Allison Iraheta – Don’t Waste the Pretty – Yahoo Music Video

Check out Lyndsey’s comments accompanying the performance. Another positive review.

I think this one is my favorite so far. It doesn’t get old. I just love how into the music she is, she’s living it. Plus she looks fantastic.

Loved it! Thanks mj.

She looks cool, crazy, exudes swagger even chilling in an acoustic environment. And, she digs GnR.

She follows jambajim on Twitter now, ha.
Hopefully she’ll soon follow @LyndseyParker – she’s been good to Alli.

perfection..my favorite so far!

I gotta say, that bridge live takes the song to another level.

Like I said in the headlines thread… this one made me cry. Its like watching a star being born. There’s a confidence there and that just wasn’t there before. She looks so happy! Oh god, I’m gonna cry again…

And PRMari, you were right.
I should have used those 99 cents to buy something from Wendy’s value menu.
Oh well.

I’m confused…which .99 cents? Now I wonder what did I ever say, heh.

This version is my favorite so far. She’s just so into it and David sure is enjoying it all too.

I’m so happy they aren’t selling Allison’s cd for 99 cents. “Girl you’re worth so much more!!” (I crack myself up!)

I really like this song. Allison is very talented!

This performance melts me.

They’re getting increasingly polished as they do this more. And her voice doesn’t show any of the strain it did during the radio tour. Our baby’s growing up, sniff sniff…

Interesting how Dave got a lot more attention in this one, in all aspects — they had his guitar and voice higher in the mix, and they used a fair number of camera shots of him.

They also put a little reverb on it. Not sure whether I like that, but it’s not really obtrusive.

LoveDaRocker, I know what 99 cents you’re talking about — and I agree.

Good one, alli lurker!

Very cool that this is her favorite track on the album. Its such a great social message for young girls. And yeah, you could say that Beat Me Up is problematic in that regard, but I think what she’s saying there is… ‘hey, I get it, I understand why you feel that way’, NOW go and listen to Don’t Waste the Pretty – ‘that sh*t just ain’t worth it.’

I finally got the 99 cents reference…I’m slow today, lack of sleep

They’re getting increasingly polished as they do this more. And her voice doesn’t show any of the strain it did during the radio tour. Our baby’s growing up, sniff sniff’ ¦

Yeah, each one is better than the last and David is also now more into it. I liked the little smiles and looks between them, like they’re loving every minute of it.

For me, the best Pretty acoustic was the hot99.5. Im a live guy, and there’s something about the unpolished, bruteness, the unorthodox approach that gives me a rush I can’t describe. It’s what initially Pulled me to Alli. I like this yahoo one, but the hot99.5 boasts that huge high note towards the end. JohnM, it’d be cool if David used an electric guitar and turn up the distortion a bit – enough to get a light southern rock crisp tone to it – and give it shot, see how it sounds. I would pay money just to experience that.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but she COULD do this song on Glee. She could be the cool rocker chick who shows up at the high school (assembly?, assembly of girls?) to sing it for girls who are letting themselves be disrespected. Freakin’ instant hit. (Just get her in and out of there quick! Just long enough to get an acoustic itunes version out of it… oh hell, just go ahead and do Just Like You acoustic, too.) Fine.

We oldsters might have to let her go! Never….

I absolutely adore this song, every inflection is spot on and beautiful. I just hope she sells enough in the US to warrant an international tour, even as a supporting artist, otherwise I’ll never get to see her here in Norway.

I see she decided on a scarf this time, rather than a giant pillow. Good choice.

Please ditch FIBOU for this song. This has Top 40 all over it. Lovely.

Wow, Norway…. cool. Or should I say cold?

I think she’ll sell enough to visit you one day. Maybe on her way back to Max Martin’s.

Tristessa
I see she decided on a scarf this time, rather than a giant pillow. Good choice.

She did the same for Cantiello (the scarf, that is). Very smart. More colors, more rocking, and functional .

