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Archive for September, 2008

Dancing With The Stars - Top 11 Dancers - Results - Video

Published by mj September 30th, 2008 in American Idol and Dancing with the Stars. 63 Comments

Eliminated tonight: Kim Kardashian and Mark Ballas

ETA: I just got my Jennifer Hudson newsletter. She’ll be appearing on Dancing with The Stars on October 7th…

Damn. I lost all my pool points tonight! I decided to go with Cloris instead of Kim. Thinking about it in hindsight, Cloris is a beloved entertainer who dances pretty well when you consider she’s ancient. Kim’s bad dancing is just…bad dancing, and she’s got no other accomplishments to speak of. So, there you go. Bye Kim. You can go back to whatever it was you weren’t doing…

~~High~~ lowlight of tonight: Jessica Simpson massacring “Angels”. Seriously, how does this girl have a career? And her “country” singing is a joke too.

Recap and Videos after the JUMP…

Continue reading ‘Dancing With The Stars - Top 11 Dancers - Results - Video’

Dancing with the Stars - The Tour and a Julianne Hough Update

Dancing With The Stars - Spoilers and Results Show Update!

Dancing with the Stars - Julianne Hough Blogs - “The Judges Had it In For Cody”

Dancing With The Stars - Top 6 - Results - VIDEO

Kellie Pickler - Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful - Today Show

Published by mj September 30th, 2008 in American Idol and Kellie Pickler. 9 Comments

Kellie Pickler performed her single “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful” on the Today show this morning. She’s in New York City promoting her new album Kellie Pickler. I wonder if she’ll run into Jennifer Hudson?

Continue reading ‘Kellie Pickler - Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful - Today Show’

Kellie Pickler - Academy of Country Music Awards - Videos

Jennifer Hudson and Kellie Pickler - Sales Predictions

Kellie Pickler on the Tonight Show

Hollywood Update: Writer’s Strike

Jennifer Hudson - Debut Album Drops Today

Published by mj September 30th, 2008 in American Idol and Jennifer Hudson. 5 Comments

Jennifer Hudson’s debut album drops today! Congrats Jennifer on your long awaited album. It has been a long time coming.

I already reviewed Jennifer’s album last week, and my verdict is a thumbs up. The songs run the gamut from pop to hip-hop to soulful R&B ballads. It’s got something for everyone. Not a bad thing, in my opinion.

You want Jennifer’s album?

Order the album from Amazon
Download the album from iTunes

Tracklisting after the JUMP…

Continue reading ‘Jennifer Hudson - Debut Album Drops Today’

Jennifer Hudson Album Drops in September

Kellie Pickler - Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful - Today Show

Jennifer Hudson’s Debut Album Lands at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 200

Barack Obama Asks Jennifer Hudson to Sing the National Anthem

Idol Headlines for 9/30/08

Published by mj September 30th, 2008 in American Idol and Headlines. 18 Comments

Jennifer Hudson’s debut album is not worth the wait

Now, after an inexplicable and unconscionable delay in this accelerated era of five-second attention spans, Hudson finally has delivered her self-titled major-label debut, which arrives in stores today. Sad to say, not only is it not worth the wait, but in typical “American Idol” fashion, it’s an overworked, overwrought, shamelessly pandering piece of pop product unworthy of her considerable talents and largely devoid of the personality that made us love her in the first place.

Sun Times

Kellie Pickler

Things kick off with the mighty message song, Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful, in which Pickler bolsters the self-esteem of young girls to stand up against the pressures of their peers and designer labels (more on that later). It’s a home run, catchy and positive. Pickler channels Dolly Parton, not so much in sound as in style. She thrives at those crossroads between funny and sexy, charmingly naive, not dumb, and wraps it up with real singing talent. No wonder even Simon liked her.

Country Standard Time

More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…

Continue reading ‘Idol Headlines for 9/30/08′

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David Cook Single - Light On - Released to iTunes Today

Published by mj September 30th, 2008 in American Idol and David Cook. 482 Comments

David Cook’s single “Light On” is finally available on iTunes today!

It’s featured on the front page of iTunes under “What We’re Listening To.”

I downloaded mine. Yep, I did.

“Light On” was written by Chris Cornell and Brian Howes. David Cook’s post Idol debut drops on November 18…

Download “Light On” from iTunes
Download “Light On’ from Amazon

thanks for clicking the link and helping to support mjsbigblog

David Cook - Light On Video, Available on iTunes

David Cook - His Single “Light On” - First Listen!

