Lori

Benchmark Blog 1: Miami Vice

So here is the movie that inspired my benchmark blog.  It is so bad that I felt the need to warn others about it.  Just tonight I actually advised a group of girls that could not decide what to watch against it.  It was that bad.  (Not that it actually takes a lot for me to interject an opinion, but I do try to not noticeably eavesdrop.)

For the movie reviews, I will start with a general critique of the movie and then get into specifics after I warn that the next section contains spoilers.  I hate it when people ruin a movie for me, so I will warn about spoilers.  Here goes.

Grade: F-

The pacing for the movie is horrible.  I kept checking my watch and the girl beside me actually laid down in the seat.  I have never been more tempted to actually get up and walk out of a movie.  I have closure issues, so I have to watch the end of movies.  I really would have been better off to save my TWO AND ONE-HALF HOURS and do anything else.  Did I mention that the movie was long?  Colin Farrel appeals to me only in certain roles and his mullet and strange mustache did nothing for me.  Jamie Foxx was much more attractive and I don't normally find him appealing.  There was also a lot of gratuitous sex and gore.  It was really over the top.  I understand that may appeal to guys, but it just made no sense in the movie and could have been cut out for pacing and time factors.  The execution of the plot ended up being really lacking.  The story was not bad.  In fact, I have seen several movies that have successfully executed plots of this sort to make an enjoyable movie.  This one did not.  Michael Mann wrote, produced, and directed it.  He needs to be slowly tortured for this movie.  I wanted my money back at the end of it. 

CAUTION: Spoilers ahead.

So the movie starts off with the team in a club looking like that are about to bust open a prostitution ring.  Then Sonny gets a call from an informant that they turned over to another agency.  The guy is on the run and about to die.  He hangs up with Sonny and Sonny proceeds to call the FBI (?, I forget which agency).  So there is some interagency fighting going on.  This first scene lasts about 20 minutes.  It was completely unnecessary.  The audience very easily could have been started on the next scene where the FBI, Sonny, Tubbs, and their superior are discussing the undercover operation.  A few introductory sentences should cover it.  Show them being mad about the informant being offed and that they have autonomy and no interagency communication.  Done.  Twenty minutes to two.  It would have helped a lot with pacing and time.  The only justification for that first scence was to meet the rest of the team, but that could easily be accomplished later.  Other than Tubbs' love interest/teammate no one else gets any significant screen time. 

The next misplaced scene is the love scene between Jamie Foxx and his love interest.  It was completely gratutious in nature.  Mann was trying to show how much Tubbs cared for her, but the same could have been accomplished (and much more effectively, I think) in a tender scene where he caresses her face on the morning before he leaves out with her in bed just waking up and saying something along the lines of "I don't know what I would do without you."  Yes, it is obvious foreshadowing, but the original scene was so far out of place that it was obvious what was going to happen.  Could have saved another three minutes here and helped pacing again.  Plus I think that it would have stayed more true to the character that Mann tried to create when he wrote the screenplay.  He took the easy way out.  Bad idea.

I am not sure that I buy that Sonny fell in love with the Asian girl.  Granted, I did not watch the series, but he is undercover.  You assume that he can fake emotions.  It seemed a little trite that he would lose his heart to the bad girl.  It could happen, so not a major issue.

Here is a major issue that I have with the movie.  They never resolve ANYTHING!  The purpose of the mission from the get-go is to find the mole in whichever of the five agencies that it could be.  A side benefit is to take down this drug lord, who turns out to be only middle management.  So they devise a method to discover which agency the mole is part of and they immediately know he is part of the FBI (?, I forgot again, but it is the group that they send the Tuesday message to).  Then they discuss it and say, there are too many variables for us to determine who the mole is, let's just worry about the drugs.  Ok, we are changing the mission mid-movie and deciding not to resolve the major issue.  This screams sequel or stupidity.  Regardless, it was a bad choice.  When they realize that the drug lord they were after is only middle management, they target the head honcho, who eludes them.  I am fine with that.  Evil characters evade the law all the time, but they did not even try to pursue the mole angle.  They just gave up which was inexcusable and implausible.

The last issue that I have with the movie is that the gratuitious gore was over the top.  They show people being shot with .50 caliber rifles, fine.  Then they come over and show the hole that was put there by the gun.  Not while panning over to see where the next henchman has run or when Sonny comes to ensure that the guy is dead, just to show you the gore.  The worst example of it was at the end when the pretty girl who has had no other real function on the team pulls out an assault rifle and puts two bullets in the head of one of the head henchmen.  Jump to seeing the two bullet holes in his skull.  It was ridiculous.  We all understood what happened; don't just show it for that sake only.  At least make it seem plausible that there would be a reason for us to have seen it. 

Basically, the movie sucked.  The plot had potential, but it was executed so poorly.  Michael Mann has no sense of pacing or time and likes to show nudity and gore for no other reason.  I will certainly hesitate before I go see another movie that is written or directed by Michael Mann.

Lori's Benchmark Blog Begins

I have actually come to enjoy blogging about Rockstar:Supernova and have decided to start my own benchmark blog.  It will not be a true benchmark study, but it will compare the things I do/taste/see with my other experiences.  I did a benchmark study in college and got an A, so I know how to actually do it correctly.  This is another work in progress so actual criteria for the different categories may emerge and I will definitely entertain all suggestions.  The impetus for the blog was actually Miami Vice, the movie with Colin Farrel and Jamie Foxx.  That will be my first benchmark posting.  Then when I saw Lady in the Water by M. Night Shyamalan, it seemed to confirm the need to blog to save other agony and provide useful information about other things like restaurants, wines, etc.

Rockstar:Supernova, Reality Show:Week 5

Warning: Chris is watching this with me.  He may interject comments.  He also said that my blog was unclear when I inserted my thoughts.  So here is the key.  When I pause the show and insert my thoughts to often finish their sentences, I put it in parentheses.  Also I may miss some faces or scences due to the slow wireless connection in the hotel here.  Sorry.  So here we go.

Part 1: Jason's "I better like your performance, or I will eliminate you (Mu-ha-ha)" Clinic

So we recap last week's performances.  Still a shocker that Zayra made it through another week.  Granted that Phil sucked, but as bad as Zayra?  I think not.  We go back to the mansion where everyone is lamenting that Phil was eliminated.  Ryan says that Phil was the first true contender.  Chris disagrees, but I think that maybe Ryan has a point in that Phil was the bottom of the group of contenders.  He understood what Supernova was looking for, but just could not deliver.  Ryan on the other hand is not a contender and never really has been.  His "I Alone" performance was his best to date, but really, that is not saying much.  Several of them are saying that Supernova has made their first mistake.  Guys, he had to go anyway, so go ahead and stop the body from jerking.  His head was already severed.  Maybe that explained his movements.

They all compliment Patrice on her performance.  Storm says that was the best performance that any of them have given and she loves herself.  I disagree with her.  Dilana and Lukas have both delivered better performances.  Patrice says how weird it was to be in the bottom three.  She says that it motivates her now to be a dynamic performer.

Toby tells Zayra that he thought that she was leaving.  Zayra grants that out and claims to understand why everyone is confused.  She says that she is so grateful to get another chance.  So does this mean that she is actually going to take this chance and do something with it that will reflect that she can congeal with the band?  I doubt it.  Just extra airtime for her solo career. 

The guys are dogging on the girls.  Ryan says that the girls are bringing something different that the band must like, because the guys are down now.  The band likes the sex appeal.  Why not get rid of the riff-raff now and keep the eye candy until we get down to a real competition.  We still have 4 more people to eliminate before the real contest starts.  Lukas goes now we will show how good the guys really are.  (Well, I mean except Ryan, of course.)  Toby says that he is going to step up his performance and attitude.  Toby only has an attitude if it is approved by the band.  He may continue on, but I still say that he does not have the confidence to front the band.  He blows with the wind too much. 

Magni apparently has a baby son.  He is very emotional and says that he misses them a lot.  Could he and his family handle him being a part of this band?  World tours and such will mean long periods away from his family.  I definitely can say how hard that is.  I think that a single person would be a better choice for the band, but that is my mama bear attitude emerging.

Jason comes and is throwing a clinic on stage performance, aka Phil was eliminated because I hated his stage performance.  Jason tells about his audition with Metallica.  There were better bassists, but he gelled better with the band.  Dana says that the front man has to provide the lead for the band.  How does she think that she could lead these guys?  Puh-leeze.  So Jason continues, here is how I see you.  He sarts replaying the performances.

