Yep, there’s so many, I’ve got an afternoon (or early evening, if you will…) edition of headlines today…
“Idol” champ Allen’s CD reflects life on the road
“Name a big city and I probably recorded a song there, ” Allen told Reuters ahead of the self-titled “Kris Allen” release on November 17.
The Arkansas native recorded songs in Boston, Los Angeles, New York, Milwaukee and other cities.
“It was pretty crazy, and kind of weird switching your mind from tour mode to writing and recording mode, ” he said.
Allen had the luxury of time, for one thing, unlike when he booked the studio himself on his first album and had only a few days to record. This time, he also included exotic instruments, including a sitar, and experimented with different styles, from pop to the blues.
Adam Lambert on His New Album ‘For Your Entertainment, ‘ Working with Lady Gaga, and His Appeal to Women
The Wall Street Journal: On your Twitter feed, you said Lady Gaga’s ‘Bad Romance’ video ‘melted my brain.’
Oh my god, I love it. It’s so out there. She’s so brave in her artistic freedom; she’s an inspiration.
She actually contributed a song ‘†‘Fever’ ‘†to your new album.
Yeah, I really wanted to work with her; she’s just one of my favorites right now. She had an old demo ‘†I think she said she got signed with that demo to her first label deal ‘†and then she never produced it and got it done. I think that it’s a really catchy melody; the lyrics are really fun and silly. Overall, I really enjoyed the process of recording with her. She was on the other side of that glass, just egging me on. She was constantly like, ‘Go crazier! Go higher! Go louder!’
Which song pushed you the furthest vocally?
‘Sure Fire Winners’ is pretty vocally acrobatic. It’s crazy ‘†but they all kind of go crazy. Artistically, I think the Linda Perry song was a departure for me because it was a little out of my obvious comfort zone ‘†vocally, it sits in this falsetto space, and lyrically, if you really listen to it, it’s complicated. The lyrics contradict themselves, which was done on purpose ‘†Linda and I really talked about it.
Danny Gokey, Lady Antebellum talk ‘It’s Only’
The same songwriting team that penned country trio Lady Antebellum’s breakthough hit I Run to You also wrote Danny Gokey’s single, It’s Only.
Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood of Lady Antebellum — which won Vocal Group and Single of the Year at Wednesday’s Country Music Association Awards — wrote both songs with Tom Douglas.
“Tom came in with the majority of that idea, ” Kelley said Wednesday before the CMAs. “He’s a poet, and he’s a very spiritual guy.
“When I sent that over to a friend of mine at Sony, she immediately thought of Danny Gokey. Upon first listen, he felt something by it. I was so excited. It’s his first single. He sings his butt off on it. We’ve gotten to know him since then, and he’s such a nice guy, got a great story. I hope the best for him.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Adam Lambert: Hot Entertainer
American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert is hoping to prove that a second place finish doesn’t mean you can’t reach the top of the charts. The glam rocker’s debut album ‘For Your Entertainment’ drops Nov. 23, and Lambert himself dropped by TV Guide Magazine’s Hot List party to tell TVGuideMagazine.com what his fans can expect, his thoughts on Ellen Degeneres (and her underwear) and all about his encounter with a certain musical icon.
FACTBOX: Record sales for “American Idol” contestants
Ruben Studdard is left off the list. Sads.
Winner Kris Allen’s self-titled “Kris Allen” lands in record stores on Nov 17; runner-up Adam Lambert’s “For Your Entertainment” is out on November 23; Allison Iraheta releases “Just Like You” on Dec 1, and Danny Gokey will release his country-style debut in early 2010.
Not all “Idol” contestants enjoy the same level of recording success after the show. Following are U.S. record sales for notable “Idols”, who are contracted after the show to Sony Music Entertainment labels. All figures are from Nielsen SoundScan.
Spotted: David Archuleta Satisfies His Hunger
Former “American Idol” contestant David Archuleta didn’t win the season he competed (that honor went to erstwhile Our Lady Peace fan David Cook), but in many ways it’s worked out better for Archie. He has never had to deal with the pressure or scrutiny of being the winner, but there is still plenty of enthusiasm surrounding everything he works on (including his recently-released Christmas album). Plus, he’s not hounded by photographers all that often. Really, it’s the best kind of fame. Still, it was nice to see him show up in the paparazzi viewfinders yesterday, as Archuleta was spotted leaving high-end Los Angeles eatery Il Pastaio with singer and songwriter Kina Grannis.
Allison Iraheta’s Just Like You: The Album Snippet Preview!
Dye your hair with Kool-Aid and start joking about cutting, because 30-second snippets of Allison Iraheta’s major label debut Just Like You have hit the web. Everybody knows I was less-than-thrilled with the super-poppy, heavily-processed vocals of Iraheta’s Max Martin-produced single “Friday I’ll Be Over U.” But will the rest of her album make me happy? Let’s go through these too-short snippets and see.
Foster, Mazzie, Damiano, DeGarmo, Ranson, Doyle and More Set for Carrie Reading
Tony Award winner Sutton Foster and Tony nominees Marin Mazzie and Jennifer Damiano will take part in the industry presentation of the 1988 cult musical Carrie.
As previously reported, Stafford Arima (Altar Boyz, Tin Pan Alley Rag, Somewhere in Time, London’s Ragtime) will direct the 29-hour Equity reading that will take place in Manhattan Nov. 20.
Also revealed are “American Idol” finalist Diana DeGarmo (Hairspray, The Toxic Avenger) as Chris, Matt Doyle (Spring Awakening, Bye Bye Birdie) as Tommy and John Arthur Greene (West Side Story) as Billy.
PHOTO CALL: Dreamgirls National Tour Launches at the Apollo
Prior to touring the country, the new production of Dreamgirls plays New York’s historic Apollo Theatre through Dec. 6.
Robert Longbottom directs a cast headed by Moya Angela as Effie White, Syesha Mercado as Deena Jones and Adrienne Warren as Lorrell Robinson. Also featured are Margaret Hoffman as Michelle Morris, Chaz Lamar Shepherd as Curtis Taylor, Jr., Chester Gregory as James “Thunder” Early, Trevon Davis as C.C. White and Milton Craig Nealy as Marty Madison.
X Factor: Lucie Jones is backing Stacey Solomon to win
X Factor reject Lucie Jones today backed Stacey Solomon to win the talent contest.
Jones, 18, performed in front of hundreds of fans in her home town of Cardiff after she was knocked out of the competition on Sunday.
Judge Simon Cowell refused to make a call between her and twins John and Edward and put it to the public vote to see who should stay.
Before performing four songs today in front of her cheering supporters, Jones defended Cowell’s decision to take the vote to “deadlock”, even though it meant she was kicked out of the running.
