Archive for August, 2008

ETA:

• Mavid: Land of a Thousand Lakes: Jason gets smacked!
• David Cook and Michael Johns sing “Shook Me All Night Long” at Donovan’s pub in Minneapolis, here and here. Carly Smithson is in the audience.
• Gerreb’s re-cap.

The Idols head north–they perform tonight in Minneapolis, MN.   Drop by and tell us about the show if you were there tonight, or send your re-cap (and any pictures and links to videos you have) to my email address at mjsbigblog at gmail.comà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦Ià ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ll post your story on the blog.

Watch this Space for UPDATESà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦

Bo Bice just sang the National Anthem at the start of the Nascar Pepsi 500 race in Fontana, CA. Thanks to the Bo Bice News/Unoffical My Space.

Hm. He had to start very low in his range to hit those high notes…

Bo will be appearing (along with Ace Young) on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon this weekend. Rumor has it, he will be on around 2:15 ET

Check it out After the JUMP…

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Smartcookie traveled to Kansas City to attend the Cookie Homecoming Concert. Read her very detailed re-cap below… More on the Kansas City concert here.

I was there last night, and after a day of cars and airplanes and more cars… I’m home! WOO WOO!!

I don’t live anywhere near Kansas City, but my sister does, and I thought it would be fun to buy tickets to the KC show so we could go to Cookie’s home concert. I thought that would be a more special show than the ones nearer to me, and I think I was right. (Note: my sister was a HUGE Jason Castro fan, although Cook was her second fave. Her husband liked Cook as #1 and the other Cook #2. This will be important later.)

So I flew to Kansas City Thursday, and my sister and I shopped and had lovely cocktails at various lovely KC locations. No, I didn’t see anyone. When I went to the SYTYCD concert in Mpls-St. Paul, I saw a whole gaggle of the dancers at the Mall of America. If there was anywhere the Idols were congregating in KC, I didn’t see them.

More Recap After the JUMP…

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Not a Recap, exactly–read Spritely’s impressions of the Idol concert, below. More on the Kansas City concert here.

First of all, may I just say that not enough has been written about David Cookà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s shoulders. More on that later.

This was my first Idol concert. The last concert I went to was Muse. My favorite concert of all time was Bruce Springsteen. This gives you some context. I will admit that during a lot of the first half, I glanced around at all the children and thought, what the hell am I doing at a Starter Concert for Pre-Teens? It looked like the training bra of concerts.

But I was there for David Cook. If he hadnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t been performing, I wouldnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t have gone. The other idols are adorable kids who worked their asses off on that stage, but I have to be honest. Besides the songs in Cookieà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s set, there was only one other moment that made me think, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I would have come just to hear this one song, alone.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  More on that later.

More Recap After the JUMP…

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I got my Sunday morning Lolz from this video I found on Constantine Maroulis’s My Space. It’s a promotional video for his upcoming Off Broadway show Rock of Ages, which appears to be a celebration of illustrious 70’s and 80’s hair bands such as REO Speedwagon, Styx and Journey.

All I can say is Thank Jeebus artists like the Clash and Nirvana put those bands out of commission. That is, until now, as nostalgia for bad 80’s music seems to be all the rage… YMMV, of course.

Anyway, see Constantine put on his best “OMG I Rawk” face. Actually, it seems more like “OMG I Gotta Crap” to me, but I’ll let you be the judge.

Rock of Ages will begin previews on September 30 at New World Stages and open on October 16.

Video after the JUMP…

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Jennifer Hudson’s performance of the National Anthem at the Democratic National Convention Thursday is now available on iTunes.

You can download it from here.

Those of you who haven’t heard it yet can check it out on You Tube here.

Jennifer’s performance blew the roof off the joint.   Figuratively of course.   Her upcoming album drops on September 30.   Her current single, “Spotlight” is also available on iTunes.   Download the song here and the video here. If you really dig “Spotlight” you can down load the remixes here.

In this interview, Carly Smithson hints to a reporter from the Grand Rapids Press, that there are good things to come once the Idol tour is over:

“I can’t really talk about it yet,” she said, “but I did get some pretty good news the other day” regarding a recording contract.

Can we expect an announcement sooner rather than later about a record deal for Carly?   If Carly is indeed about to sign a deal, she’ll be the 4th Idol from Season 7 to have signed a record contract.   The others are the winner and runner-up, David Cook and David Archuleta, and 7th place finisher Kristy Lee Cook.   Michael Johns, 8th place, is currently working on a record and plans to release independently.

Life after ‘American Idol’ keeps contestants busy

Smithson, who performs Wednesday at Van Andel Arena with the rest of the Top 10 finalists, not only exited with head held high, but with the distinct possibility of exhilarating new opportunities.

“I can’t really talk about it yet,” she said, “but I did get some pretty good news the other day” regarding a recording contract.

If she does release an album on a major label, it will be her second experience doing so. As Carly Hennessy, she put out an album with MCA Records called “Ultimate High” in 2001. When the record company merged with a parent company, her album got lost in the shakeup and sold few copies.

Mlive.com

‘American Idol’ tour hits Grand Rapids Wednesday

Commemorating an ‘Idol’

Blue Springs, Mo. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’  David Cook was speechless when the cloth came down and the mural designed in his honor was unveiled.

à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Wow. I donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t think I have ever looked that good,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  he said of the mural in downtown Blue Springs, Mo. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Thank you guys. All I can say is thank you. I canà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t say anything else. This is huge.à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ 

Cook, a Blue Springs native, was the seventh winner of à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“American Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  in May. He was back in his hometown Friday to attend the unveiling of a mural, designed and painted by students in the Blue Springs School Districtà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s Summer Creative Arts Academy. All are students at Blue Springs South High School this fall, Cookà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s alma mater. More than 100 people attended the unveiling.

