The names may change, but there always seems to be at least a handful of former American Idol contestants on the radio charts. Case in point -- as of this morning, a whopping EIGHT former Idols have a song on one of the charts.
Season 6 champ Jordin Sparks is leading the way, with three songs ("Tatoo," "One Step at a Time," and "No Air") appearing on five different charts. Carrie Underwood has a #2 Country hit in "Last Name," while Season 7 winner David Cook has taken his debut single "Time of My Life" onto the Pop, Hot AC and AC charts. Other Idols with successful current singles include Kimberley Locke, Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson, Josh Gracin and Chris Daughtry.
Here is a summary of how the Idols are currently faring:
Pop
#10 Jordin Sparks "No Air"
#41 David Cook "Time of My Life"
#48 Jordin Sparks "One Step at a Time"
Hot AC
#2 Daughtry "Feels Like Tonight"
#12 Jordin Sparks "No Air"
#20 David Cook "Time of My Life"
Mainstream AC
#7 Jordin Sparks "Tattoo"
#10 Daughtry "Feels Like Tonight"
#12 David Cook "Time of My Life"
#17 Kimberley Locke "Fall"
#18 Jordin Sparks "No Air"
#28 Clay Aiken "On My Way Here"
Country
#2 Carrie Underwood "Last Name"
#18 Josh Gracin "We Weren't Crazy"
Urban AC
#27 Jennifer Hudson "Spotlight"
#28 Jordin Sparks "No Air"
Urban
#20 Jordin Sparks "No Air"
Source: Mediabase
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Eight Former American Idol Contestants on Radio Charts -- Jordin Sparks Appears on Five!
Friday, February 15, 2008
Idol Notes: Taylor Hicks Plays B-Ball, Kimberley Locke on Don't Forget and Jordin Sparks On Tour With Alicia Keys
Here's a bit of an update on what some former Idol contestants are up to:
-Season 5 winner Taylor Hicks will participate in the All-Star/Celebrity Basketball game , which is taking place tonight. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
-Season 2 third place finisher Kimberley Locke will appear on a special celebrity version of Don't Forget the Lyrics. Locke, who will be competing for charity, will be on the show on a TBD date in March.
-Finally, Season 5 champ Jordin Sparks will go on tour with multi-platinum Grammy winner Alicia Keys. This will surely provide Jordin with exposure to a new audience.
AMERICAN IDOL
BIG BROTHER
DANCING WITH THE STARS
SURVIVOR
PROJECT RUNWAY / TOP MODEL
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
IDOL MADNESS Abdul Bracket Results
The results are in from the Abdul Bracket of IDOL MADNESS!
View the results of the Cowell and Seacrest Brackets and vote in the Jackson Bracket Here
There was only one upset in the Abdul bracket, with #9 Ace Young soundly defeating #8Phil Stacey. Ace will next go up against #1 Fantasia, who was less than convicing in her battle with #16 EJ Day. Her fans are gonna have to turn up if she's going to continue to advance.
The top 7 seeds of the Abdul Bracket cruised pretty easily into the Round of 32, with #5 Blake Lewis and #12 Nadia Turner having the tightest battle (60.4% to 39.6%). Blake will next face off against #4 Kimberley Locke, who gave AJ Gil a resounding beating. #2 Jordin Sparks will next play #7 Anthony Fedorov, with #3 Elliott Yamin taking on #6 Nikki McKibbin. Check back this weekend for those matches.
In the meantime...
Vote in the IDOL MADNESS Live Matches:
#1 Carrie Underwood vs. #16 Brandon Rodgers
#2 Chris Daughtry vs. #15 Camile Velasco
#3 Latoya London vs. #14 Corey Clark
#4 Katharine McPhee vs. #13 Jon Peter Lewis
#5 Justin Guarini vs. #12 Gina Glocksen
#6 Paris Bennett vs. #11 Anwar Robinson
#7 Josh Gracin vs. #10 Nikko Smith
#8 Christina Christian vs. #9 Mandisa Hundley
Abdul Bracket Results:
#1 Fantasia def. #16 EJ Day 69.4%-30.6%
#2 Jordin Sparks def. #15 Jim Verraros 75%-25%
#3 Elliott Yamin def. #14 Julia DeMato 89%-11%
#4 Kimberley Locke def. #13 AJ Gil 82.4%-17.6%
#5 Blake Lewis def. #12 Nadia Turner 60.4%-39.6%
#6 Nikki McKibbin def. #11 John Stevens 68.1%-31.9%
#7 Anthony Fedorov deg. #10 Carmen Rasmussen 74.8%-25.2%
#9 Ace Young def. #8 Phil Stacey 63.2%-36.8%
Friday, January 18, 2008
IDOL MADNESS -- Abdul Bracket, Seedings and First Round Match-Ups
See the winners of the first round of the COWELL BRACKET
Vote in the first round match-ups of the JACKSON BRACKET
Abdul Bracket First Round Match-Ups:
#1 Fantasia vs. #16 EJ Day
#2 Jordin Sparks vs. #15 Jim Verraros
#3 Elliott Yamin vs. #14 Julia DeMato
#4 Kimberley Locke vs. #13 AJ Gil
#5 Blake Lewis vs. #12 Nadia Turner
#6 Nikki McKibbin vs. #11 John Stevens
#7 Anthony Fedorov vs. #10 Carmen Rasmussen
#8 Phil Stacey vs. #9 Ace Young
IDOL MADNESS Main Page
Two more Idol champs appear in this bracket -- Season 3 winner, top seed Fantasia Barrino, and fresh-faced #2 seed Jordin Sparks from Season 6. Each of them will face a tough road to the Final Four. #3 seed Elliot Yamin potentially awaits Jordin in the Sweet 16, but not before he first has to face the winner of the match-up between #6 seed Nikki McKibbin and #11 seed John Stevens, two contestants who have found the votes to surprise people before.
