It was just yesterday that we counted down from 10 to welcome another year, and January's done already.

What a month it was for little ol' ryanwelton.com. Although it's nothing compared to many blogs, we did manage 16,230 page views for the month. That's about 6,500 more than any previous month in the site's four-year history.

And it's cause for reflection. Yes, I hit a number of topics that drive traffic to blogs. American Idol. Anybody with the last name of Spears. Oklahoma sports.

However, I'm still battling the same lack of focus online that I've battled for years. One day I write about sports, and the next about politics. One day I feature a Top 10 list, and the next, I'm yapping about a trip to the vet.

That's great and all, but that makes the blog primarily about "me," and unless you're really interested in "me," it makes for an extremely finite audience. While my numbers went up dramatically this month, I benefitted from a couple of referral links, including a couple from newsok.com's sports blogs.

An analysis of the stats is pretty clear: I got a hodgepodge of traffic. The good thing about this is that the site can be of general interest, a solid timewaste for those who are of like mind. The bad thing about this is that the site itself, the blog, can't stand on its own.

It's dying for focus.

Roughly two years ago, I switched gears and wrote about jazz for a month. My numbers shot up. Quickly, I might add. But I reverted to a general blog because I got bored with the subject matter fairly quickly.

Two years later, I'm smarter and wiser -- and I do plan to alter the focus of the blog somewhat. Especially over the past eight months, I've grown more attached to the Web relative to pop culture. I surf the Web vastly more than I watch TV, except for reality TV and sports.

But I don't merely visit Web pages. I participate. I'm on YouTube and post weekly videos featuring songs I write or jazz tunes I play. I'm on MySpace. I have a Facebook account.

I watch rocketboom.com daily and surf PerezHilton and TMZ as often as I can. Heck, I watch NBA games via my League Pass account and listen to virtually every bit of music that I get to hear via Rhapsody or the Yahoo! Music Engine.

I'm living the cyberlife.

And I think this blog should reflect this segment of my interests.

It will take a while for me to flesh out the plan and to redesign the page a tad, but I think it will make for a more entertaining site. Think of it this way: Instead of focusing generally on music, sports and pop culture, I'll be hyper-focused on Internet music, Internet sports and primarily Internet pop culture with the latter in big letters.

Remember my post about changing or dying? This is merely an evolution. Let's see where it goes.

I've been asked a few times who my musical influences are. Not that I'm anybody, but given that I'm a musician, who is it who inspires me musically?

I'd be lying if I didn't note Leon Russell and Todd Rundgren and Billy Joel. That whole 1970s singer-songwriter vibe is what I'm all about, which means I have to include Peter Allen in that mix, too. A bit of all of them, if you will.

But no one artist singularly influences me more than this dude. The absolute best.

I've posted this tune before, but the video for "Honey," recorded by Dallas' own Erykah Badu has been released, and so I feel obligated to post it. Here's why.

We're living in an odd age of great soul music that hardly gets heard. Jill Scott. Angie Stone. Ladybug Mecca. Erykah. This is not pop or teenybopper stuff. This is the real deal Holyfield, true blue soul music, and this is a very groovy tune.

I have to admit that by the third week of American Idol auditions, I get a tad antsy. If the singer is not great ... if he or she didn't bring it, then I don't really have any interest.

I get bored easily. So, forgive me if I spare you the details of all the crappy performances.

Well, except for that crazy dude at the beginning. Chris Burnheisel kicked off Tuesday's Omaha auditions episode with a terrible, over-the-top performance and then decided he'd rather be a red-carpet reporter for his local FOX affiliate, thanks to Simon's encouragement.

Believe it or not, Omaha is a super cool, hip little midwestern town. Seriously. It's like Santa Fe of the Midwest, but instead of a southwestern landscape of art houses and coffee shops, Omaha is kind of the indie-music capital of the heartland.

But for whatever reason, no Nebraskans impressed me. Now, it didn't mean that none of the Omaha auditioners caught my ear. Three did. However, not a one of them was from Omaha.

Samantha Sidley, 22, from Los Angeles, waltzed in and sang Norah Jones' "Don't Know Why," as Ryan Seacrest took over as a judge while Paula interviewed contestants -- thereby stealing all of Sam's thunder.

Let me paint the picture. Do you remember Brenda Vaccaro from the 1970s? The young version. Sidley looks like her a ton, but her voice was sultry jazz. While Seacrest bemoaned her performance charisma while pretending to be a judge, the real judges sent her to Hollywood.

And, then I learned a ton more about our fair Samantha.

First, she's a student at Berklee -- the greatest music school in America. Bar none. You go to Berklee; you're good.

Second, she's a legitimate New York cabaret singer, having performed at New York's Algonquin Hotel.

Third, she has opened up for the Manhattan Transfer.

Do you smell a ringer? Look, the whole smooth, smoky jazz thing won't go very far on Idol. It will bore the teenyboppers to death, but I'm afraid Samantha might have a stalker on her hands because I found her MySpace page (just go to samanthasidley.com, and the URL will resolve to MySpace), and she sings the standards well beyond her 22 years.

Tulsa's own David Cook entered the big room with a big task -- to sing Bon Jovi's "Livin' On A Prayer." And he did it in a way that matched his indie-pop look. It was kind of brooding, sort of emo.

He was an easy ticket to Hollywood, and potentially is another in a long line of Oklahomans to fare well on Idol. First was George Huff (OU student). Second was Carrie Underwood from Checotah now of superstardom. Third was Melinda Doolittle (Tulsa Union HS). Fourth could be Mr. Cook of the multi-colored hair.

Finally, Leo Marlowe explained to Simon that his mother had raised a perfect homecoming queen but that "too bad it wasn't one of her daughters."

While the Iowan probably didn't need to explain that he was gay right off the bat (like they always say ... "we knew"), we did wonder whether the boy could sing.

Marlowe tackled Donny Hathaway's "Song For You," and I always say that if you can sing Donny, it ain't no lie. You can sing, and he could.

What struck me about these three singers in particular was how likeable they were. It's hard to say how far these singers will go in this competition -- although I think they'll all bear a close watch over the next few weeks -- but dare I say that I'd have a hard time rooting against a one of them.

Collectively, that trio could be among my personal favorites of the entire season.

Bedlam always lives up to its billing. Who would have thought Oklahoma State would be perfect from the free throw line and shoot lights out from the perimeter?

Again, friends, this is why I don't bet. OSU came to play, and you have got to give them some credit.

But Oklahoma did get the win, and a big one it was. 64-61.

I only have one gripe.

If Sean Sutton is sick with a 101-degree fever, coughing up a lung as described by ESPN's Holly Rowe, then what in the hell is he doing shaking people's hands? What is he doing at the game?

I'm sorry. Look, I'm not a germaphobe, but I know how colds and flu get passed. It's by people who are sick mixing and mingling with people who aren't. There should seriously be a Big 12 or NCAA rule about this among players and coaches. They can be policed. It's not like a rule among fans could ever be passed.

But among coaches and players, who have access to a highly paid team doctor? C'mon, now.

If you're sick, stay away. Stay home. Get well. Goodness knows the ever-sweaty Sutton could use some rest. If he were a rock star, we'd call him the hardest workin' man in show biz. John Daly doesn't sweat so much, and he's full of nicotine, booze and lard.

But Sean isn't on a rock-n-roll tour. He's a basketball coach with a capable assistant in James Dickey -- and Dickey should have taken the reins tonight.

See, it works like this. Sutton shakes Capel's hand after the game. Capel goes into the locker room and shakes players' hands. They touch their eyes or put a hand to their mouths, and -- voila -- everybody's sick.

Those kids go to class and pass it on to other students, who pass it on to professors, one of whom happens to be a very good friend of mine ... and she'll pass it to her husband, and they'll both pass it to me.

Seriously, Sean. Stay home next time. Before you fall dead on the court or, worse yet, indirectly get me sick.

OK. Maybe I am a germaphobe.

In just 10 days, I'll reveal my No. 1 song of 2007, something I'd like to do each year the Thursday or Friday before the Grammys. Just seems like an appropriate time to do that.

But each of the songs in the Top 5 for 2007 is top-notch, from the writing to the performance -- all of it. And No. 5 comes from the biggest selling band of the year, Daughtry.

Led by American Idol sensation Chris Daughtry, "It's Not Over" was co-written by fellow Idol star Ace Young. Who said those boys can't write?

Initially used as a song on FOX' Prison Break, "It's Not Over" was released as a single at the start of last year, right about this time. Conversely from most work from Idol contestants, "It's Not Over" was well received both commercially and critically.

Catchy and kind of bad-ass all at the same time.

When one looks at the mainstream adult-oriented rock bands going today, we really have only two: Nickelback and Daughtry. Two who are relevant in the here-and-now, I should say. And for my taste, it's Daughtry who has the edge, both figuratively and literally.

