Today’s Idol headlines after the jump…
The Idols are live!
There’s been a whole lotta screaming going on as the Top 10 finalists of Season 6 of ”American Idol” crisscross the country on the ”American Idols Live” tour…..
American Idol at Alllentown Fair
Video
Allentown Fair gets another chance to judge 10 American Idols
The American Idols came to the Allentown Fair on Saturday night and put on a show that was entertaining and fun, with good singing, good songs, a good five-piece backup band and two backup singers, and good spirit.
And I’m not even a big fan……
Philly fails to wow ‘Idol’ judges
Here’s what you might not see when Fox’s “American Idol” returns in January: “Idol” wannabes, their numbers pinned to their chests, being wanded by security people in the lobby of the Hyatt Philadelphia before stepping onto the escalator that could take them to the stars.
It could be a bumpy ride.
Fifteen or so contestants into the call-back auditions from last weekend’s massive cattle call at the Wachovia Center, judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul weren’t yet wowed by the results of “Idol’s” first-ever Philly auditions.
“A lot of the auditions are …the equivalent of eating water for lunch – it doesn’t leave you with anything,” Simon told reporters Saturday afternoon, reaching into his bag of similes for one that’s not likely to strike a chord in a city known for fattier fare……….
Simon, Paula, Randy come to town
Three men in black guard the escalator at the Penn’s Landing Hyatt Regency. Occasionally, shrieks descend. Have aliens taken over the second-floor ballroom?
Nope. Just Meanie, Crazy Paula and The Dawg. And they’re sending a few gifted singers to Hollywood……
You are so beautiful — and scandalous
First of all, I saw Ryan Seacrest this week at the Wachovia Center. He was cute and tan and fairly short, and he was also appealing in an I-can-tell-you’re-cheesy-but-I-still-wish-I-could-bask-in-your-glow kind of way.
And now that I’ve shared my big news I’d like to move on to a conversation I had with someone auditioning for “American Idol.”
Me: Have you been practicing?
Auditioner: No.
Me: Have you ever done any singing before?
Auditioner: No.
Me: What do you think your chances are?
Auditioner: Pretty good.
I get A. I get B. Adding them up to get C, however, is presenting some problems………
“American Idol” fans brave elements to see Bucky Covington in Anderson
Not even the forces of nature can stop an “American Idol” star; at least they couldn’t stop Bucky Covington and the Nashville Stars on Friday.
Fans turned out by the thousands Friday night, brushing off the rain and ignoring the distant rumble of thunder, to catch a glimpse of Bucky Covington, the former “American Idol” star, and the Nashville Stars on stage at the William A. Floyd Amphitheater in Anderson. The concert was part of the first-ever Great Southeast BalloonFest……
Miller’s Idol audition pushed back one day
D.J Miller has one more day to prepare and worry about the American Idol audition that could send him to Hollywood.
The country crooning Monticello teen was scheduled to perform a capella for the TV program’s three judges here this morning but producers bumped him to a Sunday afternoon spot without explanation, his father Darryl Miller said by telephone….
PAL HAS SYMPATHETIC ‘REID’ ON TARA
TARA Reid gets mocked for her hard partying and bad plastic surgery, but she has a loyal defender in Constantine Maroulis, the “American Idol” alum. “I went to high school with Tara Reid,” Maroulis recently told Baird Jones. The two grew up in Wyckoff, N.J. “I noticed her even be fore high school because she also went to a private Catholic grade school,” Maroulis said. “She was so striking with that hair and she was pretty developed even when she was a little kid . . . She was always a good girl, a sweet kid. It’s tough, when you are making a name in Hollywood with the press, the way people brand you. People are unfair to her. Compared to the other party girls - Nicole, Paris, Lindsay - Tara doesn’t look so bad these days. Tara did not go to prison, she never broke the law. Tara is trying to clean up her act. She is a talented girl.”
Verizon taps 5 in contest for ad spots
…American Idol finalist Ayla Brown, Miss Rhode Island Ashley Bickford and Channel 12 anchor Karen Adams served as judges and helped select the winners from a field of 20 finalists at the Verizon Jazz Stage at WaterFire….
