Soundtrack to my Day

'Play My F**kn Remix' Sexy Cover From Sir Ari Gold

2013-05-16T10:01:00.001-04:00

The sexy and shiny new cover art for Sir Ari Gold's soon-to-be-released 'Play My F**kn Remix' was shared with S2MD, and I couldn't be more excited. The project is the latest of ground-breaking artist Sir Ari Gold, who plans to integrate his latest remix album with a 3D music video directed by legendary Francis Legge. There is also a documentary in the works taking a look at Gold's life in music, where Sir Ari has been and out and proud singer from the beginning. The Remix album features several remixes from the top DJs of "Play My F**ck Record" off Gold's latest album, 'Between The Spirit & the Flesh'. Check out this live perofrmance of the song at XL Nightclub.

To see the full-sized cover, click here. For more about Sir Ari Gold, visit his official website. You can also like him on Facebook, and follow him on Twitter. Sir Ari will be more than happy to say "hello" on any of the social media. 'Between the Spirit & the Flesh' also features the hit singles "Make My Body Rock", Sparkle", and "My Favorite Religion". You can purchase the album on iTunes and Amazon.

Live Music • Matt Alber & Tom Goss

2013-05-15T09:00:00.001-04:00

Matt Alber, left, and Tom Goss, right.

I am very excited, for tonight, barring any hangups is traffic, I shall be listening to the amazing music of Matt Alber and Tom Goss, and that just sounds perfect to me. I have been a fan of both for some time, and their music has spoken to me on so many levels. And while their music might be not share the same style, both certainly have a wonderful emotional base, as well as a melodic purity that I find really appealing. And it never hurts that I have met both, and find them to be such nice men as well. To show you what a time I will be having, I thought I would feature some of their music in this post. And I will begin with a song from Matt, who recently released a DVD that is both beautifully shot and so sweet to listen to. Alber joined forces with The Cello Street Quartet, and made this live recording that is so lush, yet so simple at the same time, I never tire of playing it. So I picked "Tightrope", but I could have easily chosen any of the songs, and been just as happy to share it.

Tom recently made a video of a new song, a bit of a departure for him. Tom has a catalog of songs that is so deep, he rarely sings a cover song. In fact, I have been to shows when I have loved every song,but later realized there was a favorite of mine I missed. So I was a bit surprised when he released the video for "Can't Hold Us", an acoustic cover of the song by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. But he did it his way, playing all the music himself, making textured music by adding layers recorded live and making it all grow together. Not sure yet? Well, check out Tom's version of "Can't Hold Us" for yourself.

When I first saw the video for Matt's "End of the World", I was aware of him as a singer, but this really brought home just how stunning his gift was. I mean, that gorgeous voice, with that interpretation that just touched the very core of my heart, it blew me away then, and still does today. What is even more mind blowing is when I heard it live, and I can honestly tell you I still got goosebumps. So with no more delay, here is Matt singing "End of the World".

And finally, I have one more song, this one from dear Tom. I couldn't decide which to choose, so I finally went with the music video I appeared in, along with my sister and niece. We made the trip to Washington, DC, to do something we haven't before, and to participate in a video for a singer/songwriter we all love. We had a great day, and are now thrilled to be in a video we love to watch. The song is "It's All Over", off Tom's album 'Turn It Around'.

For more about Tom Goss, including his tour schedule, visit his official website. For more about Matt, and to check out his upcoming tour dates, visit his official website. To purchase the most recent release from Tom Goss, 'Lost Songs and Underdogs', you can find it on iTunes and Amazon. To purchase 'Constant Crows', the latest release by Matt Alber, you can find it on iTunes, Amazon or Matt's online store.

That Rogue Romeo • Machine & Magic

2013-05-14T09:00:00.001-04:00

As you can easily see from the photograph above, Kevin Stea is a mesmerizing man, so handsome and so very confident. But there is a reason he should be confident, for the talented man has more than just a pretty face going for him. Stea is well-known as a dancer, having worked his magic in many a video and live tour. He might be best known as one of the dancers seen in the 1991 documentary 'Madonna: Truth or Dare', which chronicled the behind-the-scenes life of Madonna's Blond Ambition Tour. Since that time, Stea has proven to be a multi-faceted performer, adding choreographer, model, actor, singer and director to his resumé, quite impressive indeed.

And when I mentioned Stea was a singer, you might not have realized Stea takes on a different personae in his musical incarnation. Kevin becomes That Rogue Romeo when the music starts, an artist that combines all genres of music to create a sound that is really cool and fresh. The sound is Pop at heart, but utilizes elements of Rock, Electronica, Dance, and other classic structures to tell the story he feels impelled to share. And when he combines that with imagery on video, you can see the artist meet a new level, melding the different media to create something sublime. Check out the music video for "Wonderland".

Now, the song and video for "Domino" is a different animal, a dark and stalking creature that immediately gnawed it's way into my heart. So sexy and flirty, the performance is dripping with seduction, matching the song with a strident muscularity that powers throughout. The searing sound of the guitars lends to a Rock sound, adding to the masculine edge That Rogue Romeo offers the listener. Yet there is also the dichotomy of the masculine and feminine, both shown with an edge that is captivating. Enjoy the music video for "Domino".

The opening of "City of Glass" has a classical feel, not only with the staccato feel of the strings, balancing the sound with the Electronica. With all this, he manages to turn the music a bit topsy turvy, with the elongation of the electronic instrumentation adding emotional balance to the warm string tones leading the percussive beat. And the imagery of the music video, putting the cold strength of steel chain with the warmth of fabric that could easily tear just offer up a myriad of ways we are bound through life. Have a great time watching the music video for "City of Glass".

All three songs can be found of the 2012 release, 'Machine & Magic'. It is an album I would recommend without hesitation, for I still find myself enjoying hearing it. With so many textures and tones, it still holds my attention, and keeps me coming back for time and time again. For more about Kevin Stea, visit his official website. You can also follow him on Twitter, or like him on Facebook. To learn more about That Rogue Romeo and his music, visit his official website. He can also be found on Twitter and Facebook. You can also purchase his album, 'Machine & Magic', from iTunes and Amazon.

The Voice Season 4 • Top 12

2013-05-13T22:10:00.000-04:00

As we hit night 3 of the Live Playoffs, the Top 12 will be taking to the stage, looking to make it past this week, garnering enough votes to be a part of the Top 10 next week. With all 12 performing this evening, the votes will be done by 10AM tomorrow morning, and the bottom two vote totals will be sent home, no matter what team they are from. Yes, that means one coach could potentially go from 3 artists to 1, should their team not deliver when it counts. As the show opens, host Carson Daly explains the heat was steaming up the West Coast, and the theater lost the air conditioning, but they have hopes it will get turned on shortly. He thanks the studio audience for sticking it out despite the heat, and the judges are prepared to be in it for the long haul on this hot night of performances.

Left to right: Adam Levine, Usher, Blake Shelton and Shakira.

The first up for the night will be VEDO, who will sing "Rock With You" by Michael Jackson. VEDO met with his coach, Usher, and Usher's choreographer, all to add more finish to the show. In the end, the work paid off, for he sounded quite good, and he was moving well during the song. It was a great mix of song and dance, although I would think it is tough to take on Michael Jackson, who was just so damn talented. Shakira loved it, and always finds him entertaining and leaving his heart on the stage. Blake loved it, and thought it all worked so well. Usher was so very proud, for it showed he not only did the work, it also puts him in prime position to move on. Team Blake is up next, and Holly Tucker will sing "Broken Wing" by Martina McBride. Blake advises her to sing hard, for the message of the song is so important. Here is Martina McBride singing "Broken Wing".

Holly opens up the song singing strong, and never looks back. It was like she started with the pedal to the floor, and never lifted. Honestly, I didn't feel a strong connection with the message, but with the volume. The early run wasn't sounding that great, falling a little limp. I was a bit disappointed. Usher loved it, and hopes she understands she is a real talent. Shakira was thrilled, and thought Holly sounded better than ever. Adam also enjoyed the performance, and thought it was her best of the season to date. Blake was so proud of his student, and thinks Nashville is sitting up and taking notice of her talent. Shakira is up next, and she sends Garrett Gardner to the stage, singing "I Want It That Way" by the Backstreet Boys. She thinks it will be cool getting a rock version of a 90s boyband hit. This is a very strange song choice, and I just fear Garrett is just too young and inexperienced to really put a strong stamp on the song. Adam was not thrilled with it, and just wanted to be honest with him. Blake understood the song choice, but wasn't sure he delivered. Usher just wanted him to understand the constructive criticism was only to help make him a better artist, and they all were pulling for him. Shakira wants Garrett to ignore them all, she is so very proud of what he did, and thinks his fans, especially the girls, will take care of him. After the commercial break, we learn the air condition is back on, and it is time for Sarah Simmons to sing "The Story" by Brandi Carlile. Adam wants her to get out of her comfort zone, and deliver a bold performance. But first, let's check out Brandi singing "The Story".

I really love this song, and think Brandi Carlile is a gifted songwriter. I liked this performance, although there was an odd flow Sarah's rendition of the song. It felt like she was trying so very hard to deliver vocal range, and kinda forgot the emotional side of the song, which is really deep. I mean, I did appreciate she had more growl in her voice than I ever thought was there, but it just felt misplaced for me. Blake just loved it, and he loves that song. Shakira thought it was a great song choice, despite not knowing the song. Adam is thrilled with her, as she can deliver the lilting light vocals, as well as the gritty, bluesy kind. He just loves her, and thinks she is one of the best singers that has appeared on the show. After the break, it is time for Blake to coach The Swon Brothers, who will be doing a tribute to the late George Jones, and sing an acoustic version of "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes". I am really surprised, for they delivered a strong performance, simply and beautifully sung. Their voices blend so damned well together, I thought it was their best performance to date. I loved it. Usher thought it was beautiful, and they did a great job. Adam thought it was a lovely tribute to the man, and they made him forget it was a competition, and allowed him to just enjoy the show. Blake was so very happy, pleased The Swon Brothers honored the late George Jones as well as Country music with that song and performance. He felt it was their break-out moment. Soon it is time for Shakria to being out her next artist. Sasha Allen will be singing "Alone" by Heart. During the rehearsals, Shakira wants her to work on the opening lines, to make it more personal. But before she sings, let's hear Heart singing "Alone".

I have to say, I think the advice was really good, and she delivered an awesome version of the song, one that didn't really sound like Heart. Her voice was so spot on, and so filled with emotion, I was really touched by the performance. Adam thought she was incredible, and proved once again he was wrong for letting her go. Usher thought it was amazing, and she did everything right. Shakira loved it, and thinks Sasha has one of the best voices she has ever heard. After a break, it is time for Josiah Hawley to meet with Usher. Josiah will sing "The Man That Can't Be Moved" by The Script. He wants to deliver an acoustic performance. He comes out in jeans and a t-shirt, and his acoustic guitar. Here is The Script singing their song.

