Today’s Idol headlines after the jump…
The year that was
They say everyone comes home again. It may be that time — musically speaking, at least. When we talked to Kelly Clarkson in July, in the heat of a well-publicized battle over creative differences with her label, she opened up about her true feelings
for its chief, Clive Davis: “I am not a fan … and, despite the rumors, he is nowhere near a father figure.” (A week later, she apologized on her website.) Her fussed-over album has had mediocre sales, and now Clarkson seems to be switching musical gears to get back to her Southern roots: She hired pal Reba McEntire’s husband to manage her, recorded the country-tinged duet “Because of You” with McEntire and last month announced that the two will go on tour together in January. Hey, the country thing has been working out just fine for Carrie Underwood, right?
Kwanzaa goes multicultural
The Minneapolis Kwanzaa seven-day activity ends with a gala public celebration, which is rapidly gaining the status of a marquee event. This year it is being held in the downtown theater district’s Pantages Theater. The date for the event is December 29 at 7 pm.It is rapidly becoming one of the more widely attended functions of the season. Students from throughout the district are bussed in for the occasion. Tickets are $15.Also participating will be Robyne Robinson, award-winning Fox News anchor, always a favorite at local functions, and the dynamic Paris Bennett, the teenage sensation who captivated the country with her appearance as a finalist on the popular American Idol TV show. Paris will also receive an award, along with several other youth leaders.
Ring in the New Year with a twang
Keith Anderson, Luke Bryan and Bucky Covington will hit the stage at the Tinley Park Convention Center to rock every country fan from the north ‘burbs all the way down to the south side. And the bar’s wide open until midnight. So you can get your fill of free beer, wine, bubbly and mixed drinks all night long. The casino room will be open, too, if you want to place your bets on the perfect 2008. And if you think you’re the next big star, check out the Karaoke Lounge while you’re there.
Only 2 million watch as the Clark Brothers win Fox’s Next Great American Band
FOX’s The Next Great American Band concluded last Friday night, and the Clark Brothers won the show and a recording contract. That group defeated Denver and the Mile High Orchestra and Sixwire.
I learned this from a Fox press release, because like most of America, I didn’t watch the series, an American Idol knock-off that was actually produced by that series’ producers, but which was exiled to Fridays and left to conclude during the holidays.
The season finale placed fourth in its timeslot, according to Zap2it.com, which says it earned a “earned a 1.8/3” rating. That means about 2,030,400 people watched, which means it lost more than 1.5 million viewers from its low-rated premiere. Even worse, that’s fewer than the 2.5 million who watched the pathetic end of On the Lot.
Road From Eloise a Golden One for The Clark Brothers
Three men who grew up spending part of their lives in Eloise have been picked as “The Next Great American Band” - now they have to figure out what to do next. “We’re still kind of brainstorming,” said Ashley Clark, who with brothers Adam and Austin formed a band, The Clark Brothers.“We’ll just see what the next step is,” he said.Clark said the three brothers will begin working on an album shortly after the first of the year, but he doesn’t yet know whether the album will be recorded in Nashville, where they brothers now live, or in California.The Ledger
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Ouch on the NGAB final numbers! I don’t expect to see this again, despite its high entertainment factor. What a shame. :(
Ouch to the numbers for NGAB. I don’t think they’ll try that show again. I saw a repeat of Oprah with Carrie on over the holidays. One of the Clark Brothers was in her band. I like the Clark Bros. but did we need an entire competition to give someone in Carrie’s band a record contract. Couldn’t she have just recommended them to 19E/M. Talk about ridiculous. Or maybe I just don’t get the whole point of these shows anymore.
I totally agree. Did we? No - and it makes the show a complete joke, imo.
Tried watching NGAB, but frankly got a bit bored with the format (did like the judges more than AI’s annoying trio). frankly, my friday nights have been busy listening to my own next great American band, my sons and his friends who practice in our basement nearly every friday evening. You have not lived until you hear four fifteen yr olds with electric guitars and a drum set rocking out to “all along the watchtower”.
I caught the finale and loved it! I wish I could see the whole season. Caffiend graciously told us that MSN had the whole episodes but I could only get the finale and other assorted clips. I haven’t played around on it too long though.
I think the show was good for the Clark Brothers because I wouldn’t have “gotten” them had I not watched their intensity. That isn’t my type of music but they made it my type. I’m sure there are others like me.
I’m trying to get excited about the new season of Idol but last season left me cold. Honestly, alot of it has to do with the bad press Taylor received. It made it not so fun to root for anyone. What fun is it when you know the winner is going to have to be held to a standard and not just enjoy what they are doing?