Down the road, Broadway star and 4-time Grammy-nominee 'Tasia will have her hands full with Season 6runner-up Blake Lewis (#5 seed) and Season 2 second runner-up Kimberly Locke (#4 seed). Even before that, though, is a likely second round match-up with the winner of the contest between #8 seed Phil Stacey from Season 6 and #9 seed heartthrob Ace Young from Season 5. Should be interesting!
Seed / Name
1. Fantasia Barrino
2. Jordin Sparks
3. Elliott Yamin
4. Kimberly Locke
5. Blake Lewis
6. Nikki McKibbin
7. Anthony Fedorov
8. Phil Stacey
9. Ace Young
10. Carmen Rasmusen
11. John Stevens
12. Nadia Turner
13. AJ Gill
14. Julia DeMato
15. Jim Verraros
16. EJ Day
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Ten Best Initial American Idol Auditions of All Time
As my post 'Am I Wrong For Dreading the American Idol Auditions?' illustrates, I'm not the biggest fan of the initial audition round of American Idol. Having said that, there have been some truly fantastic initial auditions, and I thought I'd pay tribute to those now.
Please note, this list only includes auditions that were televised during the original season. Thus, auditions like Kelly Clarkson's, which were not originally shown, are not included.
Here we go...
1. Frenchie Davis
What a force of nature! There was no full-figured divas in Season 1 of American Idol, so when Frenchie walked in during Season 2, no one knew what to expect -- or how Simon and co. would respond. They had no choice after her tour de force delivery of "And I Am Telling You...", which simply blew the roof off the place. If Frenchie hadn't been disqualified from the competition, we very well might be referring to her as American Idol Winner Frenchie Davis.
2. Justin Guarini
The sad truth is, Justin was never as good as this first audition. Smooth, sexy and confident, he sounded fantastic, wooing both Paula and the audience.
3. Clay Aiken
Paula was "away" during Clay's Idol debut, and what she missed is the stuff of legends -- a ridiculously strong voice coming from a dweeby white kid. It threw the judges for a loop --Randy didn't know what to make of it, and even Simon had to acknowledge the power of this kid's voice. Amazing.
4. Jennifer Hudson
Apparently the producers didn't think highly enough of the future Oscar winner to include her with the rest of the auditions -- she was shepherded off to the "Best of the Rest" special. No matter -- she stood and sang, and I was instantly in love.
5. Melinda Doolittle
The first time timid back-up singer Melinda opened her mouth to croon "For Once In My Life" it was clear she had something special. It was also the first time we saw her modest "Who me?" expression, catapulting her to instant frontrunner status.
6. Katharine McPhee
She looked a little rough (and insecure), but Season 5's second place finisher sounded spot-on and showed enormous control singing "God Bless the Child." Fantastic.
7. Kimberley Locke
She would go on to sing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" several more times throughout the season, but it was this first rendition that was the most impressive. Simon called it a "master-class in singing." I'd agree.
8. Jordin Sparks
She was a bit too sweet for Simon's liking, but the growl she whipped out in the middle of Celine Dion's "Because You Loved Me" gave a hint of the vocal prowess she would later display.
9. Tamyra Gray
Coming in like a spitfire on Red Bull, Tamyra was the first girl on Idol to really show some pipes. The judges took notice -- and so did the audience.
10. Ruben Studdard
Like Frenchie, the judges didn't quite know what to make of the big guy, who showed effortless charm crooning "Ribbon in the Sky." His style (and smile) didn't change much over the course of the season, but who cares -- he's the Velvet Teddybear!
Honorable Mentions:
Josh Gracin
Fantasia
Diana Degarmo
Carrie Underwood
Chris Daughtry
LaKisha Jones
Taylor Hicks
Constantine Maroulis
More American Idol Best-Of Lists
Monday, December 03, 2007
Jordin Sparks' "Tattoo" Is A Top 10 Pop Hit; Idols Dominate Adult Contemporary Radio
Well, her CD may not be flying off the shelves, but Jordin Sparks' first single continues to rise up the charts. "Tattoo," which bears an uncanny resemblance to Beyonce's "Irreplaceable," has arrived in the Top 10 of the pop charts, with more than 5500 spins in the past week. The song is also #21 on the Hot AC chart.
Meanwhile, former Idols account for 6 of the Top 30 spots on the Adult Contemporary chart -- a remarkable 20%! Kimberley Locke and Carrie Underwood have the #'s 2 and 3 songs, respectively, with "Frosty the Snowman" and "Do You Hear What I Hear," while Daughtry claims #5 with "Home"; Elliott Yamin's got the #9 position with "Wait For You"; Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats" hangs tough at #12; and Kimberley Locke's "Band of Gold" is the #24 tune.
Wow.
Numbers courtesy of Mediabase
Click for more News on Former American Idol Contesatants
Friday, November 02, 2007
IDOL MADNESS (Abdul) Rnd of 32: #4 Kimberley Locke vs. #5 Blake Lewis
Division: Abdul Bracket
The Match-Up: #4 Kimberley Locke vs. #5 Blake Lewis
Idol Thoughts Prediction: This promises to be one of the tightest battles in the Round of 32, and to be honest, I'm not sure who's going to come out on top. Will Blake's fans come through? I'm guessing he'll eek out a victory, 52%-48%.