As Josiah begins the song, he sounds so tuned in, not only to the pitch, but also the lyrics. I have to say, Josiah has impressed me once again. At first I thought he was just a pretty boy who could sing, but he is proving to be far more than that. This was a great performance. Adam thought it was his best so far, and he delivered that in his sweet spot. Blake was also impressed, and thought it was his strongest so far. Usher was thrilled for him, and thought he had this great idea, and pulled it off perfectly. Next up is another strong vocalist from Team Blake, Danielle Bradbery. She will be taking on "Wasted" by Carrie Underwood. Those are tough shoes to fill, for Carrie is an amazing singer. She delivers a strong and beautiful performance. However, I thought it was just a bit karaoke. There were no bad notes, and not a single moment of nerves to be seen. Shakira is just so impressed by her, a 16-year-old that never shows any signs of nerves on the big stage. Adam thought she was amazing, and feels she is the frontrunner at the moment, and his singers have to step up to give her competition. Blake just loves his student, but really loves that she is just a normal girl, not changed a bit by her time on TV. Soon it is time for Judith Hill to meet with coach Adam Levine, who tells us she will be flying solo, playing the piano with no other accompaniment. She will be singing Carole King's "You've Got A Friend".

She starts off with a soft and simple arrangement, and allows it to build with an amazing feel. This was beautiful, for it stayed away from the karaoke versions of this song we have all heard far too often. There is such power in her voice, and yet she still managed to connect to the lyrics, and deliver the emotion. This is just one more excellent vocal on the night, making it very hard for people to vote. Usher thought it was an amazing display of artistry, and he loved it. Blake just thought it was a perfect performance, every aspect on the money. Adam thought it proved just how special her talent is, and is so proud to have her on his team. After the break, it is time for Michelle Chamuel, who will be singing "Call Your Girlfriend" by Robyn. Michelle loves that, for she wants to be an eclectic electronic artist, blending genres much like Robyn. While I loved the intent of the song, I wasn't sure that was a great follow-up to her brilliant last performance. I thought her voice was a little light on the song, like the song needed to be dropped a bit to honor her vocal strength. Either that, or she lacked the confidence to really deliver. I really wanted this to be better than it was. Shakira gave Michelle kudos for being able to sing and dance, which is not as easy as it seems. Adam tells her how much he loves her, and the interesting choices she makes. Usher tells her he is so very proud of her, and how he is so pleased he is part of her journey on 'The Voice'. After a break, we hear Kris Thomas was getting ready to enlist in the Navy, but came to audition instead. He will be singing "I'll Be There" by the Jackson 5, hoping to let him show his vocal range. Here are Michael and his brothers with the song.

I have to say, I was a bit disappointed here, too. On the chorus, he seemed like he was straining to hit the notes, and he added just a few too many runs, which fell short for me. The song started so high, his move from chest voice to falsetto was not as smooth as it has been previously. Once again, I wish they had adjusted the key down, to really let his voice be the best it could be. Adam gave him credit for being able to hit those notes in a live performance. Usher thought there were a few places that seemed a bit mixed up, like he couldn't decide if he was singing Michael's version, or the cover by Mariah Carey. Nice catch, Usher. Shakira is so pleased with her singer, and thinks he sounded great, and proved how much he wants to be in this competition. And as we come near the end of the show, it is time for the final performance of the night. Adam's Country artist, Amber Carrington, who will be taking on Martina McBride's "I'm Gonna Love You Through It". It is a message that touches her deeply, and she dedicates it to her mother, who was taken by cancer. She comes out a little timid, but quickly allows the song to carry the day. She is a talented young lady, and gave a really wonderful performance. I was impressed. Blake loved it, and thought Amber not only did Martina proud, but Nashville and Country music as well. Usher is just plain impressed by the depth and breath of her voice. Shakira thought it was wonderful. Adam is so proud of her, for the song was so close to home, and she kept it together and delivered a fantastic performance. So we are at the end of the night, and all that is left is the voting. 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 VEDO 01, Holly Tucker 02, Garrett Gardner 03, Sasha Allen 04, The Swon Brothers 05, Sarah Simmons 06, Josiah Hawley 07, Danielle Bradbery 08, Judith Hill 09, Michelle Chamuel 10, Kris Thomas 11, and Amber Carrington 12.

Dark Monday • 'Mama Rose' Streisand

2013-05-13T09:00:00.000-04:00

There has long been a rumor that a new movie version of 'Gypsy', the Broadway show with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. It opened on Broadway in 1959, and was adapted for film in 1962, featuring Rosalind Russell in the iconic role of Rose Hovick, the mother of Louise Hovick, who went on to find international fame as burlesque queen Gypsy Rose Lee. It has been said Streisand has long been interested in playing the role, even though some scoff, as the star recently celebrated her 71st birthday. In fact, for the last few years, the entertainment columns have contained report after report, stating the project is moving forward, and Barbra will direct, to hearing the project has stalled, as Arthur Laurents has refused to allow her permission to direct the film. Well, on her last tour, Streisand took the bull by the horns, and performed a medley of songs from the show. Here is a clip of Barbra performing "Rose's Turn" and "Some People", with the added bonus of "Don't Rain On My Parade", reminding everyone she is no stranger to the music of Jule Styne, or the movie musical. Enjoy.

This video was from a performance in Philadelphia on October 8, 2012. At the age of 70, she sure sounds great to me. If the movie happens, I am willing to buy my ticket now!

Kate Bush • Mother Stands For Comfort

2013-05-12T19:00:00.001-04:00

Happy Mother's Day to all who lend a hand in raising children, and making their lives just a little, or a lot, better! As a tribute to all the Mothers out there, I thought I would give you a little more Kate Bush, which is always a good thing. Here is Kate singing "Mother Stands For Comfort" off the album 'Hounds of Love'.

Happy Mother's Day!

Sunday Morning With Audra McDonald

2013-05-12T10:00:00.000-04:00

I am truly crazy about Audra McDonald, her amazing soprano soaring when she wants to, and barely a whisper when she feels so inclined. Her talent simply cannot be denied, for she has five, that is right five, Tony Awards to her credit, sharing that number with record holders Julie Harris and Angela Lansbury. I just love her album 'How Glory Goes' and am looking forward to her album that will be released later this month, 'Go Back Home'. And I thought her version of the song written by Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello, "God Give Me Strength" is about as gorgeous as anyone would like it to sound, with just the right amount of emotion. There is such beauty in this recording, found on the album 'Build A Bridge'. I hope you enjoy Audra McDonald's version of "God Give Me Strength".

And while some may not think of "Bein' Green" as an especially spiritual song, I would suspect they have never listened closely to it. The song, written by Joe Raposo and performed by Kermit the Frog on a variety of projects, from 'Sesame Street' to 'The Muppet Movie', the song never fails to touch my heart. And I must say, Audra sings a version of the song that does exactly that. Enjoy this live performance of "Bein' Green".

"Bein' Green" can also be found on Audra's album 'Build A Bridge. You can purchase the album on iTunes and Amazon. For more about Audra McDonald, visit her official website. You can also follow her on Twitter and like her on Facebook.

Saturday Night With George Gershwin

2013-05-11T19:00:00.000-04:00

Clockwise: Lola Albright; Diana Krall; Cleo Laine; and Etta James.

Tonight I felt like dedicating the post to the music of George Gershwin, an amazing man who contributed so many songs to the Great American Songbook. What is truly remarkable is that his career was cut short, with a brain tumor taking him away at age 38. Just think about the rich music he could have left behind had he live another 30 years! The first song I will bring you is a favorite of many, "I've Got A Crush On You". The song was written by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin. It was used for two different Broadway productions, 'Treasure Girl' in 1928, and 'Strike Up the Band' in 1930. And while it has sung by the greatest voices in music, I though I would offer up a version by Lola Albright from her 1957 album, 'Lola Wants You'. Enjoy "I've Got A Crush On You".

Next up, I feature another composition by the brothers Gershwin. "They Can't Take That Away From Me" was introduced by Fred Astaire in the 1937 film 'Shall We Dance'. With the unmistakable music of George and the lyrics by Ira, the song has also been covered by many of the best in music. Whether taking it as pure Pop, or adding a wonderful Jazz twist, it is hard not to love it. I am particularly fond of this version by Diana Krall, who some might know from appearing on this blog before. Other might recognize her as the wife of rocker Elvis Costello. Enjoy her take on "They Can't Take That Away From Me".

Now I also happen to love "Embraceable You", another with music by George and lyrics by Ira. It was written in 1928 for an operetta that never came to be, but was published in 1930, when it found a home in the score of "Girl Crazy" and sung by the wonderful Ginger Rogers. But I went in a different direction, and invite you to listen to the wonderfully gritty and touching version by the late, great Etta James. Etta recorded in late in her career, as part of a album where she recorded some of the songs of Billie Holiday. I hope you love Etta James singing "Embraceable You".

In the final song of the night, I bring you the fourth song written by the Brothers Gershwin. "Bidin' My Time" was also introduced in the 1930 Broadway musical 'Girl Crazy', but not by Ginger Rogers. And while many of the notable version were sung by men, many women have also put their own mark on it. That would include the wonderful Cleo Laine, who recorded it in 1974 for her album, 'Spotlight On Cleo Laine'.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend!

Donovan • Sunshine Superman

2013-05-11T10:00:00.000-04:00

Emerging from the British folk scene, Donovan shot to fame in the United Kingdom in early 1965 with a series of live performances on the pop TV series, 'Ready Steady Go!'. The Scottish singer/songwriter blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music to make a new music sound that no one had heard before. In 1966, Donovan released "Sunshine Superman", one of the first overtly psychedelic pop records. The sound was more textured, and the tempo was far from a usual one heard on most Pop records. The single went on to sell over 1,000,000 copies, and went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Give a listen, and I think you might enjoy this promotional video for "Sunshine Superman".

You can find "Sunshine Superman" on 'Donovan's Greatest Hits'. In fact, the album is filled with great songs. You can purchase that album on iTunes and Amazon.

Date Night • Love Is All You Need?

2013-05-10T19:00:00.000-04:00

'Love Is All You Need?' is a short directed by Kim Rocco Shields, who collaborated on the script with David Tillman. The short takes a look at social norms, and what would happen if someone decided to mix things up, all because they just want to be true to themselves. The film features a really touching performance by Lexi DiBenedetto as Ashley, the young girl who only wants to be true to her heart.

Have a great weekend!

Undercover • Weekend Music

2013-05-10T13:00:00.000-04:00

Joe Thompson, left, and Greg Scarnici, right.

Undercover is a New York-based group making fantastic Nu-Disco and House music, a prefect choice to kick off your weekend. Greg Scarnici and Joe Thompson are the talent behind the band, combining the best of Dance with the Soul and Pop to make a sexy mew sound I can listen to time and time again. Let me start with the latest track released, one that harkens back to the best of the British Dance Pop of the early 1990s, like Everything But The Girl, only more soulful, like Simply Red. Well, why don't you check them out yourself, here is "Missing Me Most".

