#11 - american idol, girls top 10

i just wanted to put a picture up...

okay, i think we can stop the competition right here. i wasn't quite sure i wanted to jump the gun so early last week, but this week confirmed it... if melinda doolittle does not win it would be a damn shame. well actually, maybe not. i mean, when the show started out it was only the winner that would be the change to make it, but now it seems like if you're on the screen for 20 seconds you'll get your record deal and the winner is handcuffed by whatever contract they've got. blah, whatever, how many cds of idol winners have i bought? ZERO. so really, they just entertain me while i watch the show and then when 8:00 comes around i'm off to listen to real music.

anyway, i think that black back up singer is so far and away the best one there, girls or guys, it's not even funny. but since i'm not gonna run out and buy her cds if she wins or not, i'm content to watch her be great on this little tv show. see, even though it was an old kinda song, she create so many little musical moments with her dynamics, phrasing, embellishments that it was neat to listen to the whole way through. very controlled and seemed like she had the whole song planned out phrasing-wise (not like those other sing 'till you're yelling girls), i think those other contestants should really take a listen and learn from her.

but then again, if they were all that good then where would the fun be? no one to critique? no one to insult? what kind of tv show would that be? i'll tell you what kind... the crappy kind. so keep it going, and i'll just be thankful that they DO have a great singer to listen to inbetween all those other wannabes (not that the wannabes aren't any fun, but it's a nice relief to know that i'm guaranteed to like at least one of the 10 performances each night).

okay, off the soapbox now... time for ratings (because i've already bought into this production so i might as well stick with it and be a mainstream american):

1. melinda doolittle - of course, too bad she has no neck though
2. stephanie edwards - see? i'm starting to learn their names! i like that she sang a beyonce song, and it wasn't that bad
3. lakisha jones - i didn't like her last week, but she sounded more free flowing this week, so i'll give her props.

who can leave?

the two beautiful girls... too bad their voices don't hold up.


ps - since i'm on the subject of tv... lost is lame. do you think they could actually make stuff happen on that show sometime? take a page from "heroes," y'know that show with an actual storyline?

#10 - jason mraz

okay, i was gonna save this post for later, but since that guy sang one of his songs on idol tonight i thought i'd post it today. so, here's my second favorite artist: jason mraz. why do i like his stuff? hmm... well, not quite the same reasons as my #1 pick (re: relient k), not so much for the lyrics or emotional tone of his songs, but he's just a great singer. really free... smooth. if i could sing at all, i'd probably pick this guy to emulate. of course, i don't like all his stuff (that's why he's #2 on the list), but i love all his acoustic stuff. the versions with just him, a guitar, some hand drums, and maybe a jazz flute or something. that's the best stuff (e.g. "no doubling back" or "unfold" the live "coffee house" versions). but he can do good stuff with orchestration too (e.g. "please don't tell her" and "plane" from his most recent album).

as for the song that american idol guy sang... not a great example of why i like jason mraz. you've probably never heard the songs that i really like from him, but if you ever do it's just really free flowing music. awesome. if you get a chance check out some of his stuff, here are some of my suggestions:

- unfold - probably my fave of his, but the live acoustic version, vocals are great, simple kind of song, but it's got a lot in it
- no doubling back - very close second favorite, but then again, only the live acoustic version, there's so much more music when there's only three instruments playing y'know?
- you and i both - for a more mainstream type song, this one is pretty good, also check the acoustic version of this one though
- bella luna - on his newest album, i love the tempo and easiness of this song, very clean and clear

on an unrelated note.... things that are pissing me off right now:

1. mosquito bites
2. knowing i'm not going to get my 8 hours of sleep tonight
3. itunes - nevermind that it's a damn greedy SOB trying to take all my money and monopolize my music playing options (i refuse to get an ipod for this very reason... also i don't like those buttons), but i've got it installed on my computer and crappin' thing keeps skipping! what the crap! i paid for these songs and i'm damn sure i didn't pay for it to skip every 20 seconds. grr... does anyone else have this problem? is it connected to the internet? maybe it's my wireless connection that's funking it up? i don't know but it's making me angry...

