Why did I decide to scat? America don’t care for jazz.
—Leslie Hunt, the latest to be voted off American Idol with the pow-pow-pow! of Season 6
I think that one comment during this week’s very tear-filled edition of American Idol will be the one thing that the media and the public will be talking about.
First I took it as funny; not thinking she was going to add the last part of her comment at the end. I shouted at my TV how proud I was for her, “Good for you! Keep your head up!” I dedicate this column to her—Leslie, you should have remained for next week. Granted, Michael Bublé’s “Feeling Good” is what sent both her and A.J. Tabaldo packing tonight. Maybe it will be deemed the Michael Bublé Kiss of Death. I like Michael Bublé, I love jazz, and I like the song, but two nights of that in a row… was a lot to take in. I’m glad A.J. and Leslie both love jazz, they are GOOD AT IT, but why not a different Bublé song or another jazz song?
The Pretty, Rich Best Friend aka Antonella Barbella, who is becoming a household name for trying impossible songs with her range and her party photos online, stays because… she’s pretty, and CERTAINLY NOT because she’s better than Leslie. Paula pleaded with America to make your vote count and that this is a singing competition (and not a popularity contest). Good luck on that one. I wonder what song Antonella will butcher next week, she’s already tried Aerosmith and Celine Dion. Or what new photos surface to keep her popularity up, for the teenage boys to keep voting for her. If she somehow keeps going, I wonder if video will surface? Teenage horny boys of America, let me just tell you—you can always buy pornographic or adult magazines, you don’t need to keep voting this I’m-Not-That-Innocent girl in because she’s hot.
I love jazz and let me tell you why. It’s one of the founding musical foundations of this country, rich with founding talent such as Louis Armstong, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. Marilyn Monroe was a jazz fan herself and was said to have loved Fitzgerald’s music. It will and has lasted longer than most artists that are played on radio today. It can be light, it can be upbeat, it can also be carried past the traditional sense and crossed over into other mediums. The musical success of Chicago from Broadway musicial to hit movie and the incredible energy of “All That Jazz” performed by Catherine Zeta-Jones in the movie in 2002. Another example is the amazing music of Thievery Corporation, flirting jazz and techno beats together for one amazing combination. Another favorite is the styling of my talented and beautiful friend McClain Sullivan when she was the lead singer of Organix, a nice hip hop/R&B/funk and jazz that made them one of the most popular bands in my hometown of Wilmington, N.C. One of my favorite jazz artists that you will one day hear much about is Nadine Goellner, who I discovered while visiting New York City in September. Currently, and still my favorite album I’ve heard in a long time, is Christina Aguilera’s throwback tribute to jazz with her own flavor, Back to Basics.
So Leslie and A.J. go do your thing, you have nothing to be ashamed of, you both have what it takes to keep jazz going and the other influences of your life. Keep going for your dreams, the journey is not over.
Thank you for reading; make your moment your breakthrough.
