Fat, old, not model-quality? Forget it ladies (american idol thoughts)

I read a brief piece about Melinda Doolittle's elimination from "American Idol." The article wasn't about her talent, which wasn't in dispute, but the writer suggested that if you are a female singer that is out of shape, or at least not young and sexy enough to "work it" in semi-pornographic videos, you probably won't get a record deal (no matter how much talent you have).

Everyone knows that sex sells in the entertainment industry, but the idea that if you are out of shape, unstylish or "old" (over age 30) you can't entertain, is ridiculous! What's worse, I don't see men being put out to pasture by their looks, shape or age (check out Eric Clapton, or Paul McCartney, or Ozzie). There is a double standard for women-- if you're not a "hot" young thing, forget it, ladies.

I wrote a post a while back when this season's American Idol began, as I'd never watched it before, and during the auditions phase of the show, there seemed to be some talented singers in the bunch. While few of the less attractive (in that "Hollywood" sterotype) made it into the actual contest, those that did were gently, quietly, dropped along the way. In the beginning, I wrote in that blog piece that many of the contenders seemed to be virtual "pretty young thing" clones of one Very quickly, I got bored watching them, and the show, and the ascerbic Cowell.

But back to Melinda Doolittle. The other writer's comments really struck a nerve. While these type of reality shows are just a load of well..... and I hope that the public loses it's seemingly insatiable lust for them yesterday, I must have been crazy to think that this really was a talent contest. Why would it surprise me that Ms. Doolittle wasn't eliminated for her lack of talent, but more for her lack of sex appeal (compared to the cutes-y, young Blake Lewis, and 17-year old Jordin Sparks, the "I wanna be a celebutate clone")?

No wonder the record industry is dying. Older teens, forced to listen to the same-old-same-old sexpot singers gyrating in the same barely-there outfits to the same "I've got atti-tude" lyrics, are clamoring for something that really moves them. After all, isn't that the power of music and of the entertainers that interpret the music and lyrics of songs? They're smart enough to know that what is on the radio, is utter crap. They listen to the groups I loved (several decades earlier) because that music moves them and the performers had soul, talent, and weren't recording artists only for their looks. In fact, at J&R Music world in NYC, I was told by a saleperson that turntables were the #1 holiday gift item last year, because everyone is seeking out old vinyl records, and they need something to play them on. I'd be willing to guess that many of those (not necessarily young or beautiful artists) on those records couldn't get a meeting, let alone a contract, in the music industry today.

What's left for the less than gorgeous, especially females? Well, you can play a sterotyped role (eg. Rubenesque Jennifer Hudson got a role in Dreamgirls, and "Fantasia" a former American Idol contestant is now playing a less-than-glam role in the musical, the Color Purple) or you can be ridiculous like Judy Tenuda and her famous accordion. And does no one remember the original talent behind Millie Vanilli, who wasn't young or attractive enough to record his own songs?

With reality shows like American Idol eliminating talent over beauty and youth, the message that if you're out of shape, not 20, or not beautiful, you are not going to be a star, is just reinforced. What kind of message is that?

The day Melinda Doolittle was eliminated from American Idol is, perhaps, the true "day the music died"

Guitar Shorty Rocks the House in Rockland County!

Last night my friends and I went to see Guitar Shorty at at club in Piermont New York. We have been following Shorty for more than 14 years. In fact, when we all had "important" birthdays, we hired Shorty and his band to play for us at a private party, amazing our guests and winning him dozens and dozens of new, instant fans. That's me next to Shorty, laughing hysterically. It was such an amazing experience! We hope to repeat our private concert with more friends and fans, in the not-too-distant future.

*photo by Alison Blackman

Guitar Shorty, whose real name is David Kearney, was born in Houston, Texas. He began playing guitar as a young boy, and when he moved to Tampa, Floria, when he was just 17, Kearney won a slot as a featured guitarist and vocalist in Walter Johnson's 18-piece orchestra. Since he was young and shorter than the rest of the band, the club owner dubbed in "Guitar Shorty," Soon, Shorty was playing with many of the greatest-of-the-great blues musicians, but he credits Willie Dixon with having a huge influence on him and his recording career. The photo above is Shorty performing by walking around in the crowd, last night.

In the early years, Shorty met guitarist/vocalist Guitar Slim, famous for his his athletic antics onstage. Shorty started doing backflips and other showy moves onstage. In fact, you can see a young Shorty on the Gong Show (which he WON) doing backflips and standing on his head. Watch celebrity judge Jaye P. Morgan's face while Shorty is performing, and hear her predicition that Shorty will be a star "if your head holds out!"


