Joseph Planta's Commentary - thecommentary.ca

Wednesday, 01 September 2004

My Canadian Idols: A summertime addiction

By Joseph Planta

VANCOUVER - One of the surprising things about my summer is that I've actually gotten into Canadian Idol. The kind of music that pop idols warble nowadays is hardly my cup of tea. Occasionally, I'll stomach a Rod Stewart with Cher version of "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered," or Robbie Williams covering "Mr. Bojangles," but do not count me a listener of D12, or Alicia Keys, or even Celine Dion. I'll take Sinatra, Lena Horne, and Count Basie any day.

I'm no fan of American Idol. I'm a bit sick of Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul; honestly, no mas. They've so obviously bought into their own hype that they are the only worthy arbiters of good singing today. I was suckered into Nashville Star a bit last season. I thought it was a well-done production, and I genuinely liked the young performers, despite a lack of interest I have in country music. Mind you though, my play list has quite a bit of Delbert McClinton, doubtless inspired by my veneration of Don Imus.

Nevertheless, Canadian Idol has been a regular view at the house this summer. The singers are a bit younger than the talent from the previous season, and all have seemed to me brimming with talent regardless of the musical genre they perform. The producers are quite adept in making the show about the contestants. We seem to get to know the contestants and their background, that I've found myself rooting for some with only the two-minute clip of them introducing themselves to the national television audience. It's much better when they're the stars of the show rather than some opinionated judge.

As for the mainstays of the program, they're all pretty good too. I've always thought Ben Mulroney an affable and clever personality. I used to watch the chatroom, that six-hour talk show on Talk TV he was on, so I've been familiar with his work. He's a fan favourite because he's disarming; perhaps it's the obvious enthusiasm that he exudes, or perhaps that tan. It is noticeable however, how Mulroney sometimes appears like a deer caught in the headlights, just when the camera has cut to him. The director cuts to him, but he doesn't seem to get the cue, and for a second or two he looks as if he's staring intently into the camera or a stage director, waiting for the moment to start reading the autocue. But despite the momentary lapse - perhaps it's nervousness, as it is a live telecast - when he's cued, he's on and he's lively as ever. Jon Dore, the show's correspondent, is a terrific comedic talent. I find him incredibly humorous, and perhaps it's only me (though I doubt it), but I think he should be on a bit more. Valuable comic relief is he.

The four judges, Jake Gold, Farley Flex, Sass Jordan, and Zack Werner, to me at least, were unknowns. Thanks to this show, they've demonstrated themselves to be prodigious evaluators of talent, as well as engaging personalities who endear themselves to the audience, not to mention the contestants. It doesn't matter what their background is, or what their day jobs are, I think they're good, and Canadians seem to agree as they vote with the judge's input clearly in mind.

If you don't know what Canadian Idol is about, and how the talent is pared down, it's rather simple. Auditions were held throughout the country and from thousands upon thousands of entries, a competition is held whereby the contestants are eliminated by popular vote of the viewership, until only one remains and he capped the Canadian Idol (the first was a male, and this year with four men left, and but one woman, it's likely to be another male). (Daniel Chai, for thecommentary.ca, travelled to the Canadian Idol auditions in Vancouver for a piece last spring. His piece is available here: http://www.thecommentary.ca/archives/20040514.html)

Two weeks ago, Vancouver's Elena Juatco was voted off, leaving behind five contestants: Jason Greeley of Upper Island Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador; Kalen Porter from Medicine Hat, Alberta; Theresa Sokyrka of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and two from Abbotsford, Jacob Hoggard and Shane Wiebe. Last week, Wiebe was voted off. His song of choice in that week's competition was a neat version of "Can't Take My Eyes off of You." It was a fine version; however, he stumbled a bit, thus was not his finest performance. Wiebe had a good clean look about him, and has a decent voice. The mix of his good guy look and the sound that's a notch better than your typical boy band, Wiebe could have been a serviceable pop idol. Alas, the voters voted and he didn't make the cut.

Greeley, who has been said sounds like Elton John, is an enthusiastic performer; however, I found his most recent performance a bit too lively. He's popular, having lasted this long, which could be thanks to the fact he's from the east, where he's probably the regional choice more than anything else. Kalen Porter, a 19-year-old fiddler from Medicine Hat, has the look of your typical idol. He has a boyish look, with the curly hair that reckons him from a boy band. He's a fine performer, and obviously a fan favourite. The girls seem to dig him, and could wind up the winner if for that.

Theresa Sokyrka, a 23-year-old from Saskatoon, who sounds a bit like Ani DiFranco, is also a hell of a performer. The first time I ever called into vote, and got through, I voted for Sokyrka. She has an appreciation for the kind of music I like, the Ella's and that jazz side, which appeals to me. However, I think the Canadian music buying public isn't too hot for that kind of music, as much as I'd like. The reigning Canadian Idol Ryan Malcolm, has sold well; however, he doesn't seem destined for the astronomical success of someone like Avril Lavigne or Bryan Adams; or at the very least wide play on Muchmusic.

My favourite is Jacob Hoggard. He has a sound about him that is so unique, that one can't possibly put their finger on it. His bio says he sounds like Matthew Good. I think he's just a great performer, who manages to stir the audience a bit when he perform. His interpretation of songs is awfully infectious. He can sing drop dead versions of Paul Anka's "Put Your Head on My Shoulder," which even though I never liked the song, nor Aerosmith's "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing," that I can listen to those records more than once. Even his version of David Bowie's "Space Oddity," is on my play list. My gut tells me this is definitely a star, and regardless of where he places in this contest, I think he's going to do well. He's my Canadian Idol, and even if Sinatra or Vic Damone may not be high on his singing list, I'll be buying his record when it comes out. He's a fine performer.

Speaking of Sinatra: This week, Matt Dusk, the crooner who's appeared recently in the reality program The Casino, will appear and lead the contestants left - Miss Sokyrka, the Messers. Greeley, Hoggard, and Porter - in a songfest of "standards." My kind of music. Tune in tonight for the performances, CTV at 8.00 pm in most time zones, and vote if you can get through. Thursday night is the night for the results, where one of the four remaining wannabe Idols will get whacked, one closer to the Idol. What a talented bunch. If they've sold a cynic like me, they should only sell more viewers. Check out Canadian Idol this week.

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