American Idol Season 10 - Top Eleven

What a depressing week this has been. An earthquake, a tsunami, a  massive loss of lives and the threat of a nuclear disaster in Japan.

But the show must go on.

This week American Idol ( season 10. Episode 18) began the show on a very sombre note

The three judges together with Ryan extended their sympathy to Japan and its people. They announced that the proceeds from the sale of this weeks songs available on i-tunes would go towards helping Japan.

The show which was aired on March 16, 2011 featured America's top twelve singers singing songs from their birth year

The show opened with Naima Adedepo (1984) singing Whats Love Got To Do With It by Tina Turner. Naima was looking her usual exotic self but she did not manage to wow the judges who thought her voice was a bit pitchy.

Next cane Paul McDonald (1984) singing an Elton John  number I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues. Paul bad been down with the flu and had a sore throat which made his voice was raspier than ever.However he managed to please the judges. Steven Tyler enigmatically called him a "cool dude with a loose mood". I am not quite sure what that means.

Thia Megia (1995) , the youngest contestant of the show, looking her usual simple. pretty self sang a ballad Colours of the Wind which had originally been sung by Vanessa Williams in the Disney classic Pocahontas. The performance was sweet and I enjoyed it but the judges urged her to avoid being safe and to go for songs which showcased her voice.

 Rocker James Durbin (1989) sang  I'll be there for You by Bon Jovi. It was a good performance and Steven Tyler promised to join James on the stage if he had it to the finale.

Haley Reinhert (1990) failed to impress with a Whitney Houston number I'm Your Baby Tonight. Hailey had an embarrassing moment as a gallant Ryan tried to blot out the bright red lipstick which had smudged over her face.

The judges just loved wild card contestant Stefano Langone (1989) who sang If You Don't Know Me Now by Simply Red. Randy called it the best performance of the night. It was my favourite performance. I feel that this extremely likable singer has the talent to make it all the way to the top.

Pia Toscano (1988) gave another great performance singing Where Do Broken Hearts Go by Whitney Houston. Randy said that Pia was in it to win it and Steven said that she was the reason why the show was called American Idol.

Country singer Scotty Mc Creery (1993) famous for his deep voice wowed the judges who were impressed by his growth in the competition.. He sang Travis Trip's Can I Trust You With My Heart.

Looking stunning in black leather boots and a black mini dress Karen Rodriguez (1989 ) gave a rather lack lustre performance for the second night in a row.The judges said that her performance of Love Will Lead You Back by Taylor Dayne was better than her last performance but still not good enough.

The judges loved Casey Abrams (1991) singing Smells Like Teen Spirit This was the first ever Nirvana song to be performed on Idol and the judges applauded him for not being afraid to take risks.

Lauren Alaina (1994) was another idol who was down with the flu. But the judges loved her rendition of I'm The Only One by Melissa Etheridge. They said that her sickness had actually improved the quality of her voice.

The final performance of the night was by gospel singer Jacob Lusk (1987) who pleased the judges with his muted  performance of Alone By Heart.

There were so many good performances that the judges said that this was developing into a hot  competition.

I feel that. on the whole, the boys gave  more solid performances than the girls.

This was proved the next night in the Result Show.. 

Three girls Naima, Haley and Karen were in the bottom three . Naima was saved first , followed by Haley.

A disappointed Karen had to sing for her life but failed to impress the judges. She was voted out of the show.




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Natures fury

Japan is the most developed country in Asia and one of the most developed countries in the world. Being in the ring of fire, a zone of seismic activity in the Pacific region Japan had taken every precaution and was fully geared up to meet the very real possibility of an earthquake.

Then disaster struck and despite being one of the most prepared nations in the world Japan cowered under natures fury.
First there was the massive earthquake and then an earthquake triggered tsunami. Over eight thousand people have lost their lives and eleven thousand are still missing.The coastline is covered with debris. Mangled cars, capsized boats,broken houses are scattered everywhere. Once genteel villages have vanished. There were fires everywhere. Japan is even now facing the challenge of a nuclear crisis.
Looking at the pictures and listening to the news , I cant even begin to imagine what the Japanese people must be going through.
It makes me realise just how vulnerable we all are.
We think we are so powerful with our fancy cars, our latest gadgets and our posh houses which we try to cram with every comfort possible. Japan had all the latest technology and a sophisticated system of nuclear reactors to guarantee an almost limitless supply of power.Everything was well organised, All contingency plans were in place.
Yet they were no competition for natures fury.
Looking back at the events of the last week I cant help but realise how very powerless we are and how we are no match for nature.
Anything can happen to any one at any time.
The thought scares me . I cower with the thought of my own helplessness and insignificance.



