Sunday, June 8, 2008

Castro Bump!



I initially thought of writing a "closure" piece of sorts for Jason Castro, the one AI contestant I rooted for the whole season. But it wouldn't be fair. Not when he's just starting to rocket into the stratosphere of the music industry. So I'll just call this a "thank you" piece to Jason - singer, songwriter, guitar player, fellow music fan. Maybe, after more than two weeks since the AI Finale, I will "bump" up Jason and remind everybody of his accomplishments, and what a fantastic person he is. Here's my own version of the "Castro Bump".

It has been two weeks since David Cook was crowned American Idol of Season 7, but I find it hard to let go of some fantastic performances during the many weeks the show was on air. And even harder to let go of a certain phenomenal performer who captured my attention and held it for far longer than any AI contestant ever had. Jason Castro, with his trademark hairstyle and vocals, was the show's singular breakthrough performer. Forget about David Cook's "originality", or David Archuleta's "talent beyond his 17 years". Forget the fact that Carly Smithson and Michael Johns were the frontrunners leading up to the semifinal weeks due to relentless camera time. To me, Jason Castro was the true discovery of Season Seven after all was said and done.

Jason, whom I have NEVER heard about prior to the first semifinals week, became my instant favorite the moment I heard him sing "Daydream". Sure, he had a smidgen of airtime during the "Chair" round (where Ryan called his reaction to moving on to the semis as "understated", and his dork dance reminded everyone of Bob Marley on high) and there was that one fleeting shot of him rehearsing with his guitar backstage during Hollywood Week. But here was a guy who never had any screen time whatsoever, and yet he succeeded in drawing people to him. His voice was raw yet beautiful, his camera presence solid. For a guy without a lot of stage experience, he certainly knew how to work the camera. He was the first contestant to accompany himself on a musical instrument, which allowed him to stand out even more. And needless to say, his appearance was definitely an eye-catcher – dreads, jeans, rolled up sleeves, and eyelashes all. "Daydream" seemed like the perfect song choice for him. In a musical generation that bordered on the raw and the punk, he managed to find a song that could capture his essence in 90 seconds – that of unabashed optimism and sentimental quirk.

And his stock peaked when he sang "Hallelujah" the week before he was voted into the Top Twelve. To me, anyone who sings Jeff Buckley automatically gets my heart. And his version, in my opinion, was the one on which ALL the other versions that followed are based. I don't think anybody can top the original, or even try to. Jason went after Buckley's version but made it his own and was simply WONDERFUL. It was the first performance of his where he wore his heart on his sleeve, and it showed. Botched ending be damned – the power in the performance was all in the emotion that he displayed. Jeff Buckley, the man who always sang like his heart was on fire, would have been proud of Jason that night.

That performance was also the first in a series of "Castro Bumps", where he would help bump up sales of the original on the iTunes charts. Jason Castro proved that he was radio-ready AND relevant. And his raw emotion that night also proved that there was more to the quirky essence that "Daydream" provided. He could carry stronger themes, and he had the maturity to understand them (something David Archuleta and Syesha Mercado sorely lacked).

Over the following weeks, I found myself rooting for him and following his performances closely. And time and time again, he was consistent. Too consistent to some, in fact, that some thought he was merely coasting. But the fact could also be said of many other Idol contestants in the past. Bo Bice and his rock song choices, Ruben Studdard and his R&B vocals, and Blake Lewis and his constant need to be hip, to name a few. And even some season seven contestants were guilty of not moving beyond the box as well – David Archuleta and his ballads, David Cook and his emo covers, and Carly and her constant need to shout something to the high heavens. The thing with Jason is that his consistency stands out in its restraint. He did not have the loud rock grit that Cook possessed, or the vocal runs of Archuleta, or the white soul sound of Michael Johns. He was not a belter like Syesha or Carly or Ramiele. But he had his own special niche that demanded a different kind of musical skill, a different sort of gravitas. And what was most impressive about it is that, in spite of his musical restraint? He could still draw listeners to him. Say what you will about his inadequacies, but Jason needs no more than what he already has to command a crowd. Did you see how, while singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", he enraptured the Swaybots so much that they forgot to throw their hands in the air? Jason is commanding in his quiet presence, and he doesn't need to belt or flail about onstage in order to captivate an audience.