Shorty's life hasn't always been a bed of roses, but it hasn't just been "tough breaks and bad decisions" as the "Story of his life", either." He moved to Seattle and married Marsha Hendrix, Jimi's stepsister. Hendrix loved his Shorty and it's common knowledge that while Jimi was in the army (believe it or not) he would go AWOL from his Army base in order to catch Shorty's area performances. Shorty was a big influence on Jimi. "I hear my licks in Purple Haze and Hey Joe. He told me the reason he started setting his guitar on fire was because he couldn't do the back flips like I did." recalls Shorty.

*photo by Alison Blackman

In 1990, while on tour in England, Shorty recorded an album called: "My Way Or The Highway" which received the Blues Music Award for "Contemporary Foreign Blues Album Of The Year" He received a W.C. Handy Award nomination for Blues Album of the Year for WATCH YOUR BACK in 2005. His latest album, "We the People" incorporates a new band and more rock rhythms featuring Shorty's signature "screaming" guitar. The latest interest in Shorty has landed him on Itunes and other online points of purchase where new, younger fans can learn about Shorty's music.

The photo above shows Shorty with his new bass player.

Shorty's new band has only been playing together for less than a dozen gigs. They all expressed their enthusiasm about what an honor it is to with with the great, Guitar Shorty. It was interesting to me to see the way he queued the various band members and how the personality of even some of his biggest hits have changed with the infusion of new views and talent in his backup band.

Last night, Shorty played a few songs from We The People, including the title track, "We the People," along with favorites such as "Hey Joe" and "Jody." After listening to some of these songs for years, it was evident that his new band members, all from Texas, added a more "Texas roadhouse" sound to the blues numbers, and make the more rock-oriented numbers fresh and modern, but still blues-y.

Shorty played until way past midnight, and even though it was a Wednesday and a work or school day for nearly everyone there the next day, virtually no one left the building. Shorty still walked around the crowd, playing in front of them. We have seen him actually leave the building and not come back for 15 minutes, while the band and the audience wonders: "where's Shorty?" We once witnessed Shorty leaving the building in a snowstorm, walk around the place, and come back in covered with snowflakes! Last night it was cold, and Shorty didn't go outside, but he still played the guitar with his teeth and other body parts!

Shorty has three web sites. The oldest is http://www.guitarshorty.org but the new one is even better: http://www.guitarshorty.com and he is also soon to launch, http://www.guitarshorty.biz You can get his tour dates, news, and purchase cds and T-shirts (the newest, featuring the "We The People" Tour is great)!

If you haven't ever heard of Guitar Shorty, now you have...so go out and get his albums and check him out in person if he comes to your town. You'll be very, very glad you did.

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Fall 2007-Akiko Ogawa

Later in the day, I went to the Akiko Ogawa runway show in the tents. I got there early, and saw my friend Ester Nash on line for another show. How nice to see her! She's such a lovely woman.

As I was checking in for Akiko Ogawa, I ran into another person I know--Steven Bender. He now has his own PR company and is doing lots of interesting things. We had time to catch up for a few minutes. He's one of the "nice guys," too.

But on to the show: the theme is "the masculine look of a British rock star softened into feminine form and laced with elements of 'wabi sabi' (the distinctily Japanese aesthetic of refined rusticity and elegant simplicity considered the highly prized qualities in the traditional arts).

To break that down, the clothes were a mixture of punk bluntness, and soft silk kimono..a perfect fusion of Japanese downtown girls, with geisha elements. Scottish tartan (mostly with green and blue) showed up in pleated skirts, paired with rock-star black.

The audience and the clothes seem "youthful" but in truth, I could see nearly anyone taking pieces from the 39 pieces shown in this collection and making them work. There were skinny pants, mostly in black, along with charcoal gray, but there was some color. The pink used as accents apparently was inspired by the flower of the peony tree. One of the most beautiful pieces was a deep pink kimono tunic, worn with a low-slung Swarovski crystal studded belt. The most beautiful pieces were these silky kimono-styles, worn as dresses and tunics. The models seemed to float down the runway in these. I liked the oversized obi" type sashes that added a distinctly Japanese flair. I also particularly liked a black cropped "military" type jacket with large crystal "buttons" that added sparkle, and some of the jackets and sweaters with faux-fur trim. To add that punk attitude, a variety of platform black leather shoes prevailed. Add a chunky boot to a tartan skirt and you've got just the right mix.

The collection is fun, eye catching, and a welcome relief from the austere. Noda Norikata at MAO did strong, smoky eyes and pale faces. Hair, from Dennis Lanni for Bumble & Bumble was stark -- a sort of modern Louise Brooks short black bob with thick bangs for most of the models. This added a distinct rock star meets the East sensibility that went well with the clothes.