Their is a wonderful feel to "Your Lovin' Touch", a great song that combines the best of groups like Yazoo, Erasure, Level 42 and other Dance Pop bands I have loved through the years. There is just enough flavor to hear the influences, but still maintaining a fresh and current feel. Check out the music video for "Your Lovin' Touch".

Finally, There is the music video for the first track off their eponymous debut, 'Undercover'. The song has a light and breezy feel, with the beat driving the song perfectly accentuating the soulful vocals. There is something really cool and sexy about the track, one of my favorites. Now you can watch the music video featuring sultry performances by Colby Keller and Rikki Crowley. Rather than have me go on, check out the music video for "After Dark".

You can find all of these songs on their self-titled debut album, 'Undercover'. It can be found on both iTunes and Amazon. For more about Undercover, visit their official website, and you can also find them on Facebook.

Top Songs of 1983

2013-05-09T19:00:00.000-04:00

As I was writing about Anthony Callea's new album 'Thirty', I couldn't help but think about what I was doing 30 years ago. Unlike Anthony, who was busy being born and getting his diapers changed, I had completed my college education and moving to New York City. I had done my internship at the Actors Theatre of Louisville in the Fall of 1982, and came back to regroup before the big move. I would be joining Bill, who was there already doing his graduate work at Columbia. We were moving into an apartment on the Upper West Side. We were young and poor, so we didn't have air conditioning to keep us cool. Instead, we had screens for the windows, and a box fan to keep the air moving. What this also meant was we were getting the full sounds of the city, including the music that was playing on the boomboxes down below.

Clockwise: Michael Jackson; Men At Work; The Police; and Irene Cara.

I can be fairly sure we often heard the Top 5 songs of 1983, according to Billboard Magazine. I shall begin with the #5 song of the year, the first of two in the countdown by the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. His rocking song "Beat It" was a sensation, and it is easy to hear why. Michael certainly was a multifaceted entertainer, able to write, sing, play the instruments, produce, and dance in ways most musicians could not even dream about. Check out the music video for "Beat It".

Australia has long been a good trade partner with the United States, especially when it came to music. They shared The Bee Gees with us, as well as a very young Kylie Minogue doing the "Locomotion". And there was also Midnight Oil, with their big sound on "Beds Are Burning". But in the #4 spot for 1983 we find another Australian band that made the trip across the Pacific worthwhile, Men At Work. They tore up the charts with the song "Down Under", offering us Americans a little slice of Australia, complete with a vegemite sandwich. So here is Men At Work, with Colin Hay on lead vocals, with "Down Under".

In 1983, there might not have been any movie with a bigger influence on Pop culture than 'Flashdance'. The movie was stylishly directed by Adrian Lyne, who used everything at his fingertips, from lighting to steam, to create sexy imagery, from the dancer working in the steel mill, to the ladies dancing in the club. And all this was tied up with a pretty musical bow, as there seemed to be song after song on the soundtrack that was making it up the charts. That includes the #3 of 1983, "Flashdance...What A Feeling" as recorded by Irene Cara. She wrote the song with Giorgio Moroder and Keith Forsey. Cara was already a proven singer, having placed two songs from the soundtrack of "Fame" on the charts in 1980. Enjoy as she sings "Flashdance...What A Feeling".

I have to say, I was surprised when I learned that Michael Jackson's second entry was not at #1, but at #2. You see, I didn't think anything scored on the Billboard charts like Jackson's "Billie Jean", off his album 'Thriller'. But after checking several places, it does seem like "Billie Jean" placed #2 in 1983, one of the many songs off the album that burned up the charts and off the selves of the record stores. And it had this great music video, with the lighting sidewalk that was so innovative at the time. You see, Michael was always pushing the boundaries. Have fun watching Michael Jackson sing "Billie Jean".

The song that ended up on top of the Billboard charts for 1983 is by on the the oh-so-many British Imports of the 1980s, The Police. Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland came together to form a Punk band in the mid-1970s, and I remember clearly loving their first album, 'Outlandos d'Amour'. The songs off the album were getting airplay on college radio, and I knew some of the DJs at my college station, so I got to hear the music early. "Roxanne" and others were so different, so new. five years later, they were still making music people wanted to hear, including the #1 song of 1983, "Every Breath You Take" from their album 'Synchronicity'.

Hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane. All the music is available for purchase on most music services, like iTunes and Amazon.

Anthony Callea • Thirty

2013-05-09T09:00:00.000-04:00

Australian Anthony Callea has released a new album, and I am damn near giddy about it. 'Thirty' marks a return to Pop music for the talented Australian, a singer I've loved since first finding a video on YouTube almost 9 years ago. The clip so captured my attention I couldn't wait to purchase his first album and have it shipped to me here in the States in 2005. I've been a huge fan ever since. His voice is just incredible, with a great warmth in the tone, with an exciting depth. I could listen to him sing for hours, and will admit there are times I have. So when I heard news of a new album, I was giddy with anticipation. Once again, I knew I'd be spending more of my money Down Under...

I did learn more about the album, and how it would be a combination of some of Anthony's favorite songs to sing, as well as a couple of originals he co-wrote. They would all be songs that Anthony felt a connection with, a great place to start. So, on April 26, 2013, he released 'Thirty', marking his thirtieth year on the planet. I couldn't wait to hear it, and since my autographed copy didn't arrive, I could not resist the urge, and purchased it from iTunes. I felt the goosebumps with the opening sound of the piano on the first song, "Go The Distance". The song was written by composer Alan Menken and lyricist David Zippel for the 1987 Disney animated feature film, 'Hercules'. While it was sung in the film by Roger Bart, the 'Pop' version was sung by Michael Bolton. But Anthony makes me forget all of those versions, and focus on him. In fact, even after hearing it several times, I still get a thrill when I listen. The richness of his voice is just mind-boggling to me. That song is followed by "Leave Right Now", written by Eg White and made popular by Will Young. I remember hearing Young's version and loving it, so I was curious to see what Callea could bring to it. Well, I fell in love with the song all over again, with Anthony's version adding a bit more strength to the song, while still sounding vulnerable. That is followed by the first of the original songs, "My All". Written by Anthony and producer James Kempster, Anthony has said the song was inspired by his partner of of the 5 or so years, Tim Campbell. An so Anthony did ask Tim to make a cameo appearance in the video, so check it out.

The song is amazing, and the video captures it perfectly. Next up is "Di Sole e D'azzurro", the first of two songs he dedicates to his Nonna and Nonno, who have asked him to sing songs in Italian for them. The song, written in 2010 with lyrics by Zucchero and music by Matteo Saggese and Mino Vergnaghi, is a beautiful fit for his voice, and allows him to soar. But first, he allows the melody to charm us with a delicate arrangement. But soon, he allows us to ride with him on his journey through the clouds. I have seen a clip of Anthony singing the next song, "Get Here", as a duet with Tim. And while I loved it, I am so happy he recorded it as a solo. The song was written by American singer/songwriter Brenda Russell, and it became an international hit via a 1990 recording by Oleta Adams. The song allows Anthony to balance the delicacy of the melody with the strength of the emotions. Check out Anthony singing the song live on Australian morning television.

I am surprised I can recognize names of Australian artists that might not have the international exposure, but after following Anthony for so long, I shouldn't be surprised. In the next cut on the album, Anthony sings the great hit by the iconic band Heart, "Alone". He is joined on the duet by Susie Ahern, whose name I recognize from reading about Anthony singing live all these years. Her voice is stunning, and she can really not only hold her own, but step up while singing with Anthony, which can't be easy. The song was composed by Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, and a big hist for the Wilson sisters of Heart in 1987. Anthony wrote in the liner notes about being inspired by some talented American singers, including Luther Vandross. So it is only natural he would take on one of his songs, and the one he picked was the 2003 classic, "Dance With My Father". The song, written by Vandross with Richard Marx, is a delicious fit for Callea, the richness of his tone just exuding the warmth needed for it. Next we have the second song penned by Anthony, "I'll Be The One". He co-wrote the song with Adam Reily, and it is a beautiful and honest story of love. There is just an incredible amount of strength and heart in his vocals. There are just moments when his voice finds the exact right moment to break, to draw me even further in. With the next cut, Anthony takes on not only one grand diva, but two. He sings "When You Believe", written by Stephen Schwartz for the 1998 Disney animated film, 'The Prince of Egypt'. The song was recorded by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston to run over the credits, and to be the Pop single, and was a hit worldwide. Anthony would know the song, as he opened for Houston on her last tour of Australia, and got to hear her firsthand. This is Anthony singing "When You Believe".

He really surprised me with the next song, "The Flame". The song was written by Bob Mitchell and Nick Graham, and released as a single for Cheap Trick in 1988. The song went to number 1 on the music charts in the US, Canada, and in Australia. Anthony's take is different, needless to say. His version is a midtempo ballad, not the bombastic rocker power ballad of the original. It turns out the melody is quite lovely, and allows Anthony room to soar. That leads to a hit from 1999, "The Perfect Fan". The song was written by Brian Littrell and Thomas Smith, and a hit for the Backstreet Boys off the album 'Millennium'. In Anthony's hands, the song becomes more confessional, sounding like an honest message from the singer to his fans. For the final cut off the album, Anthony offers up another song for his grandparents, and sings the classically-inspired "Nella Fantasia", from the 1986 film 'The Mission'. The song has music by famed composer Ennio Morricone and lyrics by Chiara Ferraù. Anthony seems to slip easily between the Pop and Classical genres, his vocal instrument so adept of both. The song starts out soft and sweet, and builds to a wonderful crescendo, leaving me enchanted. And that is the album, from start to finish. As expected, Anthony offers up flawless vocals that can soar and inspire, as well as being able to softly caress the heart. I can tell this is yet another Callea album I will be playing for many years to come.

You an purchase 'Thirty' on iTunes and Amazon. If you'd like to order the physical CD with the booklet, I bought my copy from the Australian store Sanity. To learn more about Anthony Callea, visit his official website. You can also "like" him on Facebook, or "follow" him on Twitter.

American Idol Season 12 • Top 3 Review & Recap

2013-05-08T22:10:00.000-04:00

Last week, the Top 4 became the Top 3 when Amber Holcombe went home, leaving Kree Harrison, Angie Miller and Candice Glover to make the hometown visits and prepare three songs for tonight. Each young woman was assigned a song by the judges, one from Jimmy Iovine, and a third by the producers, leaving them no choice of their own. Can they make all the appearances that are scheduled, and still learn and rehearse the songs they need to perform? Only time will tell, and we are certainly doing time on American Idol this season.

Left to right: Angie Miller, Candice Glover, and Kree Harrison.

The judges were introduced, followed by Crusty, who soon brings out the Top 3. One will be crowned the new American Idol next week, and all are hungry for the win. But first, we see quick clips of them visiting their home towns, with the crowds there to greet them all. The first round will be the picks of Jimmy Iovine, and the show kicks off with Kree singing “Perfect” by Pink.