Toby is performing "White Wedding."  They call him a kangaroo and kangorilla.  Jason says the mic stand works for you; don't lose it so early.  Josh performs "No Rain."  Jason says that I have seen you do so much better.  Jason says that Josh did not have enough to do.  Josh says that if they want him to front the band, that they will have to take him as he is.  Ok, bye bye.  However, I do respect this a lot more than Toby.  Josh knows who he is and is unwilling to break for the band.  Bend, sure, but not break.  Next is Storm.  Jason says that she has obviously spent a lot of time with the band, fronting the band, leading the band.  Experience goes a long way here. Jason thinks that the drum-jumping of Ryan's was jammin.  Zayra says that she is keeping the outfit.  Jill says that she is really critical of herself and part 1 ends.

Part 2: Song Selection

We open with Jill singing "Brown Sugar."  Jill hits someone with the mic stand.  Jason says you always have to know where everyone is.  She is getting emotional and keeps talking and droning on and on.  Nobody cares about what you did there and everything you thought/felt/decided.  Magni says Dilana was great.  Dilana says she is greatly disappointed with that performance.  She says vocally it was her worst in a long time.  Wait!  Did she hear her performance?  It rocked.  It was good.  It really made me like "Time After Time."  Everyone is shocked.  She says that she is embarassed.  She needs to capture everyone in the room to be happy.  Jason says it is good to be a critic of yourself, but to a point.  He really looked surprised when she said that.  She seems a little too needy with wanting everyone to be happy with her performance.  Chris thinks that she was playing up to the others to seem more vulnerable.  I disagree; I think she has awesome stage presence and confidence on stage, but not as much offstage.  Patrice was not happy with seeing "Remedy" and says she knows what she has to do.

Lukas finds the songs.  He takes the songs to the pool area.  He says that he is a rulebreaker; no more .  Storm wants "Changes"; Josh wants "Higher Ground", which apparently will feature Tommy Lee on drums.  Patrice suddenly wants it too.  Josh says that he will do it classically, not Red Hot Chili Peppers style.  He is starting to get to the point of no desire.  Supernova has told him that they are not a soul band, so he is just disregarding them.  Will Zayra last another week?  Zayra is looking at "867-5309."  She says destiny found her.  Ryan says that the band will rock it harder if she wants.  Why would she want to do something that might appeal to the band?  Josh says that he will do "Santeria" after hearing Storm sing it.  Patrice confirms his choice.  No one fought about the songs.  Amazing!  It is apparently the Supernova room that causes it. 

Patrice says Ryan stop saying Tommy Lee and he labels her a *itch.  She is feeling enormous pressure.  She claimed to not want the song just because Tommy Lee was on it.  I'm not buying that.  Jill and Patrice are analyzing performing with band members.  They correctly assess that doing now is much more dangerous, because they see if you can actually do it now and eliminate accordingly.

Part 3: Rehearsal

Storm got "Changes" by David Bowie.  She says that this may be too far from her element.  Next we see Josh talking with the band.  He apparently has changed "Santeria" and it sounds ok, but still no fit for the band.  Better hope that America likes it Josh.  Now Zayra with "867-5309".  The band so dreads her coming, even Zayra realizes it.  She is singing and has some funky drumbeat on the song.  She goes, I just don't like the rhythm.  She says that she wants just drums.  Hello!  I am just dumbfounded.  I don't even know what to write.    She says that she wants some funky guitar riffs that I cannot begin to describe.  Paul says that she took all that was cool about the song out of it.  Of course, he has been wrong before.  Then Jimmy says, you have done the rearrangement thing before.  She says that she does it to feel the song.  Not to just be changing it.  She can't sing them the way they are is the problem.  She is not familiar with the music, so she has no basis.  Jimmy says, change for you would be to sing it the original way and kill it.  I think personally that they are being lazy because they know that she has to be eliminated soon.  Paul says that the performance will blow up in her face.  Zayra says that it is a punk song.  Maybe what she made it into is punk, but that was not the original song genre.  Storm is doing "Changes" by David Bowie very ballad-like.  It sounds good. 

Part 4: The credits

Storm is worried about being too vulnerable on stage.  Patrice is nervous about performing with Tommy.  Zayra is having a spasm.  The guys are shooting baskets and it ends.

Remember, Tuesday's and Wednesdays posts will not be up until the weekend, because the hotel does not have Tivo and I think too much to watch it live.  It sucks to be so smart sometimes. 

Rockstar:Supernova, Episode 4 Results

Brooke will be presenting in her negligee tonight.  Luckily a stray pair of jeans (maybe the pair that Naomi Campbell couldn't find) happened to be laying around for her to put on so that they would not have to censor the show.  Dave and Gilby coordinate, how cute.

So they recap this week's shows.  Tommy says, Storm, A+ on the stage dive.  Dave addresses Patrice and says he said change it to everyone.  Patrice is like I got that, but you have shown consistency between being with the Chili Peppers, Jane's Addiction, and Panic Channel.  That was the point that I was trying to make.  However her point still does not stand.  Dave is a guitarist, not a lead singer.  He does not need the verstility that she does.  Period.  Moving on...Gilby asks Zayra when does the pop show stop and rock and roll start?  Good question Gilby.  She responds, music can be what you want it to be and if I am that different than it might be a good thing.  Gilby says that they agree with her in that, but they need to see something harder.  She promises that next week.  Yeah, right.  Jason asks Phil what do we do about you?  Phil says let me hang; we all get frustrated when 2/3 of the songs aren't hard or intense.  Note to Phil: that is a challenge to you to make these songs rock.  It can be done.  We have seen Lukas and Dilana change the arrangements of classic songs successfully.  That reflects on you, very poorly I might add.  Jason says, ok, but I think that it was the presentation that I was concerned with.  Dave chimes in that Dana and Dilana stripped their songs down, but still managed to keep the intensity there.  So basically, he agrees with me.  He continues, we are looking for stage performance now.

We cut to the mansion.  They all toast and Ryan says to Jill, Grind me anytime.  Jill is like being up there with Gilby was amazing.  She blames his discomfort on being used to Axl singing and the different dynamic of being with a woman singer.  Maybe he is an atypical rocker that does not like sluts.  Maybe he is faithful to his wife and doesn't want other women humping him on stage.  Maybe he doesn't want sexual tension in the band.  (Another reason not to choose a girl lead.)  But this is all conjecture, so who knows.  She continues that she is at home on stage and comfortable, so no regrets. 

Dana is like I am learning so much from all of you all the time.  I am the baby and I have so much to learn from all of you.  Ryan then slams her again and says 22 is not that young and you have a lot of catching up to do.  I don't think you are where you should be.  HELLO!  Black pot! (As Chris likes to say.)  He is so not where he needs to be at whatever age he is at.  He needs to be pursuing another career.  Dana is talented, just not a fit for this band.  Ryan on the other hand has little talent and is not a fit for this band.  Go home! 

Dilana says she doesn't think that Dana can change enough in the short time period and Dana starts showing that Dilana is right in her response.  Dana starts, so far I have worn combat boots, a denim skirt...She starts stating a rock chic formula again.  this is not what makes a rock chic.  And FYI, I don't think that any self-respecting chic has worn a denim skirt since the 80s.  Dilana says, you hear but don't listen.  Dana says I don't think that they see me.  Trust me in that you are the image that you originally portrayed.  You are not the hard rockin chic that your mind thinks you are.  You are a sweet naive girl and it shows every time you start talking, especially when you start listing how hardcore you are.  She is like I will do what I want.

We cut back to the judges and Gilby starts with Jill.  He goes you get so defensive.  Our opinions come from years of experience.  Is that the future that we would argue all the time?  She shoots herself in the foot by blurting out I think you're wrong about that, to which Gilby rolls his eyes.  The girl needs to learn some diplomacy (Chris is screaming black pot here).  She tries to blow it off as being Italian and hot-tempered, but that does not mean that the band would not be in constant turmoil.  She tries to pull the double standard of women not being able to be sexual but the guys can pull their shirts off.  I am not sure that I see a shirtless guy as quite a sexual move as what she did.  Anthony Keidas and Flea showing up to perform with a strategically placed sock might seem more the standard that she would be talking about.  And FYI Jill, that is the way of the world.  A sexually aggressive woman is labeled a ***, but a sexually aggressive man is a ladykiller.  Supernova didn't make the rules; they are just playing by them.  Gilby fires back, I played guitar for Heart (really?!?!?!) and Ann Wilson never went so low as to hump me to get her emotions out.  ZING!  Ouch.  He called her sexually repressed there and a ***.  WOW!  She may easily be gone tonight if she stayed in the bottom three.  Gilby continues when Jill tries to interrupt that her moves were predictable, he saw them at the Holiday Inn, everywhere.  That is low.  I have stayed at a few Holiday Inns over the years and subpar does not even begin to describe the lounges.  He says show me something that I haven't seen.  Jill responds, everything has been done in rock and roll.  That elicits quite a negative response from the band and the audience.  They all go WRONG ANSWER!  Let me step it up and do something new and exciting.

