Q & A with Fantasia
Q: You’ve already released two hit albums. When can fans expect your next single/album?
FANTASIA: New single January. CD March 2010.
Q: How have you grown musically and professionally since winning American Idol?
FANTASIA: I can honestly say I have grown and learned a lot of lessons the hard way by simply trusting/believing the wrong people. Now that I have a clearer understanding of the business, I’m now taking control of my own career. I have more input personally with my career, as opposed too allowing others too make decisions for me.
Mary J. Blige, Carrie Underwood, Janet Jackson, Keith Urban and more rock Friday’s AMA rehearsals
After Thursday’s Glambert explosion on the American Music Awards rehearsal stage ‘†you can read my interviews with the Idol star here ‘†Friday’s run-throughs were going to have a lot of catching up to do. Turned out to be just your average day of superstars showing up to soundcheck their massive hits: Carrie Underwood kicked off the morning with a hot-pants-free, chair-intensive take on ‘Cowboy Casanova, ‘ followed by Janet Jackson in a closed rehearsal that observers called pretty damn awesome ‘†look for Ms. If-You’re-Nasty to open the show with one new song and a medley of old favorites. (When I asked if ‘Miss You Much’ would be included in said medley, reps for the show didn’t say yes’ ¦ but they didn’t say no. OMG OMG OMG.)
Countdown to the ‘American Music Awards’
The final performers list for the 2009 American Music Awards has just been released. 50 Cent, Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys, The Black Eyed Peas, Carrie Underwood, Daughtry, Eminem, Green Day, Janet Jackson, Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, Kelly Clarkson, Lady Gaga, Lil’ Wayne, Mary J Blige, Nelly Furtado, Rihanna, Soshy, Timbaland, Shakira and Whitney Houston will all be taking the stage Sunday night.
The AMA star power does not stop with the performers. Take a look at the list of presenters: Colbie Caillat, Demi Lovato, Dominic Monaghan, Donny Osmond, Drake, Jason Aldean, Jeremiah, Joe Perry, Julie Bowen, Kate Hudson, Kelly Osbourne, Keri Hilson, Kid Cudi, Kris Allen, Kristen Bell, Leona Lewis, Melissa Etheridge, Michelle Rodriguez, Morena Baccarin, Mya, Ne-Yo, Nicole Kidman, Orianthi, Paula Abdul, Perez Hilton, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Ryan Seacrest, Samuel L. Jackson, Selena Gomez, Seth Green, Sofia Vergara, Snoop Dogg, Toni Braxton and Zac Brown Band.
More Idol Headlines After the JUMP…
Stars come out for CNN Heroes ceremony
The top CNN Hero of the Year and a grant of $100, 000 went to a young man who embraced education for himself and other Filipinos as an escape from poverty. He and the other honorees received $25, 000 each.
As a child, Efren Penaflorida picked school over gang life in Cavite City and vowed to create a way for other children to make the same choice. He created a program that brings bring books to children in slums and on the streets, and the 10, 000 members of his Dynamic Teen Co. have brought reading, writing and hygiene to 1, 500 youngsters.
Leona Lewis, Carrie Underwood and Maxwell performed, and other presenters included Nicole Kidman and George Lopez.
‘American Idol’ finalist Matt Giraud electrifies crowd with new songs at first solo performance
GRAND RAPIDS — Matt Giraud had his “swagger on high” Saturday at his first solo concert, warmly engaging the sold-out crowd with his marvelous voice, gorgeous piano playing and outsized charm.
“You may know me from that little TV show, ” he said, referring to “American Idol, ” in which the Kalamazoo resident placed fifth on Season 8. About 850 music fans packed the sanctuary of Cornerstone Church’s new building in Caledonia as part of the church’s grand opening celebration. The second show of the day at 7 p.m. also sold out.
“Y’all mind if I get my swagger on high?” he asked the enthusiastic crowd. No one minded a bit, welcoming the first of five original tunes Giraud had penned since his Idol tour ended in September.
Review: Adam Lambert’s ‘For Your Entertainment’ An Instant Classic
Ten or twenty years from now, when people are reflecting on the defining albums of the current pop-synth-glam revival, For Your Entertainment will undoubtedly be at the top of many lists. From its packaging to its songs to the persona of Adam Lambert himself, it seems to comprehensively represent a distinct cultural and musical zeitgeist. “I wanna start a revolution, ” Lambert sings in “Strut, ” and for Lambert, the revolution emanates from within the fantastical alternate reality he conjures. It is a nod to Sixties psychedelia, Seventies disco, and Eighties glam-pop. But Lambert and his array of creative partners somehow manage to synthesize it into something fresh and current.
Review: Adam Lambert, ‘For Your Entertainment’
There’s no way Adam Lambert was going to win “American Idol.” For a conformist audience that found even Chris Daughtry too edgy a few seasons back, this year’s runner-up must have seemed like a total weirdo: an androgynous 27-year-old from San Diego with jet-black hair and a glass-shattering falsetto who sang songs by Johnny Cash and Michael Jackson with equal, unfettered enthusiasm. Outside of the starmaking competition, however, he has trounced champion Kris Allen, whose album of anemic power ballads arrived with little fanfare.
Adam Lambert’s ‘For Your Entertainment’: Track by track
After a crazybusy week, I finally made the time this weekend to sit down with Adam Lambert’s For Your Entertainment. (It’s streaming on his Facebook fan page.) I have to say: This album pushes so many of my buttons — good buttons and bad ones — that I no longer trust my own reactions to it. It pushes my melodramatic cheeseball rock button (a good one) and my buzzy dance music button (bad). It pushes two different buttons about trashy songs: I love ’em when I don’t think the singers are taking them too seriously (see Poison’s Talk Dirty to Me) and can’t stand ’em when I think they are (see Buckcherry’s Crazy B***h). Also, the hullabaloo surrounding Adam long ago set off my kneejerk anti-hype response. As a result, my listening equilibrium is so out of whack I sometimes can’t tell if I’m loving a track for all the wrong reasons or disliking it for all the right ones. If I’ve ever written a your-mileage-may-vary review for you guys, this is the one.