By the way, does anyone know how I can buy her album here? I haven’t found it in stores, and the Norwegian iTunes doesn’t accept Paypal (which I have) only cards with an international credit logo like Visa which my debit card doesn’t have. Is there anywhere else that does take Paypal which has it for sale?

Wow, this version is one of the best yet. She sounds in complete control of every note and nuance and yet the performance is still free and beautiful. I love it.

I guess I’m not surprised she’s doing DWTP in the majority of her promo spots, since a) it’s a fantastic song and b) FIBOU doesn’t exactly lend itself to an acoustic performance (unless they slowed it down and made it really moody, maybe). And this will promote the album, since it shows she’s about way more than electro-tune teen pop rave-ups (even if I have come to quite like the song).

But I do wonder what these promos do for the single. I swear, record labels really do not seem to use earth logic. (Unless I’m missing something, which is entirely possible.)

But I do wonder what these promos do for the single. I swear, record labels really do not seem to use earth logic.

I suspect they may be moving on from Friday because it wasn’t ramping up as they hoped. She’s got so many other great songs on the album, why keep fighting for something that’s faced resistance from her base?

Guys, the AOL sessions are up and are incredible. Maybe mj will post them later. As a sample, here is Holiday:

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/holiday-sessions/4175583495

alli lurker
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but she COULD do this song on Glee.

I haven’t watched Glee (I know, I am missing out), but don’t they focus on well known songs? I think a big part of their success is that they take songs that people know and weave them into the plot. I doubt they’ll start bringing new music, much less from new artists, anytime soon.

PRMari
12/04/2009 at 4:07 pm

Guys, the AOL sessions are up and are incredible. Maybe mj will post them later. As a sample, here is Holiday:

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/holiday-sessions/4175583495

Yeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaa!

As a sample, here is Holiday:

Damn.

ETA: Trouble Is. My gosh!

El viernes te olvido yo really kicks the crap out of Friday I’ll be over U in any setting. It’s a better song and Allison sings it a lot more passionately.

OK, I got Holiday 1 time around, but now I’m getting a “not available” message for Holiday and Trouble Is. Anybody know the problem, or solution?

Yeah, it says that’s it’s not streaming in my region. Weird.

It’s happening for everyone, I don’t know what’s going on.

not working for me in japan as well

I got to see Holiday and Trouble.
Somebody at AOL screwed up.

They rolled out the twitt first.
http://twitter.com/AOLVideo/status/6347271158

itunes-gate yet again.

…hopefully someone captured it and youtubed it.

So it wasn’t supposed to go up yet. Apparently views on AOL count so it’s not good if someone posts them on youtube.

Wow, I got to see Holiday and Trouble Is. It stopped working when I went for VTOY. I consider myself very lucky, because those two were “dope”.

Anybody know the official scheduled release date of these sessions? Should we sit here and hold our collective breaths, or can we do whatever we do before we get the next Alli tidbit?

On the subject of schedule, Allison’s official website is all screwed up. Is she still going to be at the LA Jingle Ball tomorrow? Her recent tweet sounds like she’s heading for Memphis soon. Is the Ellen session live on Monday, or was it already recorded?

Other events besides these?

LoveDaRocker
12/04/2009 at 5:09 pm

Wow, I got to see Holiday and Trouble Is. It stopped working when I went for VTOY. I consider myself very lucky, because those two were ‘dope’ .

Dope (in a whisper). Cool, man/dude.

Re: Allison’s schedule. Poor kid is going to be exhausted. She taped Ellen yesterday, airing on Monday. She then flew to Memphis for a concert there with some radio station and is probably flying back to LA for the Saturday gig. That’s cray.

Crap! The AOL Sessions were up and I was busy WORKING? WTF, Universe??

jordison: Anybody know the official scheduled release date of these sessions? Should we sit here and hold our collective breaths, or can we do whatever we do before we get the next Alli tidbit?

Maybe we can take turns hitting Reload every 60 seconds…

On the subject of schedule, Allison’s official website is all screwed up. Is she still going to be at the LA Jingle Ball tomorrow? Her recent tweet sounds like she’s heading for Memphis soon. Is the Ellen session live on Monday, or was it already recorded?

