VIDEO: Alex Nester's American Idol Season 9 Audition #1: "THINK"

By GottaLaff

You all know my dear friend and former student, Alex Nester, by now. All my posts about her, including videos and amazing audio of her singing, are here.

Sadly, she got eliminated from American Idol the other night. She made it to Hollywood, she made it through group competition. Then, that was that.

Since American Idol didn't air any of her singing, not once, she has re-created her auditions on video:

My American Idol Season 9 Audition #1: "THINK" by Aretha Franklin! Since the producers decided not to air my actual audition I thought I'd recreate it for you! I got 4 yeses when I sang this for the judges in Denver btw!

I'd like to add that she sounds even better in person. This video doesn't do her justice, even though it's shows off those pipes of hers beautifully. Alex's personality and style fill a room, which is why she was invited, and did, cut CDs with The Four Tops and Frankie Valli, among others.

And she's only 25.

VIDEO: Alex Nester's 1st vlog after being cut from American Idol season 9

By GottaLaff

You all know my sweet friend and former student, Alex Nester, by now. All my posts about her, including videos and amazing audio of her singing with the Four Tops, are here.

Sadly, she got eliminated from American Idol last night. She made it to Hollywood, she made it through group competition. Then, wham. If you ever heard her sing, you'd be scratching your head the way she, her family, and I are now.

She recorded a message for us:





Lerve you Alex!

Evening distraction: Don't blink!

By GottaLaff

My dear friend and former student, Alex Nester, made it into a promo for American Idol! Now don't blink or you'll miss her (at :15), but you sure won't miss her voice:



Here's a reminder of who she is, including a video I put together during the 2008 elections, using her vocals (singing with the Four Tops) under the visuals of the Obama family.

Judge for yourself.

(Alex and her husband Eddy-- another of my former students, wonderful friend-- right after getting word she was going to Hollywood)

Want more American Idol videos? Click here.

If the interview video doesn't show up, try clicking here.

VIDEO: My dear friend Alex Nester on American Idol!

By GottaLaff

My very dear friend and former student/protege Alex Nester has the pipes to make it big! She's on Idol, and she simply rocks. I wish you all knew her the way I do.

Want more American Idol videos? Click here.

Here is a video I put together during the 2008 elections, using her vocals (singing with the Four Tops) under the visuals of the Obama family.

Judge for yourself.

(Alex and her husband Eddy-- another of my former students, wonderful friend-- right after getting word she was going to Hollywood)

Overnight thread-- VIDEO: Alex Nester performing "Unique"

By GottaLaff



My former student and very good friend, acclaimed singer/songwriter Alex Nester performing "Unique"--the title song from her debut album "RATTLE THE WALLS"--at Kulak's Woodshed in North Hollywood.

I have another YouTube you may have seen, of her vocals under an Obama family video I put together, here. Killer voice on that one too, singing "Sugar Pie, Honeybunch" with the Four Tops.

Alex's CD is currently available for download here as well as on Amazon and CD Baby.

Can you tell I adore this girl?

On a housekeeping note, we have a new ad for a good friend's bookstore, so click through and check it out. You can also always make a donation through the PayPal button to the right, and if you are thinking of buying anything from Amazon, if you use the links over to the right, just using one of those links to buy anything gets us a couple pennies a transaction.

Original Political Carnival VIDEO: Alex Nester sings "Sugar Pie, Honeybunch(es of Obamas)"

By GottaLaff



This is my latest little video effort. However, since transparency is the watchword-o'-the-Obama-era, I must confess that it's actually a shameless plug for the launch of a CD by one of my sweetest, most talented alumni. It's her first album and it's excellent.

I chose to underscore the video with "Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honeybunch)", because I'm all a-dither over her recording a song with the Four Tops. Talk about a dream-come-true!

Her powerful, contagiously upbeat vocals coupled with the warmth of the Obama family are about as compatible as you can get, so please enjoy and let us know what you think.

Remember her name: Alex Nester. She will go far. Let's help her attain that goal sooner than later.

Alex's CD is currently available for download here.

L.A. Times letter, January 31, 2009:

Re “Dream dad: one job too many,” Opinion, Jan. 24

Meghan Daum is right about one thing: Watching the Obama girls interact with their father is "somehow exhilarating."

As a clinical psychologist who studies the neurobiology of parent-child interaction, I am keenly aware of the real reason for our national fascination with the president's personal relationships. It's not about his being a reassuringly "involved" black father, it's about his being an exceptional father.

The confidence he has instilled in his young daughters; the calm attention he turns toward them; the ease of affection, touch, intimacy and humor he offers; and the detailed memory he has of the girls' recent statements are testaments to the outstanding emotional health he brings to the job of father (and president). None of this could be orchestrated for public presentation: It is revealed in tell-tale, unconscious behaviors. This is why we are exhilarated: We have not only a good man at the helm, but an exceptional man. Nothing less challenging than parenting could reveal so well the emotional evolution of a person.