Archives for April 2008

Look! A List! With Numbers!

23 April 2008 by

1. Judging from the length of my recovery period from Monday’s late night return trip from Nashville, I am a 90-something woman trapped in a 30-something body. Because SWEET MERCY I need some naps.

2. Laminin is very, very cool. (And thanks, Big Mama, for the video tip.)

3. Veronica has a real knack for noticing and then articulating the subtext of a conversation. But then I already knew that.

4. If your five year-old boy has a friend over for the afternoon, I highly recommend taking them to the carwash. Because GOOD GRIEF, PEOPLE, THAT CARWASH MIGHT AS WELL HAVE BEEN A ROLLER COASTER.

Seriously. You’ve never seen such excitement.

And when I had to drive back through the carwash because all the dead bugs didn’t come off of my front bumper the first time around, you would have thought I’d installed an endless fountain of chocolate in the backseat.

I think they even high-fived.

5. These crackers are a treasure.

JasonsCracker

I recommend eating them with some red pepper hummus from the Jason’s salad bar.

And a little asiago cheese sprinkled on top if you’re feeling sort of adventurous.

You can thank me later.

6. The Dove Awards are tonight at 7 central time. And our friend FryDaddy has three nominations in two categories. He will probably kill me for even mentioning it because he’s all humble and stuff, but still. I thought the internets would want to know. And you can get the broadcast information right here.

I believe that is all.

Filed Under: Rambling

American Idol – Top 6

22 April 2008 by

Tonight’s show features the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, so I hope everyone has their Phantom masks ready!

I KNOW I DO!

(Too much?)

(Yeah. Thought so.)

And before I even see anyone perform, I will tell you that I am very concerned about two contestants tonight: Brooke White (ALW has big songs that don’t lend themselves to subtlety) and Jason Castro (for pretty much those very same reasons).

But hopefully they’ll both hit a home run and we can pretend I never even wrote that previous paragraph.

Syesha Mercado – “One Rock And Roll Too Many” – I have never heard this song before. But I think it was a smart choice for that very reason. Seconds into her performance, it was clear that she was IN HER ELEMENT…I think she’s probably way more of a Broadway star than she is a pop star. Even when she had pitch problems, she seemed to be enjoying herself, and that’s the first time I’ve thought that all season long.

So all that to say: it wasn’t a perfect performance, but it was Syesha’s best night by a mile. Loved it.

Jason Castro – “Memory” – Okay, we just fell out laughing when he said, “I didn’t know a cat was singing it.” So funny. And you know, I really wanted to like this more mellow version of “Memory” – which, in fairness, worked in parts – but this song is such a showtopper that his version fell flat. This performance showcased his vocal limitations way more than it highlighted his originality. It just didn’t work. And that’s probably not a great thing for sweet Jason Castro.

Brooke White – “You Must Love Me” – Hey, the hubby just pointed out that it was smart of her to pick a song written for Madonna since Madonna isn’t really known for her huge range. But even still, the whole thing felt awkward, like she was trapped in a song that was just way bigger than her voice. It was a sweet performance, but unfortunately, it wasn’t a particularly good one.

David Archuleta – “Think Of Me” – I was pleasantly surprised to hear him do a modern take on this song, mainly because for me his greatest weakness has been his tendency to pick out songs that sound way too old for him. But tonight he got it right. I loved this performance – it was clever, effective and memorable. Really well done.

Carly Smithson – “Jesus Christ Superstar” – I had chillbumps the whole way through this performance. She took control from the beginning and never let it go, even when some of the high notes were a little much for her. She seemed genuinely happy, looked great, and WOW – that was a PHENOMENAL arrangement. The band ROCKED IT OUT on this one.

And yes, I did in fact just say “ROCKED IT OUT.”

I do hope you’ll continue to read here.

David Cook – “Music Of The Night” – This was a really surprising song choice, I thought – mainly because I expected him to pick something a little less theatrical, and I also expected him to do something a little funkier. But if nothing else, he proved that he can really sing, and while it wasn’t my favorite performance of his, he did a great job. He can sing anything – no doubt about it. And p.s. – I totally agree with what Simon said.

Should go: It pains me to say it, but based on tonight’s performances, I have to say Jason or Brooke. The musical theatre water was just way too deep for them.

Will go: Ditto the whole “should go” comment.

Best of the night: David Archuleta – and Carly is a close second for me.

Also, I thought the band did an incredible job – they were so much fun to listen to tonight.

If you’d like to link to your own AI post, just fill out the Mr. Linky below, making sure to link to your specific post, not your general blog URL. Thanks!

Filed Under: TV Is My Friend

Hindsight, Among Other Things

22 April 2008 by

You know, if I had a lick of sense or forethought – which clearly I don’t – I totally would have asked the internets to submit questions for your various and sundry singer / songwriter people last night, and then I would have tried to ask some of the singer / songwriter people your Very Important Questions and posted the answers here on the blawg.

That would have been fun if I had thought of it about fifteen hours ago.

But don’t worry: I’m filing away that idea for all my future – albeit currently non-existent – liveblogging endeavors.

It may very well be the best bloggy idea that I never get to, you know, use.

