Tokio Hotel

Season 7 of Star Academy started a few weeks ago.

SA is kind of like American Idol, with a few French twists: the competitors live together in a chateau (there should be a "hat" over the first a!) and "train" each day with coaches in voice, instrument, choreography, etc. It appears to be quite intense and not only do their coaches critique them, but there is a panel of judges who score their performance that week. The public also gets to vote, but the panel has the final say in who is voted off. Also, the person that is voted off is chosen from the three competitors with the lowest overall scores, while the rest of the group continue to strive for top scores to stay high in the ranking. Last year, and in all previous years, the public picked the champion and sadly, they made a poor choice, so the judges' final say is a welcome change.

Each week features a number of famous artists from around the world, and different students are paired up to sing with them. This week's guests include Seal, Johnny Hallyday, Joss Stone, and Tokio Hotel, among others.

I have never heard of this German group. Have you? I had to Wikipedia them. Despite the hair and make-up, the lead singer is not a girl. I finally concluded his look is a cross between Boy George and Marilyn Manson. Pascal agreed.

Personally, I'm looking forward to hearing Joss Stone . . . ooo, she's singing now! And her hair is purple! A wig?!? And she's singing one of my favorite Nat King Cole songs - L-O-V-E :)