In a way, he is much closer to fellow contestant Brooke White in terms of skill and musical inadequacies. They both have a limited vocal range, a vulnerability whenever they were onstage without an instrument, and a tendency to eschew the bells and whistles of a song. Instead, they let their vocals do the talking, and their emotions do the convincing. Both are throwbacks in a sense. They reminded us of that era in music when the vocal was just the medium, that it was the lyrics themselves that wielded the power, that music had the ability to transport, and sincerity was the platform on which the artist stood. A time when it was just the artist and his music and his listener, and that musicianship was not a production but a creative journey. The folkies embodied it the most, which is why these two were lumped into that category. And people are now saying that Jason and Brooke have forged a commercial path for all the young folkies and troubadours out there. But the truth was that Jason and Brooke can encompass any genre of music and still sound like themselves, and not just as folk artists.

Take Jason's performances of "Fragile" and "September Morn". He did not deviate from the originals so much, and yet it sounded very different from Sting's and Neil Diamond's. "I Don't Want To Cry" was another – an R&B song that Jason twisted into an almost-stripped down reggae-pop sound. And can anyone forget "Memory"? Neither can I. And it's a good thing. It was stripped of its raw anguish, and replaced with muted desperation. And usually, it's that quiet air of hopelessness which makes it more deeply troubling, and Jason, hampered by his own private illness, did the song even more justice than Andrew Lloyd Webber could achieve. And truly, none of these examples sounded like a folk song. And while the vocals had much to do with it, I would also like to say that attitude and sincerity plays a large role with it as well, which certainly encompass musical genres. As Paula Abdul said again and again, Jason was that contestant whom you could easily distinguish vocally. Given any type of music, you get Jason every time. (And for Brooke, I've listened to her "Songs from the Attic", and I must say, I am genuinely surprised and pleased.)

This consistency and lack of tricks are why his performances have been criticized as lackluster and uninspiring. But can you fault a performer who has been wonderfully consistent every time? Or would you rather get a Courtney Love or a Damon Gough, interesting artists though they may be, but have been woefully unreliable performers at most? Give me Jason any day, and it will never feel like a waste of time. They said Jason is unexciting to watch, as opposed to, say, Carly and the strained vocals, or David Cook prancing about the stage with a guitar, or Michael Johns gyrating with the microphone. But Jason is exciting in a different way. His song choices alone Рbeing the only contestant who has sung Leonard Cohen, Sting, Bob Marley, and Bob Dylan (Rock and Roll Hall of Famers ALL!) in one season Рhas impressed the heck out of me, and keeps me tuning in to find out what he is going to sing next. The fact that he is radio-ready and musically relevant makes him exciting. His offstage persona makes him even more doubly exciting, and triply adorable. The mere fact that he gives his all in every performance, no matter what people think, means that he has the passion for the business and has the potential to come up with something intriguing. Who can call that blas̩? Many artists have tried to veer off from their original sound, in the hopes of becoming more "exciting", but most of the time, in the end, they go back to the old sound. In time, I suppose Jason will do that, too. He is too much of a multi-faceted performer to stick to one musical direction. Plus, he is still evolving and still discovering who he is musically. In time, he will surprise us, and he will keep us on our toes. But in the meantime, he is cherishing the sound he has now and he will only get better before he moves on to something bigger.

