Idol worship, sans America
In the interest of journalistic integrity, I must disclose at the outset of this review of “American Idols Live!” that I voted for David Archuleta.
In fact, I voted many times for runner-up Archuleta, right up to the end (there were 97 million votes). And I stood my ground in a roomful of David Cook followers on the night of that hard-fought finale.
Since then, I have come to accept Cook as my personal Idol. And as the divided voting blocs David vs. David came together Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center, it seemed that little bitterness remained (though some diehards were heard announcing their allegiance to Archie while waiting in lines for Rebel dogs and $35 T-shirts).
‘Idol’ finalists return to Southern California
A few hours before the Top 10 singers on this year’s “American Idol” hit the stage at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Monday, the freshly minted stars – not long removed from high school, tending bar, baby-sitting and the like – talked about how wonderful life is now that the Fox series is finished and the tour is begun.
It’s great to see the fans – this is for them, many said.
It’s amazing to be doing what we always dreamed we’d do, others added.
But leave to Jason Castro, still sweetly naïve and dreadlocked, to offer up his wide-eyed truth.
“This is the best summer job I’ve ever had,” Castro said when asked how he’s enjoying the tour which reached its fifth stop in Los Angeles on Monday.
Jesse McCartney and Jordin Sparks To Co-Headline Tour In August
Popstars Jesse McCartney and Jordin Sparks will team up to co-headline a tour this August.
McCartney will be promoting his latest album “Departure.” The album’s first single “Leavin” peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The multi-talented 21-year-old has written and co-written songs for Leona Lewis and Vanessa Hudgens.
Sparks, 18, will likely perform hits off her self-titled debut album, Jordin Sparks.
Sparks became the youngest winner of Fox’s “American Idol” when she won at age 17 last May. The pop and R&B singer has since achieved success with hits like “Tattoo” and “No Air.”
Reluctant Competitor Now Tops Idols Bill
When David Cook found out he had passed his initial audition for “American Idol” and would advance to have a chance to compete on the hit television series, he felt something besides happiness and anticipation.
Cook felt uncomfortable about the situation.
The reason was, he didn’t plan to audition in the first place. Cook came to the audition in Omaha to provide moral support for his brother, Andrew, who was trying out for the show. Cook only auditioned after he was prodded into doing so by his brother and his mother (who also came to the audition).
“Idol” moments with winner David Cook
First he handily beat out legions of other hopefuls for the “American Idol” crown. Now the champ of TV’s top-rated sing-a-thon is on tour with the top 2008 “Idol” contenders, which began last Tuesday in Arizona, and comes to Tacoma on Saturday.
The 25-year old Tulsa musician David Cook — he of the soaring voice, mercurial hair and indie attitude — might be the first rocker champ to please “Idol” fans and critics alike.
By phone from a limo in L.A., a busy but open and amiable Cook seemed eager to talk about matters musical and creative, revealing passions for grunge rock, books by a hot Vancouver, Wash., novelist, and a Broadway role he’s dying to play.
Ex-”Idols” Young and Lewis take indie route
Arguably the biggest asset that “American Idol” grants is exposure. Contestants go from unknown hopefuls to household names in a matter of weeks, and with that comes pressure to remain in the spotlight by rushing to release an album after the show airs.
But for every Chris Daughtry there are several LaToya Londons and Paris Bennetts, whose quick-turnaround post-”Idol” album debuts slip quietly under the radar.
This summer finds two more former contestants, Season 5’s Ace Young and Season 3’s Jon Peter Lewis, ready to step out with new releases. To their benefit or detriment, it has been a couple of years or more since their time on the show, and both opted to go the independent, rather than the major-label, route.
CDs, DVDs, video games in stores today
Various artists, Country Sings Disney (Lyric Street) – Billy Ray Cyrus, Bucky Covington, Tim McGraw and Trisha Yearwood, among others, tackle the timeless tunes from the Walt Disney songbook.
Bo Bice: Life after American Idol
Musician Bo Bice talks about his life after American Idol during a recent show in Jacksonville Beach. Amanda Warford.
