Idol Headlines for 10/25/09
HOLIDAY CHEER
Now that the show’s download surges have established a weekly rhythm, Stringer and Bywater can focus their attention on the release of “Glee: The Music Volume 1,” the first in a series of soundtracks featuring music from the show. The 17-song set will feature some of the most popular numbers from the season’s first half. Columbia and Fox hope to attract casual buyers as well as the show’s rabid fans.
“We think there will be a huge population of passive buyers walking through stores during the holidays and saying, ‘Oh, I’ve seen “Glee,” ‘ and picking up the record,” Bywater says. “I think we’ll see considerable sales in the Wal-Marts, Targets and Best Buys of the world.”
In addition to the soundtracks, a cover of Wham’s “Last Christmas” will be recorded by the cast, and although it won’t air on the show, the song will be released as a single by mid-November.
`Idol’ winner stays humble
But it’s runner-up Lambert — a proudly out-of-the-closet singer who doesn’t shy away from eye liner or paparazzi — who’s stealing all the attention.
Allen, 24, is OK with that. More or less.
“Here’s the thing. Adam’s a little more — OK, let’s say, lot more — controversial than I am, and the press wants him more right now,” says the singer-guitarist. “That’s fine with me. I’m happy for him. He is who he is, and I am who I am. If people want to put me on a cover of a magazine, then cool.”
Allen won’t be sharing any spotlights on Sunday, when he performs at the Dolphins Tailgate Stage at Land Shark Stadium (3 p.m.)
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Behind The Scenes: Adam Lambert’s ‘Time For Miracles’
Go behind the scenes of Adam Lambert’s ‘Time For Miracles’ music video from the ‘2012′ motion picture soundtrack. Plus, get a glimpse of the finished video.
Seacrest Visits Ronald McDonald House
DECATUR – Parents and children at Decatur’s Ronald McDonald House got a special surprise today.
American Idol Host Ryan Seacrest visited the home this morning. Seacrest, an Atlanta native, posed for pictures and spent time with the patients.
Season Six American Idol finalist Melinda Doolittle was also there. The event was part of the Hearts and Hands Gala. Proceeds from the event will support operations of Atlanta’s two Ronald McDonald Houses.
Rocker brings melodies, big hooks for Breslin show
Back in 2006, Chris Daughtry had the same reaction as the rest of us: How had he been voted off “American Idol”?!? That seemed impossible.
“It was definitely a gut-wrenching moment,” Daughtry said, the morning after he was ousted, “and I wasn’t expecting it … I thought there was going to be some sort of ‘just kidding’ factor.”
There wasn’t, but he tried to be optimistic that next day: “There’s going to be bigger opportunities … I think everything’s going to turn out great in the end.”
Jennifer Hudson Returns To Chicago A Year After Murders
Exactly one year ago today, the bodies of Jennifer Hudson’s mother, Darnell Hudson Donerson, 57, and her brother, Jason Hudson, 29, were discovered inside their home on the South Side. Hudson’s 7-year-old nephew, Julian King, was found a few days after in a car on the West Side 10 miles away from his home. All three victims had been shot to death. William Balfour, the estranged husband of Jennifer Hudson’s sister, Julia, was charged for the killings with first-degree murder, allegedly killing the three family members because he was upset that Julia was dating someone else. Balfour pleaded not guilty and is still in jail.
Jason Castro performs at Discover Mills Mall in metro Atlanta October 23
The laid-back, dreadlocked ‘American Idol’ finalist Jason Castro performed a six-song set Friday night at Discover Mills Mall in Lawrenceville. He was in town to promote his upcoming album for Atlantic Records.
Castro strolled down the food court, guitar around his shoulders, three cops and two mall security guards in tow. The crowd of about 250 tittered, then cheered. (Not surprisingly, he drew a 95% female audience.) He was his typical ‘aw shucks’ self, giving away an X Box via text message and announcing his release date of his album as January 2010 (though he almost said February, which worried some anxious fans.)
Daughtry bassist talks new album and returning to Omaha
Bassist and back-up vocalist Josh “JP” Paul spoke with the Gateway about his musical beginnings, life experiences, their new album and life on the road.
What was it like to play the drums in Don Henley’s “Boys of Summer” video at age 7?
It was definitely a great opportunity. I didn’t really know really what was going on. I just knew that I played drums and I went to some audition where there were 500 other little kids. And, I actually got it and did it. I was a little bit overwhelmed, but I thought it was awesome. Don Henley’s really cool.