As much as I appreciate American Idol for giving Jason the musical opportunity of a lifetime, and for giving us music fans an artist to feel excited about, I am also disappointed at how the show treated him, and the other contestants as well. He was burned out, and admitted that his inexperience caused him to falter. The judges were also unforgiving (Paulagate, anyone?), and seemed to trample on his spirits. Many people thought he wanted to leave, when all he really wanted was to just make music. Really, all he ever wanted was to make music, and the show disappointed him in that regard. But the upside? Is that Jason now knows how much hard work is required to succeed in the business, regardless of whether or not it is even related to the music itself. Which is why Adam Levine has given the best advice thus far: "Get ready to work, baby. It's gonna be really tough, you'll have to work a lot. And then you're gonna get jaded, and then you're gonna say, 'God, I hate this'. But you really love it. So try to remember that." Jason now knows it firsthand. All he has to do is learn from it. The reassuring thing is no matter how much the show may have disappointed him, his passion for music is still alive and that he now knows that he loves it, warts and all.

Despite speculation, I don't think the show ever broke Jason. He sang what he knew and loved, which meant that he sang from the heart. And nowhere was it more evident than in the week when he was eliminated. He sang Dylan, the foremost troubadour of our time, cementing the image in our heads of Jason as a folkhouse progressive. And he sang Marley, which was the strongest sentiment he could possibly give about himself and his universe. Almost saying, "Here, this is what people think of me and I embrace it. Not because they are right, but because I am right about myself and the people have caught on." On the one night that he simply performed as himself, he was eliminated. Irony much? That aside, he went out on a high note. He went out as himself. He never followed the dictates of the AI machine, never fit the mold of the usual Idol. He was no fool, and was as anti-establishment as they come, but in the sweet gentle package that is Jason. He followed his own artistry, and emerged happy as he sang the Marley song in the end that some people hated but he loved in his gut. He refused to give in to criticism, and continued to follow his heart. If he displays that same kind of passion and bravado in his career, there will be no stopping him. (And if you ask me, I thought "I Shot The Sheriff" and "Mr. Tambourine Man" were inspired song choices and were performed brilliantly. Because – seriously! – how can you judge the vocals on these two songs? The former required a certain kind of attitude and pluck to pull off, and the latter required emotional sincerity – all of which Jason displayed that night, despite forgetting some words. So, ask me about these two performances and I will say that they were AWESOME.)

I trust that he will follow his own path and just have a grand time with his music. And seriously, I cannot WAIT to see where his music takes him. Right now, there is a slew of online non-Idol material that does his talent justice. He has drummed for a rock band, sang Christian contemporary in church, and performed reggae and folk and pop songs in clubs. And I'm sure there is so much more out there that he has done that will serve to take my breath away some more. At the moment, he is a one-man musical variety show, and now, as his hometown visit shows, he is taking a more acoustic and sentimental approach to his music. Meanwhile, on a personal level, he has already earned my deepest respect and profound admiration for being the spiritual and gentle person that he is. His interviews made me realize that he is an even better and lovelier person than what he chooses to publicize. I commend his family for keeping him grounded, and for letting him loose to find his passion. I also thank his parents for raising him to be the person that he is now. I can only hope that the universe conspires to give Jason his moment in the sun.

It might take some time before we find him at the mic again, guitar or drumsticks in hand. But it doesn't matter to me. To me, good music is good music and is timeless. I have eclectic tastes of my own, and Jason's sound fits in comfortably within my musical universe (and it is a very forgiving and appreciative one!). Follow your own music, I say. Discovering where all this takes him will only make him a better artist. And it will only mean sweet music to my ears.

55 comments:

Anonymous said...

You put my feelings about Jason and his music into words that I have never taken the time to sort out. Very impressive blog! Thanks.

ELLA ELVIANA said...

thank you for this post, i enjoyed reading it and agree wholeheartedly with everything you said. jason is the gem of the season, and the whole AI seasons, i must say. i never stop rooting for him and also can't wait to see what the future holds for him. :)

ps: i found your blog from a forum.

Anonymous said...

