These last days I’ve got interested again in Guitar Idol competition. While I am a fan of Gustavo Guerra due to 1000 reasons that I will discuss at a later time(and I hope he win the competition), I listened to every one of the guys presented there in the final. I must say that in many cases, the video they entered the contest with was not the best choice if you also look for them on YouTube because, in my opinion, most of them have other pieces that are better.

But OK, I understand the reason for the songs presented there: they needed songs that show a broad range of skills and I can say that you could see in 3-4 minutes from speed picking, melodic sense, creativity, control, tone, tremolo bar works, 8 finger taping, slap, finger style, whatever else they could think of that I can not even imagine…

This morning I was looking on YouTube for this guy, Chris Feener, who is on the 3rd position considering the number of votes, but didn’t quite impress me.

In the beginning, his Ibanez K7 guitar was what set me back because it immediately made me think of a pattern: the young shredder, Symphony X fan that will drive me crazy with fast notes from moment one to the end of the song without understanding anything of the actual melody (if there would be any). Don’t get me wrong, I am a fan of Ibanez electric guitars and a 7 strings Ibanez guitar has been something I have dreamed of for a while, until I understood that you don’t need 7 strings to play well. You need something else…

However, listening him on YouTube, I have discovered a 20 yo guy with a great collection of skills and techniques, with pieces far more interesting than what he presented for the contest.

So I have decided to put here one of his covers, Andy Timmons Groove or die song which I like very much, by the way, as almost all the songs of Andy Timmons.

So, without further comments, I give you Chris Feener and Andy Timmons’ Groove or die:

Question: considering the notoriety that YouTube builds to these guys, where do you think we’ll see him in a couple of years? In what band?

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Did you ever thought about what influence rock music has over people worldwide? I am always pleased to see artists outside rock music scene covering famous rock hits. Some of those covers come from people I wouldn’t have thought they enjoy rock music, like for example these cases below.

I know AC/DC is big, had a lot of hits and is in a position where everybody would like to sing one of their song, but man, Celine Dion, Anastacia , Shania Twain, Shakira singing AC/DC??!! This is a “must see” in my opinion!!

So, here we go:

Celine Dion and Anastacia singing “You shook me all night long” (pop rock version)

Shania Twain again with “You shook me all night long” (pop/country version, I love the slide on ACDC, I ask myself what Angus Young thought when he saw this video,because I don’t think he missed it!)

Shakira with “Back in black”, after you pass the first part, it is fine, considering Shakira’s singing style. I love the guitar part!

I consider these performances a tribute to monster band AC/DC, tribute that well known pop divas pay to somebody that made a mark on rock music. I consider it a form of respect, because when you are on top, you only sing somebody else’s songs if you really respect that artist.

Stumble that, people! Thanks!

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