Dear Jellyteeth,
Oh, boy. I am finally watching Idol. Whatta week. I've consumed too much alcohol this week. I have no answers for you. I only have questions. I'm "live blogging" to my DVR this week. This is gonna be a bad letter.
Overall question - why isn't Miley Cyrus wearing pants in her role as Mentor?
1. WHY is Hangdog doing a cruise-ship Harry Conick Jr rendition of "The Letter?"
(And what does Randy mean when he said he "knocked it out of the box?" And thank you, Simon, for once again being the lone voice of reason among the judgery. Because that was SO corny. He should have just performed the That 70s Show theme song if he wanted to piss off dead Alex Chilton.)
2. When did Paige forget how to sing, and also how to use consonants? ("Just the memory of your faaaaayyaaahh...")
3. Why why why had Tim Urban waited so long to pull a "slide into home" move like that? He is officially my density of this season. He is the new Megan Joy. He's going to continue to pull weird, cheeseball moves because it's all he's got.
4. Aaron - he's wearing girl jeans. With Miley Cryrus. He's wearing her jeans. He snuck into her trailer, spritzed himself with her perfume, had a bit of a roll around in her clothes and snagged 'em. THAT'S why she's not wearing pants. He took 'em! BraVO, Miley, the mentoring must go on. Just put on those sansapants pants and OK, now I'm getting some answers!
5. Beavherloks: OH MY GOD, singing Janis Joplin? Could you be more obvious, Beav? Next.
6. Big Mike. All I can see is Nell Carter. You're a genius, Jellyteeth. Give me a break. I don't remember anything he sang, and I just finished watching.
7. Fauxkey! Oh, he is making a Marvin Gaye song stiff. Why would he go and do a thing like that?
I liked the hair washing dance he did to illustrate "just about to loowowosooz my mind" though.
8. Miss Teen CT is going to sing the one really boring Fergie song there is. I can't. I fastforward. Why does my skin feel so oily today? Hmm, time for a mask.
9. Casey! Ringletted Eddie Vedder. What will he do? Oh. God. Oh God this could be amazing. "The Power Of Love." And I already made a Back To The Future joke! Yess. Wow, this is cheesy. He is laughing at himself. He is flanked by two muscular guitar players who are OWNING the pelvic thrusting. What?
10. Didi. Will she make snarl face? Yes! She is looking extra Julie Cooper tonight. Ryan called her "Didi Bonimi" banana fanna fo fimi. Thanks, Ryan.
11. Oh, boy, how sill Siobhan bring the weird tonight? I hope it is brilliant. GIVE ME SOMEONE TO ROOT FOR, show! Her hair is like a punk rock Bride of Frankenstein. Bride of Frankenstein by way of The Fabulous Stains. I'm Siobhan and I don't put out!
Anyway, I'm sorry, Jellyteeth, this was a bad letter. It was almost as bad of a letter as Hangdog's "The Letter." I'm lost without you.
The only thing I miss more than you right now is Megan Joy. Megan Joy and the whistle-peeping.
Caw, caw!
Cold Cuts
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Bon Voyage, Jellyteeth
Dear Jellyteeth,
I already miss you. While you're off making noise up and down my beloved west coast for a week, I'll be writing to you about American Idol. Perhaps you could send me a postcard from the road? Or maybe you can mail me a cocktail from Clyde Common. Just shove it in a box and slap a stamp on it. The postal worker won't mind. And I'm not above sucking on cardboard.
I didn't watch last night's episode yet, as I was too busy drowning my sorrows about your impending departure. But I hear that your favorite hangdog sang "The Letter." A fitting tribute for Alex Chilton, I'm sure. I'm looking forward to hearing what advice Miley Cyrus' perky round cheeks have to give to the contestants. I'll watch it to night after I celebrate your girl's 30th bday without you.
Safe travels, happy guitar feedback!
-Cold Cuts
I already miss you. While you're off making noise up and down my beloved west coast for a week, I'll be writing to you about American Idol. Perhaps you could send me a postcard from the road? Or maybe you can mail me a cocktail from Clyde Common. Just shove it in a box and slap a stamp on it. The postal worker won't mind. And I'm not above sucking on cardboard.