3, 2, 1.... 1, 2, 3.... what the heck.... is bothering me...

grr...

#9 - american idol, guys top 10

damn, american idol was funny tonight! simon = spot on, when he said that thing about the puppies i was dying (see above, the a-dawg, a year and a half ago). haha. see? he's the only one that knows what's going on on that show, everyone else is totally clueless. ahh, well, tonight's show switched up my favorites a bit, here's who i voted for:

1. white boy chris - hey he sang a song from my second favorite artist (not one of my faves, but oh well). thank crap someone can sing a song that was written after we were born, geez, why does everyone else pick such old, oldie songs? anyway, he sounds more contemporary at least, i like him
2. beat boxer blake - yeah he's not the best singer, but i like him. he chooses the best songs, jamiroquai? perfect! although yeah, it did look kinda like the video at the beginning (but that's okay 'cause it was a good video, and if you can "copycat" that, i give ya props dude), but at least it wasn't some old foogey whatever song
3. afro guy chris - i like him, kinda boring i thought the song, but nice voice and speaks real well
4. creepy little filipino guy - damn i think he's starting to grow on me, the creepy little fem dude..

who can go home?

the two black guys.... what? they sucked. right?

#8 - mr. & mrs. A, take a hike... please

well, it didn't go too bad actually. this weekend was the unit selection for that townhomes complex that i had the lottery for last week. i thought that my #53 in the lottery would put me down as the 3rd or 4th back-up for one of the less-preferred units, but actually i was able to put my name down as the first back-up for the unit that i wanted! not too bad, of course, that still all depends on whether mr. & mrs. A (#15 in the lottery and the people who put their name down for the unit before me) decide to sign those papers or look elsewhere. so here's hoping they suddenly hit the megabucks at vegas and upgrade to some hawaii kai mansion and leave the small pickings for us little guys. haha, anyway, it's still a little more hope than i had before, so i thought i'd let you guys in on what's on the line here (besides my personal freedom)... here's a shot of the kitchen/dining/living room/patio of the model home of the unit that i'm trying to buy: not too bad eh? 2 bed/2 full bath/1 car covered garage/covered lanai. perfect for just me right? here's a reverse shot with the kitchen on the right, master bedroom/bath to the left:
ground floor only so there's a decent little yard out there, which is important because i can't imagine staying inside all day, then i'd might as well just buy an apartment. nope, gotta be all earthy and connected right? haha, nah, but even a tiny little yard makes a big difference in my opinion.
anyway, not gonna say much about it right now because i still don't actually have the opportunity to buy the unit, i'm just a back-up... but the first back-up. so if any of you out there know mr. & mrs. A... maybe tell 'em they can do better, they don't need to settle for a little townhouse, get them to think big and maybe leave me the scraps, please?

#7 - i need you

bleh... i felt kinda dirty after those two american idol posts in a row, so here's some real music: my first music post will, of course, be relient k. much thanks to mike and jeremy for introducing me to this band in the first place, cause since that time they've been my favorite artist hands down. there's not one song by them that i don't absolutely love. why do i like their music? melodies and harmonies are intricate, creative. it's the little things that really add to the sounds, one bar here and there that makes their music interesting. lyrics are wonderful, not only creative, but they use a full set of vocabulary. haha, that sounds weird but y'know when you listen to the radio i bet you normally hear maybe the same 1000 words or so over and over again. now i'm not saying that you've got to squeeze those $1.00 words into each song, but don't be shy about using multisyllabic words when they're appropriate. or wonderfully random. and what's more, they use those words without altering accepted english stress patterns (this is where the linguist in me comes out) and really keeping the phrases aurally pleasing. plus they make use of all the notes in their melodies (y'know how you can tell when someone's written a song with a few words dragged out and you can tell that they had to stretch the words to match the notes... not so with this band, they make full use of every note). plus their lyrics are just fun to sing.