Image   http://www.shmula.com/japan-earthquake-2011-queueing/8321/

It all happened in an instant

. It was a calm peaceful Friday afternoon . People were already planning for the weekend ahead,when disaster struck.It just took an instant for life to change forever for the people of Japan

 First there was the earth quake.A massive 9.0 earthquake. Japan is in the ring of fire- a zone of seismic activity in the  Pacific region.They live under the constant threat of earthquakes. Their houses are built to withstand the impact of an earthquake,there are warning systems and disaster management plans in place..But they have never experienced such a high intensity earthquake.As the ground trembled with strong aftershocks people scrambled around in panic as they tried to protect themselves.

But the worst was not over.Within half an hour Japan felt natures fury once again as a violent tsunami swept over the north east coast, destroying everything in its path. Cars were lifted as if they were plastic toys, buildings were destroyed, ships were overthrown and a train was flung far away from its tracks.As the wild waters carried everything in its path, the debris caused even more damage.People were swept away and villages were destroyed. The death toll is mounting with each passing day.Today over six thousand people are reported dead and over seven thousand are still missing.

They say that trouble comes in threes. After a massive earthquake and a monstrous tsunami Japan is now battling against a nuclear meltdown. The force of the water destroyed the pumping systems which had been built to control the temperatures in the nuclear plants.The Japanese are cautious people. They had made alternate plans to be deployed in case of an emergency. Incredibly all plans failed.

Today many brave Japanese are courageously trying to save the situation. They are using helicopters to dump water over the reactors to try and cool down the spent fuel . But things can go either way and radiation levels are known to be rising.

Amidst all this tragedy and uncertainty the Japanese people have remained calm and cool. There is no fighting, no panic , no looting. They accept everything stoically.This is their worst disaster since World War when Hydrogen bombs destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Refusing to be defeated they went on to become the third most developed country in the world.

Today even as Japan struggles with widespread destruction and tragedy and even as they mourn for the loss of life and the misery of over four million people who have been evacuated form their homes one thing is clear. Japan is going to emerge from this disaster, stronger than ever.


Image   http://newamericamedia.org/2011/03/tsunami-country-man-vs-nature-in-japans-devastated-northeast.php

Earthquake of 8.9 magnitude devastates Japan

Less than 10 hours ago ,there was a massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake on the Pacific coast of Japan.This was followed by over 30 powerful aftershocks.The earthquake was so powerful that it is reported that the tremors were felt up to Beijing.

Within a short time, the earthquake triggered a deadly tsunami which swept over the north-eastern coast of Japan causing widespread destruction . The huge waves swept inwards carrying a deadly load of debris which destroyed everything in its path

Houses crumbled and cars were carried and tossed by the massive waves.

A tragedy of epic proportions is unfolding in Japan. There has already been a huge loss of human life and the worst is not yet over. There are over 80 fires raging around Japan including a massive fire at an oil refinery. Two nuclear plants are in danger and have been shut down. Thankfully, there are no reports of any radiation leaks.

Two of the airports have been shut down..There has been a complete breakdown of transport and communications systems. A ship carrying over a 100 passengers was swept into the sea by the tsunami. A passenger train has been reported as missing..

Even as the government tries to take control of the situation, offers of help and support are pouring in from all quarters of the world

.But the danger is not over. Nor is it confined to Japan. Over 50 countries located in the Pacific Rim face the danger of the tsunami which is already making its way across the Pacific Ocean. An alert has been sounded to all places in its path.Right now the gigantic wave is reported to be speeding towards the western coast of the USA. It is shortly expected to strike the coastal region of California.

People in the danger zones have been advised to stay away from the beaches and the sea. They have been asked to evacuate to higher lying ares. We hope and pray that these places do not feel the fury of the tsunami and that people follow the safety instructionas and remain safe.

But for Japan, its going to be a long night


Image  http://2daynewsupdates.blogspot.com/

The fabulous sisters

It was so lovely to see  Joan and Jackie Collins being interviewed on 'Piers Morgan Tonight'. It was the first time the famous sisters had appeared on an interview together, It was a real scoop for Piers and a great treat for the viewers.

Famous actress, Joan Collins, is best known for her memorable role as the glamorous Alexis in the the hit television series Dynasty.She is also a successful writer with a number of bestselling novels and several lifestyle books to her credit .
But the famous writer in the family is younger sister Jackie Collins who has written 27 novels all of which made to the New York Times best selling list
The two sisters looked gorgeous.No one would say they were in their seventies.They  both denied ever going to the plastic surgeon to enhance their looks. We got to see a couple of their photos when they were young and both of them were very beautiful.
The two sisters reminisced about their childhood and talked about their dad who was very strict. He was a dominating man who never appreciated his daughters despite the success they both managed to
achieve.
Jackie told us how from a very young age she wanted to be a writer. Joan it seems was a good artist and loved making sketches and Jackie would quickly write a story about the characters in the drawing.
She told us how at the age of 15 she left her home in Britain and went to join her sister who was making a name for herself in Hollywood.
Joan has been married five times but seems to have found the love of her life with Percy her fifth husband. Jackie was married twice .She left her first husband because of his drug abuse problem and her second husband died.
Jackie claims that she was very wild when she was young and all the experiences she had has been fodder for the very bold and racy books she writes.
It was a wonderful relaxed interview and both sisters had many interesting stories to tell.


