Kris Allen Premieres New Songs At Miami Dolphins Tailgate Show
Last week, I had the honor of listening to seven unreleased songs from American Idol winner Kris Allen’s upcoming debut album (read my impressions here), then sitting down with Kris to discuss songwriting and recording process behind the tracks (watch parts one and two of that interview here). Now Kris has unveiled some of those new tunes at his first full post-Idol solo concert, Sunday afternoon at Florida’s Land Shark Stadium before a Miami Dolphins game.
And happily, Kris played my personal two favorite songs, the big pop crowd-pleaser “Before We Come Undone” and the funkily Maroon 5-ish “Can’t Stay Away,” as well as an upbeat Script-associated groover, “Written All Over My Face”:
The scribbled note that changed TV
On Tuesday 13 February 2001 TV veteran Alan Boyd saw two men he had never met before in his London office and the meeting changed the face of Saturday night entertainment.
Nothing about the then head of Thames TV’s meeting with two Simons suggested that television history was in the making, or that he and his production team were about to benefit from an enormous stroke of luck. As Mr Cowell and Mr Fuller rattled through their idea for an ambitious new show to identify an unknown British singing star, Boyd scribbled notes on two sides of jotting paper during the hour-long meeting.
More Idol Headlines After The Jump…
Ryan Seacrest interview at Ronald McDonald House in Atlanta
Dunwoody High School grad Ryan Seacrest came back to his hometown Saturday to host the Hearts and Hands gala for Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities at the World of Coke. I caught up with him while he toured the year-old 50-room home near Emory University earlier in the day. (I attended a different charity event that night called Chopstix For Charity.)
Ralit: Sibling rage on ‘Top Chef,’ snot snuffling on ‘Top Model,’ weak fashions on ‘Runway,’ and granny panties on ‘DWTS’
On this week’s four-part Ralit, my cohost Kristen Baldwin and I discuss some of the most important debates facing our nation right this second. Who’d be the ultimate Top Chef final two: adorable Kevin and loveable Jennifer or Michael and Brian, brothers so competitive they might try to smother each other with Glad wrap? What’s a bigger hindrance toward still being in the running to become America’s Next Top Model: Having dyslexia or being a Kardashian? What’s a bigger offense on Project Runway: Creating hideous fashion or creating no fashion at all? And what was the most disturbing development last week on Dancing With the Stars: Natalie Coughlin’s granny panties, Michael Irvin’s butt-cheek shenanigans, or Louis van Amstel’s facial expressions?
Kris Allen Album Won’t Include Chris Daughtry, Mat Kearney Tracks
Just a few days after “American Idol” winner Kris Allen tweeted that he finished his self-titled major-label debut (and misses Nickelodeon’s “Doug,” by the way), the full track listing for the November 17 album has been revealed.
While the debut had many musical cooks, according to the track listing obtained by Entertainment Weekly, it appears that songs co-written by fellow “Idol” alum Chris Daughtry, as well as those with singer/songwriter Mat Kearney, did not make the cut.
Kearney had previously told MTV News that the tune he was working on with Allen would rough up the squeaky-clean Conway, Arkansas, native’s image. “It’s driving … it has some edge to it,” Kearney said earlier this month. “That may make it so they don’t want to [include it on the album].”
Review: Daughtry gets ‘A’ for effort
By now, Chris Daughtry’s fourth-place finish on ‘American Idol’ is ancient history. But it’s hard not to compare that 2006 snub with the rocking show he put on at the Civic Center on Sunday night.
Daughtry, whose ‘Leave This Town’ tour included opening bands Cavo and Theory of a Deadman, was in fine form from the moment he kicked off his set with ‘Every Time You Turn Around.’
He seemed to push his voice to the limit on every song – howling away on ballads like ‘It’s Not Over’ and ‘No Surprise.’
Jammin’ with his Friends
The award for coolest friends definitely goes to David Foster.
The songwriter-producer has some of the most celebrated artists in the music business on his speed dial, and he’s rounded up a handful for a 10-city tour that stopped at the Agganis Arena last night.
During the nearly three-hour experience, the Hit Man acted as host, pianist and band conductor while unveiling some of his career highlights to a small crowd of about 2,000.
David Foster brings friends to Newark for hit-filled concert
The tour is called “David Foster and Friends.” And after more than 30 years as one of the pop world’s most successful songwriter-producers, Foster has plenty of friends to call on.
