The boxing analogy was working pretty well as American Idol had it’s biggest night of the year. This is what it’s all about and why we have been patiently listening to “pitchy” notes and half baked versions of songs we have always loved. And things were going well until the introductions when David Cook announced that it wasn’t a competition for him. He was going to have “fun”.

If losing is fun I guess he must have had a great time last night. In any case he started with I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Lookin For. And it was a solid if predictable performance. His second song was something written for the program called Dream Big. And I am sure the writers and their families were excited about his performance of it.

And his final performance was The World I Know. This was his choice and his voice was in great shape but he should have sung Billy jean again. Perhaps he would not have had enough “fun” performing the same song twice.

If he was competing he would have done it. He would have stirred the soul of the audience by singing it even better than he sang it the first time. Perhaps that would have solved the problem of singing the same song twice.

Because there is always room for improvement on this show. But he didn’t and so he lost his best chance to win the competition. And I’m not sure he even had much fun because he cried after finishing his last performance. Why did he cry? Possibly because he threw the fight. It must hurt terribly to not show everybody what you can really do.

Archy on the other hand came out to win. He wants to win. You can tell. He sang Don’t Let The sun Go Down On Me for his first number. And the nerves were evident but then he picked it up a notch and really got into it. He goes somewhere when he sings. We just hope he will keep his eyes open so that he doesn’t fall off the stage.

For his second song he did something called In This Moment. Once again we had a song created for the event and he pretty much did the same thing that he did for the first number. Except the nerves were gone. Same genre, same emotions. And the same little girls screaming at him from the front of the stage.

And for his third song David once again sang Imagine. And while he was singing I was imagining him challenging himself in the way David Cook did earlier. David C noted that he had never performed his third song before.

But Archie did a nice job. He is totally committed to that song and he can claim the prize for being the very best vocalist of the evening. It was absolutely beautiful.

But I was vaguely disappointed by the whole thing. I would have liked either of them to sing something like Billy Jean. I would have liked to see a star born right there on the stage. And I don’t think it’s ever going to happen on this show. Because a real genius is not going to give it up. He or she might tease us a little bit during the season with flashes of brilliance but then will clam up during the finale and avoid the trap.

Archy wins tonight. He will be happy. David Cook will be happy to go off and explore on his own. But he still has to deal with the tour and singing the same songs every night. Bummer. He better have his pirate joke working really well.

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David Cook

Brilliant

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Billy Jean

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Update: So David Cook is the new American Idol! And the show tonight was inspirational in a way that last night’s show was not. I am happy that America got it right in spite of the fact that Mr. Cook played a little hide and seek last night. He certainly had Simon fooled. Apologies all around!

David did show flashes of genius during the season. And maybe he DID want to win. He certainly seemed very happy after he found out about it. Maybe he simply didn’t want to see Archie disappointed. This is one very intelligent, talented and caring person.

And maybe American Idol has learned a little bit about letting these young people go out and explore their talents in ways that make sense to them. The well documented dust up between the first winner, Kelly Clarkson, and Clive Davis may have led to some discussions in that regard. And allowing Fantasia to do her thing last week certainly gives credence to this notion.

All I know for sure is that I am very happy David C won. Archie is a nice kid and he has a bright future but he is not ready for New York, New York. He needs to finish high school in a way that Jordin Sparks did not. And speaking of Ms. Sparks it certainly was wonderful to see her back after the doctor imposed hiatus. She looks and sounds great. And so does Carrie Underwood.

The show has been over for about ninety minutes and here is what it says in Wikipedia about all of this.

The program seeks to discover the best singer in the country through a series of nationwide auditions. The outcomes of the later stages of this competition are determined by public voting by phone. The format features three judges who give critiques of the contestants’ performances in order to facilitate the voting: record producer Randy Jackson; pop singer and choreographer Paula Abdul; and music executive Simon Cowell. The show is hosted by former children’s game show emcee and television personality Ryan Seacrest; comedian Brian Dunkleman cohosted with Seacrest in season one. The American Idol band is led by Rickey Minor. The show usually airs on Tuesday and Wednesday nights in the US and Thursday and Friday nights in the UK (two days after the US airing). In its seven seasons, its winners have been Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, Jordin Sparks and David Cook. Hicks was the oldest winner at 29, Sparks the youngest at just 17.

Congratulations David Cook. It didn’t take someone long to add your name. And congratulations American Idol on a great show. You are showcasing our young people and their talent in a very positive way.

And the final shot of the show could not have been any better if it was scripted. David Cook’s brother looking into the camera a proud and happy guy forgetting for a moment his fight with cancer.

“That’s my brother!”

Perfect.

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Vote for Jordin in this years BET AWARDS SHOW

HERE  !!

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What? I thought Jordin was kind of fond of Chris Brown? Now I hear this report from reliable sources at Idol Stalker that she has been seeing this new guy. And who is he? We must find out. Jordin must be protected at all costs. If necessary the whole New York Giants football team past and present will come to her assistance. No questions asked.

Maybe he is a nice guy. But then why did he spend two years in a French prison? Those places can be terrible. Remember Papillon?

