Remembering Elliot Yamin's #1 Fan!

Do you remember Elliot Yamin?

In the 2006 American Idol season, Elliot Yamin finished third. I didn't remember that Elliot finished third but I do remember his number one fan. His mother, Claudette Goldberg Yamin. She captured the limelight as her son competed in the series. She was known for her dedication and unwavering support. Her weekly smile served as inspiration to many and captured a true Motherly proud moment. I just learned two days ago that she passed away earlier in the month. I'm a Little behind on watching Idol this year so I've also just learned that American Idol had a small tribute for her last week in which Elliot sang a song and was given the opportunity to eulogize his mother.

Certainly she will be missed by friends, fans, and family. I'm thrilled she was able to share in her son's success and enjoy her time in the spotlight before passing. She seemed to be such a delightful lady and she brought a wonderful new perspective to the season.





Claudette Yamin At The ETrain JDRF Fundraiser

In celebration of her life I'm running a youtube clip of one of my favorite Elliot Yamin songs. This song brought Paula Abdul and Simon to tears. (I think Simon was crying because he was laughing at Paula.) But Paula was clearly emotional and I think it was justified.

Elliot was singing one of his favorite songs: His lucky song - "A Song For You" by the late Donny Hathaway. I also learned that Donny Hathaway's daughter sings background vocals for Idol. How coincidental...

Elliot does a great job with this song! Through his talent and persona, he has brought credit and recognition to both Donny Hathaway and his Mother.

Thanks Elliot........

Here's the original song by a very young and talented Donny Hathaway who in my opinion, left this world far too soon and before his enormous talent could be fully realized.

Enjoy!







See also: http://curageousideas.blogspot.com/2008/01/american-idol-flashback.html

and Elliot's website: etrainstation.com

American Idol - A Perspective

So what do the following names have in common?

Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Hicks, and Jordin Sparks.

If you're an American Idol fan then you know that they are, in order, the winners of the past 6 American Idol contests. And as a result of winning, have seen their respective music careers rocketed to new heights. Last week kicked off the seventh season of the very popular series. And in addition to putting a few pennies in the bank for the winners, Idol has been a veritable gold mine for the Fox network. If there's any doubt about Fox's winnings, the next time you watch the show take note of how many, how often, and how long the commercials are and then factor in the revenue for each. Other benefactors of the show are the several other popular finalists that have been able to parlay their time on the show into some notable fame and dollars as well. Think: Chris Daughtry, Elliot Yamin, Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson, and Bo Bice to name a few.

So as I tuned in this past week, I shamelessly took note at how many seasons I've suffered through- (Don't get me wrong, there have been many enjoyable and entertaining moments) If I make it through this season, It will mark my fourth full season of Idol. And along with that note, I reflected on some brutal irony of the show:

1. Sanjaya Molakar, after displaying very little talent, threatens the credibility of the show when he makes it into the final 24 based entirely on his looks and appeal to a very large population of teen aged girls.
2. Elliot Yamin, after displaying truck loads of talent, doesn't win because some say he needed dental work. (He's taken care of that now and looks great)
3. Jennifer Hudson, after not winning on Idol, goes on to win countless awards including - A Golden Globe and an Oscar, for her performance in the movie Dream Girls.
4. Taylor Hicks, a season winner who captivated audiences and warmed hearts with his soulful R&B sound, has just been dropped by his record label (J Records) a fate that fell upon another winner Ruben Studdard.

I also remembered how I started this journey. My introduction to Idol started with a laughing hysterical telephone call from one of my cousins. When she was able to control herself enough to talk, she asked if I was watching American Idol. Of course I wasn't but I turned it on at her request and the journey began. My adventure included the following dialog and audition:

Simon Cowell:

"Not only can you not sing one note in tune but you have one of the weirdest voices I've ever heard in my life"

Mary Roach:

"Well, weirdness is originality too!"

.

Over the years I've wondered what possesses some people to audition for a show that they have absolutely no chance at winning. Is it resolute faith? Fanatical encouragement from friends and family? Delusional interpretation of reality? Or is it all just an act to entertain the viewing public and secure their 15 minutes of fame? I've also had my doubts about the tipsy trio - Randy, Paula, and Simon. What's in those Coca Cola cups? Are they just role playing for our benefit? Or is everything so perfect in Paula's world, moderate in Randy's world, and condescending, egotistical, and arrogant in Simon's palace? Who knows? But in this "Brave New World" of reality shows I find it increasingly more difficult to distinguish reality from fantasy.

I'll leave you with some more funny auditions,

Enjoy the Season!