Very well put! Jason Castro IMO is the BEST male performer to ever grace the AI stage and I look forward to following a long caree!
rosequeen49 dh#153

Anonymous said...

This is such a wonderful essay. Thank you for getting Jason. An d I, too, can't wait to see where his career takes him.

Cathy Anne said...

I second that emotion -- every syllable. Jason's gift is unique memorable. If you closed your eyes and listened to hundreds or thousands of songs, you could pick Jason out of the pile everytime -- he is that original and pure.
God bless him and direct him in his future and I can't wait to be blessed Jason's songs.

Anonymous said...

American Idol is SO clueless, which is why their ratings are dropping and they're becoming irrelevant for the younger crowd of music lovers. Jason Castro is a raw talent that will someday reach star proportions, Thank you for posting your sentiments about Jason and AI, which mirror mine perfectly.

Anonymous said...

I doubt Jason would appreciate his fans backhandedly insulting the other contestants over and over to prop him up. He doesn't need that. It's demeaning.

Jason = made of awesome.
This writer = notsomuch.

Anonymous said...

Fabulous blog, straight from the heart and well written. Thank you for posting this - it truly does sum up the Jason experience very well.

I know there are record labels out there watching him, I'm positive of that. Jason will have a bright future in the music industry and that CD will be worth the wait. He's such a talent, and his light shines.

Thank you again.

Anonymous said...

Think of how many artists in the past were not embraced when they first came out...Elvis, Dylan etc. Jason has that unique quality of drawing you into his music, not just performing a song, that reaches his audience. He's as sincere and genuine as can be...not just as an artist, but as a person. I join you in your admiration of this fine young talent! Devoted Dreadhead #2245

Anonymous said...

brilliant commentary. I think you were able to articulate what so many of us feel. Jason is everything I love about music.

Anonymous said...

Chowie,
Your blog brought tears to my eyes remembering Jason's trip through the rabbit hole.
Thank you for saying such wonderful things that I am so incapable of saying myself in print or otherwise and putting it out there into the stratosphere for all to know.
I fell for Jason the moment I learned of him and I know I will be a fan for life. He just gets to you in that way.
Thank you for your most awesome contribution.
Aspiring

Anonymous said...

Thank you for putting into words what many of us feel about Jason...I got goosebumps reading your blog because it is so true! Jason's music, attitude and spirit is a gift to many..

Learning Through Living said...

Jason is a blessing to those of us who can appreciate his wonderful gift. You have a wonderful way with words. Thanks for taking the time. I am so glad we share the same admiration for Jason.

Anonymous said...

Absolutely brilliant! You captured his essence in your writing. Thank you for taking the time to write and post it!

Unknown said...

That was a beautiful and stunning blog, and I couldn't agree more. In today's society, people love the "Screaming Metal" and Rap that has no meaning in words, and displays no musical talent. I must say, Jason has a talent that everyone should be able to see, but only some of us can :(. Thanks for taking the time to write this, Chowie.

Anonymous said...

If you don't have a Dreadhead # you need to come over to Daydreaming Boy and get you one.
You have captured with your words how many of us feel in our hearts.
Jason is a diamond in the rough and I for one look forward to seeing him shine.
Thank you!!

Anonymous said...

I am truly amazed and overjoyed that there are so many people out there that 'get' Jason. It shows that who he is, is real. I think it takes a person who also lives from the heart to connect with him and his music. It is a rare performer to illicit this kind of response. Those out there who have an 'agenda', to quote someone, "just don't get it".

Anonymous said...

This post captured the thoughts and feelings of many of Jason's fans perfectly, and mine exactly. Following the post I read the author's bio and her interests. I was not surprised that they matched many of mine. This shows that like minds think alike LOL. I enjoyed reading posts from people who appreciate Jason and realize it's about the music.

ps: I found your blog on my favorite forum: DDB.

Anonymous said...

