Today’s Idol headlines after the jump…
MultiVu Video Feed: Bon Jovi to Join Golf Legend Tiger Woods For 10Th Annual Tiger Jam on May 26 In Las Vegas
Daughtry, Hootie & The Blowfish Also Scheduled to Perform…
Paisley in overdrive with “5th Gear”
…The new album features a duet with Carrie Underwood on the song “Oh Love.” Underwood toured with Paisley last year, when the two would sing “Whiskey Lullaby.” When he needed a female voice for the new duet, Underwood was a natural choice. “I’m a huge fan of her singing. She’s just tremendous and deserving of everything she’s getting,” he says. “When I heard that song, it flipped me out, (especially the line) ‘Strong like a mother holds her child.’ If that doesn’t appeal to me at this point, I don’t know what does.”…
Star-studded Kingdom Assignment Event, ‘The Well Done Awards’ to Celebrate Extraordinary Stories of Faith
The Kingdom Assignment book series has been featured on Oprah, ABC Nightly News, The Hallmark Channel, People Magazine and written about in countless newspapers around the world. This special night honoring 31 people who have accomplished amazing stories of faith, will honored with a night of celebration featuring: Guest Artists: American Idol’s Katharine McPhee; “The Pursuit of Happyness” Chris Gardner; Entertainers Bebe Winans, The Groovaloos, The Dailies Band, Dave Koz, Roddy Chiong and American Idol’s Chris Sligh….
Young artists draw praise for festival exhibit
This year’s Festival in the Park contest received more than 100 entries from 16 schools.
…Tonight’s concert performance in Elmwood Park will feature the 1970s band Pure Prairie League, with an opening performance by Josh Gracin, the fourth-place finalist on the second season of American Idol…
‘Idol’ worship
Contestant parlays TV success into music career
A lot of performers have influenced former “American Idol” contestant Elliott Yamin, from icons like Stevie Wonder to more contemporary artists like Ray LaMontagne.
But the most surprising name on Yamin’s list of musical inspirations is deceased singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley, a performer who never had a Top 10 hit but whose signature album has sold more than 2 million copies……
Dad’s life is story behind Sparks’ ‘Idol’ win
It always is the middle of the story that solves the riddle.
Not the beginning, when Phillippi Sparks watched his single mom walk through the door after one of her three jobs with a bag of fried chicken from her fast-food employer. Not the end, when Jordin Sparks looked out at the audience after being crowned the new American Idol and said, “Mom, Dad, I love you.”
But in between, where you learn how Sparks grew up in west Phoenix wanting more and found it - in the NFL, where he played for nine seasons, and in a family, where he and his wife, Jodi, produced a daughter who suddenly is more recognizable than all the members of President Bush’s Cabinet…
Maroon 5 strikes a balance between the serious and the sexy on new album
..In person, Levine is refreshingly candid and often hilariously profane, but his salty language can’t hide his decent core. At the end of the interview, he apologizes for slightly poking fun at “Idol” contestant Blake Lewis, whom the band has known for years, during the interview; as if the notion he may have said something demeaning has been weighing on him the whole time. Or maybe he’s just afraid that his innocent comment will be taken the wrong way…
Newspaper Features Clay Aiken In Cartoon
The News & Observer daily newspaper of Raleigh has posted another “spoof” cartoon by animator Grey Blackwell and this time, the cartoon focuses on Clay Aiken and other American Idol stars from North Carolina….
American Idol’s Entertaining Finale
…While watching one of the production numbers, it occurred to me that everyone seemed on the edge of delirium, all sporting effusive, broad grins, perhaps owing to the fact that virtually everyone on camera either had and/or will be making a great deal of money. I suppose that is cause for a smile or two.
But I will hand it to the producers. Idol was, in its infancy, virtually the antithesis of Wednesday evening’s program. The first year or two it was painfully obvious that the show was being produced on a shoestring budget. The show’s great success since has opened the network’s checkbooks and production values have soared…
Atlantic City: Hermits stars Noone
Peter Noone was thrilled when he was asked to coach this season’s “American Idol” contestants during “British invasion” week in March.