On to Dana...Dave says so you are done being a student; are you going to disregard what everyone says, including Supernova.  Dana says not at all, but I think I learn more when these people are silent.  Dilana is so hurt.  Dave calls her on it.  Dana says coming to me personally is one thing, but beating me down is another.  She just lost her friendship with Dilana.  She has so much to learn and unfortunately is so clueless about reality on so many levels.  She is shutting the door on a future in rock if she does not heed the advice of others, excluding Ryan of course who she should just beat.

 Storm gets the encore.  It was well deserved.  Although I still think that Dilana's performance was the best, Supernova never chooses the best performance.  Storm still rocked it out.  I do fear we may have a wardrobe malfunction here.  No stage dive tonight, which helped keep it fresh.  Good job Storm.

So the bottom three are:

Patrice: Radiohead, "My Iron Lung"

Tommy asks if she is surprised to be in the bottom three.  She says you never can tell, but she would be surprised to go home.  She is happy to be playing for all the people anyway.  Well said.  She says this song is graceful, beautiful, modern rock.  The song is different for her, but only slightly.  A little more edge than usual.  She does walk through the audience and then interacts with Lukas, who sticks his tongue out, supposedly enticingly.  Pan to Jill who looks sick and wants to scream, that's flaunting sexuality.  She is one bitter chic.  Maybe I am part Italian.  I'll have to check that.  She starts really rockin the song after interacting with Lukas.  It improves a lot then.  She saved herself this week.

Comments:

The band likes it.  Jason is standing.  Tommy says that's what I am talking about

Grade: B+

Zayra: K's Choice, "I'm Not an Addict"

This is no surprise at all.  She and Brooke must coordinate.  She looks like she just got out of a lunar slumber party.  Gilby is like you have been here before; it may be the last time, what you got?  I love this song.She says that she is addicted to music.  Gilby says you've saved yourself once, try again.  She is off on the lyrics and her accent comes through.  Tommy is like it is ok; now he is clapping along.  The performance was ok, but still does not show that she fits.  I feel that she lacks the intensity of the original.  She may be saved if Jill gets in the bottom three, but only because of all her stupid comments and adversarial nature with Supernova.

Comments:

None.

Grade: B-

Phil: Failure, "Smoking Umbrellas"

I hated his last performance and I agree with Jason on the wobble.  Jason wants to believe.  It appears that he is trying to suppress the head bobble, but he still has the jerky body movements.  I like the song.  I will have to check out Failure.  I am sure that the original is probably better.  I just get the feeling that this guy is a poseur deluxe.  It does seem like he did better than Zayra, so it should be a no-brainer.

Comments:

None

Grade: B

Gilby says three killer performances.  He addresses Patrice and says that her voice has kept her in this competition, but the performances were all the same.  Tonight was killer.  Show us more of that and go sit down.  Now he goes to Zayra, you are original, but we can't see you in our band.  Phil, your best performance to date.  I disagree.  I think "White Rabbit" was better, but he did have Jason there, so maybe they took that into account.  But Gilby is not sure that Phil wants it.  Now Supernova has shocked me before and chosen not to axe Zayra.  Could she be saved again?  That would be freakin insane.  Start assuring them that you want it so bad. 

Break to Tommy who pulls up his hood, revealing the devil horns.  My father would have a field day.  I am not even going to touch it.  So they axe Phil based on his lack of commitment.  WOW!  Another shocker.  Patrice can't believe it.  Storm and Jill are in shock.  Dilana is too.  Zayra keeps hanging on him and Jason finally tells her to go sit down.

Phil thanks them for the chance.  Maybe he had a mellow day, but it breaks his heart, he says without emotion.  I really wanted to win this.  Gilby says it is not winning a contest.  It is being in our band.  Why not just axe several of them now and be done with it?  There are at least two more that are not interested in being in your band, so just end the misery for them now. 

Bottom line is though that they both have to go, so what order is really irrelevant.

After the credits, Patrice expresses her shock at them chopping Phil.  She says that they defintely sent a message that they expect full-fledged effort.  Then Zayra says, it is a miracle that I am still here.  Ain't that the truth?  She must have been a cat in another life.  Strange how that works. 

Just a heads up, next week's performance and results blogs may be late due to a trip that will not allow me to watch the recorded shows until I return.  Sorry for that.

Rockstar:Supernova, Episode 4

Oh, we have reached new heights of sluttiness and depths of tackiness with Brooke's outfit.  Does she pick out her own clothes or does a color blind monkey do it?  Really Brooke, get a new wardrobe person.

Jason got his hair cut!  I'm not diggin it.  It makes his ears look big and does not match his persona.  If he had a suit on, maybe, but not as a rocker.

Then we recap last week's shows with a few new comments from the group.  Lukas says the tracks were even better than he thought.  Dana says, it sounds so classic rock.  I see myself in a convertible going fast.  Clueless.  Toby goes the tracks definitely sound like something that I could put vocals to.  What kind of comment is that?  Gilby says that we were all from metal bands, but that is not what we are striving for now.  I am not sure I really considered those 3 bands metal bands.  Hard rock, yes, but not metal.  The difference is Slipknot (metal) verses Saliva (hard rock).  (I wanted to list Stained as hard rock, but everybody only thinks of their ballads.  Non-ballads, their music is hard rock too.)  Maybe metal has just changed in the 10 years that these group received that designation, but they would definitely not be considered metal by today's standards.  They would still be considered hard rock. 

After the recap, Gilby says, so we played the new music for you.  No more excuses that you don't know what we sound like (read: Zayra and Dana, bye bye). 

Lukas: The Verve, "Bittersweet Symphony"

The song does not fit him in the least.  He needed to change the background orchestra music.  I like it when he rocks it out in the end.  The gravel sound does not fit the "sweetness" of the song.  Had he taken out the background music or hardened it somehow, it could have worked well.  As it was, it felt disjointed between the beginning and end of the song.

Comments:

Dave says great.  You always switch it up and you did an awesome job with the lighting.  Tommy says that is exactly how I would have done that song.  Jason says you are still constricting your throat.  Open it and blow us away.  I agree this time.

Grade: B-, he has set such a high bar for himself that he did not live up to it this week

Zayra: Blondie, "Call Me"

She and Brooke must be in a slutty outfit competition tonight.  I can't decide who would win.  Jason goes WOW!  He is lusting hard.  She is not even doing a great job on this song.  Gilby is laughing at her and rolling his eyes.  Not sure what the brow rubbing by Jason was about.  She is moving too much or something, because the mike keeps losing her voice. 

Comments:

Dave finally said her name right on TV so that everyone could hear it.  But of course no one will take note.  So Dave says that you have been fun and interesting to watch, but I am not sure that it is right for Supernova.  My recommendation (is to drop out now?, I paused it right there) is to get started on a solo career right now.  So I was right.  Gilby says, I really liked the R.E.M. tune last week, but you backtracked and lost me again.  Zayra goes I did great, didn't you enjoy that audience?  Who cares?  She cannot possibly put lyrics (even those written by someone else) to any of those tracks that they heard.  Tommy goes, last time I saw an outfit like that I ended up with bite marks and boot marks all over me.  There is no doubt that she has sex appeal, but it is not going to carry her past this week.  She will make the bottom three and will be eliminated if the other two open their mouths at all.  It is so clear that she is clueless.  She is trying to preserve herself on the show only to further her solo career later.  Of course, Brooke goes, I think you look amazing tonight.  No surprise there.

Grade: F-(C on the performance, F- on appropriateness for Supernova, F- on doing a performance like this after listening to the tracks and being told what they were, and a personal F- for the slutty outfit)

Dana: Nirvana, "About a Girl"

This is a definite improvement over normal Dana performances.  The guys are very happy with the change.  Storm or Dilana helped her with the make-up and outfit, obviously, the dark eyes, the boots.  She actually did a really great job and intensified it appropriately.  I really had not held out much hope for an acoustic version of this song, but I stand corrected.  She definitely wins most improved performer. 

Comments:

Dave says you finally look damaged enough to be a rocker.  There is nothing worse than a grounded, centered, well-adjusted rock singer.  I have to agree.  Those without real problems sing pop music.  Jason labels it his favorite performance of hers.  I agree.  Gilby says that he is shocked.  She is not the same person from week 1.  She goes, I chugged a beer before I came on stage.  She obviously feels guilty.  It is so cute.  But she still won't win.  Jason is like, if that is what it takes.

Grade: A

Patrice: The Black Crowes, "Remedy"

Not sure what Gilby said to Dave.  The song is not bad, but it is also not so special.  Tommy looks bored.

Comments:

Dave completely agrees with me.  He says nothing different, I'm bored.  Then he addresses all the contestants and says change it from week to week.  This is a 13-week audition and you are wasting it if you do the same performance every week.  Patrice tried to backtalk to Dave asking if he does a lot of different things when he is onstage.  First of all the question is not fair, because he is a guitarist and not a singer, but I digress.  He answers, yeah, but I have a job and am not auditioning.  I really think she is just trying to gain some popularity here.  As a rock singer, she should understand the need to be able to vary her style: ballads, hard, soft, etc.  Gilby says we need an unpredictable stage performer.  This is your warning.  So she won't be eliminated this week if she makes the bottom 3 (that will be Zayra leaving this week), but next week she is fair game if she does not change it. 