Music Lovers Jam at Riverfront
It’s all about Jazz in downtown Nashville this weekend. Some top musicians are performing at Riverfront Park all weekend for the Music City Jam.
American Idol contestant George Huff, along with the Fisk Jubilee Singers and jazz musicians Kirk Whalum, Brian McKnight, and Gerald Albright are in Nashville for the two day event….
Making the Idol’ cut not all about talent
Instead of hearing “you’re going to Hollywood,” I ended up wasting a good 20 hours of my life to stand in line for two days to hear the ill-fated words “it’s gonna have to be a no’; you’re not what we’re looking for this year.”
Hmm … “not what we’re looking for.” Okay, so maybe I didn’t dress up as Batman or Wonder Woman or even as a cross-dresser, but I think I have a decent singing voice. Let’s face it, “American Idol” is about talent, right? Riggghhhht.
.Last Saturday, I left my house with two of my friends at around 4:30 a.m. Yep, this was after working a full shift the day before. Anyway, this was the day we would be in line for all hours outside Philadelphia’s Wachovia Center just to get a small piece of paper put around our wrists, which would grant the right to an audition Monday for the hit TV show…….
Amateur Power
Novices Steal the Show As Television Plays Who Wants to Be a Star
What is this, amateur night?!”
Once upon another time, that was the ultimate insult — as when bellowed by a bombastic director at performers rehearsing a play sloppily in the classic movie musical “42nd Street.” But the slur has lost its punch. Any given evening, on any broadcast or cable network, could be amateur night now, and suffer no more for it than high ratings and crowds of commercials….
Michael McDonald Takin’ it to the Palace Theater
The grief Michael McDonald got in the movie “The 40 Year Old Virgin” is nothing compared to what he faces at home every day.
McDonald’s children (ages 20 and 17) belong to a generation that identifies “blue-eyed soul” with “American Idol” winner Taylor Hicks, rather than their dad, a veteran singer-songwriter who belonged to the Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan……
Related Posts
Re the article: Making the Idol’ cut not all about talent
I read this article and it was disappointing. I hate reading those stories of people who get through to the next round on idol because they do something idiotic. I know I’m in the monority but I can’t stand the freak show that leads up to the top 24. It’s sad really. Think of all the talented people America never gets to experience and instead is exposed to a parade of weirdos. I’m convinced some of those people have mental health issues - sad.
I totally agree with you, Lu. It devalues the show and makes it a bit of a joke to many. Some people associate the whole show with what goes on the first few weeks. I get bored watching some of these pathetic people being used for sport. I would much rather hear more of the singers who actually have a chance of moving on. Being in the minority is not always a bad thing.
Sammy - I wish I could high five you right now! I’m glad I’m not the only one! :)
From the HRwH website:
Ace will be on the Jerry Lewis MDA telethon between the hours of 9 and midnight PDT, September 2nd. Click here to check your local TV stations.
http://www.mdausa.org/telethon/findyourstation.html
LAME! They should try a new tactic with the reporters this year. Dissing the contestants..and the entire city at lunch break is getting pretty old.
Ugh, those auditions. Did they not learn anything from last year and the plethora of media complaints?
I enjoy the Idol “game” as much as the next person (even if I do have favorite seasons), but I’m not even sure I’m going to WATCH the auditions this year. They’ve just become ridiculous. Maybe I’ll record them, come to MJ’s to find out who was good, and just FF through everything else :-)
Kat - I’m definitely NOT watching the auditions this year. Life is too short. I’m mad at myself for watching last year. I decided that after Simon made that bush monkey comment to a contestant, I wouldn’t watch the auditions anymore. That was the final straw.
Lu you are sooo right. I don’t watch the first 4 weeks, it’s repetitious, silly and insulting. I wait for Hollywood weeks, that’s when it gets down to the people who are serious.
They have camels and broken oxes, Simon. You compare people to bush babies. Deal with it.
Simon would be the first to mock the Amazing Race people if they were bitter about not winning Emmys to AI.
Shows only get to submit one episode for consideration this year. A performance night is tough to win with because it is mainly just people singing. It’s hard to build a story arc with that. If they half-bothered, they could win with a results night show, but instead, they just go with Ryan filling. Their ratings are high, so why should Simon care? He’s all about the units. He said in his 60 minutes interview that he couldn’t care less about winning Grammys.
