Ok, yes I realize this was over a month ago, but I don’t watch daytime TV and just stumbled upon this traipsing around YouTube. The top 10 from Season 5 So You Think You Can Dance contestants kicked off Ellen’s season 7 opener with a dance that she joined in on! Very cute.
I love Ellen, she is such a sweet, positive, funny nature. And I think she’s going to be a shot in the arm to the next season of Fox’s American Idol, which she is now a permanent judge. Take that you serious curmudgeons Simon, Kara and Randy! Let’s have some FUN judging on American Idol!!
When I saw Krumper Russell Ferguson do his quick step with his choreographer (his parter Noelle injured her knee before the performance) on the first elimination show of So You Think You Can Dance, I was completely blown away. This is a star who dances from the core of his being and projects it for all to see–charisma out the ying-yang, if you get my drift. He is something super special.
Then I had to endure not only the judges ripping him for his lines, form, technique, etc. THEN make him dance for his life (which he did 10 times over IMO). Who cares????? This guy is the best and if he can step it up in the other dances and make it through to the fan voting, he could very well win the entire competition.
Just check out the show next Tuesday at 8pm on Fox (or reruns of Tuesday nights first elimination show on line) and see what I mean. Special. I mean it. ;o)
Ok, I have to vent my frustration on this. If Aaron Carter doesn’t escape the bottom two in the elimination tonight on Dancing With the Stars, I’m going to lose it (if only temporarily). This kid has busted his buttinsky in more ways than one.
His waltz last night with Karina Smirnoff was in my opinion the best waltz of the evening. And even though their score was good (and yielded a 9 from Len Goodman), Joanna Krupa got a better score for hers. It was good, but I absolutely don’t think it had what Aaron and Karina’s had: heart, love, passion, sweet smoothness. Kudos to Karina for excellent choreography, and to Aaron for really making a connection with her and becoming a MAN in this dance. Give this guy credit America!! Nuff said.
Safe to say that Donny Osmond and Kym Johnson’s jitterbug was the hit of the night, in a sea of “careful” jitterbugs. Even so, they did not yield the scores they did last week for their excellent tango. Donny is a true showman, and his showmanship coupled with Kym’s spirit and clever choreography make a winning team.
The addition this year of a “Marathon Mambo” really added something to the show. You get to see what a regular, general ballroom/latin competition looks like, with many couples peppering the floor and being removed one at a time. With Derek Hough being a former world champion in Latin American Dance, it was a cinch that they would win it, although I had to give props to Mya and Dmitry Chaplin and Aaron and Karina.
It will be an interesting elimination show tonight!!
I have to tell ya, it was pretty amazing to see one of the best bands of our time live at the Rose Bowl. Yes, I went ga-ga over the Black Eyed Peas, but U2 is definately something special. They give a rock-solid show and really know how to pull out all the stops in the production itself.
The “star” of the stage setup was absolutely the 360 degree video screen (aha! the 360 Tour) that sat just under the monster scaffolding which came down in 4 legs around the stage. When I got to the stadium, I asked my friends “what is that thing?” It was black and made up of hexagon-shaped pieces all put together like a puzzle. “I think that’s the video screen,” my friend answered. I’d never seen any video screen like that before. But remember, this is U2.
What IS that?
When the opening act was over, we watched, facinated as the roadies uncovered more bridges, steps, and brought on new equipment. They even flew guys up in the rafters of the scaffolding to independently run spotlights–three in each leg of the stage.
See 'em sittin' in the seats?
We had heard that David Bowie’s “Space Odyssey” would be the signal that the show was starting. When it came on the speakers, the crowd screamed. The stadium blacked out. An image of an analog clock came on the video screen. And the show started.
Of course, any tour is simply to promote the release of an album (usually), and U2 is promoting their latest, No Line on the Horizon. I’m not familiar with this album, so unfortunately, it took me about three songs to warm up to the Irish boys. Once they whipped out “Mysterious Ways”, I was movin and groovin and havin a great time.
I return to the video screen: our seats were essentially the backside of the stage, and while they did visit the back regularly (everything wireless, awesome), I watched 99% of the show on the screen and didn’t mind it in the least. The video quality was amazing to see, and very film-like in quality. They even did some segments in black and white, which I liked.
Black and white, very interesting
But then the screen REALLY came to life. First it came down from it’s original position. Then, the individual pieces split and it created a cone-like shape and put on a great light show with some video thrown in.
But it didn’t stop there. The screen came together again, but instead of folding back up, came down and was probably literally 5 feet above the band’s heads. It also revealed the brightly lit “antennae” in the center.
They launched into the infectious “Vertigo”, which in my estimation was the most exciting song of the show.
Well, after that I said “I can leave now happy.” And we did, because we didn’t want to be stuck shuffling with the other 99,000 people for three hours trying to get out of the Rose Bowl (yes, we’re old fogies).
It’s officially a record, I’ve been to TWO live music shows in the past two weeks. That’s more live shows that I’ve been to than in the last ten years combined!! And I’m now officially HOOKED. My husband and I were invited to U2 with the Black Eyed Peas at the Rose Bowl by some very generous friends. This was a special show, because not only has there not been a live concert at the Rose Bowl in years, the U2 portion of the show was going to be simulcast LIVE on YouTube across the globe (in fact, if you log on later today, you should be able to see a full version of the concert).
There is nothing like a live concert to get your blood pumping (right along with the bass) and inspire you to move and hopefully dance. If you have enough room, that is. If you don’t then you just save it for later–either at home in the living room or on the dance floor.
I knew this was going to be a good show at the start–come on, U2?? They’ve put on some of the most outrageous shows in history. Not bad for 4 Irish guys.
But what I didn’t expect AT ALL was to be completely blown out of the Bowl–by the Black Eyed Peas. Their set was about an hour. And I wanted more. I would have given up seeing U2 for seeing more of this electrifying group.
There is a great dynamic to them that you don’t have with a “normal” band, as there’s four people up front all sharing the “lead vocals”. Some would say the star is Fergie, but I disagree. They really share the stage together and put on one hell of a show. These are hot, hip, eclectic, slightly bohemian, talented people and I was set on fire.
They opened with “Let’s Get It Started”, which was a logical choice. Started, indeed.
Next video is “Boom Boom Pow”, where you could feel the bass literally in your bones. You moved whether you wanted to or not!
They saved the best for last. My friend said “this is LA, they usually have a special guest because so many musicians live here…” And damn if he wasn’t right. Check out Fergie doing “Sweet Child of Mine” by Guns and Roses with none other than Slash.
A hugely satisfying show, and one that turned me into a big fan (where I wasn’t so much before). These people know how to dish it out (in family portions) and give you seconds and thirds. Well done to them!
