Carrie Underwood, ‘Glee’ spur Idol track sales
Carrie Underwood had the top-selling American Idol-related download last week with Cowboy Casanova, which sold nearly 57, 000 copies according to Nielsen SoundScan. Carrie had another new song on SoundScan’s digital tracks chart as well, as Mama’s Song sold more than 31, 000 copies in its debut week.
Fox’s Glee continues to make a huge impact on the download charts, with 11 tracks among the Top 200. One of those was a cover of No Air. It not only sold 36, 000 downloads — an 86 percent increase from the previous week — it also helped Jordin Sparks more than double the week-to-week sales of her version.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Did the Mayans Warn Us That Adam Lambert’s 2012 Video Would Leak Today?
The end of the world is on its way, heralded by four horsemen: disaster porn auteur Roland Emmerich, paycheck-cashing actor John Cusack, a just-happy-to-be-there Amanda Peet, and Adam Lambert. In the meantime, the latter’s music video for Emmerich’s 2012 sprung up today, and it reveals several glimpses of Emmerich’s apocalyptic free-for-all. Spoilery glimpses, in fact ‘†and not just on the level of ‘Which vehicle is going to outrun which collapsing city?’
Adam Lambert’s ‘Time for Miracles’ video: Spoiler alert! Not everyone dies in ‘2012.’
What’s this? You thought I was going to go 24 hours without posting a Music Mix item about American Idol’s beloved eighth-season Kradison trio? Well you thought wrong, Blanche! But I obsess not just for the fanboy fun of it, but because, well, every day (and sometimes twice a day) there’s breaking news coming out of the Kris Allen-Adam Lambert-Allison Iraheta camp. Today’s big to-do: The premiere of Adam Lambert’s ‘Time for Miracles’ video. I know, I know, I’m a little tardy for the party in weighing in ‘†just because I make Real Housewives references doesn’t mean I actually watch that messerie, BTW ‘†but because it’s only been 48 hours since I wrote a 781-word essay/review/tone poem about the full-length track, a little distance seemed necessary. Now, however, without further ado, here are the Top 5 Things That Went Through My Mind While Watching the ‘Time for Miracles’ Video:
Adam Lambert’s ‘Time For Miracles’: A Fiery Video For A Classic Power Ballad
Every so often ‘†OK, quite often ‘†Hollywood decides to makes a movie about stuff blowing up. In this case, it’s the apocalyptic “2012, ” which is about the extinction of humanity in general. Somewhat understandably, this is a rather bleak subject to tackle ‘†the end of the world isn’t exactly heartwarming ‘†so the producers know they somehow need to inject some sunshine into the flick, something to leave audiences feeling better as they exit the theater. A logical solution is, of course, a power ballad.
Adam Lambert: The New American Sex Symbol
Adam Lambert plays it straight in a steamy photo shoot for this month’s Details magazine, in which he defies his homosexuality and tongues a naked female model. He also grips her breasts and her behind’â€and apparently, he likes it.
‘I am gay, but I like kissing women sometimes, ‘ Lambert tells the mag. ‘Women are pretty. It doesn’t mean I’m necessarily sleeping with them.’
Nope, just appearing as if he’s sleeping with them. (It sells more albums..)
BACKSTAGE: Ex-local Lambert debuts on Details cover, first single sells big
“American Idol” alumnus Adam Lambert, who grew up in North County and graduated from Mt. Carmel High School, is featured in a cover story in this month’s Details magazine for an article subtitled “Why does every woman in American want to sleep with the American Idol?’ The article charts the openly gay Lambert’s growing female fan base during the recently ended “American Idol” tour, where fanatical female fans at nearly every tour stop threw bras, panties and sex toys onstage when he performed, and showered him with gifts and sexual invitations.
Debuts:
In the first of many fights for Xmas supremacy, Bob Dylan’s Christmas in the Heart faced off against David Archuleta’s Christmas from the Heart. After seven days, Dylan’s disc claimed yuletide victory over Archuleta’s, selling 20, 000 copies to finish at Number 23, seven spots ahead of the former American Idol runner-up. Elsewhere, Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington and his side project Dead By Sunrise took Number 29 with Out of Ashes and Hall & Oates’ four-disc collection Do What You Want, Be What You Are placed 89th.
Carrie Underwood’s Singapore Trip
American Idol Carrie Underwood was in Singapore last week visiting with Asian media and promoting her upcoming album release, Play On. The album will be released November 2 in Singapore and various parts of Asia, and November 3 in the U.S. While in Singapore, Carrie performed for fans as part of the grand opening of ION Orchard, an iconic and luxurious shopping center with futuristic and internationally award-winning architecture, also the largest open-air sheltered venue in the city. The concert was broadcast live throughout the city and was also screened on the ION Orchard’s faà §ade.
Mike Fisher: No Serenades for Carrie Underwood
It’s safe to say NHL star Mike Fisher didn’t woo his famous girlfriend, country singer Carrie Underwood, with a song.
“I like to sing, ” the Ottawa Senators player tells The Sens Show, a Web news program for his team. “[But] when I try to sing some of her songs, she just laughs!”
