‘American Idol’ Chris Daughtry, U.K. Idol Leona Lewis Warm Their Pipes For Clive Davis’ Grammy Party
Welcome to the American music industry, Leona Lewis. The lovely 21-year-old Brit already has smashed the game in her home country with her debut LP, Spirit, which topped the charts across the pond and all over the world a year after she won Simon Cowell’s U.K. talent show “The X Factor.”
Saturday night, it’s America’s turn to get a full taste of the lady music mogul Clive Davis is banking on to follow in his line of songstresses such as Alicia Keys and Fantasia.
The RCA CEO is featuring Lewis at his legendary pre-Grammy party at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where Usher, Will Smith, Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige and a myriad of other guests, ranging from Chris Brown to Evander Holyfield, are expected to show up. The party has also been a launching pad for onetime up-and-comers Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx and Fantasia, who have all put their pipes on display at the event.
Davis said he was also looking forward to Daughtry’s performance at his event.
Also up for a Grammy tonight is Boulder’s own Ace Young. The season five “American Idol” finalist is nominated in the best rock song category for co-writing Chris Daughtry’s “It’s Not Over, ” along with Daughtry, Gregg Wattenberg and Mark Wilson. The award in that category goes to the songwriters. Other nominated songs in the field come from heavy hitters Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, the White Stripes and Lucinda Williams.
Earlier this week, Young, who lives in Los Angeles, said he would be attending tonight’s award ceremony along with his brother Ryan Young and a few other friends.
“I really haven’t focused my attention on (the award), and I think that’s the only way to go into it, ” said Ace Young, 27. “We already did our work and I know it stands for itself. I hope we can pull through and walk away with one of those trophies.”
Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift and Others Are Ready for the Grammys
Carrie Underwood will be looking at Sunday night’s (Feb. 10) Grammy Awards show in Los Angeles as an awards show veteran who’s ready to pass the best new artist torch to another country singer.
“I’m very excited once again to be nominated, ” Underwood said recently. “The Grammys are extremely well recognized in all genres of music all around the world, so it’s really amazing to be in the company that I’m in.
“It’s really cool also to see Taylor Swift being nominated in the best new artist category. It’s kind of like, ‘Wow, that was me last year. I’m not a newbie anymore.’ It’s cool to go back kind of more seasoned, I guess.”
In addition to the best new artist Grammy — which includes nominees from all styles of music — Underwood also won the best female country vocal performance award last year for her recording of “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”
Simon Cowell showing sweet side on ‹Idol
NEW YORK – No one ever accused Simon Cowell of being compassionate ‘ until this year.
Three weeks into the new season, the resident …American Idol grinch has been sugarcoating critiques of mediocre and helplessly tone-deaf wannabes.
…He nice for three weeks, and then suddenly hell flip and hell turn out being (a) bloody horror again, said …Idol executive producer Ken Warwick. …Wait until we get into this next batch, you know, the top 12.
“Idol” farewell song a beginning for young songwriter
LOS ANGELES (Billboard) – Fox’s “American Idol” is about to move from the cross-country audition rounds toward the meat of the show — the Hollywood elimination episodes that whittle down the contestants to the top 24. But one up-and-comer won’t have to worry about getting an awkward consolation hug from Paula Abdul.
Capitol Records artist Ferras, a 25-year-old singer/songwriter/pianist, provides the “farewell song” that plays as the “Idol” contestants are dismissed from the Hollywood tryouts. It makes its first appearance on the show February 12.
‹Idol to Be a Theme on Cruises
If you think youll need an …American Idol fix while the show is on hiatus next fall, here an idea: take a cruise. Royal Caribbean International has announced that it will offer five cruises with an …American Idol theme Nov. 19 through Dec. 21 aboard its newest ship, the Independence of the Seas.
The cruises, which last four days and six to eight days from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, will feature live performances from past contestants and will offer Idol-themed parties and activities. Prices start at $699. Cruisers who would like to be onstage can get an early start when the line begins to offer singing contests aboard all North American-based ships starting this March. Whoever wins the competitions will be entered into a drawing to win a fully paid trip to next year …American Idol auditions. For more information see www.RoyalCaribbeanIdol.com
‘Idol’ worship just as strong in Canada
TORONTO — Fox’s “American Idol” is once again dominating the Canadian winter TV season.
Toronto-based CTV Friday said that the reality show, now in its seventh season, was the top-rated Canadian TV show for the Dec. 17-Feb. 3 period, averaging nearly 3 million viewers since its Jan. 15 debut, according to BBM/Nielsen Media Research figures.
