Today’s Idol headlines after the jump…
Concert review: Kelly Clarkson brings flirty spunk to Boca
If Kelly Clarkson proved anything in her flirty, bold set at Mizner Park Amphitheater Thursday night, it was that negative press and dire career predictions can sometimes fuel confidence rather than cowering.
There was the 25-year-old inaugural “American Idol” winner, all bold and blonde on her downgraded tour promoting that album that wasn’t supposed to sell. Rather than be apologetic or demurely gracious, the native Texan was brash, funny and in a mood that can be best be described as occasionally “nanny-nanny-boo-boo”-like.
But instead of coming off smug or cocky, Kelly Clarkson’s “My December” tour just came off like the work of a self-assured young woman’s declaration that her belief in herself paid off. And instead of just shrugging, she was celebrating. If you think that’s cocky, well, there’s the door……..
Album reviews
…Few albums arrive with lower expectations than an American Idol’s first release. Given the lackluster season and dismally amateurish summer tour that led to the most recent winner, 17-year-old Jordin Sparks, one could reasonably expect yet another stinker from the Fox/19 cheese factory.
Surprise. Aside from the clichéd Dream-Comes-True pap every Top 2 finalist has to sing on the season finale, in this case This Is My Now, Jordin Sparks is one of the least crummy Idol CDs….
Music Review: Various Artists, “Enchanted” Original Soundtrack
….However, good as it is, “Ever Ever After,” performed by American Idol country megastar, Carrie Underwood, is undoubtedly the song that’s going to make it into radio rotation, being a rousing, rollicking blood-pumper that really gets the listener moving. And in case you forget that it comes from “Enchanted,” Underwood reminds you with lyrics like, “Let yourself be enchanted, you just break through / To Ever Ever After,” and a refrain that references back to “True Love’s Kiss.”….
“Idol” Wannabe Bites It … Big Time!
Hollywood Week took a scary turn Monday when a season seven “American Idol” hopeful wiped out on her way off stage and tumbled down a set of stairs. Talk about tanking your audition!
An on-set spy tells TMZ the unidentified woman was rushed to a nearby Pasadena hospital and was treated for minor knee injuries. So far, no comment from the show on the clumsy contestant’s condition — or if she’ll be back for the Final 12.
Usually, the most frightening things happen on the “Idol” stage.
BUCKY COVINGTON REVEALS THE FINAL TWO CONTESTANTS OF CMT’S NATIONAL ONLINE TALENT SEARCH WHEN “MUSIC CITY MADNESS: THE ROAD TO CMT” PREMIERES DECEMBER 4 ON CMT
American Idol finalist and Lyric Street Records recording artist Bucky Covington hosts a madcap re-cap of CMT’s online search for the best unsigned country act in America when MUSIC CITY MADNESS: THE ROAD TO CMT premieres Tuesday, December 4 at 10:00-10:30 a.m., ET/PT on CMT. The half-hour show takes a look at the top 64 contenders and those that didn’t make the cut, and reveals the final two contestants as chosen by the fans. The top two contenders will then battle it out in a head-to-head battle at CMT.com, and the winner will be announced Tuesday, December 11……….
‘American Idol’ loses its juice, Sparks album tanks
The latest “Idol” winner Jordin Sparks is selling worse than Taylor Hicks, the previous year’s winner……….
Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood reveal initial tour dates
Confirmed dates are starting to trickle in for next year’s US tour pairing Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood.
The 24-city “Love, Pain & the Whole Crazy Carnival Ride Tour” is scheduled to kick off Jan. 31 with a two-night stand in Uncasville, CT. Other cities confirmed so far are Roanoke, VA; Omaha, NE; and San Jose, CA. Details are listed below……..
Bon Jovi stops by more cities along ‘Lost Highway’
….Canadian rock quartet Hedley, a finalist from reality show “Canadian Idol,” is supporting Bon Jovi in Canada. Rock band Daughtry [ tickets ], which is led by “American Idol” finalist Chris Daughtry, will take over in the US….
Holiday concerts
….Alice Cooper’s Christmas Pudding
American Idol winner Jordin Sparks will headline the seventh edition of Alice Cooper’s charity bash. Also appearing will be country’s Whiskey Falls, Flo & Eddie of the Turtles, comic Mike “Blackjack” Wilson, CTA and Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers….
