Kris Allen Song ‘Has Some Edge To It,’ Says Co-Writer Mat Kearney
The JFK assassination, scientology, Justin Bieber’s real age … few things are as hush-hush as the details surrounding an “American Idol” alum’s first album. But Kris Allen collaborator Mat Kearney dropped a few hints about the top-secret song he co-wrote with the “Idol” winner over the summer.
During a recent chat with MTV News, Kearney had nothing but positive things to say about working with Allen. And of the song itself, the singer/songwriter promised, “It’s pretty cool. It wasn’t, like, your typical ['Idol'] cheesy thing.”
Although Kris Allen portrayed himself on “Idol” as a nice guy, Kearney says their song could add a little roughness to Allen’s squeaky-clean image. “It’s driving … it has some edge to it. So I hope that’s a good thing. That may make it so they don’t want to [include it on the album].”
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Kris Allen Doesn’t Have a Title Yet. MTV News Can Help!
November 17 is rapidly approaching, and Kris Allen is working overtime to wrap up his debut album. In addition to shooting a music video for “Live Like We’re Dying” this weekend, spending time in Kevin Rudolf’s studio, and continuing to write and record music, Allen has been making the rounds doing radio interviews and an epic phoner with Entertainment Weekly. (Kris, your people have my phone number. Just sayin’.)
One of the last details Kris needs to settle on? The all-important album title!
ALLISON IRAHETA
‘Friday I’ll Be Over U’ (19/Jive): B+
So much for wallowing in post-breakup despair. ‘American Idol’ finalist Iraheta channels a mix of Kelly Clarkson, Joan Jett and Pink on her Max Martin-penned debut single, an infectious romp that promises listeners the 17-year-old siren will have recovered from boy drama by week’s end.
‘Monday, Tuesday, we were cool/Wednesday I found out ’bout you/Caught my heart by tellin lies/You weren’t what you advertised,’ she belts in her raspy pop-rock register. You can guess what’s gone down by Friday.
Your weekly Idol sales fix: The album numbers
I’ve got a couple meetings today, so I’m going to post the Nielsen SoundScan sales data in two parts rather than keep you waiting all day. I’ll get the tracks info up as soon as I can (real quick — Carrie Underwood’s Cowboy Casanova, down 40 percent to 66,000 downloads; Kris Allen’s Live Like We’re Dying, up 49 percent to nearly 24,000), but right now, here’s the album info from last week.
Chart Beat Wednesday: Jay Sean, Lady Gaga, Carrie Underwood
PERFECT 10: On Country Songs, Carrie Underwood ropes her 10th top 10, as “Cowboy Casanova” climbs 11-8. With the advance, Underwood now stands alone in first-place for most top 10s on the chart among solo women this decade.
Former ‘Idol’ Says It Doesn’t Matter Who The Judges Are
Elliott Yamin has a lot on his plate. He has a new single off of his second album called ‘Can’t Keep on Loving You,’ and is going on tour with the USO to Guam and Okinawa. But the third-place finisher from season five of ‘American Idol’ had time to sit down and talk with us about his music, his World Series predictions, and why he thinks it doesn’t matter who sits at the judges’ table.
Archuleta rocks Christmas from his heart
David Archuleta’s favorite memory of past Christmases was gathering his family together, donning a Santa cap and caroling to neighbors in his Murray neighborhood.
This holiday might offer a different way for the singer to carol, thanks to the release of his first album, “Christmas From the Heart,” a follow-up to his 2008 self-titled debut that has sold nearly 1 million copies.
The shy, self-effacing teen has remained in the hearts of fans more than a year since he finished in second place on the 2008 season of Fox’s “American Idol.” That’s why his record company, Jive, jumped at his request to record a Christmas album, which will be released Oct. 13. “It was a way to give heartfelt music to people,” Archuleta said in a phone call from his Murray home.
‘AMERICAN IDOL’ WINNER DAVID COOK TALKS ABOUT LIFE AFTER ‘IDOL,’ AND NOT MAKING COMPROMISES
David Cook never meant to win the seventh season of “American Idol,” the No. 1-rated show in the United States for five consecutive seasons. He was comfortable back home in Tulsa, Okla., making music and putting off getting a real job.
