Kris Allen – Live Like We’re Dying – Z100 Debut

Good luck to Kris!

Come on already.

Kris is there!

Yay! Kris is on! And am I the only one here?

Ugh a Paula question.

[stumbles in bleary-eyed with Diet Coke in hand, wearing bunny slippers, and carrying Mary Poppins magic carpet bag - which has turned plaid for the occasion]

Yea! First single today. WOO HOO!!!

[Locates metaphorical sideboard. Opens carpetbag. Pulls out coffee urns, hot water canisters, a mixed assortment of tea and a batch of Red Bulls]

Kris is the Red Bull addict, right? Or is just energy drinks in general? The caffine DOES have an effect on him though! ;-)

[Finds spare piano bench in metaspace. Sets monitor upon it that rotates through pictures of Kris (in varying patterns of plaid), Katy, and tour bubbletweets.]

[Pulls out cables, electrical tape, and flashlight from carpet bag and takes a few minutes to connect speaker cabinets to the radio that has suddenly appeared.]

Hey. Found Wolfgang! :-) [places on top of speakers]

[Rummages again through the carpetbag. Pulls out batch of steaming pumpkin muffins. Looks again and finds doughnuts. Starts setting them on plates.]

Here ‘ya go guys. If anything’s missing, just grab it from the bag. [grin] The usual lollipops are in there too. Help yourselves.

ENJOY THE SONG!!!

Kris sounds awake!

Lurve the Pumpkin donuts, thnx Hoppers. The coffee is weak for me, plus did you forget the Cinnamon? I can’t find it in the bag.

Repost from headlines thread…

Sunn: For those of you wanting to listen live to Kris’ single debut on Z100, here’s a link:

http://www.z100.com/pages/streaming/

You can listen online, via Blackberry or Iphone.

Enjoy.

Well Kris, sorry buddy, but I’m finally getting sleepy so gotta seize the moment. I’m sure I’ll hear it when I wake up, not sure I’ll liked it, pretty sure it will be successful.

[shakes carpetbag, reaches in]

Aha! Cinnamon!

Can we skip the interview and get to the song PLZ!

Am here too.

Yeah it taking for ever

Listening on iphone, go Kris!

September 21, 2009 at 7:56 am
[shakes carpetbag, reaches in]

Aha! Cinnamon!

Cool, Cinnamon with my coffee makes me want to live like I were dyinnnnnnn

Aaaah, tongue is mouth molestation story.

Sunn: Aha! Cinnamon! Cool, Cinnamon with my coffee makes me want to live like I were dyinnnnnnn

[laugh] Glad to hear it :grin:

If the coffee’s too weak for you, there’s a disassembled expresso machine in the carpetbag. Beans too. Too damn tired to put it together myself, but you’re welcome to!!

I’m here too – and apparently radio DJs are annoying in the US as well …

OMG IT’S ON

Adam fan about in tears for him! Go Kris!

The post-Idol season has officially started! Woo!

Yeah Kris am loving this for him.

Ohhhhh!

Well it certainly has enough words!

*prances in, grabs a donut*
Hey guys :)
Counting on you all letting me know how the song sounds. It’s 8pm in China and I can’t listen from here…

Gotta liiiiiive like were dying :)

If the coffee’s too weak for you, there’s a disassembled expresso machine in the carpetbag. Beans too. Too damn tired to put it together myself, but you’re welcome to!!

(sipping a double espresso while listening to the single and falling in love with Hoppers)

Congrats on your debut! All the best!

Congrats Kris!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the pumpkin muffins! I’m so happy for Kris!

It will get a lot of radio play – very radio friendly. I like it, will probably buy it but it was no big whoop.

Thanks HoppersSkippersMiners for the link, I’m proud to be apart of history lol

just got done listening to it!!! i’m kind of embarrassed that i actually just stayed up to listen to a premiere of the song, especially since it was my first time! lol

anyway, i love it and i’m sure it will be getting repeated in my itunes once i get it in there.

amiroamor: Thanks HoppersSkippersMiners for the link, I’m proud to be apart of history lol

[grin] Me too :smile:

Link credit, though, goes to Sunn! Send hugs thataway!

Did the DJ call the 39 year old caller a cougar? Basted!!!!!

I like it.

Uh, this song sure has a lot of words. Catchy, but for me it’s totally impossible to sing along. English is not my first language.

And he’s gone. yay, Kris!

O yeah, thanks Sunn! :D

Gahhh!! I woke up to listen to it and it wasn’t on at the right time, so I went to grab a shower real fast and come back and I missed it. :( Not happy!!

Uh, this song sure has a lot of words. Catchy, but for me it’s totally impossible to sing along. English is not my first language.

Don’t be hard on yourself. English is my first language and I find it hard to sing to. ;)

Not overly produced either- if anything it was a little spare.

Lots of media evidently there, too…which is very cool.

Where did they say to go to watch video at the end?

When does it come out on iTunes? I can’t wait to get it in my playlist! It will climb up the play count list quickly!

Well I really like it, and I’m so glad he got such positive feedback. Did y’all see Jim C. and Slezak fighting over Kris on twitter this morning? A contest to see who Kris would hug first or hug the hardest, funny stuff. They both are there this morning.

Congrats Kris!!!!!!!

Well I really like it, and I’m so glad he got such positive feedback. Did y’all see Jim C. and Sleasak fighting over Kris on twitter this morning? A contest to see who Kris would hug first or hug the hardest, funny stuff. They both are there this morning.

Seriously? And they talk about the fans being overly invested. LOL Fanboys.

Buderschnookie
September 21, 2009 at 8:10 am
Not overly produced either- if anything it was a little spare.

It’s an exact copy of The Script arrangement too. They did very little work on that song.

Well, congrats to Kris – I think it’s gonna be a hit for him, and I’m happy I got to hear it once. Won’t be buying nor listening again though – way too many words and I got a bit stressed from listening, so not for me but good for Kris :).

*grabs pumpkin muffin and a cup of tea* – thanks Hoppers

If anyone wants to download the interview, someon on ontd_ai already put up the link

http://www.sendspace.com/file/0trmc4

That was quite satsifactory [releases held breath] :grin: Very pleased. :grin:

Gotta get ready for work now.

Enjoy the carpetbag goodness! It will be open all day!

[waves] CONGRATS KRIS !!!!!

Sunn, thanks for the link!!

I loved it!!! can’t wait to buy it in iTunes!

Who are these people calling in? LOL. They sound like total plants. Looks like Zomba workers all had to get in early. Changing lives already? Okay. I’m just glad nobody called in to rehash the voting “scandal”.

Anyway, could be a hit. I never know with these things. It’s got a great hook, but it will be interesting to see him sing it live (better keep an oxygen tank on stage).

ob
September 21, 2009 at 8:12 am
Well, congrats to Kris ‘“ I think it’s gonna be a hit for him

I think it will definitely be a HIT, how big a hit I can’t tell for sure, but I’m thinking it will climax in the top 5.

Again, congrats Kris, and the best of luck.

The video should be up at elvisduran.com later today.

I guess that’s the DJ?

Sunn
September 21, 2009 at 8:12 am

Buderschnookie
September 21, 2009 at 8:10 am
Not overly produced either- if anything it was a little spare.

It’s an exact copy of The Script arrangement too. They did very little work on that song.

Pretty much. I hope it’s a huge hit for him – I do like Kris’ talent a lot. I don’t like this song, but compared to the other crap I heard on that station leading up to it…I guess there are people who like that.

Geez, i missed the song :( ; just caught some listeners calling in at the end… need to hear the song now..

Well, that was fun!! Want to see the pictures of Kris’s face as he heard the single on the radio for the first time. Extremely catchy song. Yeah, has a lot of words, but the kind of chorus that people will like to chant. Agree with the caller who had the fight with her husband and after hearing the song she feels the need to call her hubby to apologize — the song can affect you this way, and Kris seemed very gratified.
I love Kris’s lower register, but most of this song was at a pretty high pitch. Wonder how it will sound stripped down, which is probably how he’ll be performing it in tv promos. After watching the Boston videos, esp. MITM, will probably be great.

They are flailing happily over on ontd_ai about this.

Can’t wait to see the video, they said Kris just had a huge grin on his face listening to it. And he was very relaxed during the interview, even though he must have been nervous about having his single on the radio.

honowoowoo
September 21, 2009 at 8:13 am
Sunn, thanks for the link!!

You’re welcome guys.

I enjoyed that! It’s been a long time since I actually bothered listening to a song debut. It was fun to share the experience with you guys.

Geez, i missed the song :( ; just caught some listeners calling in at the end’ ¦ need to hear the song now..

Live Like We Are Dying on youtube (just the song – not the video of him listening).

thanks Kirsten. wow someone was fast this morning!

Can someone check to see if it’s on ITunes US please?

Can someone check to see if it’s on ITunes US please?

Not yet.

Given previous Idol track records, it will probably be released in a week or so (otherwise, people turn to downloading it from iSteal). But iTunes could never co-ordinate a release with a premier anyway. They always bobble things a bit (lots on their plate). There are always massive complaints against iTunes every release season.

Thanks Kirsten.

It’s an exact copy of The Script arrangement too. They did very little work on that song.

Kris did change the phrasing a bit towards the end. Definitely an improvement and it is identifiably him singing (contrary to what some people will surely claim).

I love it. I think it’s a great first single. (I’m still bummed though that his first single is not written by him) I can’t wait for the album!!!

American Idol winner Kris Allen world premiered his new single, “Live Like We’re Dying,” live on-air with Elvis Duran and the Morning Show today! Listen to the full single and Kris’ interview with Elvis, plus get the lyrics and single cover art, here:

http://z100.elvisduran.com/pages/news/krisallen/

A little disappointed that he didn’t get to “Allenize” it but it’s still better than most of the crap that’s on the radio today. Looking forward to his entire album. :)

As someone who really liked the snippet, I have to say I’m disappointed in the full version. The verses are a little hard to understand and sing-along potential is very low. I’m afraid the stellar hook is going to get lost while listeners muddle through to get there.

Cue hwc again saying: “the kid who won sang in Russian.”

Sorry, Kris, wanted to love it.

The response on twitter is positive. Although I don’t know how many people would @ reply him to rip the song.

The single cover is very cool! It’s very Kris, simple and to the point.

Could only listen with divided attention but it sounded exactly like The Script version. Oh well. I’m sure it’ll do fine on the radio but it’s kind of disappointing that the first single is a note for note cover.

Awww I love it! Congrats Kris!

just another bublegum pop song
maybe a hit maybe not. Well it catchy but after hearing
The Script version it doesn’t made any difference it sound exactly
the same as the original

Love Kris”s voice at 2:26-2:40 on the youtube vid (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK8byRYs11A) but hate the song. I’ve listened to it a couple times to see if it would grow on me and it’s not happening. The biggest problem for me is that it’s such a strong message song that I feel like I’m being preached to. And, as I like my music to evoke emotion not thought, this really doesn’t work for me. I think if it had fun lyrics instead of thoughtful lyrics I’d be more into it.

No he didn’t change the song a lot, but the production is much better and you can definetly hear his voice (something I was not sure in the 20s. snipet), based on my judgement of the song and knowing Jive this is has all the potential to be a big hit on Top 40 and HAC.

As far as first post idol single for the winners, I think this ranks near the top ahead of Light On, Tatoo or JTW and just behind Miss Independent.

I actually kinda like that — catchy. Good luck, Kris!

As far as first post idol single for the winners, I think this ranks near the top ahead of Light On, Tatoo or JTW and just behind Miss Indepedent.

I was going to say that I have a better reaction to this than I did to Light On when I first heard it, lol.

crisanne
September 21, 2009 at 8:34 am

just another bublegum pop song

Ah, I think that’s the problem for me. I LIKE bubblegum pop music. It has its place and the music for the song fits it completely. But the lyrics are like a huge downer message thing that clash with the bubblegum feel so I can never really get bopping to the bubblegum aspect of it.

Jim’s done with his interviewing.Of Kris.

Even though I woke up at 6am I still missed it boo. Oh well.
I like the song it’s catchy but not so earwormy that you get annoyed by it because it’s everywhere and won’t get out of your head. Does this mean that it’ll be playing on other radio stations? If so I’ll tell you guys if I ever hear it in Canada. I don’t listen to the radio all that much but if I do and I hear it I’ll let you guys know.

No way does this come near Jesus Take the Wheel or even Tattoo. JTW is an incredible song and Tattoo has some real feeling in it. This is just words with a catchy beat. I think I’m going to agree that the downer words don’t go well with up quality of the music.

My ranking:
Miss Independent
Light On
Live Like We’re Dying
JTW
Tattoo
If I have some money I’ll buy it.

mj what did you think of it?

Major grats and cheers to Kris! What a moment it must be to hear your first non-AI single on the radio! Looks like the event was well organized. I hope Kris has gotten some rest and is really enjoying this amazing day – he seemed pretty chill and did a fine job responding to questions from the dj and callers.

I wonder at what point the “surrealness” of the Idol and post-Idol experience wears off for the winner and it becomes just business?

My ranking:
Miss Independent
Light On
Live Like We’re Dying
JTW
Tattoo

Mine:

Miss Independent
JTW
Light On
Live Like We’re Dying
Tatoo

The song is generally okay, though there are some parts that I don’t like, e.g., the intro and the “you never know” part, or something. Well, I only listened to it once during the actual debut, so it’s based on my initial reaction. I don’t know if it’s going to be a hit, or a miss, but I wish Kris the best of luck.

I’m just not feeling it, I want to but it just isn’t happening

JTW is an incredible song and Tattoo has some real feeling in it.

LOL. JTW has great singing, but the lyrics were hokey. Viva la difference!

Although, I think we can all agree that this is better than Ruben’s first single “Sorry 2004″ (sorry Rub! That song sucked), so it’s not the worst Idol winner debut single. (oops, now all the Ruben fans are going to hate me)

Well, I like the parts when Kris isn’t singing – the opening bit and when its repeated throughout the song. I like Kris’s voice but this song in particular just feels too preachy and extremely wordy. I don’t get a good flow from it or a connection to it. It’s got a decent overall sound to it but the wordiness of the song makes it less than enjoyable for me. I have no idea if this can be a big hit or not, but so far, I’m not feeling the song.

I love this song, it’s so catchy. I’m surprised by some of the decisions that they made, for instance the music during the verses is more up beat than I expected, and I don’t know if that was the best choice. I love the change that he makes towards the end, that sounds great. I think for the average listener, who doesn’t know that they have to make a choice between two people who appeared on a tv talent show, that the chorus will be like an ear worm to them, something that will be hard for them to ignore, and then they will start to listen to the rest of the song. But, just based on the chorus, I can see this getting a lot of radio play.

G’morning all! Any coffee left, HoppersSkippersMiners? I just got to work and need some bad! *sniffing around for caffeine*

Heard the single on Z100, will comment shortly. Just want to let you all know Kris will be on WPLJ at 9:15 AM ET. http://www.wplj.com click on upper right hand side to listen live on the web. *runs off to read comments*

I’m on about my fifth listen and it’s getting better, but still am struggling with getting into the verses.

I also really wanted to finish the song parody I started in the other thread, but it will be hard because of those dang verses. (I have a hard time parodying a song if I can’t sing along to it)

I personally don’t like it a lot, though I liked and voted for Kris. I hope his other stuff is a little less top-40ish. I would absolutely rank Light On much higher, but it is closer to the type of music I already like. My issue is with the song, not the singer. He did great on it. And it sounds like recent big hits, so I suspect it will do very very well. My taste is not the taste of the top 40 listener.

I can’t stand Jesus Take the Wheel. I don’t think I’ve ever heard Tattoo. Light On is meh.

I liked this. I listened to it again, and it’s just so catchy. I hate being preached to, but this doesn’t sound like I’m being preached to at all. Of course, YMMV.

Is it the best song I’ve ever heard? Far from it. But all in all, pretty good. With the potential to be a hit.

I’m really happy for Kris and hope the single does well.

I don’t get a good flow from it or a connection to it.

Neither do I. I think that is because of the wordiness but maybe I just need to see his face when he’s singing it and I’ll feel something.

My Order:
Kelly – Miss Independent
Kris – Live Like We’re Dying
Jordin – Tattoo
Taylor – Just to Feel that Way
David – Light On
Carrie – Jesus Take the Wheel
Ruben – Sorry 2004

Fantasia – Truth Is (no opinion)

I like the song. But then again, I also liked Tattoo back in the day. I like this one better though.
Maybe not something I’ll buy and put on my ipod, but it’s a song I’d enjoy listening to on the radio… maybe with time I may actually end up loving it to the point of buying.
I seriously can not understand the words though, and the non chorus part is forgettable, but the “Gotta Live Like We’re Dying” part won’t get out of my brain, and that’s a plus for the song. It sticks.
I think it can do really well on radio, plus, with a z100 debut it will go far in that format.

I’d go:
Jesus Take the Wheel
Miss Independent
Truth Is
Tattoo

Live Like We’re Dying (meh) but it will do well on Top 40
Light On (hated it)
Just to Feel that way (not only bad but terrible for radio)

CONGRATULATIONS KRIS! This is a great song and extremely catchy. I know what I’m going to be humming all day.

I guess I sort of see what some people are saying about it being message-y, but that had the opposite effect on me. It just struck me that it was a really beautiful sentiment.

And it is super super catchy. While it is a little wordy, I’ve almost got the words down after listening to it just 3 times. And wordy songs are tons of fun to sing along to — you feel accomplished when you get it right!

I can totally see this shooting to #1.

By the way, Kris isn’t wearing plaid today, according to someone at ontd_ai who was at the radio station…

In case it got lost in my post:

Kris will be on WPLJ at 9:15 AM ET. http://www.wplj.com click on upper right hand side to listen live on the web.

I should add that I’m also not a Top 40 listener and since the song debuted on Z100, I’m guessing that’s who they’re marketing the song to. So I have no idea how successful the song will be there. I just can’t stand most of the music being played on this format, so I can’t really judge how folks who do like that stuff will feel about this song in particular.

I think the song will do well for him, to me it sounds like Gavin DeGraw in the verse and Jason Mraz in the chorus. Maybe after i’ve heard it more it will sound like Kris but his voice seems lost in there somewhere.
It’s a pretty good first single though but not good enough to make me want to buy it, I hope the album is better.

Absolutely loved it. Woke up at 4:30AM just to be a part of this Kris’ epic moment. I’m only disappointed because I can’t buy it just yet.

Heard the whole song. Like it. I like it better near the end when you can really hear Kris getting into to the song. That part is closer to the KA that we all know. Has more his spin on it. It doesn’t matter that the song is so close to the Script version. No one has heard it so it will be all Kris’s. As to where I think this ranks against other Idol winner debuts. It totally near the top for me.

Miss Independent
Live Like We’re dying
JTW( did love this at first but it really grew on me)
Tattoo(catchy but stupid song to me)
Light On ( hated it and still do)

It should be noted that the only one of these debut CD’s I bought was Cook’s ( barbasol, declaration, Lie to Me redeemed him for me). The only single I actually bought is Carrie’s. Will have to hear more of Kris’s to know if it moves me to buy it. Will have to hear the rest of the songs on his CD to know if that will be a purchase.

My Order:
Kelly ‘“ Miss Independent
Kris ‘“ Live Like We’re Dying
Jordin ‘“ Tattoo
Taylor ‘“ Just to Feel that Way
David ‘“ Light On
Carrie ‘“ Jesus Take the Wheel
Ruben ‘“ Sorry 2004

Fantasia ‘“ Truth Is (no opinion)

Now Jesus is gonna strike you down with lightning =D

“I can totally see this shooting to #1.”

um no.

I seriously love it. And I hate almost everything, so I’m excited. This is probably the only idol single I’ve ever even liked. Well, besides Battlefield, but that was entirely against my will.

Congrats, Kris <3

And now for my take on the single:

I liked it, which was my original reaction to the leaked snippet as well. I don’t love it, but I do think it’s catchy and Kris’s voice sounds very nice on it. I can definitely tell it’s him, even if I hadn’t known ahead of time – which is part of what we’re looking for, right? A voice that people can say “hey, isn’t that Kris Allen?” I was worried that Kris would sound too generic.

I do wish they had rewritten that “plane falls out of the sky” bit. I’m personally phobic about that, and I’m sure there are others that feel that way. I sure don’t need someone singing about it! But beyond that, I can see myself singing along with this after a few listens.

Best of luck, Kris! I’m happy for you. :)

I like very much the song; good lyrics and nice uplifting message and Kris does sound very good on it.
I can understand why it’s not very changed from the original… this song was written recently and it’s good as is… why change it? It’s not like a song we have heard like 100 thousands time and it’s good to hear a fresh version!

I guess they were looking for the Jason Mraz vibe but I find it more annoying than catchy. To me he sounds a lot like Blake Lewis in this song.

I never liked JTW, but yes, Carrie, even w/her robotic interpretation, sang it w/technical precision. As for Kris’ single, I’m not entirely sold, not yet, but it does have a great vibe for a very wordy song. I need to listen to it more than once though. But I like the chorus. And I think younger, college peeps will like the song. I hope it’s a “win” for Kris.

I like the song and can see what Jive was going for with this release. The chorus is catchy as hell. It reminded me a little of Jason Mraz.

The lyrics are cheesy for the most part but there are a couple of pretty good lines in there. I have not listened to The Script’s version of the song yet so I cannot compare. But I am happy this was not overproduced and Kris’s voice did not get lost. The 23 second snippet had me concerned.

Brian Mansfield has weighed in – sort of:

“Kris Allen debuted his new single, Live Like We’re Dying, Monday morning on the Elvis Duran Show from New York’s Z100. Did you hear it? First impression: It’s a bright, postive single, not far from what you might expect from Kris, based on his American Idol performances — a pop-rock sound with an acoustic guitar foundation, combined with a toasting-style chorus (the first listener who called in after it played likened it to a cross between the Dave Matthews Band and Matisyahu).”

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/idolchatter/index

Hope Slezak and Cantiello get their interviews up today!

Good luck Kris!

someone put up a YouTube of the song — backwards. LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZZEx0r7v50&feature=player_embedded

stupid question….move along

jpfan
September 21, 2009 at 8:42 am
No way does this come near Jesus Take the Wheel or even Tattoo. JTW is an incredible song and Tattoo has some real feeling in it.

HATE JTW with a passion. And Tattoo is just laughable, imo.
For me, an Adam fan, this song is far better.

Laundry day, maybe?? :)

I liked it, very catchy chorus. Didn’t feel preachy at all to me, and I’m usually pretty sensitive to that, so cool. Fits on with Kris’s vibe I think! Congrats to him!!

well I guess not if you count A Moment Like This…

Wait’ ¦was Miss Independent Kelly’s debut single?

Yes. Before Your Love and A Moment Like This were her idol singles but MI was her first official single from her album

And one more time – Kris will be on WPLJ at 9:15 AM ET. which is one minute away…

http://www.wplj.com click on upper right hand side to listen live on the web.

Kris is about to be on WPLJ…after the traffic report…

thanks rowenaaine for the link! At least I’ll get this one live this morning

Predictions:
It will do better than the Script version – because of the promotion.
It will be a moderate success for Kris,won’t hit #1
It may go Gold not Platinum
It is something he can accompany himself with a guitar on shows
He will release another single before the album comes out
comment on song:
Not something I would buy but I would turn up the radio when its on.

I’m trying to like it, but it just sounds like all the other bubblegum stuff on the radio. I expected more from the purported artist, the music-changer, the Kris who pours his heart out in acoustic renditions. I just don’t hear it. I can barely make out the words because there is so many and then there’s the catchy chorus, which I can make out. Macarena keeps resonating in my head. Sorry, but I wish Kris well.

Yes. Before Your Love and A Moment Like This were her idol singles but MI was her first official single from her album

Cool. Thank you :)

I do wish they had rewritten that ‘plane falls out of the sky’  bit. I’m personally phobic about that

I’m more personally phobic about “staring down the barrel of a gun”, but my grandma says her concern is the opening line: “sometimes we’ve fallena and we can’t get back up.”

You’re welcome, Mtlfan - I’ve got it on here. Even though I heard the Z100 debut, PLJ is the station I most listen to, and it’s always more fun live than on replay. :)

halfie
September 21, 2009 at 9:17 am

I’m more personally phobic about ‘staring down the barrel of a gun’ , but my grandma says her concern is the opening line: ‘sometimes we’ve fallena and we can’t get back up.’ 

:D

So will Kris be doing a press tour to support his single now? Or will he go back to recording?
I’m new to this.

I liked it, which was my original reaction to the leaked snippet as well. I don’t love it, but I do think it’s catchy and Kris’s voice sounds very nice on it. I can definitely tell it’s him, even if I hadn’t known ahead of time ‘“ which is part of what we’re looking for, right? A voice that people can say ‘hey, isn’t that Kris Allen?’  I was worried that Kris would sound too generic.