Fisher, 29, praises Underwood’s talent, saying she’s more than just a country crooner. “She can sing anything ‘ I like it when she sings a good rock song, ” he says, adding that his favorite song of hers is something called “Temporary Home” from her new album, Play On, due out Nov. 3.
Jennifer Hudson is a Doting New Mom
Jennifer Hudson isn’t ashamed to whip out the baby photos of son David Daniel Otunga Jr. on the red carpet! Jennifer appeared at the 2009 Whitney Museum of America Art Gala on Monday and told reporters all about her life as a new mother and the joy it has brought to her family. Jennifer and her husband David Otunga’s lives have changed a lot since the birth of their son, but all for the better.
‘Oh my God, I mean, it’s just that more amazing, ‘ she gushed. ‘We have a family now and it’s like, wow, it’s three of us. At first, it was two of us and now it’s actually three of us.’
Jennifer Hudson on Baby David: “He Really Thinks He Can Talk!”
Jennifer Hudson doesn’t mind burning the midnight oil with son David (born August 10). In fact, it’s her favorite Mommy-baby time!
“I like to get up with him in the middle of the night!” she insisted to Usmagazine.com at the Whitney Museum of American Arts Gala in New York Monday.
Daughtry takes arena tour to town
Chris Daughtry may not have won ‘American Idol, ‘ but that didn’t stop him from climbing the charts since he was booted from the show. Then again, recent seasons have proved you don’t necessarily have to win the title of ‘American Idol’ to win yourself a career. Chris Daughtry was only the fourth runner-up, and yet was easily one of the most successful singers from his season.
Star 94’s Jingle Jam 2009 features Leona Lewis, the Fray, Jordin Sparks, Cobra Starship
Star 94 put together a fairly strong lineup for its annual Jingle Jam, certainly better than last year’s.
The top 40 station has brought back the Fray (left), who were at Jingle Jam 2007. The band is now the headliner with four big hits on its resume (‘ Over My Head, ‘ ‘You Found Me, ‘ ‘How To Say a Life, ‘ ‘Never Say Never’ ). The band has crossover appeal to both the daughter and the mom.
British reality show ‘X Factor’ winner Leona Lewis, who has a couple of major hits (‘ Bleeding Love, ‘ ‘Better in Time’ ), should bring some vocal luster to the package.
The youthful, bubbly Jordin Sparks has had four major hits so far in her short career since winning ‘Idol’ in 2007: ‘Tattoo, ‘ ‘No Air, ‘ ‘One Step at a Time’ and ‘Battlefield.’ She has been a Star 94 staple for the past two years.
Jingle Ball lineup has Jordin Sparks and Owl City
“American Idol” veteran Jordin Sparks and Minnesota synth-pop group Owl City are among the artists set to play KDWB’s annual Jingle Ball Dec. 6 at the Xcel Energy Center.
Tickets are $75, $49.75, $39.75 and $24.75 and will go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday through Ticketmaster.
Cuban rapper Pitbull, Colbie “Bubbly” Caillat, punk/pop group Boys Like Girls, electronic group 3OH!3, British RB star Jay Sean and Canadian newcomer Justin Bieber are also on the bill for the Jingle Ball.
World’s Best-Selling Music Compilation Series Issues ‘NOW That’s What I Call Music! Vol. 32’ and ‘NOW That’s What I Call Dance Classics!’
Featuring 20 recent major hits from the pop, hip-hop and crossover country charts, NOW That’s What I Call Music! Vol. 32 includes a pair of Billboard #1s, “I Gotta Feeling” by Black Eyed Peas and “Down” by Jay Sean featuring Lil Wayne. Also heard are recent chart hits from Lady Gaga, Drake, Mariah Carey,
Jason DeRulo, Keri Hilson featuring Kanye West and Ne-Yo, Fabolous featuring The-Dream, Pitbull, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Shakira, David Guetta featuring Akon, Jordin Sparks, Kelly Clarkson, Daughtry, Boys Like Girls, Cobra Starship, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban.
For the first time, the NOW That’s What I Call Music! (http://nowthatsmusic.com) series is looking to the future by exposing the audience to a brand new track by an artist that may be destined for NOW compilations to come as part of their special bonus track feature, “What’s Next New Music Preview.” The first “What’s Next” bonus track included on NOW Vol. 32 is “Had It All, ” the debut single from Katharine McPhee’s forthcoming album.
David Foster brings friends to Fox Theatre
David Foster is not a household name, but the songs he has produced or written over three decades are deeply embedded in the love-song vernacular: ‘I Swear.’ ‘Hard to Say I’m Sorry.’ ‘Power of Love.’ ‘Un-Break My Heart.’
On Michael Johns: ‘I love being around Michael. He appreciates what I do. He’s a young, good- looking rock singer. And he’s got such a great voice. He’s smart enough to know what came before him. And I’m just thrilled he’s with us. He’ll do one of his own songs and some of mine, some of my rockier stuff, like ‘She’s a Beauty’ by the Tubes and ‘Man in Motion’ by John Parr [better known as ‘St. Elmo’s Fire’).’
