David Cook IS the American Idol....

ok, so my prediction was wrong. David Cook is the American Idol. Not complaining about that! America may have a clue about talent...atleast for this season. Way to go David Cook!

American Idol winner.....

My prediction…
David A wins based on popular vote but David Cook is the true A.I. because he has what it takes to last longer in the business. Cook can make the albums that will make more money and get more airplay....and are just better sounding.

Two categories for American Idol….the true stars like Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson – David Cook falls in that category. Then there are the wannabe’s like Fantasia, Taylor Hicks, Ruben Studdard and the many more that got their fame from A.I. but no longer have record deals or any valid music to their name….David Archuleta falls hard into that category.

So, I would be happy to be wrong about this. But, as America has proved before, they have no idea how to pick a true winner. Good luck to you David Cook!

David Cook wins the night....

With his performance of Switchfoot's Dare You To Move and Aerosmith's I Dont Want To Miss A Thing, David Cook cleared up any doubt that he is the next American Idol. Good bye Syesha and Archuleta, really -there is no need for either of you to come back. David completed the job tonight.

Way to go David....in the words of Simon 'you won the night!'

daivd cook does switchfoot....

My American Idol pick David Cook picked Switchfoot's Dare You To Move for his contestant's pick on tonight's episode.

While a little pitchy….he left the judges wanting more. The 90 second arrangement didn’t boast the energy of the song nor the styling’s of Cook but it did, in some strange fashion, prove that even in midst of not being the perfect performance David Cook is the best!

and now there are 5.....

Well I figured it was coming. This season of American Idol has been disappointing. It started with the ousting of Josiah Leming and now the voting off of Carly Smithson last night. I guess that’s alright since David Cook is still really the most talented in this year's group. But A.I. has always been more of a popularity contest than a talent competition.

I hope that America doesn’t get it wrong as they have in the past and vote for their heart throb and not the most talented. That has happened in many past seasons. Remember Ruben Studdard, Fantasia, Taylor Hicks and the other untalented American Idol winners? I guess not since they all have been dropped from their record labels due to poor sales. Come on America, let’s let some talent win this year’s America’s favorite talent contest.

American Idol sings Shout To The Lord ....again

Well, they did it again. At least this time they got the words right...and no confetti!

American Idol sings Shout To The Lord

This whole American Idol singing Shout To The Loft is still bothering me. And I was right – this topic now floods the results page when googgling it. I am not totally sure if I am bothered by the lyric changes that were made for the show or if it was the way the contestants were staged and performed the song or just the fact that all the Christians on the internet are so thankful a show like that would do a Christian song.

Music is art. Art is free for interpretation of the one interacting with the art –rather it’s the interpretation the artist meant for it to be or not. The words that were changed in the song did not change the song’s ‘Christian’ status. In fact, I wonder if the original author of the song would have used the new lyrics if this song would still be as timeless as we all believe it to be. There is some thought that the lyric change is watering down the message to make it more palatable for the wide audience American Idol reaches. Is that right or just politically correct for our current culture? I serve in a church that uses music and media to open minds of those in attendance. Often this music is secular and based on the message the song can communicate. We do our share of worship music too, but don’t change to lyrics to make it more appealing to those in attendance.

I always appreciate when music or media has a message that is morally correct. Whether it comes out of the secular culture or Christian culture. So I love the fact that American Idol took on a worship song. I’m not sure what they were trying to achieve with a song like this and why they decided to change the lyrics. If it was to beefing up the audience base would a song like this do it? If was to beefing up the audience base then why in the world did the follow the song with Ben Stiller coming out and having every other work bleeped as he rants while the credits roll.

So I guess what really is bugging me is how this song was performed. Backed by a choir of faces familiar to the dancers on the show, the contestants wearing all white did a side step sway to the mid tempo ballad. It was disappointing to see talent and a show like this stoop low for the production of this song. For me, it was all but worshipful - the staging, lighting and the confetti….yes, confetti. Is this really what people think Christian music looks like? The cheese factor made me shake my head and laugh.

Sorry American Idol. If this was your attempt to get me to watch your show more consistently I think you blew it.

So, here’s to a good laugh….

American Idol + Shout to the Lord? Really?

I knew this would hit the blogosphere fast. One posting reads….

As a finale, the Idols perform “Shout to The Lord”. They’re dressed in white and backed by a gospel choir. The song ends with a shower of white confetti.

Ah, yes. Nothing says confetti like a good rendition of Shout To The Lord. Unfortunately, this rendition wasn’t calling for any confetti. Besides the high cheese factor of the constants sing the song on the ‘ ‘Idol Gives Back’ episode, the visual production of the staging, lighting and effects did this song a total injustice.

To top it off American Idol decided to change some of the lyrics to make God a little more appealing to it’s audience. They started by singing "My Shepherd, My Savior, Lord there is none like You..." rather than singing the actual lyrics: "My JESUS, My Savior..." I guess it would be too controversial to actually make it clear that the Lord that they're shouting to is Jesus.

This all reminds me of Exodus 20:3 & 4. Who is your Idol?

is there hope.....

So America is finally getting back to their senses. Chikezie is out. I am seeing some hope being restored for this year’s national talent contest, American Idol. Now, if we can just boot the totally annoying David Archuleta who cannot sing and has a ridiculous style of musical taste. He simply needs to go – in fact, send them all packing accept for Carly Smithson and David Cook. Let’s take the rest of the season and let Carly and David Cook battle it out for the Idol position….now that would be a talent contest. Or even better, bring back a wild card entry -Josiah Leming.

no more Josiah?

Yea, I’m sulking. After his stunt with dismissing the band the night before the judges, who seem somewhat more sensitive this year, didn’t let the tears sway them to let Josiah Leming be one of the 24 finalists on American Idol last night. I am really disappointed. I think Josiah had something. I’m sure we will be seeing more of him in the future.

Sooooo, now I have to find a new pick for American Idol. Do you have a favorite?

Joshia Leming...

Well…I am sort of an American Idol fan. Go ahead, I will wait till you’re done laughing…….. OK, I have called a few of the winners early in the show over the past six seasons. Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood are two of my fav’s even to this day. I have been terribly disappointed with the likes of Ruben and that one of other girl (I can’t remember her name –can you? didn’t think so) won. Last year…just wasn’t much there, but at least Jordin Sparks took it home.

Since American Idol has been on I have had my favorites –but they were usually female. Tonight, that changed. Behind his keyboard, Josiah Leming declared he is the next American Idol with his fresh vocals and passionate performance. There is a bit of his British accent that only comes through of this Tennessee born kid that is intriguing and maybe even bothersome, but he drew me in…and I’m voting for Josiah Leming!

So, will Josiah, with his own –ah, mistake of a version of Stand By Me to be one of the Top 24? Check out his myspace and his vids on youtube. We will see tomorrow if I am one step closer to 'pickin 'em right' this year.