Grade: B-

Toby: Billy Idol, "White Wedding"

I saw this performed live too, so he has big shoes to fill.  He is already not living up to Billy.  Billy does a great job of varying his voice all throughout the song, deep to high, soft to intense; often within the same sentence.  Toby has missed these nuances.  Jason is clapping.  Dave is saying something to Tommy.  Toby definitely shows a lot of energy.  Jason is standing.

Comments:

Gilby tells him that he was pitchy in the low range.  Toby is surprised.  I just noted that it was not good, but then I am no musician.  Jason gives him a best performance to date kudos too.  I disagree.  I think that this is completely on par with his other performances: just ok imitations of the originals.  Although I actually did like his version of "Runaway Train" better than Soul Asylum, but I don't like that song and it still was not great.  Granted, I am comparing this to being performed live by Billy Idol, but tough cookies for him.

Grade: B (Actually it is interesting, if you look back he has only gotten Bs, which I still feel that he deserves here.)

Magni: David Bowie, "Heroes"

The guy can sing, but can't really rock it out.  This is a very pop sounding version.  It sounds good, but still does not show that he aligns with the band.  While he is not as clueless as Zayra is and Dana is/was (not sure yet that she has completely congealed on who Supernova is), he still only scratches the surface.  He definitely has more stage performance experience, but I still do not think that he is a good fit for the band.

Comments:

Tommy has a question.  (Did you listen to the tracks tht Gilby played you?)  Why strap yourself to a guitar when this song appeals to everyone?  Magni replies, I think that this is one of the greatest songs ever written, ok, it is a really good song.  And he says, I didn't want to put on a blue Spandex and run around.  SLAM! Ouch.  That hurt.  Josh is laughing.  Storm is smiling and everyone else has not reacted to it quite yet.  Jason says sing this song to every person in the audience.  Magni says, I sang it to someone across the world; I will sing to the rest of them later.  It is time to sing to America now, not later.  The sentiment is sweet if you are that one person, but I want to see that you can rock.  Gilby says, there is a right way and wrong way to do things.  This was the wrong way.  I agree in that it does not fit with the band image.  Great vocal he says.

Grade: B

Ryan: Live, "I Alone"

This is actually better than I thought that it would be.  It still pales next to Live.  Jason just pretended to poke a stick in his eye.  He is exactly right that Ryan still looks like he has a stick up his posterior.  Even the way that he moves suggests that might be the case.  However, this has been his best performance by far on stage performance and appropriateness.

Comments:

Dave says night and day from the beginning.  Stage performance and energy suited the song.  Tommy says perfect song for your voice.  Gilby says we saw interaction for the first time.  Good job.  Ryan says, I am having fun now, in a robotic voice.  Jason says, that's it, more of this and you will be fine.

Grade: B+

Jill: The Rolling Stones, "Brown Sugar"

She is definitely upping the stage performance with Gilby there.  Not bad, but I don't like the Stones.  Is she back humping him?  That is just weird.  A very average vocal performance from Jill, but the stage performance was really good (other than the humping part).

Comments:

Dave says you definitely kicked it up a notch with Gilby onstage.  Gilby says good job, except the grinding thing.  I just left when that started.  It was predictable.  You don't have to use sex; you have more than that.  To me it is cheap and weak.  Gilby just won my vote.  Dave says that is Gilby's issue; in my band, we would grind for hours on end.  Interesting that his marriage with Carmen Electra just failed. 

Grade: B

Phil: The Wallflowers, "One Headlight"

Jason is no digging this performance.  His jerky movements don't fit the song.  This song requires too much singing for his voice.  It also sounds like he might have tried to harden the song, but he failed miserably.  Pan to Tommy, who is not enjoying this at all.  That was awful.

Comments:

Dave says, we saw intensity last week, but maybe it was all Jason.  Tommy likes the way that he moves and the show, but can everyone else watch that for 90 minutes.  Tommy is apparently used to experiencing people have seizures.  Jason takes a minute.  The guys say that smoke is coming out of his ears.  If the wobble is instilled, then I am disturbed, he says.

Grade: C-

Dilana: Cyndi Lauper, "Time After Time"

WOW!  This is awesome.  I like the original, but I think that this actually improves that one.  She killed it.  Definitely the best this week. 

Comments:

Dave says you give me chills every time.  Tommy says enchanting.  Jason gives props to Jimmy, the guitarist. 

Grade: A++

Josh: Blind Melon, "No Rain"

He is doing an ok performance.  Unfortunately for him, this song holds special significance for me from high school.  It makes me think of my late debate coach.  I  hate the crowd singing.  They are not worked up.  Jason looks like he has to go potty and is holding it.

Comments:

Dave says you barely survived last week and this week is not going to be any better.  Tommy says that was a big challenge for a soul guy.  Really?  I didn't think so.  Josh says I hope that you are more open-minded and hearing your music, it has a bluesy tone and a calling for soul.  That is what I hope to bring.  So he is this year's Marty, but he won't get as far as Marty did on season 1.  Gilby says, yes we have blues elements, but how you are going to merge that, we haven't seen yet.

Grade: B-

Storm: Dramarama, "Anything, Anything"

She definitely rocks this song out.  I think that she does a stellar performance.  The crowd jumping just topped the performance.  Really great job.  Although the saucer eyes that she makes still bothers me. 

Comments:

Dave is like you demanded attention and you rocked.  Loved the stage diving.  Tommy says it was killer.  Perfect form on the dive.  Jason says you are turbocharged.  Nothing bad to say.

Grade: A+

So the bottom three at the end of the show are:

Josh

Jill

Zayra

No surprises at all about Josh and Zayra.  I am surprised that Phil is not here, but Jill gave a very average vocal performance and maybe the grinding bothered America too much.  Guess that we will see tonight.  (Sorry this is up late.)

RockStar:Supernova, Reality Show: Week 4

Part 1: Choosing teams

So we recap last week's performances and the results.  Then we jump to the mansion where Dilana toasts Jenny and says she will definitely go places.  Those places will not be rock recording contracts, my words, not Dilana's.  She is apparently much nicer or much less honest than I am. 

Then Ryan asks Dana, so what is with the backbone comment.  Dude, I would have torn you a new one on the air, so back off.  So they argue back and forth and Ryan tries to wiggle out of it.  Dana states, his opinion doesn't matter, only Supernova's does.  However, she keeps giving him way too much time for something that does not matter to her.  Rip him to shreds and then move on.  Giving him more time and arguing lends more creedence to his argument.  Even though he is right.  My main problem with Ryan is he does not belong on the show either.  He has yet to show a performance worthy of fronting an opening act for the opening act of Supernova. 

So then some guitar music is heard and they all run into see what is going on.  Zayra sums it up as, Gilby is making the loudest guitar "noise" that I have ever heard.  Girl, you so don't belong.  Go home.  (Va a su casa.)  Gilby says that your second clinic is songwriting.  So they are going to play them a song and the rockers come up with lyrics and melodies.  So Phil, this one requires words.  Gilby splits them into teams and says that the team captains will be the performers that received the encores (Dilana, Magni, and Toby).  Then the choosing begins.  Who will be the fat kid?

Dilana chooses Lukas first, so she is smart and going to win if they can work together.  She says she chose him to break him away from Toby and keep him close.  Keep you friends close and your enemies closer, I guess.

Toby chooses Phil.  Phil lucked out that there are teams, now he can do the melodies and leave the lyrics to others.

Magni chooses Josh.  Then Josh chooses Jill.  Not sure why the order changed or why Josh chose, but ok.  Dana voices over that she was always last chosen for baseball.  Cry me a river.  She probably actually knows that song.

Lukas chooses Ryan.  Ryan might actually have some songwriting abilities, but then of course look at the choices left, Zayra and Dana.  Despite kicking it up last week, Dana is still pop and they all know that.  And Zayra is even worse.  Her lyrics to the last song she did this with were, this is the way we rock and roll, baby.  Real winner there.  Although Kiss did make a similar song very popular. 

So the teams end up as:

Dilana, Lukas, Storm and Ryan - by far the strongest team, even with Ryan

Toby, Phil, Patrice, and Zayra - the most disparate personalities of the whole bunch

Magni, Josh, Jill, and Dana - all of these people can actually sing really well

Dilana's team:

They are listening to the music.  Dilana has a pad, but she says that she is not writing.  Lukas immediately starts penning lyrics.  Ryan is jammin in some headphones and Storm is taking in the music.  So Lukas bounces the idea for the chorus off the group and they like it.  Then we see them practicing some more.  It seems they are off the ground and flying.  Lukas goes to get a beer.