This put my sentiments into words exactly! What a beautiful blog post!!!!
You like many of us seem to "get" Jason...
Have you joined his Friends on his myspace page? www.myspace.com/jasoncastromusic or come over to the Forum at www.daydreamingboy.com
You hit this so on the head---your input on these sites would be welcomed!

Anonymous said...

what an excellent entry!
the only thing that you might've forgotten to mention is his undeniably strong relationship with his fans. it's such an amazing thing, and the dreadheads definitely deserve some recognition!
i think that you have wonderfully expressed what a lot (if not ALL) of us are/have been thinking!
kudos, kudos, and a million times thank you!

-zz

Anonymous said...

I'm standing on my feet, clapping my hands in the mosh pit fashion and shouting HALLELUJAH!
You have gone into my mind and said everything I feel about Jason. We are a movement.
Bravo.

Anonymous said...

Finally, someone who "gets" Jason. He is the only contestant from AI that I would immediately recognize when hearing his song on the radio. God has a special plan for this young man.I am going to enjoy the ride!!!!Dreadhead #2596

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for this post! You wrote what I think and you did it so beautifully. Wonderful post!

Anonymous said...

Fantastic essay. I'm glad that someone finally pointed out how, during Somewhere Over The Rainbow, the audience was so captivated, you could hear a pin drop. Most were standing--they all just stood there and listened, many with tears in their eyes. I don't think that happened during any other performance, unless possibly "Imagine". You couldn't do anything else--you couldn't help but be riveted. Thanks for the wonderful words!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your beautiful thoughts, words and feelings for Jason. You have captured the soul of the journey that we are so fortunate to be a small part of with Jason Castro and his brilliant music!

Anonymous said...

Simply amazing! You captured the whole experience! I am blown away. Thank you. Write on!

Anonymous said...

Wow -- what a treat to read this blog entry (it was mentioned on Castrocopia) -- you captured so many emotions I have felt while watching Jason this season -- I am a married mom of 2 sons and NEVER felt this way before about any musician or actor or any celebrity -- I was hooked on Jason and his sound from the moment he opened his mouth and sang "Daydream." He makes me FEEL when I listen to him. No other contestant has had that effect on me. There is just such a powerful connection there. I am so excited about his future in music and eagerly anticipate his first CD release. Thank you for this perfect post. -- "Paisley" aka Dreadhead 947

Gottagreys said...

Wow -- incredible!

Anonymous said...

Love your blog!! Jason makes me feel, he draws me in and holds me captivated. His voice is soothing, warm and inviting. His phrasing moving.

I have a feeling we will be hearing Jason very soon on the radio and in our CD players.

Since the show, he has caught fire with more and more people falling in love with Jason's gift or song and with the humble sweet,funny soul he is.

jasonfan said...

Wonderful blog. I wish we could publish this blog for all to see. Anyone in this business that can help publish this blog?

Anonymous said...

You made me cry. I just love Jason and sometimes I wonder why people don't get him? Like Randy for example. There was a David Cook fan that said, he is a true David Cook fan but he thinks the jewel of Season 7 was Jason. I agree.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this blog. It is so refreshing to hear things from someone who "gets Jason". He got me at Daydreaming and I never before voted for anyone on AI. I became a 2 hour 2 phone voter. He sings with such emotion and pulls the audience into the performance with him. I'm a 50 year old mother who has never been so taken by a singer. I loved his I shot the Sheriff and Mr. Tamborine Man (the studio version is beautiful). I love his choice of songs and artists(when he got to chose them) all season. I love how humble he is and the fact that he is so into his faith and family. What a great rolemodel he makes. Thank you for saying everything I was feeling but could not put into words myself.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for that essay. You said what both my musician husband and I sensed about Jason.

You know, Bob Dylan had mentors in Woodie Guthrie and Pete Seeger. I would love to see a similar known singer/musician come alongside Jason and mentor him in the business. Those guys were also about the music first and did it on their terms.

