Concert review: American Idols Live tour 2009
I got there in time to catch the second half of Matt Giraud singing “Georgia on My Mind.” Sporting a fedora and sitting at a piano, he tore through a rendition of The Fray’s “You Found Me.” Then, a handful of other Idols joined him on stage to sing a medly of old school numbers like “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” and “Tell Her About It.” I liked how there was no down time between tunes. When one song ended, they just barreled right into the next one.
The Highs and Lows of Being an ‘American Idol’
In the music business, the road to success is typically long and grueling. Not so for Kris Allen, David Cook and Adam Lambert, who have been catapulted to instant fame by their performances in the hit TV show “American Idol.”
It is a coveted stepping stone, and this diverse group of “Idols” is making the most of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As they all grapple with the scrutiny, the rapport that the three have established with their various fan bases who have dialed and texted them into stardom continues to fuel their success.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Kris Allen enjoying reign as latest ‘Idol’ champion
Kris Allen, one of the more low-key “American Idol” winners, is wearing his crown lightly. The 24-year-old Arkansas native still seems a bit surprised by his win over the flamboyant Adam Lambert, whom the judges and many others considered to be a shoo-in for the title.
“I don’t know if (being the winner) is ever going to sink in – it’s not that I can’t quite believe it, it’s that I’m not getting any special attention, which I prefer, ” says Allen, who performs 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, at Boardwalk Hall.
Adam Lambert: The ultimate interview, Part Two
In Part Two of this four-part interview with Adam Lambert, the “Idol” runner-up discusses his early experiences in show business and the experience of hanging out with Val Kilmer when they appeared in “The Ten Commandments” together.
Adam Lambert on Boyfriend: “It’s Going Really Well”
Adam Lambert may be spending more time on the road these days than with boyfriend Drake LaBry, but not to worry…they’re still going strong, thank you very much.
“It’s going really well, ” says Lambert, 27. “It’s just fine. We’re dealing with [being apart] just fine.”
That, of course, doesn’t mean he wouldn’t like to spend some more time with the 24-year-old LaBry..
Sales numbers: Daughtry, Jordin Sparks stay hot
Daughtry’s staying strong for a third week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Though the sales of Leave This Town predictably drop, the album remains at #2 on the top sales chart this week, behind Fabolous’ Loso’s Way. The album has sold 432, 000 copies in its three weeks out, making it already the 36th best-selling album of 2009.
Jordin Sparks’s Battlefield remains the most-downloaded digital track, but Kelly Clarkson’s new single, Already Gone, makes a huge leap, increasing by 252 percent.
Paula Abdul, Ju’Not Joyner Spotlight Ugly Side of ‘American Idol’
It entertains millions of viewers a week, creates water cooler fodder after every episode and manages to shift the majority of the country to the edge of its proverbial seat the night before each season finale.
But for some of the show’s contestants, judges and staff, the “American Idol” experience is something else entirely, and it’s not always pleasant. At times, they claim, the reality competition can be unfair and manipulative, grueling and deceitful.
Now, they’re ditching “American Idol” and coming clean.
David Cook: JCPenney Popular
David Cook promotes the new Skechers shoes at the new JCPenney store at New York City’s Herald Square on Wednesday afternoon (August 5).
Hundreds of fans lined up to meet the 26-year-old American Idol champ at the new 33rd & 6th location (the first store JCP store in Manhattan).
Daughtry gets lost in the dullness of it all
FOXBOROUGH – ‘I’m Chris, we’re Daughtry, ” said the lead singer of the band that bears his surname at the end of the main set of Tuesday’s sold-out show at Showcase Live. It was easy to imagine that Bon Jovi and Van Halen had to make similar clarifications early in their careers. The difference was, Chris Daughtry has yet to find his Richie Sambora or David Lee Roth, and that lack of a foil/creative partner kept the focus squarely on the former ‘American Idol” contestant.
When Not Holding a Mic, ‘Idol’ Brooke White Holds a Wii-Mote
‘American Idol’ finalist (Season 7) Brooke White may take her inspiration from the past — sweeping national audiences (and Simon and Randy) off their feet with her knock-out renditions of Beatles and Carly Simon tunes on TV last season — but she’s firmly in the present when it comes to technology. White tweets, texts, and plays Wii, among many other gadget-oriented activities. Just a week after the release of her debut album — ‘High Hopes and Heartbreak’ — the Phoenix-native and on-the-rise-artist shares some of her funniest experiences with technology in our latest Switched Questionnaire. Take a look!
Syesha Mercado to speak at Teen Summit
SARASOTA ‘†American Idol ’08 contender and Booker High School graduate Syesha Mercado will participate in Teen Summit ’09, ‘Greatness Beyond Measure’ Aug. 7-9 at Ringling College. The event is open to youngsters 12 to 19-years-old. There is a $5 registration fee. Parents are encouraged to attend with their teens.
