Clarkson Hopes Fans ‘Like’ Leaked Demos
Kelly Clarkson has shared with Billboard.com her thoughts on four unfinished songs leaking to the Internet.
The new material from Clarkson, never one to escape controversy, surfaced earlier this week via the Los Angeles-based music blog Pretty Much Amazing. The four songs — “Close Your Eyes, ” “Ready, ” “One Day, ” and “With a Little Bit of Luck” — have varying sound quality, indicating that the tracks are in different stages of the recording process.
“I write all the time — lots of stuff not meant to ever be released, just working on ideas, ” Clarkson tells Billboard.com of the leaked work. “The fact that people have heard music that’s not ready yet sucks, but I hope they like it.”
Headband Made of Hair
You know what I love? Super-funny April Fool jokes, that what. All that Rick-rolling? Hilarious. Seacrest announcing that the episode being preempted? Hilariouser. So many tricks coming from that man, a human joy-buzzer in shiny pants.
Tonight it just me and my pal Gary at my house watching the show. Everyone else we know is either off on some fancy vacation or working somewhere or sitting at home posting M4M …missed connection notices on Craigslist. The husband/partner/whatever isnt even home. He out at a movie. It like all my friends suddenly decided that watching the Idols misunderstand Dolly Parton wasnt the most monumentally important thing a person could do with their Tuesday night.
American Idol Got it Right With Dolly Parton Night
Each contestant chose a Dolly song and sang it to her for her critiques. I noticed how some of them truly understood what they were experiencing, like Michael Johns. He welled with tears just talking about meeting her, and I felt like he truly recognized what a wonderful gift he was given that night. For people like me, and I’m sure thousands of others watching at home, we were living vicariously through him. Kristy Lee Cook, on the other hand, and several others for that matter, didn’t seem to grasp or appreciate what was taking place.
American Idol: Results: Jesus, Gravity, and Sticky Rice
Man, I love Dolly Parton. I’ve seen all her movies, some over and over again. To this day, I both blame and thank 9 to 5 and Steel Magnolias for making me a homo. She’s always sweet and hilarious when she’s on talk shows, and every time I see her I smile.
Color me surprised, then, when I turned on American Idol on Tuesday night and realized this bitch was a singer/songwriter. I thought the contestants were going to treat us to scene work from old Dolly movies. I had hoped that Carly would do that scene where Dolly told off her boss for treating her like a floozy in 9 to 5. Unfortunately, I was very, very wrong.
American Idol: Jason Castro watch party April 8
The next Jason Castro watch party is likely to draw the largest crowd yet, and it’s going to be at one of Rockwall’s most beautiful locations. Neighborsgo has the when and where, along with everything Jason.
Remember to wear your Jason Castro T-shirt and bring your cell phone to VOTE, VOTE, VOTE. Jason is joined in the final eight by David Archuleta, David Cook, Carly Smithson, Kristy Lee Cook, Brooke White, Michael Johns and Syesha Mercado.
‘Idol’ report card: Which Idols still get top marks?
While another freshman class struggles to make the grade on American Idol, a dozen members of the upper class have been tested in a broader arena. USA TODAY judges post-grad Idols, grading on record sales, airplay, creative abilities and the level of celebrity buzz sustained since their launch.
Simon Cowell to do Strictly Come Dancing
Simon Cowell is set to appear on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ as a stand-in judge.
‘The X Factor’ judge could be swapping shows with regular ‘Dancing…’ judge Bruno Tonioli for British charity ‘Children in Need’.
Simon will cast his eye over celebrity dancers on the BBC One programme, while Bruno will listen to pop hopefuls on the ITV series.
Bruno said: “We like a big of a giggle – there is no competition between us.
Endorsed by Oprah, bankrolled by Simon Cowell and Clive Davis, but is Leona Lewis all that?
If you havent yet heard of Leona Lewis, rest assured that two of the biggest powerbrokers in the music business — Clive Davis and Simon Cowell — are at work at this very minute to make sure that you soon will.
Lewis, a 22-year-old British singer, is the object of one of the biggest publicity blitzes in music-industry history. Her debut album, …Spirit, comes out Tuesday in America on Davis J Records and Cowell SyCo Music. Its lead single, …Bleeding Love, is already No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Lewis the first U.K. female artist in 21 years to top the chart. In Europe, where it was released last November, the album has already sold 2.5 million copies.
Bad-girl side, vocal power on display
Underwood has been marketed as a country singer, and her Oklahoma twang and strong sense of place make that an apt home for her.
But that country sound was muted in concert by the backing of a rock band with only touches of a country sound. The band’s guitars never overwhelmed her voice, but they often warred with it rather than supporting it, and left her singing against rather than with the musicians.
