Kris Allen: The ultimate interview, Part Three
Krisallen3 In the third part of this four-part interview, “American Idol” winner Kris Allen discusses his experience on the show and his notable song choices that helped him clinch the season 8 crown.
You earned a reputation on ‘American Idol’ for taking well-known songs and making them your own. Is that something you’ve always done?
Yes. When you play in bars and you have to play for three hours, you have to play songs people know. I never wanted to just play a song that people know. I wanted people to think, ‘That’s a cool way to sing that song’ or ‘That’s a cool way to play that song, ‘ and so it’s always been a part of what I do as a performer.
Label hunts hackers who stole Lewis/Timberlake song
LONDON (Reuters) ‘ Record label SyCo and music trade body IFPI have called in the police to help them hunt down computer hackers who leaked a track by Leona Lewis and Justin Timberlake on the Internet.
The song, “Don’t Let Me Down, ” is being considered as the first single release from the X Factor winner’s next album, according to the Sun newspaper.
“IFPI is working with SyCo and law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and Europe to trace the individuals who stole the Leona Lewis/Justin Timberlake track, ” said Jeremy Banks, head of IFPI’s Internet Anti-Piracy Unit.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
‘American Idol’ winner Kris Allen is mastering the fame game
Give this whirlwind a whirl: In six months you’ve gone from unknown college dropout to ubiquitous music star, headlining arenas across the United States. Americans by the tens of millions handed you a first-place finish on the country’s most popular television program, and more than 20, 000 lined the streets to help you celebrate with a hometown victory parade.
Last fall you were another anonymous dude playing bar gigs, just hoping somebody would notice; today you phone up Chris Daughtry for career advice.
‘Idols’ live gets a different vote
ALBANY — I must disclose before I say anything more that I redialed my phone three times to place four votes for Kris Allen before the finale of season 8 of “American Idol” this May’ once each for me, my two daughters, and the family dog. But after watching American Idols Live Tour 2009, a nearly three-hour show Wednesday at the Times Union Center, I’m not sure how my vote would go today.
The group looks a lot different live in front of a crowd of more than 8, 000 adoring fans — mostly young women, as in tween girls (I know from their piercing screams and waving glow sticks) and, of course, their parents.
Danny Gokey has heart for music
When Danny Gokey and I talked recently, Paula Abdul had just announced that she was leaving her judge’s chair on American Idol. And Gokey was more than a little disappointed.
”Paula is the heart of the show, ” he said. ”Simon was the head, but Paula used her heart to respond to us. She was the only one who really cared about us.”
‘American Idol’ finalists living the dream with tour
Lil Rounds’ life has turned into a nonstop whirlwind of traveling, concerts and meeting thousands of fans ever since the eighth season of “American Idol” ended in May.
Rounds, a top-10 finalist from this year’s hit Fox show, says that while her new, post-“Idol” life change might be overwhelming, it is exciting, and hopefully the start of a long, prominent singing career. For now, the Memphis, Tenn., resident is enjoying performing with her nine fellow finalists at the 50-plus-city “American Idols Live!” Tour 2009, which comes to Mellon Arena on Saturday night.
Joe Jonas to be a guest ‘American Idol’ judge in Dallas on Monday
Local American Idol hopefuls, prepare to have your fate decided by Simon, Kara, Randy and Joe Jonas.
The rep for the pop sensation (and Westlake resident) confirmed to People magazine that the middle JoBro will lend his advice during Monday’s auditions in Dallas. He’ll be weighing in on singers who made it past the June tryouts at the new Cowboys Stadium.
As for where the action will take place, the show won’t divulge that information. But when Idol was here in 2007, Simon and his cohort set up shop at the W hotel in Victory Park.
McCain, Gay Men Love Chris Daughtry
Without question, Chris Daughtry is one of the most successful American Idol alums — and he didn’t even win the show. So it should come as no surprise that fans are all excited about his new album and forthcoming tour.
Maybe none more so than Meghan McCain.
The pro’marriage equality daughter of Republican senator and former presidential hopeful John McCain tweeted Wednesday, “Chris Daughtry’s voice is so friggin sexy (as is the rest of him) — that is all… :-) but seriously ladies u know what i mean.”
President Obama to Appear in Sept. 8th Premiere of Get Schooled: You Have the Right
LOS ANGELES and WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — The President of the United States Barack Obama will be the third guest featured in the television special Get Schooled: You Have the Right, Viacom (NYSE: VIA) (NYSE: VIA.B) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced today. The 30-minute documentary highlights the education challenges, life choices and breakthroughs experienced by speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz, music director Jason Halbert and marketing executive Latesha Williams — three professionals who provide critical support to these leading figures in politics, entertainment and sports. As announced on Aug. 13, pop superstar Kelly Clarkson and 2009 NBA MVP LeBron James will also appear in the show. Get Schooled: You Have the Right premieres Sept. 8 at 8 p.m. and is the first programming “roadblock” of any kind across all Viacom networks including BET, MTV, VH1, CMT, COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike TV and Nickelodeon.
