Yes, I am a diehard American Idol fan (although I didn't watch the first season as that was when I was still in college and had a life outside of blogging and watching TV :) ). I am an even bigger fan of Carrie Underwood. She is such a pretty girl-America's new sweetheart-and not only that she knows how to style herself. She's not over-the-top with anything (in stark contrast to others in the country biz-say Wynonna Judd, Gretchen Wilson, countless others). It's laid-back California cool-from a small-town girl from the South.

Layer a couple of colored camis, accent with a few pieces of pretty jewelry and top it off with a cute metallic bag. Nothing high maintenance here. Carrie's look prove you don't have to overthink an outfit. Layer classics in complementing colors (solids are great for this and stretch a long way in a wardrobe). Voila! Consider yourself a member of the simple sophisticate club.

[Photo Credit: Anthony-Visschedyk/Pacific Coast News]

I'm staring out into the night,
Trying to hide the pain.
I'm going to the place where love
And feeling good don't ever cost a thing.
And the pain you feel's a different kind of pain.

Well I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old,
So I'm going home.
Well I'm going home.

The miles are getting longer, it seems,
The closer I get to you.
I've not always been the best man or friend for you.
But your love, it makes true.
And I don't know why.
You always seem to give me another try.

So I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old.

Be careful what you wish for,
'Cause you just might get it all.
You just might get it all,
And then some you don't want.
Be careful what you wish for,
'Cause you just might get it all.
You just might get it all, yeah.

Oh, well I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old.
I said these places and these faces are getting old,
So I'm going home.

Listen!

[audio http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/10/22/1530694/Chris%20Daughtry%20-%20Home.mp3]

DOWNLOAD HERE!

1. The Attire – This young professor wouldn’t look bad at all, but he might not dress up either.  He could be seen wearing a dress shirt with a jacket that has patches on the elbows.  He would also wear interesting shoes such as Doc Martens or maybe even boots.  His pants were often a little baggier than the older professors as well.  No matter the day though, this professor looked cool as hell.
2. The Accessories – Dr. So and So would also have other cool features about him as well.  He might have earrings or black rimmed classes that made him look super smart.  This was the envy of many of the male students in the class who wished they could look as smart and cool as he did.
3. The Stroll – This professor could not be seen walking around campus.  He was actually never seen walking around campus.  He could definitely be seen strolling around campus though.  The young professor walked the same way that Tim Robbins does as Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption.  He strolled around campus taking in the sights, making terribly smart observations to himself and taking general pleasure in his genius.  This professor wasn’t stuck up, but rather he had…
4. The Confidence – The professor conducted himself in class with a superhuman level of confidence as a genius of his caliber should.  He would walk around the classroom gesturing with purpose while explaining Immanuel Kant’s Second Categorical Imperative.  He was able to deflect, explain and elaborate any question, especially from the obnoxious kid in the back row who took a summer class and thought he knew everything.  Cut it out, Mike.
5. The Sense of Humor – You couldn’t quite classify his sense of humor as conventional, but good God was it hilarious.  It was the dry observations and subtle interjections into the lesson that made all the guys retell the jokes later and the girls talk about their crushes on him.  For example, the professor might be an ethics professor who is discussing the morality of sexual acts, “Some people believe in sex with one person, maybe twenty seven people.  Some people believe twenty seven is too much, maybe it’s just right.”  See, that isn’t funny to anyone but two of my friends that I took ethics with.  But we thought it was the funniest thing ever.  But the point is that every student who has had a professor like this has a similar story.
6. The Legend – This might be specific only to my friends and me, but we made a list of ridiculous things that our professor’s genius was able to accomplish.  They are similar to the Chuck Norris list of facts.  Here is that list: 

(To protect the identity of this professor I will not use his real name)

• Dr. Jones gets Connect Four in one move.
• Dr. Jones’ earrings are made from Excalibur’s scabbard.
• Charles Xavier is paralyzed from the waist down because he lost to Dr. Jones in chess.
• The computer game “Myst” is based on a dream Dr. Jones had as a toddler
• Dr. Jones made a fully functional computer out of Legos.
• Dr. Jones plays golf with Socrates on the first of every month.
• Dr. Jones is the only human to successfully train a cat to fetch.
• Dr. Jones is the only person to have solved the Rubik’s Cube without touching it.
• Dr. Jones wins American Idol every year.
• Dr. Jones has a light saber… and is proficient in its use
• Dr. Jones’ cat is a saber toothed tiger
• Dr. Jones drives the car from Speed Racer.
• Event Horizon is a movie based on Dr. Jones’ fifth grade science project.
• Jurassic Park is a real place and it is Dr. Jones’ summer home.
• Beer was a gift given to humanity by Dr. Jones.
• Dr. Jones’ security system for his house is an army of Kantian robots.
• Dr. Jones is the only person allowed to use middle fingers instead of X’s and O’s in Tic Tac toe.
• Stephen Hawking is actually Dr. Jones’ pen name.

