American Idol's Past and Present (Sound-raves week of 4/18/2011)

Judging from the status posts of my fellow Facebook friends just last week alone, there apparently is, ten seasons and counting, still an interest in the show American Idol.    We, for some reason await the fate of who stays and who gets eliminated each week.   We moan when it's somebody good (such as the recent unexpected departure of Pia Toscano), or when it's a singer that doesn't belong, it's more like "yeah, he needed to go".   

Since I'm a music fan, I thought I'd offer my take on the show, past and present.    I will start right off by saying that this is normally not my kind of music, being a fan of alternative rock, but can alwyas appreciate a good pop song now and then.    And as the original premise of the show was to find a true pop superstar (the "idol" of the title), I don't think I'd expect anything more than that.   Still, in an artist's career, once he reaches the top, most likely the rein will last just a few years before the inevitable backlash sets in.    Since the winner is determined by the public, they can't blame anyone but themselves if they actually "suck".

I was going through my "dissatisfied with music" phase around 2002 when Idol debuted that summer, and frankly, I didn't follow it thru the first few seasons of the show, but I will offer my insights on who I liked:   The season 1 winner was Kelly Clarkson, and she is still my favorite of all the winners.   In fact, her coronation song, "A Moment Like This", despite it being a ballad, made my year-end list that year (at #82), but more importantly it would be our wedding song and first dance five years later.    But Clarkson's songs have been uptempo as well, and when I resumed my year-end lists in 2009, she had three songs on it.     Kelly's fifth album, already recorded, is due later this year, and I'll be waiting for it.

Seasons two and three were a bit of a blur; it produced Ruben Studdard and Fantasia Barrino, Clay Aiken (runner-up to Studdard) and Jennifer Hudson (seventh in season 3) but nothing in those years tickled my fancy.
Probably the most successful Idol winner was season 4's Carrie Underwood.    Some pop, some country but a lot of respect...and prestigeous awards.    "Some Hearts" (a cover of a Marshall Crenshaw song), and "Before He Cheats" were my favorites off of her debut; "Undo It" from her most recent, got considerable airplay on my iPod just last year.    Runner-up Bo Bice was the first legitimate rocker on the show, but aside from "Inside Your Heaven", never really made continuous impact.

Which brings us to season 5, the first time I watched the show faithfully.     The winner was Taylor Hicks, but my favorites that season were Chris Daughtry (4th but deserved better) and Kellie Pickler (sixth).    Daughtry should have won but he didn't need to; his band which bears his surname has been very successful, and I've listened to many of his songs off his two albums.  Pickler, a country artist, has been a favorite as well, "Leave the Pieces" being my favorite from her, as well as "Best Days of Your Life" which was #63 on my 2009 year-end list.  Barb and I saw the "American Idols Live" show at the Meadowlands during the summer of 2006.

From season 6, I enjoyed the winner Jordin Sparks, but aside from Blake Lewis and Melinda Doolittle (second and third), there was nothing of note to keep me interested.  Ditto season 7, except for the battle of the Davids, Cook and Archuleta.    They were both good, but Cook won and except for a couple songs by each, came and went.

Season 8 was probably my favorite after the fifth season.   Kris Allen won (although frankly he was interchangable with the previous year's winner Cook)....Adam Lambert was a bit better, but my favorite that year was fourth-place Alison Iraheta.  17 at the time, she released an album, with the single "Friday I'll Be Over You" landing in my year-end top 10 in 2009.  Unfortunately, her album Just Like You didn't sell too well, and her raspy, Janis Joplin-like voice she displayed on Idol never really came into play.  Her record label dropped her after the debut's disappointing performance, but still hopes to be completing material for a second album.

Last season resulted in winner Lee DeWyze, making it three, rather interchangable male artists in a row.   I had rooted for runner-up Crystal Bowersox, but to no avail.   To his credit, DeWyze released a couple of decent singles, "Sweet Serendipity" (which got some iPod play and peaked at #77 on my list earlier this year) and his current "Beautiful Like You", my current #56 song (see below).

So, what about this season?    With Pia eliminated, it seems like the front runners are James Durban, Lauren Alaina, Jacob Lusk and Casey Abrams.    It is a very talented season.   These four are pretty much off the beaten path, so hopefully we won't have another cookie-cutter winner like the last few.    I would also throw in Haley Reinhart.   Oh, and don't forget Scotty McCreery, who has chosen a country path.  No male winner (which means we exclude Daughtry) has been very successful, so I am pushing for Lauren or Haley, but can't complain if any of the others make it to the end.   My predictions (which can be subject to change, of course):  (1) Lauren, (2) James, (3) Jacob, (4) Scotty, (5) Casey, (6) Haley...although I hope she gets her act together and goes higher, and (7) Stefano (a very good singer, but we've heard it before). 

TOP 20:

The Foo Fighters finally knock Rachel Allyn out of the top spot, scoring with "Rope", the lead single from their first #1 (yes, you heard right) album, Wasting Light.  Dave Grohl, the drummer for grunge pioneers Nirvana had always wanted to keep this group "fun", and have been one of the more consistance bands out there for the last two decades.    Leila advances to #3 with "Hush Little Baby", joining fellow up-and-comer Rachel Allyn in the top echelon of the chart.

The big story within the top 20 is Florence + the Machine's "Dog Days are Over" which jumps to the #12 spot.   Having unexplicantly dismissed this last fall (despite liking the band's previous single, "Kiss With a Fist" which made my year end list for 2009), thanks to a post by a Facebook friend, I had a "what was I thinking moment", and readded this.   The song is still rising Billboard's Adult Top 40 chart after half a year, and is top 10 on the Triple-A list.   At least I didn't totally miss the boat.

