Rockstar Supernova goes to a Higher Level of Perfection

Rockstar Supernova goes to a Higher Level of Perfection by Roxanne McDonald

The elimination episode of Rockstar Supernova, Wednesday, August 30, 2006 was less dramatic as far as spotlight on one contender goes, but was impacting in other ways — some of the remaining six were even more profound, some brought the jams to a higher level of perfection, and one, getting eliminated, plucked at our sadness strings.

It is down to the most powerful of performers, so trying to participate and vote for favorites, for example, is more of a challenge than would be for other performance reality shows.

  I mean, how do you say goodbye to any one of these incredibly talented stars?

Anyway, here is the recap of the night:

Brooke has us give it up for the final six, and then discusses last night’s voting stats.

  Voting for Rock Star Supernova prospects doubled last night, making the participation the highest ever.

After the performances and the final talk regarding Dilana and talking to the press, the rockers spent some quiet time together in the mansion.

Ryan was asked about his thoughts on whether he would be in the bottom three, and he said he wants to be here to the end.  He will suffer being in the bottom three but he won’t go home, he insists.  Lukas, also evidently asked the same what-if question, says very humbly, “I could be.  If so, I’ll just take it like a man.”

Dave Navarro says last night was the BEST … and asks Dilana if it will be hard to leave friends (foreshadowing the fact that she will be in the bottom three tonight?).  She responds that yes, it will be “like losing a limb.”  Dave asks Magni about challenge, then cuts in while Magni is answering.  Magni pretends to lecture Dave about interrupting and Dave gets a little more serious, saying that while he has been telling them / us all along that he has no influence over the final outcome or decisions, he really DOES impact results.

Lukas is chosen to rock out with Supernova!  The fans are going mental: it is a brilliant song (I didn’t catch the title, but I think it’s “Let it Shine On”) and an even more brilliant performance.  Lukas brings his usual devotion with a touch of buwa ha ha style, and for him there is no comparison to other superstar rockers, though methinks at times, during the chorus, for instance, one can detect some U2 and Stones.

Equally impressive for those of us unlucky enough to not be there in person are the awesome camera shots – of Lukas and Gilbey hunkering in tandem; of Tommy intense on the drums; of Jason in his own world but in sync at once – and the yellow filters and documentary style offer promise of the world tour to come.  With the ending of the song, Lukas and Gilbey are back to back in rock crescendo, and this writer can’t help but think Lukas BELONGS in this band.  Just look at the stance, the presence, the relative “costumery” (all in black) as they stand before us for applause … which is out-of-control ovation.

Just as delightful for rock fans is Toby’s encore.  The treble rebel pulls it off again, in fact making it even cleaner, even crisper in delivery and in his eliciting of eager reception.  (The women LOOOVE this guy.)  This time, he also jumps into his group of housemates, who are in mid-motion, mid-rock, and then ENDS in the mosh pit.  Super.

Last night’s bottom three were Storm, Lukas, and Ryan, and the crowd is near riot!  Then, also at risk and added to the bottom three standing are Toby and Dilana.  Magni yells, “What??!!” and jumps up to join the rest anyway, as Dilana (I think) pushes him back down.

Dave says, “Wait.  Did you say everyone with hair stand up?” and everyone laughs.  He adds that after last night, “nobody should be standing.” 

Post commercials, Brooke announces, one at a time, the bottom three.  Ryan is first to be called out, and brings an angry rendition of “Teenage Wasteland,” popping the cork on an agitated bottle of champagne, which he hands off to Toby, who is waiting in the mosh to receive.  He nears climax by climbing on the amp stack, and the camera shoots to Gilbey, who looks unimpressed.  Another cam shows Dilana, looking worried and pensive, and not rocking out with the others.

Then Storm is called up, and does her usual overjoyed, exaggerated “YES!”  She takes the stage announcing the song she will do is in her opinion one of the first punk rock songs ever written – “Helter Skelter.”  Storm makes a manic start with a powerful, alluring, crowd-pulling growling sound.  Her uniqueness comes once again when she throws herself into Tommy Lee’s lap.

Lukas and Dilana, Brooke reports, have never been standing OR in the bottom three.  However, Dilana does make it to the third of the bottom three tonight.  She does “Psycho Killer,” which she introduces as a most apropos song, considering.  She brings it with the usual passion and verve, and at the same time, her sadness leaks in there in the middle and she seems more defeated than psychotic.  As we go to commercial, again, ugh, Dilana joins Ryan and Storm, and Storm grabs and lifts Dilana, carrying her forward on stage.

Gilbey addresses Ryan, saying, “What an adventure so far ….  You’ve come so far ….” And we kinda get that Ryan is going to be next, for whenever one of the band members or Dave refers to the overall growth of a rocker, he or she is likely the one out that week.  Gilbey continues: “The Ryan standing before us is certainly not the Ryan [of earlier weeks].  What you did tonight was [your] best … but are you right for us?”

To Storm Gilbey says that they have not really seen a lot of growth in her, and to Dilana he says that her song and performance tonight “really came out of left field” for them, and she seemed a “little lost” in the middle of it.  However, he adds, she has earned a lot of credit with Supernova … but is it, he asks, enough?

It is time for the Tommyhawk.  He directs his speech to Ryan (yep), saying that “after nine weeks you’re probably the only cat that’s come farthest … but unfortunately, Ryan, you’re the next to go, brother.”

Dave adds that Ryan is the most evolved singer, and asks if Ryan has any words for Supernova.  Ryan, unlike others like Patrice, brings a stronger ego to his final message, saying that with him the band would have gone all the way but that he respects their decision.  He then says he will continue with his solo career and that he will see them on the charts, for, he says somewhat glibly, “that’s where I’ll be.”

The crowd shows disappointment, maybe as much for the fact that Ryan didn’t really THANK Supernova as for his being eliminated, but, we will go on.  And we will look for you Ryan.  Good luck.

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