okay, blah blah blah, right, but the main reason why they're my favorite is because their songs seem to hit all the right emotions for me. everything, the sounds, words, silence, and instrumentation just work together. can't really explain good music, but they are definately the best. i just heard their new song, "i need you." those are three very powerful words in song, they work very well in just about any song. i'd put those words in my song, if i had any talent to make songs and then if i wanted to make a song about needing someone. anyway, go check it out, i've got it playing on my myspace page (click link on the right). can't wait until March 6th, their new album comes out, i've got sneak peeks at four songs and i love them all already:

Five Score and Seven Years Ago:

1. Plead the Fifth
2. Come Right Out and Say It
3. I Need You
4. The Best Thing
5. Forgiven
6. Must Have Done Something Right
7. Give
8. Devastation and Reform
9. I'm Taking You With Me
10. Faking My Own Suicide
11. Crayons Can Melt On Us For All I Care
12. Bite My Tongue
13. Up and Up
14. Deathbed

#6 - american idol 2

first off, let simon talk! geez, he's there for a reason and he's the only sane one up there. if you let him finish talking maybe you don't need to boo, bitach. haha. anyway, i agree the judges are being harsher this year, probably because randy finally grew some balls and paula might actually be somewhat sober and simon's the same and they're all getting tired of all this preshow before getting to the actual winner already. but they also need to remember that these people are (or should be) amateurs and will need time to develop also. so cut em some slack and give some constructive criticism (also remember that YOU judges picked these people in the first place so don't put them up there and then say they suck). anyway, here we go with the girls:
#1. tall black girl - i agree 100% with simon, and i like her too. i like singers that look effortless when they're singing, more like mariah carey (the early 90's mariah carey, not the skanked out 2000 version) and less like christina aguillera. anyway, this one was good, and i never heard that song before, so i'm glad she didn't pick some over-done "power" song. i like these much better, she can definately stay.

#2. first white girl - i don't remember her at all. didn't quite pull off that song, i ain't mad at her, but didn't sound too good. blah, no care.

#3. creepy looking white girl - man she looks weird. shouldn't have picked that song, i think everyone remembers kelly clarkson singing that one the first time around and her voice i actually like, but that kind of big loud song doesn't match it. anyway, she can stay though (despite the unfortunate creepy looks).
#4. big nose black girl - i like her. kinda rough with the song, but that's the kind of song i like to see people singing. don't mess around with the campy crap, just go right for it, that was good. she must stay.

#5. antonella girl - well, i remember her name, but i didn't like her after she got put through instead of that other marisa girl (who i REALLY liked). but now i feel sorry for antonella. she seems like the amateur girl who went on american idol because she had a nice voice and wanted to see if should could be really good (as opposed to all those backup singers and cruise ship workers who were already kinda in the business). so that makes me want to root for her. but the song was kinda crappy, there was one little nice part at the very end, but overall very sad. however, i would actually like to see her get through one more week... also, she's very pretty :)
#6. the 17-year-old - this one i like. most definately. i like the way she tempo-ed that song (and it was good song choice too) and added her whatevers at the end. i like her style. she's my early pick for the finals.
#7. another white girl - what the crap was that? a bunch of shouting? i don't know what she was trying to do, and she didn't sound good doing it. she can go home.

#8. "almost" girl - this girl is almost beautiful, almost has a great voice, almost sang a great song, and almost got my vote. but she didn't. haha. nah, but she can go through to next week, i like her.

#9. black back up singer - this girl had my early "favorite" vote... and she still does, by FAR! no need hear all those other wannabes, this one is it. that's my two cents anyway. and, once again, simon's absolutely right. haha. my favorite definately.
#10. another white girl i don't remember - junk... i can see where there's something in her voice that sounds kinda nice... but junk, go home.
#11. punk white girl i don't like - okay i still don't like her (annoyingly arrogant), but she sings pretty well. the thing that did it though was that music break right before the end of the song. I LOVE THAT! if i wrote songs every single one would have that music break, like that late 80's early 90's love ballad music break where everything drops and then the big note or whatever. y'know like in that (i'm sad that i'm using this song to compare it to, but it's the only one i can think of right now) nsync song, um... that's when i'll stop loving you. it had one of those breaks in it. just that little arrangement change made me like her performance, she can stay.
#12. big black girl - i didn't think it was that good. blah, she screamed the whole thing. but she can stay another week that'd be fine.

