Don’t stop believing: 10 Idols get ready to roll to 50 cities
All season, American Idol finalists sang shortened songs in front of a few hundred people, and millions more watched on TV. When their 50-city Idols Live tour starts Sunday at the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore., they’ll expand the songs and the crowd, without worries about who goes home at the end of the night.
“I didn’t know how you’d fit 10 people in one show, but it flows so smoothly,” says Danny Gokey. “And the energy of 10,000 to 15,000 people will take it up a notch.”
The three-hour concert will be split between songs from the Fox series and material picked for the tour.
A four-song medley will spotlight Michael Sarver, Lil Rounds, Megan Joy, Matt Giraud, Scott MacIntyre and Anoop Desai. “There are some duets in it, there’s a group number, there are a couple of solo spots, but each of those Idols is featured,” says tour producer/director Raj Kapoor.
Also planned: a group performance of Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing.
The set boasts a 42-by-18-foot video-screen backdrop, as well as four smaller screens, each receiving separate signals. “We’ve created custom videos for each one of them,” Kapoor says. “Whichever Idol you like, you get to see them in their own light, with their own vibe.”
Paula Abdul Will Drop In On Drop Dead Diva
Paula Abdul will show off her acting chops in a guest role on Lifetime’s new original series Drop Dead Diva.
“I am very excited to guest star on Drop Dead Diva,” Abdul says. “All of the people are extremely talented and it’s a charming, wonderfully written new show.”
Broadway star Brooke Elliott plays the sassy lawyer lead in the dramedy about a shallow model who, after death, finds her soul inside the body of a smart plus-sized attorney named Jane.
In a September episode, Jane will go before Judge Nina Hodge, played by Abdul, in a case about a store that refuses to carry plus-sized clothing.
American Idol finalists get ready to hit the road
BURBANK, Calif. — Face to face at twin pianos, Matt Giraud and Scott MacIntyre strike the opening chords of “Don’t Stop Believin’,” and playing in unison the two “American Idol” finalists start to sing the Journey classic.
They trade lines about small town girls and city boys, and as the song unfolds the rest of this year’s Top 10 Idols join in more or less in reverse order of their finish.
Michael Sarver and Megan Joy trade verses, then Lil Rounds, Anoop Desai, Allison Iraheta and Danny Gokey take their turns.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Your shot at ‘Idol’
It seems like the Adam Lambert vs. Kris Allen competition has barely died down, but “American Idol” producers have already hit the road looking for contestants for Season 9.
This year’s Orlando auditions are July 9 at Amway Arena downtown, but you will need to arrive a day or two early. Participants must go to the arena on Tuesday or Wednesday, beginning at 7 a.m., to register for an audition spot. You will need to bring two pieces of ID and, if you are under 18, you will have to have a parent or guardian with you.
‘Idol’ puts up bigger numbers now that he’s a Billboard-topping rock star
Two of his four bandmates were with him in Oklahoma obscurity. A few of their current songs are ones they did back then.
“I always imagined them like this, with a crowd singing along,” Cook said by phone. “It just wasn’t the same when there were only eight people listening.”
Now it’s 8,000-plus. It’s been like that since Cook – who headlines the Common Ground festival Friday – became the 2008 “American Idol” champion.
Suddenly, the former Tulsa bartender was writing with Johnny Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls), Zak Maloy (Nixons) and his favorite, Raine Maila (Our Lady Peace). “Our first writing session, we did three songs in four hours,” Cook said.
Admit it: You are (I am?) excited about the new Blake Lewis CD!
This just in: American Idol’s season 6 runner-up, Blake Lewis, will drop his sophomore set, Heartbreak on Vinyl, on October 6th via Tommy Boy Entertainment. Also breaking: My voice, because despite my best efforts to suppress it, I let out a schoolgirl-like squeal when said record-release news landed in my inbox.
Yeah, I know, music hipsters would probably prefer to dismiss Lewis as a beatboxing Idol annoyance/the only person other than Jordin Sparks to sing “This Is My Now” to a TV audience of 25 million people. But I say the guy should not be dismissed so easily. Listen to “End of the World” (embedded below), an album cut from his debut Audio Day Dream (which sold 308,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan) and tell me that soaring chorus shouldn’t have gone directly to the upper quadrants of Billboard’s Hot 100 without passing ‘Go’ and without collecting $200.