She recorded her Ellen segment yesterday for airing Monday. She’s doing the Memphis jingle ball tonight. I haven’t heard any changes regarding the LA jingle ball, so presumably she’s still doing that tomorrow afternoon (quick trip to Memphis!).

As for the other events, there’s Kimmel on the 17th and Fox New Year’s Eve on — let’s see, what day is that — oh, I can’t remember…

Rub: For me, the best Pretty acoustic was the hot99.5. Im a live guy, and there’s something about the unpolished, bruteness, the unorthodox approach that gives me a rush I can’t describe.

You know, I had kind of gotten myself stuck on the PST performances because of the better sound quality, but I think maybe you’re right. And what a hoot it was when she got so worked up that she clapped totally off the beat!

JohnM, it’d be cool if David used an electric guitar and turn up the distortion a bit ‘“ enough to get a light southern rock crisp tone to it ‘“ and give it shot, see how it sounds.

Yeah, I can hear that. Heck, they can try any way they want and I’m up for it!

Guys I hate doing this, especially after what PRMari said about views, but there’s already a couple youtubes of the Alli sessions – if you wanna check it out.

Its bound to be posted anyways, so, I mean, whataya gonna do?
I mean when it finally gets released on AOL, I’ll check it out 100000 times anyway. Thats right JohnM and jordison… talkin to you

now go find it …. thats all Im ganna say
ps. don’t forget planetcazmo.com at 7pm EST

You know, I had kind of gotten myself stuck on the PST performances because of the better sound quality, but I think maybe you’re right. And what a hoot it was when she got so worked up that she clapped totally off the beat!

The HOT99.5 Don’t waste the pretty holds a special place in my heart for being the first one I ever watched and it’s the grittiest and most raw of the performances, I actually love it. I just like this one as a more polished video and she just looks so pretty

Well, I went to check out the AOL stuff on the Tube, just to get a “taste”, if you know what I mean. Obviously I’ll be watching it only on AOL once it comes out — 100,001 times. Found EVTOY and Holiday. The ending section of Holiday is classic rockin’ stuff, man! When the band stopped and she got ready to wail, I just about passed out from the anticipation. Awesome.

And did you notice how Valerie half-timed the beat with 30 seconds left? I’m not sure, but it sounded to me like she thought they were ending at that point, and then recovered by dropping to a half-time beat. If that’s what happened, great split-second thinking. If it was intentional, excellent choice and I hope she keeps it. Love that girl.

I haven’t watched the Planet Cazmo thing yet — is it just animation set to album tracks? It’s not live recordings, is it?

I haven’t watched the Planet Cazmo thing yet ‘” is it just animation set to album tracks? It’s not live recordings, is it?

Yeah, it’s kind of silly. Just animated Allison going from one side to the other singing of Don’t waste the pretty, Friday I’ll be over U and Holiday????? Very odd choice of song

Man, El viernes te olvido yo really does kick the crap out of the English version anytime. The lyrics are just so much better and make the song into something more mature and I think Allison herself feels that way because she sings it different, it feels like she sings the Spanish version with more “gusto” and passion.

now go find it ‘ ¦. thats all Im ganna say

OK, I found Holiday instantly, but, I can’t find EVTOY to save my life.

Any hints – please!

Saw Holiday, not really feelin’ it. It just looks (to me) likes she’s trying too hard. Maybe it should have been on her next album?

I also think the song might just be too ‘hard’ for me, I don’t think its the kind of thing I would normally listen to. And I still think of scary Dilana when I hear it.

Just my opinion, for what its worth…

Heh, yeah…Dilana is pretty scary. I love Holiday and I love that Allison got to do it. I’m actually really surprised the label let her do it.

I wonder how I would feel about it if I had never seen Dilana sing it? Next time I won’t look at the demos, etc.!

That’s all for me tonight… enjoy!

jordison: OK, I found Holiday instantly, but, I can’t find EVTOY to save my life.