I stopped watching the auditions in Season 3, but I tried watching them last year because I wanted to keep up with the talk at MJs. After the bushbaby comment, I switched to recording the show and then just watching the successful auditions (although, I do admit to watching the chicken lady out of shear horror and of course, Sherman Pore, because the story was so sweet).
I love the Hollywood rounds. I hope that they go back to the expanded coverage of Hollywood week this year instead of cramming it all into two shows (and really only one show about Hollywood and the other one the “Green Mile” episode). If they did it right, Hollywood week is where they could win their Emmy. It’s great to see truly talented singers battle with themselves to make the cut.
The audition rounds are kinda like a car wreck, you know you shouldnt take your eyes of the road, but you cant help yourself. Thats how I feel about it, I get mad, I laugh alot, then I get mad again, but I have to watch it.
So true!!! This is where the real drama is!
I’m off to shop with my girls. I’m so happy that there are people that agree with me about those creepy auditions. There is hope! :)
I do the same thing, Kirsten. We tivo it and are able to skip the truly bad ones as soon as they get on our nerves. Last season they seemed to barely show the good auditions and highlighted ones that wouldn’t move on after Hollywood so hope they show more of the top 24 in the auditions this time.
Coming out of lurkdom to respond to some good comments here, starting with Lu’s up yonder. I largely agree with those who feel the freak show that are the Idol auditions are wearing thin and bringing down the entire program, to some extent. It is getting really old, and possibly something new should be introduced. But, I guess as long as people pad the ratings watching all of that, then it will not change. (And what sort of change could be made?)
I will add, though, that sometimes those diamonds-in-the rough emerge. I still think the best audition moment on Idol, ever, was that slightly overweight, gray-headed guy who came out with the sweet, soul voice and wowed at least two judges and a lot of the audience watching.
Last year, seeing a couple of really sublime moments among the largely ridiculous, was worth watching….I suppose.
Just my .02.
I’m going to see that ” slightly overweight, gray-headed guy” to nite at THE WHARF in Orange Beach. I can hardly wait!!! And he sure isn’t “slightly overweight” any more!
Felt this was worth sharing.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-GmFZpZZT3I
Taylor and “The Right Place” - priceless! Thanks for that JJ.
I love “The Right Place.” It’s the best song on the album. And I love Taylor singing it. But, I’d like to hear him singing it. I wish he didn’t invite the audience to sing along.
He didn’t do the audience sing-along when I saw him in Watertown. Or maybe he did, but the audience was so staid that didn’t sing!
“The Right Place” has always been my favorite. Wish it would have been released as a single. Same here, regarding the audience join in MJ. This song is best received when he gives it the feeling (sincerity) that the lyrics suggest.
Being the miserable old cow that I am, I loathe audience participation unless it’s an anthem style chorus.
I pay my money and I want to hear them not the out of tune audience.
Lisa, I usually feel the same way, but last weekend I saw Carrie Underwood at the fair, and when she got to “Before He Cheats,” the entire audience (the females anyway) joined in from the beginning of the song. It was pretty cool - thousands of women singing this song together, word for word. Heck, I even joined in on the chorus!
Top 40 Albums : 02.09.2007
38 NEW (-) Daughtry Daughtry (19/epic)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/albums.shtml
He was 13 last week
That’s a really good point, Kirsten. There are some great stories that happen in the Hollywood rounds that they could build up. I guess they have to choose their battle: ratings (which usually drop off during the Hollywood rounds, correct?) or finding a few storylines to follow to be able to build an episode that could win an Emmy. Depends on how much they want that Emmy, I guess.
I get really bored and frustrated with auditions myself. The bad auditions just piss me off, because after BEING there and SEEING just how many people with amazing voices get cut (and getting cut myself), I know that those people who got through just for entertainment value alone took someone else’s place who was more deserving.