I didn't watch last night's episode yet, as I was too busy drowning my sorrows about your impending departure. But I hear that your favorite hangdog sang "The Letter." A fitting tribute for Alex Chilton, I'm sure. I'm looking forward to hearing what advice Miley Cyrus' perky round cheeks have to give to the contestants. I'll watch it to night after I celebrate your girl's 30th bday without you.
Safe travels, happy guitar feedback!
-Cold Cuts
Monday, March 22, 2010
Weak one is RIGHT
Dear Cold Cuts,
Well, this episode went about how I expected. A lot of grody outfits, uncomfortable vocal adventures, and the confirmation that Aaron Kelly is ridiculously gay - though tonight, he threw us all a curveball when announced (via his hairstyle) that he's actually a lesbian. I did not see that one coming.
So, let’s get onto the performance craptacular, shall we?
Big Mike: okay, I’ll admit up front that I’m one million percent biased about “Miss You”. It probably sits somewhere on my Top 100 Favorite Songs Ever – in no small part because it takes a very simple concept and expresses the concept in a very simple, straightforward, un-self-conscious manner, and then is set to music that doesn’t try to express that concept. I’ve been working on a cover of this song for months, and I’m still not happy with the approach, mostly because I can hear someone like Greg Dulli doing a gospel-soaked, tortured, screaming-himself-hoarse, 45-to-33rpms version that would blow us all away, and I’ll never make it sound as good as he could, so maybe I should just get practical, and instead work on writing a convincing letter to him pleading that he record and release his own cover, because christ, why hasn’t HE thought of this yet, it’s so fucking obvious, to, like, EVERYBODY.
So taking the aforementioned into account, I think I’m evaluating the performance objectively when I point out that Big Mike A) stupidly arranged the song in such a way that anyone happening to overhear him might think “huh, I don’t remember Higher Ground sounding so LAME” and B) looked like a gross bald version of Nell Carter while he did it:
Didi: I think you covered the obvious points. I do want to say that, while Didi’s probably the voice that I enjoy the most out of all these assholes, she made me VERY anxious this week. She warbled all over the place, reached for notes she doesn’t really hang out with that often, and I kept waiting for her to collapse in a heap of snarls and unflattering vibrato. Beyond that, the stylists somehow managed to age her like 20 years - which worked for me; there was something very Julie Cooper about the look (down n’ out trailer park era JC.) Cold Cuts, you know I like a trashy woman, so I wasn’t complaining…but I could see it turning off the voters a smidge. Also, while I can appreciate the spirit of her arrangement – attempting to set Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive" somewhere in the 1977 – it came across like something horrible you’d see on stage at the Renn Faire, if you ever went to the Renn Faire.
Also, this song should only be sung by a dude. Not yellin just sayin.
Gozer: speaking of Renn Faire, jesus christ. I didn't think anyone could out-gay Aaron, but her version of Ruby Tuesday was like a Wild Wild West tranny prostitute doing street theater. Everything I just said is basically how I view the Renn Faire. Also, I hate her guts. I'm so tired of her Sharon Osbourne hair and glittery eyes and off-shoulder tops and absent personality. I can't wait for her to sit on a knife, or at least get voted off the show.
Tim Urban: This kid is like a much preppier Eric Stoltz, a fact that is NOT to his credit. That name also drives me crazy - is it like a Dave Matthews reference or something? Oh, you're going to do a shitty "reggae" version of a shitty song? That's great, thanks. Sounds shitty and is more or less shitty. The show isn't called Teen Idol (although sometimes it oughtta be.) #donglisted.
Lee Dewyze: Dude, I *still* don't believe that's how your name is spelled. I think you ran the original through a Juggalo Name Generator and DEWYZE is what came out, and you thought it suited that corny "I've been a very bad dog AGAIN and I'm very sorry" face you're always making. Also Liana pointed out that you sound like Adam Duritz, a statement that is both completely true and completely off-putting for me.
