Today’s Idol headlines after the jump…
Today in History - Nov. 1
Today’s Birthdays: Newspaper columnist James J. Kilpatrick is 87. Golfer Gary Player is 72. Country singer Bill Anderson is 70. Actress Barbara Bosson is 68. Actor Robert Foxworth is 66. Actress Marcia Wallace is 65. Magazine publisher Larry Flynt is 65. Country singer Kinky Friedman is 63. Actress Jeannie Berlin is 58. Pop singer-musician Dan Peek is 57. Rhythm-and-blues musician Khalis Bayyan (aka Ronald Bell) (Kool and the Gang) is 56. Country singer-songwriter-producer Keith Stegall is 53. Country singer Lyle Lovett is 50. Actress Rachel Ticotin is 49. Rock musician Eddie MacDonald (The Alarm) is 48. Rock singer Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers) is 45. Pop singer-musician Mags Furuholmen (a-ha) is 45. Rock musician Rick Allen (Def Leppard) is 44. Country singer “Big Kenny” Alphin (Big and Rich) is 44. Rapper Willie D (Geto Boys) is 41. Singer Sophie B. Hawkins is 40. Country musician Dale Wallace (Emerson Drive) is 38. Actress Toni Collette is 35. Actress Jenny McCarthy is 35. Rock musician Andrew Gonzales is 35. Actress Aishwarya Rai is 34. Rock singer Bo Bice (”American Idol”) is 32. Actor Penn Badgley is 21. Actor-musician Alex Wolff is 10.
Thought for Today: “People who bite the hand that feeds them usually lick the boot that kicks them.” — Eric Hoffer, American author and philosopher (1902-1983).
City worker tampers with poll to boost Pittsburgh mayor
….”As far as I’m concerned, it was all in good fun,” Ravenstahl said.
The poll, posted last week, showed 86 percent of listeners believed the media was too harsh in its coverage of Ravenstahl, compared with 14 percent who didn’t.
The mayor’s office later acknowledged that the employee found a way around restrictions on repeat voting, allowing him to bombard the site with votes favoring the mayor.
“He did it as a private citizen. He’s well within his rights as a person,” Ravenstahl spokeswoman Alecia Sirk said. “People do it privately all the time for ‘American Idol,’ and nobody investigates that.”…..
The end of a bad year is off to a good start
…..The Setting
AC/DC’s You Shook Me All Night Long plays - prophetically - as the lights go down and the screams and squeals of pipsqueaks and bespectacled co-eds rise with a ruffled vanilla curtain. Clarkson, in a burgundy ball gown, lies in repose on a set of stairs, recreating her album-cover image, while seven bandmates are frozen like wax figures across a stage strewn with Halloween pumpkins. As the galloping dance-rocker One Minute begins, the players come to life and the Rubenesque star discards her fancy duds for more casual attire.
The Voice
Clarkson’s resourceful cords are as good as there is: gale-force on the Evanescence-styled Never Again; silky on the acoustic soul of Be Still; churchy on a cover of Patty Griffin’s Up to the Mountain; softer in singer-songwriter mode (Addicted); and, unfortunately, pointless on the generic How I Feel. If Simon Cowell can’t find anything wrong with Clarkson’s pipes, who else is to?….
‘5th Grader’ scares away Presidential candidates
…Luckily for viewers, Hollywood celebrities aren’t as cautious as White House hopefuls. So Regis Philbin, Clay Aiken, “Access Hollywood” host Billy Bush, Tony Hawk, Miss America 2007 Lauren Nelson and “American Idol’s” Kelly Pickler are all ready to prove they know a thing or two about math and science.
Philbin and Aiken get the pencil going tonight at 8, kicking off three weeks of star-studded episodes of “5th Grader” in which the celebs play for their favorite charities…
A concert for a cause
Former Idol’s show to aid family with ill children
A country music concert tomorrow night will help raise money to build a house for a Plymouth family of six whose youngest child has serious health problems. Josh Gracin, who will be the headliner for the show at Plymouth Memorial Hall, is a former Marine whose career took off four years ago after an appearance on “American Idol.” This will be his first performance in the region…….
Briefs: Nursing students meeting
….Hunt to perform at Arcada
Former “American Idol” contestant and St. Charles native Leslie Hunt will perform on her home turf Nov. 9 to raise money for a health advocacy group. Proceeds from “An Evening with Leslie Hunt” benefit DayOneNetwork, a nonprofit that works with developmentally disabled adults and children in Cook, Kane and Kendall counties. The concert starts at 7:15 p.m. at the Arcada Theater, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles There also will be information booths and a raffle for prizes including a $100 gift card and three-day trip to Las Vegas….
