Today’s Idol headlines after the jump…
Today in history - June 30
…Rhythm-and-blues singer Fantasia (”American Idol”) is 23…
Cutter Shut down
…It was Ace Young Night at Yale Field. Young, the former American Idol contestant, sang the national anthem and performed two songs after the game. In between, he signed autographs and posed for photos with fans.
Kelly thanks her lucky stars
Although she has performed with artists such as Aerosmith’s Joe Perry, country music legend Reba McEntire and guitarist Jeff Beck, Kelly Clarkson says she doesn’t get starstruck.
But she does find it a bit tough to wrap her head around it…
Clarkson on the record
Singer stands up for My December
…”I think it has been a fabulous creative year for me, but at the same time I think it has been a testing of my patience in some areas,” Clarkson said this week, upon the release of her third album. “I think it has been one of those years where it’s like a revelation. You’re like, ‘Okay, cool. I think I’m getting what I need to do now’ — surrounding myself with the right people and making decisions on happiness rather than for any other reason.”
The first American Idol winner also says a weight has been taken off her shoulders with the album now out in stores.
“You have no idea,” she says. “I’m fricking stoked about it! I can’t wait for people to hear for themselves what this buzz has been about.”…
Maroulis says new soap opera gig has ‘been awesome’
First he smoldered for the cameras as a finalist on season four of “American Idol.†Now Constantine Maroulis is heating up daytime television with a recurring role as music producer Constantine Parros on “The Bold and the Beautiful. …
The ‘Idol’ connection: ‘Omaha (The Movie)’
When Dan Mirvish made “Omaha (The Movie)” in the early 1990s, he had no idea it would recruit the No. 1 TV show in the nation to come to town more than 10 years later.
But “American Idol” producer Patrick Lynn said the film put Omaha on the top of his list of places he wanted to hold an audition…
BLACK MUSIC MONTH 2007: Don’t Believe the Hype! Check on This
…To hell with ‘American Idol’ winner Taylor Hicks, the real “soul patrol” is being led by Yamin, who released his long awaited debut opus this spring. From the opening track ‘Movin’ On,’ the aural engagement begins — and envelopment continues throughout the soul infused pop ballad ‘Wait for You’ and the empowering, gospel-inflected track ‘Free.’ His turn on the doo-wop inspired ‘Take My Breath Away’ exemplifies pure soul. ‘Train Wreck’ channels a bit of late R&B legend Sam Cooke while staying current with an R. Kelly tone. The up-tempo ‘Alright’ has a hip-pop groove on par with Justin Timberlake — but with much more soul. The Los Angeles native may not be (and act) black, but he exudes soul — better than any of the current day crop of blue-eyed soul balladeers, including Robin Thicke…
Daughtry Goes Triple Platinum
Former American Idol delivers best-selling album of 2007 so far.
Former American Idol contestant Chris Daughtry’s debut album, Daughtry, has been certified triple platinum (selling in excess of 3 million copies) by the RIAA and as such has been deemed the biggest selling album of 2007 thus far. It is the first album to achieve triple platinum status in the past six months…
Starting All Over Again
Glorious past and uncertain future of Stax on stage at The Orpheum.
…Yet the canned banter between Jackson and Chuck D. threatened to derail the momentum between every act. WWRD (What Would Rufus Do?), I wondered, as I listened to them mumble through another round of accolades read from the TelePrompters, wishing that someone had done their homework and hired a real MC, someone who could have fun and get funky like in the WDIA Goodwill Revues of yore.
Jackson’s missteps were numerous. To the audience’s dismay, he squeezed Idol references into nearly every sentence, and, at one point, the co-hosts incorrectly announced that Stax co-founder Jim Stewart and Al Bell, the label’s final owner, were in the audience. No big deal, unless you consider that Stewart’s a recluse who has never stepped foot in the Stax Museum of American Soul Music and who was a no-show for his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Had Stewart chosen to attend the anniversary concert, it would’ve made a fine moment for the current stewards of the Stax legacy, but sadly, that wasn’t the case…
Abstinence Brings ‘Dignity’
Traveling in Africa, First Lady Laura Bush speaks in favor of faith-based HIV prevention.