Search Youtube for her name, and then just above the result list where it says “Sort by”, click on whatever it says (probably Relevance) and select Newest. It should be about half a dozen down the list. If you still don’t see it, try adding “olvido” as another search term along with her name.

alli lurker: Saw Holiday, not really feelin’ it. [...] Just my opinion, for what its worth

Ooooh, cracks in the fandom armor! That’s okay, if it ain’t your cup of tea, it ain’t. It reminds me very much of Green Day, and (ironically) their song of the same name in particular — and while I like Green Day, I don’t really seek them out, as I find most of their stuff a bit too simplistic for my taste. That’s why this song isn’t in my top tier of favorites from the album — so I’m a little bit in the same boat as you. But I still like it a lot (the sassy vocal being a big reason why) — and as I mentioned, I think the ending on this version really kicks it up.

It just looks (to me) likes she’s trying too hard.

Not sure what you mean. Just seems like Allison to me.

I wonder how I would feel about it if I had never seen Dilana sing it? Next time I won’t look at the demos, etc.!

Yeah, that’s why I only listened to her version a couple of times, so I wouldn’t think of it when hearing Allison’s. I must admit, I listened to Aime Proal’s Trouble Is more times, partly because I think it’s just such a fantastically written song (and complex enough that it took a few listens to get the chord changes into my head!) and partly because I knew Allison’s vocal wouldn’t sound anything like hers.

PRMari: I love Holiday and I love that Allison got to do it. I’m actually really surprised the label let her do it.

And thus I guess it’s even more surprising that it’s high enough in the pecking order that they let her do it on GMA and here. Maybe they really are trying to get across the point that she really rocks.

Finally. I got my computer back from the shop and downloaded my dx version. After hearing the whole album twice, this album is simply fantastic. So much goodness. For me (for you) there is only one sour spot. Out of 13 songs, 1 is nothing. And the bonus VTOY and Daughtry more than make up for it.

JohnM: Thanks – I easily found EVTOY with your instructions.

alli lurker
12/04/2009 at 9:30 pm

Saw Holiday, not really feelin’ it. It just looks (to me) likes she’s trying too hard. Maybe it should have been on her next album?

I also think the song might just be too ‘hard’ for me, I don’t think its the kind of thing I would normally listen to. And I still think of scary Dilana when I hear it

lurker – Is it that you aren’t sure you’re comfortable with the song on the album, or you just don’t feel quite right about the video?

If it’s the latter, I think it’s safe to say that Allison and the band will get more and more comfortable with this song – actually all of the songs – as they perform them again and again (hopefully) in different venues.

From watching many of Allison’s Idol Tour performances (yes, I studied videos like a coach preparing for the next game – I am crazy), I can tell you two things: 1) she loves to move around the stage; and 2) her movement becomes better defined the more she performs. Case in point – in subtle ways she experimented and continued to refine Cry Baby throughout the tour. Also, along with Adam, Slow Ride became much more polished toward the end of the tour.

In this video I think Allison was constrained by camera blocking requirements and had to stay basically in one spot at the mic stand. I think her natural inclination is to move around. So, I think the result is that she didn’t seem altogether comfortable.

As the band experiences different venues – indoor, outdoor, stages, in the round – perhaps revolving, etc., they should eventually achieve some chemistry and find the right level of energy and movement.

In other words, I think we are just watching an early, rough cut of a live performance of Holiday.

But, if it’s the song, and not the performance, then that’s different.

BTW – I’m glad that we’re not just a bunch of robot fans who automatically gush over everything that Allison does. It really is OK not to like everything that Allison does.

Just don’t let it happen again! (smiley face – I don’t know where to find the emoticons)

Just don’t let it happen again! (smiley face ‘“ I don’t know where to find the emoticons)

just click : and then ) and once you click submit the smiley faces come automatically

In other words, I think we are just watching an early, rough cut of a live performance of Holiday.

That’s what I think as well. My only observation about the Holiday performance is that she seemed out of breath at some points and that could be because she may very well be exhausted from all the plane trips and her hectic schedule. I wish they’d put them up again already. Those of us who got to see Trouble is know, it’s FANTASTIC live. The song went from being a poppy ballad in the demo to being this awesome rock power ballad with some killer rock vocals from Allison.

