar. His vocals in the verse fail to communicate much. Honestly, I bet Nicki is glad she was in a car with the radio playing. Keith liked it, but Randy wanted him to change it up a bit, show us all something new. Mariah, on the other hand, wants more of the same, cause that is what she loves about him, his gospel chorus stylings. Soon Crusty is jumping off the stage, as if he was getting Nicki out of her car. After the break, Crusty is on stage to chat with Janelle Arthur, telling a story in such an old-home-kinda-way. Soon the clip runs, and she is talking to Jimmy Iovine, and we find out she wants to go the classic Country route, none of this cross-over crap. She will be singing Montgomery Gentry's "Gone", sung on the show by Scotty McCreery. While this is the type of music Janelle would like to perform, the song shows a certain thin quality to her voice, no real punch to it. It was a bit lacking. Keith loved it, and then Nicki liked it, but didn't love the song choice. She always has a question about her song choice, and she just wants her to sing something pretty that will show off her pretty voice. Randy agreed with Nicki, feeling the song went nowhere, much like her performance. And Mariah looked like she was searching high and low, and finally said she would prefer Janelle sing a pretty ballad. In other words, she agreed with Nicki, and it killed Mariah to admit it. Soon, it sounded like Crusty resurrected an old Kellie Pickler bit on stage with Janelle, proving silly bits never die. We go to another commercial, with the threat of more performances to come. After the break, we get Devin Velez chatting with Jimmy Iovine, offering his advice on his career path. He will be taking on Carrie Underwood, singing her "Temporary Home", off her third album, 'Play On'. He takes on Country, for he knows he needs to take chances in the competition. It was an odd song choice, and he sounded very nervous. And the song was a bit too story intensive, lacking intensity in the vocal performance. For the first time tonight, Keith finds a negative note, and thinks it was the wrong song, and it fell flat with him. Nicki disagrees, thinking it was beautiful, better than she imagined it would be. Randy didn't like it much at all, and needs the power and gymnastics to prove he deserves to be there. Mariah wriggled her was through a negative review with the song choice nugget, wanting Devin to soar with bigger songs. Another break gave me a chance to catch up, and after this one it was time for Angie Miller talking with Jimmy I, who tells her she sometimes gets a bit beauty pageant, which surprises her. She will be singing "I Surrender". It is the Celine Dion song sung by the first Idol, Kelly Clarkson, during her Top 4 week.

Well, despite Angie telling us she thinks she can sing it as well as Kelly, I didn't hear that. During the beginning of the song, she voice was a bit thin, even brittle. Her top end is tough for me, really, it feels a bit strained. She pulled it back together by the end, but it was beginning wasn't there for me. Keith loved it, and thought she was amazing. Nicki started out by telling her she looked great, and then called her perfection. Randy pulled out another tired phrase, proving you can't teach an old dog new tricks. He loved her. Mariah called her stellar, and left it at that. I think there much be something wrong with the speaker on my television. During yet another commercial break, I get a sip of Green Tea, and decide to let that last bit go. I was already warned by Crusty that next up would be Paul Jolley, who takes his turn with Jimmy I. But first Crusty points out the songs can be purchased online. Back with Jimmy I, he tells Paul he over sings everything, just like everyone on Broadway. What an asshole statement, Jimmy. I lose respect for him even more now. Paul is going to sing "Baby, I'm Amazed By You" by Lonestar, another song performed by Scotty McCreery during his winning run. And he will try to show some restraint. He sounds sweet, and is never off-key. I was a tad bored by it, for it got slow and soft in the beginning. But he has a gorgeous voice, and the last third of the song was wonderful. Keith thought he has been listening to what he was being told, and it was his best performance yet. Nicki thought he looked good, and it was the first time he turned her on. And she thought he sounded great. Randy tried to take credit for his sounding the best yet, while Mariah thought he sounded great, but doesn't want this talk of restraint to keep him from using those gifts he has, and why Jimmy I. kept him in the competition a few weeks ago. Frankly, I am still so annoyed by Jimmy I's comments, I just wanna hug Mariah for her little bitch-slap at him. After another break, Crusty speaks to Candice Glover about her getting a picture from home. Then she talks to Jimmy I, and he talks about her gorgeous voice, and she plans to showcase it with "I (Who Have Nothing)" sung by Jordin Sparks in Season 6. I remember it sung by the great Dame Shirley Bassey.