Kelly Clarkson Concert at
Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida
Pop singer Kelly Clarkson is set to perform at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida on December 1, 2007.
Clarkson’s tour started on October 10, 2007 and will run until the end of the year. Following the performance in Nashville, Kelly is also scheduled to start touring with country singer Reba McEntire for the “2 Worlds 2 Voices” tour which is set to kick off on January 17, 2007 in Dayton, Ohio.
The popular pop singer is known for her hit single “Since You Been Gone”.
The first season American Idol winner is also scheduled to tour Australia and the United Kingdom in March 2008.
Sheila E Talks “The Next Great American Band”
….The next question was about Denver And The Mile-High Orchestra, a band obviously beloved by people who have nothing good to do on Friday nights. Why have they made it so far? Wouldn’t she rather see Franklin Bridge kept and them send home?
Well, Sheila E loves them because they’re fun to watch and because they’ve had to make such a big stretch to play on the show. “It’s challenging to take these rock and roll songs that they have to pick from, and make them their own,” she said, especially with such a sizable horn section. She thinks they could win it all, and are almost certain to make the top three alongside Sixwire and the Clark Brothers.
Of course, Sheila admits that she also just likes big band music. Too often, she thinks, anything that isn’t rock or hip-hop gets relegated to “public service, cable access, or documentaries.” She wants kids who play wind instruments to see a successful big band playing on national TV.
Another complicated topic that came up was the WGA strike. Sheila is very sympathetic to the strikers, she said, because they’re getting screwed in the same way that musicians get screwed by record labels. But Sheila is relentlessly upbeat, and there is a silver lining, which is that “Next Great American Band” is getting some extra attention. It can’t be that much, given the ratings, but every little bit counts…..
Dream comes true for Idol runner-up
…I’m not a big fan of television at all, but it’s an amazing way of communicating with people. I tell people that all I was put on this Earth to do is communicate my art to people, and what better way to do that (than) on American Idol.”
Lewis will make TV appearances throughout December, including on MTV’s TRL and Fuse, as well as visiting major-market radio shows. The label is planning an equally heavy Internet advertising blitz along with special editions of the album for iTunes and Wal-Mart….
Dolly Parton Declines to be American Idol Judge While Season 5’s Mandisa Tops Album Charts
Dolly Parton and American Idol fans are disappointed to hear that the country singer popularly known for her bumpers–err, “Jolene” hit back in the 1974 has declined an offer to become a judge on the reality singing competition.
The now 61-year-old Dolly Parton, who was born and raised in Sevierville, Tennessee, started performing at a young age and later on went to record various albums under different record labels. Some of her hits never made it into the Billboard Top 100, but her single “Jolene,” which was produced by Bon Ferguson, became a hit when it was released in 1974.
For its upcoming season, American Idol planned to produce an episode which was entirely devoted to the legendary country singer. FOX had invited her along to be a judge for the episode, however, she turned down the offer because she believed she was too nice to critique some wannabes from America’s most popular singing competition….
Double trouble
R. Kelly, Bucky Covington, Billy Joel
….Bucky Covington
American Idol has steadily seeped into the American consciousness over the last decade, and now you can read alarmist stories by music critics bemoaning the reality-TV program being a benchmark for pop music. Perish the thought — but if the show weren’t turning out so many fresh-faced vocalists, the music industry would probably be even further in the red than it already is. Covington, one of the show’s country-leaning contestants, dropped his debut album in April….
COAST CASINOS DECK THE HALLS
Holiday specials are everywhere
….Former American Idol Kimberly Caldwell comes to Biloxi to star with Eugene Eash in an original holiday revue “Merry Christmas… Baby” Dec. 7 and 8 at IP Casino Resort. Entertainment Manager Tessa Rogers said the family show will be staged in the newly remodeled IP Showroom, which seats about 850…..
New music | Due in stores Tuesday
…. Blake Lewis, Audio Daydream (Arista). American Idol finalist tries to prove he can do more than beat-boxing….
Related Posts
Good Morning, Lisa. Oh no! An entire episode devoted to Dolly Parton??! Say it isn’t so!
All Access shows that Jordin’s next single will be “No Air” and released to radio February 12, 2008.
As always, it’s a little late with the 2nd single so we’ll see how it goes.
Awwww…go Bucky.
I’d go into more detail but I’m still in shock over no group sings. What exactly is the format of Hollywood week this year?