Peter Cetera (formerly of Chicago) and Philip Bailey (of Earth, Wind and Fire) were there when the tour hit the Prudential Center in Newark, Saturday. So were Deborah Cox, “American Idol” alumni Ruben Studdard and Michael Johns, and the quartet, the Canadian Tenors. But the closing slot went to a woman who has not released an album in the United States yet: Charice, a 17-year-old from the Philippines who is well known her own country, and is being mentored by Foster for worldwide stardom.
Andrew Lloyd Webber Battling CancerAndrew Lloyd Webber Battling Cancer
Uber-composer/producer Andrew Lloyd Webber has prostate cancer. “Andrew is undergoing treatment and expects to be fully back to work before the end of the year,” his spokesperson said in a statement.
The mind behind such mega stage musical hits as The Phantom of the Opera and Cats, Lloyd Webber was an American Idol “mentor” in October, 2008 but later said he thought Simon Cowell preferred to “torture” the contestants rather than motivate them.
Lisa Tucker interview for ‘American Idol Rewind,’ my new Twitter account
Please start following me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ajcidol! I just created the account.
TV Guide Channel’s ‘American Idol Rewind’ offered up a bunch of season six ‘Idols’ for me to talk to. I already caught up with Paris Bennett and posted that interview earlier this month. I really wanted to gab with Katharine McPhee but her publicist never bothered to reach out to me. (If you happen to read this, Kat McPhee’s publicist, my email is rho@ajc.com!)
I only chose Lisa Tucker, who finished tenth, because she is working with Atlanta’s own Ne-Yo. Bottom line: she’s sweet and young and still trying to finish an album more than three years after her spotlight had dimmed. Unfortunately, Lisa’s the only person in the top 10 of her season to not release an album.
Moses and Simon Cowell: teenagers vote for leaders
Martin Luther King, Moses and Simon Cowell are three of our all-time greatest leaders, according to today’s teenagers. England footballer John Terry, Gurkha champion Joanna Lumley and business guru Lord Sugar also made the top 10. X Factor judge Cowell won the same percentage of the vote as Mother Teresa and Henry VIII, in the survey commissioned by the Prince’s Trust. Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela came in the top three with King. According to the survey, 70% of teenagers say they are more likely be inspired by someone they know than by a celebrity.
Josh Groban Planning Return to GLEE
Josh Groban has revealed to Access Hollywood that he’ll be returning to GLEE to do one more episode. “I had a great time with that cast, coming from a theater background,” he said. “It’s so nIce To see so many theater actors being hired for mainstream television. And also, being a member of the choir club as a kid, just to see that group of people being represented in mainstream culture is really, really so great.”
GLEE, the genre-defying new musical comedy series, follows an optimistic teacher who against all odds and a malicious cheerleading coach attempts to save McKinley High’s Glee Club from obscurity while helping a group of aspiring underdogs realize their true star potential. The critically acclaimed series stars Dianna Agron, Chris Colfer, Jessalyn Gilsig, Jane Lynch, Jayma Mays, Kevin McHale, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Matthew Morrison, Amber Riley and Mark Salling. Guest stars this season include Victor Garber, Josh Groban, Kristin Chenoweth and Eve.
Flu outbreak on ‘Dancing with the Stars’
(People.com) — They’ve tried to avoid injuries every season, but these days the “Dancing with the Stars” cast is hoping to protect themselves from the flu bug that’s hit the ballroom.
“I’m living off of [vitamin drink mix] Emergen-C right now,” Lacey Schwimmer said after Monday night’s performance. “And though I love them, I’m also keeping my distance from Derek [Hough] and Mark [Ballas].”
Hough, who got sick and had to drop out of Monday’s performance with model Joanna Krupa, said he’s not 100 percent recovered but is “feeling and doing a lot better. I was in pretty bad shape last week.”
Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough Reveal Recipe for Success with their Waltz
Derek Hough has been working with Joanna Krupa on mastering the basic technique of the waltz in preparation for Monday night’s “Dancing with the Stars.”
The master chef of the dance floor told ET he is ready to “add the sizzle, the paprika, the flavor, the spices on top of it.”
The intense practice schedule is tiring Joanna out, but she finds the energy to carry on once she reaches the dance studio. Derek said, “It’s like a marathon, except for you’re not jogging. You’re sprinting the entire way.”
