Let me put on my Carnac the Magnificent thinking cap for a moment and make a few American Idol predictions. This year’s American Idol predictions may be a bit tougher than years past because the competition is arguably the best yet. But, since I’ve already thrown Kristy Lee Cook into the pot as well as Carly Smithson, let’s delve into a few other possibilities.

For the women, other formidable forces as witnessed last night include the amiable Alaina Whitaker, rockin’ nurse Amanda Overmyer, the luscious Alexandrea Lushington, the effervescent Asia’h Epperson, the little mouse who roared Ramiele Malubay and the “yes” girl Syesha Mercado.

My picks from last night’s competition are the little mouse who roared and rockin’ nurse to go to the finals (of course, Carly could possibly kick either one of these to the curb as well). Kristy Lee Cook has had her ups and down, and though she’s babalicious she had another off night due to the flu.

American Idol predictions for the men, include the dauntingly daring David Archuleta, Aussie ass-man Michael Johns and delightfully demonstrative Danny Noriega. In what could come down to the young lions against the old, expect David Archuleta to battle Michael Johns in the finals.

Of course, as we all know, anything can and will happen so these American Idol predictions need to be taken with a grain of salt. And, of course when the final two are announced, hindsight will be clearer than foresight, so sit tight and enjoy the singing fight in the weeks and months to come.

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The Janet Jackson Discipline album is due out February 26, 2008 and provides a fresh take on fantasy and eroticism. With masochistic overtones and a heavily digitized sound, the Discipline recording will put many good Janet slaves in their place.

The title song, “Discipline,” which is the 20th track on the album, shows off Janet as a bit of an erotic fembot who may just make someone’s day on the BDSM scene. In the song “Luv” Janet Jackson compares falling in love to a car wreck, with the same shock and surprise as one who’s been broadsided.

The Luv lyrics say, “I can’t believe the way you wrecked into my heart / I think I should sue ya.” But, Jackson also carries on the Discipline motif and imagery when she sings, “I had the right of way / I saw the sign you disobeyed.” Perhaps some bad boy needs a spanking about now?

The song “Rock Wit U,” not to be confused with the Alicia Keys song of the same name is a sensual track of a similar theme to the Keys endeavor. Janet’s Rock Wit U has a decidedly techno feel and sexual overtones that let her purr the words to the lover in her song.

On first listen “Feedback” may be a bit confusing as there is a double meaning to the word. The Feedback lyrics say, “So here’s my demonstration / A peep show /Tonight my body’s an exhibition baby.” But, then Jackson goes onto clarify that Feedback is also a musical term that singers and bands will be familiar with when she sings, “Strum me like a guitar blow out my amplifier / When you hear some feedback keep going take it higher.”

Janet Jackson Discipline Tracks

1. I.D. (Interlude)
2. Feedback
3. LUV
4. Spinnin (Interlude)
5. Rollercoaster
6. Bathroom Break (Interlude)
7. Rock With U
8. 2nite
9. Can’t B Good
10. 4 Words (Interlude)
11. Never Letchu Go
12. Truth Or Dare (Interlude)
13. Greatest X
14. Good Morning Janet (Interlude)
15. So Much Betta
16. Play Selection (Interlude)
17. The 1 feat. Missy Elliott
18. What’s Ur Name
19. The Meaning (Interlude)
20. Discipline
21. Back (Interlude)
22. Curtains

When I listened to Discipline and watched the video I had to wonder how many fans will be screaming for a wardrobe malfunction (and of course a little whip action). There is a good video also that shows snippets of songs from the entire Discipline album. Now, go watch and listen or else you will be severely punished.

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The second annual songwriting contest at Raymond Walters College (RWC) is now open to high school and college students in the Cincinnati, Ohio and Northern Kentucky areas. Any theme, style or subject matter will be accepted and songs will be judged anonymously.

The quality of the music and lyrics and especially the relationship between the two will be the main criteria in the judging, so go solo or team up with your favorite songwriting companion for this one. The winners will be announced in April and be asked to perform at the RWC Poetry Cafe.

So, if you’re in the area and meet this criteria, why not give this contest a whirl? Who knows, you could just be the next American songwriting phenom and tell Dylan it’s time to move over.

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Josiah Leming was almost a lemming marching off to sea, following the other fallen contestants on American Idol last night. The only thing that saved Josiah Leming was the likability factor that he had already established with the judges.

The usually, surly Simon the Scowl Cowell, gave the Leming an uncharacteristic break by giving the lad a “Yes” vote after an atypical off-performance. This less than stellar performance was preceded by a youthful meltdown the night before.

The lad had a conflict with the band as he was trying to work out a song in the wee hours of the morning. But, lack of sleep, frustration and a feeling of being unprepared on the World’s Largest Talent Show, led Josiah to dismiss the band, in a bit of a grandstand, followed by a forgettable a-capella tune.