Round of 32 Match-Ups:
Cowell Bracket
#1 Kelly Clarkson vs. #9 Chris Richardson
#2 Ruben Studdard vs. #10 Kellie Pickler
#3 Tamyra Gray vs. #6 Jasmine Trias
#4 Jennifer Hudson vs. #5 Bo Bice
Seacrest Bracket
#1 Taylor Hicks vs. #9 Constantine Maroulis
#2 Clay Aiken vs. #7 RJ Helton
#3 Melinda Doolittle vs. #6 Vonzell Solomon
#5 LaKisha Jones vs. #13 Bucky Covington
Abdul Bracket
#1 Fantasia vs. #9 Ace Young
#2 Jordin Sparks vs. #7 Anthony Fedorov
#3 Elliott Yamin vs. #6 Nikki McKibbin
#4 Kimberley Locke vs. #5 Blake Lewis
Jackson Bracket
#1 Carrie Underwood vs. #9 Mandisa Hundley
#2 Chris Daughtry vs. # 7 Josh Gracin
#3 Latoya London vs. #11 Anwar Robinson
#4 Katharine McPhee vs. #12 Gina Glocksen
Visit the IDOL MADNESS Main Page
Monday, October 01, 2007
IDOL MADNESS (Abdul Bracket) Rnd of 64: #4 Kimberley Locke vs. #13 AJ Gil
Abdul Bracket First Round Match-Ups:
#1 Fantasia vs. #16 EJ Day
#2 Jordin Sparks vs. #15 Jim Verraros
#3 Elliott Yamin vs. #14 Julia DeMato
#4 Kimberley Locke vs. #13 AJ Gil
#5 Blake Lewis vs. #12 Nadia Turner
#6 Nikki McKibbin vs. #11 John Stevens
#7 Anthony Fedorov vs. #10 Carmen Rasmussen
#8 Phil Stacey vs. #9 Ace Young
Abdul Bracket -- Draw, Seedings and First Round Match-Ups
IDOL MADNESS Main Page
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Kimberley Locke Responds to Tour Rumors with Clay and Ruben
Former American Idol contestant Kimberley Locke has taken to her myspace blog to try and dispel some rumors about a potential tour featuring her, Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard (see Studdard, Aiken and Locke to Reunite on the Road?). Apparently Clay had responded that the rumors of the our were "unauthorized," which inspired Locke to set the record straight.
In the blog posting, excerpted below, she confirms that she gave the information to Billboard magazine, and says that she was being truthful in saying there were "talks." She also, it should be noted, makes a bit of a snide comment about her former roommate Clay, saying, "If Clay had chosen to return my phone calls over the last two months, he would perhaps not feel as "unfortunate," and he would have been made aware that I mentioned it to Billboard."
Ouch.
Here is an excerpt from the post:
"I just wanted to clarify that recently during an interview regarding my "Christmas" album with Billboard, I was asked about any fellow Idols that I may speak with. I mentioned that I had spoken with only Clay and Ruben because I do try my best to keep in touch with them. I went on to say in that interview that I had spoken with them about a reunion concert tour idea and that Ruben and Clay were game for it because they told me they were. In fact, in my last conversation with Clay he suggested that my manager and agents contact his. They did. And they have spoken. And in telling Billboard we were "in talks" and "Now it's up to our agents and managers to book it," I was being truthful in the information that I had received. I told Billboard I was "hopeful" that the tour would come together. (That didn't get printed.) In no way did I imply that we were all committed to this tour idea. So contrary to Clay feeling "unfortunate," that the story "found it's way to the press unauthorized," it was not "unauthorized." It was put out there by me, who conceived the touring idea and called my friends for their involvement. If Clay had chosen to return my phone calls over the last two months, he would perhaps not feel as "unfortunate," and he would have been made aware that I mentioned it to Billboard. I want to thank the fans of Clay and Ruben and my own who were positive and supportive of this idea, which again, was just an idea. It will now be put to rest."
Click for more News on Former American Idol Contestants
Click for Today's Top 10 Posts
Monday, September 10, 2007
Aiken, Locke and Studdard Reuniting on the Road?
Get ready for a reunion of American Idol Season 2's Top 3 finishers.
According to a blog posting on Kimberley Locke's myspace page, she, Ruben Studdard, and Clay Aiken are in talks to tour together next year. The proposed tour, which would feature duets and trios from the perfomers, would be called "Reunited: 5 Years Later."
While Aiken and Studdard's first CD's sold well, both faltered with subsequent releases. Studdard has had moderate radio success on the Urban AC charts, while Locke has been a fairly consistent presence on the AC chart (her latest, a cover of "Band of Gold," is currently in the Top 20 of that chart).
What do you think -- is the tour a good idea, or a little desperate?
Click for more News on Former American Idol Contestants
Click for This Week's Top 10 Posts
*The potential tour will be discussed in the 9/15 issue of Billboard magazine
Friday, May 18, 2007
Ten Best 'Top 3' Performances of All Time
With this year's finale right around the corner, it's time to rank the Ten Best 'Top 3' Performances of all time. This is a round that has produced some of the most memorable performances in Idol history. Interestingly, while four of the five winners have a performance that made the list, the top 4 spots are actually taken by runners-up.
Reminder: This year's performances are not eligible for the Ten Best lists.
Here we go...
1. Katharine McPhee, "Over the Rainbow"
When it was first announced that Simon Cowell had chosen this song for Katharine to sing, I'm sure there was a lot of eye-rolling going on around the country (my own eyes included). But when she appeared on screen, looking gorgeous as she draped herself across the floor, and started singing the rarely-sung opening a capella, all doubts immediately vanished. Rarely have a song and singer merged so beautifully on the Idol stage, as Katharine gave an emotional, moving, incredibly well-sung and interpreted performance. This is one of the most dazzling performances in Idol history.
