Broke a violin E string today (checking on my sorely neglected Bulgarian violin).
Had several thoughts: 1) there went $4.75–it’s so nice that cheap violins like expensive strings, and b) the dogs in the neighborhood are in for a treat as new E stretches and I get to “play it in,” and 3.1) I really need to think of something to play by ear other than “Give Me that Old Time Religion” and “Red River Valley.”
Just learned that Zenny, fan nickname for the song “Light On,” just went platinum!
So verklempt with avuncular-like pride!
Yes, yes, very nice . . . but, that’s easier than those !@#$%# pedal excercises in Harold Gleason’s organ method! KNEES TOGETHER UP TO THE INTERVAL OF A 5TH!!!!
I’ve always thought the overture to Le Nozze di Figaro would be good arranged for pedals-only organ, viola, and tambourine. (Full circular tambourine, thank you, not one of those semicircular ones with the built-in handle–that’s cheating.)
(Love the haunch scooch at 0:45 on the vid.)
This is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen: a page turner participating in an ending group bow! (Why isn’t he wearing the page turner’s uniform of red plaid–I mean tartan–pants, a camel-colored jacket, and Weejuns?)
Oh, and that Asian chick that sounds like a swarm of Sarasate flies is amazing, too.
(I keep threatening that I want to start learning how to play the erhu when I turn 50.)
Just think, Her Majesty The Queen may well be listening to something like this on her gift iPod from Barack and Michelle:
‘Cause when you think of American theatre, you think of Reba!
Was that Randy Travis or Lyle Lovat with bleached teeth? (Randy Travis should give master classes somewhere like Belmont University; he had some good advice.)
As another AI week grinds on: Anoop scrambled up a rung, Scott down. Danny still hasn’t quite pulled it together, but I would like to hear more (one week, I’ll be tired of writing that). Megan’s still on Lawrence Welk. And then we come to . . .
Adam “Spock/Diamond” Lambert. As Joey Lawrence would say, “Whoa!” “Arab Dance” from Nutcracker meets June Carter Cash and Merle Kilgore (“Ring” co-authors) with Starlight Express and jazz hands thrown in?
All ho hum, really. Do I have to say it? They’re making last year’s winner look like a genius!
We seem to have four groups:
Nice Guys: Scott, Danny, Michael
Heart Throbs: Kris, Matt, Adam
The Girls: Lil, Allison, Megan, Alexis
Thank You (Bye, I’ve heard enough): Jasmine, Anoop, Jorge
Was Lil best, perhaps? I actually liked “Rockin’ Robin” Megan (I was expecting Mary Lou Retton to do a tumbling run in the background during that). And it pains me to say that I like Adam, a little bit (even if his voice has the sound of crumpling cellophane when he pushes it)–hard to image him doing slow ballads, though.
Oh, Kris looks like Archie + Michael Johns.
that must be it, for AI to have gone stark raving wild-card nuts?!?!?
I can see the rationale behind Megan and Matt, I suppose. Ricky Braddy got the shaft, again. Von blew it. Jasmine and Anoop–I just don’t get it.
And Matt . . . David Cook has the sense to only wear that hat out in public, not on stage! Please cease and desist.
Was it just me, or were most of performances that the judges were ecstatic about not so good?
As far as singing, voices, and performances go, maybe it should be No. 1 Von Smith, No. 6 Kristen McNamara, and No. 10 Kendall Beard.
But, I think the public will vote No. 12 Lil Rounds, No. 11 Jorge Nunez, and No. 9 Scott McIntyre. No. 8 Felicia Barton (the “scandal sub”) will probably be a wild card.
Oh, Scott McIntyre looks like Barry Williams (Greg Brady) + William Katt (Greatest American Hero)!