Toby's team:

Patrice says the guitar riffs sound like a monster.  Phil suggests coming together on the chorus and then "we all skat".  Imagine that, Phil not wanting to do lyrics.  They all seem to be having a good time and Phil says that they all realized that they had to compromise.  Although we see no real results so far.

Magni's team:

 So Magni goes, "the Supernova track was actually really good."  Did he expect it to suck?  I am not sure that is the best thing to say on camera.  He classifies it as a "bluesy/Stones/rock and roll track."  I will be interested to hear what they are hearing, because the snippets that I am getting don't seem to fit the first two genres he named.  (Oddly enough, those are the two genres that he and Josh are most comfortable in.)  It appears Jill has a whole song penned, but Magni is saying, please don't write anything yet.  I guess it fails to be collaborative if one person is the whole creative force.  So Jill starts singing the next time through with her lyrics and Magni is like yeah, I need to listen to it like 4 or 5 times.  Just because you are team captain doesn't mean you can tell other people how to run their creativity.  The lyrics actually sound better than what I heard from Lukas.  But this is a premature judgment based on snippets, so no grades yet.  Magni and Jill start clashing over styles.  Magni says he doesn't give a rat's posterior about how she does it, just how they are going to do this. 

So Magni starts pontificating that not everyone in his group has had a lot of experience writing together.  Dude, it is ok for one person to come up with the majority of the lyrics.  Then everyone can work to improve that.  Not every song has to have equal input from all parties.  So Josh starts saying, we here are the most level-headed people in the house, so I am sure that the other rooms are fighting too.

Dilana's team:  

They have nothing that leads into the chorus.  Dilana says (privately in the interview) that Lukas has a problem focusing.  Lukas walks out of the room and checks in on Toby's group.  He says that he does not want to be here while other people do lyrics.  What?  I am so confused.  He put in his input he says and that is all good.  We see Lukas by the pool, coming in and out and not really contributing anymore.  I'm not sure what to think here.  He came up with a chorus that everyone liked and started working with, so does he have ideas for verses but he is trying to make them contribute or what?  Dilana says he keeps breaking her train of thought. 

Magni's team:

Dana says she has a verse and it sounds good by itself.  We will have to see if it fits the music.  Josh and Magni both say that they like that.  They turn and ask Jill what she thinks and she says that she could not really hear.  Is Jill not a team player; was she sitting to far away to physically hear (because you can definitely understand all the words that Dana says); or is she just a bitter woman when she does not get her way?  I definitely understand that one, as Chris can attest to.  But I am not sure that that is an attitude conducive to a work environment, so she provides another reason for a girl not to front a rock band.  Magni doesn't buy Jill's I didn't hear it.  He starts, this is never going to work.  I have recorded 6 albums with a band, so I know when someone is being stubborn.  Then in his "unstubborn" manner he goes, no offense Jill but what you are saying has absolutely nothing to do with what I would do with that song.  Then they ask her not to walk out.  Why?  Magni obviously does not want her input unless she agrees with him.  He refuses to entertain her song and being "team captain" has apparently made him the end all, be all.  Lukas goes, I couldn't work on that team.

Part 2: Watching teams fight

Magni's team:

So Josh comes out to mediate.  Jill says she wants to work with them and compromise, but she does not need Magni's comments.  Two control freaks in a room does not work.  Trust me, my mother and I are at each other's throats within 3 days tops.  Sometimes it is only hours.  I can't imagine if it were about something like this.  Josh is like, let's just write this all out and then we can change it.  Jill walks back in with him.  Lukas follows them in, ostensibly to get beer.  However, he has already been in and should remember that there was no beer.  Sounds like espionage to me.

Magni goes, I have a thought and starts singing.  Jill says it is good and that they were all listening to one another.   So they all made up and Magni says it was a team effort.  Get me a bucket; the goodness is pouring out of my monitor. 

Toby's team:

Somehow Patrice erased the tracks.  Should we have someone messing with technical equipment when they don't know what they are doing.  Bad idea.  Phil says that he heard there were bigger catastrophes in other rooms.  Um...what is bigger than losing the tracks?  I guess he plans to skat the whole song, so no matter if the music is there or not. 

Dilana's team:

Lukas is singing, but it sounds really bad.  Dilana stops him.  They are all frustrated with him and he is like it's been 3 times, what's the prob?  Ryan says what are you going to do different?  Ryan then admits in his interview that he wanted to run out the gates back to NY.  Please, don't let us stop you.  Things would be so much better.

Storm takes over and says Lukas tried to record line by line and couldn't do it.  She takes the headphones and Lukas leaves.  She says some of the best bands have the biggest brawls, but they know how to finish (read: Metallica, of course Jason left, so what does that mean?). 

They are getting ready to present their song to Supernova.

Comments:

Tommy says he got goosebumps, it's over for him.  The song actually sounds good.  The lyrics don't have the trite sound when they are sung that they did when Lukas first said them.  Storm sounds really good.  Gilby says that they really came together on the chorus even though they claimed to butt heads.  Then Tommy asks who wrote the chorus melody and they all point to Lukas.  Well done, he says.  Dilana looks like she is going to be sick. 

Grade: A-

Toby's team:

The song starts with Zayra mouthing words into a special mike that changes her voice.  It is weird.  Dilana looks like what the?  Jason labels them eccentric, but just quirky enough to be entertaining.  Phil starts his jerky singing routine.  It sounds awful, but I do not enjoy Phil's voice.  I have to close my eyes and ears to enjoy his performance.  Now note that Jason said it was entertaining.  Circuses are entertaining; "America's got talent" is entertaining; hard rock bands are not normally termed entertaining.   

Comments:

Tommy says killer dude, I am tripping out right now.  That is the only way that they could have enjoyed that performance.  Great job, really impressive, says Gilby.  Just not what we are looking for.  Next!

Grade: C

Magni's team:

Magni claims he was glad to be on last because their song was the best.  We gave it all we had, he says.  But is it good enough?  Jason says the harmonies of the group were fantastic.  Not sure that that quality is something that they are looking for in a rock band like this, but it does show the talent of the singers.  Jason looks pleasantly surprised.  He says the gospel feel and tailing of the harmonies at the chorus can't be denied.  It does sound really good.  Gilby gets the fake lighter going.  Toby is in shock. 

Comments:

Tommy is like, I like the...syncopation in the...vocal melody, that's cool.  He has trouble with multiple polysyllabic words in one sentence.  Although he does not seem as impressed with this performance as with Dilana's team. 

Grade: A-

Jason says these songs are like from different planets.  He's right.  Dilana's team fit the style of Supernova much better than the others, but Magni's team had the best song.  Toby's team was just blown out of the water. 

So Tommy is trying to set everyone's expectations.  He says there were some really cool things going on and then there were some other bluesier things going on, which is not the direction that we are headed, just so you know.  You'll hear music later that will give you a much clearer picture of where we are going. 

Jason said I tried not to set my expectations too high, but this turned out really cool.  So we are all going to party tonight.  So they celebrate with sushi, champagne, cheese and crackers. Tommy is pouring shots; Gilby is sharing stories about his daughter.  He says, taking this time let's us get a sense of them.  Key to determining who is going to fit in. 

So Gilby takes them back to listen to the tunes.  Everybody is excited.  Storm classifies the songs as "the essence of rock and roll."  Dana has a disgusted look on her face.  It has all finally fallen into place who Supernova is.  She says the second one sounds more British.  Who does she qualify as British sounding?  The Beatles? The Stones?  There is this really cool band that I saw at EdgeFest called Twin Method that is also British.  These bands really don't sound the same, so I am wondering what metric she is using.  Magni labels it "flashy."  I fail to understand that term.  What is that Icelandic for?  Toby says now we understand what Supernova is about.  So who wants to go home now? 

Part 3: Song Selection

Gilby is going to join one of them this week in "Brown Sugar."  Now that is a way to start a fist fight.  Tell them what song Supernova will play on and then decide amongst yourselves.  Good luck with that!  Phil is like they just don't know how cool it is to play with someone like that (unsaid, because I played with Jason last week so I know).

So we see them writing names on songs still on the board.  Patrice, Storm, Josh all put their name on "Brown Sugar."  Phil nobly says he does not want to hog all the Supernova members.  I just think that he can't sing the song.  I am not a Stones fan, so I am unfamiliar with this song yet again.  I also am horrible with song names.  So I might actually know this song, but it is a buy only track on Napster, so I can't listen to it.  Greedy Brits!

So "I Alone" comes up next and Dilana is like I love that song.  Then Ryan goes I have been waiting for that song.  Since I was 15... yawn.  He will butcher it, so please deny him.  It was the first song he ever performed, wah.    Dana says she stuck between "I Alone" and "About a Girl."  Ryan goes, think Nirvana, think Nirvana, that's what I am saying.  This is not for her betterment, but for his.  So she is like, I wanted Nirvana last week and didn't get it, so I will do it this week.  I will take your advice; I am tempted to anyway.  You poor naive girl, he is not saying this to help you.  Why are you thanking him?  My bitterness comes through.  I am not a very forgiving person, for those of you that don't know.