2. Bo Bice, "In a Dream"
There has been a lot of talk about all of the risks Blake Lewis has taken this season, but one of the biggest risks in Idol history came when Bo Bice elected to sing, completely a capella, the little-known song "In a Dream." Not only did he sound great, and do something that no performer had done before him (or, for that matter, since), he reminded us what the Idol competition is all about -- pure voice. They start their Idol experience by singing a capella in front of the judges, and Bo completed the circle by doing the same thing in the Top 3. Totally balls-y and totally fantastic.
3. Diana Degarmo, "Don't Cry Out Loud"
Who would have thought that a treacly 70's ballad by Melissa Machester could have such life in 2004? Diana's style may not have been to everyone's liking, but as her voice soared on the choruses of this tune ("Don't cry out looooooooooooooooud") it became impossible for even her biggest detractors to acknowledge how much talent this teenager had.
4. Clay Aiken, "Unchained Melody"
We've heard many times throughout the seasons that this is Simon Cowell's favorite song, but of all the contestants who have attempted to do it justice, Clay is the only one who has succeeded (Kellie Pickler's Season 5 rendition ranks as one of the very worst). Although we hardly needed another reminder, this performance confirmed that Clay's voice was truly magical.
5. Kelly Clarkson, "Without You"
This is probably one of the most challenging songs ever tackled on the Idol stage, and Kelly managed to make Mariah Carey's rendition look practically irrelevant after wrapping her golden voice around the tune. Somehow she managed to step it up even further on her results show performance of the song -- in fact, if I could have included Kelly's results show performance on this list it probably would have grabbed the #1 spot. It was readily apparent by this point in Season 1 that Ms. C could do no wrong.
6. Kimberley Locke, "Inseparable"
Kimberley didn't have a chance in hell at making the finals in Season 2, but it didn't stop her from performing her heart out. All three of her performances that evening were fantastic, but best of all was this Toni Braxton number, which perfectly suited K-Lo's rich, sultry tones. She wasn't going to go any futher in the competition, but she certainly left the viewers with a good taste in their mouths.
7. Taylor Hicks, "Try a Little Tenderness"
Once Chris Daughtry had gotten the boot back in Season 5 it was pretty clear Taylor was going to take the title, and he made further strides at securing his claim to the top spot with this spirited performance. It was just the trick to get his "Soul Patrol" all fired up, and may have even gained him a new fans in the process. The question is -- where did all those fans go?
8. Carrie Underwood, "Making Love Out of Nothing At All"
I've said it before and I'll say it again -- Carrie Underwood + 80's power ballad = sheer bliss. While this performance didn't have quite the punch of her earlier triumph "Alone," wailing the Air Supply tune helped her show she could do more than sing contemporary country tunes.
9. Elliott Yamin, "I Believe to My Soul"
The true sign of a great Idol performance is when a contestant can sing an unknown song and really make it work. Elliott accomplished this feat with his final performance of the season, taking the little known tune and using a combination of soulful vocal licks and his undeniably likeable personality to hit this one completely out of the ballpark. He may not have made it to the finals, but he's a winner in my book.
10. Ruben Studdard, "Smile"
I thought it was a strange song choice back in Season 2, but in retrospect this was a perfect choice for the Velvet Teddy Bear. It was his smile, after all, that had first endeared him to the audience, and singing the Charlie Chaplin number reminded viewers just why they fell in love with him in the first place.
Honorable Mentions:
Carrie Underwood, "Cryin'"
Clay Aiken, "Mack the Knife"
Fantasia, "A Fool in Love"
Fantasia, "Chain of Fools"
Justin Guarini, "Don't Let the Sun Go Down"
Justin Guarini, "Let's Stay Together"
Kelly Clarkson, "Think Twice"
Kimberley Locke, "Band of Gold"
Ruben Studdard, "If Ever You're In My Arms Again"
Vonzell Solomon, "On the Radio"
Read more American Idol Best-Of Lists
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Ranking the 3rd Place Finishers
Now that we have gotten to the Top 3, these rankings become much more subjective -- all of these contestants were fantastic (well, all of them except Nikki -- really, let's be honest), so ranking them is, above all, a matter of personal taste. Remember, these rankings are determined on American Idol performances only, not on what the contestants have accomplished since their time on the show.
1. Melinda Doolittle (Season 6)
Best Known For: Being a former back-up singer; humble demeanor; remarkably consistent performances
Best Performance: "My Funny Valentine," "I've Got Rythym," "Have a Nice Day," "Nutbush City Limits," and the list goes on
Worst Performance: Not a stinker in the bunch, but if I had to name one I'd go with "I Believe in You and Me"
Post-AI: Hopefully great things...
2. Elliott Yamin (Season 5)
Best Known For: Season 5's underdog; moving backstory -- juvenile diabetes, deaf in one ear
Best Performance: "Song for You," "Trouble"
Worst Performance: Again, not a stinker in the bunch -- if I had to name one, I'd go with "Open Arms" (which I still kinda loved)
Post AI: Released a self-titled CD in March; single "Wait for You" is currently in the Top 30 on the pop chart; national tour begins today
3. Kimberley Locke (Season 2)
Best Known For: Sparring with Simon in her semifinal audition; dueting with Frenchie on "Band of Gold" during Hollywood week; Season 2's underdog
Best Performance: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "New York State of Mind," "Inseparable"
Worst Performance: "Heat Wave"
Post AI: Debut CD spawned a couple of Adult Contemporary hits, including "8th World Wonder"; new CD "Based on a True Story" was released two weeks ago; modeled for Lane Bryant; appearing on Celebrity Fit Clubl; current single "Change" in the Top 10 on the Mainstream AC chart
4. Vonzell Solomon (Season 4)
Best Known For: Being an endlessly cheery postal worker; Season 4's underdog
Best Performance: "I'm Every Woman"
Worst Performance: "Respect"
Post AI: Working on recording an album -- we're waiting Baby V!
