Adam Lambert stands out from a talented pack as latest ‘American Idol’ finalists bring their victory lap to Wolstein Center
Guy-next-door Kris Allen won the latest season of “American Idol.” But guyliner-wearing runner-up Adam Lambert stole the show when the Top 10 finalists performed Sunday night at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center.
Decked out in black leather like a glam Hells Angel, Lambert got down to business with a scintillating romp through Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love, ” complete with mildly suggestive strokes of his microphone stand.
Matt Giraud on Justin Timberlake comparisons and post-‘American Idol’ record-deal dreams
Ask most folks who’ve been to the 2009 American Idols Live tour, and they’ll tell you the big revelation among the season 8 top 10 finalists is fifth-place finisher Matt Giraud. At the tour stops I attended in Newark, NJ, and Albany, NY, Matt’s electrifying performances ‘†vocally and on the keyboards ‘†on ‘Hard to Handle, ‘ ‘Georgia on My Mind, ‘ and ‘You Found Me’ left the crowd (even folks like me, who didn’t quite warm up to Matt during his season 8 tenure) on its feet. I caught up with Matt in the latter city to ask him about why he’s playing so loose and funky these days, and to find out about the music he’s been writing for the last couple months at hotel-lobby pianos across the country. Press play below, and enjoy! (And if you missed Mr. Giraud’s hilarious first appearance on Idolatry back in May, don’t miss the link below!)
‘American Idols’ play Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH ‘†A merry caravan of ‘American Idol’ singers trucked into Pittsburgh on Saturday for a concert at Mellon Arena.
Megan Joy, best remembered from the past season of the Fox television show for her blonde hair, tattoos and erratic dancing, was the first pleasant surprise of the night. Shoe-horned into a tiny magenta dress, the siren ditched her goofy moves and showcased her much-improved pipes in ‘My Tears Dry on Their Own’ by Amy Winehouse.
Season eight’s sixth-place finisher, Anoop Desai, was snooze-worthy. His lackluster vocals and lazy shuffle across the stage emitted minimal energy. This allowed the backup band to flourish for a few minutes but came at the cost of the audience’s attention to the ‘Idol’ at hand.
David Foster and Friends U.S. and Canadian Tour Dates Announced
NEW YORK – (Business Wire) Famed musical showman, producer and songwriter David Foster and some of his talented friends will be embarking on a l0-city tour of ‘David Foster and Friends’ starting in Chicago on October 21st, including stops in New York, Boston, LA, Vancouver, Miami and other markets, it was confirmed today by Warner Bros. Records. In addition to such artists as Philip Bailey from the chart-topping Earth, Wind and Fire, Oprah protg Charice, Chicago’s Peter Cetera and American Idol’s Michael Johns, fans can expect surprise visits at every show.
Former “Idol” contestant from Ky. releasing album
LEXINGTON, Ky. — When Phil Stacey was a contestant on American Idol, he was pegged as a little bit country.
Since then, Stacey has made what he calls “a lateral move from Disney’s country label to Sony’s Christian label.”
And what a Christian label.
On Tuesday, Stacey’s “Into the Light” will be released on Reunion Records. That would be the same label as Michael W. Smith, with whom Stacey also shares a manager. And he recorded the album with legendary Christian music maestro Brown Bannister, who was behind many of Smith’s and Amy Grant’s big successes.
David Cook: An ‘American Idol’
Auditioning on a whim for ‘American Idol’ in August 2007 got David Cook further than he had ever imagined.
Originally there to support his younger brother Andrew, David was then encouraged to try-out as well. Thanks to his rich, raw vocals and devotedly powerful performances, millions of fans watched as rocker David Cook took the title as ‘American Idol’ for Season 7, winning with 56 percent of the votes.
The week following his win, Cook made history on Billboard’s Hot 100 list, placing eleven songs on the charts. This gave him the highest number of new singles in a week, the most since the Beatles placed fourteen songs in 1964. Continuing on with his success, he debuted his album in November 2008, which was certified Platinum; and by January
2009, exceeded over one million copies in sales.
Photo Flash: ‘They’re Your DREAMGIRLS’, Angela, Mercado And Warren Lead 2009 National Tour
Producer John Breglio and the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. will present the premiere engagement of Dreamgirls at the Apollo Theater, prior to the national tour of the groundbreaking musical.
Dreamgirls will introduce Moya Angela as Effie White and feature, as The Dreams, Syesha Mercado as Deena Jones, Adrienne Warren as Lorrell Robinson, and Margaret Hoffman as Michelle Morris with Chaz Lamar Shepherd as Curtis Taylor, Jr., Chester Gregory is James “Thunder” Early, Trevon Davis as C.C. White, Milton Craig Nealy as Marty Madison in a cast of 26 that also features Tallia Brinson, Felicia Boswell, Ronald Duncan, Talitha Farrow, Brittney Griffin, James Harkness, Robert Hartwell, Eric Jackson, Chauncey Jenkins, Jared Joseph, Nikki Kimbrough, Brittany Lewis, Douglas Lyons, Kimberly Marable, Jarran Muse, Amaker Smith and Marc Spaulding.
