Archive for June, 2008

Alyson Gilbert is Eliminated.

Tonight’s show is better than last week. The standouts are Melissa Lawson and Gabe Garcia. Ashlee Hewitt and Shawn Mayer improve. The rest are forgettable.

The finalists are visited by their families. Noah Cyrus introduces her father, who still can’t read a freaking teleprompter. Gah, every contestant is performing twice. This show is so freaking bloated.

More recap and Videos after the JUMP…

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The first half of the Top 20 perform tonight at 8 pm ET/CT

Check this post for video from this site. Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll post it as soon as ità ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s available.

Video is UP

Video After the JUMP…

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Add Josiah Leming to the the list of Season 7 Idols who will be releasing a record this fall…

From a Warner Brothers press release:

Tennessee-born singer and songwriter Josiah Leming has signed a publishing and recording deal with Warner Bros. Records. The 19-year-old newcomer is currently in London with producer/musician David Kosten (Bat For Lashes, Faultline) recording tracks for his debut album, which Warner Bros. Records will release this fall.

“Josiah’s talent as a lyricist is one of the main reasons I signed him,” says Warner Bros. Records’ Senior Vice President of A&R Perry Watts-Russell. “All of his emotions go into his songs. He has an extraordinary gift for turning his experiences into art.”

“No matter what I have gone through, I have the same feelings every kid has,” Leming says. “And I think I can put those feelings in such a way that they connect with people and help them get through their hard times. If my music can give others something they can express their emotions through, that’s the whole point.”

Josiah is indeed a gifted songwriter. I’m really looking forward to his album this fall.

With all the Kristy Lee Cook talk today, lets get back to that non-winning county girl, original-flavah, Kellie Pickler! She sent a message to her fans from her My Space a few days ago:

Hey there!!

Just wanted to say hello and thank you for all the birthday wishes!!! I love reading all of your sweet comments on my page!!! I can’t believe that I am 22!!! WHAOOOO!!! I am on the road this weekend….I have a show with Brooks n Dunn tonight….I can honestly tell you that I never in a million years thought that I would be celebrating my 22nd birthday on tour!!! Seeing that my brand new song “Don’t you know your beautiful” is FINALLY on itunes…..makes for the best birthday surpise ever!! I have to honest…I bought it this morning!!! Is that weird?? ha ha!!! Thanks so much to everyone who has purchased my music either in stores or itunes as well as requested my songs on radio!!!

Cute! The single Right Here if you care to download…

Syesha Mercado thanks her fans and answers their questions on her My Space. Check out the video after the JUMP…

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From USA Today:

American Idol finalist Kristy Lee Cook has signed with 19 Recordings/Arista Nashville. Her first single, 15 Minutes of Shame, arrives Aug. 11, and the album follows in the fall. The album is being produced by Brett James, who co-wrote Jesus, Take the Wheel for former Idol champion Carrie Underwood. The signing marks the return for Cook, 24, to Arista Nashville. She was signed to the label as a teen but dropped before recording anything. Cook will record her album while touring with American Idols Live, which kicks off Tuesday in Glendale, Ariz., and runs through Sept. 13.

I’m not super-surprised, she was signed, although I thought they’d sign Brooke White first–her sound is pretty hot right now.

Congratulations Kristy Lee. She’s entering a very crowded field of pretty blonde fair-to-middlinà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ country singers in Nashville. Weà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll see if she can distinguish herself from the pack.

If Kristy Lee’s single is dropping on Aug 11, I wonder when David Cook and David Archuleta will release their singles? Sooner rather than later, I would think.

Brooke White, Jason Castro bring their down-to-earth sparkle to town for ‘Idol’ tour

Season 7 of “American Idol” came down to The Battle of the Two Davids, but it also offered engaging personalities in Brooke White and Jason Castro.

White, 25, was the sunny, chatty, vulnerable one from Van Nuys. The one-time nanny could flash a smile as bright as Goldie Hawn’s and, with her flowing gold locks, carried the aura of a ’60s flower child. She also wore her emotions on her sleeve, sometimes looking nervous and teary-eyed before the judge’s pronouncements. No other finalist this year lived so much on the edge.