I would imagine that some of you probably don’t think these are funny.  But that’s the point.  Every person has their own experience with one of these professors who made class interesting, made you learn the material, and it made you like the material.  So thank you to all of the professors out there who fall into this category and have affected the lives of students all over the country.  I’m off to get my ears pierced and a Ph.D.

David Cook the winner of American Idol Season 7, has been busy with the American Idol's Live Tour, although he says he is making great progress on his album."I think we've for sure got seven songs we're tracking," Cook tells Billboard.com. "We're gonna try to get to around 20 I think, and work it out from there."David Cook hopes to release the album on November 19 with recordings! His big hit - first single "The Time of My Life" reached up to 966,000 downloads when it just arrived! Which Supports the Idol Tour as well! David, flew off back to L.A. to do some recording in the past he said he was quite excited and he is quite impressed where he is going with writing! Cheers for David!

(Note: If you post this photo of yourself on the Internet for public consumption, you know people like myself and IdleTard are going to use it. If you don't like it, just think about the fact you're getting 15 seconds of web fame. 15 seconds. Because things move a bit faster now than when Andy Warhol was alive so the measure in which everyone will be famous has to be adjusted for pop culture inflation.)

Yes, Ramiele has a fan base. And someone's cousin named Randall LOVES her.

And what about Twitch, when he found out he was in the bottom four? Whoa. It was like bad grade 8 party all over again, with Cat all, "come here, come here" and squatting down beside him...

Anyway, I've been scouring, absolutely SCOURING the internet for any video clips of said moments, but can't find any. What I did find is a shot of Mark's face when he found out he was safe:

It was too cute, because completely genuine. I must say, I do love Mark.

But to see Will go...that was a shocker. Honestly, I would prefer it if SYTYCD were judged to the bitter end by the PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT instead of turning into a horrible bad grade 8 (see, here we go again) popularity contest by letting "America" do the voting (I sooooo hate how Americans anthropomorphize their whole country, as in "America will decide", "What did America think?" etc.)

And don't even get me started yet on Nigel Lithgoe trying to convince people to actually VOTE. FOR. THEIR. LEADER. Nosiree. Tens of millions will vote for American Idol, but they won't vote for president.

Maybe they need to bring down a notch:

Text "BARACK" or "JOHN" to 12345 to cast your vote for president! Next episode, we find out what America said!

Hey there Detroit American Idol fans:

I am sure the Joe Louis Arena will be rocking with the sounds of our terrific Top 10 singers from the seventh season of American Idol.

Therefore, we would like to keep the party vibe alive by asking you to add your photos, videos, links, recaps, comments - whatever - to this special blog topic for the Detroit Idol experience.

You can also email me at masterclasslady@hotmail.com and I will add your links ASAP.

Have a great time tonight!

MILEY CYRUS SET TO PERFORM

Shia LaBeouf, Rachel Bilson, David Cook, Channing Tatum, David Archuleta, Lil Mama, LL Cool J, Demi Lovato, James Marsden, Katharine McPhee, Leighton Meester and Jordin Sparks To Appear

The epic online dance battle between Miley Cyrus' and Mandy Jiroux's M&M Cru and ACDC, the dance crew featuring Jon M. Chu and Adam Sevani of "Step Up 2: The Streets" is about to declare a winner when the two crews face-off at TEEN CHOICE 2008 airing Monday, Aug. 4 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. Host Miley Cyrus will also perform her new single "7 Things," joining previously announced performer Mariah Carey, who will perform her latest single "I'll Be Lovin' You Long Time."

In April 2008, Chu and Sevani (Adam/Chu Dance Crew) challenged best friends Cyrus and Jiroux to a video dance battle. Since then, the competition has escalated as each crew retaliates with new dance videos that have attracted millions of fans. M&M Cru and ACDC will battle in-person during the final showdown at TEEN CHOICE 2008.

