or Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, whatever. It is FINALLY getting cold outside here in LA, especially at night, so it must be Christmas. I'm still listening to Haley's and Casey's heartwarming duet 'Baby, It's Cold Outside' and loving it. Their rendition got me to google other recent covers of this holiday fav on YouTube, and there are quite a few. There's the one Chris Colfer (Kurt) and Darren Criss (Blaine) sang on 'Glee,' of course. Then there's Willie Nelson featuring Norah Jones, and Anne Murray with Michael Bublé. My perennial favorite Sara Bareilles just dueted this with her co-judge Ben Folds on NBC's 'Sing Off' Christmas special last week (watch their faux interview jabbing at each other before the duet on my YouTube Channel under 'Favorites,' you'll find it quite funny). And as much as I loathe Country, I must admit that I even found the 'extra twangy' version by Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley likable. I don't know, I must be in a charitable Christmas mood, or maybe I just grew a little too fond of the song's playful back-and-forth banter on cold winter nights. So if you haven't downloaded Haley's and Casey's song from iTunes yet, all I can ask is: "What's wrong with you???!!!"
Of course, 'Baby, It's Cold Outside' isn't the only holiday treat from our lovely and talented Haley. In the spirit of yuletide cheer, I would be remiss to leave out this little gem she sang so wonderfully a couple of years ago with the Harper College Jazz Ensemble, courtesy of HaleyReinhartBR. Plus, Haley looked so beautiful in that red dress, didn't she? Happy holidays, everyone!
Well not really, as it's a balmy low 70's / upper 60's here in southern California (yeah I know, we Angelenos have it so easy), but the highly anticipated music video of Haley’s and Casey’s duet of this holiday classic is finally here! It’s hard to believe, but this is the third collaboration from these lovable and jazzy former Idol finalists, after ‘Moanin’ and ‘I Feel the Earth Move.’ Shot like a homemade movie, I find this video rather cute and charming, kinda like Mariah Carey’s 1994 video of her signature Christmas song ‘All I Want for Christmas is You,’ which you can also find in the ‘Favorites’ section of my YouTube channel (behind this one of course).
‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’ is a mash up video with various cuts in both color and black & white of Haley and Casey in different clothes, playfully singing to vintage microphones, goofing off and otherwise engaged in various holiday shenanigans. The two have great chemistry and spontaneity around each other, and who expected right off the bat in a role reversal that it’s Haley opening the door for Casey? Haley looked, well, scrumptious in a red dress, then a black one. Some of the cuts featured recording studio personnel, such as the one in which one of them played an air sax. Here’s an idea, we should have a world ‘Air Saxophone’ championship like the one we have for air guitars. And how about Sax Hero! Who wouldn’t want to be a badass sax player like Kenny G, Dave Koz, Paul Taylor, Mindi Abair or Candy Dulfer? Just be extra careful when you pronounce the word 'Sax.'
So what about the singing and the music? In contrast to their previous duets, ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’ is light and airy. Heckle if you must, but I always loved that subcategory of jazz (or bastard child of jazz depending on how you see it) people call ‘smooth jazz,’ with its smooth grooves and easy listening rhythms. Piano chanteuse Norah Jones made a pretty decent career out of it, and I still sometimes get goose-bumps whenever I listen to her sing ‘Don’t Know Why’ or ‘Come Away with Me’ live. Though Haley's been known to growl once in a while, I love it even more when she croons softly in that sexy voice of hers. Her silky smooth jazz voice is like butter, such a pleasure to listen to. And let's raise a glass to the red-bearded Santa, Casey Abrams, too shall we? He was magnificent in this duet and damn, his falsetto voice is pretty dope!
Be sure to download this great holiday classic from iTunes or Amazon available starting on November 21. It's the perfect music to listen to while curled up by the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate or apple cider in your lap. After all, it's cold outside! Except for southern California, of course.
"Jazz is...... an open-ended music designed for open minds." - Anonymous
One of the things I liked the most about Season 10 of American Idol is that musical genres previously overlooked had finally been given their dues. James Durbin's efforts to give Heavy Metal a minor comeback was admirable, but it was Jazz that truly shined in Season 10 thanks in large part to Haley and Casey. Haley incorporated jazz into many of her performances, and their duet of 'Moanin' was THE highlight of the season. As for Casey, I would never have imagined his performance of 'Nature Boy' would be among my favorite Idol performances of the season. I mean 'Nature Boy,' really???!!!