Kree comes out in fine voice, and does a great job with the song. I feel the message coming from her heart, and enjoyed it. Keith was oddly vacant in his critique, instead sort of questioning the song choice, but glad she always sounds Country. Nicki was anything but neutral, instead telling Kree she was great, and seemed more relaxed than last week. But she also suggested Kree try some flat boots so she can move around the stage more. Randy was not impressed, and felt the performance was flat, but Mariah thought she sounded good, but felt she might have been holding back a bit, since she has two more to go. After the break, it is time for Candice to perform, and Jimmy picked “One”, the U2 song also covered by the great Mary J. Blige.

Candice came out ready to give it her all. While I love her energy, and did feel like the song was a bit short, and she spent part of the time yelling at me. There were also a few bad notes in there, which is never the case. I love her, but thought that fell just a tad short. Nicki loved her, and thought she was on par with Mary J. Randy thought she was wonderful, didn't mind some bad notes, and was on her way to the finals. Mariah loved it, wants Candice to believe in herself as much as she believes in her. Keith loved it, and thought she once again proved the power of her voice. And the bad notes proved how much she wanted to win. All mentioned they loved the song choice by Jimmy, something they did not say about the choice for Kree. The final selection by Jimmy Iovine was for Angie, who will be singing Elton John's “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word”.

Right away, I am shocked she is not on the piano, for that is a shoe in for the judges' approval. She is in the middle of the stage singing amidst smoke and violinists. For me she is spending an awful lot of the song going flat, with an occasional foray into the sharp end. I thought it was a bit sloppy, and struggling. Randy started it all by questioning why she didn't play the piano. But despite that, he loved her, no matter how she sounded. Mariah loved it, and was happy for her restraint. Keith loved it, but wished she was even more restrained. Nicki thought it was a stellar vocal, but the emotions were lacking, which meant she was in it to win it. Confused, I decided to move on. Between the rounds, Jimmy is on camera, and decides the round has to go to Angie, for he thought she connected emotionally to the song. Again, I opt to move on. Now we see a bit of Candice's trip home, and she is thrilled to visit her old boss, and starts to cry as she is close to home. The streets are lined with people, all there to show their love. Candice is the first to sing the Judge's pick, as she takes on Emile Sandé's “Next To Me”.

This is an excellent choice, and she sounds wonderful on it. But somewhere in the middle, I feel like she is off a bit, although she gathers it together at the end. Mariah leads it off, and says almost nothing about the performance, but how Candice was rejuvenated by the trip home. Keith loved the opening, and the end, and thought they were wonderful. Nicki was so moved, she only tells her she is so proud of her. Randy pats American Idol on the back, and in an afterthought, tells Candice she was awesome. Crusty goes back to Nicki, who tells Candice she loves the confidence she shows, which is tough for women of all colors to keep. Tears flow all around. Angie is up after a prolonged commercial break, and she is joined by her brother, who is growing a 'playoff' beard, not shaving until she wins. They played together while she was home, and that leads to her clips. She goes all over her home town, from her kindergarten school to her very special concert. When the tape was done, Crusty announced Angie would be singing “Try” by Pink.

To my ears, her voice still falls flat far too often. And I found this performance to be trying too hard, but going nowhere. I thought she was stiff on stage, and trying to be a bit over sexualized. I was really unimpressed. Keith loved it, and thought she never looked more comfortable on stage. Huh? Oh, and he also threw in the ubiquitous 'Boston Strong' shout-out at the end. Nicki thought the same thing, and loved her. Randy thought the judges again picked a great song, and she was at her best. Mariah also loved her, and gets her festive personality, for Mariah thinks she herself is also festive. Okay, I have no clue what the hell that means, so I just will have to move on. The final contestant for this round is Kree, and we quickly see her giving hugs as soon as she gets off the plane. Soon they visit the home she grew up in, now fallen to pieces after the loss of both parents. It was quite an emotional journey. After the clip, she sings “Here Comes Goodbye” by Rascal Flatts, and co-written by former Idol finalist Chris Sligh.

She is on her game for the song. She sounds plugged in and connected to the emotion, and in amazing form. The audience loved it, and kept the ovation rolling. Nicki was almost in tears, just saying how she was proud of her, and it was her best of the season. Randy loved it, and once again congratulates the judges for picking the song. And, yes, she was good. Mariah was clearly moved by the video and the performance, yet instead just told Kree how impressed she was with her as a person, and the purity of her voice. Keith was still a little choked up, sniffing big before thanking Kree for singing that song perfectly. Now it is time for another long break, and the ladies will be in the last phase of the night, the Producer's picks. Angie is first this time, and she will be singing “Maybe” by Emile Sandé. This is the second song poached from this British songbird, who is a talented lady indeed.

This time, Angie is at the piano, although she doesn't seem to play until the bridge. And she sounds very breathy to me. The chorus goes quite flat for me, and after knowing the original, showed a lack of soulfulness inherent to the melody. Randy loved it, and was happy she was back at the piano. Mariah loved it, and thinks she is the complete package. Keith loved it, and passed to Nicki. She thought Angie has surpassed her expectations, and loved her. She listed some of the faults of the past, like the pageant-like presentations, the failure to emotionally connect, and I just laugh that all that makes one third of the best Top 3 ever. Next! After the achingly long break, it is time for Kree to give her final performance of the evening. The producers mandate she sings “Better Dig Two” by The Band Perry.

Kree is comfortable in the strong Country sound of the song. She sounds wonderful, and I loved it. This was Country realness, served with a little Southern-Fried-Rock. She owned it, and wore it proud. Mariah didn't love it, for she likes the soulful side more. Uhm, she didn't pick the song, she just sang it. Keith thought it wasn't the right song for her, but he loves her. [Cough, Cough] Kree didn't pick the song. Nicki finally called it, and said whoever picked the song for her should be stoned. And that the judges and her fans all know she is a star. Randy goes on to insult the song, being way to plain and boring for her voice. Nice, sure they are happy they gave permission for that song, right? A long break, and we are back, and Candice is going to sing “Somewhere” from the iconic musical 'West Side Story', written by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. Here is the version by Barbra Streisand.

This is a glorious song, there is no doubt about it. And Candice is an amazing singer. But that performance had some flaws, to be sure. Her voice broke on two of the runs, and seemed strained at times. I am stunned for her tonight, as for me, this was her weakest night to date. However, Keith thinks that anyone who doesn't vote for Candice needs to see the doctor, and Nicki thinks she is a shoe-in for the finals. Randy called that one of the best performances in Idol history, the second he has called so far this season. Mariah loved her, of course. Jimmy Iovine came out to explain that although he felt Angie won round 1, and Kree took round 2, with that performance, Candice won the night with her miraculous version of a tired old song. We get it. Idol thinks Candice should be in the finals, and win the season. But that is no reason to toss Kree under the bus the way they have tonight, when she clearly out performed Angie. When all is said and done, for my ears, it is Angie who should be going home tomorrow night, and Candice and Kree in the finals. That said, I will not be doing a recap for the finals next week, as I have tickets to drink in the performances of musicians I love, with nary a judge to be seen. So Tune in Thursday night at 8PM on Fox for the results, and next week for the finals. If you miss me, I will be cover The Voice for the rest of the season. Until next time, have fun, and listen to some great music of original and/or independent artists! Support musicians who create the soundtrack to our lives.

The Voice Season 4 • Reive & Recap Live Playoffs 2

2013-05-07T22:06:00.000-04:00

Last night, we had several excellent performances to kick off the Live Playoffs for Season 4 of 'The Voice'. Team Adam and Team Usher showed some talent, and a little bit of nerves. Can Team Blake and Team Shakira top those performances, having the chance to watch from the audience. Or will the pressure to match those add an extra layer of nerves to them all. Team Blake, made up of Justin Rivers, Holly Tucker, Danielle Bradbery, and The Swon Brothers, and Team Shakira, with Garrett Gardner, Kris Thomas, Karina Iglesias, and Sasha Allen, will be singing for your votes tonight. We won't know about the results until tomorrow night, but first, they must sing. And so they will. And not just the contestants, for we also find out there will be a special performance by Shakira and Blake, which should be exciting.

Left to right: Adam Levine, Usher, Blake Shelton and Shakira.

The competition starts with a clip of Blake taking his team to a karaoke bar, trying to let them relax and show the best side of them for the audience. They all took a turn at the microphone, with a time to sing, and to laugh together. This will prove useful as Team Blake sings "Boondocks" by Little Big Town. The harmonies on the chorus are wonderful, bright and strong. The solos were not as strong, just a bit rough. On the whole, it was fine, just unexceptional, and I will admit I expected more from them. And after a commercial break, it is time to Shakira to send out her first artist, Garrett Gardner. In his rehearsal, we learn Garrett will be singing the iconic "Imagine" by John Lennon. Shakira is looking for Garrett to take the song to a new place, to sound more rock anthem than ballad. First, let's hear John Lennon sing this classic.

This is a tall order for the 17-year-old, to sing a song as big as this, and to start the night to boot! He did a nice job, and changed it up just a little bit. He showed some nice color in his voice, and delivered some nice moments. It would be hard to not realize he was in the shadow of an icon, not in the sun like he should have been. But having said that, this is just the beginning of the night, and there are more performances to come. The first performer from Team Blake to have their moment in the spotlight is Holly Tucker. In her rehearsal, we learn she will be singing "How Do I Live", the Diane Warren song made famous by LeAnn Rimes. The original had such a distinctive sound and feel, for LeAnn has an incredible voice. But we also learn Holly has issues with her confidence, not with her singing, but the way she looks. Blake reminds her she is beautiful, and deserves to be there. As the song begins, she seems bold and in control of the song. She attacked the vocals, and it paid off for the most part. However, she lost a bit of control toward the end, and the final run was just messy to me. Her falsetto went awry, and you could tell she knew it. However, it didn't seem like Usher, Shakira nor Adam realized it, for they all praised her vocals, and told her she looked beautiful. Blake loved it, and thought she put her self in the position as one of the singers to beat this season. Next up, Kris Thomas takes his turn for Team Shakira, the man with the falsetto. He will be singing "When I Was Your Man", by Bruno Mars. Shakira is quite hands-on during the rehearsal, including singing with him! But first, here is Bruno singing his song.

Kris started off a bit nervous, feeling like he was standing back just a bit. But he warmed up into the song, but never fully. In the middle of the song, he picked it up and did a nice job, and never went off key, despite the nerves. Adam points out the nervousness, and would like to see him relax more. Blake, on the other hand, loved the nerves, for this is important and they should be nervous. Usher just thinks the man is a talent that should be recognized. Shakira was so very proud of him, and thinks he is not only a talented man, he is also a wonderful person, and she is proud to work with him. Next up, Blake works with The Swon Brothers, helping them prepare "Fishing In The Dark" by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. While Blake loves them, he worries about their vocals, for they can get a little sloppy. Right away, they are on their game tonight, the vocals tight and precises. They have an old-time Country feel that cannot be missed. Zack and Colton delivered. Usher loved them, and thought they were great. Shakira always enjoys them, and can't wait to hear them next. Adam also enjoyed them, and joked about how 'Blake' they were! Blake just loved they sounded fantastic, and taking care of all the notes from rehearsal. He is thrilled they stayed so tight. After a break, it is time for Blake and Shakira to put their money where voices are, and they sing "Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum.

