Reba & Clarkson: Double the pleasure for concertgoers
Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson entered EnergySolutions Arena on Friday night singing “Sweet Dreams Are Made of This” - and the country diva’s earthy twang and the young rocker’s soaring vocals often melded into dreamlike harmonies throughout the night.
Clarkson brought a slightly harder edge to the two hours of duets while McEntire added her sweet country charm.
“We’re tickled to pieces to be here in Salt Lake City,” McEntire told the packed arena. “We hope y’all have half as much fun as we plan on having up here.”
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Music Review: Elliott Yamin - My Kind of Holiday
A holiday album jam-packed with upbeat yuletide tunes, Elliott Yamin hits it on the head with his newest release, My Kind of Holiday.
When someone hears the name Elliott Yamin, many people automatically think “former American Idol Season Five contestant†and singer of the hit slow-tempo ballad “Wait For You.†One of the hottest acts coming out of the hit TV Show, Yamin delivers a stellar album well in time for the upcoming holiday season.
Elliott Yamin “My Kind of Holiday” Review: My Kind of Christmas CD
October may mean Halloween for most of us, but for the record industry it means time to release Christmas CDs and Idol alumni are well represented this season…
This week, Elliott Yamin released “My Kind of Holiday,†which combines last year’s Target exclusive “Sounds of the Season†release with two new tracks.
Country: Kristy Lee Cook
With Kristy Lee Cook, Nashville’s corporate tastemakers have once more turned to their cost-effective marketing tool, television’s “American Idol.” There, they’ve found a singer who is marginally talented but young and attractive. If you think otherwise, consider that the 24-year-old crooner managed only a seventh-place finish in the series’ seventh season.
Cook’s Arista Records debut, “Why Wait,” is an uninspired mash of song mill fare presented in a pop style one might expect from a singer whose role models include Shania Twain, Faith Hill and LeAnn Rimes. With her indistinct voice and mediocre songs, Cook doesn’t measure up.
Reality check for ‘Bees’ stars
For The Secret Life of Bees, director Gina Prince-Bythewood had to help her cast understand the realities of life in the American South some 45 years ago. The film is set at a time when African-Americans were considered to be second-class citizens, and those who tried to register to vote were often beaten or worse.
For Oscar-winner Jennifer Hudson, who plays Dakota Fanning’s housekeeper in the movie, Prince-Bythewood came up with a unique way to illustrate history. She told Hudson, 27, and Fanning to meet her at a certain location, but she didn’t tell them why.
Tom Bergeron is the host with the most to say
Turns out “Dancing with the Stars†co-host Tom Bergeron isn’t always the Mr. Nice Guy you see on TV!
Bergeron, who is in the process of writing his memoirs, said he will dish on how he keeps his cool in the face of a lot of Hollywood aggravation.
“The subtext is a lot about the years of meditation I’ve done to keep the hot temper - which I hope is never on display on camera - in control,†said Bergeron, a Haverhill homey and the ex-host of WBZ’s “People Are Talking†and the MAGIC 106.7 morning show.
Mary Murphy & Nigel Lythgoe on the 2008 Really Awards Red Carpet
Reality Star interviewer extraordinaire, Albert Lawrence sent me the tip about these terrific red carpet interviews he did at this year’s FOX Reality Channel Really Awards. In this first clip, Albert talks to Mary Murphy, judge for So You Think You Can Dance about her dance number on this summer’s season finale. She told him she thinks she’s still got everything… ;-)
I believe that Constantine is appearing on Don’t Forget the Lyrics this week. I want to watch for the fun of it but I’m not sure if I can take it either. LOL
Here’s yet another radio interview with David Archuleta! He was on Memphis Q107.5 FM with Kennedy & Maney. This aired on October 9th. He’s still as sweet as can be.
P.S. Don’t forget…tonight Archie will be on Open House Party!
That story about Jennifer Hudson is both frightening and creepy to the max. I can’t believe the director would do that to her. I’m sure it was an instructive lesson, in a method acting kind of way, but YIKES. I just don’t know what I think of that.
Interesting review of Elliott’s xmas cd. The reviewer really liked Little Drummer Boy but not the two new tracks (Back Door Santa and Chirstmas without Carol). I, on the other hand, LOVE the two new tracks (even though they really dont sound like Christmas Music!) and skip over Little Drummer Boy.
Reba and Kelly… I’d love to see them perform together live! Those that went to that concert got a real treat I’m sure.
Not a headline but kind of interesting… Elliott met up with a singer on one of his trips to Japan. The Japanese singer covered Wait for You on his new cd and Elliott covered one of the Japanese singer’s original songs (Home - yep another song called Home) on his premium edition of his cd just released in Japan. This vid is of the two of them singing Home.
http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=dSMHx5oh0FU
If any of you techies out there can figure out how I can get this track (without buying the cd) let me know. It’s available on iTunes in Japan.
