Archive for March, 2008

Doxology, the Seattle band that claims David Cook ripped off their  arrangement of The Beatles “Eleanor Rigby” without credit has issued yet another press release.  Ãƒâ€š   Meanwhile, Chris Cornell gives an interview to Billboard about David covering his arrangement of   “Billie Jean”.

Both Cornell and Doxology believe David Cook performed note for note copies of their arrangements.  

I’m not a musicologist, but note for note?   Really?

Entertainment Weekly’s Hollywood Insider covers the Doxology  story:  

For more, click on the jump

Thanks Cheese, for the links…

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Straight from  Rosalee, the webmistress at Chris Sligh’s official fan site–media of his latest appearances.   Chris’s album, Running Back to You drops May 6…

• Interview on the Logan Show out of Nashville.   There’s an interview and he sings “Know” and “Empty Me”.   Chris’s segment starts at about the  10 minute mark.   You want to skip ahead, because this Logan guy is seriously un-funny.
• This interview and performance, “In A Moment”  is with CBS-Chicago.
• WJQK Interview  
• WJTL Interview
• WRBSÂ  Performance “Vessel”
• WPAR Performance “Are You Pleased”
• WLAB Performance “Empty Me”

Chris’s single, “Empty Me”, is currently #24 on the Billboard  Hot Christian Songs chart, and #26 on the Hot Christian Adult Contemporary chart.   It’s available on iTunes here.

David Cook’s “Billie Jean” is currently ahead of all the Idols who come up in my search of “American Idol” in iTunes.   According to Rickey from Rickey.org, “Billie Jean”, as of Saturday, is in the #2 spot  on the  iTunes Top 100, behind “Touch My Body”, Mariah Carey.  

BTW, thanks to Ricky for the long email describing exactly how he came up with his overall  chart.   This stuff is an inexact science, but it does give you a rough idea of where the Idols stand overall.

To purchase Season 7 singles, and support mjsbigblog,  just click this handy banner (or any of the iTunes banners on my site).

Check out these Season 7 pre-Idol recordings available at Amazon.com (click the banners):

A snapshot of Idolsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ singles radio play culled from Mediabase charts as of this morning. Find out where your favorite Idol stands on the radio after the jump.

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Top 9 Power Rankings: David Cook’s a Thriller

This could become like a ping-pong match, folks. The lead in TVGuide.com’s Idol Power Rankings changed again this week, as Davids Cook and Archuleta traded places. Fueled by his show-stopping delivery of “Billie Jean,” Cook commanded 48.1 percent of our readers’ votes, while Archuleta slid back to a mere 18.7 percent. But has a third horse entered this race? Making significant strides this week was Michael Johns, who at No. 3 hit his highest spot in a month.

TV Guide

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I can’t help but love Dolly.   An accomplished singer/songwriter, musician and business woman, she’s had an astonishingly long and varied career.  She started out in Nashville as a teenager, writing  hits for other performers. In the late 60′ s she began recording on her own, and with singing partner Porter Wagoner–they performed as a duo through the mid-70’s.

In the 80’s she crossed over to pop music with songs like “9-5″ and “Islands in the Stream”, the latter with Kenny Rogers.   She began a successful acting career, starring with Jane Fonda in 9-5.   Later films included Steel Magnolias and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

In recent years, Dolly  went back to her roots, recording outstanding albums of traditional country and bluegrass.   She also sings gospel, and recorded an album of patriotic songs.

Dolly plays off the iconic image of the buxom dumb blond, but with a great big wink and her tongue in her cheek.  She has always driven her own destiny.  Ãƒâ€š  Dolly is  her own creation, and a smart business woman to boot.   She  developed the successful theme-park, Dollywood, in her native East Tennessee, where she grew up hardscrabble and poor.   The thriving tourist attraction has brought many jobs to that disadvantaged area.  

Need I say more?   Dolly rules, y’all!  

After the jump, check out my choices for the contestants.   And then post yours in comments.   Rumor has it, the kids can chose from any song Dolly has sung.   She’s got a ton of covers.

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Here’s this week’s Idol Billboard Update.

My post is a little later than usual, but I try to get the Billboard chart itself up as soon as possible.

I’ve changed the way I’m posting the chart so that y’all can easily tell when a FRESH chart is available.

Take a glance at the tabs along the bottom of the purple header, and you’ll see the dates change for the chart. The date reflects Billboard’s issue date. The chart comes out on Billboard’s internet edition on Thursday, the issue is dated the Saturday of the following week.

Also, the fabulous Kirsten does a ton of research during the week on sales stats, and I include ALL of her great work with the chart, so take a peek!

Highlights After the Jump…

Click the links to purchase at iTunesà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦
Sales numbers compiled by Kirsten.

