‘American Idol’ Spawns Rash Of New Releases
The new season of American Idol starts in January, but this month brings a flurry of Idolatry at record stores. Host Guy Raz gets some help from Idolator.com’s Maura Johnston in sorting through the options ‘†from Carrie Underwood to Kris Allen to Adam Lambert, with a little Susan Boyle thrown in for good measure.
Sunday CMA rehearsal Not-Quite-Liveblog: Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, and more!
1:13 Your CMA Hosts Brad and Carrie appear on stage: Carrie in a sequined vest, tight black pants, and stiletto-heeled boots, and Brad in a backwards baseball cap and jeans. They start running through teleprompter copy with a dry, easy rapport. The stage design is fairly typical Televised Awards Show Chic, with a glowing, arched proscenium that, according to one of my colleagues, looks like the crown of the Statue of Liberty. We decide they should put the upcoming performers on top of it, and have them wave merrily during the voiceovers that lead into commercial breaks. (‘Up next, Darius Rucker! Vince Gill! And a performance from Crystal Gayle, with special guest Ne-Yo!’ ) (NOTE: One of those things is not actually happening.)
More Idol Headlines after the JUMP…
Why women still want this gay Idol
LOS ANGELES — ‘THE world of rock has a bright new star.’
Queen guitarist Brian May wrote those words in his blog after hearing Adam Lambert’s ‘Time For Miracles, ‘ the theme song from director
Roland Emmerich’s disaster film epic ‘2012.’ When we asked Adam to comment on Brian’s effusive praise, the ‘AI’ standout couldn’t hide his thrill. ‘It’s such an honor, ‘ Adam said. ‘Brian May is part of one of the best bands out there ever…To have him give his stamp of approval meant a lot to me.’
Here’s part two of our interview excerpts with Adam, who grew up in San Diego, home to a large Filipino community. That could only mean rock’s new star has Pinoy friends so yes, he craves our food every now and then.
The Decade Defined
November 9, 2009 – It’s hard to believe, but the first decade of the new millennium is rapidly drawing to a close ‘†and it’s been a remarkable one for music. AllSongs Considered, which launched on Jan. 1, 2000, has had a front-row seat for all the amazing artists, albums and songs released in the past 10 years, from the klezmer music of Kaila Flexer (featured on our first episode) to the noise-rock of the New Zealand band The Dead C (featured last week).
Taylor Hicks is included here…
Underwood straddles country-pop line
‘American Idol” recently announced that it would resurrect its charity event ‘Idol Gives Back” after a year off. I’d wager it’s because they heard the song ‘Change” from ‘Idol” victor Carrie Underwood’s intermittently stirring third album, ‘Play On.”
The perfectly formed slice of shame pop – complete with swoopy strings and exhorting choir – tries to combat cynicism while attempting to change the world one homeless person and underprivileged child at a time. It will undoubtedly be the charity event’s big money moment, and Underwood sings the hell out of it with her usual cool efficiency, as she does all 13 of these new songs.
Michael W. Smith Tour delivers fantastic Christian vocals
The Michael W. Smith New Hallelujah World Tour stopped at the Convocation Center on Saturday.
The concert started with an opening band of: Matt Maher, Meredith Andrews and Phil Stacey.
Meredith Andrews showed off her beautiful voice and wooed the crowd with her slow ballads which describe her love for God. The instrumental composition was generic, but with her voice the songs were overall fantastic.
Phil Stacey got personal with the audience. He shared his naval experience and played a patriotic song inspired from that. His dance moves and stage presence were wonderful. His swift dance moves made it all the more enjoyable to listen to and watch.
Bon Jovi Beaten By Cheryl Cole On U.K. Chart
Cheryl Cole secured a second week with the U.K.’s No. 1 album, “3 Words” (Fascination/Polydor/Universal), but lost her singles chart crown as “Fight For This Love” fell to No. 2 last night (Nov. 8) behind JLS.
The male pop outfit, runners-up last year in the star-making series on which Cole is a judge, “The X Factor, ” got their second No. 1 singles debut of the year, following July’s “Beat Again” (Epic/Sony Music Entertainment) with “Everybody In Love.” Their self-titled debut album is released in the U.K. today (Nov. 9).
