My recap/review of last night's Top 9 performance episode of The X Factor is now up at OMGWire.com. Below are some excerpts from my commentary.
Click HERE to read the entire article.
Melanie Amaro - "The World's Greatest" [Girls / Mentor: Simon]
Dedicated to: God. The song perfectly suited her dedication. It's hard to tell yet where this will rank among all her sets (not one of her best), but she was virtually flawless vocally. In previous weeks, some may have called her bland, but she really showed personality when she was talking afterwards. And her accent during that talking got really thick - what was up with that?
Chris Rene - "Let It Be"/"Homie What You Tripping On" [Boys / Mentor: L.A.]
Dedicated to: Tim, a counselor from his rehab. "Let It Be" is a great song, but turning it into an R&B/Hip-Hop song didn't work - it didn't fit him at all. Then he segued into "Homie What You Tripping On," his audition song. While the vocals weren't perfect as usual, the second song was enjoyable to listen to.
LeRoy Bell - "In the Arms of An Angel" [Over 30's / Mentor: Nicole Scherzinger]
Dedicated to: mom. He started off a little rough, but improved as the song went on. By about the middle, he was back in good form. I've already been a fan of his, so I enjoyed that last half. But I'm not sure if it was enough to garner new fans/more votes.
Click HERE to read the entire recap/review.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
The X Factor: Top 10
My recap/review of last night's Top 10 performance episode of The X Factor is now up at OMGWire.com. Below are some excerpts from my commentary.
Click HERE to read the entire article.
Rachel Crow - "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" [Girls / Mentor: Simon Cowell]
The reason why last week worked was because she took control and chose her own song. But this one harkens back to the Top 17 and Top 12 weeks, which were weak. They brought out the dancers and the outfit that doesn't look right on her (just as those weak weeks I just mentioned did). I'm just not understanding why all the judges gave her standing ovations. Her voice wasn't her strongest.
Josh Krajcik - "The Pretender" [Over 30's / Mentor: Nicole]
Josh is rock, so this has to be his week. I'm not familiar with the song - kind of a strange song (mainly because most of the song is sung in the same note). But you know what? He delivered. It was rock through and through.
Marcus Canty - "Piece of My Heart" [Boys / Mentor: L.A.]
In the intro video, he talked about moral values. Then during the song, he slides across the floor underneath a line of scantily clad women? Come on. Just to let you know, Marcus, R&B/Hip-Hop (which is the area he's obviously going to end up in post-show) and moral values don't mesh very well. As for his voice and performance, possibly one of the best of the night. At first, I wasn't sure, but I liked it by the end.
Click HERE to read the entire recap/review.
Click HERE to read the entire article.
Rachel Crow - "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" [Girls / Mentor: Simon Cowell]
The reason why last week worked was because she took control and chose her own song. But this one harkens back to the Top 17 and Top 12 weeks, which were weak. They brought out the dancers and the outfit that doesn't look right on her (just as those weak weeks I just mentioned did). I'm just not understanding why all the judges gave her standing ovations. Her voice wasn't her strongest.
Josh Krajcik - "The Pretender" [Over 30's / Mentor: Nicole]
Josh is rock, so this has to be his week. I'm not familiar with the song - kind of a strange song (mainly because most of the song is sung in the same note). But you know what? He delivered. It was rock through and through.
Marcus Canty - "Piece of My Heart" [Boys / Mentor: L.A.]
In the intro video, he talked about moral values. Then during the song, he slides across the floor underneath a line of scantily clad women? Come on. Just to let you know, Marcus, R&B/Hip-Hop (which is the area he's obviously going to end up in post-show) and moral values don't mesh very well. As for his voice and performance, possibly one of the best of the night. At first, I wasn't sure, but I liked it by the end.
Click HERE to read the entire recap/review.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
"Why I Refuse to Say Goodbye to Harry Potter" - An Original Essay by Jeff Dodge
At the end of July and beginning of August, I just had this weird feeling going through me. It was only a few weeks after seeing the final Harry Potter movie for the first time. It was hard to imagine that there would be no more Potter movies. So I started writing down my thoughts. I put it aside for a while. A while ended up being about months (I didn't plan on waiting that long). As the DVD release date approached for the final film, I got the essay back out and went back through and edited the essay.
