Pulp Free

I’ve come across a few pictures on my Internet travels that show before and after photos of glamor magazines and other such popular media distributions. This used to just be known as airbrushing the perfect skin for maybe somebody like Playboy or the likes… But digital is all but the norm now and my my my… you can do a lot with Photoshop. While I’ll admit to being pretty good back in the days of version 4 & 5 (that should tell you how long I haven’t been doing Photoshop work!) - it’s truly amazing what’s being shown as fashionable.

Now, I like a pretty face. There’s also some of that built in human desire to beauty. But I also think I now the differences in expectations from real to “too perfect”. So what’s my point? This Web site - iWANEXStudio - is a portfolio artist that turns pretty good into perfect. Question is - is it too perfect? You be the judge…

Couldn’t leave my Kelly Clarkson alone…

And one of the more striking ones…

Their Web site has these and others in a mouse roll-over for the full effect. I have to say - looks great… Realistic expectations? That’s another post. I leave you with this extreme YouTube video version (from a different person altogether…)

American Idols Live “performed” this last Thursday at Scott Trade Center Auditorium. C and I were treated with tickets in one of the Club rooms so obviously I had to say yes. I’ve been a huge follower since my first obsession with Kelly Clarkson (or just the nice to look at Katharine McPhee):

Well - I knew neither of them were going to be there but there was going to be free hot dogs, chicken fingers and nachos!

While I had some hopes of a good time, my expectations of something more than a glorified chorus line or group karaoke like the TV show were quickly dashed as soon as the group came on stage. I now know exactly what it takes to be able to sell tickets to families at $65 a piece…

1. A singer must point to the audience at all times (must be an old television camera trick)
2. When singing male/female duets, the couple can only pretend to like one another, and then move away from one another like somebody just caught them making out as “just friends”
3. A singer should left their legs up one at a time as an excuse for “dancing” or “choreography”
4. Shouting “Hey Saint Louis” or which ever town you’re performing in as a last ditch effort to excite the crowd can only be used a few times in a single show.
5. Running up and down stairs does not qualify as choreography (neither does just walking around)
6. Equally - strobe lights and disco balls don’t make up much in the way as lighting effects.
7. If you’re near the audience and your fans are lining up to get a glimpse of you - when you’re done pointing around (see #1 above) - reach out and try to touch your fans. Don’t shake hands - just touch… or slap - or high five.
8. Most of the group can’t sing very well to begin with - but a horrific mix in a live venue sure doesn’t help much either!
9. If you’re going to sing covers all night - you could at least make them more original… That is unless you’re Blake and then you’re just going to screw it up with your beat-box fads and bad A cappella.
10. Covers of Whitney Houston songs usually never do a singer justice - however LaKisha Jones did a really good job with “I Will Always Love You” - the only stand out (by far) song sung all night.
11. And lastly - Sanjaya Malakar. No more to say about that…

So all in all - an okay night. I can say I’ve hit an Idols show in person now - but I’ll probably never go again… (Unless they’re Club level tickets!) If those tickets weren’t free - I would have thought that the event promoters were out to steal our money! They even had a 30 minute intermission! So - until next season…