B-side: Jordin Sparks hits the dancefloor
With much of the country sweltering under record temperatures, most of us can’t wait to hit the park, the beach or the garden to make the most of the glorious sunshine. Of course, no alfresco frolics are complete without a suitable soundtrack, which is where DS’s B-side of the week comes in handy.
Having remixed singles for Girls Aloud, Britney Spears and Pixie Lott in recent months, UK dance producers Bimbo Jones have now worked their magic on Jordin Sparks’s triumphant new single ‘Battlefield’. Dragging this soft rock monster onto the dancefloor with some throbbing beats and trancey synths, they’ve transformed it into a summer anthem almost as scorching as the midday sun.
Idol winner Sparks’ whirlwind continues with Jonas tour
Pop/R&B star Jordin Sparks doesn’t want to wait for the inevitable.
As the opening act for the Jonas Brothers on their latest tour, she knows it’s only a matter of time before tabloids and bloggers start linking her to one of the siblings.
So Sparks, 19, is willing to make a pre-emptive strike. “We can start the rumour that I’m already dating Nick,” she laughs.
“We could have so much fun messing with people — it would be so awesome. I don’t know if I’m quite prepared for Jonas mania, but I think I’ll be OK.”
After all, she sparked her own following of rabid fans — the Arizona native won the sixth season of TV’s most popular reality show, American Idol, in 2007.
Former American Idol winner stars in Broadway production at the Kimmel Center
Taylor Hicks stars in Broadway production of Grease
He is surprisingly shy. It comes through the long distance phone wires in his hesitant speaking style and his long pauses.
Taylor Hicks may have been “American Idol, Year Five,” but he is surely not arrogant or self-important.
The “country boy” with the hefty voice will be landing on stage in Philadelphia in the iconic musical “Grease,” from July 7 to July 19, as part of the national tour, after debuting on Broadway in the role of Teen Angel.
“It’s wonderful – I love the show, I love the role, but I can’t say that I love the travel,” said Hicks, whose life changed drastically when he swept the “American Idol” title. “I certainly understand why Susan Boyle felt totally overwhelmed from the experience. That’s what it is – overwhelming.”
Analysis: Jackson Frenzy Drowns Out Competition
Sales of Michael Jackson’s catalog drowned out the competition in the week after his death. Consumers flocked last week to online retailers such as iTunes and Amazon.com to purchase Jackson’s catalog but the flurry of activity did not help other artists.
Total album sales dropped 8% versus the previous week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. New releases dropped 17% while catalog albums rose 3% and deep catalog increased 8%. A week-to-week change in the -10% range is not unusual, and the week did not have any blockbuster debuts.
Even so, the performance of the country’s top albums is clear evidence that Michael Jackson’s death had a negative impact on the rest of the market.
Except for debuts, no album in the previous weeks’ top 100 gained over the previous week. Of the top 200 albums, 149 had double-digit declines, 159 were in negative territory, two were flat and nine sold more units that in the previous week. There were 27 debuts that week.
Michael Jackson’s Estate: Saved by the Beatles
Will Michael Jacksons’ three children, Michael Joseph Jr., Paris Michael and Prince Michael II, end up paupers? The answer rests on the value of the performer’s largest asset: his 50% stake of a music publishing company called Sony/ATV Music Publishing.
Jackson, who died on June 25, left behind as much as $500 million of debts. That includes a $315 million loan owed to British bank Barclays, as well as millions of dollars of bills. “Jackson never paid his bills,” says a lawyer who did work for Jackson over the years. “Countless professionals who worked for him are still waiting to get paid.” In May, the singer’s long-time publicist Raymone Bain sued Jackson for $44 million in unpaid fees.
‘Endless’ Music In Michael Jackson’s Vault
NEW YORK — Michael Jackson had a mountain of unreleased recordings in the vault when he died _ music that is almost certain to be packaged and repackaged for his fans in the years to come.
The material includes unused tracks from studio sessions of some of Jackson’s best albums, as well as more recently recorded songs made with Senegalese R&B singer and producer Akon and Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am.
“There are dozens and dozens of songs that did not end up on his albums,” said Tommy Mottola, who from 1998 to 2003 was chairman and CEO of Sony Music, which owns the distribution rights to Jackson’s music. “People will be hearing a lot of that unreleased material for the first time ever. There’s just some genius and brilliance in there.”