I am really surprised, for Shakira sounded great on the song, really delivering the goods. Blake stayed in the background at first, but really came to life on his solo vocals, delivered so very strong and clear. This was a charming performance, one I liked even better than the Usher/Adam duet last night. Karina Iglesias is up next for Team Shakira, singing "Let's Stay Together" by the Reverend Al Green. Shakira loves the soulfulness in Karina's voice, and thinks this will make it stand out. She starts off the performance well, already showing more control and strength in her voice than her last time out. There is a nice soulful sound in her voice, and she delivers a strong performance. Adam loved her, and thought she was fantastic. Blake loved it, thought it was so intense. Shakira is so proud, feeling she left it all on the stage with that song. After the break, we come back to see Blake rehearsing with Justin Rivers, preparing to sing "Meet In The Middle" by Diamond Rio. Blake warns him to relax his airways, and give more life to the vowels. Before he sings, this is Diamond Rio singing "Meet In The Middle".

Right away, I am not sure this was a great song choice for him, as his voice sounds a little shallow, a bit soft, and is swallowed a bit by the band. But midway through, he relaxes just a bit and his performance comes to life. His voice adds some richness, with some depth to it as well. He was most definitely better by the end of that song. Usher loved it, and felt it was a real Country moment for Justin. Shakira loved it as well, and finds him to be a reliable performer. Adam loved when he really owned the performance later in the song, and it really came alive. Blake is just so pleased with his pupil, proud of how well he handled the whole performance. Next, we have the final group performance of the night as Team Shakira will take on the classic "We Are The Champions" by Queen. She brought her choreographer, Nadine "Hi-Hat" Ruffin. Shakira wants something unforgettable to happen. The song starts off well, each performer taking a solo. But the chorus together was a bit soft, and only Sasha Allen stood out for me. I suspect this was not the moment Shakira was looking for, as this was mostly forgettable. After the break, it is time for the last of Team Blake to find her way to the stage. But first, Danielle Bradbery goes to rehearsal to get some thoughts from Blake as she takes on "Maybe It Was Memphis" by Pam Tillis. Blake loved the song when it was a hit 20 years ago, and loves that Danielle is singing it now. But first, let's listen to Pam Tillis singing "Maybe It Was Memphis".

This is an excellent choice for Danielle, and her voice sounds beautiful and crystal clear throughout. She delivered the emotional texture to the song, and I saw nary a false move. Usher loved it, and Shakira was left speechless. Adam was loving it, and angry that she was not on his team. Blake could not be happier with her performance, and thinks she might very well be the most important artist on the show, for he expects much of her after the show. I can't be sure, but she could be the 'Carrie Underwood' for this show, a real star on the Country music scene. This leaves us with our last performer of the evening, as Sasha Allen goes to rehearse with Shakira. She will be taking on "Oh! Darling" by Paul McCartney, and performed by The Beatles. Shakira loves her, and just wants her to deliver the grit throughout the song. But first, here are The Beatles singing "Oh! Darling".

I have to admit, I love Sasha's voice, but the song started off just a little soft for me. But that doesn't last long. Her voice picked up such great depth and heft, and there is an amazing grit to her voice, such a desperation in her soul, I was crazy about where this song went. The end of the song was amazing, so raw and so real. I just loved this performance, and hope it pays off for her in votes. Speaking of votes, we will get the results from the performances tonight as well as Monday night, with an hour results show on Wednesday at 8PM on NBC. 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 Garrett 01, Holly 02, Kris 03, The Swon Brothers 04, Karina 05, Justin 06, Danielle 07, and Sasha O8. Now is the time to place your vote, and let your Voice be heard. Is there a song you are dying to buy off iTunes?

The Voice Season 4 • Live Playoffs 1

2013-05-06T22:09:00.000-04:00

Tonight, the first lives shows will be hitting the airwaves, featuring the music of Sam Sparro, Muse, Whitney Houston, Ed Sheran, Florence & the Machine, and Nina Simone. This is the first chance for Americans to give voice to their thoughts on who they want to hear singing. This evening, Team Usher and Team Adam will each ask four people to sing, with the Top 2 of the team making it through via votes, and the coach picking one of the remaining two to move on to the next round. By Wednesday night, the show will go from 16 acts to 12, all looking to be named 'The Voice'. Each member of the team will take their turn at the microphone, looking to earn a place in the next level of the Live Playoffs. Will they be able to set themselves apart from the other singers, and get American to vote for them? And speaking of votes, once again, not only can you vote via phone and your computer, you can also cast a vote with the purchase of the singles on iTunes.

Left to right: Adam Levine, Usher, Blake Shelton and Shakira.

Tonight, along with the solo efforts, we will also be getting a group performance from each team, and we lead off with Team Usher taking on a favorite of mine. Josiah Hawley, Michelle Chamuel, VEDO, and Cáthia will be singing Sam Sparro's brilliant "Black And Gold". But before we hear them, we also see Usher taking his team to an unusual spot, a Kickboxing Gym. He wants to help them build up their endurance, wanting them to always give their best. But soon it is time for them to work as a team as they sing "Black And Gold".

The first solo performer of the night goes to Amber Carrington, the young Country singer with the bold voice. She will be singing Rihanna's "Stay", and she puts a twang in this Pop song. Adam loves her voice, and gives just a few tips during the rehearsal. While she hasn't been a favorite of mine thus far, she is doing a wonderful job on this song, giving her strongest vocals I have heard from her so far. There is a fullness in her voice that is so wonderful to hear, and still manages to get ethereal with her top end. Blake, Usher and Shakira all loved it, and gave her high praise. After the break, handsome Josiah Hawley will be performing. We discover he will be singing "Starlight" by Muse, for Usher feels that is the type of music he is destined to play. While rehearsing, Usher reminds him the song will be a exercise in breath-control. But it is now time to hear "Starlight".

He starts nicely, and I have to say, he has continually surprised me with his ability to up his game round after round. His voice is strong and supported, and even gives moments of haunted. No, he isn't Matthew Bellamy, but very few can be. He manages to both do the song justice, as well as make it his own, with a few different twists on it. Blake loved it, and thought the world just lost a male model. Of course, he will fill in for him there... Shakira loved it, and felt it was a strong, sincere performance. Adam is impressed by how far he has come since his audition. Usher is as proud as he could be. Next up, Adam will be sending Sarah Simmons to the stage, singing "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan. It seems like a softball, a song that is just up her alley. She struggled a bit in rehearsal, getting too emotional as she is dedicating it to friend who had passed away last year. On stage, she had a good performance, although there were some odd moments in there. There are times there is a rough edge to a note here and there, and at times just missing notes, sliding from on to flat, or sharp. I was really thinking she would nail this. Blake, Usher and Shakira all loved it, feeling the emotional weight she brought to the table. Adam just loved it, and has nothing but respect for her. After a break, it is time for Usher to send out his next artist. That is Cáthia, who will be tackling a Whitney Houston classic. Usher thinks she can handle "I Have Nothing" from 'The Bodyguard' soundtrack. In rehearsal, Usher is working on musicality with her, trying to get her to feel the heartbeat of the song, and go with it. Here is the late Ms. Houston singing "I Have Nothing".

Cáthia looks lovely as she comes out on stage, and begins with some solid vocals. In the chorus, she drifts off key a bit, taking some notes flat instead of resting on their sweet spot. She continued to try her best, giving it all her heart. Shakira is the first to talk to her, and while she loves Cáthia, she is unsure that was the right song for her, as Whitney's songs are hallowed ground. Blake loved it, thought she did well. Usher thought his charge did well, but did not achieve all his goals for her performance tonight. He still believes in her, and thinks she can still go all the way, even after this weak performance. After a break, we hear we will be getting a true treat, as Adam and Usher will be joining forces in a very special performance. In fact, they take on Stevie Wonder's Superstition". I am shocked, their voices actually work together. Of course, neither has a big or bold voice, and both show a great deal of style. Adam is happy to step back and play his guitar, and they deliver a sexy segment of the show. When we come back, it is time for Caroline Glaser to join coach Adam in the rehearsal hall. She will be singing "The A Team" by Ed Sheran. Adam chose it for it was a bit darker than she had sung thus far, and it might work for her. But first, this is Ed Sheran singing "The A Team".

She has that quirky, indie-girl sound. She was good, and solid as things go, but she did kinda garble the lyrics, and swallow some of the notes. Blake and Usher loved her performance, and think America will vote for her. Adam is very proud, and felt she has a different sound and style that he loves. After the break, it is VEDO who will be competing for votes after he sings "Against All Odds" by Phil Collins. In the rehearsal, he struggles with a few of the high notes, and Usher gives him tip for proper vocal support. I love that he is taking the time to do that. During the actual performance, VEDO sounds pretty darned good. He helps the song sound current, not trapped in the 1980s. It was not the best of the night, but it was good. Shakira is surprisingly standoffish, noncommittal with her thoughts. However, Adam loved him, and thought he did well. Usher was very pleased and proud of how well he did. After Christina Milian chats with Team Usher, we learn that the ladies of Team Adam will be singing "Shake It Out" by Florence and the Machine. Team Adam is, of course, Amber Carrington, Caroline Glaser, Judith Hill, and Sarah Simmons.

The ladies sound great, but I think it is Amber and Judith who stand out from the crowd. I am actually still surprised how much Sarah Simmons is disappearing vocally tonight. I didn't see that coming. After another commercial, the final contestant from Team Usher readies herself to perform. Michelle Chamuel shows up to rehearsal ready to talk on "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper. He thinks it will be a great opportunity for her to become vulnerable with the audience. She starts if off simply, and her voice is just gorgeous. She is certainly making it her own, very different from any version I've heard before. This is easily my favorite performance of the night. Shakira loved it, and felt she was so authentic, so honest. Adam loved it, too, and thought it was her break-out moment. Blake also loved it, and told his acts to pay attention. Usher is thrilled, and thought she was incredible. After a break, it is time for the final performance of the night, as Adam sends out Judith Hill. In rehearsal we learn she will be singing "Feeling Good", written by English singer-songwriters Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the 1964 musical 'Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd'. It was made famous by Nina Simone, and quickly became a standard.