Cook never even meant to audition; he went to support his younger brother, Andrew.
The younger Cook didn’t make the cut–but David did, and he went from Tulsa to Hollywood.
And now his music has taken him into the hearts, homes and ears of people around the world.
Taylor Swift announces second leg of `Fearless’ tour in 2010, including dates in US, Australia
The country singer says a second leg of her “Fearless” tour will kick off in Australia in February. She’ll also be playing nearly 30 cities throughout the U.S. and Canada.
“We had so much fun on the `Fearless’ tour the first time around that we decided that we had to keep going with it,” she says. “So we will be relaunching the `Fearless’ tour in February in Australia, and then coming back and doing a bunch more cities in America.”
The 2010 tour opens Feb. 4 in Brisbane. Swift will do five shows in Australia. She’ll also be playing nearly 30 cities throughout the U.S. and Canada. Kellie Pickler and Gloriana will return as the opening acts.
Christmas Music Is In The Air In Nashville
Nashville, TN — Daylight savings time is still with us but Christmas is in the air for some country stars. “Now That’s What I Call A Country Christmas!” has just hit stores. It’s a a two-disc collection with 29 classic Christmas songs from big country names, dead and alive. They include Kenny Chesney, Johnny Cash, Kellie Pickler, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, Taylor Swift, Reba McEntire, Trace Adkins, George Strait and more.
Meantime, Lee Greenwood has announced that he’s done a Christmas album that’ll be available sometime this fall. It’s called “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.”
Worthy of ‘Idol’ worship
Seven years after Kelly Clarkson snagged the inaugural crown on the “American Idol” talent contest, it’s clear why she won in the first place — and how she’s managed to outgrow the show without alienating fans.
At the Hammerstein Ballroom, Clarkson was the perky girl next door who made it to the big time with a flexible voice that seems able to tackle anything musical. Among the highlights were her bluesy, swaying cover of Patsy Cline’s “Walking After Midnight” and her own power-pop ballad “All I Ever Wanted.”
Unlike some pretty lip-synchers in pop, Clarkson wows with her voice and personality, often sounding like a cool big sister with loads of advice.
Original winner Clarkson continues to outshine rest
To borrow from one of her recent hits, would Kelly Clarkson’s career suck without “American Idol?”
There’s no doubt Clarkson’s breakout success was a direct product of her being the first winner of the “American Idol” franchise in 2002. But considering the diminishing returns for subsequent “Idol” winners – whatever happened to Ruben Studdard? – Clarkson’s continuing presence on the charts suggests she’s got some staying power.
See Jordin Sparks at a Phoenix event for a good cause
PHOENIX — Your chance to walk down the red carpet and mingle with stars like Jordin Sparks is coming up in a few weeks.
It’s the 2nd annual Red Carpet Evening of Elegance with Jordin Sparks, benefiting the Tonya Allen Foundation and Sparks Charities on October 24th.
Jordin Sparks fans and VIPs are invited to spend the evening together for a special cause.
This year the focus is on child sex abuse.
There will be food and a silent auction. It takes place at Allen’s Bistro in Phoenix. To purchase tickets you can go to call (602) 312-2272 or go to http://www.tonyaallenfoundation.org/.
‘American Idol Rewind’’s Mandisa Talks About her 80-Pound Weight Loss
Mandisa Hundley has struggled with weight issues most of her life. That didn’t stop her from singing or from auditioning for the fifth season of “American Idol,” which is currently being revisited on “American Idol Rewind,” but it did give her pause when Simon Cowell joked that the show would need a “bigger stage” to accommodate her.
Now 80 pounds thinner, Mandisa tells ET she couldn’t believe it when “American Idol Rewind” used that moment in the premiere episode of its new season, because, in the past, that was her worst nightmare come true. But she is past it now and she tells ET why, and about her weight loss and childhood abuse.