Enterprise News

More Idol Headlines After the JUMP…

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ETA:

• Fans and more fans.
• Billie Jean
• Livehead was there: Tons and tons of excellent videos.
• MAVID: Pom Poms!

Cookie Hometown Concert Part 2 is tonight.   Drop by and tell us about the show if you were there tonight, or send your re-cap (and any pictures and links to videos you have) to my email address at mjsbigblog at gmail.com…I’ll post your story on the blog.

Watch this Space for UPDATESà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦

ShariG met the Idols before the concert…by accident. She happened to be staying at the same hotel. After the concert, was she finally able to give hometown boy David Cook the gift bag she brought with her to two prior concerts? Read her detailed re-cap below to find out…

I am a huge David Cook fan. Love the guy. So, from the time he said his dream was to perform at the Sprint Center I have been planning a trip to Kansas City to see him in person. When the schedule for the tour came out I booked my flight and hotel. Got tickets at the presale and here I am. This is my third concert. I attended in Chicago and Indianapolis and both times brought a gift bag for David C and he didnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t come out before the show and I couldnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t get close enough after the show to even shout à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“I love you, Cookieà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  so on my third try, I was still lugging the same gift bag.

My flight out of Chicago was delayed for an hour and I figured I would miss the before concert autographs. When I got to my hotel I dropped off my suitcase and was heading to the Power and Light district in front of the Spring Center to find the crowds. As I stepped out of the elevator there was Michael Johns looking very tired and very sexy stepping out of the elevator next to mine. We talked for a few minutes and he said they had gotten in at 5:00 in the morning and he had just gotten up. Soon after out walked David Archuleta, Brooke and her husband, Kristy Lee, and Carly. I was wearing my David Coook t-shirt and a huge smile and they all stopped to say hello except Carly who walked past me as if my obvious American Idol fangirlyness wasnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t completely obvious. I did not ask for autographs or pictures. Just commented on how much I had been enjoying the performances and wished them luck.

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Home cooking: Sprint crowd rains love on à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Idolà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢ champ

His career as a rock star is still in its infancy, but David Cook has already reached a momentous peak. Friday night at a very sold-out Sprint Center, he ignited the kind of long, convulsive roar that many entertainers wait all their lives to live through.

Cook is 25, and he hasnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t released a major-label album yet. But heà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s the headliner of this yearà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“American Idols Liveà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  tour, which rolled into his hometown on Friday for the first of two shows. And when he arrived on stage sometime around 9:30 p.m. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’  wearing a Tony Gonzalez home jersey à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬’  the Sprint Center shook and shivered like it hasnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t since Garth Brooks was in town.

Kansas City.com

More Idol Headlines After the JUMP…

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ETA:

• No Mavid tonight…
• Consolation:Â   Kristen’s Mavid 11.o compilation, including Oklahoma HERE
• Cookie: Hello, banter, more banter, Billie Jean, My Hero
• Archie and the Magic Rainbow!

The Idols arrive in Kansas City MO to play two shows tonight and tomorrow.   It’s David Cook’s homecoming and he had a day full of events today.   David reunited with his family in his hometown, Blue Springs, MO where a a large mural painted by local high school students was unveiled.   David was visibly moved. The local folk were very excited to have their hometown boy back.   As a sidenote, a print of the mural will be auctioned off on Ebay in the near future, with all proceeds going to cancer charites.

So that’s the deal!   This is the Cookie Hometown Concert thread.   And I’m going to be pretty disappointed if there aren’t a pile of re-caps posted here or sent to my email address at mjsbigblog at gmail.com. So there!   Hopefully there will be pictures and videos as well…

Watch this Space for UPDATES…

Released to iTunes today: the “Just Stand Up!” charity single.   You can download the track from iTunes HERE.

The song features Carrie Underwood and a 14 other female music superstars, including Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Fergie, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Ethridge, Natasha Bedingfield, Miley Cyrus, Leona Lewis, Keyshia Cole, Leann Rimes, Ashanti and Ciara.

The proceeds from “Just Stand Up!” will go to various cancer charities.

The telethon Stand Up To Cancer,   will be carried by ABC, NBC and CBS on September 5 at 8 pm ET/PT and will feature the premiere performance of   “Just Stand Up!”   Current Idol winner, David Cook will be amongst the Hollywood types making an appearance on the fundraiser.

Source: Stand Up To Cancer

ETA: Kristy Lee just posted a podcast/interview with B93 on her My Space HERE.

Kristy Lee Cook performed her new single, “15 Minutes of Shame”, at a radio event in Oklahoma City this week. The Idols performed at the Ford Center last night. I’ve got the video posted right here, after the jump.

It’s nice to see Kristy Lee’s single get at least a little promotion. So far, it’s sold a measly 1,600 downloads–900 last week and 600 this week according to Idol Chatter. It’s no wonder the numbers are low, Arista dropped the single with very little fanfare. Folks barely know it’s out there. Arista’s promotion of their new country artist has been abysmal so far, if you ask me.

Want to help Kristy out? Or maybe you just like the single and would like it for your very own. In either case, click the links to download “15 Minutes of Shame” from iTunes… and from Amazon HERE.

Watch Kristy Lee Cook perform “15 Minutes of Shame” after the JUMP…

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Jennifer Hudson belts out the National Anthem Thursday afternoon before the start of the final day of the Democratic National Convention, where Barack Obama accepted the party’s nomination for President.

Her phrasing is a little odd here and there, but overall, she does a great job. Girl took it to church!

Source: Ace Showbiz

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