Today Idol headlines after the jump ¦
Music Review
Audio Day Dream (2007)
Blake Lewis
At the end of American Idol’s sixth season, Blake Lewis did the impossible: He advanced to the final two on the strength of something other than a singing voice. Millions of viewers cottoned to his beatboxing, insisting he was the Spark-plug of the season ‘ but it remained to be seen, till now, if the pop world would be nearly as novelty tolerant.
Lewis’ first album, Audio Day Dream, drops just two weeks after the debut from Jordin Sparks, and he knows better than to compete with the season 6 winner on her sonorous turf. Still, while most of Lewis’ tracks begin or end with a sputtering smattering of simulated vocal percussion ‘ on top of a half-dozen interludes of the ‘boxing s-s-st-st-stuff ‘ the remaining 90 percent of the CD finds him trying to do what he doesn’t do best: sing…………
‘Black Nativity’ gives Christmas back its soul
…When the curtain rises on “Black Nativity, ” Recchi — along with members of Wright’s choir, other Seattle-area vocalists who auditioned and even three former “American Idol” contestants who have cameos — will sing for joy and blessings….
American Idol season seven hype begins
It’s not even December, and American Idol’s seventh season is still a month and a half away — but the hype has already begun. According to an interview with Extra, the American Idol judges – Simon, Paula, and Randy — are in agreement: This is going to be the BEST SEASON EVER!!.
Last year, as you may recall, season six was often slammed by fans and critics as the WORST SEASON EVER. Who could forget Sanjaya? Oh wait, we did. His 15 minutes of fame only lasted 12.5 minutes. But for all of our Sanjaya-bashing, at least he kept things interesting in an otherwise bland and uninspiring year. Seriously, does anyone even care that Jordin Sparks just released her debut album?……….
Cowell sings American Idol praises
….”I’ve been telling people that this is a season that no-one’s going to want to miss, ” she said. “There are so many stars that, I think, when you get down to 12 possible contenders for record deals, it’s going to be unbelievable.”
Jordin Sparks Getting a Real ‘Tattoo’
….And while she doesn’t need her permission, Sparks’ mother OK’d the tat, saying, “I’ll go get one with you when you’re 18.”
Help is on the Way for the Holidays IX
Kick-off your holidays at this star-studded holiday benefit concert benefiting Meals of Marin and Positive Resource Center. The Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation presents stars from stage, screen and the recording industry in a seasonal celebration for everyone. Cast includes “American Idol” stars La Toya London, Justin Guarini and Anthony Fedorov, pop icon Mary Wilson (The Supremes), Broadway stars Jeannette Bayardelle, Michelle Williams (The Color Purple), Sally Struthers, Carole Cook, Bay Area favorites Wesla Whitfield, Meg Mackay, Sony Holland, Tim Hockenberry, Shawn Ryan and more……..
Serena Williams to play for charity in Norfolk
Professional tennis players James Blake, Serena Williams, Mardy Fish and Tatiana Golovin will play in a mixed doubles tournament in Norfolk to benefit cancer research.
The AnthemLIVE! event will begin at 7 p.m. on Dec. 6 at the Ted Constant Center. R&B legend Gloria Gaynor, responsible for the hit “I Will Survive, ” and “American Idol” alum Elliott Yamin will perform during the fundraiser……..
‘American Idol’ Update: What Happened To Former Favorites?
Thousands of people audition in hopes of becoming the next American Idol, but only one person can be crowned the new king or queen of the stage.
Once the show is over and the Idol tour has come to an end, many fans wonder what past contestants are up to since being eliminated from the show. Check out what some of Idol’s wannabes are doing now:
13 Questions With Kellie Pickler
The American Idol star talks about boys, boredom and blind dates.
Besides touring with Brad Paisley and Rascal Flatts, Kellie Pickler’ a fifth-season finalist on the mega-popular American Idol’ is on a roll. Shell be taking a shot at acting soon when she does a pilot for a sitcom on the Fox network. Her performance of her hit …I Wonder on the recent CMA Awards show garnered high praise, and now her …Things That Never Cross a Man Mind is climbing the charts. Here part of Country Weekly interview with Kellie……..
Tats Off to Blake Lewis
Blake Lewis is one tatted-up fool — but would he really get inked down there?
TMZ was with the “American Idol” runner-up as he went to Dr. TATTOFF to get some ink on his back faded out — to make room for a new, larger tattoo. Blake joked about what tats he’d get on his junk — and came up with some interesting ideas.
Our cameras followed him into the doctor’s office and caught Blake doing some signature beat boxing and fielding a call from Jordin Sparks while he was being lasered. Take a look at Blake’s cell though — he has Jordin’s name spelled wrong in his phone book!……
Clay Aiken answers readers’ questions
Leading up to his Dec. 8 concert at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center, former “American Idol” runner-up Clay Aiken spoke with Poughkeepsie Journal reporter Sean T. McMann on Thursday, and the singer answered several questions submitted by readers of the Journal’s “Sean’s Space” blog.
Head over to “Sean’s Space” by clicking on www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/blogs to see which reader-submitted questions Aiken answered Thursday and for more information about his current tour, which includes stops next weekend in Albany, Poughkeepsie and Uncasville, Conn…………
Jordin Sparks Album is No Idol
Is America falling out of love with “American Idol” or just Jordin Sparks? Her self-titled debut album sold only 199, 000 copies its first week out, according to industry figures.
That puts her at number 10 on the Billboard album chart. It’s the lowest debut sales week for any “American Idol” winner.
Taylor Hicks’ debut album sold 298, 000 copies its first week, putting it at number 2. Carrie Underwood sold 315, 000 the first week with her first album and also debuted at number 2.
Polished Aiken doesn’t disappoint faithful fans
Julia Maish stood on the right side of the Morris Performing Arts Center stage recounting one of her most vivid Christmas memories.
It involved a borrowed black dress, a handsome but intoxicated young stranger, an unfortunate fire to said dress, and a bowl of eggnog that doused the flames.
“That was the first time I ever really sizzled, ” she said, as Clay Aiken smiled broadly from center stage………