She does a great job with the song, making it feel current and her vocals are tight and on the mark. This is giving Michelle a run for the money as best of the night. I can't find a fault in that vocal, not one. Blake and Usher loved it, and didn't find the words to show much. Adam is so thrilled with her, so proud she took her moment. If I am not mistaken, we will be learning the results from the performances tonight as well as Tuesday night, with an hour results show on Wednesday. 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 Amber 01, Josiah 02, Sarah 03, Cáthia 04, Caroline 05, VEDO 06, Michelle 07, and Judith O8. Now is the time to place your vote, and let your Voice be heard. Who did you love the best, who moved you?

Dark Monday • Never Will I Marry

2013-05-06T09:00:00.000-04:00

"Never Will I Marry" was a song written by Frank Loesser for the Broadway musical 'Greenwillow'. Loesser might be more well known for a few other Broadway scores her wrote, including 'Guys and Dolls' and 'How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying'. He also won an academy Award for his charming seasonal classic, "Baby, It's Cold Outside". However, the show was not warmly received by the critics nor the audience, and closed after just under 100 performances. It did star Anthony Perkins, who was the one who introduced the song. But, to be honest, I might never have known of the song if not for my preoccupation with the music of Barbra Streisand. I know it might come as a surprise, but as a young teen, I was not only buying Barbra's current music, I was also going back and buying older music as well. That would include 'The Third Album', released in 1964. On it, she sings many songs spectacularly, including "Never Will I Marry". Pretty remarkable for a young woman just beginning her twenties.

You can purchase the original Broadway Cast album on iTunes and Amazon. You can also purchase Barbra Streisand's 'The Third Album' on iTunes and Amazon. To this day, it still remains one of my favorite Streisand albums.

Torch, Arlen Style

2013-05-04T19:00:00.000-04:00

Clockwise: Helen O'Connell; Eva Cassidy; Aretha Franklin; and Dinah Washington.

Tonight I am inspired by the music of the great Harold Arlen. Truthfully, it started this morning when a song come to mind, and I just kept humming it. But first, more about the man. In 1905, Arlen was born Hyman Arluck, in Buffalo, New York, United States, the child of a Jewish cantor. He took piano lessons as a child, became a popular act in the Buffalo area. In his twenties, he made his way to New York City, and soon changed his name to Harold Arlen. In the 1930s, he and lyricist Ted Koehler worked together often, and had a regular gig writing songs to be performed at the popular Harlem nightclub, The Cotton Club. Arlen also began writing music for both Broadway and Hollywood musicals, as well as for popular singers of the day. This brings me back to my inspiration for this post, that song that kept playing in my head. While I will admit it was the Barbra Streisand version, it was "When The Sun Comes Out" that was playing loud and clear. The song was written by Arlen in 1941 with Ted Koehler, and originally sung by Helen O'Connell with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. And so I picked that version to play here, for it is really wonderful.

Arlen also worked with other lyricists, some of the best around. In 1941, he was writing with Johnny Mercer on a film with the working title 'Hot Nocturne'. They wrote a great song, introduced in the movie by William Gillespie. That song was "Blues In The Night", and soon the movie title was changed to match the song. And the song quickly became a standard, a part of the Great American Songbook, and recorded by some of the biggest names in the music business. I picked a version that was recorded in 1997, by the late Eva Cassidy. Cassidy, who passed away the year before, was working on the album at the time of her death. Eva had a magical way to blend her acoustic Pop and Blues roots to make amazing music, and loved taking on some of the iconic music. Here is her recording of "Blues In The Night".

In 1954, Arlen released another project written for the great Judy Garland. He had, of course, worked with her earlier, when he worked on a little film named 'The Wizard of Oz'. So when he began working on the film 'A Star Is Born' with lyricist Ira Gershwin, everyone had to know magic was bound to happen. And it most certainly did. I still remember quite vividly the scene in 'A Star Is Born' when Esther Blodgett, played by Judy, is jamming with some studio musicians and she sings "The Man That Got Away". It was magnificent. But I've had Judy singing the song on the blog before, and decided to try something a little different, so here is a lovely version by Dinah Washington, recorded for her 1962 album 'Drinking Again'.

And, if I was covering the music of Harold Arlen, I couldn't ignore the great song written, according to lore, in front of a drug store in Hollywood in 1938, could I? Legend has it while driving up Sunset Boulevard after a rain, Arlen noticed a rainbow over the iconic Schwab's Drug Store, and it inspired a song for the project he was working on. He was writing the music for the musical 'The Wizard of Oz' with E. Y. Harburg, which became a huge hit in 1939. That would include the song sung by Judy Garland, "Over The Rainbow". And once again, I have posted Judy singing it before, so I tried to find something new, and was thrilled when I found this version by Aretha Franklin, which is truly wonderful. Enjoy.

Have a great weekend!

Dame Shirley Bassey • Let Me Sing and I'm Happy/Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend

2013-05-04T10:00:00.000-04:00

The beautiful and talented Dame Shirley Bassey sings two great songs by some of the greatest songwriters ever. First she sings "Let Me Sing and I'm Happy", written by the brilliant Irving Berlin, and then she follows it up with "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend", with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Leo Robin. The songs were recorded as part of her variety program, The Shirley Bassey Show. The first episodes appeared on the BBC in 1976, including the episode which featured the performances below.

Have a great Saturday!

Date Night • The Language of Love

2013-05-03T19:00:00.000-04:00

Tonight I bring you a beautiful short film written and starring Kim Ho, 'The Language of Love'. I first discovered this jewel via my friend J.D. Doyle, founder and curator of Queer Music Heritage. There is something so sweet, so honest, and so familiar to the story, I can't stop watching it. It details the rough terrain of young love, and how trying to navigate it while figuring out you are gay in a straight world doesn't make it easier. But somehow, in the end, we must all learn how to speak the language that is honest and true to ourselves. Enjoy 'The Language of Love'.

For more about this Australian film, check out the 'Making of...' video below. It includes an interview with the writer/actor, Kim Ho. He gives some background information that is fascination.

You can also learn more about the process that helped to make it here. There is some wonderful information about the history of the film.

Taylor Dayne From The Heart

2013-05-03T09:00:00.002-04:00

She broke out on the music scene in 1987, with great big hair and an even bigger voice. Taylor Dayne soared through her first single, "Tell It To My Heart", with the look of Madonna and a sound that was very much her own. The girl from Long Island, New York, opened that mouth, and a whole bunch of amazing spilled out. She had a voice that could not be denied. And she danced up a storm on the videos, usually with very pretty, half-clad boys.

She followed up with "Prove Your Love", another rousing Dance song. Live the last, the song made it to #7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, fairly impressive for a new artist. The third single, "I'll Always Love You", was a power ballad, went to #3 on the chart, and played on the radio non-stop. Thankfully, it is an amazing performance.

In 1990, Taylor had her first #1 on the Pop charts, "Love Will Lead You Back". The girl flat-out sings her heart out, even if the hair is more tamed and she suddenly looked all California, not Long Island.

Taylor Dayne had five studio albums in 20 years, and scored 17 individual Top Ten's on Billboard Chart. You can find out more about Taylor Dayne on her official website here. You can also 'follow' her on Twitter, or 'like' her on Facebook. All of the songs in the post can be found on Dayne's 'Greatest Hits' album. You can purchase her 'Greatest Hits' on iTunes and Amazon.

Duets of 1983 • Celebrating Love

2013-05-02T19:00:00.001-04:00

Clockwise: Crystal Gayle & Eddie Rabbitt; Patti Austin & James Ingram; Roberta Flack & Peabo Bryson; and Sheena Easton & Kenny Rogers.

Thirty years ago, it was not unusual to have two stars of the music industry come together to make beautiful music together - literally, of course. There were plenty of duets that years, with several becoming great hits. In 1983, megastars Paul McCartney and the late Michael Jackson released "This Girl Is Mine", a follow-up to their collaboration on "Ebony and Ivory". Jennifer Warnes and Joe Cocker scored a huge hit with "Up Where We Belong", the theme song from 'An Officer and a Gentleman'. And they were not alone. Some crossed genres, while others stayed in their own lane, continuing amazing careers. The first I'd like to feature is a beautiful song by two Country artists who quickly crossed over to the Pop charts. Eddie Rabbitt and Crystal Gayle both had a history of making Country hits, but when they came together to sing "You and I" in 1982, they created a big hit. It was so big, the duet remained on the charts in 1983, earning the #12 spot on the year end chart. Here are Crystal Gayle and Eddie Rabbitt singing "You and I".

Patti Austin and James Ingram both had solid careers in R&B, their stunning voices remaining smooth and lush on every song they put out. In 1981 they recorded "Baby, Come to Me" for Austin's album 'Every Home Should Have One', and had moderate success when released. However, when it became a theme song on a soap, the sales soared two years later. The song was played as a romantic theme for General Hospital's character Luke Spencer. Suddenly, people were requesting the song, and before you knew it, Austin and Ingram has a huge hit on their hands. Here they are singing "Baby, Come To Me".

"We've Got Tonight" was originally written by Bob Seger in 1976, and released by Seger and his Silver Bullet Band in 1978. Like much of his work, the song was gritty and emotional. And it apparently appealed to Country singer/songwriter Kenny Rogers, for five years later, he released his own version of the song, sung by Rogers with Scottish Pop singer Sheena Easton. This was an unusual collaboration, with artists from differing generations and genres, but it was so very successful. Their voices worked well together, and obviously enchanted the public. While Seger's version went to #13 on the Billboard Hot 100, Kenny and Sheena's version rose to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, and found a home at the top of the Billboard Country chart. Please enjoy Kenny Rogers and Sheena Easton singing "We've Got Tonight".

For the final duet of the evening, I was crazy for everything that singer and songwriter Roberta Flack put out. Her voice was just so amazing, both soft and strong, with a strong depth of emotion. Peabo Bryson was known for his romantic music, beautiful ballads that were often collaborations with some of the most talented voices in the music business. So when they two got together to sing "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love", it took Pop radio by storm, and was quickly in the Billboard Pop Top 20. I remember that time, and this song was incorporated into many a wedding and anniversary party going on. So please enjoy as Roberta and Peabo sing "Tonight, I Celebrate My Love".

I hope the music here brought a little something special to your Thursday night!

Matt Fishel • Not Thinking Straight

2013-05-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

My autographed cover of Matt Fishel's 'Not Thinking Straight'

I have been a big fan of Matt Fishel ever since I first saw the music video for "Football Song", and have collected several singles, an EP, and a wonder album, 'Superfishel Experience', along the way. I love that Matt's music is smart, funny, and still remains honest and very real. And when you pair honesty and smart up so well, it can't help but be kinda sexy, too. Stylistically, Fishel is writing Pop music, but to try to categorize it further might be tough. You can certainly hear influences from timeless Pop to Doo-Wop to Pop with a Rock edge, giving a wonderfully eclectic feeling to his music. And while he tells universal stories of love, loss and life, Matt doesn't shy away from the fact he is a gay man, using that experience to enrich the lyrics.