Fans of American Idol can be proud that the show has finally produced something credible in pop music, and haters can listen without guilt ...

See others:

No. 25 - Everyday America - Sugarland

No. 24 - Le Disko - Shiny Toy Guns

No. 23 - Famous In A Small Town - Miranda Lambert

No. 22 - Colorful - Rocco DeLuca & The Burden

No. 21 - Never Again - Kelly Clarkson

No. 20 - Streetcorner Symphony - Rob Thomas

No. 19 - Two - Ryan Adams

No. 18 - Penny On A Train Track - Ben Kweller

No. 17 - Paralyzer - Finger Eleven

No. 16 - Vegas - Sara Bareilles

No. 15 - Bubbly - Colbie Caillat

No. 14 - Tears Dry On Their Own - Amy Winehouse

No. 13 - Give It To Me - Timbaland feat. Nelly Furtado & Justin Timberlake

No. 12 - U + Ur Hand - Pink

No. 11 - You Never Get Over It - Ladybug Mecca

No, 10 - The Pretender - Foo Fighters

No. 9 - What Comes Around ... Goes Around - Justin Timberlake

No. 8 - Grace Kelly - Mika

No. 7 - Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood

No. 6 - Shut Up & Drive - Rihanna

Those striking writers have given their OK to the Grammy Awards.

Not only will they not picket, but Writers Guild of America members can work on the show. The Grammys air on Feb. 10.

I'm thrilled at this news, not because it means the writers are closer to a strike end. Instead, I'm thrilled because I thought the strike might endanger what should be (if there is a God) Amy Winehouse's big night.

However, the writers said that musicians face a lot of the same issues as writers when it comes to digital properties. They're right, for sure, and it's great news that their empathy led to a temporary agreement.

OU and OSU get together for ESPN's Big Monday in what's known 'round here as Bedlam.

Blake Griffin. James Anderson. It will be quite the youngins' show at the Lloyd Noble Center, starting at 8 p.m.

But will this round of Sooners vs. Cowboys be a good game?

When I attempt to predict OU basketball games, I look at several factors:

1. What kind of Lloyd Noble Center are we going to see tonight?

For Bedlam, it's usually raucous. Given that it's Big Monday (which IS a big deal) and Bedlam, I think my typical LNC concerns aren't too warranted.

2. Will Blake Griffin play? Will he be 100 percent?

Did you watch Saturday? Given that this will be Blake's first Bedlam matchup, I think he'll be super fired up.

3. What about the Pokes? Did the A&M loss do them in?

I hate to ever write an OSU team off because they're typically so disciplined. Plus, the LNC is a cakewalk compared to Gallagher-Iba.

However, yes, I think this Pokes team is pretty much baked for '08.

The line on this one is 8.5 points in favor of the boys in Crimson, and I'm usually very hesitant to give OU that much of a cushion, particularly in a Bedlam series that can honestly go either way 80 percent of the time.

But everything points to a big Sooners win. Everything.

I'll take Oklahoma -8.5.

Ryan completely discourages betting, particularly after his 2-3 weekend. His overall '08 record is 6-3-1.

In an odd bit of journalism news, today was the first day I had ever invoked the word "cheerocracy" into anything at work. However, as part of a cool new site we've developed, I come up with videos to highlight, which warrants a new headline each day.

And, today, that meant using the word "cheerocracy."

The term was born of the mid-1990s movie, "Bring It On," which (if you have never seen it) is one of the funniest movies of the decade. It is biting, sarcastic, wickedly funny and one of those movies you can sit through every single time it comes on.

Here's one of my favorite clips from the movie:

This year's NBA Slam Dunk contest will be unique because one player has decided to take it to the YouTube generation.

Memphis' Rudy Gay is soliciting dunks on YouTube for him to try at the All-Star Weekend competition. Of course, he wants people actually to do the dunks, which makes me think he and his people don't understand the YouTube audience.

We don't dunk. Er, we can't dunk.

However, one of the submissions has already caught my attention. First, I loved the ESPN Streetball series, particularly my boy The Professor. But who knew that The Netherlands was such a hotbed of white-boy ballers.

This clip, from a streetball team called Rethro, was added as a submission to Gay's YouTube request. It's interesting: Good soundtrack, decent ball-handling. But one thing strikes me.

An average streetball crew from America would embarrass these guys.

For whatever reason, several months ago, I started listening to Kate Bush. More than anything else, I was curious what other work she had done considering I really liked "Running Up That Hill" back in the mid-1980s.

What I stumbled on is greatness though. In what reminded me a lot of Laura Nyro, Bush recorded a tune called "Symphony In Blue" back in 1978. It was part of a CD called "Lionheart," which was huge in the UK but not so much here.

The song, "Symphony In Blue," was apparently only a single in Japan. Weird. However, I dig it a ton, and I found a supposed live version of it on YouTube. It's not live though; it's a lip-synched performance on some TV show back in 1979.

Regardless, if you like mellow 1970s pop music, this is a gem.

Be very wary of "the 10th of February" this video says, another installment of YouTube video edicts posted by Legion.

I have to say it: This is bad ass. If I ever decide to declare on somebody or a group, I hope I can figure out how to do an electronic voice like this with a bed of eerie music. But I hope that Legion doesn't do anything that would interrupt the Grammy Awards that night.

New song for the week ... lyrics below the video:

"A Different World"
© 2008, Ryan Welton

Verse 1:
My mind needs a vacation
Some inspiration
Today

I'm lacking concentration
Make this frustration
Go away


Pre-hook 1:
I've done my time
I'm in my prime
Something's wrong, something's wrong I fear
I need to split
To get away
anywhere, anywhere but here


Chorus:
Is there an airline
that can take me to a different world?
How 'bout a cruise ship
I'll take the drugs so I won't hurl
Let me have three weeks
alone in a different world
Well, anywhere but here will do for now


Verse 2:
I'm normally a standout
makes my boss shout
Hooray!

But lately I've had self-doubt
8-and-the-gate out
Each day


Pre-hook 2:
I need an edge
A panacea
A pill, a tab, maybe three cold beers
Plan my escape
My getaway to
anywhere, anywhere but here

(repeat chorus)

Bridge:
We operate in a world of give and give
Regret someday that we missed our chance to live

Pre-hook 3:
Let's take it back
Let's lay our claim
Something's wrong, something's wrong we hear
We need to split
To get away
anywhere, anywhere but here

(repeat chorus)

Since I've had Finley the wonder cat (going on 7 years), I've taken her for general checkups three times. She's had at least one teeth cleaning and several groomings, thanks to a dude at Banfield in Richardson, Texas, who grooms cats.

Yeah, I know. They groom themselves. Just not as well as this guy could.

Alas, Finley got her first trip to a vet since I moved to Norman in 2005 on Saturday. No, she wasn't sick. It was just time for a checkup and to get her caught up on vaccines.

For the record, I'm not keen on vaccines. Thankfully, neither was my newly found vet, at the Cat Clinic in Norman.

The DVM's assistant explained that the practice philosphy was to vaccinate as little as possible. The vaccine they were adamant Finley get was for a zoonotic respiratory disease, but I forgot the name of it.

They "recommended" a rabies vaccine only because the city can take your pet away if a visitor bitches about being scratched or bitten. So, I did that to avoid getting a murder charge against myself.

However, they advised against a feline leukemia shot and didn't recommend any others. Most of all, the vet and I saw eye to eye on a number of animal issues outside of vaccines, and given that her practice was cats only, I was sold.

Not sold though was Finley, who knew something was up as soon as the carrier was dragged from the laundry room to the door. It was like I had played a bad trick on her.

Well-behaved as always, she meowed and sighed and realized a trip was comin'. Once in the vet's office, Finley perked up a bit, well, until the doc checked her scent glands, which is akin to a prostate exam.

And the good doc gave Finley her shots in her hind legs because, she explained, vaccines can cause cancer in cats. So, if that were to happen, they would be able to deal with it better in the legs than in the body.

Overall, Finley got a pretty good grade for the day (B+), but some treatment is needed. First and foremost, she'll be going in for a dental procedure to extract two back teeth that are infected. Second, her diet needs a slight overhaul.

Slight overhaul: Is there such a thing as a "slight" overhaul?

When you see a pear-shaped cat, which is essentially what Finley is, it means that the proteins she is getting are not high quality. So, the doc hooked me up with some trial-size cans of wet food that are supposed to be top-notch.

The challenge is to get her to eat it. Like a lot of humans after they get vaccines, Finley is under the weather today. You can tell when animals don't feel well.

Or maybe she was just worn out from the big day. And like any big day we humans have, there are pictures. Photos that show what a good time Finley had, particularly the ones where she peeks under the door wondering where in the %&*#! she is.