Candice did a great job, although I did hear a little bit of shrill on her top end near the front of that song. But when the song kicked in, it is in the gorgeous part of her voice. She simplified her runs, and put in emotion where it belongs. It is by far the best of the night so far. Keith loved it, and goes on and on. Nicki loved it too, and thinks the song can be retired now. Randy thought it perfection. He started with his platitudes, and called it the best vocal of season, in the first performance show of the year. Yeah, just sayin'... Mariah loved it, but didn't stand because her skirt is too tight. But she adores Candice. Again, I thought it was wonderful, but I'll take Jordin's performance in a head-to-head... Soon it was another break and it is time for Lazaro Arbos to chat with Jimmy I, who points out he needs to learn the song, which has been his failing thus far. He will be singing Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway", from her album of the same name. For the first half of the song, it lies in the bottom of his voice, not a good place to be. He sounds breathy and weak, needing the chorus to brighten up an otherwise lackluster performance. Keith starts out by asking a question, which Lazaro struggles to answer. But Keith admits it as not a good performance, and hopes they see him next week. Nicki feels Jimmy shook his confidence, and he needs to find that again. Randy tells him the song was too big for him, which is meaningless critique. It was out of his vocal range, and he was strong when the song called for it. Mariah didn't mind the song choice, but thinks there could be better songs to show off his voice. And she thinks people all love his bravery, obviously looking to gain him some extra votes. Another endless barrage of commercials ends, and it is time for Kree Harrison to take to the stage. Jimmy loves her tone, and her range, and will take on a gorgeous song by Roy Orbison, "Crying". Carrie took it on in Season 4. Kree does have a stunning voice, and she kinda reminds me of Carrie a bit. While she is great on the vocals, I thought the arrangement was not great, a little stop/go during the first half. She took command of the final third, and it began to soar. I just wish she took the whole song on. Keith loved it, and will buy Kree's record. Nicki thought listening to her sing was like eating her favorite breakfast, making her all warm and delicious. Randy seemed confused by that, but went on to say she is so talented. Mariah loved the song choice - one of the greatest songs ever written - and loved the way she sings. She loves her. Then Kree called Crusty Randy, and the opposite of hilarity ensued. Thankfully, that was broken up by another commercial break. Next up, we have Burnell Taylor chatting with Jimmy I, who has little of interest to say on the clip. Burnell will be singing "Flying Without Wings", sung by Ruben Studdard on the Season 2 finale. Simon brought that with him from the UK, where his group Westlife had a big hit with the song.

He had a strong performance, but it was a song that didn't feel like a good fit for him. He still put his own flavor on it, but allowed the song to swallow him a little bit. He was good, but not great. I think he can do better. Keith loved it, Thinking he has a great timbre in his voice. And so did Nicki, although she did admit it wasn't her favorite so far. Randy loved it, with nary a bad thought in his mind. Mariah spoke of how she loved him, and the choices he makes as an artist. After the commercial break, it is time for Amber Holcomb to met with Jimmy I, who tells her she is pretty. She will be singing "A Moment Like This", and Jimmy suggests she take it up-tempo. She doubts she will do that, but she will make it her own. As the song starts, it sounds exactly like Kelly's version, only Amber doesn't have Kelly's voice. She takes an inspiring song, and makes it pedestrian. I thought it showed more of what was lacking in her voice. And the final few notes sounded sharp to me, just going over where it they needed to be. Not surprising to me, Keith loved it. I was stunned, however, when Nicki said that was the performance of the night, and it was young Whitney reborn. Huh? Randy loved it, and thinks the girls killed the guys tonight. Mariah gave it hashtag POW, and thought she sounded magnificent. Again, the sound on my television must be bad. Crusty calls her mother to the stage, and she gives her an early birthday present.

The video recap with the voting numbers rolls, and I am reminded that for me, Candice took the night, with Paul hot on her heels. There were several who lurk in the middle, giving good but not great performances. The weakest of the night for me were Curtis, Janelle, and Lazaro. But will the voters agree with me? Can Lazaro's bravery keep him out of the bottom? Are too many Country artists going to break up that voting block, putting someone in jeopardy? I might not know now, but we will learn tomorrow night when the results are broadcast at 8PM on Fox.

Billboard Top 5 - 1990

I'll be honest, I changed my source for the Billboard Top 5 songs because the songs that were in the last one just didn't make sense to me. This new source, well, it makes more sense, at least for the most part. I can tell you that 20 years ago, three of these top 5 were part of my record collection, and songs I listened to on a regular basis. That could not be said of the former source material, so rightly or wrongly, I am switching it up. And might have to revisit at least 1989, if I get a chance, cause that list, well it was causing me to struggle a bit.

