Currently Listening The Very Best of Dan Fogelberg By Dan Fogelberg see related

Simon Says ...

I am watching "American Idol" and am perplexed. I suppose it stems from not watching the show much at all this season, which leaves me uncertain of the "talents" of the final 3. However, the few times I've caught the series, I enjoyed hearing David Cook sing and feel comfortable crowning him the new AI winner.

Hopefully I haven't jinxed the kid.

Speakin' of kid, David Archuleta has left me feeling tepid. I questioned his singing ability every time I heard him, but tonight, Paula Abdul chose "And So It Goes" by Billy Joel, for him to sing. I tipped my hat to the kid - he had chops! It's a difficult song to sing sincerely and while I look at the 17-year old and think he looks like a cute 12-year old, I believed him. He doesn't give Cook a run for the money, but I understand more about why he's in the final 3.

His second song sung was "With You" or somethin'. I'm as hip as young David, so I don't know who originally sang the song. But, he remarked something about bein' a "White boy" when Randy commented that the song was awkward for him. It's not about his race, but probably had to do with young David's adolescent quality. I can't imagine him singin' anythin' about anyone's boo, much less his own. And, to his credit, the lyrics were vapid and I think there's depth to the kid that made it difficult for him to relate to the song.

**Note: the song was by Chris Brown. I've heard something by him, but I'm not familiar with this song. Good thing.**

Syesha Mercado sang Randy's choice of "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys. Umm, ok. It was a fine rendition, but I agreed with Simon - it sounded as if she were trying to sing the same version. Randy rebutted that she changed some notes, which I thought were obvious, but again as Simon noted - "not enough".

Her second song was "Fever" by Peggy Lee. Could've been done very well, especially as she used a chair and a bass player as props, but no. I agreed with my man Simon again, who called her performance "cabaret". I felt she tried to have some fire & pop in the song and should've had an ending note to match. She didn't.

David Cook sang Simon's choice of "First Time (Ever I Saw Your Face)" by Roberta Flack. As Simon said, the song was a difficult one, but also a fave of so many. Cook sang it well & even "rocked" it a bit, which gave it an edge I hadn't heard yet.

His second song choice wasn't bad, but I felt he was capable of better. The judges agreed with me. I feel as if I've missed my calling.

Archuleta's up again for his final song of the night - Dan Fogelberg's "Longer". I'm a fan of Fogelberg and still can't believe he passed away so young. Archuleta sang the song as well as anyone who wasn't Fogelberg could. Interestingly, I believed Archuleta could sing better and while the song is mellow & easy listening, it could've been jazzed up somehow. He's young & contemporary; I wanted the song to reflect his spirit.

Simon concurred with me about David's ability to sing it differently, even though he sang it well. But, he also took a minute to diss the lyrics & music as "too gooey" and more appropriate for "a 90-year old". Huh? I still like Simon, but he betta leave my Fogelberg catalogue alone.

It's commercial time, so I'll comment re: the last two of the 3rd song performances later.

Back!

Syesha sang some song by Rihanna that was in a penguin movie. I didn't know the original song, but I didn't like her cover of it either. I thought more about it & she's always been quite lackluster for me. Archuleta can fall upon his sword of innocence; she exhibited attitude in her interviews with Ryan Seacrest, but sang as if she were at a karaoke bar - without the enthusiasm.

In previous seasons of AI, some contestants have sung songs I haven't known, but inspired me to find out more and buy a CD. This wasn't one of those performances.

Yet another commercial & then it'll be Cook's last performance. The show's a bit better with timing than it has been in the past, but man! Do we really need it to be an hour at this point?

Cook chose "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith. Appropriate choice for his "rocker-tude" and it sounded OK. It's one of those songs that I don't really need to hear, because it's overplayed on the radio and always done at karaoke spots. He could've sung somethin' by Bon Jovi or Rascal Flatts or some other group. He's lucky that he can tackle the notes of Tyler almost effortlessly, but I hope he chooses somethin' else for his debut album. Yes, there'll be a debut album.

