This Week’s Theme is Billboard #1 Hits: Confirmed

This is the guy that did that fantastic interview with Cookie right before his Morongo Casino show, right? Knowledgeble guy.

Urghh how frustrating! Wonder where the song list is? I’m beginning to think we won’t get one this week.

This is the guy that did that fantastic interview with Cookie right before his Morongo Casino show, right? Knowledgeble guy.

Yes, Fred did the interview. Very knowledgeable…

This should be an interesting week with Fred Bronson mentoring them. He had said not too long ago that he might be mentoring this year. I can’t recall where I read or heard that.

Wow, I’m curious who the mentor will be. Will it be someone who has had several #1 BB hits? I hope it is someone who can give great advice to all of the top 11. I guess the mentor being secret has worked for me. :)

Hmmm, I wonder if maybe the theme wasn’t changed because the contestants were having trouble with it but because someone big became available last minute and this was a theme they could slot them in because it was done already? Maybe Teen idols was changed to next week, Usher would make lots of sense for that.

Pretty good decision to change the theme to #1 hits after last weeks less than stellar ratings. Hopefully this will pull in a larger audience. Hopefully the change in theme will also mean no Justin Bieber on Results Night, but that is unlikely. He has a new album out this week and Idol probably needs him to beef up the ratings from last Wednesday, especially the ratings for younger viewers.

Dont ask me why, but I’d place money on the mentor being Christina Aguilera. ;)

oooo suprise mentor? Let the speculation begin ;-)

I’d have to speculate that the song list comes from Fred’s book… here’s a wiki link to the list of #1′s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_number-one_hits_(United_States)

I’m hoping for some originality and unexpected-ness, but I’ll settle for intune and non sleep inducing.

Edit: 90 percent of the songs from this decade would be hilarous. “I Kissed A Girl?” “Shake Ya Tailfeather?” Any Lady Gaga song?

A little bit bummed by this change of theme… Oh well — it has to be better than Rolling Stones!

I’m hoping for some originality and unexpected-ness, but I’ll settle for intune and non sleep inducing.

In some cases, you may be asking for too much. ;)

I think this is a good theme. Guest mentor….. can’t wait to hear. I need some surprises.

I’m all for surprises too.

Far out! We went from “make em stretch a little” to “yawn” in the blink of an eye. Fabulous.

Under no circumstances am I to hear “I Will Always Love You” on Tuesday night. Katie, I’m talkin’ to YOU.

I’d put money on the mentor being Mariah Carey, because Idol is predictable.

I’d like the mentor to be someone more in the legend column; Christina Aguilera would also be just fine. At least she can sing! I hope we can hear some unique songs and performances.

Fred Bronson is such a nice guy and always wrote kindly about the American Idols. He also answered several questions I had about the music charts over the years.

I don’t think that any of them is mainstream recording artist ready yet, and I am hoping that they get good avice and good mentors.

i liked Rolling Stones week . . . best one yet . . . still nothing like last year’s, but you knew that . . . . . . I like Crystal,we’ve never had anyone like her . . . let’s do it!

Wonder:
03/21/2010 at 12:47 am

Dont ask me why, but I’d place money on the mentor being Christina Aguilera. ;)

That would be a very smart bet. Christina’s website is hyping a very important announcement being revealed Tuesday, most likely having to do with her long awaited new music. She is a RCA/Sony artist who hasn’t released new music in four years. An Idol mentor stint, with the national television premier of her new single, is the type of thing that would put her immediately back on the radar.

I just checked out the link for the billboard list #1s from 2000 to 2009. Wow at the BEP ‘I Gotta a Feeling’ being #1 for 26 weeks last year. No wonder I hear that song so much! There are a whole lot of songs on those lists that I don’t think the kids would even try to attempt. I think, just like last years itunes theme week, alot of the kids will be going back a decade or two to find songs to sing.

As far a the mentor, personally, I don’t think they ever add that much to the show, mainly because of how the editing is done. I personally wouldn’t want to see a mentor critizing a kid but hey, it would have been interesting if they showed Brad P telling Gokey to go Country.

I miss Fred’s “Chart Beat” on the Billboard web site. That used to be a Friday ritual for me. I think other Billboard staff members took Chart Beat over, however it’s not the same without Fred. I never go there anymore.

Regarding the switch from Teen Idol week, I’m thinking part of the reason is that Justin Bieber isn’t available this Wednesday. So, I’m expecting a Teen Idol week later on this year…with Bieber performing on Wednesday.