I do wish they had rewritten that ‘plane falls out of the sky’  bit. I’m personally phobic about that, and I’m sure there are others that feel that way. I sure don’t need someone singing about it! But beyond that, I can see myself singing along with this after a few listens.

This sums it up pretty well for me. From someone who lived through their own 9/11 stress that was way too close to home, I cringe about the ‘planes falls out of the sky’. I’m sure I am in the minority on this.. but I do wish that they rewrote this.

In the end I’m sure it will get plenty of airplay. Can’t ask for too much on a quick turn from the end of season to album.

Meh, not bad, but not great either. Pretty much what I expected really. Maybe slightly better. I think it has potential to be a modest hit, but it’s not really stand out enough for a number 1. Either way, I feel it’s better than any of the other first releases from previous Idol winners.

Btw to me it sounds more HAC than CHR..

I think it has potential to be a modest hit, but it’s not really stand out enough for a number 1

Exactly.
Well time for me to go off to school. Have a good day everyone!

koshka
September 21, 2009 at 9:19 am
This sums it up pretty well for me. From someone who lived through their own 9/11 stress that was way too close to home, I cringe about the ‘planes falls out of the sky’. I’m sure I am in the minority on this.. but I do wish that they rewrote this.

Yeah, that’s what I thought of too. It’s a little heavy handed for me. *shrugs*

The drawback of this song is that it can be tricky live.

It’s a good song, I don’t love it, but I like it. I think it’ll get lots of radio play and that it will be a hit for Kris. My definition of a Hit is a single that places in the top 10 of the Billboard hot 100 singles.

I really like the song. Yeah, it’s pretty much the same as the Script’s version, but I think it really works for Kris’ voice. I think it will do well on the radio, and it may be a surprise hit for him. Way to go, Kris!

hey! cool they play some snippets of his performances!!
makes me remember how I liked ‘What’s going on’…
yeah it starts!!

Kris Allen was live in studio with Elvis Duran. Get the lyrics, see photos, listen over and over and more right here!

http://z100.elvisduran.com/pages/news/krisallen/index.html

The 9/11 imagry is unavoidable — it’s not just any plane crash, it’s one where people are placing phone calls to say goodbye. I understand why some would find that uncomfortable, but I think that emotional punch actually creates one of the stronger moments in the verses because of it.

Ugh, could that WPLJ announcer make his voice sound any faker?

Count me in among those who like it. I’m pretty sure I’d like it on its own merits, but when you grade on the curve that is an Idol’s first single, this is amazing. It’s a total earworm and even though it’s message-y, it somehow works for me.

really average – there are so many songs right now that are better than this one that hasnt even made the top 100. the only thing that might make this single a top ten hit is kris’s brand as an idol winner

And one more time ‘“ Kris is on WPLJ RIGHT NOW

http://www.wplj.com click on upper right hand side to listen live on the web.

I expected more from the purported artist, the music-changer, the Kris who pours his heart out in acoustic renditions. I just don’t hear it. I can barely make out the words because there is so many and then there’s the catchy chorus, which I can make out

Sadly, I agree. Not lovin it.

Katy’s in L.A., fixing up their new apartment…

Different strokes and I’ll get off the soap box but JTTW was nominated for a Grammy as Song of the Year and won a Grammy for Best Country Song that year. (BTW I hate country music usually.) Anyway, the single introduces the artist and hopefully this will do as well as JTTW,MI and Tattoo did in eventually propelling the album to platinum sales.

oh he’s doing MITM

Kris is singing MITM live on WPLJ http://www.wplj.com click on upper right hand side to listen live on the web.

Definitely a hit! This song will take off and take off quickly. Everything about it is memorable. On first listen, it stays with you. People who don’t follow AI will stand up and take notice of this song. Kris makes the lyrics work, mainly I think because he believes in its message.

I LOVE THIS FING SONG!!! I’ve been listening to the Script all weekend. Kris has made this song his own and he’s done The Script proud. Say what you will, this song is a HIT!!

Oh Man in the Mirror How sweet!!! Live on WPLJ !

I don’t like it, but with the catchy chorus, it seems like the song will hit the chart, IMO

Sounds good hearing Kris sing live without having to deal with sound loss via youtube clips.

MITM now… cool

I listened to Z100 earlier and gosh I flove LLWD.
I have no crystal ball but I do believe this is a HIT!!!!

MITM sounded beautiful.

I really love the acoustic Kris. Yay!

I flove it! I predict a big hit for Kris! Congratulations, Kris!

I need to know?

his favorite song on his album so far is ‘I need to know’… did he say he wrote or co-wrote it?

He said he wrote it.

His favorite song on the album (so far) is one he wrote himself — I Need to Know

Still has a lot more work to do on the album though

very catchy. congrats kris !!!.

Oh, Kris, when the DJ asks you your favorite song on the album, you have to have to have to have to say “Live Like We’re Dying” (even if it’s not true).

It was sadly meek how he said, “well the single’s nice.”

halfie
September 21, 2009 at 9:35 am
Oh, Kris, when the DJ asks you your favorite song on the album, you have to have to have to have to say ‘Live Like We’re Dying’  (even if it’s not true).

It was sadly meek how he said, ‘well the single’s nice.’ 

LOL He definitely has a ways to go to master the PR game, huh? ;)

Oh, Kris, when the DJ asks you your favorite song on the album, you have to have to have to have to say ‘Live Like We’re Dying’  (even if it’s not true).

It was sadly meek how he said, ‘well the single’s nice.’ 

it’s ok for me; he said it’s very nice. It opens the door for more interest for the cd I think .. for me it does

It was sadly meek how he said, ‘well the single’s nice.’ 

Oh no he didn’t. :(

I’m back at the office, so I’m not listenning live. Please keep updating. Thanks.

I like the song better after hearing it the second time. I like the chorus very much.

halfie:

The 9/11 imagry is unavoidable ‘” it’s not just any plane crash, it’s one where people are placing phone calls to say goodbye. I understand why some would find that uncomfortable, but I think that emotional punch actually creates one of the stronger moments in the verses because of it.

I agree that this is one of the stronger moments in the song.

I really like the contrast between the upbeat, energetic music and the message of the lyrics. The tension between the music and lyrics makes the song more interesting and keeps it from being preachy. I wouldn’t like it at all if it had the same lyrics set to slow, dramatic music.

Well, listening to Kris’ version really didn’t change my opinion of this song much. I seriously doubt this song will impact Top 40 that much. AC moderate hit maybe?

Definitely the most chart-relevant 1st single from all Idol winners.
It sounds current, very RnB-ish, very catchy.
I hate the bridge though.

The chorus is very catchy, but I don’t think the verses are as strongly written. I also don’t really feel the warmth in Kris’ voice that I get from his live performances. All that said, it’s probably the strongest first debut song from a male AI winner. It does not come close, however, to Kelly’s Miss Independent or Carrie’s Jesus Take the Wheel for either vocal excellence or the song itself…and I’m still not a fan of this last one, but it was very well done.

I really like the contrast between the upbeat, energetic music and the message of the lyrics. The tension between the music and lyrics makes the song more interesting and keeps it from being preachy. I wouldn’t like it at all if it had the same lyrics set to slow, dramatic music.

Agree with you MusicAlltheTime.
I love the chorus of this song

Altough I still like it, I can’t listen to it several times in a row, it starts to get irritating pretty fast, maybee because of the fast pace and the number of words.

I saw the jacket of the single in another site and if that’s really it, I hate it but that’s not very important.

Wow! Perez slammed it per twitter:

PerezHiltonI just listened to (American Idol winner) Kris Allen’s new single, “Live Like We’re Dying”, and it’s so awful! Bad. Bad. He’s no Daughtry!

The DJ actually pried some info out of Kris about the album — which is very hard to do!

http://twitter.com/PerezHilton/status/4146230214

Ah Perez. It’s not that bad.

I love it. I will buy it. The only way this will not be a hit is if the radio stations don’t give it enough airplay, but I highly doubt that. I think the college radio stations will love it.

Personally, i love it more than any of the winner’s first singles to date, but then again, I am not a big fan of female singers in general.

I agree that this is one of the stronger moments in the song.

I really like the contrast between the upbeat, energetic music and the message of the lyrics. The tension between the music and lyrics makes the song more interesting and keeps it from being preachy. I wouldn’t like it at all if it had the same lyrics set to slow, dramatic music.

A little sarcasm here… I don’t take this personal, at all srsly… but its great that it is upbeat and energetic, just don’t be that person trying to get through to your loved one to see if they are alive while all phones are jammed. Its not so energetic then. Just had to get that off my chest & it won’t keep me from listening to the song. It’ll just cause a personal cringe now and again.

Its a fine song, I’m sure it will do well.

PerezHiltonI just listened to (American Idol winner) Kris Allen’s new single, ‘Live Like We’re Dying’ , and it’s so awful! Bad. Bad. He’s no Daughtry!

i really don’t give a s___ of what he thinks!

Loved the song, very catchy, well done Kris!

I saw the jacket of the single in another site and if that’s really it, I hate it but that’s not very important.

What site has the album cover at? I’d like to see it since none of Kris’s photo shoot pictures were leaked.

I’m sorry, this song does nothing for me.

Who cares about Perez anyway? Everyone knows what a jackass he is.
I don’t think Kris cares about his opinion and really, it’s not everyone who will like it.

i really don’t give a s___ of what he thinks!

Regarding Perez: he does have 1.4 MILLION followers.

My ratings for the Idol debut singles:

Miss Independent – Kelly – (platinum – #9 peak on Hot 100)
Light On – David – (platinum – #17 peak on Hot 100)
Jesus Take The Wheel – Carrie (platinum – #20 peak on Hot 100, #1 Country)
Tattoo – Jordin (platinum – #8 peak on Hot 100)
Live Like We’re Dying – Kris – ?
Sorry 2004 – Ruben (gold – #9 peak on Hot 100)
Just to Feel That Way – Taylor ( —- )

I kind of wish Perez liked it because he does have 1.4 million followers but oh well you can’t please everyone.

What site has the album cover at? I’d like to see it since none of Kris’s photo shoot pictures were leaked.

http://i34.tinypic.com/nfp28k.png

Another report on ontd_ai from someone who went to Z100 this morning. She talked to Michael Slezak (who won the first hug war with Jim Cantiello, evidently) — Kris hasn’t shot the music video for the single yet. Slzak’s interview will likely be posted on Friday.

Allen’s new single, ‘Live Like We’re Dying’ , and it’s so awful! Bad. Bad. He’s no Daughtry!

It’s no surprise. He didn’t like Kris to begin with. I’m pretty sure he is going to go all out when Adam releases his single.

Although, I think we can all agree that this is better than Ruben’s first single ‘Sorry 2004′ ³ (sorry Rub! That song sucked), so it’s not the worst Idol winner debut single. (oops, now all the Ruben fans are going to hate me)

No I won’t hate you, it was a horrible song, as almost all idol debut singles are imho. I have hated all winners debuts including Sorry. Fantasia’s was the only one that I thought was decent. I hated JTTW, Light On, whatever Taylor’s first single was, as it is debatable, lol. Tattoo would be second but only by default. I thought Kelly was shouting at me in Miss Independent, and I love, love, love Kelly. I don’t love this one either, but then I can’t judge because I really don’t like Kris’ voice on this song, so I can’t be objective. I guarantee there will be at least 4 songs I like better on his cd. Whoever picks the first single should be fired. They always pick the worse songs, always.

That being said, congratulations Kris. You must be ecstatic.

That’s so Perez, the same person who insisted way back that Fidel Castro died.

I’m shocked how much I like this song. I’d have to agree with your assessment 100%, mj.

Will folks who bought his pass at the end of the season get the single earlier than everybody else?

And what makes anyone think people who follow Perez are interested in anything Kris? Ha! We need reviews from better people.
Go Kris!

Well Perez Hilton isn’t a music critic. And hes an idiot if he thinks Kris is trying to be like Chris Daughtry, since their musical styles aren’t anything alike.

Regarding Perez: he does have 1.4 MILLION followers.

And there’s a reason I’m not one of them. He can bitch all he wants but whenever you look at the comments section, not everyone agrees with him.

Well Perez Hilton isn’t a music critic. And hes an idiot if he thinks Kris is trying to be like Chris Daughtry, since their musical styles aren’t anything alike.

IAWTC.

Ugh Perez… so harsh! the problem is that he is outside the bubble… maybe the first one to comment that truly is

I absolutely love this song. I have it on repeat and can’t stop listening to it. I hated Cook and Jordin’s singles and I’m glad I finally like a first single from an Idol winner.

Congratulations Kris!!!

I am so excited to hear new music from a S8 Idol. Will be listening on my radio rotation for it all day today.

I think it’s fun and catchy and I love Kris’ take on it.

Ugh Perez’ ¦ so harsh! the problem is that he is outside the bubble’ ¦ maybe the first one to comment that truly is

I think his love of Adam Lambert this past season (despite all the twitter wars, etc.) shows he’s not completely outside the bubble and he is not a music critic. I don’t think many people that like Kris will follow Perepz. And his comparison sucks – Kris isn’t trying to be Daughtry – the music styles are completely different.

ETA: Kris is the headline on z100.com

i really don’t give a s___ of what he thinks!

Regarding Perez: he does have 1.4 MILLION followers.

Yeah I know.
I have a low opinion of him but won’t elaborate — not worthed — .
And I guess that a lot of people will think ‘what the hell is he talking about?’ after hearing the song because I think it’s a good pop song

“Ugh Perez’ ¦ so harsh! the problem is that he is outside the bubble’ ¦ maybe the first one to comment that truly is”

I know what you mean but you know Perez is just as likely to get tied up in imagined fan wars as your most fervent fanatic. Not to say that he couldn’t genuinely dislike it but I find his opinion…..convenient. He does have reach though so it’s too bad he couldn’t find something good to say about it. The “no Daughtry” comment is a typical Perez non sequitur.

I like Kris’s single. It fits him IMO. I don’t see it having the impact that MI did for Kelly or JTTW did for Carrie but I hope it does well for him. I see it being more of a Hot AC hit than Top 40 one but I hope Jive proves me wrong.

I can’t wait to hear I Need To Know and I’m glad there’s going to be a song on Kris’s record he wrote all by himself.

Listened to it again, and I still really like it! So, when will other stations start playing it?

Richard Rushfield seems cautiously positive about Kris’ single:

#Am taking my time to formulate official position on the Kris Allen single. But on 5th listening, I’m not unhappy.

Perez even MENTIONING the song will give it more press. Those 1.4 million followers do count for something

Haha I said I was leaving earlier but I haven’t left yet. Going now :)

I love how Perez Hilton’s opinion is now suddenly relevant after he trashes Kris.

Will folks who bought his pass at the end of the season get the single earlier than everybody else?

I would assume anyone who bought Kris’s iTunes pass would get the single automatically when it’s released on iTunes.

Congrats to Kris and his fans, I personally wish I hadn’t heard the original, but I do agree with all the previous commenters, the song has a lot potential for the US radio.

Perez Hilton does have a ton of followers, but that’s in part because he’s so polarizing…people disagree with his opinions as much as they agree with them. So maybe his mentioning Kris’ single will get some people who may not have even known or cared about this to listen to it and judge it for themselves.

Ugh – Perez. Reason, *updating personal database* 1,297,496 to despise him.

I like the song. It’s catchy and I hope it’s a hit for Kris!

Not my bag. To me the song sounds like a lame version of Jason Mraz. Or maybe Mraz by way of The Wiggles. Mraz often does the rapid fire lyrics thing, but his lyrics have that quirky clever charm to them that make you want to figure them out and memorize them to sing along. That’s missing for me here. The vocal isn’t impressive, but it’s pleasant I suppose. It’s written to be earwormy, that’s for sure, and that might be enough to make it a hit regardless of the lame factor. Lord knows it’s worked for Jordin Sparks, and I definitely like this better than Battlefield.

In honor of Kris’ tepid support of the single on WPLJ, here are the lyrics of the parody I wrote to the chorus. I may work on the verses later (if I’m feelin it, dawg).

Yeah, gotta start
Layin’ down some tracks to make a hit record here
Can’t play my guit box, no time to be pickin’ it
Tried to write a song but the clock was tickin’

Gotta sing’ ¦ what you’re buyin’!

I love how Perez Hilton’s opinion is now suddenly relevant after he trashes Kris.

Perez opinion is never relevant.

I think his love of Adam Lambert this past season (despite all the twitter wars, etc.) shows he’s not completely outside the bubble and he is not a music critic

I think he is just more into electronic sounds like gaga, katy perry, etc. He does not have any attachment to the show, only comments eventually, about many participants, not only adam. He is not a bitterbert, lol

Perez Hilton doesn’t matter–it’s nice if he’s on your side and trying to promote you, and it doesn’t matter if he’s not.

Also: hits-wise Daughtry’s done well, but since when is Nickelback-redux something to aspire to musically?

anyway, I like the song–the lyrics are trite but the song itself is very catchy and fun and Kris sounds lovely on it, and while my opinion alone won’t make it a hit, it’s definitely stuck in my head. :)

Perez is an idiot. I don’t think that he’s “outside the bubble” either since he tweets hugs and kisses to Adam. We’ll see how the single sells, that’s what matters. I think it’s catchy and I’m hoping it is a hit. I’m rooting for Kris.

It’s no surprise. He didn’t like Kris to begin with. I’m pretty sure he is going to go all out when Adam releases his single.

To be fair he didn’t like ‘Want’ either.

Perez has a love/hate thing going on with Adam. Don’t think he cares much about Kris one way or the other. His opinion doesn’t really matter to me, since I don’t think much of Perez Hlton anyway

Can’t say that I particularly liked Kris’s new single, but I wouldn’t turn off the radio if it was playing. I suspect that it will burnout pretty quickly for me. So… Personally, it’s a lot like Crush for me in that way. Won’t buy it. Don’t hate it. Will likely be tired of it by November.

Two differences: (1) I don’t know if it will have the success of Crush. It’s very wordy which could hurt it. But it does have a hook to the chorus, so that could be enough to get it a lot of airplay, plus the Z100 push. (2) I was not interested in Archie’s music last year, but have had hopes that I would like Kris’s album enough to buy it. I hope that I like the rest of it more than this, or I won’t be buying.

JTW is an incredible song and Tattoo has some real feeling in it.

And that’s why there’s chocolate and vanilla. I don’t think the new single’s lyrics are amazing, but “Jesus, Take the Wheel” could induce diabetic shock. Just yuck. And “Tattoo”? Now, there’s a song that sounds like about 50 others out there right now. “Real feeling”? I think that’s pretty subjective.

As far as this song being too wordy, a lot of folks love rap/hip-hop, and this is like Dr. Seuss compared to a lot of that. People who want to learn the words will look them up and be singing along in no time. I didn’t have a hard time understanding Kris at all myself.

“PerezHiltonI just listened to (American Idol winner) Kris Allen’s new single, ‘Live Like We’re Dying’ , and it’s so awful! Bad. Bad. He’s no Daughtry!” –

That doesn’t even make sense. He’s no Daughtry? No shit! I thought Perez liked The Script? He’s bashing a song that was written by a band he likes?

I never had respect for this parasite and it continued on with calling a woman the “c” word and then on another occassion used the word fag. On top of the fact, I can’t bear to look at him, he’s so damn ugly.

Lady Gaga and Perez are the “it” couple from hell. Just sayin’

Don’t mean nothing.

To be fair he didn’t like ‘Want’ either.

Did any music critic like ‘Want’? Or really anyone in general? I don’t think that song can be considered in any way. Perez never liked Kris so he wasn’t going to like hs song – I don’t think he would ever give Kris a fair shot. While he might not like what Adam ends up putting out I think he will at least give it more of a fair shot.

EWMichaelSlezak Wrong! All hugs with @KrisAllen4Real result in victory! #LiveLikeWereDying RT @jambajim I botched the hug. Slezak wins.2 minutes ago from web

LOVE the song, was up at 4:30 to hear the debut live. It’s already loaded on my iPhone so I can listen in the car and at work. I think it will do very well for Kris, and I’m especially happy Jive is giving him the big promotion he deserves.

Well, I am generally neutral on Kris (don’t love him/don’t hate him) but i think this single will probably do reasonably well….its catchy….will it be a huge hit? who knows, i could see it going either way

To be fair he didn’t like ‘Want’ either.

Yup, you have a point there. It’s just that I can’t forget his posts on his site right after Kris won. He clearly has a huge bias against Kris. So, I am not surprised he bashed his song so much.

Graded on the curve of idol first singles, LLWD is really, really good. Kris sounds like Kris and the song has personality. I like it so much more than Light On. That song is so generic (IMHO) and I was worried they would put Kris through a similar blanding machine.

That said, the song is a lot poppier than what I normally listen to. (I rarely venture from alternative music.) It’s a little hard for me to judge, but it’s stuck in my head and not in that “damn. why can’t I get this song out of my head?” kind of way. I hate most of what they play on the radio these days, so I think this song is a good start.

I’m still looking forward to hearing a song written by Kris, though.

Perez has a love/hate thing going on with Adam. Don’t think he cares much about Kris one way or the other.

Seriously, one day he loves him and the next day he’s ripping him to pieces. He just happens to be on the upswing at the moment, but he’s so bipolar about Adam that he could turn again at any moment.

I actually think this has more to do with Kris using one of The Script’s songs. Perez has promoted them with a couple entries on his blog, and was even given a cameo on one of their videos. I wouldn’t be surprised if that didn’t bias him against this particular single.

ETA: While logically it would make sense that if you like The Script, and they will likely benefit financially from Kris covering their song, then you would be predisposed to like it. But music fans are rarely logical, and if he liked the original, he may have simply reacted viscerally against hearing someone else cover it differently.

ETA: NOT that the musical opinion of Perez means anything. Just providing background.

Or really anyone in general?

I liked it, Adam’s voice made it good for me. The voice can make or break a song imo. I didn’t like the Script’s version of Kris’ single a whole lot because I wasn’t hooked on the lead singers voice (too Maroon 5 -ish), I like Kris’ version much better even though it has a Jason Mraz thing going on with it.

Aren’t songs usually available for purchase when they are released to radio? Not usually…..but always? Aren’t they? I’m confused.

I didn ´t care for Kris AT ALL during the show but I really like this! it ´s very catchy and fun, I hope is a hit for Kris.
Halfie that was hilarious lol

Chiming in here….the song is fine and I think will play radio very well which is what they are looking for probably. Oh, and does it count that Kris and Adam are the most smokin’ hot looking guys that Idol has ever seen? (shallow moment)

Re: Perez’ “he’s no Daughtry” and I’m thinking “whew, thank goodness” as I have never liked anything Daughtry has done. Just sayin’

:-) Go Kris.

Yeah, most people don’t care what Perez says but it was just a twitter review of the song. As the reviews come in that are not stellar, I guess the anthem for the day will be “Well, he/she didn’t like Kris anyway” Duh! But, there will be good reviews and bad reviews. Are we only supposed to post the good ones and forget the others? I think its good to see what everyone is saying about it. I can see the Kris Allen fans rushing to Perez’s site to admonish him for his opinion (and all the others that don’t like it) which won’t be a good move when it concerns Perez.

Jambajim

#Interview allllll done. Only got through an 1/8th of my questions. He’s a busy man. Going back to the office to work with the tape. Weeee!about 2 hours ago from txt

#My Kris interview is shorter than the length of his (awesome! perfect!) single. That seems a little unfair. But whatevs! Still fun tape…3 minutes ago from txt

I’m still looking forward to hearing a song written by Kris, though.

in the 2nd interview this morning, he talked about his favorite song so far (that he wrote) “I need to know” . Now I’m very curious to hear that one.
But I love this first single

Yeah, I’m pretty sure I’m not going to be checking with Perez before I decide what I listen to or purchase. Safe to say ditto with the rest of the universe.

Love this single. I think it’s exactly the kind of catchy, cool, upbeat tune he needed to come out with first.

Jim C has a serious hardon ;p

#My Kris interview is shorter than the length of his (awesome! perfect!) single. That seems a little unfair. But whatevs! Still fun tape’ ¦3 minutes ago from txt

Indeed a very catchy, radio-friendly song…seems like a hit to me.And it doesn’t matter if it’s not an original because the Script’s version is not well known…

Funny how an article about Kris has comments mentioning Adam…. :(

Definite hit potential, but what do I know. I had to stop playing it after the third time, because it started to get annoying. So based on that, it will probably be on the radio every time I get in the car.

Unfortunately, as someone who follows a lot of struggling singer/songwriter types, I have a hard time getting past the fact that this is someone else’s song. I wish I didn’t know it was a cover, so I could judge it more objectively. To me, it sounds like an almost exact copy of the original. Of course, I’m sure The Script are thrilled to have the exposure, and it shouldn’t effect the song’s success at all. It’s just me.