All that being said, I sorta root for him as a person. You can tell he only hears the negative comments he gets, and you're like "dude - believe in yourself a little! They love you! They're telling you the good shit!" I'm sure that the instant he displays a shred of self-confidence, I'll hate him without mercy.
Aaron "Disney Gay" Kelly: I'm just gonna quote KB here, when she so accurately remarked "I think he's doing the Tori Amos version of the song. This is awful." Nuff said.
Beaverlockx: you were spot-on with your breakdown; I have nothing to add. Also, thanks for bringing up 4 Non-Blondes, who trigger a very specific rage in me.
I'm sharing your disappointments - particularly Ellen, who apparently just finished up the fall semester at SMCC, where Randy teaches part-time ("Public Speaking 4.3: Talking Without Purpose or Meaning".) Regardless of who gets the axe, I'm rooting for the following scenario: Tim Urban to be placed onstage Wednesday night wearing nothing but Chippendale's attire. "Musical" guest Ke$ha strolls out onto the stage dressed like a succubus, and struts around him boldly, holding a pitchfork. After a few spanks and caresses, she spears him through the heart, and he dies on live national broadcast.
Also, I guess I want Lacey to go home.
Yours 'til Niagara Falls,
-Jellyteeth
Well, this episode went about how I expected. A lot of grody outfits, uncomfortable vocal adventures, and the confirmation that Aaron Kelly is ridiculously gay - though tonight, he threw us all a curveball when announced (via his hairstyle) that he's actually a lesbian. I did not see that one coming.
So, let’s get onto the performance craptacular, shall we?
Big Mike: okay, I’ll admit up front that I’m one million percent biased about “Miss You”. It probably sits somewhere on my Top 100 Favorite Songs Ever – in no small part because it takes a very simple concept and expresses the concept in a very simple, straightforward, un-self-conscious manner, and then is set to music that doesn’t try to express that concept. I’ve been working on a cover of this song for months, and I’m still not happy with the approach, mostly because I can hear someone like Greg Dulli doing a gospel-soaked, tortured, screaming-himself-hoarse, 45-to-33rpms version that would blow us all away, and I’ll never make it sound as good as he could, so maybe I should just get practical, and instead work on writing a convincing letter to him pleading that he record and release his own cover, because christ, why hasn’t HE thought of this yet, it’s so fucking obvious, to, like, EVERYBODY.
So taking the aforementioned into account, I think I’m evaluating the performance objectively when I point out that Big Mike A) stupidly arranged the song in such a way that anyone happening to overhear him might think “huh, I don’t remember Higher Ground sounding so LAME” and B) looked like a gross bald version of Nell Carter while he did it:
Didi: I think you covered the obvious points. I do want to say that, while Didi’s probably the voice that I enjoy the most out of all these assholes, she made me VERY anxious this week. She warbled all over the place, reached for notes she doesn’t really hang out with that often, and I kept waiting for her to collapse in a heap of snarls and unflattering vibrato. Beyond that, the stylists somehow managed to age her like 20 years - which worked for me; there was something very Julie Cooper about the look (down n’ out trailer park era JC.) Cold Cuts, you know I like a trashy woman, so I wasn’t complaining…but I could see it turning off the voters a smidge. Also, while I can appreciate the spirit of her arrangement – attempting to set Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive" somewhere in the 1977 – it came across like something horrible you’d see on stage at the Renn Faire, if you ever went to the Renn Faire.
Also, this song should only be sung by a dude. Not yellin just sayin.
Gozer: speaking of Renn Faire, jesus christ. I didn't think anyone could out-gay Aaron, but her version of Ruby Tuesday was like a Wild Wild West tranny prostitute doing street theater. Everything I just said is basically how I view the Renn Faire. Also, I hate her guts. I'm so tired of her Sharon Osbourne hair and glittery eyes and off-shoulder tops and absent personality. I can't wait for her to sit on a knife, or at least get voted off the show.