Yesterday was the release date for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, the final one. And to coincide with that release, I released my essay on OMGWire.com. I talk about how I was first introduced to the series, and transition into my feelings on the series coming to an end and what that means for me. I suggest reading the whole essay so you can understand why I titled it "Why I Refuse to Say Goodbye to Harry Potter."
Below is a short excerpt from the essay:
I didn't want to write this. I really didn't. It's been about four months now since the final Harry Potter movie came out, and I may have been in denial. In denial that the end was here and it's passed by me in a flash. I didn't want to write this, because I didn't want to say goodbye.
I first met Harry Potter in 1999. I was 11, the same age Harry was when he received his letter to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I never received mine, but I got so much more than just a mere letter. On Christmas Eve of that year, I received the first three books as a Christmas gift from my step-grandma. I had never heard of this series before, but thanked her because she knew I loved to read. Little did she (or I) know how much that one choice would change my life forever, would turn out to be more than just a simple gift.
But it didn't start that way. I began reading Sorcerer's Stone, and can you believe it when I say I didn't get very far before I stopped reading and stored the books away? At that time, it didn't catch my attention for some reason. A few months later, though, I was going through my closet and rediscovered Harry Potter sitting there with my other books. I decided to give it another chance. And boy am I glad I did. I can't even imagine what my life would have been like if I didn't. Before I knew it, I had swallowed up all three pretty much in one gulp and hungered for more. The problem? The fourth book wouldn't be released until summertime. And so Harry Potter went on the backburner again, but only temporarily. On the morning of July 8, 2000, I received a call from my mom (I had stayed at my grandparents' beach house the previous night) that UPS or some other delivery truck had pulled up and delivered a package. She didn't think she had ordered anything, so she was a little confused. But when she opened it, there was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I had completely forgotten that I had entered a contest through one of the bookstores at the mall to win a free copy of the book. I told her to make sure to bring it with her when she came out to the beach house later that day. To the average person, two weeks might seem like a short time to read a 734 page book. And at the time, it was fast for me. (My speed time would quicken dramatically for the remaining books).
Goblet of Fire changed everything. Not just for me, but for the fandom and the franchise. After Goblet of Fire, I discovered Harry Potter fansites, who were all dissecting and analyzing the books for clues to what would happen next. I read through every single news item and rumor to see what the plot of book 5 would be. It was excruciating to have to wait three (THREE!!!) years for Order of the Phoenix.
Tragedy struck just over a year later...
The entire essay is much longer than this. To read the full essay, click HERE.
Yesterday was the release date for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, the final one. And to coincide with that release, I released my essay on OMGWire.com. I talk about how I was first introduced to the series, and transition into my feelings on the series coming to an end and what that means for me. I suggest reading the whole essay so you can understand why I titled it "Why I Refuse to Say Goodbye to Harry Potter."
Below is a short excerpt from the essay:
I didn't want to write this. I really didn't. It's been about four months now since the final Harry Potter movie came out, and I may have been in denial. In denial that the end was here and it's passed by me in a flash. I didn't want to write this, because I didn't want to say goodbye.
I first met Harry Potter in 1999. I was 11, the same age Harry was when he received his letter to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I never received mine, but I got so much more than just a mere letter. On Christmas Eve of that year, I received the first three books as a Christmas gift from my step-grandma. I had never heard of this series before, but thanked her because she knew I loved to read. Little did she (or I) know how much that one choice would change my life forever, would turn out to be more than just a simple gift.
But it didn't start that way. I began reading Sorcerer's Stone, and can you believe it when I say I didn't get very far before I stopped reading and stored the books away? At that time, it didn't catch my attention for some reason. A few months later, though, I was going through my closet and rediscovered Harry Potter sitting there with my other books. I decided to give it another chance. And boy am I glad I did. I can't even imagine what my life would have been like if I didn't. Before I knew it, I had swallowed up all three pretty much in one gulp and hungered for more. The problem? The fourth book wouldn't be released until summertime. And so Harry Potter went on the backburner again, but only temporarily. On the morning of July 8, 2000, I received a call from my mom (I had stayed at my grandparents' beach house the previous night) that UPS or some other delivery truck had pulled up and delivered a package. She didn't think she had ordered anything, so she was a little confused. But when she opened it, there was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I had completely forgotten that I had entered a contest through one of the bookstores at the mall to win a free copy of the book. I told her to make sure to bring it with her when she came out to the beach house later that day. To the average person, two weeks might seem like a short time to read a 734 page book. And at the time, it was fast for me. (My speed time would quicken dramatically for the remaining books).