Accolades continue for Adele.   Back to the top position on the Billboard Albums Chart with 21, she's in my top 10 for the 18th straight week, and she's top 10 in every viable chart (including the Hot 100), except for alternative where she's no slouch at #26.  

Here is my top 100 current songs for the week of April 18, 2011:

This Week	Last Week	ARTIST-Title	Weeks on List
1	2	FOO FIGHTERS "Rope" Album:Wasting Light	7
2	1	Rachel Allyn - Gettin' By	14
3	4	Leila - Hush Little Baby	9
4	3	Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks	13
5	5	Peter Bjorn & John - Second Chance	11
6	6	Mt. Desolation - Bitter Pill	10
7	7	Adele - Rolling In the Deep	19
8	8	Kings of Leon - Pyro	12
9	10	Ra Ra Riot - Too Dramatic	11
10	9	Cold War Kids - Louder Than Ever	15
11	15	The Vaccines - Post Break-up Sex	6
12	27	TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK FLORENCE + THE MACHINE "Dog Days Are Over" Album: Lungs	7
13	11	The Decemberists - This Is Why We Fight	12
14	14	Yuck - Get Away	9
15	17	The Holidays - Moonlight Hours	13
16	19	Sleigh Bells - Rill Rill	9
17	13	Colbie Cailat - I Do	10
18	21	Acrylics - Sparrow Song	8
19	26	Lucinda Williams - Buttercup	9
20	16	The Airborne Toxic Event - Changing	12

21	25	Tamar Kaprelian - New Day	7
22	18	Jack Johnson - From the Clouds	10
23	44	PRIME MOVER OF THE WEEK       THE RAVEONETTES "Recharge & Revolt" Album: Raven In the Grave	3
24	12	Two Door Cinema Club - What You Know	11
25	23	Downtown Crossing - Translation	12
26	33	The Cars - Sad Song	4
27	41	TV On the Radio - Will Do	5
28	30	Downtown Crossing - Seventy 4	9
29	32	Helvetia - Arise Pt 1	7
30	36	Dropkick Murphys - Memorial Day	8
31	34	Lady Gaga - Born This Way	9
32	38	Iron & Wine - Tree By the River	13
33	22	The Black Keys - Howlin' For You	16
34	31	Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues	11
35	24	Jenny and Johnny - Big Wave	16
36	28	Fitz and the Tantrums - Money Grabber	20
37	37	James Blunt - Stay the Night	8
38	39	Arcade Fire - City With No Children	8
39	42	Devotchka - 100 Other Lovers	6
40	29	Goo Goo Dolls- Notbroken	18
41	20	The Strokes - Undercover of Darkness	10
42	59	Rihanna - S&M	4
43	66	Dark Sacrament - Realm of Unlight	2
44	48	Cee Lo Green - Fuck You (Forget You )	25
45	55	Company of Thieves - Death of Communications	4
46	49	The Band Perry - You Lie	6
47	46	Twin Tigers - Everyday	12
48	60	He Is We - Happily Ever After	5
49	61	Michael Franti & Spearhead - I'll Be Waiting	4
50	69	Dom - Living In America	2
51	43	The Decemberists - Down By the Water	24
52	56	Scars on 45 - Give Me Something	9
53	63	The Sounds - Something to Die For	4
54	35	Weezer - Hang On	10
55	50	Twilight Singers - On the Cofrner	11
56	58	Lee DeWyze - Beautiful Like You	5
57	40	Deerhunter - Revival	16
58	45	Plan B- Stay Too Long	16
59	54	Marianas Trench - Good To You	11
60	76	Chk Chik Chick - Wannagain Wannagain	4
61	77	Superhumanoids - Malta	4
62	94	Death Cab for Cutie - You are A Tourist	2
63	53	Katy Perry - Firework	22
64	51	Michael Franti & Spearhead - Hey Hey Hey	19
65	47	Cake - Mustache Man (Wasted)	6
66	68	Mike Posner - Bow Chicka Wow Wow	6
67	74	Black Eyed Peas - Just Can't Get Enough	5
68	79	The Beets - Dead	3
69	81	Richard Ashcroft - Are You Ready	5
70	82	My Chemical Romance - Bulletproof Heart	2
71	90	Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi-Two Against One	2
72	96	Telekinesis - Please Ask for Help	2
73	57	Deluka - OMFG	11
74	67	Anberlin - Closer	6
75	95	Ben Harper - Rock n' Roll is Free	2
76	52	Portugal the Man - People Say	20
77	62	Flogging Molly - Don't Shut 'Em Down	11
78	87	Duran Duran - All You Need Is Now	2
79	72	G. Love - Fixin' To Die	7
80	89	Alexander - Truth	3
81	----	TOP DEBUT:       THE WOMBATS "Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves}" Album: This Modern Glitch	1
82	Re- Entry	Katy Perry - E.T.	5
83	84	The Kills - Satellite	5
84	----	Redlight King - Old Man	1
85	75	Lifehouse - Fallin' In	6
86	99	Dinosaur Pile-Up - Mona Lisa	2
87	65	Phoenix - Armistice	7
88	88	Freelance Whales - Hannah	3
89	----	Brother - Darling Buds of May	1
90	64	Bad Books - Please Move	18
91	----	Augustana - Steal Your Heart	1
92	86	Avi Buffalo - What's In It For	32
93	92	One Republic - Good Life	3
94	70	The Drums - Me & the Moon	11
95	93	Los Lonely Boys - Fly Away	4
96	----	Beastie Boys - Make Some Noise	1
97	80	Arcade Fire - We Used to Wait	17
98	----	Manchester Orchestra - April Fool	1
99	----	Biffy Clyro - Many of Horror	1
100	----	Taylor Swift - Mean	1