Post by Kari on Sept 8, 2006 0:57:44 GMT -5
Tubular
Blogging TV, one show at a time
More thoughts roll out on 'Rock Star'
Rock Star: Supernova
Sept. 6, 2006
Now that I've gotten news-style writing out of my system, some more thoughts on Rock Star: Supernova, this time with the breezy blogging informality we all know, love and share. Well, some of us. Well, sometimes.
First, at least Dilana was spared another indignity, after suffering so many of late. I still don't think she's livin' on a prayer of getting the gig, but making the final four and the final week is a lot better than being sent packing, a la Storm.
No one seemed to grasp on Wednesday's show that one person in the bottom three also was in the top three. Do the math. Just a thought. But Lukas, who'd never been in the bottom three, seemed to be that guy -- and he certainly was in the band's estimation. That was a shrewd, gutsy move to go to your strength and sing a powerful, emotional original song again with Headspin, rather than do another routine and perhaps poorly chosen cover. Lukas nailed it again, and was quickly sent back to safety.
As for those covers, take Dilana's I Want You to Want Me, whose lyrics were yet another shrill "I can't let my torment go -- please save me from myself!" plea when many of us want her to drop the emotional baggage COMPLETELY and just move on. And since when is Cheap Trick a punk band? Power-pop, pop-rock or New Wave, sure. But punk? Of course, this is from a woman who'd never heard The Who's Behind Blue Eyes.
Storm doing Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here was a nice soulful touch. She sang it tenderly -- a rare sound on this show -- but seemed to be singing her goodbyes in advance, as if resigned to her fate. That was NOT a hide-saving performance, but a bittersweet farewell. Nor was it anywhere near as good as Marty Casey's rendition on last season's show.
That leaves Toby and Magni. Toby won a product-placement car (whose make I won't name) for getting this week's encore with his rousing original, Throw It Away, which he dedicated to fallen fellow Aussie Steve Irwin. And Magni won the "honor" of fronting Supernova for another of its bland songs, this one called It's All Love. (Of the final five, you'll note that Storm was the only one who never got a chance to front the band.) The midtempo ballad sounded a little soft, a little pop, for these guys, and Magni had trouble mastering its awkward, high-ranging melody, nor did he come up with any new showmanship, beyond briefly interacting with Gilby and Jason. A yawner, all the way around.
The night's other news was that Dave's Panic Channel also will open for Supernova on tour, making it a triple whammy, along with the House Band fronted by singers from the competition. Why, I'm so excited that I'll read Dave's blog to check it out -- and glom all the gushy "Dave, you're the greatest!" and "Dave, you're hot!" reader comments that tend to weigh it down. Well, he may be great in a lot of ways, but not necessarily as a judge. Now where is his "dark horse," Ryan, again?
Dave and Supernova also offered to back Storm in the studio. Nice gesture. Another was Toby carrying hobbled Dilana back onstage at the end. In fact, Toby's doing everything right, and I think the gig is his. HE'S been the dark horse, who's now emerging as frontrunner.
Will he, in fact, win the race next week? That's all in the hands of Tommy, Gilby and Jason -- not the most clear-headed bunch -- though I'm still thinking yes.
But wait -- could Survivor's "curse of the car" do him in? On Survivor, the contestant who wins a car shortly before the finale never has gone on to win the million bucks. The idea is, they've already been rewarded -- how much treasure do they need? But this is about more than a financial prize. This is about fronting a rock band and going on from there to put your skills to use. If the band sees Toby as the most skilled (sorry to go all Napoleon Dynamite on you), then he'll get the gig.
Cars! Headlining in Vegas! Partying with degenerates! It's only rock 'n' roll, but Toby can handle it.
Blogging TV, one show at a time
More thoughts roll out on 'Rock Star'
Rock Star: Supernova
Sept. 6, 2006
Now that I've gotten news-style writing out of my system, some more thoughts on Rock Star: Supernova, this time with the breezy blogging informality we all know, love and share. Well, some of us. Well, sometimes.
First, at least Dilana was spared another indignity, after suffering so many of late. I still don't think she's livin' on a prayer of getting the gig, but making the final four and the final week is a lot better than being sent packing, a la Storm.
No one seemed to grasp on Wednesday's show that one person in the bottom three also was in the top three. Do the math. Just a thought. But Lukas, who'd never been in the bottom three, seemed to be that guy -- and he certainly was in the band's estimation. That was a shrewd, gutsy move to go to your strength and sing a powerful, emotional original song again with Headspin, rather than do another routine and perhaps poorly chosen cover. Lukas nailed it again, and was quickly sent back to safety.
As for those covers, take Dilana's I Want You to Want Me, whose lyrics were yet another shrill "I can't let my torment go -- please save me from myself!" plea when many of us want her to drop the emotional baggage COMPLETELY and just move on. And since when is Cheap Trick a punk band? Power-pop, pop-rock or New Wave, sure. But punk? Of course, this is from a woman who'd never heard The Who's Behind Blue Eyes.
Storm doing Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here was a nice soulful touch. She sang it tenderly -- a rare sound on this show -- but seemed to be singing her goodbyes in advance, as if resigned to her fate. That was NOT a hide-saving performance, but a bittersweet farewell. Nor was it anywhere near as good as Marty Casey's rendition on last season's show.
That leaves Toby and Magni. Toby won a product-placement car (whose make I won't name) for getting this week's encore with his rousing original, Throw It Away, which he dedicated to fallen fellow Aussie Steve Irwin. And Magni won the "honor" of fronting Supernova for another of its bland songs, this one called It's All Love. (Of the final five, you'll note that Storm was the only one who never got a chance to front the band.) The midtempo ballad sounded a little soft, a little pop, for these guys, and Magni had trouble mastering its awkward, high-ranging melody, nor did he come up with any new showmanship, beyond briefly interacting with Gilby and Jason. A yawner, all the way around.
The night's other news was that Dave's Panic Channel also will open for Supernova on tour, making it a triple whammy, along with the House Band fronted by singers from the competition. Why, I'm so excited that I'll read Dave's blog to check it out -- and glom all the gushy "Dave, you're the greatest!" and "Dave, you're hot!" reader comments that tend to weigh it down. Well, he may be great in a lot of ways, but not necessarily as a judge. Now where is his "dark horse," Ryan, again?
Dave and Supernova also offered to back Storm in the studio. Nice gesture. Another was Toby carrying hobbled Dilana back onstage at the end. In fact, Toby's doing everything right, and I think the gig is his. HE'S been the dark horse, who's now emerging as frontrunner.
Will he, in fact, win the race next week? That's all in the hands of Tommy, Gilby and Jason -- not the most clear-headed bunch -- though I'm still thinking yes.
But wait -- could Survivor's "curse of the car" do him in? On Survivor, the contestant who wins a car shortly before the finale never has gone on to win the million bucks. The idea is, they've already been rewarded -- how much treasure do they need? But this is about more than a financial prize. This is about fronting a rock band and going on from there to put your skills to use. If the band sees Toby as the most skilled (sorry to go all Napoleon Dynamite on you), then he'll get the gig.
Cars! Headlining in Vegas! Partying with degenerates! It's only rock 'n' roll, but Toby can handle it.