Yet, at the same time, the realistic part of me says “it takes more than just a great voice”… but, there are plenty of things to do in the entertainment industry that people who could at least get a little exposure on AI might be able to do. Prime example - my friend Dezmond, from Season 4. He made it to the top 75, then got cut. But he was seen on the show quite a bit (his Orlando audition was aired and he was in Constantine’s group during Hollywood, so he got some good airtime), and after he was cut, he was contacted by a casino in Vegas and asked to join a show they had going at the time, where he played Sammy Davis, Jr. He’s now signed with a management company and is working on an album… so we’ll see where that goes.
But, all that to say, there are more opportunities out there… depending on whether or not your true motivation for entering the competition is just to be a “star” (which I think is the motivation for a lot of the Hollywood contestants that end up getting cut, and some infamous top 12 finishers, too), or if you truly want to have a career in the entertainment industry. Just my two cents.
You got THAT right!!!In fact, to me the journey of Taylor Hicks from audition to right now has been an endlessly fascinating one!
True for me, too, LisaB. So I guess I am a miserable old cow, too. :) That said, I have been to some concerts and the audience sang along to an unexpected song in an unexpected place and it all….worked.
But for the most part, I pay my money to hear the person I paid my money to see and hear!
Add me to the list of people bored with the freakshow the audition phase of AI has become.
Here’s a great article from Billboard about Carrie’s new album that I don’t think I’ve seen posted here. Some song info:
“I Told You So”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY9IY2DcW9Q
And here’s a video from TMZ of Carrie shooting a music video (doesn’t seem to be “So Small”).
Caveat: I’ve never created a hit TV show, but I like to be an armchair quarterback.
I theorize that they could increase their ratings if they did a really good job of showcasing the Hollywood rounds.
I see that there are three types of viewers:
1) AI fanatics who enjoy all aspects of the show. They’ll watch all three rounds so an expanded Hollywood round won’t turn them off.
2) Freak Show Fanatics who love the auditions. They love to see the bad auditions, but drop off when the good performers start taking over the show. These people are probably the ones that stop watching during the Hollywood rounds, so expanded Hollywood rounds would not interest them.
3) The Performance Fanatics who enjoy watching the good singers sing and people reaching their goals. These people are more likely to skip the auditions and start tuning during the Hollywood rounds (if they like the auditions too, they are in category 1). I don’t think that an expanded Hollywood round would increase the number of these types of viewers for those particular shows, but it would solidify their interest in the remaining weeks of the show. I think that the scaled down Hollywood rounds helped to feed into some fans not feeling connected to the contestants (and the subsequent lower ratings). They didn’t see the entire development arc or didn’t attach to a contestant early in the season (even if they switch contestants mid-season, many want to have a contestant they are interested in going into the Top 24).
By investing in the Hollywood rounds, I think that AI can boost the performance round ratings. Short term loss for longterm gain.
Couldn’t agree more.
I love the Hollywood rounds, the rest of the auditions I just fast forward through and only watch the one’s I’ve heard some buzz about.
I love the show, but I spend a lot of time bitching about the audition rounds on the blog.
The “bad” auditions are boring. Mostly because it’s the same crap year in and year out, and half of them are faking it just to get on TV. Bleah.
But, I always feel compelled to watch to catch the first glimpses of my soon-to-be favorite. Ha ha. Although, the past two years, it hasn’t been a surprise. For instance, I had already heard Taylor Hicks’ recording of “Georgia” BEFORE I saw his audition.
I had similar experiences this year with Blake Lewis and Chris Sligh. So there ya go.
A bulletin from Aces My Space:
Like your summary of the AI fans, Kristen, I definately fit into the “performance fanatics” group (although I did enjoy seeing Jenry in his audition this yr, ). The auditions in recent yrs have been largely a yawn and frankly annoying, that chicken suit lady from last yr the pinnacle of moronic crap (and do not get me started on why they brought her back for the finale!)what a waste and we could have heard Kiki do a solo, which she richly deserved. Too much time on junk filler, give me some singing, alright (is it still a singing contest?)
Love the hollywood rounds and love to pick out my favs to follow at this point, chose Bo, Elliott, Kim L and Tasia in past yrs and enjoyed seeing them grow, develop and kick butt in later rounds.
really hoping that AI is listening and reading what the fans think, other wise, we look forward to more shlockly auditions and guest pimping and mentoring, blech
Tracy, thanks for the Ace info! :)
I agree with Lu about the auditions as well. I watched them for the first time last year and was very underwhelmed. I plan on skipping them this year. The good ones will end up on youtube.
