Well, again no "Seacresting"...I came in second. I don't know if I was outsung or if it was just the countless texts I got that day saying, "Sorry, can't make it" (which therefore means I simply didn't bring in enough votes), but either way, I didn't win. Oh well! I did still take home $500 for my efforts anyway and I am so appreciative of the people who did show up to support me last night. Those smiling faces out in the crowd are the most wonderful thing to see! So, $500 is not enough to finish the CD right away, but it's a good chunk. I have to say that I think, from an entertainment perspective, it was a REALLY good show. No one was going down without a fight, that was for sure! Everyone brought their A games, I felt. Sadly, as there always is, there was drama -- claims of song choices being "stolen", hissy fits, complaints of headcolds, bad sound mixes, screwy track arrangements and some contestants' posses' running around badmouthing the others' in an effort to swipe votes...but I guess it wouldn't be a competition without all that going on. I've been a judge of nine of the ten Fames prior to this and those petty issues are staples. Frankly, I'd have been surprised if there HADN'T been drama. Anyhoo, Renee won and Seamus came in third and I think a fun night was had by all, in general. I'm glad it's over!
So I opened with a staple, "Barracuda." Unfortunately, I didn't listen to my gut and bring my own track with me, foolishly trusting that the track from the songbook would be fine. Oooooohhhhhhhh, friends. Learn from my mistake. HALF THE SONG WAS MISSING! Just...NON-EXISTENT! After the guitar solo, whatever moron was hired to make the track had the arrangement skip right to the end, entirely eliminating the final (and most important) "the real thing don't do the trick/you'd better make up something quick", etc., as well as a bunch of what SHOULD have been lots of fun ad libbing through the outro. Now...THAT was deflating. As much of the song as I was ALLOWED to sing, I sang just fine. But the "grab-'em-by-the-jugular" moment never came. That was what I was depending on to carry me through the whole night and on to the win, starting at 10 and ending on 15. *sigh* C'est la vie.
So I knew I had work to do on my second song, which I was already TERRIFIED of because it was way out of my comfort zone and also a difficult piece in general. I chose "No Good Deed" from the musical Wicked, which is the one song in the show that really hit me in the gut, because WHO hasn't felt at some point in their lives that everything they touch turns to crap and so the only thing to do is pack it in? Ummmm...that would be everyone. So I worked really hard on it this week, memorized it, had a costume of sorts (dressed in all black and fabulously pointy shoes I dubbed my "Elphaba shoes", borrowed a genuine Book of Shadows from a friend for a prop) and just went for it. In the end I felt I did well enough to do Steven Schwartz just enough justice. Or at least didn't completely embarrass him, anyway! One VERY kind person actually said, "Ohmahgah, you sounded BETTER than the cast recording!" which everyone knows cannot possibly be true cuz Idina Menzel is...well...Idina Menzel...but was still an extraordinary thing for him to say. 
So my final song was "Go On," a new song from the new CD which is NOT currently available for one's listening enjoyment here as yet (gotta have SOME surprises, though I did post it briefly on the anniversary of 9/11), but is a feel-good song with a big gospel choir at the end. I feel it went as well as it possibly could have considering it was the first time the audience was ever hearing it and it was first time I ever sang it live. The judges were very kind about it and Suzanne Whang (one of our three judges) said she would like to try and get me the opportunity to perform it at the Agape church here in L.A., which would be FANTASTIC. I've been wanting to check the place out for a long time and I have heard really wonderful things about it and the people who attend. Also, I was introduced to an extremely well-known producer at the end of the evening who was very complimentary about the song and actually asked for my card! Dude's won every award possible you can give a musician and has worked with the biggest names in pop music...so THAT was a delicious moment! If he ever called and wanted to work with me, coming in second would be NOTHING to complain about! LOL. Not that it is anyway. I came into this knowing full well I'd have to break more than a sweat to win. 
So that's that for now. I'd better get off my sister's computer...she's being kind enough to let me borrow it so I don't get totally buried while I wait for my new one to arrive (my old one bit the dust last week -- and I mean dead with a capital D 
). But eventually she's gonna need to check her own email!