Coming into Saturday's road game at Baylor, I thought the Oklahoma Sooner men would struggle against possibly the story of the college basketball season so far. Baylor has played very well, and they finally have some athletes.

But we have Basketball Superman.

Nobody had much of an idea that super freshman and future NBA baller Blake Griffin would play today, but surely his insertion into the OU lineup lifted his teammates, who might not have known about it. Sooners' coach Jeff Capel has shown a knack for drama in his two years in Norman.

I should say he has been willing to leverage player emotion to lift his club, and I like it, like it, like it. Wish Bob Stoops would do it more often.

But with a 77-71 win over Baylor, OU is again in good shape for a tourney bid. The club is 2-2 in Big 12 play, 14-5 overall, and looking good for a win Monday night over a bad Oklahoma State team. OSU lost to Texas A&M 59-56.

Let's just say my weekend picks aren't going so well. But like I said, I don't spend any time on them. They're my gut hunches, and I sure as heck had no idea Blake Griffin would play.

The real upside to this Oklahoma team isn't even Blake Griffin. Sure, he's great and all, and I'd be thrilled if he stayed for his sophomore year. But when Longar Longar is on his game, OU is a tough out for anybody.

And what's more impressive is that the Sooners play well on the road. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that the kryptonite for this OU team is not having Blake. With him, we're the Justice League ... and without, we're the Mystery Men.

If you haven't seen it yet, it's the video everybody is talking about this week. It's an "anonymous" video posted to YouTube declaring war on Scientology.

The group calls itself "Legion," and they express an intention to destroy Scientology. The video itself is eerie, and I'd love the Sooners to adopt this theme each October when it comes time to play Texas.

We are Oklahoma. And we have come to destroy you.

However, I really don't think this video is a teenage prank. I think this is the real deal Holyfield, and I'll tell you why. I've been receiving e-mail about this in the newsroom for months, like an advanced notice that this is coming.

The video could be associated with a movie.

The video could be associated with "hackers," who have no real ability to do anything but mess with the organization's IT systems.

The video could be the work of an evangelical group.

Who knows. However, the video is a great example of viral messaging, and I'm very curious as to what comes next.

It's a gut-hunch weekend again this week, my second installment of the Weekend Sports Betting Guide. Last week, I went 4-0 with one push (Seattle vs. Dallas, NBA).

You coulda made some good dough, bro.

But seriously. Don't listen to me. I'm just a Joe who watches a lot of sports and analyzes nothing. It's all gut hunch, and I spend less than three minutes looking at figures, records and the like.

So, what games do I like this week?

Game 1: Texas A&M @ Oklahoma State:

A&M is coming off a heartbreaking 116-110 loss at home to Baylor on Wednesday night. Oklahoma State's season is one home loss away from the crapper.

First, I don't think A&M is nearly as good as others have thought, particularly on the road. OSU isn't a world-beater, but the Aggies are a 1.5 favorite in Stillwater.

I totally don't buy it, and I love the Cowboys to win the game outright.

Game 2: Oklahoma @ Baylor:

The 2007-08 season has been magical thus far for Baylor, and God love 'em. Aaron Bruce stuck with the Bears through thick and thin, and Scott Drew comes from an excellent coaching lineage.

But are they as good as advertised? I think they are this year's Washington State, a team that will surprise some folks and have an excellent record but not be all that, anyway. Problem for OU is that they're still without Blake Griffin.

With Blake, on the road in West Virginia (albeit at an off-campus arena), the Sooners pulled off one of their best wins in 10 years. Without Blake, this team can survive at home but will struggle on the road.

The Bears are a 5.5-point favorite at home in Waco's Ferrell Center, and while they're primed for a let-down given their 5-OT win over Texas A&M, I also know Oklahoma is out-manned. I want to pick OU because I'm not convinced Baylor really believes it's good yet. And because even last year, with our crappy team, Oklahoma won in Waco.

But, no, I think it finally happens. Baylor beats the snot out of us tomorrow. Give me Baylor to cover.

In other random games, I like Indiana to win by at least six points (Yahoo! Sports) over Connecticut in Bloomington, and I like Colorado at home to at least stay within 7 against Mizzou.

In the Association, I like one Saturday game: Memphis to cover the four over the Los Angeles Clippers.

So, I'm taking:

• OSU +1.5 versus Texas A&M


• Baylor -5.5 over OU


• Indiana -6 over UConn


• Colorado +7 versus Mizzou


• Memphia -4 over L.A. Clippers

This week's Top 5 American Idol performances were easier to come up with this week because there were only five worth mentioning at all.

Last week's bunch was certainly talented, but it's hard to say where singers like Pia Easley and Chris Watson will end up. Will they even make the Top 24?

I'm still fairly confident about Colton Swon and Kristy Lee Cook, although I'd say that instinct tells me Colton is a sure-fire Top 12er. This week, I am certain we have seen THREE Top 12 singers.

OK, here's my Top 5 American Idol performances of the week:

No. 5: Tetiana Ostapowych:

First, she is smoking, smoking, smoking hot. The boots. Yikes. But what's creepy, like I noted in a previous post, is that she talks like Martha Stewart. It's un-freakin'-canny.

I do think Tetiana and other contestants will clash in Hollywood. But I love a good catfight.

No. 4: Samantha Musa:

Musa bears a strong resemblance to Katharine McPhee both in terms of speaking and singing voice, and in terms of personality. Bubbly. Cute. The potential for a spot in the Top 24 is there.

No. 3: David Archuleta:

OK, I'll say it right now. David will be the whipping boy of Season 7, and it's kind of sad because he won't deserve it. First, I think he should have waited until he was 20 to try out so he wouldn't be pigeonholed. Second, he can sing, and if he chooses great songs throughout the competition, he'll win half the battle right there.

Well, he picked one of the best songs of the decade in John Mayer's "Waiting On The World To Change," but my concern is that it sounds a bit like David struggles for air. Like he's developing emphysema. Perhaps he was just hoarse, but write this down.

David Archuleta will be in the Top 12. He'll also be hard to root against.

No. 2: Carly Smithson:

I'll be perfectly honest and admit a misgiving: Carly should be No. 1 on this list.

She carries everything Idol is looking for, or I should say 'everything that Idol needs right now' ... she has an edge. She has a rock appeal and a soul thing happening.

However, she also carries major baggage with the whole MCA Records fiasco in 2001. I'm apt to cut her a break, and although I didn't love her performance, I could hear some major potential, particularly in terms of a singer would could have both an edge and some real soul.

By the way, wouldn't it have been wonderful if Dilana from Rock Star could have done Idol? Would have done it? Frankly, it's what the show needs, and I hope Carly is more rock than pop. Anyway, she is a sure-fire Top 12er.

No. 1: Michael Johns:

Prepare yourselves, America, for one half of the Season 7 finale because I have a hankering to make the call right now. I think 28-year-old native Australian Michael Johns is star bound.

His voice is white-boy soul, and his performance of this Otis Redding tune was spot-on ... but most of all, Johns will have a huge female following, and it will serve him well. I would be stunned beyond belief if he weren't in the Top 12.

Three more stops on the Idol audition tour, and then it's off to Hollywood. Be sure to leave your thoughts on these auditions down below, or make your own predictions as to who you think has a sure spot in the Top 24.

Charleston, S.C., was recently named the friendliest city in America, so says American Idol host Ryan Seacrest. But might it also be the craziest?

Wednesday night's fourth episode of the seventh season of Idol -- gulp -- was by far the show's most entertaining this year. And I don't even know whether we heard a lick of talent.

I do know that Raysharde Henderson, of Atlanta, thinks he sounds like Clay Aiken from Season 2. What's weird is that he looks like a cross between Nipsy Russell and Michael from Good Times.

DeAnna Prevatte hails from the town that brought us Kellie Pickler. That's right. Crazy Town USA: Albemarle, N.C.

With anger in her voice, a drawl that makes all Southerners sound like idiots and a spelling explanation for the Brit, DeAnna (with a capital A, puhlease) sang Reba McEntire's "Fancy."

It was painful but totally entertaining.

Numbers for Tuesday night's episode of Idol were down by 10 percent from last year, which is an improvement from last week, actually. However, the first three episodes of Season 7 hadn't been worth the buzz.

Wednesday night's stop in Charleston was.

Why? Geez, we're just looking for some entertainment before the competition heats up, and while the stories of mothers having babies and fathers dying of cancer are touching, we would prefer watching crazies like Michelle and Jeffrey Lampkin.

By the looks of it, Jeffrey was going to be one of Idol's all-time greatest rejects. First, he was huge, making Ruben Studdard look like a swimwear model. Second, he wore a purplish, pink tie around his head. Third, he behaved as if he were mad. Loony.

The 24-year-old brought his 26-year-old sister in for an audition, and they sang an R. Kelly, Celine Dion duet called, "I'm Your Angel," and stunner upon stunners: The fat man could sing.

