Today’s Idol headlines after the jump…
Daughtry stretches tour through December
The rockers of Daughtry are still riding high on their debut album and have once again extended their US tour.
The band, which is currently in Europe, will return stateside Nov. 4 for its first of two gigs opening for Bon Jovi at Newark, NJ’s new Prudential Center. Daughtry’s November schedule focuses on the East, until the band heads to Los Angeles for the American Music Awards, where it is up for Favorite Pop/Rock Album, Favorite Adult Contemporary Artist and Favorite Breakthrough Artist. The post-grunge rockers are scheduled to perform at the Nov. 18 ceremony, which will take place at the Nokia Theatre and air live on ABC-TV.
In late November, the group will head to Europe once again before launching another US run that kicks off Dec. 4-5 with a two-night stand in New York City. East Coast dates are planned through Dec. 21. The US itinerary is listed below, while overseas shows can be found at Daughtry’s website………
Idol Underwood takes us on a ‘Ride’
….So far, she’s won over fans across the country with her pretty face, girl-next-door charm, and powerhouse voice. Yet, there are some in the country music industry who have criticized Underwood as the mere product of a popular reality TV show - someone undeserving of such heavy praise, having taken a shortcut to fame and commercial success. Also, the rise of her songs on pop radio has led some critics to brand her as singing inauthentic country. The anticipation for her follow-up album has been overwhelming as America waited to see if Underwood would live up to the high expectations that had been set for her…..
Kelly Clarkson gets raw
Kelly Clarkson beat out thousands of singing hopefuls to become the 2002 “American Idol” winner and went on to grab more success with her 2003 debut album, “Thankful,” which went platinum in sales.
By her 2004 album, “Breakaway,” Clarkson shed her nice-girl image with hits such as “Since U Been Gone” and showed the world she can write hot tracks like “Because of You.” According to Billboard, the album sold 11 million copies, and Clarkson took home two Grammy Awards in 2006.
While Clarkson performs at the Fillmore Detroit on Sunday, the artist had scheduled a summer tour to spread the word of her third release, “My December,” a darker, more mature musical offering. Then she suddenly cancelled the tour, including an August gig in Metro Detroit, causing rumors of a stress- and album-induced breakdown to swirl about…….
For The Record: New releases from Carrie Underwood, Robert Plant & Alison Kraus and Robert Casadesus
“You can call me ‘not country’ until your blue in the face, but I sing country music,” Carrie Underwood recently told Entertainment Weekly.
Whatever you may want to call it, the real emphasis in that sentence should be on the word “sing,” because, if nothing else, Carrie Underwood can sing. The Oklahoma native won “American Idol” in 2005 because she could hit that crucial moment in the song and raise the roof every time.
It carried over into her major-label debut, “Some Hearts,” one of the biggest-selling records of the decade so far. If you liked that, you’re going to love the second helping, “Carnival Ride.”………
Kevin Max and Joanne Cash To Perform At Johnny Cash Flower Pickin’ Festival
…..About Kevin Max:
As one-third of dcTalk, Kevin Max has sold over 8 million records worldwide, won four Grammy Awards, and had a Top 40 pop hit with “Just Between You and Me,” which also received significant airplay on VH1 and MTV. Max returns December 26th with his latest solo album, The Blood - A very personal project that allowed him to step back from his usual rock stylings in favor of a musical exploration of Gospel. This deliberate departure features high profile collaborations with an extraordinary cast, including Vince Gill, Amy Grant, American Idol finalist Chris Sligh, Joanne Cash, Erica Campbell of Mary Mary and a long-anticipated reunion of dcTalk (featuring Max, Michael Tait and TobyMac)….
Sheila E’s drums of steele
Sheila E on The Next Great American Band.
We may not need another talent show creating more instant celebrities out of mediocre Americans, but The Next Great American Band might be the one that actually finds real artists. Taking the American Idol format, American Band is looking for musical groups instead of solo artists. They’ve got a solid panel of judges too, including musicians John Rzeznick and Sheila E. Frankly, any opportunity to speak with Sheila E is worth it, so thank you, Next Great American Band………
Carrie Underwood & Chace Crawford Eat at Justin’s
It’s one of the cardinal rules of dating – no messy barbecue! – but that didn’t stop Carrie Underwood and new arm candy Chace Crawford, who stepped out in New York Tuesday night with a meal at Justin Timberlake’s restaurant, Southern Hospitality.
