Thoughts on Idol

It's the time of year again. I am consumed in piles of homework studying for finals. But, I have to make time for a break every now and again.

What am I saying? Yes, finals. But my point, it's American Idol's time of year. My guilty pleasure.

Although with my limited amount of time due to school work and extracurricular, for the past few years I've only been watching the LIVE shows. Forget the auditions. The competition comes down to the top chosen by judges with final consent from the people.

Personally, I hate watching contestants humiliate themselves. It's disengaging; a waste of time. Those who are fortunate enough to be granted with a golden ticket could still fall through. It's the realization that the stage is not home for everyone. But for those who have potential for stardom, they shine, open up, and embrace their inner-self.

After watching the first week of LIVE shows, or better known as Rush Week (a new addition to the show), sadly I have already lost interest.

Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez, and new addition Harry Connick Jr. (the judges) and show host Ryan Seacrest are saying that this seasons contestants are the best ever showcased.

I have to disagree.

The performances of the total twenty contestants out of the thirty chosen to perform for Rush Week, did not hit their mark. Most performances were bland. The stage presence was not noticeable.

Lopez, however, did remark that this season will be different. The generation has changed. The performers who have a country look may be an R&B singer. With today's technology it has opened up the realm to genres of music otherwise unknown by a person. For this reason and the fact that this is only the first LIVE week, I'll give the contestants another week to improve. Like always.

By then, my family and I have chosen favorites--deciding who will claim the title. And still I am hoping, as prior seasons, that the contestants are able to fill the shoes left behind.

Undoubtedly they all have potential. It just was not shown in the past week's performance.

It Arrived.

After two and a half months, it arrived! My personally signed Baptized lyric booklet.

 

I received Daughtry's CD as a Christmas gift from my sister. I was beyond stoked. I owned their previous three albums and loved their style. Either way, if I didn't receive Baptized, I would've bought it with Christmas money because Daughtry is one of those bands whoes music can be plagued on repeat without becoming annoying.

But more than their music, I look up to founder Chris Daughtry for seizing the opportunity to audition for American Idol.

Now, if asked who my American Idol is, I could never give one answer. I have to name them all. And only two have actually claimed the title of The American Idol. Daughtry being one of the people not claiming the title but the title does not signify the best.

Daughtry performed on the fifth season placing fourth. He is one of the most recognized artist from American Idol. Watching the show, I was only 9 but his music stuck with me. Even if I didn't remember his name and the name of his first single, I could never forget his voice.

It was not by chance that I stumbled across the self-titled debut, and from there, I could never stop listening.

But when I found the lyrics booklet missing from Baptized, my sister didn't miss a beat in the explanation:

"If the booklet was sent to 2800 Olympic Boulevard in Santa Monica California by December 1st, Daughtry will personally sign the booklet."

Excitement bubbled inside of me. And that same feeling resurfaced today when finding the envelope in the mail.

All four CD. And the last with a personalized touch. I never thought I'd see it come.

The Influence

I honestly don’t have time to pleasure read. Or let me rephrase that. I don’t make time to pleasure read. Many other activities consume my free time. But I couldn’t resist Divergent when it was placed on the dinner table.

Now, truth be told, I’ve owned the book quite a while, actually. But it hasn’t been in my room. My sister had it on her bookshelf. How it got downstairs, I will never know. I can say though, it was much appreciated.

I zoomed through the book, in three days total. Well it helped that one was a snow day. I could never just read one chapter. It was always one more. One more before I begin my homework again. One more before I eat dinner. One more before I go to bed.

Veronica Roth’s writing style is simplistic but engaging. Toss in emotional characters and events that hit you in the heart. The utopian or dystopian society, whatever you want to call the setting—it has characteristics of both cultures (as well as Roth explaining her views between utopia and dystopia but she never comes to a conclusion of what society she has created)—forms itself in your head. I’m not sure how this couldn’t be realistic in your head. Maybe, though, my imagination is vivid enough to establish a convincing character. I don’t know.

But what I am positive of; Roth is influenced by her music choices. Roth has an exclusive edition in the back of Divergent, one portion being on the “Divergent Playlist”.

After listening through her song list, it is evident that Flyleaf had the biggest impact not only on Beatrice, rather known as Tris, but imprinted on the book as a whole.

Each small synopsis shines light on a unique aspect either of Tris or a significant occurring event.

The playlist is as follows:

"Starts with One” by Shiny Toy Guns

“Chasm” by Flyleaf

“Come Alive” by Foo Fighters

“Again” by Flyleaf

“Help I’m Alive” by Metric

“We Die Young” by The Showdown

“Canvas” by Imogen Heap

“Running up that Hill” by Placebo

“Sweet Sacrifice” by Evanescence

“Arise” by Flyleaf

 

As a fan of Flyleaf, it is noticeable that more than just these songs influenced Roth’s writing. There are so many others I could name, but for now, listen to those she has acknowledged. It will give insight and characterization either if you’ve read, or are planning to read Divergent.