Mercado will headline the summit on Friday as a keynote speaker 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. at Exhibition Hall on the campus of the Ringling College of Art & Design. Later that evening, she will perform during the ‘Greatness Beyond Measure’ Teen Idol singing competition at 7:30 p.m. at Exhibition Hall.
Stepping out in drag for worthy causes
The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation’s 15th annual Help is on the Way benefit gala on Sunday brought top talent to Herbst Theatre for a thoroughly entertaining show staged and directed by David Galligan. Where else could you hear the singing of Melinda Doolittle, Joely Fisher, Davis Gaines , John Lloyd Young , and Wesla Whitfield , laugh with the comedy of Shawn Ryan , duo BaulPointPen , Maureen McVerry , and Carole Cook , watch the masterful dancing of Cate Caplin & Gary Franco , and be brought to your feet by the ensemble Uptown, Downtown, Motown Madness and the incomparable Jeanie Tracy?
Surviving the Idol machine
It’s a dream shared by millions ‘ to audition for ‘American Idol’ and receive one of those rare golden tickets to Hollywood for a chance to be the next musical sensation.
Each year, hundreds of thousands seek to make that dream come true, standing in long lines among the good, the bad and those just looking for their 15 minutes of fame. In reality, few succeed. Some don’t have the talent. Some don’t have the looks. But 21-year-old Casey Carlson has both.
‘When she was little she told me she was born to sing and dance, ‘ said mom Monica Potter. Carlson seems to have made good on that statement.
‘America’s Got Talent’: Thia Megia vs Arcadian Broad
Tonight on “America’s Got Talent, ” five acts advance and five go home. But who cares about that because MARIAH CAREY!
Nick Cannon welcomes us to the show. Hey, did you know his wife is Mariah Carey and that she’s performing tonight? I had NO IDEA!
I will reiterate: there was no reason why Manuela Horn, the Diva League or Lake Houston should’ve performed last night. Blech. If any of them advance, I will be just fit to be tied. I think the little dancing girls benefited a lot from some very generous camera work.
VIDEO: Susan Boyle Gets Glam For Harper’s Bazaar
British singing sensation Susan Boyle gets glam for her first major magazine spread for the September issue of Harper’s Bazaar, posing for a high fashion shoot called, appropriately, ‘Susan Boyle: Unsung Hero’ . Laura Brown, Harper’s Bazaar Special Projects Editor, says the theme of the spread was focused on her transformation in the public eye ‘because she lived 47-years without a spotlight. Then she came out onto the stage and transfixed us all.’
Meet ‘America’s Next Best Dance Crew’ Hopefuls
Latin masters, line dancers and the latest and greatest in b-boys and fierce females will battle it out for a $100, 000 cash prize and dance supremacy when the fourth season of MTV’s hit reality dance competition, “Randy Jackson Presents America’s Best Dance Crew, ” premieres Sunday, August 9 at 9 p.m.
‘So You Think You Can Dance’: The 15 greatest routines
15. Pasha & Sara’s West Coast Swing
Season 3, Top 14, July 11, 2007
‘ Oh, jeebus, ‘ we all (or, at least I) thought. ‘ That camera-mugging doofus from season 2, Benji, is choreographing a West Coast swing number. And poor Pasha and Sara have just started working as partners, too. What kind of hot mess is this gonna be?’ Turns out the joke was on us (or just me). The season 2 SYTYCD champion pulled out all his signature moves ‘†the shoe slide, the double cartwheel ‘†but it was Pasha and Sara (i.e., the breaker who was not supposed to be able to do this) that brought the number home, performing as if they’d been swing dancing together for years and keeping the energy dialed to 11 without ever showing us the effort.
‘So You Think You Can Dance’: Not quite a bang
8b1e As I said before, this has not been my favorite “So You Think You Can Dance” season, not because there’s been anything wrong, per se, but I just didn’t feel like it measured up, in terms of talent and personalities to the previous season. Part of me has already moved on to the sixth season, curious to see what its first fall installment will bring.
‘SYTYCD’: Cat blogs about this week’s two-part finale
The countdown to the finale has begun!
This is where it gets really difficult! This week I sat down with all the contestants and conducted in-depth interviews’ ¦. When I say ‘in -depth, ‘ they were funny and heartfelt and completely honest.
Backstage At The ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ Finale: Night #1
Throughout this season of So You Think You Can Dance, the judges–particularly the always outspoken Nigel Lythgoe–have griped that while this season’s top 20 may have been the most technically gifted cast yet, no one stood out as a “star, ” a la past contestants like Twitch, Hok, Benji, or Lacey. However, judging from how the top four performed on tonight’s final competitive show, such complaints now seem groundless. All four were stars tonight, in their own way.