Now, let's not get our drawers in a wad. Jeffrey wasn't brilliant, but there was potential there, and he's got a solid vocal instrument. His sister wasn't really all that but got the sympathy pass to Hollywood.

Can't split the two of them, Simon Cowell explained.

What has happened to this guy? Has America totally softened him?

My favorite crazy of the night was Amy Flynn, of Tennessee, who told our fair judges that she was part of the STARS (Students Teaching And Respecting Sexuality) Program, which is a codename for an abstinence group.

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

However, like with the 19-year-old who had never even kissed a girl last week, Amy's prudence came off as half-baked insanity. For anybody who has watched Mandy Moore's character on the movie, "Saved," that's what we got in Amy Flynn.

Socially conservative critics lambasted Idol last week for the show's decision to poke a little fun, and they will again this week. Nevertheless, Amy was good enough to advance to Hollywood, although Simon noted that one week in Los Angeles will change Amy's tune regarding abstinence.

Perhaps she can hook up with that little Archuleta boy and get a scandal going.

The best singer of the night was Sullivan's Island, S.C.-native London Weidberg, who's father died of cancer three years ago. What struck me about this auditioner is her mother. It's probably right for a later topic, but the mother said something like: "This has always been London's dream. It's what we want for her."

So, which is it -- her dream or your dream, Mom?

There could be an entire realm of sociology devoted to adults who live through kids. Mind you, the 24-year-old isn't exactly a child anymore, and her vocals were fairly solid on a Billie Holiday tune, which can't be all bad.

But in terms of actual talent, that was about the best we got all night.

However, the good guy award of the night went to Oliver Highman, who actually left the audition to take his pregnant wife to a hospital when her water broke. I refer to him as a good guy not because he did what he was obligated to do.

If you'll recall from Season 6, Phil Stacey missed the birth of his child to audition. Sure, Stacey made it to the final 12 last year, but there is something utterly contemptible about that to me. Hey, who am I to judge, right?

However, when Highman returned to the auditions and was surprisingly rejected by Simon, Randy and Paula (didn't you smell a sympathy trip to Hollywood coming?), the 27-year-old wasn't bitter.

Instead, he said, "Hey, you want to see my new baby?" That, my friends, is what a new father should be about.

Good father. Good guy. Good episode.

When you work in a newsroom, you're the first to hear just about everything thanks to AP News Alerts. If you have the proper software open, as we almost always do, these alerts show up -- your own little private news service, typically ahead of networks, cable channels, etc.

So, imagine my surprise when a colleague this afternoon said, "Whoa. Heath Ledger. Dead."

Within 10 minutes, all the networks had it, and news Web sites and bloggers were all over it. TMZ.com had cameras at the scene, as a mass of people gathered around Ledger's apartment on Broome Street in New York City.

And like everybody else who follows pop culture, we were attuned to this news in conversation. Stunned. Curious. Sad.

I'll readily admit that I only saw one movie Ledger was ever in: Monster's Ball, the movie several years ago that netted Halle Berry an Oscar. I didn't like it. In fact, I was thoroughly bored with it, and I don't even recall Ledger in the movie.

However, details of his death bear a sad, strange resemblance to the death of a little-known but widely beloved British folk singer of the 1970s, one who gained almost all of his prominence posthumously -- Nick Drake.

As of late Tuesday night, what we know of Ledger's demise is that he was found naked with both prescription and non-prescription sleeping pills surrounding him. There is speculation that he had a heroin problem and that he was stumbling into deep depression, possibly because of his separation from daughter Matilda, born to former fiance Michelle Williams.

All in all, this looks like it was an accidental overdose on Ledger's part. However, there is no guarantee it won't be ruled a suicide, just as Drake's untimely death was on Nov. 25, 1974.

For those who are unfamiliar with Drake and his work, the first thing that would strike some is what resemblance Ledger bore to him. Sure, it's not an exact resemblance, but the pale skin and shaggy, long hair and that look of an artist was true to Ledger and for Drake.

Drake was a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter, most famous now for his dark, brooding, cloudy-day folk songs such as "Northern Sky," "One Of These Things First," and my personal favorite, "At The Chime Of A City Clock."

His album, Bryter Layter, was not well received commercially, and whatever depression that might have befallen Drake sank deeper. There was plenty of speculation that Drake had been using heroin, but like with Ledger, it hasn't been substantiated for certain.

Drake had sought some help for his depression, and as is par for the mental health industry, the singer was prescribed a regimen of pills. After the release of a subsequent album, Pink Moon, Drake's shyness turned into total introversion, something friends of Ledger have said happened with him recently.

Among the things I have read about Ledger today -- and who knows what's true and what isn't -- are that he had a hard time sleeping and winding down. A lot of what I have read about Drake, as a fan of his, over the years, indicates that people close to him speculated that Drake overdosed simply by mixing medicines at a prescribed level that, together, were lethal.

For example, I believe I read that Drake might have taken a couple antidepressants with a sleeping pill or an aspirin. Something as seemingly innocuous as that.

Initial indications in Ledger's case are that pills were strewn about his body, although reports that he had been found on the floor initially were deemed to be false. At this point, we just don't know for sure what happened.

However, it wouldn't stun me in the least if Ledger did nothing more than mix pills that, unbeknownst to him, were lethal together. Ledger had been suffering from pneumonia, so perhaps he took some sleeping pills and an antibiotic. Or a codeine-laced cough medicine.

The practical lesson for all of us is in how deadly pill taking can be, even at a prescribed level. Mix one prescribed pill with something over-the-counter, and it's hard to say what the combination will produce.

However, practicality aside, from an artistic perspective, the first thing I thought of upon hearing the details of Ledger's death was Nick Drake, and how he only came to be appreciated decades after his death.

Damn shame. If you have a second, listen to this YouTube'd version of Drake's "At The Chime Of A City Clock," one of my favorite songs of all time. A masterpiece.

Everybody loves stories of second chances, and Tuesday night's third episode of American Idol was chock-full of them.

One such public second chance is really a third chance for San Diego's Carly Smithson. As Carly Hennessy, the 23-year-old Irish woman tried out for Idol two years ago in Season 5. She got the call to Hollywood, only to have it revoked because of some paperwork issues related to her visa.

But that's not all. Click the hyperlink above to visit Carly's artist page on an old MCA Records Web site. My friends, that is Carly Smithson, potential Season 7 winner.

A big success already, you say? Au contraire.

MCA poured more than $2 million into Carly back in 2001 only to produce a CD that netted fewer than 400 units sold. In the realm of the pop music industry, this isn't that uncommon, but it was an unmitigated failure nevertheless.

However, with her performance of Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman" on Tuesday, Carly re-earned an invitation to Hollywood. And she showed off her new husband, covered in tattoos from face to toe, and I do mean face. He had voiced some private concern to his wife that people might not like him because of the ink on his forehead, cheeks, nose, lip, etc.

The whole tattoo thing is not my bag. In fact, I think it looks ridiculous, but I have a strange feeling his presence might actually help Carly in an odd sort of way, giving people the perception that for whatever reason, she carries an edge.

But if an edge is what Idol needs, then David Archuleta is not the guy to bring it. At 16, Archuleta told the story of being afflicted with vocal paralysis, although it was not clear when this happened.

See, it was only four years ago that young David was a finalist on CBS' remake of Star Search.

Archuleta offered a fair performance of John Mayer's "Waiting On The World To Change," netting his a trip to Hollywood. Because he's so young, David is almost assured to be this season's Sanjaya -- not because he is as bad as the Season 6 Top 12er, but because even with a modestly good voice, he just doesn't have the vocal tools and life experience to bring much to the table artistically. He's a little boy, and I think he would have fared much better if his folks would have just waited awhile.

Aside from the second-chance stories, Tuesday's Idol offering got started on the right foot, if you asked me, as 24-year-old Tetiana Ostapowych sang the standard, "Someone To Watch Over Me."

But I wasn't really paying attention to the song. This chick was smokin' hot, although her speaking voice sounded creepily, eerily like Martha Stewart's. Go back and listen, and tell me I'm wrong. I'm not.

It's not a good thing.

Perrie Cataldo, 27, of Phoenix, told his story of being a single dad, losing the mother of his child to something untoward. Nobody ever said she was killed in a drive-by or died of an overdose, just that she was at the wrong place, wrong time and with the wrong people.

Fair enough, and his version of Boyz II Men's "I'll Make Love To You" netted him a trip northward to Hollywood.

Two of my favorite singers of the night were Michael Johns and Samantha Musa. Johns, 28, hails from Los Angeles by way of Australia, and he wailed on an old Otis Redding tune, and well, I might add. Musa, 20, of Baldwin Park, Calif., gushed with her sister over Simon Cowell before doing justice to Aretha's classic, "Until You Come Back To Me."