So... my favorites?
Boys:
1. afro guy
2. beat box guy
3. white JT boy

Girls:
1. black back-up singer
2. 17-year-old girl
3. tall black girl

#5 - american idol 1

Okay, i don't usually like to blah blah blah about tv or whatever, but it's american idol and i just gotta chime in with my own two cents of course! I admit that i've watched american idol from the very first season, and i vote too (only once, and only for those 2-3 people that i think should absolutely win), and i've been very disappointed with the actual results, but i don't care that much because obviously in they won then SOMEONE wants to hear them sing (even though I don't) so whatever. I've also been watching that american idol rewind to see all the people from the first season, and man, no one knew how to vote back then. They totally voted for all the crappy but sentimental singers. But I thought that tamyra should've won, even though kelly clarkson i actually do like (don't laugh). i didn't really like the second season, although i have to conceed that clay aiken was really a great singer* (*singer only because he's completely creepy and dorky in all other aspects of human being-ness). if those hawaii people weren't in the third season i REALLY wouldn't have liked it, but jasmine was cute and good enough so it was entertaining (although now she's kinda annoying). i liked season four for bo and carrie and i could care less about everyone else. last season i thought was the best, i liked chris and elliot and katharine, but i really didn't like taylor, who won.

Anyway, so let's get right on with it, my picks for this year, starting with the first night:


1. tall guy - sucked. although i feel kinda sorry for him because he had to go first, and that means everyone will forget him and he'll probably get the boot. oh well, don't care that much either way.
2. creepy black guy #1 - creepy, junk, go home.
3. beard guy - so this guy basically had just one good song and then crap after that? fine, go home.
4. creepy korean guy - c'mon, katonk guy looks weird. my sister want to vote for him just cause he's korean, but he's junk and sukebe looking and he needs to open his eyes, go home.
5. no-neck white boy - it's kinda sad how much i remember sometimes, but when this guy was singing i remembered bo and elliot singing the same song and so he didn't compare at all. but i like him anyway, he doesn't sing songs that are 20 years old and he might have a chance. he can stay on.
6. vote for pedro - kinda dull, but can sing alright. he can stay another week.
7. beat box guy - ok, this guy is cool. beat box or not, not a great singer, but he picked a different song at least, i like him. i think he'll get better too. he can stay.
8. indian guy - SOOOOOOOO boring. but he's the only teenager and everyone else looks and sounds as old as they are. he can stay another week at least.
9. afro guy - this guy's my pick, i like him, and he's got a nice voice too. plus he's not all stiff and nervous all the time. he should stay.
10. creepy black guy #2 - eeww. go home.
11. #11 guy - he really bugged me with his fem-little girl prancing around stage dancing, but what the hell, he can stay another week.
12. bald guy - #1 needs to grow hair, #2 when he was singing all i could hear was clay aiken, #3 but he can sing, so he can stay.

Last but not least, the judges:

Randy - at least he's being more critical, and using a wider vocabulary (sort of), i'll give his performance a C+
Paula - she's on crack. but better today than in the past
Simon - absolutely 100% right about everything!

haha, tomorrow, the girls.