The American Idol champ, 24, and the Gossip Girl actor, 22, stopped at restaurant Destino earlier in the night before following up with more food, drinks and dessert at the pop star’s restaurant. The pair ate BBQ wings, Timberlake’s “Grannie’s Pecan Pie” and looked “pretty lovey dovey,” according to an observer.
They were spotted again on Wednesday, when he watched Underwood perform on Live with Regis and Kelly. A source tells PEOPLE that one person surprised to see Crawford backstage was his own Gossip Girl costar Blake Lively, who was also a guest.
The Hill is alive with Reverb-erations
Guster lead singer Adam Gardner addresses Congress today, on biodiesel and greening the music industry.
….Is there an artist whose tour you’ve been dying to work on?
I know Radio Head will be touring next summer, and I would love to be involved with that. And Coldplay as well—they’ll be touring 2008. I would love to get more into the Hip Hop world, and more into the Country world. I know Tim and Faith are very into environmental issues, and they’ve contacted us. I’d love to do the American Idol tour. Just to reach all sorts of different demographics….
Somebody to paint: A conversation with Grace Slick
…..
Q. Any contemporary artists that you’re fond of?
A. There’s a band I just love called Del Castillo, out of Texas. I love Daughtry, who came out of “American Idol.”
Celine Dion has really only had one hit song in this country, but her voice is so good. But what she does onstage gags me, because it’s too orchestrated and corny. When you say something about your heart, you don’t point to your f——in’ heart. Leave your hands alone, honey. Just stand there and sing.
…..
A diverse musical lineup highlights this year’s fair
…Kellie Pickler
Best known for her country twang and lovable attitude on the fifth season of “American Idol,” Kellie Pickler will be a newcomer to the Coastal Carolina Fair this year.
While on “Idol,” Pickler shared her personal journey from living with an abusive father to finding refuge with her grandparents who encouraged her to believe in herself.
After her experience on “American Idol,” Pickler went to Nashville to sign her first record deal with BNA label head Joe Galante. The young starlet began touring and recording, and she hasn’t looked back since.
“What I’ve learned the last year is that no dream is too big. You can let things bring you down or you can use them to make you stronger,” she said. “I used everything that happened to me as fuel to get me where I am today. You can’t give up on your dreams ’cause sometimes, that’s all you have.”
Pickler will perform Friday at 9 p.m. on the Lakefront Stage….
CMA nominee Carrie Underwood cements her grip on country music
Each year, the Country Music Association awards offer an instant update on Nashville.
Viewers see that the music has changed a little and some careers have changed a lot.
For the latter, surf through the CMA’s with Carrie Underwood who has three nominations this year. Peek at:
– 2005: As the CMA’s arrived Nashville, Tenn., viewed her hesitantly. She was the “American Idol” winner, then 22 and promising.
The show’s producers let her perform “Jesus, Take the Wheel,” her upcoming single — but only if she trimmed it for time.
“I hate cutting songs down,” Underwood says. “I was saying, ‘But it’s a story song!’”
Worse, a flu bug had just struck. “By midday, I realized it wasn’t just nerves. I was like, ‘I’m going to get sick in the middle of the song.’”
She didn’t and the song soared.
– 2006: Everything was different this time………
CD Reviews
Carrie Underwood’s sophomore album will take you on a “Carnival Ride” of musical ups and downs. Riding high off the success of her first album, Some Hearts, Underwood manages to keep the momentum going with her follow-up.
Carnival Ride starts off with a bang. The first track, “I’m Flat on the Floor,” features feisty fighting words with a bit of a rock-and-roll twist. Guitars, fiddles, banjos and drums infiltrate this emotional album, which starts on a high note but gets into heavier stuff on “I Know You Won’t.”
“So Small,” the first single off the former American Idol’s latest release, has already promised to be a radio hit. With inspirational lyrics and a full set of background instrumentals, the song preaches a message we have all heard time and time again. Yet somehow it proves to be worthy of second, third and fourth listens……..
Writers Guild Postpones FremantleMedia Rally
The Writers Guild of America West http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6493271.html called off a planned demonstration against FremantleMedia http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6489311.html Wednesday due to the wildfires in Southern California http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6493783.html. The union said it would reschedule the event for a later date.