The feedback from the judges, lack of sleep and stress brought Leming to tears. It was almost Bad News Baby for the lad, when the American Idol judges decided to give the kid a break. The good news is that Josiah Leming is filled with talent and can be one of the frontrunners as long as he can keep his youthful immaturity in check.

The bad news is that one more mistake like this one and this Leming will follow other Idols off the cliff, jump the shark and end up as fish food as is the destiny for most who venture onto this show. With any luck, however, Josiah could be the Messiah for the fan base that is broadening right now and will not have to go back to living out of his car with that wacky British accent.

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It’s no surprises that Amy Winehouse and Kanye West both came home with a handful of Grammy’s last night. It’s also no surprise that Kanye West loves his mother. What was a little surprising is the extent to which he wore his love on his sleeve.

Instead of wearing his love on his actual sleeve, Kanye wore it on his head with the word “MAMA” shaved into his hair. Also, his performance referenced his now deceased mom many times and when it came time for Kanye to accept his first Grammy, he rebelled at the music playing that was trying to move him along when he was talking about his mother and said, “It would be in good taste to stop the music now.”

This dichotomy of gangsta rapper and momma’s boy was quite intriguing as the hip hop star went from reverent to boastful to angered in just a few sentences. Vince Gill even pointed out Kanye West’s boastfulness asking the rapper if he’d ever received a Grammy from a Beatle (Ringo Starr) before.

In Friday, I had talked about the Amy Winehouse visa debacle. In her London studio, before millions of viewers, Amy performed admirably before her audience. But, if she was one of the contestants on American Idol, Simon Cowell surely would have given her low marks and a scowl for her attempt at dancing.

True, Amy Winehouse, just out of real life rehab was singing the song “Rehab,” which she won a Grammy for, but that girl needs some dance lessons. Even Britney’s stumbling attempt at the MTV awards was better than the Winehouse shuffle last night. Be that as it may, the even came off well, and the Grammy gods once again were smiling favorably upon the boss-man Bruce Springsteen who pulled off three golden trophies for his efforts.

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British singer Amy Winehouse was finally granted a visa to enter the United States, but a little too little, too late to perform at the Grammys on Sunday. The embattled singer has been her own worst enemy of late with stints in rehab (like her song) and caught on video snorting illegal unmentionables.

Nominated for six Grammys for her acclaimed “Back to Black” album, Winehouse will instead perform via satellite link from a London studio. Now, the question is will this crack performer crack under the pressure?

Many will be watching the Grammys to see if Amy goes all Britney on us or if she holds it together for just one night as she is sure to get several awards bestowed upon her. Perhaps being denied a visa will be the best thing to have happened to Winehouse so that she won’t be caught up in the Hollywood buzz and parties and will be able to focus on the task at hand, which is entertaining all her fans with a stellar performance.

So, besides Winehouse, who else will wow the crowds with a big night at the Grammys? I’m predicting Kanye West, Rihanna, Carrie Underwood and the Foo Fighters will have a big night. I’d also like to see Taylor Swift squeak in there if Amy Winehouse doesn’t get a sweep.

Only a week ago or so ago no one knew if the writer’s strike would take Grammy down for good or not. But, the show must go on and this time Amy Winehouse will be playing to a full house of the kind she’s never seen before. And, most likely she’ll be celebrating mightily across the pond, when its all said and done.

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This is what happens when freedom of speech meets public decency. A Florida teen was arrested for singing the rap lyrics to a Lil Boosie song in public. Now, Lil Boosie will get a boost in popularity because of this and yes, this blog post is helping in this endeavor.

The Florida teen, a 19-year-old Christopher Holder, was apparently singing loudly some of the explicit lyrics while on a sidewalk with his buddies in Brooksville. The ugly incident happened on a Sunday around 6:30 pm in front of a mother and her two children, ages 5 and 14.

Sheriff’s officers responded to the woman’s complaints about public profanity and hauled the white 19-year-old all the way to the pokey. Now that the teen is in the slammer it remains to be seen if he will be crowing about his detainment and rapping any more Lil Boosie songs to his fellow inmates.

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The Snoop Dogg Ego Trippin’ album due out March 11, 2008 features the artist himself with no big name guest appearances. Snoop Dogg Ego Trippin’ studio album will be the Long Beach rapper’s ninth to date.

Snoop Dogg appeared on CNN’s Larry King Live show recently and talked about the new Ego Trippin’ CD along with his family life and reality TV show, “Snoop Dogg’s Father Hood.” The rapper told King that the Ego Trippin’ lyrics have changed from his previous work in that it shows due respect to women.

Snoop Dogg told Larry that the way he was raised, he was “brainwashed” into disrespecting women and now he’s had a change in attitude, especially because of his marriage, family and relationship with his mother.