Twenty years ago, I was working my but off in New York City as a freelancer, working long hours when I was in town, and traveling a great deal for the projects. I spent a lot of that time listening to my Walkman or Diskman, whichever I had at that time. Music was definitely starting to shift, as New Wave was fading, Pop was on a bit of a resurgence, but there was a new rock sound that was bubbling up from the Pacific Northwest, which was just coming together as we entered the new decade. Seattle was the home of Grunge music, and the scene was alive there, but not yet hit the rest of the country or really starting to hit the charts - yet. In 1990, the #5 song of the year was a fantastic R&B song from the amazing Janet Jackson, sister to the King of Pop. Escapade was the third single from Janet's breathtaking album Rhythm Nation 1814, which you can rest assured is in my collection. It was also the third single to hit the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 from the album, and it had a great video. Here it is.



Starting in the 60s, drag balls were held and the competition was fierce betwixt and between a variety of 'fashion houses' in the gay community in New York City. The majority of the balls were held in Harlem, and the competitors were the drag queens (and occasionally drag kings). The houses were African American and Latino American, and they competed in what were essentially fashion shows, trying to capture the 'realness' of certain looks. The events are best chronicled by a great documentary released in 1991, Paris Is Burning. Out of these competitions came a strong style of dancing that emphasized and magnified expectations of femininity. The dance was called Voguing, and was said to be established and perfected by Benny Ninja of the House of Ninja. Ninja has become best known for his participation on Tyra Bankss' show America's Next Top Model, which has been employing drag queens to teach women how to be models for the last 7 or so years. And it was on the skirts of the Harlem drag queens that Madonna rode to the #4 song of the year when she released Vogue.



In 1990, Mariah burst on to the music scene with the release of of her eponymous debut album on the Columbia label. The album was held controlled closely by the President and CEO of the label, Tommy Mottola. It was later discovered that his interest might have been more than just artistic integrity, as Carey and he would marry in 1993. But the first single from the album, Vision of Love, quickly soared up the charts on the strength of Mariah's amazing voice and vocal histrionics. Her popularity grew quickly, although if I were being honest, and at the risk of having my gay card pulled [once again], I have to admit I have never been a big fan of Ms. Carey's, as I found her vocals to be rather over the top and self-indulgent. But Vision of Love was the first of tree straight singles that were certified as Gold selling singles for the up-and-coming star.



The #2 spot belongs to a rather stunning Irish lass, whose style and ability to speak her mind angered people from the Pope to Frank Sinatra. But when she sang Nothing Compares 2U, Sinéad O'Connor had the world stopping and listening to her. The video for the song featured to singer shot in a tight close up, with her beautiful big eyes and closely cropped hair, kept the world's attention at the beginning of the year. O'Coonor took a little-known B-side written by Prince and made it the second ranked song of 1990. Here is the video for Nothing Compares 2U.



I have to admit that I just don't remember the #1 song of 1990, even after checking out the video. Nor do I really remember the singer, Stevie B. But the top song of the year was named Because I Love You (The Postman Song) and sung by the aforementioned Stevie B. And I just don't know what else to say about it, save that it could be my least favorite #1 since I started doing this lists. So here is the video.

AI9 Yes, We Have No Benami

Today, the internet is abuzz with theories and results that will be played out live tonight on American Idol. Will Didi be leaving tonight, making it three ladies in a row? Wasn't this supposed to be the year of the ladies? Could the men outnumber the men 2 to 1 next week? That hasn't happened since season 4, and Carrie did go on to win Will Tim be leaving, despite Simon's claim his smile will keep him around for next week? Or will it be Andrew, a favorite theory of some who believe the eliminations have been predictable, and it is time to shake it up. And will the judges think about using the save this early in the competition.

On the show tonight they have Ruben Studdard, the season 2 champion. Wow, he has dropped a whole bunch of weight. Have to say, his voice is not as smooth as it once was. He is going out on the road this summer with Clay Aiken, that would be an interesting crowd...

The Ford video, the actually used Kung Fu Fighting. No, they really did. Big Mike gets his butt kicked. We touch on Crystal's scattered piano lessons, Big Mike's fake hair, and Andrew's mother.

