Idol Headlines for 07/08/09

Tacoma farewell: The Idols Live Tour rides off into the sunset

On the second night of the 2009 Idols Live tour, the 10 were settling comfortably into their lives as wandering rock stars. At 3 p.m., the day was gray, frigid and windy outside the Tacoma Dome. The subdued crowd of a hundred or so leaned in eerie silence against the metal barricade as Megan Joy walked down the row singing autographs and posing for pictures. ‘ ¨  Inside, the ancient Dome seemed like it was just waking up, a universe away from the frenzied hub of activity around the tour kickoff at the Paul Allen-built Portland stadium. In a cafeteria-like room set up with round tables and folding chairs, half the Idols came to visit the four members of the press corps on hand.

Building up to Show 2, gone already was the repressed frenzy of anticipation the Idols felt in the hours before the show. Now that it was over, nearly all confessed to fighting back serious attacks of nerves, either from excitement of fear, in the countdown to Sunday night’s show. The giddiness that followed opening night seemed to have led the Idols’ emotional roller coaster on a long loop-the-loop; the group reported staying up until 5 a.m. Monday, despite fatigue, to celebrate their their bow.

Los Angeles Times

Scenes from American Idols Live

A point of disclosure: I’m not the biggest ‘American Idol’  fan. Just don’t get it, actually. It’s kind of like televised karaoke, minus the sloppy drunks singing hideously off-key versions of Crue tunes before hitting the parking lot for a quick chunder. (For the record: Always entertaining.) So over the course of eight seasons, I’ve tuned in only about as much as my nine to five required; that is to say, I mainly just followed local boys Sanjaya, Blake Lewis and A.J. Gil (remember him? Season one?) and ignored most of the rest.

But I must confess that, as jaded as I am, I may have caught just a smidge of Lambert mania Tuesday night.

The News Tribune

More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…

Adam Lambert On Coming Out & the ‘Idol’ Tour

The “American Idol 2009 Summer Tour” kicked off on July 5. Now, ET talks to season eight runner-up Adam Lambert about the tour, his upcoming album and why he chose to wait so long to come out.

ET: Can you talk about how you envision your upcoming album?

Adam Lambert: I am so excited, because I am getting to write with the top people in the business and that is such an honor. I never would have never gotten that opportunity if it hadn’t been for this. A lot of people go, “Are you rock, or are you pop? What’s your genre?” I did a bunch of different genres on “Idol, ” so I don’t know why I have to pick one. It will definitely have elements of rock, but the production on it, the instrumentation sonically will be very modern and electronic. The word “pop” as a classification means that it is popular. All that really entails is that it is catchy. So, I want to write a bunch of catchy, rock-electro, dance, disco things with a lot of glam to it. Glam is about the visual presentation. It has very little to do with the actual music.

ET Online

Rock of Ages Cast Recording Arrives in Stores July 7

Following a June 2 digital release, the original cast recording of the Tony-nominated Best Musical Rock of Ages arrives in stores July 7 on the New Line Records label.

The Rock of Ages cast recorded the score April 28-29. The album was mixed and engineered by Mike Barbiero, produced by David Gibbs, executive produced by Janet Billig Rich, Hillary Weaver and Kurt Deutsch/Sh-K-Boom Records and co-produced by Ethan Popp.

Playbill.com

Jennifer Hudson definitely pregnant; baby bump evident at Michael Jackson memorial

Jennifer Hudson has never confirmed her pregnancy, but her baby bump was quite clear in photos taken before the Michael Jackson memorial at the Staples Center today (either that, or Usher is getting a little handsy).

A friend did confirm that the singer is expecting a baby with boyfriend David Otunga after the Chicago papers reported the baby shower last month. She’s believed to be about eight months pregnant now.

NJ.com

Daughtry performs free at Paramount to promote mobile device

Daughtry ‘” the band formed by American Idol rocker Chris Daughtry ‘” will perform for free at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre on Friday, July 17. The performance will last an hour, and portions will air that night on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

The appearance is part of a nationwide promotion for the mobile device Samsung Jack, called Samsung AT&T Summer Krush. Tickets are being given away by two local radio stations: 106.1 KISS FM and STAR 105.1 FM. More information is available at www.samsungsummerkrush.com.

Seattle Times

American Idol Justin Guarini Shifts Into Drivetime At Slot-1

Ambler, PA (PRWEB) July 8, 2009 — The soothing ambience of Slot-1 Studios has catered to an eclectic taste of musicianship over the years. Just recently, Philadelphia based jazz sextet Drivetime brings 2002 American Idol Runner Up Justin Guarini to the mic plate, where he lead sings to a handful of classic from ‘What You Won’t Do’ to ‘Let’s Stay Together’. These jazz style renditions will be featured on Drivetime’s new studio album titled “Reflections”, due to release sometime in August.

The new release was recorded and mixed by Slot-1 Studio’s very own Rick Denzien, where he also co-produced the record. “Reflections has the honest sound of real instruments, human feel and human taste”, stated Denzien. “This version pays homage to the original, written and released by the great Bobby Caldwell.”

PR Web

Has the balance of power shifted to producers?

Does the potential alliance between Sir Philip Green and Simon Cowell indicate that TV content producers are truly the senior partners in the broadcaster/producer relationship?

NO – Matt Jagger, Creative managing partner, Naked
As I understand it, Cowell and Green are seeking to become broadcasters as well as producers. This is the Disney model. Produce the content and broadcast it yourself, then you are in control of both the major revenue streams – rights and advertising.

With the rise of online, it is now easier for producers to become broadcasters. But the difficulty is in making this pay and retaining audience – that is something the existing major broadcasters are better at.

Media Week.co.uk

Michael Jackson memorial: Jennifer Hudson sings ‘Will You Be There’

What: Jennifer Hudson’s “Will You Be There.” The knockout “American Idol” vocalist took on Jackson’s 1991 single, transforming it into a rousing, feel-good anthem. The set had a bit more choreography than the other performances thus far, and it moved the proceedings away from the more restrained recent performances.

But it worked, for the most part, and that’s largely due to the strength of Hudson as a vocalist who can reach for the stars as well as any singer. Things drifted a bit toward Hallmark-like hokeyness toward the end, as Hudson stepped back to make way for Jackson’s recorded vocals. The Times’ Ann Powers is inside the Staples Center. Her reaction: “In a truly angelic white dress, Hudson takes the stage and sings, ‘Hold me like the River Jordan, ‘ ” the opening refrain from the song.

LA Times

Memorial moments: What they said, what they sang

All eyes were on L.A. as fans, famous friends and family gathered to honor Michael. USA TODAY reflects on memorable moments.

Hear the sadness in her voice

Mariah Carey set the stage for a succession of reverent musical tributes with a dramatic but un-divalike performance. Re-creating her hit cover of the Jackson 5 classic I’ll Be There with Trey Lorenz, Carey seemed tentative at first, her trademark hand gestures betraying emotional intensity more than technical affectation. As her voice gained power and confidence, its slight hoarseness made the lyrics seem more plaintive. “We never will say goodbye, ” Carey sang at the end. She added, speaking softly, “We miss you.”

USA Today

About mj santilli 35105 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!