Image   http://www.mylifetime.com/lifestyle/entertainment/celebrities/joan-and-jackie-collins

Is Charlie Sheen ok?

From the last few weeks we have heard a plethora of stories about Charlie Sheen. There were stories about his being hooked on drugs , his romps with hookers and his wild behavior.His producers wanted to suspend him from Two and a Half Men'.

 Then there were his frantic appearances on any and every television show that would have him .Charlie became the favourite target of Tonight show host Jay Leno, who would take every chance to poke fun of Charlie in his monologue.
I took it all with a pinch of salt. I thought the stories were all exaggerated and things would settle down soon. I thought it funny that Charlie was acting just like his character on the small screen. But now things have taken a turn for the worse.
Charlie was fired from his show 'Two and a Half Men' on Monday. Now there are allegations that he may may be losing his mind. Looking at him rant and rave on television certainly made me worried .They say that Charlie may go back to drugs and there is the genuine danger that he might be suicidal. One thing is clear Charlie needs help.
Money, fame and success have not bought Charlie happiness. He appears to be a tormented man with delusions of his own grandeur and infallibility. He seems out of touch with reality.I feel so sorry for Charlie. He needs help and he needs it now.


Image   http://www.myspace.com/everything/article/partner/2011/03/09/dr-drew-advises-involuntary-confinement-for-charlie-sheen-entertainment-tonight-tv

Charlie Sheen Fired

I was shocked to hear that Charlie Sheen has been fired by Warner Bros Television from his hugely  successful show " Two and a Half Men" I am an ardent fan of the comedy and cant imagine the show without Charlie.

For quite some time Charlie has been in the news with stories about his drug and alcohol related problems. He got into trouble with the producers who claim that "Two and a Half Men" was a family show and that Charlie's lifestyle was upsetting the viewers. They said that the advertisers were threatening to pull out of the show.

But Charlie character in the show is that of a lovable womanising -drinking- cigar smoking rascal and the audience just love him.in that role So it beats me, why any one should object if Charlie real life persona is the mirror image of his character in the show.

I don't care what Charlie does in his personal life. In fact, for me  his current lifestyle reinforces the image every one has of Charlie and just makes his character more believable. I would be quite surprised and a wee bit disappointed if it turned out that Charlie was a teetotaler and a saint. All this controversy just adds to my enjoyment of what has been a hugely successful and enjoyable show.

I always thought that the trouble would blow over and Charlie would be back on the show stronger than ever. I am still hoping that sanity prevails and somehow the dispute is resolved because I just cant imagine my favourite show without Charlie.

Image  http://www.hispanicallyspeakingnews.com/notitas-de-noticias/details/sorry-charlie-sheen-officially-fired-from-two-and-a-half-men/

American Idol- Top 13 revealed

The excitement never seems to stop on American Idol. This result day there was a brutal annihilation as in one swift stroke 11 contestants were knocked out of the competition.

First, the top 10 singers voted in by the viewers were revealed.

The top 5 boys are:
1) Scotty McCreery, the country singer known for his deep voice
2)Casey Abrams, an extremely talented musician who can play a multitude of instruments
3)Jacob Lusic,already famous as a gospel singer

4) James Durbin, the rocker known for his ability to scream the house down

5)Paul Mcdonald, a talented singer with a soothing voice, famous for his white suit covered with red roses

The top 5 girls are:
1) Lauren Alaina. the 16 year old who was compared to Kelly Clarkson
2) Karen Rodriguez, this stunning singer enraptured the judges as she sang in Spanish
3) Pia Toscano, a beautiful singer with a great vocal range, she is one of the favourites to win the contest
4) Thia Megia, cute and adorable this unassuming, talented singer is only 15
5) Haley Reinhart, this talented singer with a smoky voice sang a popular Alicia Keyes number

America has chosen extremely well. All these singers are just so talented and right on the top of my favourite  list.I am so glad that they made it to the top ten.
Next there was a wild card round in which the judges gave six of the singers a second chance. These six were asked to sing and based on their performance the judges chose three of the singers to join what would now be the top 13

The 3 wild card singers picked by the judges are:

1) Stefano Langone, I was so pleased when Stefano was chosen as he was one of my personal favorites
2)Naima Adedapo, this colourful singer reminded Jennifer of an exotic flower
3)Ashthon Jones. compared to Tina Turner this diva was determined to remain in the competition.