WGAW has been stumping for better working conditions for game-show/reality workers. FremantleMedia is one of the biggest names in both of those genres, with American Idol, The Price Is Right and Family Feud among its productions.
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Carrie is getting great reviews.. good for her.. she seems like a sweet girl. And -it can’t hurt that she’s dating that hottie from gossip girl.. :-)
Okay, I’ll fess up. I like some of Carrie’s songs but I find her very boring.
haaaaaaaa jpfan.. I agree.. I like her voice and most of her songs but it’s not like she’ll be a barrel of laughs to hang with..i don’t think…
anyway..she will have the no. 1 album next week..
Arista’s American Idol Winner Will Top Next Week’s Chart With 400-450k, Alison Krauss/Robert Plant, Gary Allan, Coheed & Cambria Will Debut Top 5
October 24, 2007
Next week, the industry goes on a Carnival Ride.
Arista’s American Idol and Grammy Best New Artist winner Carrie Underwood kicks the fourth quarter into moderate gear with a first-week total that is looking between 400-450k, more than enough to thrust her into the top spot on the next HITS Album chart.
http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/newsPage.cgi?news06857m01
Err, Elliott, as much as I adore you, I hope you’re reading this…heh.
Celebrity hobbies that make even Rod Stewart’s railway models look cool
Daily Mail
Ditto.
Carrie is boring—I’m not a country music fan at all.
I always thought Bo was better and should have won that season….
Clay should have beat Ruben, Diana should have beat Cracktasia, Bo should have beat Carrie, and we all know that Elliott or Chris should have won Idol 5.
Many would disagree.
I personally was happy with the season 5 winner however..I find the fanwars very lame. Coulda should woulda..bring on season 7. I prefer to embrace the future rather than live in the past.
Yep - it’s how the voters voted. Those winners had the most votes and they earned their win.
Party Favors: Xtina Expecting Twins? … Eva Longoria Loves Starchy Balls … Brian Dunkleman – Getting “Fit”?
Could Christina Aguilera and Jordan Brafman be delivering a double dose of baby? Rush & Molloy are reporting thus. … Eva Longoria, unburdened by any carb-angst, was spotted by a TMZ spy at Porto’s Bakery in Burbank eating a huge bowl of their famous potato balls. … And potato balls won’t be on the menu for former “American Idol” co-host Brian Dunkleman, when he makes a triumphant return to TV on the latest season of VH1’s “Celebrity Fit Club.”
(theres not a direct link to it, but its on TMZ)
Big fat WORD, dcd.
Ran across this on Pulse, a review of Kelly which I don’t recall seeing here(?):
http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=d9d2c173-0778-4c48-988e-ec886d5caac6
Here is why we love Kelly Clarkson: She’s an everyday gal with a superhuman voice.
Those attributes were on spirited display during her Sunday concert at Mohegan Sun Arena. The 25-year-old exuded down-home warmth throughout the show, and her voice was strong and supple, proving that she is truly one of the best young female singers out there right now. ….
The only other caveat about the concert was it could have been longer. Clarkson was onstage for about an hour and 15 minutes. Maybe she was going by the old showbiz adage: leave them wanting more.
It is a little odd that Kelly’s set is so short, considering that she has a three album catalog at this point, as well as a collection of covers which tend to be well received.
Nevada–I have found most concerts today are (too) short! It just seems to be the norm. Imagine my surprise at the Allman Bros. concert Aug. 10, 102 degree heat when they came out at 8:00 and played (their asses off!) for the next 3 hours! What an orgasm!!
Amen sista.
If that’s really the case, it wouldn’t surprise me to see the concert industry suffer the same consequences as the record labels. People pay good money to see a concert, and if they keep getting all of these short sets, sooner or later, disenchantment will set in.
Just as even devoted fans got tired of buying albums with 2 or 3 good songs surrounded by totally forgettable filler and now seem to prefer to cherry-pick the best tracks as downloads, the day may come when they turn up their noses at artists who short-change them in the amount or quality of time spent on stage, however fantastic they might sound.
Taylor Hicks is scheduled to sing “The National Anthem” for Game 5 of the World Series on Monday, October 29th (FOX).