Disney Channel’s Debby Ryan Set to Host the First Allykatzz Tween Summit Music Festival
NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire – October 7, 2009) – The First National Tween Girl Summit announces the concert line-up for this year’s AllyKatzz Tween Summit Music Festival, hosted by Disney Channel’s Debby Ryan, who stars on the Disney Channel comedy series “The Suite Life on Deck” and co-stars in the feature film “The Comebacks.” Presented by Electronic Arts, Inc., the concert features American Idol finalist Brooke White, teen rock band Comic Book Heroes, and the energetic fun boy band WOW. Opening the show will be tween singers and dancers Cymphonique and Jacob Latimore. The AllyKatzz Tween Summit Music Festival is free to all Summit attendees. To register for the The Tween Summit, visit www.tweensummit.com. The Summit and the Music Festival will be held at the Historic Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. on October 10, 2009.
Diana DeGarmo, Micky Dolenz, Alice Ripley, et al. Set for Rockers on Broadway
Tony Award winners Alice Ripley and John Lloyd Young, and American Idol alum and Toxic Avenger star Diana DeGarmo will appear alongside classic recording artists such as Lou Christie, Lesley Gore, The Monkees’ Micky Dolenz, The Rip Chords, and Gene Cornish of The Rascals in Rockers on Broadway, to be presented at BB Kings Blues Club on Monday, November 2 at 8pm. “Cousin Brucie” Morrow will host.
The event, presented by The PATH Fund, Inc. (Performing Artists That Help), is now in its 16th year. It was founded in 1993 by Donnie Kehr while appearing in the Broadway run of The Who’s Tommy. All proceeds will go to support Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and Broadway Dreams Foundation.
Will Jennifer Hudson be gifted with an Emmy for her upcoming Christmas special?
Jennifer Hudson Emmys TV Christmas Special Dreamgirls Oscars Grammys Entertainment News 2468097 Jennifer Hudson won an Oscar for her first film — “Dreamgirls” — and a Grammy for her self-titled debut album. Now Hudson turns to TV, headlining a Christmas special for ABC. As per the Hollywood Reporter, “‘Jennifer Hudson: I’ll Be Home for Christmas’ will air in December and feature the singer-actress reliving her childhood holidays with musical performances filmed in locations specific to her youth: the Oscar winner’s church, music academy and other Chicago locations.”
STAGE TUBE: So You Think You Can Dance’s Ryan Kasprzak – A Dance for Life
So You Think You Can Dance contestant Ryan Kasprzak created a very special video for Dancers Responding to AIDS, we are proud to bring it to you here on STAGE TUBE.
Ryan Kasprzak recently appeared on SYTYCD Seasons 5 and 6 along with his brother, Evan. He continues to create new work with Parallel Exit: Physical Comedy Theater. Their show Cut to the Chase was nominated for a Drama Desk Award and This Way, That Way prompted the New York Times to say Kasprzak, “can get laughs simply by breathing.” Their comic tap musical Time Step premiered at the Joyce SoHo and is transferring to the New Victory Theater in April 2010. Ryan was nominated for a New York Innovative Theater Award for Outstanding Choreography and served as dance captain for the International Tour of Fosse. Ryan has been honored to perform with such legendary entertainers as Liza Minelli, Ann Reinking, Ben Vereen, Gregory Hines, Jimmy Slyde, and the Nicholas Brothers.
‘So You Think You Can Dance’: Viva Las Vegas!
Vegas baby, Vegas! I hope you’ll forgive me for such a trite phrase — things got real tonight on “So You Think You Can Dance.”
I love when this show demonstrates just how hard the contestants work compared with, say, “American Idol” or “America’s Next Top Model.” So you made it through to Vegas? So you made it through your second audition? Now try hip-hop with Tabitha and Napoleon D’umo! Now Latin with Louis Van Amstel! And you’re still not done after that!
‘So You Think You Can Dance’: Love it live!
The “So You Think You Can Dance” live show will continue rolling through the country through mid-November, and last night I caught it at Chicago’s United Center. If you are interested in going and still haven’t bought tickets, a word to the wise: splurge on the good seats. Because I’m a cheapskate, I went for the second-tier seats, which would be just fine at a basketball or hockey game, but when you’re watching one tiny dancer all alone on a stage from far away, it’s kind of like watching it on TV.