The season opener for “Idol” peaked at 3.1 million total viewers, according to BBM Nielsen Media Research, down from the 2007 series bow and its peak of 3.6 million viewers.
But the seventh season ratings have since trended upward, CTV said, with a season average to date that now stands at 2.78 million total viewers, compared with 2.69 million last year.
Reba McEntire/Kelly Clarkson
On its face, Thursday Reba McEntire/Kelly Clarkson concert before a sold-out crowd at St. Charles Family Arena seemed a study in contrasts.
Here was superstar singer and actress McEntire, exuding country cool in jeans, boots and a rhinestoned top. Next to her was pop/rock singer and 2002 …American Idol winner Clarkson in black pants, bare feet and a black t-shirt that read …Ruled by Dread.
If not for the lights and the dozen musicians behind them, theyd have looked like a well-maintained mother and her punk-aspiring daughter on their way to the mall.
But both are powerhouse vocalists with enough mutual admiration to warrant a tour that reprises their 2007 appearance on CMT …Crossroads program and their earlier duet that capped off Clarkson winning season on …Idol.
American Idol finalist stars in RENT
There is a time in everyone’s lives when there is a need to understand the reasons for living, death, friendship, and love. What if there is a way to measure the experiences all people encounter everyday, and how could it be done? The critically acclaimed rock opera RENT tackles the answer to that question in the song Seasons of Love.
The musical, written by the late Jonathan Larson, touches on difficult issues plaguing society today like HIV/ AIDS, drug addiction, homosexuality and, most of all, death. It also delves into the heart of the human spirit by revealing what it means to live and enjoy each day as if it were your last.
Broadway in Chicago presents the national touring production of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, which features two stars from the popular American Idol family.
Multisports training center opens in Lakeville
From several perspectives, Train America is an athlete dream come true.
For owner Lamarr Rogers, the 72, 000-square-foot multi-sport athletic development center in Lakeville is the first of what he hopes will be a chain of indoor cutting-edge athletic facilities in the Twin Cities.
And for kids, preschoolers to 12th grade, Train America is a year-round place for all to learn and grow in a variety of sports.
Rogers, a former professional baseball player who is now a hitting coach for the St. Paul Saints, has dreamed of opening the complex since he began Blue Chip Baseball and Softball Academy in Burnsville about 10 years ago.
Although several of the businesses are already operating, a grand opening event is planned for Feb. 23.
Rogers is just beginning to work on the details but said he trying to book several professional athletes for the event, as well as his brother Brandon Rogers, a broad-grinned American Idol runner-up last year who has continued to pursue a singing career.
Choosing right song is the key for contestants by Carmen Rasmusen
A warning to you all: DO NOT sing ‘Fallin” by Alicia Keys or ‘Crazy’ by Patsy Cline. The judges are sick of those songs. You won’t make it through if you do.”
The producers of “American Idol” had a little chat with Season 2 contestants, including me, right before we auditioned in front of Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul. Randy Jackson was off shooting a Krispy Kreme commercial that day, or so we were told.
Proof right there that when it really comes down to it, song choice is key.
There were definitely some who hit “song choice” right on the money this week. Choosing a Luther Vandross song, Chikezie Eze not only had a very memorable name but an incredible voice to boot. After a pitch-perfect version of “You’re All the Woman I Need, ” Chikezie was given a yes by two judges (I’m convinced Simon was just in a bad mood) and a ticket to Hollywood.
Opposite Day!
There only one thing left to say about Paula Abdul wriggly, frantic, desperate performance of her new …song at the Super Bowl. And that that she didnt stumble listlessly through it. She threw herself headlong and leglong into the burning ring of fire and left the stage standing up. Meanwhile, in another stadium filmed sometime late last summer, Seacrest is making me want to lay him out flat for continuing the abomination-combination of peaked-lapel blazer over hideous …graphic T-shirt. I cant read what the goth-lite lettering on the shirt says. And I dont care. I just want someone to set fire to it. If he still happens to be wearing it when that happens, I cant be held responsible.
American Idol: Let’s Get This Show on the Road Already!
This episode of American Idol is like the day after Thanksgiving – you have all these leftovers, and you don’t know what to do with them. You can’t let them go to waste so you figure what the hell, I’ll just slap these all together and see what I get. Some of the ingredients are great, some are iffy, and some are just plain awful, and when you put them all together you wind up with something that does its job, but really just makes you reminiscent of how good it was before. So sit back, relax, and join me on this last audition episode of American Idol – soggy turkey sandwich style.