Hey..is Ruben S. “being dropped by J.Records”, old news ? I’ve been way out of the loop, lately.
Yes he is. :(
Taylor’s seasonal valet uniform (and what happens if you tip him well).
How Santa’s Elves unwind after a hectic holiday season.
The face expressions on the elves! HEE!
I love it db!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not possible, the dance moves are too fluid.
Unless Hicks took dance lessons with the tip money too.
Brilliant DB!
Though, why is that elf on the left so SERIOUS? He needs to work off that flab too. Those moobs are getting a little serious themselves.
Beautiful, DB! I’m embarrassed to ask, however, who is the elf next to Sanjaya? I can’t tell without hair.
I think Sixwire should have won because of their original music. Everything from the Clark brothers began to sound like very, very intense blue grass to me.
However
I have no problems with the Clark Brothers winning. Yeah, one of the guys in the band worked for Carrie, but that was a job for a very talented musician. The whole band was a different story. Also, some people just like to make on their own. Hopefully, given their experience with the dark side of the music business, they will know how to handle the evil that is 19A-Z.
Me either! Is it Blake?????
That’s what I thought, Lu. But I’m not sure.
MJ - I like your idol store!!! I’m going to download Jordin’s cd for may daughter’s new ipod. I’m using your itunes link!
Leslie Hunt, sultry vocals, return
…Hunt, who’s back in Chicago to play the scene and release another full-length album early next year, has picked up her songstress roots right where she left them pre-TV.
That said, it’s wrong to let Hunt’s “Idol” experience override her personal industry accomplishments. Yes, she auditioned for Randy, Paula and Simon. Yes, she was on TV. Yes, she sang an array of nationally heard songs: “Feeling Good” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” And if you watch the show, you know the phone-voting fray handed her the boot back in March. Nine months later, it’s safe to say the words “American Idol” neither define nor wholly promote Hunt’s current motivations, extensions of what she’s already achieved.
“I’ve been doing my own thing long before deciding to audition for such a crazy show…”
Daily Herald
db, love it! The elves, the elves….Daughtry, Constantine(?), Blake, and Sanjaya?
Taylor will be interviewed today on Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 13 (Elvis channel). It will broadcast from Graceland at 2pm CT.
You can a free 3 day trial of SR @ the following link. http://www.sirius.com/siriusinternetradio
Too funny, DB. Thanks for sharing. :)
Purple, thanks for the Leslie Hunt article. I can’t wait to see her. I love Uncommon Ground! She’s played a few times in the burbs, but I’ve never been able to make it. Uncommon Ground I can do. :)
TPTB just HAVE to bring NGAB back and do it justice with a good time slot and better promotion. It is a much better produced and judged show than AI (at least this year).
nm
Numbers have been thin this week, but I have just finished the Billboard Update chart for the week of 01/05/08 if anyone is interested:
Billboard Chart 01/05/08
LaKisha’s ‘Idol’ spotlight spilled onto Flint
…With that in mind, here are the top music stories of the year from this vantage point:
1. Idol-izing: Until Feb. 21, LaKisha Ann Jones was a little known gospel singer from Flint. Then she electrified millions across the country that night with her riveting, no-holds-barred performance of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” on “American Idol.”
She finished fourth on the show, enjoyed rousing homecoming celebrations here and in her adoptive hometown of Houston, was honored by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on the steps of the state Capitol , traveled the country on the “American Idols Live!” tour (including an August stop at The Palace of Auburn Hills) and finished up the year making her Broadway debut on Dec. 19 as the church soloist in “The Color Purple.”
“Idol” mania also brought Chris Daughtry, who had one of the top-selling CDs of the year, and Elliott Yamin to Flnt’s Machine Shop. Up next: She’ll alternate with Chaka Khan in the much bigger role of Sofia beginning Jan. 9 and hopes to record her first CD by late spring or early summer…
The Flint Journal
I avoided the auditions for NGAB, but came in for the Top Ten. It was well produced and I thought the judges were superior to AI friends. It was my son who got me hooked on the show and I loved it! The finale was awesome - and I loved the Clark Brothers. Bring back the show next season!
An interesting summation of the year that was in the popular music scene… :)
The year it all broke
Visionary musicians tried to steer their way through an ailing industry. Others just hit the rocks.
…The decade’s biggest pop juggernaut, “American Idol” lost its Midas touch this year — thankfully — but former “Idol” finalist Chris Daughtry managed to score 2007’s bestselling disc (”Daughtry,” released in 2006). To show you how dreadful CD sales have been in 2007, the bestselling new title of the year, at 3.5 million, is a Christmas album, “Noel,” by Josh (Oprah Loves Me) Groban…
StarTribune.com