Like this one:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FZ_5hvVnWV8
ETA: Oh, thanks MJ! I have not logged into myspace in awhile. I did read on an Ace fansite that someone talked to Ace’s brother Ryan at the Altoona baseball game. Apparently, Ryan said the release of the album is up to the label, not Ace. I’m wondering if the delays have to do with S-curve just starting back in business after a hiatus. I can’t wait!
I agree that I would rather hear just Taylor sing “The Right Place”, but from things he has said in his book and on his blog, this song has taken on a lot of meaning for him and HE wants and enjoys the audience singing with him. And I guess since he works so hard to make his audience happy, we can allow him this moment which he so clearly enjoys. Its really amazing to me how much more relaxed he is with his audience on the summer tour.
I’m part of the DVR crowd of audition watchers. It used to be a family night of entertainment for the hubby,the kiddles, and me. Last year became an embarassment. I found myself having to explain to the kiddles why clearly talentless individuals were allowed to parlay their shtick on national TV when other more deserving singers were glossed over. IMO it was giving the wrong message to my kids. Be bad and be rewarded. This year I will be a solo watcher. The hubby refuses to watch a second of these rounds. Family Night? A sad memory.
If that’s really true, (and we can’t really know, only speculate) I don’t want to spoil the party. I’ll always have the Regis and Kelly performance, which was near perfection.
For myself, I don’t need an artist to acknowledge or notice me. I just want to hear them sing.
For those interested in the music industry, the argument continues about radio NOT paying royalties to performers:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/31/AR2007083100154.html?wpisrc=newsletter
This summer’s lobbying effort by a new recording industry-sponsored group, MusicFirst, has breathed new life into the drive to make radio pay artists — and not just writers and publishers — for playing their songs, but the issue is as old as Top 40. What’s different now is that the music industry, in deep trouble, is casting around for ways to make up for the steep decline in revenue that hit the recording business after digital downloading changed the business’s basic structure.
“The issue here is simply, it’s about fairness,” folk singer Collins told a congressional panel in August. “Radio is a multibillion-dollar business built on our creativity, our passion and our soul.” Collins and other artists who rose to fame singing other people’s songs say they must tour well into their golden years in good part because they never got paid for all the radio play their music received.
Registration may be required, but it’s painless.
MJ - it’s “The View” performance for me. The harmonica puts me away.
And a very long piece on Rick Rubin of Columbia Records, from the New York Times, courtesy of a link on the Velvet Rope:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/02/magazine/02rubin.t.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=all
“Whenever he agrees to produce an album, Rubin scrutinizes the songs before going into the studio. Currently, he is producing records for the hard rock band Metallica, the nerd power-pop band Weezer (it is part of his deal with Columbia that he can produce albums for acts that are not signed to the label) and the legendary Neil Diamond. At the moment, Metallica is touring in Europe, Weezer is writing a new batch of songs and Diamond has just started in the studio. Rubin works slowly — it can take him years to finish an album. “A lot of that is because of the songs,” Rubin explained. “I try to get the artist to feel like they are writing songs for the ages rather than songs for an album. As they write, they come over and play the songs for me. For some reason, most people will write 10 songs and think, That’s enough for a record, I’m done. When they play the songs for me, invariably the last two songs they’ve written are the best. I’ll then say, ‘You have two songs, go back and write eight more.’”
There’s plenty of food for thought here, for those who are fans of substance.
The Right Stuff is a good song. I still don’t understand the lack of radio support for Taylor since Micheal Bubble gets played on both pop and HAC a lot. Seems like there was no real label strategy to sell his album to anyone else outside the AI fans. No radio friendly single,no video, things that everybody else got.
Hmm… I wonder if Taylor just doesn’t give a hoot if he’s on the radio. He loves performing and now he can do it for a living. It doesn’t appear that selling tickets to his show is any problem. Maybe there was a strategy and Taylor just didn’t want to get caught up in it. I dont know - just speculating - especially, as jpfan says, the lack of a video. It appears to me the only people worried about Taylor not being played much on the radio are his ai fans. For Taylor it’s probably just gravy.