The releases, Mottola said, “could go on for years and years _ even more than Elvis.”
Headlines: Rock of Ages Smashes Guinness World Record for Largest Air Guitar Ensemble
Tony Award nominated new musical Rock of Ages shattered the Guinness World Record for largest air guitar ensemble on July 1. The previous record, held by an assemblage of 440 air rockers at a music festival in Donington Park, UK, was smashed by a total of 810 rockers at the Brooks Atkinson Theater after the show’s matinee performance.
7 service members set to become citizens at Statue of Liberty’s July 4th crown opening
They defend our country’s freedom, so there’s no better place for seven members of the military to become U.S. citizens than Lady Liberty.
The seven soldiers, sailors and Marines – all from New York – will gather at the base of the Statue of Liberty on July 4 for a naturalization ceremony, right before the statue’s crown reopens to the public for the first time since 9/11.
The seven service members will then lead the Pledge of Allegiance as new U.S. citizens.
Former “American Idol” contestant and Broadway star Constantine Maroulis will sing the national anthem, accompanied by the Albany Marine Band. The French national anthem will also be played.
Former ‘American Idol’ singers are ‘Idolized’ at South Point
Is there room for “American Idol” on a downsized Strip? Producer Barrie Cunningham is hoping that a former-contestant cavalcade he’s staging at the South Point this weekend will drum up interest in a possible permanent Las Vegas show.
“Idolized” features former Las Vegan Mikalah Gordon, Nikki McKibbin, David Hernandez and Jasmine Trias crooning five songs each with a seven-piece band. The emphasis is on the covers they performed on “Idol.”
“People have wondered where they went, where they can go see them,” says Cunningham, who has invited entertainment directors from all the major entertainment venues and crossed his fingers. “These kids get tens of thousands of hits on their MySpace accounts. There really hasn’t been a venue for them.”
Karaoke Kate Moss’s a hit with Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell is not famous for his unbridled praise of amateur singers, but he was clearly taken with his latest protégée last night – a 35-yearold mother of one from Croydon. The X Factor judge was on his feet and cheering after listening to an enthusiastic rendition of Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean.
Perhaps it was because the song was a tribute to the late entertainer. More likely, however, was that the amateur singer in question was Kate Moss.
Exhausted Cowell may dump one TV show
Big bucks may not be the deciding factor in Simon Cowell’s “American Idol” contract negotiations. Shortly after reports surfaced claiming Cowell could command as much as $144 million if he agreed to continue his ruthless judging routine, ex-girlfriend and current best friend Terri Seymour said the famed workaholic needs a break.
In an interview with the Daily Star, Seymour claimed an exhausted Cowell can’t go on juggling three high-profile talent competitions. Between his work on “American Idol” and U.K. shows “X Factor” and “Britain’s Got Talent,” one show has to go.
Ratings: Another Cowell Hit Brewing?
Summer television may finally have a hit; and Simon Cowell has a hand in this one, too.
NBC’s talent competition, “America’s Got Talent,” got stronger in its second week on the air this summer, leading the network ratingson Tuesday night with almost 13 million viewers. That is the biggest audience for anything on television –- other than sports – this summer.
“AGT,” as it is known, also attracted a 3.7 rating among the advertiser preferred group of viewers between the ages of 18 and 49, the best number for any network show this summer.
NBC’s ‘America’s Got Talent’ surges
After weeks of summer reality shows steadily dropping in the ratings, NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” pulled off a surprising reversal Tuesday night.
The second week of NBC’s competition series surged in the Nielsens and was watched by more viewers than any non-sports program so far this summer (on broadcast or cable).
“Got Talent” earned 12.9 million viewers and a 3.7 preliminary adults 18-49 rating, up 16% from its premiere.
One reason for the rise may have been the show’s lead-in, a “Got Talent” repeat (8.2 million, 2.3) that drew far more viewers than “I’m a Celebrity” brought to the time period in recent weeks. Or since the premiere was the lowest “Talent” opener ever, the gain could simply be due to some fans returning late to the show.
Katie Holmes to Show Her Dance Moves on TV!
Katie Holmes will be showing off her dance moves on an upcoming episode of “So you Think You Can Dance.”