I never considered myself a true jazz listener, much less a connoisseur on the subject. Sure, I've been to a couple of Playboy Jazz Festivals with some friends and enjoy the more popular jazz standards as much as anyone, but I've always regarded jazz as an acquired taste that is somewhat elusive. Jazz has a sophistication that can be intimidating and, well, you just don't typically hear it on contemporary Top 40 radio playlists. However, Haley and Casey as well as other contemporary artists such as Michael Bublé, Harry Connick Jr. and Diana Krall have enjoyed some success in putting jazz into the 'mainstream.'
One of my posts just wouldn't be complete without some Haley Reinhart videos. Featured here is her duet of 'Moanin' with Casey. Following are also two versions of her 'God Bless the Child.' The first was from her famous 'Rubicon Moment' during Hollywood Round 2 when she literally sang for her life after forgetting the lyrics of Kansas's 'Carry On My Wayward Son' in the group round. She displayed great improvisational skills (the mark of a true jazz artist) and timing during this performance by bringing her secret weapon with her, the growl, and unleashing it at the perfect strategic moment to maximize effect and wow the judges. The second was her impromptu performance with well known jazz trumpeter Irvin Mayfield when the Idols tour made its swing through New Orleans. The video was posted by Casey and, though it looks a bit shaky at times, really captured the dark smoky jazz lounge vibe. But best of all, Haley's voice drips like honey in this performance and, like fine vintage wine, it gets better with age. I lost count on how many times I listened to it and it sounds better each time. Lastly, three of Haley's performances from 2010 when she was with the Harper College Jazz Ensemble I uploaded on my YouTube Channel. Enjoy these while we eagerly await her holiday treat to the fans, her duet of 'Baby, It's Cold Outside' with Casey Abrams due out later this month. You can listen to a preview here: http://youtu.be/Lu9ADTojJaQ. Sublime....
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Ahhh, Halloween. As a horror aficionado this is one of my favorite times of the year. Not only can I get away with dressing up as anything I want without people looking at me like I'm some kinda freak show, this day also gives me a 'free pass' to act a bit immature and have some fun.
Why is it that you hear 'Monster Mash' around Halloween every year? I'm frankly sick and tired of it. Here are my top 13 songs for Halloween (sorry MJ, 'Thriller' didn't make the cut because IMO it's also way overplayed during Halloween):
1. Don't Fear the Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult 2. Enter Sandman - Metallica 3. Running with the Devil - Van Halen 4. Highway to Hell - AC/DC 5. Fear of the Dark - Iron Maiden 6. Black Magic Woman - Santana 7. Welcome to the Black Parade - My Chemical Romance 8. Creep - Radiohead 9. Bring Me to Life - Evanescence 10. Sympathy with the Devil - The Rolling Stones 11. Zombie - The Cranberries 12. Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival 13. Psycho Killer - Talking Heads
And the dead shall walk. Who am I kidding???!!! She still looks hot.
Remember this Ford commercial with HER in it? Haley Elizabeth Reinhart, that is. At first I wasn't sure if she's supposed to be a zombie or the first female member of the 70's glam rock superband KISS! How appropriate. After all, KISS stands for 'Knights in Satan's Service' right?
So this is 'sultry bluesy rock.' Oh Lord have mercy.
Topping my list of Haley Reinhart's performances this past season is her brilliant and genre-bending interpretation of The Animals' ‘House of the Rising Sun.’ This bluesy folk rock ballad recounting the tale of woe and regret about a gambler's life of ‘sin and misery’ is a personal favorite of mine, with its poetic lyrics and doleful melodies. Ranked #122 on Rolling Stone Magazine's '500 Greatest Songs of All Time,' The Animals' 1964 version became the standard of the song and the first 'British Invasion' No. 1 hit in the U.S. by a group not named The Beatles.