I also think that Jason Castro will be thinking "outside the music box" and will be doing some very different things as a musician. He has some very interesting influences to draw upon.

Anonymous said...

Hope this blog gets read by people in the industry and they realize how much the world (thousands and thousands of fans) needs and wants Jason Castro's musicianship and character.

Thank you for a great read. Every word exactly how I feel and I believe the absolute truth.

Anonymous said...

Bravo! American Idol was lucky to have him. We were blessed to receive him. Jason Castro was the heart of American Idol Season 7. I am excited to see where his musical journey takes him, and I will be following behind him every step of the way.

watchingdaisies said...

Brilliant in your analysis of what a truly great musician is. Thank you for putting everything I felt into words!

Anonymous said...

YOU REALLY NEED TO SUBMIT THIS IN ARTICLE FORM TO SOME ON-LINE PLACES WHERE IT WILL BE PUBLISHED!!!!!! SHORTEN IT UP ABIT AND SUBMIT!!!!!!!
THEY DON'T PAY BUT IT WILL GET YOU PUBLISHED AND WILL SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT JASON! WHAT YOU'VE SAID IS GREAT!!!
HERE ARE THE LINKS TO DO IT....
www.associatedcontent.com (It has directions on how to submit an article)
www.helim.com (Then go to write, then Entertainment/Music then to Musicians/Bands)
http://ezinearticles.com (go to submit article)

Anonymous said...

oops typo in my article posting post...
It's www.helium.com

Really hope you do this!!!!! Don't be a "frustrated writer"...be a published one!!!!! Yeah!!!! Go for it! This is one of the best things I've seen written about Jason---you did a great job!

Anonymous said...

What you said! And I rooted for Jason from Daydream too!

Anonymous said...

Bravo! Very nicely done! Beautifully and intelligently written!

Anonymous said...

You took the words right out of my- heart :) Summed up Jason perfectly. He's a beautiful soul and an incredible talent.

There were two things I disagreed with slightly; the parts where you critisized the other contestants a bit (for effect I know but still :P) and the part where you dismissed Jason's Mr Tambourine Man vocals. I thought his singing (forget the lyric botch up) was flawless! He wasn't shaky, flat etc. That perfromance really showed a growth and even more character in his vocals. Loved it.

That said, great blog! If he keeps his passion alive, I see big things for Jason. As he once said, I'm really excited about our future together.

Sunny said...

Well written, from the heart - you do Jason justice. Appropriate summation of his time on the show and his impact on most of his fans.

I recommend possibly that you submit this to blogcritics.org or to neighborsgo.com. Dawn Redig, the editor of neighborsgo.com would love this piece.

Anonymous said...

Great blog! You really capture what Jason is.
Jason was indeed a diamond in the rough,so glad AI found him. Anyone who has the guts to try and pull off an accoustic performance with a ukulele on AI, and have silence in the audience: that`s charisma and real talent. Mastery is the art of making something difficult seem effortless! That what Jason is all about. His Memory studio version, just awesome and addictive.

wtgm3 said...

Thanks so much for writing this blog. It's a beautiful write-up of Jason. I, too, look forward to seeing what the future brings for him. God bless him.

shines said...

This post is written perfectly about a young man who captured the hearts of many; who fell in love with Jason's voice, his uniquness, his personality, and who he is as a young man. An anonymous person posted Jason would not like anyone backhandly insulting the other contestants in prop of him. I do not agree. Jason is happy for his fans and you just wrote what you felt in your heart. You did not belittle any of the other contestants or call them names. You simply wrote what made Jason stand out from the rest of the idols during this season. I, for one found Jason a joy and looked forward to his presence on the AI stage every week. I am not a young teeny-bopper, but a mother of three grown adults who just could not wait to hear or see Jason sing. Week after week Jason had my vote and was disappointed when he was voted off, but am glad he made it to the position he was in top 4. What an amazing journey he gave each of us as his fans. I, too can not wait to ride along with him on his next journey. Jason has captured a fan-base that no other American Idol has ever done and we will wait for as long as it takes for him to put out his first CD. Thank you for writing what so many of his fans felt and continue to feel for this young man.