5. Jasmine Trias (Season 3)
Best Known For: One of Season 3's two Hawaiian contestants; wearing a flower behind her ear
Best Performance: "Inseparable"
Worst Performance: "Breathe"
Post AI: Released a successful CD in the Phillippines, where she is a huge star
6. Nikki McKibbin (Season 1)
Best Known For: Idol's first-ever "rocker"; outlasting Tamyra Gray
Best Performance: "Mary Jane"
Worst Performance: Most of the others, but the biggest offender is probably "Ben"
Post AI: Has yet to release a CD, but has appeared on several reality shows, including Fear Factor and Battle of the Network Stars
Read more American Idol News/Recaps/Commentary
Read more American Idol Best-Of Lists
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Yep - Carrie and Chris Are Still in the Top 10
Carrie Underwood and Daughtry are, you guessed it, still in the Top 10 this week on the Album charts. These two just won't quit!
Daughtry sold 67K albums for the #6 spot, while Carrie moved 57K albums for the #8 spot. While Bucky Covington drops 4 spots to #32 (with sales of about 17K ), he still outsold both Kimberley Locke and Paris Bennett. K-Lo and Paris' albums, both released in the last two weeks, failed to make the Top 50.
Michael Buble tops the chart with 143K sold in it's second week of release, with newcomers Bone Thugs & Harmony and Bobby Valentino taking the #2 and 3 spots.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
News on Former American Idol Contestants
Hicks to Play B-Ball, Locke to 'Forget Lyrics' and Sparks to Tour With Alicia Keys
Daughtry and Underwood Swap Spots on Album Chart for Third Straight Week
Jordin Sparks Will Sing National Anthem at Super Bowl, Will Release "No Air" Duet with Chris Brown
Color Me Surprised: Clay Aiken is Fantastic in Spamalot
Watch Video for Carrie Underwood's "All American Girl"
Chris Daughtry Blasts Idol -- Then Takes It Back!
Daughtry Passes Underwood On Sales Chart; Sparks Barely Hangs in Top 50
Paula Abdul, Katharine McPhee and Elliott Yamin To Be Featured on "Randy Jackson's Music Club"
Kelly Clarkson Named to Mr. Blackwell's Worst Dressed List
Which Former Idol Had the Best 2007?
Underwood, Daughtry and Sparks' Sales Rise, as Lewis' Plummet
Jordin Sparks Will Sing National Anthem at This Year's Super Bowl
Nine Former Idols Finish in the Top 200 Year-End Album Chart
Blake Lewis Sells Less Than 100K Copies for #9 Spot on Album Chart
Ten Favorite Reality Show Contestants: Idol's Elliott Yamin at #8
Video of Carrie Underwood Singing "Sound of Music" at Movies Rock
Video of Jennifer Hudson Singing "Somewhere" at Movies Rock
Blake Lewis On Track To Sell About 100K Copies of Debut Album
Former Idols Rack Up 13 Grammy Nods; Underwood and Daughtry Lead the Pack
Daughtry, Underwood and Sparks See Steep Sales Drops
Will Daughtry, Underwood, Clarkson, Fantasia or Pickler Score Grammy Nominations?
Former Idols Look Gorgeous at Movie Rocks
Jordin Sparks' "Tattoo" is a Top 10 Pop Hit, As Idols Dominate Adult Contemporary Chart
Former Idol Finalist Arrested Again!
Listen to Carrie Underwood Sing "Do You Hear What I Hear"
Youtube Video of Kellie Pickler Embarrassing Herself on TV
How Do The Idols Debut Sales Weeks Stack Up?
Jordin Sparks Sells Less CDs Than Any Other Idol Champ
Former Idols All Over Country Music Awards
Carrie Underwood's Album On Track To Sell Big
Daughtry the Only Idol Representative on the Top 50 Album Chart
LaKisha Jones to Join the Broadway Cast of The Color Purple
Reba Tops the Album Chart, Daughtry Slips and Underwood Drops Out of Top 50
Carrie Underwood's Video for "So Small" is Here!
Daughtry Gets a Boost and Underwood Hangs in the Top 50 on This Week's Album Chart
Kimberley Locke Responds to Rumors of Tour with Clay and Ruben
Idol Casting News: Jennifer Hudson and Anwar Robinson Find New Projects
Studdard, Aiken and Locke to Reunite on the Road?
Kelly Clarkson Grabs First #1 Country Single
Clarkson Drops Out of Top 50 on Album Chart; Daughtry and Underwood Remain
Kelly Clarkson Announces Dates for Smaller Tour
Underwood, Clarkson, Pickler Nominated for CMA Awards
Aiken and Pickler to Appear on 'Are You Smarter Than...'
Listen to Jordin Sparks' New Single
Jennifer Hudson Talks About Being Lonely While Recording Upcoming Album
Daughtry Sneaks Past Clarkson on This Week's Album Chart
Jordin Sparks New Single To Debut at Radio August 27
Clay Aiken Gets His Sexy On
Clarkson Holds Off Daughtry and Underwood on the Album Charts
Kelly, Carrie and Daughtry All in This Week's Top 30 on Album Chart
Kelly Clarkson Drops Out of the Top 10 on the Album Chart
Kelly Clarkson Releases Statement About Clive Davis
Carrie Underwood's Sophomore Album Set For October Release
Does Jordin Sparks Have a Crush on Chris Richardson?