#4 - 53

so... not so lucky. the lottery on was saturday, i got number 53, which pretty much means in order for me to have a chance at getting a home those other 52 people ahead of me have to pass it up. well, still a little bit of chance, my number is at least low enough so i can go and put my name down as a "back-up" for one of the units. but really... how realistic is this? my only hope is that everyone's trying to get the bigger units and they won't want the 2-bedroom and then maybe i'll get lucky. well, hasn't worked so far. haha. anyway, the good news is that even though I wasn't too lucky, "someone" else was VERY lucky! So that's good, at least someone i know can take advantage of this opportunity... actually, that makes TWO people i know... hmm, grr? but well, things happen for a reason and you can't do much else besides go with the flow.

anyway, after that semi-exciting morning i was a little bummed so i decided to go surfing, for the first time in awhile because it's been frickin' freezing all the time. that plus i've gotten the thought in my head that lugging that big heavy board outside, strapping it to my car, hauling it to the ocean and back and then strapping it back on again is a real hassle. haha, it was fun. another reason why i like surfing is driving down there... it's some nice alone time out of the house, just me and the radio in my personal karaoke studio.

it was a pretty decent day, blue skies, very sunny. only thing it was hella windy = cold = choppy surf = short, mushy rides and hard to paddle. but still fun. i don't care to much for surfing at kalaeloa cause it's usually always mush, but some days it's clean and the best thing about it is that you can spread out because the waves break all along the shore. then in some places there's like a second break closer to shore so if you catch a good one you can ride it all the way in to the sand standing up. but today it was mush, that's okay though, i like surfing more for being out in the water and sun and not so much for the cut-backs or whatever, it's just nice to be out in the quiet (quiet meaning no people sounds) floating on your board in the middle of the ocean... then when a wave comes that's fun too.

but then i had to pack it all up again... grr... i kinda wish i had a short board just so's i could stuff it in my car without having to strap it all up to the top, but longboards are the bestest! minor hassle. anyway, after surfing it was time for jamba juice to get my smoothie fix. see, in college my routine every tuesday/thursday was tennis class at 8:30am, then grab a chex mix breakfast pack and eat it while walking down kapahulu (thx nicole) to waikiki, jog around kapiolani park, take some laps in the ocean around canoe's, then head back up to rainbow drive inn for a loco moco (scrambled) and then to jamba juice for a bounce back blast (which they don't make anymore, darn them), and then back to class after lunch. anway, after a year or two of doing that i developed an urge for either jamba juice or some kind of loco moco thing after everytime i went to the beach (although it kinda turned into a kua'aina thing after surfing north shore and picking up a bacon burger on the way back home).

weird. well, anyway, pop on those shades and it's off to jamba juice!

so surfing is something i'll definately take into my new life, in fact, one of the considerations about buying that home is where do i keep my longboard? a covered garage would be real nice. but there are lots of options for that i guess. oh well, better luck next time?

#3 - indulgence

belated valentine's day post for everyone. only because i didn't really have a valentine's day for myself, no one to celebrate with obviously, but that don't mean it was all bad. i've started playing volleyball on a team with my dad and his old friends. it's kinda fun, some people are more lax than others... but overall mostly everyone's there just to have a good time so it's alright. anyway, that's how i spent my valentine's day. but vday did get me thinking....

since i never seem to find anyone to share vday with for the past few years, it's been a day for loving myself (let me rephrase)... it's been a day to indulge. and since everyone else out there is getting all flowers and chocolates and whatever, i figure i'll treat myself to my most superficial cravings of the past year. let's recap:

2005 - a watch

i don't really remember what compelled me to buy this watch... at that time i hadn't worn a watch since elementary school (and it was the sweetest digital casio watch, y'know the kind). but for work i needed to keep track of time discreetly and for some reason i saw a picture of this watch and it was exactly what i was looking for. and i never buy stuff like this for myself, so that was big deal for me back then, and it made me feel pretty darn good about being alone on valentine's day.

2006 - a necklace

this one caught me by surprise, i never thought i'd be going around wearing a necklace, but there you go. haha, nah, this one had a dual purpose. in grad school i relied hard on faith and for some reason when i started working (even though that first year was absolutely horrid) i kinda fell away and lost track. so last year i got this to keep me grounded... and also i thought it looked cool. don't really know if it is cool, but what the crap i think it is so tough.