Idol iTunes Top 10 - Brooke White, David Archuleta and David Cook Dominate

David Cook Holds the Top 4 Positions at iTunes - David Archuleta holds two spots in the Top 10

Kellie Pickler - Album Drops Today

Published by mj September 30th, 2008 in American Idol and Kellie Pickler. 4 Comments

Kellie Pickler’s new album drops today! Her sophomore effort is self-titled, and if you’d like to give it a listen check out Kellie’s Listening Party.

On first listen, my favorites are the country weeper “Didn’t You Know How Much I Loved You” and “Best Days of Your Life” (written with Taylor Swift). “Rocks Instead of Rice” and “Going Out in Style” are pure Kellie. Heh.

I have to say it’s more substantive than her first record. It’s obvious more care was taken to pick and record the songs.

Nothing to do with her album, but Kellie’s got a new pet…Snake! EEP!

Order the album from Amazon.
Order the Deluxe version (3 bonus tracks) from Amazon
Download the album from Amazon
Download the album from iTunes
Download the Deluxe version from iTunes

help mjsbigblog…click the links to buy! thanks.

Track list, after the Jump…

Continue reading ‘Kellie Pickler - Album Drops Today’

Jennifer Hudson and Kellie Pickler - Sales Predictions

Happy Kellie Pickler Day!

Dancing With The Stars - Top 11 Dancers - Performance - Video

Published by mj September 29th, 2008 in American Idol and Dancing with the Stars. 23 Comments

As folks in comments have already noted, these were a tough set of dances for the couples this week. Those who improved last week, Rocco and Karina and Susan and Tony, regressed right back to where they were the week before.

My favorites tonight: Warren and Kym, Brooke and Marc and Lance and Lacey. Who I think will go home? It’s a toss-up between Cloris and Corky and Kim and Mark. Cloris made the mistake of actually trying to dance well, rather than hamming it up. Nobody cares about her dancing. She’s there for the entertainment value only, and tonight, she was not very entertaining. Kim’s dancing isn’t getting any better. She’s not only having trouble connecting to her partner Mark, but to the viewing audience as well.

I’ll have to sleep on deciding who I’ll pick in the pool…

Coming out on top tonight–Warren and Kym and Brooke and Derek with 24 points each. Cloris and Corky are at the bottom with 15.

Tonight the couples dance the Paso Doble and the Rumba! I’m imagining the Cloris Leachman antics as we speak.

The couples only had 4 days to learn their routines! Oh Noes! They’ve never introduced such difficult dances this early in the competition.

Videos and recap…After the JUMP!

Continue reading ‘Dancing With The Stars - Top 11 Dancers - Performance - Video’

Dancing with the Stars - The Tour and a Julianne Hough Update

Update on Dancing With The Stars Julianne Hough - “I Was In So Much Pain”

Maks Says the New Direction of Dancing with the Stars is “Not So fun”

Nigel Lythgoe Lythgoe Develops a New Dance Show

The Idols Blog - David Archuleta and Brooke White Blog

Published by mj September 29th, 2008 in American Idol, David Archuleta and Brooke White. 22 Comments

David Archuleta having a snack in between recording sessions for his upcoming album…

The Season 7 Idols have finished touring and settle into life after Idol. For Brooke White, it means heading back to her family in California.

Well it was two weeks ago today that I was sitting on an airplane that departed from Tulsa, Oklahoma, anxiously looking out of the window as we flew over Laurel Canyon just moments before landing in Burbank, California. As we touched down on the runway I could hardly believe it was true. Could I really be home?!? I walked down the steps from the plane into the warm California sunshine and just as a nice breeze passed by and blew my hair around… I through my hands in the air let out a big “YAY!!!!” No words could describe my happiness at the moment… kind of like Christmas Morning… Kind of like walking down Main street at Disneyland with a churro in hand… Kind of like eating Eggs Benedict on my birthday kind of happiness. Maybe this means nothing to you, but basically I’m trying to say it was indeed very joyful… as well as I walked to baggage claim to see Dave just smiling there in his church clothes all ready to pick me up and take me home. I rolled down the windows in the car and turned up the radio… amazing!

