I would say that it would be a good idea for Danny to take a year off to deal with his personal stuff, but a year from now he’ll be a non-entity. He needs to strike a deal while he is still riding whatever Idol wave he’s on. If gospel and Christian music is what he knows, and he wants to be inspirational, then that’s where he needs to start. If he’s lucky, and he gets good songs, he might eventually be able to cross over. Maybe by then he’ll have developed some songwriting skills. He does have a good natural voice, but that alone is not going to get him very far without a lot of good nurturing from a label that cares about him.

The way I see it Danny has been extremely lucky to get that far and he himself has said he never thought he would make it that far. So in a sense the Idol journy has been very quick compared to some contestants who are preparing themselves for quite some time before auditioning.

He does have natural talent but it sounds like he never had a lot of support in developing this outside of his church. He does sound like he is a very hard worker holding down two jobs (church music director and driving truck during the day).

Lots of the time, it’s about being in the right place and right time. Maybe this is what is happening for Danny?

I really am surprised that Danny seems to be turning up his nose at signing with a Christian label, considering that is obviously the only type of music with which he is fluent. For him, I really think that it’s all about the money and nothing to do with artistry. He thinks he can ‘learn on the fly,’  which is nuts. The trouble that he had picking songs, admitting that he hardly new any contemporary music (across genres) is so troubling from an artistic standpoint…he so obviously has no idea of the focus and talent and sheer hard work it takes to make it as a successful recording artist.

ITA. He way over-estimates his own abilities and how easy it will be for him to waltz into a studio and get a hit record, and he way under-estimates how hard other people work to achieve something in music.

I hope that Danny takes a year off to grieve privately, and then signs with a small Christian label. He’s so over his head right now, it’s unbelievable.

I don’t know what role his un-dealt-with grief plays in his clueless full-of-himself-ness (they seem separate to me, unless he thinks his suffering means he’s been “chosen” to bring people a message.) But whatever role it plays, or even if it plays none, I agree, he would do well to retreat for a while and deal with his grief more fully than he seems to have done so far. In a private way, I mean.

I doubt many, as that is not what they saw on the show. Quite frankly, other than the reference to being the choir director, I don’t think religion was brought up that much on the show. Am I wrong?

Yes, IMO, this is wrong. But you may be right when it comes to his music buying fans, who knows. I suspect so. As for his show fans (voting fans) though, he had HUGE support from “religious” or “Christian” or “church” or “gospel” fans. Church leaders even used their pulpits and podiums to support him.

I get that his online fans may be different, in large part, and that he has a varied fanbase. But to believe that “not many” fans supported him because of religion or his church leader role is indeed wrong, imo and experience.

This is a new experience for all the idols.
Maybe Danny isn’t as experienced as others, but he is not a phony opportunist in the way that many non Danny fans speak for him. He’s not dumb either, just speaks too quick at times. He’ll learn.
But he is trying to simply get his singing career in the right direction.
He has enough talent and interest in him.
He is not over his head. He just needs to wisely choose the best route for himself.
I think him not doing solely a Christian album is wise for him. He knows in his heart what to do.
He has the ability to do country with the soul element. I believe he would gain many country fans because he has that heart, the main thing behind country music.

And he’s clearing been listening to Adam articulate his (Adam’s) (totally sensical) vision of his forthcoming album. How else to explain Danny’s soul-country-R&B-Latin, head-scratching disaster of an explanation. And he’s been calling Idol a “platform,” just as Adam has. I really think Danny has no idea what is happening.

Really, I think that when the execs meet with Danny in person, it becomes painfully clear what kind of deluded person they’re dealing with. Danny is his own worst PR. And he seems to want to be rich and famous to serve his foundation in the end, which is admirable, I guess, but he so obviously has no idea of the focus and talent and sheer hard work it takes to make it as a successful recording artist.

I hope that Danny takes a year off to grieve privately, and then signs with a small Christian label. He’s so over his head right now, it’s unbelievable.

Personally, I don’t listen to country music, can’t stand it myself. However, there seems to be quite a few people on this site who do.