Pop Tarts: Katharine McPhee Opens Up About Weight Issues
It is hard to imagine that Katharine McPhee was ever an outcast, but it turns out that the stunning “American Idol” runner-up (who admittedly battled from eating disorders growing up) had to overcome a few social issues to become the woman she is today.
“I struggled with weight in high school — there were definitely times when I didn’t want to hang out with the cool kids,” McPhee told Pop Tarts while promoting the upcoming flick “Bunny House,” in which she plays a pregnant, not-so-trendy college kid.
Radio Broadway: The Radio Hits of 1958
Imitation, they say, is the sincerest form of flattery. If this is so, Barbara and Scott Siegel must really be feeling the love right now. Taking a cue from their popular Broadway by the Year series, Radio Broadway (a new group comprised of Raymond Jaramillo McLeod, Deborah Kym and David Weitzer) presented The Radio Hits of 1958 on Monday night at Town Hall. Rather than focus on the Broadway hits of any given year, this concert offered popular radio hits, showing the wide range of musical styles from half-a-century ago.
McLeod himself got to show off his vocal chops with two homages to The Big Bopper: “Purple People Eater” and “Chantilly Lace.” Max von Essen sang “Summertime Blues” and did a brilliant Buddy Holly imitation with both “Peggy Sue” and “That’ll be the Day.”Lawrence Clayton got to rip into “Rockin’ Robin,” “Since I Don’t Have You” and “Johnny B. Goode,” conjuring Chuck Berry with his charisma and energy. Jennifer Hope Wills, currently starring in Phantom, sang a lovely, torchy “To Know Him is to Love Him” and a wonderfully hot “Fever.” She also dueted with “Special Guest Star” Constantine Maroulis on “Devoted to You.” Maroulis had two solos which would probably have been better served by Max von Essen: “Uh-Oh, I’m Falling in Love Again” and “Do You Wanna Dance,” which let the company dancers show their skills quite nicely.
Simon Cowell in ‘talentless’ Wales X Factor rant
Simon Cowell and his fellow X Factor judge Louis Walsh sparked outrage last night after branding the Welsh talentless.
The pop moguls savaged the Principality after visiting for auditions.
Simon, 48, sneered: “Talent was in the minority in Wales. There were about two good girls but we saw a lot of people who were really bad.”
Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole Targeted By ‘Crazed’ Fan
Security around SIMON COWELL’s British TV contest THE X FACTOR is on high-alert after a crazed fan tried to attack judge and GIRLS ALOUD star CHERYL COLE.
Cowell and Cole were leaving a hotel in Glasgow, Scotland after filming scenes for the televised talent show this month (Jul08) when they were approached by an unidentified man.
Cole was posing for photographers when the lone man lunged through the crowd and grabbed her. The 25-year-old singer was saved by her assistant.
The Osbournes’ Variety show headed to Fox
The Osbournes are back in the smallscreen saddle once again.
The colorful family, headed by rocker and patriarch Ozzy Osbourne will be joined by his savvy business-minded manager wife, Sharon, a reality TV star in her own right, and their participating children Jack and Kelly. Their older daughter Aimee will bow out, as she did for the initial hit MTV reality series, “The Osbournes.”
Fox network will work with FremantleMedia North America (“American Idol”).
TVWeek.com previously reported that the project had attracted strong interest from all four major networks. Fox will premiere the series in late winter or spring 2009 and could be paired with “American Idol,” according to TVWeek reporter Joe Adalian.
So far the title is “The Osbournes: Loud and Dangerous” unless a change is made by air date.
Adalian reports that James Sunderland will executive produce.
This show will emulate European variety shows which combine elements of competition, stunts and performance.
Canadian Idol: The top 16 perform, Part I
We’re this close to our top 10 of 2008 folks. How do the first group of eight do? Let’s find out! First though, we get the judges thoughts on things so far. Zack reminds the top 16 they have to prove to Canada that not only do they belong in the top 10, but that they could potentially win “this thing.” Farley reminds the competitors those who are excelling are doing so because of song selection. Sass tells the competitors its important to take the advice that resonates the most to them. Finally, Jake tells them it’s about reaction and connection with the audience.
