American Idolatry Finale: Our Journey has ended.

Yowza! I have to say I really enjoyed this year's finale of American Idol. Going in to it I really thought little David would win it all, but still had a small feeling.. or hope.. that there could be a huge upset on the way for Rocker David.. and there was! I'll be the first to admit that I've never loved David Cook. I just didn't ever have that excitement of seeing him perform like I did with my little Castro or Michael Johns. I always really liked what he did every week taking well-known songs and putting his "rocker" spin on them. He's very talented and Simon was right when he said early in the competition that if the contest were to be an actual talent competition that David Cook should and would win. So I'm glad he did. 

On to the recap!

I always have mixed emotions when I see the top 12 together again in each of the finales. I'm reminded first of all of how little choreography they have to learn for the medleys, but it still looks so unnatural. Then I'm reminded of the contestants that were voted off too soon.. and of course the ones that made me want to stop watching the show all-together.

I nearly lost it when the David's Archuleta and Cook dueted on "Hero". That fabulous power ballad from Spiderman that I'll never tire of. Funny thing; I heard that song on the radio the other day for the first time in years probably and I thought it would be the perfect song for David Cook to sing. Lo and behold.. I'm psychic. 

Oh, Castro! How great it was to see you on the Idol stage again.. by yourself (the only Idol to have an actual solo!).. singing one of the greatest songs ever written. I could hardly contain myself. I really don't know what it is about Jason Castro, but I just can't get enough of him. And even though he rushed ahead of the music a couple of times, he gave a super performance that I've watched three times already. 

(side note: why did Castro sing by himself? did the producers not care enough to get anyone to sing with him? Obviously he couldn't sing Hallelujah with Jeff Buckley for obvious reasons, but I've heard Castro's a big fan of Ray LaMontagne. Why not try to get him or someone like him on the show? Come on Idol!! Branch out a bit!)

Amanda Overmeyer. Your group performance awkwardness never ceases to entertain me. I absolutely love the look on your face. The disdain for everything choreographed and peppy. I especially love how you don't even try to hide the fact that you are extremely uncomfortable singing Donna Summer's songs with 5 other girls vying for the spotlight. I say give it to them. They know how to use it better. 

Possibly my favorite performance.. or duet.. of the night had to be Carly Smithson and Michael Johns singing "The Letter". Two singers who were obviously eliminated before they should have been. There's no denying this girl can wail and she looked like she was having a lot of fun (not so during the actual competition). But who wouldn't have fun singing with Michael Johns? He's foxy. And if these two ever make an actual recording of the song (here's hoping!) I'd buy it for sure.

I was also really fond of the Graham Nash and Brooke White duet. This is the type of music Brooke sings best, and for the first time since the Beatles weeks she didn't seem like she was about to spontaneously com bust on stage from nerves, or being overwhelmed or whatever always had her in a tizzy. This was the first time in a while that I enjoyed hearing her sing.

Those were the high points for me. I did like the Brian Adams medley, but it would have been better had he sung "Everything I do (I do it for you)". George Michael was surprisingly good, too. I actually skipped through his performance during my first viewing of the finale, but went back and gave him a listen. Not bad.. but why does Paula have to cry during every meaningful song ever sung? It doesn't make her seem less crazy.

I'd love to go into the details now of how excited I was when I heard Seacrest say "Cook" after a pause that would put to shame the pauses usually reserved for "This....... is American Idol", but I didn't get to see much after that moment. My recording didn't anticipate an extended Idol crowning celebration, so my Idol finale ended mid-hug for the David's. There was no flying confetti, no warbly singing of the This-is-my-now-moment anthem, no giant group hug from the top 10 plus the other two that no one really got to know because they're not going on the tour.

Ah, well. I'll find it somewhere out there on the interweb. But for now I'll just remain glad that "rocker" David won. I'll also hope that he doesn't have to put out a cheesy first album and that his version of the Guitar Hero commercial will continue to air. I thought it was genius.. until there was one for little Archie as well. That just didn't make sense. He should have been on a Dance Dance Revolution commercial dancing to the my boo song. That I would have liked.