He was equally thrilled he paid his dues more than 40 years ago and didn’t need the show as a vehicle to launch his career…
‘Idol’ McPhee just a ‘C’
“American Idol” alum Katherine McPhee earned only a “C” for her work at a Minneapolis-area nightclub…
American Idol Winner Jordin Sparks Loses Voice, But Keeps Her Cool
It’s just a few days since Jordin Sparks was named the youngest “American Idol” in the show’s history, and in the red-hot media frenzy it sounds like the 17-year-old singer has lost her voice…
Antonella kicks back
“Idol” contestant learned a lot, moving forward
It would be easy for Antonella Barba to regret ever auditioning for American Idol. But the 20-year-old doesn’t.
“I try not to have regrets,” the Point Pleasant resident says. “I look at everything as a learning opportunity . . . right or wrong, and grow from the experience.”
Barba has learned a lot since February, when she was named to the Top 24 on the musical reality television show………
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCES
Town pedals for patriotism: Bike parade features local Iraq war vet, local star; veterans march in Highlands
Point Pleasant Beach rolled into the season Saturday with its Memorial Day bike parade, which featured “American Idol” contestant Antonella Barba and a local resident who served in Iraq…
Wal-Mart: Back To Basics
Company Still Looking For Identity As Shareholders Meeting Nears
Wal-Mart put on a shareholders meeting last year that some compared to an off-Broadway extravaganza, with singer Beyonce shimmying in a yellow dress and “American Idol” Taylor Hicks doing his somewhat goofy song-and-dance routine.
The company executive credited with that musical extravaganza — or fiasco, depending on who you talk to — is gone this year, her departure wrapped in controversy…
Ask Kelly Clarkson a Question!
She’s the original Idol – and now she’s answering your questions! Tell us what you’re dying to know about the pop superstar, and your question may appear in PEOPLE.
American Troops Are Remembered with Gifts of Music
This Memorial Day weekend, our American troops will be remembered in many special ways. They were remembered today as it was announced that Redstone Properties, at http://www.theoaks-gpi.com/home/, has donated 1,000 Taylor Hicks CD’s to the Proud Of Our Troops drive. The Proud Of Our Troops drive is an ongoing drive sponsored by Jewelry Sprout, which sends Taylor Hicks CD’s to our men and women all over the world who are serving our country.
The Proud Of Our Troops Drive began in June, 2006, and in 21 weeks, 3,157 copies of Hicks’ debut single, “Do I Make You Proud” were sent to American soldiers overseas! The goal for Part 2 of the drive is 10,000 copies of Taylor’s new CD, titled “Taylor Hicks.”…
Views and reviews from Star Party
MUSIC REVIEW: The critic and some fans exchange opinion of performers at the annual event, the 19th of the series.
…Critic: Whether she went in a pop or an R&B dance direction, her material sounded generic. Kat’s most convincing piece was her interpretation of Alanis Morissette’s “Mary Jane.” Not only was it a more personal song, but it was a nice showcase for her voice, both her range and colors. Grade: C+ …
Idol Watch: Another year, another Idol
…Is it ignorant for me to believe that the powers-that-be will cut her a marketing break and not have her coming out looking like Katharine McPhee on her album cover? She is only 17, so surely they wouldn’t do that…
A.M. Surf Report: Justin Timberlake Scores The ‘Coolest Chick Ever’; Kelly Clarkson Gets An ‘Idol’ Apology; Maroon 5 Elbow T-Pain
….Constantine Maroulis has been off “American Idol” for more than two years now, but between musical theater and soap opera roles, he hasn’t gotten around to putting out an album. Until now. Maroulis’ LP Constantine — “better than the one I could have made right off the show,” he told us — is due August 4. Meanwhile, fellow season-four rocker Bo Bice tells us that his upcoming second album (due later this year) will bear more of his mark. “I didn’t have a lot to do with the first record,” he explained….
