Idol Headlines for 12/12/07

Today Idol headlines after the jump ¦

Dreams come true for Blake Lewis on ‘Daydream’

When beatboxing “American Idol” runner-up Blake Lewis was a struggling musician, he claims he penned in a journal that the only person with whom he would work is record mogul Clive Davis.
Well, his aspirations came true. Davis signed Lewis to his 19 Recordings imprint after seeing the Washington state native on the sixth season of “American Idol.”

“It’s such an amazing experience to work with Clive, ” Lewis said in an interview with LiveDaily. “What a nice man to let me be a part of his record label. He let me do what I wanted on this record. It was a pretty amazing experience.” ………

Live Daily

Daughtry can’t shake his ‘Idol’ persona

…..He knows darn well that “Daughtry” wouldn’t have sold more than 3 million albums or won those three People’s Choice Awards without the “American Idol” fans. (And he placed his intense version of Johnny Cash’s “Walk the Line” that earned so much praise on Idol in the middle of the show to pay homage.)

But still, there’s that yearning in his soul for something tougher – say, the reaction Guns N’ Roses would get for “Paradise City, ” his rollicking cover for the night.

And that makes Daughtry appear a tad needy on stage, challenging the crowd to make noise and really get into it…..

Syracuse.com

Britney Spears, Sanjaya Malakar Among 2007 Biggest Trainwrecks

….Britney had 25% more of the vote than her hand picked AOL competitors at press time. Another trainwreck was American Idol tone deaf contestant, Sanjaya Malakar, though most seem to have forgotten him as he’s only gotten 5% of the vote compared to Britney’s 25%…..

Gambling 911

‘Idol’ charity event returns
2nd edition of fund-raiser to air April 9

“American Idol” is giving more back.
The smash talent competish is prepping a second edition of its “Idol Gives Back” fund-raiser, which will air April 9 at 8 p.m.

Two-hour event will include performances and appearances by stars and artists yet to be named.

Last year’s “Idol Gives Back” raised $75 million for charities in the U.S. and Africa. Funds went to domestic medical care, groceries and literacy programs for underprivileged children; the Africa funds went to orgs that handle health and education programs……..

Variety

OMG! Blake Lewis is coming in 10 days!

Tickets go on sale, like, tomorrow

….The concert, which Lewis said will be “funky good times, ” is at the Showbox at the Market, 1426 1st Ave., Seattle.

Not familiar with Lewis’ music? Well, if youre looking for a way to torture a small mammal, try playing his song …My MySpace, feat. the Sampler, which includes the phrase …holy molasses and sounds like it was sung by Adam Sandler.

That odd tune aside, his album has been faring OK with some critics, and seems to be doing even better with fans. While I havent seen official sales statistics, “Audio Day Dream” has been hanging out in the iTunes top 10 for a week ‘  not too shabby.

Heraldnet

Idol finalist Phil Stacey records CD

American Idol season 6 finalist Phil Stacey went into the studio with producer Wayne Kirkpatrick (Little Big Town) to record music for his debut for Lyric Street Records.
At last season’s American Idol, Stacey received national attention. He sang country hits “Where The Blacktop Ends, ” “The Change” and “I Need You.” ……..

Country Standard Time

PAULA JOINS RANDY FOR NEW SINGLE: ‘Idol’ judges team for track on Jackson’s upcoming compilation album.

…..The album is due for release in a couple of weeks, to coincide with the start of the new season of “American Idol.”

Meanwhile, Abdul is said to be currently recording a studio album of her own, reports E! Online. The CD will be her first since 1995’s “Head Over Heels.”

EURWeb

Blake Lewis celebrates new album with a hometown show

Bothell beatboxer extraordinaire Blake Lewis, runner-up on the sixth season of “American Idol, ” celebrates the release of his new album, “Audio Day Dream, ” with a show Dec. 20 at Showbox at the Market.