…Speaking to the Bush delegation, World Vision’s Bruce Wilkinson, a leader with RAPIDS, said, “Today is a day to celebrate.”
And it was. Salvation Army–supported youth put on a skit. Women, mostly widows, sang and danced. A choir of children moved the audience with their song, “I know the Lord will make a way for me.” Young women, led by American Idol finalist Melinda Doolittle, performed the hymn “Amazing Grace.”…
RealityCares Benefit Being Held This Saturday In Hollywood California
…Appearing at the event are: Dr. Will Kirby (Big Brothers & Dr. 90210), Nick Carter (House of Carters), Reichen Lehmkuhl (Amazing Race), Eric Nies (Real World), Jerri Manthey (Survivor), Traci Bingham (Surreal Life), Frenchie Davis (American Idol), and so many more!..
Mergers fail to lift media stocks
Despite consolidation in the sector, media stocks underperformed the broader market in the first half of 2007
…And CKX, a media licensing company that owns the rights to the names and likenesses of Elvis Presley as well as the rights to the popular “American Idol” television show that airs on News Corp.’s Fox, have surged 18 percent. The company’s top executives announced in May that they were taking CKX private…
‘Hey Paula’ Recap: An Open Letter To Paula Abdul From MTV News’ ‘American Idol’ Expert
‘It’s one thing to let cameras follow you. It’s another to give your permission to air an episode like this at all. …’
Hey Paula,
I know it’s been a rough couple of years, what with the rumors and the manicures from hell and the Dr. Phil “Why Can’t I Find A Man” primetime specials. No doubt you’re fed up with the public’s perception of you as an eccentric, unstable whackadoo with an affinity for costume jewelry and new-agey platitudes.
So I guess I understand why you would agree to have TV cameras follow you around for a reality show. “This’ll show ‘em who I REALLY am! [seal clap]”
Unfortunately, the reality of reality TV is that “reality” bites. Big time…..
Hicks injects some soul into Red, White & Boom crowd
An animated Taylor Hicks extended his arms and zoomed onto stage as if he were an airplane. The plane landed with the crash of a cymbal and an exuberant chord from the electrical guitar as Hicks grabbed the microphone and greeted Spartanburg.
Dressed in an orange T-shirt, blue jeans and black New Balances, Mr. “Soul Patrol” asked the crowd of more than 5,000 eager fans one simple question that caused an explosion, “Are ya’ll ready for a good Fourth of July weekend?”…
Churches, City Host Holiday Activities: American Idol Contestant Patrick Hall To Sing Sunday
Fourth of July Brings World Champion Jump-Roper
…The First Baptist Church of Bentonville will Celebrate America with several special guests on Sunday. These include 2006 American Idol contestant Patrick Hall, who will sing “Cry Freedom” by David T. Clydesdale with the church choir and orchestra on the Bentonville square…
Stars in Orbit: Klum’s Candy, Bush’s Boy and Foster’s Caring Ways
The Planet Gossip satellites see everything, and I give you the best sightings from around the world—and occasionally even beyond it.
SO SWEET! Heidi Klum, Karolina Kurkova and Adriana Lima, along with Katharine McPhee and Lydia Hearst, celebrating the opening of the Victoria’s Secret Beauty Candy Store in NYC….
Everyone into the pool!
A cool and refreshing party returns to downtown Orlando.
…Remember, on July 3 Altamonte Springs will be hosting its Red, Hot & Boom event at Cranes Roost Park on Altamonte Springs Drive. It never made sense to me why this always takes place the day before Independence Day, especially when it’s during the week. I’m lobbying for July 5 off, but I don’t see how July 3 is an option. Either way, the event always packs a crowd. This year, American Idol finalists Katharine McPhee and Elliott Yamin will perform, along with Saving Jane, The Click Five, Kat DeLuna, Melissa Jimenez, Rooney and Lloyd. As with the previous events, this is also free…
July 4 sets off Sparks for the newest ‘American Idol’
…An American Idol fan since its debut, Sparks says the show’s earlier seasons were an education for her before she started her own ‘journey’, as Idol host Ryan Seacrest would put it.