Source

So here it goes...

Tuesday night I went to the American Idol concert. My aunt, sister, and brother-in-law, and I all went to the show. I was invested in this season of AI.

Our office conducts a pool to predict the winner. I lost miserably. I had Michael Johns going all the way to the top. By week 3 my dreams were crushed. Like the celebrity fantasy league (where I'm in 4th), this is the kinda sport I can get behind.

ANYWAY....

We're at the concert. It was actually pretty enjoyable. Each of the top 10 contestants sang three songs. I conveniently took my bathroom break during Ramielle's songs. I should also note she was wearing some very strange tight shirt/pants with bedazzled rhinestones. I also wrote some emails during Kristy Lee Cook's patriotic, "I'm Proud to be an American" song. I can do without forced patriotism.

I have to say, Michael Johns was fantastic. Jason Castro (or Jar Jar Binks as the work ladies call him) was absolutely enjoyable. I've always liked Brooke White, it was solid. Carli was very good as well. She looked fantastic too. Seyisha totally got her boobs done. I'm not kidding. She is a DIVA now.

Look at that. Those were not there during the show.

I hate to say it, but I didn't hate David Archuletta. On the show, I DID NOT ENJOY HIM. I think I just didn't like when he talked and everything was so "inspirational." Then the idol himself David Cook performed. It was blissful.

Here's Michael John's rousing "We are the Champions"

This is Jason Castro's really good cover of "Crazy."

David Cook is about to blow your mind here.

So yes the show was good. I would have loved it if the show was only, Michael Johns, Jason Castro, Carli, Brooke, and David Cook. Who knows, I might be willing to watch Archuletta.

Here are some photos from the show

So here's where the fun begins.

As we're exciting Conseco Fieldhouse we pass a bunch of people standing along a gate outside. The security guard says that they're waiting for the Idol to come out and sign autographs. What the hell, we'll stay for a bit. Brother-in-law and Sis secure a good place near the gate obscuring the view from all the little children behind us.

After waiting an embarrassingly long time, the Idol emerged from wherever they were. First was Kristy Lee Cook. She just ran right past us on the side.

See

Jessie (the bro-in-law) was PISSED. "You suck Kristy!" Luckily, she made her way back down the line signing everyone's stuff. Not only did she sign Jesse's paper, but they high fived. Carrie, the sister, bet that he wouldn't do it, but he succeeded. This continued with all the idol! Yes, that's right all of them. Jessie managed to get all of their autographs for little unborn baby Brody. This was his first concert after all.

Here's sexy Mcsexy Michael Johns. When he came back around for the autograph he and I actually talked. It went a little something like this.

Me: You were the best. Seriously (true statement)

MJ: Nah, there were many others better than me. "Mamma, ooooooooh." [that's him singing]

Me: Oh don't stop!

MJ: Ha I don't think want me to go on.

But I did. Ok, I sound like a loser preteen here. that's ok, I accept it. He really was my favorite! He's Australian. Who can blame me.

Ladies... Am I right?

True confession, when the crowd said, "Here comes Micheal Johns," My aunt, Carrie and I all go. "ahhhh Micheal Johns." Then we looked at each other and laughed because we were acting just a bit ridic. but whateves!

The best part of the night was hearing all of Jessie's quotes. He was very into it. He was saying things like, "Hold your ground, those little kids are trying to get around you."

Jason Catro

Jesse: Seriously, my wife loves you man.

David Archuletta

Jesse: Dude, I want to be you. See how all these girls are. You're so lucky.

My favorite part of the entire night. David Archuletta's dad, Stage Dad, was signing autographs.

I LOVED IT! I WAS OBSESSED WITH STAGE DAD.

Brooke White

Jesse: Brooke, you're just a real sweeting you know that.

ps - i'm not sure if my video will work, but she did a cover of Feist's, 1-2-3-4. I gotta give her props for that!

Then, the american idol, David Cook came out. I had plans to invite him over for a game of Scrabble and all night secrets. Unfortunately, I didn't get to pass along my plan to him. But I did get this amazing picture.

He's pretty cute huh.

I have honestly never laughed as much as I did that night. Jesse was cracking me up. He was loving on all of them. I just kept stepping back and realizing how ridiculous it all was, but frankly that's what made it so fun!