While many of the stories tonight were better than those of these two, few auditions were. Johns' audition was so good, I would be stunned if he weren't in the Top 24, and Musa had a Katharine McPhee quality about her.

Or perhaps I'm just smitten.

Tuesday's show was devoid of the really funny, tense auditions. Sure, Monique Gibson and Christopher Baker made collective arses of themselves with delusional performances. And while Joseph and Juanita Mejia, 21 and 17 respectively, sang and mimed together to Oleta Adams' "Get Here," I'm reminded of a high school chum of mine who once said something about "nobody liking a mime."

Agreed. (Kidding) OK, the Mejia duo almost made me crack a smile.

Valerie Reyes, 20, butchered Mariah Carey, and I don't even like Mariah Carey. She bemoaned the possibility in her pre-clip interview that she could be one of the "rejects," before her voice cracked in the audition like Peter Brady's did on that episode of "The Brady Bunch" in which his voice changed.

Not even Alberto Hurtado, 28, could muster an audition bad enough for me to break out in a grin or to chuckle devilishly. However, his rendition of an original song he called, "Live," was creepy in a tragic way.

Simon asked him if the song was biographical, and Hurtado howled about tragedy, over and over, singing cliched lyrics and creeping us all out. Hurtado bore gifts to Paula, as many of the rejects do, this one a fan that I'm sure found its way to a waste basket 10 minutes after her submitted it.

But if Tuesday night was about second chances for folks like Carly Smithson and David Archuleta, it was Blake Boshnack's 12th Idol audition that got the perseverance award for the week. If you'll recall a couple years ago, Blake showed up at an audition dressed like the Statue of Liberty, garnering an immediate "no" from Simon, without the youngster singing a note.

While Boshnack didn't quite make it to Hollywood this go-round, here's hoping that he eventually makes it. Ideally, he would try out 15 more times over the next six years, and then on his last possible attempt ... the judges advance him to Hollywood.

People love comebacks. People love underdogs. And people love second chances.

I've got a sneaking feeling that a couple such chances will be storylines this season on Idol for quite awhile.

Those of us who love the Oklahoma Sooners women's basketball team realize we have something special in Courtney Paris. However, the best women's player in the state resides in Stillwater.

Something I have learned from watching women's hoops the past few years is that the NCAA is a guard's league. This has always been true come tourney time for the men, except for those years when a 45-year-old plays center for the Buckeyes.

Kidding aside, Greg Oden was going to take any team far. However, it was Mike Conley Jr. who led Ohio State in 2007 when it came time for the dance.

But as good as CP3 is down in Norman, her style of play is not one that can overcome poor guard play -- and after a season that saw Red Rock's Jenna Plumley shine as a freshman, that's what the Sooners have gotten.

It's not Jenna's fault. It's turnovers and mistakes and poor shooting galore at the Lloyd Noble Center from all of OU's ball handlers.

Alas, forgive me if we Sooners fans have gotten a bad case of high expectations. When Courtney brought her twin, Ashley, to the land of Sooners, we expected a championship right off the bat.

Two years later, I'd love for us to get past the Sweet 16.

It's not going to happen, people. Not this year. Not unless our guards start exhibiting some qualities exuded by Oklahoma State's Andrea Riley.

The 5-foot, 5-inch sophomore from Dallas hit the game winner on Saturday against Texas A&M, on the Aggies home court, with 6.6 seconds left to play. Riley drilled it, stuck her tongue out and squatted, high-fiving passers by, displaying all the marks of an excitable, exciting floor leader.

What struck my colleagues and I today was that OSU was sitting at No. 14, with OU ahead of them at No. 11. Sure, the Sooners have lost to highly ranked teams. However, it's clear to me -- regardless of the OSU win over OU a week ago -- that the Cowgirls are the best team in the Big 12.

Well, Baylor would have something to say about that for sure. However, I'll take my chances with this Riley kid. Let's put it this way: If OU had recruited (and landed) Andrea, the Sooners would be the best team in the country.

Because every Greg Oden needs his Mike Conley Jr., and in women's basketball -- heck in basketball, period -- nobody has impressed me more than Andrea Riley. She's not only the best women's player in Oklahoma, Riley is the best Oklahoma-based collegiate baller going.

And it would not surprise me in the least if OSU won the conference and found a way to make a deep, deep run in the tourney.

Sure, I think Sheri Coale's club can get it together in time for the NCAA tourney, and this team is capable of making a deep run. But right now, I am not feeling it AT ALL.

But I have a definite feeling about OSU's Andrea Riley. She is a special, transformational ball player.

One of the aspects of pop music that surprises me the most is that there hasn't been more of a rivalry between Beyonce and Rihanna.

Sure, it would make for an exciting cat fight (think: tub of jello), but for whatever reason, at least musically, the pop stars have kept to themselves. For one thing, Rihanna was discovered and promoted primarily by Jay-Z, who happens to be Beyonce's main man.

But for another, in the pop music world, there is plenty of room for both of them. Beyonce scored the biggest hit of the year, according to Billboard magazine, with a song called "Irreplaceable," a tune that grates at my every nerve.

However, Rihanna scored big in 2007 with several hits, too. And I just happen to count myself among those who preferred Rihanna last year. While her first album a couple years back did nothing for me, it was a summer hit that made me think she had something.

And then she released "Shut Up And Drive," and I knew she had something.

My former colleague, now in greener Arizonan pastures, kept telling me about this song and how addictive it was. Well, the first time I heard it on the radio, I loathed it. The second time, I loathed it a little bit less.

And by the third listen, I realized that whoever penned this pop tune had stumbled upon a gold mine.

First and foremost, "Shut Up And Drive" craftfully meshed rock and pop. Rihanna made an awards-show appearance with FallOut Boy doing a more rock version of this song, which was twice as sexy as the original.

Speaking of "sexy," my No. 6 song for 2007 is one big innuendo. What's under my hood. A whole lot of boom in the back. This song shouldn't have been called, "Shut Up And Drive," it should have been called, "Shut Up And F*** Me."

All kidding aside, the automobile metaphor ensured that this catchy pop hit can be used in all sorts of commercials. Now, that could carry some pop culture weight in years to come, but "Shut Up And Drive" earns its spot at No. 6 on its songwriting merits alone.

Like every other tune from here on out that completes my year-end chart, this one exudes brilliant pop songwriter crasftsmanship.

See others:

No. 25 - Everyday America - Sugarland

No. 24 - Le Disko - Shiny Toy Guns

No. 23 - Famous In A Small Town - Miranda Lambert

No. 22 - Colorful - Rocco DeLuca & The Burden

No. 21 - Never Again - Kelly Clarkson

No. 20 - Streetcorner Symphony - Rob Thomas

No. 19 - Two - Ryan Adams

No. 18 - Penny On A Train Track - Ben Kweller

No. 17 - Paralyzer - Finger Eleven

No. 16 - Vegas - Sara Bareilles

No. 15 - Bubbly - Colbie Caillat

No. 14 - Tears Dry On Their Own - Amy Winehouse

No. 13 - Give It To Me - Timbaland feat. Nelly Furtado & Justin Timberlake

No. 12 - U + Ur Hand - Pink

No. 11 - You Never Get Over It - Ladybug Mecca

No, 10 - The Pretender - Foo Fighters

No. 9 - What Comes Around ... Goes Around - Justin Timberlake

No. 8 - Grace Kelly - Mika

No. 7 - Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood

In honor of the late, great Suzanne Pleshette, I learned how to play the theme to the Bob Newhart Show this weekend. It's called "The Home To Emily," and I thought I'd teach folks at least the basic chords behind it.

It was great to read that Stacey King was honored at halftime of the Oklahoma vs. Texas Tech game on Saturday. He was the heart and soul of OU's greatest team ever.

However, it got me to thinking: Who have been the best players at OU since that 1987-88 year? I decided not to county Harvey Grant or Mookie Blaylock since they were both classmaters with Stacey. So, I guess this is a Top 5 OU basketball players of the 1990s and beyond.

It is not based on stats alone, although each of these players on my list is a 1,000-point scorer. It's based on having that Stacey King-esque quality, being the heart and soul of a team and, likewise, being a player who could be a real difference in helping the Sooners win big games.

No. 5: Aaron McGhee - Ace came alive in 2002, leading Oklahoma to the Final Four. Yeah, you read me right: Leading. He was pretty mediocre his first season but then caught fire his next. His 10-foot shot was unstoppable, and without Ace, we don't sniff the Final Four. This guy is one of my all-time favorite Sooners in any sport because of his willingness and ability to step up his game when it really counted.

No. 4. Ryan Minor - Even though Minor never really had any tourney success (all that really counts, people), we probably never would have had those opportunities without the Hammon native. I remember going to an OU-Kansas game in Norman that Minor basically won on his own.