I agree with everything jordison said about Holiday. Also the end bit JohnM touched on was massive, very classic.
I want to know last nights setlist, and what was the surprise I heard? I wonder if they played ‘Alone.’ I think it’d be cool because that song was huge for her, and it shocks a heck of a lot of people, in a Conan way.

alli lurker
I also think the song might just be too ‘hard’ for me, I don’t think its the kind of thing I would normally listen to. And I still think of scary Dilana when I hear it

It Rocks hard, and I like it. At the very least, it balances out the poppiness of Friday. At this stage of her career, I think it is good that she can show that range. We’ll see in the future if she goes Holiday, Friday, or somewhere in between.

jordison
As the band experiences different venues ‘“ indoor, outdoor, stages, in the round

… Madison Square Garden, Staples Center, O2 Arena, Wembley Stadium …

jordison: I think it’s safe to say that Allison and the band will get more and more comfortable with this song ‘“ actually all of the songs ‘“ as they perform them again and again (hopefully) in different venues. [...] In other words, I think we are just watching an early, rough cut of a live performance

Definitely. Just as we noted that GMA was a tough gig because it was their first public/live performance (and with a huge audience), this one had to be tough as well because it was (as far as I know) their first performance that was destined to be seen by the public even though it wasn’t seen live. And, of course, you need a whole lot of repetitions to get really comfortable, so you’re not going to be as tight and together as you will be later on. That was one of the things I was thinking about as I watched those — I felt that they were more intent on playing their individual parts than on playing off each other and/or throwing in additional flourishes. I thought they did an admirable job given the fact that they have very little history together, but I was imagining them doing a whole lot better when they have more experience.

I imagine it’s also tough to get the live energy going when your audience consists of TV cameras and crew. Seems like it might be a double disadvantage. As jordison noted, with cameras, you have to watch what you’re doing. Plus, you don’t have a live audience to help create energy.

You guys might be getting sick already of my Valerie love, but I think that aside from Allison, she’s going to be the one to push the band to be more adventurous/spontaneous/rowdy.

BTW ‘“ I’m glad that we’re not just a bunch of robot fans who automatically gush over everything that Allison does. It really is OK not to like everything that Allison does.

It seems like we have a good little community. I don’t know if you guys saw the review in the University of Wisconsin student newspaper (I’ll have a link to it on Allison’s site, but I’m days behind in putting links up there) — an Allison fan posted a comment that was very even-handed and thoughtful, and she also happened to mention that she remembered the reviewer from the flood of trouble they caught last year after reviewing Archie’s album.

That was enough to prompt someone else to say something like, oh no, here come the loonies to destroy anyone who doesn’t like Allison. The original commenter came back and said that Allison’s fans seem to be “pretty reasonable”. I’m so proud.

PRMari: My only observation about the Holiday performance is that she seemed out of breath at some points and that could be because she may very well be exhausted from all the plane trips and her hectic schedule.

I noticed that very prominently during the clip of Holiday on GMA.

Those of us who got to see Trouble is know, it’s FANTASTIC live.

Oh sure, PRMari, go ahead and drive another stake through my heart! That one is fighting very hard for the honor of my favorite song on the album, so I’m dying to hear it.

LoveDaRocker: Madison Square Garden, Staples Center, O2 Arena, Wembley Stadium ‘ ¦

Now, now, let’s not go too fast — I want her to tour as a smaller-name headliner for long enough that I can see her in a small setting, before I have to fight the masses for tickets and drive all day to be able to sit 200 feet away!

Rub:

I want to know last nights setlist, and what was the surprise I heard? I wonder if they played ‘Alone.’ I think it’d be cool because that song was huge for her, and it shocks a heck of a lot of people, in a Conan way.

Rub, where did you even hear that there was a “surprise?” Where are you getting this news about last night?

BTW, here in LA there is threat of rain, which is significant because Allison is supposed, I believe, to be playing outside. Bummer, we all know she should be headlining.