Of course, if you have already bought the cheap seats, don’t despair: There’s a lot of enjoyment to be had from the show. At the United Center, at least, a full and energetic crowd was present, with plenty of audience members hollering for their favorites (Phillip Chbeeb especially getting a lot of appreciation). It’s great, too, to see the dances in full without camera cuts like on the televised version.
EXCLUSIVE: PETA persuades ‘Dancing With the Stars’ to cancel chimpanzee act
An announcement on Monday night’s “Dancing With the Stars” revealed that a chimpanzee would be among the guest judges on the following night’s program.
But you may have noticed that there was no chimp on the show Tuesday night. Instead, a toddler was a guest judge.
Here’s how it went down: The announcement prompted PETA to ask “DWTS” executive producer Conrad Green on Tuesday to cancel the chimp appearance.
Green e-mailed PETA to say that he would re-cut Tuesday night’s segment and remove the chimpanzee and he vowed that he will never again use chimpanzees in his productions.
Tom DeLay Takes a Bow, or Was He Pushed?
Did the producers of “Dancing With the Stars” drop a brick on Tom DeLay’s feet when he became the show’s main story line and they saw where the ratings were heading?
As the Fractured DeLay Feet drama became the main story line of the new season, viewers started their exodus.
Monday’s performance show attracted the smallest audience on record for a fall edition’s third performance episode. And Tuesday’s results show suffered the smallest audience on record for any regularly scheduled episode of the program in its entire history. This is the ninth edition of “Dancing With the Stars.”
Maksim Chmerkovskiy: I’m Done with Karina
Perhaps the only upside to being eliminated from Dancing with the Stars Tuesday for pro dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy is that he won’t have to endure any more uncomfortable encounters on set with his ex- fiance, Karina Smirnoff.
“I feel completely betrayed. I’m done,” Chmerkovskiy tells PEOPLE of his relationship with Smirnoff.
Asked why he feels betrayed, he declined to elaborate, saying only, “I don’t want to get into the specifics. Let’s just leave it at I’m done.”
DWTS’ Tom DeLay: I Haven’t Made Cheryl Burke a “Conservative” Yet
Cheryl Burke says she learned one important lesson from her former Dancing With the Stars partner Tom DeLay, who quit the show Tuesday due to a stress fracture in each of his feet.
“He taught me that politicians can dance!” she told Usmagazine.com after Tuesday’s show. “He’s got some rhythm in those hips.”
Burke, 25, added that she also learned “a little bit about politics.”
Debi Mazar ‘Bummed Out,’ Tom DeLay Promises to Dance Again
Debi Mazar was the latest contestant to be eliminated from “Dancing with the Stars,” while Tom DeLay bowed out of the competition on Tuesday night due to stress fractures in both of his feet — but the former House Majority Leader tells ET he has plans to return!
He told ET, “I can’t wait for Cheryl [Burke] to teach me the two step and be back in the finale to do that.”
Here’s an interesting meter from Amazon.com comparing Idol sales for Adam, Kris and Allison. Great Adam squee material, not so much for the others:
http://www.amazon.com/American-Idol-Contestants-2009/meters/A1F673D557FYUO/ref=pd_zg_lm_lp_pl
LaurelG
LOL….On the positive side he did tweet that the song is beautiful and hopeful. Very fitting.
Just got back from driving my kids to school… sunny day, breezy, listening to iPod and Live Like We’re Dying Came on and yeah, I’ve decided I really like it. I hope it continues to pick up spins for Kris. I like the underdog
capitol studios tweets adam :
capitolstudios: @adamlambert Our pleasure having you Adam. Sounds amazing.
YES!
I’m still looking for additional reviews from the screenings held last night. As you pointed out, dhunken, the two negative reviews posted on imdb were from posters (trolls?) who had signed up for membership on that site the day before. The only other review was a positive one from the guy in NY who didn’t hear TFM (because they shut off the projector before the credits rolled) and he’s been an active imdb poster since 2005. He gave the movie an 8.5 out of 10.
I think the jury’s still out on how good or bad this movie is. Regardless, even if the movie’s a bomb, it won’t affect Adam’s song.
Well, I like the other guy, but I gotta tell you- LLWD is one of my favorite songs right now. Second most played on my ipod.