So since I dropped the ball in terms of taking your questions to the famous people, I thought I could at least address a few of the questions that you asked me last night.

1. Lots of you asked: What kind of awards are these ASCAP thingies, anyway?

Confession: I totally paraphrased that question.

The use of the word “thingies” probably gave away my editorial license.

And you can read all about ASCAP – as well as their Christian Music Awards – right here.

2. Bella asked: You have a nice gig going there, don’cha know?

Yes, Bella, I certainly do – because I love me a behind-the-scenes project.

Remember: I AM A TOTAL HOMEBODY – my idea of an exciting night on the town is to put on my pajamas and write some blog posts while I drink diet Coke (OVER ICE! IT MUST BE OVER ICE!) with some sort of reality television playing in the background.

So to sit and blog in a room filled with people whose music has had an incredible impact on my life and my husband’s life – well, IT WAS VERY SURREAL.

It was also very, very fun. In a must-not-make-eye-contact-because-the-glare-of-the-songwriters’-brilliance-may-sear-my-corneas-forever sort of way.

3. LeeAnn and Nicole had really similar questions: Just exactly how are you live blogging? So is your laptop up on the table next to the peachy cobbler? How is this working?

The country club had wireless internet, but unfortunately I could not access said wireless internet. And I even took TWO laptops just in case one of them had trouble, because there is nothing that screams I LIKE TO GET MY GEEK ON quite as effectively as carrying some sort of back-up computer.

Fortunately, Sister also had her laptop, and she was able to access the internet. So I sat in the very back corner of the ballroom and blogged from the table. I’d put away the laptop when the servers brought out, say, the cakey peachy cobbler, and then when I finished eating that course I’d put the laptop back on the table.

I was sitting with a group of people who knew exactly what I was supposed to be doing, so they were very understanding and gracious about sharing their dinner with someone who pretty much typed the entire time.

And as far as I could tell, no one else at the dinner had their laptops with them, but there was A LOT of texting going on. Ohmyword at the texting. I’m starting to think the texting is an epidemic, because people don’t seem to be able to sit through any sort of event without texting.

Of course, I have no room to talk about the whole texting thing since I BLOGGED FROM THE DINNER TABLE AND ALL.

4. Cindy asks: Who is David Crowder?

Oh, Cindy. I am so excited to make this introduction. Not that I actually know David Crowder or anything, but still.

David Crowder is an absolutely brilliant worship leader who won an award last night for his song “Everything Glorious.” He leads a band called, oddly enough, David Crowder Band, and you can check out their (very cool) website right here.

And in addition to David Crowder’s passion for Jesus and people, he has hair that is a force of nature.

Don’t believe me?

Look.

Photobucket

Photobucket

I totally took those on the sly, by the way.

Because I am a chicken.

But after I put some things in my car last night and was walking back in the building, David Crowder happened to be walking out of the building and DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED THEN?

David Crowder smiled and held the door open for me.

So obviously we are best friends now.

And I just thought y’all would want to know that.

Filed Under: Jesus Music

I Wasn’t Finished, But Apparently The Internet Was

22 April 2008 by

I’m home now and about to GET UP IN THE BED. And I had lots more things that I wanted to share tonight, but the wireless connection at the awards place wasn’t being particularly cooperative.

And really, nothing puts an end to liveblogging like no internet access. Just nips it right in the bud.

So anyway. I’m going to bed.

But I’ll see y’all tomorrow.

And also: I have pictures of David Crowder’s hair.

Because that is how I roll.

Filed Under: Rambling

A Brief Sidenote To All The Award Stuff

21 April 2008 by

So there’s this salute to Brown Bannister right now, and all I can think about (besides the fact that OH MY WORD STEPHEN CURTIS CHAPMAN JUST WALKED IN THE DOOR, BUT TO MY CREDIT, I DID NOT SQUEAL) is how, when I was fifteen years old with my dogeared Amy Grant songbook for the piano, every single song, it seemed, said, “Written by Amy Grant and Brown Bannister.”

And my fifteen year-old self wondered “Who is this Brown Bannister? And how does he know my pretend-BFF Amy Grant?”

So here I sit, over twenty years later, listening to this parade of music people talk about how much Brown Bannister means to them, and something that someone said keeps echoing in my head: “it’s all about relationships.”

And you know, it really is.

I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve looked at D over the last year and said, “That’s the power of a relationship right there.” Just seeing the people here testify to the impact of their relationships with Brown Bannister – among other people – has really reminded me of how deeply we are wired for community, how God uses people to teach us and refine us, and how without close friends to travel the road trip of life with you, the road trip isn’t nearly as much fun.

And I just want to say this before I forget: thanks for being along for the ride, y’all.

That’s all.

Filed Under: Rambling

ASCAP Christian Awards, Part Tres

21 April 2008 by

That fancy tenderloin? Was delicious.

I’m understandably excited about the roasted peaches with mascarpone sponge cake and vanilla ice cream.

Can y’all I’m typing exactly what the menu on the table says? Because I would probably call our dessert a cake-y peach cobbler with Blue Bell.

And I just realized that David Crowder is here. In this very room.

And I SQUEALED, y’all. Loudly. And conspicuously.

Because I am very, very cool.

Filed Under: Rambling
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