Sharing the bill are The Mob Law and Doxology. Tickets are $15, and doors open at 8 p.m. All ages are welcome.

Lewis had been trying to set up a Seattle release party when I did an interview with him earlier this month. The album arrived in stores Dec. 4 via Arista Records’ 19 Recordings label.

“The record label isn’t really paying for me to have a record release party, so I’m like, ‘Forget that, I’ve gotta do one myself, ‘ ” Lewis said………

Seattlepi Blog

HOLLYWOOD PRIVACYWATCH

….At LaLa on Melrose Saturday night (12/8) and who should boisterously enter and sit down at the table next to us? American Idol runner-up Blake Lewis, of course. He acted as though he really wanted to be recognized. However, I saw no fan approaches. Sorry Blake, maybe youll read this and feel better….

Defamer

De-Constructing the Failure of ‘The Next Great American Band’

Much has been made about the poor ratings received by The Next Great American Band. When the idea for American Band was first announced near the tail end of last season’s American Idol, the potential seemed limitless. The Idol team could do no wrong. You had Idol, So You Think You Can Dance and America’s Got Talent ‘ all big hits in their own right. If it worked with singing, a talent show, and dancing, why wouldn’t it work with bands? Then, prior to the beginning of the Fall TV season, FOX announced the time slot for The Next Great American Band: Fridays at 8pm. Fridays are where TV shows go to die. Why would FOX place a big event show by the creators of TV’s biggest hit (American Idol) in the worst possible time slot?………..

BuddyTV

FANTASIA’S ‘PURPLE’ FLU
STAR’S ABSENCES BREAK FANS’ HEARTS

THE Broadway attendance police are on patrol, and this time we’re giving out detention to – Fanta sia.

Since summer, the occasional star of “The Color Purple” has missed nearly 50 performances, production sources say. Following a three-week vacation caused by the strike, she dropped last Friday’s performance, causing pandemonium in the lobby of the Broadway Theatre.

An 8-year-old girl sobbed uncontrollably when she heard Fantasia was not going to be in the show.
“It was very sad, ” my lobby spy reports. “Her mother was trying to explain to her that Fantasia was sick, but the girl didn’t understand and just kept crying.”

A couple who had tickets that night asked the man at the box office how many performances Fantasia has missed.

“Fifty, ” he sighed.

“Fifty!” exclaimed the woman, startling everybody on the refund line………

NYPost

iTunes names top-sellers

Maroon 5 and Fergie hold the top spots on iTunes’ year-end sales roundup.

The market leading online music store released its top-selling albums and singles, while declining to release actual sales figures.

Maroon 5’s sophomore album, “It Won’t Be Soon Before Long, ” was the Number-1 seller on the site, followed by Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black” and Kanye West’s “Graduation.”

Rounding out the top five best-selling albums were “American Idol” alum Chris Daughtry’s band’s self-titled debut, “Daughtry, ” and “Coco” by newcomer Colbie Caillat, who has the hit “Bubbly.”……..

Action3 News

LIMELIGHT EXTRA! A heads-up for coming events.

….IDOL SPEED: American Idol contestant and rising country-music star Bucky Covington rides in for a show with High Speed Rodeo at 8 p.m…..

Tallahassee.com

Clay molds nicely to life’s offerings
“Idol” Clay Aiken takes all in stride with Christmas show tonight at State Theatre

….The “American Idol” runner-up may be enjoying things so much because he’s carved out a niche for himself.

The revenge of the wholesome might be the best way to put it. He’s like the kid who was in high school plays but never hip enough to become the star. Aiken has become Opie in an era of Britney.

And over the phone he seems, well, Opie-style nice. He has good Southern manners. There’s no pretense at trying to be cool. Maybe at this point being anti-cool is the new cool?….

NJ.com

AOL Unveils Top Searches for 2007

….Top TV Shows: Idol not budging

Reality TV shows, …American Idol (no. 1); …Dancing With the Stars (no. 2); and …Deal or No Deal (no. 3) snagged the top three positions for the second straight year, followed by …The View (no.4); and …Hannah Montana (no. 5)….