Carrie Underwood is a C.A.T.S. person
Carrie Underwood has just started a fund to help with causes in her Checotah, Okla., hometown. It’s called C.A.T.S. — Checotah Animal, Town, and School Foundation. “My hometown is extremely supportive of me, ” Carrie said in a statement announcing the fund’s creation, “and I feel blessed to be able to create something as a way of giving back; to say thank you.”
According to the press release, the C.A.T.S. Foundation will help with general causes, needs and services in the Checotah area to directly impact the community. Information on the foundation’s first donation to the community will be announced soon.
Hall of fame advance tickets selling quickly
Advance tickets for Carrie Underwood’s induction into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame are selling fast, but concert promoters say there should be enough tickets when sales go public on Saturday.
Underwood, the Checotah graduate topping country music charts, will perform at the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Concert and Induction at 7 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Muskogee Civic Center. Other inductees include Grand Ole Opry singer Ramona Reed and rock keyboardist Rocky Frisco.
Exclusive: Bo Bice Talks Troops and Why ‘Idol’ Could Suffer Without Paula
“American Idol” Season Four Runner-Up Bo Bice has certainly mapped out a route to success that includes a lot of time on tour (hence the name of his new album is “I Love the Road”), but entertaining our troops overseas has been the biggest highlight of his journey.
“I come from a military family, so when the call came to go over to Afghanistan, I jumped at the chance. Those two weeks were life changing, getting to experience how these men and women live, to see the true vision of what’s going on over there, ” Bice told Tarts. “Over here in the United States, we’re cut off. We don’t see that there’s so many bases out there that are controlled by other countries, and that we’re the support effort. So there’s a lot of different people tied up in this campaign. But the men and women there never waiver, whether they’re a support group or on the front lines. I took away a new respect and love for what freedom really means.”
Phil Stacey to launch Christian CD in Wichita
Two years and a lot of dues-paying later, Stacey is finally launching his Christian music career with the release of “Into the Light, ” his second studio album since “American Idol.”
Stacey, a former Wichitan who graduated from Northwest High School in 1997, will celebrate the release at a concert Friday at Westlink Christian Church, 2001 N. Maize Road.
He’ll be performing music from the album, officially on sale starting Tuesday, including the first single, “You’re Not Shaken.”
Idol alum LaToya London gets to work
LaToya London has a no-frills explanation for why so many American Idol alum opt for theater gigs instead of gambling on music ‘†it’s work.
‘We get to do what we love, make good money doing it and stay active, ‘ London says.
‘We’re all singers. But we want to be entertainers as well. We take a stab at theater. It’s something to do while whatever else you’re trying to do (is in the works).’
London currently stars as Nettie in the national touring production of The Color Purple, now running though Sunday at Hobby Center. It’s a make-up run for the performances lost to Hurricane Ike in September.
Jennifer Hudson’s new baby a gift from late mother
Jennifer Hudson has mostly stayed out of the spotlight since the Oct. 24, 2008, murders of her mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew. Since then, Hudson and her fiance, David Ortunga, quietly gave birth to their first child, David Daniel Ortunga, Jr.
Hudson has yet to speak publicly about her baby, but a source tells Life & Style magazine that David Jr. was a welcome surprise.
Hudson, 27, who became engaged to David Otunga a month before the murders, didn’t plan on having a child so soon.
Exclusive behind the scenes interview with Simon Cowell.. on friends, feuds & fame
It’s the dream team judging panel, and they’re back with a mission ‘ to find the next big thing in music. Acid-tongued judge Simon Cowell will step back into his role as telly’s Mr Nasty for the sixth series of The X Factor this Saturday.
And the man who’s launched some of the world’s biggest TV talent shows and singing stars says he couldn’t be happier to have such a dynamic team alongside him.
He reveals pop manager Louis Walsh, who was reinstated after a public outcry when he was dumped from the show two years ago, can ‘stay for as long as he wants’ .
5 more rise on ‘America’s Got Talent’
LOS ANGELES ‘†Five more “America’s Got Talent” acts are moving on.
Jeffrey Ou, a pianist from Carrollton, Texas; Lawrence Beamen, a singer from Walnut Creek, Calif.; Mario and Jenny Ferreira, married jugglers from Las Vegas; Hairo Torres, a contortionist breakdancer from Grants Pass, Ore.; and Footworkingz, a dance crew from Chicago learned Wednesday that they will compete in the NBC talent show’s semifinals.
All are vying for the $1 million prize and the chance to headline a Las Vegas show in October. Viewers selected the top four favorites via phone, e-mail and text message votes while judges Piers Morgan, Sharon Osbourne and David Hasselhoff picked the fifth semifinalist. Last week, five acts other progressed to the semifinals.
ETA:
Top 10 ‘American Idols’ work their way to The Palace
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – When Phil Stacey was a contestant on American Idol, he was pegged as a little bit country.
So that’s where the Harlan County native ended up after the show, on the country label Lyric Street Records. In 2008, he released a self-titled debut.
But anyone who was paying attention and knew a little bit about Stacey could hear something in the twang: a message.
“Even on my country record, every song was based on a Bible verse, to me, ” Stacey says. “People who knew Christian music would say, ‘How could you put a John Waller song on a country CD?”‘ Stacey adds, referring to a modern rock worship leader and songwriter, “but we managed to pull it off.”