I don’t listen to any pop40 crap — just country and/or AC, and I know many people like myself that do the same.

I hope it works out for Danny because he’s so polarizing here.
It would be kind of fun if he turned out a good album and was successful. Of course, he’ll have an uphill climb against the mega promo the 19R artists will get.

I’m actually convinved they make very little profit on their albums even if they go platinum. They just need someone from eacg season to do well so they can give the $making TV franchise going.

It’s a little like a pyramid scheme. Exclude Kelly, Carrie and Daughtry though. They actually made $ for their labels.

I doubt many, as that is not what they saw on the show. Quite frankly, other than the reference to being the choir director, I don’t think religion was brought up that much on the show. Am I wrong?

No, IMO, you are not wrong.

Now, he did tend to sing alot of big ballady type songs that are inspirational and could, I suppose, crossover between Christian and manistream music. I think this would appeal more to his fanbase, imo.

ITA.I think that it would appeal more to his fanbase as well.

Forgot to add. He needs to listen to what his sizable fanbase wants and just forget about the haters. The fans are the ones buying his albums.

Maybe Danny should use Twitter to ask his fans what they like to listen to. He needs to listen to his fanbase at this point.

ITA. I think that what his established fanbase wants along with what he wants, and making stuff that a lot of people from a target audience(depending on what type of album he makes) are things that should all be factored into his decision making.

Those of us that are his fans, are the ones that have his back so to speak, and the ones that will help get him off the ground, or at least try to get him off the ground running if/once his album drops. And it’s also up to him and the record company that he signs with, to put out a product that will draw a lot of new fans to him. IMO, his fanbase opinions should definitely be a big part of his decision making.

I don’t think that a lot of people are fans of his because they want him to put out a Christian album or because that is the type of music that they want him to sing the most.

I believe that the vast majority of his fanbase are people that care about him and that love/like his voice. And it’s not because they want him to be a straight up Christian artist.

So I think that Danny will think about his what his the people in fanbase wants, along with other factors, to determine what is the best direction for him to go in.

Word does have ties to the Warner distribution system. They’ve done projects in the past that have been directed at both the mainstream and Christian retail markets. Sony Nashville has a similar relationship with the Provident Music Group in the Christian market. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see one of those companies put together a deal that would involve both marketplaces

I could see that happening and I think that could work out for him.

If Danny signs it will strictly be with a limited Christian music recording deal.

How do you know? There are many other labels outside of Jive, RCA and Arista. Because they passed on him doesn’t necessarily mean that other labels will. For Danny’s sake I would rather see him on a mid-tier label that will take the time to work with him rather than on a larger label that will rush out an album and kick him to the curb afterwards if the sales aren’t up to snuff.

At that point, though, he would be in talks, competing with the other idol finalists. Personally I think that both Anoop and Matt will have a better chance to negotiate with another “major” recording companies. I firmly believe that all of this has been a lot of talk with very little substance.

Word does have ties to the Warner distribution system. They’ve done projects in the past that have been directed at both the mainstream and Christian retail markets. Sony Nashville has a similar relationship with the Provident Music Group in the Christian market. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see one of those companies put together a deal that would involve both marketplaces.

Kind of a weird choice when you think of all the country songs out there but maybe it was one he knew?

Well, I think he said that he had heard the chorus of Jesus Take the Wheel. But isn’t that the one where he had the sheet music when meeting with Randy Travis, and he kept messing up with the lyrics. It was obvious that he didn’t really know the song in that clip.

Although I doubt I’d ever buy any of Danny’s music, I really want all the AI8 to succeed.

Although Nashville is associated with country music, the city has a diverse musical make-up and yes there’s even soul music in Nashville. Just ask Melinda Doolitte. Hey, maybe she could hook him up. He could do ’soul inspirational’ .

Seems to me poor Melinda, whom TPTB totally ignored, needs to save her energy and connections to build her own career! All her amazing talent and skill, and she’s gotten virtually no help.