…TMZ.com reports that Kelly Clarkson has received an apology from her record label for Clive Davis’ speech on Wednesday night’s “American Idol” finale — not for the length of the extended monologue, but for its content. Davis, who has clashed with Clarkson over her upcoming My December, plugged new singles by Katharine McPhee and Taylor Hicks but not Kelly’s “Never Again,” and highlighted the record sales of other “Idol” vets in the presentation. Davis’ rep denied the report to TMZ, and said that he was simply focusing on recent “Idol” successes, not freezing out Clarkson. …
‘American Idol’ Vets Bo Bice, Constantine Maroulis Can’t Stop Rockin’
Unforgettable season-four contestants hanging tough with new albums.
…The album, titled Constantine, will drop August 7 on his label, with distribution from Sony/Red. Self-proclaimed “blue-collar guy” Maroulis is confident that his fans will find it and buy enough copies to keep him on the road. “I can sell a couple hundred thousand copies and do what I love to do: play clubs,” he said. “I don’t need to be a huge star.” …
FLASHING BACK TO THE BEST MUSIC OF THE LATE 60s Peace, love & downloads
THE SUMMER OF 1967, perhaps more than any other single season before or since, had its own soundtrack. Some would argue that music was the most significant — and lasting — element of what came to be known as the Summer of Love…
…So load up the iPod with these tracks and take a stroll (real or imaginary) down Haight Street. It will be just like 1967 all over again — well, kind of…
…- “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” Procol Harum (1967)
The English psychedelic rock band skips the light fandango, turns cartwheels across the floor and hits the big time with one of the era’s most-enduring tracks. It’s been covered hundreds of times, with varying results. We don’t have to bring up Elliott Yamin’s version, do we? …
Nigel Lythgoe ups the ante on ‘So You Think You Can Dance.’
Former hoofer choreographs the drama, right down to the winning moment, on both Fox reality shows.
…The British man turned to the crew. “Did I frighten them?” he asked.
Of course he did, a bit. But the young dancers knew well that the occasional dose of high-voltage shock therapy was what they signed up for. And the speaker, Mr. Nigel Lythgoe, knows they know it too, because generating these shocks is how he spends his days, not just as judge of “So You Think You Can Dance” but also as an executive producer and co-creator (along with “Idol” warlord Simon Fuller). When not serving as judge and producer of “Dance,” Lythgoe, along with fellow executive producer Ken Warwick, presides over the daily production of another little TV franchise, a show called “American Idol.”…
‘American Idol’ Recap: Christians a Definite Presence
…Besides Sparks, half of the singers on this summer’s “Idol” tour – five out of ten – have Christian roots…
Related Posts
Strike a chord - and a rock star pose - at Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp
…It’s my turn to get up on stage for my opening performance, and I know just how the Colonel feels.
Playing lead guitar on my right is Jamie Moses, who usually plays with Mike and the Mechanics, but has somehow ended up with me.
On my left, playing bass, is Neil Murray of Black Sabbath and Whitesnake (their 1985 gig Rock In Rio set a new record when 350,000 people turned up).
Behind me is Simon Kirke, drummer of Bad Company (60 million records sold)…
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=457770&in_page_id=1770
Surely there is some guy she can find to frolic around in the pool with since she doesn’t have a boyfriend.
—————————
Sarah, I doubt Jordin frolics..
What? She’s never kissed a guy or swum in a pool? Well, color me surprised.
That LA TImes article was quite an amazing valentine to Nigel and, not so indirectly, flattering to the show as well. But then again, American Idol the production IS Nigel for the most part. I would never had made a connection between the skills and emotional instincts of a dancer and the ability to produce something of the nature and on the scale of American Idol.
I believe it was determined in chat that Jordin lumbers.
Lumbering, shrill and strident — oh my!
RSF…………..just for the record, as a long time (very long time) subscriber to the L.A. Times, they are struggling to stay afloat and until this year, barely acknowledged that AI existed, and when they did it was scornfully. The writing this year and the space it takes up could have reinstated the TV guide they took away from us. (yes, we are bitter. We want our TV guide) It’s bad enough, but then they have to be all syrupy and sweet about it.
Yoro! YAY!
I also heard the interview with Chris D earlier today. He just always comes across as ungrateful IMO. Back to waiting for the tracks to dry out so we can get this thing they call the Indy 500 finished today.