Goblet of Fire changed everything. Not just for me, but for the fandom and the franchise. After Goblet of Fire, I discovered Harry Potter fansites, who were all dissecting and analyzing the books for clues to what would happen next. I read through every single news item and rumor to see what the plot of book 5 would be. It was excruciating to have to wait three (THREE!!!) years for Order of the Phoenix.
Tragedy struck just over a year later...
The entire essay is much longer than this. To read the full essay, click HERE.
The X Factor: Top 11
My recaps/reviews of this week's Top 11 performance and results show episodes of The X Factor are now up at OMGWire.com. Below are some excerpts from my commentary.
Click HERE to read the Top 11 recap/review.
Click HERE to read the Top 11 Results Show recap/review.
LeRoy Bell - "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," Runaway Bride [Over 30's / Mentor: Nicole]
"I'm Already There" was one of his weakest. But he's back in good form tonight. His soulful voice was a pleasure to listen to.
Chris Rene - "Gangsta's Paradise," Dangerous Minds [Boys / Mentor: L.A.]
Since he did rap, let's compare him against Astro. Who was better tonight? Chris Rene, because his song was one that went back and forth between rap and regular singing. I seem to like these kinds of rap songs better than ones with strictly rap, like Astro's. And I found myself getting into this performance. There were only a few pitch problems. Well done, Chris!
Click HERE to read the Top 11 recap/review.
Click HERE to read the Top 11 Results Show recap/review.
LeRoy Bell - "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," Runaway Bride [Over 30's / Mentor: Nicole]
"I'm Already There" was one of his weakest. But he's back in good form tonight. His soulful voice was a pleasure to listen to.
Chris Rene - "Gangsta's Paradise," Dangerous Minds [Boys / Mentor: L.A.]
Since he did rap, let's compare him against Astro. Who was better tonight? Chris Rene, because his song was one that went back and forth between rap and regular singing. I seem to like these kinds of rap songs better than ones with strictly rap, like Astro's. And I found myself getting into this performance. There were only a few pitch problems. Well done, Chris!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Bieber Guy Is Moving To OMGWire!
Announcement:
Bieber Guy Is Moving To OMGWire!
Bieber Guy Is Moving To OMGWire!
I teased on Twitter recently that I had a big announcement coming soon regarding the future of Bieber Guy, and that it would be good news.
I am excited to announce that the Bieber Guy blog will be moving to OMGWire.com! If you haven't checked out OMGWire before, please do so. They provide the latest entertainment and celebrity news every single day. I first started writing for OMGWire back in June when I provided the recaps/reviews for America's Got Talent; I am currently doing them for this fall's The X Factor.
I apologize for the delay in my latest Bieber Guy review. The reason for the delay was because I was in the middle of setting up the new site.
So here's what's going to happen now: the Bieber Guy blog will still be up and running for at least a little while until everything has been transferred over (and I will link to any articles I write at the new site). OMGWire has started up a brand-new area of their site called Bieber Blog at this link: bieber.omgwire.com. This will be OMGWire's top spot for providing the latest Justin Bieber news.
I haven't pinned down a date yet for when my next Bieber Guy Review will be up. I apologize for the delay, but I am excited by this new opportunity that OMGWire has provided. And there will be other writers as well providing Bieber news on OMGWire's Bieber Blog as well.
To find out the latest TV, movie and entertainment news, visit the main TV Watch Online site and OMGWire.com (Twitter: @TVWatchOnline @OMGWire).
To stay updated on everything related to Bieber Guy and when the next review will be online, follow me on Twitter @Bieber_Guy. Twitter is the best and fastest way to find out about any news, announcements, articles, or reviews.
I am excited to announce that the Bieber Guy blog will be moving to OMGWire.com! If you haven't checked out OMGWire before, please do so. They provide the latest entertainment and celebrity news every single day. I first started writing for OMGWire back in June when I provided the recaps/reviews for America's Got Talent; I am currently doing them for this fall's The X Factor.
