AI3: On The Mark

It’s a curse, this addiction to pop culture.

It means committing to a life of priorities which are perhaps objectively “askew”. For instance, until democratic elections involve a soundproof booth and candidate sashes, pop music will always be of more import than politics.


“Dude, we are so on the same page”

It also means agreeing on some level with Mark Holden’s theatrics at the end of Australian Idol last night. The performances of the Top 9 (some rather good, others woeful) were just so lamentably average that I, too, am impatient for greatness.

Let’s consider the equivalent stages of past competitions.

In 2003, the corresponding week of performances gave us Paulini’s “Chains” and Cosima’s “When the War is Over” (the latter the very first touchdown and still the second best vocal performance on the show ever).

In 2004, the corresponding week gave us Casey’s “Special Ones” (her third touchdown) and Anthony’s “The Prayer” (the best Idol performance on record).

This year, all we have are three chicks capable of greatness but still falling short through inept song choice (Anne, Kate, Emily), a dude with promise but no star power (Dan), a one-note rocker with stage presence but truly, truly shithouse hair (Lee), two one-trick ponies (Mini-LeeMilly, Roxane) and, hopefully, the next two eliminees (James, Daniel).

I find myself hoping against hope each time Kate takes the stage that she will bust out a classic performance built around a killer power note. But she keeps choosing songs that allow her voice to coast rather than soar. It’s not that she’s not accurate - hell, she was so accurate this week she even managed to throw in a “whoo!” and an “impromptu” laugh in exactly the same spot that Anastacia does in the original version!

Same goes for Anne – she’s been quite committed to showing us her double-jointed neck range lately but really, with that voice, where are the touchdowns? I actually quite liked the performance (and I’m not even black – can you IMAGINE) but, like Mark, I want MORE. At least she has the support of Marcia. Mm-hmm, she just loooooooooves herself some Anne. Actually, the only way Marcia could love Anne more is if Anne had conceived a child at 16.

Speaking of Emily, I have two things to say:

1. she’s really very good (but not anywhere near Cosima or Paulini)
2. she features in this brilliant photo that is just SCREAMING for a caption (submit your entries here)



In support of Mark Holden, there are no rankings this week.

But it’s quite clear that this competition is really only about Anne, Kate and Emily. Thank goodness for these three chicks. Future stoushes between the “diva trio” will hopefully provide the show with the drawcard that, at this point, it sorely lacks.