ETA:

Posts that fingerwag, or criticize other posters or the tone of the comments will be deleted. A couple of you are close to being placed in moderation.

My guidelines if you haven’t read them already:

http://mjsbigblog.com/?page_id=1172

As the reviews come in that are not stellar, I guess the anthem for the day will be ‘Well, he/she didn’t like Kris anyway’  Duh! But, there will be good reviews and bad reviews. Are we only supposed to post the good ones and forget the others? I think its good to see what everyone is saying about it.

I think i’ll wait for someone who is more important to the music world to give a bad review before worrying about negatve reviews. After the leak, even Lyndsey Parker from Yahoo! Music (who is an Adam fangirl and was anti-Kris’s win) thought it was good. Perez is about celebrity and scandal and Kris isn’t big on those things so he doesn’t give Perez what he likes and I just can’t take him seriously as a music reviewer.

I liked it. I don’t think its too wordy or too poppy… its catchy and fun. I think it should do fine.

Perez mentioning the song is a mixed bag. He has a lot of followers who openly disagree with him, so a lot will at least check it out and weigh in with their opinion if he eventually makes a post out of it. But he is a bit of a tastemaker to some, so sometimes he can give a “not cool” sheen to something. He’s like the meanest girl in the popular clique at school in that way.

I still think the song will do fine regardless.

IMHO, I don’t think Kris’ fans should care about Perez tweet.

First of all, the fact that he tweeted about it is huge publicity for Kris.

A lot of people follow him because due to human nature, the love for gossip is unavoidable. But I don’t really think that his musical taste is relevant for anyone, he only cares about Gaga, Perry and artists he hangs out with or music you will hear in a nightclub.

If people like it, a pink-haired man won’t have any input in their opinion.

Halfie that was hilarious lol

Thanks!

Here’s another take on my alternate lyrics to the second half of the chorus (I waa torn on which to use — I may use both in the full version if/when I finish it)

—

There’s maybe…
Three or four hundred fans who think I wrote
This song by The Scrpt
But I didn’t change a note
Now 19 Entertainment’s
Gonna shove it down your throat

Gotta sing… what you’re buyin!

Thanks Valentin432. I notice they like to take close ups of Kris’ face.

Download link to the 2nd radio station interview, plus versions of MITM and the new single

http://www.sendspace.com/file/fxta1u

oh and twitter replies to @perezhilton seem to be running slightly in favor of defending Kris/positive response to the single. Luckily only a couple of OTT replies calling Perez a bunch of unrepeatable names…

Well Rickey is going a bit insane over this song, not in a good way. He’s getting overly defensive and spamming his followers twitter pages with his tweets. Here are his tweets so far:

Was their single ever released? SHOW ME YOUR RECEIPT. RT @gjkooijman: why pick something with a style so obviously attached to the Script?
4 minutes ago from TweetDeck

Kris Allen did not co-write “She Works Hard For The Money” RT @gjkooijman
17 minutes ago from TweetDeck

RT @gjkooijman: Don’t play the wiser than thou card!
21 minutes ago from TweetDeck

Name an orignl song Kris sang on the show that gave you this impression. RT @jolinegkg Kris gave image of singer-songwriter, others didn’t.
26 minutes ago from TweetDeck

Bo Bice co-wrote 2 out of 11 songs in his debut album, and one song “It’s My Life” was co-written with Kara DioGuardi @VAidolfan
29 minutes ago from TweetDeck

Carrie Underwood co-wrote 1 out of 14 songs in her debut album. She just sang “Jesus, Take the Wheel”. @VAidolfan
32 minutes ago from TweetDeck

Katharine McPhee co-wrote 3 our of 12 songs in her debut album including “Open Toes” @VAidolfan
35 minutes ago from TweetDeck

Taylor Hicks co-wrote/wrote 3 of 12 songs on his debut album. @VAidolfan
36 minutes ago from TweetDeck

Blake Lewis co-wrote ALL the songs in his debut album. @VAidolfan
39 minutes ago from TweetDeck

Jordin Sparks co-wrote 1 out of 13 songs in her debut album. @VAidolfan
40 minutes ago from TweetDeck

David Cook co-wrote 11 out of 14 songs, but not his 3 biggest singles: TOML, Light On, Come Back to Me @VAidolfan
42 minutes ago from TweetDeck

David Archuleta co-wrote 2 our of 12 songs on his album and he just sang “Crush” @VAidolfan
about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

Since when were Idols EXPECTED to write their own songs? RT @VAidolfan: I wish it had been an original song written by Kris!
about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

Kris Allen – Live Like We’re Dying is here: http://bit.ly/2zh2gu RT @laceylicious18: is that kris allen’s first single from his debut album?
about 1 hour ago from TweetDeck

Kris Allen – Live Like We’re Dying – World Premiere – Please post comments on the blog and vote. Thanks! http://bit.ly/2zh2gu
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

RT @rickeybot: Kris Allen ‘“ Live Like We’re Dying ‘“ Z100 World Premiere MP3 http://bit.ly/2YQPAz
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

Kris Allen – Live Like We’re Dying – Word Premiere on Elvis Duran MP3 and Interview. Go @krisallen4real! http://bit.ly/2zh2gu
about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck

Put it all in a post Rickey, or do an @reply. People are getting seriously annoyed.

Rickey is an idiot – he’s bad publicity in the idol world for Kris and needs to chill the hell out

Did any music critic like ‘Want’? Or really anyone in general? I don’t think that song can be considered in any way.

Personally, for what it is, which is basically a demo track with little to no production at all, I like Want. I play it often on my ipod.

Perez never liked Kris so he wasn’t going to like hs song ‘“ I don’t think he would ever give Kris a fair shot. While he might not like what Adam ends up putting out I think he will at least give it more of a fair shot.

What gives anyone the impression that Perez doesn’t like Kris? Perez was pretty enthusiastic about Kris beating Adam saleswise back in May

http://perezhilton.com/2009-05-27-kris-allen-outsells-glambert

and in looking at his archives he’s been more indifferent to Kris than negative.

edit: DON’T QUESTION THE MOTIVES OF POSTERS DIAL IT BACK PLEASE

Now, the song itself isn’t bad. I hope it does well for Kris. I suspect he wishes it were a different single but in a rush you kinda get what you get. I’m reserving judgement on whether to buy the album until I hear the second single.

Rickey is an idiot ‘“ he’s bad publicity in the idol world for Kris and needs to chill the hell out

I find it ironic that Rickey is one of those who claim the “glamberts” are overly invested and way to defensive.

Aren’t songs usually available for purchase when they are released to radio? When will Kris’ be available for purchase?

They usually are when the general-release date comes. But I think this morning’s release to Z100 is one of those exclusive releases that record companies work out with big stations like Z100 and LA KIIS and such, as a way to get buzz going about the song among radio program directors and encourage smaller stations to get on board because the big boys are already playing the song.

IIRC, I think songs aren’t generally released for sale during those pre-general-radio-release exclusivity periods. So I’d think it’ll probably be a couple weeks or more before Kris’s song is up for sale. In the changing industry, though, you never know, I guess.

I can see the song being a nice hit on AC and maybe HAC. Not so sure about pop, though. They don’t really seem to focus on positive messages very much. And no sex in this song, even though it is way catchy. Can you have a top pop hit today unless you’re singing about birthday sex or something? I’m not sure. Sometimes that big-station-exclusive thing works brilliantly to build a song and help it achieve pop hit status, though. Case in point: Elliott’s Wait for You.

Rushfield

Okay official position is in after listening #7. I really like it. Congratulations @krisallen4real #livelikeweredying rules

I think it’s a perfect song for Kris! Well-done Kris – can’t wait to hear the rest of your album.

Sorry, I tried. If I don’t know Kris’ voice, I might like it more. The key is a bit to high for Kris too.

Valentin432: Altough I still like it, I can’t listen to it several times in a row, it starts to get irritating pretty fast, maybe because of the fast pace and the number of words.

It’s not irritating, but oddly it’s causing what feels like stress to me. And it’s not the lyrics, it’s more the driving tempo and the tone of the instrumentals on the verses. Weird, because that didn’t happen when I heard the Script version and I actually like the song well enough.

For now, I’m blaming it on having very little sleep and too much caffeine. I’ll listen again later after a nap. Love you bb Kris, but you’re stressing me out, lol!

And I’m still hearing the Barenaked Ladies’ underwear song in the chorus… :)

For some reason, every time I click on the Z100 link, I get knocked off the internet!

Congrats to Kris. One year ago, he was in Arkansas, wondering how well he was going to do in the Hollywood rounds. Today, his first single is being played on the radio. Pretty amazing!

Rickey is totally losing his cool over this. The song will be a hit, he should calm down.

I think songs aren’t generally released for sale during those pre-general-radio-release exclusivity periods. So I’d think it’ll probably be a couple weeks or more before Kris’s song is up for sale. In the changing industry, though, you never know, I guess.

Lucy, thanks for answering. Doesn’t this encourage bootlegging to release the song so much earlier than making it available for purchase? I’m sure they know what they’re doing though.

Hell, here’s a THIRD version of the chorus I just composed (this is fun).

I’ve got at least
86 400 fans who think it’s wrong
That my single’s too wordy
So they cannot sing along
But listen to me Adam:
Least mine’s not a Kara song!

Gotta sing… what you’re buyin’!

halfie, you are on FIRE today! ROFLMAO!!!

ETA: now I’m hearing “Gotta sing what you’re buying” in my head instead of the actual lyric. You are evil!!! :)

OK. I finally got the link to work. When he first starts singing. I hear more Maroon 5 than Jason Mraz. It’ll be a hit. It’s got a nice Top 40 vibe.

Here’s a huge problem for me: I can barely understand a word he’s singing.

Squirrely
September 21, 2009 at 10:38 am
Rickey is totally losing his cool over this. The song will be a hit, he should calm down.

Ya he should. But twitter meltdowns are so entertaining. I love irony.

halfie, you are too funny! Loved it!

Lucy, thanks for answering. Doesn’t this encourage bootlegging to release the song so much earlier than making it available for purchase? I’m sure they know what they’re doing though.

Good question. Maybe they figure that, since the chosen station is just broadcasting to one city, the bootleg factor isn’t all that important, compared to the message that is being sent to radio PDs nationwide, or something?

@gabilan. I also felt stressed when I heard the single – I haven’t dared listening to it again because of that. Like you I didn’t have that reaction to the Script version (only listened to that one once as well) – so I don’t really know what’s causing it either.

Actually I had the biggest WTF moment about an hour ago when I was in the local supermarket. I heard a song (volume was really low) and it sounded just like LLWD – cue big question mark on my face, and I went to investigate. Turns out it wasn’t LLWD but an entirely different song, sung by a woman – but it sure sounded a lot like Kris’s new single for a moment. (The fact of the matter is that there was no way Kris’s new single would be playing in a Danish supermarket two hours after its premiere on US radio but it really confused me for a moment LOL.)

So far the responses i see is worse than crush but better than light on. Crush reached 11 in pop and LO reached 20. Light on reached top 10 in hac. So go figure.

I am not very good at predicting the hit potentials though. When tattoo came out i think it’s catchy but so boring. i thought Break Anotha was so much better.

It must be so exciting for kris. He’s coming a long, long way from Conway where he sold shoes and played to an empty bar.

And I’m still hearing the Barenaked Ladies’ underwear song in the chorus’ ¦

I knew it reminded me of a band from the 90s! Which is perfectly fine, I love their sound.

Congrats to Kris Allen. This feels like a Kris Allen song, too. I’m sure it will get some heavy play. It’s certainly catchy. Not Crush catchy, but still catchy.

I’m sure Perez hasn’t even heard the new single. American Idol fans are known to rush to their idol’s defense resulting in more hits for Perez. He may be sleezy but he’s not stupid.

My advice’ ¦ignore him. ;)

Miss Independent ‘“ Kelly ‘“ (platinum ‘“ #9 peak on Hot 100)
Light On ‘“ David ‘“ (platinum ‘“ #17 peak on Hot 100)
Jesus Take The Wheel ‘“ Carrie (platinum ‘“ #20 peak on Hot 100, #1 Country)
Tattoo ‘“ Jordin (platinum ‘“ #8 peak on Hot 100)
Live Like We’re Dying ‘“ Kris ‘“ ?
Sorry 2004 ‘“ Ruben (gold ‘“ #9 peak on Hot 100)
Just to Feel That Way ‘“ Taylor ( ‘”- )

I find this fascinating’ ¦not the ranking but the sales and chart placement. No matter what the debut single is, they all appear to chart about the same. The only differential is how long it takes to reach gold or platinum.

Winning AI counts for a lot, guys. And that is why I have no doubt that Kris will do quite well. I’ll even predict that he peaks at #6!

LLYD is a nice song with a catchy chorus. I like it but don’t love it. I also worry about live performances. I mean seriously, this boy has been cursed/blessed with two of the wordiest songs ever!

Kris will be just fine and I can’t wait to hear his other tunes. I really am happy for him.

Kris looks adorable (as always) but really tired in the photos from this morning.

It’s just o.k. for me. It’s the style of the song that I have an issue with. I’m not much for top 40 type stuff. I loved Jason Mraz because of his lyrics and that he was different from everything else on the radio. This is coming off like Jason Mraz “light” (as poster above said).

Honestly, the only songs I enjoy hearing Kris sing were Falling Slowly and ATTTIHD, which I feel are extremely well written songs. Kris’ voice is pleasant to me, but it’s not the kind of voice that can uplift mediocre material. IMHO.

Keeping my fingers crossed that his album has more to offer, I’m totally interested to hear what he’s working on.

No surprise here, but I love it. My only complaint is that it’s over-produced, but that was to be expected. Congrats, Kris! Nice job!

Sorry, but just not a good song for him. It’s so wordy and the song really don’t allow us to appreciate his voice.

liked Kris’s interview on Elvis Duran this morning:
http://z100.elvisduran.com/pages/news/krisallen/index.html

Kris really didn’t sound that excited about this song in that interview. Makes me wonder why this was the single that Kris is releasing.

- Why is Kris releasing a cover for his first single? No other Idol winner ever has and he clearly has other, original songs — one he seems to like better.

- If he is going to release a cover, why is it from an act that is currently promoting their album in the US? Is it because The Script are signed to RCA records — another Sony/BMG label?

I believe that having Kris cover this song may help promote The Script as much as it helps Kris. The Script recently signed with Sony/BMG (RCA). Since signing with RCA, The Script have been making a focused effort to break into the US market with little success. They opened for Paul McCartney in NY to kick off their first US solo tour — which pretty much went unnoticed. The Script hasn’t been able to get much airplay. And The Script US sales are not really notable. [The Script (album) US peak #91.]

OK, I do not trust Sony/BMG to not try to get a win-win out of this one –a hit single for Kris, promote another act (The Script) at the same time. And since LLWD is very commercial and radio friendly, safe bet for 19R and Kris, too.

Regarding Perez – I don’t think he “likes” The Script. The only reason Perez wrote about The Script and posted their “Talk Me Down” music video on his blog, is because Perez had a cameo in that music video. In other words, I was about Perez, not The Script.

Perezzers, on location with Danny O’Donoghue from The Script.

The Queen of All Media makes a cameo in the band’s new music video for their latest single in the U.K. and Ireland, Talk You Down.

Stay tuned for that – and more from The Script, as they set to conquer America beginning in March!

Great to hear the release for Kris Allen. Will it be a hit? Too early for me to tell. It seems to be catchy, but it’s not shouting hit to me at the first couple of listens, like “Crush” did, which went platinum quickly. But it’s OK that LLWD is not pulling me in right away. To be honest it took a few listens for “Light On” to grab me, and now it’s one of my favorites. Who would have thought that “Light On” would peak at #4 on HAC? Not me, and certainly not most of the posters on MJ’s last year.

So, this is my recommendation: Have an open mind and wait and see how this song does over the course of the next month. And all of the Kris Allen fans, enjoy the moment. It’s the official beginning of his career.

the single cover. http://i34.tinypic.com/nfp28k.png

Kris is not in plaid this morning… nice light blue shirt

Halfie, you’re a natural! Love it.

My take: I like the song, especially the chorus. But then I admit that I’m still in the Idol bubble and want Kris, Allison and Adam (primarily) to do well. So what do I know?

I find Perez’s comments to be very interesting. I can see him being … meh … about it, but was surprised he was downright adamant that it was bad. I don’t give his site hits anymore but my recollection is that he usually promotes songs or will often say … what do you guys think? (i.e. tests the waters). Kinda surprised that he had such a strong negative reaction. And I agree that he has been nasty about Adam (bipolar really) and fairly neutral about Kris, so I don’t think his reaction has anything to do with a pro-Adam bias.

I also agree with whoever posted that this is one of the best debuts for a male Idol winner. I was not a fan of LO and suspect this will do as well or maybe better than MI and Tattoo.

The song is catchy, fits Kris’ vibe, and should do well. Most people dont know it’s a cover and wont care.

I am an Adam fan, but I like Kris’ song better than most of the first songs released by idols in the past. The lyrics are trite, but what else is new? The song is positive and upbeat and likeable- kind of like Kris himself.

I’m sure he will be glad when he can put out the song that he wrote himself, but this will be a good start for him.

the single cover. http://i34.tinypic.com/nfp28k.png

hmm, can’t say i like this picture of him.. tooo serious

Halfie, thank you for starting my day off with a good laugh out loud.
I’m at work but just logged in to say thanks. I enjoy a good song parody. But kinda feel bad for liking it though. Aww poor Kris, the song isn’t even a day old and it has a parody.
ETA: I bet if you were to submit the lyrics to Kris he would think it was hilarious. It would be so funny if he would sing it himself. Although it may be only the people that read this blog that would get it.

Isn’t that Tim McGraw’s Song?

What struck me is that Kris isn’t playing any of the instruments on the song . He said he wasn’t playing the guitar in the interview, but I’m sure when he performs it live he will be.

the single cover. http://i34.tinypic.com/nfp28k.png

hmm, can’t say i like this picture of him.. tooo serious

Seems like an awfully strange picture to use when you’re trying to sell somebody to *pop* radio, of all things. Looks more suitable for selling him to classical radio as a viola player.

Honestly, covers seem to be getting worse all the time. I suppose it doesn’t matter much, though, when the only time you ever see the cover is when it floats by for a split second on the half-screen view of your iPod.

Still, I would think they could pick a more pop-looking one.

Congrats to Kris.

I can only understand ” Gotta live like we’re dyin’” The music is too loud and the pace is too fast, and it makes me feel anxious. Sorry, not my cuppa. Is this the organic Kris we were supposed to expect?

Anyway, I think it will sell because Kris ´s fans will embrace it, and it sounds like many songs playing on the radio stations I avoid, but they are being played; so, I guess they will also play this song.

That’s that awful photoshopped/airbrushed picture of Kris that they’ve been using for tour-related stuff.

Yuck! Kris is such a good looking guy who doesn’t need any photoshopping or airbrushing. They could have used any of the thousands of great photos of him for the single cover art and they are using that crap? Booooooooo

- Why is Kris releasing a cover for his first single? No other Idol winner ever has and he clearly has other, original songs ‘” one he seems to like better.

- If he is going to release a cover, why is it from an act that is currently promoting their album in the US? Is it because The Script are signed to RCA records ‘” another Sony/BMG label?

I too wondered myself about that, but in the end in doesn’t matter much (unless like me you’ve heard The Script version and can’t help but compare), good songs don’t grow on trees, this is a good one for top 40 and Kris could record it in a small amount of time.

I believe that having Kris cover this song may help promote The Script as much as it helps Kris. The Script recently signed with Sony/BMG (RCA). Since signing with RCA, The Script have been making a focused effort to break into the US market with little success. They opened for Paul McCartney in NY to kick off their first US solo tour ‘” which pretty much went unnoticed. The Script hasn’t been able to get much airplay. And The Script US sales are not really notable. [The Script (album) US peak #91.]

OK, I do not trust Sony/BMG to not try to get a win-win out of this one ‘“a hit single for Kris, promote another act (The Script) at the same time. And since LLWD is very commercial and radio friendly, safe bet for 19R and Kris, too.

This seemed clear since the beginning to me, that’s what big multimedia corporations do, cross promotion.
And if you think the deal about Adam getting to sing TFM is different, it’s not.

ahorseofcourse

No, it’s not the Tim McGraw song

Isn’t that Tim McGraw’s Song?

No, it is The Script ´s song

UUMMM!!! Never mind, I just read the lyrics!

Love it! I can definitely hear it on the radio. I didn’t like “Light On” AT ALL. Or “Tattoo.” Or anything where Jesus took somebody’s red high heels.

The only AI first single I can remember liking is Elliott’s “Wait For You.” Fingers crossed that that’s a good sign.

The interview with Elvis Duran was also good. “Yogurt slinger” is hilarious.

Tweet from Danny’s rather strange (IMO) cousin…

joelkonecnyKA’s single is good… I’m not gonna lie, I’ll have to mail him a dollar too.

That cover pic is out of the program for the tour and I absolutely hate it. I like the single, though!

girlygirl
September 21, 2009 at 11:09 am
That’s that awful photoshopped/airbrushed picture of Kris that they’ve been using for tour-related stuff.

It doesn’t even look like Kris to me. And it’s a strange cover for this single, it doesn’t fit the song at all.

I like the song alot but I haven’t ever heard the Script verison before,so I don’t know how thry sng it. I don’t like the picture at all for the single. He liked good in the pictures I’ve seen up on Z one. He look’s really good in blue. I don’t know if it well be a hit or not but I love it and I keep playing it over and over again.

Wait — what?

HannaBec Listening to @krisallen4real’s interview from this a.m. @adamlambert will be on tomrrow!

Congratualtions to Kris on his first single. I wish him success with his career.

girlygirl
September 21, 2009 at 11:14 am
Tweet from Danny’s rather strange (IMO) cousin’ ¦

joelkonecnyKA’s single is good’ ¦ I’m not gonna lie, I’ll have to mail him a dollar too.

It seems like there was some sort of gentleman’s wager going on. I assume it was between Kris and Danny’s cousin????

Valentin432
September 21, 2009 at 9:49 am
What site has the album cover at? I’d like to see it since none of Kris’s photo shoot pictures were leaked.

http://i34.tinypic.com/nfp28k.png

That’s not a NEW picture of Kris, is it?? Isn’t that picture in the program for the tour?? Why haven’t they gotten him a photo shoot yet?? They’ve done them for Allison and Adam already. The fact that his picture wasn’t available for the USA Today Fall Release schedule is just wrong!! He’s so photogenic, JIVE get it done!

I like the song, that chorus is an earworm for sure!

They put the single up on ew.com, but without any review — just asking for comments

http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/09/21/kris-allen-live-like-were-dying-full-son/

Are we sure the pic is really the cover? Did it come from any official source? Its awful (although it highlights kris’s nice light brown eyes), I though it could be something made by a fan…

girlygirl
September 21, 2009 at 10:30 am

Download link to the 2nd radio station interview, plus versions of MITM and the new single

http://www.sendspace.com/file/fxta1u

Thanks for this, he sounds really nice on MITM. Gah, I love his voice.

hmmm..have listened to it a few more times and find I am liking it less the more I hear it…HATE the spoken/rap part…don’t hate the song, still think its catchy, but i think it needs to be sung by someone with a grittier or stronger (i dont mean this in quality of singing — its hard to put into words the sound I’m thinking of)singing voice — I think Kris’ voice is a little too smooth for this song…and as all idol singles are it is a tad too overproduced….however, i think Kris’ fans will make this a hit and its certainly better than NoBo…

WTF! That photo is awful!

@ photoshopper/airbrush person you should seriously consider your carrier choice

Let’s hope that isn’t the actual cover art…

girlygirl
September 21, 2009 at 11:17 am
Wait ‘” what?

HannaBec Listening to @krisallen4real’s interview from this a.m. @adamlambert will be on tomrrow!

Why? Why will Adam be on the radio tomorrow? Why? Is something being released????? Again, why?

Someone please find out. girlygirl, I’m depending on you.

His favorite song on the album (so far) is one he wrote himself ‘” I Need to Know

I’m more curious about this one.

girlygirl
September 21, 2009 at 11:14 am
Tweet from Danny’s rather strange (IMO) cousin’ ¦

joelkonecnyKA’s single is good’ ¦ I’m not gonna lie, I’ll have to mail him a dollar too.

I thought it meant he was going to download it off Itunes (99 cents).

Anyways, I think the song is catchy and relevant, but overproduced. I hope it does well.

Let’s hope that isn’t the actual cover art’ ¦

Why do they feel the need to air brush everyone and everybody to death????

the picture on EW.com for the new single is sooo much better!!