Kelly Clarkson makes Rock Band debut in “Girls Who Rock” DLC featured in LEGO Rock Band.
Cambridge, Mass. – Harmonix and MTV Games today announced that a six pack of live tracks from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, as well as singles from Kelly Clarkson, P!nk and the Go-Go’s will be added next week to the Rock Band Music Store of downloadable content for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and Wii.
Clarkson proves she’s a true idol
Kelly Clarkson performed Friday at Pengrowth Saddledome. Attendance 7, 000.
It was a big night out for girls, teens and the moms and dads who accompanied them Friday evening when the original American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson played to a relatively small but enthusiastic crowd of about 7, 000 fans at Saddledome.
The 27-year-old Texan with the mighty pipes showed why she’s managed to be one of the few Idol-types to carve out a decent career for herself years after her appearance on the reality TV talent show that first thrust her into the spotlight.
Carrie Underwood Retains No. 1 Album Title With Play On
Carrie Underwood’s Play On is spending its second straight week at the peak of Billboard’s country albums chart. But there’s a new champ on the list of top country songs. It’s Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now, ” which bumps Underwood’s “Cowboy Casanova” into second place.
Dolly Parton’s Live From London, arriving at No. 36, is the week’s highest-charting new album. Also making their first entrances are Big Kenny’s The Quiet Times of a Rock and Roll Farm Boy (No. 37), Rodney Carrington’s Make It Christmas and Mickey & the Motorcars’ Live at Billy Bob’s Texas (No. 72).
David Archuleta speaks about being thankful, concert with A2SO
In 2007, 16-year-old David Archuleta became one of the youngest contestants to compete on the TV talent competition ‘American Idol, ‘ winding up as runner-up to David Cook after receiving 44 percent of over 97 million votes. David Archuleta’s self-titled album was released in late 2008, he’s toured the country with the ‘Idol’ cast and, in September, won the Year in Music’s Rising Male Star Award at the American Latino Media Arts Awards. Besides his new ‘Christmas From the Heart’ CD ‘†a collection of holiday favorites such as ‘Silent Night’ and ‘Ave Maria’ ‘†he’s writing songs for a new pop CD to be released next year. He spoke by phone to AnnArbor.com writer Roger LeLievre recently in advance of his Friday night concert at Hill Auditorium with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra.
Singer To Headline Hospital Ball
ROGERS ‘†‘American Idol’ semifinalist Danny Gokey will headline this year’s O Night Divine Charity Ball on Dec. 5, Mercy Health Foundation officials announced at a news conference Friday.
Tabi Lipscomb, foundation board member, said that while last year’s event featured a country music legend, Martina McBride, organizers are excited to have a performer who is just launching his professional career.
Gokey was the third-place finalist in the 2009 season, finishing behind Adam Lambert and winner Kris Allen.
Metro Detroit holiday events
America’s Thanksgiving Parade: The 83rd annual parade starts at Woodward and Mack and finishes at Woodward and Congress. R&B group Day 26, country music star Josh Gracin, and Season 8 American Idol contestant Danny Gokey are scheduled to perform. Grand marshals are Art Van Elslander and WJR’s Paul W. Smith. 9:20 a.m. Thu. Downtown Detroit. 313-923-7400. www.theparade.org. Free, but some choice viewing spots require a fee.
SIMON COWELL SET FOR DOUBLE CHART TOP SPOT
SIMON Cowell is poised for a record-breaking double triumph ‘ taking the No 1 spots in the singles and albums charts this Christmas.
If this year’s X Factor winner does not steal the top spot from The X Factor finalists’s charity single, then the 2006 winner Leona Lewis could grab it.
Failing that, it could easily be snatched by Britain’s Got Talent phenomenon Susan Boyle. She is also a contender to top the album charts. Her opposition? Um, Leona Lewis and last year’s X Factor runners-up JLS.
X Factor Danyl Johnson’s mum: Simon Cowell’s made my boy a hate figure
X Factor star Danyl Johnson’s mum told last night how the singer believes mentor Simon Cowell is deliberately wrecking his chances of winning the show.
Maria Burgess says teacher Danyl, 27, told her he believes Cowell is sidelining him and focusing instead on favourite Olly Murs, 25.
Danyl is convinced the Essex lad is being given the best songs, while he gets nothing but dull ballads.
And he believes Cowell is priming Olly to win the show, because he will be easier to market.
COWELL BLASTS ACTS
Simon Cowell thinks this year’s X Factor is a huge disappointment – and doesn’t believe any of the acts can be turned into stars.
He has told friends he is upset about the standard of the performers who have made it through to the live finals. And he revealed that he has been hurt by the harsh criticism he received after he refused to vote out the Jedward twins two weeks ago. He was also badly affected by comments made by Sting, who branded the show a karaoke contest.
Danyl Johnson loses favour with Simon Cowell
Danyl Johnson will be voted off the show by X Factor judges after “losing favour” with show boss Simon Cowell, a report has claimed.
Sources told a Sunday newspaper that the judges will eliminate the wannabe over his alleged ‘unprofessional” behaviour on the show this week.
The insider claimed that Cowell and his fellow judges were angered by Johnson’s “diva tantrum”, which saw him allegedly “storming out of rehearsals” in a row over song choice.
