Casey & Lee- I love ’em both!!!

April 10, 2010February 9, 2011 EmmaLeave a comment

It’s now an American pastime!

If you’re NOT watching American Idol, you need to start! (Even my mom started watching- 1st time!) Last year was TERRIFIC on Idol (Adam’s showmanship/confidence/talent, Matt’s piano skills, Danny & Anoop’s soulfulness & personalities, etc.) And young Allison did well, too.

Who’s ready to be a star?

Even though Adam didn’t win last season, he’s appearing everywhere and wow-ing people w/ his voice & entertaining performances. (Yes, he is causing controversy, BUT so did Elvis & Madonna.) I noted before that my dad said Adam “is like Elvis.” What a compliment!

http://www.adamofficial.com/us/home

Simon thinks this year the winner “could be a girl.” Hmmm… maybe it could be Crystal. She is very grounded, mature, and knows what she’s good at singing. I also like Casey (great guitar skills/good sound/confidence) & Lee (unique voice). Casey’s voice can go country, pop, or rock. He seems amenable to different styles. Lee is just a great find! When I listened to Lee’s studio sessions, I thought that this guy could be on the radio today (just as Kara said). I hope they BOTH stay in the game!

Casey James

http://caseyjamesfix.com/

http://caseyjamesnews.wordpress.com/

http://twitter.com/CaseyJamesFans

Lee DeWyze

http://lee-dewyze.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/LeeDeWyze

“American Idol” is in full swing!

March 17, 2010February 9, 2011 EmmaLeave a comment

Update: Lacey Brown was voted off on Thursday, 3/18.

Hey readers!

I’m sure MANY fo you are watching American Idol these days. Like last season, there is a diverse group of singers ranging in age from 16 to late 20s. There is also a diversity of style of singing, presentation, and looks. This makes the competition VERY exciting! Last night, the hopefuls took on classic rock- the Rolling Stones.

When it comes to PURE natural talent, Andrew Garcia and Crystal Bowersox (both parents and 24 y.o.) are at the top. They DON’T need to make an effort to get their voices to do what they want. They are also calm, mature, creative and have distinct styles. Knowing how Idol works, however, these qualities may NOT always help them. (My dad said that Crystal reminds him of Jewel.)

The singers whose styles I REALLY enjoy are Aaron Kelly (just 16) and Paige Miles (who has a VERY powerful voice). Aaron, though very young, has a kind of quiet confidence. He knows what he wants to sing- country w/ a hint of pop. (I think it’s pretty EXCITING to have a country singer on such a big show!) Paige has a lot of potential, but she needs to be careful when picking songs. She carries herself well and has big, beautiful eyes. And we know that LOOKS don’t hurt you on Idol!

Speaking of beauty… Casey James (27) and Didi Benami (23 y.o. w/ wide smile) are doing pretty well. Casey just makes me SMILE! It seems like these two are eager to please and willing to experiment w/ song styles. Lacey Brown (24) reminds me of Martina McBride when it comes to looks and voice- an unique sound. I hope she stays around. Lee Dewyze (23) stands out from the crowd w/ his simplicity and musical influences. (He’s also the only contestant from the Midwest.) I felt BAD for him when Simon commented harshly on his performance Tuesday night. Lee looked near tears!

Related Links

http://www.americanidol.com/

http://american.idolblog.com/

http://www.youtube.com/user/andrewagarcia

American desis & classical music

March 8, 2010February 9, 2011 Emma1 Comment

You may have heard of conductor Zubin Mehta (and his brother Zarin) or soprano Monica Yunus (daughter of Mohammed Yunus). But there are MORE desis involved in the world of opera/classical music, as I recently learned. They are countering stereotypes about the South Asian community in the U.S. We can be artists AND make a living!

Sean Panikkar

Sean was born to Sri Lankan parents in small-town Pennsylvania. As a kid, no one knew he could sing well! As a teen, he took voice lessons with a Julliard-trained singer who moved to his area. After undergrad (UMich), Sean began pursuing opera as a full-time career instead of engineering.

Aside from being a rising opera star, Sean (not yet 30) is also a husband and father to a young son.

http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/006097.html

http://www.thirteen.org/sundayarts/blog/blog/interview/qa-with-tenor-sean-panikkar

Zeshan Baghwade

Forget American Idol– this young singer has a MUST-HEAR voice! Zeshan recently graduated from Northwestern, and will continue there for his master’s. He had major roles in several operas at school, and plans to make it his career. However, opera is NOT his only interest- Zeshan (a tenor) also sings ghazals and works with a non-profit.

http://www.northbynorthwestern.com/2009/03/26715/the-self-named-renaissance-man-of-opera-and-muslim-culture/

Zeshan’s YouTube channel

http://www.youtube.com/user/dreamerofdreams24

Raja Burrows

Raja is a friend and classmate of Zeshan’s. Though he has been trained in opera, he hopes to make a career in pop music.

http://www.myspace.com/rajaburrows

Priti Gandhi

Priti is a native of California (San Dieg0); her natural talent was noticed by a voice teacher when she was in college. Priti didn’t become involved with opera until she was a sophomore in college. Now in her late 30s, she is a nationally reknown mezzo soprano.

http://pritigandhi.com/

The Education of a Opera Singer: a documentary following Priti & her fellow performers when they were starting out their careers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo2x1W5M-V8

Viswa Subbaraman

Can a beer and basketball fan also love opera? You bet! This 33 y.o. Texas native is the founder/artistic director of Opera Vista in Houston. Currently, Viswa (who holds degrees in music/biology and an MBA) is one of 3 finalists for the musical director position in Yakima, Washington.

http://www.viswasubbaraman.com/

Viswa is very active online. One of his goals is to make classical music accessible to diverse/young audiences. Growing up in a small town, Viswa didn’t learn much about classical music until college (Duke).

http://viswasubbaraman.wordpress.com/

Wow, it’s already 2010!!!