What an excellent top 13. I am very pleased with the results and feel that this is turning out to be the best American Idol Season ever.



Image   http://expresstoday.info/american-idol-season-10-episode-13-s10e13-top-12-guys-compete-top-12-boys-perform.html

Excitement on result day

Last week was a very hectic week on American Idol, Season 10. With the top 24 declared, the week began with some mind blowing performances by the top 12 boys.This was followed the next day with some extremely good performances by the top 12 girls.

The next day was result day . But this year things were done differently as in one serious blow the top 10 chosen by the viewers votes were revealed.

Even as the viewers and the contestants were left gasping as 14 singers were in danger, Ryan announced that there would be a wild card round in which the judges would get to choose which of the eliminated singers they would like to put back into the contest.

The judges asked six of the contestants to sing and then picked three more singers to join the ten voted in by the viewers.So at the end of the day American Idols top 13 singers were chosen and 11  did not make the grade and had to leave the contest.

This was the first time that such a large number of singers were knocked out in one show. While I did feel sorry that these singers would not get another chance to win over the viewers on the whole it was a good move. It shows that this year the producers are determined to give the show a complete overhaul and give American idol a brand  new image as a fast moving, slick and exciting show.

Image  http://tvsomniac.com/2011/american-idol-season-10-finalists-meet-your-top-13-america/

Simon Cowel on the Tonight Show

It was nice to see Simon Cowel on the Tonight Show( 2nd March 2011). It was the first time, after he had announced his retirement from American Idol last year, that Simon was being interviewed by Jay. Welcoming him warmly, Jay took the opportunity to ask him what he thought about the new judges and the show so far. Simon replied that he was happy the show was doing well but he would not like it to be better than it was when he was around. He wanted to be missed.

He talked about Chris Medina and said that if the judges were so sympathetic and moved by his story, they should have kept him.He smugly assured us, that he would have been a more sympathetic  judge and would have kept the lad.
Jay showed a clip of Simon as a young man, taking part in a game show.It was nice to see Simon dressed in a suit and looking  young and handsome.
Simon recounted the story of how he had been kicked out of a studio ten years ago when he had wanted to bring Idol to America.Although he refused to reveal the name of the studio, he promised to give the information to a curious Jay after the show.
Simon also promoted his new show The X-Factor which is to air in August 2011. At the moment, Simon was busy finalising the judges for his show. He said that any talented singer above the age of 12 could enter the competition and groups could also take part. The lucky singers or groups who entered the final stages of the competition would be mentored by the judges. He promised a show which would be vital, energetic and young. Knowing Simon's ability to turn everything he touches into gold , I am eagerly looking forward to this show.

Image  http://www.solarnavigator.net/music/the_x_factor_2005.htm

The Moving story of Chris Medina

We first heard Chris Medina's story in the Milwaukee auditions of American Idol Season 10.Two years ago, Chris thought he was the luckiest person in the world when his beautiful girlfriend Juliana Ramos accepted his proposal. Then even as the couple were making plans for their wedding, disaster struck.One night in October 2009 when Juliana was driving home from work at about 3.30 am she was involved in a serious accident in which she became almost paralysed and severely brain damaged.Chris was devastated but the loyal 27 year old decided to stick by Juliana. He became her caretaker and devoted his life to looking after her.

When Chris decided to try out for the American Idol auditions, the judges were  impressed with his singing talent and decides to send him to Hollywood for the next stage of the competition.They were so moved by his story that they invited him to bring his fiance to the stage to meet them. All the judges had tears in their eyes as Chris proudly wheeled in his fiance on her wheel chair. They were shocked to see how this once beautiful, vibrant girl had been practically reduced to a vegetable.

During Hollywood week, this talented singer managed to make it to the top 40. But when the time came for the top 24 to be announced the judges were forced to cut him from the competition because there were so many other great  singers who had given consistently good performances. Jennifer Lopez was heartbroken when she had to tell Chris that he had not made the cut.It just seemed so unfair that this young man who was coping with so much tragedy in life had missed this one opportunity to make things better..Chris received the news calmly but later Jennifer burst into tears and said that she was not sure if she could continue with the pressure of delivering bad news to the contestants.
 But every cloud has a silver lining. After he got knocked out of the show, this unassuming young man managed to get quite a lot of publicity. His moving story was even picked up by The Tonight Show host Jay Leno. Jay interviewed him and got him to perform on the show. Chris sang a song dedicated to his fiance and Jay Leno announced that this song was available on I-Tunes and the proceeds of the sale would go towards providing treatment for Juliana. Chris has also opened a website which accepts donations for her medical care.

So despite the fact that Chris did not make it to the top 24 in American Idol, the world was able to share his story  and in addition to the good wishes from the public, he was able to organise some much needed financial support to help him look after Juliana.

Image  http://www.famous-celebrities.com/chris-medina-american-idol/