Tim Urban: This kid is like a much preppier Eric Stoltz, a fact that is NOT to his credit. That name also drives me crazy - is it like a Dave Matthews reference or something? Oh, you're going to do a shitty "reggae" version of a shitty song? That's great, thanks. Sounds shitty and is more or less shitty. The show isn't called Teen Idol (although sometimes it oughtta be.) #donglisted.
Lee Dewyze: Dude, I *still* don't believe that's how your name is spelled. I think you ran the original through a Juggalo Name Generator and DEWYZE is what came out, and you thought it suited that corny "I've been a very bad dog AGAIN and I'm very sorry" face you're always making. Also Liana pointed out that you sound like Adam Duritz, a statement that is both completely true and completely off-putting for me.
All that being said, I sorta root for him as a person. You can tell he only hears the negative comments he gets, and you're like "dude - believe in yourself a little! They love you! They're telling you the good shit!" I'm sure that the instant he displays a shred of self-confidence, I'll hate him without mercy.
Aaron "Disney Gay" Kelly: I'm just gonna quote KB here, when she so accurately remarked "I think he's doing the Tori Amos version of the song. This is awful." Nuff said.
Beaverlockx: you were spot-on with your breakdown; I have nothing to add. Also, thanks for bringing up 4 Non-Blondes, who trigger a very specific rage in me.
I'm sharing your disappointments - particularly Ellen, who apparently just finished up the fall semester at SMCC, where Randy teaches part-time ("Public Speaking 4.3: Talking Without Purpose or Meaning".) Regardless of who gets the axe, I'm rooting for the following scenario: Tim Urban to be placed onstage Wednesday night wearing nothing but Chippendale's attire. "Musical" guest Ke$ha strolls out onto the stage dressed like a succubus, and struts around him boldly, holding a pitchfork. After a few spanks and caresses, she spears him through the heart, and he dies on live national broadcast.
Also, I guess I want Lacey to go home.
Yours 'til Niagara Falls,
-Jellyteeth
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Weak One
Dear Jellyteeth,
As expected, Week 1 of the Top 12 was lackluster. I accurately remember few of the contestants' names, and almost all of the good nicknames have already been kicked off. I kinda remember, or may have invented, some vaguely interesting allusions to sibling rivalry in the home interviews. I do acutely remember feeling ripped off by the producers for conspiring to keep Kara's Jagger rooster strut off-camera. Because you KNOW it happened at least during Fauxkey's "Gimme Shelter." She strutted about WAR. Can I have some green beer now?
Anyway, here is what I remember about the actual performances:
Big Mike: Actually, I'm going to let you swing at this - since he did something with your beloved "Miss You."
Didi: I decided I can't stand her. She interviewed that she is a middle sister and she is the "artistic, dreamy" one. Subtext: "I'm the hot, special one." Total bitchslap to her sisters, wutt!? Then she wandered around the stage singing "Play With Fire" making angy faces that she thinks are sexy because she doesn't really know what to do with her own hotness and no one has ever told her she looks ridiculous. You can't snarl the word "Knightsbridge," okay? It is where Harrod's and Harvey Nicks is. What's threatening or sexy there? Um, nothing. It's like snarling about East 88th St or the Central Park Boathouse.
As expected, Week 1 of the Top 12 was lackluster. I accurately remember few of the contestants' names, and almost all of the good nicknames have already been kicked off. I kinda remember, or may have invented, some vaguely interesting allusions to sibling rivalry in the home interviews. I do acutely remember feeling ripped off by the producers for conspiring to keep Kara's Jagger rooster strut off-camera. Because you KNOW it happened at least during Fauxkey's "Gimme Shelter." She strutted about WAR. Can I have some green beer now?
Anyway, here is what I remember about the actual performances:
Big Mike: Actually, I'm going to let you swing at this - since he did something with your beloved "Miss You."
Didi: I decided I can't stand her. She interviewed that she is a middle sister and she is the "artistic, dreamy" one. Subtext: "I'm the hot, special one." Total bitchslap to her sisters, wutt!? Then she wandered around the stage singing "Play With Fire" making angy faces that she thinks are sexy because she doesn't really know what to do with her own hotness and no one has ever told her she looks ridiculous. You can't snarl the word "Knightsbridge," okay? It is where Harrod's and Harvey Nicks is. What's threatening or sexy there? Um, nothing. It's like snarling about East 88th St or the Central Park Boathouse.
