AIKEN NEWS NETWORK DEC. 30

[wvclayfan]

Exclusive Free Download: The Worst Song Ever Written

Last week, I appeared on Morning Edition to ruminate on one of the most significant events of the past decade in music -- namely, the debut of American Idol in the summer of 2002. Included in the piece was the chorus of a "song" I'd written: a parody of the sort of mawkish ballad the Idol winner always sings at the end of each season. You can read or listen to the piece here, though I should warn you that listening means hearing me actually sing something I call "On the Wings of Dreaming Eagles."

I was striving to emulate the booming stridency of a Clay Aiken or a David Archuleta, both Idol runners-up, and naturally wound up making Aiken and Archuleta sound like pint-size Pavarottis by comparison. But reader Timothy Trudeau and his colleagues at Syntax Records had a different idea, and instead opted to transform me -- using AutoTune, looping and other studio imagineering -- from a 12th-rate Archuleta into a fourth-rate Cher. I'd already received some sweetening and reverb with the assistance of ace NPR engineer Mark Greenhouse, but the Syntax remix is... well, it's something else entirely.

NPR Music Blog

[wvclayfan]

Star Factory

Susan Boyle dreamed her dream in time gone by, but it was Simon Cowell who made it all possible, let alone worth living.

We don't have a category for Master Manipulator of the Year in this, our annual year-end look at the world of entertainment. If we did, Cowell would win in a heartbeat. Instead, we're anointing him Entertainer of the Year for 2009.

<snip>

DARRYL STERDAN

Simon Cowell? Entertainer of the year? This year? As Simon might say, absolute rubbish.

It might have made an iota of sense a few years ago, when Idol meant something. But ratings-wise, it has peaked. Sure, every year it births a new crop of singers -- almost all flashes in the pan. For every Kelly Clarkson, there's a Ruben Studdard, a Fantasia, a Taylor Hicks.

Besides, arguably the most successful Idol alums didn't win -- Daughtry, Jennifer Hudson, Clay Aiken. That pretty much negates the notion of Cowell as kingmaker, IMHO. And I challenge anyone to name one thing Cowell did this year that was unique and entertaining. He's a savvy businessman, sure.

Bottom line: Decades from now, when Susan Boyle and Adam Lambert are forgotten, everyone will think of 2009 as the year Michael Jackson died. Even Simon.

St. Catherines Standard

[Carolina Clay]

Greetings, CM!   

The new Carolina blog features SueReu's "Retrospective, Part 1 - The Music" montage; graphics by AmazingCA, Cotton, Fountaindawg, and fivegoldens; plus a Cyber New Year's Eve party invite to welcome the Decca Decade. The second "Retrospective" montage (TV appearances) will make its debut there.

Clickable by AmazingCA

The Clay blogs are up against some crazies on Google, so your hits/comments are needed and appreciated. Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year!

Caro 

CAROLINA ON MY MIND