This is the official cover art, jsyk:

http://i34.tinypic.com/fmqeyc.png

That really sucks, as in epic-fail-type sucks. Feast from these crumbs?

I am thinking very strongly that the cover art post is a joke.

I only like the chorus, and I REALLY like the chorus. The rest is forgetable.

I don’t think that awful pic is the real cover – I think it’s something a fan made

That’s not a NEW picture of Kris, is it?? Isn’t that picture in the program for the tour?? Why haven’t they gotten him a photo shoot yet?? They’ve done them for Allison and Adam already. The fact that his picture wasn’t available for the USA Today Fall Release schedule is just wrong!! He’s so photogenic, JIVE get it done!

I was the one posting this photo, so I will just say that I found it in a non official site and it looks more and more like a fake one to me (at least I hope so), just something a fan did on photoshop.
So please don’t freak out on this, because it’s possibly (probably) not the real one.

I thought it meant he was going to download it off Itunes (99 cents).

Anyways, I think the song is catchy and relevant, but overproduced. I hope it does well.

OK that makes much more sense than my Dickensian interpretation LOL.

That really sucks, as in epic-fail-type sucks. Feast from these crumbs? Rapping Kris Allen? lol. Honestly though, I think RCA has the deep pockets to payola any song to top five of Mediabase.

Why? Why will Adam be on the radio tomorrow? Why? Is something being released????? Again, why?

Someone please find out.

well I listened to both interviews and IIRC Adam was only mentioned in the first interview when discussing drop date for their respective albums.

John Mayer will however be on Z100 tomorrow.

I have been flailing pretty hard and could have missed something but I think I would definitely would have registered if Adam had been announced for tomorrow

And I’m still hearing the Barenaked Ladies’ underwear song in the chorus’ ¦

Hee! You mean Pinch Me. One of my faves…

Like a dream you try to remember but it’s gone, then ya
try to scream but it only comes out as a yawn, when you
try to see the world beyond your front door…
Take your time, is the way I rhyme gonna make you smile, when you
realize that a guy my size might take a while, just to
try to figure out what all this is for…pinch me

Hmmm, I kind of hear the BNL minus the random funny, but mostly it still reminds me of Mraz minus the wit, namely…

The remedy, is the experience, it’s a dangerous liason,
I says the comedy is that it’s serious, a strange enough new play on words
I says the tragedy is how you’re gonna spend the rest of the nights with the light on
so shine the light on all of your friends, cuz it all amounts to nothing in the end….IIIIII…..won’t worry my life away…

So, that kind of rapid fire rap/sing kind of thing has been done before, and better, and this song strikes me as a bit generic in that sense. Which still isn’t a bad thing if you’re a Kris fan, necessarily. I dunno…Mraz light plus Z100 premiere plus random 9/11 reference could spell big hit.

I’m so glad Jive made sure he had a photoshoot done in time for the single to start being promoted. *snort*

HannaBec Listening to @krisallen4real’s interview from this a.m. @adamlambert will be on tomrrow!

I can’t find a thing on that radio stations site. Could we get another release tomorrow?

I have been flailing pretty hard and could have missed something but I think I would definitely would have registered if Adam had been announced for tomorrow

OK, so it’s another false alarm. Thank you CamelliaSin.

This is the best ever Idol single to be released imo. I love it at first listen, especially the rapping chorus part and the singing-talking part at the end. I think that will be his unique selling point, which is to mix rap with pop rock. At least he wld not sound sooooo generic like so many pop rock bands out there. DUDE IS ON HIS WAY TO STARDOM!!!

Why do they feel the need to air brush everyone and everybody to death????

Check out the picture of Ryan Seacreast on the Z100 site – does not even look like him.

I went to another blog comprised of folks with different musical tastes who like to talk about what they are currently listening to , to ask if they had heard Kris’ single and what they thought of it. Low and beyond the were in the middle ( three pages and counting) of a conversation about The Script’s music. I’m hoping Kris’ cover is what set them talking in this direction, but I haven’t found a mention of his name as of yet.

Kris did a good job with this and I hope he does well with it. I wonder if the Script has taken it ou of there performance set list. When do they start touring with David Cook?

They opened for Paul McCartney in NY to kick off their first US solo tour ‘” which pretty much went unnoticed.

Q3 They also toured with Sir Paul for a few months.

The lyrics are trite, but what else is new?

The song was one of the several written after the band came back to Ireland so one of the members could spend some quality time with his terminally ill mother. As it turns out, another one of the members also spent his last few months with his father, who died unexpectantly just after the first member lost his mom.

Is the pic on EW.com the one for the single??

Gotta admit, I don’t like it when he makes faces like that, but I like the vibe of the picture and the colors!

http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/09/21/kris-allen-live-like-were-dying-full-son/

I like it and suspect I’ll be hearing it a lot in stores as well as on my car radio. It definitely is catchy and an earworm in a good way.

Thanks for the link to dl of the radio interview.

Adam’s not on tomorrow or I think we would have heard it all over the place by now – wonder what HannaBec is smokng and if I can have some to get through the day?

Squirrely
September 21, 2009 at 11:33 am
HannaBec Listening to @krisallen4real’s interview from this a.m. @adamlambert will be on tomrrow!

I can’t find a thing on that radio stations site. Could we get another release tomorrow?

It seems to be a false alarm, thanks CamillaSin, but if we were going to get a sneak peek in the next week or so, it would be of TFM.

awww… love you summersnow :)

I thought it meant he was going to download it off Itunes (99 cents).

I thought it meant he’d already illegally downloaded it and owed Kris a buck.

I think that will be his unique selling point, which is to mix rap with pop rock.

OK but I don’t think it’s exactly unique these days.

CindyM
September 21, 2009 at 11:37 am
Is the pic on EW.com the one for the single??

Gotta admit, I don’t like it when he makes faces like that, but I like the vibe of the picture and the colors!

http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/09/21/kris-allen-live-like-were-dying-full-son/

I prefer this cover to the air-brushed one. This one ain’t bad, at least it fits the song. Although, what’s with the upside down Lithuanian flag in the background? LOL

I think someone was just joking. Some guy was kidding around saying it was Kris’s B.Day and then he said something about her being PG. At least that’s what there saying on twitter.

Just got home and listened to Kris’ single (Thanks, mj!).
I LOVED IT! It’s totally my kind of song – bouncy and energetic, and it even has a good message.
Now, if it were only available NOW on I-tunes!
Good work Kris – I’m sure you’ve got a big hit!

I think his one of Kris’s friends. Name Charles.

Lyrics are less trite than oh No Boundaries. I can hear it fitting into format of the station I listen to which is basically a Hot AC station like a glove.

Thanks, love you too Mtlfan:) I really think this will be a great hit and I think this song conveys a great message about cherishing pple around you lest it’s too late. If black eyed peas’s boom boom pow can top the radio chart, I don’t see why this freaking awesome song can’t.

Here’s my comments:

1) This isn’t my type of song at all, but I think it will do well on radio. (I dislike rap in generally btw so the rap portion isn’t up my alley)
2) Personally, this isn’t the kind of sound I was expecting from Kris. Slightly disappointed. I think he does better in songs that are less wordy and with a little more soul.
3) Single art is meh, but to be expected in today’s pop world. This is also why I prefer progressive/alt/classic rock music in general. The artwork (and sound) tends to be so much more interesting. *cue in shameless plug for Muse*
4) I pray to @god that Adam’s music will have better production values. Pls let it be a black swan in idol music output. And for god’s sake don’t mask up his vocals. While Kris has a very distinctive voice — I can instantly tell it’s him singing — which is great, there isn’t much tune in the song that allows him to show off his singing. Here’s to hoping that given a month to record his album, the final output will be more in line with what we’ve been expecting in terms of his music style on Idol.

I think someone was just joking..

Thanks, ilovekrisallen39 I deleted my post – I don’t want to spread false rumors.

Ricky just posted that Kris and Katey are going to be parents. Wow ‘“ if true Congratulations to them both.

Hmm, that one seems like a joke from one of Kris’s friend.
Anyway, Katy is setting up their living arrangment in L.A .. doesn’t seem the good timing!

No surprise here, but I love it. My only complaint is that it’s over-produced, but that was to be expected. Congrats, Kris! Nice job!

I agree with all of this. I will always like organic, acoustic Kris best, but this sound song fits him well and will be a perfect fit for Top 40. Congrats Kris!

I also understand why some commented that the song is stressful… well, not so much stressful (for me) but frantic and a little unrelenting, if that makes any sense. It’s not soothing, but it’s not supposed to be.

Listening to the snippet of this the other day made me check out The Script version which is a little more raw and edgy. A little less is more would have suited Kris’ version as well, but I suppose it’s not surprising as most Idol singles are overproduced.

Rickey posted that about Kris & Katy after seeing it on Charles Browder’s twitter. Charles is one of Kris’ best friends — and a funny guy. But you have to figure it’s a joke, because he would know Kris wouldn’t want him posting news like that on twitter…

and Kris just replied to Charles on twitter:

## @charlesbrowder you think you’re funny don’t you?2 minutes ago from Echofon

Charles must have gotten a ton of responses on twitter…

## Wow! Kidding about that, guys! I was just downplaying the release of his single to mess with him! Just teasing my boy on his big day!2 minutes ago from Echofon

## @KrisAllen4Real and yes… I think I’m extremely funny :-)1 minute ago from Echofon

I like this @ reply to Charles’ little “announcement”

JabboLash
# @charlesbrowder u should take #livelikeweredying to heart since Katy is going to kill u next time u see her. Maybe a new verse to the song?3 minutes ago from web in reply to charlesbrowder

ROFLMAO

Kris is great as usual. His voice is awesome on this single – a hit for sure! I could listen to this all day (if I had the time) Love you Kris, and the best of luck to you..

OK but I don’t think it’s exactly unique these days.

At least he doesn’t sound like thousands and thousands of pop rock bands out there. I can immediately tell that it’s a Kris Allen song if it’s being played on the radio.

Song is catchy, it will do well. A good first single. But it is way too bubblegum for me.

I love this single. I do like the lyrics. They’are actually as catchy as the melody. It’s a pop song, not supposed to be art — and it does say something. Something that I think has meaning for Kris. Yet it has a lightness I like very much.

His voice sounds great. I didn’t find it overproduced; his vocal still stands out, and I think the type of song it is lends itself to that kind of post-production.

The spoken part isn’t exactly rap, to my ears. He just speaks the lyrics at that point. I’ve heard singers do that, before. I liked that part a lot. I enjoy songs that kind of surprise you a bit as they go along, and don’t stick to one boring, repetitive thing from start to finish.

Honestly, even as a huge fan, if I hated the song I’d just shup up and not post about it. I truly love it, and think it’ll be a hit. Good on ya, Kris.

For those who find this song not to their taste, I seriously think Kris would have different kind of styles in his album. There will definitely be slow, emotional songs along the line of ain’t no sunshine and falling slowly. It’s so ridiculous that haters try to write him off with just one song. Maybe they are just feeling insecure?

I was really positive about this song for Kris when we first heard about it and I liked the Scripts version a lot (and they kept the cool guitars!). I hope and think it will be a hit BUT … it is a damn stressfull recording! I’ve listened to it several times and I get this really stressed feeling, can’t relax to it. I think they put the song in a too high key for Kris’ vocal comfort zone and for people to sing along too. Probably just me, I hope people will love it.

He has a Bob Dylan vibe going on in the rapping part. It hit me right away. I’m a big Bob Dylan fan and I love his son’s band The Wallflowers. Give them a listen.

I’m a realist through and through, but this song whether it’s your thing or not is going to be huge and will connect with a large demographic.

I’m really happy for Kris. This song will be on Pop, HAC, and AC charts. I’ve heard all the gloom and doom before of my other favorite. Not one derogatory, insulting comment changed the course of his success.

Keep on, keepin’ on. LOL

@Ross. I don’t get why people should keep quiet if they didn’t like it. The only thing I’m really shocked about the single is to discover how it’s an exact copy of The Scripts version. :(

BTW, Rickey is being extremely annoying tonight. WTF is wrong with him. Is he drunk twatting or has he truly lost his mind???

eh – it is ok,

I have listened to it 10 times…I think it is catchy yet too wordy. Not Kris’s best vocal. Really don’t like “you never know what you got until its gone” part, he sort of has a Bob Dylan-esque phasing aspect going on. (don’t get me wrong I love Bob Dylan but only for Bob Dylan) All around I like it and I think it will do well, (top 10) Think Carries “Cowboy Casanova” will do much better. ( I don’t listen to Country) But I could be wrong.

ETA: At listen 20 right now-Yeah it will be top 10

I love it and hope it does well for Kris. I’m a big ol’ AI goob – I want all the idols to do well.

@Ross. I don’t get why people should keep quiet if they didn’t like it.

terraj, huh?? I didn’t say that!

I said if I (ross) hadn’t liked the song, I probably would have shut and not posted anything. But that I did like it.

I didn’t say “people should keep quiet if they don’t like it.” lol

I believe in free speech.

*rolls eyes*

He has a Bob Dylan vibe going on in the rapping part.

I noticed that too, but I was afraid to say anything.

Disclaimer: I’m not saying that Kris Allen is Bob Dylan or the next Bob Dylan. I’m not saying that Kris writes as well as Bob Dylan (I haven’t actually heard anything Kris has written, so I would never be able to comment on that). I’m not saying that Kris will have the career of Dylan. I’m not even saying that Kris has as much talent as Bob does in his little finger. I’m just saying that he’s doing something in that song that reminds me of Bob Dylan. The way he’s finishing the phrases.

Evanjane!!!! Yes, that’s exactly what I said when I was listening to the speak sing part of the song. Very Bob Dylan vibe and I’m a huge Dylan fan. Always have been.

I’ve always liked Kris a person on the show but never really been a fan of his singing but I quite liked the single .. I’ll listen to any other samples from the album and may actually buy it.

Evanjane!!!! Yes, that’s exactly what I said when I was listening to the speak sing part of the song. Very Bob Dylan vibe and I’m a huge Dylan fan. Always have been.

got to listen again for this..

@ross sorry if I misunderstood your words ;) Pls forgive me lol :D

Really don’t like ‘you never know what you got until its gone’  part he sounds like Bob Dylan.

I thought the same thing. Well, actually it reminded me of a Ryan Adam’s song that sounds Bob Dylan-ish. It’s just kind of weird with the rest of the song.

I’m not good at predicting hits, but I think this is the strongest debut single from an Idol winner.

I’m loving his first single! It’s very catchy and it makes me smile.

Also, I’m a fan of The Script but most people have never heard of them so if there are comparisons, most people who just regularly listen to the radio will not realize that it’s their song.

Evanjane!!!! Yes, that’s exactly what I said when I was listening to the speak sing part of the song. Very Bob Dylan vibe and I’m a huge Dylan fan. Always have been.

omg.. I didn’t notice at first but yes toward the end of the song it’s noticeable. I got this Bob Dylan vibe too .. awesome

@ross sorry if I misunderstood your words Pls forgive me lol

Oh, that’s okay! :)

saga, well now there are about four of us peeps here who felt anxious/stressed when we listen to it (you, lob, dyg, and me). So you’re not alone. Me, I’m overtired and overcaffeinated today which is contributing to the stress effect. I expect to be fine with it tomorrow. oooh, interesting theory about the higher key; will compare to Script’s version which I also liked.

Just posting in solidarity…

I don’t care for this song. I admit that it’s a better first single than what some of the past Idols have released, but I don’t care for it.

Hello, all! Back from U2 (they are unbbeeeeeeelivable!) The only issue I have with the song (ONLY ONE) is to *me* it doesn’t sound as much like a Kris Allen song as I would have thought, e.g., something like The Fray’s (which I’m listening to on the radio right now). (I realize it’s a Script cover, but I don’t care about that, b/c I never heard them before last weekend.) But it IS very catchy and I think it will do well (I hope so!!!). I am listening to a song on mix104.1 right now, HAC, and it’s “I’ve Got the Music In Me,” and I can see similarities. That sound did really well, and I think this one will, too. KUDOS TO KRIS.

BTW, Rickey is backtracking all of his comments about Katy and Kris. WTF is wrong with him??? But this day is NOT about him, it’s about Kris. BRAVO, KRIS!

Squirrely
September 21, 2009 at 10:38 am
Rickey is totally losing his cool over this. The song will be a hit, he should calm down.

I don’t bother to go to Rickey’s site, or check him out of Twitter, but why would he be? That’s curious to me. I agree it’s going to be a hit, so he needs to just chill and be happy for Kris.

realvivi
September 21, 2009 at 11:01 am
the single cover. http://i34.tinypic.com/nfp28k.png

Ack, but typical. What is this need to airbrush the crap out of people for these things? We are not frightened of humans that look like humans, art people of 19, in fact we rather enjoy it.

For me (for you), not my kind of song. I didn’t like the Barenaked Ladies either, not too fond of Maroon 5 most of the time either, so there you go. But I can totally see the song doing well, it has a definite catchiness to it’s melody, though the lyrics are not catchy, and are cliche and there are too many of them. But for an AI single? what I expected. Over produced, generic and hopefully succesful!

I’m still really proud of Kris and know this will do well for him, congrats!

Disclaimer: I’m not saying that Kris Allen is Bob Dylan or the next Bob Dylan. I’m not saying that Kris writes as well as Bob Dylan (I haven’t actually heard anything Kris has written, so I would never be able to comment on that). I’m not saying that Kris will have the career of Dylan. I’m not even saying that Kris has as much talent as Bob does in his little finger. I’m just saying that he’s doing something in that song that reminds me of Bob Dylan. The way he’s finishing the phrases.

I can’t decide whether it is sad or it is funny that a poster on a blog has to qualify their opinion so thoroughly merely to head off the inevitable shit storm that would blow in if they had not.
:)

ETA:
Oops. Spoke to soon ^^^ post immediately preceding.
Not thoroughly enough, I see.

edit: and I’m deleting all of those over-reacting, posts. it’s just fanwarring in disguise ;)

My first reactions:
Some of the qualities that I like about Kris’s voice have been produced out, which is too bad. With the first few notes of the singing, I didn’t even recognize him. And, I’m disappointed that it’s basically a straight cover of the Script song.

But:
If I had never heard Kris before, and heard the song on the radio, it would catch my attention. It’s a catchy, bouncy song, (until you realize what the lyrics are — then it’s not quite so bouncy….) The song might get old quickly if I hear it too often, but I’d turn the radio up and enjoy it if I caught it while out driving.

I can see Kris bouncing around the stage when performing this live, and, in spite of how wordy the song is, I can see the fans singing along.

I’m not likely to buy the single, but was on the fence about buying Kris’s post-idol stuff anyway, to put it in perspective. I still might buy the album, but need to hear it first to decide.

Kris must be very excited! I hope that this is very successful for him. I’m not in a position to predict “hit or miss”, but would guess that it will be a hit, especially if promoted well.

I don’t know how this compares to previous Idol singles, since I haven’t heard any of them, but I think it’s a decent first post-Idol single, and could work out well for Kris.

Good luck, Kris!

ETA: Rather than having me get excited about Kris’s upcoming album, though, the single has me off to investigate the Script a bit more, instead.

Oh my heck! That’s way better than Bob Dylan.

I like it. Catchy and should get his name out there.

I’m kinda chuckling a bit at people who are criticizing the lyrics. Have you listened to the ridiculous lyrics of 90% of what’s out there? LOL.

I agree it’s not exactly Simon&Garfunkel poetry caliber, but it makes more sense than “Boom Boom Pow” and it doesn’t sound like a sappy ballad ie “The Climb”….Hey we all just wanna dance, right?

evanjane
September 21, 2009 at 12:20 pm
He has a Bob Dylan vibe going on in the rapping part.

Nope! I don’t hear it. Not at all. Not even a little tiny smidgen of a bit.

He has a Bob Dylan vibe going on in the rapping part.

But Kris doesn’t sound like he’s gargling marbles…

I keed, I like Bob Dylan’s music intellectually. I acknowledge his importance and there are some songs of his I acutally like. My mom loved him and used to play him a lot. I’m really not seeing the Bob Dylan in this song at. all. Beyond the superficial of the vocals, what I associate with Dylan is the immediacy of his music, it’s very real to me. There is a grittiness to him, especially later vocally ;) I don’t hear any Dylan in this song, it’s way too overproduced and homogenized sounding. I don’t feel any immediacy or realness from this song, or from Kris, which is where I think he can do really well. Like his Falling Slowly in Boston recently is what I think of as being quintessential (and lovely) Kris. I can barely recognize this as being Kris and not a lot of other people.

And it’s very similiar to the original version. Would have thought they played with it more.

Oh well, it’s what I expected from AI and again, I expect for a lot of HAC airplay, at the least, maybe some Top 40 action? No idea. I will just have to hope that the rest of Kris’s album has more of what I personally enjoy from Kris. Just one or two tracks for me, I’ll leave the rest for radio friendly hits.

I got the Dylan vibe, too. I love the song the more I listen to it, and I’m probably on listen #100.

I’m pretty sure all they meant was that the way his voice goes “up” at the end of a phrase in that ONE SECTION at around 2:30 is reminiscent of the way Dylan did it. LOL. Wow.

I noticed it too as have others…it wasn’t a favorable comparison to a legend, my goodness.

Just listened to Nickleback’s “If Today Was Your Last Day” for the upteenth time on the radio and it has kinda the same sentiment as this song. I don’t think the lyrics will put anyone off and Kris sounds really good singing them. It does sound like the Script version, but I’d never heard that before until it was posted on this site the other day.

I think it will do very well on HAC, not sure about Top 40, but it does have a Maroon 5/Mraz feel to it, so maybe. I just wish the best for Kris! Love also that he didn’t wear plaid today. Nice change, but he can go back to it tomorrow, he does look cute in it. :)

What?? How did we get from Kris Allen to Bob Dylan???? I love Bob Dylan and he sounds nothing like Dylan.

LMAO I really hope RichardRushfield is just trying to be funny:

Congratulations @krisallen4real and Katy! Looking forward to meeting little Simon Allen! (For Fuller, not Cowell of course)

Why is Kris releasing a cover for his first single? No other Idol winner ever has and he clearly has other, original songs ‘” one he seems to like better.

Probably for the same reason that there have been no photoshoots, no video shoot and his website is updated every 6 weeks or so.

Does anyone know how soon radio stations started playing “Crush” last year after it debuted on Z100?

“I noticed that too, but I was afraid to say anything.

Disclaimer: I’m not saying that Kris Allen is Bob Dylan or the next Bob Dylan. I’m not saying that Kris writes as well as Bob Dylan (I haven’t actually heard anything Kris has written, so I would never be able to comment on that). I’m not saying that Kris will have the career of Dylan. I’m not even saying that Kris has as much talent as Bob does in his little finger. I’m just saying that he’s doing something in that song that reminds me of Bob Dylan. The way he’s finishing the phrases.” — Kirsten

Disclaimers FTW. ROFLMAO I’ve taken so many lickin’s, but I keep on tickin’. Afraid of a lot of things, but saying Kris puts a Bob Dyaln spin on the rap is just speaking the truth.

Glad you agree TwigLA, we’ve been of the same mind many times before.

I purposely haven’t read any of the thread yet so that it doesn’t skew my opinion before posting this. My verdict is that it is GREAT! I love it. My best wishes to Kris for a big hit!

Slezak’s review is up:

http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/09/21/kris-allen-live-like-were-dying-full-son/#comments

Ok to Clarify for me I don’t think he sounds like Bob Dylan throughout the song. It is only in the section were he says “you never know what you got until its gone” his phrasing is very Bob Dylanesque.

OMG he really meant it

richardrushfield
To all followers, Katy Allen is not pregnant. Please stand down. I’ve been the victim of a cruel hoax

LMAO

jmaster
September 21, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Slezak’s review is up:

http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/09/21/kris-allen-live-like-were-dying-full-son/#comments

I haven’t read this yet, but let me guess…he loves it! And it’s going to be a huge hit! And America will be tapping it’s toes to it!

I keed, but I’m sure this song will do well, so I’m sure we’ll agree on that. Now off to read, BRB.

I haven’t read the comments yet- first impression -very catchy rhythm, very pleasant to listen to bit if I didn’t know that was Kris singing I would not have guessed that…for people who have been following AI longer wonder how it compares to other for
winners’songs..,,

Oh, I hope Richard Rushfield is joking!

richardrushfield Congratulations @krisallen4real and Katy! Looking forward to meeting little Simon Allen! (For Fuller, not Cowell of course)

oops…he wasn’t

@annleewai Damn you rickey! Im a big sucker! Wait till i get my payback!

