halfwhiteboy

Yes, I do still have a hangover from American Idol's Season 11 finale. Lots of both great and so-so moments but altogether, it was one helluva show. Yes, Philip Philips won but it's the epic duet of runner-up Jessica Sanchez and original Dreamgirl Jennifer Holliday that I still can't get over with. Sure, Jessica already performed the song, "And I Am Telling You (I'm Not Going)" not too long ago but she was much, much better here. Arguably it's because she was sharing the stage with a monster of a performer in Jennifer -- over the top as over the top as it can be, complete with exaggerated facial expressions and incessant growling and screaming. I think she was able to feed on Jennifer's energy onstage and although there's no topping Jennifer, Jessica held her own. Watching the performance, which easily trumped the earlier screaming match between Fantasia and "Mantasia" Joshua Ledet, was all at once fun,  funny  and exhausting. I mean, s...

Let me get this out of way from the start: I'm not a Jessica Sanchez hater (although it's fun to play with the minds of Jessica die-hards). Am I a fan? A little, maybe. I first took note of Jessica during American Idol's Hollywood week and immediately thought she was a "Filipina." (I'm using quotation marks to emphasize the context in which the term is used by most Filipinos, which is to stake claim on someone with even the slightest ounce of Filipino blood in him/her who's enjoying some level of success or recognition outside the Philippines.) Broadly speaking, Jessica is half-Filipina, 1/4 Mexican, and 1/4 American ( God, she could sing all three national anthems in the next Pacquiao fight! ). At the end of the day, however, she is an American citizen, which is why she was able to join AI in the first place. And my guess is, she doesn't really consider herself a Filipina but an American although, of course, if you ask her now -- especially aft...

Just de-stressing here, reading stuff, then messing up with them. On American Idol: Jessica Sanchez is trending on Twitter as AI fans express support or hate. -  Sorry, but tweets won't save her. You gotta actually vote. Jessica Sanchez is trending on Twitter as AI fans express support or hate. - Uhm, but trending only in the Philippines where no one can vote for her). Now Pinoys are trying to use Magic Jacks to vote for Jessica Sanchez? - Unbelievable! Pinoy pride? Jessica Sanchez on American Idol.

I haven't heard of David Cook in a looooooong time. After his fairly successful post-Idol album that sold some 1.4 million copies...nothing. No idea what he's up to. At least his CD still plays in the car from time to time while I scream at the top of my lungs to Light On . But now the Season 7 winner is back with American Idol's new exit song, the one that plays while we all say goodbye to each week's casualty. Cook is doing a cover (one thing he's really good at) of Don't You (Forget About Me)  by Simple Minds. I haven't heard it yet but I'm hoping it's good because I think the best exit song to date is Daughtry's Home . So we'll see about that. Our favorite David is also releasing his sophomore album sometime this spring. It's good to know that he's still with his label, which means he's doing good. Unlike the "other David" who was unceremoniously dropped by Jive. Yes, David Archuleta was released from his con...

With all the press on Kara DioGuardi joining American Idol Season 8 as judge ( Yes, never heard of her either; she's reportedly a Grammy-nominated songwriter or something ), I Googled Season 7 winner David Cook to check on what's happening with him lately and stumbled upon a blog by Chris Sligh, a Season 6 hopeful telling a story on how a really nice guy DC is. Fellow AI alum Luke Menard , who's stricken with cancer, recently held a fund-raising concert to help pay for his medical bills. DC sent a signed guitar to be sold at an auction.