Mere words cannot convey just how much I love Haley's unique spin on this timeless classic, from its smoldering a cappella opening stanza to its final exultant note. Even though I have heard different versions of HOTRS by various artists, it's as if I'm listening to the song for the first time here. Haley somehow managed to make a well worn and familiar song sound entirely fresh and new, and to do so with seemingly effortless ease. There's just no other way to describe it; this was a scorching hot performance on a balmy night in May that many viewers, including myself, will never forget. It's been over five months since Haley initially blew me away with this performance, but I am still in awe whenever I watch it. Had she been born of Joplin's generation, she would've killed this at Woodstock. Wearing a '60s style black halter-top and a pair of broken-in jeans, Haley had never looked sexier and gave us the grungiest, badassest rendition of HOTRS I have ever seen or heard. Her seductive movements onstage and the rising smoke effect only put more emphasis to what is clearly the sexiest performance on American Idol to date.
Standing ovation from the judges aside, it is worth noting that of all her Season 10 performances, this is the one that most people cite as her best, including Season 1 winner Kelly Clarkson and Season 8 runner-up Adam Lambert (who also called this the "sexiest performance ever" on American Idol). Tom Hanks and his wife became fans and voted for Haley because of this performance, and it was only after watching this that Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant and Jimmy Page gave her their blessings to cover 'What Is and What Should Never Be' on Top 3 week. This is the kind of 'sultry bluesy rock' that Haley was born to sing, and I'm sure that we'll get to hear some of it on her upcoming release early next year.
Well, it's been fun, my friends. This blog is going on temporary hiatus as far as weekly updates go, but I will occasionally post whenever I can with new developments or when I come up with something worthwhile to write about. Thanks for following this blog these last couple of months and, in the meantime, keep watching repad's Haley vids and your ears peeled for her eagerly awaited new album. I know I will. Peace!
And the Oscar for best dramatic performance of Season 10 goes to...
So Haley Reinhart, you just sang your heart out in your performance of the 'Earth Song,' a song which meant a lot to you and your 'song of inspiration' choice for Top 4 week. Instead of being praised for what was clearly yet another stellar performance, you found yourself mercilessly slammed before a live audience on national TV by two of the Idol judges. One judge treated you like a dim-witted child who's testing her patience and reproached you for repeatedly ignoring her motherly advice on the importance of choosing the 'right song.’The other judge went even further, mimicking Simon at his nastiest by stating outright that you just don't have the vocal chops to ‘do the runs’ that the great Michael Jackson did in that song.And even though you did your best to fend for yourself 'with a little help from your friends' (or at least from a sympathetic third judge), the damage was already done.So, what’s a poor girl to do after such relentless and uncalled for attack?Well, you shrug it off and deliver one of the most indelible and moving performances in Idol history with your second song of the night, of course!
At the number 2 spot on my list is 'I Who Have Nothing.' Haley's rendition of this Ben E. King classic by Leiber and Stoller was magnificent, a powerhouse of a performance supercharged with so much raw emotion and drama that it takes my breath away every time I watch it. This was a Broadway-caliber performance accompanied by orchestra, a masterpiece of flawless virtuosity that simply blows the mind, especially in light of the fact that her spirit was just so recently and brutally trampled by JLo and Randy after her first performance of the night. Haley's rendition of 'I Who Have Nothing' is better than Season 6 winner Jordin Sparks', an epic tour de force which proved beyond a doubt that she has the 'big voice' of a true diva, so go suck on that, Randy!
Like the phoenix of myth and legend, Haley had once again "risen from the ashes" with this performance, receiving her second standing ovation from the judges in as many weeks. If it were not for her rousing performance of The Animals' 'House of the Rising Sun' the week before, which will be the subject for next week, this would have been number one on my list. Nevertheless, bravo Haley, bravo!
Jetting into the stratosphere at number 3 is the weird and wonderful song which inspired the namesake of this blog, Haley's cover of (Sir) Elton John's 'Bennie and the Jets' on Top 11 week (after Casey's save). Like The Beatles' 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band' and 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,' 'Bennie and the Jets' is a whimsical tune, a psychedelic joyride that's trippy and fun. What is notable about this performance is that it marked the turning point when Haley distinguished herself as an artist and established her own unique jazzy style. With 'Bennie and the Jets,' Haley became a serious contender and one to keep an eye on.