So when my autographed copy 'Not Thinking Straight' finally arrived, I couldn't wait to put it in a give a listen. I gave a quick glance through the track listing, and saw a few singles I recently purchased, and a few other song titles I recognized. I was still excited to jump into the 13 songs, all teasing me with a title. The first of which is the immensely infectious "Radio-Friendly Pop Song". Matt tells a story about what a young gay might encouter in the music business. But instead of me telling you about it, why not check out the music video for "Radio-Friendly Pop Song"...

The next song is "Testament", a song I purchased as a single last year. The song has a stronger edge, reminding me of some of the great Neo-Punk music that came out of the UK in the 1970s and 1980s, but with a shiny veneer. With the strident guitars coming at a fevered pace, delivering the basic truths about growing up, like not being afraid or of falling in love, even if it is unexpected. There is an inherent sweetness to "Behind Closed Doors", a wonderful Pop song about the hypocrisy we see far too often in the world. Check out this song on this video.

"The First Time" seems rather self-explanatory, you know? We've all had a first time or two, right? For many, they are such amazing memories, a moment marked by some incredible revelations that can lift some of the fear we've all felt. That is followed by "Maybe...", a sweet song that takes a look at our relationships, and wondering "what if..." The sixth track is "Nottingham", which starts off with an ethereal and slightly haunted feel. Once Matt adds his vocals, he tells of friendship, and the things we feel and do when still teens. And, oh, the questions we ask. There is a light and frothy air to the beginning of "Seventeen Again", that soon gives way to some angst-ridden rock in the chorus. Matt looks back at the age when all kids are straining for freedom, and maybe even a little guidance. As the song opens with the sound of a zipper, we know this Doo-wop-inspired tale told in "Armitage Shanks (Jamie)" is more sexual in nature than the brightness of the tune would lead you to think. And knowing the title might refer to a British company that makes bathroom fixtures, you might pick u some commentary about anonymous sex of the young. The next song, "Alastair", tackles a relationship built on more than just sex, even if the singer and Alistair might be trying to figure the terms of the relationship. This is followed by the song I still love, "Football Song". Here is the video, which still manages to warm my heart whenever I watch.

While I admit there is something chilling about the title "Boxer Shorts & Razor Blades", the song itself is not really that scary. It is the Pop take on how to divide up your life when you are breaking up. There is such a sweetness to this song, I find it hard to resist playing again and again. With the opening of "Boys", there is a certain steamy quality, not like sexy, more like something mysterious. The takes a look at forgiveness, especially for relationships that start early on, when we leave ourselves the most vulnerable. As soon as the piano intro kicks in on "When Boy Meets Boy", there is a joyful tone that warms you to the core. For you, "it is a beautiful thing when boy-meets-boy." And speaking of beautiful things, this album is a wonderful journey, touching on aspects of life from teen to adult. The album touches my heart in so many ways, at times making me smile, or give a sigh, or even drop a tear or two. It speaks to our shared histories of love, hurt, and confusion, all part of growing up. Get this album, and listen to early often. You can purchase 'Not Thinking Straight' from iTunes and Amazon. You can also order hard copies, as well as autographed hard copies of the CD from Matt's online store. To learn more about Matt Fishel, visit his official website. You can also follow him on Twitter, and 'like' him on Facebook.

American Idol 12 Recap & Review - Top 4 Encore - The Music of Now & Then

2013-05-01T22:04:00.000-04:00

Well, we learned that the performances and voting were all for naught last week, for the Producer's Twist was that no one was going home, something many of us saw in the cards due to the remaining broadcast schedule. But in the lamest of seasons to date, the 'big' news was that the show would adhere to the schedule, and the expected non-elimination would happen. This week they asked the contestants to come up with songs that apply to the theme 'Now & Then', meaning picking a hit song from 2013, as well as a classic song from the Great American Songbook. We will find out if the new performances can change up the voting order, as last week Angie and Kree were the Top 2, while Amber and Candice filled out the Bottom 2. Can the producers and the judges convince the voters to keep the skinny girls around? Only time will tell. After all, they are going to have to send someone home this week, aren't they? Before we find out, the Top 4 will have to sing for survival...

Clockwise: Candice Glover; Kree Harrison; Amber Holcomb; and Angie Miller.

The show starts out with a clip of the non-elimination last week, and the emotions it brought out. Judges were hugging contestants, and they were hugging one another. But it means it is time to get down to business, for the performances tonight and next week will decide who is going to the finals. The announcer brings out Nicki Minaj, Randy Jackson, Mariah Carey, and Keith Urban, followed quickly by Crusty, who announces not only will the energy be up this week, but the ladies will be coached by Harry Connick, Jr, and Crusty also tells us the two themes for the night; first the ladies will sing a hit song from 2013, and then will follow that up with a song from yesterday, a classic standard. Connick certainly has a history with both, having gained popularity as a crooner, as well as making music of his own. The performances kick off with Angie Miller singing “Diamonds” by Rihanna. She tells Harry she will be mixing it up, and putting her own spin on it. But first, let's hear Rihanna singing "Diamonds".

Angie and Harry are cutting it up, but it went on a bit too long. For the performance, the production is stripped back, with Angie on the piano to make the judges happy. I am not loving the arrangement, for the song was sluggish enough without adding to it. While she stays in tune for much of the song, toward the end she starts to strain, and falls off key. Keith didn't love the performance, felt it didn't go anywhere. It felt too stripped back for him. Nicki felt it was lackluster, like she was playing more to the cameras than from her heart. Basically, Randy and Mariah agreed, although Mariah refused to say she agreed with Nicki, prompting more articles about the panel, and not the singers, I am sure. Pardon me while I roll my eyes. After the commercial break, we see Amber Holcomb meeting with Harry, telling him she will be singing “Just Give Me A Reason”, originally sung by Pink and Nate Ruess. Amber forgets the words as she was singing for Harry, but he doesn't care, he just loves her voice. This is Pink and Nate Ruess singing "Just Give Me A Reason".

The song starts off in a nice place for her voice, showing some nice support. But the performance overall is a bit hollow, with the chorus being just a bit too staccato, almost sing-song. She did stay on key better than usual, although there were a few notes that strayed. It was fairly dull, and seemed like the wrong choice of songs to sing. Nicki didn't love it either, and felt it was lacking. Randy thought she looked nervous, or maybe preoccupied. She admits to being nervous about the lyrics. Mariah tried to brush off the mediocrity, looking forward to the next song. Keith loves her voice, but didn't love the performance. After what seemed like an endless commercial break, Crusty brought out Candice Glover for her first song of the night. In the video, Candice tells Harry she will be singing “When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars. She wants to tell a story, not be the subject of the song. Well, cause she's not a man. Harry is trying really hard to be funny, and seems like he is trying too hard. But soon it is over, so let me share Bruno Mars singing "When I Was Your Man".

She is in exceptional voice, and plans to show that to everyone. The first verse sounds a bit nervous, but that soon disappears, and she delivers the goods. She puts an R&B spin on it, and really is able to soar on it. Randy loved it, and so did Mariah. She thought it was exceptional, and Keith didn't care about the gender bending, she sounded great. Nicki thought they were remiss for not giving her a standing ovation, and so Randy and Keith joined her in one for Candice. After they were done, Mariah stood to flicks some glitter at her, getting her own moment. Frankly, I thought Candice deserved more attention than the judges... Crusty tells us that after the break, it will be time to see Kree Harrison, who will be singing a song that Carrie Underwood sang on that stage just a few weeks ago. In the video clip, Kree tells Harry she will be singing “See You Again”. After she sang it for him, he loved it, and told her not to change a friggin' note. Here is Carrie singing "See You Again".

She begins the song with a sweet and warm tone to her voice, and it stays there. She sounds fantastic, and the song reacts well to her sparse arrangement. This allows her voice to be front and center, and she sounds amazing. I thought she was brilliant, and put Kree and Candice in a dead heat after the first round. Mariah loved it, and felt she was magnificent, and sounded so authentic. Keith didn't agree, and felt there was a disconnect between the song and the performance. Nicki thought Kree was totally connected to the song, and she loved it. Randy agreed, and thought her voice was flawless. Even Harry Connick, Jr, had to come out to say how much he loved the performance. As he was announcing the numbers, Crusty called her Kreedom, as if Nicki was now giving them all new names... If the first four performances featured the music of 'now', the next four will feature the music of 'then', as the contestants picked a classic standard from the Great American Songbook, just so we don't get to thinking they can seem current the whole show. As we start the rotation again, Angie is back with Harry, and tells him she will sing “Someone To Watch Over Me”. It was composed by George Gershwin with lyrics by Ira Gershwin from the 1926 musical 'Oh, Kay!', where it was introduced by Gertrude Lawrence. This is a recording by Sarah Vaughan from 1958.

Angie dedicates it to her Mom, who used to sing it around the house. She does a simple arrangement, soft and sweet. She begins nicely, but soon the slowed tempo of the song reveals her voice to be a bit uneven, and at times get covered by the band, while at other moments strains too be over the top. There were times her vibrato got a little abrasive, battering. Keith loved it, even if it did feel so old fashioned. Nicki thought she was like a Disney Princess, and how she only seemed engaged during the high end of her voice. Randy loved her vocals, even if he hated the arrangement. Mariah tried to disagree with Nicki, and lost the singer in the mix. After a break, Crusty reminds us the votes from last week are being added to those of last week for the results tomorrow night. In the video clip, Amber tells Harry she is singing “My Funny Valentine”, first recorded by Mitzi Green in the MGM Musical 'Babes In Arms'. It was written for the 1937 Broadway show by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. When she starts singing, Harry recognizes she doesn't understand the song at all, so he explains it to her. Connick thinks she has a beautiful voice, and hopes she connects with (and understands) the song in performance. But before that, give a listen to this recording by Ella Fitzgerald from 1956.

As she starts singing, I don't really see a difference. She has plenty of vocal tricks, but again they seem more like a crutch than an expression. It was very paint by numbers, but I didn't feel it coming from her heart. It was fairly hollow. Of course, the judges greeted her with a standing ovation, and they loved it. They thought it was great the first time she sang it (with no understanding of the lyrics whatsoever), and even better now (after Harry explained it to her). She cries a little, and they try to lift her up. But they do seems to have come to the realization she was the weakest of the night, and stands a good shot at going home. Crusty chats with Harry in the audience, and he disagrees with the judges, and felt the run at the end of Amber's performance distracted from the song. Soon we see Candice going to see Harry again, telling him she will be singing “You’ve Changed”, originally written by Bill Carey and Carl Fischer in 1941. It was first released by Harry James's band with vocals by Dick Haymes. Harry helps her to simplify her performance, to mean what she is singing. Listen to this amazing version of the song recorded by Billie Holiday in 1958.