Zayra and Toby put their names down for "White Wedding."  All the girls want "Call Me."  Storm is like, I will take my name off every other song, just let me have this one.  Wait, by having a song, doesn't that automatically take your name off of all the others?  She is giving nothing here.  Zayra is like I need this to keep me out of the bottom 3, all of you are so popular.  So we are supposed to want you not to get eliminated?  That seems like more motivation to fight for you not to get it.  I definitely think that this is the most representative song for Zayra's personality.  I think that she will be eliminated though if she chooses it, because she will do it in the classic style that shows that she does not fit with the band.  Storm admits that Zayra needs the song more than she does, so she is the bigger person, admitting that she can kill anything anyway.  Toby says he really wants "White Wedding", so Storm lets him have it and she takes "Anything, Anything" since she is the only one who knows it.  She is confident in her ability to do any song.  She learned something from Lukas (who has yet to say anything).  So they let Jill have "Brown Sugar."

Part 4: The credits

So we see Josh saying, yeah he likes it hard.  Then Dana is butchering "About a Girl", doing it acoustically.  She does not learn.  Then we see Jill singing "Brown Sugar" and Gilby practicing with her.  She goes, I need to do it in E, because I can't sing it in the original key.  Gilby goes, you guys kill us.  But you have to do what is right for your voice.  Way to be told you screwed up his guitar performance.

Rockstar:Supernova, Episode 3 Results

So Brooke actually went a whole week without looking slutty.  WOW!  It is possible.  I am so proud of her.

We watch the recap, then go to the mansion.  Toby is bummed that he chose emotion over rock.  He is at a loss, since Supernova did not praise him.  This does not say good things for him in the long run.  He needs more confidence in his abilities, but since he is so subject to outside opinion, he can't do that.

Dana is asking everybody why the Celine Dion comment?  Give me Alanis, Pat Benatar, she says. WHOA! Someone needs to tell her right there that this is exactly her problem.  These are not the artists that she needs to be seeking to front this band.  I completely agree that she could do good versions of the songs by these artists, but that is not what Supernova is about.  Please go home.  Arm-pumping, stomping and in people's faces are not what rocking it out means.  She is looking for a magic formula.  Unfortunately, she does not have the right starting materials to end up at the desired location.  Dilana tries to tell her to dirty up her performance, but I don't think that she can fathom the extent that she has to go to conform to expectations.  Dana watches her performance and says, Storm and Dilana are just like mamas.  They are just trying to make me a better performer.  (Heavy on the southern accent.)  She finally says she sees what the guys mean.  Then we cut to Ryan, Lukas, and Toby viewing her performance.  Ryan says, she is good, but should not be on this show.  OUCH!  But then neither should he.  He has not done a remotely good performance yet, but he has just not been the worst yet either.  His time is definitely coming.

So Dave calls Ryan out as direct on his comments on Dana.  It is so funny that he says this is a rock show and some people are just not rock n roll.  You mean, like you.  We have yet to see the genre that you excel at.  It is not ballads, think of the horrible performance of "Iris".  It is not classic rock, that Stones song sucked.  He has yet to give a good performance.  Lucky for him there have been far worse up to this point.  But the numbers are dwindling.  Then he says it seemed like a pop show and he is embaressed, because he wants to be on a rock show.  But he can't hang on a rock show.  He just embaressed himself.  This is ludicrous.  Dana should crucify him, but she is too sweet to know how unfortunately.  She should employ Lukas to do her dirty work for her.

Dana responds, it's an opinion.  That is so WEAK! Then she says you should have told me to my face and had a backbone.  Better.  She should have torn into him with some of the above comments or the fact that he lacked confidence in his own abilities since the beginning by being the only one to not step up with Supernova.  Plus he has not gotten a good review from Supernova yet either.  SO back off!  We'll see if she actually understands now.

Dave asks Dilana why help Dana? Dilana says she is not threatened by giving advice to others.  She is loving and giving and Dana is a friend.  She merely recommended that Dana get dirty.  Pan to Dana going ooh and biting her finger in the most Sandra Dee trying to look dirty.  It reminds me of Roz in Grease singing the Sandra Dee song.  She can't get dirty.

Next to Toby.  Gilby is like, what was the problem?  Toby like, think of me as a contender.  I had a bad few days and lost focus.  Gilby is like variety is good.  I think Toby missed that it is something that they are actually seeking in a lead singer, but he still lacked something in that performance.  He doesn't handle criticism well, because he is trying so hard to mold himself to the image that he thinks they want.

So Jason says, Josh you fought really hard for that song, why?  Josh claims emotional duress.

Jill and Dilana get praise from Tommy and then Magni gets the encore.  I still fail to understand their choice for encores.  He does better tonight on this song, but it still pales next to STP. 

Dave makes a great comment that Josh and Jenny are not listening that they need to bring the rock. 

Bottom three are:

 Jenny: STP, "Vasoline"

Stupid jump.  I don't think, no I know, that she cannot do this.  She knows the lyrics is the only nice thing that I can say about this performance.  Her voice is not suited for this song at all.  Jason has a great look on his face, it says, am I really seeing this? 

Comments:

None.  She seems very stoked about her perrformance.

Grade: D

Dana: Sass Jordan, "High Road Easy"

I am not familiar with this artist, but I know that I have heard this song before.  So she finally shows that she has clued in to the vicinity of what they are looking for.  I still don't think that she hit on it, but she is definitely on the dart board.  And this song showcases her voice.  But her performance is still lacking for a rock show.

Comments:

Jason is impressed and Gilby says, oh yeah.

Grade: B+

Josh: Nirvana, "Heart-shaped Box"

Josh is exactly right.  He mellowed "Come As You Are" too much.  He does a good job on rocking this song.  I actually did not know that he was capable of this.  He saved himself this week.  He still does not perform like a rocker though.  He actually showed that he is a contender tonight.  He is safe.

Comments:

The judges are all surprised that he is there.  They are not ready to get rid of him yet.  There are many, many worse.  The judges agree that this was good.

Grade: A

Gilby says you guys gave a great effort and really brought it, thanks.  Jenny thinks that it is a personal compliment for her and starts saying thank you and bowing.  She has become as clueless as Chris was.  Yes, she sang a hard rock song, good song choice, but poor performance.  She should be the one going home tonight. 

So Gilby says Jenny started strong, then went soft, now the edge  is back, but the vocals are questionable.  Exactly.  She does not have the grit or the power in her voice required to front this band.  Bye-bye.

Gilby compliments Dana's singing and attitude and the fact that she rocked the house tonight, but they are still not convinced that she is a good fit.  Precisely.

Gilby compliments Josh on his singing, but is still confused as to why it was week 3 before he showed them some rock.

So then Tommy sends Dana back with the others for rocking out.  Then he dismisses Jenny, who then starts this lengthy soliliquy on stage about how much this has opened her eyes.  Dave is so kind saying that she has it in her, because her voice is not capable of hard rock music.  If she makes it, it will add to the growing list of sucky female rock bands. 

No surprise here, she had to go.  One more bad rocker gone.  There are at least five more contestants that have to be eliminated before we really get this competition started.

Rockstar:Supernova, Episode 3

Sorry that this up late, but Mom got annoyed with the pausing, so I had to write fast and didn't want to post and then correct, so I held off of publishing. 

I like Brooke's dress and it actually looks sexy and not slutty.  Although I hate the necklace.  So they recap the reality show with all the catfighting.  So my mother is here watching the show with me tonight and her comments are amusing.  She wants her comments in green and to be called Freak's Mom.  (She called me Freak.) So I may add some of them in.  Patrice starts them off.

Patrice: The Beatles, "Helter Skelter"

It's ok.  I am not familiar with the original though and neither is my mother, so I don't feel too bad.  It just does not seem up to the standards that I have come to expect.  Also for all the fighting that occurred, I expected awesomeness.  I didn't get it.

Comments:

Tommy respects her for the fighting.  Dave liked it.  Jason liked that the crowd was in on it. 

Grade: B

Josh: Nirvana, "Come As You Are"

I hate it when he starts singing through his nose.  It takes him several measures before he stops that.  So he fought for this hard song and then does it acoustic.  Another ok performance.  He has to show how he is going to fit into Supernova and so far he has failed.  He understood that he needed a hard rock song, but not that he needed to rock that song.

Comments:

Dave thought it was terrific, but wants ugly.  No coffeehouses.  Gilby says you don't represent us, but you have done a good job of showing us who you are.  I guess actually that the same problem has developed with Supernova that INXS had, they don't want to change who they are or their sound, just a new singer do to that.  Although it is not quite as bad as INXS was.