Inspired by Michelle Pfeiffer's character Susie Diamond from 'The Fabulous Baker Boys,' Haley began her performance on top of a piano. This dramatic entrance evinced the sexy smoky jazz lounge stylings that we will be seeing more of in her later performances. A student of jazz in high school and college, Haley has gained an innate ability to seamlessly fuse jazz with other eclectic musical influences from her childhood. Haley's rendition of this song can be equally split into two parts. The first half is light and jazzy, but after that spirited 'yeah!' she gave about halfway into it the performance took on a whole new character as Haley unleashed her inner diva and really belted it with her rich and powerful vocals. This was an incredible performance, even in light of her improvised exit version of this song over two months later.
The expression on JLo's face between 1:51 and 1:54 in the video below really said it all, and we all know what Steven thought of it (hint: see photo caption). Even Randy called it the 'best performance of the night.' While Haley got kudos from the judges the previous week for her soulful cover of 'You Really Got a Hold on Me,' 'Bennie and the Jets' further boosted her confidence and separated her from the rest of the competition. It's no wonder this song held a special place in Haley's heart, as it was also her 'exit song' and one of only two songs in the solo set she performed throughout the Idols Live! tour.
Catching the wind and sailing into the no. 4 position is Haley’s cover of Led Zeppelin’s 1973 psychedelic rock anthem ‘What Is and What Should Never Be' from their Led Zeppelin II album, the first of three songs she performed on Top 3 week. Like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, Zeppelin was part of the 'British Invasion,' becoming the second highest selling rock group (after The Beatles, who else?) in America and achieving legendary greatness in the Rock & Roll pantheon. Widely regarded as the predecessors of hard rock and heavy metal, Zeppelin revolutionized rock music in ways few bands had done. And guess what? Lead singer Robert Plant and guitarist Jimmy Page contacted American Idol to give Haley express permission and the honor to sing their song!
As Beyoncé noted in her introductory segment, Haley is a bona fide 'Rock Star.' To do a Joplin cover is one thing, but to take on Led Zeppelin really showed some daring. I still shake my head in wonder whenever I'm reminded of the fact that this is the same girl who sang ‘Blue’ and ‘Fallin’ early on in the season. Zeppelin covers had never been attempted before on American Idol, and Haley totally killed it! This performance is truly something to behold, alternating between vocals that are crystalline smooth and soaringly powerful. It is perfect from beginning to end, made even more special by the appearance of her dad on guitar (another first, and likely also last, on Idol). You just know Haley chose this song so she can rock it out with dad and, yeah, he does riff pretty good. Haley received a well deserved ovation from the judges for this fine performance. Her slip onstage and smooth recovery only underscored the perseverance and ‘never-say-die’ spirit she displayed throughout a season of adversity in which she had to fight and pick herself up in the face of scathing criticism and ‘Bottom Three’ banishment week in and week out. If nothing else, Haley has earned our utmost respect and admiration. She is a goddess of classic rock, and we can't thank her enough for keeping its eternal flame alive.
Wish Vargas is still around to render this pin-up....
Picking up where we left off two weeks ago, rolling into the Top 5 is Haley’s excellent cover of Adele’s ‘Rolling in the Deep.’ This "dark bluesy gospel disco tune," as Adele herself called it, was number 1 on virtually all Adult Contemporary Top 40 charts and getting major airplay on radio when Haley in a stroke of genius chose it as her contemporary song choice on Top 7 week.
The picture of sheer elegance in her vintage red dress, Haley resembled a classic pin-up from a bygone era when beauties like Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield and Brigitte Bardot graced the covers of magazines and movie posters. In a departure from her previous performances, Haley seated herself behind the judges’ table and closer to the audience for a more intimate feel. This is yet another great arrangement; it is heartfelt and tender at the start, the gentle touch of her delicate voice as smooth as silk to our eardrums. Then Haley really kicked it up a notch in the chorus, serving a reminder of just how powerful her voice can be. By the time she belted out "Count your blessings to find what you look for, turn my sorrow into treasured gold" in that signature growl we've all grown to love, you can't help but marvel at those vocal pipes like her backup singers. Then she settles down again in that lovely soft jazzy croon of hers, just like that. I know some of you consider it sacrilege for me to compare her rendition favorably to the great Adele’s, but I'm sorry, Haley's version is every bit just as good.
