Neil Diamond week on American Idol

Neil Diamond is an American singer/songwriter icon that has sold over 120 million records and had over a dozen top 10 hits. His 26th studio album Home Before Dark drops May 6, 2008.

This is the first week when each of the Idol Wannabes sing two songs. Though Diamond was friendly and engaging, the workshops were not nearly as interesting as last week with Lord Andrew Lloyd Weber.

Jason Castro (“Forever in Blue Jeans” & “September Morn”)
In the workshop with Neil Diamond Castro didn’t know the words and brought the wrong lyric sheet but Diamond was kind enough to say that he thought the Idol Troubadour would do well once on stage.

Diamond was being FAR too kind. Castro played guitar on “Forever in Blue Jeans” to kick off the evening but unfortunately the performance sounded like it belonged in a train station.

He was boring, didn’t connect with the lyrics, and truthfully “I’d much rather be…” listening to anyone else sing this.

Regardless of what he did to Blue Jeans I’m sure that he seduced his fanbase with “September Morn” as they have probably never heard Diamond’s original and truly romantic version.



When confronted by the judges with his boring performances, he said that he started to choke right before he started to sing his second song "September Morn". He seems unaffected by the whole process and not too concerned about winning which is good because he shouldn't even come close.

Castro's plight was only made worse by the fact that David Cook followed him.

David Cook (“I’m Alive” & “All I Really Need is You”)
Cook picked two virtually unheard of Diamond tunes and rock them both.

He played electric guitar on “I’m Alive” and I wondered if he was thinking of his brother Adam (he still rocks the AC on his guitar).

Right off the bat Cook made “All I Really Need is You” his own. It was great. He was great. He hit some beautiful notes and it could be a single right now. He did everything that Castro didn’t do by reinterpreting, updating and connecting with the song.

Paula said, “I feel like I’m already looking at the next American Idol” and I couldn’t agree more.

Brooke White (“I’m a Believer” & “I Am, I Said”)
I was SO disappointed to learn that Brooke White would be singing, “I’m a Believer”. I love that song. Davy Jones offered a brilliant vocal more than 40 years ago and Smashmouth did an awesome (Awesome speech Popey –W.) job of updating it for “Shrek” in 2001.

She played acoustic guitar and I felt like I was at girl scout camp. Ok, I've never been to Girl Scouts but I can imagine...

Simon said that she was a “Nightmare” and I completely agree.

She played piano on “I Am, I Said” and the vocal was ok but it was really the song that carried her through. We’ll have to see if http://www.votefortheworst.com/ keeps her in the game and (fingers crossed) Castro goes home or if her time will finally be up.

David Archuleta (“Sweet Caroline” & Coming to America”)
As you know Rock & Roll Library is based in Boston which means we have a VERY STRONG attachment to “Sweet Caroline”. It’s played at Fenway Park during the middle of the eighth inning of Red Sox games and in November 2007 Diamond revealed that his inspiration was none other than Caroline Kennedy the daughter of Boston native and 35th President John F. Kennedy.

Unfortunately, tonight Archuleta sang it. He did not start strong and I felt like I couldn’t even hear him over the band at times; he did look a little more comfortable than usual.

He didn’t connect with the song or the audience on the most obvious lines, “hands touching hands, reaching out touching me, touching you…” he didn’t even reach for one hand in the audience. He would have been beaten and thrown out of Fenway for this rendition. Verdict: SuperLame

“Coming to America” was very karaoke. He can hit big notes but in more of a Broadway style than rock or pop. The judges loved it but I thought that it was Broadway and that was last week.

Syesha Mercado (“Hello Again” & “Thank the Lord for the Nighttime”)
“Hello Again” was not her best performance but it was still good. Unfortunately it lacked the power punch that performers need to deliver at this stage of the competition.

“Thank the Lord for the Nighttime” was her second song and it reminded me of Aretha Franklin singing “Respect” to Matt Murphy at the diner in the Blues Brothers movie. She was very good but American Idol isn't Broadway and given her frequent presence in the bottom three Syesha could be in serious trouble.

I love Syesha’s hair but this week she straightened it and I didn’t care for it.

Whack moment of the night:
After everyone performed their first song host Ryan Seacrest went to the judges for quick impressions before the break and Paula Abdul critiqued both of Jason Castro’s songs…Ryan said, “Your seeing the future baby.” She did seem sober if totally confused.