Grade: B- (B performance, but C- on understanding the band)

Storm: The Cars, "Just What I Needed"

I am not digging this.  Yet another ok performance.  She is trying to emote too much and it makes her look freaky. 

Comments:

Dave liked it.  Jason thought very professional.  Tommy wants to see more of her.  She said, "Google." 

Grade: B

Lukas: The Rolling Stones, "Let's Spend the Night Together"

Got great showmanship and I like how he changed it.  Not his greatest performance,but he did a lot with what he had. FREAK!  But Mom, he is the best fit for the group.  Freak! (This time directed at me, not Lukas.)  Oh well, she raised me.  Lukas definitely showed that he can handle whatever cards he is dealt.  All others be ware!

Comments:

Dave says he is arrogant, which is great.  Tommy says he raised the bar, and he is pulling up a barstool.  Gilby says, that is the way we would do a Stones song.  I agree, if they had to do a Stones song.

Grade: A

Jill: Free, "All Right Now"

Jason likes the kicking the mike stand over.  The performance is "all right now."  Sorry I couldn't resist.  Another ok performance, although she did get to show this week that she could sing. 

Comments:

Dave thought much better.  Tommy all right with it.  Gilby says this is the first time I can see you fronting the band.  I still don't see that.

Grade: B+

Ryan: Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Fortunate Son"

Gilby is bored.  Tommy is not impressed.  Neither is my mom.  He's no John Fogerty.  She is a big CCR fan.  That was not good.

Comments:

Tommy says he can sing, but you did not move.  Gilby says are you having fun?  He's awful.  Can't you dismiss him early?

Grade: C-

Phil: Jefferson Airplane, "White Rabbit"

So Jason joins Phil.  Phil is going to butcher this.  Actually this is Phil's best performance.  He still does not compare to Jefferson Airplane, but it was not bad.  Especially if I was unfamiliar with the original.  Unfortunately for Phil this is another favorite song of mine and he did nothing to improve it, so I am less than impressed.

Comments:

Dave says finally some intensity.  Tommy says keep going more intense. 

Grade: B (A for improvement, C for performance compared to the original)

Dana: Bon Jovi, "It's My Life"

She is so clueless.  This is pop and she did nothing to rock it out.  She does not belong here.  She can sing, but Bon Jovi's version is harder than this.  Please just go home and save us all time and effort.  The judges keep trying to tell her that she does not fit and she keeps claiming that I can do it.  But she has to change everything about herself.  Not gonna happen!

Comments:

Tommy says it was very Celine Dion, even though she is hot.  Gilby says, not seeing it. 

Grade: D

Toby: Soul Asylum, "Runaway Train"

Tommy had a strange look.  This is definitely different for Toby.  Dave is bored.  Not bad, but not what anyone expected.  Pretty good performance.  I actually thought that this was Toby's best vocal performance.  I halfway enjoyed it and I don't like this song that much.

Comments:

Dave still says more stage performance.  Tommy wants to be scared. 

Grade: B

Magni: STP, "Plush"

He does not have the power or the grit to do this song.  This is a bad cover.  He lacks the emotion that Scott puts into it.  He softened it too much.  Not good.  BTW, another of my favorite songs.

Comments:

"Magni-ficent" says Tommy.  Gilby says good stage presence.  Compared to some of the others, maybe; but still not a good fit for the band.

Grade: C

Zayra: R.E.M., "Everybody Hurts"

She is trying to sound like Enya.  Stop the insanity.  She butchered this song.  This was awful.  You feel the gut-wrenching agony in R.E.M.'s version.  I don't get that here.  I have not been able to hear this song and not get sad since my cousin's funeral, but this version did nothing like that to me.  You failed.

Comments:

Dave said, last week, you should have been sent home, but I was wrong.  Gilby thought it was awesome, as did Tommy.  Tommy Lee is drunk, isn't he? I don't think that they heard the same song that I did.

Grade: C-

Jenny: Incubus, "Drive"

I love this song.  She lacks all power.  Jason is like, is this for real.  It should be "STRONG" Jason said. She ruined this song.  She keeps choosing inappropriate songs for her voice.  She has no grit.  She should have fought for "Zombie".  Although she lacks the power to sing the strong parts of that song, she is at least set in the higher register that the Cranberries lead sings in.  It would have to be better to get part of a song good than none of it.

Comments:

Dave said this was good.  Gilby said LillithFair; we want OzzFest.

Grade: D

Dilana: The Cranberries, "Zombie"

I like Dilana, but this does not compare to the original and she did not change it significantly.  She does keep the intensity when she performs though.  She certainly has stage presence.  Dilana's problem is that she is singing this song too low.  We saw that she could get higher, but she didn't sing this one higher.  She has the power for the song though.

Comments:

Dave said chills.  Tommy said, Dilana, I wana.  Gilby said, enjoy your moment.

Grade: B-

The bottom three at the end of the show are...

Jenny

Dana

Ryan

Absolutely no surprises there.  I felt the whole show was subpar tonight.

Rockstar:Supernova, Reality Show:Week 3

Part 1:

Recap of last week's shows.  I missed Jason hiding his face on Chris' performance.  That is so funny.  Chris also pointed out that Gilby said, "Doesn't matter.", not "Much better."  So I fail lip-reading class.  I am still disappointed with the decision, although I understand at this point, there are so many bad ones to eliminate that order is really irrelevant.

At the mansion, Zayra tearfully says that she will miss Chris.  Lukas says that he respects the band's decision, but based on those performances, he would have made a different choice. ZING!  Although he is not very diplomatic (all the head game, I know), he is absolutely right and no one can deny that.

Jill calls Lukas out on it.  He is like, I am being honest, you got a problem with that?  Jill says yeah.  Sticking up for Zayra.

Dilana asks Jenny if she agrees with the decision and Jenny says Zayra is a better singer, but Chris suits the band more.  So now Dilana is questioning being friends to protect herself from the pain of losing them week to week.  I really wonder if she can handle the pressure of breaking into the hard core lifestyle that would be Supernova.  She is not inspiring confidence here. Dilana says she is here to win and Jenny says, yeah we are here to go as far as we can.  Go home Jenny, you don't have the drive.

So a vocal coach, Lis Lewis, comes in to help them.  She names off some of her clients: Jack Black, Pussycat Dolls, Linkin Park, Gwen Stefani.  Who knew Linkin Park cared?  Maybe the Supernova decision makes a little more sense now, knowing that a vocal coach was coming in.  Zayra definitely has better voice than Chris did. 

So Dilana warns her that she has not had vocal lessons.  The coach promises to be gentle.  So Dilana is very nervous.  So low = no energy.  Wait, how old is she?  She says the last 18 years of her career.  If she started at 15 like Lukas, then that puts her at 33 and it keeps going up from there.  Wow, did not see that.  So Dilana feels like it was helpful.

Josh is doing arpeggios and praising Lis.  Jack Black was apparently the best endorsement for Josh.  Very interesting, but stupid.  So she tells him to stop the funny jaw movements and he is impressed with the improvement.

Dilana and Jenny note how Lukas has this nervous tick of playing with his beard.  He cops that he is nervous. 

Magni emotes the song very well.  Lis is impressed. 

Next is Patrice.  She performs well and we hear no comments from Lis.  Now Jill, who does a great job too.  No comments. 

Now for Lukas.  They predict a dark rendition.  He says he "shunned a vocal coach."  She says he sings from his throat and that will hurt his voice.  She says it is a common problem for rock bands.  So he fits the bill the best, huh? So she says he has both quality and rasp, but he needs to develop the quality or he will lose parts of it.  Interesting.  So what is his voice's lifespan with current usage?  Because I like it now.  She also says he has to want to do it, which he says in the interview he can but doesn't want to right now.

Part 2: Song Selection

Josh found it first, studied the board, made his decision, and contemplated running off with it.  Letter says that Supernova will perform with one of the songs.  Toby comes up with a fair method of writing the name next to all who want it.  So Josh tries to claim "Come As You Are" and everyone is like no.  Dana lays claim to it too.  Dana tries to acquiese and do "Helter Skelter", but Patrice lays claim. 

Ryan bemoans Josh taking "Come As You Are" as uncivilized.  Josh is fighting for it.  Toby is like , put the songs back on the board and let's do this civilized.  Lukas says, I'll take whatever.  Classic!  Lukas is like I can do whatever song you give me.  We shall have to see, since he will get the leftovers.

Ryan is right that Josh is setting a horrible precedent, but Josh is right too that he can't be nice all the time and expect to win (last part unsaid).  Ryan is predicting a revolution and Zayra air slaps Josh.  This is how song selection should be.  Fight for what you need.  Patrice took "Helter Skelter" and made Jill mad, even though she was undecided among 4 songs.  Cat fight!