Moral of this story.  I would do it again in a heartbeat.

He may not sport the Joker's evil Glasgow smile, or Darth Vader's menacing voice, but Simon Cowell's acid tongue is enough to scare the pants off of millions of American TV viewers.

The American Idol judge has been voted America's favorite reality-TV villain, Reuters reports.

Cowell, 48, won 39 percent of the vote for favorite villain among over 1.3 million voters who took part in the AOL Television poll, it was announced Thursday. Idol was voted best reality show, with 33 percent of the vote, but co-judge Paula Abdul took home another dubious award: worst reality-TV judge.

The FOX music competition also won in the "hottest hook-up" category, for 2008 winner David Cook and second-season alum Kimberly Caldwell, who are dating.

Only 14 percent said they'd want to take part in Idol, however. The Amazing Race took that category, with 32 percent of votes.

Losers in the poll included The Bachelor, which won the "SO over" category, and Flavor Flav. Flavor of Love "won" for the season's worst reality program, the show that voters didn't want to go on and scariest star. --Michael Y. Park

Kevin Winter/Getty

Take a step back from the song you wrote and love and think about what their email and snail mail boxes look like. How many submissions do you think they get in a week. I'll give you an idea. Even the smaller ones will get 100's of demo's. Why should they listen to yours?

Is your song REALLY GOOD? Who told you? Here's an analagy. When you watched American Idol (Come on, I know you watched it at least once!) do you remember Simon or Randy ask "Who told you you could sing?". So I'm asking you, who told you this is a good song? Your friends and family?

But this is only the first question. The record companies get thousands of really good, well constructed, nice songs every year. The thing is they are not looking for a good song, they are looking for a GREAT SONG. They are looking for something UNIQUE and given that there are always numbe one hits, there are plenty of great songs out there.

It can be on the same subject matter as other songs, but it has to have something special, a great hook, a really catchy melody. If your song is going to be a hit, it has to appeal to millions of people not dozens or hundreds.

When the A&R person listens to the first 60 seconds (because that might be all the hearing your song gets, they need to be saying "WOW, this is the ONE!"

So go back to your good song and see if you think it is great, or is it as Ralph Murphy says, a great song for people to dance to in a club after 10 P.M.

Of course not every song will be a hit, most of the songs of the great song writers aren't hit songs, but it was usually their first hit that started their professional careers.

According to People.com, former "American Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken recently returned from a trip to Somalia and Kenya, and is blogging about it on UNICEF's website. In a post, Aiken talks about the violence during the country's election earlier this year, and how it left thousands of children homeless. He also points out that even though there's been a decrease in the country's unrest, many children have not been able to return to school.

With Aiken set to become a father next month (via artificial insemination) with his friend, music producer Jaymes Foster, and this latest humanitarian effort (he also started the Bubel Aiken Foundation to benefit children with disabilities), it looks like he's after Angelina's gig as the head humanitarian/parent/saint in Hollywood. Wonder who his Brad will be?

Our good friend Mike Pickard joked with me the other day that his voice is so bad that it doesn't even qualify as a "joyful noise"! Mike expresses a sentiment that most people share...that he's just not a very good singer by the world's standards. This self-critique can quickly slip into a reticence to sing boldly when worshiping...a reticence that can be disguised as an act of compassion on the people sitting next to you!

Three problems here. One, God likes your singing. Two, the people around you, though they may not know it, need you singing. And three, He commands it.

God commands that you sing. That we are told to sing to the Lord is a Biblical no-brainer. In the Old Testament worship book (Psalms), there are over 75 references to songs and singing. This is our longest book in the scriptures, and is quoted more than 50 times in the New Testament. Pretty impressive...for a songbook! That's right...our theology and prophecy spins out of the singing of the people of God. Who we are, what we believe, and how we are to live is all wrapped up in our singing together.

The command to worship continues into the New Testament. "Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father" (Eph. 5:18-20).  "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God" (Col. 3:16). Or, as Peterson paraphrases in The Message, "Sing, sing your hearts out to God!"

The people need your song. Singing praise is a vertical thing, upward to the Lord. But, it is also a horizontal thing, directed to one another. Did you see that in the passages above? "Speaking to one another in...song" and "admonishing one another with...songs." God uses the Spirit-infused souls and voices to encourage and challenge His church. When you clam up, this means of edification is choked off.

