But I digress. 
Back to crooners and thespians.
Not to be catty, but Ava Gardner was a, um, good actress. Ms. Christensen is, um, not a good actress.
At least not yet. Or maybe she's just had bum luck with storylines (except, okay, she did a great job as a young drug addict in Traffic and she did sing on a Neil Diamond Christmas album).
Nevertheless, her most recent outing, Swimfan, got awesomely miserable reviews even on kidzworld.com.
This review is so good on how bad Swimfan is---you just can't stop reading! And, face it, if the kidz think a movie sucks, it REALLY stunk up the joint.
Anyway, Mr. Tyrell has excellent instincts, so I'm sure "Red" is a better vehicle for "featuring Erika Christensen" than Swimfan was.
But, still, Steve, PLEASE CALL ME (1-800-IDOLHABIT) with the backstory on how Ms. Christensen ended up on Mr. Stevens' disc.
Hopefully, they did not meet in a swimming pool.
Speaking of swimming pools and other hotel amenities, John made it into the New York Times Cabaret Review section, under the title After 'Idol,' Sinatra Loyalist is Swingin' Nice and Easy, based on a five-night gig at Feinstein's at The Regency on Park Avenue.
(Like I've been there.)
Whoa, that's a long way from Buffalo, John! Way to go! And peeps paid $45 to hear him sing, too.
John recently told fastfocus.tv:
I want to show America that jazz, big band, and swing music aren't dead. Those types of music are timeless and fun and there's a whole cool lifestyle associated with it. If done right, these genres appeal to people of all ages.
We all know Frank associated a "whole cool lifestyle" with his music, too, but somehow I don't think the 17-year-old John Stevens---whose rap on American Idol was that he was too low wattage---is exactly Rat Pack material. But, I know what you mean, John! To thine own self be true. You go.
Article comments
1 - Joe Battista
When you mentioned "I Only Have Eyes for You" as an Art Garfunkel tune, you're not serious, right? That song is a standard and was covered by just about everyone and their dog back in its day. The Garfunkel version is nice though--much better than the John Stevens attempt.
2 - George Lyons
Maybe I'm predjudiced because I'm not 17, but it seems that some life experience is a necessary ingredient when interpreting Sinatra tunes....."Red" really is only qualified thus far to sing one verse of "It Was A Very Good Year".
3 - Sticker
Joe--
You have proven Spousal Unit correct!
SU said the first post you are going to get is about saying "I Only Have Eyes For You" is an Art Garfunkel tune!
I agreed, but said Artie's version would always be gold to me and, if I want to pay tribute to Artie's version, it's my blog and "I"ll cry if I want to."
So, you are correct. SU is correct. And I'm right :-).
Thanks for writing (and I'll be sure to forward your comment to SU for appropriate gloating purposes).
4 - Sticker
George,
I agree with you (that singing Sinatra takes some life experience, by which I take it you mean, years on you), but only to an extent.
Plenty of people have lived a good number of years and still could not convey a song in a meaningful way.
I think a "kid" like John Stevens, who by the way---check out the vid at his site (linked in the article)---is quite mature for his age, has had time to experience some of life's deeper emotions.
And remember, John's grandfather introduced him to Sinatra at a very early age. It has been John's music all his life.
Plus John learned it at the foot of someone (his grandfather) who had listened to it all his life and who still had a deep---and many-decade-old---love for it.
So I don't think is your average 17-year-old kid picking up a Sinatra tunebook and going, hey, I dig that.
Also, have you listened to the tracks yet? Again, check out the vid. I found John's voice absolutely riveting.
Plus his version of Maroon 5's "This Love" convinced me that John is going to be a singer who can create new "standards" (which the world desperately needs).
Steve Tyrell says he thinks "This Love" may be the best track on the disc and I'm inclined to agree.
Take a listen and let me know what you think.
5 - Sticker
also, this teaser from the Variety review of John's cabaret gig--
Variety (subscription) - Jun 22, 2005
In his Gotham cabaret debut, 17-year-old John Stevens croons the old ones with a swinging savvy and romantic allure that belies his age. ...