Phil says the women are fighting and tells Josh he is the ultimate cause.  True and true.  Patrice and Jill have it out.  Both are like, don't think that I NEED this song, because I don't.  Alright.  Jill gets in yes, you do right before Patrice leaves. 

Phil got "White Rabbit", oh no.  Another song that I love.  He will not be able to sing it at all.  He doesn't even know the song.  Come on!

The song selection process definitely needs to be tweaked, but this needs to be done in community, instead of person to person.  Jill is talking about being ethical, but she is saying this behind Patrice's back, in front of her face.  Just face up to her.  I see tendencies to avoid confrontation in Jill and try to mediate problems through third parties.

So Lukas is not thrilled with the "bottom of the barrel", who is, but he is trying to make a point.  Let's see if it pans out.

Part 3:Rehearsal studio

Patrice: The Beatles, "Helter Skelter"

She is upset about the altercation, but she sounds ok.  The band likes her.

Zayra: R.E.M., "Everybody Hurts"

This song was played at my cousin's funeral after he committed suicide.  I know that it is going to be awful here.  She is changing the song?  She has no clue that she is not a big time artist.  She has a house band, not a full orchestra.

Lukas: The Rolling Stones, "Let's Spend the Night Together"

Paul likes Lukas' version of the original, but Lukas wants to change it.  Paul thinks he is mistaken.  Lukas sounds good to me, but I am not a Stones fan.  Paul says that Gilby is, so there may be some backlash.

Part 4: The credits

Just outtakes of the rockers with the vocal coach.

Rockstar:Supernova, Reality Show:Week 2

Part 1:

So we kick off with a recap of the previous week's shows.  I feel like you could catch this webcast, plus view the performances and not have missed anything but the annoying whining of Ryan.

So Lukas proposes a toast and Phil is like sour, "I'm not really in the champagne mood."  You made it another week, so you should be.   Your weeks are numbered.  Phil then goes on to say that the first elimination humbled everybody.  I am not sure.  Lukas is still not coming across that way.  He finally admits that he is not so hot anymore.  Step it up or get out dude!

Lukas makes a very nice toast to Matt, calling him a brother.  It is the first endearing Lukas moment that the show has shown.  Magni is right that no one expected Matt to go home first.  Then Toby cheers Chris for a nice redemption.  I don't think so.  His song sucked.  It just so happened that Matt's brain lost connection for a minute and granted Chris a reprieve. 

So Chris says, "Being in the bottom three, gave me a chance to shine."  Um, ok.  America sees that everyone thought you sucked and then your performance sucked, but someone was temporarily brain dead, so he got dismissed instead.  But oh yeah, you rock. 

Then Ryan makes a jerk move and says, "And Phil, we don't know how you are here."  Dude, no one has a clue how you made it.  "Iris" sucked; you have shown no confidence; you have no stage presence.  You are really not one to talk. 

Jill compliments Dilana on her performance, calling her "inspiring" and everyone agrees.  Dilana says, hey I hoped Lukas got the encore, so I respect her even more now, because I agree.  He was the best.  But then she says that she did not want to perform the encore because she did not want the pressure.  RED FLAG! RED FLAG! RED FLAG! Not sure if you can handle the band!

So Ryan decides to goad Phil and Chris some more asking if they knew it wasn't going to be them eliminated.  Phil is like, well I saw Jason's reaction to Duran, Duran and had an idea.  Toby stated the obvious (or what should have been) that Supernova is judging you by the songs that you pick to see if you will gel with the band's vision.  This seems like one of those, "Well, duh!" things, but apparently it was not.

Lukas is trying to politely help Chris get a grip, but Chris is clueless.  He is like Phil did not do a great job. Black pot!  Then he goes, it is obvious who is going to go home early.  I agree.  But then he goes, I am not going to be one of those people.  WRONG!  He can't sing and his talent is nowhere close to his ego.  We are talking orders of magnitude difference here.  I completely agree with Lukas' assessment of Chris.  He said what I just said.

Jenny goes, hopefully people don't play head games.  I am going to stay away from that.  Go home, honey.  Lukas and Ryan have started and you don't have the talent to hang on much longer anyway.  I am not sure I understand her analysis on Lukas being disingenuous.  Is there a language barrier here?  He did not seem insincere about it.  Why does he need to talk to her about how he feels about her performance?  Another reason for a girl not to front a rock band.  Trust me that Lukas does not see you as competition.  Storm is lucky that her eyes are covered, so that she can mask the amusement.

Dilana does not want to be hated.  Why does she care?  She needs some self-esteem.  She exudes confidence performing, but has none to back it up offstage.  She is seeming like less and less of a fit offstage, even as she appears to fit more onstage. 

Storm walks into the Supernova room and finds a roomful of guitars.  She calls to the others that it is Christmas.  So Gibson has sent them all a guitar.  Cool.  So Chris says that he earned that guitar, he had to prove himself.  WRONG and he failed. 

Lukas comments that he appreciates people noting the rockers and their ordeals while here.  Nice statement.

Then Magni says goodbye to Matt by playing "Planet Earth" on his new guitar.  It looks like Magni might have been ok to perform that song acoustically like he did.  It did not sound so Duran, Duran.

Part 2: Song Selection

Ryan makes his, song selection is so important, maybe these guys will realize that now schpiel.  I think I hate him.  He sucks and tries to come off as superior.

So they are definitely taking things more seriously now.  There is no, this one is mine, done.  So they start staking claim and Lukas advises, don't do boring songs.  Dana claims "Born to be Wild" and Phil says there are boring songs on there and someone has to do them.  So is he volunteering?  It shows his lack of ability again that he does not even think about rearranging a song.

Lukas says he'll do the ColdPlay song.  Since pretty much everyone is unfamiliar with it (Matt is gone), they say you can have it.  Lukas wants to vary it up and show his soft side.  Way to go!

Phil says that he likes the Tonic song, "If You Could Only See", so he took it.  I didn't see a lot of fighting over it, so his interview seemed a little puffed up.

So Ryan asks permission to pee and not have his songs taken.  Toby is like, yeah, go pee, I want both your songs.  That's great!, but unfortunately he doesn't really want them.  Man!

Chris requests "Take Me Out", but I fail to see why.  I guess that he thinks that he can scream the lyrics on that one.  He claims to be striving to show himself vocally.  Not sure that this is the right song. 

Dilana chooses "Ring of Fire" and no one fights her at all.  Then she regrets it and offers it up.  She has no confidence. 

Zayra freaks out andsays she wanted to rock, because that is what the band is looking for.  So she chose "Violet".  Makes sense, not that I think she can pull it off.  But then she does not know the song, what did she listen to in Puerto Rico and more to the point, why bother audition?  Everybody agrees that Zayra can't sing "Violet" and Jill wants it.  Phil says is that Zayra when Jill is practicing "Violet", it sounds good.  Josh laughs and says it's Jill, definitely Jill, without seeing her.  Zayra realizes that she can't compete with Jill on this song.

So Jill has "You Really Got Me", but Zayra doesn't know this song either.  So Zayra is the better person here and instead of scuttling Jill, lets her take "Violet" and takes "You Really Got Me".  She loses nothing out of the deal and befriends Jill.  Zayra is right that her new song will be easier for her to remember, because there are so few words in that song.  So Magni familiarizes her with the song and she is excited.

I am really impressed with the comradery shown by many of the contestants.  They help each other out a lot. 

Part 3: Rehearsal studio

Magni: The Who, "My Generation"

Doesn't sound bad.  He says this is the only time you've got with the house band to determine what to do on stage.  So if you screw it up you are toast.

Zayra: The Kinks, "You Really Got Me"

As if on cue....This is awful.  Even the house band is making faces.  Paul predicts a crucifixion for Zayra for being so bad and so far out of her range.  They lie and say that is cool, so that she won't try it again.  The band agrees that she needs to learn the song.  Poor guys.

Chris: Franz Ferdinand, "Take Me Out"

So he thinks that everyone has forgotten "Roxanne", beause of his "stellar" performance of "L.A. Woman".  Really, can this guy get any more clueless?  No, we still remember both of those awful performances.  Chris doesn't sound bad.  Paul says that this is a much better choice than last week, that it was not possible to make a worse choice than last week.  :)  Paul sings him the melody and Chris can't repeat it back.  Paul is dumbfounded.  He says Chris is way too confident.  Why is Chris the only one that cannot see this?  FYI Chris, being compared to AC/DC here is not a compliment.

Dilana: Johnny Cash, "Ring of Fire"

Dilana changed the version from country.  So Paul suggests heartfelt emotion to pay homage to the song.  This version seems hot.  WOW!  She is definitely taking a risk.  The band can't decide if she will get all the votes or none.  We'll see.

Part 4: The credits

Toby is threatening consequences for whomever is in the bottom three.  Then he and Lukas pour water on Chris.  Weird boy stuff.  Glad I am not a boy.