Of all the judges, only Randy agreed with me that the song was predictable. Paula & Simon thought he would make Diane Warren proud at the end of it and would be back next week.

Truly, I expect Syesha will be packin' her bags & headin' for a studio, instead of the finale. From what I've glimpsed on-line, people predicted early on this would be a battle of the Davids and tonight proved them right.

At least at this stage, everyone will be at the summer sing-a-thon they do every year. So, no losers, eh?

My "currently listening" selection was to rub a bit of salt & vinegar into Simon's "easy listening" bias. Oh and because the man sang great.

Peace,

Moi

Currently Listening A Horse with No Name and Other Hits By America see related

The Sand in the Hourglass

Last month, I prepared a list of five things to complete by month's end:

1. Write flash fiction story
2. Write poem on random theme - lavender
3. Create writing submission calendar for May & June
4. Edit 3 poems
5. Translate 1 poem into Spanish

I only completed two things on the list, but I didn't feel underaccomplished, as I usually would. Instead, I figured that I'd just continue with the list of 5 this month and see what results:

1. Write flash fiction story
2. Write poem on random theme - hospital
3. Create writing submission calendar for June & July
4. Edit 3 poems
5. Translate 1 poem into Spanish

To be fair, I'll attend Story Salon next week and will tell a story, so the first one is done. I am also battling with my pending re-location and the when of my re-location. It's one of the reasons why I'm not as progressive with my writing.

The translation may not be completed this month, because I will either be focusing on moving, working or both and translating will definitely require more brain power than I'll have methinks. I chose another random theme based on what popped into my mind. Hmm, I'm curious as to what I'll have by month-end.

Thanks to several websites (links on the left) I visit regularly, the submission calendar will not be difficult. Whether I'll be able to complete task # 4 in time to submit is another question.

I had a good chat with a friend about creativity and productivity, etc. I'm stuck in limbo and cannot seem to find clarity. It's weird, but hopefully there'll be some resolution in the next few days.

A long corridor awaits the crying and the dying.
Pale walls, floors mirror faces
of reality for moments without end.
And then,
hues clash in a mad dash
offering questions and answers in the same breath.
Bells and whistles signal time to switch and ditch
graven faces and dour places.
Step into the sun
when the day is done.
Leave the sirens behind.

That's what wove its way in between thoughts of doubt and weekend laissez-faire. I edited it slightly as I typed, but I'll return to another time for a quick read-through.

My "currently listening" selection soothes me, because the harmonies were playful, melancholic and daring.

Peace,

Moi 

Currently Listening Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor By Lupe Fiasco see related

Writer + Block = Moi

I went to Story Salon yesterday and forgot it would be theme night. Last night's theme: True or False. At the end of each story, the audience had to guess whether the story was true or false. It was a night of wonderful stories ranging from the spooky and spine-tingling to the endearing.

Storytellers surprised me as they wove stories of truth from the seemingly outlandish, as much as the tales from moderate to outright fabrication! Two storytellers decided to evaluate their lives overall based on their perceptions of what was true versus what was untrue.

I was inspired by the stories shared and I need to condense one of my adventures abroad into 5 - 7 minutes of storytelling. I had a bit of a poet's block earlier, but I thought of one tale I'd love to share that wouldn't require too much of a preface, but would be entertaining. Well, at the very least mischievous.

My "currently listening" selection is the debut album of an enterprising young man who leaves me with hope for the future of hip-hop. Lyrics + music = talent.

Peace,

Moi

Currently Listening Buena Vista Social Club By Ry Cooder, Ibrahim Ferrar, Ruben Gonzalez, Compay Segundo, Omara Portuondo see related

Shake Down

I think I need to give my spirit a shake. I've been tryin' to fight a current while running uphill and now, I decided to heed what the universe has been telling me. I need to just take things slow and reflect. I don't think I've honestly reflected on lessons learned over the past year. I've thought about a few of them, but I want to be sure to grow from the experience and not regress.