Another post is on the way as soon as our ace reporter gets back with more biographical info on this guy. Hopefully our fears will be laid to rest.

I wonder if he will be at the tour opener in Norfolk on April 19th. Maybe I can talk to him then and find out what is happening!

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Photos of Jordin

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More Jordin Sparks

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Ace reporter reporting Sir! Here is the MySpace Page for Mr. Ordinary aka Steph Jones

And I also went backstage and located this video of Jordin and some of her friends and associates. When asked why she was there she noted that Steph Jones had asked to her come and she said if she had the time she would BE THERE. Thanks to this lady for helping me out here.

Here is further word from Steph himself about his relationship with the ladies:

I am married to my music and something that is really important that I look for in a woman is if she can bring something to the table that allows us both to grow; and of course I can spot a celebrity chic from a mile away. I’ve been in Los Angeles for almost 9 years LOL

From the blog A Hot Mess

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Man! My ace reporter has been busy rounding up information on SJ. And it seems to me that the defining statement is “ she can bring something to the table that allows us both to grow”.

This says to me that he is looking for an equal and somebody who has musical talent of her own. Jordin has more musical talent than she knows what to do with so this thing is starting to make some sense.

And don’t forget that he grew up in Texas. Where did Jordin grow up? Nearby if you fly! Here’s what he has to say about that:

“I enjoyed working with Destiny’s Child for the “Jumpin’ Jumpin’” video because they were really cool plus they were from the same city as me so I felt like I knew them. ”

So he and Jordin are from the same part of the country and he feels like he knows her too! Case Closed. They are knowing each other! BUT they are clearly “just friends”.

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David Cook and the Studio Version of Billy Jean.  It’s Hot.

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The vacant stare you now possess

Slumped upon my chair

Reminds me of the mannequin

Awaiting his new suit of clothes.

To help the young men on their way

And dress them well upon their day.

So they may please their lovely brides

As you once pleased

Before you died.

But now you won’t be easily found

Unless your love lives underground.

And I will miss her more than you

My cup when love was new.

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She screams and runs now through the door

And sadness sends her to the floor.

She gazes up into your eyes

And wonders where your spirit flies.

I’m here behind you

Won’t you see?

Admiring

Your solemn beauty.

The chains are gone

The pain has left

Yet I am now

Alone

And bereft.

Without you now I am no one

There is no place under the sun

To be a home when you’re away

And so I’ll wait for you each day.

Just sit right here upon this sill

And watch the days pass by until

One day you join me and we fly

Away from here

To paradise.

from Death

“He’s come out of the man

and he’s let

the man go–

the liar”

William Carlos Williams

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Born in Rutherford, New Jersey, near the city of Paterson, William Carlos Williams studied medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. There he became friends with Ezra Pound and Hilda Doolittle (later known as H. D.) and started to think of his medical career as a means of supporting himself while he composed poetry, even as he interned in New York City and pursued postgraduate studies in Germany. Williams made Rutherford his lifelong home and practiced medicine until he retired, writing at night and spending weekends in New York City with other writers and artists. Williams consciously wrote poetry that provided a counterpoint to that of Frost, Pound, and Eliot. In his work, he wished to speak like an American within an American context of small cities, immigrants, and workers. He wanted his poetic line to reflect the rhythm of everyday speech and drew his subject matter from ordinary surroundings — a painting, a red wheelbarrow, a dish of plums. Williams’s collections include Spring and All (both poetry and prose; 1923); Paterson, which was published in five books (1946, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1958); and Pictures from Brueghel (1962). Williams also wrote essays, some of which are collected in In the American Grain (1925).

http://www2.wwnorton.com/college/english/naal/vol_D/explorations/williams.htm

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I am looking forward to a great game this weekend as the Cowboys and the Giants decide who is going to the next level.

And based on my prior post it is clear where I have to come down regarding a prediction. I am going to go out on a limb and say that the New York Giants will beat the Dallas Cowboys. And if I am wrong my string of successful predictions will come to an end. You can read the prior posts in my Sports section and see that I predicted: The Red Sox would win the World Series. And the Redskins would beat the Cowboys. Because the Cowboys have lost the Will to Win. They wanted to rest and not get hurt even though many of them actually played in the game. Because you can play in the game and still pretend you are sitting on the sideline. And these guys still don’t recognize that what is between your ears trumps your physical assets unless it is a physical mismatch.

And once you start doing this it is very difficult to go back the other way. That’s why I applauded the Giants when they took the Patriots deep into the game before things were decided. They treated it like it was a playoff game. And this was a very smart move on their part. Because if you can almost beat the Patriots you sure as hell can spank the Cowboys!

The Giants are confident. And they will win.

I would bet money on it except no one around here will take my bet. But I have put myself on the line in any case and this post will stay up here forever whatever the outcome. And if the Giants should lose THAT will be worse than losing many clam shells. Because I don’t like leaving mistakes on my blog.

I don’t like it one little bit. Go Giants.

Prediction

Giants 28

Dallas 21

Giants win 21 to 17

Congratulations New York Giants!