The other AOL performances have been posted…Trouble Is is just as amazing as I’d hoped, if not more.

jordison, I heard it through the Twitter grape vine. Well the surprise end up being Cry Baby – she did it yesterday.

She did Cry baby? Wow! That’s kind of awesome.

Yeah, and it was in the style that it was probably written for originally back in the early 60s — just her and the keyboard, doing an almost 50s doo-wop style:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr1olj-7lto

wow, her DWTP sessions performance is pretty dope (along with the Trouble Is performance, of course)~~ and that Cry Baby perf from last night was amazing as well..she was definitely born to sing!

JohnM
12/05/2009 at 1:05 pm

Yeah, and it was in the style that it was probably written for originally back in the early 60s ‘” just her and the keyboard, doing an almost 50s doo-wop style:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr1olj-7lto

I wonder if they had ever rehearsed this. Sounds like the keyboard was just winging it.

Yeah jordison, I didn’t want to take time to comment on it before, but Zoux cut a bunch of stuff out of it, and it sounded as though she had to figure out how to jump ahead to keep up with where he was in the song. Could have been rehearsed that way — I’m going to have to watch it more to see what I think — but it sure felt as though she didn’t know at what points he was going to jump ahead.

JohnM
12/05/2009 at 1:44 pm

Yeah jordison, I didn’t want to take time to comment on it before, but Zoux cut a bunch of stuff out of it, and it sounded as though she had to figure out how to jump ahead to keep up with where he was in the song. Could have been rehearsed that way ‘” I’m going to have to watch it more to see what I think ‘” but it sure felt as though she didn’t know at what points he was going to jump ahead.

Yep John, after watching videos of Allison sing Cry Baby like 10,000 times, this seemed “really different” “Cry Baby, vs. Cry, Cry Baby.”? For some reason I don’t understand about myself, except maybe my being a Janis fan, I almost obsessed over every slight variation in Allison’s interpretation – yet realizing that Janis never sang the same twice. There was the gentle “come back home” vs. the angry “come back home” – and of course the cut 20 second ending, various replacement endings, etc. etc. I think I need therapy.

I wonder if people in the audience called for Cry Baby and they just decided to wing it? That’s cool, as long as people don’t start asking for So What.

mmv113
12/05/2009 at 12:46 pm

The other AOL performances have been posted’ ¦Trouble Is is just as amazing as I’d hoped, if not more.

Once again – help!

I’ve gone to AOL – no luck. Also YouTube. The trouble is, I can’t find it.

John M:

It seems like we have a good little community. I don’t know if you guys saw the review in the University of Wisconsin student newspaper

Which one? UW Madison is the only school in the country that has 2 student newspapers.

Trouble Is -

Posted on more recent thread. Quick, before it’s taken down.

(I promise to watch it 10,000 times when it comes up on AOL!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fvFWa39nSw

JohnM – Do you have a PhD? Cuz you sure know how to write a dissertation… you, too jordison! I’m just joking with ya’, I love it all.

Well, no, I don’t, but my dad did — he was a music professor. So some of it rubbed off, I guess… (I tried to get a PhD in my field, which is computer science, but life got in the way and I didn’t finish, like so many gazillions of PhD students!)

JohnM and jordison – Thanks for your support re: my original comments about the Holiday video. I like to think that someone ‘out there’ might be reading what we have to say and that maybe we can provide some constructive criticism. Sometimes I might stay quiet about something I don’t like, but sometimes I might say something that I think might help. And I try to say it in is as nice a way as possible (I think!).

Anyway back to the Holiday video… watched it again… like it much better. Should have done it before I opened my big mouth. That happens to me a lot with Allison, even on Idol. Sometimes I thought her performance was not-so-great, then I’d watch it again (DVR) and think ‘Wow, that was good!’

I originally thought she was trying too hard to…
look older
look bad ass

I still slightly feel that way. The whole Dilana thing scares me cuz I don’t want Allison to end up looking like her. All pierced, tattooed, and dreadlocked. That’s not for me, I hope its not for her. She doesn’t need to do that, the voice does it for her and she’s got the crazy hair that I love.

