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(and who's that in the background!)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=aE3pgwIWKJo

She sounds as good as ever!!!

Actually I'm not speaking for anyone. I'm just calling a spade a spade. Thing is, to most viewers the joke got old. And the joke was on the eardrums of all of America.

But this only partially reflects my personal opinion which is, his interestingness and "fuck it, I'll just have fun" approach redeemed his lack of vocal ability. As a singer he was ass, but as a performer he was light years ahead of all his fellow contestants. He was horrible, but horrible in an awesome way in comparison to the posers, phonies, vampires, Wookiees, ogres, girls gone wild, Jack Osborne impersonators, beatboxing jagoffs and white bread surrounding him. They too were bad, but they were also boring as all get out. Plus, anyone who makes Simon threaten to quit is a pimp in my book.

Antonella Is Booked This Summer at CU

By Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts
Sunday, June 3, 2007; Page D03

Antonella Barba is coming back to Washington! Almost definitely. She's pretty sure, anyway.

The Catholic University architecture student, who became a whirlwind sensation on "American Idol" and a cautionary tale for the MySpace generation, says she'll return this summer to make up the classes she missed while competing on the show, in hopes of graduating with her friends next spring. Though if showbiz offers arise . . . ?

"If I want to do music, I'll have to pursue it," she said hesitantly. "Wouldn't it be great if I could do both?"

At least we'll (maybe) have her around for a bit. Our other local-ish Idol, third runner-up LaKisha Jones , had only lived at Fort Meade for a few months before she was whisked off to Hollywood; now she plans to move back to Houston or settle in L.A.

New Jersey native Barba, 21, was an early breakout star this season. A coltish beauty with a jazzy vibe, she briefly became the most Googled girl in the universe. So of course someone leaked boudoir photos to the Internet; later some XXX-rated photos emerged, though friends denied the woman in them was Barba. When some "pitchy" notes just barely kept her from the top 12, Barba vanished: "I just wanted to stay out of the public eye a bit." While other "Idol" evictees jumped at any fame-extending invitation, Barba says she didn't return a phone call for two months.

"You have to wait for what's right," she said. "You can't take the first thing."

If she had to do it all over again -- the mortifying loss of privacy that came with fame -- would she? "Um . . . I don't regret going on 'American Idol.' I'm thankful for the opportunities. . . . Even if you've made right or wrong decisions, you can't regret them, because you've learned from them. Everything happens for a reason. I'd like to know what it is, though."

So, she's coming back for summer classes . . . and definitely for the fall? "Probably!" she said. "It's a question mark."

LAKEWOOD, N.J. - Antonella Barba of Point Pleasant, who was among the final 16 contestants on the most recent season of American Idol, will sing the National Anthem at the June 26th Lakewood BlueClaws game.

"The opportunity for our fans to come out and hear Antonella sing and enjoy a great day of baseball really makes for an exciting day for everybody," said BlueClaws General Manager Geoff Brown. "It should be a fun event for everyone who makes it to the ballpark that night."

Barba, who once toured with the Monmouth Conservatory of Music in England, is a current student at Catholic University in Washington, DC.

Antonella Barba to Sing Anthem at BlueClaws Game
Published on: 6/5/2007

LAKEWOOD, N.J. - Antonella Barba of Point Pleasant, who was among the final 16 contestants on the most recent season of American Idol, will sing the National Anthem at the June 26th Lakewood BlueClaws game.

"The opportunity for our fans to come out and hear Antonella sing and enjoy a great day of baseball really makes for an exciting day for everybody," said BlueClaws General Manager Geoff Brown. "It should be a fun event for everyone who makes it to the ballpark that night."

Barba, who once toured with the Monmouth Conservatory of Music in England, is a current student at Catholic University in Washington, DC.

June 26th is a Seniors Eat Free Tuesday, presented by Commerce Bank, and the first 2,000 fans 18 & older will receive Can Coozies courtesy of Clayton Block.