The national tour of Dreamgirls premieres at Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theater (253 West 125 Street) beginning previews Saturday, November 7, 2009, and opens Sunday, November 22, 2009, for 4 weeks only, through Sunday December, 6, 2009. Dreamgirls will be a highlight of the Apollo Theater’s 75th Anniversary celebration in 2009.
Michael Johns Says Paula Abdul Will Return to “Idol”
The world is still mourning the departure of Paula Abdul from the “American Idol” judging panel, but according to Season 7 finalist and her good friend Michael Johns, a return may very well happen.
“She will be there, you watch. I think come December when it all comes out she will be there, they will rectify the situation, ” Johns assured us at the 8th Annual InStyle Summer Soiree in West Hollywood on Thursday evening. “We’ve been talking and texting a bunch. She was just upset that they didn’t give her what she deserved, she wasn’t asking for the same money as Ryan Seacrest. She wanted almost half that – $20 million over three years. I love her and she has a bunch of opportunities coming her way.”
And despite the outcry that this season’s runner-up Adam Lambert was perhaps cheated out of the “American Idol” title, Johns believes America voted correctly.
“Kris Allen was definitely the rightful winner, ” he added. “Both he and Adam Lambert will have good careers but I think Allison (Iraheta) will actually have the biggest career of all of them.”
Rachael Ray parties in Wrigleyville
Rachael Ray showed Chicago some love on Friday by filming the fourth season premiere of her daytime talk show in Wrigleyville, as part of her Big Block Party. Ray interviewed Chicago native Jenny McCarthy for the taping on a stage set up just outside of Wrigley Field.
Other celebs who popped up at the event included “American Idol” stars Kimberly Locke and Justin Guarini, along with chefs Rocco DiSpirito and Rick Bayless.
Tickets on sale for VIP event with B-52s
Tickets to a “meet and greet” function with recording artists the B-52s and former “American Idol” contestant Blake Lewis are on sale with proceeds benefitting Novato public schools.
The VIP event is in conjunction with the Rock’n Blues by the Lake concert Sept. 26 at Stafford Lake County Park in Novato. Tickets are $200 to meet the B-52s and $100 to meet Lewis.
Concert tickets are $45 for general admission, $20 for kids 12-18 and $15 for kids 5-11. Concert admission and limited backstage access are included in “meet and greet” purchases.
For information, check www.rnblake.com.
‘Lifted’ will be first film for Coronet
Newcomer Uriah Shelton is starring in Lexi Alexander’s indie drama “Lifted, ” which also is serving as the inaugural film of producer Deborah Del Prete’s Coronet Films.
“Lifted” stars 12-year-old Shelton as a singer whose family life is disrupted when his Marine father is re-deployed to Afghanistan. The boy, despite many obstacles, is inspired to compete in a teen singing competition.
Dash Mihok, Nicky Aycox, James Handy, “American Idol’s” Ruben Studdard and country star Trace Adkins also are in the movie, which shoots in and around Birmingham, Ala.
The movie is being touted as the first production to be made under Alabama’s new film incentive program.
Leona Lewis is ‘Echo’-ing back
Simon Cowell protge Leona Lewis has decided on a title and release date for her new album. Echo, the follow-up to Lewis’ platinum-plus 2008 debut, Spirit, is due Nov. 17.
“An echo describes a big, organic sound, ” Lewis says of her choice.
Lewis is recording in various cities, including New York and Los Angeles. Though one track called Don’t Let Me Down has
leaked online, neither the lineup of songs nor the list of contributors has been finalized. “I’m working with incredible songwriters and producers, and my music has really evolved, ” Lewis says.
Ryan Tedder, who co-wrote and produced Lewis’ chart-topping breakthrough hit, Bleeding Love, is one confirmed collaborator, and a number of top artists have joined her in the studio, including Justin Timberlake, Ne-Yo and producer Timbaland.
Can Cheryl Burke keep Tom DeLay ‘Dancing’?
The only other ‘Dancing With the Stars’ contestant to garner as much pre-show press as Tom DeLay is Paul McCartney’s ex-wife, Heather Mills.
Mills, who appeared on season 4, lasted through six weeks of competition ‘†but does anyone but the most loyal of ‘Dancing’ fans recall that Jonathan Roberts was her professional partner?
The weekend’s TV: The X Factor
“Bigger than ever before!” a voiceover man shouted in tones so plummy he probably had pomade on his tonsils. The towering monolith of Saturday night, The X Factor (ITV1), is now entering its sixth series, and don’t we know it. If the size of a show is equivalent to the levels of its self-aggrandisement, this one is currently winning by three verses, a chorus and a big fat guitar solo.
The camera panned over crowds of hopeful, happy people, who had queued overnight for a chance to reveal the secret star behind their ordinary exterior. Their optimism was awe-inspiring: all were convinced that just one note in the ears of the right people would lead to fame, fortune and adoration.