MP3s of the Week: International Idol Edition

Written on March 8, 2008

One of the guilty pleasures, among things like beef flavored Rice-a-Roni, that I hang onto from the States is American reality TV. We get the king of that genre, American Idol, a couple of days after it airs in the U.S. I have found a way to get completely hooked again this year. I rarely actually like any of the contestants and am proud to say that I’ve never bought a single, album or concert ticket from any of the contestants nor voted for any of them. It’s just something about the format itself - great damn television. As I was listening to the freebies I had accumulated for the week I noticed a few female singers that wouldn’t be out of place on Idol, so with apologies - here are my three finalists for my own International Idol.

Adele is the 19 year old Londoner who was the British Music Press Next Big Thing (TM) for January. It looks as if she’s being marketed to the indie market in the States as I found an MP3 of “Hometown Glory” at KCRW. She definitely has a set of pipes, but I don’t think she has the edge of a Lily Allen or Amy Winehouse - two artists to whom she is often compared. The British press has already moved on to this month’s Next Big Thing - the Welsh Dusty Springfield aspirant, Duffy.

Representing the Antipodes is Melbourne’s Gabriella Cilmi who, like Adele, has been compared to the recent British Grammy winner. “Cigarettes & Lies” - which came my way from Word Magazine - is a woman scorned tune for the ages, but at 17 her fury strains credibility. Like Adele, she’s got a frightfully good voice - rich and soulful - but could use a little aging.

For those of you, like myself, that like your music a little bit more seasoned then check out Bordeaux based Monade. Laetitia Saedler doesn’t have the raw power of singers like Adele and Cilmi, but the former Stereolab chanteuse would get my Idol vote. She evokes singers like Nico, Siouxsie Sioux and Marianne Faithful - the beauty of her voice stems from its imperfection. Check out “Etoile” also from Word Magazine.

Simon, your thoughts?