Carrie Underwood’s Never-Ending Carnival Ride
After playing dates with Keith Urban and Josh Turner through much of 2008, Carrie Underwood has a new dance partner lined up for a run of shows that’s been added during June.
Jason Michael Carroll will come along for the Carnival Ride Tour, beginning with a performance in Cape Girardeau, Mo., June 8 and running through a show in Corpus Christi, Texas, June 24. That means both Carrie and Jason Michael will be leaving the CMA Music Festival before it winds up in Nashville. The annual event, which features four days of concerts and autograph sessions, is slated for June 5-8. Carrie has already been announced among the artists who will be on stage at LP Field during the four-day series.
The Hot 5 – April 6
Daughtry. There are boatloads of people who dismiss the music machine that is “American Idol, ” so former finalists like Daughtry’s eponymous lead singer might feel like they’ve got something to prove. How about proving it by handily opening for one of the country’s longest-running and most successful big stadium acts? Daughtry is on tour opening for Bon Jovi’s “Lost Highway” tour, which was in Denver this week, and the band rocked it. Even the thirty- and fortysomething mom types who were clearly there to relive their big-hair-days glory were throwing up their hands and singing along. Chris Daughtry is a charismatic lead singer, and bassist Josh Paul is almost as fun to watch as Flea.
Audience cheers for a generic Daughtry
The band was traveling light ‘ four guys on stools with guitars and a drummer ‘ considering the size of the convoy. Sometimes the sound at the Ventura Theatre leaves much to be desired, but for Daughtry, it was great. Plus, he has that room-filling, near-perfect gruff classic rock ‘n’ roll voice, which doubtlessly helped him get this far. And this far was far away from the days when he sang “The Letter” well enough to get on “Idol” in the first place.
The band took a quick break about one-third of the way through when Daughtry did a solo acoustic version of what he said was his personal favorite, “What I Want.” The show was pretty much a straight-ahead rendition of the album ‘ everyone knew the agenda and swayed gently to his by-the-numbers corporate rock songs. The crowd sang along when asked to, most fervently on “Over You” near the end, but also cheered to all the usual “Howzit goin’, Ventura?” prompts.
American Idol Goes to Camp
Bo Bice has some advice for the young’uns about American Idol.
And hell get the chance to give it at Idol Camp, the reality show summer performing arts program for kids ages 10-15.
…Everybody out there watches the show and has expectations of wanting to be an Idol, but were going to teach them how much hard work goes into it, Bice told me over the phone during a concert stop in Atlantic City. …It not just about waking up and trying to be a star…It practice, practice, practice.
Dierks Bentley gets the job done at BJCC Arena
Opener two: Covington, 30, hasn’t changed much from his days on “American Idol.” Same voice, same moves, same look. At the BJCC, unfortunately, his sandpaper singing tended to get drowned out by six backing players. Also, Covington’s set list was rather schizophrenic. It included his radio singles (“A Different World, ” “It’s Good to Be Us”) along with covers of “Suspicious Minds” and “Another Brick in the Wall.” Country crossover next to Elvis Presley and Pink Floyd? Unless you’re in a bar band, that’s not a great mix.
Clay Aiken to release new album
The latest CD from the former “American Idol” contender is to be released May 6. It is his first album of original songs since his 2003 double-platinum debut, “Measure of a Man.”
Aiken’s single, “On My Way Here, ” is to premiere Monday as an AOL First Listen.
‘American Idol’ Finalist Ace Young Visits Fox 5
American Idol’ season five finalist Ace Young visited fox 5 Friday. He’s releasing a self-titled debut CD later this summer but gave us a preview!
Diana DeGarmo honorary spokesperson, Global Youth Service Day
CMT One Country, the pro-social initiative for cable network CMT, and Youth Service America have joined forces for the second year in a row to help motivate youth in America for Global Youth Service Day on April 25- 27, the largest volunteering event in the world.
Events kick-off Friday, April 25 and run through Sunday, April 27.
Local Teacher Meets Idol, Indulges in Ice Cream
Brittany Thorngren, a teacher a Turner Middle School, never dreamed her fondness for Dreyer …Cheesecake Diva ice cream would win her a party and a private serenade from an American Idol finalist. Thorngren, who is both a fan of the ice cream and the show, was not only serenaded by Chris Richardson, a finalist from American Idol 2007, but she won an ice cream party for 25 people.
Ford to kick off new marketing campaign on “American Idol”
It was a “do or die” campaign designed to redefine the Ford brand and boldly move the foundering automaker back into prominence and profitability.
But the highly touted and heavily researched “Bold Moves” has been scrapped after less than two years for a new multimillion-dollar marketing effort expected to be publicly launched during Tuesday’s “American Idol” show on the Fox network.
“Drive one” tells the story of Ford Motor Co.’s product lineup, improved quality and accomplishments in safety, fuel economy and technology, spokesman Jim Cain said in a statement Friday.