ET has confirmed that Holmes will appear on the 100th episode of the Fox reality competition show. The actress’ performance will be an homage to Judy Garland, and she will dance and sing to Garland’s classic song “Get Happy.”
Holmes has teamed up with “So You Think You Can Dance” co-creator Nigel Lythgoe, “Dancing with the Stars” judge Carrie Ann Inaba and director and choreographer Adam Shankman to create the Dizzy Feet Foundation.
“So You Think You Can Dance”: Chains, aliens and ballet shoes
Caitlinjason This has been the episode of “So You Think You Can Dance” that I’ve been waiting for all season. While I liked some performances more than others, I really enjoyed parts of every dance, which means I’m growing closer to the contestants, which means eliminations will be more difficult, which means the dancers are going to have to step it up more and the show can only get better. Thank goodness.
I knew it would be a good episode with Mia Michaels sitting on the judges’ panel. Cat Deeley (wearing a fun, flirty fuchsia dress with a black studded belt) asked Mia if she had anything to say since the last time she was on the show, and Mia rubbed her hands in anticipation and said, “Without naming names, my opinion has changed for the better.” She was obviously talking about Brandon Bryant, who she took to task last time she was on the show for his “attitude,” but Nigel Lythgoe egged her on by saying, “Would this be for a small male dancer? Were the initials Brandon?”
I seriously think Kris, Adam, and Allison are the three who have the most potential for successful singing careers in the future. I would equate some of the others (Matt esp.) as potentially picking up a smaller indie label and releasing something similar to Michael Johns.
With the others, I dont’ see as much success in music. Anoop = should segue into an acting/tv personality type role. Ditto with Megan (she reminds me of a Kellie Pickler sort – quirky personality, very pretty, etc).
Danny is talented, but really really needs to figure out his style and niche. I still insist he hasn’t found that happy medium of what he does well and what he really wants to sing.
As for Adam’s dancing – yes, in musical theater, he would definitely be learning a lot of choreography (broadway shows are INSANE with some of the level of dancing required, in fact, you really need to be a triple threat (dancing, singing, acting) for some kinds of roles. So I imagine he has had some great experience with that.
Back in Taylor’s season, some of the other contestants said that he had a temper, but he held it together on TV. I don’t know if that relates to being stubborn, but it could be combination of some problems he had.
Thanks, chewsday, for that article. I hadn’t read it.
Regarding Taylor after Season 5 – Whatever happened, Taylor learned a lot, no doubt, that will stand him in good stead. I’m just glad to see him make a living doing what he loves.
I saw an article that talked about how Idol contestants really only have about 11 months from the time the show ends to capitalize on the exposure they received. After that, the next crop of AI contestants comes along, and those from previous years can get pushed aside.
You know, that’s true and it ain’t. Look at Jennifer Hudson, who hit the stratosphere long after her Idol boot. Constantine Maroulis is doing great, after some lull years. And I love Melinda Doolittle’s album, which came out nearly two years after she was on the show.
I think the whole deal, really, is TALENT and CONNECTIONS. The recording industry, as we’ve all lamented many a time, is in the dumpster and hopelessly clingling to formula stuff when they should be scouting and grooming more new talent. So it’s tough to start with.
But I truly believe that the people who make it usually are those who should eventually. I say “usually” because, Lord help me, I think all of Kelly Pickler’s talents are in her bazooms….
Good point about the time lag – that certainly doesn’t seem to matter much for people like J. Hud. I agree that the key is just to keep at, keep good connections, and something will hopefully come along when the timing is right.
edit: this has already been posted twice. please read through the thread first
I broke down and signed up with twitter. How frustrating is this place! I ask it to find Allison4realzzz and it gives me every fake account out there….but not the real one.
Krisallen4real…. “no such person found”. errrrrrh.
Not sure if anyone else is interested, but here is a really pretty version of DC’s Lie from a couple of nights ago:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYAKIkzCZPg
At least one radio station is playing David Cook’s Billie Jean — get 7 spins in the past 24 hours.
@Tara,
Yes, Twitter is weird that way. Here are their page links, this usually works best:
http://twitter.com/KrisAllen4Real
http://twitter.com/Allison4Realzzz
On Jennifer Hudson, she was struggling and it was a LONG process for her to get cast in “Dreamgirls,” who knows if we would had heard about her if she didn’t get that gig and kill it. I think other than having and agent and some notoriety, her landing that job was almost separate from AI. She was told she was no longer being considered more than once.