As ‘Idol’ fan, she is eminently clear on whom she idolizes
Editor’s note: Julie McCoy is a Realtor in Green Valley. The mid-40-year-old is also a huge fan of American Idol Adam Lambert, who’s making news with the release of his first single, “Time for Miracles.” Here’s McCoy’s account of her quest to get ever closer to her idol.
I was elated to have 17th-row floor seats to see Adam Lambert perform at the American Idols Live Tour July 18 in San Diego. But after I returned to Arizona, I realized something was missing and that I had to see Adam again, closer.
Rock steady
After three years of solid success, Chris Daughtry is at the point in his career where he is approached by aspiring rockers looking for career advice.
Daughtry says he has no idea what to tell them.
‘It’s weird,’ he says. ‘I don’t view myself in that way at all. I want to live up to that for them. I don’t want them to ask me for the secret of life and I give an answer and they say, ‘Oh, that’s it? I expected way more from you.’
Recording Artist Bucky Covington Signs On In Support Of Arthritis Foundation
Lyric Street recording artist, Bucky Covington, has agreed to participate as the ‘Celebrity Ambassador’ for the Arthritis Foundation, Tennessee Chapters, five Jingle Bell 5K Run/Walk events, with one taking place in Chattanooga.
The Jingle Bell 5K will take place on Nov. 21, at 10 a.m., beginning at the Chattanooga Riverwalk, Shelter #3.
The event will include booths and various activities for all ages.
The Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis is a nationwide event that raises awareness of arthritis, the nation’s leading cause of disability, while raising desperately needed funds for research, health education and government advocacy to improve the lives of people with arthritis.
Mark Salling Makes “Sweet” Music on “Glee”
When viewers first met Noah ‘Puck’ Puckerman, a brutish football player oozing testosterone, he was heaving poor Kurt Hummel into a dumpster at school. Later he turned out to be the father of Quinn Fabray’s and then he made quite an impression exiting a steam room after having apparently hit all the right notes with April Rhodes played by Kristin Chenoweth.
Given the show’s large cast, most folks probably thought there wasn’t going to be much more to Puck, but on last night’s episode ‘Mash-Up’ viewers not only say a softer side to Puck, but also learned he really could hit all the right notes with his rendition of Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline.’
‘Dancing’ star moves crowd at women’s expo
“Dancing with the Stars” celebrity Cheryl Burke stole the Women’s Lifestyle Show on Saturday at the Peoria Civic Center as she signed autographs, answered questions and hugged adoring fans.
“Today is the best turnout in the last 18 years,” said event coordinator Jannell Justice, from Jay Goldberg Events & Entertainment. “Every year we have a star, and this year our star is exceptional.”
An Emmy-nominated professional ballroom dancer and choreographer, Burke has been on “Dancing with the Stars” since the second season. She has danced her way to the championship twice, with celebrities Drew Lachey (in the show’s second season) and Emmitt Smith (third season).
Denver songwriter/producer Ryan Tedder is a one-man music industry
And Tedder says Denver should expect more celebrity sightings at Larimer Square restaurants, Capitol Hill rock clubs and Cherry Creek bars.
“Adam and I went to Samba Room for dinner, and of course we walk in the door and there wasn’t a single person in the place who didn’t walk up to him,” Tedder said. “But he was cool about it. He was great. I’ve also had Leona Lewis out to Denver, and Natasha Bedingfield and Rascal Flatts.
Hit’s for kids
Finalists perform Jacko charity song
The x Factor finalists will enjoy their first taste of chart glory next month – after secretly recording one of Michael Jackson’s best-selling hits.
The final 12 joined forces at Abbey Road Studios in London to lay down Jacko’s You Are Not Alone, and all the profits will go to charity.
The ballad, in aid of London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital, is the first professional recording from this year’s show favourites, including Danyl Johnson and Stacey Solomon.
And fans can see them perform the track live on The X Factor’s Sunday night results show on November 15, five months after the superstar’s death.
X Factor judges Louis Walsh and Simon Cowell row over song choice
Simon Cowell was at the centre of a cheat storm last night after Louis Walsh accused him of bending the rules in favour of his own act.
Louis exploded back on to the X Factor after three shows off following the death of Stephen Gately and wasted no time stirring up controversy.
He turned on Simon after the judge picked a U2 rock song for Jamie Archer on Big Band night.
Earlier Simon revealed he changed afro-haired Jamie’s song choice 24 hours before the show because he thought the original track didn’t work.