God likes your voice. Our American Idol generation has really done a number on the whole idea of singing in front of other people. We have the tendency to think that Simon, Paula and Randy are in the seats right in front of us, and are about to kick us out of the church if our pitch, vibrato and stylings aren't in perfect order. This idea is reinforced by having only potential Idol contestants serving the body as worship leaders - only polished voices need apply. Then, we take these media-quality musicians, and pump up their volume to a level where it's hard to even hear the people next to us, much less ourselves. Often, if my brothers or sisters near me in church are singing or me with their song, I'd never know it, because I can't even hear them over the din of the production.

God loves our voice...but more than that, God loves the heart behind us. "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Sam. 16:7). A heart that is filled with love for God overflows into songs of praise. A church with a collective heart for God is like a cornucopia, pouring out in not only praise to Christ, but also edifying messages for all of its participants. Personally, I don't want to miss that! So, I commit myself to a) not be critical of others' song, and b) not deny others the blessing of my song.

Let's purge the church of the American Idol demon, and start experiencing genuine worship!

(Tomorrow, we move from "true" to "transforming." Worship should change you. Does it?)

First if you didn't already hear Diana DeGarmo is going to be in Godspell! So exciting, loved her on the show, and I'm sure she will be great --- I believe she is the first AI contestant to open a new show on bway.  Scratch that didn't Constantine open Jaques...alive and living in Paris whatever?  Someone help!

HOLY HAIRSPRAY they are making a sequel.  Ahhhh we'll see about that.

Annnnd in sad news, MTV is remaking the Rocky Horror Picture Show.  Could be amazing, could be horrific...lets just hope for the best eh?

I saw Mamma Mia tonight...I think its the first time people actually laughed AT a performance in a movie (aka Peirce Brosnan, what were you thinking.)  Choreography was AWFUL.  But I LOVED Amanda Seyfried, Julie Waters, and Colin Firth..he is just the best thing ever.  It was pretty fun to watch if you come in with low expectations, you might be surprised. :)

Here is my opinion on who will not be eliminated:

Best overall couple performance:  Twitch and Katee

Poor Bucky Covington. How pathetic are you when HR bloggers mock you?

I feel sorry for Bucky, but the world is a cruel & complicated place. We can't all be A-players. Some of us are successful HR pros, and some of us are eighth-place finalists on American Idol who land minor record deals, write country music songs, and tour the local 'county fair' circuit.

Oh Christ, Bucky Covington has a better career than I do.

Go check out the carnival and satisfy your Human Resources Idol cravings!

Hello there Cincinnati:

This blog entry is for you. I would love to hear your recaps, view your photos or videos and share your live Idol experience. I am sure that the US Bank Arena will be an exciting and a thrilling ride for the fans, so here's hoping that you will have some time to post your links in this Ohio blog topic.

You can add your links or comments below in the "comments" section or email me at masterclasslady@hotmail.com.

Have a great time tonight and cheer really loud - as if I have to remind you to do this! :)

Just when you thought all hope was lost...billions (and/or 5 thousand) turned up at the Kentucky Exposition Center's Freedom Hall (yes, freedom as in 'free to cut work and school and leave the kids with a neighbor) to try out for next season's American Idol this week. Gas is $4.15 a gallon, no one can afford health care, we'll all be living on the streets at age 60 'cause Social Security is a joke, Under One Roof is still actually on television and yet people continue to have hope. Fuck a job, I'm gonna be on television, ma! Just when you forgot what we were fighting for...

Early Monday morning, Charde Moore of Evansville, Ind., gets asked to sing for television crews at the front of the line of American Idol contestants at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Ky., on July 21, 2008. Photo by Emily Spence | Staff

Nashville musician Traci Root, 28, tries to track down her backup vocalist who made the cut at the American Idol auditions at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Ky., on Monday, July 21, 2008. Photo by Emily Spence | Staff

Hey Indianapolis:

We would appreciate your comments and media links re the Idol live performance at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Please add all your video links and stories in the comments section of this blog entry and/or you can email me (masterclasslady@hotmail.com) your links and photos and I will post them ASAP.

I have been trying to review the performances in each city; however, this week I am on holidays and away from my computer a great deal. I will comment from time to time and, if I find a spare minute, will try to review your video performances.

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a blast at the concert tonight!