Anonymous said...

this is so far, the best description of how jason connects with his audience. this shows the same sentiment of everyone who "gets" jason and the ones who gets him will be a fan for life. i know because i am one.

Anonymous said...

He went out as himself. He never followed the dictates of the AI machine, never fit the mold of the usual Idol. He was no fool, and was as anti-establishment as they come, but in the sweet gentle package that is Jason.

BRILLIANT!!!!

This is an absolutley phenominal piece of writing. You have expressed everything I've been thinking regarding Jason. Thank you so much for writing it.
Jason did stay true to himself and his music ever week. Never waivered and performed well. It's nice to see it pointed out so beautifully.

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much! You put into beautiful words what all of us Jason's fans think.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the time and heartfelt truth you put into this piece. I hope Jason has a chance to read this and know how sincerely "ALL" his fan love and appreciate him and his artistry. Not to be mean, but I have no interest in any of the other people who have "Misunderstood" Jason: Jason is pretty honest, simple and truly into translating the emotional essence of the song to the willing listener! We pray that he continues to love what he does and does what he loves! We'll be there to bask in the beauty of Jason, his music and his glorious journey...where ever he is lead! God Bless you, and thanks again for this awesome blog!

Melody said...

I hope Betsy and the family read this. It was wonderfully written, and like my fellow dreadheads, it's so nice to see someone else out there who "gets" Jason. Some people totally missed it! Randy Jackson said in an interview that he "would never sign Jason Castro". Randy doesn't get it. But seriously, that's his loss, not ours. We still have Jason because we chose to see the real Jason, his amazing God-given talent, and his even more amazing heart. Thanks for speaking up!

Dreadhead #2656, MWLJ #291

chowie said...

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to those who took the time out to read this! It's been sweet reading through the comments.

http://chowies.blogspot.com/2008/06/castro-bump-whos-right-fucking-on-me.html

Anonymous said...

Thank you, thank you, thank you.
You've described perfectly what Jason is as a musician and a person. Anti-establishment, you bet! The only way he can be, as his sweet beautiful self, no disprect, just here, this is who I am.
Thank you, thank you again.
kchill

sweetatlantis said...

Thank you for speaking up so eloquently for Jason Castro. There are many of us who feel the same sentiments you expressed. Your essay was simply brilliant.

Anonymous said...

How great to read something like that about Jason Castro! I am a mom of four, in my forties, who watches AI with my kids.... this season I got ridiculously hooked on the show because of Jason. I wanted to dislike him, based shallowly on the hair alone, but after hearing "I just want to be your everything," I was addicted to his sound. This from someone who grew up worshipping the Clash & Black Flag. He is a genuine talent. Thanks for the blog!

Anonymous said...

From:ymbcastrofan

Thanks for the blog. I agree with all of your sentiments. Jason is a phenomenal talent. He has the "it" factor that can take him all the way to the top. His music is a strange combination of soothing, inspirational and fresh, yet at the same time sensual, sincere and sexy. His voice has so many rich textures and layers that actually reach out and touch the listener's soul. Right now, he is so new at this, he probably has no idea of how powerful and amazing he could be. He's still so adorably shy and nervous about performing in public; a little awestruck and humble about being suddenly thrust onto the worldwide stage; and incredibly, he seems to sometimes feel less than worthy of all the attention. Imagine that! But that "aw, shucks" demeanor is just part of his charm. I can hardly wait until Jason starts making his own music and settles down into his groove. When he gets more comfortable performing and the real showman inside him emerges, everyone had better watch out. He is going to go supernova. But for those of us who "get" Jason, we'll smile because we've known all along how truly special he is.