Sophomore album ‘Carnival Ride’ deserves praise
Carrie Underwood has managed to avoid the sophomore slump with her new album, “Carnival Ride,” released on Oct. 23, by following age-old advice: Don’t fix something that’s not broken.
Underwood has followed the same format as her tremendously successful first album, “Some Hearts,” which sold over 6 million copies in the U.S. and won her two Grammy Awards. “Some Hearts” even outsold Kelly Clarkson to become the best selling artist from American Idol…….
‘American Band’ is no hit
In their bid to replicate ‘Idol,’ show’s creators might want to stick to their day jobs
Tune into the first three minutes of “The Next Great American Band” and you’ll notice the parallels to “American Idol.”
The names Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe are all over the opening credits.
The three judges sit in order of personality: Diplomatic nice-guy (Goo Goo Doll’s well-coiffed frontman John Rzeznik), kind-hearted female (’80s hitmaker and respected percussionist Sheila E.) and caustic foreigner (”Australian Idol” judge Ian “Dicko” Dickson).
The host, Dominic Bowden, who steers “New Zealand Idol” in his spare time, is even like an accented version of Ryan Seacrest, but slightly less metrosexual and slightly more annoyingly enthusiastic.
Yet, two weeks into “Band”’s run, there is one mammoth difference between it and the Godzilla that is “American Idol.”
No one is watching…………
The Farr Side: Underwood beginning to go over
I cringed when Simon Cowell said Carrie Underwood would become the biggest-selling American Idol, especially knowing he’s not a country music fan.
I liked her, but I wasn’t blown away by her performances. I still feel that way, although my opinion is changing.
It seemed “American Idol” was grooming her to be the winner of Season 4. That didn’t sit well with me, because Bo Bice and Vonzell Solomon were clearly better performers. Bice and Solomon gave show-stopping numbers week after week, when Underwood wasn’t always spot-on.
I guess that’s the beauty of the show, but I always held the opinion she’d need a lot of guidance if she was going to make it.
I’m pleased with Underwood’s success, guidance included. Her debut album, “Some Hearts,” was the kind of album any new artist would be thrilled to have recorded. I say “thrilled,” because Underwood was given some incredible songs………
Hark! The holiday shows arrive
Wynonna Judd and Clay Aiken visit area, Black Keys come home in this year’s offerings
…Also on the holiday concert trail is Clay Aiken, whose 2004 holiday album was given the more creative title Merry Christmas With Love. The American Idol runner-up (as he apparently will be forever known, even as we collectively forget the guy to whom he lost) will be playing at Cleveland’s Playhouse Square on Dec. 17, backed by a 45-piece orchestra. Just as with Judd, the set list will feature holiday favorites and hits. That means fans will get orchestrated Aiken-led versions of Silent Night and other holiday tunes and perhaps a version of Invisible with the strings section sawing away as Aiken sings about how much he’d like to stalk you.
Speaking of Mr. Aiken, I’d like to take this brief moment to be petty and immature and say something to all those crazy, obsessive Claymates (and I’m singling out the crazy, obsessive ones) who a few years ago unleashed vicious verbal attacks on anyone who suggested that Aiken’s singing voice and style would be a perfect fit for the Broadway stage.
Let me tell you, I got e-mails from angry grandmothers, righteously indignant 11-year-olds and overprotective fans in Snake’s Navel, Alaska, assuring me that I and everyone else, who must hate Aiken, were wrong. In addition, I was obviously a deeply disturbed and unhappy person to belittle their Golden Boy by relegating him to the Broadway stage.
No, they raged, not only was Clay Aiken going to be a huge pop star for years to come, but he was also going to change the entire music industry…………….
……So I would like to suggest to all those folks (again just the crazy, obsessive ones) to suck down that giant plate of proverbial crow that several of them swore I and other journalists and nonfans would be enjoying right about now…
CMA AWARDS AIRS WEDNESDAY, NOV. 7, 8-11PM/ET ON ABC-TV
….Artists performing on the CMA Awards include Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Big & Rich, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Eagles, Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire in a duet with LeAnn Rimes, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban. Rascal Flatts will open the festivities and also perform with Jamie Foxx later in the broadcast.