Cohen liked Jordin’s album, hmm? That’s interesting. I guess it’s exactly what everyone thought she’d put out…but strangely, she still doesn’t have enough of a musical identity. Well, maybe the album will “have legs,” so to speak. I doubt it, but there’s always a chance.
I wish I could go see Kelly in Clearwater. Damn exams!
MJ, How do the links to Amazon work? If I click on any of the albums here, but search for and purchase something else at Amazon, do you still get credit or does it have to be one of your displayed items? Thanks.
Karen, good question.. I wanted to ask the same thing!
You can buy something else, if you click through to the item from the same session. :). Thanks.
Goodmorning off my brief vacation from cite…
I feel bad about Jordan taking a hit with her sales because she is quite young. I think Joradn is ok and waiting more for Blake cd to come out. I am quite picky will by a cd I like based on music not personaliy..
Personal note— State I did not like Elliotts “movin on” song Do not know why either maybe the way it sounds,just one song. Why he is like the golden one here no what people say..I do not go gaga over any celeberty or how perfect they are .Taylors cd was just ok three songs put me to sleep. I do understand people enjoying thier music . I know thier nice but having some fan cites I wonder if thier actually human.
Mj- this is a good blog and would never run one at all to much hasssel and sorry about the sidebar thing ..
Oops. Hope it was okay to post that Movin On vid. I thought it was kinda funny with the dancing gecko (Josh Hoge). It’s not everyday that you see a dancin gecko - at least I hope not! :)
” Why he is like the golden one here no what people say.”
I don’t understand, what do you mean by this?
Golden one? Elliott has his hard core fans (I’m one) and is probably generally liked as a person but not everyone likes him or his music. Who cares anyway? Just because I like an artist doesn’t mean anyone else is required to. However, sometimes if I don’t “get” an artist, their success can be confusing to me. I can see where people who weren’t fans of Elliott or his style of music would be surprised at his success since the show. Hey, I’m still surprised that Kellie Pickler has done so well.
Last time I looked, nobody here got a pass on criticism or snark.
I know it’s early but this is from HDD today:
“This week, in the latest issue of HITS magazine, world -famous Grammy prognosticator Paul Grein lists his locks and contenders for the noms. Grein feels that Kanye West, Amy Winehouse and Daughtry are shoo-ins for the Album of the Year category. He gives a high-probability nod to Bruce Springsteen in the fourth slot and lists a wide-open field battling for the last position. I, on the other hand, have West, Winehouse and Springsteen as locks and see a battle for the fourth and fifth slots among Taylor Swift, Feist, Sugarland, Maroon 5 and Paul McCartney, with the aforementioned Daughtry as a wildcard.”
He goes on to predict Amy Winehouse, Bruce and Taylor Swift as the big winners. I think nominations come out late next week.
Anyone know how many copies of “Audio Day Dream” have shipped?
Good question. Usually HDD has upcoming idols on the Viberater (?) and they indicate the shipment. Jordin is currently #2, Elliott #12 (been there for months) but Blake isn’t included. But HDD also mentions the shipment when they predict sales.
Bucky is going to be here in Kansas City tonight performing at a bar/club. I am so sad as I can’t find ANYONE who will go with me to see him. It is in a not so safe part of town, so I probably will be too chicken to go see him by myself!
I have Bon Jovi tickets for April, so will get to see Daughtry.
I have seen Taylor 3 times and can’t wait till he tours again.
I loved all of the top 5 Season 5 guys and would go see any of them if possible - also would go to see Pickler, Phil, Blake and Melinda.
I will be trying to get tickets to Kelly Clarkson/Reba McIntire which go on sale in a week for Feb.
I will probably be looking for a second job to support my concert addiction but I am sure having fun!!!
Bucky is only $15 - wish I could bribe someone but I tried at work with no luck!!!
ETA - I watched Pickler on tape on Regis and Kelly and she was GREAT - cute as a button and much more comfortable up on stage - her voice has improved too - I think she is going to be very successful. Good for her!!!
MJ in case your peeking in, you have mail finally!
Simon, Randy and Paula were all interviewed on Extra (I think). Terry’s show. Anyway, they all agreed that this will be the strongest top 12 they have ever had. Simon said he’s never said that before. Paula said there will be a few as strong as Kelly and Carrie.
I hope they’re right!
Well that’s certainly good news. But talk is cheap, of course so I won’t get my hopes up just yet.