Poor, poor KLC. I still say if Kellie Pickler, of whom I’ve seen no proof that she can even sing, period– can make it, then she should be able to, even with her occasional flat notes.
Then again, I suppose the fact that she got reviewed at all could be seen as a positive. It’s the first review for her that I’ve seen. It seemed like most critics weren’t even bothering.
Happy Birthday, Lu!! Could it get any better? A gift of a great Elliott review on your birthday.
I know!!! Awesome! Thanks for the b-day wishes!
I loooovvveee Tom Bergeron and seriously can’t believe he would have any anger management issues. I guess show business is a lot more frustrating than I thought.
I think the difference, noctem, is that Kellie Pickler is really endearing. KLC is not so much from my viewpoint. I don’t know that the best voice matters. I think Shania Twain doesn’t have a good voice at all (yeah I’ll most likely be skewered) but she’s done very well. There’s something there that people love. I think Kellie has that in spades over KLC.
Absolutely, and while not the best voice it is distinct, you know her when you hear her. That’s something too.
I totally enjoy reading the Reba and Kelly reviews. This was a totally smart move for Kelly.
Kellie also did pick some good songs on the first record that highlighted her personality and story. Red High Heels was very cute and perky. And I Wonder (which I think that she co-wrote) highlighted her personal story. Very smart, and both songs were well done.
On a different note, not sure how many of you have ever gone onto www.whatnottosing.com, but it’s a great site. They go around the web aggregating reviews on blogs, etc., of each song sung in competition on AI, to come up with scores for each performance. You think that Imagine was awesome? Well so did the blogosphere, to a score of 91 out of 100. Thought that Billie Jean was a triumph? Apparently, so did most other people, to a tune of 93 out of 100.
This summer, WNTS been doing an interesting project called Camp Should-a-Been. While their description can be found here, the basic concept is, if people went home in the order that their scores say that they should have gone home, who would have won each season? They follow the same rules each year (e.g., Top 6 and Top 5 scores were combined in Season 6.) Of course, this means that some people end up surviving longer than they did in real life. The WNTS statisticians calculate ongoing scores for the surviving contestants, which deteriorate over time. Seasons 1 to 6 are complete, and each has had at least a few surprises.
Season 7 started earlier this week, and the semifinals ended on Friday, leaving us with a fairly different top 12. Top 12 (Beatles Night 1) will be posted this evening, and there will be a new post every night (except Saturday) until Top 2 has been finished. Should be entertaining!
I’m glad to see Elliott’s CD is getting good reviews (or that his PR team is at work, heh ;D). Happy birthday, Lu. :)
Interesting stuff about Camp Shoulda Been. I’ve not seen that site before and according to them Kelly is the only winner who would have won based on performances alone. I’m interested to see how Season 7 ends up.
Season 1 Kelly beating Tamyra (I’ve never watched this season so have no thought)
Season 2 Clay beating Rubin (Rubin was my favorite but Clay has certainly proven himself)
Season 3 LaToya beating Fantasia (always always loved LaToya)
Season 4 Bo beating Carrie (was a real tossup for me…loved them both)
Season 5 Elliott beating Chris (sounds about right to me, though I love Chris a bit more than Elliott)
Season 6 Melinda beating LaKisha (I was a huge Melinda fan though I must say Jordin has totally proven herself)
I do find this fascinating and am going to follow it for Season 7. Thanks, FolkFan!
LOL at the David Archuleta “crush” on KLC, that was funny…
ETA:
David Archuleta assisted to the Lifetime Achievement Awards event given by Operation Kids according to this blogger, picture of David at the end.
http://builtfordtough11.blogspot.com/2008/10/operation-kids.html
Picture of David
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eg6XJUrapAQ/SPIJuM4YsPI/AAAAAAAABI4/3kHAbtySIIE/s1600-h/david archuletta.JPG
I’ve been watching the Camp Shoulda Been stuff at WNTS this summer. It’s definitely been interesting. I did some “calculations” for season 7 using their basic method of “projected ratings” for people who outlast where they placed on the show, because I was curious, so I think I know how season 7 will turn out. But it will be interesting to watch nonetheless. And yes, the top 12 is definitely a bit different when based on “merit.” :) Especially for the women.
I also used Camp Should-a-Been to catch up on some of the showstoppers that I had missed in the past, before I started watching AI regularly. So I have definitely found it to be pretty entertaining. They also have some fun with their fake “episode” recaps. I especially enjoyed the 1950s episode where all of the attendees dressed in 50s attire, including Mj and DC in beehive hairdos. Oh, you know that they would have.