Katie: Blech, of course she is from Connecticut, that bastion of prissy, beige mediocrity and self-satisfaction. I wish she would just chuck on her Tory Burch logo flats and go back home. And also, quit smiling. Not even worth posting her video.
Tim Urban (is that his name): He really Jason Mrazed the Stones, didn'ee? What song did he sing? Who cares. The only interesting part about his segment was the home interview when his less talented brother basically made sure America knows that he beats Tim up with his muscles whenever he wants, because he can.
Siobhan: Um, and of course she has a Gashlycrumb Tinies tattoo. Between that, and the rest of her quirky goth-lite outfit, and singing "Paint It Black," I very nearly giggled. I guess this was a highlight? The whole thing reminded me of the performance art scene in She's All That, a movie I cannot abide. In retrospect, it would have been pretty cool if Tim Urban had come back on stage at the end to improvise a ditty about hacky-sack while she looked on, freshly bespectacled and shoulders slouched forward so that we could all forget she has breasts. Also, comparisons to Glambert by the judgery: NO.
Beaverlox: I mean. Whatever. I left the room to take a shower after she started going full-Linda Perry with her face. I had to wash it off. You knew she had it in her. Can't Beaverlox just skip this part of her career and start producing fun P!nk albums already? Compare, if you dare:
Finally, lame way to end the show. Lame song choice on both the singer and the show. If they ended with this, why didn't they just lead with Fauxkey and be all literal about Let It Bleed?
Overall disappointments: Ellen is officially a waste of space and airtime. No one chose something perverse and amazing and unexpected. Big Mike on "2000 Lightyears From Home" perhaps? Katie dressed in a Hell's Angels' jacket and fishnets to belt "Sympathy For The Devil?" Now THAT'S entertainment.
Overall delights: Because I watched it on my DVR and skipped all the filler it only took an hour. Okay, fine, I really liked many of the interviews with the parents. Many were genuinely proud and deeply humbled by their child's success and I found that touching. (Others are from Connecticut.) I also love that several of the contestants (Fauxkey, Siobhan, Beaverlox) are genuinely talented outsiders who made this far to Idol without financial resources, vocal coaches or Sparkle Motion. (Another is from Connecticut.) Let's hope the talented underdogs can do something good next week.
I have no guesses about who will go home tonight. You?
Your queen of the underground,
Cold Cuts
Dear Cold Cuts,
Jellyteeth here with a rather late check-in. Sorry to keep you waiting, hope you didn't mind.
ANYway. I'm so with you on the drudgery that is this season's Idol. There's a part of me that hopes when we get down to like 8 contestants, the voters deadlock every week over and over, because no one deserves to win. Who's there to root for in this bunch? I can't get excited about Beaverlox's love letters to Alanis. I'm already weary of Andy Fauxkey's crappy, schmaltzy female pop covers. And don't even get me started on that little gay Disney Channel reject kid - you know, the one who can't wait to celebrate his next birthday at a taping of Hannah Montana. Something funny happens whenever I attempt to focus on his zitty face - my vision gets blurry, then everything goes dark. I think it's because I fall asleep, but it's hard to say for sure.
I like the point you make earlier, about hair bands and how you'd like one to win. I'm all about voting for portions of contestants. Currently, I've got Siobhan's mouth at 3-1 odds to take it all. It kind of brings to mind the old logo for the Morton Downey Jr. Show, remember?
ANYhoo, Cold Cuts, I better get down to the business of watching this clusterfuck-fest that is fated to be Rolling Stones week. I'm betting that someone shitty takes a great song and makes it shitty. Who's gonna fail with Wild Horses? Who will think they're doing right by some gem like Miss You, when really they're just turning it into a fluffy Dee-Lite cover? Fabulous as that may sound conceptually, I've got my Debbie Downer face on for this slice of Idol.
