Even though I’m not a huge fan of
the show, I can honestly say that American Idol is becoming one of those
star-making venues that has a finger on the pulse of music trends, stylistic
aberrations and even some unique songwriting talent. It is worthwhile to sit in
on both the auditions and the actual weekly contests of potential
winners-to-be. Just last night I watched the final 20 round and I definitely
had a few favorites that just may make it even if they drop out of the
competition by next week. One singer/guitarist who normally writes his own
songs is Alejandro Aranda who looks like and has been a street musician. His
outside the lines songwriting and song choices are exercises in breaking all
the rules of music and getting away with it on an almost genius level. His
version of I Fall Apart by Post Malone was reminiscent of his own writing style
and showed the world what his potential will be in the long run.
Ashley Hess did a version of John Mayer’s Dreaming With a Broken Heart that literally does that. It is a song
that makes you think about the human state of longing for love and learning to
live without it that makes you choke up inside. Her version sounded a little
dreamy and when I ran it over again I realized she took the song to the level
it should have been at- a half awake and still dreaming rendition I’ll not soon
forget.
Another contestant that I’m extremely impressed with is Kate Barnette, a
23 year old nanny from Georgia.
Even though her song didn’t match her Rickie Lee Jones look- of whom she could
be a twin- she sang Maroon 5’s Sunday
Morning like it was written by Rickie. This girl not only has an extremely
versatile and unique voice but she channeled Rickie like a Hollywood star and
most likely will make movies- musical or non-musical, with the aplomb of
Streisand, Midler and McClaine.
In closing, I would like to do a shout out to Alejandro. I have some
lyrics for a song I think you might like to add music to when you find the
time. The name of the song lyrics are Someone
Stepped on Her Heart. Sound interesting? Let me know.
The
Castle Lady
with a
song in my heart !