I apologize for the delay in my latest Bieber Guy review. The reason for the delay was because I was in the middle of setting up the new site.
So here's what's going to happen now: the Bieber Guy blog will still be up and running for at least a little while until everything has been transferred over (and I will link to any articles I write at the new site). OMGWire has started up a brand-new area of their site called Bieber Blog at this link: bieber.omgwire.com. This will be OMGWire's top spot for providing the latest Justin Bieber news.
I haven't pinned down a date yet for when my next Bieber Guy Review will be up. I apologize for the delay, but I am excited by this new opportunity that OMGWire has provided. And there will be other writers as well providing Bieber news on OMGWire's Bieber Blog as well.
To find out the latest TV, movie and entertainment news, visit the main TV Watch Online site and OMGWire.com (Twitter: @TVWatchOnline @OMGWire).
To stay updated on everything related to Bieber Guy and when the next review will be online, follow me on Twitter @Bieber_Guy. Twitter is the best and fastest way to find out about any news, announcements, articles, or reviews.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
The X Factor: Top 12
My recap/review of Wednesday night's Top 12 performance episode of The X Factor is now up at OMGWire.com. Below are some excerpts from my commentary.
Click HERE to read the entire article.
Rachel Crow - "Walking on Sunshine" [Girls / Mentor: Simon Cowell]
A great song. She wasn't always on pitch, especially during the first half. But she has a great personality to make up for that. I didn't understand why they changed the lyrics from "Walking on sunshine" to "You're my sunshine." It messed up what is a fantastic song. And ever since the live shows (both last week and tonight), I haven't been a fan of her clothing or hair style, or on-stage props.
Lakoda Rayne - "Landslide" [Groups / Mentor: Paula]
I wasn't impressed. It was a very safe song choice. And there was some shaky vocal moments (and one flat voice during the harmony), but their harmonies were pretty solid. The seasons aspect was corny.
Josh Krajcik - "Jar of Hearts" [Over 30's / Mentor: Nicole]
How do you top what he did last week? Since it worked, maybe Nicole thought he should do another slow song. And while not as beautiful as last time, his voice was still pretty good. Since he looks like a rocker, I think he needs to try out a more upbeat song, something more rock-like.
Marcus Canty - "Beautiful Girls"/"Every Little Step" [Boys / Mentor: L.A.]
The Boys category hasn't been the strongest, but Marcus has always had strong vocals. Tonight, his voice wasn't the strongest. Then he stepped up more in the second half and it felt more like he was an established artist.
Click HERE to read the entire recap/review. I realized after the fact that while I did made my bottom 2 prediction, I didn't type up my elimination prediction. So, I'm saying here that I predict that InTENsity will be sent home this week.
Elimination Prediction: InTENsity
Click HERE to read the entire article.
Rachel Crow - "Walking on Sunshine" [Girls / Mentor: Simon Cowell]
A great song. She wasn't always on pitch, especially during the first half. But she has a great personality to make up for that. I didn't understand why they changed the lyrics from "Walking on sunshine" to "You're my sunshine." It messed up what is a fantastic song. And ever since the live shows (both last week and tonight), I haven't been a fan of her clothing or hair style, or on-stage props.
Lakoda Rayne - "Landslide" [Groups / Mentor: Paula]
I wasn't impressed. It was a very safe song choice. And there was some shaky vocal moments (and one flat voice during the harmony), but their harmonies were pretty solid. The seasons aspect was corny.
Josh Krajcik - "Jar of Hearts" [Over 30's / Mentor: Nicole]
How do you top what he did last week? Since it worked, maybe Nicole thought he should do another slow song. And while not as beautiful as last time, his voice was still pretty good. Since he looks like a rocker, I think he needs to try out a more upbeat song, something more rock-like.
Marcus Canty - "Beautiful Girls"/"Every Little Step" [Boys / Mentor: L.A.]
The Boys category hasn't been the strongest, but Marcus has always had strong vocals. Tonight, his voice wasn't the strongest. Then he stepped up more in the second half and it felt more like he was an established artist.
Click HERE to read the entire recap/review. I realized after the fact that while I did made my bottom 2 prediction, I didn't type up my elimination prediction. So, I'm saying here that I predict that InTENsity will be sent home this week.
Elimination Prediction: InTENsity
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