The recap montage made it perfectly clear that Jason Castro and Brooke White are in a class by themselves; last. Syesha Mercado has found her niche in musicals and the finals should be Archuleta vs. Cook with Cook crushing the 17 year old; but you never know what will happen with Idol voting.

First or fifth David Cook will go the way of Kelli Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry racking up millions of sales and tons of accolades.

More Later,
Anne

Patriots Day - Boston Sports

The third Monday in April is the civic holiday Patriots Day in Massachusetts which marks the battle of Lexington and Concord, the first battle of the American Revolutionary War.

It's also the day of the Boston Marathon and since 1959 the Boston Red Sox have scheduled a morning home game so its end would coincide with the elite runners finishing the Boston Marathon which passes only feet from Fenway Park in Kenmore Square.

I couldn't follow all of the changes that the BAA (Boston Athletic Association) instituted with the start including sending elite women half an hour before elite men but today was the closest finish in women's history with Dire Tune beating out Alevtina Biktimirova by three seconds after Biktimirova led most of the race. It was riveting for the last 6 miles.

Marathoners know that they run twenty miles to sprint six more and at twenty miles the ladies were neck and neck which is where they stayed all the way up to 200 yards from the finish line in Copley Square when Tune's kick won the day.

Robert Cheruiyot won his fourth Boston Marathon in six years with a time of 2:07:45 thirty-one seconds behind his course record 2:07:14 but impressive given that he ran the last several miles without a challenger in sight.

The Dropkick Murphys reopened NUF CED MCGREEVY'S 3RD BASE SALOON at 911 BOYLSTON Street Boston, MA today for a special Marathon Monday Sneek Preview - Grand opening May 2008.

Sox completed a sweep of the Texas Rangers with an 8-3 win and advance to 14-7.

Celtics crushed the Hawks 104-81 last night in their playoff opener.

Better luck next year Bruins, we'd love to see you join the party; let's see some offseason moves that show a commitment to winning.

Overall a great day in Boston sports...but I'm dreaming of the 7th pick and what the master will choose.

More later,

Anne

Red Sox Opening Day Music & Rings

The World Champion Boston Red Sox hosted their home opener at Fenway Park today. On hand for the raising of the Championship Pennant were members of the Boston Pops who provided an elegant backdrop for the ceremony. Led by James Orent, the ensemble played while the players were introduced and received their World Series Championship Ring from Red Sox owners and management John Henry, Larry Lucchino, Tom Werner and Theo Epstein.

The ensemble performed a wide array of classics including “When the Saint Go Marching In”, took on the Dropkick Murphys for closer Jonathan Papelbon’s entrance, The Standells “Dirty Water” for heavy hitter first baseman David Ortiz and the National Anthem.

The Red Sox front office continues to show off its World Class by inviting formerly vilified first baseman Bill Buckner to throw out the first pitch to Dwight Evans. Buckner was cheered in Boston for the first time in more than 20 years. With more than 20 years gone and two shiny new Championship Rings (2004, 2007) Boston is free to let the past go and accept and appreciate Bill Buckner for his years of quality play.

Red Sox Instructor Johnny Pesky called out the traditional opening “Play ball!” to officially start the game and season at Fenway Park. Red Sox starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka faced off against Detroit's Kenny Rogers (no not that Kenny) on a beautiful spring day in Boston.

Hometown hero and Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler gave a decent performance of “God Bless America” during the 7th inning stretch dedicating his performance to “our boys in Iraq.”

In the top half of the 8th inning Neil Diamond appeared in a special video and sang “Sweet Caroline,” a Fenway staple. On the video, the performance was followed by Neil Diamond accepting an invitation from Tom Werner to play at Fenway this summer. The show is booked and Neil Diamond will perform at Fenway Park on Saturday, August 23rd, 2008 as part of his 2008 World Tour.

The Sox shut out the Detroit Tigers 5-0 with Matsuzaka going 6 2/3s for the win and Youkilis having a big day offensively with 3 hits and 2 RBIs. Kenny Rogers got the loss for the Tigers. The Red Sox are now 4-4 and the Detroit Tigers are 0-7.

Idol later.

Anne