I’ll be featuring the Idols in Manchester all week. Over the weekend, expect a recap of both shows with pictures. I’ll be linking to video along the way, but check my GoFish page frequently, I’ll be uploading all my videos in the next couple of days…
Here’s Chris Richardson performing “This Love” Saturday night in Manchester, NH
I chatted with Chris for a bit after the final show Sunday night. I asked him what was next, and he told me that he’s recently been to New York, Miami and Nashville. Specifically, he had meetings in New York, recording sessions in Miami, and meetings with songwriters in Nashville. In the meantime, he’s writing songs for Jordin Sparks, Haley Scarnato and Phil Stacey. A song he co-wrote with Blake Lewis, “What You Got To Lose” (and sang background vocals) is slated to be Blakes first single from his upcoming album. According to Blake, the single will be released October 31.
As far as his songwriting goes, he was pretty humble about it. When I told him I was really interested to hear what all the fuss was about his songwriting (his fellow Idols can’t stop raving about his songwriting abilities). He said, well the proof will be in the songs.
Chris has been a dynamic presence on this tour. He shared the stage with nearly every Idol in duets and group numbers, and the genres covered ran the gamut from country (”What Hurts the Most” with Jordin Sparks) to rock (the Crazy/Hey Jude medley with the guys) to hip hop and R&B (funky medley with Blake Lewis included a beatbox contest between the two of them-fun).
While Chris was often compared to Justin Timberlake, he may be the Season 6 Idol who has more up his sleeve than we’ve seen so far.
Some recent interviews with Chris: In this article with Reality Dish, Chris describes his musical style as “rock and soul.” And here’s a long hometown interview with Hampton Roads, where he talks about his songwriting, and his friendship with the producer Timbaland.
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I do think Chris R. was the most versatile out of all the idols, with that I enjoyed him more when he was performing with someone than by himself. I’m looking forward to hearing these songs that he has written, and to see what the future holds for him as a solo artist. I didn’t know that he was recording anything while on tour, good to know:) Thanks mj.
After seeing clips of Chris on tour this summer and fall, I am amazed at the crazy-huge charisma that radiates from his ever pore AND I am stumped at how TPTB managed to all but neuter his infectious energy and personality on the show last season. Chris has that aura about him that can make a very, very grown woman way too giggly for her age.
Thanks, MJ, for the clips and pics–not just of Chris, but of all of last season’s idols. I feel I’ve gotten to know them so much more through your blog than I did through the show.
Oh, one more thing: In your vid clip of Chris, I see you focused a little on the keyboard player. Did you ever talk to him? Cuz he seemed so weird to me, like this creepy omnipotent puppetmaster plunked in the middle of the stage in darkness while he made his shiny puppets sing and dance for our amusement.
TPTB seemed to do that to just about everyone on the show last season. Tunrns out Phil is very funny, as is Lakisha. You couldn’t be more right about CRich. They really missed the boat with this past group of idols.
Okay, now I’m done:)
MJ, I am smiling just reading that you met and talked with him. What IS it about him that makes me smile just looking at a pic or reading about him.. LOL!! I wish him success in everything he does.. What a cutie pie :-)
MJ, that last pic is to die for. Any chance you could email me that pic so I can print it and put on my desk here at work? You should have my address from the recap I sent you.
ealbino, you can right click on the picture and there should be an option to “save picture as.” Hope that helps.
Chris is the one I’m really shocked 19/Clive didn’t sign. He got so much pimping on the show and on tour I thought it would be a given. He is very cute but I’m still not completely sold on his voice. I look forward to seeing how his songwriting turns out.
oh Thanks PJ. It worked…yayyyyyyyyy
I’ve loved the Richness since day one. I cannot wait for his career to begin. Do we even know if 19 has passed on him yet? I would be incredibly shocked if they didn’t make him an offer. I’m sure we’ll soon find out enough.
I’m still not much of a fan of Chris’ voice but will take Sarah’s word that he’s very appealing in person. It’s funny to see him with longer hair (for him). I still don’t think they should have featured him so much in the concert as opposed to Melinda who placed 3rd and thought for sure it meant he’d be signed by 19R or Clive.
I was very excited to read that Chris had contacted Elliott about doing something on his cd. Sounds like Elliott was game. Being a Virginia girl, I would love it if my two Va boys recorded something together.
Yes, I agree with y’all - there is definitely something about Chris that just makes me smile and get all silly every time I see him. He is just truly adorable.
I’m really interested to hear examples of his songwriting. It sounds pretty promising that he’s writing for so many of the other Idols, and especially that the song he and Blake wrote is going to end up being Blake’s first single. I’m excited to hear it.
I really hope he gets signed. I’m surprised that he hasn’t. He’s definitely marketable, and if he’s a good writer too, that’s a good thing, IMO.
Count me in with the giddy girls. I went into the show as a Blaker girl who was also a Cake fan…but I came out of it totally smitten with Chris, and he’s the one on my desktop now. As jane said, it’s charisma like CRAZY. Plus, I sorta get the feeling (and I could be totally off on this) that he’s really humble about what Idol can do for him at this point - I don’t think he’s counting on anything as a definite and is willing to work with whatever opportunities he’s given.
Um, and he’s also eye candy. And I’ve got a sweet tooth.
Guys, 27 isn’t too old for him, right? Right?