Haley ending up in the Bottom Three after this performance was just one more indignity she endured this past season. No less a magazine than Entertainment Weekly had this to say in its July 22 issue (ref. pg. 73): "Somehow this killer take landed the Idol finalist in the bottom three. America, we revoke your voting rights." A YouTube video of this performance posted by Achiq74 nearly reached 2.5 million views before it was removed. Even today videos of Haley's 'Rolling in the Deep' remain the most highly watched of all her Season 10 performances, and we can clearly see why.
Welcome to this special birthday edition. As you know Haley will be turning 21 this Friday, a major milestone as birthdays go. Let's all wish her a very happy birthday! It's only fitting that her passage into adulthood arrives in the wake of her recent success on Idol and inking a major record deal. Although she won't be getting the day off because the Idols Live tour is scheduled for Toronto that night, I hope she'll find some time in her hectic schedule to celebrate this special moment with friends and even family. To commemorate this occasion I've compiled a few facts and pictures (and a couple of videos). So, without further ado....
On September 9, 1990 a star was born.
Haley's Sign: Virgo Element: Earth Stone: Sapphire Planet: Mercury A Virgo's Life Pursuit: To do the right thing Virgo's Vibe: Compassionate and caring A Virgo's Secret Desire: To love and be loved in return Virgo in a nutshell: When a Virgo is confident within themselves they are the most successful, structured and creative of all the signs.
1990 was a Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac. The Horse is a fine animal: noble, strong, beautiful, determined, temperamental, with great stamina and endurance. Sounds a bit like Haley, right? A free spirit, Year of the Horse individuals (Horses) cherish their independence and rarely seek authority for answers. Always looking for excitement, they need constant stimulation to appease their wild and restless souls.
Their endless energy keeps them on the move and it is often hard to slow them down. They approach all tasks with great enthusiasm and can work on multiple projects without distraction.
Horses are known for their quick wit and never lack for friendship. Many are affected by their good humor and endless cheer. They have a persuasive nature which helps them obtain whatever they desire.
Pretty in Pink, Part 1: "I want my pink teddy"
Here's a little three-minute clip I put together for our birthday girl to the backdrop of a great John Lennon love song. Yeah I know, slideshows like these are a-dime-a-dozen on YouTube, but mine is 'extra special' of course. Besides, I just can't get enough of those captivating eyes and that mega-watt smile. Haley, this one's for making me fall in love again.
Aww, I think my heart just melted.
On this Day in Music (Sept. 9): 1941 - Otis Redding was born. His hit "(Sitting on) The Dock of the Bay" was recorded three days before he was killed in a plane crash in 1967.
1956 - Elvis Presley made his first appearance on the Ed Sullivan show. He would make a total of three appearances on the show.
1966 – Adam Sandler was born. This SNL alumni's humorous Jewish-themed ‘Chanukah Song’ became a holiday hit in the mid-90's. Sandler later went on to become a successful actor in such comedies and rom-coms as 'Happy Gilmore,' '50 First Dates,' 'Punch Drunk Love,' 'Grown Ups' and 'The Wedding Singer.' Okay, it's a bit of a stretch to put him under 'This Day in Music History,' but I'm a fan so sue me. BTW 1966 was also a Year of the Horse. And happy birthday to you too, Adam.
1967 - "Soul Man," by Sam & Dave, was released. Yep, Haley's got soul in spades.
1971 - John Lennon's LP "Imagine" was released. You gotta be kidding me. The Beatles are arguably Haley's biggest musical influence and it just so happens by coincidence that Lennon's second album featuring his greatest and most recognizable title track, this heartfelt, humanistic and compassionate ballad envisioning a world free of war and hunger, was released on this very same day in 1971? 'Imagine' that. If this isn't karma then I honestly don't know what is. Watch the video below and tell me if it isn't the most stirring piece of music you've ever heard. "Imagine" is ranked #3 on Rolling Stone Magazine's '500 Greatest Songs of All Time.'
1972 - The Eagles' "Witchy Woman" was released. I love the Eagles and, yes, Haley managed to bewitch quite a few of us.