## To all followers, Katy Allen is not pregnant. Please stand down. I’ve been the victim of a cruel hoax5 minutes ago from Tweetie

well, like Kris once said “twitter is the devil” — sometimes, anyhow.

Price of fame…

Okay, if I’m being honest, aside from the fact that the song doesn’t sound like Kris to me (over-produced, where is his beautiful voice; only at the end of a line, like livveeeee like we’re dying) is that there are too many lyrics! WHY SO MANY WORDS? I know, it’s the song, but as with One Week (BNL), you have to print them out to hear them all (or learn them). I had to do with NoBo (and One Week). Of course, I finally learned them, so it was okay. ;)

I just want it to do well b/c I love pocket idol and want him to have a big hit. I don’t think it will be ginormous but I do think it will do well. And Cook’s LO took a long time to get going but then it did, and is still on the radio.

Off to the doctor…have fun with the thread. :) And once again, kudos to Kris on his first single!

OMG he really meant it

richardrushfield
To all followers, Katy Allen is not pregnant. Please stand down. I’ve been the victim of a cruel hoax

LMAO

Yeah, don’t they know it’s a joke to go “Boom, pregnant!” or joke about how a song or whatever, made someone pregnant, it was so good? That is what Rickey was going on about? And others took it seriously?

Whoa, people are lame.

Yup, unsurprisingly, Slezak loved it.

Excerpts from the review:

the full version of debut single from the American Idol season 8 champ premiered this morning on Z100, and I’ll just say the additional 181 seconds now available for consumption only make the track sound more like a future smash hit to me.

As current radio fodder goes, ‘Live Like We’re Dying’  is downright verbose ‘” packing in some sweet, new-age-y sentiments about existing in the moment, living without regret, and saying ‘I love you’  early and often to the people in our lives ‘” but what could’ve come off this side of hokey winds up as winningly inspirational thanks to the conviction in Kris’ vocals. And in an world of top 10 hits like ‘Birthday Sex’  and ‘Party in the U.S.A.,’  it’s kind of refreshing to get a little lyrical nourishment. I’m particularly in love with the way Kris delivers the sing-speak breakdown at 2:30: ‘You never know a good thing till it’s gone/ You never see a crash till it’s head on/ Or why we think we’re right when we’re dead wrong/ You never know a good thing till it’s gone.’  And as I noted last week, the ‘we’ve only got 86 400 seconds in a day’ ¦’  chorus is 1-800-Too-Catchy. It’s enough to make you want to go forth, create your own personal bucket list, and schedule an appointment to swim with the dolphins!

http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/09/21/kris-allen-live-like-were-dying-full-son/#comments

As for the actual reader comments underneath the review, they are mostly positive. So hopefully that’s a good sign for Kris.

Oh my heck! That’s way better than Bob Dylan.

hwc, this quote made my day :)

and the whole joke by Kris’s friend Charles has gone a bit too far now

That is what Rickey was going on about? And others took it seriously?

Not sure of your post Truthiness, but Rickey thought it was real he annouced it on his site.

ETA: If he was trying to make a joke – it wasn’t funny.

saying Kris puts a Bob Dyaln spin on the rap is just speaking the truth.

Yep.

Catchy, innocuous, fun little song.

I doubt I will buy it, but think it will be a hit. Top 10 for sure, maybe even top 5.

Would I know it was Kris singing? Not unless someone told me. I did hear Kris on some of the words, but only because I knew it was him (does that make sense?)

Really? This is the first single? Really? I’m kinda shocked. I don’t like or dislike the song. It’s just sorta eh for me. The first single from a debut CD should be wowing us – making people who weren’t fans want to buy the CD. All this song does for me is make me want to listen to something else.

-new single and the baby rumor-

I guess Kris received a LOT of congrats this morning!!! lol

wow hwc, first time i read something somewhat positive from you about the guy who won. You made me smile

I know earlier Rickey was having a fit about something else

Yeah, don’t they know it’s a joke to go ‘Boom, pregnant!’  or joke about how a song or whatever, made someone pregnant, it was so good? That is what Rickey was going on about? And others took it seriously?

Actually, Kris’s friend Charles Browder tweeted to tease Kris today.

charlesbrowder@KrisAllen4Real isn’t it your birthday today or something? No?…. I remember something… nope, lost it.

charlesbrowder@KrisAllen4Real oh I remember! You and Katy are pregnant! CONGRATS!!!!!

Rickey picked up on it and led with it on his web site, I think. I don’t go there, too many viruses and popups.

rickeyKris Allen is going to be a father! Congratulations Kris and Katy! http://bit.ly/4Q8Ni

Then:

charlesbrowder Wow! Kidding about that, guys! I was just downplaying the release of his single to mess with him! Just teasing my boy on his big day!

Then…uh oh.

KrisAllen4Real @charlesbrowder you think you’re funny don’t you?.

I think Charles likes attention a bit too much.

The first single from a debut CD should be wowing us ‘“ making people who weren’t fans want to buy the CD.

Did you listen to the caller in the interview? ;)

Ok, sitting eating lunch, FINALLY getting a chance to listen properly (this morning didn’t count – too much morning rush stuff going on in the background).

On third listen, my verdict:
Catchy. *Very* good car bopping potential.

Does it sound like Kris? Not really.
Does it matter? Nope.
Do I personally care it was a cover? Not in the least,
…particularly since I’ve never heard the song before on radio.
Do I think it will be a hit? Good chance.
Do I think it will be a number 1? Maybe not, but good shot for Top 10.

Maybe not many people have heard of the Script, but people are going to read that its a cover, and that goes against the singer-songwriter image developed for Kris. And in fact, it’s a pretty close cover — not much changed at all. If the curious go back and listen to the original, they’ll recognize that.

I wish they’d given Kris an original song to sing, even if it wasn’t written by him. He deserved that after the No Boundaries to the Suckitude debacle.

Also, the song doesn’t showcase his voice, which has a really nice quality to it even if it’s not “big.” His voice has a nice clear tone that I miss in this song.

Having said all that, I hope that I am wrong and this does well for him, because I genuinely like him and I think he’s talented. But I’m pretty lukewarm. Hoping the rest of the album is more original and more authentically Kris.

It’s very bizarre to me that Kris’s version of this Script song clings so tightly to the original, even down to his vocal intonations including the talk-sing part that some have found Dylan-esque. Why would they do this? I know time was tight but you’d think Kris would bring his own interpretation in.

I agree with those who’ve said that they’re not hearing Kris’s heart or uniqueness come through in this song. The song itself has the dominance here, and not the singer, so I wonder how much this really helps establish Kris as an artist. Because after all, isn’t the point of the first single to show the artist’s distinctive sound?

Ultimately, count me as another who is left feeling more stressed after hearing the song. Therefore, obviously, I’m not really enjoying it. But I wish the best for Kris, and I hope this is the beginning of a successful career.

I wasn’t sure if hwc was serious or not. But if so am surprise to. I really liked it. Even thou I think it sounded a little unlike him at first. But it is kind of one of those songs that get stick in your head and won’t get out.

i’ve only read a few comments, but tend to agree with both the good and the bad that’s being said – the good is, the song is one of the stronger debut singles from an american idol alum, it’s catchy, and it’ll probably be a hit.

the bad is, it’s difficult to really “hear” kris’s voice, or at least the beautiful tone that permeates when he sings songs like “ain’t no sunshine.” this song just doesn’t sound like the kris allen that america fell in love with. the song sounds exactly like the injustice that it is – a song off an album that has to be rushed through production in order not to miss the momentum of lingering post-idol frenzy, a song that would be more suited for another artist (i prefer kris over the script, but i prefer the script’s version of this song.)

i like kris and i hate the fact that he’s so rushed to make his first album. i would have preferred – considering the times and all – that he do an album of acoustic covers of michael jackson songs or something, if he’s so rushed to put something out there, and then spend a little more time on writing and choosing his own original material so it feels more like the folky-acoustic kris allen that america voted for. oh, well. it’s not possible, it’s not plausible, i’m not being a realist. but i do think kris will be successful regardless.

My impression, before having read all the comments, I like it. It’s catchy and I like the wordiness. I like it better than almost all of the other idol first release singles. I’m happy that it seems like they’re going to try and give Kris a fighting chance with a non-ballad first single.

ETA: On the whole Script cover-gate thing – I never heard of the Script before and hearing that’s is a cover didn’t make me go search them out. Unless radio dj’s introduce the song as “Kris Allen’s cover of a Script song”, I doubt many people will know or care.

well, its catchy and he sounds good. would also love to see some falling slowly type of indie emo hits on his album, but this is good for a 1st single. you need to hook people in w. a mindless/radio friendly tune and this does the job IMO

…As for whether I would buy… :grin:

I’m one of those Luddites who still mainly purchases physical CDs versus downloading. Need to hear the rest of the album.

Melinda Doolittle tweeted about Kris’s single:

mdoolittle
#Excited for @KrisAllen4Real! He sounds great on his new single “Live Like We’re Dying”. Have you heard it? Don’t you love it?! :-)

So has Chris Richardson

#ImChrisRich @KrisAllen4Real “Live Like We’re Dying” is now on the playlist! Pick it up peeps and support an awesome talent

And much love from Anoop

#AnoopDoggDesai @krisallen4real proud of you, buddy…it’s your big day. i’m picking up the single!

ross said: Did you listen to the caller in the interview?

What caller in what interview?

packing in some sweet, new-age-y sentiments about existing in the moment, living without regret, and saying ‘I love you’  early and often to the people in our lives ‘” but what could’ve come off this side of hokey winds up as winningly inspirational thanks to the conviction in Kris’ vocals. And in an world of top 10 hits like ‘Birthday Sex’  and ‘Party in the U.S.A.,’  it’s kind of refreshing to get a little lyrical nourishment.

If by “lyrcial nourishement,” he means the song version of Deep Thoughts, than okay. Otherwise, I find the lyrics to be cheesy and cliche. But most music is as whole, and especially today. I don’t expect anything more. Though “The Climb,” and “No Boundaries,” also had “lyrical nourishment,” but the songs sucked (well the former as sung by Miley and not say, Kelly). And there are other songs beyond the party and dance stuff, that has lyrics beyond getting down, so not like this song with it’s obvious message is all that deep and needed.

All that being said, surprise! Slezak loved it, he already said he did so it’s doubly no surprise. Interesting reasons to do so, however.

wand3rful: …[T]his is good for a 1st single. you need to hook people in w. a mindless/radio friendly tune and this does the job IMO

Totally agree. You need to SURPRISE people with a first single. Jazz them up. Ballads and more (percieved artist) traditional type tunes come later.

Think Xtina coming out with “Dirty” before the more widely popular “Beautiful” (not the best comparison with Kris, but work with me here). “Dirty” got people chatting. “Beautiful” got people sighing about “how lovely”.

I think this is a perfectly decent first single, and a slower song would have been a kiss of death.

Rather than having me get excited about Kris’s upcoming album, though, the single has me off to investigate the Script a bit more, instead

.

You won’t regret it, their album rocks, and they’re really good live. Check out Before the Worst, if you like this one, that’s a great song.

I like Kris, and thought The Script’s style, and this song in particular would be a great fit for him, but found myself slightly disappointed that they didn’t tweak it more to personalize it to Kris. I just kept thinking it sounded like The Script… then again, most people don’t know them, so I’m sure it’s fine. I think I just have weird thing where I rarely prefer a cover unless it’s drastically different vocally or in terms of the arrangement. Anyway, I still like the song. Yay Kris!

Let’s remember that Kris didn’t choose what to release – TPTB made those decisions. So many people are criticizing him for releasing a cover. He has had very little time to record while on tour (and not much time to write music either) and Kara’s crappy coronation song was a flop. (How long did it last on tour?) He needed to get something out quickly. I think this is good but I also believe we will see much better from Kris now that he can focus on finishing the album.

I can’t help hoping it shoots up the charts and sells a bazillion copies….

ETA on Kris interview with Jim Cantiello:

Parts of the interview up on MTVNews.com by end of day. Some on AMTV tomorrow morning (on MTV). The b-sides up tomorrow on MTVNews.com. ;)

jmaster
September 21, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Slezak’s review is up:

http://music-mix.ew.com/2009/09/21/kris-allen-live-like-were-dying-full-son/#comments

I haven’t read this yet, but let me guess’ ¦he loves it! And it’s going to be a huge hit! And America will be tapping it’s toes to it!

I keed, but I’m sure this song will do well, so I’m sure we’ll agree on that. Now off to read, BRB.

LOL, Truthiness! You called it wrt the Slezak review :-) You really didn’t need to read it.

My take: super-catchy song, should do well in exactly the kind of “middle of the road”, cool but safe, friendly and innocent way I expected Kris to do well with. Not my cuppa, but this is exactly the kind of song he should do (especially with the first single) to get people’s attention and get them interested.

Still, I’m curious to hear what the rest of the album will be like: kinda safe like this, as catchy as this? Hmm, only time will tell.

A few people are complaining about production values – something I have learned over the past few years is that song samples never sound as good as the i Tunes full version or indeed the CD version so you have to be careful judging a song by a snippet or internet preview – I find Amazon. com has the worst quality samples ever! Rolling Stone will let you preview a whole album and of course they are not going to give you the studio quality version due to concerns over piracy. They give you enough for you to decide whether you want to buy it or not, whether you like it or not.

Of course there is method to the madness.

99.9% of the people have never heard this song before or The Script so I wouldn’t worry about that aspect and of course welcome to 19/RCA where the choice of the first single is out of your hands – probably even for Adam. Happens to most Idol artists and it happens to most recording artists unless they are established and even then if the record company really hates what you are suggesting even a U2 might have to argue with the suits. It’s all about that almighty radio play.

I remember last year people being disappointed with Cook’s first single and the coronation song but it all worked out. Archie’s first single did have hit written all over it from the get go.

Great to see Kris getting all this exposure from Jim and Slezak. Expected, but nice and I look forward to the interviews. And of course, Kris totally deserves all this promotion.

And d’awwww, love the Tweets for Kris supporting him from former Idols.

I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!! It’s upbeat, energetic and a perfect first single!

It sounds exactly like Kris to me and he’ll have so much fun singing this live during the promotion tour!

It’ll be a hit for sure on the radio! Now it’s gotta have a kick ass video to go along with it!

The general public could/would care less if the Script sang it first. They won’t even find out. The only people that will know or care are the ones who check the blogs which is a small percentage.

Hooray for Kris!!! (big smiles!)

Color me surprised!!! Someone at KrisAllenOffical is at work!!

Live Like We’re Dying are now streaming.

All the “too many words” complaints remind me of “Amadeus.”

Emperor Joseph II: Your work is ingenious. It’s quality work. And there are simply too many notes, that’s all. Just cut a few and it will be perfect.

Mozart: Which few did you have in mind, Majesty?

Disclaimer: I’m not saying that Kris Allen is Mozart or the next Mozart. I’m not saying that Kris writes as well as Mozart. I’m not saying that Kris will have the career of Mozart. I’m not even saying that Kris has as much talent as Mozart did in his little finger. I’m just saying that the complaint about too many words reminded me of the Emperor telling Mozart he had too many notes.

(Thank you, Kirsten, for the boilerplate.)

yep listening to each from his site. About time.

LOL at all the disclaimers.

Allright! Maybe i was the zillionth email I sent to Kris’ official site telling them to get off their asses that woke them up?

edited overreaction

I LOVE this. I have a good feeling it will surprise the doubters and will be a huge legitimate hit.

Any Kris fan can correct me on this if I’m wrong, but hadn’t Kris himself said that the sound of his album wasn’t going to be really acoustic and that the fact that he was more inclined to pop rock similar to The Fray would surprise us?

I might be wrong, but I’ve had this in my mind since he came out of idol and that’s why I’m not surprised with the sound of this song.

hwc

C’mon…no one was saying Kris is anything close to being as great as Bob Dylan…they said part of the song had a Bob Dylan-ish type vibe. That’s all…

girlygirl
September 21, 2009 at 2:15 pm

hwc

C’mon’ ¦no one was saying Kris is anything close to being as great as Bob Dylan’ ¦they said part of the song had a Bob Dylan-ish type vibe. That’s all’ ¦

Exactly!!!!! This was just a harmless observation (least I thought so) and from what I can tell all of those who mentioned this liked the song and was not putting it down…So I don’t get the defensiveness..it was never intended to be a put down or an exact comparison…from either perspective (Kris or Dylan)

Disclaimer: I’m not saying that Kris Allen is Mozart or the next Mozart. I’m not saying that Kris writes as well as Mozart. I’m not saying that Kris will have the career of Mozart. I’m not even saying that Kris has as much talent as Mozart did in his little finger. I’m just saying that the complaint about too many words reminded me of the Emperor telling Mozart he had too many notes.

Hahahahahaha! That’s it.

Oh gosh, the beginning was soooo slow, (and I heard singer’s berathing-which I hate to hear ) Just as I was about to turn it off, the beat picked up, was a bit more fun. I like this kid, and I’ll bet the CD is going to be great and do well. I’ll listen again when I’m not so busy.

On a side note, what phony interviewers. Here you’ve got Kris; with a killer, dry sense of humor, and plenty of charm, on probably one of the happier days of his life, being interviewed with artificial jokes and really lame questions. Then they fianlly get around to talking about the song. I would have wished for him to have had a decent introduction for such a special occasion. Sigh…

Anyway, big celebrations and congratulations to Kris for his first song!

No contest. This is so much better than Bob Dylan.

…

He wasn’t even cute.

Guess it’s just me, but I always thought Dylan cute. I mean not as cute as Donavan, but still.

they said part of the song had a Bob Dylan-ish type vibe. That’s all’ ¦

Still not hearing it at all in this, but maybe live? When will Kris perform this live, I wonder? Any thoughts from the experts of seasons past, when will Kris be performing this live? I can’t wait for that version. I mean he almost made NoBo palatable doing an acoustic version on Ellen, so this should be a snap.

wow! i’m soooooo excited! i cant believe i’m finally getting to hear kris’s first song….(not considering NoBo of course)

just as slezak said earlier, the words:

We only got 864 hundred seconds in a day
To turn it all around or to throw it all away

keep running in my head over and over again even if its only the 3rd time i’m listening to it…dont care if:

a) its a cover

b) i keep thinking of the script whenever i listen to it but i think this will go away initially and hope kris will come to own this song (though i love the script…man who cant be move one of my all time favourites)

c)kris does or does not sound like bob dylan/mozart (heh)

d) if kris hasn’t got the right amount of publicity for the song…

just praying it becomes a decent hit and we get to hear kris’s rest of the album soon.

ross said: Did you listen to the caller in the interview?

jericho: What caller in what interview?

During the interview this morning when Kris was in the studio, one of the callers said she hadn’t been a big fan of his, but that the song changed her mind.

http://z100.elvisduran.com/pages/news/krisallen/

Click on the box in the upper right part of the page for the interview. (Also, the sound quality of the single sounds MUCH better on that site, I think.)

kris’s first single has gotten me out of hibernation on this blog for a while…..whoooo hoooo….

Looking at the hands of the time we been given
If this is all we got then we gotta start thinkin’

We only got 864 hundred seconds in a day
To turn it all around or to throw it all away

Gotta
Live like we’re dyin’ ohhh

I think it’s cute and poppy, but I was all tensed up by the time it was over. Weird.

ross
September 21, 2009 at 2:32 pm
ross said: Did you listen to the caller in the interview?

jericho: What caller in what interview?

During the interview this morning when Kris was in the studio, one of the callers said she hadn’t been a big fan of his, but that the song changed her mind.

Well that’s one anyway.

99.9% of the people have never heard this song before or The Script so I wouldn’t worry about that aspect and of course welcome to 19/RCA where the choice of the first single is out of your hands ‘“ probably even for Adam. Happens to most Idol artists and it happens to most recording artists unless they are established and even then if the record company really hates what you are suggesting even a U2 might have to argue with the suits. It’s all about that almighty radio play.

I think it is a fine song, and will be a hit for Kris.

But more than 0.1% if people in the US have heard The Script — and more will listen to them because of Kris’ cover. They have released an album here, charted at #91 in the US. And they are very well known in the UK and Ireland — album was #1 in both countries. They also opened for Paul McCartney in NY, toured in the US and have gotten some radio airplay.

Well that’s one anyway.

*snerk*

Don’t dislike it, but it’s sorta boring – cookie-cutter. But then, you gotta go with the market and, in that respect, the chances of it doing well are good. Kris is such a great guy – hope the album has more interesting choices. And, yes, the song doesn’t let us hear the true beauty of his voice. But it’s a safe pick – and the push now is to get his name out there. Once he’s successful, he can be more adventurous.

Disclaimer: I’m not saying that Kris Allen is Mozart or the next Mozart. I’m not saying that Kris writes as well as Mozart. I’m not saying that Kris will have the career of Mozart. I’m not even saying that Kris has as much talent as Mozart did in his little finger. I’m just saying that the complaint about too many words reminded me of the Emperor telling Mozart he had too many notes.

LMAO!

I love it. And I’ll buy it as soon as it’s available on iTunes. It makes me feel good and it reminds me to feel good. I’ll hum it all day long and I’ll even dance to it in the middle of the afternoon whenever I think that nobody is watching.

I think that it’s a great choice for Kris because it sets a tone for him. I expect that he will be bringing a lot of positive energy into our lives…

My only quibble is that, like every other song, it’s overproduced so that you have to strain to hear the singer through a wall of ‘sound’.

OK, now this song is hopelessly stuck in my head, lol. Earworm!

your disclaimer is smart, smartcookie .. lol

Deleted since MJ deleted my follow up post where I further explained my statement.

quick went over comments in EW. 50% ‘love it’, 50% ‘not so much’. No one strongly ‘hate it’ (as in NoBo’s case). Guess it’s a good sign.

btw, is Michael Slezak is TV show critic or music critic?

ETA “Do you have any issue with the fact that it’s an obscure cover of a track originally recorded by The Script? ”

obscure, really? icu fanboy Slezak

I’m trying to like it, but it just sounds like all the other bubblegum stuff on the radio. I expected more from the purported artist, the music-changer, the Kris who pours his heart out in acoustic renditions. I just don’t hear it. I can barely make out the words because there is so many and then there’s the catchy chorus, which I can make out. Macarena keeps resonating in my head. Sorry, but I wish Kris well.

What they said.

IMO The lyrics sound like something Danny would sing.

The song is super catchy, but Kris sounds just like The Script singing it—I have trouble telling the two versions apart. Of course, since most people have never heard the original song, it really doesn’t matter. This should easily be a hit on HAC. Top 40 is a little more fuzzy, but I get a Maroon 5 vibe (don’t hear Dylan at all), so it has a shot there, as well.

BeckyMD

Slezak likely means the song is obscure — not The Script themselves.

I just listened to the original (I had never heard it before), and Kris’s version is wicked similar, but… I like it! I actually listen to Top 40 a lot (although I generally only like maybe half of it), and I think it has hit potential.

Good things:

1) it shows he can rock out

2) it’s catchy as hell, and already stuck to my brain like super glue

3) it will sound good acoustic, which is how I want to hear it asap

Other things:

1) It’s a bash-bam rocker, with zero subtlety or invention

2) It’s gonna surprise some Kris loyalists, in some cases negatively, because it has little relation to his AI performances on TV

3) It’s a good recording of a so-so song

In any case, I’m rooting for him!

I’m only up to page 4 of the comments so excuse any redundancy:

I was struck listening to the radio interview that any question about the song’s origins seemed to be off-limits. I mean, wouldn’t you expect on the day of the song’s debut for Kris to be asked if he wrote it, or for him to give some kind of shout-out to the songwriters? Wouldn’t it be better to just get out in front of that whole issue rather than for Jive to try and hide it? There’s just no getting around the fact that there’s another version of the song out there that sounds exactly like his, and he’s going to have to talk about it sooner or later.

Also, I’m startled that the song includes such disturbing imagery in the lyrics. Just having the word “dying” in a song title seems like a risky enough choice, why get so literal about it?

All that said, I think Kris did a great job with it. Back to page 4.

ETA: I was referring to his first interview this morning, I didn’t hear the other one,

HappyDaisy
September 21, 2009 at 2:55 pm

but I was all tensed up by the time it was over. Weird.

I wasn’t going to post since I don’t have nice things to say about the song. However, I can relate to your comment, HotHotHot.

I’m not particularly stressed today but that song stresses me out! Reminds me of a record that’s stuck on repeat or something.

Seems it would be a difficult one to perform live with all of those words delivered so fast.

I can relate – my jaws were clenched by the time it was over.

I wish Kris every success, but I’ll pass on this one.

