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June 28, 2006 all I ever needed to know I learned from paula abdul By Emily Rippe Everyone likes music. And why shouldn't they? It can be therapeutic, understanding and offer us an escape from reality. I've been a fan since Paula Abdul's heyday, back in 1992. I must state that, since then, I have learned to appreciate music from all across the spectrum. It was just Paula who first made me want to get my groove on. That's why it greatly bothers me when I hear my friends and fellow concertgoers complain about how the audience at the concerts we attend keeps gradually getting younger. It seems as if they have forgotten that we were once the 7-year-old kids who had cool enough parents to take us to rock shows. Maybe they blocked out the memory of trying to fit in with the punk rock crowd when they turned 14, because they got hooked into MTV's Total Request Live and heard "What's My Age Again" by Blink 182. Meanwhile, all of the older, more dedicated fans were making fun of them, because they had never heard of the albums Cheshire Cat or Dude Ranch. These people are perpetually stuck in their "I'm over 18 so all shows should be 18+" phase, not being mindful of their roots. This is the same narrow-minded attitude that college students get when they finally become part of the "21 Club" - my definition for every person who refuses to go to bars that are not 21 and over because they don't want to associate with the underage crowd. They purposely deprive themselves of Uptown's 80s Night, because they suddenly got too mature for it. It's all about Nate and Wally's or Brathaus from here on out. Do not misinterpret my opinion - there is nothing wrong with supporting places that have age restrictions. Anyone who knows me understands my devout dedication to the Fishbowl. However, it is the "I'm better than you because I can legally drink" attitude that is despicable. People forgot how upset it made them when they couldn't get into the same clubs that their older friends always talked about or be admitted into the venues where they were not allowed to see their favorite performers because of the age restrictions. The point is that all music enthusiasts, both of live and recorded music, have to start somewhere. It should not matter if they are at the Tom Petty concert with their parents - something I was guilty of - or rocking out to all the songs off of the latest Good Charlotte album, probably another secret I should have kept hidden. The kids are there for a reason - they like the music. It does not make a difference if they haven't been lifetime fans or if they don't own the band's entire discography. Nobody should care if parents are taking their pre-teen sons and daughters to see the Flaming Lips. I let my dad go with me to that one when I was 18 because he has excellent taste in music. Many of us are guilty of acquiring the elitist mind-set that comes from being exposed to age-restricted venues and less mainstream music. Sometimes, I am ashamed of who my companions and I have become. Then, I take a look at how far I have developed my own musical appreciation. So when you're thinking about going to the Wheatus show at Howard's tomorrow night, try not to look down your noses at the younger audience members. At the very least, I will ask my friends and concert buddies this: would you rather have the kids listen to Paula Abdul? » Posted by Igor at 12:16 PM | Discuss June 24, 2006 british tabloids rip paula abdul LONDON, June 20 (UPI) -- Singer and dancer Paula Abdul, who is in England as a judge on "X Factor," is being judged herself by the tabloids. One tabloid claimed Abdul had shown up eight hours late for work due to jet lag. Another said she had brought a "spiritual adviser" to help her choose her food, the Mirror reported. A spokesman for Adbul called the reports "lies." "The tabloids over there are far more brutal than anything we have over here," said Paul Levinson, chairman of the communications and media studies department at Fordham University. "American Idol" judges are respected, but "X Factor" judges are fair game for the rumor mill. The British judges also are not as impartial in casting their votes for wannabe stars, which angers viewers, the New York Post reported. "(The tabloids') knives are always keenly sharpened and always ready to cut apart the aristocracy or the media aristocracy," Levinson said. » Posted by Igor at 2:53 PM | Discuss June 15, 2006 spiritual guide NEW X Factor judge Paula Abdul has a "spiritual guide" to help her choose what to eat. The US superstar amazed insiders when she watched auditions last week with fellow judge Simon Cowell. One revealed: "It was hilarious. Paula had this entourage with her which included a spiritual guide, who helped her make decisions like what to have for lunch." Paula, 43, who stars with Cowell in the American counterpart to X Factor, will also give wannabe singers advice at the ITV1 show's boot-camp. Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh are also taking part. » Posted by Igor at 11:43 AM | Discuss June 7, 2006 abdul to join cowell on the x factor American Idol judge Paula Abdul has signed a deal which will see her reunited with Simon Cowell on talent show The X Factor. The 43-year-old enjoys a turbulent relationship with Cowell and will be keen to ally herself with her new co-judges Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh. A show insider tells the Daily Mirror, "Paula has a love-hate relationship with Simon so it should be interesting." Auditions for The X Factor get underway today, and it hits TV screens in August. » Posted by Igor at 10:59 AM | Discuss June 1, 2006 i’m sexier than paula abdul - pilita By KAYE VILLAGOMEZ Asia’s Queen of Songs Pilita Corrales is bent on giving Paula Abdul a run for her money when she sits as the lone lady judge in "Philippine Idol" alongside Ryan Cayabyab and Francis Magalona this July. "For one I’m sexier than Paula Abdul," Pilita candidly told the Manila Bulletin in an interview Tuesday when asked if she was ready to be "Philippine Idol’s" Paula. She added that she is willing to dance the way Paula does, enjoy Idol performances and even empathize with the contestants. "Yes, I’m game because I don’t like to insult contestants, you know, although I will be very honest about my opinions," she added. Despite mixed reactions about her being the choice, Pilita impressed not just the local channel handling Philippine Idol, and Ryan Cayabyab who had been hand–picked for the show, but FremantleMedia itself, the UK–based franchise owner of "American Idol." "The clincher was really her character and what she will bring into the show," said ABC’s Percy Italan, head of Creative and Entertainment Production. "I say this to anybody, Pilita is watchable. You don’t even have to see the contestants, her facial reactions while hearing them sing is more than enough; her face alone is equivalent to a number of quotable quotes." To those who are still wondering why Pilita made the cut, take this: 15 years in the singing contest business, eight with "Bagong Kampeon" and seven more with "Tanghalan ng Kampeon." Pilita, who has lived a lifetime in the music industry (having been the only Filipino front act of the Beatles concert in 1966), has seen the faces of both victory and defeat among talent show contestants. During the audition for the judge’s part, Pilita recalled, "I just did what I usually do, outside and on camera, I’m the same person that they’ll be seeing on ‘Idol.’ Although I did not sit as a judge when I hosted singing contests before, I know the contestants. This is probably the main reason why I’m in the show; maybe to appease Ryan and Francis M. because they are often the ones who said ‘no’ when I already said yes. Hosting singing contests for quite sometime, it’s painful for me to turn down contestants. It will be hard for me to say goodbye din sa magiging manok ko." All three judges are allowed to say and do whatever they want the way "American Idol" judges Paula, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell do. "We can walk out, stand up, dance, say whatever we want to say," Pilita divulged. The veteran songstress disclosed that she will be the easiest judge to please. This means Mr. C and Francis M. may even come out the nastier of the judges, handing out walking papers for local Idol hopefuls. "Yes, I think you can say that because I’m more emotional in the same manner that Filipinos are more emotional so we can easily sympathize with the contestants. It’s really not about taking the role of the ‘American Idol’ judges but about coming up with our own interesting search," said Pilita, who was actually invited to audition for the part by ABC–5. Hand–picked or auditioning for the judges’ slots? According to Italan, ABC–5 had a list of possible judges. One of them was Pilita. "I can imagine she must have thought twice about auditioning but she showed up and we were surprised because it was a long shot on our part. She’s very professional. We just made it a short audition and she hit it. But we weren’t pressured at all to take her in. There had been others we called in for auditions and those who just came because it’s an open invitation," Italan explained. One of those asked to try out was Ely Buendia. Italan revealed that the former Eraserheads songwriting machine was considered but "he didn’t show up in the audition." The position went to Francis M. "who is right for the part because he’s been in the industry far longer [than Ely] and he gives the edgy comments because his genre is different from Mr. C and Pilita’s. It’s unfair to compare Francis with Ely because Ely did not audition." He continued, "Francis looks young but he knows the industry. That’s what’s common with all the judges; that’s the key. You know, we really don’t want to put flash-in-the-pan personalities there as judges." » Posted by Igor at 11:22 AM | Discuss