Dogg also told King that he had a hard time getting David Beckham on his reality TV show, because his wife Victoria (Posh Spice) objected thinking Snoop Dogg was a party animal, but she changed her mind when she found out the rapper is a family man, now.

The Ego Trippin’ song “Sexual Eruption” has explicit lyrics that are slightly different than the PG version of the song “Sensual Seduction”. Sexual Eruption talks about a girl that Snoop Dogg met at a club. Early in Sexual Eruption we learn that she is with another guy as the lyrics state, “She might be with him but she’s thinkin’ about me.” Later in the song, Snoop does a little trash talking typical of rap, but brings it back home that he cares about giving her pleasure first before pleasing himself.

The song “Neva Have 2 Worry” talks about being relevant after all these years and the fight to remain so. The explicit lyrics on Neva Have 2 Worry look back at his travels in the hip hop industry since 1992 and the impact of gangsta rap. The lyrics say, “Who’d ever thought I would make it this far / out of the hood to be a big star.” The song also speaks of the fight Snoop Dogg had to take on in regard to the censorship of his music when he sings, “Swimming with the sharks and I almost drowned.”

Unofficially, the tracks from the Ego Trippin’ album are Press Play, Snoop Dogg Is Out, Gangsta Like Me, Neva Have 2 Worry, Sensual Seduction (Sexual Eruption) and Life of Tha Party. The Snoop Dogg Ego Trippin’ CD takes hip hop in a different direction, yet stays true to its roots, so that fans of the Dogg everywhere can revel in the rap artist’s new mature outlook on life.

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The Lil Wayne Tha Carter III album is one of the most anticipated yet worst kept secrets on the Internet. Songs from the Lil Wayne Tha Carter III CD has been flying around cyberspace so quickly that a Leaked version was actually put out and available from several vendors.

On the Leaked version of Tha Carter III, in the song “Gossip,” Lil Wayne asks people to stop gossiping about him. He calls gossip a weak emotion and “The lady of a nigga”. The Gossip lyrics go on to compare Lil Wayne to other rappers and he says, “But I’m much more bright.” The lyrics talk about the double-edge sword of fame and how gossip tears him down, but it has also built him up. Near the end of the song the Gossip lyrics say, “I graduated from hungry, and made it to greedy” as final words of empowerment over his critics.

In the song, “Let Em”, the lyrics in a bravado manner talk about gun violence and the “One way ticket to gun play city.” Lil Wayne goes onto say, “I’m In your place with pillows over your face / Let the feathers protect you from the metal.” Though this may be a stereotypical rap song in theme there is some nice wordplay that will keep the listener engaged.

In 1961, “Please, Mr. Postman” was a number one hit for the Marvelettes. Lil Wayne samples from this song and in doing so has created his own unique “Mr. Postman” song. In the Postman lyrics, Lil Wayne is in fact the Postman who delivers his lust to some other man’s woman. Near the end of the song the lyrics say, “I pick up her bills and I pick up her tab / You might find a few steps on your mattress from the Postman.”

The song “Zoo” is a buddy track featuring Lil Wayne and Mack Maine. The lyrics talk about Wayne being a young lion and Maine being a young bull. This bravado buddy song does have several good lines including Lil Wayne putting his wordsmith spin on the fact that he has big shoes to fill saying, “Wanna walk in my shoes, you need 10 socks.”

A few of the unofficial songs off Tha Carter III include: I’m Me, Gossip, Kush, Love Me or Hate Me, Talkin About It, Let Em, Mr. Postman, and Zoo. Tha Carter III was originally due out in February but has been pushed back to be released on March 18, 2008.

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Samantha Sidley may just be the next American Idol winner. Yes, I’ve said that before and not too long ago as a matter of fact. And, it’s no secret that I’m prone to predictions and prognostications, so here is another one.

I believe that Samantha Sidley will be in the Top 5 finalists with Kristy Lee Cook (who I predicted two weeks ago was in it to win it as they say). The shy Samantha Sidley stood on stage, jonesing a bit as she was ready to sing the daylights out of a Nora Jones song, “I Don’t Know Why.”

She garnered the first ever four yeses from the judges (including Ryan Seacrest). Paula and Ryan did the old switcharoonie, which may have thrown off Sam Sidley just a bit. The 22-year-old Samantha Sidley was timid (to say the least) but endearing onstage and has the likeability factor that Melinda Doolittle had just last season.

Samantha Sidley is a native to Los Angeles and has jazz background as she was named as a California State Arts Scholar for her vocal performances. Samantha has also appeared at the Monterey Jazz Festival and Down Beat magazine gave her an award for being a top high school jazz vocalist.

If she can calm her nerves and keep the jazz flowing, Samantha Sidley will be a force to be reckoned with throughout the American Idol competition.

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