From a Momma's Boy

Moms
by Conor Levis

First, I would be remiss if I didn't post something for Mother's Day. I wanted to make a Mother's Day post but I've been incredibly lazy with any spare time I get...so I failed. I apologize. So being the big Momma's boy that I am, love your mommy! She created you, it's the least you could do. Here are some of the great Moms throughout history:

Wendy from the ShiningShe fends off an axe-wielding, scenery-chewing maniac (Jack Nicholson) to save her son in The Shining. Great Mom.

Mrs. Gump from Forrest Gump

Mama Gump would do anything for her Forrest...even if it meant sleeping with the principle to get Forrest into public school. Great Mom.

Carol Brady from the Brady BunchWhat can you say about Mrs. Brady? The stay-at-home mom had to raise all of those bratty Brady kids. Plus she gave birth to Marcia, every young boy's wet dream. Thank you, Mrs. Brady. Great Mom.

Norma Arnold from the Wonder Years
Mrs. Arnold did it all. She did everything for her family...whether it was maintaining the Arnold household, making Jack's lunch, driving Kevin to school, or building an ashtray for 200 people. Norma Arnold, the ultimate Mom.

Nadya Suleman - the "Octomom"
Nadya is a single, unemployed mother who gave birth to octuplets in January after already having 6 children within 5 years of each other from 2001-2006. It seems impossible that she can afford them as she is living off of the state and I really don't know how she can take care of them all by herself. Great....uhhhhhh...nevermind.

So I guess not all Moms can be great, but I'm sure yours is and to all the Mothers out there...we love you!

American Idol Report
by Conor Levis

And then there were three. We are finally down to three contestants after Allison Iraheta was eliminated from "Rock Week" last week. The remaining contestants are now Adam Lambert, Danny Gokey, and Kris Allen. Here's how I rank them:

1) Adam Lambert- He is the clear cut favorite at this point after performing "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin last week. I'm not sure how America will vote...but he's definitely the best one left in the competition.

2) Kris Allen- Kris is the contestant who will challenge Adam. He isn't as talented but he's going to grab a lot of votes from those little teenyboppers who have already figured out that Adam is gay. He was mediocre last week performing "Come Together" by the Beatles...which is always a tough task.

3) Danny Gokey- He's lucky to still be here after that god awful performance last week of "Dream On" by Aerosmith. I'm sure he'll be the next one gone. Don't these people know their limits? What made Danny Gokey think he could hit the high notes like Steven Tyler? It doesn't make sense. Which brings me to my next rant.....


You're Not Janis Joplin!

Somebody should have told this to Allison Iraheta before she took the stage last week because it might have saved her another week. Allison's performance of "Cry Baby" by Janis Joplin was another classic example of something I wrote about a month ago. Some artists and songs are simply untouchable and Janis Joplin is one of them. I loved Allison because she was one of those classic bluesy, soul singers that you don't see much of anymore. I had high hopes for her until she tried to pull off a Joplin. She just isn't on that level and never will be. Listen, Janis Joplin is one of a kind. There will never, ever be another Janis Joplin. She would have had a much better time with her other choice which she stated was "Somebody to Love" by Jefferson Airplane. Grace Slick is another great singer but I believe Allison could have worked with it. Not somebody who cracked my Top 15 greatest singers of all-time in the list I made last December. I thought there was a chance she could still stay after a nice duet with Adam performing "Slow Ride" by Foghat, but it just wasn't enough. If there's anything future contestants should have learned from this Idol it's simple...stay within your limit.

I'll leave you all with my favorite performance of "Ball and Chain" by Janis and her band Big Brother and the Holding Company at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967. Watch how blown away Mama Cass Elliot (a great singer in her own right) from the Mamas and the Papas is at the end of this video. This is how you sing the Rock N' Roll. Enjoy the goosebumps.