1978 - "Beast of Burden" was released by the Rolling Stones. Keith Richards said this song is allegorical, so here goes. You might say that Haley was the most 'burdened' of all the contestants, bearing her cross every week enduring undue criticism from Randy and JLo. She also has a tendency to unleash the 'beast' within her whenever she's in dire straits, like when she sang for her life during Hollywood Round 3 with 'God Bless the Child,' Top 5 week with 'House of the Rising Sun' and the week after that with 'I Who Have Nothing.' "Beast of Burden" is #435 on Rolling Stone Magazine's '500 Greatest Songs of All Time.'
Pretty in Pink, Part 2: "My date for the prom" (oh c'mon a guy can dream, right?)
Happy birthday, Haley! Well, that's it for this special birthday edition. I really shouldn't have, but below is also David Archuleta's version of "Imagine" from Season 7 for the ladies out there. Thanks for stopping by and be sure to come back next Wednesday for the continuation of my Top 10 (now Top 5) countdown.
At no. 6 is Haley's rendition of 'Beautiful' from the Carole King song book. The '70's was a bright and shining era for folk music and singer-songwriters like Carole King, James Taylor, Carly Simon, Jim Croce, Joan Baez, Don McLean and the Carpenters. Haley said it best: Carole King is a mastermind of songwriting. Her 1971 release 'Tapestry' is a perfect collection of songs (with no less than four #1 hits) and stands as one of the greatest pop albums of all time. Before the current crop of piano-playing songstresses such as Sarah McLachlan, Tori Amos, Norah Jones, Regina Spektor and Sara Bareilles, Carole was 'king.' Not only is Haley a supremely gifted singer and performer, she also has a great ear for interpreting and arranging music. Although 'Beautiful' wasn't one of the top hits on 'Tapestry,' Haley chose it for its unabashed optimism and because it sounds Beatle-lesque to her. With a bit of sound advice from Jimmy Iovine, who told her to put a little more kick into 'get up!' as if she's telling a boyfriend or future husband to get off the couch, Haley updated this easy listening classic for the modern audience by upping the tempo of the chorus, making it upbeat with more zest, more zing and more zip (the three z's). Quite simply, this is a beautiful interpretation of a beautiful song by an extremely beautiful and talented singer, and watching this performance brightens up my day and puts a big smile on my face every time.
Steven said she's every bit as beautiful as this song and that he 'saw God' (so did I!) and JLo acknowledged that she has one of the most beautiful voices in the competition, but Randy said something about not liking the beginning which didn't make a lot of sense. Whatever! We have now reached the halfway point of my countdown to no. 1. The Top 5 Countdown will resume on Wednesday, September 14, but stay tuned next week for my special 'Happy Birthday edition' post in celebration of Haley's upcoming 21st birthday on September 9. It will go up on Wednesday September 7 so I hope to see you back soon!
"Go ahead. Take another piece of my heart. I dare you."
Rolling in at no. 7 on my Top 10 list is Haley's tribute to the great Janis Joplin on Rock & Roll Hall of Fame week. Ever since Haley's Joplin-esque growl was inadvertently unleashed upon an unsuspecting world during her Hollywood Round 3 solo performance, Randy's been pestering her for some Joplin and Haley finally decided to shut him up on Top 9 week. 'Piece of My Heart' was Janis Joplin's biggest hit during her 3-year stint with the psychedelic rock group 'Big Brother and the Holding Company,' peaking at no. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1968.
In deference to the '60's great, Haley maintained the style and arrangement of Joplin's version of this song (it was originally written for and sung by Aretha Franklin's sister Erma). Preserving the nihilistic, angry and defiant tone of the song, Haley channeled that Joplin vibe perfectly. It was as if Janis Joplin's spirit and essence reached across the gulf of time and touched Haley, imbuing her performance with a soulful and from-the-heart authenticity that is rarely seen in an artist as young as she. Of course, Haley is no stranger when it comes to singing songs from her parents' generation (I mean c'mon, she sang Jefferson Airplane's 'White Rabbit' at a yacht club once for chrissakes), but that doesn't make it any less remarkable. Well, well, well big surprise! Randy loved it. As a matter of fact, all three judges did. Haley picked a great song and did it justice, showing the world that she has 'just the right amount of throwback.' And somewhere up in Rock & Roll Heaven, Janis Joplin smiled down on Haley Reinhart.