“Just seeing what everybody performed and what the judges responded to, and even the little things, really helped me,” Sparks says. “I would think, ‘I don’t want to sing such-and-such song because somebody else already sang it, and I don’t want to be compared to them.’…
Forget the tap shoes, I want to see a pic of Lu all bedazzled up to go see Taylor next weekend
You will not believe how bedazzled I’m going to be! I think I’ll sneak up on stage and do a little tap number in my brand new shoes!
I think a video definitely can make a difference on how well a song does on the charts even on MTV and VH-1.
The example is “It’s Not Over”. When Daughtry’s “It’s Not Over” was released to radio in early December, it really didn’t do much on the charts for weeks. It wasn’t until the video was released to VH-1 and MTV when that song took off on the charts reaching Top 5 on the Billboard 100 and #1 on Hot AC.
Lu, have fun and enjoy yourself. I know you’ll surpass this fine tap dancer in no time, lol. ;)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=VcJ-gExojgs
Call me a cynic, but I think the sharks have decided to move on and that there are only a few small ones still interested in nipping at Taylor’s career. The sharks won’t be back until he does something that deems that more chum be tossed into the water; then they’ll come swarming back. What that “something” is exactly, whether or not that will happen, and to what extent has yet to be determined, so it’s all speculation at this point. And I’m very glad that Taylor has engaged more with the audience as of late, but sometimes that can be such a double-edged sword, lol.
All bedazzled up and tapdancing on stage with Taylor? Start practicing now..I think The Runaround is a good tapdance song. I sure hope you have someone get video of that!!!
Well I have read a lot about Taylor’s shows and think I’m in for a real treat! Of course Taylor is in for a real treat too when I start tap dancing. I have wood floors in my house and have been wearing my tap shoes around the house. I’m such a geek. Reviewers will have to give Taylor his due. He’s one fantastic performer!
db - and I think Taylor’s book will put to rest a LOT of the speculation that the sharks ate off of. It’s all good at this point!
Lu, you will have a blast at the show. He puts on a great one. He is in trouble when you hop on stage and steal his spotlight though!
Not putting Elliott down (I like him), but in my opinion, almost anyone on God’s green earth can sing better than Robin Thicke
Oh yes for sure - Lu - Tapper Extraordinaire!
PArt of why we love you LU. :)
Lu - too bad we don’t live in the same city. I have wanted to take Tap for years and am seriously thinking about looking for classes.
Okay - I am now going to iTunes to purchase JPL’s CD since I promised some folks last night in chat that I would. Go JPL!
Ah, the mysteries of format classifications…there is a lot of grey areas and ovelap.
Wiki says that Rhythmic is a mix of dance and upbeat rhythmic pop, hip-hop and R&B hits. There listeners tend to be African-Americans, Hispanics and Asian-Americans…mostly 18-34 year old females.
Meanwhile Urban plays hip-hop/rap, contemporary R&B and some Carribbean music (reggaae, soca and raggaeton). The audience is mainly African-American females aged 18-34 (and sometimes up to 49). They will sometimes play classic soul music songs, but mostly, they focus on songs out within the last five years.
Urban Adult Contemporary aims for an older audience and plays more classic soul and “soft” R&B (ballads and slow jam).
Thanks Kirsten. I guess that makes sense. Elliott seems to be moving up on the rhythmic chart but is not even on the urban adult contemporary. Bawed on the descriptions, I kind of expected to see him there.
Dante - Bummer - It would’ve been fun to take tap with you! THen you could sneak up on stage with me next weekend!!!