Canadian Idol Recap - Monday Night
With sixteen singers left, the first group of 8 perform on tonight’s show as the fight for the top 10 heats up.
Ben opens the show and asks the judges what the singers need to do to make it to the top ten. “They should demonstrate that they belong in the top 10 and that they can win the show,” says Zack. “A top ten performance elicits a response that makes people want to go and vote for you. That’s it. Reaction,” says Jake.
‘Nashville Star’: Double trouble
To switch things up, and accelerate the show’s timetable, tonight’s episode of Nashville Star features the first double elimination show. Also, Shawn Mayer is my new hero.
In the first four minutes, it was between Melissa Lawson and Tommy Stanley and Tommy got sent home. While I understand why he may not have gotten the votes, I thought he had one of the best voices on the show. Jewel congratulated Tommy on remaining true to himself during the competition and not pandering (for the most part - last week was weird which delivers an important message for the kids: you don’t have to listen to producers and/or directors - they don’t always know what they’re talking about).
Related Posts
From Idol Chatter by Ken Barnes
Season 7’s best performances
Before the past season gets too hopelessly lost in our memories, I wanted to set down in pixels the most memorable performances (as in best) from my standpoint. That standpoint, of course, will differ from a lot of yours (although not substantially — I think practically everything on this list was well-liked by most of you as well) and the broader rankings of whatnottosing.com, which served as a fabulous memory refresher.
Drawn from all the performances in the semifinals as well as the finals, my list originally totaled just 14, which kind of surprised me, but double-checking, those were the performances that stood out in a positive way for me. I reduced it to a top 10 for convenience, but I’ll list the runners-up below it. In order, 10-to-1, here are my Season 7 keepers:
Dear Mr. Barnes,
Pffffttttt…not even close.
t2
Wow, that Seattle interview is, imo, the very best one ever. Pure gold in there. Much info to mine. What an interesting, cool, nice guy he is. ::pink puffy heart:: Reads a lot of poetry! Tried to get duets into the tour! Wants to do under-the-radar accoustic. (Maybe small clubs?) Would love to play the Phantom. And much much more in that interview. Wonderful stuff. Thank you!!
New Syesha blog
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Show 5
Current mood: accomplished
Tonight was amazing! I had family in the audience and a lot of the Idol Crew from Season 7 was there. The only bad part about the night was that I didn’t have enough time during the signing outside to reach everyone. Sorry guys. I love you and feel horrible for that. They made us leave and get on the bus. The schedule is really tight. Sorry! Hopefully I’ll see ya’ll in another city. I love you!
Oh, I got my dress back….We made a few changes and thank GOd it worked, but it took a lot of preparation. It’s all good though! TOday was sooo much fun and the meet and greets were long. SO, that’s why it took some of us longer to get outside to fans. We love you guys and hate when we can’t meet everyone.
I felt so good on my last song. It’s my favorite. I’ve been trying to sing it since the show for season seven started.Yay! I have my chance now. So, I’ll keep singing from the heart. Hopefully many will enjoy and be inspired or changed!
I love you all!
Syesha’s Thoughts:
Sleep does the body good!
Love is the greatest gift you can give. So, love one another!
Practice patience
Keep Smiling!
This: I have come to accept Cook as my personal Idol. was hilarious. (LV Sun)
The Seattle interview was one of the best so far. There’s also an Orange County interview out there (sorry, don’t have the url for it) where the Davids state that they didn’t have much choice as to what songs to include for the tour. (David A. basically says that he was grateful to get to include Angels, and David C. indicates that he got to pick one song, which was My Hero.)
My favorite part of the Las Vegas Sun review was the caricature with it. It has Cookie with Happy Together hair, Little Sparrow stubble, kind-of-ABMB attire, the electric guitar that was not used for any of those performances, and the elf boots. It has Archie in Michael Johns’ cravat.
The Seattle Interview is possibly the best one he’s done since the show ended. LOVED IT! He reads Chuck Palahniuk? Seriously, My favorite author? That’s so awesome. And poetry too? SQUEEEEEE!