She comes out in perfect voice, and connects with the lyrics. She is singing from the heart, and her emotions are on her sleeve. There is an ebb and flow to the performance, and it was fantastic. Even when she brought some runs in the end, they were tied to emotion, not acrobatics. Randy loved it, and took the moment to tell Harry he is wrong (when he wasn't), and doesn't know what he is talking about (even if Connick was brought in as the expert mentor). Mariah thought it was brilliant, so touching and textured. Keith loved it, and Nicki thought no more was needed, and tossed it to Crusty. He reminded us that we still have Kree to sing tonight. In her clip with Harry, Kree tells him she will be singing “Stormy Weather”, a song written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler. Ethel Waters first sang it at The Cotton Club night club in Harlem in 1933 and recorded it that year. He tells her to cut the pyrotechnics, and sing the damn song. The song became a signature song for great Lena Horne after she sang it in the 1943 film of the same name, so enjoy her performance here.

She comes out looking beautiful, and sounded fantastic. Her tone is so crisp and so clear, and she sticks to the melody for most of the song. She puts in some embellishments toward the end, and gave it a Country feel to it. I thought it was stunning. Mariah is unsure it was the right song, going for something more bluesy. Keith thinks it was the wrong song as well. Nicki has a problem with Harry, and with song choice. Randy basically says Harry was wrong and taking them in a wrong direction, and she must be herself. And that means doing the Etta James version of the song. Harry gets hilarity of that statement, and even Nicki does, but it still seems lost on Randy. I am not sure, but I think Harry just nailed his audition to be a judge for American Idol Season 13. After all was said and done, they talked Kree down, while telling her her vocals were stellar. After a break, the ladies came down the aisles with their own dancers in two, and they were singing “Wings” by Little Mix.

This was nice, but sure sounded not live. It had a very 'Up With People' feeling, and not really connected to the rest of the show. It is time to recap, it comes down to the fact that Candice and Kree were the two best for the night for me. It wasn't close. There is a big gap, and then Angie's performances. At the bottom is Amber, who I suspect will be leaving tomorrow night. No amount of blowing smoke is going to make it sound any different to me. Of course, one never knows until the results are read on Thursday night, at 8PM. Well, to be honest, at 8:55PM on your local Fox station.

The Voice Season 4 • Knockout Rounds 2

2013-04-30T22:11:00.000-04:00

The Season 4 Knockouts began last night, as Team Adam and Team Shakira brought their numbers down to four each, as Adam picked Amber Carrington, Caroline Glaser, Judith Hill, and Sarah Simmons for the finals, and Shakira picked Garrett Gardner, Kris Thomas, Karina Iglesias, and Sasha Allen. Tonight, Team Blake and Team Usher will be center stage, and their coaches are hoping they will be at their best. By the end of the night, all four teams will be down to four acts each, just right for the finals. It is time, ready or not, for the last of the Knockouts.

Left to right: Adam Levine, Usher, Blake Shelton, and Shakira.

Team Blake kicks off the night with Savannah Berry and Justin Rivers, two Country performers. Both will be finding their inspiration in Pop music, as Savannah will be singing Justin Bieber's "As Long As You Love Me" and Justin will be taking on Miley Cyrus' big hit, "The Climb". Blake loves him some Savannah in rehearsal, but worries about Justin, wanting him to show his range without adding in too many runs. Should be interesting. Let's hear Justin Bieber with "As Long As You Love Me".

Savannah is the first up, and I am not loving what she is doing. I feel lots of whine in her version of the song, and not much else. It just felt muddled and murky. Justin comes out to sing "The Climb", and is right on with his glory notes, but a tad off otherwise. But honestly, I would most likely go with Justin, although both were a bit underwhelming. I was surprised to hear Usher, Shakira and Adam suggest they would pick Justin, and finally, Blake agreed. Justin is going to the finals, and a teary Savannah is heading home. So it is time for Team Usher to show their stuff, and Usher picks Josiah Hawley and Jess Kellner to be the first Knockout round. Handsome Josiah will be singing "Back To Black" by Amy Winehouse, while Jess will take on James Morrison's "You Give Me Something". Usher wants his acts to show sincerity, and a vulnerability to the audience. Jess really needs to be careful, as she sings the song with her alcoholic mother in mind. But before we begin the competition, here is Amy Winehouse singing "Back To Black".

I am happily surprised for Josiah, for I thought he sounded great, with a wonderful tone to his voice. I really enjoyed that. Jess came out, and I was not real impressed. I thought she had a problem staying on key, and she flailed at times on the song. Now I was pretty surprised to hear both Blake and Adam favored Jess in the round. As Usher was making the decision, it felt like he might be swayed by the other judges, but finally picked Josiah to go to the finals. Josiah is pleased to be moving one, while Jess a bit sad to be heading home. After a commercial break, we learn that Blake will be sending Holly Tucker and Luke Edgemon to the ring. Blake wanted to see how his power vocalists would do one on one. Holly will be singing "Live Like You Were Dying", made famous by Tim McGraw, while Luke changes up Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" to make it his own. In the rehearsals, Blake pushes Holly just to have more confidence, for he thinks she has the talent. At first he is unsure about Justin's song choice, but soon is enjoying it so much. Here is Katy Perry with "Teenage Dreams".

Holly starts off with the Country Pop tune, and she does a nice job, but it exposes her voice as a bit thin, at least for me. I think she could have been helped by relaxing some, for she seemed tense. It also seemed fairly karaoke to me, with little originality in the performance. Luke comes out with a slowed-down take on Katy Perry, and I am loving it his R&B spice. His voice sounds fantastic, and he has owned this song, completely. He easily showed artistic range, and yet Usher didn't like it very much. But Shakira and Adam disagree, and thought Luke was the clear winner. Blake thought it was a tough decision, and finally picked Holly, which confuses the hell out of me. I have yet to be impressed by her, and have been so enjoying Luke. Wow, that was really disappointing, for I thought Luke was the strongest voice on Blake's team. Well, time to move on to Usher, who is putting up Audrey Karrasch and Michelle Chamuel, his two indie artists. Audrey will be singing "How To Love" by Little Wayne, but during rehearsals, it wasn't pretty. She was having trouble, and needed much more work. Michelle will be singing "Raise Your Glass" by Pink, and her only problem during rehearsals was having the air to complete the song. Quickly, she and Usher are doing pushups on the stage! Here is Pink singing "Raise Your Glass".

Audrey is a train wreck from the start, somehow both straining and missing the notes. The only really positive thing I could say is she looked nice. Michelle came out like gangbusters, and stayed on top of the song, and giving it her own twist. She was moving all around the stage, giving an active performance. The coaches all enjoyed Michelle, and thought she won out. It seemed like and easy decision to me, but Blake made it clear there was no clear answer. So I was quite pleased when Usher said Michelle was the winner. Blake comes on to announce the next pairing, as he pits youngsters Danielle Bradbery and Taylor Beckham for this round. Blake thinks they both could use a bit more confidence, and hopes one will really step up. Danielle will be singing "Jesus Take The Wheel" by Carrie Underwood, while Taylor will be singing Rihanna's "Russian Roulette". In rehearsal, he loves Danielle's voice, and just loves her. When Taylor is done, he encourages her to invest more in the song, and really get him to buy the song. Before they perform, here is Carrie Underwood singing "Jesus Take The Wheel".

Danielle is the first to perform, and while she has a lovely voice, it feels like this is weaker than the rehearsal, and the ending has a few rough notes. It just felt to me that she let her nerves get the best of her. To be honest, I was a tad disappointed. Next it was time for Taylor to sing, and the opening bars were a little rough, but she seems to gain confidence, and really comes alive. She struggles with some pith issues along the way, but really sells the song. I kinda favored Taylor. However, Usher felt differently, and thought Danielle stole the show. Shakira and Adam agreed. It was time for Blake to decide, and he picks Danielle to go to the finals, and Taylor heads home. Afterwards, Blake admits it was an easy choice for him, for he didn't like Taylor's song choice, although he really liked her. So on to the next Knockout, as Usher announces he wants to see C. Perkins and VEDO competing, for he only has room for one R&B singer. C. Perkins will be singing "She Ain't You" by Chris Brown while VEDO takes on the Bryan Adams ballad, "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You". While C. Perkins seems to struggle a bit in rehearsal, VEDO seems to connect well to his song and deliver the goods for his coach. Give a listen to Bryan Adams on his wonderful song, "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You".

Right out of the gate, C. Perkins struggles with pitch, and you can hear how tentative he is in his vocals. This is just not an enjoyable performance for me. I was happy when it was over. VEDO came out ready to go, and since it was dedicated to his late mother, and the emotion showed in a great way. Shakira, Adam, and Blake all thought it was VEDO who took the battle. While I think it was very clear, Usher takes time to consider before announcing that VEDO will be moving on to the finals. After a commercial break, Blake has his final Knockout, as Grace Askew and The Swon Brothers take to the stage. This will be an interesting battle, for they both have a Country sound, big and bold. The Swon Brothers sing "Drift Away", the great song made popular by Dobie Gray, while Grace will be singing "I Can't Stand The Rain", originally sung by Ann Peebles, and later covered by the great Tina Turner. Check out Tina's version of the song.

Grace is up first, and seemed eager to show her Memphis Blues, but have to say that was her weakest vocals to date, at least for me. I was so looking forward to hearing her, and I was disappointed. The Swon Brothers were right on form, picking a great song, and bringing the audience with them. I thought they were the clear winners of the battle. Usher loved the Swon Brothers, while Shakira and Adam thought it could go either way. After some contemplation, Blake picks The Swon Brothers to go to the finals. And that leads us to the final Knockout Battle of the night, and the last of the season, as next week they all move on to the live finals. Team Usher closes out the evening when Ryan Innes and Cáthia are called to the stage. Usher is looking forward to hearing the two emotional singers going head-to-head. Cáthia will be singing "Mr Know It All" by Kelly Clarkson, and in rehearsal, Usher helps her with the stage moves, getting her more comfortable. Ryan will be taking on Gavin DeGraw's big hit, "I Don't Want To Be". Here is Gavin's original version.

Cáthia is up first, and I am confused by the tempo of the song, as her phrasing seems to be fighting it. She gains control in the chorus, but it seems to come and go a bit. I found this vocal to be sloppy, more about the vocal tricks than communication. Ryan comes out and shocks me, as the soulful singer turns in a shouty, soulless performance that seemed more angry than musical, with some rough notes to be sure. So very disappointing. Adam and Shakira both mentioned being disappointed with Ryan's performance, and Blake preferred Cáthia as well. When it came time to pick the winner, Usher went with Cáthia, who was better on the night. But it is a shame that the better performer was not given the coaching he needed to have a better showing. But the teams have been picked, and Team Blake turned out to be all Country singers, with Justin Rivers, Holly Tucker, Danielle Bradbery, and The Swon Brothers flying his banner. Team Usher will be Josiah Hawley, Michelle Chamuel, VEDO, and Cáthia, all eager to take their place in the spotlight. They will join Team Adam's talented Amber Carrington, Caroline Glaser, Judith Hill, and Sarah Simmons, and Team Shakira's bold competitors Garrett Gardner, Kris Thomas, Karina Iglesias, and Sasha Allen.