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OMG this is HILARIOUS!

Arden and Bobbi from Mad TV interview the Idols on the Red Carpet, and it’s hysterical. WATCH!

Video After the Jump…

Thanks Nikki…

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Baseball is back. Both Elliott Yamin and Diana DeGarmo sing the Anthem for home openers. Kelly Clarkson continues to tour throughout Europe, Daughtry is back touring with Bon Jovi after a brief stint in Germany, and Anwar Robinson has returned to the Rent tour after being sidelined with a knee injury.

Don’t Miss…

Sunday 3/30 - Elliott Yamin sing “God Bless America” during the 7th inning stretch, Washington Nationals baseball home opener. The game will be carried by ESPN. 8:05 pm ET.

Monday 3/31 – Chikezie appears on Live with Regis and Kelly. Blake Lewis appears on Good Morning America

Wednesday 4/2 – Kellie Pickler and Chikezie appear on The Ellen Degeneres Show. Randy Jackson appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

For more information, check out the Idol Appearances page.

Photo – Kelly Clarkson performing in Glasgow, Scotland.

Idols on Tour – After the Jump

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Ramiele Mania Hits Manila And Guam

“Filipinos cheer for Malubay because they can relate to her. The singer embodies the longing of every single Pinoy to be successful,” said University of the Philippines (UP) sociologist Andrea Martinez.

“There is also the natural propensity of Filipinos to identify with the underdog since the singer is considered a member of the minority who can be subjected to discrimination,” Martinez stressed.

Just like boxing idol Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, the UP sociologist also said Filipinos will support Malubay because she gives them reason to be proud of their nationality.

Pacific News Center

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Watch Kellie Pickler perform on the Grand Ole Opry after the jump!

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OK. You guys know the drill.   You replace my lame-ass captions with something funny!   Or just make general comments about the pictures. Have fun!  

1. Don’t fret, I’ll kick your Dad’s ass…

David Archuleta and Ryan Seacrest. Jason Castro, Carly Smithson, Michael Johns, Brooke White, Ramiele Malubay and more after the jump…

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There Were No Good Songs the Year You Were Born

This week Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢m watching the show alone on our non-HD TV so I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t have to look at crispy, unpleasant makeup, skin, and perspiration details. Everythingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s nice and soft. Simonà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s smokerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s neck doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t bother me anymore. Paulaà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s outfit, on the other hand, remains excitingly odd, even in medium definition. Not only does it appear lopsided, like she somehow managed to pull her head through one of the sparkly armholes, but sheà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s got on these awesomely nutty fingerless, opera-length gloves that appear to be black latex. I vote yes to this. Only fools wouldnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t.

Advocate

Idol in Iraq: Soldiers Slam David Archuleta, Still Suspicious of Kristy Lee Cook

Major label reject, Kristy Lee Cook, has been teetering on the brink of elimination all season long, though she hit a high note this week performing Lee Greenwoodà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s red-state-rousing à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“God Bless the USA.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  Randy, Paula and Simon lauded the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“smartà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  song choice, with Cowell calling it Cookà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“best performance by a mile.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  But how did the patriotic anthem play with our judges in uniform? The song resonated with the troops but Kristyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s rendition did not. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“We did not really buy ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦ We were more motivated by [Michael Johnsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢] à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“We Are the Champions,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  19-year-old Nathan wrote. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I think after hearing that song we were all ready to go fight.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ And they came gunning for early à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  favorite David Archuleta, whose confusing song choice left the military men at a loss, though they had little trouble finding some strong words in their curt condemnation à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“hateà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  being the one that stands out the most.

MTV

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Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown will appear on the special Idol Gives Back results show on Thursday, April 1o to perform their big hit “No Air”.   I do believe they have  yet to perform the song together on television.   That should be special.   I rather like “No Air”.   Overwrought teen passion at it’s finest!  

Bucky Covington’s fan letter confirms that  he’ll be  appearing on The Top 9 Results Show this coming Wednesday, April 2   in a video package that also  features Nashville-based Idols Bo Bice and Phil Stacey.

According to The Clark Brothers  My Space, they will be making an  appearance also.   Plus, Dolly Parton will be performing her new single. She’s the mentor this week.   Wow, that’s a lot  to  fit into one hour.   I better be getting a pointy pose, dammit!

Chikezie, subdued and humble during his post-boot interview with host JD Roberto, is looking forward to going out on tour with his fellow Idols this summer.

A few items:

• He auditioned 4 times for Idol.
• He’s never been to a concert before
• Even when worked for the TSA, he never gave up on music

Videos after the Jump. Plus a super-speshul bonus video you won’t want to miss. (!!?!??!)

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