More after the JUMP…

Continue reading ‘The Idols Blog - David Archuleta and Brooke White Blog’

Idol iTunes Top 10 - Brooke White, David Archuleta and David Cook Dominate

Halloween Comes Early for Brooke White and David Archuleta

David Archuleta - Radio Interview and Blog - “I Want to Keep Learning As Much as I Can”

The Idols Love to Blog…David Archuleta, Ramiele Malubay, Brooke White and Syesha Mercado

LaKisha Jones to Marry Larry Davis

Published by mj September 29th, 2008 in American Idol and LaKisha Jones. 6 Comments

Happy news about LaKisha Jones…

According to reports, she will marry Larry Davis in a ceremony this Sunday. The wedding, taking place in Beverly Hills, CA, will feature an Old Hollywood Motif. LaKisha and her husband-to-be will wear white, while the bridal party will be dressed in black. I hope there will be pictures!

Gospel singer Bebe Winans will perform a song for guests that include Chaka Khan and LaKisha’s fellow Season 6 contestants Melinda Doolittle and Gina Glocksen.

Congratulations Kiki!

LaKisha Jones - Manchester, NH

Bo Bice and Lakisha Jones on AI Extra - VIDEO

David Archuleta and David Cook - Larry King Live - VIDEO

LaKisha Jones New Single - So Glad I’m Me - Drops Today -

Jennifer Hudson - GMA - The View - VIDEO

Published by mj September 29th, 2008 in American Idol, Video and Jennifer Hudson. 8 Comments

Jennifer Hudson visited Good Morning America and The View this morning. She performed what will undoubtedly be her next single “If This Isn’t Love” (I listened to the entire album and this is hardly my fav on the album, but it’s got those crazy beats–it should do well on the radio).

On The View, Jennifer chatted with the girls about her upcoming wedding, singing the Anthem for Obama, and her album which she says she’s tried to have “something for everyone.” After the interview, she performed her current single “Spotlight.”

ETA: I added her Friday night performance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno… There’s a preview of a scene from her new movie “A Secret Life of Bees” with Dakota Fanning.

Continue reading ‘Jennifer Hudson - GMA - The View - VIDEO’

Jennifer Hudson in Dreamgirls

Jennifer Hudson Performs the National Anthem at the DNC - VIDEO

Jennifer Hudson nominated for Best Supporting Actress

Kellie Pickler - Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful - Today Show

Michael Johns - Original Song - Fools Gold

Published by mj September 29th, 2008 in American Idol and Michael Johns. 52 Comments

Michael Johns is in Australia doing some press and events appearances. He stopped by radio station Australia Nova 969 to sing an original song, “Fools Gold” that will appear on his upcoming album. He says it’s not the single but “representative of what will be on the album.”

ETA: Michael co-wrote the song, It appeared previously on his 2007 Solo album. Peeps are linking some of Michael’s earlier work with The Rising and Film in comments. Good stuff!

Whoa, me likey! It’s blusey, soulful–perfect for Michael’s gruff vocals.

He tells Nova the album is “Van Morrison meets Joe Cocker meets INXS” and will be released in February, with a single in November.

For more on Michael’s Australia trip, check out MJO.

Watch the video of Michael John’s performing “Fools Gold” after the Jump.

Continue reading ‘Michael Johns - Original Song - Fools Gold’

Michael Johns to Release a Christmas Song for Charity

Idol Top 11 - Beatles Dos

More On Michael Johns Christmas Single For Charity

Michael Johns - TriNoma Mall - Manila, Philippines

Idol Headlines for 9/29/08

Published by mj September 29th, 2008 in American Idol and Headlines. 14 Comments

Jennifer Hudson’s ‘Idol’ prediction is still coming true

Jennifer Hudson doesn’t like to say, “I told you so,” but she told you so.

More than four years ago, when the then-unknown singer finished seventh on Season 3 of American Idol, she delivered an “exit speech. I said, ‘I don’t know when or where or how, but God has something in store for me.’ I think the judges or producers kind of laughed.”

USA Today

‘Idol’s’ Kellie Pickler fills CD with songs from the heart

Kellie Pickler

Teamed with new producer Chris Lindsey and with more time to create than she did in the rush following her run on “American Idol,” Kellie Pickler’s second album is another solid step toward country stardom. She recently told Billboard that when it comes to her songwriting, “It’s like you’re reading one of my journals,” and that certainly comes across on the set, which is laden with relationship ups and (mostly) downs.