His biggest accomplishment at OU though was in being part of our greatest baseball team in history: the 1994 national champs.

No. 3. Brent Price - Sure, most Oklahoma sports fans remember the night the Enid native dropped 56 on Loyola Marymount, but do you remember the NIT game against Cincinnati, in which Brent scored the last seven or so points, with a minute left, to get Oklahoma to overtime and eventual win?

Those weren't great teams at Oklahoma, but Brent was a clutch player.

No. 2. Eduardo Najera - Without Eduardo, Kelvin Sampson never gets that reputation as a coach who fields tough teams. Getting knocked out and then returning to the game against Michigan State in the Sweet 16 some eight years ago remains one of the most inspirational moments in Oklahoma sports history.

No. 1. Hollis Price - Oklahoma's best player all-time was Wayman. The guy who put OU hoops on the map was Alvan Adams. And there have been great athletes along the way from Choo and Timmy to Jeff and Damon and Corey Brewer, just to name a few.

But Hollis Price was an excellent shooter and one of Oklahoma's best free-throw shooters of all time. And, yes, he helped us get to a Final Four.

However, the New Orleans native was a flat-out winner. The Josh Heupel of OU basketball and by a mile my favorite post-Stacey King era player in Norman. It's a crime that no NBA team has picked up on Price. His talent is enough, but his intangibles would really be valuable to a fringe team.

I'd love to see Hollis get into coaching and one day take the reins at OU.

Each weekend in 2008, I'm going to prove to you either that I'm a brilliant sports mind or that I'm a complete idiot.

I'm going to offer my weekend sports picks, as if I were going to actually play the ponies. Well, not horses. I mean games, preferably with balls, gloves and pucks. These picks will be against the spread only, just as if I were in Vegas.

No real money exchanges hands. I'm actually rather averse to sports betting, only because I know how volatile it can be.

Plus, I'm poor. So, go suck it.

This will be a weekly event, and I'll tabulate how I do for not only my complete embarrassment but also to reinforce why I should never gamble.

Game 1: San Diego at New England

I'd be an idiot if I told you that I guaranteed the Chargers would make it to the Super Bowl. However, I think San Diego is playing really well right now.

On the other hand, I have to balance it with the fact that the Chargers just happened to match up against the Colts really well.

Depending on where you look, the Pats are a 14 to 14.5-point favorite. To me, it's way too much. Yes, I know Norv Turner, one of the worst coaches in NFL history is coaching the Chargers. Yes, I know the Pats are 17-0.

However, the NFL is a play-'em close league, and I love San Diego's secondary. Give me San Diego to at least stay within 14.

Game 2: New York at Green Bay

The Giants and San Diego mirror each other in one way: Their defenses seem really hungry and capable. Good secondaries. Playmakers.

The idea that cold weather in Green Bay gives the Packers a big advantage, to me, is ridiculous. Most of those players aren't even from Wisconsin, and I actually think cold helps the defense.

I'd love to see Favre beat New England in a Super Bowl, but I honestly think it'll be youngblood Eli Manning versus Tom Brady in the Super Bowl. I think the Giants cover the 7.5 or 8 and win this sucker outright.

Game 3: Oklahoma State at Iowa State

The Pokes head to Ames to face probably the worst or second-worst Big 12 men's team. However, OSU is pretty bad as well, having missed 15 free throws in a loss to Baylor in Waco.

Not sure if super-frosh James Anderson will play, but with Iowa State a 1-point favorite, it won't matter, Hilton is one of the toughest places to play in the Big 12, and I love the Cyclones to win, hence cover.

Game 4: Texas Tech at Oklahoma

I'm not convinced Tech's a good team at all. OSU drubbed them in Stillwater last week by 19, and Bobby Knight did get his 900th win. However, the Sooners are without their super-frosh Blake Griffin, and Oklahoma's home crowd is possibly the worst in the country.

However, OU's a 7-point favorite in this game, 6.5 by one book. Give me the Red Raiders to cover but lose.

Game 5: Seattle at Dallas

In a matchup between one of my two favorite teams (the Mavs ... the other is the Clippers) and Oklahoma City's future team, I'm struck by how many times a lesser team has been able to hang with the Mavs in Dallas.

Dallas has lost a couple tough ones this week, including a 122-120 heartbreaker to Sacramento at Arco, and I think the little Mavs will press. Seattle is a 15-point dog, and I like them to cover.

So, I've picked four dogs and one itsy-bitsy, slight favorite in Iowa State. Again, no wagering allowed, and -- no -- I will not put my money where my mouth is.

However, feel free to laugh if I lose all five of these suckers.

A weekly feature here will be my Top 5 performances of the week, usually posted on Thursdays. Because this week was comprised of Season 7's first two audition sites, I thought I'd start by explaining how I came up with this ranking.

And, the formula could change week to week. In fact, it will.

The Idol audition is not only about offering great vocals but also about emitting potential star power. Each year, we watch these, and then when some of the contestants become successes, we wonder how they went from Point A to Point B.

What I'd submit is that this "star power" either exists or it doesn't, and not even our fairest judges always recognize it.

Check out Chris Daughtry's Season 5 audition:

Are you kidding me?

Simon said, "No?"

No charisma? No stand-alone star power?

Of course, in retrospect, we understand now that Chris Daughtry is the single most important Idol contestant of all time. Not the best-selling yet, and even with the controversy he's embroiled in regarding his comments to Rolling Stone, it doesn't lessen the fact that Idol must focus on pushing those with an edge to the forefront.

So, as I examine each audition, I'm looking for both vocal prowess and edge, with a focus on whether or not I think the contestant has star viability.

And that means, for me, Kady Malloy of Houston doesn't even make my Top 5 list. Sure, her impersonation of Britney Spears was uncanny. And, yes, her "actual" vocals on "Unchained Melody" were stellar, and most of America, I think, believes she was the standout of the week. However, making her the next American Idol would reinforce critics who say that the show has no real impact on the music industry in terms of critical quality.

It's not that she wasn't good. It's that she had no edge. No soul.

Watch Malloy, and tell me if you disagree:

OK then, here are my Top 5 auditions for Week 1:

No. 5: Joey Catalano

The high, soft soulful tone to his voice, combined with kind of a nerdy hip-hop look make this guy a sleeper in my book. He noted that ever since losing 205 pounds, he was "on fire," and that's what I want in a soul singer.

The challenge for Catalano is in being able to diversify without succumbing to the schmaltziness of any particular genre of music or theme week.

No. 4: Chris Watson

The 20-year-old talks like he smokes a pack of Reds a day but has an uber-contemporary style to his look and his voice. Given that he's interested in rock bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nirvana, I'm really eager to see how this guy performs in Hollywood.

No. 3: Colton Swon

I said it from the beginning: Idol needs to embrace its country audience, and to do so doesn't mean the contestant has to adhere to traditional country standards. The "red dirt" country movement, if you will, is super popular with young people, rural and urban alike, and the success of acts like Jason Aldean and Little Big Town reinforce it.

I would agree with the judges that Colton would have to work on stage presence a bit, and I would also acknowledge that put side-to-side against Chris Daughtry, Colton's audition doesn't compare terribly favorably. However, it's not THAT distant.

He's got the look, the style, the edge and most importantly a good enough voice to have a real shot at stardom.

No. 2: Pia Easley

Pia, or "Zpia" as she's called, offers kind of an urban rock edge, and she reminds me of Meshell Ndegeocello a ton. She's super urban, hip and definitely has that aforementioned edge, and my hope beyond hope is that she tackles some rock. A legitimate black female rocker would turn Idol critics upside-down.

No. 1: Kristy Lee Cook

What most of you don't know is that Kristy is already signed to a development deal with Arista Nashville. However, because it was not a record deal, she was allowed to compete so long, I think, as she severed those ties.

No, there isn't as much of an edge here with Kristy as there was with some of the others, but there was enough, particularly in terms of her personality. She's a cage fighter and is beautiful, and given that the country music industry is chock-full of brilliant writers who can help give her an edge, I think she is an absolute shoo-in for stardom, one way or another.

Look, I am not the biggest country fan in the world, but her vocals were perfect. Her vocal style is deceptively soulful, and unless there was something strange in the Hollywood water, I suspect she's one of your Top 24. Heck, I think she's a Top 12er.

Heck, this list, our speculation and any audition success these singers might have had don't mean squat when it comes time to perform in pairs and trios in Hollywood. Simon Cowell has admitted numerous times that certain singers have fallen through the cracks in the second round.

However, these are five singers that I personally think have massive commercial potential, if not the best vocal ability. It's based somewhat on look and style, but it's mostly founded on ability and edge. It's what I'd call the "Daughtry Factor."

Feel free to disagree or comment, but in fairness, watch all the videos first.

Anybody ever wonder how Madonna has managed to keep her career at or near the top of pop culture for the past 24 years?