That is, if there IS a game 5.
Carrie sings “Ever after” on a Disney Movie soundtrack: www.myspace.com/enchantedmovie Its number five.
I was at Walmart today and checked the new releases. There were four of Carrie’s CD’s sold out of 40 that were originally placed there Tuesday.
So, MJ said it would be okay for me to post a recap of my SYTYCD show last weekend, even though she didn’t cover it. I know a few of you watched the show this summer, so I thought there might be a few people interested. :) Anyway, here goes.
This is really the first year I’ve watched the show all the way through, so I’ve never been to the tour before. But, a friend of mine who is also a fan of the show, two of her coworkers, and another friend all decided they wanted to go to the tour, so I joined up with them, and off we went to Tampa on Friday to see the show! We didn’t have spectacular seats, but we did have a good view, and there were big screens on each side as well. The stage was also nice - no tinfoil! There was a lift in the middle of the stage, and 5 rectangular lighted columns. Pretty cool.
So, onto the show! Unfortunately, Lacey was out due to a knee injury, so all of her routines were done by fill ins - Anya did the Samba with Danny, Jaimie did the flower contemporary with Neil, and Shauna did the contemporary with Kameron. It worked well, but I still would have liked to have seen Lacey do those routines instead.
The top 4 had the most dances, as they should have, but everyone really had a pretty good amount of time on stage. Even the lower placing finalists did, since they were involved in a lot of introductions of whichever dance was next. Sara and Dominic have such a great natural chemistry on stage - they did this little bit about Dom trying to prove he is more than “just a breaker” by Sara quizzing him with songs/dances from specific musicals, since he is supposedly a big musicals fan. It was really cute. There were also some good substitutions, especially in the group numbers. That seemed to just depend on who was scheduled to be in the routine following the group number.
Each one of the alternates (aka “special guests”) had at least one partner dance: Hok in the hummingbird routine with Jaimie, Shauna with Kameron in the Broadway routine that she originally did with Jimmy, Jesus in the Wade vagabond routine with Sara. Anya actually ended up having 3 partner dances: the foxtrot and Viennese Waltz with Danny, and the Samba since Lacey was out. All of the top 10 also had a solo, and there was a video package introducing each of them. For the top 4, they used the video package that was used in the finale episode.
A few highlights:
- A new breaker routine for Sara, Dominic, and Hok, choreographed specifically for the tour. It was fantastic.
- The jazz boardroom routine with Sabra and Neil was spectacular. Still one of the best dances of the season.
- Danny and Anya’s Viennese Waltz is still as beautiful as ever. They just seem to float around onstage.
- The hummingbird routine with Hok and Jaimie is breathtaking.
- To place the flowers for the Mia contemporary, the other finalists bring them out onstage at the beginning of the song, while Neil and Jaimie came out behind them.
- The West Coast Swing with Pasha and Sara is just so much fun.
- The Mia princes routine with Danny and Neil - just spectacular. Another one of the best, IMO.
- Sabra and Dominic’s slow Shane Sparks hip hop to the Neyo song is just a impressive as it was the first time around. It has so much feeling behind it.
- The transformers hip hop routine with Lauren and Pasha - just as great as the first time.
- I wish I’d been able to see Lacey do the contemporary with Kameron, but Shauna did a good job with it.
I was really impressed with everything that the “special guests” have to learn, and that they did such a good job with each dance they were asked to do. I imagine that they have to work on every dance since you never know who will get injured or when. As I said, they also participated in some of the group numbers, which were very fun. They did 5 group numbers from the show, and opened the show with a new one that I hadn’t seen.
All in all, it was a great show, and I came away very glad that I went! So, if you’re a fan of the show and/or contestants - or just dance in general - I’d definitely suggest you try to see the tour when it comes near you. It’s a lot of fun, and the performers really put their all into it.
Glad I am at the ranch and have my shit-kickers on.
Oh, there will be a game 5!!
GO ROCKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ETA:
I must add, I was very impressed with Josh Becket in Game One.
GO SOX!!!
The game is JUST starting!
And the ROCKIES are up….:)
Nice recap, Sarah!
I must confess I’m rooting for the Rockies. The Red Sox had their day a couple years ago. I did hear a funny story on NPR tonight about a furniture store that ran a promotion early in the season that they would refund certain sales they made during that promotion if the Red Sox won the World Series (I guess they took out an insurance policy. LOL).