Fight for love ‘“ how Cheryl Cole became the new X Factor darling
Everyone’s got their favourite X Factor contestant, but this week the public chose the real winner. After performing on the results show last Sunday, Cheryl Cole’s solo debut, “Fight for This Love”, became the fastest-selling single of the year, with 134,000 copies sold on Monday alone. That’s 44,000 more than Alexandra Burke, a former X Factor winner sold on the same day the week before, when her single Bad Boys went to No 1.
Say what you like about the slashed-to-the-thigh harem trousers and military cap that Cole wore on stage, quibble about the strength of her vocals, but the public voted firmly in her favour and she is a dead cert to be No 1 later today.
Leona Lewis: “I’m no pushover!”
Does Leona Lewis ever get fed up with being viewed as some kind of “anti-Amy Winehouse”? Maybe it is because they both attended the performing arts BRIT school in Croydon, but it seems, especially in Britain, Lewis and Winehouse are forever linked in the media eye as polar opposites.
Posted in 705 Responses to “Idol Headlines for 10/25/09”
I think it’s also the fact that they’re invariably COVERING songs on Idol. In spite of the ridiculous griping about Idols being nothing but “cover artists,” the truth is a lot of people LOVE a good cover. Hell, a lot of folks prefer Cook’s “covers” of his own songs to what’s on his album. There’s just something about someone doing something different with a song you already know even if you, maybe especially, if you hated it in the past. Yes, a lot of the “original” material the Idols put out is dreck, but it’s just hard for any new song to get noticed.
I floved Melinda when she was on Idol, but honestly I have to disagree that it’s just her looks that have kept her from being the next Adele or Duffy. Adele and Duffy are retro; Melinda’s new album just came across as old to me. Love her, can’t get into that album no matter how many times I’ve tried.
I know this is gonna sound like a sacrilege to a lot of people here, but I don’t know if I agree with that. Adele isn’t a pin up queen, but she’s got mad stage presence. Melinda, from what I’ve seen on AI, can not rival Adele’s stage presence despite being a very gifted vocalist, and I think that’s why she didn’t win AI. I liked Melinda, and god knows I did not care for Jordin’s shrill vocal tone and was hoping Melinda would win for that reason, but there were times that I found Melinda’s performances to be…well, boring. I think Jordin won that season by default. On one hand you had Blake who was a dynamic performance artist but technically, not a gifted vocalist, Melinda who was a gifted vocalist but often not very dynamic to watch, and Jordin, who kinda split the difference in that she had some nice vocal moments and at times could be engaging and vivacious. *ducking tomatoes*
Same. In fact, I have a friend who is a big Kris fan and we had a bit of a debate when I called Kris Cookie-Lite. Not that I don’t think Kris has talent and I didn’t enjoy him, because I do and did, but I think I was rooting for a Kris/Adam finale all season mostly because I enjoyed Adam’s Adamness while Kris made me nostalgic for the singer/musician vibe of Season 7. Unlike Cook, I wasn’t loving any of the pre-AI original tunes from Kris, so my interest waned after the finale. With Adam, I have to admit I’m actually more excited about an Adam concert than an Adam album. I can’t wait to see what that boy cooks up when he puts together his stage show.
Which is probably why Cook is the AI talent that I have followed really closely after the show. I already knew I dug his songwriting thanks to Analog Heart and some old Axium stuff.
While I unfortunately do think appearance had a little to do with it (unfortunately, this is one of the factors that goes into being a success on AI in the first place – how many threads or fan sites or comments, etc are geared toward how hot people like Adam, Kris, Carrie, etc. are) I definitely don’t think it’s that simple. Her singing style on the show, the songs she gravitated toward, were what hurt her more – always much more old school (which I LOVE) – but, again, just not as current or easily translatable into modern hits.
Good points, Mary102.
The other thing (and I think this hurt Adam in the long run too) is that she started off very strong, and her “back story” of being a professional back-up singer reinforced it. I didn’t personally consider either Melinda or Adam to be “plants” (although they were clearly older and more “professional” than a lot of their competition), but a lot of voters just prefer people with no professional experience when they’re choosing their Idols. If an artist doesn’t “grow” during the season, he or she’s (pardon the pun) cooked.
Of course, the new music they release is really what’s going to make or break them, and I don’t think Kris or Adam have to worry about coming off as too old school (“Time for Miracles” not withstanding.)
LOVE seeing info on here all the time lately about Jason Castro – wish he was heading out west to see us though