Just a reminder:
If you read a post that you don’t like, just skip over it. Commenting on the contents of a post or making judgments on it, or making comments about the blog will not be tolerated at all over here.
I closed the Daily Chat for a reason. The malarky that was going on over there WILL NOT pick up where it left off over here.
Thank you.
Thanks LisaB for all the work you do to post these articles for us. It seems to be a labor of love.
Here is an interesting article on how several stars are going from pop to southern country.
http://www.calendarlive.com/music/la-ca-country..cl-musicfeatures
Here is an interesting article on how several stars are going from pop to southern country.
http://www.calendarlive.com/music/la-ca-country..cl-musicfeatures
I went to that site, and, it says the page isn’t available??? I think the pop market is oversaturated, and, people know that the country genre is very kind to it’s artists. The fans are also very loyal for many, many, years.
New rule: No more commenting on the blog, on the blog. If you have an issue, email me.
Disagreeing with a poster is allowed. Making the disagreement personal is not.
Edited to make this comment relevant to the discussion at hand:
I definitely agree that the pop market it oversaturated right now, particularly when it comes to the pretty pop princesses.
IMO, AI does nothing to dispel this stereotype, either. So many of the girls who are put through to Hollywood and even the top 24 each year are cookie cutter pop stars. I personally would like to see them take an artist, particularly a female, with a different musical and vocal style, under their wing and let the artist be true to who she is without trying to mold her into the next Britney or Jessica or Christina, and see what happens. Leslie Hunt this year would have been the perfect opportunity for that. But she had no chance, because she doesn’t fit the Idol, or the pop music, mold.
That would be too much of a gamble. And we know that AI and Daddy Clive only care about the almighty dollar.
Since none of us have actually seen Bo’s contract, there’s no way to tell for sure, but considering that runners-up Justin Guarini (AI1) and Diana DeGarmo (AI3) were both originally signed to RCA and subsequently departed — one way or another — after one album, it’s probably safe to say that Sony BMG & RCA can pretty much do what they wish.
Justin was rather unceremoniously dropped by RCA, according to an article on Billboard.com (December 2, 2003):
RCA had no comment on reports that Justin Guarini, the second-place finalist for the first season of “American Idol,” has been dropped by the label. The eponymous debut album by Guarini – who is no longer listed on the RCA Web site – has sold 134,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.
The details of Diana’s departure are less clear…it was announced on her website that Diana was “released as per her request” from her contract as of June 1, 2005. Her debut album “Blue Skies” had sold 163,999 copies as of 05-16-06.
Bo obviously did quite a bit better than either Justin or Diana, with sales of 661k as reported in Billboard on 01-16-07.
Recording contracts typically include an option clause which allows the label to take a wait-and-see approach for subsequent albums. The artist is required to submit masters for a specified number of tracks for the album and only at that point is the label required to decide whether or not to approve the project as “technically and commercially satisfactory.”
RCA isn’t commenting on Bo and Bo doesn’t seem to have much to say about RCA, which suggests to me they are still contractually bound for the time being…but we shall see.
*bows to Nevada*
As always, NV, you are awesome. Thanks. I was wondering how that might work. I know we don’t know any real details, but that helps in my understanding for sure.
Looking forward to the new cd from Bo, no matter who it’s with. :)
Lisa B, thanks for the enlightening and in parts hilarious article from the Daily Mail about the Rock ‘N Roll Fantasy camp in Britain, in which everyone from the average joe to the richest business exec gets the chance to be coached by and play with legends.
I never knew there were Rock Camps here in the USA and that Britain has continued the trend, with some mighty big names participating. It sounds like as much a thrill for the legends as the aspiring musicians. If I were on a team, I’d shoot for Simon Kirke’s since I have every bass lick memorized from the first CD :) He and Boz Burrell were possibly the best rhythm section to ever exist…well, I know that’s debatable, but they sure had a big influence on me in ‘78.
Nevada — if you’re still here, a numbers question:
If a cd is selling for 7.99 what is the breakdown on the sales price?
Thanks.