I hope the Cubs win it next year. We gotta get rid of da billy goat curse.
They haven’t won it since 1908, so 2008 would be such a great story. :) I’d even root for them over my beloved Braves for that.
Maybe everyone went to Target to get the cd with the extra dvd! She’s got the #1 album on the all genre chart on itunes…
I grew up in Cooperstown, NY, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame. My paternal grandfather worked there; I hung out there with him all the time—explored all the nooks and crannies of the building. Fond, fond memories. I should be a huge baseball fan, but must confess that I do not follow it. However, it is difficult not to get swept up in the excitement of the local team’s success. They have a real Cinderella story. :)
GO ROCKIES!!!!
And number 3 at Amazon, and number 4 on B&N. Not that I am following her, just saw it when ordering a couples items from B&N, and checking on an existing Amazon order.
Rockies will have a better chance at winning one game at home but I say Boston in 5 games . If the Rockies can win one at home because Boston looks good.
Thank you for the recap, Sarah. I’m glad it was a good show and you had fun.
That’s so cool. I’ve never been to the Hall of Fame. I used to be a bigger baseball fan than I am now, but I sitll follow it and go to a few games a year. Growing up, my family drove to Atlanta to see the games once or twice a summer. We’d make a weekend of it.
And now they are DOWN.
GO SOX!!
(…say a SoCal native with a soft spot for the Sox.)
Anyways, I agree with pop. Boston in five games, and Colorado will take a game at home.
Don’t tell me I have to get the fire ants and camel fleas out for all you SOX fans. LOLK
**wonders if the number geeks here like baseball. If not, they should….all kinds of numbers and stats to play with**
ETA:
Actually, I will have to come up with my own ideas to get the Sox fans. Since the YAMINIONS have a monopoly on both fire ants and camel fleas, and they hate me, I am certain they wouldn’t give me any. Not to worry though, I am resourceful. :) lolol
IMO Carrie Underwood can sing well and I really liked ” Before He Cheats” and I like her new release “So Small” however I have yet to see one ounce of a personality from this gal. She is so uninteresting like a plain rice cake. I would like to see her be more spontaneous and not so darn bland. Kellie Pickler may not have the pipes that Carrie does but she is bubbly and has personality to spare. I enjoy watching Kellie , Carrie not so much.
Sarah - I enjoyed your SYTYCD recap as I am going this Saturday! I am excited to see it, but it seems like a long time ago that we were watching them on TV.
Rocks have the SOX right where they want them. ;) lol
ETA:
Great pitching on the SOX’s part.
“Diana should have beat Cracktasia”
Its still a mystery to me why people hate fantasia so much. If its cuz she was a single mother, check out Hollywood and look down your local streets. I admire anyone who can better themself.
pj - Root against the Braves? Such blasphemy!
Definitely should take a visit to the Hall. It is a terrific trip!
As much as I love the Red Sox, I’m rooting for the Rockies in this series. I hope they can get it together fast!
Sarah - Thanks so much for the recap. Reading about some of those routines brings back great memories although I have a hard time substituting in my head for the original dancers.
Just a note because I don’t remember seeing it mentioned here: Carrie said on Regis & Kelly the other morning that she’ll be singing the National Anthem at Game 3 of the series. So watch for her Saturday night!
MJ–no game 5?????
All one need do is think about all the lost money if the series stops at 4…..never happen! (Kelly review, Kelly review…..)
———————–
I didn’t hate Fantasia but I can’t stand her! (There’s a difference.) I found her to be so “irritating” although I do think she has a terrific voice. Just don’t like her and has nothing to do with being a “single parent” at all! I think we cover this on this site daily…everyone has their own taste and different singers will appeal to different folk and sometimes there is no real reason..just don’t care for someone or other.
“Actually, I will have to come up with my own ideas to get the Sox fans. Since the YAMINIONS have a monopoly on both fire ants and camel fleas, and they hate me, I am certain they wouldn’t give me any. Not to worry though, I am resourceful.” BoulderSoul
Actually, Yaminions as you know it blew up into a million little pieces along with their fire ants and camel fleas. That is the reason there are none available for you to use. ;-)
Yeah, as predicted, they ate their own.