Ringing in at #8 is 'Call Me' from the movie 'American Gigolo.' When our girl picked this 1980 chart-topper by Debbie Harry as her choice for 'songs of the movies' week, I thought: “Yeah baby!” I don't know about you, but I just love the glitzy style and flashy excess of the '80's. Not only did Michael Jackson reign supreme and ‘Hair Metal’ was all the rage (RIP Jani Lane, 'Cherry Pie' was fun listening to), the decade featured some of the best female rockers and girl bands like Heart, The Pretenders, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Patty Smyth & Scandal, Pat Benatar, The Bangles, The Go-Go’s and, of course, Blondie. Like Madonna's 'Into the Groove' and Olivia Newton-John's 'Physical,' the riff-heavy ‘Call Me’ had clinched its place as one of the greatest nightclub dance hits of the decade.
Dressed to kill in a retro-stylish 'stained glass window' mini-dress and high 'electric' boots (sorry, but I just can't refrain from BATJ references if my life depended on it), Haley gave one of her most entertaining performances in this cover. As another '80's pop icon, Cyndi Lauper, reminded us in one of her greatest hits, 'girls just wanna have fun.' And it sure looks like Haley had a blast in this performance grooving with the guitarist, strutting around the stage, doing that sexy hair toss (twice, for effect), and just rocking out a great Blondie classic. It's also evident that her confidence and swagger have improved by leaps and bounds since Top 24 week (see last week's entry on 'Fallin'), when JLo noted that she was tentative in her stage movements from thinking too hard about where she needed to go next and that she should just try to ‘feel it.'
I am totally at a loss as to how Haley ended up in the Bottom 3 after this performance. This cover is better than any in recent memory by Fergie, Gwen Stefani or Shirley Manson and really showed her fun-loving and spontaneous side. For two blissful minutes, Haley took me back to an era I will always fondly remember. That's it for now. Have a great week and I'll see you all back next Wednesday for No. 7 in the countdown. Seacrest, out!
I would fall in, but definitely not out of love with this.
Slotting in at #9 on my Top 10 list is her underrated cover of Alicia Keys' 'Fallin'' during Top 24 week. This performance was crucial to her because not one, but 11 of the 24 finalists won't be returning the next week, but Haley was determined to advance and once again proved to everyone what a true survivor she is. More than anything this performance showed us that Haley's got soul as well as heart.
Even before she hit the first notes, with her head bowed low and eyes closed in intense concentration, I couldn't help but notice how smoking hot this girl is. Dressed in a tight black mini-dress displaying a killer pair of legs and looking drop-dead gorgeous, this had to be Haley's sexiest performance next to HOTRS. Proving that she doesn't just get by on looks alone, she then delivered an exquisite, soulful and pitch-perfect rendition of 'Fallin'' with a sultriness that the original version lacked. Haley held me in rapture from the very beginning to the end of this performance. By God, just listen to her pitch control when she stretched that 'in' in: "I keep on fallin' innnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn and out of love..." at the start. I absolutely love this performance and I don't exactly consider myself a fan of R&B.
Though Steven and JLo (she was nicer back then) gave her props, Randy tried his best Simon imitation by calling this a 'karaoke' performance. Randy, you suck. The only thing 'karaoke' this night is your sorry-ass attempt to sound like Simon Cowell. Seeya all back next week for no. 8.
"Why can't you be blue over me?" But we are, Haley, we are.
Starting off at Number 10 in my promised 'Casey Kasem' Top 10 countdown to number one of Haley's Idol performances is this country gem she sang during Top 13 week (Your Personal Idol week). Her cover of this LeAnn Rimes song (on which Steven did his homework and pointed out that it was originally written for Patsy Cline) is sweet as sweet can be and it meant a lot to Haley as LeAnn inspired her when she was young and 'Blue' was the very first song she performed publicly at a tattoo convention at the age of 10, when she discovered that she could yodel! So cute.
Wearing a stunning blue evening gown, Haley looked absolutely ravishing during this performance. Though she sang it beautifully in her melancholic, lilting voice and cast us all under her spell, Randy wasn't impressed and criticized her afterward for 'going all over the place' and not finding her niche. I guess "The Dawg" loved how Scotty and Lauren sang country tunes every week and didn't dare to try anything different. Apparently he didn't realize or care that at this point of the competition Haley was showcasing her versatility and eclectic musical influences.