I hope I'm wrong, Cold Cuts, I surely do. But I got this feeling, and this feeling ain't good.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Love actually,
-Jellyteeth
ANYway. I'm so with you on the drudgery that is this season's Idol. There's a part of me that hopes when we get down to like 8 contestants, the voters deadlock every week over and over, because no one deserves to win. Who's there to root for in this bunch? I can't get excited about Beaverlox's love letters to Alanis. I'm already weary of Andy Fauxkey's crappy, schmaltzy female pop covers. And don't even get me started on that little gay Disney Channel reject kid - you know, the one who can't wait to celebrate his next birthday at a taping of Hannah Montana. Something funny happens whenever I attempt to focus on his zitty face - my vision gets blurry, then everything goes dark. I think it's because I fall asleep, but it's hard to say for sure.
I like the point you make earlier, about hair bands and how you'd like one to win. I'm all about voting for portions of contestants. Currently, I've got Siobhan's mouth at 3-1 odds to take it all. It kind of brings to mind the old logo for the Morton Downey Jr. Show, remember?
ANYhoo, Cold Cuts, I better get down to the business of watching this clusterfuck-fest that is fated to be Rolling Stones week. I'm betting that someone shitty takes a great song and makes it shitty. Who's gonna fail with Wild Horses? Who will think they're doing right by some gem like Miss You, when really they're just turning it into a fluffy Dee-Lite cover? Fabulous as that may sound conceptually, I've got my Debbie Downer face on for this slice of Idol.
I hope I'm wrong, Cold Cuts, I surely do. But I got this feeling, and this feeling ain't good.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Love actually,
-Jellyteeth
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Dear Jelly Teeth,
Do you mind if I call you Jellyteeth? I prefer it, and I'm just gonna do it.
I'm not particularly excited about the Top 12 this season. http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/season_9/
Do you think anyone will approach the delight of DeadWife's Screech Heard Around The World? There are few things that I enjoy more than comeuppance, and I got it when that smug kiss-ass finally and spectacularly failed. It sure is a dish best served loud.
I still can't help but roll around and giggle in a schadenfreude fit:
I probably shouldn't do that in the office.
I'm not sure that any of these bozos are capable of delicious failure largely because I don't think any of them are hatable enough. Like, who cares? I can barely remember their names. I remember some of the girls' hairdos, but two of the best ones were kicked off last week. I'd like to vote for an all hair band featuring girl-group harmonies and the respective mops of Lilly, Katelyn and Lacey.
Anyway, Jellyteeth, at least tonight IS Rolling Stones night and this milquetoast crew should be just lame enough to amsue. Man, bets on who's gonna do Jagger's rooster strut? I bet Lacey is desperate enough to try it, but I sure hope it's Katie. Oh, God, nope, it's gonna be Kara.
I'll wait for your letter.
Dialing it up to 11 just for you,
Cold Cuts
I'm not particularly excited about the Top 12 this season. http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/season_9/
Do you think anyone will approach the delight of DeadWife's Screech Heard Around The World? There are few things that I enjoy more than comeuppance, and I got it when that smug kiss-ass finally and spectacularly failed. It sure is a dish best served loud.
I still can't help but roll around and giggle in a schadenfreude fit:
I probably shouldn't do that in the office.
I'm not sure that any of these bozos are capable of delicious failure largely because I don't think any of them are hatable enough. Like, who cares? I can barely remember their names. I remember some of the girls' hairdos, but two of the best ones were kicked off last week. I'd like to vote for an all hair band featuring girl-group harmonies and the respective mops of Lilly, Katelyn and Lacey.
Anyway, Jellyteeth, at least tonight IS Rolling Stones night and this milquetoast crew should be just lame enough to amsue. Man, bets on who's gonna do Jagger's rooster strut? I bet Lacey is desperate enough to try it, but I sure hope it's Katie. Oh, God, nope, it's gonna be Kara.
I'll wait for your letter.
Dialing it up to 11 just for you,
Cold Cuts
Thursday, March 11, 2010
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