My Top 25

Everyday I find myself reading from top to bottom what seems like the entire site of ew.com. Hey, my subscription ran out.. what else am I to do? Today they have an article by Steven King. In it he lists the true Top 20 songs in his iTunes library. These are the top 20 songs with the highest play count. It's interesting. Most of them I've never heard of and will probably check out and maybe (illegally) download them. As I was reading his list, I got to thinking.. or worrying.. about mine. I love my taste in music, but many times the music I listen to I wouldn't want others to know about. Like, who would fess up with me that they also listen to a Broadway show tunes mixed cd.. that they made themselves? I could only name a couple of people who fit that description. So, I decided to reveal my list as well. It is in no way altered; I didn't spend five minutes just now starting a song and skipping to the end repeatedly to up the play count. No, no. This is my true Top 25 (I did 25 because that's how many came up in my most recently played playlist. The number is how many times it's been played).

Here goes!

Number 25

Age of Aquarius

by The 5th Dimension (9)

Nothing wrong with this one! Not at all. Turn it on and try not to sing along after the transition to "Let the Sun Shine in". I have a secret dream of wearing a long dress with flowers in my hair and performing this somewhere where no one will laugh at me.

Number 24

Crimson and Clover

Tommy James and the Shondells (9)

I've liked this song ever since I was little. It was one of those songs they played on the Oldies station (Oldies 96.3!), but they didn't play it every half hour like most of the other songs. It was a treat whenever I heard it.

Number 23

Time for Me to Fly

REO Speedwagon (9)

I imagine this would be a good song to sing at the top of your lungs after a break-up. Since I've never been involved in a break-up this is purely speculation, but I still sing it quite loud in the car. Windows rolled up, of course.

Number 22

Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games

Of Montreal (9)

A friend of mine told me about this song so I downloaded it and recognized it immediately. It's the song in the Outback Steakhouse commercials, but the original version is much better. I recommend it highly.

Number 21

Sunshine (Go Away Today)

Jonathan Edwards (9)

A good "Take this job and shove it" song. And surprisingly upbeat!

Number 20

Hope for the Hopeless

A Fine Frenzy (9)

All her music is really mellow and good to listen to while working. 

Number 19

I Call Your Name 

The Mamas and the Papas (10)

Who doesn't love Mama Cass? This is one of my favorite songs by The Mamas and the Papas. Their harmonies are pretty much flawless.

Number 18

Green Tambourine

The Lemon Pipers (10)

Another song from when I was younger that wasn't played much on the Oldies station. Always a surprise and fun to hear.

Number 17

The Way I Am

Ingrid Michaelson (10)

I learned of her from Zach Braff. He has a lot of great musicians in his top friends on his myspace page. This is where I found her.

Number 16

The Luckiest

Ben Folds (10)

This is just a really great song and every time I hear it I want to cry and I wish Ben Folds had written it about me. 

Number 15

I've Just Seen a Face

The Beatles (12)

The Beatles can't really do anything wrong. This has become a favorite recently. I borrowed the soundtrack to "Across the Universe" from a friend a few months ago and this song was on there. I couldn't remember the original version very well, so I went back and listened.. and haven't really stopped since.

Number 14

Say

John Mayer (13)

This song is on our new cd we listen to at Pottery Barn. It makes me happy.

Number 13

Falling Slowly

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova (13)

If you haven't seen the movie Once, stop what you're doing, go to Blockbuster and rent it. Thank me later.

Number 12

Sea of Love

Cat Power (13)

Any song that brings to mind Michael Cera is a good one.

Number 11

Everytime

The Frames (14)

This is a cover of a Britney Spears song. I know, I know! It's weird. But this version of the song makes the lyrics so much better. Trust me.

Number 10

Lay Me Down

The Frames (14)

I randomly downloaded this after I discovered Glen Hansard in Once (he's the lead singer of The Frames) and it's quickly become a favorite. I like strings.

Number 9

Little Boxes

Death Cab for Cutie (14)

This is actually the theme song for Weeds. Every episode they have a different band perform the song and I dug this version. It's only 49 seconds, but it's still good. I didn't realize I listened to it enough to get it in my top 25, though!

Number 8

Breathe In Breathe Out

Mat Kearny (15)

There's no specific reason why I like this song so much. It's just all-around good. 

Number 7

You're All I Need to Get By

Marvin Gaye and Tammy Terrell (15)

Another song that would be fun to perform. I don't know what exactly brought this in to iTunes rotation. Let's just assume I heard it on TV in the past year.