C'mon, she's not that great a singer. And, outside of her early years grinding on the floor in a wedding dress, she's not that sexy.

However, Madonna is the poster girl for reinvention. Pop culture reinvention.

From her dance-club days, to her ballad phase, to the rave phase, to the hip-hop phase, back to the dance-hall phase and now to the family-woman era of Madge, Madonna has reinvented public perception of herself and her work. She is the master of it, in fact.

Lesson to be learned in this for pop-culture producers, for sure, particularly for those who stumble upon hit television shows. In 2000, I watched the first year of Big Brother, and it was completely revamped by Season 2.

Amid rumors of cancellation because of low ratings, producers kept tweaking the formula until it worked. And now, Big Brother is an addictive albeit still not iconic staple of reality television in America. Its fans are rabid, devoted and insane.

I am but one of them.

During conversations on weekends with a friend, who wonders aloud why MTV never shows videos anymore, I explained that network executives realized in the early 90s that MTV would have to evolve to grow. Heck, they would have to evolve to survive.

Shows like The Real World and Remote Control were born, as were comedy classics like The State. Some decade and a half later, videos are relegated to second-tier networks, while MTV is full of successful, original programming, highlighted by its bevy of teenage-oriented soaps: The Hills, Laguna Beach and Newport Harbor.

With that in mind, we should understand what could eventually be the demise of American Idol. Sure, its numbers from Tuesday and Wednesday were down by 13 percent, although its viewership was still more than every other network combined.

However, it is a dip, and it's clear that something isn't working. It's clear that some of us are tiring not so much of the show as an institution but the formula and predictability of it.

If I may make a brief foray into sports, I liken it to my beloved Oklahoma Sooners football team. Over the past few years, each year, they do well during the regular season, losing here and there, and then cough up a turd in the postseason.

Whether it's on television or in sports, success is not only fleeting, it's relative. Even if Idol's numbers were twice as good as all other networks combined, the fact that its viewership has declined, disturbingly among teens (although they're up with people over 50), should serve as a warning sign.

It might be as simple as altering the contestant selection process. It could mean changing the voting system. It could mean opening the competition up to older people. It could mean changing the judge lineup. Heck, it could mean offering a live feed so that people could watch them in their American Idol house 24x7.

If I might carry the example to my Sooners, this could mean firing an assistant. It could mean less weight training so coaches can focus on speed and dexterity. It could mean recruiting scrappier, hungrier players instead of NFL prototypes.

Change should not be a bad word, and to build or rebuild or even steady an already-successful institution, change is rather necessary to avoid stagnation and eventually failure. There is no question in my mind that American Idol, without a willingness to shake things up, is absolutely in its decline.

Same for the Oklahoma Sooners. No, the team won't go 6-6 next year like its in-state rival probably will, but OU's current trek is perceived locally to be a bit less than successful.

In either case, pop culture or sports, is it fair?

Hell, no. However, it is reality.

Change or die.

If ratings from Tuesday night's debut of American Idol were any indication, America doesn't like the nicer Simon Cowell.

Viewership was down about 13 percent from 2007, and Idol suffered its worst ratings debut in four years. But don't be too quick to judge. Idol's adult demographic is relatively well educated (Don't laugh. It's actually true.), and many of those folks will be diverted by presidential politics.

Heck, I peeked at cable coverage of the Michigan primary Tuesday night. I won't lie. It's some of the best reality TV going.

Yet, my take on the initial figures is irrelevant. Here's what we all want to know: Would Simon's nice streak last a second night into the new season?

Yes, but he had reason to be kind as Jessica Brown, 24, kicked off night No. 2 -- this time from auditions held in Dallas -- with an "interesting" version of The Pretenders' hit "I'll Stand By You." What made Brown stand out though wasn't her talent, it was her story.

She is a meth addict.

With pock marks and scars on her face showing the devastating effects of a terrible drug, the Longview, Texas, native talked about her addiction, her recovery and her babies.

The old Simon might have made a comment about Brown needing to wear extra concealer once she gets to Hollywood, but he left it with, "You made the song interesting."

What has happened to you, Simon Cowell?

Have to admit: I like the nice approach, personally. Just don't think it's good for business.

Kady Malloy, 18, of Houston, gave Simon even more reason to be nice with a rendition of his favorite song of all time, "Unchained Melody." But what made Malloy super interesting was her ability to comically mimic Britney Spears voice.

Simon not only said she gave Idol judges the best audition yet, he added: "I've got a feeling about you."

Always a good sign for a potential finalist. Look for this one to be in that group of 24.

Of course, night No. 2 offered its share of weird acts, one of which was even advanced to Hollywood. Kayla Dawn Hatfield, 24, told the story of a bad car accident six years ago, a wreck she shouldn't have survived.

Like Brown, this Campbell, Texas, native bore the scars of her past on her face but still brought out the best in Cowell. Dressed like a gypsy, Hatfield howled some Janis Joplin and advanced with a 2 to 1 vote.

Did I say one weird act advanced? Make it two.

Oklahoma State junior Kyle Ensley -- an international business, political science double major -- offered Idol fans a schpiel about wanting to get into politics, even his desire someday to be the governor of Oklahoma.

Then in glee-club fashion, he nails a Queen song. Well, as much as an amateur could nail a Queen song in glee-club fashion.

Judges said he was surprisingly good with Simon noting that he was "not as bad as I thought you were going to be."

However, Cowell ribbed him further: "You won't do weird things with your hair like Clay Aiken, right?"

Douglas Davidson, 28, from Austin, gave perhaps the weirdest audition in seven seasons with his version of Bon Jovi's "Livin' On A Prayer." What made Davidson's misadventure so odd is that he walked around in circles, mumbled to himself and noted that when he used to sing as a child, his father told him he hated him.

Not as in, "I hate you, you're so good," but as in, "I really hate you," he said.

Funniest moment of the night. He was escorted from the audition room by security.

Muskogee, Okla., one of my many hometowns over the years came to represent in the form of 18-year-old Colton Swon, a modern-day country rocker. Colton belted a song from the country band Little Big Town, and Paula oddly noted that "Boondocks" was one of her favorite songs.

Why do I have a hard time believing that Paula Abdul listens or has ever listened to any country?

However, Simon offered this assessment: "I think there's a lot of guys in bars singing like that all over the country."

Might not seem to bode well for a fellow Rougher (if you're from Muskogee, you'll get it), but my gut hunch says Colton makes the Top 24.

All in all, night No. 2 offered less drama than Tuesday, a weird assortment of Dallas-area transvestites, and with the exception of a couple of singers, quite a bit less talent than Philadelphia. Don't forget though that Seattle didn't impress in Season 6 but went on to produce last year's Top 2 -- Blake Lewis and Jordin Sparks.

While Malloy might have been the best auditioner yet, the most unique and potentially interesting musically might have been Pia Easley, 24, from Chicago. With odd carvings in her hair and what looked to be a tattoo on the side of her head, she wailed on a Gladys Knight tune called "I've Got To Use My Imagination."

The judges noted that this model and backup singer didn't come with the typical "beaten puppy" lack of confidence that previous backup singers on the show had possessed.

Melinda Doolittle, anyone?

Truth is, Easley wasn't as good as Doolittle by any stretch of the imagination. However, her upside is pretty big. Potentially. She has commercial and modern and hip (almost literally) written all over her.

Perhaps that's the theme of Season 7 so far. It's all about the upside. While neither episode thus far has wowed, and although it's strangely "nicer" than previous Idol seasons, there is an upside to this year that makes me think -- still -- that good things are to come.

But don't call me a true believer just yet.

Coming into Season 7 of American Idol, the biggest question was whether the show's creators would focus more on great stories or great talent. Last season was considered a down year because the stories were far better than the vocals.

Well, one show in, fans might be getting both.

Hey, we won't know the ratings until Wednesday, and for all we know, the first shocker of the season could suggest the biggest pop culture event in America is on a continued slope downward. However, the first episode of Season 7 was perhaps the best put-together start to any Idol season so far.

In years past, producers would give the masses a terrible singer right off the bat. This year, they gave us Joey Catalano, a 19 year-old kid from New Jersey who has lost 204 pounds. Two notes into Maroon 5's "Sunday Morning," it was clear that Philadelphia would bring some soul.

Perhaps it was a calculated move to tug at heartstrings five minutes into the season, but Catalano's story and obvious talent underscored what a "nice" start to the season it was. While I've always believed that the nastier Simon Cowell is, the better the show is -- maybe I was completely wrong.

At times, the first installment of Season 7 felt more like Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

Take the story of Angela Martin, 26, of Chicago. She had a daughter while in high school, and while the girl was a toddler, Martin noticed her feet turning inward. She has Rett Syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder that outwardly looks a bit like cerebral palsy.