Kelly Clarkson is #3 on This Week's Album Chart
Fantasia Extends Stay in The Color Purple, May Star in New Musical
Clay Aiken Speaks Out About Airplane Incident
Daughtry Slips Out of the Top 10
Daughtry Returns to Top 5, Underwood Drops Out of Top 10
Katharine McPhee To Star in Independent Film
Jordin and Melinda Stop in to See Fantasia
Kelly vs. Clive: The Battle Continues; Clips of Kelly's New Songs Now Available
Daughtry and Underwood Get Boosts From Idol Appearances
Fantasia Will Perform on the Tony Awards
Daughtry and Underwood Slip; Elliott Makes Huge Sales Jump
Fantasia Wins Theatre World Award for Best Broadway Debut
Simon Cowell Gives Kelly Clarkson Her Due
Sneak Peek of Kelly Clarkson's Entertainment Weekly Cover
Carrie Underwood is a Superstar; Kelly and Reba Slay the Crowd
Yep, Daughtry and Underwood Are Still in the Top 10
Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire Will Debut Their Duet on Tonight's Academy of Country Music Awards
Elliott Yamin Appearing on Tomorrow's Top 3 Results Show
Kelly Clarkson Addresses Record Label Issues
Kelly Clarkson's Album Available for Pre-Sale on Amazon
Kelly Clarkson Album Moved Up to June 26, Lots More Kelly News
Whaddayaknow? Carrie Underwood and Daughtry Still in Top 10
Carrie Visits Anthony at The Fantasticks
Is The 'Kelly Clarkson Album Scrapped' Rumor Just That -- A Rumor?
Tamyra Gray To Join the Broadway Cast of Rent
Idol News & Notes: Carrie, Anthony, J-Hud, and K-Lo
Another Idol in Jail: Jessica Sierra Arrested
Kelly Clarkson Announces Tour Dates
Former Idols Account for 15% of Radio's Top 40
Elliott is Hitting The Road: Tour Dates Announced
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Whaddaya Know? Daughtry and Underwood Still in Top 10
Blah blah blah, Daughtry and Carrie Underwood are still in the Top 10 on the album charts. You think people like buying their records?
Daughtry slips one spot to #6 but actually increased his sales by 4% to just over 50K, while Underwood slips two spots to #10, with sales of about 43K.
Bucky Covington, meanwhile, drops 25% to finish at #38 with about 17K albums sold.
Kimberley Locke's sophomore album failed to crack the Top 50. We'll see if Paris Bennett does any better next week (her album is in stores today).
The top two spots this week are held by chart newcomers Ne-Yo (featuring a track by Jennifer Hudson) and Idol guest star Michael Buble, both of whom moved over 200K albums. Nashville Star finalist Miranda Lambert (whose CD I hear is very good) also landed a Top 5 debut.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Idol News And Notes: K-Lo, J-Hud, Anthony, and Constantine
Lots happening in the world of Idol-dom this week:
-Kimberley Locke's sophomore album, "Based on a True Story," is available in stores today. While I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, I loved K-Lo on Idol and I enjoyed much of her first CD, so I'm looking forward to seeing what she's brought to the table for this go-round. "Idol Thoughts" friend Josh says Kim's cover of "Band of Gold" (which she sang on the show) is worth the price of the CD alone, and I trust his taste, so I'll be dowloading this one later this week -- stay tuned for my thoughts.
-Jennifer Hudson is featured on a track from Ne-Yo's new album, which is also available in stores today. The song is called "Leaving Tonight," and, let me tell you, it is fierce. A back-and-forth R&B duet, J-Hud sounds absolutely amazing -- much different from her Effie vocals on the Dreamgirls soundtrack, but still showing off her trademark soul and power. I literally can not wait until her solo album is released later this year. Ne-Yo also sounds great on the song, which finds Jennifer confronting her man about his potentially cheating ways. It's slow-burning and hella sexy -- definitely worth a download.
-Anthony Fedorov begins his stint in the Off-Broadway show "The Fantasticks" tonight (you can buy tickets here). I'm slightly tempted to buy a (discounted) ticket to this one, to see how Mr. F does in his theatrical debut. The show is playing at The Snapple Theater, just one block away from where Ms. Fantasia is doin' her thing over at "The Color Purple" (which I am seeing on Thursday!!)
-Finally, Constantine Maroulis, who has appeared in the shows The Wedding Singer and Jacques Brel is Alive and Well in the past year, joins the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful on May 15, where he will play a music producer conveniently named Constantine. He will apparently be performing a number of songs on the show from his upcoming solo debut album. I'm not a big soap fan, but this could be worth setting my Tivo for.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Former Idols Account For 15% of Pop's Top 40
I was glancing at the Mediabase charts this morning, and noticed something pretty remarkable -- now that Elliott Yamin's "Wait for You" has entered the Top 40 Pop chart, there are now a whopping SIX songs from former American Idol contestants on this chart. That is 15% -- astounding by any measure. The six songs on this chart are:
7. Daughtry, "It's Not Over"
14. Carrie Underwood, "Before He Cheats"
21. Daughtry, "Home"
23. Kelly Clarkson, "Never Again"
27. Katharine McPhee, "Over It"
40. Elliott Yamin, "Wait For You"
Wow.
The radio airplay domination doesn't end there...there are 12 (twelve!) former Idols with a song on either the Pop, Hot AC, AC, Urban AC, or Country charts (including all five of the show's winners), and 15 different songs overall. What does this prove? Anyone who suggests that Idol isn't having a huge influence on the music biz is full of crap!
