Recaps, commentary, highlights of your pop culture favourites and mine! Email me: timmybopper@yahoo.com

 
Ashlee Simpson is really starting to bug me.

I mean, I've totally forgiven her for the whole SNL thing, because let's face it, she's the only pop star out there who lip-synchs. She's just the first one to get caught so friggin obviously. But the thing about Ashlee is, that unlike other stars who constantly seek to improve themselves or come up with new ideas, Ashlee seems quite content to remain the same singer she's always been. Now this wouldn't be a problem if say, you were Celine Dion, who's voice really doesn't need much more improvement (no seriously, she doesn't need to get ANY louder!), but Ashlee's voice is only marginally good... and I use "voice" very loosely here. I tried watching Ashlee's AOL concert the other night and by like the second line of her opening song I was desperately reaching for the STOP button. This girl cannot sing! I don't understand how she expects to go on tour! I mean, her voice is decent on the CD but when she sings live, it's like she's so hoarse she can barely make out a melody! When she sings low, it's like she's talking, but when she sings "high-er" it's like she's straining herself. I'm not really sure what her actual range is.

I did fast-forward through the concert to try and hear her sing some of my favourite tracks from her CD. But get this: She actually forgot the words to her own songs! And instead of doing something professional like asking the audience to sing-along (to the parts she forgot) or at least attempting to "ooh" and "ahh" her way through, Ashlee simply yet "OMIGOD! I forgot my own words! Ah well, whatever!" and hoe-downed. Okay fine, she didn't hoedown, but she just sorta laughed and stood around until it got to a line she remembered. As if it was no big deal!

If an artist isn't even connected to her own songs, how are we 'spose to believe her when she tells us how meaningful the lyrics were and how much she loves singing them? And if her "voice" is the same gravelly pitch for an entire hour, how are we expected to pay like 60 bucks to see her in concert?

I haven't seen Ashlee even remotely show interest in developing her musical skills or in improving her stage performance. She seems to think that she has enough talent to ride out a long career. But while she's fun and perky for the time being, I'm not sure if she'll be able to last. And while it's easy to sing a song or two on TV, how is her fragile voice going to hold up during an entire concert?! (If you watch the AOL concert, you'll hear that it doesn't quite hold up...)

Maybe it's better than Ashlee sticks to the backing track. At least she'll sound good. And know all the words.


posted by Tim at 1:36 PM