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Michael-Jackson/Rolling-Stone-Magazine/e/9781615565009/?
Yeah, those who know anything about Taylor, would never call him lazy. Stubborn? Yeah, that’s probably putting it politely. I like Taylor, though.
Did they? I don’t really remember that. I do remember that someone said that he really laid into one of the AI minders for saying something rude to Elliott, and for following him into the bathroom. lol.
He also said in his book that he tried to organize the contestants to demand more money was it? from AI. Something about they wouldn’t have a show without the contestants….yeah, and that couldn’t have gone over too well either.
I think Taylor is very talented, and it’s a shame that he has in some ways been turned into an object of mockery. But I do think he’s a little hard headed and may in many ways have shot himself in the foot. I still love the guy, but he’s a little eccentric. lol.
Edit: Oh yeah, and he supposedly refused to sing the original coronation song that they gave him…walking out of the room and saying, I’m not singing this.
Does Taylor still have anything to do with his original band or any of their members? What was the groups name? I actually saw them in Chicago when Taylor was on tour with AI and for the life of me can’t remember their name!
Little Memphis Blues Orchestra (LMBO). I’m not sure about whether he still plays with them from time to time. I do think he was loyal and really wanted to showcase them, and was very good about letting them showcase themselves during his shadow tour and soak up some of the love from his fans.
Thanks aek….LMBO can’t believe I forgot. They were good and it was good time that night. He was very loyal to them. I just hadn’t heard anything about them for awhile.
I love those red velour pants, lol. And yes, there were many who thought Adam should win with his pants coming in as runner up, although which pants ought to receive the title was much-debated (I can’t remember for certain, but I may actually have been the first to suggest that the pants deserved runner-up status, LOL [I was definitely *one* of the first]). I personally put my money on either the RoF pants or the WLL pants (it’s all about the *zipper*!). In terms of ‘dirrrrty’, IMO that “drop” is probably one of the least-raunchy moves in that clip, hehe.
It should be interesting to see how they configure that at GM Place (Vancouver), considering that according to TicketMaster, the seating goes all the way around back of the stage.
Interesting again, that the writer does not mention that the third stop of the tour is Vancouver on July 8th (not to mention Tacoma & the 4 other California dates before L.A. on the 16th).
I only quoted this because in an otherwise decent article, it really bugs me that the writer just HAD to put that in there – why on earth did he not simply say “…earlier this month on the cover of Rolling Stone” and leave it at that?!? Arrgghh!
Wow, I feel a little bad for being surprised, but this is a very astute comment from Sarver. I think all ten of them, while the stage is being set up, ought to spare a few minutes and hang out in the nose-bleed sections of each stadium, just so they know exactly how far they need to ‘project’. Even you-know-who has never performed for an audience as large as they’re going to have during these shows, so I think this exercise would be nothing but beneficial – for them and the audience.
Don’t forget that their are video feeds everywhere in these arenas. I have been to live concerts (as well as a few churches) where I have watched the screens much more than the live performers. The guys doing the live feed filming are usually damn good and really bring the performers up close and personal.
Brian Less, the keyboardist from LMBO, played with Taylor at his gig in Detroit last Monday. It was the ultimate Taylor concert for many reasons. If you’re a fan, check out YouTube for songs such as Maybe You Should and Indiscriminate Act of Kindness. He also did a killer version of Don’t Let Me Down.
(Dingo, if you read this, check it out. It was raw, acoustic Taylor at his best.)
As I understand it, the former members of LMBO all play in different bands, but sometimes play together under various names.
anyone know how this year’s tour is selling? I can’t imagine it will sell as well as last year’s, with the economy in the shape it’s in. Plus last year had so many likable finalists. I like alot of this year’s, but I strongly dislike alot of them too!
Thanks for the information Chewsday. I knew that Taylor and Brian were really close. I’m gonna look at the videos. Taylor is so good in that kind of setting. I saw him at the first shadow tour concert at Cyote Joe’s in Charlotte, NC that year. He was AWESOME!
Taylor had a book? Was it a tell-all?
chewsday
Jul 2nd, 2009 at 3:01 pm