David Archuleta Celebrates An Early ‘Archmas’ with Carols at MTV News
They don’t come sweeter than David Archuleta. I know Paula Abdul got a lot of flack for saying she wanted to decapitate the boy and dangle his head from her rearview mirror (as a compliment), but after spending time with him this week I know exactly where Paula is coming from. By the end of our hour together, I was looking all over MTV for a hacksaw.
David just released a (fantastic) new Christmas album, so I thought it would be fun to don a set of Holiday sweaters, load up a satchel with recycled promo CDs and go caroling around MTV with the “Idol” runner-up.
Ryan Seacrest to Host Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities Hearts and Hands Gala October 24th
Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities (ARMHC) announces its Hearts and Hands Gala at 7pm on Saturday, October 24, at the World of Coca-Cola. Atlanta`s own Ryan Seacrest of “American Idol” will serve as host of the sold out black-tie dinner which will feature a special performance by “American Idol” season six finalist, Melinda Doolittle and a silent auction. The Coca-Cola Company is the event`s presenting sponsor. The Event Chair is Javier Goizueta, Vice President, The Coca-Cola Company and President of the McDonald`s Division Worldwide. Muhtar Kent, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Coca-Cola Company is Honorary Chair.
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Adam Lambert Calls Michael Jackson’s Musical Style ‘Groundbreaking’
During season 8 of “American Idol, ” Adam Lambert became known for blurring boundaries, mixing elements of pop, ’70s glam rock, metal, musical theater and more into his live performances. It’s just that capacity to take risks that he so admires in Michael Jackson, whose “This Is It” documentary hits theaters on October 28.
“[H]is music so groundbreaking because he really brought a lot of rock into [it], ” Lambert, who grew up listening to MJ and watching his videos, told MTV News. “He had initially set himself up with this R&B presence and he brought so much rock into it and I think it was really groundbreaking how he fused all those different styles together in a pop format. I’m very inspired by that musically.”
Chart Beat Thursday: Happy (Early) Holidays
IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE …: More than a week before Halloween, and five weeks before Thanksgiving, the Billboard 200 is being decorated with a sleighful of yuletide albums.
Five new holiday sets enter the Billboard 200, led by Bob Dylan’s “Christmas in the Heart” at No. 23. On Holiday Albums, the legend earns his first No. 1, as the collection vaults from No. 21 after street-date violations placed it on the list a week early.
David Archuleta starts at No. 30 on the Billboard 200 with “Christmas From the Heart, ” which opens at No. 2 on Holiday Albums.
Grizzlies Opening Night
The Memphis Grizzlies have finalized the opening night entertainment at the FedEx Forum. To open the season the Grizzlies will have Memphis artists Academy award winning Three 6 Mafia, American Idol Finalist Lil Rounds and JabbaWockeez, America’s Best Dance Crew, performing.
Opening night will also be the first Beale Street Blue-Out Game as the first 10, 000 fans in attendance will receive Beale St Blue T-Shirts presented by First Tennessee in honor of the new third alternate uniform that the Grizzlies will be wearing.
In overdrive: Years of hard work paying off for Chris Daughtry
‘It’s been a long three years’ since making the top four on ‘American Idol, ‘ said the North Carolina rocker, ‘but it’s flown by.
‘I was always in bands before, but on ‘American Idol, ‘ it was about getting my voice out there, ‘ Daughtry said. ‘It was always my goal, though, to get a band together again. It was just a matter of finding the certain people who see the music the same way.’
It’s not that his first album, recorded with session players, wasn’t a winner for Daughtry and RCA, the label that wasted no time in signing him after he was eliminated from the ‘American Idol’ competition.
Daughtry wants Toledo to dress up for Halloween
Chris Daughtry has a request for fans who will be at his band’s Oct. 31 concert in Toledo.
‘I want everybody in the crowd to dress up as something because I think that would be extremely entertaining for us on stage to look out and see everybody in different costumes, ‘ he said. ‘It would look like a huge Halloween party we’re playing. I think that would be a lot of fun.’