ETA: This comment hits the nail on the head for me with the clenched jaws reaction:

“I have a hard time with clocks, tapping, etc. so maybe that IS what the problem is for me. “

I actually listen to Top 40 a lot (although I generally only like maybe half of it), and I think it has hit potential.

i used to listen to top40 but not anymore cos of all the inundation of crappy songs by soulja boy and lil wayne but i’m going to become a hypocrite and wish that kris beats all those crapsters and gets a no. 1 on the top40…heh

Having heard the Script version of this song, I prefer them over Kris. My problem is that I’ve never liked Kris’s voice and his voice in this song is not making me a fan. For me, he is just too average of a singer to make an impression on me. The song itself is way too wordy and tweeny bubblegum pop for my tastes but then again, I’m older than dirt so my opinion doesn’t count much anyway. As far as feeling stressed after listening, I would say, for me, it’s more about wanting it to end quickly because I’m tired of the wordiness and I have no idea what he’s singing anyway. The first part was fine though, it just became too much toward the end and that may be why people are feeling stressed. My opinion on why he’s doing a cover, for what it’s worth, is that 19E didn’t want to sign him in the first place and they do not want to put much effort into the album because they don’t believe he can be successful. The Kris fans have to be disappointed because they were all about the singer-songwriter multi-instrument playing soulful acoustic singer and all that’s not evident in LLYD. Good luck to Kris because that bus is still running.

Yeah, HappyDaisy, I can’t quite put my finger on the ‘stressed out’ reaction either. I enjoy a wide spectrum of music, including Barenaked Ladies ‘Pinch Me’, and other songs that have a quick flurry of words. I think it has something to do with how the instrumentation hits the vocals. The beginning is very stop and go and I think the fact that the chorus is delivered in a near monotone voice is meant to convey a ticking clock, you know “time is moving on so live your life to the fullest” kind of message. Maybe some of us are more sensitive to that type of sound. I know, personally, that hearing a ticking clock is one of the most irritating sounds to me. I have to bury the clock or get rid of it. I can imagine there’d be a way to musically get that point across in a more sonically pleasing way.

But hey, everyone has different tastes and I know I’m certainly no arbiter of what makes it big at this point in time. I wish nothing but the best for Kris.

In a way this is kind of funny. I mean I love the (over)analysis that we do here. Tis very entertaining. But does anybody ever think about these things when they go to buy a song? I doubt it somehow. So, I’m going to play shrink here and ask you all just the one question…

‘but how does it make you feel ladies and gentlemen’?
How does it make you feel? And …
would you want to repeat the feeling?

(ok that’s two questions … but I’ve never played shrink before and I’m winging it.)

Anyway, congratulations Kris. First time out and you done good.

Eileen99

LOL at the people ‘stressed out’  by the song. Really? I’m guessing Kris isn’t going after the demographic that would be bothered by the pace/cadence of the song. I think it’s awesomely catchy and sounds like a Top 40/HAC hit to me. To each their own.

For the record – I have never had such a reaction to a song before in my life, and this isn’t the first fast-paced song I’ve heard. I don’t know why I felt stressed after listening to it, but I did (and even weirder, when I listened to the Script version I did not have that reaction – maybe in a few days I’ll do some thorough listening to both versions and try to come up with an explanation. As for now, I don’t feel like repeating the experience.).

As for certain stressed-out demographics … I kinda doubt it, although I know that at least three of the stressed out listeners (saga, dyg1 and yours truly) are Europeans (or in Europe anyway). Don’t know if that’s a help.

Even if I’m personally not too fond of it, I still think the song has hit potential and I wish Kris the best of luck.

Oh yeah – @smartcookie, very funny disclaimer but since Kris didn’t put all those damn lyrics in the song wouldn’t it be the Script you’re NOT comparing to Mozart …? ;)

ETA: @movin2thabeet – I actually really like that analysis and that might be exactly what’s the problem for me, the staccatoness (not a real word I know) of the delivery in combination with the monotone of the voice *shrugs*.

dhunken
September 21, 2009 at 2:21 pm

Exactly!!!!! This was just a harmless observation (least I thought so) and from what I can tell all of those who mentioned this liked the song and was not putting it down’ ¦So I don’t get the defensiveness..it was never intended to be a put down or an exact comparison’ ¦from either perspective (Kris or Dylan)

The people who keep harping on this knew exactly what you meant, as well. It’s just too hard to pass up the snark.

It’s the voice inflection thing that he does @ or around 2:30….I get the same vibe at that point (not the song as a whole).

When Adam’s single comes out and inevitable comparisons are made, I imagine the same thing will happen. *sigh*

Also, I’m startled that the song includes such disturbing imagery in the lyrics. Just having the word ‘dying’  in a song title seems like a risky enough choice, why get so literal about it?

Because “Live Like We’re Dying” sounded better than “Carpe Diem”?

Yay…I really like it! but I want the full album now!!! November is still too far away!!!!

So, I’m going to play shrink here and ask you all just the one question’ ¦ ‘but how does it make you feel ladies and gentlemen’? How does it make you feel? And ‘ ¦ would you want to repeat the feeling? (ok that’s two questions ‘ ¦ but I’ve never played shrink before and I’m winging it.)

LOL…hmmmm very good to your first question, very very good to your second question and YESSS to your third :-))

My opinion on why he’s doing a cover, for what it’s worth, is that 19E didn’t want to sign him in the first place and they do not want to put much effort into the album because they don’t believe he can be successful. The Kris fans have to be disappointed because they were all about the singer-songwriter multi-instrument playing soulful acoustic singer and all that’s not evident in LLYD. Good luck to Kris because that bus is still running.

I still think that his doing a cover isn’t the problem – I’d never even heard of The Script before the song leaked.

And for them to want Kris to fail is kind o f stupid if you think about it – they are spending money on him and 19 needs him to make money for them. Setting him up for failure won’t do anything to help them. And they are sending him to London for something according to what he said in an interview at some point so I am very curious as to what they are planning for him.

To be slightly off topic, I’m actually more worried about Allison since she’s dropping after Black Friday which is not something I would have expected.

Something sexier would have been nice. Got the insinuating low tones to do it.

wow its 1.14am on a work night…i btr stop feeling all excited now and go to sleep

goodnight everyone!

Sounds like a white boy trying to rap to me. Meh, maybe the rest of the album will be better. Not great source material they’ve given him for the first single…although it does sound like something you’d find scanning through radio stations.

The beginning is very stop and go and I think the fact that the chorus is delivered in a near monotone voice is meant to convey a ticking clock, you know ‘time is moving on so live your life to the fullest’  kind of message. Maybe some of us are more sensitive to that type of sound. I know, personally, that hearing a ticking clock is one of the most irritating sounds to me. I have to bury the clock or get rid of it. I can imagine there’d be a way to musically get that point across in a more sonically pleasing way.

This… I don’t mind the chorus so much as the actual body of the lyrics & the phrasing. I think it gets repetitive because of the sort of ‘start stop’ or jarring. (Does that make sense?) I have a hard time with clocks, tapping, etc. so maybe that IS what the problem is for me.

On a side note: I wish Kris all the success possible. When one Idol is successful they all benefit with increased Idol credibility. Looking forward to hearing the entire album.

Does anyone knows which is the right single cover? I like the one with paint splashes all over it and the upside down lithuanian flag (according to sun). That was really cool. The other one was really bad.

‘but how does it make you feel ladies and gentlemen’?
How does it make you feel? And ‘ ¦
would you want to repeat the feeling?

Not good
No

I do think somehow I react very sensitively to sound in general and to music in particular. That song made my muscles clinch all over. Not stressed. But, I have to admit one of the reasons I like Adam’s voice so much is that when he hits some of those high notes, it sends a jolt of electricity down my spine and makes my hair stand up a little. So, maybe it is really good hearing or some kind of neural response.

It’s weird that some people feel stressed out after listening to this song. That’s the last thing I’m feeling…my head is bobbing to the beat and I’m singing along to the chorus. This doesn’t seem like a song that should stress anyone out…but whatever…

anyway, Danny has chimed in (and gives us an update on what he’s up to)

dannygokey

Just had lunch with w/my record label. Such awesome people & we r very excited 2 get this single out. Congrats @krisallen4real 4 ur big day!2 minutes ago from web

Also, I’m startled that the song includes such disturbing imagery in the lyrics. Just having the word ‘dying’  in a song title seems like a risky enough choice, why get so literal about it?

This seems to raise concern with a number of people. I never thought about it. I guess I’m just a little psychopath because talk of dying in songs never seemed to bother me. I’m still going to sing along to “American Pie” even though it does mention singing about dying and the real life death of musicians in a plane crash (sad song, but great to sing along to and fun to play on the guitar).

Disclaimer: I’m not saying that LLWD is American Pie or the next American PIe. I’m not saying that LLWD is as well written as American Pie. I’m not saying that LLWD will become a legendary song like American Pie. I’m not even saying that LLWD show as much talent as American Pie did in it’s lower left measure. I’m just saying that planes crashing in songs doesn’t bother me.

hmm, it’s an uptempo song but it doesn’t make me stressed at all… I’m listening at it while working and it’s cool!

Oh and I have a feeling that the song that Kris says he likes best out of the ones that are on his album so far — I Need to Know — which Kris wrote (or co-wrote) himself — may be something more like FS or ANS. I really want to hear this song, since Kris picked it as his favorite.

I am sure Kris had a lot of songs and Jive picks the song to put out there not him.

I can hear LLWD on the radio and that is what counts because the majority of people don’t hang out on Idol blogs and it sounds like a hit.

Most people never heard of the Script or that version and Jive targets young people who have disposable income.

Once the song gets airplay and with a catchy tune young people will buy it. I can also see it being a hit in Asia which really follows American Pop music.

Oh and I have a feeling that the song that Kris says he likes best out of the ones that are on his album so far ‘” I Need to Know ‘” which Kris wrote (or co-wrote) himself ‘” may be something more like FS or ANS. I really want to hear this song, since Kris picked it as his favorite.

.. same here. Love his choices on the show, I’m sure that will be very good.. can’t wait. Hey, maybe that will be the 2nd single?

My opinion on why he’s doing a cover, for what it’s worth, is that 19E didn’t want to sign him in the first place and they do not want to put much effort into the album because they don’t believe he can be successful. The Kris fans have to be disappointed because they were all about the singer-songwriter multi-instrument playing soulful acoustic singer and all that’s not evident in LLYD. Good luck to Kris because that bus is still running.

I don’t see that Jive/19 isn’t behind Kris with this. He got the song on Z100, which I gather is what they did last year for Archie. Kris has gigs and tons of promotion and some people are really excited about him and this song and are going to go forth and spread the word about it. I don’t see how Jive/19 isn’t doing right by Kris? Other than that they gave him a cover from a band not a lot of people in the US have heard of and certainly a song they haven’t. And it’s a song that is catchy and will probably be successful. So seems like they’re doing right by Kris to me, but YMMV, of course.

I remember last year. Many people on Idol blogs disliked Crush and thought it was beneath Archie and it was a big hit. A lot of people thought that was too ‘bubble gum’ but it turned out to be a big hit for him.

I think most posters agree that the single has a potential to be a hit, I just gave my personal opinion about it. Also, Danny and Michael has tweeted to Kris, anyone else?

Much better if you turn it really loud and go in the next room so don’t have to hear the words.

My opinion on why he’s doing a cover, for what it’s worth, is that 19E didn’t want to sign him in the first place and they do not want to put much effort into the album because they don’t believe he can be successful. The Kris fans have to be disappointed because they were all about the singer-songwriter multi-instrument playing soulful acoustic singer and all that’s not evident in LLYD.

I’m a Kris fan and I’m not disappointed. In fact, this new single exceeded my expectations. I think 19E is spot on in choosing this as the first single. So far, majority of the feedback says it’s catchy and radio-friendly which I think is a good sign. The song doesn’t stress me out as well. For me, it’s an uplifting song and I can listen to it over and over. But then again, I’m a Kris fan so I guess to each his/her own…

Also, Danny and Michael has tweeted to Kris, anyone else?

It was Anoop, not Michael that tweeted about Kris

I think it could be a hit.

Young people are the ones that Jive targets and it is upbeat. LLWD is faster and upbeat, so it will capture a wider audience and I believe the rest of Kris’s song will be a mix. Jive knows what they are doing by picking this song to capture the teen and pre-teen market who push the majority of today’s music industry sales.

I think that the same will probably happen with Adam and Allison. The labels will give them a more “pop” side to capture more of the teen and pre-teen audience, but their cds will have more of their own style.

Since Danny is going Country his first song will probably be more slower.

I’m not understanding the problem some are having with “dying” being in the lyrics or title, either. There are tons of songs about dying (as Kirsten mentioned above, I see) – and this topic in general – not the least of which is that damn Nickelback song that gets played about 40 zillion times every day!

It’s interesting to me that some people are calling this song safe, bland bubblegum, while others find it stressful to listen to with its staccato rhythms, urgent-sounding vocals, and lyrics about death.

I like that it’s a little bit edgy. I actually like that a whole lot. It’s poppy, rhythmic, catchy, but also a little bit dark and a tiny bit scary.

It’s not at all the bland, meaningless single that I feared.

I’m not going to say anything more than the fact that I love the song. It’s only those of us on the internet who are analysing and criticising.
The aim of the the record companies are to sell records and it means they have to put out what will sell. I feel thats xactly what they are doing.
And those who think there is a bus coming for Kris are mistaken. Not now, not ever. I chose to believe that’s what those people hope for.
Jive are not fools, they know what will sell when they see it and they know exactly what to do with Kris.
Finally those outside AI bubble are not even going to go into what we are doing here. It’s more like they hear the song on radio, like it and buy. Cover, The Script, they would not care if they like the song.
The first time I bought Daughtry’s album was when I heard it on radio. It rang in my ears the whole day at work and I ended up buying it that very day on my way home. So, we may give our opinions but in the end, it would not matter to the buying public outside idol.

Just saw the response to my query earlier today on a music blog I check in with. ( I posted about it here upthread) “No”, the folks who were in the discussion about The Script songs were not doing so because of Kris’ new song and “no” they had not heard Kris’ version. They didn’t even know he had covered the song! But they were going to give it a listen. I’ll let you know what they think.

I think it’s a great song and very MARKETABLE.

The same thing will happen for Allison and Adam. The label will put out the most “pop” sounding song, which will have a wider appeal to the whole audience.

I like the song and the more I listen to it the more I can it being a hit.

I never even heard of The Script until now so Kris singing it could them more well known.

Kris interview by Jim C

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1621985/20090921/allen_kris_american_idol_.jhtml

The strummy, sing-songy tune had apparently been earmarked as a single for Kris since he began working on his post-”Idol” album back in May. Allen told MTV News, “[The song] was actually one that we had listened to really early on, and we kind of just fell in love with it. Everyone did.”

LOL…what is this thing about the song having the word “dying”? Teens are the ones who are into movies like Final Destination and Sorority Row. To them it is no big deal.

Aloha, and good morning, everyone,

Also, I’m startled that the song includes such disturbing imagery in the lyrics. Just having the word ‘dying’  in a song title seems like a risky enough choice, why get so literal about it?

Don’t worry– most people don’t even understand the words of the songs they listen to. Have you heard people try to sing the Star Spangled Banner?

Just finished reading all the posts– very entertaining!

My abbreviated take on all this–

*Lyrics– it’s not the quality or content of the lyrics that bother me.. it’s the quantity. Too many words. With all due respect to the Mozart reference– this ain’t Mozart. The song reminds me of a Kara song. “blah blah blah blah.. liiive like we’re dying…”

*That said, the hook is catchy and I think the song will do well. Good for Kris!

*It obscures Kris’s voice– to me, it sounds just like those AI overproduced studio versions of all the Idols songs… including some of Adam’s. Sounds like the dreaded Bandzilla.

I won’t buy it but I’ll listen to it –happily– when it comes on the radio.

And I will definitely be waiting to hear what else Kris comes up with after this single.

Ok – new (over)analysis of Kris’s song:

Like the Script one, I still maintain that the chorus is KICK-AWESOME — super super catchy, but I’m still not feeling those verses – very plodding, unmelodic and clumsy imo.

But as I said before with the Script leak, a great hook is all you often need to get a good hit on the radio, so I think that is more than enough for this song.

And I agree with the earlier poster who said that the first few notes didn’t quite sound like Kris, but after that it calmed down a little and sounded more like him :-)

And I will also second the comment that the picture for the single looks WAY too airbrushed – seriously WTF with that!? Kris is GORGEOUS as is. Oh, well…

I dont think that its a big deal that Kris didnt change the song much from the original. I had never even heard of The Script until a week ago when it said on this site that Kris was covering a song of theirs (Ive since downloaded their album and like it alot) let alone about an obscure song of theirs. I think the only people who will have heard of this song/know that its a cover are people who follow idol news regularly, are big Script fans, or YouTube junkies. In my opinion the song fits Kris well and there wasnt really a need to rework because the song was never “really” someone elses to begin with. Far more people will become familiar with Kris’ version of this song that the Scripts, and that is what will make it his. For me (for you) for all intents and purposes, the Scripts version is nothing more than a demo that didnt make their album but got released to the youtube.

The songs very catchy and i think it has potential to be a hit if it gets decent promotion. I for one cant wait to hear it on the radio. Plus i think the Slezak/Cantiello endorsement is a good jump off. I wouldnt underestimate their support (think Gokey backlash).

wow, interesting to learn about the duo producers, and they are going to produce more for kris.

Kris interview by Jim C

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1621985/20090921/allen_kris_american_idol_.jhtml

Thank you for that – so now we know why Kris is going to London, to work with the producers he worked with on this song. It also sounds like his plan/wish to work with one producer/producer team did not pan out, but I guess that would have been difficult to accomplish given the lack of time.

So the big question is, are there any folks here that were not already huge Kris Allen fans who have heard this song, love it, and have plans to buy it as soon as its released? Just curious, as most of the love seems to be coming from already avowed Kris fans. And, if this song is going to be a huge hit, he’ll need to reach a whole bunch of other folks to dig into their pocketbooks. (Not that this board is an accurate snapshot of the potential single-buying public out there).

… it’s been hours and yup, still stuck in my head. It’s a definite ear worm.

So the big question is, are there any folks here that were not already huge Kris Allen fans who have heard this song,

I don’t love it, but I like it and I may buy it or I just may wait until the album, have not decided yet.

For me (for you) for all intents and purposes, the Scripts version is nothing more than a demo that didnt make their album but got released to the youtube. ”

And made the same EP as a rerelease of The Script’s Debut single “We Cry” which went to #13 on the UK pop charts; and can still be downloaded ( as a single) from iTunes; and is offered as a ringtone.

I’m not debating your point that Kris’ version will be much more recognized in the US, but its not exactly like no one has ever heard The Script’s version.

Artists cover other artists all the time, that’s no big thing. I just wish Kris could have done something original for his first release.

So the big question is, are there any folks here that were not already huge Kris Allen fans who have heard this song, love it, and have plans to buy it as soon as its released

Well I’ve seen some more Adam type fans here say they like it, so that’s cool! And most everyone is saying it’s catchy and should do well, so that’s even cooler.

Now as to purchasing it? No, I won’t be and I won’t even be downloading it for free. I listened to a few times, that’s enough for me. And if the rest of the record was like this? I’d be disappointed and would pass. I am still holding out hope for at least a few songs I like on it that I will want to buy. But than I don’t expect to really like more than a few songs off of Adam’s album, either, so that may be just me and my AI album expectations talking.

So the big question is, are there any folks here that were not already huge Kris Allen fans who have heard this song, love it, and have plans to buy it as soon as its released?

I’m with Squirrely. I like it enough not to change the radio station (my finger is on automatic with a certain Nickelback Idol). I won’t buy it as a single.. but I have many other artists similar to Kris. I am very interested to see what else Kris can come up with. All first Idol single are not generally strong, so this doesn’t change my opinion in a good or bad way.

ETA: As someone not invested in Kris… I could careless if it is a cover or not.

He has a Bob Dylan vibe going on in the rapping part. It hit me right away.

I thought of Dylan immediately also.

ETA: Now I see that many many others did too. It’s strange, because he has never even remotely reminded me of Dylan before.

So the big question is, are there any folks here that were not already huge Kris Allen fans who have heard this song, love it, and have plans to buy it as soon as its released?

Not me. Kris was very much himself on the show. This song doesn’t surprise me in the least. It’s exactly what I expected from him. Kris seems like a nice guy, but I don’t like his style of music. So, I won’t be buying it or changing my mind about him anytime soon. But, so what? I don’t own anything of Jason Mraz or Maroon 5, and they seem to be doing just fine without my endorsement. :) On the other hand, maybe Kris will have another song on his album that I like. If so, I’ll buy it. It’s just not going to be this one.

Sometimes, it really is just about personal taste. If I don’t like Adam or Allison’s music, I won’t be buying that, either. I never feel obligated to buy any of the Idols’ music. Or anyone’s for that matter.

Susan M.
September 21, 2009 at 4:42 pm

‘ ¦ it’s been hours and yup, still stuck in my head. It’s a definite ear worm.

LOL! All that song did was make Tim McGraw’s song Live Like You Were Dying get stuck in my head. And I am not really a Country music fan.

While I understand some people not liking a couple of the images in the lyrics, do you realize how many songs talk about death or have the word death or dying in them? Probably hundreds, if not thousands.

And this is actually a song about not living with regrets — to live everyday as if you were dying — that is, to not let possibilities or opportunities pass you by before it’s too late. It’s a positive message, not a downbeat one.

Finally, does anybody remember what a HUGE hit Suzanne Vega had with a song called “Luka”? That song was about child abuse — and it ended up charting at #3 on the US Top 100! That song had a very bouncy melody and I remember how stunned some people were to realize what the subject was.

So if a song about child abuse can be hugely successful, that may suggest that people don’t necessarily focus on the lyrics so much as they do the overall melody/texture of the song. Maybe especially in a song that has a bouncy, catchy melody — driving along, bobbing your head, maybe singing along with the chorus — how focused would most people be on every image in the lyrics?

Has there been any reviews outside the idol bubble for the song? Besides Perez??

Hey Guys -

A Kris delurker (hi Triskel4!) asked yesterday about ways to request that local radio stations play Kris’ new song. Tinawina subsequently provided a great link to David Cook’s instructions on radio requests.

The DCO article is entitled ‘SPAMALOT (Actually, Don’t!). A Handy Guide to Making Radio Requests’  (click here). It was very interesting with a lot of good suggestions on how to request radio airplay without coming off as a rabid “Claymate”-type fantard.

Ergo, if you want “Live Like We’re Dying” to get radio play without pissing off dj’s, it would be best to follow the suggestions (i.e. NO SPAMMING!!). Just say’in. :-)

I think its possible for folks to enjoy Kris Allen and his version of this song without dismissing the Script’s role here. The fact is that the Script wrote and released this song outside of this country so by definition, it is a cover. That’s not inherently a bad thing, although it is somewhat controversial. What I consider to be even more curious, is why Kris sang the song almost identically to the way the Script did, down to the tonal inflections. Considering how much he changed up the Idol songs to put his own stamp on the songs, this is what puzzles me.

While I understand some people not liking a couple of the images in the lyrics, do you realize how many songs talk about death or have the word death or dying in them? Probably hundreds, if not thousands.

Maybe I need to reread the thread but I just saw one post thinking that using the word dying was weird. I don’t think it’s an issue for most people.

I think the song is great! Not stressful at all. We are all
going to die someday, he is just singing make every minute
count. When I sing it I just want to tell everyone that
I love them. This is a great song!

Has there been any reviews outside the idol bubble for the song? Besides Perez??

Elvis claimed to like it (the DJ, not the guy who hangs out at Starbucks who is supposed to be dead), but I guess he’s kind of invested as well as he premiered it. But since he’s invested and an influential DJ on the most influential pop station, that’s probably a good thing he’s invested.

OMG! Me, too! He sounds just like Dylan. Only better!

There aren’t enough disclaimers in the world are there? It’s not like people were saying that he’s a better singer than legendary rock stars. Just that there was a bit of a vibe in his phrasing.

Finally, does anybody remember what a HUGE hit Suzanne Vega had with a song called ‘Luka’ ? That song was about child abuse ‘” and it ended up charting at #3 on the US Top 100! That song had a very bouncy melody and I remember how stunned some people were to realize what the subject was.

And don’t forget the Rolling Stones had a big hit about whipping and raping young black slave girls.

HI GUYS!!!!!! just got back frm school.homework ugh.okay I’ve been excited all day jumping up and down and telling everyone I know about kris ‘s single.I even took my iPod to school with me and was staring at it at 7:40 but no wi-fi!!! Grrrr.I think I creeped ppl out LOL I’m so excited.CAN SOMEONE PLZ TELL ME ABIUT THIS THREAD!!!!! Wow 500 comments??!!! I love u ppl.great job.ok going to listen now……..:D

There aren’t enough disclaimers in the world are there? It’s not like people were saying that he’s a better singer than legendary rock stars.