Somebody in one of the threads at TWoP speculates that the mentor may Christina Aquilera. Apparently, there was some activity at one of her websites and she’s got a new single coming out this week. Usher also has an album coming out next week and he’s going to mentor then.

…Oops… Chessguy beat me to it.

ETA: I read Big Mike’s tweet a couple days ago – before the change in theme from Teen Idols to Billboard #1 was announced, and he was having trouble finding a song.

Those links to #1 songs leave a lot of possibilities for the contestants but I wonder what fraction of those songs are actually available for the Idols to sing… meaning, AI has the rights.

Christina makes a lot of sense as the guest mentor. I guess we’ll find out on Tuesday unless some insider lets it slip. I actually expect a leek since from a family member of one of the crew.

I read that Miley Cyrus and Joe Jonas were guests this week.

I read that Miley Cyrus and Joe Jonas were guests this week.

Actually, I helped spread that rumor, and on further investigation, I’m not sure it’s true.

It may well be that someone “big” became available for this week so they changed the theme, but my guess is that many of the contestants had a hard time with “teen idol” week.

And, although she would hate to admit it and she never, ever, came off as her age when a teenager, Ms. Aguilera was quite the teen idol during her day.

eta: If I hear one more John Mayer or Jason Mraz song sung by this group, I may let out a Siobhan-like scream.

I’m hoping for Christina Aguilera. Love her. Especially now that she has quit trying to be Britney 2.0, and is focusing on showcasing her beautiful voice.

I’m hoping for Christina Aguilera. Love her. Especially now that she has quit trying to be Britney 2.0

I don’t think she was, I have a feeling her label wanted her to be
like Britney because she was a little mature for a teenager/young adult. She really has turned into a lovely, diverse woman(unlike some of her contemporaries.)
I would like to see Alicia Keys mentor, too.

Hmm Miley Cyrus… Yep – I can picture Katie putting on a blond wig and singing “Best of Both Worlds”… totally can picture it.

Could it be Kelly Clarkson? There’s been a lot of desire to have her back on the show to mentor. The original idol…returns to show the new idol hopefuls how it’s done.

No, I’m sure it’s not Kelly. She’s over in Africa right now, on a two week vacation right after her European/South Africa tour.

Could it be Kelly Clarkson? There’s been a lot of desire to have her back on the show to mentor. The original idol…returns to show the new idol hopefuls how it’s done.

Oh, I’d love to see Kelly back as a mentor. She’s been there, been successful, had some ups & downs and is still around. She’s warm & friendly but also a tell-em-like-it-is straight-shooter.

But she’s in Africa right now, alas (see @kelly_clarkson ). Perhaps later in the season?

Well rats. It was worth the “dream”, right? LOL!! She was the first one that popped into my mind because people have been wanting her to come on; it’s being kept “hush hush”; and I know someone from the staff is reading around the net (based on comments made on the show). I’m curious to know who it is.

Someone posted the following on VFTW:

According to an email sent to ticket holders, Miley Cyrus and Joe Jonas are the musical guests on Wednesday’s Idol Results show.

I don’t know if that statement is true but if it is, what a bummer! I guess AI is trying to increase their tween audience.

I’m hoping that neither one of them is going to be the Top 11 mentor because that would suck big time.

paula abdul…there’s a mentor. that i wouldn’t like.

There’s actually a lot of potential with this theme, even with hits from the past decade. I could see someone doing a stripped down version of “Umbrella,” for instance – there are TONS of covers on youtube. And there’s a lot of potential with other songs as well, as long as the contestants make smart song choices.

And I have to say – I’m starting to like Lee after intially hating him. But if he does Nickelback, he will have completely lost me, lol.

I could totally see Crystal doing “Stay (I Missed You)” by Lisa Loeb.

ETA: There are a lot of songs on the wiki chart that was posted on the first page that have been done on the show before. I hope TPTB didn’t majorly limit the list of songs, though, because there ARE some other good songs on there.

This is the guy that did that fantastic interview with Cookie right before his Morongo Casino show, right? Knowledgeble guy

Is this the guy John Peter Lewis interviewed? Or was that someone else from Billboard?

If the guest mentor was this guy, why would it be so hush-hush, though? Maybe he’ll be a “talking head” but there’ll also be a celebrity mentor.

Fred Bronson is not the mentor according to MJ:

Fred Bronson is NOT the mentor. He was filmed in a segment as the author of The Billboard Book of #1 Hits There IS a mentor, but it’s a secret.