Billboard

More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…

Continue reading ‘Idol Headlines for 9/29/08′

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Monday Morning Mediabase Update - 09/29/08

Published by Kirsten September 29th, 2008 in American Idol and Charts. 9 Comments

Here are your very abbreviated Monday Morning Medibase Updates (Top 30/40/50/whatever in major formats only).

Continue reading ‘Monday Morning Mediabase Update - 09/29/08′

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Idol Appearances for the Week of 9/29/08-10/05/08

Published by mj September 29th, 2008 in American Idol and Appearances. 1 Comment

Jennifer Hudson and Kellie Pickler are both in NYC this week to support their new albums, which drop on Tuesday. Jennifer is back in LA on Thursday to appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Don’t Miss..

Monday 9/29 - Jennifer Hudson appears on ABC’s Good Morning America and The View. Lance Bass and Lacey Schwimmer appear on the Ellen Degeneres Show.

Tuesday 9/30 - Jennifer Hudson appears on The Early Show, CBS. Kellie Pickler appears on the Today Show, NBC. The latest cast-off from Dancing with the Stars appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live

Wednesday 10/1 - Kellie Pickler appears on Live with Regis and Kelly.

Thursday 10/2 - Jennifer Hudson appears on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The latest castoff from Dancing with the Stars appears on The View. Jennifer Hudson appears on BET, Jennifer Hudson: In the Spotlight 10 pm. repeats 10/3 at 9 pm.

Sunday 10/5 - Anthony Fedorov will be singing the National Anthem Sunday, for the Jacksonville Jaguars/Pittsburgh Steelers game in Jacksonville, FL.

For more information and Idol Tour information, check out the Idol Appearances Page…

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Happy Katharine McPhee Day!

American Idol Rewind - Premiers this Weekend

Published by mj September 28th, 2008 in American Idol and American Idol Rewind. 15 Comments

There hasn’t been a ton of advance buzz about this, but American Idol Rewind’s new season, featuring Season 3 and 4 premiers this weekend. You’ll have to check your local listing for the time and channel. In my market, it’s running on the My TV network, some crappy channel hardly anyone watches. The TV guide channel will air encore episodes the Friday after the show’s initial run. I couldn’t find any information about the current season on Idol’s official website. Hm.

Anyway, I’m a little disappointed that both Season 3 and 4 will be covered in one season. Yeah, I know Season 3 isn’t a favorite, but it spawned some successful contestants, Jennifer Hudson, of course and Fantasia whose success on Broadway (Color Purple) not to mention the R&B charts (her single “When I See U” hit #1) are nothing to sneeze at.

The first Episode is “New York Auditions”, and I’m assuming that’s Season 3. I’m going to try and catch the encore on the TV Guide channel (8 pm), despite the fact that annoying program guide crawl at the bottom of the screen drives me wack. The next episode, premiering next weekend, is the “Atlanta Auditions”.

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Idol Billboard Update for Issue 10/04/08

Published by mj September 28th, 2008 in American Idol and Charts. 50 Comments

This week’s Idol Billboard Update, right HERE. Check out Kirsten’s weekly post for news on Idol Sales and advance chart info. She posts a new one every Wednesday. Good stuff!

Some highlights from this week’s chart:

Kristy Lee Cook’s post-Idol debut “Why Wait” enters the Billboard 200 at #49. She debuts on the Top Country Albums chart at #8. Her single, “15 Minutes of Shame” climbs 46-43 on the Hot Country Songs chart. She sold 9,552 copies this week. Not exactly a blockbuster for Kristy Lee. Even Phil Stacey from the much maligned Season 6 managed to sell in the double digits (13,135) his first week, and his album dropped in the following spring, months after the end of S6. Blame her poor sales on lack of promotion? Arista sure seemed in a hurry to get product out there, and then barely promoted it once it arrived.
David Archuleta’s single “Crush” had a whopping 75% increase in sales this week! No doubt due to his video for “Crush” being released to iTunes, and the accompanying front-page advertising. He moved 90,0005 units this week for a total of 494,998. Almost gold… The Billboard numbers reflect the hike: Hot 100 - 32-15, Hot 100 Airplay - 55-51, Pop 100 - 20-16, Pop 100 Airplay - 20-19, Mainstream Top 40 - 20-15, Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks - 29-27, Hot Digital Tracks - 20-10, Hot Digital Songs, 22-10.
Daughtry’s “What About Now” debuts on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart at #29. Also, I just noticed that the Sevendust song, “The Past”, featuring Chris Daughtry has been on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart for 7 weeks. It climbed from 32-30 this week.