Dancing’s Mya: Dmitry Should Wear a Cup
Mya is “excited” Dancing with the Stars judge Len Goodman has finally lavished praise on her ballroom skills, but she’s still feeling black and blue. “I have bruises all over my legs [from the Argentine tango],” she tells TVGuide.com. “My legs, I couldn’t even expose on Monday. I had to wear fishnets because they were so bad makeup couldn’t cover them up!” But the pain probably paled in comparison to what partner Dmitry Chaplin felt when she hit him where it really hurts in rehearsals. Find out what happened and more.
Simon Cowell: ‘Just why are twins John and Edward more popular than Danyl Johnson?’
Simon Cowell says he wants to get to the bottom of why the nation seems to hate Danyl Johnson after the singer’s shock finish in the last two hopefuls of X Factor at the weekend.
Danyl was the show favourite last week, only to leave the judging panel flabbergasted when he came joint last in the public vote, along with girlband Miss Frank.
The panel sent Miss Frank home, but it left Simon scratching his head over why the talented music teacher, 27, didn’t do better.
Mockery and name-calling is unfair to X Factor twins
Is the X Factor turning into the most vile show on television? On Saturday night sections of the audience began booing Dublin twins, John and Edward, before they even sang a note.
It was a reaction more in keeping with the Jeremy Kyle show than a slick talent contest.
So why did the audience react in the way it did? Quite simply because they have been conditioned by some of the judges, principally Simon Cowell, to regard the twins as a talentless freak show.
Thanks for the Ford Day Videos. The quality really is excellent. They both sound great.
I may follow suite, get my enjoyment before the dirty dishwater is thrown over it.
Another example of why idols should never sing together. Ever. Yark.
Me! Just watched Crazy and loved it! Wow, those are VERY nice and clear!
Great mini-concert to wake up to! Can never get enough of acoustic Adam. Thoroughly enjoyed Kris, too. Fab sound and video quality. Thanks, strong>leeann, for the link.
Tess, I’m just now making my “Allison sweep” through this thread, so I’m way behind on this, but I have a few comments on the child labor thing.
First, the Jonas Brothers are wildly busy and they seem to handle it okay. The two older guys are adults now, but Nick is still a minor. Sure, they have millions of dollars to pay people to juggle that stuff, but they were also working very hard years ago when they didn’t.
Before going on, let me note that these are general points and might not apply in Allison’s case in particular…
Second, although I’m not very familiar with labor laws, I’m a homeschooling parent, and I can tell you that here in New York State (which is one of the most repressive states around) homeschoolers don’t have to follow the public schools’ schedule. For example, the state specifically says that they have no problem with homeschoolers doing educational stuff during nights and/or weekends rather than during public school hours — summer is also fine. So, in some situations involving under-age / compulsory-age kids, there might be more scheduling flexibility than one would think.
Third, in many states (most, if I remember correctly), the compulsory attendance age is young enough that kids Allison’s age don’t legally have to attend school anyway, and thus none of that school/tutor stuff matters from a legal standpoint.
Having said that stuff, though, she’s a California resident, and their compulsory attendance age goes up to 18, and a very brief reading of their compulsory attendance situation does suggest that it’s very inflexible. So, in her particular case, things might indeed be as restrictive as you suggested. On the other hand, she’s in an independent study program — I haven’t looked deep enough to know whether CA’s independent study program provides for flexibility similar to what I mentioned above about New York homeschooling.
Theatregrl02-Deserves big thank yous for the new Ford Day videos. They are a joy to watch!
Not sure if this is the same video i watched. In the video i watched there is definitely 1 good singer only. Tall too. Darn speaker fail!
I don’t know for sure if David Cook is going to the premiere or not. I think the story might be inaccurate. But he did do the best cover of a Michael Jackson song ever on Idol with “Billie Jean”. He sang it every night during the Idol tour and it was a show stopper. Billie Jean probably sold more itunes than any other cover song ever performed on Idol. Of course we don’t know that because we only know the 4 days worth of Billie Jean sales that happened after the finale and they were 59,571. The sales for the song the week it was aired would have been much higher than that and it was sold throughout the season. So maybe TPTB think David is worthy enough to be at the red carpet just because of the Billie Jean connection.
@ali22san – you rock!
To each their own wiccagirl2009. To each their own.
OMG! Thank you! This is awesome first thing in the morning
Thanks for the amazing Ford video, I like how Adam pointed to his throat when Kris asked:”Adam, what are you playing?”. (the Crazy duet) Love that Adam.