Yes, Fred was interviewed by Jon Peter Lewis.

Fred is also the guy who did the excellent four-part interviews with Adam Lambert, Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta for the Los Angeles Times.

I really hope it’s not Miley Cyrus or a Jonas brother. Neither one of them should be telling Crystal or any of the other idol hopefuls really, what or how to sing. Just my opinion.

Hmm Miley Cyrus… Yep – I can picture Katie putting on a blond wig and singing “Best of Both Worlds”… totally can picture it.

You sure you didn’t mean Michael Lynche? He’s perfect for that.

What if the mentor was…… Simon Cowell? DUN DUN DUN! I can picture that in a way to pitch X Factor >_>. Kara would make a better (yet more annoying) mentor.

Also, first Ke$ha, now Miley Cyrus and Joe Jonas? Wow, a total sign that the music world has gone to Hell.

Aretha Franklin was on the Larry King Show last night. He mentioned (but not by name) that an Idol contestant hit the high note on Think, and did she see it. She mentioned aboiut being busy but she would like to have the performance sent to her. She said she liked Idol and would like to be a mentor on the show but they haven’t asked her. guaranteed that someone from Idol would be contacting her.

I was surprised she hasn’t been asked. She does have an album coming out, the first since 2003. Maybe this year? I see Kelly Clarkson coming to mentor next year.

If Cyrus & Jonas are on Thursday, I’ll be using the DVR so I can fast forward through everything, but the actual results. Please tell me Taylor Swift is out of the country, so I don’t have to worry about her being the mentor.

This group has been lucky. 4 out of 5 weeks with the ability to sing current music. Maybe Idol has finally learned not to keep saddling these singers with moldy oldies – like Barry Manilow and Neil Diamond. On the one hand, I like it as it’s so much more relevant. On the other hand, those oldies can lead to some good comedy on stage.

“moldy oldies?” Manilow & Diamond can actually sing and write for themselves and others with hits across multiple decades. Better them as mentors than someone like Jamie Foxx.

Aretha hasn’t been asked? Well she doesn’t travel much outside of Detroit but it would be great for her to have a shot at mentoring. She can write and play in addition to sing and has been around up and down for a very long time.

The Billboard #1 Hits is a tired theme and not far off from what they mangled leading up to the Top 12.

This group has been lucky. 4 out of 5 weeks with the ability to sing current music. Maybe Idol has finally learned not to keep saddling these singers with moldy oldies – like Barry Manilow and Neil Diamond. On the one hand, I like it as it’s so much more relevant. On the other hand, those oldies can lead to some good comedy on stage.

Nothing wrong with “moldy oldies.” B.A. (before Adam) I only listened to oldies. When I checked out the Billboard #1 list, I went backwards to 1992 before I started to recognize more than 1 or 2 of the song titles for that year. Evidently that was the year I decided current music just wasn’t fun anymore.

But I gotta say, a good song is a good song and can be remade into something even better than the original as many times as a good singer interprets it. A good example is Whitney Houston singing Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.” I love Dolly, but I love Whitney’s version too. I remember as a kid hearing a song I thought was really cool and made my father listen to it. He wasn’t as impressed–it was a song that was popular when he was younger. I had no idea it was a remake.

The bottom line is: I don’t care WHAT this group sings, as long as they sing it well!

I’m watching AI Rewind for season 5… ahhh memories. Can someone remind me how Taylor Hicks was able to sing Something by the Beatles when the theme was “hits of today”? I know there was an explanation but I can’t remember what it was…
Just wondering if someone may be able to sing it this week???

heeey,i know who fred bronson is! he’s mentioned in the beatles bio im reading…

Anyway this is a badtheme.Too general and ppl will pick old songs.Teen Idol was better..

Can someone remind me how Taylor Hicks was able to sing Something by the Beatles when the theme was “hits of today”? I know there was an explanation but I can’t remember what it was…

The Beatles Number 1 Hits was at the Top of the Album charts.

I’m starting to like Lee after intially hating him. But if he does Nickelback, he will have completely lost me, lol.

Urgh. I totally agree, no Nickelback please.

The only thing that worries me about Lee is that he sang that awful Hinder song. Other than that, I’ve liked his song choices. This is a great chance for him to sing a Kings of Leon song, and my vote would be Sex on Fire. There’s a youtube vid of him singing it, and it’s really good. (Sorry I can’t link to it, can’t get there from work) I think he’s more KOL than Nickelback. I hope.