And how cool is it that Capitol records tweeted ADAM?
I’d say it’s pretty good to be an AI fan about now. I am proud at how much recognition they are all getting.
As for IMDB- I have been a member for awhile and there are a lot of movie snobs on there that just don’t like ANYTHING. I don’t know if the ones you saw were trolls. They probably signed up because they got to go to the screening.
I like to wait for Rotten Tomatoes reviews to roll in. Anything above a 60% is usually good in my book. It’s the ones that are rated like 20% rotten that are usually the real stinkers ( the ones that will bomb at the box office). I looked yesterday and there were no reviews yet.
ITA – the song and movie can help each other, but they can just as easily be their own separate entities. The song could do well without a successful (or critically acclaimed) movie. How many examples are there of really successful soundtrack songs coming from just so-so movies?(Armageddon immediately comes to mind)
I agree with this, movies I have loved they have totally trashed.
While that IS (and looks) very impressive for Adam, these are only Amazon’s preorder sales and not overall sales from all available vendors.
I’ve preordered Kris’ album at iTunes after his single was released and hearing of his collaborations. It is rare for me to buy ANYTHING sight/sound unseen. I won’t even buy from the clips of songs on iTunes without being able to sample a full song.
I never buy from Amazon. Well, I did get a gift card to there once and was extremely disappointed in their service and customer support.
I’m hoping they all do well and get the recognition and support they deserve.
girlygirl, thanks for the awesome news for LLWD!!!
I certainly don’t hear a speech impediment when listening to Kris. I agree it’s a great single and have to agree with those reviews that say it’s one of the best AI first singles ever.
I like Kris’s version better than the Script’s. The combination of the verses with catchy chorus make it even better for me, tbh and I lurve the spoken part. Different strokes…
Even if 2012 is a bad movie TFM will probably do well. From the description of the song it may very well be one my favs from Adam, we’ll see. I love John Cusak (sp?) and find it interesting that the review for him was fairly positive.
Wouldn’t it be funny (interesting) if the Music Vid turns out to be better than the movie?
NewFan, regarding the Autotune discussion, I think a lot of people have started using the word “autotune” as a blanket term to refer to all vocal effects, whether or not they’re produced by the Autotune product. In particular, saga referred to Allison being heavily autotuned in the chorus of her new single. In fact, the main effect that you hear in the chorus is not Autotuning, but doubling — they took her single vocal and split it into two tracks, one mainly in the left speaker and one mainly in the right. I know that the doubling effect can be created by applying a very short echo to the original vocal (I did it myself in my ancient amateur recording days) — there are probably other, more high-tech procedures that are used for that as well. But anyway, doubling has been done for decades, without Autotune.
FYI, in case you don’t know about this — I use Lala.com to audition songs and albums before I buy — once you get a free account there, you can listen to the full track of any song once, for free. Once you’ve listened to it (actually I think it’s once you’ve played more than the first 30 seconds), you can only hear the standard 30-second clip unless you buy it. (They also let you buy a “web song” for 10 cents — the permanent right to stream the song from their site.)
That’s funny — I buy pretty much all my CDs from them — have for years — and I don’t think I’ve ever had any problem.
LOL! This is quite possible! Especially since music vids can just show snippets of the most exciting and intense moments from the movie, all condensed into a few minutes! Plus – it’s got Adam! Oh – wish we’d get to see this mv!
Doesn’t the fact that the music Video has Adam in it already make’s it better then the movie.
Ahh – good point. No need to see it first, it’s guaranteed to be amazing because it will be graced by Adam’s exquisite presence
Thanks JohnM!!!
I love learning new stuff (dancing smilies with big smiles on their faces).
I think it’s way too early to write off the single. Once it gets airplay and Kris gets out to promote it,,,,it could pick up a lot of steam.
I actually like the song. (I happen to like the Script, which may be why I like the song.) I think it’s a catchy song,,,,and I can see Kris bouncing around on stage performing it, and the audience getting into his performance of it. I haven’t followed AI in the past, but from what I’ve been hearing here, they could have done a lot worse with the selection of the single. A catchy song is always good for radio play,,,,isn’t it?