Now, the lights are dimmed, and the results begin. Crusty starts with Lee, who thinks that was his own best performance. Simon thinks last night he made himself a contender. And he is safe. Casey is next. He is safe. Aaron is up next, leaving Katie and Siobhan to be up for the seat. We hear a whole lot about the judges, about twisted love, but little about Aaron. No matter, he is safe. Crusty let's Siobhan defend her performance. For Katie, they discuss the whole thing with the judges, and we find that Katie is in the bottom 3, and Siobhan is safe.

Justin Bieber is in the audience, and helps to introduce Usher, his mentor. Usher is dancing well, but is sounding out of breath for the singing. He is joined onstage by a big production number. An extravaganza. Complete with Will.I.Am.

Didi is up first, and Crusty wants to know if she will return to the guitar. She is not that secure playing on stage, and is told she is in the bottom 3. Big Mike is up next, and Ellen talks about the subtlety and softness of the performance. Crusty plays with him, and Big Mike picks him up and scares him. He is safe. Crystal is safe, leaving Andrew and Tim to fill the final spot in the bottom 3. Tim explains he isn't an idiot, and he understands. Andrew is safe, and Tim is in the bottom. The person going back to the seats is Katie, safe for another week.

Making his debut on the Idol stage, we get P Diddy, bathed in a bright light, his girls dancing ahead of him. The song is very auto-tuned, very Diddy. And they bring out the strobe, just to give me sensory overload. Diddy takes a victory lap, and the crowd goes wild.

After a commercial, we are back for the final result, and it is Didi Benami. Wow, three girls in a row. She is going to sing Rhiannon. She is good, but not great. The kids give her a standing ovation, but the audience does not. They go to Simon for the answer, and he says they are not saving her. And we see her exit reel. She holds it together, while I saw the chance of a meltdown. And I get no points in the pools. And in the proclaimed 'Year of the Girl', we get to the Top 9 next week - rumored to be Beatles related - with three ladies and six men remaining. Time for some testosterone to be sent away, I would imagine. All the men better be on their toes.

AI9 Baby, Baby, Where Has Our Soul Gone?

This recap was originally written for Rickey.org.

Backstage with Crusty. He makes Simon kiss Ellen, and then runs away screaming on to the stage. OK, maybe he wasn't screaming, but he did go to the stage with the screaming fans. He makes the audience scream out their favorite.

It is R&B and Soul night, and Usher is the mentor, and we are reminded he is the #1 artist from the last decade. They tell us he is the consummate performer, and he says he is here to help these talented people be better.

Siobhan Magnus - Through The Fire - Chaka Khan (1984)
Usher thinks she has an incredible voice, and has a great chance at a recording career. She starts off sounding great, but breaks a bit in the chorus, it is just a hair out of her range. She goes for her big note, more than once really. It is an uneven performance, not her best. All the judges thought it was her weakest performance, and Simon also said he is getting bored with the scream at the end. There is big discussions with the judges to make sure everyone knows the judges love her and think she should stay despite that performance. We get a backstage cam view of the kids in the greenroom, and Siobhan walking through dejected and Big Mike going to console her after tough reviews from the judges. Toughen up, girl, they weren't that tough!

Casey James - Hold On, I'm Coming - Sam & Dave (1966)
Usher really likes Casey, his voice and his confidence. He thinks Casey is one to keep an eye on, win or lose. Casey looks good as he takes the stage, and sounds great, loving every minute of it. He is on fire, That was fantastic. The crowd is going crazy. The boy judges loved him, the girls not so much, think it was a little safe. The cam catches Casey offstage, elated with his performance. He loves that song!

Mike Lynche - Ready For Love - India.Arie (2001)
Usher likes him, but wants him to connect with the audience more. Cause boys playing guitars get the chicks. Ask Usher. He starts soft, and in the bridge strengthens his vocals into the chorus. It builds to a big note, which he kinda swallows a bit. Too bad, it was his best performance to date. The judges loved it. Simon points out he didn't sound karaoke tonight. Usher loved it, too. The cam is near giddy, talking about being in the moment.

