Rock Star: Supernova, Round of 7
We’re down to seven rockers, which means we get to see a lot more of the happenings at the mansion. We get two original songs this week. Dilana ran naked around the pool for her song selection. Storm gave up her original song too easily. And everyone has that rawk attitude.
Patrice began the night with her original song, “Beautiful Thing.” It’s a bit of an odd song, though I liked it. She seemed to be trying to cram as many words into the lyrics as she could in spots, and it sounded awkward for it. The vocal range on the song is a little limited, but it does have a nice guitar solo. I still think it’s a little bit too poppy for Supernova, but Tommy Lee said he liked it and could tone it down to be more “rawk” for his band.
Magni did Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” because we just can’t get enough grunge on this show. I think he nailed it - I couldn’t understand a damned lyric of the song, which is the perfect sound for a Nirvana tune. (Ask Weird Al. He wrote a whole song about it.) Navarro liked the angst, and Tommy Lee told him to play the guitar next time and break it half way through the song.
Pay attention, people: That’s called foreshadowing!
Ryan played an original song called “Back of Your Car.” And here I thought Dilana’s rock anthem to partying at her house showed complex lyrics in the webisode. . . No, this one is just slightly deeper, but vastly more entertaining. He’s a lot looser on stage, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone play a guitar on stage like a madman like that before. He was hurting the guitar, the way he slapped it around and slammed on the strings. It was the nuttiest bit of guitar playing in the show’s history.
And then he threw the guitar away, though it didn’t quite make it off-stage and into the pit. The camera cut directly to Magni’s face, who looked non-plussed. Give it to the show’s producers and directors — they always know who to cut to during a performance or a commentary for a reaction.
It was a memorable performance and a great song for the band. Ryan is quickly turning into a leading contendor for the title on this show.
Storm went with Aerosmith’s “Crying,” because she thought it was a challenging song that nobody else could do. Before taking the stage, she took the jersey off she was wearing to reveal her black corset over a mesh top that, well, I think she might have stolen from Zayra and stretched out to fit. But more on Zayra’s influence a little later in the show.
I wasn’t impressed by the performance or the singing ability all that much. She didn’t embarrass herself with it. (Remember Jordis doing “Dream On” last season? PAINFUL!) But it felt too safe, and too karaoke. She didn’t show a great range with the song. She got through it, but that’s all I saw. I’m still not sure if she blew a lyric or not just before the song shifted into high gear, too. There was a weird look on her face, a couple bars’ worth of pause, and then the next movement of the song. I thought she missed something, but maybe I’m reading too much into it.
The band loved it, though — the singing, the performance, the corset. They’re getting hot to trot as this season goes on.
Dilana ran naked around the pool to get The Police’s “Every Breath You Take.” And I don’t know why. It was a boring performance of a song far too slow for this band. It was too tame, and her Zayra-inspired wardrobe couldn’t help it — not the black junky tutu she was wearing, nor the pink flamingo eye lashes that jutted a foot in front of her forehead. Nope. I mean, her singing was on key and everything, but it was more karaoke and not memorable at all.
And, again, the band loved it. I’m really out of step with the band this week, who continued their creepy flirting with Dilana.
Toby did a new arrangement for “Layla,” a song which requires a new arrangement every decade or so. It was OK, but it lost a lot of its momentum in the arranging. He missed the opportunity in the performance to get down on his knees to match the lyrics. I think that might be a good thing, though. His voice was fine and the performance was energetic, but I knew that hoodie was covering something up. . .
Lukas finished with a song I just don’t know, The Killers’ “All These Things That I’ve Done.” Again, he kept walking away from the crowd and Gilby called him on it. Aside from that, I don’t know what else to say. Anyone have an opinion on this one?
In the early voting, Patrice, Storm, and Toby are in trouble.

August 23rd, 2006 at 9:48 am
Something interesting I noted last night. I watch the weekly reality show portion of the competition. This week, the contestants interacted with the press. Everything was fine at first until a couple of the reporters started asking tough questions. Questions like “Who doesn’t deserve to be here?” and “Who doesn’t like Supernova’s music?” At that point, I could tell this was another clinic. Especially when Newstead slipped into the background to listen to their responses. It was clear they were told to give the contestants a hard time. Everyone played it smart with their answers.
Except Dilana.
She named names and trashed her fellow contestants. One reporter really tried hard to get a rise out of Lukas, but he wouldn’t take the bait.
But Dilana, she really stepped in it.
So I found it odd that it didn’t make the show last night. Not one frame. Not even a mention. Usually those incidents make the show, and result in Dave browbeating the contestants and stern words from Newstead. None of that happened last night. Why?
I’m also trying to figure out why we’re subjected to comment after comment from Tommy Lee regarding how much he wants to sleep with the female contestants. These add nothing to the performance, critically. But Newstead’s comments, which are always constructive, directional and helpful, are rarely heard. Just an observation.
August 23rd, 2006 at 10:31 am
I haven’t watched last night’s show yet, but typically they save the “here’s what we caught you saying” stuff for the results show, when they can needle the contestant a little more.
August 23rd, 2006 at 10:43 am
The “here’s what we caught you saying” segment of the results show is cribbed from the post-performance show conversations.
August 23rd, 2006 at 10:57 am
I like Patrice, but this HAS to be the week she goes. I can’t buy her fronting this band for a second, and I think everyone would agree at this point. Overall, I thought Dilana and Lukas had just “average” weeks. I enjoyed the performances by Toby, Ryan, and Magni the most.
Is there going to be another double-elimination soon? It sounded like the show is ending in three weeks. I didn’t watch last year, so I’m not familiar with how the finale works.
August 23rd, 2006 at 11:00 am
Wes -
There is a pro-Dilana bent to the show… As you mention, in the webisode, Dilana is looking catty, arrogant, selfish, etc., but we (the tv voting public) only see the good stuff (Nudity, Rock Star Savvy, etc.). Also note, we did not see her lack of songwriting prowse or her dog yelping off key singing from this weeks webisode. And to top it off, she brings a yawner of a performance to Every Breath You Take. Among the worst performances of the show this year (Note last week she sang a uninspiring version of Cats and the Cradle..). But, the band loves her….
Why?
One reason may be, the show’s producers desperately want to keep a female in the competition as long as possible… Patrice and Storm are almost sure to exit soon, and she’s the only one left…
We’ll see…
Other performances:
Toby: I liked that he reworked Layla, but then after the first verse it seemed that it went back into the regular version (with a little heaver guitar)… Which made his performance in the middle to bottom of the pack.
Patrice: Good song, would be a winner on Rock Star: The GoGo’s. I’m sorry your not the right fit for Supernova.
Lukas: Missed a lot of the words, (don’t know if it’s my audio or not) which seems to happen a lot with him. Great stage presense, although I think he has stolen Axl’s wardrobe ( Down to the Glasses). Overall, middle of the pack performance.
Storm: Noticed that I only heard the background singers on the high notes… And very uninspiring… Good point - Aug (I felt like I could see the ball bouncing from word to word).
Magni: Not sure if I like this wool cap thing… But, a good performance… Definately among the best of the night.
Ryan: Excellent song. Perfect fit with the band… Stage presence was getting better and better every week. A little cliche with the guitar throw, right after it was mentioned on the song before…. But, my favorite of the night.
August 23rd, 2006 at 8:11 pm
I’m sick of the whole hood thing this season…
Lukas had me when he did his hair in the reflection of the guitar.. very decadent rock
September 2nd, 2006 at 6:16 am
toby you rock from david ps regal yell was so mad