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Idol Headlines for 9/28/08

Published by mj September 28th, 2008 in American Idol and Headlines. 14 Comments

And She Is Telling You She Is Just Getting Started

It’s been nearly five years since Ms. Hudson, 27, emerged as a sweet-natured, big-belting “American Idol” contestant from Chicago. She made it to seventh place, and when she won an Academy Award last year as best supporting actress in “Dreamgirls,” she became a symbol of second chances. On Tuesday she gets a chance at yet another kind of fame with her debut album, “Jennifer Hudson” (Arista), something she and her fans have had to be especially patient about.

“Everybody’s like, ‘Oh, we’ve been waiting for this album forever,’ ” Ms. Hudson said in a Manhattan recording studio in July, where she was doing a photo shoot. “But no one has waited longer than me. I’ve been waiting since I was 7 years old.”

NY Times

Kellie Pickler’s new album reveals growing pains

It’s been two years since Kellie Pickler released her debut album, Small Town Girl, to country music fans. And in that time, defiant-yet-vulnerable radio hits like “Red High Heels” and “I Wonder” have ratcheted sales to almost 800,000 copies.

But today Pickler isn’t the same naive North Carolina girl she was in 2006, when, at 19, she was thrust into the spotlight as a finalist on American Idol. She’s grown up. And, she says, like it or not, many of the songs on her new self-titled sophomore album — due in stores Tuesday — reflect that growth.

Tennessean.com

More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…

Continue reading ‘Idol Headlines for 9/28/08′

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Randy Jackson - More Singer/Songwriters and Musicians are Auditioning this year - VIDEO

Published by mj September 27th, 2008 in American Idol, Video, Randy Jackson, AI S8 Auditions and AI Season 8. 29 Comments

Randy Jackson sat down to an interview with TV Guide. The American Idol Season 8 Judges round of auditions are nearly finished. Randy shares what he thinks of the season so far. Watch the video after the jump.

Highlights:

He thinks the talent is “really really great.” Salt Lake City surprised him and so did San Francisco. “Those two cities represented hard.” he says.
Randy says that because they allowed people to play their instruments last season, they had more of a “singer/songwriter, more of a musician artist come out”. This season, they are getting even MORE musician/artists coming out to audition for Idol. He finds the increase in these types of performers interesting, because it’s more in line with where the music industry has gone. He name-checks Feist, Colbie Caillat, Sarah Bareilles, Duffy and Amy Winehouse as examples. Randy says, “It’s been really really cool for us.”
As far as the chemistry between the judges since Kara DioGuardi joined the judges table, he says it’s “jumping off”.
He names David Cook, David Archuleta, Brooke White and Syesha as contestants from Season 7 who could have big careers.

Considering the long list of female singers Randy rattled off in the interview, I wonder if TPTB are looking to cast more Brooke White types in the upcoming season…

Video after the JUMP…

Continue reading ‘Randy Jackson - More Singer/Songwriters and Musicians are Auditioning this year - VIDEO’

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Archive for September, 2008

Dancing With The Stars - Top 11 Dancers - Results - Video

Kellie Pickler - Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful - Today Show

Jennifer Hudson - Debut Album Drops Today

Idol Headlines for 9/30/08

David Cook Single - Light On - Released to iTunes Today

Kellie Pickler - Album Drops Today

Dancing With The Stars - Top 11 Dancers - Performance - Video

The Idols Blog - David Archuleta and Brooke White Blog

LaKisha Jones to Marry Larry Davis

Jennifer Hudson - GMA - The View - VIDEO

Michael Johns - Original Song - Fools Gold

Idol Headlines for 9/29/08

Monday Morning Mediabase Update - 09/29/08

Idol Appearances for the Week of 9/29/08-10/05/08

American Idol Rewind - Premiers this Weekend

Idol Billboard Update for Issue 10/04/08

Idol Headlines for 9/28/08

Randy Jackson - More Singer/Songwriters and Musicians are Auditioning this year - VIDEO

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Archive for September, 2008