Didi Benami - What Becomes of the Brokenhearted - Jimmy Ruffin (1966)
An emotional song for an emotional young lady. She cried after singing it for Usher, and Usher thinks the honesty. It is an interesting performance, but seeming to lack the soul and R&B vibe and emotion that is the basis for the evening. She gets bold at the end, but to me, her voice is often flat. The judges are not loving it at all. Simon and Kara think she has lost her way. She picked the song because she loves it, and Crusty spends an inordinate amount of time not getting the answer he wants, and I lose interest. Let the girl alone, Crusty! The cam catches Didi going in the greenroom,

Tim Urban - Sweet Love - Anita Baker (1985)
Wow, if there was a song/singer mismatch, this would be it. I saw this, and thought 'Damn, does he want to leave?' There was this odd homoerotic moment for Usher and Tim, with Usher trying to keep Tim in the moment, singing from the heart, not the throat. He starts on the steps, and this is not terrible, but not great. Very Lite-FM. Actually, the last 30 seconds weren't bad. The judges hated it, and Tim smiles and laughs. Simon thinks as long as he smiles, his is getting through. Tim laughs again because he thought they picked on everything, but never thought his smile would be among those things. Into the backstage cam, he says they were nicer than he thought they would be, so it could be worse.

Andrew Garcia - Forever - Chris Brown (2008)
Usher sees Andrew overthinking, overworking everything, and tells him to take a breath. He likes the result. The first half of the song still seems tense and tentative, but then he works it out a bit, but ultimately it is still kinda boring. I still feel as if he is chasing that lost moment. The judges loved it, disagreeing with me. Simon does think he is a bit boring, and brings Andrews mama up to give Simon a talking to. The backstage cam is all about Mom.

Katie Stevens - Chain of Fools - Aretha Franklin (1967)
He likes her energy and her voice, and offers her performance tips. She is singing very well. She is in great voice. A tad on the karaoke side for me, almost a tribute band, and the judges think she is sounding better, but there is a disconnect, before it degenerates into a battle of the judges with Katie as an audience member. Nice. Are we voting for our favorite judge or singer? On the backstage cam, Katie gets big hugs from Big Mike and the boys, telling her she was great.

Lee DeWyze - Treat Her Like A Lady - Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose (1971)
Usher digs him, and thinks he needs to figure out how to take that moment onstage. The first line or two of the song are off, but he pulls it together. One of the reasons he drives me crazy is he only seems to invest in the loud moments, and in the softer moments, drops off the words and swallows the notes. He is 1996 rocker, using growl at the expense of nuance. I thought it was a bit uneven. The judges, however, love him, and toss everyone else under the bus. With the backstage cam, we see Lee basking in the glory of the reviews, and choking up about his life changing.

There is a Glee commercial, reminding us in two weeks, they return. Yay!

Crystal Bowersox - Midnight Train To Georgia - Gladys Knight & the Pips (1973)
Usher loves her - thinks she is a sweetheart, and will be great. Crystal is on the piano. The first note or two sound a little nervous, but that soon fades away, and she is singing big and strong. She gets up from the piano, and takes centerstage, and goes to town. The judges adore her, and Simon, a tad less impressed with the performance, warns her to not lose who she is by listening to Kara. She assures him she would never do anything she wasn't comfortable doing. After the commercial, we get the backstage cam she talks about taking a risk, proving to be multi-faceted.

Aaron Kelly - Ain't No Sunshine - Bill Withers (1971)
Usher loves Aaron, thinks the song is great for him. The beginning is a little rough, very nasal and sharp. He had nailed that for Usher, is it nerves? He clears it up as he sings. Aaron is strong on intensity, but a little lacking in understanding, I think. He ends strongly, although the judges are are rather temped in their praise, all liking him, but no one loving him. And, sadly, he gets no backstage cam.

In the recap video, Lee gets the best edit, and I notice Aaron sounds a bit less nasal in rehearsal. On the whole, the show featuring R&B and Soul was a little lacking in the latter. Siobhan had soul, but her performance wasn't strong. I thought Casey was soulful and strong. Big Mike was good, but a tad lacking. For me, Didi, Tim, and Andrew lacked soul in their performances, choosing structure over content. Katie came off as someone 'acting' rather than being soulful. Lee went for rock and eschewed the soul, but Crystal brought back the soul. Aaron seemed a bit nervous, which stole some of the soul from the song.

For me tonight, Casey and Crystal had the strongest performances. And the two strongest audience responses were for Casey and Lee, so I would suspect those three are safe. And, most likely, Aaron. For the bottom three, I think we shall see Didi, Tim, and someone else. Tough to say, could be Andrew, but his mama might have saved him some. Could be Siobhan, but I would think her fanbase is strong enough to keep her out of the bottom. Could be Casey or Mike, buried in the beginning. And Katie touched the bottom last week, and could visit again. Odds are that it will be Tim's time to go, as two ladies have already left, it is time for a young man to join them.