I am. This is way better than Dylan. He signs with so much conviction.

girlygirl: Finally, does anybody remember what a HUGE hit Suzanne Vega had with a song called ‘Luka’ ? That song was about child abuse ‘” and it ended up charting at #3 on the US Top 100! That song had a very bouncy melody and I remember how stunned some people were to realize what the subject was.

You mean Suzanne’s Vega all time crappiest song with the crappiest lyrics which some how managed to be a feel-good hit??!! [snark] :razz:

Has there been any reviews outside the idol bubble for the song? Besides Perez??

You read my mind. This is what I want to know. Any reports of how critics or the general population outside the Idol bubble views this song?

luv, apparently this song is considered too depressing and too bubblegum, it’s bland and edgy and should do well on radio, but most people won’t be buying it.

Um…hwc?? Nevermind, don’t even want to know what song that is…

You read my mind. This is what I want to know. Any reports of how critics or the general population outside the Idol bubble view this song?

I haven’t seen anytying other than some public comments from various websites like People.com
http://tvwatch.people.com/2009/09/21/kris-allen-debuts-first-single/

or a place called Neon Limelgiht http://neonlimelight.com/2009/09/21/new-music-kris-allen-live-like-were-dying/

I am. This is way better than Dylan. He signs with so much conviction.

So, what are you saying? Kris signs autographs better than Dylan?

Nobody but you are saying that Kris is better than Dylan. Few people would claim that Idols are better than legendary artists.

thanks aunteeaimee:) UGH PPL ACTUALLY THINK THAT??!!! EPIC FAIL!!!!! j/k maybe I FLOVE IT SERIOUSLY AWESOME IM DYING HERE FLAILING CRYING SHAKING NOT HOMIES BUT CLOSE ENOUGH HONESTLY AMAZING DID I ALREADY SAY I FLIVE IT I THINK IM DEAD.and on that note does anyone know when it will be released on iTunes; I think next Tuesday???!!!

luv, apparently this song is considered too depressing and too bubblegum, it’s bland and edgy and should do well on radio, but most people won’t be buying it.

Yep. That sums up everything for me except you left out the part about it being a cover and some people will listen to it driving down the road with their hands out the windows-yikes!

girlygirl
September 21, 2009 at 5:08 pm
While I understand some people not liking a couple of the images in the lyrics, do you realize how many songs talk about death or have the word death or dying in them? Probably hundreds, if not thousands.

What people are feeling is visceral, I don’t think it has much to do with logic. If some people feel stressed when they hear the song, then there’s really no way to change that. I suspect it’s not just the lyrics, but a combination of a repetitive beat, heavy production, imagery and the memories provoked in individuals by the song. The song doesn’t stress me out, but it obviously does others. I just don’t think we can analyze an instinctive emotional reaction away.

hwc
September 21, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Finally, does anybody remember what a HUGE hit Suzanne Vega had with a song called ‘Luka’ ? That song was about child abuse ‘” and it ended up charting at #3 on the US Top 100! That song had a very bouncy melody and I remember how stunned some people were to realize what the subject was.

And don’t forget the Rolling Stones had a big hit about whipping and raping young black slave girls.

And then there is Aerosmith’s ‘Janie’s Got a Gun”

and the old standard “Strange Fruit”

If the songs stays in your head, then it’s good enough to get airplays and a potential hit. As we have been discussing in our speculations of how Kris and Adam’s album will sound like, there was a consensus that it’s not only the voice that counts but also the music plays a big role.

I just hope no one will start to play the Script version and compare it with Kris version. That will be sad. But as it is, it’s a good single from Kris.

Brown Sugar. It’s the ugliest song ever written, but it’s so poppy/bouncy that nobody ever listens to the lyrics. It’s so ugly:

Gold coast slave ship bound for cotton fields,
Sold in a market down in new orleans.
Scarred old slaver know hes doin alright.
Hear him whip the women just around midnight.
Ah brown sugar how come you taste so good
(a-ha) brown sugar, just like a young girl should
A-huh.

I said yeah, I said yeah, I said yeah, I said
Oh just like, just like a black girl should.

Ryan Adams and Beth Orton released this duet in England that captures the dark ugliness of the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=masNmZy5d6Y

While I understand some people not liking a couple of the images in the lyrics,….

I am not in this group. I don ´t understand a word of the song, only the “gotta live…..” What makes me anxious is the loud music overpowering Kris voice, and the pace. I got a headache trying to get to the end of the song.

and the old standard ‘Strange Fruit’ 

Or Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire”. Number 1 on the Hot 100 despite alluding to many terrible events and rapid fire lyrics.

And too many war songs to mention. Especially the cheerful WW2 and WW1 songs.

Hi Kristen
Dylan is legendary because he’s a brilliant writer and he was able to speak for his generation and even an era … but I don’t think he’s acknowledged as being much of a singer. Kris is a much better singer.

HWC, I think Billie Holiday’s Lewis Allan song Strange Fruit wins for ugliest lyrics

Southern trees bear strange fruit,
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze,
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.

Pastoral scene of the gallant south,
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh,
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh.

Here is fruit for the crows to pluck,
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
Here is a strange and bitter crop.

But it isn’t upbeat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ZyuULy9zs
Still it was Holiday’s biggest selling record and was named as the “Song of the Century” by Time magazine in 1999.

Luv

Auntieaimee and Alaadam are incorrect in their recaps.

LOTS of people on this board like or love the song, for various reasons (catchy, good hook, earworm, good message, Kris’ voice). Others do not, for various reasons (bubblegum, lacks edge, too bland, distrurbing lyrics, carbon copy (or close to it) of original). Perez Hilton hates it. Michael Slezak and Jim Cantiello love it. The DJs who played it on the 2 NYC radio stations Kris visited this morning both said they like the song. The ontd_ai.com thread is probably 90+% POSITIVE about the song.

The reader comments on other websites such as EW.com and people.com seem to be pretty even between those who love it and those who don’t — maybe with slightly more in favor of those who like it.

And even the ones who don’t personally like it or don’t plan to buy it/download it seem to agree that it has the potential to be a hit.

So this english producer duo Kris was talking about, who are they? Anyone we heard of (or can research :P)?

Nice recap girlygirl (was thinking of writing a more correct one too but I am lazy…)

Billie Holiday sux. She couldn’t hit any high notes.

Will try to rush through my hw so I can read the thread

Sunn: What people are feeling is visceral, I don’t think it has much to do with logic. If some people feel stressed when they hear the song, then there’s really no way to change that. I suspect it’s not just the lyrics, but a combination of a repetitive beat, heavy production, imagery and the memories provoked in individuals by the song. The song doesn’t stress me out, but it obviously does others. I just don’t think we can analyze an instinctive emotional reaction away.

dyg1: I am not in this group. I don ´t understand a word of the song, only the ‘gotta live’ ¦..’  What makes me anxious is the loud music overpowering Kris voice, and the pace. I got a headache trying to get to the end of the song.

I agree with dyg1 – I am pretty sure the lyrics have nothing to do with my stressed out reaction to the song because they weren’t that discernible to me. Besides that, I’m rather cynical and have no problem with death or dying – we’re all going that way sooner or later and it’s not like we’re going to care once we are dead *shrugs*. So, the lyrics were not the problem for me, the delivery of the song was.

THNX GIRLYGIRL:D any interviews/ news I should kno about??!!! I’ll try to read the thread but I have a LOT of homeworkD:

Does anyone remember what the initial reaction to Light On on was on this blog?

So this english producer duo Kris was talking about, who are they?

The Framptom guy has a myspace page (too lazy to go find it again).

Working with Nathasha Bedingfield and The Script among others

sma11ie… to the point!

hwc, you brought old memories with ‘Brown Sugar’. Danced to this when I was a teanager… I didn’t understand English at the time. I would have less like the song if i had understood the lyrics..

I have always said that Kris is the most radio friendly of the top four. This is coming from a Danny first Adam second fan. I have never been a huge fan of Kris but I gotta give him his props. The song has a Maroon 5 vibe going. I would be surprised if this wasn’t a huge hit for Kris. I predict this song will do really well on Top 40 and HAC. As my hubby (non AI fan) said when he saw Kris in concert. This guy is going to sell millions of records. Congrats to Kris and his fans.

I think its possible for folks to enjoy Kris Allen and his version of this song without dismissing the Script’s role here.

Thank you. And I wonder how fans would feel if say Jonas Bros took a song from BNS, copied it exactly, and put it on the radio. I think they’d still consider it Kris’s song.

Anyway, like I said, I don’t think it will effect the success
of the song. Just a pet peeve of mine.

auntieaimee
You’re making a funny right? Billie Holiday’s notes were all brilliant. But you were making a funny right?

saga the producers are Frampton and Kipner – don’t feel like researching them rn (should probably head to bed).

Lyndsey Parker updated her Yahoo! Music blog to put the YouTube of Kris’ full version of the song on there — but she didn’t change her review. So does this mean she likes the full version (since she praised the 23 second snippet that leaked)

Like others this song isn’t my style but its catchy. Kris sounds reallly good, esp on the chorus. I do agree on the lyrics being cheesy but I think they have a certain relevance for the times we live in and will resonate with people.

hwc, OMG, Brown Sugar was the first song I actually remember getting excited about at the age of 5. I never realized…ACK. I mean I knew about Stray Cat Blues later on, which is why I won’t listen to it…but just omg. Come to think of it, a lot of the stuff I like musically is unlistenable on a lyrical level…

auntieaimee
You’re making a funny right? Billie Holiday’s notes were all brilliant. But you were making a funny right?

Yeah, but she couldn’t sing loud high notes.

*disclaimer* Yes, I’m kidding.

dyg1: I am not in this group. I don ´t understand a word of the song, only the ‘gotta live’ ¦..’  What makes me anxious is the loud music overpowering Kris voice, and the pace. I got a headache trying to get to the end of the song.

lob: I agree with dyg1 ‘“ I am pretty sure the lyrics have nothing to do with my stressed out reaction to the song because they weren’t that discernible to me. Besides that, I’m rather cynical and have no problem with death or dying ‘“ we’re all going that way sooner or later and it’s not like we’re going to care once we are dead *shrugs*. So, the lyrics were not the problem for me, the delivery of the song was.

I didn’t say it was the lyrics, I said it was probably a combination of elements, including personal experience. It’s very much individual reaction to a sonic stimulus.
My brother can’t listen to one of my all time favourite songs “Suicide Is Painless” because it’s too depressing, to me that song is cathartic.

I’m sure you guys are better judges of the source of stress than I am. For me LLWD is just a popy, bouncy song.

Working with Nathasha Bedingfield and The Script among others

Cool! That should be perfect for Kris, Nathasha Bedingfield does some nice stuff. I think it’s a good sign that this song wasn’t totally overproduced and kept some edginess even though being very catchy.

The reason why I get a stressed feeling from the song is not the lyrics or the tempo, I really don’t like when Kris is singing outside his vocal comfort zone because it is so strained. I would have lowered the key. That would also have made it more easy for people to sing along to it, everyone loves to sing along.

Still think Jive made a really good decision in picking this song for his first single and I am sure it will be a hit. The second single will probably be something more like ANS so he can hook all the new fans in for good.

Another short video snippet of Jim C’s interview with Kris. Mostly him talking about going to England.

http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/439035/kris-allen-spills-the-beans-on-his-new-single.jhtml#id=1621983

I listened to his version. It’s not too much different from The Scripts version. That being said I prefer The Scripts version. LOL

Here’s the review of someone outside of the AI bubble on a music blog I go to from time to time. No one else there has offered an opinion to my query about Kris’ song. But this person is a big Script’s fan so take her words however you would like.

My recap included the part about people leaning out car windows with their hands in the air….which interprets (sign language of course) into people liking it and I said it should do well. Where else was my recap wrong? All is good…..say it again….all is good in the world tonight.

Reminder:

I’m deleting super-defensive and off-topics posts. If you can’t handle the criticizm, perhaps you should bow out of the thread…

auntieaimee
September 21, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Billie Holiday sux. She couldn’t hit any high notes.

And I know you’re being facetious, but while Billie Holiday was, and remains great and not needing a perfect, or even a (one could argue) terribly good voice. Still if she was going to be judged technically, she wasn’t spectacular. But I happen to like Ella (just as another example) and Billie, so I think good songs and musicians (and yes, both women were musicians) come in a variety of technical merit who can in any event, create good music.

Bob Dylan whom some felt Kris sounded like (still not seeing it), certainly isn’t great techinically. Kris’s voice is much stronger and purer and he can hit higher notes better than Dylan ever could. And yet Dylan is still rightfully a legend. I agree, hitting high notes doesn’t matter.

guys, which Maroon 5 songs you are talking about? I like them a lot but I don’t hear Maroon 5.

I definitely hear Mraz.

Luv:

Here’s Kris’ interview with Jim Cantiello from this morning. There should be more parts to it posted later in the week.

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1621985/20090921/allen_kris_american_idol_.jhtml

Kris also did two radio interviews this morning with local NYC stations. I downloaded those, but I don’t know if they are on YouTube.

Jim C tweeted this recently.

Kris Allen article: http://tinyurl.com/ngjyem 2 SUPER-short Kris Allen videos: http://tinyurl.com/menasu Epic video tomorrow morning. ;)about 2 hours ago from web

By epic video, I hope he means more of those funny B-sides/outtakes like the ones that we got from his last interview with Kris. And of course, maybe some actual info on what some of his other songs sound like…

Does anyone remember what the initial reaction to Light On on was on this blog?

Here is the thread for the first listen of Light On

guys, which Maroon 5 songs you are talking about? I like them a lot but I don’t hear Maroon 5.

Maybe they are referencing disturbing lyrics. Like shooting somebody in the head.

So the big question is, are there any folks here that were not already huge Kris Allen fans who have heard this song, love it, and have plans to buy it as soon as its released

I like it, but don’t think I buy it.

Btw – I was just listening to all the songs in The Script album called “The Script” in my Napster. It’s funny that all their songs are Kris’s kind of song. Just like when someone asked Adam, whether he have heard songs for Kris album and what’s his opinion and his answer was “It’s Kris”. It’s probably good that Kris’s working with their producer now.

Interesting reading at mj’s! I remember when “Brown Sugar” came out, and I guess I couldn’t make out exactly what Mick Jagger was singing! Will never think of that the same way again. Thanks for enlightening me!
Re: Kris Allen’s new single and the sentiments in Tim McGraw’s similarly titled song, yup, they are about real life and I guess that’s why I like’em. Seems that more country songs address life and death than pop songs. Carrie U’s song “Just a Dream” and Kellie P’s “I Wonder” aren’t very lighthearted either, but they are moving. For the longest time I only knew “Independence Day” as the intro to a radio talk show, until I watched Martina McBride’s music video and realized it was about spousal abuse.

Thank you hwc for the Brown Sugar Orton/Adams link. It broke my heart.

How about Garth Brooks Thunder rolls. Even thou the video was pulled for awhile. I loved the song but it got alot of heat.

Maybe they are referencing disturbing lyrics. Like shooting somebody in the head.

Oh, but I already see M5 been brought up in a couple of boards.

Lyrics isn’t a problem. I remember hearing “this is the day that i die” for the first time and think the song is soooo cool.

I am glad Kris seems to going for a sound of poprock band. Fans of these type of music are probably the only type left who still buy albums, plus the country fans and teens of course. Probably the reason I see Daughtry will sell much more than Kelly.

Interesting reading at mj’s! I remember when ‘Brown Sugar’  came out, and I guess I couldn’t make out exactly what Mick Jagger was singing! Will never think of that the same way again. Thanks for enlightening me!

Thank Ryan Adams and Beth Orton. They interpreted the song to convey its ugliness.

Here is the thread for the first listen of Light On

Thank you Kirsten!

THANKS GIRLYGIRL!!!!

I can guarantee that Kris signs better than Bob. I “met” Dylan once when I was working backstage at one of his shows. His people asked us not to speak to Mr. Dylan and, please, not to even look at Mr. Dylan.

Naturally, that made me stare right into his eyes when he walked by. He looked very jumpy, I can’t imagine him signing even one autograph and look at “the kid who won”, he was out there doing it every almost every night!

(Wait, we are talking about signing, right)?

About the feeling of stress–I can totally understand the feeling.

Every time I hear Taylor Swift’s “You belong with me,” I feel the same type of stress.

Okay, I get the Dylan comment. Still a little confused about Billie Holiday.
I’m sure Kris Allen is a nicer guy who signs more autographs than Bob Dylan. So in niceness, he rules.

All that was mentioned was it had a Dylan-esque sort of phrasing. (Which is still my opinion and I am sticking to it).

I don’t think I would have made the connection on my own, but now that it’s been mentioned, I completely hear it, too.

I really like it! It’s very catchy. Kris could very well have a hit on his hands. Yeah for him!

I’ve never paid much attention to lyrics (my apologies to songwriters everywhere). If the beat hooks me, the lyrics don’t really mean squat to me.

I don’t like it. Period.

auntieaimee: Billie Holiday sux. She couldn’t hit any high notes.

Alright, I was going to start twitching in the corner, but then I read the rest of the posts. Nevermind.

Sorry to have left you in this mess, Kirsten. LOL Truthiness, et al., I merely pointed out the rapping part had a Bob Dylan-esque vibe to it, the inflection on the last word of each sentence. It’s there. Kris Allen has a superior voice to Bob Dylan. Bob Dylan is a lengendary singer/songwriter.

Kris song will be a hit.

THE END

For those who do not follow AI , and who do not care really about American Idol getting to hear this song will raise their interest as to who is singing this. It’s catchy and sound like a Mraz , Maroon 5, or a more mature Jonas Brothers kind of . So this is good for Kris. A lot of tweens will identify with this. Congratulations !

The CD market for music like this is huge and those who know Kris and AI for that matter is just a minuscule amount. So this is a good way for Jive to introduce Kris now to the real market out there.

This is now ,not just a matter of fan support , but of the consumers listening to the music and wanting to acquire it. Best of luck to Kris.

Listened to the song first thing this morning, just coming back in here now, the first thing I thought of was this morning, he sounds like Bob Dylan, and I come back on and thats what I am reading, I am so surprised. And I loved Bob Dylans songs. As far as this song, I guess its ok, I just didnt like the “live like your Dying over and over again. I just dont like the thought of kids or anyone singing like they’re Dying over and over. Wish it was a little better verse. But what do I know.

When I heard the 30-second snippet, I liked it! But then, I heard the whole thing…

My litmus test is: What would the judges (ok, Simon) have said about this song choice?

The verses are insanely repetitive, and require zero vocal range. Same 5 or 6 notes again and again. Bad choice.

The chorus is very catchy. But you can’t hear the words unless you listen intently (which people don’t do when listening to the radio). He needs to enunciate better. Or maybe I was listening to a bad recording (youtube). I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.

I think it’s ok… and it could do relatively well in comparison to other AI-related songs. But it doesn’t strike me as having much longevity. Not that the Idol Machine is renowned for producing good songs. Jus’ sayin’.

Would I buy it? A definite no. Would I switch the radio off when it comes on? Not initially. But if it does get major radio play, I can see myself getting very bored, very quickly.

Still… good luck, Kris. You’ve got a lot of talent. I just think you can do better.

JMO.

OK. Did a bit of research on the producers, Andrew Frampton and Steve Kipner.

Steve Kipner has been around since the 60′s. Anyone remember that big hit of Olivia Newton-John’s, Physical? Yep, he wrote it, along with two other big hits for her. Then there were hits for Cher (“I Paralyze”), Chicago (“Hard Habit to Break”), Neil Diamond (“Headed for the Future”), George Benson, Wilson Phillips, and The Temptations. More currently, he’s wrote for Natasha Bedingfield These Words, Christina Aguilera Genie in a Bottle, Kelly Rowland Stole, Dream (“He Loves U Not” and “This Is Me”), 98 Degrees (“Invisible Man”).

And Frampton? He has had number ones with Natasha Bedingfield, S Club and Westlife and has enjoyed success with Victoria Beckham, Kylie Minogue, the Multi-Platinum Laura Paucini, Emma Bunton and Bellefire.

Recently Frampton teamed up with Kipner to set up a joint venture label with Sony BMG, Phonogenic. They first wrote and produced a majority of the Natasha Bedingfield record. The other two artists signed to the label are Ross Copperman and (wait for it), The Script.

No wonder they didn’t change much in the song. Nothing like keeping it all in the family. Saves on bills.

Here is the thread for the first listen of Light On

And the verdict for LO was:

- sounds like what you hear on the radio!

- very radio friendly!

- chorus is earwormy!

Ha! This place really is like Groundhog Day. (Actually, I only got through the first page. I’m sure other things were commented on.)

I catch the same “Bob Dylan vibe” in the original version by the Script. While this isn’t what most people hearing the single on the radio will do, I went back and listened to the 2 versions side by side. It’s too bad that Kris didn’t have the opportunity to put his own stamp on the song, but I’m sure that will come with some of the other songs on his album. And, in the meanwhile, he’ll have a decent hit with this song.

I’ve started listening to some other songs by the Script, (sometimes YouTube just sucks me in, and I can’t get out. LOL), and I could hear Kris covering a lot of their material. For those who saw them when they opened for Sir Paul, were they well received? I’m guessing that they’ll have a similar fanbase as Kris, though maybe the sound for the rest of Kris’s album will be a bit different than the single. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out. But I do think that Kris will have a hit with this song.

Reminder:

The Bob Dylan thing is getting way out of hand…as I knew it would. I’ve been doing this blogging thing for too long…

Let’s stop analyzing/mocking/discussing it and get back on topic. I deleted the meta discussion around the posts. Please stick to the topic.

LaurelG-I’m new this year so after the analysis of the thread from Light On-how did it do in the general public??

Excellent research movin2thabeet, thank you.

he’s wrote for Natasha Bedingfield These Words, Christina Aguilera Genie in a Bottle,

These are good pop songs. From what I gather from your post, the two producers pretty much specialize in pop. The Script connection is interesting. Does that mean that Jive will be pushing Kris more towards the pop side of pop/rock?

I don’t think anyone posted this here – found it while I was reading something else at the NY Post

http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/popwrap/kris_allen_first_single_is_un_scripted_GyzsMCQpRyYvOGFyuL1FRP

In a direct comparison, this author prefers Kris to The Script

halfie
September 21, 2009 at 6:10 pm
I can guarantee that Kris signs better than Bob. I ‘met’  Dylan once when I was working backstage at one of his shows. His people asked us not to speak to Mr. Dylan and, please, not to even look at Mr. Dylan.

Naturally, that made me stare right into his eyes when he walked by. He looked very jumpy, I can’t imagine him signing even one autograph and look at ‘the kid who won’ , he was out there doing it every almost every night!

(Wait, we are talking about signing, right)?

halfie, between you and hwc, you guys make my workday a much funnier experience than it normally is!

My litmus test is: What would the judges (ok, Simon) have said about this song choice?

The verses are insanely repetitive, and require zero vocal range. Same 5 or 6 notes again and again. Bad choice.

Well, you’re certainly right that LLWD would make a horrible song choice for performance in AI competition. But being a hit record has nothing to do with that. Would you want someone singing “Boom, Boom, Pow” on Idol? How about “That’s not my Name”? The list could go on and on.

For those who saw them when they opened for Sir Paul, were they well received?

When I saw them in Atlanta, they were well received. A few people behind me got in a discussion about them and the guy next to me sang along with one of the songs.

They were very personable, mentioning what little they knew about Atlanta a few times (although I kind of got the feeling they had a very sterotypical understanding of the “Old South”. To be fair they made a lot of jokes about sterotypical Irishmen too. They said they weren’t leaving town until they had a drink with everyone in the crowd (estimated to be over 40,000 that evening)

The core band is three people and they sang and played very well IMHO. My only “criticism” is that several of their songs sounded alike, but that could have been because I was unfamiliar with them.

Maybe I need to reread the thread but I just saw one post thinking that using the word dying was weird. I don’t think it’s an issue for most people.

Hi saga! I do believe it was my post you were referencing. Just for the record:

I didn’t say it was “weird,” the word I used was “risky.” And I only said that in the context of today’s Top 40 radio. Yes, there are probably lots of country songs, and heavy-metal songs, and any number of songs in other genres, that have that word or a variation in their titles. But in the generally escapist world of mass-market pop music, not so much.

I was not saying that it’s an issue for me. I was just thinking, from a marketing perspective, that it’s a possible impediment to getting the song into heavy radio rotation.

Thank you hwc for the Brown Sugar Orton/Adams link. It broke my heart.

I cried the first time I heard it. I had no idea what the song was about.

Adams and Orton (who were an “item” at the time) recorded and released it on a freebie CD of Rolling Stones tribute songs in a British music magazine. Just stunning. Adams did it live a few times, too.

