X Factor: Whitney Houston comeback questioned after live performance
The 46-year-old soul diva, who has fought a public battle against drug addiction, made her first UK TV appearance in 12 years on Sunday night’s programme.
She sang her single Million Dollar Bill, over some pre-recorded vocals, and suffered a wardrobe malfunction when a strap at the back of her long silver dress snapped open.
Questions were also raised about Houston’s physical condition as she looked drowsy and did not speak clearly when being interviewed by host Dermot O’Leary.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
David vs. Goliath: Xmas edition
For the first and probably only time in history, Bob Dylan, the freewheelin’ 68-year-old rock legend, and David Archuleta, the lucky troll-like 18-year-old ‘American Idol’ runner-up, are on the same artistic plane. On Wednesday, Dylan released ‘Christmas in the Heart, ‘ while Archuleta issued ‘Christmas From the Heart’ last Friday.
Dylan’s Tom Waits-like gargle on ‘Winter Wonderland’ and haunting growl on ‘Here Comes Santa Claus’ sound like your egg nog-steeped pervy uncle. Archuleta’s gentle whisper on ‘Silent Night’ could easily be mistaken for Cindy Lou Who. But ages, tastes, fashion senses, political views and religious affiliations (Dave’s a Mormon, Bob’s a Jew who later got Born Again) aside, who is more full of Christmas spirit? The Post breaks it down.
Adam Lambert’s ‘2012’ ³ Song ‘Time for Miracles’ Debuts Early
Adam Lambert’s first post-Idol single ‘Time for Miracles’ made its unexpected full debut this weekend after it reportedly became available prematurely on the iTunes Store in Italy. As Rolling Stone previously reported, ‘Time for Miracles’ features in upcoming disaster film 2012 and its soundtrack, and the song’s music video was set to premiere before screenings of Michael Jackson’s This Is It documentary starting October 27th. According to Amazon.com, October 27th is also the day the song becomes available for download in the States, but you can take a listen to ‘Time for Miracles’ up top.
Adam Lambert’s ‘Time for Miracles’: What do you think?
Listening to Adam Lambert’s ‘Time for Miracles’ is kind of like watching a volcano on the brink of eruption. There’s a lot of bubbling and buildup and anticipation, all leading to the point where things finally explode in a torrent of heat and magma and glory notes. That moment arrives at the 3:30 mark, as Adam exits the bridge and tackles the chorus once more (with feeling), riffing magnificently over the melody as a tidal wave of strings swells up around him.
Q&A: Josh Steely of Daughtry
Josh Steely has spent most of his life out on tour. During his childhood he spent a lot of time out on the road with his musician parents. After finishing high school he joined a band and pursued his passion for making music. Years later, after taking a hiatus from his ambitions, Steely took a shot at an audition he says he was too old for and impressed a certain shaved-headed American Idol contestant. One quintuple-platinum, Grammy-nominated debut album later, Josh Steely, lead guitarist for Daughtry, talks about the band’s new album and being back out on tour. Daughtry will play October 19 at the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka.
Jayplay: When did you first fall in love with music?
Hick’s Reinvents His Career Post Idol
He knows the rap he gets. Once “American Idol” ended, performers like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood went on to enormous recording careers.
Hicks, to put it bluntly, didn’t.
After winning “American Idol ” in 2006, his first album appeared in stores that December. The disc sold more than a million copies, earning platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America.
Grease Breathes New Life Into Hick’s Career
Taylor Hicks took over the role of Teen Angel in “Grease” on Broadway in 2008. Then he went on the national tour, which is where you’ll find him through June. The 33-year-old “American Idol” winner is pleased with the role, which has been reshaped for his personality. Don’t think crooning and Frankie Avalon; instead, this Teen Angel plays the mouth organ and sings with a bluesy Alabama soul. Hicks even does a number at the end, offering a tune from his current disc, “The Distance.” The hard-working performer called – on his birthday, no less – to talk up the show.
Question: How are you enjoying musical theater?
SYTYCD Cast: We’re Going to Miss Mia Michaels
Emmy Award-winning choreographer Mia Michaels — who announced last week that she was exiting Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance — will be missed, her colleagues tell Usmagazine.com.
“It’s tough, ” host Cat Deeley told Us Saturday at the Professional Dancers Society Fabulous Fall Ball in Studio City, Calif. “I mean, she has been a staple, but that’s not to say that she’s not going to come back at some stage. We all definitely admire her work.”
‘DWTS’ Honors Michael Jackson with Special Dance
This week’s episode of “Dancing with the Stars” promises to be particularly special, as all 16 professional dancers honor Michael Jackson’s music and influence during the “Macy’s Stars of Dance.” The segment will pay tribute with a medley of three Jackson songs spanning his career.
Cheryl Burke, now out of the competition, spoke about her contribution to the tribute. “Michael Jackson and his music are an inspiration to every dancer. As a performer, he was such an innovator that to be able to choreograph part of this tribute to him is an honor.”
Dancing’s Melissa Joan Hart Unsure If Being Paired With Mark Is “a Good Thing or a Bad Thing”
After a delightful Charleston that saw her jump nine points on the leaderboard ‘†the best one-week improvement in Dancing with the Stars history ‘†Melissa Joan Hart knows everyone else is gunning for her now. “I’ve got to watch my back!” she tells TVGuide.com, citing Mya, Kelly Osbourne and Natalie Coughlin as her biggest competition. “Natalie’s really good. She’s coming alive. It’s going to be tough.” It will be even tougher this week for the former Sabrina, the Teenage Witch star to maintain her top spot as couples must prepare three dances: an individual dance, the group hustle and a knockout dance (to be performed by the pairs in the bottom two). Find out how Hart’s handling her trio of dances, why she and partner Mark Ballas are like a “little married couple” and more.
The X Factor: how have John and Edward Grimes survived?
Last night’s episode of The X Factor raised a series of perplexing questions ‘ who sliced open Cheryl’s slacks? Is Whitney Houston pop’s most inarticulate star? Why does Stacey have an orthodontist’s dream bite while singing and appear buck-toothed when she stops? – but surely the most baffling was: how did John and Edward survive?
The Grimes twins deserved the boot for their outfits alone: red faux leather suits that picked up the stage lights and reflected them back into the disbelieving eyes of the audience. Crinkling alarmingly around their knees, elbows and underarms, they appeared to hamper some of the 18-year-olds’ more energetic dance moves.
Rikki becomes second X Factor casualty as Simon Cowell saves Rachel after sing-off
Rikki Loney’s dreams of X Factor stardom have been shattered after he was sent packing last night.
The Scottish singer came in the bottom two with Rachel Adedeji, who was forced to sing for survival in the contest for the second week running.
Simon Cowell had the deciding vote, and said that Rachel’s rendition of U2’s With Or Without You was better than Rikki’s version of Westlife’s Flying Without Wings.
