Today’s Idol headlines after the jump…
Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa host Disney World’s holiday celebration
….This year, the parade features Miley Cyrus, Josh Groban, Patti LaBelle, Jessica Simpson, “American Idol” runner-up Katharine McPhee, the Jonas Brothers, “Dancing With the Stars” couples and the Harlem Gospel Choir.
“I love, love, love Josh Groban,” said Ripa. “I think his voice is just made for Christmas. And the ‘Dancing With the Stars’ people, they put on a heck of a show. And my daughter is very excited about the ‘High School Musical 2′ cast.”….
‘Kennedy Center Honors’ turns 30 with flair
……..Ross: Smokey Robinson and Terrence Howard offer affectionate words. American Idol victor Jordin Sparks sings a Supremes medley. Vanessa Williams, Ciara and Yolanda Adams perform……
TV: Hot and cold in 2007
….8. Hairy-hare. He couldn’t sing, and he didn’t win, but for two months, American Idol’s Sanjaya Malakar, the Seattle-born son of a Hindu elder, proved that a boy with a winsome smile and fabulous hair could captivate America just as thoroughly as any drug-addled sexpot….
Buzzwords 2007
All We Are Saying
….What follows is by no means a complete list of the words that took our attention this year, but rather a sampling from the thousands that endured long enough to find a place in the national conversation. Although many were not first said or written in 2007, they are nonetheless the tattoos, scars and medals that differentiate this year from any other……
….-hawk suffix
Indicates a haircut similar to a mohawk. Sanjaya Malakar, a contestant on “American Idol,” sported what he called a ponyhawk. Shawn Andrews of the Philadelphia Eagles described his haircut as a brohawk, something akin to a short mohawk on a black man. An older use is fauxhawk, in which the hair is styled in a vertical strip but none is cut….
On the Stage: Holiday Fare — The Drowsy Chaperone, West Side Story, Xanadu and The Color Purple
….I know Fantasia has been derided — rightly so — for missing so many performances. But if she can work on her theatrical 8-shows-a-week stamina, there is nothing this woman can’t do in the theatre. Every time I walk into The Broadway, I remember one of my early experiences of being blown away in New York by seeing Patti Lupone in Evita there. Lupone. Merman. Lansbury. After seeing Fantasia fully inhabit Miss Celie, I’d gladly place her in that pantheon even though she’s only essayed this one role. I certainly hope there are more in her future. Believe me, I walked in a cynic. But I walked out a thankful fan. You don’t often get to see a kind of innate greatness blossom in the perfect role. Maybe some day fifty years from now at a Gypsy of the Year contest — the kids from A Color Purple won this year’s competition, by the way — Fantasia can stride out as a 70-year- old diva with a lone pianist and cellist and thrill another generation of theatre lovers with “I’m Here.” I have no doubt she still will be.
Simon Cowell to ’sue iTunes’
SIMON COWELL is considering launching legal proceedings against iTunes after fans were prevented from downloading X-Factor winner LEON JACKSON’s single.
Demand melted the music firm’s servers shortly after When You Believe went on sale at midnight on Saturday.
The problem was only resolved some 15 hours later leading to thousands of punters being unable to get their hands on the ballad.
Last year LEONA LEWIS’ winning single shifted an astonishing 50,000 downloads on its first hour of sale.
The Scottish teen logged just 36,669 sales in three days and record label bosses are furious.
An insider at SonyBMG said: “Everybody here is up in arms……………..
Clark Brothers: The Next Great American Band
….The Franklin County Board of Supervisors and Rocky Mount Town Councile declared December 22, 2007, The Clark Brothers Day in Franklin Co. and Rocky Mount.
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TO SOUL PATROL and INTERESTED PARTIES…
http://www.philstar.com/archives.php?aid=2007122230&type=2
Taylor Hicks on Pinoys, gray hair & Simon Cowell
CULTURE VULTURE By Therese Jamora-Garceau
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, Taylor Hicks has got the feeling he’s not in Kansas anymore. Having flown overseas for the first time to perform a series of concerts at Ayala’s Glorietta, Greenbelt and TriNoma malls, the American Idol is a long way from home (in his case, Birmingham, Alabama), and don’t he know it.
I can tell he’s well out of his comfort zone when I meet him at the Ascott Makati Hotel, where he laid his head for five days. I was expecting the Taylor Hicks I saw on American Idol — the exceptionally warm, friendly, down-to-earth Southerner who recruited millions into his Soul Patrol — not just because he could sing so well but also because he was so dang endearing.
The Taylor Hicks I shake hands with doesn’t smile immediately. He seems wary, guarded, and not quite warmed up yet for the first interview of the day.
But a similar scenario played out at his Glorietta 4 concert the night before. About a thousand fans turned out to watch him sing songs like Just to Feel that Way and The Maze from his Idol-produced album, “Taylor Hicks.”
When Hicks emerged, looking much leaner than his Idol days but still sporting the same George Clooney-esque salt-and-pepper hair, he was moving around and singing well, but where was the frenzied, quirky dancing? Where was the harmonica playing?
Backed by all-Filipino musicians culled from Louie Ocampo’s band (Ayala reps say Hicks was extremely impressed and happy with his Pinoy backup, with whom he bonded tightly), by the time the 30- to 50-something Makati crowd had started to clap and sing along, Hicks had warmed to them as well. After a show-stopping rendition of Taking it to the Streets, Hicks ended the set by finally whipping out his harmonica and letting ’er rip. Do I Make You Proud hit the right “senti” note with Pinoys, and during the danceable Heaven Knows, Hicks started twirling his arms frenetically, shouted, “Soul Patrol!” and did his trademark Ray Charles side bend with matching “Whoo!”
Now, that’s the Taylor Hicks we know and love.
CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE REST ( Taylor’s Detailed One-on-One Interview follows. It looks like he’s planning to take his car parking franchise internationally… )
Talented songwriter, arranger, instrumentalist and singer. Outstanding stage presence and personal charisma. Glad to see that he was well received in Asia. ?Good for Taylor!
Happy Holidays to MJ and all who contribute to the blog! :) Take care.
Happy Holidays everyone!!!!!! See you after Christmas!