Ahem...It is true that I've come down with the Mcpheever, that inexplicable feeling of excitement that is related/has anything to do with American Idol contestant Katharine Mcphee. Let me take a moment to soak this in...

I was relatively normal before even after Katharine's entrancing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Then I logged on and thought to myself on a whim "Why not google Katharine Mcphee?" I soon found out. What preceded was my wasting of an entire weekend avidly reading the message boards and sifting through a hundred of my tapes just to find American Idol, to "find" Katharine Mcphee. By Sunday night I was a mess. I hadn't studied for my biology final. I hadn't looked at my World Geography Map of the World for that final. I hadn't completed my Fine Arts Project, and I found myself staying up all night rushing to begin/complete an English portfolio I should have done a long time ago. I didn't even go see The Davinci Code. This weekend was all about the Mcpheever.

For those who don't watch Idol, you're probably puzzled as to why I've suddenly gone crazy over a contestant on a reality show. Hopefully this speaks for it self...

  http://www.rickey.org/blog/2006/05/katharine_mcphee_somewhere_ove.html

Her first audition...

http://www.nothingtoxic.com/playVideo.asp?id=1264

But what caused the true Mcpheever? Articles bashing Katharine on her supposed "conceitedness, arrogance, bitchiness, slutiness" none of which I have witnessed. So she's questioned the judges on occasion. It's not like she was nasty about it. Even worse are the allegations that a combination of her looks/sex appeal/daddy's connections are what have gotten her to the top two. Along with this is a review of how she's changed and how she becomes "prettier" each week to get more votes( she's lost weight, but she admits to personal insecurities about her roller coaster weight changes, and she was gorgeous when the show started, despite the makeover the stylists felt that she needed)  and becomes a spoiled brat when she "doesn't get her way." You'd make a funny face expression too if you were harshly panned in public for something you deserved praise for. 

People make up anything. I don't even feel like I'm watching the same show as these the people with their skewed perceptions. Is it a crime to be happy to discover you're advancing to the finals of American Idol. Not everyone fakes bawling their eyes out when another contestant is voted off. Strange how she's ridiculed for being "fake" when she's being as real as they get on idol. She tells the truth and doesn't color it with pretentious apology ( When asked if she thought the audition process was fair she said candidly, "No" and that talented people were cut and others moved on because they were pretty. Most everyone else, of course, said that yes, the process was fair. What a pack of liars...). 

Next are the incessant rumors of pregnancy, scientology, "contrived" wardrobe malfunctions, and fake breasts (I have seen the video, but I find myself more perplexed than anything. If you want to see this video: http://tmz.aol.com/article2/_a/exclusive-video-katharine-mcphees-raw/20060516133509990001). She's the only idol contestant whose ever suffered such scrutiny and public bashing (who didn't commit a crime, though there are rumors floating that Taylor Hicks has previously been arrested for drugs...). And all becuase of what? She grew up in Sherman Oaks, California, and was "privilieged" but how does this deter from her talent? 

Then there are the more credible criticisms of her voice, but to that I can only be sorry that some just don't get the vocal purity/versatility/richness of Katharine's special talent. When it comes down to it, though, the controversy just peaks my interest even more, and Katharine is now far and away my favorite idol (a title previously reserved for Kelly Clarkson). There's something about her that I can't explain.

Her voice is unique to the competition, as in there's no one whose ever moved so fluidly through different ways of voice technique. There are so many different nuances to her voice, she's like a different person every week (though I beg her to never again sing "The Voice Within"). At some points her voice holds the power of an exquisitely controlled Whitney vocal, or a piercing Mariah note (she should be careful of thoughs, however),  yet no matter what she does there's a signature "Mcphee" sound that makes each song her own with little effort, making her performances never come off as karaoke (which is more than I can say for Taylor Hicks),but for some reason the judges have pigeonholed her, convincing the public that she can only sing "the standards," albeit more beautifully than anyone ever on the show.

 Have they forgotten her version of KT Tunstills "Black Horse and a Cherry Tree," her singing "Bringing Out the Elvis" on country week, her faithful rendition of Aretha's "Until You Come Back to Me," or have they also forgotten comments from such influential music gurus (Tommy Matolla) gushing over her spectacular range and talent and the rarity of her voice quality (some say it's all because her mother is a voice teacher, but some people are just born to sing...).

Oh, I could go on and on about the injustices Katharine Mcphee has suffered at the hands of the judges and lusty viewing public desperate for a white male to win (Chris Daughtry, despite his talent, was not the "2nd coming," though I agree He should not have been ousted. Elliot should have). Anyone who says Mcphee is a throwback to Clarkson and Underwood is obviously lacking in essential discerning tools. I don't know how Mcphee has gotten under my skin, but the feeling is a peculiar, suppressed exhilaration.

Most likely it's for tommorow's finale and the subsequent crowning of the idol champion (Most of the time, and aside from a few special moments, I don't see the appeal of Taylor Hicks. He could never make it in the business with his copy-cat soul attitude and persistent semi-retarded yellings of "SOUL PATROL!"). Most importantly, through this whole Mcpheever business, I've finally come to terms with an idol resentment of seeing Ace Young voted off. I understand now. While I was blinded by my immediate infatuation with his voice and (I admit) his smoldering gaze, Katharine Mcphee was there all along, waiting. Ace Young had to leave so I could discover my true idol, Katharine Mcphee.

Get the Mcpheever! Vote for Katharine tommorow night. Let's relinquish this queer hold the south has over American Idol!