And then there were 3

Suzie McNeil from Vancouver got sent home in the second to the last episode of Rockstar: INXS. I am tempted to say that she was dropped because she was a girl and who can imagine the Australian INXS being fronted by a girl! While girls have already proven that they too can rock, rock groups still behave like they belong to an old-boys club that is off-limits to women.

On the other hand though, INXS really had no choice. The guys had to vote somebody off. Suzie was able to work the crowd up with her rendition of Stone Temple Pilots’ Interstate Love Song and the Four Non-Blondes’ What’s Up. But she did get the lowest text votes and did go out of tune in the middle of her second song. So it was "Goodbye Suzie" and stay Marty, J.D. and Mig.

INXS is faced with a very difficult job choosing only one from among these three. They are excellent singers and performers, good songwriters and have a high regard for the music of INXS. I do not think that INXS will go wrong with any of them. However, they must choose only one.

Pinoys are rooting for Mig, of course. I was afraid that he would be booted off last week. J.D Fortune who performed his own composition Pretty Vegas and Pink Floyd’s Money did a great job. So did Marty Casey who alternated between being sublime with the acoustic Trees and frenzied with Radiohead’s Creep.

I really wondered what Mig who was the last contestant, could do to top those powerful performances. My fears were for naught. As in the case of Marty, INXS chose two very different songs for Mig to do, the Stones classic Paint It Black and Seal’s Kiss from a Rose. He acquitted himself wonderfully in those and brought to fore his amazing vocal range and acting ability.

While it would be fantastic to see Mig win, I have a feeling that the final choice will be the dependable American Marty. He is not drop-dead gorgeous like J.D. or Mig but he has a quiet charm that grows on the audience. He is a versatile singer with a great voice. That’s why he tops the downloads of songs from the show. Besides, he topped the voting last week and was the only one not in the bottom three.

J.D., who by the way is also Canadian like Suzie, is too moody to play leader to a group like INXS that is pretty much set in its ways. Like his song, he is also more "pretty vegas" than rock star. Mig who is more Australian than Marty or J.D., might have an edge in that area. He is "mates" with INXS. But he is also Filipino, which could be an asset and then not. Last week also was the only time he was at the bottom three, so we do not know how he will do the INXS songs.

No matter what happens though, I am sure that J.D., Marty and Mig will all end up as big stars, one as the leader of INXS and the other two, somewhere else. Rock Star: INXS has very effectively shown off their capabilities and it will really be a big surprise if no label or agent makes a grab for the losers come Wednesday.

Sadly though, this also means that Rock Star: INXS has come to its end. The show very effectively raised the bar as far as talent search and reality shows are concerned. The contestants were simply incredible, the house band terrific, Brooke and Dave, amazing hosts. Make that doubly amazing for Dave of Jane’s Addiction because he would from time to time pick up the guitar and playing with a contestant.

Now how about another search? Do you think that Brian May will go in search of another Freddy Mercury? Maybe ‘N Sync can search for a replacement for Justin Timberlake or they can put together a new Spice Girls, etc., etc. The possibilities are endless.

Tower’s Top 10

Here now are last week’s Top 10 sellers from Tower Records and Music One: Versions & Beyond by M.Y.M.P.; Memories of Love: Live by Various Artists; Side A: Gig Live by Side A; Nina Live; Hale; American Idiot by Green Day; Halina sa Parokya ni Edgar by Parokya ni Edgar; When Love is Gone by Martin Nievera; 2Hot by Various Artists; and God Bless the Child by Mishka Adams.

The Top 10 videos in MYX last week were: Gemini by Sponge Cola; Especially for You by M.Y.M.P.; Kahit Pa by Hale; Helena by My Chemical Romance; Someday I Will Understand by Britney Spears; Wake Up by Hilary Duff; First by Lindsay Lohan; Break You by Marion Raven; The Day You Said Goodnight by Hale; and Stay by Cueshé.