2007 - a blog

okay, so this year the indulgence is a little more metaphorical. although it could still be just as superficial as my last two presents-to-myself (not that being superficial is all bad). anyway, my vday present this year is allowing myself to create this blog (well, everything needs creation theories right? and nothing can have only a SINGLE creation theory, right?). haha, anyway, i'm allowing for some self-indulgence to be a little egocentric and create this blog all about me because, well, i got no one special to tell my thoughts to so why not tell them to everyone? haha, what, that doesn't make sense? my logic is much more advanced than your puny reasoning skills, so there.

#2 - the lottery

so, why create a blog? well, i guess it really all started with the lottery. about half a year ago i put my name in for a housing lottery to try and get myself a place to live. in college i lived in the dorms, and that was great and all, but UH pretty much sucked big time and if anything i wanted to get away from it on the weekends, not stick around. in grad school i moved back home and that was fine, 'cause at least i had my own room and all, but living back with the family was getting to me. and now that i'm all old and working, living with the family is major bugging me. i need my own place, i need my own life.

before the lottery i scanned the ads each sunday for something to dream about, but even though i had a steady job and not much expenses, it still didn't really seem like a possibility for me to move out and live life on my own. but once those lotteries came out, suddenly it all felt like it could possibly be a reality. of course, it was still a lottery, meaning i'd have to get real tight with lady luck to pull one of the 20 units out of about 400 applicants. so i entered, and didn't get picked. and entered again, and didn't get picked again. (read that over two more times and you get the point). so here's another chance, the lottery is on saturday. but whether or not i'll pull the number this weekend is not the point (well that's a damn lie, it IS the frickin' point because then i can finally move out!), the important thing is that this whole process has lead me to envision what my life could be like. more importantly, what i could make my life be like.

which brings me to this blog... since i'm at the point of my life where i'm breaking out of my early life (well, the first 25 yrs anyway), it'd be a real good time to take stock and see what i'll bring with me into the next 25 yrs and what i'll leave behind, and also what new things i'll pick up. this lottery (and chance to buy a place of my own) is kinda like buying a new life too. if i'm lucky enough to get a home for myself, i'll have to decide what to put in it, likewise, i'll have to decide what i want to put into my new life. so the things you see on this blog will be things that i want to include in my life from this point on. let's see what kind of home i'll create.

#1 - first post

constructing a life. i'm starting a blog to explore that concept. hopefully this will help me to expand my life experiences. creating is something that kind of gets lost on me. i enjoy creating, i like making projects and creating a product. but i often feel that creating makes extra unnecessary waste, and so i don't do it very much (which is a silly thought, actually, but oh well). so this will be an exercise in creativity, through words and pictures.

there are several avenues of action that i'd like to explore, and i'll speak of them as actions because that's my weakness. acting. the thoughts run through my head but actually acting them out is where i get stuck in myself, because of myself. so here are some tags that i will be using in helping you to keep track of my ramblings:

construct - this tag will be for my philosophies, and what kinds of philosophies i'd like to live by, think of it as constructing the framework of how i'd like to live my life

create - this tag is for projects, creative projects just to make for the fun of it... mostly photos, videos

buy - consumerism is something i've not really embranced, until recently, but there's tons of good fun in it

hear - this tag is for music, some of my favorites, not so favorites

watch - this tag is for tv and movies, and random thoughts thereon...

play - this very broad tag will be for anything recreational in my life, the things that don't deal with anything other than enjoying what life has to offer

work - not a great tag to think about, but it's a part of life too

dream - i have the strangest dreams, when i'm asleep and when i'm awake

adventure - this will be reserved for special occassions i'm planning for the specific purpose of exploring a new side of life, my hope is that being able to document and share these forays into areas of life i've not yet experienced will keep me motivated to not get myself stuck in my routine

if you're reading this you'll learn a little more about... not who i am, but about who i think i would like to be. i think too often people are defined by what they've done or accomplished, and i like to see people by what they're going to do. whether they actually do it or not is unimportant, but it's the striving for that goal that makes a person be. but... to be honest, primarily this blog is just for me, sorry. haha, nah, hopefully it'll give me a chance to do some creative expression and maybe make you laugh every once in awhile.

also.... i was bored.