Here's a breakdown of how the Idols are currently looking on the radio:
(*note, these numbers are from Mediabase charts, which are updated about twice a day, and not from Billboard's weekending charts)
Daughtry's two singles ("It's Not Over" at #2 and "Home" at #18) as well as Underwood's "Before He Cheats" (#9) and Clarkson's "Never Again" (#22) are all in the Top 30 on the Hot AC chart. That's 13%.
Kimberley Locke's "Change" (#12), Daughtry's "It's Not Over" (#18), Taylor Hicks' "Just To Feel That Way" (#20), and Underwood's "Before He Cheats" (#25) are all in the Top 30 on the Mainstream AC chart, with Kelly Clarkson's "Because of You" and "Behind These Hazel Eyes" still receiving a ton of weekly spins.
Carrie's "Wasted" is currently the #1 song on the Country chart, with Bucky Covington's "A Different World" (#23) and Kellie Pickler's "I Wonder" (#25) also doing well. Carrie's "Before He Cheats" is recurrent on this chart.
Ruben Studdard has two songs in the Top 15 on the Urban AC chart ("Make Ya Feel Beautiful" at #7 and "Change Me" at #15), while Jennifer Hudson's "And I Am Telling You" is at #10 and Fantasia's ""When I See You" is at #13).
Monday, April 23, 2007
Ten Best 'Top 6' Performances of All Time
Yep, it's time again to take a glance backward into Idol history, to choose the Ten Best 'Top 6' performances of all time. Each member of this list ended up in their season's respective Top 4 -- there are two former winners, four runners-up, and two third and two fourth place finishers.
(As a reminder, performances from the current season are not eligible for on any of these Ten Best lists)
Ten Best Top 7 Performances of All Time
Ranking the 7th Place Finishers
Ten Best Top 8 Performances of All Time
Ranking the 8th Place Finishers
Ranking the 9th Place Finishers
Ten Best Top 9 Performances of All Time
Ranking the 10th Place Finishers
Ten Best Top 10 Performances of All Time
Ten Best Top 11 Performances of All Time
Ten Best First Finals Performances
Ten Best Semifinals Performances of All Time
1. Kelly Clarkson, "Stuff Like That There" (Season 1)
Words can't possibly do justice this iconic Idol performance that basically secured the title for Ms. C. Just when it seemed like Kelly had revealed all she had to offer, she came out and wowed the judges and audience alike with this show-stopping ditty. Transporting herself to a different age, Ms. C was sounded so good and was so charming, you couldn't help but fall in love with her. I know I did!
2. Elliott Yamin, "A Song For You" (Season 5)
There is a reason this is Elliott's signature song -- there is no one in the world (except, possibly, it's originator Donnie Hathaway) who sings it better. Handling the vocal runs like it was a walk in the park, Elliott transformed himself into a true contender for the title with this confident and beautifully sung performance. It was so good he recorded it on his recently released debut CD!
3. Tamyra Gray, "Minnie the Moocher" (Season 1)
Kelly may have stole the show during Season 1's Top 6, but Tamyra was a solid second best performing on this Cab Calloway tune. Looking like she just stepped out of the 1920's, she was incredible -- and she even scatted!
4. Bo Bice, "I Don't Wanna Be" (Season 4)
Singing a song that is playing on the radio is always a risk for Idol contestants, but Bo scoffed at the risk, delivering a totally credible (and enjoyable) version of the Gavin Degraw hit. He may not have nailed the high note at the end, but everything leading up to it was totally rockin'.
5. Justin Guarini, "Route 66" (Season 1)
After becoming the early favorite in Season 1, Justin had hit a bit of a rough patch, even falling into the Bottom 2 during the Top 7. He came back with a relaxed and well-sung version of this old standard that clearly showed he, along with Kelly and Tamyra, were the best Season 1 had to offer.
6. Clay Aiken, "I Could Not Ask For More" (Season 2)
Clay Aiken + Dianne Warren power ballad = magic. These were the kind of songs Clay was meant to sing, and if Warren had written Clay's CD (instead of the unwise choice of releasing a CD of covers) I bet he'd be topping Adult Contemporary radio. Alas, at least we have this performance to look back on.
7. Diana Degarmo, "Turn the Beat Around" (Season 3)
Diana continued her mid-season turnaround with this Gloria Estefan number, effortlessly handling the tounge-twister lyrics and adding in a few dance moves to boot. This is by far the best version of this song that has ever been performed on the show (sorry, Haley!)
8. Carrie Underwood, "When God Fearin' Women Get the Blues" (Season 4)
Carrie was best when performing two different types of song on American Idol -- 80's power ballads and country tunes (especially, like this one, that were originally sung by Martina McBride).
9. Anthony Fedorov, "I Surrender" (Season 4)
Kelly Clarkson gave the definitive Idol performance of this song back in Season 1, but Anthony put his own spin on the Celine Dion power ballad, acquitting himself better than anyone (especially me) expected him to. This is my favorite Fedorov performance.
10. Kimberley Locke, "If You Asked Me To" (Season 2)
After her Billy Joel week triumph, K-Lo continued her hot streak on this Dianne Warren song, giving it a soulful spin that ended with a beautiful note sung in her rarely-heard head voice. Not Kim's best performance, but very strong nonetheless.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Ten Best 'Top 7' Performances of All Time
Yep, it's time again to take a glance backward into Idol history, to choose the Ten Best 'Top 7' performances of all time. This list is dominated by women, although two rockin' men manage to sneak on. In addition only two winners appear on the list, with two famously evicted-before-their-time contestants grab the top two spots.