My deepest appreciation to those of who who came out all these weeks and much love to my fellow contestants, who made it an honor to share the stage with them. You ALL made me step up my game and for that I'm always grateful.
Please enjoy the holiday season, everyone. Stay well and warm!
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DARCI'S SONG LIST FOR FAME ALL STARS:
Week Five: "Barracuda" (Heart), "No Good Deed" (Wicked) and "Go On" (me)
Week Four: "Where Are You Christmas (Faith Hill) and "Smoke and Leather" (me)
Week Three: "New York State of Mind" (Billy Joel) and "Proud Mary" (Tina Turner)
Week Two: "The Stage Is Bare" (Sandi Patty) and "Don't Rain On My Parade" (Barbra Streisand)
Week One: "The Bitch Is Back" (Elton John) and "September" (me!)
). I have to say that I wish I had raised the key to "Christmas" a step but I didn't think I should cuz of recovering from The Strep. Turns out I could have and it probably would have been more powerful and been a lot easier for me vocally, but...ah well, shoulda-woulda-coulda. It was still okay, but it was not WOW. The judges said to lay off the vibrato. I would agree. I would ALWAYS agree with that cuz I do have a giant vibrato and it annoys me. And when my voice is unwell (actually, when ANYONE'S voice is unwell), that's the first thing that gets squirrelly. I think raising the song a step would have helped that a little as well. So I suppose I did alright on the first round, but a couple contestants definitely brought stronger material for THEIR first round than mine, so I knew I had to sweat a little in the second round.
But honestly, I think she's happy she can just get back to her excessive holiday baking instead of worrying what songs she's gonna sing every week. 
Which reminds me...if you live in L.A. and you are looking for a little something to bring in to the office party or to give as gifts for friends, Mandi will bake some homemade goodies for you. Trust me...she is a MONSTER with a baking tin and her stuff is more reasonably priced and BETTER TASTING BY A MILE than what you can get at some of those la-tee-da bakeries in town. You can get in touch with her at 
), but because it feeds my soul to have to challenge myself in such a way. I appreciate that the bar was raised for me by the other contestants. I mean...no one likes a slacker, right? Turns out I kind of enjoy a healthy competition. But even moreso, I like to give the audience a great show.
Actually whomever got sent home would have sucked because after a year of being a judge myself, I have gotten to know every contestant involved and all are lovely, sweet and talented individuals...but my sister? Ugh. But Mario is a cheeky monkey and was all, "In the spirit of Thanksgiving.....................
And I hope to do an original from my new CD. At least that's the plan right now, but it may change depending on how my voice feels on Friday. I'll hold off on titles and such till the deed is done and I blog about it afterward. 
However...one of the "industry" judges, told me in a nearly unintelligible Scottish brogue that I sang it very professionally and it was technically good but I "need more lyrical passion" ("ya need more leed-eecal posh-un"). I was fighting to keep a straight face...CUZ IT WAS MY SONG!!! I have to say that the one thing I've never been accused of when performing is a lack of passion...and certainly not while singing MY OWN SONGS! LOL! So...I don't really know where his mind was on that one (perhaps at the bottom of his cocktail glass), but that was a minor hiccup compared to some comments others got. I got off easy that night, generally. And I'm not even upset at him saying that, cuz chances are if he thought that then probably one other person at least might have been. And as a judge I was always a stickler with contestants about really feeling it when they sing, so it's a note I will take to my next performance, cuz what's good for the goose is what's good for the gander. I am nothing if not fair! OH alright, at least I try to be. 
So my cover was blown. But because of it I was approached by a gentleman in the audience who is a record producer who said he really liked the song and asked if I had a website where he could hear more. I was happy to give him my card, having no idea who he was, but I had noticed his bleach blonde crew cut and genuine ear-to-ear grin from the stage while I was singing. He had come out to just enjoy the singers and he was THAT GUY you always want in an audience that is really having a great time and encouraging you with their bobbing head and smiling face. I believe his first name was Jeffrey. But I can't remember his last name but it sounded similar to that hot Croatian Dr. Kovac (sp?) that used to be on ER. Oh dear God, I'm soooooo terrible with names that way! I swear sometimes I'd forget Clive freakin' Davis' name if I ever met him in person. 