On Ruben Studdard: ‘The music business is about slots. The Luther [Vandross] slot is totally available. Who doesn’t miss Luther? I still think Ruben could have that spot. I haven’t spent any time with him yet but I want to talk to him. He has that incredible voice. Luther picked great songs that stand the test of time. I think Ruben may have missed the mark on that. I just want to have a conversation with him about song choices and what he’s doing with his career. I’d be a good guy to bounce ideas off of him. He could sing songs like my Al Jarreau’s ‘Morning.’ DeBarge’s ‘Who’s Holding Donna Now.’ There’s plenty to pick from.’
Opening Nights: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
So that’s all the grousing up front. If you like bubblegum, this is all you can endure in one sitting. And after you adjust to just how bright and chipper is the taste, the subtleties start shining through. The kids are cute all right, but they can also sing and deliver their parts with a well-rehearsed wallop. Center stage for most of the show (which runs barely two hours, even with a generous intermission) is American Idol runner-up Anthony Fedorov, who brings Joseph a degree of blondness that would have made Joseph Smith proud. Fedorov belts his part with enthusiasm, but clearly has work to do as an actor. Likewise Jennifer Paz as the Narrator, who lends an Annette Funicello earnestness but often loses in skirmishes with the orchestra over who should be heard most clearly.
The Green Channel on Oceanic Time Warner Cable
To kick off Opalavision there will be a special Green Aloha Concert this Friday October 23 2009 as part of the Waikiki Sunset on the Beach. This is another one of those ‘Oh MY Gosh Tax Payer Money Can Be Spent Wisely’ moments courtesy of Mayor Mufi Hanneman. Yes, the event is Free! FREE! Enviromentalist Entertainer Henry Kapono will perform at Queen’s Beach, along with other musicians. In fact the musical line-up is incredible: comedian Kaleo Pilanca, Sister Robi, Amy Hanaili’i, Jasmine Trias, Slam Poet Kealoa, the Taiko Drums of Kenny Endo, and the precision Drill of the King’s Guards.
At WYRK Fall Acoustic Concert, 3 rising country singers draw cheers
To the left of the stage sat Bucky Covington, probably the most well known of the trio thanks to his stint on ‘American Idol’ a few years back.
Covington’s abilities were suspect from the get-go, when he opened the proceedings with his breakthrough hit single, ‘A Different World.’ The guy was strumming his guitar during the song, a pedestrian pop exercise about how life isn’t the same after growing up, but it was really tough to hear him ‘†and I was sitting right in front of him, in the third row.
Covington had two accomplished players backing him up, whereas Moore was all by his lonesome, and Young had a fantastic lead player lending beautiful accents to his strumming. As the night progressed, and Covington continued to leave his guitar by the wayside, it was clear that it was just a prop to make him seem more credible.
“Glee” creator Ryan Murphy gets mad — and gets even
And yet, Murphy is not happy. He’s still brooding over NBC’s decision not to promote a broadcast competitor’s new series (which, if it’s a cultural phenomenon, would seem to hardly need NBC’s help, right?) by allowing the “Glee” cast to perform at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade — the broadcast right to which NBC shells out millions of dollars annually.
So Murphy is creating an episode of “Glee” in which the glee club is denied a spring festival float by their No. 1 enemy, cheerleader coach Sue Sylvester.
‘Glee’ DVD to be released midseason
20th Century Fox is so excited to get “Glee” onto DVD that it will release the Fox show on home video months before its season finale.
”Glee’ Season 1: Road To Sectionals” will be in stores Dec. 29 and will contain the first 13 episodes of the show, which has been picked up for a full 22-episode season.
Guess ”Glee’ Season 1: Road Back From the Sectionals” will be released in May?
‘DWTS’ Olympic Ouster: ‘It Doesn’t Feel Good’
Natalie Coughlin may have had the coolest costume this week for her paso doble, but she wasn’t a Wonder Woman to the voting viewers apparently.
But like a true athlete, Coughlin’s already got her sights set on her next goal: training for the Summer Olympics in 2012.
‘That’s the goal from here on out, ‘ she said. ‘[The Olympics] are a little bit more important to me than this and I’m looking forward to getting back to something I’m good at.’
During her appearance Wednesday on ‘Good Morning America, ‘ Coughlin admitted, ‘I’m sad it’s over, ‘ but continued, ‘I definitely wasn’t a dancer coming into this. I enjoyed it so much. It was a wonderful experience.’
‘So You Think You Can Dance’ recap: Hopes and Dreams
Hold on a minute. I did spend an hour last night watching So You Think You Can Dance, right? So how come I feel like I sat through an episode of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition? There were cheers, hugs, and enough tears to put M’Lynn Eatenton herself to shame. But where was the dancing?
Of course, I understand that choosing each season’s top 20 is a dramatic affair. And it is admittedly enjoyable to watch the judges give the dancers good news through cruel speeches like: ”You’re a wonderful dancer…but we need to see you grow…and we think you will…but somewhere outside of the competition…as well as in the competition…Did I remember to pick up my dry cleaning?…That’s right, I did…and I stopped at Wal-Mart on the way home and got a great deal on light bulbs…which shine almost as bright as you…and that’s why you’re in our top 20.”