Number 6

Goodbye My Almost Lover

A Fine Frenzy (16)

Speaking of TV.. This was featured on an episode of The Hills last season. Specifically when Audrina and Justin Bobby had their "final" relationship-ending throw down. It was serious.. I mean, she didn't even speak to him during the car ride home! Another good break-up song. Obviously!

Number 5

Glascow Love Theme

Craig Armstrong (17)

This is where my musical weirdness shows. Why did it have to be in the top 5?! This is instrumental music from Love, Actually; a fine motion picture that gets harshly critiqued way too often. This is the music playing when Keira Knightly is watching the videos her friend who she thinks hates her recorded during her wedding. The videos are all of her because really he LOVES her and kept the camera on her the whole time showing sure signs of a future in stalking unattainable women. Still a good movie.

Number 4

It's All Wrong But It's All Right

Michael Johns (18)

Oh, Michael Johns. You were eliminated too soon. I thought you would have made it to the top 5 at least. Especially after this bluesified, sexified version of a Dolly Parton song I had never heard. A for effort! 

Number 3

Songbird

Eva Cassidy (18)

Another song from Love, Actually. This is when Paulo from Lost is at Laura Linney's apartment after the Christmas party. It's pretty and Laura Linney deserves 5 Oscars, if not more. 

Number 2

PM's Love Theme

Craig Armstrong (18)

Hm. I must have been on a Love, Actually kick within the past few months because we have another song from the soundtrack right here! This is the big dramatic music that's played at the end while the kid's running through the airport and all that jazz. I really like it. I'm not exactly sure if this is the actual title of the song, though. Who or what is PM? I'm not sure. Does this make sense to anyone else? I illegally downloaded it so someone could have easily renamed it, I'm sure. 

Number 1

If I Fell

Jason Castro (20)

Who better to hold the number 1 spot than my flavor of the week, Mr. Jason Castro? This is the first song of his I downloaded and I apparently liked it more than I realized. But really, he has a great recording voice and I love this simplified version of the song. Like I've said before (see blog below) he doesn't have a strong voice that distracts from what he's singing about. I think that's what music needs now rather than 15 year olds who sing songs about "freaking out" with a techno beat in the background. That's just my opinion, though. 

But really, if you want to hear how good Jason Castro really is, download these: "If I Fell", "Over the Rainbow", "Forever in Bluejeans", "Travelin' Thru" and "I Don't Wanna Cry". I know I've been singing his praises a lot, but he's completely underrated.

Aaaaanyway. There's my top 25. I'm actually not as embarrassed as I thought I would be. Sorry for the mostly long-winded explanations of all the songs. I like to give a little background information from time to time. 

What songs are in your iTunes top 25? I want to know.

Oh, no Castro!

Whoa. What happened tonight? Who decided it was "let's tell Jason Castro how 'horrible' of a singer he is" night?! I mean really. It kind of made me angry.. maybe too angry. But I have a deep love for this kid. Randy, Crazy Paula and Simon should all know by now that Castro does not have a naturally strong voice like the other three remaining contestants. He can't screech and yell like Syesha nor can he hit impressively high notes without a little warble in his voice like David One and David Two. But I happen to like the warble. I happen to like that he doesn't use the band (tonight was the first night!). I happen to like that he covered a Bob Marley song. I thought it was actually good. He performed. He moved around on stage more than he ever has. HE THREW HIS HANDS UP IN THE AIR! What more do they want? If they don't understand that that's who Jason Castro is, then maybe he should leave the show. I'm thinking he will anyway. It would be quite a miracle if he were to stay what with The Untouchable David's and Syesha's mysteriously controllable waterworks. (Didn't it seem like she was able to stop crying really easily after her second performance? She is an "actress" after all. And by "actress" I mean she's in commercials in Miami. And no, I don't like her.) I actually liked both his performances tonight. I thought the first one would get good reviews. I was wrong. The second I was excited about when in his talking head he said he was going to sing "Tambourine Man".. then he forgot the lyrics. What is it with these guys and forgetting the lyrics this season? Maybe Wayne Brady should be the guest mentor every week. There's an idea!

Anyway. It'll be sad to watch American Idol without my little Castro. I always thought we'd be good friends. I picture us laying barefoot in hammocks side-by-side on a beach somewhere.. I'd tell him repeatedly how much I love his dreads and we'd talk about how nervous I'd be during interviews, too.. just like him! I'd also have an ongoing dialogue with myself about how much pot I think he smokes on a daily basis. And I'd wonder if he'd ever share with me.