Singer Nikko Smith to launch debut album, “Revolution”
Singer Nikko Smith was excited two years ago when he previewed his music for an invitation-only crowd at Dante’s ‘ and for good reason. It sounded like he had a few hits on his hands.
But ever since, Smith has had to answer fans’ questions about when the music would be available.
“I get it all the time, ” he says. “As long as they’re still asking, it means they still want to hear it. If they weren’t asking, I’d be scared.”
Now, the former “American Idol” finalist is about to release “Revolution, ” his long-overdue debut album.
“We just wanted to make sure it was going to be right and different from what people expect, ” Smith says. “People think I should be singing about rainbows and unicorns, though we do have some songs like that.”
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Music sales boom, but albums fizzle for ’08
Americans bought more music in 2008 than ever before, but album sales ‘ the music industry’s main source of revenue ‘ dropped for a fourth year.
According to the Nielsen Co.’s year-end figures, music purchases ‘ CD, vinyl, cassette and digital purchases of entire albums (grouped together as total albums), plus digital track downloads, singles and music videos ‘ attained a new high of 1.5 billion, up 10.5% over 2007.
“Underplay” bookings guarantee full houses
Concert-industry veterans call it the “underplay, ” and there are many reasons a band would rather headline a significantly smaller room than a much larger venue.
It was why Chris Daughtry was playing rock clubs and small theaters on his first national tour in 2007. Daughtry was the fourth-place finalist in the fifth season of “American Idol” in 2006, and with his popularity ‘ and the aid of a massively popular single ‘ he could have easily made the jump from the 500-capacity Bluebird Theater to the three-times-larger Ogden Theatre and still sold it out.
Instead he left countless Denver fans in the dark ‘ and the next time he came through Colorado, he was opening for Bon Jovi at the Pepsi Center.
“We’re definitely using these shows to work on our stage show and hone our craft, ” Daughtry told The Denver Post at the time. “We haven’t had any time to rehearse, really, so it’s been basically rehearsing on the road.”
‘Grease’ has deep, dark Chicago roots
Pop quiz! What high school inspired “Grease, ” the Broadway musical-turned-film-turned-juggernaut about summer lovin’, hot rods and rumbles? Answer: Taft High School in sweet home Chicago.
Truth be told, playwright Jim Jacobs (Taft ’60) flinches at how his do-wop memoir has evolved into a sugary valentine to the 1950s. (“American Idol” winner Taylor Hicks shows up as the Teen Angel in the latest touring production, bopping Jan. 6-18 into the Auditorium Theatre.)
The original romance between the black-jacketed Danny and nice girl Sandy, which bowed at Kingston Mines here in 1971, was darker, edgier and would be “rated R today, ” said Jacobs, 66.
Back then, Danny, Kenickie & Co. cussed up a storm, just like ex-greaser Jacobs and his gang did in high school. He and late collaborator Warren Casey were out “to shock everyone with blue language, ” he admitted.
Dish Of Salt: Top 10 TV Shows Of 2008
#8 ‘ …American Idol ‘ After a disappointing and lackluster group of contestants in Season Six (save for Sanjaya!), Season Seven roared back with a diverse group of singers from dreadlock-loving Jason Castro to hippie chick Brooke White. I didnt even mind the so-called …ringers Carly Smithson and Michael Johns. Even the instruments I feel added a little zing to the show. Who could forget when Brooke had to start her song over because she messed up on the piano! Ultimately, it boiled down to David versus David. Cook and Archuleta are what truly made the show this year and what a fantastic finish it was for Cook at the finale.
What is your New Year’s resolution?
David Archuleta: “I would like to learn more about the music and business that I have gotten into. I would like to get more involved in the writing side of music, and also I’m learning more things about performing and meeting a lot of new people that I can learn from.”
Paula Abdul Planning Talk Show?
Paula Abdul is planning to launch her own daytime TV talk show, according to a new report.
The American Idol judge is said to be in talks with CBS/Paramount Network Television about developing the show, which could hit screens as early as next year.
Paula, 46, is currently renegotiating her current contract with Idol execs and is asking to double her $5 million salary. If bosses don’t meet her demands, she “will put the wheels of her talk show in motion immediately, ” reports the National Enquirer.
Simon Cowell exclusive: X Factor judge is building a £10 million bachelor pad in Barbados
Simon Cowell is building a new £10 million bachelor pad in Barbados – with sexy mirrored walls in the bedrooms.
The newly single X Factor judge has bought ten acres of land close to the exclusive five-star Sandy Lane resort on the luxury island.
The building work will start this month – and Cowell has given architects a strict criteria of what he wants.
And top of his list are the lavish mirror panels for the bedrooms which he hopes to make the centrepiece of the house.
Cowell – who recently split from long-term love Terri Seymour – has told pals the new mansion will be the ultimate singleton’s pad.
One friend said: “No expense will be spared – it will have installed all the latest gizmos and boys toys.
Ballas Hough Band Perform ‹Devastated On ‹Good Things Utah
Mark Ballas and Derek Hough of the Ballas Hough Band visited ‹Good Things Utah on Tuesday (December 30) to promote their performance later that night on the ‹Dancing with the Stars Tour, talking a lot about ‹Dancing with the Stars, as well as the long history of the band. Watch the interview at abc4.com and the band performance of ‹Devastated below the fold.
