Must be nice to have a job that gives you access to Rush when they play Great Woods (sorry, I refuse to avoid calling this beautiful outdoor venue its official corporate name).
That's my college roommate Gold (right) with Rush vocalist/bassist Geddy Lee when Rush was in town last week.
Some bands sing about love. Some bands sing about colors. Some bands sing about both. Some bands use colors as metaphors to describe love. Some bands sing the blues but never mention colors. Some bands are red-hot live but average on album.
Here are the all-time Top 10 songs with a color in their title:
10. Rush - Red Barchetta
Song ebbs and flows like a Formula 1 race.
9. The Who - Blue, Red and Grey
Townshend lyrics at their best on deep, forgotten track.
8. Jimi Hendrix - Purple Haze
Got those amps up to 11?
7. Doobie Brothers - Black Water
Classic track from good-time '70s band.
6. Bob Dylan - Tangled up in Blue
Leading a master class in songwriting.
5. Sugarloaf - Green-Eyed Lady
Pop hit that is highly underrated and complex.
4. Allman Brothers - Blue Sky
Break out the Frisbee and crack open a Heineken.
3. AC/DC - Back in Black
One of the all-time great rock intros.
2. Neil Young - After the Gold Rush
There was a band playing in my head...
1. The Who - Behind Blue Eyes
Townsend lyrics, Daltrey delivery: Any questions?
In my iPod, Jefferson Airplane still takes flight.
Kudos, David Cook.
I don't mind being wrong.
All is well with the world.
America got it right.
Here's how it goes: David Archuleta will win American Idol VII, but it's David Cook's album I'll be buying and whose concert I'll attend. Both singers are wildly talented, but it comes down to musical taste — does America want a pop star or a rock star? Is tonight's result a Clay Aiken or a Chris Daughtry makeup call? The horrendous boxing theme aside, this was the best finale to date. Here's the order of how the two finalists performed last night, with the odds of winning it all tonight:
1. David Archuleta
You have to admit this kid is a phenomenal singer. Vocally, he's nearly flawless with each performance. "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me," which, by the way, may have been Aiken's best performance in Season 2, was a great song choice and shows even more range than we've previously seen. Closing with "Imagine" was smart. Really shows he wants this. Clearly well-prepared and delivers with precision and passion. It's amazing he's just 17.
Odds of winning: 2-1
2. David Cook
Would like him to win, but realistically can't see it happening. Judges gushing over Archuleta won't help in the voting. Terrific performances with U2 and Collective Soul covers, and makes a brand new song ("Dream Day") interesting. Would have a better chance if he had picked something more familar for his closer, but like he said, this is about "progressing." Like Daughtry, Cook will sell a lot of records and make an impact on today's rock scene.
Odds of winning: 5-1
Does America want a pop star, a rock star or a soul singer as its next American Idol? Here's the order of how the three finalists performed last night, with the odds of winning it all next week:
1. David Cook
Spine-tingling version of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is the song of the night and vaults him into the final. Diverse talent who continually takes risks and delivers. Switchfoot track is just OK but he finishes strong with Aerosmith ballad. The one to beat. Would be nice to see a real rocker win Idol.
Odds of winning: 3-1
2. David Archuleta
Flawless effort with Billy Joel and Dan Fogelberg covers, although accompanying vocals dilute purity of "Longer." Hated the Chris Brown version as it's just not his thing. Licking his lips and closing his eyes gets a little annoying. Does dad notice this? David vs. David makes for the most compelling final since Bo vs. Carrie.
Odds of winning: 4-1
3. Syesha Mercado (bye, bye)
Typical song choice that confirms we've seen this before. Alicia Keys, Rhianna and yet another cover of "Fever" do nothing to show her originality. I do think she's the best performer of the three and the most polished, but she's typical of past Idol stars. Looks great and sounds great, but she's in the wrong season.
