A Look Back: Kelly Clarkson Crowned First “American Idol”

american idol anniversaryOn September 4, 2002, the first season of American Idol came to a close as they announced that Kelly Clarkson beat Justin Guarini for the top spot. It is difficult to believe it has been so long since the crowning of one of the most successful artists (if not the most successful singer) to come out of any reality television show.

I still remember the sense that everyone knew that Clarkson would win and then came Guarini’s over-the-top reaction but still genuine happiness for Clarkson.  It also was our last time seeing Brian Dunkleman on stage co-hosting the season with Ryan Seacrest, who continued as a solo host in subsequent seasons.

But the most memorable part of it all was seeing Clarkson’s joy as she broke down in tears while singing her coronation song, “A Moment Like This.”

What we did not know then was how long American Idol, which was based on a British show Pop Idol, would continue and would be popular in various formats around the world. We also had no idea how that season helped transform American television into a factory for many lesser reality shows.

American Idol also was part of a sea change in the music business.  New technologies challenged some talented struggling artists, leaving much of the market to reality show artists.

In other ways, the September 2002 finale also was a sign of a return to normalcy one year after the events of September 11, 2001.  Once again Americans showed they could care so much for something silly. There is probably something wrong with that, but at the time the show just seemed like a lot of fun.

What do you think of the legacy of American Idol? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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James Taylor on How to Play “Fire and Rain”

James Taylor recently started posting guitar lesson videos on his website. For us guitar players it is cool to see how he plays some of his classic songs. To be honest, I am not that great of a player so could use some additional illustrations for some of the chords, not to mention I do not have the fingernails for the intricate picking he does.

But even if you are not a guitar player, it is still cool to get an intimate view of the guitar playing like you have never seen it before. In the clip below, he plays “Fire and Rain.”

Who would you like to see give video guitar lessons? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    • Will Clint Eastwood Tell Democrats to Get Off His Lawn at Tonight’s Republican Convention?

    Rumors have been swirling this week that Clint Eastwood is going to be a surprise “mystery speaker” at the 2012 Republican National Convention tonight. According to a revised schedule released on Monday, an unnamed speaker is going to be on the stage to address the convention after American Idol alum Taylor Hicks performs tonight. Commentators began speculating that the speaker might be Eastwood almost immediately, although other celebrity names have been floated like Tim Tebow. About an hour ago, though, Paul Gilbert, a close friend of Mitt and Ann Romney, relayed that the mystery speaker at the Republican National Convention is indeed Eastwood.

    These days, when you mention Eastwood, I can’t help thinking of Bill Hader’s take on the actor’s “It’s Halftime in America” Super Bowl commercial for Chrysler.

    August 31, 2012 Update: Clint Eastwood did show up to address the convention and brought along an empty chair. Most say he stole the show, but it depends on who you listen to whether or not that is a good thing. Judge for yourself by watching his address to the convention below if you missed it.

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    New Crazy Dylan Video: “Duquesne Whistle”

    We have another new song from Bob Dylan’s upcoming Tempest CD. In this humorous official video, provided through The Guardian, the song starts off with a jaunty beat and humorous air so that it looks like it will be a romantic comedy like (500) Days of Summer (2009). But soon, we discover it is a stalker story that eventually delves a little into Reservoir Dogs (1992) territory. I like it, but I have not seen such an insane Bob Dylan video since “Must Be Santa.” Like that song, the action in the video has nothing really to do with the words. Check it out.

    Dylan Duquesne Whistle Can’t you hear that Duquesne whistle blowin’?
    Blowin’ through another no-good town;
    The lights of my native land are glowin’;
    I wonder if they’ll know me next time ‘round;
    I wonder if that old oak tree’s still standin’;
    That old oak tree, the one we used to climb;
    Listen to that Duquesne whistle blowin’;
    Blowin’ like she’s blowin’ right on time.

    Tempest will be released September 11. A number of special “Tempest pop-up stores” in Los Angeles, New York, and London will have the CD a day early, along with other Bob Dylan merchandise.

    September 4, 2012 Update: You may listen to a free stream of Bob Dylan’s new CD for the next week on iTunes: http://smarturl.it/tempestitunesstream.


    What do you think of the new video for “Duquesne Whistle”? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Sweet Duet on Recently Banned “Sweet Caroline”

    neil diamond jack black sweet caroline

    Jack Black played a member of a Neil Diamond tribute band called “Diamonds in the Rough” in the movie Saving Silverman (2001). It is one of those mindless comedies that can be fun to watch on a rainy Saturday if you do not expect too much. At the end of the movie, Neil Diamond made a guest appearance. Recently, Jack Black returned the favor and joined Diamond on stage in Los Angeles on August 23. Reportedly, Black was enthusiastically enjoying the show from his seat before he took the stage. In the video below, the two engage in a little banter before ripping into the Neil Diamond classic, “Sweet Caroline.”

    The inspiration for “Sweet Caroline” was Caroline Kennedy. When Neil Diamond was a struggling songwriter, he saw a magazine photo of President John F. Kennedy’s daughter wearing her riding outfit next to her pony. Diamond sat down in his Memphis, Tennessee motel room and wrote “Sweet Caroline” in an hour. Diamond recently concluded that the 1969 number one song was “probably is the biggest, most important song of my career.” The song has only become bigger, as it became a staple at sporting events, including Red Sox games.

    But “Sweet Caroline” will no longer be played at Penn State games. This Monday, a few days after the Jack Black and Neil Diamond duet on the song, Penn State announced they were removing “Sweet Caroline” from the playlist at Beaver Stadium. Officials explained they decided to remove it because so many other sports stadiums already play it. But The New York Daily News reported another possible explanation: In light of the recent child abuse scandal at the school, maybe officials did not want fans singing along to the lines, “Hands/ Touching Hands/ Reaching out /Touching me, touching you.”

    Whatever Penn State’s reason, Neil Diamond will survive and so will the song. If you would like a little bonus Jack Black and Neil Diamond, here is Diamond singing “Holly Holy” over the end credits of Saving Silverman with a little help from the movie’s cast. Maybe Penn State should consider playing this song at games.

    https://youtube.com/watch?v=dbu1EU9f-d4

    What do you think of the Jack Black and Neil Diamond duet? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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