Also wanted to add, that picture of Bill Wyman and the “bloke from the Daily Mail” keyboardist made me smile. And, a different look for Bill in the dark spectacles.
Hi MJ! :D
skylight1219, try this link: , then look for the article “Look Who’s Gone Country”. In any case, I think the article crystallizes your thoughts eloquently. :)
Royalty rates are also negotiable. A full-length CD selling for $7.99 suggests a discounted wholesale price, however, and in nearly all instances, CDs sold to vendors (WalMart, Target, Amazon et al) at such a deeply discounted wholesale price earn royalties at a significantly reduced royalty rate.
My best estimate for a breakdown of a CD selling at $7.99:
Artist: $0.52
Producer: $0.24
Songwriters: $0.27
Distributor: $1.75
Manufacturing $1.00
Retailer: $1.74
Record label: $2.47
Thanks Nevada. Sorry to ask again — just couldn’t remember the breakdown.
No haven’t seen the postings — what about them?
radname, read that about a year ago.
Didn’t see this posted anywhere. An article from CNN/Money. Interesting Simon comments, hadn’t seen them before.
Let the real competition begin
Now that the show’s over, American Idol’s biggest winner could still be the man who came in second, says Fortune’s Devin Leonard
Maybe this explains, at least in part, why Simon seemed so bored at the finale.
http://money.cnn.com/2007/05/25/news/newsmakers/pluggedin_leonard_idol.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2007052515
thx laurirose at the BB
I didn’t link that because it was a rehash of the EW article a few weeks ago.
Lisa B, I scanned EW and Popwatch but only went back a few days. Oh well :)
Regarding the AI Finale, try playing the game “Where’s Simon?”
Watch the show and look for Simon. Sometimes he’s there; sometimes he’s not. Sometimes’s he’s there and not looking at the stage. Sometimes he’s chatting or otherwise distracted while the performers are singing. Sometimes his seat is empty.
We should make “Where’s Simon?” a regular segment of the AI season!
yoroshiku34, LOL, thanks for the link, but, where is the link? Thanks.
It’s been a known fact that Simon takes several breaks to smoke his Kools. That could be where he is when he is MIA.
I probably wouldn’t buy a CD from Constantine, but, I sure did love it when he sang, “I Think I Love You,” from the Partidge family. I couldn’t stop laughing. That was one of the funniest moments on tv.
But, I’m sure looking forward to a new CD from Bo.
I have tried to resist, but my willpower is fading.
Daughtry, Hootie & The Blowfish?
Based on the Blowfish face little d ™ made on the night he was eliminated from AI5, this pairing seems so…inevitable.
Where is Boulder when you need her?
I just updated the guidelines to include some information about the Headlines Thread.
Do not post old crap. This is the DAILY HEADLINE THREAD. LisaB finds nearly everything. If you suspect she hasn’t, look through her headlines first, then the rest of the thread and post only if you don’t find the link.
The Daily Headlines thread is EXACTLY that. Headlines from TODAY. NOT carp from last year.
You rang?
skylight, D’oh! Try this: http://www.calendarlive.com/music/cl-ca-countryrock27may27,0,129998.story?coll=cl-music
Sorry, still getting a hang of these tags. :)
Oh Boulder, I have a pic to email you that you will like. So check your email later. :)
Very interesting article about pop singers getting closed out of Top 40 radio. It a sad state of affairs, when if it’s not rhythmic, with Timbaland beats, it isn’t even given a chance.
Radio is so condescending. Just musing, but I’m in NY, and I think NY is ripe for a country station. (It should happen, even K-Rock is back.)
Allison………….be looking for more about the payola scandal. It will explain alot more about how the industry works. I found some other items today that made me ill actually and if I were Jordin, I would run like you know what.
yoroshiku34 - thank you, I finally got to read the article. And, for what it’s worth, I happen to love Bon Jovi, and, the song, “Who Says You Can’t Go Home?” I think country will be very good to Bo Bice as well. Here’s to hoping.
I just read the article about Jordin and her family. It brought tears to my eyes. She came from a very humble background,and, now I’m extremely happy that she won AI. What a beautiful girl, inside and out.
Boulder! We missed you in chat!