Yep, there are bits of album talk in that interview. Here’s the direct link for lazy peeps (heh):

http://ondemand.streamtheworld.com/chum/

Well, what do you know, my cooktard friends? I just might be seeing Cookie soon. According to a fan at david-cook.org, he heard Cookie say on his 104.5 chum fm interview (podcast will, reportedly, be up tomorrow morning) that “he just booked his first solo tour gig…Jan 27 in the Philippines!!!!!!!!”

stupid jet lag, sorry mj

ps. im auditioning in jacksonvile!

My grandpa called me last week telling me he had one some “American Idol online Sweepstakes” and he thought i signed him up or something. I had no idea what he was talking about but figured i might have filling out his name when trying to win SOMETHING from idol. I’m guessing it was that fraud mail.

You donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t call Jimi Hendrixà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“All Along The Watchtowerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  or Joe Cockerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“With A Little Help From My Friendsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  or thousands of other great cover versions karaoke, it will be an insult to Jimi Hendrix (or the memory of) and all other artists who have done cover versions (which is just about everyone who has ever recorded). You are denying their originality and artistry.

You simply cannot call David Cookà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Helloà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  or à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Always Be My Babyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ , or Archieà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Stand By Meà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬  karaoke. They are original interpretations of pre-existing songs.

You’re absolutely right, Hazehel. That’s precisely why Simon uses the term karaoke as such a deragatory insult! He’s not criticizing the fact that they’re doing a cover but the way they are doing it.

It may not be karaoke in the traditional sense, but because they are not allowed to sing their own compositions it does often seem like a form of karaoke. Doesnà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t take anything from Cook or Arch at all.

But you do take something away from them when you call it karaoke. It has nothing to do with them doing their own compositions or not. They are doing covers, just like any artist who covers other songs. There is no originality in karaoke, but you usually do when you do a cover. You don’t call Jimi Hendrix’s “All Along The Watchtower” or Joe Cocker’s “With A Little Help From My Friends” or thousands of other great cover versions karaoke, it will be an insult to Jimi Hendrix (or the memory of) and all other artists who have done cover versions (which is just about everyone who has ever recorded). You are denying their originality and artistry.

You simply cannot call David Cook’s “Hello” or “Always Be My Baby”, or Archie’s “Stand By Me” karaoke. They are original interpretations of pre-existing songs.

If you have the time, you could post whatever you come up with out front. That would be cool. Otherwise, I’ll post something. These numbers definitely deserve some attention! .

Ken Barnes got some attendance numbers for the first five shows of the tour. The comparison to last years is laughable.

Last year wasn’t such a good year. It was the first year that there wasn’t a single sell-out for the entire tour. The turnout at some of the venues was ghastly and some venues roped of huge sections trying to make the place look fuller.

This year is doing much better. The AI tour still has not yet recovered the numbers it once had, but this is a better trend.

If I have time, I could post a quick summary of previous years if people are interested.

In the meanwhile, here are the raw statistics from which Ken derived his percentages from (only the first set is annotated, the number indicates the position in the report. Concerts listed in order of gross revenue):

35 American Idols Live HP Pavilion – Artist and venue
San Jose, Calif. – Location
July 8, 2008 – Date
$718,721 – Gross Revenue
12,095 / – Number of tickets sold
12,095 – Number of tickets available
1 / – Number of concerts sold out
1 – Number of concerts reported
$68.50, $39.50 – Cost of tickets
AEG Live – Promoter

37 American Idols Live Staples Center
Los Angeles, Calif.
July 7, 2008
$709,598
11,739 /
12,358
1 /
0
$68.50, $42.50
AEG Live

42 American Idols Live Jobing.com Arena
Glendale, Ariz.
July 1, 2008
$630,137
10,277 /
10,938
1 /
0
$68.50, $39.50
AEG Live

58 American Idols Live San Diego Sports Arena
San Diego, Calif.
July 2, 2008
$535,103
8,602 /
10,109
1 /
0
$68.50, $39.50
AEG Live

83 American Idols Live Thomas & Mack Center
Las Vegas, Nev.
July 5, 2008
$374,795
5,925 /
7,661
1 /
0
$68.50, $39.50
AEG Live

Earlier Ace reviews were more positive, but I still think he will outsell Connie, lol.

Trenyce joining Ruben and Frenchie in Ain’t Misbehaving is music to my ears. Ruben and Trenyce were my picks that year. Simon screwed her the same way he screwed Carly this year.

It may not be karaoke in the traditional sense, but because they are not allowed to sing their own compositions it does often seem like a form of karaoke. Doesn’t take anything from Cook or Arch at all.

Therefore doing it karaoke fashion just mean doing it copycat style, mimicking, normally in an inferior manner. People who throw insults like that critic should know what the insult means first.