Odds of winning: 10-1
Let us put men and women together
See which one is smarter
Some say men, but I say no
Women run the men like a puppet show
It ain't me
It's the people that say
Men are leading the women astray
But I say, it's the women today
Smarter than the man in every way
Little boy sit on the corner and cry
Old man come and he asked him why
He said, "I can't do what the big boys do"
The old man sat down and he cried too
Ever since the world began
Women been banned from the ways of man
Listen boy cuz I've got a plan
Give it up, don't try and understand
That's right
The women are smarter
That's right
The women are smarter
That's right
The women are smarter
Smarter than a man in every way
— Bob Weir, 1981
(Happy Mother's Day.)
With all of the money that American Idol brings in, can someone splurge and get Syesha a tissue? Here's the order of how the four finalists performed last night, with the odds of winning it all in two weeks:
1. David Archuleta
Mr. Consistent is the only one to sing two flawless performances with "Stand By Me" and "Love Me Tender," the latter of which is one of his trademark emotional deliveries. The likable little teddy bear sails through and starts prepping for a showdown with Mr. Cook.
Odds of winning: 3-1
2. David Cook
OK. So the grunge version of Duran Duran's "Hungry Like the Wolf" isn't the best song choice but his haunting version of "Baba O'Riley" re-establishes him as the One to Beat. Nice to see the Who get some Idol play. Bar was high given the theme, but popular rocker delivers.
Odds of winning: 2-1
3. Syesha Mercado
Between the tears and Castro's Catastrophe, she finds herself in the Top 3. "Proud Mary" is a bit gimmicky (nice legs, though) but "A Change is Gonna Come" has a show-stopping, spine-tingling finish. Comparing AI to the Civil Rights Movement is an odd comment.
Odds of winning: 20-1
4. Jason Castro (bye, bye)
He sticks around one week too long and embarrasses himself in front of millions. Forgetting an entire verse of "Mr. Tambourine Man" is unforgivable. Esoteric arrangement of "I Shot the Sheriff" doesn't work. Painful to watch. Where's Chuck Barris' gong?
Odds of winning: 75-1
So Jason Castro sings once and Paula judges him for two songs. Better check that glass of Coca-Cola. Here's the order of how the five finalists performed last night, with the odds of winning it all in three weeks:
1. David Cook
Grinds out mean guitar version of "I'm Alive" and settles into an '80s-style rock ballad with "All I Really Need." Looking more like the American Idol with each performance as he establishes an image of professional unpredictably. Front-runner.
Odds of winning: 3-1
2. Syesha Mercado
New hairstyle and softer personality. Would have had her first as she delivers best performance of the night with "Hello Again," but loses points for throw-away gospel brunch version of "Thank the Lord for the Night Time." Should get through but there are no givens.
Odds of winning: 15-1
3. David Archuleta
The problem here is that he has been terrific since Day One. Unlike the others, there's little, if any, room for improvement. Visible growth draws votes. Delivers campy version of "Sweet Caroline" and superb patriotic arrangement of "America." Gearing up for a David-David final.
Odds of winning: 3-1
4. Jason Castro
At this stage, singers need to deliver "wow" moments. Does not have the ability to do anything exceptional. Sings cool, low-key versions of "Forever in Blue Jeans" and "September Morn." Teeny-bopper votes continue to roll in but he's no match for the front-runners.
Odds of winning: 25-1
5. Brooke White (bye, bye)
Night and day performances. Sings "I'm a Believer" karaoke-style but turns it around with passionate piano version of "I Am ... I Said." Admits to writing lyrics on her hand. Sweet voice but she must be pinching herself with the introspective question: "I'm actually still singing in this competition?"
Odds of winning: 35-1
One of the best Christmas gifts I've received over the last few years are my Bose QuietComfort 2 Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones.
As a daily commuter, these put me in my own world, oblivious to the chatterboxes and snorers who squeeze into the seats around me on the train.
Plugged into my iPod, I can either listen to Alison Krauss or Uriah Heep, or I can just listen to nothing.
When you turn these on, a special noise-cancelling feature creates a woomp-like sound that makes distracting noises fade away. It's the feeling of being on a secluded beach at dawn.
I forgot my headphones one day last week and I realized how addicted to these I am. Noises on the train seemed louder and the journey seemed much longer than usual.
Thank-you, Bose. And thank-you, Francine.