Presenters on the CMA Awards include Luke Bryan, Jason Michael Carroll, Bucky Covington, Sheryl Crow, Jewel with Ty Murray, Kid Rock, Montgomery Gentry, Blake Shelton, Gretchen Wilson and Dwight Yoakam….
CD Review: “Carnival Ride”
Set the Record Straight
Her innocent demeanor and killer vocals helped gain “American Idol” status when she won the show a few seasons back. Her song about getting revenge on a cheating boyfriend rocked the charts and stole some hearts. As of last Tuesday, her sophomore album was out in stores and will bring her to a whole new level of stardom.
Carrie Underwood is the endearing country singer who stole millions of hearts to take home the gold on “American Idol.” While her first CD “Some Hearts” had a great beat and wonderful songs, which won her a Grammy, her new album has taken her voice to a whole different level.
Underwood’s voice has garnered more strength in her newest album “Carnival Ride.” The powerful vocals set each song apart from the other and each has its own unique beat.
It is obvious to the listener that Underwood has grown a lot as an artist since her debut CD and, as a result, has put together a phenomenal CD that will blow some of her biggest enemies away with how great it is……..
OK! Exclusive: Who’s Trying To Break Chace & Carrie Up?
Despite online reports that Gossip Girl hunk Chace Crawford was overheard telling fellow partygoers at Monday’s Angel Ball in NYC that he and new gal-pal, country cutie Carrie Underwood, aren’t really a couple, a friend of the steely-eyed actor not only confirms to OK! that “Chace is still happily with his new girlfriend,” but also reveals the rumor’s source………
Carrie Rides Carnival Straight to No. 1
Carrie Underwood’s new single might be “So Small,” but her new album is big, big, big!
With the 41st Country Music Awards less than a week away, several country artists debuted new albums, but it was the season-four American Idol champ who ultimately ruled the rodeo, selling 527,000 copies of Carnival Ride, according to Nielsen SoundScan numbers released today…….
Scott Hamilton And Friends
Maybe by 2020 everyone short of tracheotomy patients will have been on American Idol and the novelty will have worn off. But for now, alumni of the Fox gong show are still being farmed out to events, and Idols Melinda Doolittle and Phil Stacey are headline guests at this year’s An Evening With Scott Hamilton and Friends………
Related Posts
Is is silly that I can’t wait to see Kellie Pickler on “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader”? I think she’ll be hilarious.
Also, as much as I was hoping there wouldn’t be a writer’s strike because of its potential effect on “Lost”, I think it pretty much assures the completion of “The Next Great American Band” regardless of ratings. No writer’s required. Yay!
Jordin’s “Tattoo” music video
Blake is in it near the end! Hee!!!
Got up early to check the charts. Bo’s ‘See the Light’ is #91 on the comprehensive chart (he doesn’t qualify for the BB200 due to exclusive deal with WM). I’m not sure how I feel about this, but at least it charted.
Me likey the video…I think she has a long career if she’s handled right.
Heh heh. Which is exactly why I’m watching it. Minimal shtick and manipulation. Seems to be (so far) about talent as well as marketability. Imagine that.
I find it refreshing after this last season of AI. If it can make it to a second season maybe it will encourage more quality bands to audition.
i love the video
it adds to the song
weeeeeeeeee go jordin :)
I won’t post it here unless MJ wants me to, but in case anyone’s interested, VFTW has a spoiler on who goes home on NGAB. Someone over there went to the taping last night.
I agree the video helps the song, but I do not care for how it’s edited. In seeing how Jordin is being handled now, a year later, I do wish that they had actually given Taylor a single to release before or anywhere near his CD release, and even a video. His AOL videos were cool, and a music video w/ the right song could have been really cool. Not nuts about the Tattoo song, but I’m not exactly it’s target audience. I think she’s pretty & she was the one I expected to win, so I hope she does well for herself & avoids the pitfalls of fame at such an early age.
Thanks Jersey. Hold off on that…I’m going to post it in a different thread.
#91 should put Bo at around 11,000, give or take a couple thousand. That’s pretty good considering that he had very little promotion.