The singer-songwriter-guitarist took a few minutes to call Toledo Free Press from a tour stop in Omaha, Neb.
Blake Lewis’ Top 10 Influential Albums
Season six ‘American Idol’ alum Blake Lewis joins us this week as our guest blogger, revealing his favorite records — most having an influence on his second studio album, ‘Heartbreak on Vinyl’ (released Oct. 6). From the BT-inspired electronic pulses to the poppy Depeche Mode melodies, the songs on Lewis’ sophomore album tackle the hardships of a break-up (which Lewis refers to as his rendition of Maroon 5’s ‘Songs About Jane’). Be sure to check out his picks, which show his intrinsic love for ’80s, pop, indie and electronic music.
This is really tough for me!!!!!!!!!!! How can I pick 10? I have hundreds. I get inspired so easily by so many great artists out there.
David Archuleta Christmas CD Review: Beautiful, But…
If there was ever an ‘Idol’ who was meant to record an album of traditional Christmas songs, it’s David Archuleta.
It’s probably no surprise that the songs all sound gorgeous and have beautiful arrangements. Regardless of whether you’re an Archie fan or not, you have to admit he has a beautiful voice and Christmas carols are a great way to showcase it.
Now here comes the but’ ¦
Pickler set to open for Country Crossing
DOTHAN, AL. – Country Crossing says it has signed a deal with Kellie Pickler to headline its first concert on Dec. 12. Pickler’s performance is part of the opening of Celebrity Station Amphitheatre. Other acts include Houston County and Matt Kennon.
Pickler made it to the top six on the 5th season of American Idol. She also signed a recording contract in Nashville. Her debut album, Country Girl, was released in 2006. Just three months later it was certified Gold. It went on to yield 3 top 15 singles.
David Foster appears to be in good company
The best shows this week are by veteran artists: a producer, a rock and soul crossover singer, a pop icon and a soul legend.
David Foster, who appears Saturday at the Prudential Center at 165 Mulberry St. in Newark, is better known for the stars he produced over the years than the songs he performed himself.
Yes, he had a No. 15 hit with the instrumental “Love Theme from St. Elmo’s Fire” back in 1985, but most people won’t remember his other chart hits – “The Best of Me” and “Winter Games.”
Taylor Swift to Perform on ‘Dancing With the Stars’
Taylor Swift premieres her new single ‘Jump, Then Fall’ on the ‘Dancing With the Stars’ results show on Tuesday, Oct. 27 (8 p.m. CST on ABC).
She will also sing her worldwide chart-topping hit ‘Love Story, ‘ accompanied by professional dancers Cheryl Burke, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Tony Dovolani, Jonathan Roberts, Edyta Sliwinska and Anna Trebunskaya.
Swift sold more records in 2008 than any artist in the world.
Also appearing will be Cuban superstars Tiempo Libre performing ‘Tu Conga Bach’ from their new Sony Masterworks album entitled ‘Bach in Havana.
Songwriters find that radio is tried-and-true
Songwriter Nina Ossoff, who has worked on songs for Daughtry and Phil Stacey, says because declining sales have hurt everyone in the industry, she now has to “deal in volume, ” trying to get as many songs placed wherever she can to make up for lower sales and a lack of radio exposure.
“The business is so singles-driven now, ” Ossoff says, adding that the new trend is for songwriters to submit only a verse and a chorus to execs, who will tell them to finish songs that have hit potential.
What Does Susan Boyle’s Amazon Record Really Mean?
If you put together the two charts, it’s not too much of a stretch to posit that an album’s ranking on CD-selling sites is little more than a leading indicator that it appeals to an that’s slightly more classicist (classic rock, classic pop) in its tastes than buyers of the New Moon soundtrack (No. 7 on the Internet chart, 2, 700 sales) and Jay-Z’s Blueprint 3 (No. 11 on the Internet chart, 1, 100 sales). Perhaps this constant cawing about Boyle’s Amazon ranking is actually Sony’s way of reminding the public that she has an album coming out, and that people really liked to watch her on the Internet back in the day! (You know, in May.)