January 13, 2010March 5, 2013 EmmaLeave a comment

Dear readers,

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a GREAT holiday season w/ family/friends! My mom and little brother came from Indy to visit us in DC. They got to see the house Dad just closed on in Silver Spring, MD. Hopefully, Mom can find a job and move here in the next few months. We ate (a LOT), watched movies, and hung out w/ a few relatives and family friends. One of my dad’s younger cousins and her hubby had a baby girl; they live just 45 mins. away in MD. It’s good to be in touch w/ family.

One of my aunties (a younger cousin of Mom) and 2 of her kids (18 and 24) came to visit NYC & DC from Sweden. This aunt has met the king of Sweden, works in finance, and assists immigrant women in getting acculturated in their new county. VERY cool, right? Her son and daughter are very sweet, laid-back, and smart (fluent in 3 languages: Swedish, Bengali, and English).

For my b-day, we went to Sam Phai, a Thai restaurant (1019 King St, Old Town Alexandria) with fresh/delicious food. If you happen to be nearby, check it out!

Thanks for visiting my corner of the web,

EMMA.

Movies/TV Shows Seen Recently:

State of the Union (1948)

In my opinion, Hepburn+Tracy=Movie Magic! This film, directed by Frank Capra, is refreshingly modern (with its themes), fast-paced, and funny. It also stars a very young Angela Lansbury; she plays a tough/single DC powerbroker. Lansbury’s character, Kay Thorndyke, is in love with Grant Matthews (Spencer Tracy), a self-made Midwestern businessman who she encourages to run for president. But Matthews already has 2 young kids and is married to a very strong woman, Mary (Katherine Hepburn). Though the Matthews have a close relationship, their marriage is put under pressure during the campaign. Mary has to keep an eye on the scheming Kay, a former senator’s daughter who projects her ambitions onto Grant. Mary also worries that Grant’s plans and high moral principles will get squashed by the new political experts around him.

Mary Matthews: Another thing – he used to hate to hear me swear. Whenever I’d let with something, he’d smack me on my sitter, hard. I’ve done a lot of swearing on this trip.
Jim Conover: And no smacks?
Mary Matthews: It’s a small request, but I’d give anything for a good smack on my south end.

Adam’s Rib (1949)

Amanda: What I said was true, there’s no difference between the sexes. Men, women, the same.
Adam: They are?
Amanda: Well, maybe there is a difference, but it’s a little difference.
Adam: Well, you know as the French say…
Amanda: What do they say?
Adam: Vive la difference!
Amanda: Which means?
Adam: Which means hurrah for that little difference.

This is another Hepburn/Tracy film; it’s about married lawyers in Manhattan who end up supporting opposite sides. Adam Bonner (Tracy) is an ADA assigned to the case of a philadering hubby who was shot by his wife. Adam’s wife, a defense attorney named Amanda, jumps in to defend the accused wife. Their loving relationship is put to the test during the much-publicized trial.

Slings & Arrows (2003-2006)

To be, or not to be, — that is the question
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them?

-Hamlet (Act III, Scene i)

The theater is NOT dead, as this intelligent/quirky Canadian TV series proves. It stars Paul Gross, the handsome star of ’90s TV series, Due South, created by Paul Haggis. (Due South was the first Canadian show to cross-over to the US and achieve primetime success.) Slings & Arrows, a combo of comedy and drama, puts the spotlight on theater folk- onstage and off. The ensemble cast includes well-established Canadian stars (Gross/Colm Feore/Geraint Wyn Davies), rising youngsters (Rachel McAdams/Sarah Polley), and comedians (like Mark McKinney of The Kids in the Hall).

Can artists and businesspeople compromise to keep a struggling theater festival alive? Can relationships (between friends, couples, and co-workers) withstand the pressures of putting on Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear? Watch this terrific show (3 seasons/3 DVDs) to find out. (You CANNOT see something like this on US TV!)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0387779/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slings_and_Arrows

Some Recent Music Downloads:

Chris Young (I’m in LOVE with his wonderful voice!)

You know this old world is full of singers
But just a few are chosen
To tear your heart out when they sing
Imagine life without them
All your radio heros
Like the outlaw that walks through Jesse’s dream

No, there will never be another
Red-headed stranger
A Man in Black and Folsom Prison Blues
The Okie from Muskogee
Or Hello Darling
Lord I wonder, who’s gonna fill their shoes

–Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes (sung by George Jones)

Warm, rich, and pure are some fitting words to describe Chris Young’s voice. Or you could just stick with GORGEOUS! His lyrics are touching and simple, but with a modern sensibility. This young singer (just 24!) is proof that reality TV isn’t ALL bad: he won Nashville Star back in ’06. Chris has been a working singer/songwriter since his teens. He lists Keith Whitley and Randy Travis as his main influences. In the flock of rising country singers, Chris soars above the crowd!

Drinkin’ Me Lonely: This is my fave so far- a sensitive song w/ great lyrics!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMbs-NAdREM

Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song): A BIG hit on country radio now!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWP7ZtVLPd4&feature=channel

Rainy Night in Georgia: A new version of a classic song.

The Man I Want to Be: A simple song re: forgiveness in the true country tradition