Here is a press release from Carrie’s team:
http://www.carrieunderwood.fm/story/News/carrie_underwoods_carnival_ride_soars_with_record_breaking_1_album_debut-1
Some factoids from the press release:
- Sales: 527,101 (including 44,928 digital)
- 60% increase from her previous first week (314,549)
- Highest first-week sales for any female artist so far this year
- Best-selling first week of any country sophomore album in the history of SoundScan
- Largest country debut in digital album history
Some Hearts was the best-selling, single-disc country album by a solo female in the new millennium and is the best selling country album of 2007 (with 1.3 million copies sold this year)
Kanye To Perform At LG Championships
…West will share time on the main stage with fellow hip-hop and film star Ludacris (Saturday night), national recording artists Cartel (Sunday afternoon) and former American Idol runner-up Blake Lewis (Saturday afternoon). In addition, more than 150 action sports athletes will compete for the title of World Champion when the LG Action Sports World Championships once again will turn Reunion Arena into a Texas-sized skatepark from November 9 - 11….
EXPN
I must live in a box because I have to admit I’ve never heard of this competition in my life.
Tell me, oh worldly sports fans, is this event even bigger than championship bull riding?
Nothing is bigger than championship bull riding, although championship bull-slinging is gaining ground…
Well, it is pretty tough to get a worldwide audience of more than 100 million people. Not everybody can get the gigs with the huge audiences.
All may not be well in the land of the Kelly/Clive relationship. Here was one of the pumpkins carved by one of the band members:
http://thumbsnap.com/v/CjlzvZe9.jpg
Au contraire mon amie
ETA:
This MUST be a scene from one of ***’s upcoming straight to DVD movies** Then again, probably not, too many clothes on….although she does have something big between her legs.
According to the International Programs Center, U.S. Census Bureau, the total population of the World, projected to 11/01/07 at 22:00 GMT (EST 5) is
6,628,431,982
Which is to say, a mere 100,000,000 people watching championship bull riding ain’t all that…not when there are 6,528,431,982 people who are NOT watching the bulls.
The World isn’t easily dominated, if you know what I mean.
AND…
assuming each one of the 3,ooo,ooo little d™ CDs that were purchased, was purchased by unique individuals (unique, as in one person, one CD purchase)——HUGE ASSUMPTION,I know——that means but .03% of the 100,000,000 viewers of championship bull riding bought a little d™ CD.
And of that mere .03%….many are champions at the bull-slinging that is reportedly gaining ground on the actual championship bull riding viewership.
ETA:
Numbers peeps better check my math. LOLOL
Jennifer Hudson: “I Have Breasts People Pay For!”
Working alongside famously petite style icon Sarah Jessica Parker and the rest of the super-svelte cast of the upcoming Sex and the City film would be enough to make most any woman self-conscious about her figure — but not Jennifer Hudson!
“I have the height of a model, the breasts that people pay for and the lips that everybody wants, so why should I change?” the 26-year-old Oscar-winner asked at the Oct. 30 Avon Foundation Gala in NYC. “I wouldn’t change myself for anything or anybody. That will never happen.”……….
OK Magazine
I knew you couldn’t resist, Boulder.
Love ya, babe.
And here is a pumpkin Clive carved and sent to Kelly.
LOL
BREAKING NEWS
They’ve created a new show called “Are You Smarter Than a Doorknob” and wouldn’t you know it, *** is the first contestant. When they started filming they realized that *** was asking her fugly dogs for the answers.
Me either. LOL.
I’m excited ’cause Blake’s single is being premiered in Orlando on my fave station sometime before 8. The female dj on the morning show talked about it this morning, and said she’d premiere it on her show tonight. Yay!! Here’s the link to the station’s website, if anyone’s interested. WARNING. It’s top 40 music. /WARNING. :)
Jordans video I agree w/ person above reminds me of a typicall disneyesc pop teen video and the random Blake appearance out of nowhere does not fit. The video is fine but I am not Jordans target audiance as I listen to the Bruce cd.
JHud article here is a paraphrased quote “I can tell you are single because of the bait that is shown tells me you do not have a boatload of fish” it was from Pushing Daisies about Olive(shows a little ).
Heh. I wonder how Clive will re-act when he sees her latest salvo. She’s going to end up singing the catalogue of Slim Whitman if she keeps this up.
BTW, her pumpkin won the audience vote (she carved hers to look like Steve Carrel saying “Kelly Clarkson” from that movie he was in).
What!? Bo only sold 11K? Tell me it wasn’t true!
It’s just sad. 
It’s only sold in one retail outlet and had very little promotion.
I don’t think they play his music on the radio. Plus 2nd albums from AI people seem to do poorly (with maybe two exceptions.) Bo needs more promotion.
I still haven’t checked out Bo’s cd and I should because I really liked him on the show.
Boulder, does this mean you are finally going to finish that masterpiece of yours??
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071102/ap_on_fe_st/odd_gnomes_without_homes_3