I can’t listen to the the Stones version now, with its bouncy, pop beat and all.

And to go completely off-topic, Ryan Adams and Marianne Faithful (another Stones connection with a nod to Dylan’s Queen Jane Approximately)) recorded this song about Beth Orton called English Girls Approximately:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0L7oqADevM

Of course, the new single from the kid who won Idol is way better than Ryan Adams, too!

Well, I hope the talk on this song doesn’t devolve into a comparison between Kris Allen and The Script. I don’t think that will end up helping either artist. That’s the problem with doing a near exact cover of a song by a young contemporary group that’s currently trying to break in the US. The logic really escapes me, beyond the cost and time savings involved.

Eh, the song is okay, I suppose. Better than NObo thats for sure.

Personally I like the song. It is catchy and very radio friendly. It’s clear the song was presented to Kris and he did not go out seeking it. He liked it and recorded it. I have no problem with the song being a cover or whatever since it was not released in the states. It was a b-side track for another song. I look at this whole scenario as one big master marketing plan. Kris gets a potentially hit song played all over the radio. His name gets out there and will probably attract new fans. 19/Jive will promote the heck out of the song. Look for snippets in commercials very soon. Kris will develop the musical identity many have said he lacked and he will get breathing room to finish his album. Kris seems to have also gained two producers who are a perfect fit for his style and the musical direction he wants to go. He will probably make some stops while in London. Maybe stop by the XFactor if it is still going on and nearby.

The Script are gaining something also. They will get greater name recognition in the states and a wider appeal. They will be linked to not one but two AI champions and will be touring with DC and will appear on the same concert stage with Kris in October.

Q102 Bosom Ball
October 15, 2009
Approximate performance times:
7:30 ‘“ 8:00 Kristen Key acoustic (local band)
8:15 ‘“ 8:40 Kris Allen acoustic
9:00 ‘“ 9:30 Parachute
9:45 ‘“ 10:45 The Script

I don’t think the Script mind at all ($$$$). I call it smart marketing of a solo artist and group trying make inroads into the US music scene. Sometimes you have to sacrifice a little to gain a lot. Look at the big picture people.

hwc, I’m a huge Ryan Adams fan, too. I don’t know what he has to do with this thread, though. Does Kris remind you of Ryan? Maybe it’s the plaid shirts…;)

Well hearing that Kris was singing there cover,got me to buy one of there albums so I think it’s a good Idea. Even thou I still haven’t listened to there verison of the song. And can’t decided if I want to listen to it or not. Maybe I will.

I was all onboard with it until I heard the chorus. The chorus just KILLS the song instantly for me.

Regardless, because it is very Jason Mrazesque I can see it being a hit.

I wish Kris good luck and I hope it is a hit. I can see it being very catchy, but as soon as it hits that chorus I’m just done with it, much like I was with the Scripts version. I don’t hear much difference in the alignment of songs, except Kris sounds better on it.

I won’t buy it, but I hope overall it makes all his other fans happy.

Jim tweeted that the song well be avabible for i-tunes next Tuesday.

Do you think the Democrats or the Republicans will get their hands on Kris’s new song “Live Like We’re Dying” first, for their town-hall healthcare-reform debates?? ;-)

Catchy song upon 1st listen, rather monotonous and annoying after that.

The emphasis on the final syllable of a sentence or lyric line is a style often used in rap & hip hop. Check out old-school stuff especially, like Run DMC. It isn’t necessarily a Dylan rip to do this.

Recently Frampton teamed up with Kipner to set up a joint venture label with Sony BMG, Phonogenic. They first wrote and produced a majority of the Natasha Bedingfield record. The other two artists signed to the label are Ross Copperman and (wait for it), The Script.

No wonder they didn’t change much in the song. Nothing like keeping it all in the family. Saves on bills.

movin2thabeet, kudos! That certainly explains how this cover happened. I knew there had to be something more to it than just the record-label connection. Now my question is if the duo produced the original version as well. It would stand to reason, since they sound identical in terms of production and arrangement.

7:30 ‘“ 8:00 Kristen Key acoustic (local band)
8:15 ‘“ 8:40 Kris Allen acoustic
9:00 ‘“ 9:30 Parachute
9:45 ‘“ 10:45 The Script

I love Parachute. Their new album is awesome. The band is currently on tour with Kelly Clarkson and the Veronicas.

I remember buying The KILLER’s ATTID after Kris included this song in his set. I wonder how much Kris has helped boost the sales of the Killer’s single by including in his set. The SCRIPT must be enjoying all this hoopla about Kris’ new single. I don’t know this band either but by mere association with Kris Allen, I am curious to hear THE SCRIPT’s latest album and may buy if I like it.

Cool song. Reminds me of “Tattoo” in that it’s familiar and catchy.

Of course, the new single from the kid who won Idol is way better than Ryan Adams, too!

Ryan Adams has been an active musician and songwriter for the last 15 or so years, having releasing countless albums. I don’t know about comparing a “kid who won Idol” who hasn’t even officially released a song (not to mention one he didn’t even pen) to Adams.

cmheart the key to reading posts by hwc is that they mean just the opposite of what they say.

ETA: Much of the time anyway. . .

The SCRIPT must be enjoying all this hoopla about Kris’ new single.

There is hoopla about this? Where?

Sounds like a great song for Kris! I wish him well and hope it’s a HIT! He has a great voice and very radio-friendly. What’s more, he’s a very talented musician, great guy, and very humble.

Yeah, the kid who won Idol reminds me of Ryan — only better. I’ve only heard him do covers, but I understand he’s a singer-songwriter. I just hope all his songs aren’t drepressing like Ryan Adams singing about death and broken hearts and stuff.

This is my first time being able to listen to his song today. I Love it and think it will be a big hit. I haven’t had a chance to read all of the comments and honestly if the last couple of pages are a sample of the 600 comments, I am not going to waste my time. It’s really funny how non-Kris fans find the need to go on and on about him…

It’s very catchy. Especially the chorus. I like the wordiness, it’ll be one of those things that everyone hears on the radio and tries to rattle off all the lyrics with their friends.

I really really don’t like the bridge though. Or the “We could make a feast from these crumbs” lyric. It’s kinda…meh.

Overall I really like the song though and really hope Kris goes far with this!

Chipmunk
September 21, 2009 at 7:31 pm
The SCRIPT must be enjoying all this hoopla about Kris’ new single.

There is hoopla about this? Where?

The hoopla is at a lot of the same places as the guy that duet with allison on the AI tour.

It’s really funny how non-Kris fans find the need to go on and on about him’ ¦

It’s an Idol blog, they get discussed when they release singles, nothing special or out of the ordinary about that~

I wasnt aware non kris fans werent supposed to comment on Kris threads

The hoopla is at a lot of the same places as the guy that duet with allison on the AI tour.

So the usuals, Cantieollo, Slezak and co? Jsut that I had to log on to MJ’ to hear about it, found that a bit surprising.

Well, its early days yet, hope it gets some attention outside the bubble

7:30 ‘“ 8:00 Kristen Key acoustic (local band)
8:15 ‘“ 8:40 Kris Allen acoustic
9:00 ‘“ 9:30 Parachute
9:45 ‘“ 10:45 The Script

That’s so cool, opening for The Script at a radio station promo show. I wonder if he’ll do Love Like You are Dying? When the Cardinals opened for the Oasis tour last year, they didn’t have the guts to do Wonderwall, even though their version had been used in three TV shows (Smallville, Cold Case, and The O.C. plus Guitar Hero).

Yeah, the kid who won Idol reminds me of Ryan ‘” only better. I’ve only heard him do covers, but I understand he’s a singer-songwriter.

I’ve been told nobody knows that the kid’s single is a cover, so apparently its okay..as long as nobody knows, why care right?

The SCRIPT must be enjoying all this hoopla about Kris’ new single.

They are in Australia at the moment. They haven’t commented about it on their Twitter page and there is nothing official about it on their website or blog. Only a few comments from fans disappointed that “The American winner” is going to be releasing the song, as the fans wanted it on the next CD.

Chipmunk
September 21, 2009 at 7:31 pm
The SCRIPT must be enjoying all this hoopla about Kris’ new single.

There is hoopla about this? Where?

I saw something about the single and they had a link to The Scripts song on it, does that count? EOnline UK

Isn’t the radio-station hoopla enough for the first day? Jeez, give the kid who won a break.

8:15 ‘“ 8:40 Kris Allen acoustic

That’s so cool, opening for The Script at a radio station promo show. I wonder if he’ll do Love Like You are Dying?

Probably not. But it will be interesting if he does an acoustic version of LLWD.

ETA, btw, Access Hollywood has an interview with Kris. Nothing really new that we haven’t already know tho.
http://www.accesshollywood.com/_video_1159377

September 21, 2009 at 7:31 pm
The SCRIPT must be enjoying all this hoopla about Kris’ new single.

There is hoopla about this? Where?

It is also a feature story on Yahoo’s front page- Under Entertainment News.

I saw something about the single and they had a link to The Scripts song on it, does that count? EOnline UK

Maybe……. :mrgreen:

It is also a feature story on Yahoo-Entertainment.

Ok cool….

Truthiness
September 21, 2009 at 7:51 pm

I saw something about the single and they had a link to The Scripts song on it, does that count? EOnline UK

It says UK. Eonline, but judging from the writing style and the vernacular, all the commenters seem to be American.

Chipmunk, I posted links to this somewhere earlier but People.com, Zapit, Idolator and others all have something about it. They all have links to both versions.

It’s really funny how non-Kris fans find the need to go on and on about him’ ¦

General Idol boards such as this one, consist of folks who have a wide range of appreciation of each Idol, ranging from ‘can’t stand’ to ‘they can sing anything’. So, response to a new single will come from that full range.

For myself, while not blown away, I liked some of Kris’s work on the show and have taken a wait and see attitude on buying any of his music. So, I was looking forward to hearing what musical direction he would be going in.

It’s actually the casual listeners who every artist is trying to reach to expand their fanbase. It’s critical for any future success to reach not only well-established fans, but the masses who have not yet been reached. So, our opinions are very important. The world is not made up solely of lovers and haters, not even in the Idol board world. There is a rainbow inbetween.

It’s actually the casual listeners who every artist is trying to reach to expand their fanbase. It’s critical for any future success to reach not only well-established fans, but the masses who have not yet been reached. So, our opinions are very important. The world is not made up solely of lovers and haters, not even in the Idol board world. There is a rainbow inbetween.

Preach it…….:mrgreen:

It is also a feature story on Yahoo’s front page- Under Entertainment News.

Cool. I didn’t see anything about it, but I did see an intriguing AP title with The President and the Potato, so I might have to check that out.

But it has only been ONE day, so the press and hoopla, will come. And has already started. He was also on like Access Hollywood, and yeah, the usual suspects of Cantiello and Slezak, but they work respectively for Mtv and EW so not as if they are just some random bloggers.

OMG there’s a new LLWD thread! I was wondering why this one ground to a halt.

I like it. Jive clearly “gets” Kris, if this is representative of the types of songs he recorded for his debut. As far as it being pretty much note for note like the version the Script recorded, who is to say Kris didn’t hear the song and decide for himself that it was perfect as is?

arghh.. what an ugly song! So monotonous…. and OMINOUS lyrics for g-d’s sake. This endless emphasis and repeating of the word ‘dying’… it’s against all the Ying and Yangs and Feng Shuis, and etc. I’d prefer No Boundaries 1000 times to this song, anytime! What happened to music taste here??? What were the producers thinking??!! Kris really doesn’t deserve this, nor his fans.

Now, I’m soooooooooo worried about Adam’s first single…. (fingers crossed) :////

I like the song. It is very catchy.

It’s nice to know that the general public won’t know it’s a cover. I’m just trying to figure out why every website that has the story (or hoopla) is telling everyone its a covea and putting the links of both versions on their sites.

It’s nice to know that the general public won’t know it’s a cover. I’m just trying to figure out why every website that has the story (or hoopla) is telling everyone its a covea and putting the links of both versions on their sites.

Well that’s good then. It doesnt matter regardless whether its a cover or not, it should be a good hit for him. But I dont buy the fact that it should be swept under the carpert that it is, so its good the media covering it are offering the original as well, so there isnt much doubt.

Seems quite a few like Kris’s copy version better.

It’s actually the casual listeners who every artist is trying to reach to expand their fanbase. It’s critical for any future success to reach not only well-established fans, but the masses who have not yet been reached. So, our opinions are very important.

Who on this board counts as a casual listener? Kris is not a new name to anyone here. Everyone here that listens to “Live Like We’re Dying” already has formed an opinion (good, bad or indifferent) about Kris.

Considering this board is made up primarily of Adam fans, I think the single has been received better than I expected.

Who on this board counts as a casual listener? Kris is not a new name to anyone here. Everyone here that listens to ‘Live Like We’re Dying’  already has formed an opinion (good, bad or indifferent) about Kris.

Considering this board is made up primarily of Adam fans, I think the single has been received better than I expected.

I think you’re doing all of us a disservice. People here may be mostly Adam fans, but I doubt any of them carry an animosity towards Kris personally. A good song is a good song imo, regardless of the source. I hate P.Diddy, in general his music is not my style, but when he releases a good song that I like, I buy it, and have done.

I think people who liked the song said so, and those who disliked it said so as well. I don’t read prejudice in it, I take it at face value as a personal and honest opinion.

Idk I YOU KNOW HIW I FEEL about ADAM!!!! BUT I FLOVEEEEE KRISTIPHER.AND I FLOVEEEED THIS.I’m interested in the sales because well ok not trying to bring it up again but I think a much larger portion of kris fans are CASUAL like my friend loooved kris but now couldn’t care less while more(not nessasarily the majority ) of Adam fans are die-hards..tbh Adam’s not a casual thing

I think your doing all of us a disservice. People here may be mostly Adam fans, but I doubt any of them carry an animosity towards Kris personally.

I never said they did. In fact, my post acknowledged that a good number of Adam fans liked the song. I found the overall response to be a pleasant surprise because Kris does not have the biggest fan base here. But I should have let that last line out because that was not the point of my post.

My point was that I do not consider anyone here to be a “casual listener.” I agree with the original poster that for an Idol contestant to succeed they need to reach out beyond their Idol fan base and generate new fans. But everyone here is very familiar with Kris and the music he performed on Idol. This is still part of the Idol bubble.

I heard the 22-odd second “leak” of Kris’s first single and really liked that. Then, I tuned into Kris’s new tune this morning during the live debut out of NY and again several times tonight to help me form a true opinion. Here’s where I stand: I, personally, liked it better the first time I heard the little sample of it than I did the whole song. I still think it’s catchy, but I find it a little boring after the first time he sings the lyrics through the chorus (I don’t know all the technical terms for the parts of a song). At first, it’s really cool, but then I feel the song sounds the exact same until at the very end when things switch up a bit. I have grown to appreciate Kris’s voice, and I think he sounds good and unmistakably Kris throughout, but the song itself is just so-so. I still think it has a chance to catch on, but I think he’s actually capable of more meaty music than this. I had my husband, who has little interest in Idol and, therefore, no real bias, listen to it, and he described it as “a step above mundane.” My son, for whom Kris ranked just below his favorite, Allison, during the show, feels that the song sounds good but that Kris doesn’t sound emotionally invested in the song.

I reAd the thread.good job kris! Cantvwait until it’s on itunes?…..

Andrew Frampton, Steve Kipner, Daniel O Donoghue & Mark Sheehan are all credited with as Songwriter/Composer on Live Like We’re Dying. So, I don’t think The Script would have a problem with Kris singing the song. Would all four have to approve of the song being used or could Frampton and Kipner own the rights? I would hope the band endorsed the song being used.

I like this. Will buy it when it becomes available.

I haven’t come here for a looooonnnng time because as an Adam fan, I would rather just go to the official site and idf and fansites created by different groups of glamberts, where the atmosphere feel much more comfortable than here (cause this is a place everyone’s fans are discussing and there’re just sooooooo many arguing around). But whenever someone’s single is out, I would like to come here to have a look at how others think. I would like to say, most people here are “AI fans”, and this season it happened to be Adam is the most popular and analyzed contestant. Actually, they are already out of the AI bubble now, they will face the real world, try to compete with all the talented and successful singers in the music industry. So frankly speaking, I don’t have to bash anybody in the AI just to make Adam seems big. Kris is not the rival Adam wants to focus on, and Adam is not the only one Kris has to compete with. If I think a song is lame, then I just say it lame, if I think something is cool, then I’ll say it’s cool. And no matter how some Kris fans love this song, in my opinion, this is just a so so song. If Adam’s first single happened to be like this, I guarantee that I would never say it is fantastic just because it is sang by Adam. But of course, I would blame the producer, the song writer and whoever advise to choose that, except Adam, just because I love him.

And whoever wants to compare Adam and Kris, I would like to say, it is just not necessary. Support whoever you love, that’s it.

I’m mixed about it. Starts out well and overall its very good,but at the end I found it hard to believe it was only 3:20 or so long. They sure crammed a bunch of music into that song and that is giving me the feeling they may have just missed a real hit. There was a couple places near the end I thought it should have ended, and it almost sounds like they had two endings and decided to go with both. Its definitely AC/ Hot AC material, which makes me question even more why they placed him with Jive. Doesn’t strike me as radio hit material, mainly because it feels to long.

I’m a Kris fan but I listened to it and I don’t know, there’s just something about this song that I don’t like. I guess it’s just not my cup of tea.

Doesn’t matter though, I’ll still support Kris in whatever he does. Looking forward to the other songs he’ll be putting out in his album.

If it came on the radio, I would listen to it (Kris is such a sweet guy). Would I put it on my iPod, don’t think so – it is repetitive and grows old a little too fast – in parts feels almost frantic. Listen to country music a lot and love the downer parts, so the death and dying stuff – no problem. Have no predictions as to whether it will catch on – will run past my six kids – interested as to what they’ll say. They’re merciless.

I really like this song but I probably won’t buy the single since I am holding out for the album. :)

I just finished reading this thread. So what’s the different between Z100 & FMQB? Is it some kind of tradition that Jive artists always release their single thru Z100 and RCA thru FMQB? This is new to me. Thanks

That’s just awesome. I thought it would be when we got the first tidbits.

It’s not brilliant (of course) and the lyrics are cliched, but it’s genuinely catchy and fun and the overproduction is minimal–the first section especially actually shows off Kris’s voice, and he sounds really nice. So, as someone who is definitely a Kris fan but not a hugely invested one (well, musically–I adore him as a person and really want success for him), I say well done–I know that if I heard this one the radio, I’d definitely enjoy listening to it. I like the wordiness (which also helps to mask the lyrical triteness) and the general beat.

And frankly, every other winner’s single I’ve ever heard (granted I’ve only heard a few here and there, but still) is either pop sludge or Nickelback drek.

This is genuinely a fun, catchy song. I hope that there are songs with more lyrical depth and creativity on the album, but as a first single on an album produced in a few months, this is definitely good.

Also: so few singers on the radio actually have good voices, it seems, and sometimes a mediocre voice puts me off of buying a song I might otherwise have purchased. I guess that means that it’s not necessary to have a lovely voice to have a hit, but I think Kris’s nice voice will be a help to him.

Finally got a chance to hear the whole thing and it’s just not my thing. It’s over-produced, as almost all Idol product is, but aside from that, not a song to my taste: trite lyrics, kind of tuneless (I know, that’s the point of this kind of thing, but again, not my taste) and monotonous beat. It doesn’t showcase his voice and it doesn’t capitalize on his expressive ability, which I think is his strength. And a minor thing, but it highlights the only thing which ever irritated me about his singing on the show: he will often take audible breaths at the most bizarre moments, breaking the line in ways that don’t seem to have anything to do with his interpretation of the song. Don’t know if he’s trying to emphasize the beat or what, but it comes off sounding to me like he’s not engaged in the lyrics.

But it’s just one song, maybe the others will be better.

[waves to all]

[picks up the carpetbag that got dropped off here at 7 this morning]

I’m commented out for today. Liked song. Didn’t sound particularly Kris-like, but good car bopping potential. Will enjoy hearing on radio.

[waves again]

alaadam
September 21, 2009 at 6:28 pm
LaurelG-I’m new this year so after the analysis of the thread from Light On-how did it do in the general public??

Sorry it took so long to get back to you, alaadam (I had left the building) but my understanding is that Cook’s LO started slowly and eventually picked up steam. The single went platinum and peaked at #17 on the Hot 100.

Regardless, I remember the first time I heard it on the radio (as a casual Idol observer) and my instant reaction was … ehhh, it’s kinda slow and boring.

My initial reaction to Kris’s was much more positive but then I’m probably too invested in this season to be objective.

This is a great song for Kris. He sings it well. It sounds just like Kris. :) This will be a hit. I love it!!

No time to go through everyone’s comment on it. But here’s mine: It’s kick-awesome! Definitely one of the best post-idol single. It’s first of all very Kris, which is a pleasant surprise; and it’s catchy, very hum-mable but not cheesy. And it’s so positive, I just love it, lighten up my mood everytime I listen to it :D

YES Kris you did it! Can’t wait for the album to drop ;D

I don’t get it! Kris has said that his favorite song from the album is one he wrote called I Need to Know. Doesn’t he have any say-so in his first single? Now (abit OT) but Bucky Covington is now releasing a cover from his second album, Nickelback’s Gotta Be Somebody. What’s with all the covers when there are so many amazing songwriters out there including some of the singers themselves? I’m confused.

I also thought the first single was supposed to be an indication of the entire album. If so, I think I will be disappointed in Kris’ album, sorry.

I don’t get it! Kris has said that his favorite song from the album is one he wrote called I Need to Know. Doesn’t he have any say-so in his first single?

Um, in short, no. He has little to no say. Jive will decide what to release as the first track, and I think, regardless of which one Kris likes best, that this was a smart move, because it is catchy, radio-friendly, and that is most important right now to get Kris’s name out there and move albums once it drops.

I think it’s probably very very common to have the artist’s fav track NOT be the first single, or even possibly to make it as a “radio released” single. Just my take.

In fact, my post acknowledged that a good number of Adam fans liked the song. I found the overall response to be a pleasant surprise because Kris does not have the biggest fan base here. But I should have let that last line out because that was not the point of my post.

As an “Adam Fan” I will say that I really think the song is catchy and has potential to become a great first single for Kris (certainly better than most Idol dreck for the first album). That said, I’m kinda looking at it objectively. I personally will prob not buy the single, or his cd, just because Kris on Idol (style wise) was just never my thing, and that kinda music is just not something I typically purchase.

However, “I” hardly matter in the bigger scheme of things ;-) And my consensus is that, in keeping with the theme that the idols’ success lies in finding an audience BEYOND just the idol-verse, Kris’s first single has great potential to do just that – which is the best thing he could hope for (and tbh, is kinda what I expected from him – there’s a reason he won, and in part LLWD showcases that – it’s radio-friendly, middle of the road, catchy, yet a little safe, but you don’t exactly want to be daring and risk-taking on your first single off of idol, anyways.)

I don’t get it! Kris has said that his favorite song from the album is one he wrote called I Need to Know. Doesn’t he have any say-so in his first single?

I have to say, I don’t think that’s the point. Why should his favorite song necessarily have to be the single? Maybe it’s not the type of song that would be a good marketing choice for a first single — or for a single at all. Not every song on an album should be marketed as a single. He didn’t say it was the best song on the album, even, he just said it was his favorite, and the reasons might be completely personal.

I finally listened to this – well, most of it, this morning. I think he’ll do great with it. Anyone who liked Kris on Idol will probably like this, and it will easily find a wider audience.

Personally, I just don’t enjoy the sound of Kris’ voice. Give him a song with a lot of words, and that’s a whole lot of his voice to listen to. I like the song, musically, and the way the chorus is mixed should be just right to get him Top 40 radio play. Lyrically, the song kind of makes me groan out loud, but that’s not his fault. Props to The Script for writing a catchy song and to Kris and his people for recognizing what a good fit it is for him.

Doesn’t he have any say-so in his first single?

No. That’s the label’s decision. With good reason. The artist isn’t always in the best position to know which song would do well as a single.

So nobody else thinks the whole Kris/Script association is a little hinky?
He’s given a song written by them to sell, and they’re headlining a show he is playing in Cincy where one would think Kris would get higher billing as the reigning American Idol. They are going to be touring with David Cook. The Script are a RCA band that has played with U2 and McCartney, and they seem on the verge of breaking big here in the US. Looks like somebody is getting promoted here and it might not be Kris.

And he was given this song back in May?
That’s some pre-planning.
It’s just all a little weird.

And he was given this song back in May?
That’s some pre-planning.
It’s just all a little weird.

American Idol is a promotional tool for RCA assets. I don’t think anything you’ve described is anything but business as usual for them.