Kris Allen was originally scheduled to perform “Heartless” on the Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien Wednesday night, but a death in his family took him back to Arkansas instead. His Jive label-mate, Allison Iraheta performed in his place, and her rendition of Heart’s “Barracuda” rocked the house, baby.
The Idols–including Kris–will be performing in concert at the Staple Center in Los Angeles Thursday night.
Watch Allison perform on the Tonight show, after the jump…
Video after the JUMP…
Mary102 said:
The thing is that Simon’s highest praise for her came the night she did I Don’t Want To Miss a Thing, one of her, by most other accounts, weakest performances. Overall, Lil probably got more unqualified praise from Simon than Allison. He had the opportunity to praise her for an inventive and stellar re-working of Hot Stuff and IIRC was mostly negative (edit: he called it brilliant, but still knocked the arrangement). Then again on Rock night with a terrific version of Cry Baby he was unenthusiastic. And to top it all off he says to Adam that he may have saved Allison with their Slow Ride duet. As Slezak said, “She saved herself.” It all screamed to the audience, “This girl can’t win, a vote for Allison is a vote for nothing.” And it worked.
I understand that Simon’s tastes run to the blander side (especially with females, males are allowed to take chances) and that he is mostly giving his honest opinion. That’s why so many (pageant) girls that loved to sing Whitney, Celine, and Mariah songs did so well in the competition in previous years. Simon was unenthused with Allison, she made top four in spite of that.
Heh. Sorry, I’ve blocked that out. : )
Nor to me. But this was only my third post here, and though Idols may be fair game, I wasn’t sure about Icons!
I love some of Janis’s songs, but I’m not a die hard fan by any means. Still, for a female fan of female rockers, one has to admit the pickings are slim. Choice, in many cases, but still slim. That’s why I think Allison is such a find and why I find her so exciting, both what she is now and what she has the potential to become. This performance shows off all of that, super-high energy, flying hair and all.
Oh lord yes, me too. Her second performance of “Cry Baby” on the show was the absolute definition of *killing* a song, IMO. It was epic and put me on the floor.
Also epic: If the rumor about Lindsey Buckingham writing for her is true? Hoo boy.
It’s fine if not everyone thinks she’s great and they don’t see the star power, what I have a problem with is Adam being given credit for her talent and star power. Only to Adam fans is the “kradison” so relevant. I don’t go to Adam boards, so I don’t hear much about the kradison thing. I think some fans might be reading too many kradison threads and they start to see things through that prism.
Adam didn’t do her performances for her on the show, and isn’t doing them for her now on the tour. All the media and music industry people raving about Allison aren’t doing so because they are blinded by “the kradison”. Only to Adam fans does it seem that everything in the world has to do with Adam.
I saw her star power on the show from the start, though it was definitely hidden to a great extent by her shyness and nervousness, and some of those weird clothes and hairstyles. She isn’t sophisticated, no, and that’s part of her charm. Though she is sophisticated in some ways. She’s very “old soul” and savvy when it comes to some things, and in other ways she isn’t. She’s not about artifice, she’s open and real, which is endearing to many. Sophistication often takes away that real quality and replaces it with a phony veneer.
She may seem immature to some, but I think she seems like an old soul who is also a teenager and hasn’t been jaded by the world yet. But most of all, her talent is her own and was not “enhanced” by Adam, it’s not as if his very nearness makes others appear better than they are. Adam likes her *because of* her talent, he doesn’t take credit for it.
I think a lot of fans of Kris, Adam, and Allison can appreciate their friendship–”Kradison”–without having the bizarre idea that Adam is somehow responsible for Allison’s success (what, with his powers of mind-control that made Jive decide to sign her?).
The world doesn’t revolve around Adam to most of his fans–he has his way overzealous ones, just as Kris certainly does and probably all the others, but most fans seem much more reasonable.
I could certainly imagine that Allison has learned from Adam, given his skill and greater experience, but she’s extremely talented in her own right and her success is due to her.
isisdagmar, thanks for the reminder that not all Adam fans are overzealous. I agree that it is kind of bizarre to suggest that Adam is responsible for Allison’s success. I am sure Allison has learned from Adam, as she seems like a sponge, soaking up knowledge from everyone around her. I think she learns all the time, from a lot of people, one of them being Adam. At 17 one is usually very open to learning. I really appreciate Adam and Allison’s special friendship, and their mutual liking for each other, it’s just that the overzealousness sometimes goes too far.
I don’t know if this has been posted already, probably has, but anyway there’s a cute picture of Allison here and a cute (not altogether articulate, ha ha) interview.
http://www.sfbg.com/blogs/music/2009/07/american_idol_interview_series_1.html
The picture is adorable and suggests that this is how they will market her, with this kind of fresh, young look.
I guess I haven’t been this excited about a woman on the show since Kelly. They’re both so talented.
This is cute about the Cheesecake factory, I love that place actually:
SFBG: Have you had any time to do anything exciting in the Bay Area since you got here?
AI: I haven’t. I mean, I went to Cheesecake Factory at about 12:00 a.m., but that’s about it.
Ain’t that the truth. Just look at his big discovery, Leona Lewis. No doubt she can sing, but exciting or edgy or interesting … she is not.
Allison was my favorite this season from the get-go. Such raw energy and talent. That being said, Kris grew on me, and so I was happy he won. Clearly, he is someone who has honed his art, but who was stuck out in the “hinterlands” and probably would’ve never been given any kind of a spotlight without Idol.
To do what?
You don’t think Allison is very good. That, we get. What else are you trying one last time to do?
*shrug*
That picture is a promo shot from Idol that was taken many months ago — I think before the season even started, though I’m not sure. So, I don’t think it has anything to do with how Jive will market her.
Completely agree. For me (as an “Adam fan”) the Kradison love comes from their friendship more than their musical relationship – the fact that Adam (probably much more so than Allison herself) has talked about Allison being his best friend on the show, his “little sister”, the hugs, the support, etc. Much less of it, imo, comes from Allison talking about Adam (e.g. “riding his coattails” behavior).
They have agreed that Adam (and I think Kris too), helped her with song choices, but, it sounds like the two of them did that for a few contestants, just in the spirit of being helpful.
Oh John, how embarrassing, I didn’t know the picture was an older one. First time I’d seen it. Well anyway, I like it, but you’re right, it gives no clue to what Jive has in mind for Allison.
Oh heck, it’s not embarrassing that you hadn’t seen the picture before. Probably more embarrassing for me that I’m a crazed-enough fan to remember how old it is! :wink_wp:
I thought she did quite well singing the many different genres presented to her. Quite a contrast to be able to sing rat pack one week and rock on another. Not one dimensional in her abilities in the least.
It must be hard for you to admit you think she lacks star power. Not a lot a people can see star power or even star potential in someone they are seeing for the very first time. Don’t feel bad a lot of people don’t see her star power. Not everyone can have the eye or the abilities of industry moguls to spot star power.
I am amazed to think how a 9 year old child set a goal..took the steps to accomplish that goal by working hard, practicing hard, never giving up, never losing focus. All signs of a maturity beyond her years. All traits any mature person of any age can respect and aspire to.