(As a reminder, performances from the current season are not eligible for on any of these Ten Best lists)
Ten Best Top 8 Performances of All Time
Ranking the 8th PLace Finishers
Ranking the 9th Place Finishers
Ten Best Top 9 Performances of All Time
Ranking the 10th Place Finishers
Ten Best Top 10 Performances of All Time
Ten Best Top 11 Performances of All Time
Ten Best First Finals Performances
Ten Best Semifinals Performances of All Time
1. Jennifer Hudson, "Weekend in New England"
It would have been a travesty if Jennifer Hudson had been voted off after any of her performances on American Idol, but it was particularly devastating that she got the boot after this showstopper, which, as far as I'm concerned, is one of the best performances ever seen on AI. It was here that we got a glimpse of what we would later see in droves in Dreamgirls -- that soaring voice and that ability to take a song and infuse it with such emotion that it, as guest coach Barry Manilow said, transcends "to another level." Simply magnificent.
2. Tamyra Gray, "If I Were Your Woman"
As I wrote in my post Is Sanjaya (Gulp) The Second Coming of Tamyra Gray, Tamyra, better than any contestant before or after, totally threw herself into that week's theme, embracing not just the music but the style as well. For 70's week, she appeared resplendant in an afro, long flowy skirt, and barefoot, to blow away the judges and audience with this Gladys Knight hit. One of Tamyra's best performances.
3. Vonzell Solomon, "I'm Every Woman"
Baby V was in the shadows of Carrie, Bo, and Constantine up until this point, but when she unleashed her inner diva on this Chaka Khan classic, she made sure she was in the shadows no longer. Hitting some of the highest notes that have ever been sung on the show, Vonzell announced she wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.
4. Kimberley Locke, "New York State of Mind"
Kimberley had stuggled mightily the first few weeks of the competition to get into the good graces of the audience, but when she wrapped her golden vocals around the Billy Joel gem, giving the song a sultry, jazzy spin, she sewed up their love and affection once and for all.
5. Christina Christian, "Ain't No Sunshine"
Sometimes a song and performer meet and magic can happen. Christina certainly wasn't Season 1's strongest vocalist, but when she used her smoldering good looks and pleasent-enough vocals on this Bill Wither's tune, the result was, indeed, somewhat magical.
6. Bo Bice, "Vehicle"
Bo + classic rock = great performance. That formula worked several times for Season 4's rocker, and this may have been the best combination of the two. This performance was so good, it ended up the B-side of his single (featuring Richie Sambora on guitar).
7. Katharine McPhee, "Someone to Watch Over Me"
As far as I'm concerned, Katharine never sounds better than when she is singing standards ("Come Rain or Come Shine," "Somewhere Over the Rainbow") and her performance of this Ella Fitgerald gem is no exception. Looking magnificent and sounding just as good, this is Katharine in her true element.
8. Fantasia, "It's A Miracle"
'Tasia goes to church! This is one of the strangest performances ever seen on Idol (with cut-aways to Fantasia's mother and daughter watching from backstage), but there is no denying the sheer force of energy and passion this girl can bring to a song. I loved it.
9. Chris Daughtry, "It's A Wonderful World"
Proving he was capable of showing a softer side, Chris wrapped his vocals around the tender song, providing an unexpectedly moving musical moment from the rocker. True, he didn't smile much, but he did show he's capable of more than just rockin' out.
10. Kelly Clarkson, "Don't Play That Song"
Even though I had never heard this song, Kelly sold it, riffing like crazy toward the end. Definitely not Ms. C's strongest performance of the competition, but it proved she could sing anything and make it work.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Is The Final Four Now a Foregone Conclusion?
Every season of American Idol has brought surprises in the Final 4 -- sometimes good surprises (Kimberley Locke, Vonzell Solomon, Elliott Yamin), sometimes not-so-good (Nikki McKibbin, Jasmine Trias).
This year, more than any other year, the Final 4 seems like a bit of a foregone conclusion. Would anyone else be shocked if Melinda, LaKisha, Jordin, and Blake were not the last four standing?
True, there have been surprises so far this season (Sabrina not making the Top 12, the relatively early exits of Stephanie Edwards, Chris Sligh, and Gina Glocksen), and there will most likely continue to be surprises, at least minor ones, as the next few weeks unfold. But as of now, there are four contestants who have made at least one appearance in the Bottom 3, and there are four contestants who have managed to steer clear of the Bottom 3. That kind of division has never been so clear at this point in the competition.
Phil Stacey has been in the Bottom 3 three times. Haley Scarnato has been in the Bottom 2 for the last two weeks. Sanjaya Malakar made his only Bottom 2 appearance during the Top 12 round, while Chris Richardson fell into the Bottom 2 during Top 11 week. While the order in which these contestants will fall is slightly up in the air, I'm guessing the next four weeks will see these four exit one-by-one. (My guess of the order, at this moment, is Haley, then Phil, then Sanjaya, and then Chris).
As far as I'm concerned, this is the most predictable Top 4 we've ever had on American Idol. While Season 2's Kimberley Locke certainly deserved a Top 4 spot, talent-wise, her early Bottom 3 appearances certainly did not make her a lock to still be standing toward the end. The same could be said for Vonzell, Elliott, and even Katharine McPhee, who dipped into the Bottom 3 a couple of times herself before finishing as last year's runner-up.
Right now, however, Melinda, LaKisha, Jordin, and Blake seem so far ahead of the rest of the pack (in terms of talent and fanbase size) that there would have to be a major upset for one of these contestants to not make it to the final 4. Of course, Sanjaya's incomprehensible popularity could stand in their way, or Chris' cute-ness could propel him past LaKisha or Jordin, but I think these four have cemented such strong followings, and will continue to add to their legion of admirers over the next four weeks, that they will be able to hold off even the terrifying Malakar invasion.
But hey, I've thought Haley was going to go three of the last four weeks...so what do I know?
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