Alot of interesting info, and from what he says about the album, it sounds like he has plenty of say and creative control. I really really hope he sounds exactly the same when the process is over and the finished product is out. I don’t want the suits to ruin Cookie’s vision, I want him to get to make the album he dreams about. It sounds like that just might be the album I dream about too.
Also, this?
OK, seriously, is he for real? GUH!
/Sorry about the excessive fangirliness, but I really can’t be blamed for it. Blame David.
Here’s an interview with My Fox LA from yesterday. Funny comment from Michael Johns about Jason walking around the tour bus in his underwear. LOL.
I agree with Ken Barnes that Jason’s “Halluejah” was the standout song of the season. Not sure about the rest of his list. .
LOL, MJ giving that big ole wink when he said he didnt’ mind that Jason walked around the bus in his underwear. Jason doesn’t have a care in the world, does he?
Being the Cooktard/Cookie/WordNerd that I am, I would absolutely have to agree with his #1. Every Idol season has had it’s goosebump moments, and Jason was my first for Season 7 - with his “Hallelujah” performance. That was rapidly followed, for me, by “Billie Jean”. At any rate, I would have to agree with his top two. Chikezie’s “She’s a Woman” was way, way, way underrated.
Bottom line, this entire season raised the bar. Simply having a good voice isn’t going to cut it anymore.
ROTF @ Michael Johns and his wink!
I didn’t agree with Ken Barnes at all.
I don’t know where to put this - but oh my - look what I found. I decided to check out MJs first blog - trying to get a history of things around here. Look at her very first paragraph from November 13, 2005.
Is this Carly that Simon is talking about?? MJ was your very first blog about Carly?
TV Guide
For starters, their tour performances represent their respective hot and cool approaches. Cook claims the audience response so far to Archie is already a tough act to follow. He told TVGuide.com, “It’s always fun to go stand in the back and listen to the audience when he first comes out. Crowds have been really noisy for Archie. It’s been really intimidating!” Archie maintains, however, that his performance is “laid back” versus Cook’s, which is “really exciting and full of energy.”
^ I love the Davids lovefest. LOL
Another one from Richard Rushfield:
Idol Tracker: The tour comes to the Staples Center
A few very long months ago, these nine singers shared hotel rooms on the other side of downtown with a couple hundred other aspiring superstars summoned for the semifinal round of “American Idol” auditions known as Hollywood Week. Half a year later, the 10 who emerged from those masses touched down momentarily in the filled-to-the-rafters Staples Center to entertain an ecstatic audience that greeted the returning champions like gods falling to Earth as the “Idols Live” tour came home to Los Angeles.
LA Times
Thanks for all these links, I’m slowly making my way through them. The Fox LA one was cute. Jason says the bus is his favorite part, well that’s because he can traipse around unencumbered by pants according to Michael, lol. Archie sleep talks and sings, lol, that’s cute. And look at Cookie doing his research on states without tax.
Variety Review
Positive for half, Negative for half. Sorry that I feel the need to squee everytime Jason gets a good review. So SQUEEE!!!
Liked both Davids, Jason, Syesha, Carly and Chikezie. Kind of down on Rami (no surprise), KLC and MJ (sort of surprise). Seemed mostly neutral on Brooke.
Los Angeles Times review
This guy must have really enjoyed the show last night. There doesn’t seem to be a negative comment about any of them to be honest. Really nice.
‘American Idol’ judge Simon Cowell has revealed he wants Hollywood heartthrob Brad Pitt to play him in a film version of his life.”
This is Simon’s BIG news? Oh please….
Can I stop laughing now? Okay…not yet.
Here is a cute little blog
from Archie:
It looks like Jason is going to start posting his date night vids again according the latest bulletin from his MS:
Sorry MJ forgot to include link!
Simon Cowell’s Pitt wish:
http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/article.aspx?id=87350&fm=newsmain,narts
Brad Pitt as Simon Cowell? That’s ROFL time. He sure does have a huge ego, doesn’t he?