Also, why are they saying that this year’s top TWELVE is the best? Don’t they mean TWENTY-FOUR? Or maybe the chosen ones have been designated already.
Another interesting thing. I wonder what the criteria is for getting on their Vibe-raters list. Elliott has been on it since before his album debuted (peaking at #3 or #2…I can’t remember). Jordin’s inching her way up to the top and Blake hasn’t made an appearance at all.
They all say some version of the same thing every single year. I’m shocked that Simon said he’s never said that before. Shocked!
Can’t tell ya that, but if you’re interested, here’s his upcoming TV appearances as reported at Team Plaid.
Grammy Predictions Part 2 from HDD. These are the predictions for Best New Artist from Paul Grein (who I guess is the expert here):
“Winehouse and Daughtry are also the front-runners for Best New Artist. Five acts—Feist, Plain White T’s, Sean Kingston, Colbie Caillat and Taylor Swift—will duke it out for the remaining three spots. Miley Cyrus and Elliot Yamin have an outside shot.”
I think Daughtry is a lock and just seeing Elliott’s name mentioned here is a thrill.
Tony said:
Also, why are they saying that this year’s top TWELVE is the best? Don’t they mean TWENTY-FOUR?
Maybe they mean that the top 24 are so good, that the top 12 have to be the strongest top 12 ever?
You;ve come a long way baby! Go Elliott!!!
Here’s the link to the HDD Grammy Predictions column. Lots of interesting stuff:
http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/newsPage.cgi?news06899m01
This time last year, I boldly predicted that Elliott might be up for a Grammy. Hopefully he’ll snag a nod or two.
I doubt they’d mention Blake’s potential sales yet since his album won’t be released until Tuesday.
I’d love for Daughtry to be nominated for an Grammy. It would be nice for Elliott also.
Someone at HDD has it in for Chris. Click on my link to the Grammy column and check out the pictures illustrating the article. Wait until you see the one they have for Daughtry.
Oh my!
Here are some Idol related boxscores from the latest report (I’ve seen 38 2007 Tour concerts reporting…30 in the original set and then two sets of 4)
Kelly Clarkson
Massey Hall
Toronto, Ontario
Oct. 30, 2007
$62,837
2,567 / 2,567
1 / 1 (sold out)
$50.08, $41.21
Live Nation
American Idols Live
Arena at Gwinnett Center
Duluth, Ga.
Sept. 12, 2007
$441,785
7,405 / 9,238
1 / 0 (80% capacity)
$72.50, $39.50
AEG Live
American Idols Live
Big Sandy Superstore Arena
Huntington, W. Va.
Sept. 15, 2007
$332,478
5,300 / 6,528
1 / 0 (81% capacity)
$65, $48.50
AEG Live
American Idols Live
Hampton Coliseum
Hampton, Va.
Sept. 18, 2007
$367,237
5,949 / 7,942
1 / 0 (74% capacity)
$72.50, $39.50
AEG Live
American Idols Live
John Paul Jones Arena
Charlottesville, Va.
Sept. 16, 2007
$327,095
5,386 / 6,388
1 / 0 (84% capacity)
$70, $39.50
AEG Live
I don’t know who that is.
Me either Tony!!! :)
Saw the big list of Blake appearances and noticed the one for tonight isn’t listed. He will be on TMZ on FOX at 11 central getting a tattoo on his back.
DCD!!!!! Hello! Where ya been?
Tonight he did a show in Nashville with a radio station. Star attended. :) The list I provided was cut and pasted. Don’t know about the TMZ thing. I’m out of town and can’t keep up.
Hope you’re doing well, DCD!!!!
Hey PJ! Yeah, I kind of keep up with TMZ and I didn’t see anything about that.
Maybe TMZ:TV and TMZ: The Gossip-Mongering Website report slightly different stories. I don’t know though - I don’t keep up with either. I imagine the TV format gives them the option of compiling different feature stories. Anyways, that’s beside the point. TMZ TV has a preview clip on their website, but I’ve capped it in case they take it off once the show airs:
http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/5410/screenshot3zm4.png
Whatever did we do in the days without Youtube? A video of the feature has already been posted. It looks like he’s getting part of a tattoo removed in order to have one done by Kim from L.A. Ink:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ic7X8LKADsg
My work friend and I look at TMZ at lunch time for laughs. It was an incredibly busy week this week and we didn’t get to do that. Wow - the things you miss!