When I was younger, I had grandiose plans of becoming a country music singer. I really didn’t have a chance, but it was a plan nonetheless. Over the years I grew away from the dream for more practical pursuits, but every now and then I still break out the old guitar and play some of my old songs.

Working towards my goal of getting most of my creative content onto the new website, I’ve recently thrown up my music at http://music.lykaon.com. There’s more to come in the future, but for now we start with rough cuts of 6 of the songs I’ve written (or co-written in some cases). Listening to them all these years later, I think I’m a better song writer than singer.

Still, though, I think they capture the idea well enough and considering they were done with about a year of guitar experience and a cheap computer microphone I’d say they aren’t bad. I’ve had the opportunity to record a few of them in a studio with full instrumental (and people who know how to play their instruments). I’ll try to get those up in the coming weeks.

Nobody reads this blog anyway, so this is mostly for my own edification, posterity, and the joy of the using the Internet to link random things together. And to start the music category on my blog, of course.

Congratulations, America. You’re all a bunch of idiots.

For the first time in five seasons, American Idol actually had a contestant who sang music resembling contemporary music. His voice sounded like lead singers of bands who actually sell music. His voice was spot on, his song choices were excellent, and he was a good entertainer. Chris Daughtry was everything American Idol was invented to discover.

And now he’s gone in one of the most ridiculous vote-offs in Idol history–hell, I’ll throw Survivor vote-offs in there as well. Just plain dumb. Step back and think before you cast votes in a show like this. Are you honestly going to buy albums from the little elf that is Elliott? When’s the last time a 70s blues album topped the charts (ala the kind of crap Taylor would make)? And what’s Katherine going to release? A soundtrack album of power ballads?

Basically, America, you’ve left American Idol with three crappy contestants who have good voices but no direction. They won’t make good artists, they won’t make good albums, and you will all abandon them when American Idol is over. Meanwhile, Chris will be making contemporary albums that everyone will buy.

It’s not a popularity contest, you nubtards. It’s a contest to give someone a record deal and career in music. The only career Elliott, Taylor and Katherine have ahead of them is teaching music at a university or something.

America voted… you voted wrong.

So for those who don’t watch American Idol, Mandisa got voted off the show last night. Mandisa had a great voice, great personality, and a beautiful face. Now it’s time to say what no one but Simon Cowell has said about Mandisa — she’s big. Like really big.

Now this isn’t really a problem in life. She’s a great girl so she has lot of options open to her. I’m a big guy, so I know what it’s like to be big. It doesn’t really stop you from being a cool person, BUT what it does stop you from doing is being a pop star. Honestly.

The fact that Mandisa made it this far in American Idol is a sad testament to the American public. I know, I know, you’re thinking, “But America let her make it this far! Doesn’t this show a tolerance for overweight folk?” The answer is no, my dear reader, no it doesn’t.

What I see is that America strung along a girl, giving her hope about a career she could never have. America knew that they wouldn’t vote her to the end. America knew that they wouldn’t buy her albums if she released any. America knew that they wouldn’t eagerly watch her videos like they do Jessica Simpson and Britney Spears. I refuse to believe that they didn’t.

Proof of this can be found in the timing of Mandisa’s departure. It was after she sang a Shania Twain song and tried to even act the part. It was then that America decided to end the charade and let her know how they really felt. Let her know that when she tried to be sexy, they had to draw the line. To let her know that they had just been acting like they accepted her for who she was.

So this isn’t a rant about Mandisa or about being overweight. This is a rant about the true state of acceptance in America. That time when you were a kid when your dad put you upon his knee and said “You can be whatever you want!” was a total lie. You can’t be anything you want. You just simply can’t. America knew this about Mandisa from the time they started voting for her, but they strung her along only to dump her at the first sign that she couldn’t possibly be their Jessica Simpson.

Mandisa, you’re a great girl. You have a lot to offer to everyone around you. But you can’t be a pop star. Not because you can’t sing – but because America won’t let you. It’s best to count your blessings, and move on.