Castro, 21, was a construction science major at Texas A&M University. He cast a mellow, goofy demeanor (and, hey, he himself says he is kind of goofy) with his long dreadlocks and looks of a young John Travolta. And the young female fans swarmed as if he were a young John Travolta. He could appear befuddled or delightfully self-aware. You had to chuckle when, asked the biggest obstacle to overcome this season, Castro said: “The brain being dead.”

Fresno Bee

‘Idol’ Finalist Coming To Help Local Charities

“American Idol” finalist and former Shawnee resident Phil Stacey will perform a free benefit concert for two local charities on July 6.

“I feel my job as a singer is part of my job as a human being. I’m supposed to be touching other people’s lives, doing the best I can to be a positive force in the world,” Stacey said.

Stacey grew up in an atmosphere of faith, family, and music. His grandfathers, father, and father-in-law dedicated their lives to the ministry. His father played the trumpet and keyboard professionally. His mother encouraged him to sing in church.

Shawnee Sun

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The Big, Big, Big Idols Live! Tour 2008 featuring this season’s Top 10 contestants begins in Glendale AZ on Tuesday, July 1, and I could not be more excited! Yes, I will be there and plan to live blog the entire concert. Whoopee!

Also this week, Anwar Robinson, LaKisha Jones and Jon Peter Lewis begin a two-week engagment at the Rrazzroom in San Franciso on July 1. The show is directed by Michael Orland, Idol’s musical director. Sounds interesting…

Idols and more Idols on your TV screen July 4th. Katharine McPhee and Jordin Sparks appear on Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular on NBC at 9 pm, and over on PBS, it’s Taylor Hicks on A Capitol Fourth, 8 pm.

For More Information, check out the Idol Appearances Page…

Don’t Miss…

Wednesday 7/2 – David Cook appears on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno (repeat from 6/12)

Friday 7/4 – Taylor Hicks appears on A Capitol Fourth on PBS 8 pm. Katharine McPhee and Jordin Sparks appear on Macyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular. Bo Bice and Ace Young guest on Heroes Among Us, myNetworkTV, 8 pm. NBC 9 pm. David Cook appears on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno (repeat from 5/22).

Sunday 7/6 – Clay Aiken appears in The Survival Project: One Child at a Time on CNN, 8 pm, 11 pm, 2 am.

Idols on Tour

Monday 6/30 – Constantine Maroulis, Radio Hits of 1958,The Town Hall, NYC.

Tuesday 7/1 – The Idols Live! Tour 2008 opens in Glendale AZ. Anwar Robinson, Lakisha Jones and Jon Peter Lewis, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Idols in Concertà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ , directed by Michael Orland. The Rrazzroom, San Francisco, thru 7/5.

Wednesday 7/2 – Idols Live! Tour, San Diego Sports Arena, San Diego, CA, Bucky Covington, Muskegon Summer Celebration, Muskegon, MI. Josh Gracin, Honoring Our Heroes, Milford, CT.

Thursday 7/3 - Idols Live! Tour, SaveMart Center, Fresno, CA. Ace Young, Red Hot and Boom, Altamonte Springs, FL. Bucky Covington, Red, White and Blue Days, Charleston, IL. Bo Bice, Freebird Live, Jacksonville, FL.

Friday 7/4 – Nikko Smith, Rockinà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ the Landing, St. Louis MO, 5 pm. Ace Young, 18th Annual Pigeon Forge Patriot Festival, Pigeon Forge, TN. Bucky Covington, Red White and Boom, Lexington, KY. Bo Bice, Twin Mansions Theater, Silver Spring. FL. Josh Gracin, Ballfield of Craig Ranch, McKinney, TX. Phil Stacey, Wild West Festival Frontier Park, Hays, KS.

Saturday 7/5 – Idols Live! Tour, Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV. Bucky Covington, Festival of the Bells, Hillsboro, OH. Bo Bice, Neighborhood Theatre, Charlotte, NC. Chris Sligh, Fro Patrol Picnic, Nashville, TN. Mandisa, Night Vision 2K8, Olathe Community Park, Olathe, CO. Phil Stacey, Worlds of Fun, Kansas City MO.

Sunday 7/6 – Bucky Covington, Eyes to the Skies, Lisle, IL. Chris Sligh, National Cherry Fest, Traverse City, MI.