Does this post make sense to anyone besides me? :)
Speaking of Taylor, check out this link… wow.
http://collect.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.showDetails&Band_Show_ID=19694371&friendid=55370440
I wonder if Kelly Clarkson would have responded to the Rick Rubin style or would she have remained adamant about doing her album her way? I guess it all comes down to whether the artist respects the opinion of the producer.
Interesting article. Thanks Nevada!
Daughtry Daughtry (19/epic)
He was 13 last week
Wow! Wonder what he will do next year on his 14th birthday!
(I swear when I first read your post Lu I thought that was what it said!!!
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The first year of Idol, they had very few “bad” audtions–mostly good or great. The bad ones were just tasteful enough to keep your interest. I hate that they have gone almost solely to the boring/bad ones! But I watch…year after year after year!
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Me thinks it probably bothers Taylor a lot that he does not get much radio play. JMO…
LU you make perfect sence…
I read he has a dvd of a concert and not sure if it will be on cable….Maybe public acess like the Waynes Worlds guys..taylors world party on excellant.(could not help myself)
I making sence is very debatable but hey this for you LU :)
Season 6 was my first year watching all of the audition shows, and frankly, I don’t have a desire to subject myself to that crap for a second year. Fuller and Co. are shameless when it comes to exploiting people in exchange for viewership; yet on the flip side, these people are likewise putting themselves out there to be mocked, not only by Simon, Randy, and Paula, but by the public at large. I suppose Fuller and Co. are just opportunists, however, that doesn’t make the rude treatment of the contestants right. Anyways, I don’t own a DVR, and I don’t think I’ll bother with taping the auditions…
May I join you in mooing, Lisa? Or perhaps we can graze in the English countryside and chew the cud together. Especially if there are inebriated individuals involved, a sing-along is normally not enjoyable. However, if it’s an “anthem style chorus” that lends itself to being sung by an audience, then I’m all for it. One of the most memorable concert-going experiences I’ve had is seeing Coldplay live and joining with 20,000 others in singing the chorus to “Fix You.” That was a fantastic and touching moment.
Darn straight! :)
From the Rick Rubin article (Which is fantastic, btw. Everyone should give it a read. Thanks, Nevada.):
I think I may be old fashioned, but I want to own my music; I don’t want to pay for a subscription.
PPWD! ;)
ETA: Wow, that was longer than I intended, and most of it is quotes! *sigh*
Personally, I think Taylor wanted to cross over to pop and that’s why we got the album we did. Take that as you will.
OT: I just turned on the TV and saw an old Prince/Sheena Easton vid. U Got The Look. OMG! Sheila E kicks serious drumming ass. I’m looking forward to the band show. :)
Um, guess George Bush didn’t get the memo on radio stations paying royalties to performing artists.
The artists’ raise a very good point. Why shouldn’t they be compensated anytime their songs are aired on terrestrial radio? They should’ve always been.
Anyway, this should be a battle royale, it will be interesting to see how it unfolds. I think the artists have the upper hand and expect them to make some headway. Looks like the radio companies may have to revamp their business models :)
Do you really think Taylor wanted to cross over to pop, PJ? Hmmm… I’ll have to ponder that. It that’s the case, then he is probably bummed about airplay. His cd doesn’t sound poppy to me but what do I know? :)
Lu, remember when he said he said something to that effect at a Limbo show? I bet Taylor is pretty happy, but I do think he wanted to do a pop album. I could be totally wrong, too. :)
I just turned on the telethon, even though it will be forever before Ace comes on.
ETA, I remember the days of Prince with Sheila E., yes she is quite the dynamic drummer and I think she’ll do a fab job as an American Band judge :)
And I wished that Birmingham weren’t so far from home, would love to see Limbo opening for Elliott! Now that will one kickass show.
I agree to an extent. I think he tried to make an album that would please everyone - both those who wanted an “AI Taylor” album and a “pre-AI Taylor” album - and in doing so, he managed to alienate quite a few people in both of those groups.
LOL, Lu! It sounds too poppy to me, but yeah, what do I know!