That’s really my only beef with Gokey (and I know it’s not his fault) — all the buzz around him from the show and major record labels, when they’ve totally written off a bunch of people that I think are every bit as good, if not somewhat better (not just Melinda, but Elliott, George Huff, Kim Locke, and others.) I would have liked all of these to get the same kind of shot Danny seems to be getting, and I think they completely deserve it. I’m really puzzled by how the record execs make their choices. Seems pretty random to me.

I get the feeling too that at least here, it’s not a Christian follower kind of fanbase.

I never thought Danny used his religion as a way to buy Christian votes as some might. He did chose Jesus Take The Wheel for country night and this probably didn’t help. Kind of a weird choice when you think of all the country songs out there but maybe it was one he knew? Anyways in the end it was probably a good choice if he ends up signing with Bright.

I wonder how many are actually following him because they see him as a Christian singer?

I doubt many, as that is not what they saw on the show. Quite frankly, other than the reference to being the choir director, I don’t think religion was brought up that much on the show. Am I wrong?

Now, he did tend to sing alot of big ballady type songs that are inspirational and could, I suppose, crossover between Christian and manistream music. I think this would appeal more to his fanbase, imo.

I wonder how many are actually following him because they see him as a Christian singer?

Danny may see his foundation as a little side project, but it won’t have the kind of reach he seems to want for it with that mount of effort. I’ve seen people dedicate their every waking moment to a foundation and still not be able to make much headway. It isn’t just about putting up a web site and waiting for the fangirls to start throwing money at it.

Ugh, I just responded to this, but it didn’t go through and I lost it.

Anyway, I dont think that Danny sees this as a little side project. I don’t get that sense at all. And while I do feellike Danny has alot on his plate, I also know that he wants to use the foundation to help others. He has spent loads of volunteer time trying to help the very people this organization is set up to benefit. He knows that he can not run the foundation on his own, and has appointed people for that purpose. He has said as much.

Also, I don’t think that Sophia’s Heart Foundation is some kind of fly by night organization that is just getting money thrown at it from “fangirls”, as you say. There have been substantial amounts of money donated from other sources. Danny and his “team” have met with the mayor of Milwaukee about the organization. A professional athlete has donated $200,00 to the foundation. I don’t believe anyone donates that kind of money to a foundation without thoroughly checking it out.

While Danny is dedicated to this foundation, I also think that the family of his late wife, Sophia, are also very dedicated to this as a way of doing good works in her name. I think her family is putting in a lot of time and effort, since Danny simply can not logistically do this right now.

edit: don’t criticize other posters

I don’t think it’s a given though that if Danny goes with Bright he will be pigeon-holed into Christian music. If Bright has had alot of success with Carrie and Rascal Flatts, most likely he will bring that over with him to Word. New guy, new vision.

Danny was very good with What Hurts The Most so I could see him putting out this kind of music. I would listen to this but I do not follow Christian music per se.

I didn’t see anything too obnoxious with what Danny said in this article. I think he’s realistic to say he won’t be writing songs at this point, but you don’t have to be a singer songwriter to be successful.

I don’t want to be signed to a Christian label, because I don’t want to exclude anyone,”  Danny says. ‘I am who I am and I have my beliefs, but I don’t want to exclude anyone.

I just think that Danny means that he doesn’t want to isolate those who may not hold the same religious tenets. I can’t see Danny going country, although he does have somewhat of a Travis Tritt vibe.

As for Word Entertainment’ ¦they smell cash and sure, it’d be no prob for them to have Danny avoid using the terms ‘Jesus’  and ‘Holy Spirit’  and the like. I don’t know, I just have a problem with the whole premise of the religious music arm of the industry, which should be for the sole purpose of spreading the gospel of Christ. The whole lot of them are a bunch of sell-outs. imho

Would like to add that I am a Danny fan who definately prefers he put out a mainstream album. I do not listen to Christian radio. I would much prefer a country album with inspirational songs. If Mark Bright can help him put out an album like that I think his fans would be very happy. The same goes for Sony Nashville

ITA Lizzy.