Radname, you right Taylor is not an r&b singer. He is a soul singer..There is a slight difference..I would say Elliott is more like Robert Thicke and JT. It’s the combination of music and vocal style that puts them in that catagory. Taylor’s Right Place is song I can hear on my jazz station. Which mostly plays r&b, soul and jazz music. Just because one does not preceive Taylor’s cd to be a soulful does not mean he is not a soul singer. Michael Bolton and Michael McDonald were both considered soul singers but their music were very pop leaning. Back in the days, it was the vocals that earned a white singer the label “blue-eyed” soul singer. Now the scope has widen. The greatest of blue-eyed soul singer, in my eyes, is still Tina Marie. No one can touch her in that department.
The best way I can discribe a soul singer is what someone once said,and I’m paraphrasing, when a soul singer sings you can feel their hearts breaking..They tend to grab you emotionally..
By the way, speaking of a singer who could grab you emotionally, I heard “A moment like this” this morning. Damn, that Kelly chick can sing. I miss her vocals..*shedding a few tears*….
MJ, I do agree with you. I saw Robert Thicke performance on BET. I did not know it was him who you guys were talking about at first. He is all over the place with his single. Funny thing was, I saw his video on BET before I saw it on VH1. I did not see his performance on AI this past season. He is a good singer but he does need to work on his stage presence. That falsetto vocal can be a bit hard to handle live. Plus, he was a bit stiff.
Blech falsetto - blech blech blech.
Sharks? Maybe there are critics that just don’t care for him. And, that’s ok, imho.
just wait ..when taylor get #1 billing on the NewYorks best sellers list…..arista/ clive already have their hand in the book pie..by putting out the rules on how the book signing is to be done
Robert Thicke= Robin Thicke
Oh, I agree. I was just continuing the metaphor, lol.
ETA: I’m not very good with metaphors, yet I continue to employ them. In that respect, I’m like those who try out for AI and can’t sing worth carp. I just don’t learn, lol…
So if Taylor’s book doesn’t get great reviews, I guess it means Clive has “gotten” to them. I had no idea he had that much influence.
I agree with you 100%. Just like all the other artist who have critics who don’t care for them. It’s par for the course.
You have no idea. My toaster just stopped working. I’m sure that Clive had something to do with it.
There are also some slugs in my garden. I think Clive bred them in his basement dungeon (where he’s currently keeping Bo) and had silent black helicopters drop them on my yard in the middle of the night. The very wet spring has nothing to do with it.
Don’t worry. I’m not taking this sitting down. I’m sending Clive a slug infested head of cabbage. Anybody got his mailing address?
(Please note, this is just a joke. My Toaster is fine and I hate cabbage so I do not grow them and, therefore, I have no slug infested cabbage to send to Clive. The slugs did eat my basil, though. Damn them! Why can’t they eat the weeds? I feel that I have to flag these things these days lest somebody contact my local health authority and try to have me dragged off to the mental ward)
I thought it was Robin and not Robert.
I’ve been listening to the guy for a while now and did not make the connection..LOL
Kirsten, LOL. Is Clive behind global warming as well? I can’t believe the vendetta he’s got against Taylor though. I guess the rumors of Taylor pissing in Clive’s Metamucil are true.
Some of us can “see the forest for the trees” and realize that rules from a record company is standard. Not always madatory..But I guess turning everything into something negative is another way to add fuel to some people’s emotional fire.
Yes and thank you.
And I have it on good authority that Clive mixes his Metamucil with orange juice. He attributed the tartness to the juice being a day past its expiration date…
No. Global warming is an eloborate fraud dreamt up by Clive and his cronies. In actual fact, the real problem is global cooling. Every time Clive comes into a room, the temperature drops by at least 5 degrees. Before he visited Canada, we used to have tropical plants and dinosaurs. Now, we have nothing but snow and moose. Some have tried to blame the demise of dinosaurs on a meteorite that hit the world millions of years ago, but that just coincidentally happened at the same time as Clive’s visit (Clive also caused the meteorite, a former star of gigantic proportions, to crash to the earth by forcing it to sing Michael Bolton covers).
There is an old saying in the music biz…”Never piss in Clive’s Metamucil”. Let’s just say that Taylor got drunk one night and decided to test it. This is why you should never drink and talk to Clive.