Part of my anticipated progression involves a move in less than a month's time. Insanely, I plan to board a plane again in about a month since the last time I was in an airport and head for ... not greener pastures, but a more hopeful outlook.

My plans for the week are simpler than originally anticipated [Shock! Horror!], but I do plan to get my fill of storytelling excellence.

Bond was right. Spirits are best shaken and not stirred.

My "currently listening" selection always inspires me to shake my spirit and then some.

Peace,

Moi

Currently Listening Best of Odyssey By Odyssey see related

New York City Girl

You say "the city" and expect everyone to know that this means Manhattan.

You have never been to the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building.

You can get into a four-hour argument about how to get from Columbus Circle to Battery Park at 3:30 on the Friday before a long weekend, but can't find Wisconsin on a map.

The subway makes sense.

You believe that being able to swear at people in their own language makes you multi-lingual.

You call an 8' x 10' plot of patchy grass a yard.

You consider Westchester "upstate".

You think Central Park is "nature."

You've been to New Jersey twice and got hopelessly lost both times.

You haven't seen more than twelve stars in the night sky since you went away to camp as a kid.

You go to dinner at 9 and head out to the clubs when most Americans are heading to bed. .

Going to Brooklyn is considered a "road trip."

You've gotten jaywalking down to an art form.

You don't notice sirens anymore.

You live in a building with a larger population than most American towns.

Your doorman is Russian, your grocer is Korean your deli man is Israeli, your building super is Italian, your laundry guy is Chinese, your favorite bartender is Irish, your favorite diner owner is Greek, the watchseller on your corner is Senegalese, your last cabbie was Pakistani, your newsstand guy is Indian and your favorite falafel guy is Egyptian.

You're suspicious of strangers who are actually nice to you.  

You think $7.00 to cross a bridge is a fair price.

Your door has more than three locks.

Your favorite movie has DeNiro in it.

You consider eye contact an act of overt aggression.

You run when you see a flashing "Do Not Walk" sign at the intersection.

You're 35 years old and don't have a driver's license.

You ride in a subway car with no air conditioning just because there are seats available.

You're willing to take in strange people as roommates simply to help pay the rent.

There is no North and South... It's uptown or downtown.

When you're away from home, you miss "real" pizza and "real" bagels.

You're not in the least bit interested in going to Times Square on New Year's Eve.

Your internal clock is permanently set to know when Alternate Side of the Street parking regulations are in effect.

You know what a bodega is.

You know how to fold the New York Times in half, vertically, so that you can read it on the subway or bus without knocking off other passenger's hats.

Someone bumps into you, and you check for your wallet.....

Film crews on your block annoy you, not excite you.

When you are able to make a right turn at a red light.. you think it's the best thing ever.

Rather than waiting safely on the sidewalk to cross the street, you wait inches away from speeding traffic waiting to cut through it.

Your local news is national news.

You walk a mile in 13 minutes and think that everything should be open 24/7.

Yellow light means speed up.

Red light means speed up because you know have that 1 second pause until the other light turns green.

Communicating with people on the road only takes one finger.

You order your dinner and have it delivered.. from the place across the street.

You can tell a gunshot from a firecracker and not get scared, but when you go to the burbs you get scared of hearing a cricket.

Here's a revision of my "lavender" poem:

Nostrils flirted with purple tendrils,
hint of jasmine but lighter.
Bees danced above cauldrons of honey,
warmed by the sun,
drunkenly weaving;
a natural mating dance.

It's not great, but better than my off the cuff offering.

My "currently listening" selection was in my head on & off all day, before I found the lists. The song "Native New Yorker" inspired the title of this post. It's a fun song and always makes me smile.

Peace,

Moi