Martin made the trip to Philly for a shot at a better life. And while that story is all too common and terribly sappy, it's clear that with this woman, it was heartily sincere. She brought a posse of friends and family, and sang some Stevie Wonder to the delight of Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.

Truth is, Martin's story is far better than her voice. But the vocal potential was there, and the story's hook had already lured millions. Idol producers have always asserted that they wanted people to relate to contestants and their stories earlier in the Idol process.

Heck, at some point we should start calling the months from January to May Idol season because its regularity is akin to sports. From April to October is baseball season. From September to January is football season, and from November to June is basketball season.

This is Idol season.

However, let's get real. Most of us watch Idol auditions to see the absurd.

One should have known that Philadelphia tour guide James Lewis, 22, was an odd one when he compared his vocal stylings to Paul Robeson and Eddie Vedder. Not that either alone is weird, but together, they are bizarre.

And as the weird description might have led you, Lewis sang the equally odd, "Go Down, Moses," an old spiritual. What was weird is that he did not sing, "Let me people go." He sang, "Leh my peepllgahhh" in a very staccato, spastic fashion.

Unfortunately, while Paula and Randy howled with laughter, this guy stood there humiliated. Yes, it's mean, and sure I feel for those who feel the brunt of it. However, I feel no sympathy because these cats know what Idol is about.

Duh! Oddly though, Simon said nothing.

Alexis Cohen, 23, lives with her mother in a studio apartment in Allentown, Penn. She made a reference to the great Billy Joel song named after her town, but instead of crediting it to Joel, she said it had been recorded by Bon Jovi. Cohen wore glitter on her face, talked strangely like Richard Nixon and sang like she was channeling Grace Slick on acid.

After Simon booted her on her arse, she flipped off Idol cameras in a barrage of birds and spouted a bizarre speech that concluded with, "Always be victorious."

I think she needed some lithium, and Simon said she looked like Willem Dafoe. Absurd, indeed.

Christina Telisano, 24, of Connecticut, said she was hoping to leave her hometown because it had nothing to offer unless she wanted to become a corrections officer.

I can't make this s*** up.

Oh, and to take that big step forward, she dressed up like Princess Lea in honor of her favorite movie, "Star Wars," but then complained when the judges turned her down, noting that they focus too much on outside appearances.

"I'm just a f***ing dork as usual," she cried to her grandparents outside of the audition room.

Who says that in front of their grandparents?

Ben Haar, 27, donned a cloak to see our fair judges, only to derobe before he could sing a note. When Paula noted that whatever he was wearing on his chest made his chest hair stand out, Haar offered to have it all waxed.

He asked, "If I get rid of the hair, can I come back?"

This IS pop culture television. You KNOW they said yes.

Milo Turk, 39, a social worker from New Jersey, sang an original song called "No Sex Allowed," which featured the following lyrics:

No Sex Allowed
I don't want to be part of your crowd

Clearly too old and too bald for the competition, Turk said he merely wanted to give American audiences a clean and wholesome song. Simon called it creepy (it was) and sent him away.

Equally creepy was Paul Marturano, 32, who sang an original song called "The Stalker" directed toward Paula Abdul. Some of his lyrics included:

If she were a blackboard, I'd chalk her
If she were a bathtub, I'd caulk her
And if I were Columbo, I'd Peter Falk her

It was easily the funniest moment of the night, spoiled when Simon suggested that security get him away from the equally nutty Paula.

But amid the stories, talent and lack thereof, there were some auditioners who had some major mainstream commercial appeal, something beyond what a Jordin Sparks or Taylor Hicks have given the show the past couple of years.

Jurot Joyner, 25, from Maryland belted out Elton John's "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues." Beth Stalker, 28, sang the standard, "Bewitched, Botherd and Bewildered," and Chris Watson showed some deep-voiced soul with Uncle Kracker's "Follow Me."

Brooke White, 24, of Mesa, Ariz., showed kind of an indie-folk appeal with Corinne Bailey Rae's "Like A Star." On her MySpace page, she does a pretty fair pop version of Aerosmith's "Dream On." In fact, in terms of amateur production and styling, she really did an impressive job with it.

But the story of the night belonged to Temptress Brown, a 16-year-old girl who plays middle linebacker on her school's football team. Seriously.

"Make me mad enough, and I'll break your bones," she said.

Yet behind that rough exterior was a ton of pain, watching her mother be confined to a wheelchair, in need of constant oxygen and attention. After singing, "I'm Not Going Nowhere," (sic) by Jennifer Hudson and after being turned down 3 to 0 for a chance at Hollywood, tears streamed down her face and she bemoaned having to go out and face her mom.

All three judges got up, gave her a group hug and faced Mom with her.

It could be the dawn of a new era on American Idol, one in which the nastiness for the sake of "keeping it real" is replaced by genuine empathy for kids way out of their league who try anything to better their lives.

Nevertheless, the key for a successful Season 7 is whether the talent can keep up with the storylines.

And so far, so good.

When it comes to the year in country music, to me, it was all about the continued emergence of Miranda Lambert. Her CD Crazy Ex-Girlfriend was one of the Top 15 albums on metacritic.com, a site devoted to album reviews.

It's a site almost solely devoted to indie and progressive artists, and Lambert's position near the top of this site, with this album, is indicative of what a special artist she is not only thus far but potentially going forward.

I was very tempted to add her old-country tune, "Dry Town," on this list just because.

However, No. 7 on my list of the 25 best songs of 2007 is filled by a country song that managed by itself to drown out anything Lambert might have done artistically this year. No, it doesn't take away Miranda's greatness, but Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats" is arguably the greatest country mega-hit of a generation.

It starts innocently enough.

Right now
He's probably slow dancing with a bleach-blonde tramp
And she's probably getting frisky

Right now
He's probably buying her some fruity little drink
Cause she can't shoot whiskey

Right now
He's probably up behind her with a pool-stick
Showing her how to shoot a combo

Not only is the music palatable to people of all tastes -- not relying on that 1-4-5 pattern upon which most country music thrives -- but it actually has somewhat of a soulful groove to it. If you haven't checked out Joe's version of this song on YouTube, it demonstrates exactly what I mean.

Joe is an R&B singer, for those of you who don't know.

So, anyway, Chris Tompkins and Josh Kear have lyrically set up quite the picture. something any of us who have gone to a bar have seen, right?

Check out the chorus ...

And he don't know
That I dug my key into the side
Of his pretty little souped-up 4-wheel drive
Carved my name into his leather seats
I took a Louisville slugger to both headlights
Slashed a hole in all 4 tires

Maybe next time he'll think before he cheats

The aforementioned Lambert has a tough streak in her, too, and it's why this song and Lambert seem to be appropriate in the same conversation. On the other hand, Underwood is Ms. American Idol from Checotah, Okla., keeper of all things sweet and wholesome.

Before He Cheats gave Carrie an edge and major, major credibility in country music. For those of you who value writing, understand something. Most country artists write, but the industry is set up such that an artist does not necessarily sing his or her own songs. It is an industry in which thousands are constantly writing, and the intermingling and mixing of songs among writers makes it such that a recording artist might only have three or four of his or her own tunes on a CD.

So, no, she did not write this song. That fact does not lessen its greatness. And while I like country music, I tend to like pop and rock and R&B a lot more, so a position as high as No. 7, for me, is noteworthy. Furthermore, this song peaked in popularity in late 2006.

But what puts "Before He Cheats" over the top is that it's a song that will be around forever. It will always get play on the radio. It will always find spots in movies. And it will be ubiquitous in pop culture for at least a full generation, if not longer.

In fact, it is the third-longest charting single in the history of Billboard's Hot 100.

At the end of the day, it's not a song I'll sit and listen to over and over. However, it is damn near a perfectly written song, and it's not too often one comes across one of those.

See others:

No. 25 - Everyday America - Sugarland

No. 24 - Le Disko - Shiny Toy Guns

No. 23 - Famous In A Small Town - Miranda Lambert

No. 22 - Colorful - Rocco DeLuca & The Burden

No. 21 - Never Again - Kelly Clarkson

No. 20 - Streetcorner Symphony - Rob Thomas

No. 19 - Two - Ryan Adams

No. 18 - Penny On A Train Track - Ben Kweller

No. 17 - Paralyzer - Finger Eleven

No. 16 - Vegas - Sara Bareilles

No. 15 - Bubbly - Colbie Caillat

No. 14 - Tears Dry On Their Own - Amy Winehouse

No. 13 - Give It To Me - Timbaland feat. Nelly Furtado & Justin Timberlake

No. 12 - U + Ur Hand - Pink

No. 11 - You Never Get Over It - Ladybug Mecca

No, 10 - The Pretender - Foo Fighters

No. 9 - What Comes Around ... Goes Around - Justin Timberlake

No. 8 - Grace Kelly - Mika