Happy Birthday, fellow E fan, Lu. It’s been quite a journey. That blog critics review of Elliott’s album is by a college kid (you know the Internet) but all the ones I’ve read so far have been good. Kristy Lee Cook has a decent voice but she just lacks the star quality that Pickler has. I hope they get her some good gigs to make up for the lousy promotions she’s had so far. She’s completely overshadowed by the two Davids.
Very nice reviews for Elliott. Happy Birthday Lu. :)
Happy birthday Lu! Loving the new songs on E’s cd, even tho it’s only October, I am listening to Christmas music!
Hoping for some appearances around the holidays, and some radio play..
Happy bday, Lu! Hope it was a great one!
Wow, what a smart college kid!!!
Thanks for the birthday wishes everyone!
Happy Birthday, Lu!
Top 12 is up at Camp Should-A-Been. Interesting….
that camp thing is a joke. they kick archie out over some IMAGINARY performances that never even happened? LOL how lame.
going by their method, i guess neither david will make final 2. cook should be out by top 8. davidless finale here we come! LOL
Given Crush’s sales and chart performance, this will make some feel better for a second.
Hey, give the kid a break, he is heartbroken because Kristy Lee Cook was voted off… his poor teen age heart is broken how you spect him to sing well… lol this thing is funny…
Camp Shoulda Been is fun! Thanks Folkfan!
even stupider…SOME contestants get to sing songs not even related to the beatles theme at all. lol..and how do we know robbie didn’t get up there and forget every single word to the soviet union national anthem? huh?
I don’t think it’s meant to be taken that seriously. It’s just for fun.
From what I can tell, they just have fun with selecting the songs for the “holdover” contestants. So, with LaKisha in Season 6, they had her sing songs identified with past Idol contestants, just as she did earlier in the season when she sang “Jesus Take the Wheel” and “I Believe.” But the numbers are the same regardless of what song they are attached to—they are somehow calculated based on past performance for each contestant, with a deterioration based on their database.
Top 8 (Innocent) would definitely seem to be the test for David C.
I just spent an hour reading all the reviews they had for the season. I think it’s hilarious. I was disappointed that they didn’t have the entire season reviewed. It’s all hypothetical but being that Kelly is the only winner who Should-A Been according to them, it has me a bit nervous for David Cook’s chances.
I think I’ve figured out their system, and the fact that Carly got an even worse score Top 8 night means Cook should be okay. (Remember Carly and the Queen song where she was all cranky and screamy? On Inspiration Night? It was kinda cool.) If I’m right, MJ lasts till Top 3, Syesha will be F2 with Cook, and Alaina Whitaker, of all people, may be around till Top 5. I wonder what songs they’ll pick for Alaina. I find it very funny and besides, I like fantasy leagues. What can I say?
Meanwhile, my faves like Elliott and Melinda won their Camp Should-A seasons, and J-Hud is third her season behind Fantasia at #2 and LaToya at #1, which is kind of awesome.
A list of songs selected by David Archuleta:
Music you should hear in Amazon
Smartcookie, I was pondering how whatnottosing satsifies that same love of stats that baseball does. Looking at it, I think that you’re right in your final three.
It’s interesting that Syesha makes it Top 2, given that some people have questioned how Syesha stayed so long, given that there has not been a very visible showing of her having a big fanbase. But playing with camp Should A Been might just give us the answer—Syesha may never have had a huge performance, like Imagine, Billie Jean, Let It Be, or Hallelujah, that drew raves throughout the internet. But she never had a train wreck either.
cruzceleste, thanks for posting that song list by David A. My morbid sense of curiousity made me take a peek. Wildly eclectic with some respectable choices. Led Zeppellin and Joni Mitchell…this kid is full of surprises, and I meant that in a good way.
^^ lol you are welcome, I´m surprise myself, love it most of the songs that he likes…
That’s a really interesting list, cruzceleste. Some good stuff, some great stuff, some unfamiliar stuff (for me) that I have to go check out!
This is random speculation, but looking at that list made me wonder what types/mix of songs would be on Archie’s first album, and I wonder if it’ll be mostly pop/R&B (like Crush, or Jordin’s album), or mixed with some of his more eclectic music tastes as well. Based on the fact that he’s been trying to write and get some original stuff on it, I’m beginning to lean towards the latter, provided Jive permits it. I’d be more likely to pick up the album with the latter, too, rather than cherry picking the catchy/fun pop singles. I wonder if he’ll put a full length version of Imagine on it, since fans never got a studio version.
^I really clueless but excited at the same time about what kind of music the album will have, hopefully we will see some of his originals works… I don´t think Imagine will be in the album… there is rumors about him reocrding Angels and Crush in spanish, I really hope the later one is not true…
Wow that song list DA had on Amazon is so diverse. I’m impressed. I’m going to have to check some of that out, there’s a few i’ve never heard before!
David Archuleta has exquisite musical taste. Natalie Cole, Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, Queen. Wow!