As this will be a regular feature for the next two-and-a-half months or so, come back every Wednesday for the next installment of my countdown to Number 1. Anyone care to guess the order of my list? Until next time, Haley fanatics, and 'keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.'
If you, like me, need to get your daily doctor recommended dose of Haley Reinhart, there is certainly no shortage of videos on YouTube to satisfy your fix. However, my "one-stop shop" whenever I feel the urge is and has always been repad's 'true HD Haley Reinhart' video library. From 'Fallin' to the 'Bennie and the Jets' exit song, repad's captured Haley in all her hi-def glory. He even created three 'samplers' which documented her journey through Idol.
Sure, you can watch all the inferior Haley videos saturating YouTube including those with over one million views over and over like a drone just to pad the view counts, as if you're trying to make up to her for not texting faster than the teenyboppers who made Scotty the season 10 winner and Lauren the runner-up. Or you can just treat yourself to repad's HD Haley Reinhart performances after a long hard day and enjoy the best video quality and sound you'll find anywhere.
You can find repad's Haley videos by typing 'true HD Haley Reinhart' followed by the name of the performance on YouTube, or simply go to repad's channel by clicking on the link below to access the Haley performance you need:
Later this week, I will start a regular weekly series featuring some of my favorite Haley Idol performances with links to repad's videos that I hope you will enjoy. Until next time, Haley fanatics.
Haley performing HOTRS in San Jose, CA on 7/13/2011
While some contestants chose new songs to perform on the Idols Live! tour, Haley decided to stick with the two songs that best defined her successful Idol run last season (yes, I know some of you only consider winning Idol 'success,' but I consider it an 'Idol curse' and finishing third is certainly nothing to be ashamed of). 'House of the Rising Sun' is the most memorable Idol performance in years and made Haley a sex symbol in the eyes of many, and thanks to her we'll never listen to this classic folk ballad the same way again. 'Bennie and the Jets' is considered to be the turning point in Haley's Idol journey, as her jazzy cover of this poppy Elton John tune was when she really hit her stride and proved that she's, to coin Randy's overused cliché, 'in it to win it.'
For the tour Haley jazzed up her two songs even more, giving them a sultry 'night at the jazz lounge' cabaret feel. Wearing a hip-revealing shiny black dress that accentuates her figure rather nicely and moving around in that teasing, seductive way she perfected onstage, Haley seems determined to reinforce her newly acquired sex symbol status and manages to steal the show every night. Her performance of BATJ has become a crowd favorite during the show, as Haley urges the audience to 'sing it with me!' throughout the performance.
With 17 cities down and 28 more to go including the finale overseas in Manila as of this update, Haley and the other top 10 Idol contestants will be busy until the end of September. Be sure to see her live if the tour has yet to stop in your city. Of course, you can also follow her live in concert on YouTube.
It's finally official! The spotlight's hitting something that's known to change the weather. Yes, it's tested the patience of Haley fans everywhere, but had the inevitability of this ever been in doubt? You just knew it's going to happen (didn't you?) when Haley was 'mum' and would neither confirm nor deny the rumors whenever it was brought up during an interview, but dropped subtle hints such as that she's been writing music on the bus while city-hopping on the Idol Live tour. And why else would she be writing new material if it wasn't for a new album? All the same, congratulations Haley!
So what type of album could we expect from our favorite Idol? Would it be the "sultry bluesy rock" à la HOTRS that Haley hinted the day after being prematurely booted from the show, with perhaps a dash of jazz, soul and R&B thrown in? Interscope is the perfect fit for Haley; Jimmy Iovine had worked with Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty, U2 and Dire Straits among others. For the most part, I believe he had also given Haley sound advice throughout the season. My favorite is when he told her she should put some ooomph into 'Get Up!' during her performance of Carole King's 'Beautiful' for Top 6 week as if she's trying to get her lazy boyfriend or future husband (lucky bastard!) to get off the couch.
Haley said she will take her time working on this album and not rush its release just for its own sake. It'll be a hard wait for us fans but all good things are worth waiting for, right? So stick around, cus' we'll all be hearing electric music and solid walls of sound before too long. Stay tuned.
