Idol Scoop: Who Paula Abdul Picks To Win Season 6
5 Comments Ryan Welton on Thursday, January 18, 2007 at 12:10 AM.
You've probably read a bunch by now about Paula Abdul saying she thinks the winner of Idol Season 6 will be a curly headed guy who looks like Penn Jillette.
Well, I couldn't find ANY names anywhere. Not even in the NY Post, which ran an article with her quotes. It said Ms. Abdul wouldn't disclose names.
However, I'm the Web query God, and I have figured it out.
It's Chris Sligh, lead singer of indie-rock Christian band "Half Past Forever," and his photo is here.
I listened to his music, and upon first impression really liked it. Upon closer review, I loved the tune "Know." Seriously. I can't get enough of the darned song, but I didn't love all the others. Not yet, at least.
The articles I read suggested this kid has a high likability factor, and even Randy Jackson said a curly haired singer (either Sligh or a 'girl with no personality') would win the competition.
But, if you're looking for THE front-runner, according to the judges, this guy -- a Penn Jillette/Jack Osborne hybrid is your guy.
Sligh has even posted his Idol story, if you will ... right here. He's a self-described Christ-follower, who played sports in college, who keeps a blog with ruminations on life and theology, who embraces his dork-dom, if you will. There's even a blog on which he's written a novella in 11 or 12 parts, all posted to his site. I note all this because the guy's personality stands out, and it underscores his general writing ability, which I respect in any musician.
He plays an instrument. He writes his own music. He already plays in a band. He's chubby. He's a dork.
I can get behind this dude.
Labels: Idol
Hey man,
Seems like you get who I am. I'm a dork and I'm okay with that. Glad you like the song "know". Glad you enjoy my blog. I don't know who the judges are talking about, but it's nice to see someone who actually gets what I'm trying to say.
Chris Sligh
Ryan,
Thanks for the kind words. It's nice to see someone who gets what I'm talking about. I'm gald you enjoy the song "know"...I kinda like it too.
I don't know who the judges are talking about and obviously I can't talk about the show, yet, but I was glad to see your blog.
Thanks,
Chris
I totally hate the Christian angle (I loved Kathy Troccoli when she had her early mainstream success, but I had to skip over the Jesus songs), but I like the music okay. And wow, he looks exactly like Jack Osbourne, before he started working out. Weird.
I listened to more of Chris' music and I'd like it, if not for the lyrics. I can't wait to see him singing the song choices he'll have on the show.
Actually, flippy, I can say that my band is decidedly not a Christian band. Obviously, Christianity is a big part of my life, and it informs my lyrics, but listen closely - the lyrics are universal.
Chris
I concur, Chris. The lyrics I read, particularly for the tune "Know," weren't religious in nature at all.
However, many bands have been tied (in their early stages) to some level of faith, often mistaken for being a Christian band. U2 is probably the most famous example.
Where people are mistaken is in their misunderstanding of somebody with musical talent and aspiration who happens to be of the Christian faith. I think Flippy probably reacted to MY mistake, which was to describe HPF as an indie-Christian band. On the other hand, I think you DEFINITELY recognize how people often react to the "Christian angle" considering one of your sites refers to the sympathy you have for folks who think that Christianity and secular music aspirations must be mutually exclusive.
Heck, one of the tunes on ryanwelton.com that I've gotten the best response on (through TAXI.com, which you're probably familiar with) is called "Pray," which makes reference to elements of Christianity although it's a song of desperation, secular desperation. The response was overwhelmingly positive, but most publishers have said they'd have a dickens of a time placing it because of the Christian overtones.
It's a fine line, sometimes. But what's cool about Season 6 so far is that those of us who are big fans of the show have been able to learn about several of you guys through vehicles like MySpace and various blogs out there. In the long run, that exposure -- I think -- will deepen the connection viewers have with you guys.
Truthfully, Idol and MySpace should work together pretty closely to cultivate that even more.
Either way, I think we're all really looking forward to Tuesday's audition show and definitely wishing you the best of luck, man. Hopefully, you'll come on by the site throughout the show, although I'll try to be totally objective and not turn it into the Chris Sligh fan club site. ;-)
Ryan