What vendetta.. The so called vendetta seems to be fan produced. He has no more vendetta towards Taylor than he does Kelly or Christina or any other one of his artist..But, I guess if it keeps some wallowing in pity and other wanting to believe that Clive hates Taylor because of cd sales, I guess he is controlling the cd buying public’s minds, then who I’m I to rain on the parades.. Just for the record, either thinking is a bit extreme if you ask me..
By the way Kristen, I made a quiche today and it turned out pretty good. I wonder if Clive had anything to do with it…Hmmmmmm….
It is Robin. You just referred to him as Robert in an earlier post.
“MJ, I do agree with you. I saw Robert Thicke performance on BET.”
People have often asked the question “What came first, the Clive or the egg?”. Recent archeoligical finds have proven that Clive roamed the earth before eggs. So, since Clive had something to do with the evolution of the egg…then yes…Clive had a lot to do with your lovely quiche. You now owe him $75 in recoupment and $10 for cross-collaterization. He no longer takes personal cheques or cash, so you will have to send him your first born and a certified cheque from the bank. If you do not send the money by the end of the week, Clive will be forced to send Kenny G to live beside you and play his music at all hours (don’t believe me? Nevada made a lovely soufflé once and was a day late sending in her cheque and now a garage band lives next to her).
I don’t believe Clive has a vendetta against Taylor. (But it seems others do.) I was just joshing. Nor do I actually think Taylor pissed in Clive’s Metamucil. (For the record) Kristen I am really laughing hard. I do believe all the other stuff above Clive though.
I am sure that Clive Davis isn’t thinking about Taylor.
Ok. Chris pissed in Clive’s Metamucil too, just for kicks.
The stuff about Taylor and the Metamucil was a joke. But the Chris story is true. He’s the only one allowed to do it because the album went triple platinum.
…and Carrie’s album went six-times platinum. You don’t even want to begin to imagine what she is allowed to do to Clive’s Metamucil.
Define “lives.”
This is off topic..not Taylor but I heard Elliott’s song on a local rock station, same one that plays Chris D…..so yay for that. I do like Chris D but still don’t understand what attracts people to him and they do…over 2 mil cd’s sold is a lot.
Man, I knew it.. I happen to like Kenny G, so having him living beside me is not a bad thing..I’ll take it..
Katharine has said herself RCA is not going to push the song until the video comes out (and lol if you think that songs on the radio get there by requests, and have nothing to do with the label)
New pictures from McPhee Outreach/Lollipop Theater apperance.
http://www.lollipoptheater.org/photogallery.htm
radname — Kat better start selling some CD’s or she’s not even going to make Gold. I personally don’t think a video helps that much. From what I’ve seen of this new video, it is not the image of her songs — it looks like a sex video.
I think Kat looks sexy in the video stills that I saw but I wouldn’t label that a “sex video”. Now if you want to see what a “sex video” looks like, it definitely isn’t that…LOL!
Obviously a video does sell records or else why would they make them? Because they want to spend 600k on a 3 minute video?
A video won’t sell a bad song. If the song is good, a video can help.
To me, Kat seems to be going the Paris Hilton route, paid to show up and be seen at events. Hard to believe she hasnt been put on a tour at least as an opener for someone this long after the cd came out. IMO the label went the wrong route with her. She has a gorgeous voice and didnt need to be sex kittened up. The cover on the cd played up to the sex kitten image they are trying to project, but I wouldve loved to have seen a great head shot of Kat with that twinkle in her eye and her smile on the cover.
Im very glad for Elliott’s success. A good man with a gorgeous voice but a bit too much vibralto and runs for me, although I did download a lot of his AI performances. I love Rubens voice too but he also puts in too many runs, imo.
I ordered Kellys cd from Walmart. Great buy at 9.95 and shipping bringing it to slightly over 11.00 I wanted to buy Kimberly Lockes but its 14.95 Maybe I will get it later, I love her first cd.
Yeah, nothing says sexy like crawling across a table top. LMAO
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