Businesswire.com

Underwood Celebrates No. 1 Hit

Country music star Carrie Underwood celebrated another No. 1 hit Tuesday in Nashville.

She attended the No. 1 party at BMI for “So Small”, her first co-written single and fifth country to top the charts.

“It definitely made me feel more in the music, ” she said. ‹I get to sing something that I had a hand in writing and it makes it more believable and it makes it more heartfelt.”………

New Channel 5

The top pop-culture moments of 2007
From the ‹Sopranos to Don Imus, there were many talk-worthy moments

….January
T.S. Eliot may have said April is the cruelest month, but that was before “American Idol.” In 2007 January is pretty cruel, for this is when the “Idol” judges sink to their snarkiest behavior ever, calling contestants names, laughing behind their backs, insulting their looks. The worst moment: Simon Cowell tells a stunned young man at Seattle tryouts, Kenneth Briggs, that he resembles a “bush baby.” (Of course, Briggs is awarded a guest appearance on the finale.)….

MSNBC

GIFTS FOR … the TV junkie

….…Chicken Soup for the American Idol Soul (HCI, $14.95) features inspirational – or sappy, depending on your point of view – stories from a legion of famous …Idol contestants and also-rans. Look at it this way: Your holiday shopping isnt complete without one gag gift.

Boston Herald

Americans Choose Designated Drivers … Sing ‘I’m Your Vehicle, Baby’

….To recognize their great support of this life-saving practice, Anheuser- Busch is taking to the airwaves with a remake of the popular Ides of March song “Vehicle.” First released in 1970, the song, popularized more recently when American Idol’s Bo Bice sang it as part of the televised talent competition, will air on local radio stations throughout the country. Anheuser-Busch’s remake salutes America’s designated drivers who have been a “Bud” for their friends and families by getting everyone home safely….

EarthTimes

12/15: Alice Cooper’s Christmas Pudding

The first time Jordin Sparks did Alice Cooper’s Christmas Pudding, Cooper took the Proof Is in the Pudding contest winner to the side and offered some friendly advice.

“I said, ‘You know, you really ought to try that American Idol thing, ‘ ” he recalls, with a laugh.

Three years later, the youngest American Idol winner ever is back with Flo and Eddie of the Turtles; several members of Chicago; Cooper’s dancing wife, Sheryl; and more in the annual rock and roll benefit for Cooper’s Solid Rock Foundation.

“It’s a real pudding, ” he says, “a real mish-mish of things going on. We’ve got country, rock, Jordin Sparks, comedy, dance. And you actually get pudding.”……

AZCentral

CARRIE UNDERWOOD, MILEY CYRUS AND THE JONAS BROTHERS TO PERFORM LIVE FROM TIMES SQUARE ON “DICK CLARK’S NEW YEAR’S ROCKIN’ EVE 2008, ” DECEMBER 31 ON THE ABC TELEVISION NETWORK

….Country Music’s hottest performer, Carrie Underwood, TV & recording star Miley Cyrus and teen sensations the Jonas Brothers will rock in the New Year with live performances from Times Square during “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 2008, ” airing MONDAY, DECEMBER 31 on the ABC Television Network…..

Futon Critic

CMT Boosts Vote Count For ‹Music City Madness
4 Million Votes Cast Online in User-Generated Talent Search

….Last year, a similar …Music City Madness competition drew 1.2 million votes, according to CMT. This year online competition expanded to include a CMT TV special hosted by American Idol finalist Bucky Covington….

Multichannel News

New Tunes Tuesday #13

….This week there aren’t any stand-outs or even anything that should be featured. A few Christmas singles were released – most notably, Katharine McPhee’s “O Come All Ye Faithful, ” and Maroon 5’s “Happy Xmas (War is Over”). But, even those singles were unfortunately unimpressive and ultimately boring….

SFist