Knives out for Simon Cowell as Lucie Jones loses out in X Factor
WELSH X Factor hopeful Lucie Jones last night lost her fight to win the ITV talent show, sparking furious protests across the internet about the singer’s treatment at the hands of chief judge Simon Cowell.
The 18-year-old Pentyrch singer, who had been one of the bookmakers’ favourites, lost out when Cowell refused to back her over twins John and Edward, whose abilities he has repeatedly criticised.
Given the opportunity of saving her, the pop entrepreneur chose to send the two acts to the public vote which favoured the twins.
Jedward’s success damages the twins, Cowell and The X Factor
“If they win, it will be a complete and utter disaster. I’d probably sulk for about six months and I’d probably get on a very fast plane out of the country.” Oh Simon Cowell, what a difference a week and a half (and a bucketload of press for John and Edward) makes. Suddenly The X Factor twins’ inability to do much more than grumble over a tune and jump around in a misguided attempt at dancing looks decidedly more attractive.
The X Factor or ‘The Fix Factor’ ?
X Factor judge Simon Cowell faced accusations of rigging the result of last night’s X Factor vote as the tabloid newspapers, so often the champions of the hugely popular show, began to turn on the man they like to call ‘Mr. Nasty’ .
Twin act John and Edward Grimes (aka Jedward) survived a popular vote while singer Lucie Jones was shown the door. The two acts ended up at the bottom of the heap in a phone vote, and it was up to the judges to decide which one to throw out. But if the judges are split 2-2, the results of the public vote come back into play. Cowell had the deciding vote with the panel split 2-1 in Lucie’s favour, and he decided for the twins
I Ain’t Afraid Of No Twins! The X Factor’s John & Edward Do “Ghostbusters”
Much like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man’s sugarfooted trampling through the metropolis of Manhattan, equally sweet and pasty twins John & Edward’s march towards The X Factor finale continued apace this past weekend, as the phenomenon known as Jedward celebrated the British TV talent show’s Movie Week by tackling/mangling “Ghostbusters” and somehow managing to advance to the next round.
It’s So You Think You Can Dance Romance!
It must have been written in the So You Think You Can Dance stars!
PEOPLE has learned that two of last season’s favorite dancers, who are currently on tour, Janette Manrara, the sexy salsa dancer from Miami, and Jason Glover, lyrical and contemporary wonder from Fresno, Calif., are an item.
‘Yes, they are definitely together, ‘ a source close to the tour confirms.
Joanna Krupa Exceeded Her Dancing Expectations, “Proud” of Playboy Cover
Joanna Krupa’s ruled the Dancing with the Stars leader board the past two weeks ‘†a surprise, as it turns out, to partner Derek Hough. “Now the truth’s coming out and he told me he told his dad the first week [of rehearsals] that I was a plank of wood or something!” the 30-year-old Krupa tells TVGuide.com. “It’s just so hard at first, but then something clicked and I slowly started getting into it.” The swimsuit model has not only impressed Hough, but herself as well. See what she has to say about her progress, her new Playboy spread and more.
Donny Osmond: The Reality Rocks Interview
Few entertainers have done and seen as much as Donny Osmond has in his astounding four-decade career. He’s been a teenybopper, a psychedelic rocker (on the underrated Osmonds albums Crazy Horses and The Plan), a ’70s variety show song-and-dance man, a Broadway actor, even an ’80s pop star (with the 1989 comeback hit “Soldier Of Love”). And his latest concurrent incarnations are reality sensation, as a hugely popular contestant on Dancing With The Stars (following in the Capezio’d footsteps of his famous little sister Marie, who placed third on DWTS several seasons ago); Vegas showman (he and Marie have a contract at the Flamingo Hotel through 2012); and adult-pop crooner, as he returns to the airwaves for the first time in 20 years with his Gavin DeGraw-penned, Richie Sambora-assisted new single, “I Have You To Thank.” The song is a cut off the first Donny & Marie album in 29 long years.
NFL Legend Lawrence Taylor Arrested
He was one of the fastest linebackers of all time … but NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor was arrested Sunday night after cops say he booked it from the scene of an accident.
Taylor, who recently competed on “Dancing with the Stars, ” was arrested in Dade County, Florida at 9:57 PM for “leaving scene of an accident/property damage.”