I truthfully always worry about what she’s gonna wear. I didn’t like the GMA outfit, too nighttime, too Vegas, for me. The first time they showed her doing a short clip of Holiday in that outfit I thought…’really not a good idea, people!’ I think she would benefit from a good stylist. Again, just my opinion.

Re: Comments about our little community… yeah, I like it here, too.

BTW – Holiday as a song is probably somewhere in the middle of ‘what I like vs. what I don’t like’ on the album. I guess I’m not sure yet how hard I’d like her to rock. (As if it were up to me!)

Yeah, I worry that she’ll go for the piercings/tattoos, as I hate that stuff and I feel like she might be predisposed toward it because clearly she likes to stand out. Course, these days unfortunately, NOT having tattoos or piercings seems to be the way to stand out

Interesting that you always worry about her outfits. For some strange reason I can’t figure out, despite the fact that I’ve spent a lifetime pursuing the high goal of not standing out at all and always wearing boringly similar clothes, I’ve enjoyed every single outfit I’ve ever seen on her. And yes, that includes the Pebbles look — I loved it!

alli lurker -

I originally thought she was trying too hard to’ ¦
look older
look bad ass

I still slightly feel that way. The whole Dilana thing scares me cuz I don’t want Allison to end up looking like her. All pierced, tattooed, and dreadlocked. That’s not for me, I hope its not for her. She doesn’t need to do that, the voice does it for her and she’s got the crazy hair that I love.

I know what you mean. I feel like Allison’s uninvited pretend godfather, and want to advise her from going down any path that might be harmful to her well being and future. But, without knowing her or her family personally, I think there are several signs that she’s going to mature nicely.

1. She seems to have a very strong sense of who she is – her core values. Her personality is very well defined. In spite of all the crazy language, she seems to have a kind heart. Nothing fake about her. Smart. (Just needs to work on her grammar.) No inflated ego.

2. She has a very solid family support system. Read the notes on her album. I think she may be a little more religious than people suspect.

3. I think she is a little more conservative than people think. Evidence: the pillow incident. Also, I remember months ago someone interviewed her and asked her if she was planning to get a tattoo. She said something like “tattoo, I don’t know” in a way that didn’t sound too enthusiastic, without insulting all the tattooed people out there.

4. I think her love for rock music, as she has said, comes from her father’s love of this music, rather than from rebelliousness.

I agree with you about the GMA appearance. I think she was trying too hard to put on an image, and it didn’t really fit her. I think the real Allison is just fine.

To think – my first impression on Idol was that she was a space cadet after that “You wanna know, You wanna know?” first interview. It also says something about Allison that she can freely talk about it, even though I know it must still be a sensitive subject to her.

If I didn’t like the kid I would have a hard time liking her music.

I don’t have any problem with the heavier rock music side of her, but I do feel uneasy about BMU. I love the music – the lyrics not so much. Even if Allison feels it’s about mental or psychological abuse, there are several other possible interpretations, none of them good, IMO.

I also wonder about the “somebody out there” because sometimes there seems to be a (perhaps coincidental?) reaction to some of the things said on these boards.

Anyway, I also enjoy intelligent vs. mindless fandom.

Once again, JohnM and I were typing at the same time.

I agree with you about the GMA appearance. I think she was trying too hard to put on an image, and it didn’t really fit her.

Thank you. Yeah, still trying to put on ‘the rocker’ image when all she has to do is open her mouth and sing.

JohnM – You’ve admitted that you are a computer geek; therefore, you know nothing about clothing. I know this because I am married to a computer geek (thank god he’s handsome!) (so much for my ethereal presence) and I have to dress him every day!

I also wonder about the ‘somebody out there’  because sometimes there seems to be a (perhaps coincidental?) reaction to some of the things said on these boards.

I heard Allison say something the other day that made me think she was reading it… Hi Allison!!

BTW – the pillow incident… its sad that I know exactly what you’re referring to!