Monday 7/7 – Idols Live! Tour, Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA.

Ex-’American Idol’ Champ Ruben Studdard Says ‘I Do’

The 29-year-old “Idol” 2003 winner took out a marriage license with his 30-year-old bride-to-be on Monday, according to court records.

The Birmingham native, nicknamed the “Velvet Teddy Bear” on the show for his big frame and sonorous voice, has released three albums since his 2003 win, including the platinum CD “Soulful.” He is working on a new album.

Fox News

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This week’s Idol Billboard Update is here.

Highlights

• The Idols all fall into negative territory this week on both the album and download charts. Only the Jordan Sparks single “One Step at a Time” sees a sales increase this week from 11K last week to 14K this week, for a total of 114K. It continues to languish on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart at #7. After 5 weeks on that chart, it has yet to graduate to the Billboard Hot 1oo.
• “Time of My Life,” David Cook debuts on the Hot 100 Airplay chart at #67. It falls down the Hot 100 from 41-51. Sales for the single are decreasing (from 44K last week to 35K this week; from 23-30 on Hot Digital Songs). However, radio play on AC and Hot AC in particular, is increasing. It rose 13-11 on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart and 20-16 on the Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks chart.

Ruben Studdard is married:

Ruben Studdard, Birmingham’s first homegrown American Idol winner, married Surata Zuri McCants today during a 30-minute ceremony at noon at Canterbury United Methodist Church. There was no singing in the sacred ceremony, only vows, prayers, scripture and music from a string ensemble.

The bride wore a white and ivory Casablanca wedding gown. The groom wore a custom-made black tuxedo, white vest and a white hand tied bow tie. And like the bride and groom, the wedding party and most of the the 300 or so family and friends were dressed in black and white.

Congrats Ruben! Click on the story from the Birmingham News for a small picture of the bride and groom.

ETA: FOX AL has some video here.

Devo Sues Mcdonald’s Over Happy Meal ‘american Idol’ Figure

New wave group Devo has filed a lawsuit against McDonald’s over a Happy Meal toy. According to the Associated Press, Devo says the fast-food joint didn’t ask permission to use its likeness in an American Idol-themed toy representing different music genres McDonald’s had issued “New Wave Nigel,” a toy figure sporting a red cap that looks like an inverted flowerpot, similar to what Devo had dubbed “energy domes” in the 1980s and wore in their “Whip It” video.

Devo bassist Gerald Casale said, “This New Wave Nigel doll that they’ve created is just a complete Devo rip-off, and the red hat is exactly the red hat that I designed, and it’s copyrighted and trademarked.

kbsradio.ca

Finalist says ‘Idol’ left a mark

In à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“American Idol,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  you showed viewers your rock side, with performances such as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Come Togetherà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Total Eclipse of the Heart,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  and a softer pop side through such songs as à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Here You Come Againà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Blackbird.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  What type of album are you planning?

I want to stick to the pop rock vibe. I can’t put a label on what I’m going to make, but it will probably be a power pop rock record. I’m very influenced by Heart, and I definitely like Skid Row and Lynyrd Skynyrd à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’ cool bands that have also influenced me. I love interesting lyrics. And I want my record to be very vocally challenging.

Sign On San Diego

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The newest David Cook message to his fans is fancy! It’s got subtitles and everything! Check it out after the JUMP…

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The Canadian Idol Top 24 performed at the at The Rivoli nightclub in Toronto last week. The special showcase that featured the 24 performing in small groups, was such a hit, they recreated the performances for the Top 24 results show.

You can watch the Top 24 Results show here.

These are some fab performances, make sure to check it out…

To view the videos, click on the Jump. Enjoy!

thanks for the videos, RemusL

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Couples are split apart for the first time as Chelsea T and Chris are sent home this week on So You Think You Can Dance. That’s where I went wrong! I chose Comfort and Chris for elimination. Four pool players, however, chose correctly and got perfect scores.

Perfect scores this week!

1 SarahW
1 Sunny D
1 pj
1 KrazeeK120

Top 3 Pool Leaders so Far:

1 Hoppy
2 RLB777
3 KrazeeK120

Congrats!