I know you want it....American Idol Predictions!

Ok. It is no secret that I have been a die-hard American Idol [Sometimes even geekily refered to as A.I.] since its inception. It has been quite a task restraining myself from putting in my 2-3 cents on the contestants. But, people, it's getting down to the wire [TOP 6] so there is no time like the present to vent on who I think will make it! The following post will be my rundown on the contestants. If you know me at all, you will know that I am really a Taylor Hicks kinda gal, so I will start with him and go in their order of greatness!

1. Taylor Hicks- I love him. If I had cataracts and a slight astigmatism, I may regard him to be the poor man's George Clooney. I realize that he is probobly a whole lot older than he claims to be [29, my ass] but I love him! He has a Joe Cockery, Tom Waitsy kinda quality that makes him kinda marketable. I mean clearly he is never going to have the same fan base as previous American Idol winners, thus his appeal! I mean I have never bought a Rueben Studdard or a Fantasia album [although I did see her open for Kanye], but I will be first in line to buy his. I dig the not characteristically pleasing voices. I have one. I relate.

2. Elliot Yamin- I realize, once again, that he is not that attractive. In fact he has some jacked up teeth, but he can sing like no one's business. Although I realize that the industry is very image based, I think he has a chance. His renditions of Stevie Wonder really solidified it for me. My only drawback for Mr. Yamin is that he sometimes when he is singing his eyes seem to bulge out of his head like he is choking on something. It is nothing that a little coaching couldn't cure. He also made Paula cry, which leads me to believe that they are sleeping together and he is quite the heartbreaker. Score two more points for Mr. Yamin.

3. Katherine McPhee- I really do enjoy her. I think she has a gorgeous voice. It's not particularly a voice that I would buy an album for, but I would definitely see her on broadway. Her image may be a little too squeaky. She for some reason or another reminds me of the live-action version of Belle from Beauty and The Beast. Like it would not be uncharacteristic for her to break out into song and dance with an ottoman and a teapot. Just another day in the life of Miss McPhee. [TANGENT:I also think that the fact that they already have coined a slogan for her "Caught the McPheever" may prove to be a deathwish. Lest we forget the catchiness of "Ace is a winning hand." ]

4. Chris Daughtry- I think he will likely be in the top 2. He is very commercially pleasing, which is why he is not my favorite. He kinda sounds like every other Staind/
Nickelback/Hoobastank band that is out there. The bands that I really can't tell apart at this point. I give him points for his creative facial hair patterns [TANGENT: He went above and beyond the standard "flavor saver" or the "soul patch" to explore bold new avenues like the very chic wavy sideburn/ shaved head combo. I am not ashamed to say that I am a fan.] He is great at song choice which is why he has gotten this far!

5. Paris Bennett- I know this girl has a gorgeous voice, but i just cannot handle her. She is only 16 but bounces between adolescent schoolgirl and 40 year old diva all depending on which weave she has chosen to wear that day! She also knows she's great which is completely unnerving to me. [TANGENT: She reminds me of some people I have known in my time. The types that sing in full opera voice along to the car radio, and when you chime in completely try to drown you out. I don't think it is insecurity or jealousy, I think it is annoyance that makes me dislike this type of person.] She also acts like a complete moron everytime Ryan interviews her, which I attibute to her age. I don't think America in good conscious will allow a minor to win this competition.

Speaking of moron...

6. Kelly Pickler- I cannot tell a lie, I really liked her in the beginning. This girl is a producer's dream. She has the best sob story. Her mom ran out on her family, her dad is in prison and she has the cutest grandpa that has raised her in North Carolina all by himself and is always there with his little "Pick Pickler" shirt. [Once again...I think the adorable slogan could be the nail in the coffin.] Every week I just yell at the television, knowing her moronic comments ["whats a ballsy?"] are what is keeping her in. My only guess is country fans are keeping her in, but she doesn't have the stage presense to make it in that genre. Her dead eyes make it seem like someone roofied her before she stepped out on stage [I point the finger at Randy Jackson or a belligerant Bucky Cunningham!] This might explain the flat notes and seemingly moronic comments. I have been to North Carolina and I know they have school there.

Ok. So it seems that I am all sour grapes. I must say, I have no singing talent at all. I am just a loyal fan or trashy reality TV!

High Art vs. Low Art

Lately, I have been kinda into documentaries. Thanks to my parent's giving in and subscribing to on demand cable [TANGENT: my dad subscribes to this service yet still only watches CBS, CNN, and MSNBC. I think on the off chance that there is a good western on, he will fork over the extra cash a month] and the extra time on my hands, I basically have seen every documentary that tickles my fancy. I think I like them because I am so damn nosey!

Today I watched two. One was on IFC and it was about Chinese sweatshop workers that made Mardi Gras beads and the other [which I LOVED!] was called "My Date with Drew" and was about this guy who won $1,100 on the game show pilot for "Taboo" with the winning answer "Drew Barrymore." He had always had a crush on the star so he gave himself a 30 day deadline to meet her, taking the answer as a sign from God and the $1,100 as seed money for the documentary. I highly recommend it.

Anyway-- I digress, while I was watching it, I got really into it. Similarly to how I feel when I am watching a really good episode of "The Real World" or even "The Bachelor." I was trying to figure out why this documentary is given the pretentious, and kind of offputting title of "documentary," while the shows I like to watch are slapped with the title "reality tv" and not particularly taken seriously by anyone in the ritzy art community [TANGENT: I know this community fairly well. All through college I straddled the line as being an art kid. I never was able to turn in a pile of bent sticks smeared with guacamole and human hair and say in some way it dealt with all the injustice in the world. That is just not how I am. I get symbolism and I respect people's work, but my vision sometimes is just too mainstream. DAMN THE MEDIA!] . I started thinking about what my Survey of Popular Culture teacher Dr. Dunne taught us-- the difference between High Art and Low Art. The example I remember is the Mona Lisa is high art...while the mona lisa wearing sunglasses on a greeting card at Spencers would be low art.

I cannot be elitist. I have tried and frankly, its just not as much fun. I love sushi, but I also like sonic. I would have to say that this documentary satisfied both those cravings.